I'm gonna pick up the pieces and build a lego house

Outfit:
Red belted full coat: Florence and Fred (similar)
Floral sheer shirt:Primark (similar)
Black skinny jeans: Primark (similar)
Black leather penny loafers: Office (similar)
Neon Orange nail polish: Colour Club
Black Bayswater: Mulberry

After 6 months cold turkey I feel off the wagon spectacularly and stumbled into Primark and somehow came out with a massive bag. I have no idea how it happened and I managed to spend a small fortune but boy did I come out with some gems. I was hunting for the infamous gingham skirt - which I found hurrah! - and obviously had to have a mooch. This pretty shirt was in the bag of swag. I thought it'd be perfect for my upcoming trip to NYC and picked it up in cream too. They were £12 each so it would have been criminal if I didn't pick them up. It's really simple and goes perfect with a pair of skinnies for a casual weekend. My mum very kindly treated me to this gorgeous coat last month. It was reduced to £25 in the sale - say what? Bargain!

The weekend was pretty chilled considering it was payday. I spent it watching the Book Thief crying - so sad - and eating lots of food and drinking lots of wine at a girly night in on Saturday. It was very much needed although my waistline is currently groaning. I had a delicious Sunday lunch yesterday locally as we took my boyfriend's nan out for a belated birthday present. Lots of eating always makes a fun weekend!

Do you all have a nice weekend?

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Mayfield Bakery

It's always a winner when you find a gem so close to your home. Mayfield Bakery is luckily located about 15 minutes from my house in Essex. I can't rave enough about the cheese and onion bread. It's like pieces of heaven - delicious with a thick slab of salted butter.

Based in a rural setting, the bakery sells a whole host of different products. From handmade loafs of bread to pastries to cheese and cakes. You can buy local products and even have a lesson in baking bread. Something I'd like to try out! It's open daily and is always busy so make sure you get there early to get the pick of the bread.

It has a little café attached that does the best breakfasts. It's not the cheapest but it's well worth the money. This time I opted for scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and some seeded brown toast. The eggs were beautifully creamy and made the perfect partner to the salmon. I didn't want it to end! I had to take one of those gingerbread men home!

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Liz Earle Bath and Body Collection

Liz Earle Bergamot & Ginger Creamy Shower Nectar and Liz Earle Tiare & Jasmine Silky Body Lotion c/o Liz Earle

 

Liz Earle can't seem to do any wrong at the moment. They keep bringing out gem after gem. These latest offerings are being launched next month so keep your eye out for them. The shower nectar is priced at £12.50 for 250 ml and the body lotion is priced at £14.50 for 250ml.

 

The zesty, citrus shower gel is the perfect remedy to wake you up in the morning ready for that long day at work. It lathers brilliantly and a little goes a long way so you won't run out in a hurry. I adore the flashes of ginger that seep through as you shower - definitely one of my favourite smells. The body lotion feels thick and luxurious.  I think jasmine leaves a gorgeous scent on your skin. With avocado and shea butter including in the ingredients, your skin is left feeling supple and soft - a winning combination!

 

Will you be splashing out on them when they hit the shops? 



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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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