Friday 27 June 2014

OOTD - Floral Kimono


Kimono - Primark
Vest - Primark
Jeans - Topshop
Shoes - Primark
Necklace - Spanish market stall


My recent holiday to Murcia in Spain allowed me to dress up and take some outfit photos in some actual sunshine! I wore this outfit one evening when it was a little chilly due to the sea breeze - covering my shoulders with this pretty kimono just kept the edge off the cool air. I spotted this kimono on a recent trip to Primark and bought it in a huge haul along with the black flatform shoes I'm wearing above. I love this kimono and think it looks glam enough to wear on an evening out or dressed down with denim shorts or a bikini for the beach. Here I've teamed it with a plain black vest, light blue Leigh jeans from Topshop, black flatforms (so comfy!) and a cute gold statement necklace I bought from a little market stall whilst in Spain for 2€! 


What do you think? How would you style a kimono?

Monday 23 June 2014

Yours Truly Organics Skincare Review

If you've read my recent post about the chemicals added to skincare products then you'll like this post! In my quest to find more natural and organic products I discovered 'Yours Truly Organics' on Twitter and I was kindly sent four of their products to try by the founder, Kelita Bignall.



Kelita began making her own skincare products after years of suffering from acne and scarring. Fed up of temporary fixes from prescription strength remedies, she began attending courses and educating herself on the science of skin and how to make your own skincare products. Her skin began to clear up and friends and family started asking her for advice - it was then that Yours Truly Organics was created, a line of organic skincare products that actually affect change in the skin and are free from harmful and unecessary chemicals. The range is also animal cruelty free, Vegetarian Society approved and Ecocert certified. So, how did I get on with the products...






Take It Away! Gel Cleanser

This is a lovely cleanser with a runny consistency which is enriched with vitamin C and sandalwood oil. The first thing I noticed about this was the smell - it's amazing! It reminded me of orange flavoured sweets and smells good enough to eat! The cleanser lathers up well with warm water and leaves my skin feeling clean and soft. You only need one pump of the cleanser as a little goes a long way, so I think the £22 retail price for a 150ml bottle is really reasonable because I can see this lasting a good while.


Balancing Toner

The balancing toner contains witch hazel and aloe vera to soothe and repair the skin and return it to its optimal pH level. It comes in a handy spray bottle so can be sprayed directly onto the face and neck or applied with a cotton pad. I like to apply this with a cotton pad after cleansing and it leaves my skin feeling refreshed and ready to be moisturised. It's the first toner I've used that doesn't leave my skin feeling tight and dry and I love the subtle smell of the lavender and lemongrass ingredients. A 150ml bottle can be purchased for £19.


Fix Me! Repairing Serum

I really like this serum and I think it has helped with the general appearance of my skin. Enriched with oat kernel and sesame seed extract this serum is said to reduce inflammation caused by blemishes whilst smoothing and repairing your skin. Only a tiny bit of serum is needed for the whole face (literally a pea sized amount) and it absorbs into the skin so quickly without leaving any residue at all. I'm really impressed with this product and it's now an important part of my daily routine. Although a little pricey at £28, I think this is a great addition to anyone's skincare routine.


Face Base Face Balm

This moisturising face balm is formulated with pea extract and daisy flower extract which is said to improve elasticity, regulate sebum production and brighten your skin's complexion. I have to admit, I didn't think that my combination skin would like this rich moisturising balm and at first it didn't. However, I soon discovered I was using far too much product so it wasn't being absorbed into my skin and was leaving a greasy residue! After reducing the amount I started to like this balm and even more so because it has made the dry patches round my mouth and chin completely disappear! It also has a lovely fresh citrus smell to it which again smells good enough to eat! I've been using this for several weeks now and it looks like hardly any has gone - well worth the £25 retail price as I think this will last for months!




Overall I really like this range and I think it has made a noticeable difference to my skin. I still have an oily T-zone which I think I'll just have to live with, but the dry parts of my skin have completely disappeared since using this range. I also love the fact that all the products contain natural and organic ingredients with no hidden nasties and I can genuinely feel this when using them. If you're interested in the Yours Truly Organics range then you can find out more about them  here

Have you tried the range before? Which natural/organic products do you use?

Friday 20 June 2014

OOTD - Monochrome & Statement Necklace





Shirt - Primark

Jeans - Topshop
Shoes - Primark
Statement Necklace* - Diva Eva Couture

This has to be my favourite outfit at the moment, I think it's just the right mix of smart-casual. I love my Leigh jeans from Topshop, I think they are really comfy and it's so easy to dress them up or down. The shirt (£6) and shoes (£10) are absolute bargains that I picked up in Primark recently and I'm wearing them loads at the moment. I'm also in love with this beautiful statement necklace* from Diva Eva Couture - florals and pastels are huge trends this season and this necklace ticks both boxes! I can see me using this to add some glamour and colour to lots of outfits this Spring/Summer.


How will you be accessorising your outfits this season?

Monday 16 June 2014

Inspiration Awards For Women 2014

If you've never heard of the 'Inspiration Awards for Women' before then you're the reason I'm writing this post. I only discovered them myself a few weeks ago and after speaking to some of the organisers I knew I had to get involved in some way!




Set up 8 years ago to inspire the next generation of young girls with stories of amazing women and role models, the Inspiration Awards for Women is an annual event to celebrate all things female and the wonderful things us girls can achieve through everything from business to music to putting our lives on the line for others. This year's event will take place on the 2nd October at the beautiful Cadogan Hall in London. Nominations opened on the 9th May and will close on the 15th August. You can make your nominations over at www.inspirationawards.co.uk

Last year's winners included Lorraine Kelly 'Inspirational Celebrity' and Jessica Ennis-Hill 'Aspirational Celebrity'. Amazing ladies such as Martina Milburn (CEO of the Prince's Trust) and Claire Horton (CEO of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home) have also being acknowledged at previous events. 

The Awards Night will be a star studded event and will be sure to be full of emotion, pride, tears and laughter. Best of all, the proceeds raised on the night will all go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer - a hugely worthwhile cause. 

So get over to the website now, make your nomination and see how else you can get involved!

Friday 13 June 2014

Spanish Summer Holiday!

It's been a couple of weeks now since I returned home from my annual family holiday to a little village called Los Alcazares near Murcia in Spain. I've been visiting this place for about 7 years now and I absolutely love it! It's the most relaxing and peaceful place I've been to and is totally void of all the usual 'British-ness' associated with tourist resorts in Spain. As soon as I step off the plane at tiny San Javier airport I just feel at home and so chilled out!

We stay at the same complex each time we visit and everything is within walking distance from the villa - the supermarket, the beach, the local market and the 'plaza' full of restaurants, shops and coffee bars.



The weather can sometimes be a bit hit and miss in May but this year we had a week full of sunshine and it was lovely to escape the rain at home and soak up some rays (whilst wearing sun lotion obviously!)

One of my favourite things about this area is the beach. It's so beautiful and is honestly the quietest beach I have ever seen! Having miles of soft golden sand all to yourself for a nice long walk after breakfast is such a great feeling!


The food is always great in the restaurants here and we ate a three course meal pretty much every night! We had everything from steak to sea bass to a huge Chinese banquet.

One of my favourite bars to go to is called Boulevard which is a coffee shop/ice cream parlour by day and cocktail bar by night. The staff are so friendly and always appreciate my attempts at ordering in Spanish! They also make the most delicious Coco Loco cocktails!


I was sad to be coming home after a fabulous seven days in the sunshine but it's nice to know that whenever I do return there it always feels like a second home.

Where are you going on your holidays this year?

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Kara's Blow Dry Event



A fortnight ago I was lucky enough to attend an event at Kara's Blow Dry on John Dalton Street in Manchester which was organised by the lovely Stephanie at Ledigo PR. This was the second event I attended which had been organised by Ledigo PR and they did not disappoint!

The event was held as an open evening for new and existing clients and also marked the salon's second birthday.

Having never been to the salon before, I found it really easy to find - just off Deansgate in the centre of Manchester. It's a nice big open salon and we were welcomed with glasses of bubbly and canapés from local restaurant 47 King St. West. 


There were a few paparazzi outside trying to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous Roxanne Pallett (who was being pampered at the salon in preparation for opening night of her theatre show) and Key 103's Chelsea Norris who was looking equally fabulous and very tanned following a recent holiday. 

A duo of glamorous make up artists from Artiste Creative were on hand in the salon to treat guests to make overs using Motives products. I had a smokey eye look done and loved it! I hadn't heard of Motives before but I will definitely be looking into this brand as I thought the products were great. 

I took my bestie along and we both sampled one of the famous curly blow dries by one of the 'Blowettes'. My fine, flat hair was transformed within 20 minutes into a big and bouncy creation! I was so surprised as I can never get any volume in my hair at all, but these girls obviously know what they're doing!


Prices are really reasonable - starting from only £18 for a curly blow dry - and I think the salon is ideally placed for busy ladies to pop in and have their hair transformed before an important event, a job interview or a night out. 

I was really impressed with the salon and would definitely recommend it. I also had a brief chat with the owner, Kara, who was lovely and she even knew who I was when I mentioned the name of my blog which was a bit overwhelming (...little old me?!?!)

Have you been to Kara's before? What do you think of the big and bouncy blow dries?
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