Rainy days on Mondays

If you're in the UK then your'e fully aware of the torrential downpour of rain we've had over this past week. So keeping myself busy indoors only stretches so far and I found myself painting my nails about four different times in three days. It might seem strange but I consider this research, thorough research. I braced the stormy weather, put on my wellies and headed to my local Boots for a little "research." I bought a couple reds from one brand and a couple bright spring colours from another but I found myself settling on the prettiest purple I've ever seen! It's a cross between a plum and an aubergine colour - that's egg plant for all my fellow Americans. It sounds strange but there's also this slight sparkle tint when light hits it which makes it look so pretty! Oh and of course the name, 'Revenge.' I've always wanted the job title of the person who get's to pick the names of nail polishes. If you look at OPI colours, you'd know what I mean.

17 Fast Finish Nail Polish in Revenge.

Who's tried it?

Battle of the dry shampoo

I'm not very particular when it comes to hair products. I don't have the desire to spend loads of money but I like to keep a variety around - old, new, expensive and cheap. It's all really the same to me and I like to try everything. Dry shampoo on the other hand, I tend to be a bit picky. Ever since dry shampoo has been dubbed the ultimate beauty accessory to have I've dabbled in a few different brands. I'm a little funny with the smell of them though; I never really like to have an overpowering or lingering odour - It sort of puts me off.

Here's some of my favourites:

I have actually tried every single one of these and they were all really good but my ultimate pick it the Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical. I know what I said about the odour thing but I think It's because I bought it just before I went on holiday once and the smell really reminds me of being on a beach somewhere. It is called tropical after all!

What are your top picks?

Glamping

Since moving to the UK, I tend to relish in everything that reminds me of the US -  this includes bad reality TV. Being from Orange County, It would be a crime against my nature if I didn't keep up to date on what is the phenomenon surrounding the Real Housewives franchise. Obviously the Real Housewives of Orange County is my pick - the original might I add. Anyway, on Tuesday's episode the women all decide to go camping - housewives style.

The term "glamping" has been thrown around quite a lot on  and I never really took interest in it. I'd usually sigh and roll my eyes but after watching the latest episode I found myself thinking that this is a type of camping I could definitely do. The episode took place at El Capitan Canyon just outside Santa Barbara California. It looked absolutely amazing and It made me really want to go. For those that don't know, here's the gist. You get these cute cabins that have bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom and running water! On the site they also have this little market where you can order all your food and alcohol. It all gets brought to your camp site where they help you set up your own personal bonfire! You basically don't have to bring a thing with you... it's all there for you! Now I've looked into some of the glamping sites in the UK and picked my favourites:

Holly Farm Holidays

Pentre Mawr Country House

 

Luxury Cornish Yurts

Now it may not be California but It's still pretty amazing!

Here's my go to glamping gear.

Love the colour. Perfect for festivals and of course glamping!

This Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent weekend tote is great for over night stays.

Im obsessed with J brand jeans! They're my all time favourite jeans.

What's your take on glamping?

So friendly

I really like friendship bracelets, but I'm not much of a fan of charm bracelets where you keep filling different charms around a chain, so when browsing one night I stumbled upon a brand new retailer called Charlotte Alice who happens to have exactly what I was looking for. First of all I want to say kudos to Charlotte Alice for creating a great website to show off all the details around the bracelet. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say, nothing puts us off a product more when there's a crappy website that goes along with it. So well done for such an adorable website! The bracelets are such a cute idea for a gift or great for when you want to buy yourself a little something and not feel guilty about it. I myself suffer from buyers remorse so I can safely tell you at £3.99, you're in the clear.

I was so excited when it came this morning. It was sent in a small envelope and carefully wrapped with bits of a fashion magazine which I thought was such a good idea and eco-friendly too! The one I picked was the Tree of Life charm on a lilac cord and I love it! I'm so pleased with my purchase and I've already got my eyes set on the silver leaf for my next buy.

Have a peak at Charlotte Alice and tell me what you think!

Absolutely

There's nothing like good vodka but when you pair it with my adopted town of London... It's even better! I was walking through Waitrose... as you do, and as I was on my way to the magazine aisle where I spotted the limited edition bottle of Absolut London. The bottle was designed by Jamie Hewlett and looks like something out of a Gorillaz music video or a Quentin Blake sketch. Funnily enough, Hewlett is of Gorillaz fame.

He joins previous designers like Tom Ford, Stella McCartney and Versace who've also done designs for the famous brand. I love when collaborations like this come out, especially when London or England at that have so much to celebrate this year. So whether your celebrating the Jubilee this June or getting ready for the Olympics then pick up one, or two of these bad boys and let the cocktails flow. I'll be doing the same!

Pick one up at your local Waitrose or Harvey Nichols!

What do you guys think of the limited edition bottle?

What's in your bag?

I always get asked why my handbag is so heavy and I usually reply that it's all full of necessary things. Here's my necessities:

Foley and Corinna Handbag: A celeb favourite! This mid city tote is the perfect beige colour for the hot summer months. It's definitely my go to bag for spring!

Louis Vuitton zippy wallet: I love a large wallet - I don't know why but I've never been able to cope with a small one. This LV favourite fits everything from receipts to cash and coins.

Altoids mints: I always have chewing gum or mints on me. These Altoids smalls are my favourite brand but I think they only sell them in the US. If you get a chance grab some in the wintergreen flavour, they're the best!

Rosebud Salve: If you've ever read about any celebrities boasting about their best beauty products, then chances are you've seen this on there. I've been obsessed with this lip balm since I was about 13 and it's absolutely amazing. I'm usually pretty good about trying new beauty products but with this is one, I've never been able to part.

Betsey Johnson sunglasses: I love these glasses! I think it's the California girl in me but I always carry sunglasses with me. I'm an optimist so I'm always prepared for any sunny day that may appear. Rihanna even has them! See it here!

Dolce and Gabanna reading glasses: I've never been good with wearing reading glasses but with 20/10 vision, I've been forced to use them. When I went to pick my pair I couldn't leave without these D&G red rimmed glasses.

Leopard print diamante compact mirror: Not in a vain way but I think it's a good idea to carry some sort of compact mirror with you wherever you go... you never know when you need to check to see if lipstick has smudged onto your teeth! This mirror has saved me from lots of embarrassing moments!

Paul Smith for women perfume: I like to carry some sort of spray with me for when I need a touch up when I'm on the go. I've got quite a collection of perfume but this week my favourite is this Paul Smith one. It's such a girly smell and really makes me feel refreshed.

MAC studio fix: I don't know anyone who doesn't love MAC, I personally love any kind of makeup they produce and this studio fix is perfect for covering up any dark circles or blemishes.

Barry M nail paint: I tend to keep whatever polish I have on my nails in my bag in case I need to do any emergency touch-ups. My new favourite is the magnetic range by Barry M.

Like my bag? Get yours at Revolveclothing.com 

Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice is a fan! 

One Tree Hill star Shantel VanSanten has mine in beige!

What's in your bag?

Mag-nificent!

Of all the different nail polishes out there, the magnetic nail polish range by Barry M is by far the best! I've been mulling over for a while which brand I was going to go with and I never could decide. I found some too expensive and some too cheap looking but when I had another sneaky browse through Boots the other day, I set my eyes on this one in magnetic blue. My over all rating is 5 out of 5 stars! The only tip I would give to new users is you have to hold the magnet really close to the wet polish... almost touching which took me a while to figure out. I kept holding it about an inch away from the nail and was really disappointed when nothing happened. When I finally got the hang of it I was pleasantly surprised when it made the design it promised. Some of them even turned out looking like Union Jacks! Have a look at the Barry M website where there's a few other colours to choose from.

Have you guys tried any of the magnetic ranges? What did you think?

Corsets and Diet Coke

I absolutely love Diet Coke but I always thought it was in serious need of a makeover! I usually try to stay away from it as much as I can but now that these Jean Paul Gaultier designed bottles have come out, I just can't resist.  I'm such a sucker for anything in a pretty bottle or box as I'm sure most of you are - after all that's marketing for you! I find myself even buying the original glass bottles of Diet Coke from time to time even though they're way over priced than your regular can o' coke. But this, I just couldn't resist. Jean Paul Gaultier has become the new creative director for Diet Coke in Europe and he's come up with these adorable styles that resemble his perfume bottles. Obviously it's going to be a rarity when you see a guy walking down the street with one of these in his hand but I think they're just the cutest! I think I'll be sticking a flower in my empties and putting it on my kitchen table.

What do you guys think?

Available from Harvey Nichols now!

Red isn't just for Christmas

I love a Sunday browse through Boots. I always leave a happy camper - usually with another varnish to add to my collection. This trip, I brought back this fab polish from Barry M. This is the first time I've bought something from Barry M and I'm really pleased that I did. I have your regular bright reds and deep reds but nothing like this.I don't know how I've never noticed it before but I absolutely fell in love. I'm a big fan of red and not just for Christmas. This colour goes with everything and really makes any plain outfit pop.

What do you guys think of the colour?

Nail Paint by Barry M in Red Glitter

Bejewled

After a terrible week I was so happy to stumble upon a website called Storm in a Teacup. Nothing cheers me up like a new find. The unbelievably cute range of jewellery is all handmade by Jennifer, who runs the jewellery range. After browsing through the gorgeous pieces of jewels, I set my sights on this amazing yellow-stone bracelet. The Lemony Snicket vintage bracelet is held together by a chunky copper chain which only adds to the look of the precious stone. I'm loving the yellow colour!

I like to use the phrase 'I'm sure H&M has something similar' but in this case I can't seem to say it. This type of look is something to invest in. The fact that the jewellery is carefully handmade makes it that much more special - and it doesn't even break the bank! It's an absolute amazing piece and I don't have anything similar to it in my jewellery box. This is a purchase I'll be making asap!

Lemony Snicket Bracelet £16

Some further favourites

Check out the website and have a look at the amazing collection!

Green is the new red

Ever since I saw last year's episode of Made in Chelsea where Chloe Green talks about starting up a shoe line that was going to have green soles like Louboutin's red sole, I got so excited! My first thought was, 'why hasn't anyone thought of this before?' and my second thought was, 'I am definitely going to be buying a pair.'

Well now the time has come and CJG shoes (The Chloe Jade Green collection) is launching on the 17th of May and I can't wait. They look amazing from the pictures I've seen, but they seem a bit high for my liking. I'm sure they'll be all different styles and heights and I am now literally counting down the days, and pennies till the launch. Finally a Louboutin-esque shoe that I can afford. Now this is a trend I can jump on board with.

Are you guys looking forward to CJG shoes?

What do you guys think? Excited? 

The next best thing

I may be a little outdated here but I've loved the Van Cleef and Arpels clover necklace ever since I saw Reese Witherspoon wearing it - it was about 3 or 4 years ago but I still think it's just the cutest thing. Seeing as that it sells for about £3,000 depending on the style - I just didn't think I'd be wearing it anytime soon. But I couldn't stop lusting after it so I did a little search around for similar necklaces and I stumbled across this Aideen Diamante Flower Necklace from SoInFashion.com. I just love the flowers and the length of the necklace. This is definitely the most similar to the Van Cleef and Arpels original but its almost a bit better because its simple with less clovers, after all less is more! I may have to do a little shopping next pay day!

Van Cleef and Arpels clover necklace $4,995

Reese Witherspoon in her Van Cleef and Arpels necklace

Aideen So In Fashion Diamante Flower Necklace £5.00

 Have you guys found any similar replicas of your favourite designers?

Polyvore

If you don't already know about Polyvore then I suggest you jump on board. It's such a fun website with cool fashion tips where you can create your own style pages. You can submit it to the site where people can view what you've put together. I've always just enjoyed looking at other peoples pages but this time I decided to make one of my own!

Alice and Olivia sweater - $368

Moschino lace jacket - $2,750

Tigha Tara sheep leather shorts - $170

Isabel Marant jeans - $230

Porselli flats - $170

Prada bag - £1,250

Mango aviator sunglasses - £18

Ellie Saab clutch - $1,014

Jones of New York bracelet - $20

Monet earrings - no price

yellow wedges - no description

The jeans and jumper look - I thought it would be such a cute outfit for daytime shopping 

The leather shorts and lace blazer - would be great for a night our with the girls. I love the yellow wedges! I think It brightens up the outfit. 

My favourite piece in the whole set is the electric blue Prada bag! That is defo going on my want list! 

Have you ever done a style page on Polyvore? 

Celeb style steals

Here's some celeb styles I'm loving at the moment. Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss are your obvious style heroes, but I think these celebs put a lot of really great pieces together and never get as much credit for it. So here's my tribute to these celeb lovelies. 

Miranda Kerr has an absolute amazing figure (obvs... she's a model with a hot husband) but I think even the simplest items like a jean jacket and black maxi she makes look great! I'm pretty sure I have all of the ingredients to make this outfit myself hanging in my closet somewhere, as I'm sure most of you do as well but I just won't do it justice quite like she does. 

I sometimes Bilson looks like she's is wearing a pair of old curtains but other times I find myself  really liking her look. I love this outfit for a night out. I'm big on leather (or pleather) shorts this season and I think she really pulls this off. 

I like to think of Lauren Conrad as my guilty pleasure. Seeing as she's from just down the road from where I grew up, I should include her in this list. I think this outfit is so cute! I love the bright blue clutch as it brightens up all the black she's wearing. I'm completely guilty of buying her style book by the way and I have to say that I love it and recommend it! It's a great read. 

Of course there's Olivia Palermo... She's probably most famous for being that really bitchy girl on The Hills spin off show Whitney, but I have to say the girl can pull off a trash bag if she wanted to. She's also really good at mixing high street and couture in her daily outfits and I really love what she pulls together.

What celeb looks are you loving this season? xx

Friday is Laundry day

Hello everyone and happy Friday! After a long week of work I decided to treat myself on my lunch break and wander into a cute boutique that's around the corner from work. I drive by Laundry everyday and I thought today's the day I venture in and see what it's all about. Well was I ever surprised! Everything inside was so cute... and I mean everything! The decor, the clothes and of course the jewellery - all amazing. After browsing through the rails of pastels and flowing tops, I settled on a peach coloured waterfall jacket. Now, there are times that I worry when wearing light colours because I don't want it to make me look washed out but I figured with summer coming up and all - I could do with some light colours in my wardrobe. Well here it is! What do you all think of my new purchase?

Have you guys made any new purchases this week?

Wish lists and want lists

Hi everyone! I wanted to share with you my want list. I don't really like using the word "wish" list because when I say it, it kind of makes me think that I'll never get it - and I like to aim high... but achievable. Some of these goodies aren't too far out of reach and others... might take me a while to grab.

These Topshop wedges are so cute and are great for spring/summer. I can just imagine a maxi dress and a denim jacket going well with these bad boys. 

These Topshop colour-block shoes have been on my to get list (like a to do list)  for a while now and I still keep putting them off. I love the colours and I've tried them on loads of times in the store so I know they're comfy. Hopefully soon I'll be adding these to my shoe wall.

I've been wanting to try this oil for ages and just never got around to it. I'm just worried that it'll make my hair too oily looking.... has anyone tried this and what did you think?

How gorgeous is this YSL bag! I am definitely in love. I have an obsession with black leather bags - I have so many. Each time I plan to get a new bag, I always come home with another black leather. With this one though, I think I'll make an exception.

I am absolutely obsessed with this nail polish. I think it looks amazing! Although its a bit pricey for me I may just break the bank for one of these caviar nail polishes. 

What's on your wish list?