5 Things That Make Me Happy
17 June 2016
Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Happy Friday! There’s something about a Friday that just
makes everything better. Life feels good when it’s a Friday because freedom is
near. Whether it’s the warm and cosy evening before a Saturday shift, or a
crazy night out before the early morning hangover – everybody loves a Friday.
As I’m in such a great mood today, I thought I would post about five things
that make me happy. Despite the weather not being awesome for mid-June (but
what else can you expect in the UK?!), I’m still feeling elated and somewhat
buzzed even though I can’t pinpoint a specific reason why. Maybe it’s because
I’m getting the hang of driving and not as terrified anymore, or maybe it’s
because I have a few blog post drafts up my sleeve which makes me feel like I’m
a little more on top of things. Nonetheless, today is a Friday. Enjoy
it!
Laying in your own
bed after a long day
I often find that when I’m hard at work, all I can think
about is a nice warm bed. Not because I’m sleepy or tired, but because I
absolutely love my bed! The huge pillows and the soft sheets have me
daydreaming all day. Even now, the idea of curling up under my puffy duvet and
faux fur with Once Upon A Time on in the background while I stalk people on
social media sounds like a treat!
A solid cup of tea
As a Yorkshire lass, most people think I’m obsessed with
Yorkshire Tea and having it running through my veins. True, I do like Yorkshire
Tea and think it’s the best of the bunch, but I also love a good cup of Earl
Grey tea, and Twinings have the best Earl Grey teabags in the world. I need the
cup to be piping hot, with the perfect amount of mil and absolutely no sugar –
just in case you were wondering.
Heavy ainstorms
An unusual thing to make me happy in the middle of summer,
but recently there’s been a few cases of heavy rain in the UK and I have loved
it! The dark storm clouds accompanied by hours of pouring rain is quite therapeutic,
whether there’s thunder and lightning or not. I’m not a fan of the weird rain
that’s really light but somehow drenches you, or any rain with wind; but a long
and heavy downpour somehow cheers me up.
Throwback playlists
Recently I’ve been listening to a concerning amount of
Britney Spears, Hilary Duff and other artists I used to love when I was 5. Any
sort of song that was produced and released before 2006 seems to be in my
favourites list right now and it makes me reeeaaaally happy. The excitement you
feel when you hear and old song and still manage to nail all the lyrics is
thrilling. A good way to always brighten the day is listening to things that made
you smile before, and will again.
Pinning and pinning
and pinning
I was one of those sceptics who at first said “What’s even
the point of Pinterest if I have Tumblr?”, but now I can’t live without Pinterest. Now I see the point. I keep creating
boards just based on things I like, and it helps my profile to become a lot
more personal, even though I use it for blogging and work too. The amount of
images, recipes, workouts and ideas I get from the website each day are
endless; and I’m become very
obsessed.
What’s making you happy today?
Have a great weekend!
Grey and Sparkly
14 June 2016
High Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire
I can’t lie, I wear a hell of a lot of grey. Honestly, I
never realise how many darker colours I wear until I clean through my wardrobe
or rearrange my clothing rail to see very little colour and plenty of blacks
and greys. Even during the summer, although I do try to spice it up sometimes,
I tend to resort to my old ways and habits! Today is no exception, I’m back at
it and still loving it.
Today's a really simple work day. I have one major task to
do which involves assessing and improving a website. Along this task is quite
complex, I have the entire day to get it done and the office I work in is quite
relaxed. My dress is a favourite days like this because the fabric is just so
soft. It was a one off buy that I will never regret. The fabric imitates tweed
with a static-looking effect to make a basic A-line dress. However the jewels
along the collar help to brighten this up a little more and out a fun twist on
a simple dress.
Out of true Anika nature, of course I completed the rest of
the outfit with all-black accessories. I like to feel cosy at work and because
I'm ALWAYS cold so a good jacket like this leather piece is a must. Similarly,
tights are essential for me! In the summer, most people are surprised to find
out I still wear tights basically all of the time! I love them, and they keep
me warm - my fellow freezing friends will agree. I bring a briefcase to work
which means I can bring any handbag needed, and today I chose this perfect
purse from Next. The buckles help it to stand out from the average LBB (little
black bag) and pair well with the dress without taking all attention away from
the rest of the look. I find black shoes are perfect for this, everyone need a
good pair of ballerinas or flats in their closet - no matter the style!
Dress – Next (similar: 1, 2, 3) // Jacket – Miss Selfridge (similar) // Boots – Next (similar) //
Bag – Next (similar)
Dark Summer | Wishlist
10 June 2016
Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire
It’s wishlist time again! Shopping is one of my favourite
*cough cough* ‘exercises’ and I absolutely love to create wishlists on Polyvore full of luxury and high
street items. It’s one of my favourite networks for discovering new items and people
to follow. Creating sets is extremely relaxing, especially when you create
something that’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye. One thing I’ve noticed with
my style is that I tend to go for darker colours and I’ve decided to sometimes
embrace it! Of course, there are occasions where I need to brighten up my
ensembles every so often, but I think all-black is so badass, I just love it.
Wearing all-black in the sun is a pretty brave thing to do, but I don’t think
there’s anything wrong with a little… ‘dark
summer’.
The first thing on my list is the Black Spaghetti Top by Romwe.
I have been on the lookout for cute summer tops to wear, because sometimes I’m
so warm I barely want to wear anything at all (obviously I would never scar the
world by doing that)! The straps on this top turn it from a basic tank top to a
unique bralette that will subtly pair well with (literally) anything, and still
stand out. It’s a cotton top, and fits perfectly into my theme. To pair with
the top, I chose the Black Button Front Skirt from Topshop.
I don’t wear a lot of skirts, simply because I don’t have much to pair them
with. It can be really hard to find a skirt style that suits your body shape
and this is still something I struggle with. Luckily, it means more shopping to
‘experiment’ with my style and what suits me. I usually play it safe with an
A-line skirt, and I think this denim utilitarian piece fits well. No wishlist
is complete without one high fashion item! The Sac De Jour Nano Leather Tote by
Saint
Laurent has always caught my eye, it’s so chic it hurts. I think this
handbag would be the perfect investment, and joins the many others I have waiting
on my list. I love the simple style, and think it projects pure elegance and femininity
without being OTT.
Another luxury bag I liked is the "Totes Amaze"
Tote by 3.1
Phillip Lim. Devastatingly, it’s out of stock everywhere but I couldn’t
pass up the opportunity to include it in my Dark Summer Wishlist. The Harlock
Platform Sandals by Jeffrey
Campbell are one of the few white items in this list, but luckily they do
come in black. For this look, even though it is based on embracing all-black, I
really liked the monochrome contrast with white sandals. I think they will
stand out even more, and help the outfit to look different too. Along with the
White Hardware Belt from Yoins,
adding a little splash of white is creating monochrome with minimal effort (see
what I did there?)
Finally, the Tether Skeleton Bracelet from Marc
by Marc Jacobs is one of my favourite items in the entire wishlist. It may
be tiny, and difficult to see from a distance, but I absolutely adore the
style. It’s so simply unique, the design behind it is genius. I find that
watches like this are pieces that get the most attention without any effort. I
love these little gems, as they pull a whole outfit together despite their
size. This luxury piece is completely black and may stay near the top of my
wishlist for a very long time.
What’s your favourite item?
Top
// Skirt
// Saint
Laurent Bag // 3.1
Phillip Lim Bag // Sandals
// Belt
// Sunglasses
// Watch
// Plants
// Towels
// Rings
// Brush
Set // Candle
// Cleansing
Mask // Body
Cream // Nail
Lacquer // Eyeshadow
Style Crush | Chloë Grace Moretz
8 June 2016
Yorkshire, UK
Chloë Grace Moretz has recently become one of my favourite
actresses in Hollywood – even though I have many.
Despite her age, Chloë has been featured in some amazing films, including
Kick-Ass, If I Stay and Neighbours 2. Being completely honest, I never really
thought of Chloë as a style icon as she’s not someone who strikes me as
flaunting her riches and designer gear. When I think of Chloë, I don’t think of
a typical 21st century celebrity with an annoying Instagram feed and
three hundred cars. She has a really simple street style, as dresses to suit
her taste while subtly staying on trend and in style. Check out ten of my
favourite looks from Chloë below!
Regarding her red carpet and appearance looks, Chloë really
knows how to show off a good pattern and invests well in pieces that will catch
an eye without being so over the top you have to look away. Not only do I love
that fact that she doesn’t feel the need to pout for every photo op, but she
also loves her basic casual wardrobe. It’s realistic and comfortable – not
everyone walks around in Louboutin’s on a regular Wednesday. Chloë is a style
crush for me, because she wears clothing that I can also wear. Her style is youthful, which inspires me to dress in more colour and experiment with my closet a little more. Majority of the
young girls in the public eye spend thousands on an outfit, which could also be
the case for Chloë occasionally, but she’s an easy fashion idol to imitate
because her style is so effortlessly chic!
How Chic Is a Natural Skin Routine This Summer?
5 June 2016
Ilkley, West Yorkshire, UK
Don’t you feel like days you spent on the beach last summer
actually happened a million years ago? It’s June already and we can’t wait to
show off our new bikinis at the beach! Besides our thirst for salty waves, cold
lemonade, and the heat of summer, another feeling waking up is our desire to
implement natural ways into our daily routine. Natural skin care is very chic
these past few years, and for good reason – it is the best thing you can do for
yourself.
Soak in the real nature
There is no way you are going to have beautiful, healthy,
and glowing skin if you apply expensive serums and oils and barely ever leave
your apartment save from going to and from work. Your skin needs the sun and
wind, these are natural elements that remind us that we are alive, and add
plenty of essential vitamin D into our bodies. Of
course, you should always use sunscreen and limit the time you spend on the
beach, but exposing your skin to the sun will give you a nice tan and feed you
with vitamins, which means that you will be healthier and your skin will look
beautiful. If you are worried about not getting enough vitamin D in your
system, do not hesitate to use vitamin supplements and add more fish oil to
your diet.
Wash the toxins out
You know that you should drink at least six glasses of water
through the day to stay hydrated and health. This does not mean that you should
drink water when you’re thirsty (by that time your body is already dehydrated),
but try drinking a glass every few hours instead. There is only a certain
amount of water our bodies can absorb in an hour, so keep a steady flow instead
of drinking four glasses all at once. Making sure you are well hydrated from
the inside does not exclude the need of moisturizing, though. Applying rich
moisturizer every morning or evening will ensure that your skin keeps its glow,
especially the skin on your face. In addition, you should use vitamin C serum, which will
help your skin to keep its firmness and elasticity, especially when exposed to
the summer sun.
Exfoliate and cleanse regularly
Exfoliating is incredibly important because we should rid
our skin from those rough, dry layers which build up every day. Make your own
gentle but powerful body scrub using coffee, brown sugar, and coconut oil, and
use it at least once a week (better twice, though). However, exfoliating too
often can strip your skin from its protective layers too, so don’t do it every
day. On the other hand, unlike with exfoliating, you should cleanse your face
at least once a day; but since you are doing it on a daily basis make sure you
use a mild natural cleanser which will keep your skin soft and not strip it of
its natural oils.
Natural masks
It is best to avoid ‘shady’ chemicals that can be found in
pretty much any skincare product, and start making our own face and hair masks using
ingredients from our fridges and kitchens. Use ingredients rich with oil for
dry skin, for example avocado, honey, and coconut oil, and to soothe acne
breakouts mix oatmeal, warm water, unsweetened yoghurt, and a bit of honey. If
you would like to lighten your skin, simply use fresh lemon juice, honey, and a
bit of papaya. In addition to being completely natural and safe, these masks
are also delicious!
Remember, blindly following trends has never brought anyone
anything good, and just because everyone is talking about something, it doesn’t
mean that it is a good thing. Do your research, find out as much as you can
about products you intend to use, and don’t hesitate to give up using a product
if you notice side effects you don’t like. After all, your health should always
come first, not just this season, but always.
This post is a guest post by Zara from highstylife.com!
Images source: Flickr
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