Why won't you come over here? We've got a city to love

 

Outfit:
Black off the shoulder jersey top - Asos
White full diamond jacquard midi skirt - Topshop
White and black patterned heeled sandals - Primark (similar)
Red studded lips clutch - Lulu Guinness

Completely impractical but a completely necessary purchase. This white skirt stood out to me as I pursued my lunchtime browse on the New In section on the Topshop website. Lethal I tell you, lethal! Topshop seem to be on fire with their midi skirt selection at the moment. I find the rest of the shop a bit hit and miss most of the time. I feel like my style has grown up a lot more and I don't really fancy wearing skirts that barely cover my bottom or tops with wacky logos on. These shoes were yet another thing I found hidden away in my wardrobe for around a year with the tags still on. I'm working on my spending habits...

Hello Lulu Guinness! My fab blogger friends clubbed together to treat me to this clutch for my birthday. Aren't they just the best? I've lusted over a lips clutch for such a long time and am so please to finally have one to call my own. It's such a beauty! I'm feeling like a very lucky girl to have such thoughtful friends.

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Brick Lane

Brick Lane has a very special place in my heart. It was one of the first places in London I properly explored as a teenager when I used to spends hours rifling through the numerous vintage shops dotted around. I adore the rough and ready vibe of East London and feel much more at home here than other parts in the city.

I always jump off at Liverpool Street and walk down to Spitalfields to cut down past the white church into Brick Lane. With so much eye-catching street art and the amazing smell of the curry houses, it's the perfect place for an afternoon wander. One tip is to not go in the first curry house you see as they all stand outside in the evening shouting numerous deals. Free drinks, poppadoms and starters can all be negotiated. Remember to stand your ground! Alternatively do plenty of research online and pick one with great reviews. I've heard amazing things about Aladin.

Once you get to the end of the road make sure you stop off for a salt beef Beigal. Oh lord they are one of the most amazing things I have ever eaten. At £3.40 they're such a bargain! There are two practically next door to each other but i'd recommend the first one. As they're open 24 hours they're a much better choice than a greasy kebab! I love the way the beef is slightly shredded rather than one big chunk. Be prepared to queue but it's well worth it!

The Old Truman Brewery has some fantastic markets on a Sundays showcasing quirky independant designers. You can pick up some great unusual things! You'll be spoilt for choice in the food markets inside. With cuisines to try from all over the world, it's best to go on an empty stomach so you can sample them all.

If vintage is your thing make a beeline for Beyond Retro in Cheshire Street. It's just off Brick Lane so keep an eye out for the street on your right hand side. It's a massive warehouse style building filling with treasures from top to bottom. It's one of the more reasonably priced vintage shops in the area so you can come away with a bargain.

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On Wednesdays we wear pink

Outfit:
Black grey polo neck jumper - Primark (similar)
Pink scuba midi skirt - Primark (similar)
Leather ankle black heeled boots - Topshop (similar)
Leopard print collar coat - Topshop (similar)
Glass gold statement necklace - Primark (similar)
Bayswater bag - Mulberry

I'm sure you're all groaning at the sight of yet another polo neck jumper. It really does seem to be all that i'm wearing at the moment. This horrible weather has put me in an unwelcomed style rut of a skirt and polo neck jumper. Luckily this pretty skirt softens the blow. After seeing Amy tweet a picture of it and remembering I was kindly given a voucher by my boyfriend's nan for my birthday, I made it my mission to snap it up. It was a complete bargain at only £12 and made a welcome addition to my sea of never-ending skirts. My name is Sophie and I can't stop buying midi skirts.

I wore this for a day up London to see The Bodyguard at the West End with my mum and nan. I gatecrashed the old peoples coach and took the day off work. We had amazing seats and I'd really recommend you try to catch it if you can. I feel like I need a bit of Whitney in my life at the weekend and need to watch the film.

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We'll fly away

Way back in last January one of my new years resolutions was to travel more. I'd always had such grand plans to see the world but I'd never really had the chance - or the money - to put it into practise. Boy did I make the most of my annual leave at work in 2013! I took mini breaks to Berlin, Paris, Warsaw, Bristol, Derry and Cardiff with a week long trip to Bodrum, Turkey.

Now that I'm in my second year of having a proper job - not being an intern is still a novelty! - I'm looking to broaden my horizons and splash the cash. I'm keen to take a lot more luxury holidays next year to see much more of the world and Emirates Holidays offers such an amazing range of holidays if you're looking to go further afield! After all, I work hard for my money so why shouldn't I be globe-trotting in style?! There's no point heading off to exotic places like Mauritius or Dubai if you're going to scrimp getting there. I'm always on the look out for places that have a lot of history - geek alert - and something out of the ordinary. A bit of a culture shock can be a good thing at times. This is why city breaks appeal so much to me at the minute. A beach isn't always a necessity for me personally - although it's nice to have a cheeky week away in the sunshine! Barcelona can kill two birds with one stone as you'll be able to see the city sights and soak up the rays on the beach. One beach i'd love to visit would have to be based in the Caribbean. I'm not that fussed as those pure white sandy beaches and crytsal blue seas are what dreams are made of.

My bucket list seems to get longer by the minute. At the moment finally heading to of Europe is priority. Luckily i'm doing that with this years trip to the Big Apple. I have such a huge fascination with the US. It's just feels so loud, massive and brash - no two places in the country seem the same. High on the top of my list of places to visit include San Francisco, Miami and Chicago. Other than America i'd love to explore Japan, Hong Kong and the Caribbean. Two weeks in Cuba sounds like my type of heaven - not least because of the rum!

This new years resolution looks set to be the same. This year I'm off to New York, Glastonbury festival and hopefully will have the Christmas markets in Bruges and a mini UK break for my boyfriends birthday. Looks like I better start saving my pennies pronto! It's my first time flying outside of Europe so to say i'm excited is an understatement.

Have you got any snazzy holidays planned for this year?

This post was written in collaboration.

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Love is in the air

Outfit:
Quilted fair leather jacket - Zara (similar)
Burgundy heart printed shirt - Topshop (similar)
Denim midi skirt - Topshop
Burgundy patent loafers - Zara (similar)
Glass statement necklace - Primark (similar)

If you can't wear hearts on Valentines Day then when can you?! Following on from the £100 ASOS giveaway a few weeks ago, the Brit Pack have decided to carry on in our adventures and do a linked themed post once a month. This month is Valentines themed and click on the links to see the other girls take on the lovey-dovey holiday. There are some right corkers!

Have you got plans for Valentines tonight? There's an indoor picnic in front of the telly calling my name following a trip to see the Foals at Ally Pally and lunch at The Rum Kitchen on Saturday. I've been wanting to sample the restaurant for a long time so am excited to finally stuff my face!

 (l-r)Maria of Frills n Spills, Kim of What Peggy Said,Christina of Kimi and Me, Donna of Polka-dot Pink, Erica of Being Erica

(l-r)Rachel Of Rachel The Hat, Sophie of The Story of a Girl Who Lives Above Her Means, Sarah of A Million Dresses and Gemma of Fat Frocks

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Recipe - Caribbean Inspired Shepherd's Pie

I have a soft spot for Caribbean food, add some jerk paste into anything and it becomes 100 times better in my opinion. I had the idea of making a Caribbean inspired Shepherd's Pie after having a few sweet potatoes and some jerk paste hanging around. This recipe is a mixture from The Telegraph and Levi Roots. I really just made it up as I went along but it came out amazingly well. It's definitely something i'd make again as it's perfect for a cold winters night. It's really good for you too as it uses lean turkey mince and sweat potato - who says healthy has to be boring?

Serves 4 - 6 depending on how many vegetable sides and how hungry you are! 

Ingredients:

500g of lean turkey breast mince
2 large sweet potatoes
1 chopped red pepper
1 finely diced onion
1 can of chopped tomatoes
Up to 4 teaspoons of jerk paste depending on how you like your spice
Vegetables of your choice to serve - I had spinach and green beans

001. Peel the potatoes and chop into small pieces and boil for around 25-30 minutes until they're soft.

002. Pop the mince, onion and pepper into a large wok and cook for around 20 minutes until the mince is cooked throughout. Add the jerk paste and stir thoroughly.

003. Add the chopped tomatoes and simmer for about 10 minutes.

004. Once the potatoes are cooked, drain the water and mash them until they're nice and smooth. Pop the mince mixture in the bottom of a rectangular deep dish and layer with the mash on top. Fluff up the top of the mash with a fork.

005. Pop into the oven for about 10-15 until you're happy with the crispy top. It won't go too crispy, just a word of warning! 

006. Cut into equal slices and serve with the veg! 

Please do let me know if you try it out as i'd love to see some pictures! 

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Beauty: January Empties

001: No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser
Review here

002: Paul Smith Hold Tight Firm Hold Hairpsray c/o work beauty drawer
I am like a magpie and when I spotted this bright pink bottle peaking up from the depth of the beauty drawer I thought it was worth a shot.  It stated that it was a firm hold hairspray but it seems a bit flimsy to be unless of course you sprayed for a very long time. Then it turned a bit crispy. It wasn't the perfect partner for my curls but did the job if it was in a topknot. It's not the best product I've tried and I do think there are better hairsprays out there in the price point. It's not something I'd pick up and buy with my own money.

003: Schwarzkopf Osis+ Sparkler Finish c/o work beauty drawer
This was another product I picked up in the same binge at work - have I mentioned how much I love my job? I'm always a bit confused by shine sprays. They always remind me of the Emperors New Clothes - do they actually make a difference. Maybe it's because luckily I've never had dull hair and it doesn't need much of a boost to help it shine. A good shampoo does the job! Therefore I'm not convinced this made a difference at all.

004: L'Oreal Elvive Nutri-gloss Crystal Sparkling Conditioner
I picked this up as it was on offer in Boots and had tried a few L'Oreal shampoos and conditioner before. This was a good conditioner, nothing too ground-breaking but it kept my hair lovely and soft. I had to brush my hair before as it didn't cope well on knotted hair.

005: L'Oreal Elvive Nutri-gloss Crystal Sparkling Shampoo
This shampoo lathered up brilliantly and a little went a long well. It seemed like the bottle lasted forever! It was such good value for money and I did buy it again a few times. It did they job well and kept my hair in good condition. I'm onto something else now just for a change!

006: Witch Cleansing Lotion c/o
I won this from Witch Skincare's twitter in their Flawless Followers competition. This cleansing lotion did the treat. It was gentle around the eye area and took out the make up without too much rubbing. It doesn't beat my Bioderma but it did the trick. Well worth picking up if you're on a budget.

007: Marc Jacobs Daisy
I have gone through so many bottles of this I have lost count. It's always brought for my birthday from my nan. I think it's the perfect day time scent as it's not too heavy and smells lovely and fresh. I like to think of it as my signature now!

Have you tried any of these products?

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I know i know your face but ive forgotten your name, again

Outfit:

Leopard print longline blazer - Next (similar)

Charcoal grey polo neck jumper - Primark (similar)

Faux leather a-line midi skirt - c/o Pretty Little Thing (similar)

Black leather penny loafers - Office (similar)

Considering this skirt graces my body about twice a week - my mum keeps threatening to bin it - it's not really appeared on this blog. I never knew how much I needed a pleather skirt until one appeared in my wardrobe. It's great to wear lounging around at the weekend as shown here and fab to dress up slightly with a blouse and heeled boots for work. In fact i'm tempting to get a back up. You know, just in case. 

Thank the Lord it's February - did anyone else feel like January dragged on? I spent the weekend celebrating my birthday again with my friends in North London. I've learnt a long time ago to organise birthday nights out after payday if you want more than two people to turn up. We spent the night stuffing our faces at Five Guys and dancing to 90s classics at the o2 Academy. Any club that plays the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys in one night gets a thumbs up from me! 

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Missguided SS14 Preview

  

Last week I was kindly invited along to have a sneak preview at the SS14 drop at Missguided. It was so nice to be able to take one of my best friends along and have a mooch around at what the brand has to offer in the coming months. We were treated to some delicious cocktails and Mexican treats so armed with full bellies we set about to have a look. I was delighted to see lots of 60s influenced clothes - the grey checked pencil skirt caught my eye straight away. It looks like checks are firmly here to stay so you'll be able to carry over the next season! Twin sets and neon brights were plentiful. Just look at the colour of that neon lace midi dress! I just need to work on my six pack and that pink Pop Art striped set will be mine.   

Has anything tickled your fancy from the collection?

There are more pictures over on my Facebook page.

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Wining and dining

Valentines Day. Codswallop or romantic? Personally my boyfriend and I prefer to spend the evening indoors gazing into each others eyes - pass the sick bucket - rather than venturing out into an overpriced restaurant squeezed in like cattle. We celebrate Valentines Day the following day and get to pick off the normal menu rather than a fixed one. Who said romance was dead after 7 years?!

In a bid to try to be romantic, we've decided to hold an indoor picnic this year in front of the telly watching our favourite films. I'm voting for Leonardo DiCaprio. I much prefer a buffet style dinner anyway - roasted pepper hummus for the win!  One of goodies we shall be stuffing our faces with is the chocolate fondue below. Melted chocolate complete with heart-shaped marshmallows, strawberries, mini shortbreads and bananas is what dreams are made off. Complete with a glass of this tasty Gallo Family Vineyard Moscato, it really is a match made in heaven. The fruity flavours of peach, orange blossom , citrus and pineapple make it the perfect accompaniment for a cheeky dessert and with a RRP £6.99 it's not going to break the bank. Thanks for letting me sample the wine Gallo!

How are you going to be spending Valentines Day?

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This week i'm loving: Clay Masks

Argiletz Laboratoire Yellow Clay Face Mask

Commuting really does take it's toll on your skin. Early risers and light nights do not go very well together, I brought this clay mask following a recommendation from Elodie whilst we were in Paris last year. I've been using it around twice a week for the last month or so to try and keep my skin into check. After using a hot cloth cleanser I put on a good thick layer of the mask and leave it on my face for around 10 minutes. Once the time is up I remove it using a lukewarm muslin cloth and slap on my night cream.

I've noticed a clear reduction in the unsightly blackheads around my nose and my skin has lost it's tightness. It feels a lot more smooth and less like sandpaper. I feel it's going to become a stable in my winter skincare routine and will be purchasing another as soon as it runs out.

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Recipe - Feta, Chicken and Spinach Pasta

Serves 4
It works out around 9 Weightwatcher Propoints

This makes a great mid-week meal as it's simple to make and takes around 25 minutes. You don't want to be slaving around in the kitchen when you come home from work after all. The men in my life complained this wasn't enough so i'd suggest you pop some garlic bread in for them if they're not following Weightwatchers!

Ingredients:
160g Wholewheat pasta
120g of low fat feta cheese
Fry lite
200g baby spinach
250g of baby plum tomatoes
4 chicken breasts
2 crushed garlic cloves or two tsp of easy garlic

001. Pop the pasta in a large saucepan filled with boiling water and cook according to the instructions on the packet. Remember to keep stirring so it doesn't stick to the pan.

002. Chop the chicken into bite size chunks and fry in a wok sprayed with fry lite. Cook for around 20-25 minutes.

003. At around the 10 minute mark, chop the tomatoes in half and chuck in the wok and carry on stirring. Eventually the tomatoes will disintegrate and form a sauce. Pop in the garlic and give it a good stir.

004. About 3 minutes before the chicken is cooked, put in the spinach and stir until it's wilted. Once it's wilted pop in 3/4 of the feta cheese.

005. Drain the pasta and mix the rest of the ingredients and serve equally into four bowls. Sprinkle the remaining feta evenly over the pasta.

Once again do tweet me and let me know if you've made it. I loved seeing Elinor's version of this Spanish-style chicken dish!

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