G I V E A W A Y | Teapigs Matcha Green Tea Set

27 May, 2014



It's giveaway madness this month and I still have even more lined up after this one! I love herbal, fruit and green teas. Even as a ridiculously poor student my cupboard had a whole shelf dedicated to every flavour of tea under the sun! When Teapigs offered me the chance to trial out their new super matcha tea, who was I to say no? Now, I had never even heard of matcha tea before my communication with Teapigs, so when I read into it I was a little astounded and dubious to it's claims. Matcha tea originates from the Nischio region of Japan and has only recently started to gain recognition in the UK recently. It's universally known that green tea is full to the brim with health benefits. However, matcha is a super green tea that actually possesses 137 times the antioxidants of regular green tea! With regular green tea all the goodness gets thrown away in the tea bag, whilst Matcha is ground down to a fine powder that is stirred into the drink.

I've been reviewing Matcha alongside the final few weeks of my last ever university deadline, which is rather fitting! Matcha claims to keep you well-concentrated and alert, which is why it's also used by Buddhist monks to stay focused during meditation. Apparently it has been popular amongst students in Japan for years for cramming in last minute revision and studies, so I'm rather thankful for discovering it just in time! Upon opening the tin of Matcha for the first time a wisp of green powder rose into the air, which automatically convinced me of it's magic powers. Although matcha can be pretty much blended into any liquid my first experience of it was in lukewarm water just like traditional green tea. Now, the taste is strong. If you're a regular herbal tea drinker this shouldn't be a problem, but if you're not acquired to the taste of regular herbal teas then it's fair to say it wouldn't be suited to your palette.

However, as mentioned before part of the magic of matcha is that it can be blended into almost any liquid. Whilst it can be a little overpowering when mixed with just water or milk, I've blended it into smoothies and juices (I particularly love it with mango juice!) and you can barely taste it at all. In fact you can even bake matcha cookies or make matcha ice cream if you're feeling adventurous! I've been drinking a cup of some sort of matcha concoction once or twice a day whilst cramming in final drawings before my deadline and I genuinely feel an improvement in my focus and concentration. As someone who tends to stray from my university work very easily, I feel a lot more energised at the start of the day and really feel it's giving me the boost I need to get going. I just wish I had discovered it four years ago!

The teapigs team have been kind enough to offer me a second matcha set to giveaway to one of my readers! The set includes the Organic Matcha Set which includes 1 x tin of organic matcha, a teapigs shot glass, a half teaspoon measuring spoon and an Aerolatte whisk (which is also handy for making naughty caramel lattes!). This giveaway will run for one week and is open to UK based readers only. However, if you want to give the magic matcha a go, you can get 10% off at the teapigs online store with exclusive discount code 'fox' which lasts until the end of June.

Have you tried matcha tea before? What did you think?

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O U T F I T | Sixties Sundays

23 May, 2014





Dress*: c/o Jones + Jones
Glasses: Camden Market
Bag*: c/o Nica
Skirt (worn underneath): H&M
Boots: Vagabond via Urban Outfitters



Now I know it's not Sunday, but it was this Sunday when I shot these photos, so the title seemed fitting anyway! After all, just how deliciously sixties, flower child is this shift dress from Jones + Jones? I cannot help but feel I'm a part of a new Wes Anderson flick when wearing it! It's absolutely magical. The only problem is it's not an ideal dress for us taller girls, but I tend to have that problem with a hell of a lot of dresses as it is. I'm 5 foot 9 and there's no way I could have stepped foot outside the house in it without my little lifesaver of a lace trim, body con, black skirt from H&M. It's an alternative option to lace trim cycling shorts and only cost me £3.99. If you're a little bit taller and face the same problem as me on a daily basis with all the gorgeous dresses out there then I really recommend you invest in one!

You'll have to excuse the fact I'm as pale as a ghost. Due to an impending final university deadline I haven't seen much sun, nor have I had the time to up my tanning game. These pale pins will have to pain me for just two more weeks until I am free forever! I feel like the only person to not have finished university for the summer at the moment and all I want to do is sit in the sun drinking beer all day. Two weeks, two weeks...






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S P O T L I G H T | Top 5 Online Vintage Gems

21 May, 2014
My style is dominated by vintage fashion and lifestyle. There is nothing I would love more than to jump in a time machine to live the 60's and 70's for myself! When shopping for clothes I usually shop secondhand in either charity or vintage shops to snap up one-off pieces that I know no one else will have. However, it can be a little difficult however to shop for vintage online due to sizing and styling. However, there's a few firm favourite UK-based vintage websites of mine that stand out amongst the rest for me, so I've compiled a little list of my favourites in no particular order.

ETTE CLOTHING




For me, ETTE have got their branding spot on. With their psychedelic 70's California girl vibe and expressive lookbooks, there's nothing more I want to be than an ETTE girl! Their product range is definitely mainly influenced by the 70's with bold, bright prints combined with a bit of cool 80's rock n' roll. On top of this they offer free UK shipping which earns major bonus points for cheapskates like me and they're prices are more than affordable with tops being around the £16 mark. Make sure you check out their blog too.



COW VINTAGE



COW Vintage was originally a small chain of vintage stores located in a few major cities across the north of England. I had seen and visited their stalls at festivals a few times, but being a southerner this had been my only contact with them. Recently however they completely re-vamped their website and online presence entirely. They've rapidly become a key player within the online vintage world because of their great social media team. Their websites offers a range of well-picked vintage pieces as well as re-worked, altered garments taken from original vintage pieces and made more wearable. COW keep an eye on the catwalk and current trends to make sure that their stock is up to date and meets demand. Whatsmore is that they stock vintage menswear too!



WAISTE


You will have seen a few posts ago that I featured a paisley print dress I had bought from Waiste in an outfit post. Waiste is owned by Sara who runs a style blog of the same name. Initially, Waiste started as a reworked denim website stocking customised bleached and dyed denim jackets and dungarees. However, Sara took Waiste in a different direction and began to stock particularly picked bohemian style vintage pieces, which mirror her own style. However, what I love most about Waiste is the most recent addition to the site, which is the homewares section which I spend a lot of time cooing over.



SASSY WORLD

Another vintage website owned by another blogger babe, Helena. I dedicated a whole blog post to Sassy World a few weeks back so I won't repeat myself. However, Helena's creation is striking, colourful and most importantly playful! If 90's vintage is more your cup of tea, Sassy World is your place to shop!



MERO RETRO


Back in March I attended a little blogger's party held by Mero Retro in their quaint, little store in Clapton. Although originally just a walk-in boutique more recently they've launched an online website selling a selected few of their products, so even if you live halfway across the country (like myself) you can now browse through all of their treasures yourself from the comfort of your sofa! What stands out most about Mero Retro's charm, is the leading lady behind the vintage haven, Sanju, who I can only hope to be as stylish and glamourous as one day. Be sure to follow the Mero Retro Instagram account for the latest going on's in their Clapton store!



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O U T F I T | Nike Roshe Runs

17 May, 2014





Jumper: Zara
Skirt*: c/o Matalan
Nike Roshe Runs: Office



As as child I was a complete and utter tomboy. I lived in sportwear. I played football and rugby, spent my evenings after school skateboarding and collected toy cars over Barbies. Also, I had a pixie crop for half of my childhood (partly down to the fact my hair refused to grow, just like it does now!). I didn't start wearing make-up or showing a hint of femininity until quite late. I think I was around 15 years old when I stabbed myself in the eye as I applied mascara for the first time, which is really late when you're growing up in a school in Essex. Believe me. In fact, until that moment I wouldn't be surprised if I was a little boy during my childhood. Although I'm not the world's best girl now (I still for the life of me cannot use a curling iron! WHAT IS THIS COMPLICATED WIZARDRY?!), I've definitely come a long way.

In fact, I would say although my style can sometimes be a little garish it still remains feminine as I tend to live in vintage dresses. However, recently I've found myself drawn to trainers. Maybe it's down to a boyfriend obsessed with footwear. I don't know. I've been debating a pair of Nike Roshe Runs for a while as they're my favourite and pretty affordable compared to other Nike trainers at around the £70 mark. When I saw these Office exclusive fade effect ones I knew I couldn't hold back any longer and gave in to buying them. As I'm used to living in boots, stepping back into trainers feels heavenly. Wearing them is like walking on pillows! I've got my eyes now on a second pair from Office too. Whoops!

The only problem I faced is what to style them with in my wardrobe! Afterall, they're not exactly suited to paisley dresses and fedoras. This organza pencil skirt I picked up with a voucher Matalan that came in the goodie bag from the Voucher Codes Swap Shop Event. It's identical to one sold in Zara that I was desperate to get my paws on, but Matalan's version is not only longer but a fair bit cheaper too! The marble effect sweater is however something I couldn't resist from Zara. It's made from the softest scuba type material and although it's bit big I absolutely adore it!







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F E S T I V A L | Accessorising

16 May, 2014


Every girl does it before a festival. In her mind she'll plan every single day's outfit weeks, maybe even months before. Most of the time they're impractical for British weather, but who cares, you're off to a weekend of pure escapism! Wear whatever the hell you want. A key part in creating a perfect festival outfit is accesorising. It's impossible to over-accesorise at a festival, that's for sure! The more, the better!

Headwear: My love for excessive and extravagant headwear at festivals is not unknown. I love the fact I can walk around in my feathered, Native American inspired headdress and no one will batter an eyelid. Also, hats can actually prove practical as well as being a fashion statement. If it gets particularly sunny a fedora or floppy hat can protect you from sunstroke, whilst packing a woolly beanie in your bag can keep you warm when trying to sleep at night. Believe me, you won't regret it! Nothing is worse than not being able to sleep because you're shivering! Needless to say flower crowns and animal hats are a must! Crown & Glory stock the mother of all flower crowns and my foxy Spirithood is definitely a festival essential!

Sunglasses: Once again, if the weather is on your side it's good to have a pair of sunglasses on hand. Although I am a Ray Ban fiend, I do not trust myself to not lose them at a festival considering I spent 90% of the time in a hazy, tipsy state. Instead, every year I invest in a couple of £2 Primark pairs, which do the job perfectly. As they're so cheap it means you can buy multiple pairs for different days and different outfits!

Body jewellery: For me, the only piercings I have are my nose and my ears, so feathered earrings always accompany me to the fields of Glastonbury. Cropped tops are a festival necessity, so what better way to accesorise than with a dangling belly button ring from Fresh Trends for a perfect bohemian, gypsy look.

Jewellery: When it comes to jewellery, there is no such thing as too much. Also tend to avoid looser jewellery that may just go flying through the air, never to be found from excessive dance moves (I talk from experience here). Leave all expensive, beloved jewellery tucked away at home. A muddy field is definitely not the place for it!

Bags: You need to be taking at least two bags! One to obviously pack all of your essentials in. I use my hiking backpack which has seen me through everyone of my Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and now it manages to transport all of my festival outfits and a shed load of cider every year. I used to take a holdall on wheels and believe me that may seem tempting, but I honestly have found it so much easier to carry it all in a hiking backpack. They have straps for support and to balance out the weight so it's also much kinder on your muscles! The last thing you want to do is injure yourself carrying your bag before the festival even begins. You'll also need a bag for during the day to keep your personal possessions close to you such as your money, phone and camera. I always tend to avoid a rucksack just in case of nasty pickpockets! I tend to favour bumbags and across body bags so you can keep an eye on your belongings. You can get so many fun and stylish bumbags now too. Mine is from Urban Outfitters and they've got tons of incredibly festival appropriate bumbags to choose from.


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O U T F I T | Folklore

14 May, 2014




Dress*: c/o ChicWish
Hat: H&M
Shoes*: c/o La Redoute


I posted about ChicWish a few weeks ago which included an extensive wishlist of their products. They just happen to have the most beautiful range of dresses I've ever laid eyes on. A lot of their products are very folksy and bohemian inspired, in fact their dresses would not look out of place in a Free People or Spell & Gypsy Collective lookbook! Whilst browsing for some new additions to my wardrobe this china blue and white dress jumped out at me. I can't say I've ever seen a dress like it! It's the perfect blend of sixties folk and I can certainly see it accompanying me to festivals year after year. Chicwish even have a red version here if the blue doesn't tickle your fancy. The dress and these magical, slipper, star-studded pumps from La Redoute are a match made in heaven. I'm not usually fond of pumps as I tend to live in platforms or heels, but I couldn't resist the celestial feel about these suedette beauties.

I have a little something to say, which I've kept quiet on my blog. As you know Southampton has been my home and (almost) university city for the past four years. The first couple of years I missed London something terrible and didn't warm to this port side city at all, but in the later years I really started to fall in love with it and had the intention to stay a little longer. Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control (I'm looking at you Student Finance England! You bastards.) I'm having to move back home in less than two months to begin the terrible toll of paying off my student overdraft. In the past weeks I've really started to appreciate the sights I normally take for granted here, which includes these beautiful, grand, white houses which are just around the corner from where I live. There are of course a lot of positive points to moving back to London as it's a much better city for creative job opportunities and of course, there's the shopping! It's known for it's little boutiques and outlet shopping centres, which could be deadly for my bank account. I actually can't wait to visit the London Designer Outlet to spend some hard-earned pennies! Have any of you visited there before?





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G I V E A W A Y | Win a Pair of Ray Bans From Sunglasses Shop!

11 May, 2014



As one giveaway ends another begins! This time the guys over at Sunglasses Shop are offering readers a chance to win their own pair of Ray-Bans up to the value of £125! I'm a huge fan of Ray Ban sunglasses, as I'm now the owner of three different pairs! The most recent addition to my Ray Ban fam are these green, mirrored Clubmaster frames that Sunglasses Shop kindly sent over. My other two pairs of Ray Bans are Wayfarer frames so this time I thought I'd try a different style. I love the coloured, mirrored lens, which makes exaggerates them a lot more than the standard black lens. Now, let's hope the weather perks up so I can get some wear out of them!

The giveaway will run for two weeks from today and you can enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. All of the mandatory steps must be completed for a successful entry, then extra entries can be gained with a few extra steps. This giveaway is open internationally, so anyone can enter! Winner will be notified via email after the 25th May 2014. Good luck!

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F E S T I V A L | Destination Unknown

09 May, 2014


The festival season is fast approaching and I'm intending to feature some regular festival themed blog posts as I am an avid festival goer and fan. For me, a festival is a holiday. I would rather be in a field, knee deep in mud with Haim on stage than on a beach in the Bahamas. Truly. There's no atmosphere that can ever compare. I've been going to festivals on an annual basis since I was 16 years old and I'll still be going with my kids when I'm 40! Yes, I'm going to be one of those mums and I really don't care! It's simply become a staple part of my summer routine.

Unfortunately this year though I've been wallowing in self pity as I didn't manage to get my paws on a Glastonbury ticket (as I continuously keep mentioning) and it'll be the first time I haven't been able to go since 2010. Woe is me. However, I thought I would kick start the festival themed posts with this post as an entry to Bank Fashion's #DestinationUnknown contest.

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O U T F I T | Penny Lane

08 May, 2014





Jacket: Secondhand
Blouse: Charity Shop
Shorts*: c/o Sugarhill Boutique
Rucksack: Charity Shop
Boots: Vagabond via Urban Outfitters



Undoubtedly, one of my biggest style icons of all time has to be Penny Lane from Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous. In fact, I think I've dedicated an outfit post to her once before, because her character is a never-ending inspiration for my wardrobe. Her signature statement piece which she is wearing the majority of the film is her oversized tan Afghan jacket with a beautiful white fur collar. Last week I found someone selling one on one of those Facebook clothing sales and I snapped it up pretty swiftly for just £15.

When Sugarhill Boutique sent me these adorable, lace trim shorts I knew they would be perfect incorporated in a sixties styled outfit. They accompany this embroidered, floral blouse perfectly. As it was quite a neutral palette within this outfit I decided to liven it up a little with this crochet, rainbow bag I bought a few days ago for £3! It would be ideal for a festival too!






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