Holiday essentials

Ahhhhh, it's nearly time! Tomorrow, I fly out to Greece, but before I do, I thought I'd share with you my holiday essentials:

Bag⎜Michael Kors

The perfect tote to keep those holiday essentials in.

Book⎜Waterstones

A good holiday-read is a must have.

Travel Wallet⎜Aspinal of London

To keep those travel documents and currency safe.

Sunglasses⎜Topshop

Get ready for that midday sun!

Lipstick⎜Smashbox

To keep you looking photo ready at all times.

Bikini⎜Jack Wills

Ready to put on as soon as you get to your destination.

Happy holidays!!! I'll see you in two weeks time.

DIY: Holiday nails

I love preparing for going on holiday. Gradual tan, eyebrow and eyelash tints, waxing, nails, shopping!! It builds up your excitement and definitely makes the lead up to your holiday a lot less boring!

This year, I wanted to try something a bit different.

At Christmas, I opted for a sparkly nail to get into the festive spirit. For just £2.49, I received just as many compliments as I would have with £30 acrylic nails. A couple of months ago, I spotted these flamingo print nails in Primark for just £1 and thought that they might work just as well.

Buying nail glue costs around £2 from any shop and lasts around 1-2 weeks before the nail comes off. My initial thoughts would be that maybe the nails would be too cheap and maybe too good to be true, but, so far, as I've applied them with a better nail glue, they have stayed on very well.

The overall look of the nail is summery and fun, without being too bold. I paired the pink-printed look with a baby pink nail varnish for my toes and the two match very well. The colour does go with everything and is subtle enough to wear with printed clothes but can add more detail to a plain outfit.

For a bargain price, I will definitely be purchasing these again!!

Office look for summer

This dress makes this outfit effortless, just by being bold. The colour is suitable for the office and keeping accessories simple with straigh-forward tones and shapes will let your outfit do the talking!

Dressing for summer is difficult enough, without having to think about what to wear for work as well.  Work wear is easy - it allows you to mix and match items you'd wear everyday and specific items you buy purely for the office. But, when it gets warmer, you are constantly thinking about what you've worn and not wanting to wear the same outfit twice in one week. In winter, you can always get away with the same bottoms multiple days in a row; by wearing different tops, accessories and shoes.

Summer work wear means statement pieces. Sticking to the same accessories may feel boring but for the summer, it is a lot easier to keep with just one or two different pairs of shoes and the same handbag. The key is buying statement pieces in the sale that scream different! That way, your colleagues and clients will be focused more on what you're wearing than the fact you've worn the same watch and handbag three weeks in a row.

Dress - Mango

Bag - Michael Kors

Shoes - Kurt Geiger

Watch - Olivia Burton

Best of bikinis

Girls, it's that time of year again! Hours of looking for swimwear, changing room tantrums, realising that takeaway food is your enemy... all to find that perfect beach look.

With summer sales slowly taking over our wardrobes (and lives), searching for that statement bikini really is the last of your worries. They are simple everywhere! From printed to plain, one-piece's to teeny tiny bandeau's, whether you think it or not, there is really something for everyone.

I originally wanted to get a Triangl bikini. The bright colours and simple design seem effortless and they are bang on trend. However, having a look around, I found more that I have fallen in love with! I could easily spend hundreds of pounds but thankfully, for the sales, you can get what you're after for a cut of the price.

These are just some of my favourites:

Blue twisted bikini⎜Boux Avenue
Back detail one-piece⎜Victoria's Secret
Pink print bikini⎜Motel Rocks
Pink floral bikini⎜Accessorize
Wrap effect one-piece⎜French Connection

Happy Birthday George!

This brand new official image has been released just in time for the Royal Highness' birthday. As Prince George turns two, I thought I would reflect on the past two years and take a look at the top moments this special toddler has had:

1. Pubic debut

On 22nd July 2013, we met our future king.

2. Christening

Prince George was 'a good boy' at his Christening, his mother said.

3. Sydney Zoo

Prince George came up close with a bilby named after him.

4. Christmas

These first official photographs really show the toddler's personality.

5. Meeting his baby sister

Practicing his royal wave, Prince George visited his sister, Princess Charlotte, for the first time.

6. Beaufort Polo Club

While his father and uncle play polo, George is centre of attention for his mother.

6. Sibling photographs

Photographed by their mother, these images show the already close bond between the two.

7. Princess Charlotte's Christening

Looking the spitting image of his father, Prince George chatted to his great-grandmother.

As you can see, Prince George is always one for stealing the show! From his debut to becoming a big brother, the toddler has captured the nation over the past two years. The family are thought to be celebrating Prince George's second birthday at Anmer Hall sometime this week.

So, as our future king steps into his 'terrible twos', what can we expect next?..

Supermarket shopping

Sorry for being quiet the last few days, I've been so busy with organising my holiday/working!

However, running around organising and shopping gave me the best idea for this blog post. 

Supermarket shopping can be so boring; making a list, trying to be healthy, working out how much you've spend and constantly packing and unpacking leaves me feeling dull. Although, supermarkets now sell everything. I've never bothered looking at the clothes in supermarkets until this past weekend and I'm hooked. The latest trends and designs for a pinch of the price!
Now the school holidays are upon us, there's never been a better time to get out there, grab a bargain and stock up for your summer holiday...

Here's my top pick of the latest pieces from supermarket clothing lines:

1. Floral print cami - £16 Tu at Sainsbury's

2. Harem trousers - £15.60 M&S

3. Palm print bikini - £8 top £4 bottoms George at Asda

4. Striped co-ord set - £16 top £18 bottoms F&F at Tesco

5. Tassel necklace - £20 M&S

6. Floral jumpsuit - £16 George at Asda

Jewellery in July

This summer, jewellery is everywhere. Chains over bikinis, statement pieces to glam up for a night out, anklets for those summer strolls... when you're wearing simple, loose clothes to keep the heat away, the easiest way to make your outfit brighter and more interesting is to add loads of the latest jewellery!

Jewellery has always been a big thing; from hoop earrings to head chains, we've seen it all. Here's just a few of my favourite pieces, perfect for that summer getaway.

Body chain⎜River Island

A simple way to glam up that beach party bikini.

Anklet⎜Orelia at Topshop

A statement piece for a simple summer's day outfit.

Midi ring⎜Accessorize

Bang on trend for an understated but unique look.

Bracelet⎜Michael Kors

This will glam up any outfit; from high-street shopping to high-end bars.

Collar necklace⎜Topshop

Beaded necklace to add a splash of colour.

Film review: Amy

Before watching Amy, I had never really looked into her life that much. Amy Winehouse passed away when I was 15, before I was interested in how her life really played out. I just simply believed that she was a brilliant singer and songwriter.

The film, directed by Asif Kapadia, is a complete exhibition of her life; through the pain, love, music, suffering and passion that glowed out of her in every moment. The film is created as a timeline, from a confident 14 year old girl to a suffering 27 year old woman, the journey Amy Winehouse took through fame and personal problems is evident throughout. Home videos, paparazzi clips and interviews all show the true life of Amy and how, despite all of the media-fuelled rumours, she fought her way through fame and kept grounded to what she truly believed in; music and love.

They say love conquers all. In Amy, we see the full scale of how relationships can have a huge affect on how someone behaves, how you will do anything for those you love. 

For Amy, music was definitely her first love. The footage of her singing at birthday parties, a starry-eyed adolescent who dreamt of writing and creating her own music, accelerated when she met her first manager, Nick Shymansky. He saw the passion for music Amy had and soon made her dream a reality with her debut album, Frank.

The people interviewed for the film, including Nick, not only show a love for Amy's music and aspirations but they truly love and know her as a person and this really comes across in the film. The words they speak of her give a insight into the loving, funny, kind hearted girl that the public should have really known and not asked any more from.

The downwards spiral of Amy's life is emotionally shown and we see the pieces that were all part of the pain she endured throughout her life. The divorce between her parents, the rocky relationship she had with Blake Fielder-Civil, her introduction to drugs, the reliance on alcohol and her fight with bulimia. At the time, she was primarily shown as a party girl who was dependant on drink and drugs, and I really wish I had never believed everything I read and was told back then. Amy's fight with bulimia was never spoken about, the difficulties she had when it came to being bombarded with paparazzi and doing everything to keep her boyfriend happy was never documented in a way that Amy showed. 

The footage from around the time Back To Black was released was unbelievably moving. The heartache after divorce, the pain Amy felt for herself, the struggle through rehab and becoming sober again. She looks lost, vulnerable.

Amy comes to an end with uplifting video from Abbey Road Studios, of herself and Tony Bennett recording Body and Soul, just 3 months from her death. Nervous and quiet, Amy is in awe of her idol and it definitely shows the true passion Amy Winehouse had for music. She wants to get everything right, to not ruin her chances and Bennett is incredibly understanding and calm.

However incredibly sad, the film also leaves you wanting more. Wanting to know if she would have been able to control herself, the media and her relationships. Wanting to know if she'd have ever produced another fantastic album, or sang live with her idols who had her fall in love with jazz.

I believe that watching the film has really made me think about not only the life Amy Winehouse lived, but the lives of celebrities altogether. The media's intrusion, the pressure of the public and how people are always suffering, whether it is documented or not. 

Amy has put a lot of things into perspective and shows that in the end, love really is a losing game.

Bellbroughton lunching

My day off work yesterday meant only one thing, catching up with Nan and Grandad after their holiday. I hadn't seen them in ages!

We went for lunch at The Bell in Bellbroughton and I can't wait to go back already - the food was amazing. I had a chicken dish with a lemon, honey and chilli jus and roquito peppers and pea shoots. It was delicious.

For pudding, I decided on the damson, plum and apple shortbread crumble. Mmmmm. I usually go for something chocolatey, but, I fancied something a bit different and this was definitely a good choice. Maybe next time I'll opt of the salted caramel chocolate pot. 

The presentation of the food was very good, and made it even more enjoyable. The pub was quiet and the choice of wine/ciders and cocktails was endless - it's a good job I was driving later, I would have definitely struggled to choose.

Unfortunately, the lighting above me did not do the food justice!!!

After consuming all of those calories, we decided to head to a local country park to go on a walk. Well, that's what we had in mind anyway. It started off well and we followed all of the signs, leading us over the top of a hill and down the other side. 

Grandad, however, decided that we seemed too close to the motorway and picked our route for the way back. After getting stranded in a field full of cows, we started the climb up another hill. It wasn't until we got to the top we realised there were no gates or stiles, and had to climb over barbed wire fences ourselves, in what we thought was the direction of the start.

After nearly an hour of climbing over fences and in my case, getting my foot cut and bitten by insects, we made it back. Just an hour later than planned!

It was a lovely day out and I will definitely be returning to The Bell for another lunch out soon. Maybe I'll just miss the field walking next time...

Highstreet handbags

There is no better accessory to an outfit than a great handbag. I absolutely love them - they will always be the one item I can't stop buying. Whether I already have a handbag a similar colour, style or print, if I see a handbag I fall in love with, I will get it.

This summer, handbags are bringing it back. The most mainstream handbag trends at the moment are definitely back packs and duffle bags, brought together with neutral colours and fringing, to create a statement look which not only will leave people staring but also being simple enough to still let your outfit do the talking.

Out shopping, I have noticed that you don't need to break the bank to afford a designer looking handbag. To complete your outfit, here's a few that I've seen on the high street:

1. Textured cross body bag £55⎜French Connection

A simple, elegant bag that will add structure to any outfit.

2. Reversible leather tote bag £39⎜Urban Outfitters

Great for shopping trips and travelling, reversible bag means two for the price of one!

3. Faux suede panelled backpack £30⎜River Island 

Bang on trend and very expensive looking; an absolute steal. 

4. Black panel duffle bag £16⎜New Look

Work this summers trend at a fraction of the price.

5. Fringed clutch £23⎜Zara

My favourite of the moment, dress up for glamour or down for a festival feel.

Festival fashion

Attending a festival isn't all about music and friends, it's a playground for summer fashion. Keeping a close eye on celebrity festival fashion and summer trends will leave you wanting to show off your new purchases, and a festival is the perfect place to!

Here's my festival fashion essentials:

1. Hoodie

A hoodie or light jacket/kimono is a festival must, especially in the UK. It may be hot all day but as soon as the sun goes down, you'll be freezing in high waisted shorts and a bralet. A hoodie will definitely keep you dancing away until the sun comes up!

2. Sunglasses

Sunglasses don't only accessorise your outfit perfectly but they really do help when you're in the sun all day! You'll be more likely to be able to see what's going on in that midday sun, but make sure you opt for a good pair with a pattern or colour.

3. Fringing

Fringing is everywhere at the moment, from the spring catwalks to the high-street stores. Whether it be a bag, kimono, top or boot, anything with a fringe is a must-have for a festival this summer.

4. Bandana

Whether you're reaching the last day of your festival weekend or just want something to prevent that horrible parting burn, a bandana will help. Keeping your hair tied up and out of the way will stop you from burning your scalp and help with greasy-ness! A bright colour and pattern will add to your outfit.

5. Statement item

When it comes to festival fashion, try not to clash patterns and colours too much. A printed bumbag may look good with a flowery playsuit but it's better to stick with simple colours and use one item, along with accessories, to create a bolder look.

From both pictures shown:

Bandana - Vintage

Sunglasses - ASOS

Top - Topshop

Hoodie - Adidas

Shirt - The White Company

Bumbag - The Lost Lanes

Shorts - Topshop

Shoes - Converse

Jewellery - Michael Kors

Wireless weekend

Waking up this morning, I still feel a buzz from the weekend. 

On Saturday morning, we both couldn't wait to get to Finsbury Park and see some of our favourite acts perform. From MNEK to Avicii, Gorgon City to Kendrick Lamar, this was going to be such a good weekend!

We decided to stay in Reading for the night. As it is a non-camping festival, Reading is a lot closer for us to drive but still convenient for travelling into London without much planning. I was booking the hotel and wanted to make it nice and relaxed for both of us so I chose to stay at the Pentahotel. The bar and lounges were amazing and the hotel was a short walk from the train station and town. I would definitely recommend the hotel for anyone travelling to London.

 We found it really easy to find our way around the underground lines and made it to Finsbury Park for around quarter to one. Getting into the festival was easy and quick but once we were in there, it soon got very, very busy! We'd already looked at the stage times and had a pretty good idea of who we were going to see. The layout of the festival was good and the stages not too far apart, but with plenty of different bars and food stalls.

After staying at the main stage to watch a few of the earlier acts, we headed over to the Pepsi Max tent to see MNEK and Robin Schulz. Although it was pretty much a sweatbox, we didn't really care, both the acts were amazing. My favourite performance on that stage has to be MNEK - Never Leave You; such a good atmosphere.

We spent most of the afternoon at the main stage where we saw Gorgon City, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar and headliner, Avicii. All artists were amazing and definitely got the crowd going, building up the atmosphere for the night. 

After Childish Gambino we headed over to the smallest stage, where Stormzy was mid-way through his set. The crowd for him was insane and we got there just as he had announced Krept and Konan to the stage. Hyped up, it only took us a few seconds to realise that we were stood right next to MNEK, who had just finished performing with Gorgon City. He was such a nice guy and happily spoke to us, while taking pictures on my phone.

My highlight of the day was definitely Kendrick Lamar; the crowd were really enthusiastic and the songs that he performed were incredible. You could tell that a lot of people had come just to see him and the impact his songs had on the crowd left everyone wanting more. Avicii also ended the night with a bang, performing old and current songs, along with remixes of classic dance tracks. 

It was such a good day and I'm so glad we picked Wireless as our festival for this year. Now, back to work... enjoy your Monday!!

Festival Essentials

I'm finally off to Wireless tomorrow and I'm so excited! Yesterday, I went to do some last minute shopping to get all the necessities I need. As it is a non-camping festival, I didn't have too much trouble so for your non-camping festival essentials, these are what I think is most important:

1. Bumbag

A bumbag is the most handy summer accessory you'll buy. It keeps all of your belongings safe, easily accessible and right where you can see them. Just make sure you buy one with an inside pocket and a cool summery design.

2. Hand Sanitiser 

Hand sanitiser is an absolute must when you're going to a festival. Every time you go to the toilet or wash your hands, no matter how clean you think you are, you will need hand sanitiser to get rid of those portaloo germs!

3. Suntan Lotion

UK festival's are typically known for raining and being covered in mud, but there's the odd occasion British weather will surprise us. With this heatwave at the moment, be sure to take a travel-size lotion with you to avoid burning from head to toe!

4. Bandana

Even after the first day of your festival weekend, you will feel like your hair needs a good hair mask blow dry. No amount of dry shampoo will seem to cure it! A bandana (or hat) will cover up your greasy hair and keep it stylish for the rest of the weekend.

5. Sunglasses 

Sunglasses never go out of fashion! Aviators, cat-eye, club masters and wayfarers will make a come back every year so be sure to protect yourself this summer.

The love of lipsticks

I can't leave the house without a lipstick, it's definitely the one makeup item that I love. With so many different shades, colours and types, any one you choose will be sure to make a statement.

Summer is the perfect time to invest in that great lipstick; with most lipsticks having SPF and lipstick being one of the makeup items you can wear all year round, even when you aren't wearing foundation.

So, here's just a few of my must haves when it comes to lips:

• Red Lipstick

A red lipstick is perfect for pairing with tanned skin and instantly glams up any outfit. Brilliant for day time with simple white clothes or to brighten up a summer night. My favourite is Bobby Brown's Sweet Nectar.

• Nude Lipstick

For when you want to make a statement with your eyes. A nude lipstick looks good but doesn't look too much. Again, Bobby Brown's Pink Apricot Shimmer gives that bit of gold glow but is subtle enough for when you want to tone it down.

• An every-day lipstick

I make sure I wear lipstick everyday and pink is usually the safest colour to go for. My must have is MAC's Sweetie but for when I want it to last longer and look more matte, I go for my all-time favourite Smashbox's Primrose.

• Lipgloss

I haven't always liked lip gloss as I prefer a matte look to my lips but when I received a lip gloss set for Christmas, I started to like the look a bit more. My favourite is Soap and Glory's lipgloss crayon in Raplumzel. The darker shade is lovely by itself or on top of lipstick.

• Lip liner

I never thought about lipliner really until I went into MAC and realised how many people lusted over making their lips look fuller (thanks, Kylie Jenner). I adore MAC's Soar liner but for everyday use, it has to be Rimmel's Exaggerate in Eastend Snob.