Making a comeback: Attempt #2 (AKA Holiday Essentials)

About a month ago, I tried to be really funny and clever and make some sort of hilarious comeback on my own blog, which basically ended in a really shoddy past about diddly squat that I was far too embarrassed to let loose on the general public. Yeah, it was pretty atrocious. So, here is attempt numero deux at making some form of 'welcome back' post that isn't completely shit.

I've just returned from a beaut of a holiday to Majorca with some friends, where I got the first tan of my entire life (whut), took part in some hilarious water aerobics, and pretty much just sat by the pool drinking cocktails all day, every day. It looked a bit like this:

Hashtag no filter. Oh alright, maybe on the first one. Anyway, since I am the universe's actual worst packer, I've been thinking all about holiday essentials, especially since I've got to pack for two weeks away at the end of August which I'm actually dreading. If anyone wants to come help, holler at me.

Since I'm whacking this out late on Sunday, I can't guarantee anything fancy or well put-together here, but we'll give it a shot. LEGGO:

• SUNCREAM. Ok, let's start with the obvious. If you're going somewhere where sun exists, you're gonna need to be whacking the stuff on. My top tip for suncream is to start high-ish (I started around 40 but I have the skin of a ghost so 30's probably fine) and then work your way down. Probably pretty quickly if you're anything like my mother.

• AFTER SUN. Another pretty obvious one, but it's a godsend of a creation, even for the slightest of sunburns. Really good for getting moisture back in the skin too and doubles as an everyday moisturiser. I've always used a Nivea one, just because it's never let me down and is incredibly moisturising: 

• EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS: Shampoo, conditioner,  deodrant etc etc. Blindingly obvious, but if you don't write it down, chances are you'll forget. Easy to pick up at the airport if you want, but I always nip to Primark for empty bottle set. Only £1 and saves spending more on new shampoos. OH, and do not forget a TOOTHBRUSH and TOOTHPASTE.

• PASSPORT and TRAVEL INSURANCE DOCUMENTS and MOOLAH. Yeah, probably naht a good idea to leave these behind.

• FIRST AID TYPE KIT. Just make sure you've got a good selection of essential medicines like ibuprofen, paracetamol, bug bite cream, Imodium and stuff like that, just in case.

• SUN PROTECTING SPRAY. I swear by Charles Worthington's Takeaways Sun-Shine UV Protection Spray for keeping my hair looking not too shabby in the heat, especially since I dip-dyed it. Spray on before you hit the pool, and again once you've been in water. The shampoo and conditioner counterparts are pretty awesome too. 

• iPod SPEAKERS: When you're getting ready for just about anything, it's always good to have a banging' playlist on, so make sure one person brings some speakers. Oh, and get someone to create some sort of holiday playlist to keep everyone happy.

• SUNGLASSES: Obviously, but essential. A cheap pair is good for going in the sea, but I think it's worth investing in a decent pair to get the best protection for your eyeballs.

• MAKE-UP. Waterproof mascara is an absolute must, so you don't look like the joker when you glide effortlessly out the pool/sea/unexpected downpours. I'd also highly recommend BB Cream, and I swear by this Maybelline one for £7.99. I don't like putting much make-up on abroad as it feels so heavy, so this BB cream is a godsend, and is perfect for putting on round the pool too, as it contains sun protection. Also, bear in mind that with a tan, your normal make-up might not fit, so don't go too cray cray. Sun protection Vaseline or Nivea Sun Protect stick for lips are also highly recommended to save from nasty sunburnt lips. 

• SHOES: Alright, here's where it gets tough for me. I normally bring abut 5 pairs too many, but on an essential level, I'd opt for some flip flops, a couple of pairs of sandals, perhaps a pair of nicer wedged heels for any nights out. You could chuck in a pair of espadrilles in you're not a sandals fan, and I've also just fallen in love with jelly shoes which are AMAZING. I have these ones from New Look, which are £9.99 and only gave me blisters at home. Sounds bad, but I walked over two hours in them (an hour each on separate days) and they didn't hurt one iota. 

• CLOTHES: Again, this is pretty subjective, but as long as you've got a couple of bikinis or swimsuits, some underwear and enough outfits to last, you'll be good to go. I always take a few cover-ups for if you want to pop out to the shops too - kimonos are a new favourite of mine, because you can also add them to other outfits to jazz them up. Perfect for a bit of cover up if it gets a bit chiller in the evenings. I always over pack outfits for choice, but a good variety of day and night options will be perfect, in case you plan any day trips and whatnot. A couple of dresses/playsuits, a couple of pairs of shorts and some tees will see you through. OH, and a good hat is a wonderful idea too. So is jewellery. AGH.

Supermarkets abroad are pretty damn good, so don't worry about food or anything if you're going self-catering. 6l of water was about 6Euros in Majorca, so stock up. The alcohol was surprisingly cheap as well, so if you forget any, ne panique pas. Just drink Sangria and Pina Coladas and forget the rest. OO, reading material - Pack a good book/magazine for pool times.

This has turned unnecessarily long and that's all I can think of for now, but I might come back to this if I think of anything more that's needed. 

Please comment below which anything you can't go on holiday without :)

Love y'all
x

Featured Post: Mallzee App

So, it's been a horribly, disgustingly long time since I lasted blogged, and I can only offer sincerest apologies. I am trying to do a post ASAP about what the heck I've been up to recently (nothing too amazingly life-changing, soz and all). BUT, for now, I am here to let you all know about something that miiiiiight just interest you.

A while back, I started spreading the word about Mallzee, a brand new shopping experience that's completely tailored to you. Now, the lovely Laura from Mallzee has told me they've done so well (they were named one of sMarta’s top 10 Mobile Businesses of the year in 2013 don't'cha know), they've developed their own iPhone app. Halle-freakin-lujah!

Being hailed as the Tinder for clothes and a 'personal shopper in your pocket' (I've always wanted one of those), the app searches over two MILLION items of clothing (yep, that's two ruddy million) from over 200 top retailers to learn YOUR style and find you the clothes you actually want. Pretty much the dream app if you're tired of searching through pages and pages of clothes that don't interest you at all right? You can rate or hate the clothes you see from major fashion faves including ASOS, Topshop and Urban Outfitters, to find your perfect Christmas party outfit faster than you can say 'I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!!'

 

PLUS, much like the website, the Mallzee app also lets you share outfits you've found with your friends to gain that all important second opinion. AND because Mallzee knows how important second opinions are, it won't let you buy anything until your friends agree. A bit like persuading my Mum I NEED those heels before she decides they're a suitable purchase (would've got them anyway but y'know. Context, people). 

Just in case you still aren't persuaded (c'maaaaan people), CEO and founder of Mallzee in 2012, Cally Russell, had this to say about why he created Mallzee: “in the modern day, as people have less and less time to spare, we wanted to create a product where people could quickly find clothes that suited them. We search over 200 top brands to create an effortlessly simple online shopping experience- just like a personal shopper in your pocket. there shall be no more trawling through hundreds of pages of clothes online, thanks to Mallzee.”

So why now?: “Now’s the perfect time for Mallzee to be available to everyone. We’ll make sure we find you the perfect outfit to keep you looking stylish this festive season and ensure your Christmas party is a roaring success.”

Let's all join together for a great big thanks guys. THANKS.

So, get downloading the free app right now. Trust me, you are gonna LOVE it.

Mallzee, the iPhone app revolutionising the way the world shops, is launching fully to the public this week in time to save you from Christmas party fashion disasters. The iPad version will be released before Christmas.

*DISCLAIMER: I am not receiving any money for this post, merely spreading the word of a unique new shopping experience!

My Week in Pictures #4

This is going to be a bit of a mismatched post, as I try and cram a few extra bits in. This is because I may not have a chance to blog properly for a while as I have racked up a couple of weeks of work experience HOORAH!!!... followed by turning 21. I'll let you know how that one turns out. Hashtag I am getting old.

Moving on...

Firstly, MISSGUIDED. I'm going to make a separate 'Summer Wishlist' post at some point, which turned out to mainly be consisted of Missguided products. Yes, I'm a little obsessed. During my last couple of years or so of university, I'm pretty sure my housemates and I kept Missguided going, judging by the amount of parcels we had delivered to our house. I don't doubt the delivery man began to recognise that. There's so much stuff I could buy from there, especially thanks to their new 'Sweet Deals' range, and I thought I'd just share my favourite dress on the website at the moment. I'm obsessed with it, and I keep having to debate with myself over whether or not I can afford it (newsflash: I really can't. Someone please buy it for me). It's this lovely skater dress...

... and you can pur-chase it from here. For me. As a present. Thank you very much (IT'S MY BIRTHDAY SOON).

Secondly, just thought I'd draw your attention to my current eBay. I've started uploading a bunch of clothes to sell that I don't like/don't wear/don't fit into anymore, and I've got a tonne still to come, so go have a ganders... because I am poor. Thanking you kindly in advance.

FINALLY. The point of this post. My week in pictures. This week I have been catching up with uni friends in Primrose Hill (as featured in the collage) and in Leicester Square, celebrating my sister's birthday with a delicious roast, experimenting with my Mum's new record player and doing a tour of London food markets, from Borough Market (which holds the biggest meringues EVER) to Southbank's food festival. Also thrown in what the Science Museum thinks I looked like as a child. Not accurate AT ALL. 

Apologies for the blurriness of this collage, can't quite figure out what's going wrong but I'll keep trying to fix it. That's all from me for a bit. Looking forward to my next few weeks of work experience and birthday-ing and perhaps a bit of blogging in between. Have a lovely weekend!
x

Featured Post: Mallzee

I was recently contacted by the very lovely and friendly Laura from Mallzee, and although I had not previously heard of the site, I was keen to have a nosy. Once I'd had a good look around (I got quite into it, I must admit), I decided this was definitely something my readers need to know about!

Mallzee work with 200 brands (including Little Mistress, Asos, Motel and Miss Selfridge to name just a few!) to create a completely new online shopping experience that is completely tailored to you and only you. You pick exactly what types of clothes (via a short quiz) and brands you want to shop, only to have them all handily in one place. You can also create a wardrobe of the clothes you want to buy, which then shows you recommended pieces to go with your chosen items, so you can quickly and easily find them again. Sounds better than rifling through pages of clothes you don't like right?! This is what my Mallzee currently looks like...

Mallzee also makes shopping social, letting you shop with friends using their built-in chat features, as well as allowing you to create polls to get your friends opinions on what you should buy. Much quicker than sending clothes back and forth over social network sites! 

Need more convincing? In addition to ALL this, you also get paid to shop. Yes, you read that correctly. Don't look so shocked! For every £3 you spend, you get 1 Mallzee dollar to spend, meaning more clothes and more rewards!

I currently have VIP membership, and you can do, if you click on the link below. You lucky things!
Your one click access to exclusive features and offers

Last but not least, Mallzee are running a Pinterest competition, the details of which I'll add below. 

Happy shopping!

*Disclaimer: I am not receiving any money for this post, merely spreading the word of a unique new shopping experience!

Day Four - A Shop Sizing Experiment

There are plenty of articles and blogs about sizes, which sizes are healthy, why size doesn't matter and so on, but there's one thing that really bugs me and I feel it's time for a rant.

Maybe it's down to my body shape (any sign of fat seemed to skip the very top half of my body and roll straight down to my stomach, sizeable butt and thighs. Seems unfair to me), but I couldn't tell you the exact sizing of clothes I need, because I could almost guarantee that it would be wrong in at least one shop. It's most problematic on the bottom half, where I can vary from a 10 up to a 14. In fact, in one instance, the first size that actually fit and did up in New Look was a size 16, at which point I promptly had a tantrum and quickly exited the shop. 

Take these clothes for example...

Top to Bottom: Size 12 - Primark; New Look; New Look (high-waisted); New Look
Size 10 - American Eagle Outfitters; Topshop

Top to Bottom: Both Size 10 - Rare London; Primark

Top to Bottom: Size 12 - New Look
Size 10 - Republic

 I think it's most obvious in the shorts how different shop sizes can be, although granted some shorts are in differing styles. It seems the biggest offenders are New Look, whose size 12 are pretty much the same size as a size 10 elsewhere (such as Republic, seen in the trouser photo), and actually seems to differ between their own clothing! I'm even more startled by the tiny sizing of a Topshop 10! 

Although, as is the case with many girls, I have my body hang-ups, I don't feel I should be ashamed in any way with the clothes size I buy. However, particularly in New Look's case, their unpredictable and small sizing feels like it's designed to make you feel bigger than you actually are, and has made me feel fat on more than one occasion. What I can't understand is why there's not a standardised sizing that all shops need to stick by, as it seems ridiculously that you can vary so much from shop-to-shop. There's already enough magazines and photo-shopping making us feel like we need to be much slimmer/fitter/this that and the other than we are, so it's about time shops did something to counter this. And don't even get me started on bra sizes...

By no means I am saying that being obese (or anorexic, or any other eating disorder) is OK, but by potentially making us feel bigger than we actually are, shops are doing nothing for women's self-esteem. I for one am sick of being embarassed of sizes, and would love to see women (and men!) stop being defined by whether they are a size 8 or a 16. 

Any thoughts? Feel free to drop a comment below :)

Day Three - Beats, BAFTAs and Bikini Body Battles

ALBUM OF THE DAY

Bit of a long one today...

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

After 7 years without a studio album, Daft Punk are back with the collaboration-filled Random Access Memories. Since Get Lucky has already maintained four glorious weeks in the number one spot, and doesn't look to be going anywhere anytime soon (thank GOD, since it is the only song I know that has the ability to be played 24 hours a day without getting boring or repetitive), the album has a lot to live up to. There aren't many compliments I could pay this album that haven't already been said elsewhere, so I'll be keeping this to a very brief mini-review.

From the punchy opening beats of Give Life Back to Music, to the slightly strange ending of Contact, via the chilled-out The Game of Love, the musings and teachings of Giorgio by Moroder, the string-based build-up of Beyond and the old-school, disco, relaxing feel of Fragments of Time, RAM is full of brilliance and surprises, forever keeping you on your toes. Coupling a feeling of nostalgia with sounds that are as fresh and relevant as ever, RAM proves just why this duo have still got it after 20 robotic years. 

You can stream the album now on iTunes, by going to their artist page, and feel free to comment below with your thoughts and any favourite tracks!

BAFTA Fashion

In other recent news, the BAFTAs happened on Sunday [winner's list], and as expected, there were some amazing and not-so-amazing dresses all round. Thought I'd present some of my favourites here, although feel free to pop a comment below if you disagree (or agree!). All pictures thanks to Google Images... naturally.

Monochrome seemed to be the trend of choice at the awards, with Sheridan Smith, Louise Redknapp, Tess Daly, Laura Whitmore and Claudia Winkleman, to name a few, all in dark ensembles.

Some of my favourites, however, came from Zoe Hardman, who's fitted number beautifully showed off her enviably figure, and Millie Mackintosh's thigh-high Sass & Bide dress, with gold detail, showing off her long legs and slim figure. 

Away from black, nudes, whites and creams were another favourite amongst many, such as Jenni Falconer and Louise Thompson, with my favourites being Jenna Louise Colman's simple maxi dress, completed with statement clutch, and Lucy Watson's white embellished design.

Finally, a pop of colour provided many glamorous red carpet moments, from Binky Felstead's pink jumpsuit (below), to Imelda Staunton and Mary Berry showing that you can look fabulous at any age. My favourite, however, and perhaps one of the best outfits of the night came from Sienna Miller, who wore a gorgeously detailed powder blue dress from Matthew Williamson teamed with an up-do hairstyle, a simple clutch and studded heels.

Like any of these? Any favourites I haven't mentioned? Let me know :)

And Finally...

With a mere 35 days until I head off to Tenerife (TAKE ME THERE NOW PLEASE), the battle for a bikini-ready body is definitely on, so I'm ending this post with a little insight into how I've tried to start to get into shape today aka the healthiest day I've had in a VERY long time (nb. I am definitely no fitness expert!!). Starting the day with a bowl of porridge, I then completed 50 squats, 50 sit-ups and 2 minutes of butt-kicks, high knees and mountain climbers. Afterwards, I had the best Covent Garden Leek & Potato soup, with one slice of white bread (preferable wholemeal but we had none), followed by a banana. I'm hoping that a few changes here and there will help me get ready for the beach, so I will keep you all updated!

Day One - Sorting, Nostalgia & Some Amazing Headwear

So I'm trying out my first new idea, bare with. I thought it might be interesting to dab my hand in the world of lifestyle blogging, to document what my day-to-day life involves. I've always said my life could be made into some sort of comedy book, so here's my chance. Obviously, I know my everyday life is really not that exciting, so I'll only blogging things that I think will be of interest. This might not make any sense, and might fall completely flat, but I am up for giving it a try! [Please forgive me if this first post is a little lengthy].

So. Day One. Home from university for a few weeks, decided to start sorting my room out in preparation for the inevitable panic that will hit when I realise that all my accumulated stuff will not fit back in my room, as you can see from the chaos below. Hashtag hoarder. 

Yes, that is a whole box of CDs [middle top], in addition to the two almost completely full CD stands [bottom left]... just in case anyone was in doubt of my near obsession with music. The first thing I found was a whole stash of photo albums, which, as you can probably predict, completely screwed up my tidying plans, and provided me with hours of entertaining. This is a selection of my favourite baby photos of myself...

There are many things I learnt from these pictures:

1 - I had excellent fashion sense, even from a young age. Just take a look at those amazing hats [unfortunately some of the top left picture has been cut out, but I assure you, it was a beaut]! My favourite has to be the velvety burgundy creation I apparently wore to the park [middle picture], which went beautifully with those dungarees.
2 - I had the chubbiest legs I was just the chubbiest child when I was younger. I'm not sure how clear the middle picture on the right is, but hopefully that will showcase that. If not, just look at the roundness of my face in the bottom right-hand photo.
3 - I have always loved my food. And, as you can see top right, I also like to take regular naps after I eat.

The thing that struck me most, however, came from organising all the books I own. As you can see below with books like the Winnie the Pooh collection, a Roald Dahl trilogy and a very large pile of Jacqueline Wilson books, I used to adore reading as a child, but somewhere along the way, that love dwindled, and so I have very few 'adult' books to read. 

[L-R, Clockwise: Bookshelf, Photo albums and Chest of Drawers; Best photo of a deer on an island in Japan; Selection of dance certificates (I would love to get into dancing again); newly organised chest of drawers; kimono given to me as a gift years ago, bookshelf close-up]

It'd be great to blame university life for the disappearance of my reading habit, but there's definitely more to it than that, and I really want to get my read back on. If you've got any suggestions, please feel free to comment below! I'd also just like to point out that less than an hour after I did all of this, that whole bookshelf fell of the wall, hitting an apple and making it explode, but luckily not harming anything/one else. It could only happen to me...

This is just a brief 'about me' introduction, and hopefully posts will get far more interesting from here on in!