Neutrals

Clinique Cheek Pop 01 Ginger Pop, Flori Roberts Sheer Peach c/o, Clinique Chubby Stick 09 Heaping Hazelnut, Nails Inc Jermyn Street

Admittedly I'm more of a bright colour girl but every now and then you need a good nude in your life. So for when this moment occasionally occurs I have a few neutral colours I fall back on.

I bought this Clinique blush on a whim after having a bit of a supermarket sweep dash in Sephora when I was in New York. It's not had a whole lot of use but the few times I have worn it, it makes me wonder why I don't reach for it more often. It has great staying power and is still visible after a long day at work. The pigmentation gets ten points and you only need a little to make your cheeks stand out. I also picked up this chubby stick on the same trip and boy do I wish I'd picked up more than one. A word of warning though - make sure your lips are in tip top shape as it's not forgiving on dry lips! This is great when you want to make less of a statement and feels like a balm. Admittedly it doesn't have amazing staying power so it's not one to wear when you're doing lots of drinking and eating.

This Flori Roberts gloss adds some glamour to your make up. It's extremely high shine and packs neutral punch. It would look great layered over a nude lipstick. It's quite sticky so not one to wear on a windy day but name me a gloss that isn't! It comes out a bit more orangey on the lips that it looks in the packaging.

Finally this Nails Inc polish is made for the autumn. It such a classy and elegant colour, It only takes around two coats to make it streak-free and opaque. Nails Inc are one of my favourite brands as they tend to stay chip free for at least a few days. They glide on easily and dry fairly quick.

What's your favourite neutral?

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Review: Jackson & Rye

Not working in London anymore means I'm usually always late to the party - I can hardly keep up with all the new openings. My list doesn't seem to be getting any shorter!

When I arranged a dinner date with Elodie in central I suggested - well maybe bullied - her into going Jackson & Rye. She'd already been quite a few times already so was all too happy to go along with my suggestion. I booked a table for 6pm and when we arrived it was already starting to get busy so I really would suggest booking before turning up! We had such an attentive waitress who made the meal really enjoyable. I loved the old American feel of the place - it felt like you'd stepped back in time to the Deep South.

After being persuaded to stay away from the burger I went with the crispy buttermilk fired chicken with spicy white cabbage slaw and a side of sweet potato fries. The portion was absolutely huge so I'm glad we didn't opt for a starter. The chicken was succulent and perfectly crunchy. There's nothing worse that soggy fried chicken.  The fries were very moreish with a tasty spice to them. The batter did get a bit too sickly and greasy towards the end but I'd still have it again! I loved the white cabbage slaw. The ratio of mayo and lemon couldn't be better and I could have eaten a whole bowl of the stuff. I'm not even much of a slaw fan either!

On a side not this whole mood lighting trend in restaurants really doesn't help me to take pictures - sort it out owners!

Have you ever eaten at Jackson & Rye?

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When I look into your eyes I see something that money can't buy

Outfit:
Green floral midi wiggle dress: ASOS (similar)
Yellow peep toe heels: Karen Millen (similar)
Grey and yellow laser cut clutch: Primark (similar)

I was on a spending ban and then during a daily browse on ASOS - I'm not the only one who does this surely?! - I spotted this in the sale and promptly added it to my basket. There was an additional 15% off sale code so it came to £21, down from £48. I couldn't not buy it right? That's what I'm telling myself anyway. There's just something about the shape and style of this dress I've fallen in love with. My collection now consists of three and I'm trying to think of an excuse to buy another one. These shoes were a very kind hand me on from my mum's boss after she bought them in the sale and they turned out to be too small. Luckily for me they fitted just right! The colour is gorgeous and I've been itching to wear them for the past few months but just never found the right dress. Another reason why the dress was a good buy...

This morning I'm doing a bootsale with my nan and then rushing back home to get ready for a curry in Brick Lane this afternoon. I was kindly given a voucher via work so looking forward to stuffing my face with one of my favourite cuisines. You can't beat a Sunday afternoon stroll along Brick Lane - it's one of my favourite places in London.

Have you got anything planned for today?

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Review: Barbican Afternoon tea

Last Sunday I took the tube into Central London to the Barbican and met Lily along with the other blogging buddies for a spot of afternoon tea to help celebrate her birthday. It was a lovely sunny day so we sat outside to enjoy the view over the lakes.

For only £13.95 you were given unlimited tea and a selection of sandwiches and cakes. The scone was ah-mazing! The service was a little hit and miss but the cakes made up for it. The sandwiches were a variety of fillings such a cucumber, smoked salmon and cheese, ham and mustard and egg cress. The ham and mustard ones were my favourite - they had just the right amount of kick. The lemon cheesecake went down a treat - tangy and creamy always make a good combination. I wasn't too keen on the custard-like filling of the éclair - I much prefer whipped cream in the middle.

It's nice little treat if you're in the area at the weekend. We all need an indulgence on a Sunday!

Have you ever eaten at the Barbican?

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Lets run away, get out of here. I got no money and I don't care.

Outfit:
Baby blue textured midi skirt: Topshop (similar)
White jersey crop top: Topshop (similar)
White chunky heeled courts: c/o Florence and Fred (similar)

It's been a while since I've embraced the crop top but I found this during a tidy up and was a little ashamed to see it still had the tags on it. Crop tops and full midi skirts are one of my favourite combinations to wear. It still looks classy but a little bit cheeky too. I'm never one to show a lot of flesh but this is a trend I can get on board with. I still feel a little covered up which is a plus for a 25-year-old granny. I can't be the only one who goes on a night out and wants to give the young girls my coat to cover their skimpy outfits? They look so cold!

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#languageoflove

La Redoute got in touch about their #languageoflife campaign which is encouraging people to break down emotional barriers and speak from the heart. They've released a cracking video showing a few people - dressed impeccable from the brand of course - opening up and telling their loved ones how they really feel. In a recent survey La Redoute found 22% of Brits last told someone that they loved them more than a year ago, or hadn't ever said those words at all. Make sure you click through as you'll have a lump in your throat! It's worth it to peak at Mr Redoute too!

They asked me to show the love and I thought who better than one of my best friends Jay. Basically this girl is me but a whole lot nicer. She's got a massive heart and nothing is too much trouble for her. She often puts everyone's needs above her own and takes a back seat so that the other person can benefit more. I often tell her she need to be tougher but to be honest she's pretty special the way she is. She warms my cold heart and keeps me in check.

She's the little devil on my shoulder telling me I definitely need to order a dessert despite eating till I feel sick, the encouragement I need during a spending spree when my bank account is looking tragic, the whisperer in my ear insisting that my wine glass should be full again, the tapper on my shoulder to inform me we should be owning the middle of the dance floor and the listener to all my irrational problems when I'm having a mini breakdown.

So this is me declaring my love for her and hoping that we're going to be the inappropriate 90 year old women flashing their knickers on the dance floor and embarrassing their grandkids.

This post was written in collaboration with La Redoute

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I'm not looking for a new England

Outfit:
Red checked cotton midi dress: ASOS (similar)
Light wash demin jacket: Primark (similar)
Gold ornate statement necklace: Car boot (similar)
White gem block heeled sandals: Next (similar)

I can't be the only one who's happy that summer seems to have picked up again? August was a bit of a wash out so fingers crossed September is due to be a scorcher. I went car booting at the weekend and picked up three necklaces - one of which i'm showcasing - and some amazing dinner plates for my non-exsistant house. You can't beat a bargain and i'm sad that there's not much of the car boot season left. The dress is an oldie but a goodie. It's my fail safe dress, something I turn to when I don't quite know what to wear or am in a rush to catch my train in the morning. It's so easy to throw on and helps to make you look presentable. I'm all about having not having to make much effort in the morning - beauty sleep is a precious thing!

This week is a quiet one and i'm looking forward being a hermit at home and not really going out. Sometimes life just gets too busy and as much as it's so nice to see friends, sometimes it's just as nice to sit indoors with Netflix for company and slobbing out in your pjs.

Does anyone else have any exciting plans for this week?

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Budget beauty

As much as I love buying a lotion and potion, I love buying dresses and skirts more. So i'm all over finding amazing products that do what they say in the tin and don't cost a fortune. These following poducts are currently on rotation and have been for quite a while!

VO5 Ultimate Hold Hairspray £3.05 - I found out about this on the blogger grapevine last year and have never looked back, purchasing time after time again. The can is massive and lasts for ages  - I'm not tight with hairspray either. It doesn't leave a sticky, horrible residue behind and it keeps your hair in check for hours.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula £5.89 - Ah this baby has been one of my best friends since I had a growth spurt at the tender age of around 12. I've used others but always come back to my old faithful. You just can't beat it! I can't get enough of the gorgeous smell and it leaves my skin so soft to touch. It always feels so luxurious. I can't ever imagine not using it.

Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Facial Scrub £3.99 - This is a new product i've been using for about a month. I picked it up on a whim in Boots as they had their 3 for 2 offer on. It promises to blast away dreaded blackheads and whilst it hasn't eliminated them completely, they're a lot better than they were. I use it around 4-5 days a week during my evening skincare routine. It doesn't leave my skin looking red and although it's not too scratchy on my face, it still feels like it's doing it's job.

Soap and Glory Hand Food £5.50 - Again this is a product that's been a staple for god knows how long. I suffer from extremely dry hands in the winter, so much so that if I don't keep an eye on them, they crack, bleed and become red raw. Very painful! But this gem helps to keep them in check. I love the smell and one bottle lasts for absolutely ages. I haven't found anything to beat this hand cream yet!

Batiste Dry Shampoo Brown Dark & Deep £3.99 - Ah the holy grail of dry shampoo. I was over the moon when they introduced products that matched hair colours - anyone else struggle to get rid of that pesky white patch? I don't really know what I can say that hasn't been said already. It's something every girl should have!

What are your favourite beauty buys?

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Polka dots filled my eyes.

Outfit:
White roll neck vest top: Topshop
Grey scuba polka dot midi skirt: Topshop (similar as sold out online)
White gem block heeled sandals: Next (similar)
Black leather Bayswater: Mulberry

This skirt is massive. Totally massive. It well and truly puts the 'full' in a full skirt. I was immediately drawn to it during a Topshop browse and went back to it three times, trying to persuade myself I needed to be sensible. For once. Clearly that worked out well. It just had to come home with me and two people have since told me it's got my name written all over it. All in all it sums up the fact it was the right decision to splash the cash. I adore the material and the fact it's just so bouncy and big. It makes me want to swirl around like a little girl and I'm even willing to overlook like fact it makes my bum put Beyoncé's to shame. There's no buyers regret happening at my end. In fact it's going to be hard to keep it off my body...

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