accessories

The Blanket Cape

19 March 2016

Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire

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My Workout Essentials

29 February 2016

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
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I definitely don’t consider myself a health expert, but one thing I’ve recently fallen in love with is regular exercise. This is something I never thought I would say as I still occasionally consider myself to be one of the laziest people alive; but I do love a good run. Hitting the gym for an hour or so on a Friday night is a good evening to me. Getting up at 6am doesn’t seem so bad when you’re jogging against the sun rising over the moors. I’ve found a lot of positive aspects in exercise, and even more essentials. 
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What's in My Work Bag

20 April 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
 Luxury is not having to lug three ring-binders around on a daily basis. Everything I need, I leave in the office, which means I can fill my bag with my 'essentials' without having to worry about folder space. This Fiorelli shoulder bag was bought from TK Maxx at £44.99. Fiorelli has remained a reliable source of handbags and accessories for me as they produce high quality products at reasonable prices. Their products are also available across a range of stores from Asos to Debenhams, so they're never hard to find. I bought this bag last summer in an eager bid to add colour to my wardrobe for the remainder of the season. Since then, I have carried this bag just about everywhere and it's remained in great condition. The bright blue coordinates well with a lot of items in my wardrobe which makes it very easy to carry. Inside, there's a small zip pocket, as well as a pocket on the back of the bag.
 Books. I have a 2015 day-to-day planner with me everywhere I go. this planner was bought from Staples at £5.50 at the beginning of the year. Inside, I plan every minute of my day because I would be completely lost without some sense of organisation. It even includes blog posts that are scheduled to go live, and times I need to remember to actually use my social networking accounts like Instagram and Twitter - which I occasionally neglect. As I'm at work for most of the day, I usually plan out my spare evenings as time just seems to slip away! In my bag, I also carry a plain black, lined journal from Paperchase. I use this notepad for jotting down every idea that ever pops into my mind. From blog posts, to feelings and so on. Having an hour for lunch is great as I spend the entire time in the library, coming up with post ideas and writing out ideas I can't forget.
 Valuables. My Karl Lagerfeld purse was bought from TK Maxx at £9.99 - that's the truth. This is one of the most valuable items in my bag as it contains the key to my bank account, along with travel passes and discount cards that I never remember to use. The purse is real leather and usually ends up getting lost at some point during the day. My iPad Mini was a bit of a luxurious, offbeat purchase as I don't really like to splash out now it's my own money. But this tiny tablet is extremely useful, for daily use as well as blogging. The iPad is wifi-only, but this doesn't stop me from using the Microsoft Word app to type up posts when I'm too lazy to write! When wifi is an option, I use the tablet just like a laptop! My glasses are incredibly valuable to me, mainly because they're my only pair. The Tommy Hilfiger frames were bought from Specsavers and there's not much I can do without them. I also carry two lip balms - you can never have too many. Baby Lips by Maybelline and Happy Lips by Blistex are my top ranking balms for the spring. They're around the same price and I would recommend both.
I'm a little bit of a germ-freak, I like cleanliness and can't live without a high standard of hygine. So I was incredibly lucky when I found out a travel size anti-bacterial gel and cleansing wipes set were being sold in the "Strawberry Laces" scent! Carex have helped me through the stuggle of public transport with their useful range. The wipes can be used on face,body and hands which makes them useful for work and while I'm on the go. The scent, unlike most antiseptic products isn't abominable and unbearable. I also carry a hand cream by Carex, which I use at least once every three hours. My teeny tiny tooth comb is from Superdrug and was only 99p! Finally, I carry a make-up bag with a few essentials such as mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and a basic eye-shadow palette to top up during the day.
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Wrapping in the Warmth

29 March 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Travelling between train stations are the moments in my day I least look forward to. The busy atmosphere and malfunctioning ticket gates don't get to me. It's the cold northern breeze that runs through the enormous grey building that leaves me frozen solid. I have lived in Yorkshire my entire life, but I still can't get used to the chilly temperatures. Despite this time of year being a season I treasure, there is nothing I dread more than stepping out into that crisp wind. There are a few ways I like to stay warm without dressing up like the Michelin Man.
Thermals Work.
I used to take these toasty gems for granted. Almost every item of clothing is available in a thermal form. From coats to dresses and even tights. I underestimated the power of such a fabric that has been around for so many years. Not only are thermals available in most camping/outdoor stores, they're usually in neutral and basic colours so can be disguised and blend well with normal clothing. Thermals are advantageous because they're often quite thin and great for layering.
Layers, Layers, Layers.
A technique used by our ancestors to keep warm throughout the colder season. One of the main reason I adore fashion at this time of year is because I can experiment with layers - mixing colours, textures and patterns to create an interesting look. It's a great way to spice up an everyday look and create multiple statement pieces without going overboard. Throwing thermals in the mix is the key to finding extra heat. I usually have a mix of scares, tops and jackets to try and layers, keeping the top-half warm.
Beautiful Boots.
I have always worn ankle boots as a quick and easy casual style pick. Thigh high boots are immensely popular, especially among celebrities with suede being the favoured pick. Unfortunately, they don't suit everyone including myself. However, there are so many different styles available in high street stores with end-of-season sales being only a few weeks away. I prefer a tiny heel, because they elongate the legs and can pull an outfit together. Being drawn to black boots is a habit I'm desperately trying to break; I've also found that good quality boots don't need to be real leather which helps when you're shopping on a budget.
Accessorize!
Now that I actually have to abandon the internet and go outside everyday, I value my woolly knits more than ever. I recently bought a Michael Kors beanie hat from TK Maxx which keeps my enormous head warm and ears hidden. The thick knit is perfect, and the dark charcoal fits well with many other colours. There's nothing better than finishing work at 5pm and wrapping up in a super soft and extra long scarf. My hands are always cold so the extra pair of "magic gloves" do the trick perfectly. Earmuffs are also available in stores such as Claire's and Accessorize for great prices.
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Dark December

10 December 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Gravitating towards darker clothing during this time of year is only natural. I absolutely love to wear all-black, just because it's one of my comfort colours so I tend to feel a lot more comfortable and confident in the colour. Today I couldn't help but pick a few darker pieces, but tried not to go all-black by including my check or flannel jacket and playing around with different textures. Leather usually looks to darkest in comparison to denim or cotton so I think mixing these up can make an outfit look less... black. Charcoal jeans are a wardrobe favourite of mine so they had to be included in today's look as they also match my jacket. I actually bought my zip-up in the summer during a sale and colour never find much to pair it with. However, this 100% cotton vest top is perfect. The top is very thin, and my jacket is quite loose so there's room for me to layer within the outfit for warmth. Finally, I wanted to match my suede shoes with the suede patches on my oversized handbag to complete the look.
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