Summer Closet Wishing

Summer is just around the corner and with the weather heating up I have been browsing the isles of online shops to find the latest pieces of Summer 2015. This Summer is all about the off shoulder tops and basic tees. Light and flowy pieces will be your best friend in the warmer days.

I found these pieces from Sheinside, which houses all the latest Summer trends at steal prices. They provide clothes to appeal to everyone's style with such a huge range you'll struggle to not find something you like. the pieces I picked out are what is on my Summer want list and I thought to share it with you for inspiration. Just click the products name to be taken to sheinside.com and view the individual item.

Grey V neck loose t shirt
Black and white short sleeve tee
Black short sleeved stripe tee
Cactus embroidered shirt
White and black sleeved dress
Grey drawstring vertical stripe shorts
Denim A-line skirt
Light grey loose pants
Black vintage zipper shoulder bag
White off the shoulder lace blouse


I am aware there is a lot of stripy-ness going on in this wishlist. but honestly I cannot get enough of them. They are such  timeless item that will pair with anything you have in mind. These items are right up my style and are very versatile pieces that can be worn all year round and not just Summer! What items are on your Summer wishlist?

Raise Your Hats | Style Snippet

If you look back at photos of me from when I was a adorable chubby cheeked child you could gather I was rather fond of the odd hat. Well, that fondness has only grown further as time has gone on. I love nothing more than finding a new hat, and wearing it on days not just where my hair doesn't look good. I can safely say I have a fair few hats although that doesn't mean my collection is finished. You may ask when in life are you going to need the exact same fedora in three different colours? My answer to you I have no idea, other than the fact they all go with their own outfits.

In the winter you wear a hat to keep warm, usually of the woolly variety with a cute little bobble on the end. In Summer, a oversized fedora hat keeps the sun off your face. A hat in all aspects is a practical piece that could 1. save your ears from freezing off and 2. prevent you being blinding by the sun. Then there's a beanie, a woolly hat and yet people still wear it all year, including me. Even though sometimes when I wear my fedora I feel like a MI5 agent in disguise, I think that they can really pull together a look and make a once 'meh' outfit into a 'wow' outfit. So all the more reason  to make wearing hats a regular thing.

Although please spare a small thought for those people who wears a hat but always has it stolen by a friend.

The Curse of Dry Hands

Today I will be talking about the worse curse, the curse of dry hands. I myself suffer from this and I can share your feelings of pain here. If my hands aren't freshly moisturized then they resemble a wrinkly ladies hands (no offence to be taken), it is not a fun thing. The weird thing to me is that I never before have suffered with this. I thought that dry hands was only a thing that really occurred in Winter but now it's approaching Summer and they still haven't resolved themselves, so I'm assuming dry hands are here for the long run.

Carry Moisturizer Everywhere

There isn't much worse than haven't cracked dry hands and not having hand cream with you, that can be a very painful mistake. I swear by hand cream and I carry probably one or even two in everyone of my handbags and if you know me I always have one on me that I apply continuously throughout the day.

Do Night Treatments

Yes, you can do night treatments for your hands. Like your hair, you leave a deep moisturizer on your hands all night and in the morning they will be as soft as a babies bottom. Get your hands on a hand treatment, I use Soap and Glory's Endless Glove. Slather your hands in it (it doesn't have to sink in) and then apply the fabric gloves you can pick up from boots. Although granted it does make it difficult for carrying out tasks and being on your phone.

Apply Moisturizer Everywhere

When we moisturize our hands we tend to focus on the palms when in fact those aren't the parts that get most dry. In fact its areas like your cuticles that need the most attention. Make sure to focus your moisturizer on all parts of your hands and even get things like cuticle oil to focus on areas that are driest.

Summer 2015 | Style Snippet

Welcome to yet another style snippet post, this one is all about this comings seasons fashion trends. I don't know about you but a new season means shopping for new styles, and who doesn't love a bit of shopping, am I right?

Crochet
This is a style inspired by the 70's and crochet for Summer 2015 is seen in many styles from Crop tops to bikini's. Crochet adds a bohemian feel to an outfit and adds a hippy vibe to any Summer outfit, as well as giving a perfect Summer feel.

Nautical
Stripes, stripes and more stripes, I am not one to complain about this style as I a already an owner of many a striped top. The nautical theme to an outfit is anything from striped tops to breasted sleeveless vests, think sailor girl.

Khaki
This colour is everywhere this Summer season. It's a neutral tone that is seen in trousers and vests, it can be coordinated into any outfit adding a certain military feel. It's a perfect way to add a hint of colour and excitement to a Summer outfit if like me you usually stick away from bold prints and colours.

Flares
Flare trousers are a blast from the past, it really is true when they say everything comes back around. If you go to your mother and ask what they wore in the 70's, guaranteed they would say flared trousers. Flare's are back for Summer 2015 in a variety of exotic, bold print that definitely make a statement.

Off Shoulder Tops
These style of tops give your outfit a bohemian/gypsy look. They are really flattering to wear and a perfect to pair with some flare jeans and a pair of sandals.

Denim Skirts
Another blast from the past. The denim skirts really add to the denim on denim look with a more feminine appeal. They add structure to quick a basic outfit as well as a pop of texture.

Chunky Sandals and Clogs
Chunky heeled sandals are everywhere this Summer season along with the reappearance of clogs. I have to admit I didn't think I would ever see them reappear however here we are. Chunky sandals are most definitely a statement piece to add to a basic outfit. They add more excitement to an outfit over a basic gladiator not to mention added height for my fellow short girls out there.

This Summer is most definitely about the 70's reappearance, the styles seem to make reoccurrences of the past generations. Bohemian looks with statement jewellery pieces and shoes are the things that will pull together Summer outfits for 2015.

Healthy Food Ideas

 

You may have noticed if you follow me on instagram recently that u have been posting more images on food, now these get more likes than any others which I think tells us a lot. I've restarted doing this because I genuinely enjoy experimenting with my food and trying out new healthy foods.

One recipe I have started loving recently are smoothie bowls. They are amazing, not to mention a great breakfast or snack idea. They are full of nutrients, not to mention tasty and the best part is that you can customize it to what you desire.

Frozen Berries
Frozen summer berries
1 large banana
1 handful of almonds
1 handful of dried cranberries
Granola

1. Take the frozen summer berries and place it into a blender along with a small amount of water.
2. Blend, if you would prefer your smoothie to be not as thick add more water.
3. Chop up the banana and add that to the top, along with the almonds and dried cranberries. Then top it off with some granola.

Flaxseed and Berries
Frozen Berries
1 handful of grapes
1 teaspoon of flaxseed
Dash of almond milk
Granola
1 handful of Trial Mix
1 handful of trial mix

1. Take the frozen berries, flaxseed, grapes and almond milk into a blender and blend (the more watery you want the smoothie the more almond milk you add.
2. Top it off with the trial mix, flaked almonds and granola.

Popcorn is such a simple snack often associated with the food you would get in the cinema  but actually it can make a great, filling snack. Popcorn itself is actually a healthy option snack so long as you get the right brand such as Propercorn or Metcalfs, all of which I love. I always get the sweet and salt variation as its a little healthier than just sweet but still tastes amazing.

When I get home from school there isn't nothing a love to snack on more than a huge bowl of fruit. I love all kinds of fruit and the beauty of a fruit salad is you can add whatever you like. I love to have all kinds of berries, passion fruit, mango and a banana. Of course fruit is full of natural nutrients and antioxidants!

 

Porridge is one of my go to breakfast foods. It is a substantial breakfast that releases its energy slowly, keeping you fuller right up to lunch. Again, porridge can be customized to any topping or flavour, I personally like to keep my oats plain with a variety of toppings. the beauty of oats is that they can be created in a matter of minutes so are perfect for when you're in a rush.

 

Quick Glazed Oats

30g rolled oats

1 banana

1 handful of blueberries

Chestnuts

Pumpkin seeds

Dried cherries

Sweet freedom nectar

 

1. Add the rolled oats into a bowl, and boil the kettle. Add the boiling water to the oats, whilst stirring and allow to rest.

2. Chop up the banana and top the oats off with the nuts and dried cherries.

3. Drizzle over a serving of sweet freedom nectar to add sweetness.

 



A snack I find myself reaching to a lot is Nakd bars. They are completed all natural fruit bars that are great for on the go. They come in a variety of flavours. They have no added artificial flavours or colourings so make for a healthy snack.

Let me know some of your favourite healthy snacks? I would love to get hold of some new recipes to try.

Barry M Focus

A drugstore nail favourite of mine for many years now has been Barry M, mainly for their affordable prices but also their variety and good quality shades.

Over my time of purchasing nail products I have gathered quite a healthy collection of Barry M polishes in particular all ranging in colour and type. Barry M nail polishes in my opinion is the best out there in the drugstore and also is a close comparison to higher end brands such as OPI or Essie. One thing I like in particular about them is that there is something for everyone, whether you are looking for matte nails, gel nails, quick dry, or just plain jane, they do it. I think it is fair to say I favour Barry M, with nail polish I have a problem with chipping especially when using Essie, after one day I'm left with polishes left on few but three fingers. Whereas my Barry M lasts all but 4-5 days extra. One factor you cannot miss off with Barry M polishes is the price they range from £2.99 for the original and go up to £4.99 for the fancy glitters. For a good quality nail polish in the drugstore that price to me is amazing and I can safely say that a fair few of my pennies has been spent on it.

My favourite range of Barry M is the Gelly High Shines, I would say they dominate my collection overall. The formulation I love and they really glide onto the nails with a high shine finish without needing a top coat. It's like gel nails for a fraction of the price. I also do like the shades offered with the Speedy Dry range and the new UV range does not budge off my nails even with encouragement. From this post you may be able to tell that my favourite shades to wear on my nails is yes, neutral. Greys, whites and pastels. Barry M nail polishes have shades for all occasions and I wouldn't be surprised if they had every shade possible, although they keep coming out with more!

Hair Routine | How to Maintain Long Hair

Since I began growing my hair out in 2012 my hair has become very low maintenance for me, I barely put much effort into styling it on most days. To keep the frizz at bay and my hair under control there are a few things I do.

Wash

Washing long hair can be a curse from the gods. It takes forever to spread the shampoo and even then its a struggle to get it over all of your head. Then comes the conditioner but do you apply it in the roots? or not?

Personally when washing my hair I tend to go for which ever shampoo needs using. Right now I have been switching between Aussie's Mega Shampoo and Aussome Volume, they smell amazing and leave my hair feeling squeaky clean and volumised. As for conditioner I go for a more hydrating formula, such as the Elvive Extraordinary Oils. I do only apply conditioner to the ends of my hair as this seals in the ends, and if I apply it to the roots it can leave me with a greasy scalp. Everyone's hair is different. A good thing for long hair also is to do a deep treatment on the hair to really nourish your hair and scalp, you can buy expensive treatments or use things from your home like coconut oil.

One thing I can say when maintaining long hair is do not wash your hair everyday, if you can help it. When you washing your hair you are stripping it of the natural oils that keep your hair hydrated and nourished. Also by leaving it a day or two your hair over time will effectively become less greasy after that amount of time, bonus? I wash my hair every other day, which is what best suits me. However in between washes my hair needs a but of lifting and for that I use the Batiste Dry Shampoo, which just helps to remove excess oils and boosts volume on those limp days.

Dry

Here is a simple answer, don't. If you can change your routine to not using a hair dryer to dry your hair. The less heat you use on your hair the less split ends you'll get, fact. Washing your hair at night and letting it air dry as you sleep will prove much better for your hair in the long run than using a hair dryer.

Manage

I said my hair routine was low maintenance. In fact when my hair is dry I mostly leave it as it is, but on the occasion of my hair being a frizzy mess when I wake up I tend to do either one of two things. I apply the Organix Argan Oil into the ends of my hair to smooth out the frizz, it makes my hair appear soft and healthy. Or I will straighten out small sections that need it such as my fringe. That way it makes it look like you spent that little more time on your hair than you actually did, but don't forget the heat protectant.  Also a product that saved me from hours of torture when brushing my hair was the Tangle Teaser. This brush is my godsent, all other brushes I have used really pull on my hair and leave it frizzy, not this. A little trick I picked up with having long hair that if you start brushing your hair from the bottom up, reduces breakage and painful pulling on the hair.

Styling

It can seem easier with long hair to just chuck it up in a pony tail or top knot, but if you have it show it off and let it down. It can also prove better for your hair too as pulling it up can increase breakage, encouraging the hairs to fall out. Also does anyone else get that headache when you take down a pony tail? I for the most of it leave my hair down and what if I'm having a bad hair day? I chuck on a hat, that always makes it better.

A Childhood Sweetheart | Abersoch

 

They say your childhood memories are those that shape you as a person and stay with you forever. One that I re visit each year is Abersoch, I have grown up with it since I was walking. In fact I learnt to walk on those very beaches. The gorgeous long beaches that clear your thoughts and mind. Being by the seaside is a thing I have always loved whenever I am there I feel at ease and relaxed, with the sea air and the sound of the waves.

It is like a second home to me. In the Summer months when I return and visit the beaches and town, I don't feel far from home. It was on the sea's at Abersoch I found my love for being on a boat, every year we go out on the boat to surround Bear Grylls Island or park off in the cove's to swim or strengthen my water sports skills.

The beaches of Wales aren't like that you get abroad they haven't got the lush white sands with clear blue sea, they are in fact quite imperfect but to me their what I know. I have spent many a day running along the vast beaches, digging holes, building sandcastles and climbing the rocks, admittedly I still do to this day. All remind me of Summer for me during my childhood, which is a time so cherished that I spent with my family and my friends that all too soon passes. As I grow up I know that I will continue to return there and continue making memories.

Style Snippet | Watches

A watch is a useful accessory that also adds to an outfit. Watches draw attention to parts of a minimalist outfit and is quite literally a timeless piece that will never go out of fashion. No matter the technology I feel there will always be a part in fashion for a watch and I still find myself wearing them even if I don't use it. It may be a practical product but the majority of the time I find myself just using it as a fashion statement. Having a large face with a basic leather strap keeps the traditional appeal of a watch but also keeps the look simple. Of course when someone asks for the time you won't be one of those that looks to their wrist and is left without an answer.

Watch // Daniel Wellington