Showing posts with label H&M. Show all posts
Showing posts with label H&M. Show all posts

Thursday, 24 March 2016

7 things to do during the Easter holidays. And more importantly... what to wear

Easter is finally here! Now comes the task of deciding what to do on these glorious days off from work. And more importantly, what to wear (always a quandary!) So with today's post comes an Easter post with a difference. Instead of overloading you with Easter eggs and Easter gift guides, I'll be sharing ideas of things to do during the Easter break and styling an outfit for each occasion. Be sure to let me know your favourite look!

Spring time walks
Whether by the sea or in the woods, it's the perfect time of year for a walk. It's milder out, and the sky is gradually looking cheerier and less pissed off. It's this time of year that nature's prettiest buds and blooms are begging to be photographed. It's still a little bit damp underfoot given recent weather, so a good pair of boots is a must. As is a rucksack and a cosy knit. If you're less about nature and are in London this Easter, why not try a city walking tour? Some are guided and you'll need to pay for, otherwise you can find plenty of free walks and maps for them on the web. There are so many to choose from including themed ones from the likes of Harry Potter, Jack the Ripper and so on.

Boots   //   White rucksack   // Ring    //   Roll neck jumper   // Jeans

Day trip
Be it a museum, art gallery or zoo, why not be a tourist for the day? If you're in London over Easter, catch the new Lands of the Lions exhibit at London Zoo which will transport you from London to India's Gir like that. Or if you have children or younger family members to entertain, why not try the Where's Wally experience at the Shard? Fashionistas will love the Vogue exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. For days like these, wear light layers with a light cover-up - because rain is always sadly a possibility! - and shoes that won't rip your feet to shreds in the first ten minutes!


Brunch with the girls
I love going for brunch on my days off. During the week I have a rushed bowl of cereal before work and never really get to sit down and enjoy what I'm eating. So going out for breakfast / brunch is always some what of a treat for me. The Breakfast Club is a popular choice, but if you can't face the queues why not try Bill's or Duck and Waffle? Wear wardrobe staples in neutrals and tans with pops of colour here and there, dressed up with a pair of heels. Heels or wedges will take you from casual to chic in less than 60 seconds. A trench coat at this time of year always ticks all the right boxes too. Think small ish bag. You won't need to carry much - just a phone to Instagram that avocado toast, right?


Picnic
Weather permitting of course! Bring your finest picnic blanket, fancy patterned cups, plates and napkins and maybe a thermos of soup / hot chocolate / both should there be a chill in the air. I just love this half moon picnic hamper set (below) - so unusually shaped, but in that white aesthetic that all us bloggers have come to love. Currently 50% off in the sale, it's a Spring must have. And now get ready for an abnormally wide image.... #LucyFail


Shopping
Because stepping into Spring requires a new wardrobe right? A rookie mistake I make every time I go shopping is taking too thick a jumper or too bulky a coat which then I have to cart around with me. So wear a thinner jacket like a blazer or a leather jacket. I like to wear ankle boots when I'm out shopping - I don't mind wearing heels as I'm losing stamina in my old age and not at the shops for hours on end like I used to be. So heels are now doable. But if you tend to spend most of the day at the shops and / or tire of heeled boots easily, why not opt for some white sneakers? (see "day trip")


Cinema
I know that you can go to the cinema any time and that it's hardly Easter specific, but it's worth noting that some pretty epic films have been released lately - Batman v Superman is this Easter's must see! Cinema temperatures are always so unpredictable and can go from being toasty as to who-the-fuck-turned-on-the-aircon? So I always like to bring something cosy with me like a blanket cape or a scarf. A fluffy faux fur jacket will work equally well here.



Easter baking, games & crafts
Baking being something I'm statistically very likely to be doing this weekend! Why not invite a friend over and make some Easter treats? Pinterest is full of inspiring Easter arts, crafts and bakes. And why not dig out family favourites like card games and board games? Always good for a giggle! When it comes to baking and crafting, opt for casual items of clothing that don't have fussy washing instructions - you don't want to be getting your dry clean only items ruined! This dungaree playsuit fits the bill perfectly. As good as it looks with a white tee underneath, I really like how dungarees look with printed blouses and shirts. I especially love this powder blue kitty blouse.


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I think my favourite outfit has to be "brunch with the girls" - although "cinema" and "shopping" are close contenders! I am heavily coveting the white backpack. tan heels, camel top, denim skirt, pale blue jeans, yellow bag, lace top, everything from the "cinema" look, the dungarees, the cat shirt... who I am kidding?! I want and love them all! <3

Which look is your favourite?

Monday, 21 September 2015

Savvy spending with Think Money

My love of a good sale will come as no surprise to long time readers. The joy you feel when one day an item you have been stalking keeping an eye on has a line cast through the price and instead has a shiny new - reduced - price. When Think Money contacted me about their Basic Bank Account and challenged me to a spending challenge, I was more than happy to oblige in some sale shopping! The idea behind their campaign being to promote how being savvy with your money can help you budget and have the best of both worlds - paying for daily costs such as travel and bills, but at the same time being able to treat oneself to a little bit of luxury.

With life lately being all about house viewings, I knew I wanted to pick up some pieces for my future house. Wherever and whenever that house may be. And like the complete cliché that I am, I adore marble, rose gold, and copper. When H&M hosted a 48 hour sale, I was first in - virtual - line on their website. I picked up these marble plates and chopping boards, really impressed that these were dishwasher and microwave safe - something that isn't always the case with patterned crockery sadly. Lastly I picked up this copper tray as it is such a versatile piece. I haven't yet decided if it will be a food plate or a candle plate, but for now it's a food plate:

H&M marble plates£6.99 £4.89
H&M marble chopping boards9.99 £5.99
H&M copper tray£24.99 £17.49

These items saw their first run this weekend with a picnic type lunch of rosemary focaccia, edamame beans, black olives and mozzarella. Not sure if it's just me, but everything seems to taste much better when you eat off of beautiful plates!

What I learnt is that a little saving here and there really helps - particularly when saving for a house! I saved an incredible £23.90. And not only this, but these were in fact items I was on the brink of buying before full price - but this way, I got so much more for my money!

Have you picked up anything nice in the sales lately?

* Think Money very kindly provided me with budget for this spending challenge, but as ever, all words and opinions are my own!

Wednesday, 10 September 2014

Kew Gardens // H&M dress

Sometimes things don't work out how you'd hoped. Whilst disappointment can be rife, we need to take a step back and remember that everything happens for a reason. Remember how gutted I was not to have made it to Kew Gardens that time? I was rewarded for my patience because when Kew Gardens: Take Two rolled around, it was an even sunnier day. And a right ol' scorcher. With no need for a jacket, and my legs free of tights prison, it could only mean one thing: it was officially summer.


The dress was a new addition to my wardrobe in May. Being a sleeveless shirt, the material is lightweight, making it the perfect summer dress. I like the fact that there are two breast pockets - shirts with just one pocket really mess with my OCD. Everything has to be symmetrical... right?! It's a great dress as it doesn't crease easily with everyday wear.


It was the perfect conditions for photography that day. Normally I edit my photos to add some warmth, but 95.9% of the above hasn't been touched. It just shows what good lighting can do. We had a lovely picnic by the lake and can't thank Tesco enough for our chorizo sandwiches. Best sandwich I've had in my life. A duck sat at our feet looking forlorn, but it was just too good a sandwich to share. It certainly made our bellies very happy and put a spring in our step for the rest of the day.

Have you ever been to Kew Gardens?

Tuesday, 24 June 2014

What's inside my suitcase? // Canary Islands

If everything has gone to plan, I am currently stretched out on a sun lounger in the Canary Islands. Technology will take a back seat until I get back, so this post has been sneakily scheduled in advance ;) Here are a few of the things that will be packed neatly rammed into my suitcase:


Topshop white wedges - perfect for dressing up outfits in the evening
Boohoo stripe crop - looks great worn on top of a bikini on the way to the beach / pool
ASOS white skater skirt - high waisted and goes with EVERYTHING
ASOS blue skater skirt - the most beautiful baby blue colour
 - Urban Outfitters kimono - quite literally the comfiest thing I've ever worn. Great for the evenings when it cools down or by the pool
Tresemme Keratin Smooth range - to (hopefully) protect my tresses from the humidity
Urban Decay Naked 2 palette - I don't own any other eye shadows and I don't need to - this set has everything you need
- New Look peach dress - I'm turning into such a girly girl.WHAT IS HAPPENING
New Look sliders - I've seen these in so many magazines lately and finally tracked them down. The ideal pool side shoes
- Urban Outfitters kimono - another poolside / evening option. Now sold out
- H&M black tube top & blue dress - basics are always useful and can be dressed up with accessories
Benefit Laugh with me Lee Lee fragrance - summer in a bottle.
New Look diamante flip flops - satisfies the magpie in me

Because I'm boring, I've gone back to the same place as last year. It's such a chilled resort and I rate it very highly for food. Long time readers will know how important food is to me ;)