Starting off with the pair of shoes which shouldn't be included in a summer shoe collection but of course they need to be, is a good Chelsea boot. On them days when the heavens open but it is still 20 degrees, these are a prefect shoe to pair with a little skater dress with some sun kissed bare legs. This black pair is very old from Newlook but are still is pretty good condition considering the number of times I have worn them over the years.
My second pair of shoes is the classic brown sandal which goes with almost every outfit in my wardrobe. This pair is again from Newlook and are super comfy to wear on long walks and in the hot weather. These are my go to pair when we have just got home from work and want to go on a walk straight away.
My last two pairs are a little more smart but also classics pairs in spring and summer. I think that loafers go with anything in any season so having a black and white pair are a staple in your shoe collection. My backless white pair is from Shein and my black pair are from - you guessed it - Newlook (they really do have the most comfy shoes). These are great for work with a nice summer dress or when (if) I go out to see people and socialise. My most worn outfit is a white shirt, blue jeans and a pair of loafers.
I love dressing up for the summer weather and this doesn't stop when I am picking my outfits for the office. Some offices are very lean about what employees can wear and some offices are not, so knowing what you can get away with in the heat can be trial and error.
Luckily my work are very comfortable for the employees to wear - to a degree - what we like. I have a few outfits which although I am entirely covered up, might not go down well with other companies. With that in mind I thought I would make a post on some fail safe outfits to wear to the office when the heat is just that little bit too much. I have two dress options if you are allowed to wear them and if not, don't worry, you don't have to sweat all day!
1. Midi dresses
Whoever invented midi dresses is my hero because they are so flattering on small people like me and they also mean I can get some well needed ventilation up the skirt! If you employer is quite modern they would have no problem with a midi dress as they only show a little bit of ankle, which is perfect. My favourite midi dresses to wear to work are normally solid black or a black pattern so that I am in keeping with the standard dress code.
2. Wrap Dresses
Another dress style which is great for the office is a wrap dress which comes around knee length, they completely cover you and look smart with the right pair of shoes. The best thing about them? your legs can breath in the muggy heat. What could be better!
3. Jumpsuits
If your employer isn't too keen on dresses in the office, go and buy yourself a smart jumpsuit. These are great for many reasons but the main one for this time of year, they are great because they look like a top and trousers without the added materials to sweat through. I find when I tuck a shirt into a pair of trousers in the summer, that extra material is a magnet for sweat and we don't want that while we are sitting at work. Again, you can't go wrong with an all black or black and white patterned jumpsuit for the office.
4. Culottes
It is no secret that I am a big fan of a pair of culottes and they come in very hand in the summer time. They look smart with whatever you put them with and they ensure great ventilation in the office. You really cant go wrong with a pair of black culottes and a white shirt if you dress code is smart with no variations allowed.
I have quite a few Pinterest boards for office outfits, working from home outfits along with outfits for every season so make sure to hop over for a look!
I have really been enjoying reading peoples routines while staying at home and working or just enjoying trying to enjoy the time they have at home with their families. I have been working from home since the middle of March so it has been a long few weeks at home. I have mentioned before that it took me a while to get into a routine that worked for me and even now, six weeks along, I am still changing things up.
I thought giving you a little run down of what my week days look like might remind some of you that, you don't need to do anything during this time apart from come out of it the other end. I have previously made a post of activities to do while you are stuck at home either during the weekends or all through the week if you aren't working.
Starting right at the beginning of the day I like to still get up around the same every morning and keep the same routine so at 7:15am every morning my alarm goes off. I like to sit on my phone for 5-10 minutes adjusting my eyes and prepping myself for the day I've need a lot of prep these last few weeks. Once I am awake I wonder around our bedroom in the dark picking my outfit for the day, I've made a post of some of the working form outfits I've been wearing lately. Once I have my outfit sorted I then go down to the second floor and do my usual skincare routine which I have also shared with you recently I have been on it!
Just before 8am I start on my makeup and I don't always do this but some days, I feel like by doing my makeup, I have much more energy and motivation.
Around 8am I go downstairs and enjoy a little relaxing time before I am due to start work. I make breakfast if I can be bothered and watch a little morning tv. I have always done this but the only difference now is that I have an extra half an hour to watch the tv.
At 8:55am I moved into the kitchen, make myself a drink to take up to my office and load up my laptop. I check my diary first of all to see what I have planned for the day and then check my emails. I am a finance assistant so my day consist of invoicing work and paying bills so I have a lot to keep on top of.
I try and press on and work right up until I have to physically eat as I find I am 100% more productive in the morning so I try and get as much done as I can before I stop for my lunch break. For lunch I like to switch off and watch Netflix or YouTube, depending on what kind of work I am doing I can have Netflix on in the background for back ground noise.
After my lunch I try to keep the work light and quick as I don't have that much motivation in the afternoons, I focus mainly on planning the following days in my diary and ticking off my jobs for the day. I switch off at 5pm and make my way downstairs to chat with Callum and plan our evening. Depending on the weather we like to go for our daily walk round our village and chat about our day to each other. We normally walk for an hour -hour and a half and after that I tend to sort dinner to get it out of the day. I meal prep two weeks ahead once Callum gets our food shop so I always have the ingredients ready to go.
Once dinner is in the oven and I am comfy on the sofa we normally switch on Netflix as there is never anything else on, I do have a post listing all my favourite shows to watch on Netflix. After watching a few things together I tend to go up to bed around 9pm and read a book to fall asleep to. I find if I stick to my normal bed routine then my life still feels normal.
This has felt like the most boring routine I can write about but I guess, everyone is in the same boat so I hope you have enjoyed this little walk through. I hope you are all keeping motivated and entertained!
As I mentioned in my earlier blog post taking you through my current skincare routine, I have been focusing on keeping up with my skincare routine while I have more time at home (trying to look on the bright side) so these new products will get a lot of use this year.
Firstly, before I knew I was getting skincare for my birthday I also made a little order of my own from Origins with some money I was given for my birthday. I knew I needed a new moisturiser as my current Lacura Facial Cream only have a couple more uses left. After looking online at the Kiehl's website and lusting over the original Facial Cream, I decided to go with a trusty favourite of mine which is the Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturiser. I have used this product for years and mentioned it countless times on the blog so I knew it would be a great addition back into my collection.
Along with the moisturiser I also decided to buy myself the Mask Medley Collection for a great price of £30. I normally buy my Origins face masks at Bicester Village to save on the pennies and this pack have 3 masks I have never used before and the Maskimizer which I have used already and, even though I can't say whether it does have any benefit to my skin, I do like to add it in to my pamper routine. I may be a gimmick but I didn't pay full price for it so who cares!
Including in the medley is the Maskimizer which I have mentioned, Drink Up 10 minute hydrating mask, Mega Mushroom Relief and Resilience Soothing mask and the Clear Improvements Charcoal mask. I shall write a post after I have used these mask over a considerable period and let you know how I get along with them.
Next up is my present bundle from my sister from Clinique which is another of my favourite skincare brands. I have tried to find the bundle she purchased so I will link each individual product for you. Including in the bundle was the Clarifying Lotion 2, Take The Day Off Balm, Moisture Surge Moisturiser, All About Eyes Eye Cream and Dramatically Different Lotion.
All these products, except for the clarifying lotion, I have used and love many times before and in trying to use up most of my skincare products, I have ended up with not a lot of Clinique products left. As you can see from my very messy skincare draw above, I have a lot of different brands that I am currently using skincare wise but the majority of my collection is made up of Origins, Sukin and now Clinique.
If you would like a skincare collection tour then let me know and I can group the similar products together and post them as individual product collections. Last year I went through a stage of using up a lot of my skincare products and trying not to buy anymore until I was left with a small collection, but since discovering Laura Edwards on YouTube I now am really excited to discover new products and try new formulas. If I am stuck at home for any longer, I might just spend my days in face masks and dressing gowns.
I have recently become obsessed with watching Josie - Fashion Mumblr's - moving vlogs which document her and her partners move from London to my dream living location - The Cotswolds!
It that wasn't enough to grab my attention, they have bought the most beautiful old house in what seems like a secluded area with a giant garden. Need I say more?
This inspired me to update my very popular post where I collected photos of my favourite Old Fashioned Cottage Kitchens, to date this has been one of my most popular posts so I guess, everyone has the same taste in cottage kitchens as me. Good taste!
Before i take you through my favourite kitchens currently on pinterest, i thought i would introduce you to another youtuber who i have recently become obsessed with. Jessica Rose Williams is another youtuber who lives in the Peak District in the cutest little cottage house. Take a look at her Minimalist Cottage Home Tour video on youtube, the house is G O A L S.
Moving onto the actual photos which will feed your old fashioned interior shaped hole, as you will be able to see I tend to steer towards more green kitchen cupboards with loads of wood features. Some of my other favourite features to lust over are farm style sinks, open shelving, wooden beams, aga and old fashioned industrial cookers.
It that wasn't enough to grab my attention, they have bought the most beautiful old house in what seems like a secluded area with a giant garden. Need I say more?
This inspired me to update my very popular post where I collected photos of my favourite Old Fashioned Cottage Kitchens, to date this has been one of my most popular posts so I guess, everyone has the same taste in cottage kitchens as me. Good taste!
Before i take you through my favourite kitchens currently on pinterest, i thought i would introduce you to another youtuber who i have recently become obsessed with. Jessica Rose Williams is another youtuber who lives in the Peak District in the cutest little cottage house. Take a look at her Minimalist Cottage Home Tour video on youtube, the house is G O A L S.
Moving onto the actual photos which will feed your old fashioned interior shaped hole, as you will be able to see I tend to steer towards more green kitchen cupboards with loads of wood features. Some of my other favourite features to lust over are farm style sinks, open shelving, wooden beams, aga and old fashioned industrial cookers.
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Now that I have shaken that off and stocked on some necessities from the shop, I thought I would list a few of my favourite meals that I am planning to make while staying at home, in the hope that it might give people some inspiration. And please remember that these are all dependant on whether you have the ingredients at home, good luck getting some!
Now don't get your hopes up, none of these will be ground breaking. I am a simple cook :)
- Good old simple tomato pasta and garlic bread
- Homemade pizza made from naan breads, pitta breads and bread rolls
- Sausages and mash
- Slow cooker chicken roast
- Herby baby potatoes
- Chicken in a bag with potatoes
- Stir Fry
- Slow cooker curry
- Homemade wedges - these make any dinner that little be better!
- Pie and mash with lots of peas and gravy
- Sausage roast in a pan
- Shredded chicken in pasta
- Toad in the hole
- Pasta Bolognese with lots of leftovers
- A giant lasagne if you can find both sauces!
- Sausage Casserole
- Chicken tray bake
I have a list of meals I want to make/cook/bake while I have time at home so watch this space for that post. It would be silly to not try out some new dishes while I am home all day. The more meals I can make at home, the longer it will take us to get bored and lose our minds.
Also feel free to read some of my other food related posts where I go into more details on how to make them! Lazy Girl Guide To Cooking | Favourite Home Cooked Meals
Its time again where I re-look at my seasonal wardrobe and think about that items I am missing to make the capsule perfect. My spring wardrobe doesn't have a long way to go now since I started practicing having a capsule wardrobe this time last year, so I started investing in timeless pieces last spring and these have all come out of storage now.
I can see that there are a few odd little pieces which I am missing from my capsule. You will notice that all of the items are plan and neutral off course because I am all about the neutrals in spring. My colour palette is mainly creams, beiges, green along the white and black basics I keep in my wardrobe throughout the year.
Take a look at some of the items i'm on the look out for this spring-
Cream/off white Cami
I wore my black cami top to death last spring summer so I know a cream or off white version will get so much wear in my wardrobe. You can pair these will so much and make so many different outfits with them so this is on the top of my list to buy.
Cream Blazer
An essential in most peoples wardrobe and something I am seriously lacking in! I am picturing blue denim jeans, a cream cami and a cream blazer on top with some loafers as the perfect spring outfit.
Green Trousers
I am trying to steer away from wearing black trousers during the spring and summer months so I am on the look out for a pair of comfy paper bag waist trousers to pair with lighter coloured cami tops and shirts. I love a green and brown colour palette when I have a tan so hopefully all this sunbathing in the garden will give me a nice even tan.
Blue Jeans
I am still on the look out for a nice pair of light blue denim wash jeans which are either mom style or straight but are on the slimmer side. I see some many people wearing light blue straight jeans and they look amazing, then I order a pair or try on some in store and I have the way they look on me. Hopefully one day I'll find a pair that sort my shape.
White Shorts
To complete my shorts collection all I need now is a pair of white shorts. I also ready have a black denim pair and a two comfy smartish pairs in green and oatmeal so a green pair with will perfect to make a few more outfits in the hotter months. I am imagining a all white outfit with a white short and then a tan bag and tan shoes, that is something I an pinning continuously on Pinterest.
Beige Trench Coat
I have as some people may see, jumped on the bandwagon and now want a trench coat. I think a light coloured camel/cream trench would get so much wear in my wardrobe over spring summer and even autumn time. My only long coats are my winter boyfriend style blazer coats which are just too heavy to wear outside of winter. I would like to find a second hand vintage trench so that it has a bit more character then the coats being made today but god knows if I will be able to find one.
I can see that there are a few odd little pieces which I am missing from my capsule. You will notice that all of the items are plan and neutral off course because I am all about the neutrals in spring. My colour palette is mainly creams, beiges, green along the white and black basics I keep in my wardrobe throughout the year.
Take a look at some of the items i'm on the look out for this spring-
Cream/off white Cami
I wore my black cami top to death last spring summer so I know a cream or off white version will get so much wear in my wardrobe. You can pair these will so much and make so many different outfits with them so this is on the top of my list to buy.
Cream Blazer
An essential in most peoples wardrobe and something I am seriously lacking in! I am picturing blue denim jeans, a cream cami and a cream blazer on top with some loafers as the perfect spring outfit.
Green Trousers
I am trying to steer away from wearing black trousers during the spring and summer months so I am on the look out for a pair of comfy paper bag waist trousers to pair with lighter coloured cami tops and shirts. I love a green and brown colour palette when I have a tan so hopefully all this sunbathing in the garden will give me a nice even tan.
Blue Jeans
I am still on the look out for a nice pair of light blue denim wash jeans which are either mom style or straight but are on the slimmer side. I see some many people wearing light blue straight jeans and they look amazing, then I order a pair or try on some in store and I have the way they look on me. Hopefully one day I'll find a pair that sort my shape.
White Shorts
To complete my shorts collection all I need now is a pair of white shorts. I also ready have a black denim pair and a two comfy smartish pairs in green and oatmeal so a green pair with will perfect to make a few more outfits in the hotter months. I am imagining a all white outfit with a white short and then a tan bag and tan shoes, that is something I an pinning continuously on Pinterest.
Beige Trench Coat
I have as some people may see, jumped on the bandwagon and now want a trench coat. I think a light coloured camel/cream trench would get so much wear in my wardrobe over spring summer and even autumn time. My only long coats are my winter boyfriend style blazer coats which are just too heavy to wear outside of winter. I would like to find a second hand vintage trench so that it has a bit more character then the coats being made today but god knows if I will be able to find one.
This is a follow on post from the Working From Home Wardrobe Edit post that previously went up.
Finding my way with dressing for work while at home has been a journey and now that I have a routine for the week and feel some what adjusted to my new 'normal', I have found my home working style.
From my previous post I mentioned items which I was finding the easiest to wear at home to work in which I found made me feel productive, but also super comfy. I have a selection of working from home outfits to show you plus two bank holiday weekend outfits as a bonus. All of these outfits first appear on my Instagram account so make sure you head over there to see my daily outfits first. Enjoy!
Finding my way with dressing for work while at home has been a journey and now that I have a routine for the week and feel some what adjusted to my new 'normal', I have found my home working style.
From my previous post I mentioned items which I was finding the easiest to wear at home to work in which I found made me feel productive, but also super comfy. I have a selection of working from home outfits to show you plus two bank holiday weekend outfits as a bonus. All of these outfits first appear on my Instagram account so make sure you head over there to see my daily outfits first. Enjoy!
It must be something to do with having more time on my hands but I am at it every morning and evening and that hasn't happened in a very long time.
My skin is really loving the TLC (apart from my chin which after a few weeks of no skincare, lots of chocolate and wine is erupting in loads of mountains) so I thought I would give a little update on my routine since my last post was December!
I have only recently been using different products during my morning and evening routines so unlike my previous posts, I have split these down for you so enjoy!
M O R N I N G
The first product I use to wash the dirty off of my face is the Sukin Foaming Facial Cleanser which I got in my trio pack for Christmas. One of the things I really like about this product is that it has no frills, just plain good product which actually works.
Once I have washed my face I like to go in with a toner and the one I have been using recently is the Clinique Clarifying Lotion which reminds me of the Glossier Solution toner. They are both great at really getting into your pores and actually doing something deep within them.
Once I am all fresh faced and feeling clean I like to use the Glossier Super Bounce Serum to give myself a little extra moisture before I apply my actual moisturiser. I have found since working from home and spending more time in the sun that my skin has really needed a extra something. The serum paired together with a moisturiser also makes a great base for makeup.
Last up I have my two moisturisers for the day time and I am so sad that I am nearly out of one. I firstly use the Origins Refreshing Eye Cream which is a pale pink colour which makes it great to brighten your under eye (and god knows I've needed that lately).
My everyday face moisturiser is the Lacura Facial Cream (the product is limited edition but you can shop their other products here) which is a dupe of the Kiehl's facial cream which I am drying to try. The Kiehl's cream is around the £45 mark and that is just too much to pay for one product right now, I'll still to my £25 Clinique Moisture Surge thank you! I bought this moisturiser late last year as a whim as It was only £5 and it is actually amazing. If you can find some in the local Aldi definitely try it.
E V E N I N G
Moving onto my evening routine and this changes slightly depending on whether I have worn makeup during the day but it mainly starts with the Simple Water Boost Micellar Cleansing Water which I have to say is my favourite micellar water out of all the brands. I have tried many over the years including Garnier, Nivea and Bioderma and Simple has always been my favourite. The main reason is I feel like I am never left with a film on my skin after using it.
Then once my skin is clean of any obvious dirty I go in with a toner and cleansing pads both from Superdrug's Naturally Radiant Glycolic range. Some times I might only use one product but most of the time I use both the Glycolic Tonic and the Glycolic Acid Daily Cleansing Pads. These both get the extra bit of dirty which is hiding on the skin and when I am having a break out, these tone down the angry spots (these are getting a lot of use right now).
Lastly onto my moisturising products to give my skin some TLC during the night. First up I have the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate which I don't use every night other wise I would be sharing my house with a number of spots on the regular, but I do use it about once a week when I feel like my skin needs a pick me up during the night. Obviously from the name, the product is very concentrated so you only need a little bit of product to do the job and this makes a great base for your moisturiser to do its magic.
The moisturiser I am currently using during the evenings is the Sukin Facial Moisturiser. Now I know that isn't a night moisturiser but I find I get on much better with this product then my Sukin night moisturiser at the moment, and when your skin tells you something you listen!
A bit of a long post today but i hope it encourages you to dig around your skincare draw and pull out some unloved products while you have a bit more time on your hands. I have a post coming up showing you the new products which have come into my collection thanks to my birthday at the beginning of this month so make sure you keep a eye out for it.
Like everyone right now I have been spending more and more time on YouTube and Netflix trying to keep myself entertained so over the last three weeks I have found some real gems hiding on the apps. After I boycotted Netflix for a few days when I realised that they had removed Royle Family (still not over that!), I started looking through the new shows added to the website and started to like them again when I noticed a few of my favourites.
In case you are in need of a new show to watch take a look below. Yes I know I basially mainly watch british shows and that is why there are sooooooo many!
The Obvious Choices
1. Gavin and Stacey
2. Tiger King
3. Friends
British TV Shows
4. Friday Night Dinner
5. The Stranger
6. Inside n9
7. Miranda
8. The Vicar of Dibley
9. Dinner Ladies
10. The Job Lot
11. Ab Fab
12. After Life
13. Doctor Who
14. Luther
15. Fresh Meat
16. Call the Midwife
17. Bad Move
18. Sex Education
19. Johnathan Creek
20. Poldark
21. Top Gear
22. White Gold
23. The IT Crown
24. Only Fools and Horses
25. Cuckoo
26. Sherlock
27. Bottom
28. Black Mirror
29. Big School
30. Benidorn
American TV Shows
31. You
32. Big Band Theory
33. Glee
34. Gossip Girl
35. American Horror Stories
36. Queer Eye
37. Vampire Diaries
38. Shadow Hunters
39. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Documentaries
40. Don't F*ck With Cats
41. The Keepers
42. Jail Birds
43. Reggie Yates - Extreme
44. Blue Planet
45. Girls Incarcerated
Others
46. 100 Humans
47. Michael McIntyres Comedy Roadshow
48. Tiny House Nation
49. The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes
50. Next in Fashion
For a more in depth look into some of the tv shows take a look at some of my previous Netflix roundup posts. Sorry if some of the shows are no longer available on the site!
Working from home is a completely new concept to me so the first two weeks felt very strange and unnatural. Now I am ending my 3rd week of working from home I thought I collate the items I have found worked great at being comfy to work in but also made me feel smart and most importantly - productive. I know some people only want to live in comfy clothing right now and if you can work in that then great, but I tried the whole loungewear look for two weeks and didn't like it all.
My working from home style is comfy but looks smart and makes me feel productive whatever I am doing.
Black Culottes
I swear by these trousers for most of the spring and summer as they are so comfy and let air in in all the right places but they also look smart. Pair these with a silk shirt and you will feel so productive and professional but, also feel comfy no matter whether you are working on the sofa or the desk. If you want to be even more comfy pair these with a graphic tee and layer a cosy jumper and you are sorted. The best thing about culottes is that they don't crease at all so you can slob in them all day and still look put together!
Shirts
I am a big fan of any type of shirt and have a large collection in my wardrobe for everyday use so I find shirts really comfortable to wear. I always think it doesn't matter what bottoms you are wearing if you have a nice shirt on. No one is going to see your bottoms on video call anyway!
Plain Denim Shorts
This is obviously weather appropriate but a good pair of denim shorts with a nice top can do you the world of good when you need a little pick me up. This is my working in the garden uniform where I want to feel comfy and breezy in the nice weather but I need to look smart for a video call. You can never go wrong with black or blue denim shorts and a nice white shirt.
Cream Oversized Cardi
Because I know the weather can't make up its mind and we might need something to get a little cosy. I find my cream cardi from Newlook is great to throw over everything in my wardrobe and the cream is great with my spring colour palette.
Patterned Trousers
I love a good pair of patterned trousers and you can get some really comfy styles which feel like leggings but look much smarted. I have a pair of black and white trousers from Newlook which i have already been living in as they are so comfy. I like to pair them with a graphic tee shirt and whole outfit looks funky and smart.
Smock Dresses
Who doesn't love a smock dress? I have quite a few in my wardrobe and this means I can style them for winter with black tights and jumpers and pair them with sandals for the spring/summer time. A patterned smock dress is great to look smart in but also great for air ventilation while working. Tip - Try and wear dresses which don't crease easily!
Smart Shorts
I have only recently invested in some smart style shorts which I like to pair with a plain cami top or a shirt in the warmer weather. I have a green and oatmeal colour shorts which are super comfy to wear and make me feel a little bit more presentable.
I have been taking photos of my working from home outfits this week so keep an eye out for the blog post which will be coming soon, where I will be wearing basically everything in this edit.
My working from home style is comfy but looks smart and makes me feel productive whatever I am doing.
Black Culottes
I swear by these trousers for most of the spring and summer as they are so comfy and let air in in all the right places but they also look smart. Pair these with a silk shirt and you will feel so productive and professional but, also feel comfy no matter whether you are working on the sofa or the desk. If you want to be even more comfy pair these with a graphic tee and layer a cosy jumper and you are sorted. The best thing about culottes is that they don't crease at all so you can slob in them all day and still look put together!
Shirts
I am a big fan of any type of shirt and have a large collection in my wardrobe for everyday use so I find shirts really comfortable to wear. I always think it doesn't matter what bottoms you are wearing if you have a nice shirt on. No one is going to see your bottoms on video call anyway!
Plain Denim Shorts
This is obviously weather appropriate but a good pair of denim shorts with a nice top can do you the world of good when you need a little pick me up. This is my working in the garden uniform where I want to feel comfy and breezy in the nice weather but I need to look smart for a video call. You can never go wrong with black or blue denim shorts and a nice white shirt.
Cream Oversized Cardi
Because I know the weather can't make up its mind and we might need something to get a little cosy. I find my cream cardi from Newlook is great to throw over everything in my wardrobe and the cream is great with my spring colour palette.
Patterned Trousers
I love a good pair of patterned trousers and you can get some really comfy styles which feel like leggings but look much smarted. I have a pair of black and white trousers from Newlook which i have already been living in as they are so comfy. I like to pair them with a graphic tee shirt and whole outfit looks funky and smart.
Smock Dresses
Who doesn't love a smock dress? I have quite a few in my wardrobe and this means I can style them for winter with black tights and jumpers and pair them with sandals for the spring/summer time. A patterned smock dress is great to look smart in but also great for air ventilation while working. Tip - Try and wear dresses which don't crease easily!
Smart Shorts
I have only recently invested in some smart style shorts which I like to pair with a plain cami top or a shirt in the warmer weather. I have a green and oatmeal colour shorts which are super comfy to wear and make me feel a little bit more presentable.
I have been taking photos of my working from home outfits this week so keep an eye out for the blog post which will be coming soon, where I will be wearing basically everything in this edit.
What a very strange week. It is safe to say that we all have a new norm now whether we like it or not. I have never been in a position to work from home before so this past week and a bit has been a shock to the system. I am nearly two weeks in and I still don't have a routine that I stick to. I have read a lot of posts about how to stay motivated at home and what works for other people, so its time for me to give my 5 pence.
First of all - working space.
I have tried everywhere from working from my bed to working at my dining room table and I honestly don't particularly like either. I change up where I am working everyday to keep it feeling a bit fresh and so I don't spend too much time in one room. I have changed my spare room into a office with a table and printer and I actually hated it so that went out of the window. I have found so far that I am no more productive at any one space so for now I am going to carry on moving round the house till I find a space that works.
Second - working at home uniform.
I have spent the last 2 weeks living in jogging bottoms and comfort clothing and I have felt rubbish every day. One day I got full dressed, curled my hair and did my makeup and I felt great! I did so much and felt amazing then taking my makeup off and getting into my pjs. So from then on I have continued getting ready as if I am going into the office. It might be a waste of makeup but I like destining my work and home clothing.
Third - productivity.
I know for some people it is a sin to watch tv while working from home but personally, I need some background noise. I like to put on something I have watched before like Friends or Gavin and Stacey just so I feel like I am working in a office with other people. I can only work in silence for so long before I start to go crazy and distracted.
Lastly - keeping a work/ life balance.
It is incredibly difficult right now to keep a good work life balance and trying to keep sane in the same four walls. I find that getting up at the same time I would for work and keeping the same morning and evening routine has helped me keep my work life and my home life slightly separate. I don't work straight from 9-5 while I am at home mainly because I cant keep my concentration for long at my own office let alone when I am working at home. I try to break up the day but putting a load of washing on and making a nice lunch so that the day doesn't feel long and I also feel extra productive by doing things around the house.
Let me know how you are finding working from home and remember the most important rule - do whatever works for you! Don't worry what other people are wearing, watching or writing, you do as much as you can. You got this!
I know what you are thinking, eww. I thought that too when I was researching them. I liked the idea of the period pants but I wasn't too keen on the concept and the price tag. Although I wanted to try them out, I was in no real rush.
Then one day i found on social media a advert for some Period Knickers from Sainsbury for just £10. Since some period knickers on the market are around the £30 mark, this made me want to give these pants ago. If they did turn out to work, they would save me so much money and hassle in the long run.
I picked up two different designs (and quite a few were already sold out), the Black Love Luna Period Midi Knickers and the Black Love Luna Period Bikini Knickers. Both I purchased in a size 8-10 which is normal for me so I would suggest staying true to size, the last thing you want is a baggy knicker full of blood. They both feel like I am wearing bikini bottoms instead of knickers which was strange at first but I go used to them. They are extremely comfortable to wear all day and luckily don't cut in to my skin at all. They are also made from stretchy material as well so they double as hold-in pants while you are bloated which is amazing.
Both knickers claim to hold up to 15ml of blood which equates to 2-3 tampons worth. I can confirm that after a full day of wearing them, I did not have any leaking problems or felt like the pants where too full to continue. I tend to have light periods in general (which I am grateful for) so these pants work great for me. I tend to only bleed for 3 out of the 7 days I am on my break from the pill so between the two pants, I was covered.
I thought I might have some leakage during the night as I am a bit of a stirrer while I sleep but I had no problem at all with these knickers. I rotated the two pairs during my 3 day bleed and so would change them every morning and evening. After I had change, I would soak the pants in warm water and washing liquid to release most of the blood before I washed and dried them ready for the next day. Although this felt a bit like a faff at first, I fell into the routine and I do think one more pair of pants would help my routine out. One problem I thought I might incur while trying them is that they may smell during the day or I might be able to feel the blood throughout the day but surprising, I hardly felt anything as the knickers dried very quickly and I never smelt blood once while wearing them.
A little round of the main things I found with the knickers:
PROS
Fast drying
Reusable
Comfortable
Looks great underneath clothing
No odour
Saves money in the long run on products
Works as shape wear underneath clothing
No leaking
Easy to wash and keep fresh
CONS
Time consuming upkeep
Need to invest in enough knickers to cover days on period
Can be expensive if you try other brands
Can not guarantee they will work for heavy periods
As you can see the pros outweigh the cons for me but it is all done to personal preference. Some people don't mind using a tampon or pad whereas I can't use tampons and pads tend to irritate me after a while. So these knickers make my life so much easier. I defiantly will be purchasing at least one more pair to make my wash rotation a bit simpler and if you have any questions about the knickers, leave them below and I will answer them for you. Anything that makes that time of the month a little easier to great for everyone!
I think one thing we are all a little scared of at this current point in time is keeping busy. If you are used to working a 9-5 job and then enjoying yourself at the weekend, sitting at home can be a drastic change.
I thought I would make a list of everything you can do at home to keep yourself busy
- Complete a puzzle
- Watch Netflix
- Go on a massive cleaning spree
- Get your green fingers gardening
- Go round each room and organise the clutter
- Organise your kitchen cupboards
- Go through your wardrobe and make new outfits
- organise your wardrobe
- Declutter your wardrobe
- Read a book - or several
- Write a blog post
- Read blog posts
- Watch YouTube
- Make a YouTube
- Finally do that DIY
- Clear out your garage
- Do some painting
- Reorganise your book shelfs
- Meal prep for dinner
- Batch cook
- Try out new hair styles
- Do a daily workout video on youtube
- Plan a video call with your family and friends
- Drink all the wine in the house...
- Copy makeup looks from Youtube
Obviously you can only do some of these things if you have a puzzle or paint already in the house.
Please leave some more ideas down in the comments for others to read.
When I can finally get my hands on some mince meat and chicken, I am going to batch cook till my heart is content!
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