Living with your partner is one of the biggest steps in your life so it can be crazy, scary and over whelming at first. When we first got the green light to move into the home we bought i'm not going to lie, i was nervous. You always hear about couples who are together for years and years and then when they move in together, they can't make it work and break up. Some may call me a pessimistic, i call myself a realist.
Luckily for me and my partner, we are still going strong three years into living together and 5 years into our relationship. Living together has taught me a lot about relationships in general, so i thought i would share my thoughts with you today. Obviously everyone is different so some people will not agree with my five points and that is absolutely fine! This is just a few things which have made living with a smelly man work.
1. give yourself your own jobs
One thing i was really worried about when we moved in together was arguing about stupid house things. Most people argue about chores and people pulling their weight so when we moved in we subconsciously gave each other jobs. I do most of the cleaning and cooking in the house and Cal does all the hoovering and washing up, which is one of the things i hate thank god.
2. don't get stuck in a routine
Some people love routines and find life runs more smoothly when they are in one. Cal and I personally are half and half. We find when we have done the same for a few nights we can get bored, its when we get to this point we plan something spontaneous. Whether it is just a walk down to the local village pub for a drink after work, going out for dinner or even spending the night round a friends house. It breaks up our week and makes it a bit more interesting. I think sometimes we forget that we are only a 25 and 28 year old living a old married couples life.
3. don't forget to have your own space
Both Cal and I are quite introvert people so we can easily spend time by ourselves and some nights we really need that. Some nights when i get home from work and i really want to sit in the bath for a few hours and go straight to bed, Cal just leaves me to it, and vice versa.
4. give each other free rein of the house
Some people don't like to leave the house when the other half have company which is perfectly fine for them. I personally like to have space so if i or Cal have friends coming round, the other person goes out for the night. A lot of people don't feel the need to do this but personally i think its nice to give your partner the space to entertain.
5. having fights about absolutely nothing is all part of the course
You might not be the type of couple who normally argues but that will change when you move in together, and that is totally normal. If you don't argue about the colour of the wall or the Santa on the stairs then tell us all your secrets! Don't worry if you start to bicker about stupid things because that is just life and normally they don't last very long, well so far...
*Items mentioned below have been gifted*
Like I have mentioned before, I am very slowly forming my version of a capsule wardrobe and I felt like I had a few items missing from my autumn capsule. I like to use Pinterest to give me ideas of how to wear items in my wardrobe differently and I have found a lot of the photos I am drawn towards, have items with a very smart and polished feel to them which I used to have a lot of only a few years ago. This was before I started working in an office and I didn't think I would ever wear them again. Fast forward a couple of years and most of my gorgeous patterned shirt are in my parent's neighbour's daughter's wardrobe your welcome.
So when Femmeluxe asked me if I wanted to try a few of their pieces to add to my wardrobe, I was very appreciate as the website is full of gorgeous items. I picked out four items which I thought would work really well in my wardrobe and suit my body shape.
The first item was this Black Polka Dot Fishnet Sleeve Shirt which I picked up in a size 10. I have an array of shirts in my wardrobe now which I wear on a day to day basis. I love to wear them to work with a smart pair of black fitted trousers or at the weekend with a pair of light blue mom jeans. I am lucky that shirts suit me really well so I can basically pair them with any bottom and they look pretty good, if I say so myself. I also don't normally wear shirts untucked because I find them can drown me and my body shape but actually, the length of this shirt makes it great on top of bottoms. I definitely think I would get a lot of wear out of the white version as well as I am trying to add more light staple colours into my wardrobe. Changing up my wardrobe for autumn has shown me how much black I actually own.
Now with sizing I picked up a size 10 which is true to size for me and fits me really well but for someone will bigger boobs pancakes over here I would maybe size up once to make sure the buttons don't pop open on your boobs. I love the way the shirt sits on my shoulders with the top bottoms open. Feel free to head on over to the website to see the shirt on a much better model then me!
The next item I purely pick up because they looked so comfy on the website and I don't have many lounge sets in my casual home wear wardrobe, so I picked up the Dusty Pink With White Stripe Lounge Wear Set. Whenever I am at home just chilling, I normally looking not very cute in some over worn pjs and I want to invest in some lounge sets. Something that is comfy enough to wear lounging around the house but if I needed to pop out to the shop I could just run straight out.
I picked up the dusty pink pair because the colour is so gorgeous and I think they are a great colour to mix and match with other bottoms and tops. I could wear some blue jeans and the top or wear a cropped one top with the bottoms. I picked these up in a size 10 and i could do with a size 10 bottom and a size 12 top just so it is more baggy and comfy. For the photo I have paired the bottoms with my basis Levi's t-shirt.
I ordered this Black Polka Dot Ruched Puff Sleeve Mini Dress along with the other items and which I'm sure you can tell by the picture why I wanted it. I wanted a easy to wear dress to add to my wardrobe for when I had an occasion and I needed to look like I have my sh*t together. This black and white dress was perfect but I totally underestimated the size of my bottom region and couldn't get the dress over my bum. I picked it up in a 8/10 when really I am the bigger end of the size 10 scale so really to make sure it fitted, I should have got the 10/12. Lesson learnt! I definitely want to try the dress again because I think it will be a great additional to my wardrobe.
A few other pieces which I have my eye on from the website are this Black Satin Pleated Midi Skirt. I lived in my rust orange colour pleated skirt from H&M this year and I know I would get so much wear out of the this black style. With a black shirt and a pair of heels or with a cropped jumper and a black of black heeled boots.
Lastly I have my eye also on this Black Fishnet Sleeve Top which like the photo on the website, would look so cute with some light blue mom jeans and black loafers. I really like the look of mixing smart and casual items and this outfit is perfect.
Like I have mentioned before, I am very slowly forming my version of a capsule wardrobe and I felt like I had a few items missing from my autumn capsule. I like to use Pinterest to give me ideas of how to wear items in my wardrobe differently and I have found a lot of the photos I am drawn towards, have items with a very smart and polished feel to them which I used to have a lot of only a few years ago. This was before I started working in an office and I didn't think I would ever wear them again. Fast forward a couple of years and most of my gorgeous patterned shirt are in my parent's neighbour's daughter's wardrobe your welcome.
So when Femmeluxe asked me if I wanted to try a few of their pieces to add to my wardrobe, I was very appreciate as the website is full of gorgeous items. I picked out four items which I thought would work really well in my wardrobe and suit my body shape.
The first item was this Black Polka Dot Fishnet Sleeve Shirt which I picked up in a size 10. I have an array of shirts in my wardrobe now which I wear on a day to day basis. I love to wear them to work with a smart pair of black fitted trousers or at the weekend with a pair of light blue mom jeans. I am lucky that shirts suit me really well so I can basically pair them with any bottom and they look pretty good, if I say so myself. I also don't normally wear shirts untucked because I find them can drown me and my body shape but actually, the length of this shirt makes it great on top of bottoms. I definitely think I would get a lot of wear out of the white version as well as I am trying to add more light staple colours into my wardrobe. Changing up my wardrobe for autumn has shown me how much black I actually own.
Now with sizing I picked up a size 10 which is true to size for me and fits me really well but for someone will bigger boobs pancakes over here I would maybe size up once to make sure the buttons don't pop open on your boobs. I love the way the shirt sits on my shoulders with the top bottoms open. Feel free to head on over to the website to see the shirt on a much better model then me!
My next item which I have been on the look out for since last autumn are a pair of Black High Waisted Faux Leather Look Leggings. I think when planning your autumn winter wardrobe leather look leggings can be a big staple. I have been looking at different styles and deciding whether i want ones with belt loops or the more basis leggings style and i think for the way i want to wear them with big oversized jumpers and cardigans, the leggings are the best option.
These are so comfy to wear and they feel even more comfy with a big fluffy jumper like the white one above. Now I picked them up in a size 10 which fit me perfectly when they are on and i can already tell i will not be pulling these leggings up during the day. I am extremely short at just 5 ft so I have had to roll the bottoms up but I think i prefer the look that way as it balances my short legs.
I love the look of these with my black suedette boots as well as my black loafers so depending on where you are going ,you can make the leggings look more smart or more casual.
The next item I purely pick up because they looked so comfy on the website and I don't have many lounge sets in my casual home wear wardrobe, so I picked up the Dusty Pink With White Stripe Lounge Wear Set. Whenever I am at home just chilling, I normally looking not very cute in some over worn pjs and I want to invest in some lounge sets. Something that is comfy enough to wear lounging around the house but if I needed to pop out to the shop I could just run straight out.
I picked up the dusty pink pair because the colour is so gorgeous and I think they are a great colour to mix and match with other bottoms and tops. I could wear some blue jeans and the top or wear a cropped one top with the bottoms. I picked these up in a size 10 and i could do with a size 10 bottom and a size 12 top just so it is more baggy and comfy. For the photo I have paired the bottoms with my basis Levi's t-shirt.
Now for a few bonus items!
I ordered this Black Polka Dot Ruched Puff Sleeve Mini Dress along with the other items and which I'm sure you can tell by the picture why I wanted it. I wanted a easy to wear dress to add to my wardrobe for when I had an occasion and I needed to look like I have my sh*t together. This black and white dress was perfect but I totally underestimated the size of my bottom region and couldn't get the dress over my bum. I picked it up in a 8/10 when really I am the bigger end of the size 10 scale so really to make sure it fitted, I should have got the 10/12. Lesson learnt! I definitely want to try the dress again because I think it will be a great additional to my wardrobe.
A few other pieces which I have my eye on from the website are this Black Satin Pleated Midi Skirt. I lived in my rust orange colour pleated skirt from H&M this year and I know I would get so much wear out of the this black style. With a black shirt and a pair of heels or with a cropped jumper and a black of black heeled boots.
Lastly I have my eye also on this Black Fishnet Sleeve Top which like the photo on the website, would look so cute with some light blue mom jeans and black loafers. I really like the look of mixing smart and casual items and this outfit is perfect.
O U T F I T S
1.
Jeans - H&M
Loafers - Primark (similar)
2.
Jeans - Primark
Loafers - Primark (similar)
3.
Skirt - Newlook
Boots - Primark (similar)
1.
Jumper - H&M
Loafers - Primark (similar)
2.
Shirt - H&M (similar)
Boots - Primark (similar)
3.
Jumper - H&M
Loafers - Primark (similar)
1.
Top - Levi's
Let me know if you have purchased anything from the website before and what your favourite item from my order was in the comments!
Although I am starting to now see the benefits of investing in clothing items, I am still a bargain shopper at heart. There are some things I splurge on and some things I save on (post to follow very soon!)
Over the years I have found some lovely pieces on eBay which I have ended up wearing for years afterwards. There are pit falls when buying from eBay which I have had my fair share of over the years but I have two items which I have loved since last year and two items which have been in my wardrobe since April time and again, I just love. All the items are great quality and wash really well. All links and sizes will be at the end of the post!
Starting with the items which have been in rotation in the wardrobe all spring summer, some basic jersey t-shirts. At the start of the year I didn't have any logo tops in my wardrobe mainly because I felt they made me look young and boyish while wearing them. Then I really started to like the whole t-shirt and midi skirt vibe and that started a love affair with them. I picked up three t-shirts off eBay, all which I have been wore several time during spring summer.
Call me a basic bitch but I loved these Vogue tops when I first saw them and thought a black and white version would be perfect for my wardrobe. I really love to wear the black and gold version with black skinny jeans and gold jewerelly where as I like to pair the white and black version with light blue denim. Both make a otherwise plan outfit look a bit more put together.
Then to add a carve ball in, I decided to pick up this black makeup design which I love! With an all black outfit, especially some black joggers and a cardigan. I think it would make the outfit look like I made some effort, when really I've just rolled out of bed.
Now we have two jumpers which I wasn't expecting to like so much but the quality of them is above my standard for eBay. First up is this slightly cropped black, cream and brown patchwork jumper which has a high neck which I love and looks great with some black skinny jeans. I really like to throw this jumper on with black jeans and brown boots for work and it just looks like I have my sh*t together. Since condensing my wardrobe I have really become drawn to the neutral palette because the colours are so easy to style together and this jumper is a neutral lovers dream.
My last item is this longer fitting black and cream patchwork jumper. Like the previous one it is not too thick so perfect for the start of autumn when the sun is still shinning but there is a breeze. I do think you can't go wrong with a black and cream jumper, I normally wear this with black skinny's (shock) and some heeled black boots as I find being short, this makes my legs look longer with the length of the jumper. This jumper does have breathable holes throughout so it can make choosing a bra colour tricky as the front of the jumper is black and the back of the jumper is cream. I tend to opt for the black and have it pocking out the black.
I definitely do not need anymore knitwear or jersey but I am following a few things on eBay right now just in case I find a use for them in my wardrobe. Right now I think my wardrobe is pretty much set for autumn bar one plain black roll neck jumper....
I recently watched Emma Hill's YouTube video where she showed you everything she bought on eBay which was second hand. I have had bad experiences buying second hand on eBay but after watching her video, I am intrigued to try again. If I do I will definitely show you what I bought and if it was worth it.
Have you found any gems on eBay recently? Leave a comment below!
Black and white vouge t-shirt - Small 8-10 - Baggy fit
Black and gold t-shirt - Medium - Tight fit
Face t-shirt - Medium - Tight fit
Cropped patchwork jumper - Small - Baggy fit
Long patchwork jumper - Small - Baggy fit
Black and white vouge t-shirt - Small 8-10 - Baggy fit
Black and gold t-shirt - Medium - Tight fit
Face t-shirt - Medium - Tight fit
Cropped patchwork jumper - Small - Baggy fit
Long patchwork jumper - Small - Baggy fit
Since the start of the year, i have really honed in on my packing skills meaning i can go away for a few days with a small bag. I used to throw everything into my bag just in case and end up with some much stuff that i didn't need.
Cal and I have taken several weekend away trips this year so i have had loads of practice at packing and i haven't made a wrong move yet. This weekend we are heading to the seaside with some of our friends so i thought i would let you pack with me, just in case you need some packing inspiration! I am sucker for packing videos, blog posts and photos on Pinterest. I am fascinated in capsule packing.
For content i am going away for 3 nights and 2 days and the weather is quite bright with a high of 22 during the day and 9 during the early morning/evening.
C L O T H I N G
1 green jacket (which i am wearing down)1 grey jumper (wearing down)
2 white tee shirts
1 cream shirt
1 pair of light blue mom jeans (wearing down)
1 black and white maxi skirt
2 bras
4 pairs of underwear (always bright too many in case of emergency but never use them)
2 pairs of socks
1 pj set
1 pair of black boots
1 pair of white brogues
S K I N C A R E
Sukin night moisturiser Simple moisturiser
Pixie glow tonic
Garniner micellar water
Clinique mini face cleanser
Lots and lots of cotton pads because they are life
M A K E U P
Rimmel Lasting Finish Breathable Foundation Clinique High Impact Mascara
Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette
Mac Eyeliner in Teddy
1 nude and 1 red lipstick (undecided)
To some people this might seem like a lot for a weekend away, while other people might be wondering how i am only bringing these items. I would defineily call this a capsule pack, considering i can fit this all in a small bag or the smaller side of the mini suitcase which Cal and i share for most weekends.
Let me know if there is anything you think i have missed out, or something you can't travel without!
Hello lovelies! How are you all? Sorry it has been sooooo long, I know I apologise I'm missed you too. The last five months I have been in a total blogger brain freeze and didn't know what I wanted to write about and why I wanted to write. This is a little thing I like to do in my spare time to talk about random things that entertain/excite me and I just didn't have anything that excited me for a while.
I guess you could say I was living my life, one lasagne at a time...
But I woke up this morning in my empty bed which I was star fishing in all night, I turned my tv on to start watching YouTube and I suddenly got this feeling to blog. My style, hobbies and personality have changed a lot recently and I felt like my blog didn't reflect how I was feeling. Now I'll got a little mojo back it is time to get back to the blog and change it up a bit.
I feel different, I think different so lets start again.
Enough of my needless ramblings.. just have a little chat up!
A lot of things have happened in the last five months;
- I've changed job roles at my work and am now the finance assistant which I am very happy with. I loved doing all the finance side of my previous role but I didn't get much time to actually get my teeth into anything so to now spend most of my day on those jobs makes me very happy, if not a little bit of a geek. They annoy the hell out of me but I love working with numbers.
- I have also started a AAT course in bookkeeping and I never thought I would go back into education. The course is completely online so I can work at home or at my desk at work which works for me. I am waiting to book in my first exam so wish me luck!
- Another important note is that I am going to become a auntie next year which I am so excited about. hopefully spending time with the little bean which make Callum broody...
- I also recently got a fringe! I feel like I am 16 all over again but I like it... for the moment. I tend to be quite indecisive with my hair so hopefully I make up my mind soon.
- I finally made it to Brighton for my birthday and I loved everything about it. The shops, the pier, the houses and streets. I would love to go again but with a bigger group of people next time.
- We have finally started finishing off some of the rooms in the house, it only took us 2+ years. Our living room and spare room look completely different and our next step is to get the house ready to host Christmas! We still need to get a dishwasher (for obvious reasons) and buy a bigger table to fit my family around.
- Callum and I have also started saving for a wedding- ish. Its a working progress. We went to the most beautiful wedding this year which I have to say was basically my dream wedding. That made me really want to start doing something to work towards it.
- Callum and I haven't been on a proper holiday since last year so we went for a few days down to the English seaside which was lovely, apart from the fact we stayed in a caravan on the hottest week of the year. You don't know heat until you've walk into a caravan which has been empty all day on the hottest day of the year.
- I am now officially as blind as a bat and need glasses 70% of the time. Do I wear them 70% of the time? depends where I am going.
- Lastly in true blogger fashion I have considerably reduced the size of my wardrobe over the last five months. We finally got our fitted wardrobes installed and I really wanted to use that time to make sure everything in my wardrobe was something I loved. More to come about decluttering I promise.
That's basically everything that's happened in the last five months. I feel like this is the perfect time to get my mojo back into blogging with the autumn coming up. I have already transitioned my wardrobe to my autumn/winter clothing, maybe too early but I really needed my jumpers back in my life!
Lastly have some photos from the last five months and try not to laugh at my poses as a teenager!
Lastly have some photos from the last five months and try not to laugh at my poses as a teenager!
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| Callum and I at our first wedding we attending together! |
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| The only time my fringe ever looked good when I was 16, at my prom in 2010. |
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| A random street in Brighton which was too cute to walk past and not take a photo. |
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| Our current living room. Still very bare but I love how it is turning out. We still need a new dining table and artwork for the walls but it is coming together. Yes I was watching the real house wife's of New York City. |
How is it April already? Before we know it it will be the end of August and we all will be wondering where the summer went! Since we last spoke i have had a lovely birthday weekend down in Brighton where one day it was sunny and hot and the next it was miserable and raining. Spring can be such a headache when it comes to work to wear.
I have been completed engulfed but the whole capsule wardrobe frame of mind and thanks to Anna from the Anna Edit, my wardrobe is considerably smaller than it was a year ago. Since reducing the size of my wardrobe i have found that i now love all my clothes instead of forgetting about some pieces which were hidden behind the piles. I still have a few favourite pieces which get a little more love then the rest and today i am going to take you through the 5 items i know i will be continuously rotating over the spring season.
First up is my trusty mustard Zara faux leather jacket (similar) which i picked up in Barcelona 3 years ago. I can literally pair this jacket with anything and it looks amazing, especially if the outfit is a little plan jane (which you know is my favourite). Considering i have worn it so many times over the years, it still looks bloody brand new, well done Zara. I love everything about this jacket from the colour which really suits my skin tone, to the cut and style of the cropped body. I haven't been able to wear this jacket since last summer because it has been so cold so i can't wait to whip it back out.
Next up is my Asos Mini Denim Skirt (link) which i have been kinda obsessed with over the winter period with thick black tights so i am kinda excited to pair it with more lighter tights in the warmer weather. I find with this skirt that no matter what kind of day i am having, i feel amazing in the skirt. I can try on my whole wardrobe and feel really fat and frumpy but when i put on this skirt with some tights and a black roll neck, i feel good again. It is kinda like a safety blanket, if i'm having a fat day i wear my skirt, if i wanna look rocky i put on the skirt, if im cold but i want to look cute i put on the skirt. I definitely know i wont be wearing the skirt during the summer months because i would have a check slip every five minutes so i want to give it even more love before it gets too warm.
My next item is something that people who know me in real life would say i wear about 90% of the time. I love a good dungaree dress and i have four denim styles and 1 cord style, don't judge me on the cord one it is super cute. With dungaree dress they work with any weather whether it is summer or winter so they are items will you can keep in your wardrobe throughout the year. I love weather them with tights and jumpers but my favourite way to style them is with a basic t-shirt underneath with sandals. I get hot and flustered quite easy so when it is hot i need to be free and breath and dungaree dresses are great for that because they give you so much room to breath without making you look like your wearing a bin bag. This Newlook dungaree dress (petite) is probably my favourite because it is a little bit longer than my others and is super baggy so perfect on a fat day.
My fourth item which will be a must during the spring season is my Primark mom jeans (similar). I love these so much i have them in two different sizes because like I've said before, i sometimes have fat days. The last thing i want to do when the weather is lovely and spring like outside is pull on a pair of skinny jeans, it just doesn't feel right so i know at the weekends if i am going to be wearing jeans, it will be this pair with a tight crop top and my mustard jacket. It is just a easy casual look and super comfy,
My last spring staple is this Jacket Willis midi dress. I have never shopped in Jack Willis (link) before because basically i am a high street girl at heart and i cant imagine paying so much for clothing, but when i walked past my local JW i noticed this dress in the window and it was reduced from £79 to £25 so i couldn't walk by. This was exactly the kind of dress i was looking for and i didn't have anything like it in my collection. I bought it with the intention of wearing it with a brown belt and brown boots and i definitely will be this spring.
I have been completed engulfed but the whole capsule wardrobe frame of mind and thanks to Anna from the Anna Edit, my wardrobe is considerably smaller than it was a year ago. Since reducing the size of my wardrobe i have found that i now love all my clothes instead of forgetting about some pieces which were hidden behind the piles. I still have a few favourite pieces which get a little more love then the rest and today i am going to take you through the 5 items i know i will be continuously rotating over the spring season.
First up is my trusty mustard Zara faux leather jacket (similar) which i picked up in Barcelona 3 years ago. I can literally pair this jacket with anything and it looks amazing, especially if the outfit is a little plan jane (which you know is my favourite). Considering i have worn it so many times over the years, it still looks bloody brand new, well done Zara. I love everything about this jacket from the colour which really suits my skin tone, to the cut and style of the cropped body. I haven't been able to wear this jacket since last summer because it has been so cold so i can't wait to whip it back out.
Next up is my Asos Mini Denim Skirt (link) which i have been kinda obsessed with over the winter period with thick black tights so i am kinda excited to pair it with more lighter tights in the warmer weather. I find with this skirt that no matter what kind of day i am having, i feel amazing in the skirt. I can try on my whole wardrobe and feel really fat and frumpy but when i put on this skirt with some tights and a black roll neck, i feel good again. It is kinda like a safety blanket, if i'm having a fat day i wear my skirt, if i wanna look rocky i put on the skirt, if im cold but i want to look cute i put on the skirt. I definitely know i wont be wearing the skirt during the summer months because i would have a check slip every five minutes so i want to give it even more love before it gets too warm.
My next item is something that people who know me in real life would say i wear about 90% of the time. I love a good dungaree dress and i have four denim styles and 1 cord style, don't judge me on the cord one it is super cute. With dungaree dress they work with any weather whether it is summer or winter so they are items will you can keep in your wardrobe throughout the year. I love weather them with tights and jumpers but my favourite way to style them is with a basic t-shirt underneath with sandals. I get hot and flustered quite easy so when it is hot i need to be free and breath and dungaree dresses are great for that because they give you so much room to breath without making you look like your wearing a bin bag. This Newlook dungaree dress (petite) is probably my favourite because it is a little bit longer than my others and is super baggy so perfect on a fat day.
My fourth item which will be a must during the spring season is my Primark mom jeans (similar). I love these so much i have them in two different sizes because like I've said before, i sometimes have fat days. The last thing i want to do when the weather is lovely and spring like outside is pull on a pair of skinny jeans, it just doesn't feel right so i know at the weekends if i am going to be wearing jeans, it will be this pair with a tight crop top and my mustard jacket. It is just a easy casual look and super comfy,
My last spring staple is this Jacket Willis midi dress. I have never shopped in Jack Willis (link) before because basically i am a high street girl at heart and i cant imagine paying so much for clothing, but when i walked past my local JW i noticed this dress in the window and it was reduced from £79 to £25 so i couldn't walk by. This was exactly the kind of dress i was looking for and i didn't have anything like it in my collection. I bought it with the intention of wearing it with a brown belt and brown boots and i definitely will be this spring.
I'm pretty sure with these five items i am set for the next few months outfit wise.
There are a few bits that i want to add to my spring capsule wardrobe for spring which i will be in another post for you.
Over the time that I have been blogging I have learnt a few things that really help to make a blog look better and get more attention. Some of these I have seen in other blogs and some I have found myself along the way. I thought today I would tell you guys a few tips that I wish I knew when I first started blogging.
- A little goes a long way - Posts don't have to be paragraphs long with super super detail. I love reading bullet point posts and lists.
- Labels are important - These help people who search for a specific topic find your post which means more page views
- The blogging community isn't scary- I didn't start taking part in the blogging community until recently because I didn't know if I really fitted in, but since I have I have met so many lovely people and gained some lovely followers so don't be scared to put your self out there.
- Add properties to your photos - By copying your labels into the Properties tab on your photos, when someone searches a topic your photo can appear leading them to your blog which means more page views
- You can post as much or as little as you want - Some times I can feel like I need to post more frequently because all of my favourite bloggers do but if you have a good following, it won't matter how often you post they will still be there to read them.
I have learnt a lot since I first started my blog many moons ago, feel free to comment anything you wish you knew at the start!
My favourite cleaning product to date has to be the disinfectant Zoflora. I know the product is huge within the family and home community which I have become a big fan of recently (watching speed cleaning and house tour videos is my new favourite thing) and I couldn't ignore the hype around the product. If this isn't your thing I completely understand, take a look at my other beauty and skincare posts at the top!
To date I have 6 bottles underneath my sink and once that stash starts to decrease I am totally picking up some new scents! I used up 3 scents this week so I definitely make the most of them!
There are so many uses for this disinfectant I have seen over the months and here are 9 of my favourite.
1. Down the sink
I like to pour some of the disinfectant down my sink plugs at the end or beginning of the day. Afterwards the kitchen smells beautiful and every time water goes down the plug the scent will come back and please your nostrils.
2. In a spray bottle mixed with water
This disinfectant you will come mix with water to make your own disinfectant spray which smells amazing. Depending on the size of the bottle your using I tend to normally mix 1 to 2 cap fulls with water to make the spray.
3. Sprayed on fake flowers
This is such a genius idea the person who thought this up needs a medal! Zoflora make a ton of flower related scents so you can spray the disinfectant on to fake flowers to make them smell like real flowers and to keep them bacteria free.
4. In your clothing wash
This tip is based on the Fresh Linen scent of Zoflora which smells like clean clothes and fresh bedding. Pour 1 cap full of the disinfectant in with your detergent and your bedding and towels will be totally clean and smell amazing. I find my clean clothes can sometimes not smell like anything but when I use this I can really smell it through the material. Plus while it is out to dry it fills your rooms with the scent.
5. Wiped over your warm radiators
This is a great one for the cold months! All you need to do is wipe a cloth soaked in the disinfectant over your warm radiators, every time the radiators are on the smell will fill the room. This is perfect in the winter when all the winter scents are available.
6. In a sink full of boiling water
This is a great thing to do before you go to bed so during the night the scent fills the room ready for the morning. The hot water makes the scent more powerful and when you empty the water in the morning it leaves the scent in the drain.
7. In your car
I don't look after my car at all, I'm sorry car for never washing you or emptying you of rubbish but I am getting better! I now have a small spray bottle in my car to spray along my dash board to 1. clean my car of horrible germs and 2. to leave it smelling fresh and inviting. I find my dash board gets very dusty very easily so this is really handy to have.
8. In your washing machine
I have started doing an hot empty wash with a cap full of disinfectant in to clean out the drum and the draw after I have done a few spins. Washing machines can be full of bacteria with all the dirty warm water running through it so running disinfectant through then can be really useful.
9. Wiped over your door handles and entrances
This is a great tip especially if you have a busy house with people coming and going. Door handles are full of bacteria with the amount of times people touch them so wiping them over with scented disinfectant is a must. Also wiping Zoflora over the handles and door frames means every time someone walking into a room they catch a whiff of the amazing smell and it lingers with them.
You arent an adult until you become excited about cleaning products! What is your favourite scent?
We decided to visit Newcastle for Callum's birthday because he has supported the team since he was four so when i asked him where he wanted to visit for his birthday, it was a no brainer for him.
We traveled down on the Wednesday and made it just under four hours which isn't to bad considering how back traffic can be on the motorway. We arrived just before 2pm so had the whole afternoon to explore the place. When we return we have a few favourite places we want to visit again.
H O T E L
We picked to stay at the Romada Encore Hotel in Gateshead which is just a bridge away from Newcastle. We decided to stay just outside of the city center just so that we could get away from it all especially as the weekend approached. We have no bad words to say about this hotel. The staff were amazing and so friendly and unlike some hotel in the area, it included a car park which only cost £5 a day. We were right next to the Millenium Bridge so it only took us 10 minutes to be right in the center of the city
D A Y A C T I V I T E S
There are so many things to do in Newcastle we never got bored once, most of them involved alcohol but hey we are on our holidays! The first place we visited on Wednesday was the St James Football Stadium of course and Callum was in his element. We had a drink in the Nine bar located underneath the stadium and had a little planning sess of the next few days. Lucky we also go tickets to the Newcastle vs Huddersfield game on Saturday so we return for the game on our last day and it was a-m-a-zing!On from there we went to Lane 7 to play a few games of bowling, have a few drinks and fell like proper locals. The place is spaced out over 3 floors with bowling, ping pong, mini golf, a bar and a resturant. We really wanted to return before we left but we ran out of time.
Along the same line we also visited Space Golf in the middle of the centre which was a lot of fun. We first saw it while walking round one night but decided to actually go in during the day. It ended up being full of kids to maybe the evening might have been more fun with people the same age as us but we still enjoyed it.
Lastly if you are like me and Callum who love a walk, you will love Newcastle. most days we started and ended the days going on a random walk and we would end up at a random place with a cute little pub and having a drink. We also walked across all the bridges because they are so beautiful and the views from them are breathtaking.
S H O P P I N G
I love a bit of shopping but i was quite reserved while away but i did pick up a few bits. We visited the Gateshead Intu Metro Center first since it is meant to be the biggest center in England? There was loads there like food resturants and games areas as well as all the shops. Callum ended up winning me a Peter Rabbit in the grab machines which made me very happy! We had a lovely lunch in Coast to Coast which set us up for a day of shopping although i didn't end up buying anything that day.We then visited the Newcastle Intu Center the next day and i found it so much better! I found the lay out of the shops much easier to look round ended up finding loads of bits in Topshop. I would definitely recommend the Newcastle Center to the Gateshead Center.
F O O D & D R I N K
There are so many places to end and drink in Newcastle and unlike London, there are ridiculous ques and endless waiting. We went to quite a few places for dinner and lunch including Frankie and Bennys and Coast to Coast and then we tried a few random places. We had brunch one day at Georges Great British Kitchen in the Newcastle City Center, which also gave you 20% off if you had a match ticket which drew us in. I have definitely put on weight since we have been away.We did our fair share of day drinking while on our break (Callum more then me) and our favourite place we found has to be the The Stack in the City Center. It is made of loads of industrial containers which are made into drink and food places. You have loads of benches to site on all the levels and gas heaters attached to every table to it was lovely sitting outside. Although the weather while we were there was beautiful, it was nice to stick your face next to a heater. We ended up having fish and chips at The Stack and it was amazing!!
The last place we visited before we left was the By The River Brew and Co which is a brewery located just be the river, like the name suggests, where you can try loads of locally brewed drinks. It had a few food stalls getting ready for a busy Friday night when we arrived and we sat by the river with a heater and it was the perfect way to round off the break.
I can't wait to return to the city because it was such an amazing break. I would definitely say i prefer Newcastle to London 100% because it is less expensive, less busy and so so friendly! The only down side is that it takes me 4 hours to get there when as London is only a hours train journey away.
When we return i can't wait to explore much more of the city as i know we only saw a fraction of the place. If you have any recommendations for our next visit, leave me a comment so i can make a list of places to see! :)
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