Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Archive for February, 2014
The Blogging Process: Stationery
1
5 years
For me, blogging is so much more than just sitting down with my laptop and reeling something off in a few minutes. It involves planning, making notes when the moment strikes, drafting, taking and editing photos, organising my time, and of course, writing and publishing the final post! Over time I’ve noticed that I’ve hoarded quite a lot of stationery to aid these stages, so I thought I’d share with you my stationery essentials for the process of blogging.
Notebooks and Pens
As a writer, and an Academic Support Worker, I always carry notebooks and copious amounts of pens with me at all times, as I need them for my work. But I have special notebooks that are dedicated to just blogging. I carry a little one with me in my handbag so I can make notes when I’m inspired whilst out and about, and I use a bigger one at home to roughly draft post ideas, make lists of upcoming posts, and doodle nail art designs etc.
Sticky Notes
I use sticky notes a lot when I need to remind myself of something, such as sending invoices or replying to PR emails. My notebooks and bedside table are covered in them!
Highlighters
I love to have a highlighter or two handy so I can highlight important points in press releases. It just makes getting all the relevant information into a post that little bit easier!
USB Stick
After 3 years my laptop is well and truly on its way out, so just to be safe I like to back up my blog posts and photos on a USB stick. That way they’re portable too, so I can organise posts on someone else’s computer or laptop if needs be.
Paper Clips and Rubber Bands
Not an essential, but I like to be organised, so I use these to keep press releases neatly together!
After all this planning and prepping, I like to settle down on the sofa with my laptop and a cheeky chocolate treat, and type away whilst I have something good on TV in the background.
What are your stationery must haves for blogging?
Naomi x
*This stationery was sent to me on behalf of Viking Direct for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
NOTD: Primark Spotty Nail Polish
3
5 years
by Naomi in Nails
I’ve been wanting Illamasqua’s Speckled nail polishes ever since they were released, but at £14.50 each I just couldn’t justify buying them. Then, whilst queueing in Primark at the weekend, I spotted this Spotty nail polish, which is a dupe of Illamasqua’s Speckle – their discontinued speckled lilac shade. And the best part? Primark’s Spotty was discounted from £2 to just £1!
The polish has a creme base, and is crammed full of black glitter and micro glitter, which in the right light has a beautiful holographic sheen. The overall finish reminds me of a Cadbury Mini Egg, which is perfect for Spring and the run up to Easter! The polish has a smooth consistency and applies evenly, giving opaque coverage in two coats, but it takes a while to dry. Not ideal, but not really a problem if you’re not in a rush.
My only issue with the polish is that, when I first used it, lots of little air bubbles got trapped underneath (as you can see above), so it looked and felt a bit lumpy. It could’ve been due to the base coat I used though, so next time I’ll give it a miss to see if it makes a difference.
In terms of staying power, I wore this for three days before removing it, and by that point it had barely chipped at all. I imagine it would last for almost a week before starting to look scruffy.
Overall, this is a lovely, pretty polish, and I’m so pleased I finally have a speckled polish in my collection. I just wish I’d picked up the other shades too!
What do you think of my bargain find?
Naomi x
What I Wore: Victorianesque
6
5 years
by Naomi in Fashion
I’m not usually one for wearing skirts, but for some reason today felt like a skirt day, so I decided to wear one out for lunch with family at my favourite country pub. I recently picked up this lace midi skirt on sale at Primark for just £3 (yes, £3!) It’s lined with a silky teal fabric which contrasts beautifully with the black lace, and it’s so pretty and intricate it only really needs a basic top to go with it!
Primark Black & Teal Lace Midi Skirt / Primark Pocket Top / Dr Martens Regina Heeled Boots / Alchemy The Raven Necklace / Juno Black Patent Grab Bag
For a slightly Victorianesque Gothic look, I finished the outfit with my lace up Dr Martens Regina brogue heeled boots, and my stunning Raven Alchemy necklace. Alchemy are a company close to my heart as they’re based in my hometown, and I own quite a few of their pieces, but this is one of my favourites as it’s based on my favourite Edgar Allan Poe poem, ‘The Raven’. Of course I also had to add my trusty Juno patent grab bag, which I reviewed here last week.
What do you think of this look?
Naomi x
Rekindling my Love of Converse
3
5 years
by Naomi in Fashion
When I was a teenager, my footwear of choice was always Converse. I had bright ones, plain ones, printed ones, even tie dye ones, but for some unknown reason I stopped wearing them a few years ago, and moved on to boots and heels. But all that changed when I spotted this pair of beauties on the John Lewis website…
This particular pair of Hi-Tops are a new style, and are made of soft black suede, so they’re a bit warmer and a bit thicker, but just as comfortable and casual as their canvas counterparts. They also feel really soft and luxurious to the touch. What first drew me to them was the all over polka dot print as I’m crazy about polka dots, and I love the combination of large and small silver dots. The grey laces are also a nice touch, as they blend in better than the usual glaringly white laces.
I’ve worn these almost every day this week, and I’ve had a lot of fun styling them in different ways. One day I wore them with jeans and a jumper, another day with a skater dress and leggings, and yesterday with a somewhat smarter dress, and they looked great with everything. That’s the beauty of Converse… They’re just so versatile!
I’ve well and truly fallen back in love with Converse All Stars, and I’m looking forward to wearing my polka dot pretties all Spring long. I have a new black mini skirt that I can’t wait to pair them with! You can find these and many other Converse styles online at John Lewis.
Naomi x
*These Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Printed Suede Hi-Top Trainers were paid for using vouchers that were sent to me. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Personalised Canvas by CanvasDesign
0
5 years
by Naomi in Home
A couple of weeks ago I noticed on Twitter that canvas printing company CanvasDesign were looking for bloggers to review one of their canvases. I immediately got in touch as I’m hoping to move in with my fiancé soon, and am currently looking for nice things to hang on our walls, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity! CanvasDesign were happy to send me a canvas, and I knew exactly what I wanted it to have on it… My favourite photo of my fiancé and I taken at our recent Masters graduation.
CanvasDesign asked me to send them a high quality image (around 500KB), so I did, and within 48 hours the canvas was on my doorstep. I have to admit, I was VERY surprised when I received the canvas as the packaging was HUGE, which I wasn’t expecting, and I was lucky enough to be sent a massive 30″ x 20″ canvas. And it is beautiful.
The quality of the canvas is very high as it is made from 100% cotton, and it comes on a solid, sturdy pine frame. The back is also nicely finished, and looks incredibly neat and professional, and the image hasn’t suffered at all from being enlarged. Rather, it looks clear and vibrant.
A portrait canvas of this size usually costs just £29.99, which is ridiculously cheap, especially considering the cost of graduation photography prints! It was well over £50 for a standard pack at my graduation, which I couldn’t afford, so I’m so pleased that I now have this memento of the day. So, if you have a relatively good camera, and a friend or relative who’s good at photography (my dad took this picture), using CanvasDesign would be a great way to save money on photos of special events. Imagine how lovely a wedding, anniversary or new baby photo would look on a canvas like this!
Overall, I am so, so happy with my canvas. I can’t get over how big it is, the quality is amazing, the service was spot on, and I even got a free hanging kit with my order. I love my canvas, and it’s going to take pride of place in my new home, but for now it’s hanging in my bedroom and it looks fab.
To check out CanvasDesign’s full range of canvas sizes and services, click here. You can also get 15% off all orders using the code ‘BLOG15’!
Naomi x
* This personalised canvas was sent to me by CanvasDesign for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Birthday Haul
7
5 years
by Naomi in Hauls
Last Friday was my birthday, and I was lucky enough to receive lots of lovely gifts from my friends and family – some that I’d asked for, and some that were a complete surprise! So, as promised in my birthday outfit post, here is a little haul post for those who are interested.
Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty / The Usborne Book of Drawing, Doodling and Colouring / I Am Pusheen the Cat / Batman: The Killing Joke / Cornucopia at Home: The Cookbook
Look Beauty Glitz & Glam Nail Set / Sleek Blush By 3 in ‘Pink Lemonade’ / John Galliano EDP
Dreamcatcher Scarf / Batman Socks (they have capes!!)
Ratty Photo Album / Treats for my girls / Rat Calendar / Custom Made Rat Necklaces by Solstice Mini’s (I’ll be reviewing these separately soon!)
The Great British Bake Off Muffin Tin and Sandwich Tins
Graduation Photo Frame / Pink Notebook / Batman USB Stick / Uniball Gelstick Pens
Lumpy Space Princess Plush
Lots of Chocolate! (I actually got 4 boxes of Milk Tray but one of them was polished off before I took these photos…)
My mum got especially crafty for my birthday this year. She actually crocheted the blanket you can see in the photos above, as an extra special gift, and she even made my birthday card by hand. With a heart and rose theme as it was Valentine’s Day! Look how beautiful it is…
Oh and I’m also waiting on an amazing necklace from my dad that I plan on styling in an outfit post asap, so keep an eye out for that.
Thanks everyone for my gorgeous presents 
Naomi x
What I Wore: Birthday Dress
4Yesterday was my birthday, and my fiancé and I went out for a lovely birthday/Valentine’s lunch at one of my favourite bars. It might have been freezing cold and chucking it down with rain, but I was determined to wear the beautiful black jersey maxi dress that my mum gave me as a gift, so I layered it up with tights, my Primark faux leather biker jacket, and my Fraas stars & skull wrap.
M&Co Black Jersey Maxi Dress / Primark Faux Leather Biker Jacket / Dr Martens Grace Denise 8 Big Eye Boots / Fraas Tonal Stars & Skull Wrap / Juno Black Patent Grab Bag / Primark Tights and Gloves
This wrap is my go-to piece to add a splash of colour to any outfit, and the great thing is it’s reversible, so you can alter the shade to suit your mood. The combination of pink, orange and purple is really pretty, and the stars and skull pattern is right up my street. It’s made of high quality wool too so it’s beautifully soft and warm; perfect for this time of year.
Wet weather also calls for trusty boots and a waterproof bag, so I wore my Grace Denise floral Dr Martens to colour match the scarf, and this stunning Juno patent grab bag from Where Shall I Wander. I used to only ever use shoulder bags, but lately I’ve really started to appreciate classic, structured handbags like this one (although it does come with a detachable shoulder strap). I absolutely adore the contrast of gold on shiny black, and for patent it’s pretty classy looking.
Another thing I love about the bag is how it fastens. It zips along the top but also partly down the sides, so no water can get in whatsoever, but when it’s unzipped it expands so it’s really roomy, with one main compartment and three little pockets. I use it to carry my camera around with me as I don’t have to worry about it getting wet.
If you want to see what I got for my birthday, check back soon for a little haul post!
Naomi x
*The Fraas Tonal Stars & Skull Wrap and Juno Black Patent Grab Bag were sent to me for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
On Trend Trainers
0
5 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Over the last year or two a throwback trend has been creeping back onto the fashion scene, and it looks like it’s here to stay! Whether it’s a pair of retro-style hi tops, or a more modern pair of sleek running shoes, trainers have been popping up all over the place lately, and they’re no longer just for wearing to the gym.
Spotted in fashion magazines around the world, it’s now the in thing to be teaming a pair of eye-catching trainers with not only casual daytime looks, but also chic and smart outfits that wouldn’t look amiss at work, or in a fancy restaurant. Trainers are definitely becoming more versatile, and are set to be a big trend in 2014. My 1990s inner child is really rather pleased, I must say!
I’ve recently been browsing the net for trainers to see what’s out there, and there are a LOT of styles, colours and even patterns to choose from. Here are just a few of my favourites…
Clockwise from Top Left:
Nike Air Pegasus+ 30 Running Shoes / Lacoste Marcel Mid Purple Hi Top Trainers / Adidas Supernova Solution 3W adiwear Running Shoes / Vans Sk8-Hi Suede Inca Trainers / Puma Suede / Converse All Star Two Fold Hi III Trainers / Nike Zoom Vomero+ 8 Running Shoes / Nike Air Pegasus+ 29 Running Shoes
My star pick of this bunch has to be the Nike Air Pegasus+ 30 Running Shoes from Millet Sports. I love their stylish shape, and the colour is just beautiful. Imagine how cute they’d look with a classic black skater dress and some colour matching jewellery!
Will you be investing in any trainers this year?
Naomi x
*This post is a collaboration.*
Be My Valentine: Lingerie from F&F
1
5 years
by Naomi in Fashion
A couple of weeks ago F&F asked me to be their Valentine, which I was very excited about, and of course I said yes! As a little Valentine’s treat, they offered to send me a lingerie set of my choice along with a few other luxury treats, so I made my pick and waited for the postman, and a few days ago my pretty little parcel arrived!
The set I chose is the Alice set, with a plunge bra and lace french knickers. Together, the two pieces cost a total of just £15.00 (or £14.00 with a thong), but the quality is amazing and they look and feel a lot more expensive than they are. The black lace is absolutely beautiful and luxuriously soft, and looks stunning on. Both pieces are also very, very comfortable and they fit perfectly to size, which is great as there’s nothing more annoying than uncomfortable undies!
F&F say that, ‘whether you’re in a relationship or not, wearing great underwear gives you a confidence boost like no other’, and I completely agree. I feel fab wearing this set – it’s gorgeous! So, if you want to treat yourself to some affordable but lovely lingerie this Valentine’s Day, why not check out F&F’s range?
I also received a few other Valentine’s themed treats in my gift box that I’m really looking forward to using/eating! I really like Essie products, so I was pleased to find a mini set of Essie nail varnishes in the box. The purple shade is especially nice! The Soap & Glory products look great too, I mean, shimmery pink body lotion is my kind of lotion! And of course, you can never go wrong with Hotel Chocolat chocolate. How pretty is that lollipop?!
I’m really looking forward to Valentine’s Day now, especially as it’s my birthday too! What will you be doing on the day?
Naomi x
*This F&F lingerie set and other goodies were sent to me for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
What I Wore: Cirque Berserk
3Last night my family and I went to see Cirque Berserk at the Curve theatre in Leicester. I have absolutely adored circuses ever since my childhood, and have been to many, but this was my first time going to a circus that wasn’t in a big top tent. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the show and set really suited the stage. There was a slight Steampunk theme which was cool, and though the show wasn’t flawless, it still had that magical and exciting charm that I like. I even enjoyed the clown’s antics, which is unusual for me as they usually freak me out a little bit!
My outfit of choice for the evening was quite the opposite to the colourful spectacle of the circus, as it consisted of, you guessed it, black, black, and more black! I wore quite a few of my January sale pieces (mostly from Primark), including my leather cap sleeve black dress, and my new leather-look biker jacket, which is one of my favourite recent buys. The jacket is lined with thick fluffy fleece so is incredibly warm, so much so that I was toasty even with it open!
I also added a snood and tights for a bit of extra warmth, my Zatchels Gothic Lace saddle bag, and my trusty Kurt Geiger Sally Ankle Boots. The bag was a huge bargain as well, as it only cost £38.99 for the large size in the Zatchels sale, which I think was about half price!
Apologies for the low quality photos by the way – they were taken outside at night, with the flash on.
Primark Leather Cap Sleeve Dress / Primark Leather-Look Biker Jacket / Primark Snood and Tights / Zatchels Gothic Lace Saddle Bag / Kurt Geiger Sally Ankle Boots
Oh, and here’s my face of the night too! The lipstick is by Sleek in the gorgeous purple shade of ‘Smother’. I love this lipstick as it lasts for ages, and when it finally does wear off it does so evenly, so it still looks fab.
What do you think of circuses? You can check out the Cirque Berserk Facebook page here.
Naomi x
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