Sales, sales, sales.....

January is a difficult month for my mild shopping addiction. You can't seem to walk around anywhere without noticing the huge SALE signs trying to lure you in, making it impossible for me to resist all the amazing bargains! And then these days it's not only on the street we have to resist temptation from, no, also the web shops are doing their best to tempt me to spend, spend, spend! FeelUnique recently had their big winter sale and I ended up caving to their 30-50% discounts and got the following beauty purchases!

Kérastase - Ciment Thermique

St Tropez - Gradual Tan

Narciso Rodriguez - For Her 

Kérastase Resistance Ciment Thermique Heat-Activated Reconstructor Milk (link) is an oldie but a goodie! I used to always use this product pre-blow dry on my hair but the last year I have hooked on Argan Oil. When I spotted this product in the sale it made me want to go back to an old favourite for a while. I seriously love this product! All I do is squeeze a small (coin size) amount in the palm of my hand, I then rub my hands together and run them through my hair to distribute the product. Then I just brush it to untangle and blow-dry as usual. Ciment Thermique a heat protector but also makes your hair shiny, smooth and super healthy looking! Oh and it smells pretty damn good too :)

The fragrance 'For Her' by Narciso Rodriguez (link) is one of my all time favourite perfumes. I always make sure I have a nice big bottle stashed at home but it's also convenient to have a smaller version that you can put in your handbag to refresh yourself with when on the go. For when I go out at night time I usually bring a perfume atomizer, which fits into my clutch nicely, but this 30ml bottle will be perfect to carry around with me anytime!

I wasn't so fond of the little white ghost I kept seeing in the mirror looking back at me in the recent months (Ahhh I need myself some SUNSHINE!) so I decided I could do with some gradual tanning lotion to give me a bit more of a healthy glow! I apply St Tropez Gradual Tanning Lotion (link) in Light/Medium about 1-2 a week only to my chest, arms and face area. Hey, its not like I'm parading around in a bikini anytime soon right...? I love this gradual tan because it doesn't have a very strong smell and doesn't stain my clothes but helps making me look a bit less vampire like during these cold winter months. 

Did you buy anything in the recent online beauty sales?

Keeping warm with my Etre iPhone gloves!

One little fact you probably don't know about me is that I can't handle the cold very well. Now, I know that no one really enjoys being cold but for me cold weather can actually be quite painful. Ever since I was young I have suffered from Raynaud's disease. Now that sounds all very serious but it just means that I have a condition that causes some areas of my body (mainly my hands and feet) to feel numb and in pain in response to cold temperatures or emotional stress, caused by a problem with the blood supply to the skin. The condition occurs because your blood vessels go into a temporary spasm which blocks the flow of blood. This causes the affected area to change colour to white, then blue and then finally red as the blood flow returns. Raynaud's is not a serious threat to my health but it can be quite annoying to live with.

Anyway this means I am always trying to keep my hands as warm as possible because even the slightest moment of coldness can tricker an attack. I have a large supply of toasty warm gloves for the autumn and winter time but because we all have smart-phones these days, I was finding that my fingers would still trigger attacks when I removed my gloves to call or txt (or just to look at google maps to find my way around London haha).  So I decided to hunt around for the perfect pair of iPhone gloves. In my search I came across a few brands but the one that stood out to me most was Etre Touchy! This is a British company that started a sensation back in 2007 with their Etre Touchy Gloves, which have missing thumb and index fingertips to provide you with the freedom to use your smartphone, iPod, iPad, camera or other electronic devices.

I love the look of these striped (surprise, surprise haha...) Etre Touchy gloves for example!

But unfortunately for me the missing finger tips solution is a no-go! I need all my fingers covered at all time to ensure they stay warm. Luckily the clever people at Etre also design the Etre fivepoint wool gloves! They have special contactwoven fingertips, that do what other gloves don't: they let you use touchscreens without having to take them off! Woop woop :)



They come in various colours but I got the classic black ones with charchoal tips - £40 (link)

Before buying these, as they are a bit pricer than other versions you can find online or in technical stores, I did do my research and found these were truly the warmest ones on the market. Other gloves are often made with synthetic fibers which means they work perfectly with your smartphone but don't do such a good job at keeping your hands warm. The Etre Fivepoint gloves however are high quality and made with 95% virgin lamb wool. I absolutely love these gloves and can't live without them anymore! So don't let the cold get between you and your facebook or twitter updates this winter ;)

Etre Touchy or Fivepoint gloves are available from their very own online store, Etre Shop, and other selected stockists worldwide. How do you keep your hands nice and toasty during the cold winter months? 

Zara shopping spree purchases!

Zara is dangerous teritory for me at the moment. I can't seem to go into their stores without wanting to buy absolutely everything in there! Loving their recent collections. Saturday was another classic example of this problem. I was out trying to do some Christmas shopping and I thought I'd just take a quick peek in Zara. Big, big, BIG mistake! I ended up buying quite a few things and have realised that on top of my already out of control stripe addiction I am currently having similar symptoms for anything burgundy or checked.

Sigh...want to see the damage?

TRF Draped bird print dress with gathered waist - £29.99 (link)

TRF Dress with combination shoulders - £29.99 (link)

TRF Combined leather look front dress - £29.99 (link)

Zara Woman green and black checked shirt - £29.99 (link)

I personally would not wear this all buttoned up btw so not a fan of this Zara promo picture.

Zara Basic burgundy knitted scarf - £9.99 (link). Perfect for winter!

This is me wearing my new scarf and green checked shirt on Sunday.

And then there was this black and burgundy striped dress...

Zara Woman Burgandy and black striped dress - £49.99 (link)

I'd spotted it on their web store and seen it in the shop a few times and I just loved everything about it. So I finally tried it on this time and I wasn't 100% convinced on the fit but I still got it haha...

...BUT then after my shopping spree at Zara I walked past French Connection and they managed to lure me into the store with their 50% sale signs all plastered over the windows! In the sales rack I then spotted yet another burgundy and black striped dress, oh oh!

French Connection bands of colour bandage knit dress - £97 but at the moment 50% off so only £48.50! (link) So I tried it on and loved it, dilemma much?! I knew it would actually be a bit mental to keep both dresses so I decided to also buy the French Connection dress and then decide later which one to keep. At home I tried both on again and together with the flatmate we decided that the French Connection was the keeper! I think the fit was just more flattering and think I will get more use out of it because it is a bit longer which means I can wear it to work and easily dress it up or dress it down! Do you think I made the right choice? :)

And last but not least, I couldn't help myself when I saw this cute cotton blue/white cap sleeved block dress at French Connection. It's more of a summers dress but while on sale for only £21 and it being a classic 'me' dress, that I know i'll get plenty of wear out of....it was just a bargain couldn't pass on!

Soooo yeah, I didn't get much Christmas shopping done but love my new clothes haha! 

What do you think of my new purchases?

Mint winters day OOTD & new cross bracelet

For those of you who follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you would have already seen my picture post of two bargains I picked up in the H&M sale last week. I was quickly popping into my local store buy some socks (of all necessities) and got distracted by the sales racks where I found this lovely cropped mint knitted jumper for only £15! Even though it's now winter and you might see mint as more of a spring colour I see no reason why to shy away from brightening my winter days with colourful outfits. This is me in my new jumper on Sunday, where I combined the mint jumper with my favourite bright pink winter wooly snood scarf.

Do you like this colourful look for winter?

To keep warm I paired it with my super snug tan UGG boots!

I have also been meaning to show you this new fine side cross bracelet that I got from ASOS a few weeks back. It is from their ASOS collection and you can get it in silver, gold and rose gold. It looks more gold in this photo but mine is the rose gold one.

Get it here for only £6 (link)

I was back home (yet again!) this weekend to celebrate St Nicolas with my family. It is my favourite Dutch tradition because it is an evening full of laughs, presents and the most yummy St Nicolas treats!

I definitely indulged in a fair amount of Speculaas this weekend....

Dutch Speculaas Chunks - you can find my recipe here (link). The gym is definitely calling my name this week after my indulgent but fun family weekend but hell it was worth it ;)

Skyfall & 007 Fragrance giveaway!

Have you seen the latest James Bond movie Skyfall yet? I've always loved myself a bit of Mr Bond so I was rather excited to see the third movie featuring the handsome and mysterious Daniel Craig. I loved him in Casino Royale but have to admit that Quantum of Solace was rather disappointing. I'd read great reviews for Skyfall and I can happily say it lived up to its (high) expectations. I loved the movie!

I loved it that lots of scenes took place in London; my current home town. Skyfall was full of action, passion and back in this film was some of the typical 007 style wit and humour! The only thing lacking for me maybe was a bit more passion and romance - c'mon we all secretly fantasise a little about being a Bond girl ;)

Did you know that our favourite secret agent has been around for 50 years already?! In 1962 Sean Connery starred as Bond in the first movie, Dr. No, and now a special fragrance has been created to celebrate this milestone anniversary. Most men want to be James Bond, it's probably got something to do with the girls, guns, girls, gadgets, and, um, girls!) and now they can actually smell like the super spy!

The tag line is 'Dangerously Sophisticated' and this classic and unmistakably masculine fragrance blends smooth vetyver, sensual lavender and crisp apple for a fresh, powerful twist. The fragrance launched in August exclusively at Harrods and sold out in a matter of days! The 007 fragrance is now available nationwide and in the USA Kohl's will be stocking the range of 007 products.

The studded, rectangular bottle is equipped with a top secret swivel nozzle (designed by Q, we can only assume), and is available as a 30ml and 50ml eau de toilette natural spray, priced at £19.50 and £24.50 respectively. The 007 Gold Limited Edition comes in 75ml and is priced at £36.

Now I'm giving you the chance to win this sexy and suave perfume for the Mr Bond in your life! All you need to do is follow me on twitter and tweet me who from the 6 actors that have played 007 in the last 50 years is your favourite? Here is a reminder of the handsome James Bond's over the years...

For me it's probably Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig! So who's your favourite? Enter below now; entries are open internationally and close Friday night. Good luck! X

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Neon Pink Stripes

When I spotted this jumper on ASOS I didn't have to think twice about clicking the 'add to bag' button. Stripes (you know I love anything stripey...), warm and neon pink is my definitely my idea of a fun winter jumper! Last Sunday was a stunner of a day so I went for a lovely walk in Kensington Park Gardens with the parents who were visiting for the weekend...

Neon pink striped jumper by Mango (link)

Jeans - Abercrombie & Fitch

Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars

I love the navy blue detailing on the sleeves plus it's super comfy. And for only £27.99 I think it's quite a steal. I am a bit worried that my stripes 'obsession' is getting slightly out of hand though. Today I was in Zara and I tried on four striped jumpers. I really wanted to buy them all but managed to control myself and not buy any.... but think I will end up going back to make this one mine - oh oh ;)

Burgundy outfit of the day

Here a recent outfit of the day featuring my beloved new burgundy jeans! When I was in New York City I fell in love with the shop Aritzia.

Aritzia is a women's fashion boutique that offers a mix of beautifully designed clothes that are on trend, high quality, and good value. They have boutiques across the US and Canada. Me and my flat mate spent quite a lot of time in their dressing rooms trying on clothes and from there deciding how much damage this shop would do to our bank accounts because we seroiusly wanted to buy it all! This scarf is one of the items I just had to have, the colours are perfect for fall and a girl can never have too many scarfs right?

Burgundy waxed jeans by Gina Tricot

White v-neck tee by Zara

Black jersey blazer by Zara

Linen scarf from Aritzia

Leather over the knee high boots by Oasis

Grey cable knit vest from United Colors of Benetton

Watch by Michael Kors

Black leather biker jacket from River Island

Simply Be, Be Beautiful at any size!

For you curvy ladies out there, check out this great little video by Simply Be showcasing their latest Anna Scholz collection that is available online now. I think it's great to see an increase in fashion retailers offering a wide range of fashionable and on-trend items for sizes 12-36. Because no matter what size you are you should be able to feel beautiful and find clothing that make you feel amazing and confident :)

(Sponsored post)

I was also happy to read recently that Australian model Robyn Lawley has become the first plus-sized model ever to score a major campaign for high-end fashion designer Ralph Lauren. In the past, Ralph Lauren has been highly criticised for airbrushing its models to unrecognisable versions of thin. I mean these beautiful girls below for example have been photoshopped so much they look alien-like....

The 23 year old plus-sized model is rapidly making a name for herself in the fashion industry! Robyn Lawley's curves have already been featured in Vogue Italia and French Elle and now Ralph Lauren's move to book the size 12 model is a hugely positive step forward to reshape people's ingrained thinking that bigger can't be beautiful. I mean look at her....this girl is STUNNING!

I spotted the following quote on the Simply Be Pinterest Page: “I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond.” ~ Mae West. Haha I love it ♥

UGG Australia '12 Fall Collection: Style & Comfort!

Some of you might only know UGG for their (amazing) warm sheepskin Ugg boots but over the last few years the brand has proved that they can do more than just cozy fluffy boots. These days UGG Australia  actually has a full clothing, shoe and accessories line. During London Fashion week I got a sneak peak at their 2012 Fall women and men shoe collection and was very lucky to pick an amazing pair of ankle booties to take home with me! Check out my new wedges...

UGG Australia Carmine ankle boot (link)

The best bit about these new shoes that make them perfect for winter???

The soft sheepskin insoles!  These babies will definitely keep my feet nice and toasty during winter whilst looking chic at the same time, love it :)

The 2012 Fall collection includes many bold and edgy pieces. 

Their newly created line combines rugged styling and features luxurious materials so it holds up against the harsh winter elements giving fashionistas the best of both worlds; fashion and comfort.

My favourites of the collection were the black leather pebbled Cosima boots (link), the Georgette sheepskin cuffed city ankle boots (link) and those bright blue Alloway slippers (link) look so comfy and loved the burst of colour! 

The UGG Australia collection is available now at www.uggaustralia.co.uk plus at selected department stores, retailers and your local UGG store.  So what do you think of my new ankle boots and the 2012 UGG Australia Fall collection, spot anything you like? x 

How to wear: Tartan Mini Skirt Outfit

This was my outfit of the day when out for lunch in my local hood, Notting Hill, yesterday. It was such a gorgeous crisp sunny autumn Sunday in London so after I managed to drag myself out of bed with a wee hangover (sunglasses luckily hide the dark circles...) it was time for some food and laughter with friends at Granger & Co.

 I got a lot of compliments on my tartan mini skirt that I picked up at Gina Tricot in Sweden a few weeks back (read here). The skirt is right on trend with the 2012 fall/winter fashion as part of the popular English Heritage style. I continued the navy/black look by pairing it with black tights, boots and a navy knit jumper.

Tartan mini skirt by GinaTricot

Black boots by Country Road

Navy Jumper with elbow patches by ZARA 

Sunglasses RayBan

Watch Michael Kors

I think a tartan mini skirt is a timeless investment for any fall/winter wardrobe. A lot of people might be scared of looking too 'school girl' in this kind of skirt but I think when styled correctly it can look very chic and fun. Here a few little tips for when wearing tartan (or plaid, as more commonly called in America):

• Pair your tartan skirt with stylish tights and over-the-knee boots or ankle-boots. This look will help you make yourlegs look longer. If the skirt is quite mini then make sure you wear it over opaque tights or leggings to remain looking classy. Knee-length pencil tartan skirts also work, as long as you downsize your top half with a form-fitting blazer/jacket or shirt. Don’t go longer than a knee-length tartan skirt unless you want to look like you stole the kitchen tablecloth.

• Stay in the same color family. Tartan usually has at least three or four different hues interwoven in the design, giving you a wide palette of color choices. The only time you should not match is when you are coupling a black and white tartan with, say, a red silk shirt. 

• Also pay attention to the fabric and colour before buying tartan for your wardrobe. Neutral and earth colours look good on all those who are short and are not comfortable with their body proportions. Whereas tall people can go for the bright coloured checks to add a fun colourful streak to their look.


• Fit plays a vital role with this print. A perfect tartan or plaid print must be well fitted on the body part for which it is intended. Baggy tartan skirts or shirts can look very unflattering to most body shapes.

• Tartan is a bold pattern, so avoid going overboard when accessorising. For starters stick with one prominent tartan piece or several small plaid accessories.

• Keep the top in solids, a subtle design or a print in one or two basic colors. You do not want to top a tartan skirt with a loud tartan blouse, even if they do have the same hues. Usually tartan pairs well with neutral tones like black, white, navy, grey or tan for a chic look.

What do you think of my tartan look, is this something you would wear this winter? xoxo