Top Travel Quotes to Inspire your next Big Adventure

There's nothing like a hot-sticky summer to inspire you to drop everything, pack your suitcase and jump on a plane with a one way ticket to somewhere hot, sandy and with a dreamy sunset. 

Pinterest is a one-stop-shop for anyone with a sense of wanderlust (and your worst enemy if you're particularly prone to FOMO (fear-of-missing-out)) as spend 5 casually minutes looking through travel inspiration and before you know if you've already sky-scanned all of the flights leaving Heathrow in the next 2 days.
I am for one guilty of hoarding a few inspirational quotes or two, as well as a whole board dedicated to the most beautiful places in the world I know I'll eventually get to when the time is right, so this collection of travel inspired quotes does make for some food for thought. 
Whilst I can accept no responsibility for you throwing a pair of knickers and a packet of tic-tacs in your bag and calling a taxi to take you to the nearest airport, I do welcome you to get planning your next adventure (even if the closest you get is just creating a Pinterest board!)

How to Style your Interior with Cool Copper Accents

Copper is having a revival at the moment, with it being absolutely everywhere you can find not just in the home. From rose gold fashion, jewellery, watches and make up, it is the most covet-able colour around!

1. Tom Dixon Copper Light, £245

2. HAY Lup copper candlestick, Selfridges, £27

3. Pols Potten Copper Trays - Set of 3, Amara, £168

4. Mauviel Sugar Pan, Harrods, £84.95

5. Tom Dixon Mini Copper Doorstop & Paper Weight, Saks, £64.61

6. Just Slate Copper Coasters - Set of 4, Amara, £22

7. H-Art Cutlery. Yoox, £363

8. Tom Dixon Scoop Low Chair Copper Legs, Occa-Home, £945

The Coral Lip you need to Wear this Summer

I have a thing for corals when the weather starts to get super hot like it is at the moment. And this one is ticking all of the boxes!

Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils are relatively new, well to me at least, and they have been hailed as a bit of a dupe for NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils. Whilst I haven't used the latter, this one is definitely worth a try regardless. I haven't tried all that many lip pencils before this one dropped into my hands as I'd assumed that they'd be difficult to use and not nearly as soft and easy to apply as this one turned out to be. For a pencil that costs just £4.99, the staying power and creaminess definitely packs a punch considering it's so cheap. Plus the coral shade of this one is lovely and not similar to any of the others I've seen lurking about. It's an intense colour that lasts all day. And whilst the pictures here don't quite do this justice, it's one I thoroughly would recommend popping in your basket next time you're walking the aisle of Boots.

How to Look Gorgeous in Glasses

As a glasses wearer myself I know how tricky it can be to get your make up just right when you take into account those frames are going to be masking much of your handiwork. Should you go heavier on mascara? Skip out eye shadow completely? Compensate with a statement lip? The options are endless and there is a distinct lack of information out there on what you really ought to be doing.

Wearing glasses is great, and is very en vogue at the moment. From a 10 point increase in perceived IQ (I'm sure I read that somewhere, let's assume it's still 100% accurate), to celebrities like Kristen Stewart, Anne Hathaway and Jennifer Anniston showing that the four eyed look can be stylish, glasses are definitely not the geek symbol they were back in my school days.

Wearing them since I was a teenager has given me a bit of time to acquire some experience in the field, so here are a few tips for keeping your look polished whilst wearing them:

1. You have license to go a bit heavier on mascara

Good news is you can get away with layering up your mascara since the defining your eyes becomes all the more important, so layer up and go big with the lashes!

2. Highlighting eye shadows are your friend

Highlighting eye shadows really help to add that glowiness, especially if your frames are dark. Otherwise you're in danger of casting a dark shadow around your eyes, which isn't ideal for the fresh faced look.

3. Brows are important

Keeping those brows tidy really helps to frame the face, especially when the specs bring even more attention to them. No hairy caterpillars here!

4. Keep 'em curly

Curling your eye lashes also brings yet more definition to your eye, and will help to make them stand out when your lenses are covering them up.

5. Keep the brights on your lips

Piling on bright eye shadows to your lids will mean that you are in danger to looking a bit clownish. Keep the colour to your lips where they can really help to balance out your face.

July Monthly Desktop; Tablet and Phone Wallpaper Free Download

What better way to start off the new month (and what fingers crossed will be a hot one) than with a new wallpaper for your desktop, phone or tablet?!

I love it when my wallpaper reflects the time of year, and this especially summery one has me dreaming of far flung travels in places far-far away each and every time I pick up my phone. It might only serve to remind me that I'm actually in all-too-often-drizzly London, not diving into a pool, but there's no harm in indulging in some escapism every now and again!
Get it for Dekstop, Tablet and Mobile here:

Desktop Tablet Mobile

Trending Spotting: Suede Skirts

As spring edges closer and closer, one trend that's getting everyone excited is the 70s inspired suede skirt.

I personally really like the look of this one. So easy to wear it'll be perfect for taking you through a chilly Easter into what will hopefully be a slightly warmer spring if worn with long length boots and then bare legs and sandals.

Bloggers have been wearing the look in a few different ways. The patchwork style had a great vintage feel, and the high waisted longer length style feels really modern and KimK-esque. Hopefully more high street options will come out as we move further away from winter, but in the mean time there are a few nice options out there.

Suede Skirts by kayleya on polyvore.com

Style Overhaul

Punchout Clutch Bag, £12, ASOS Navy Blue Lace Top Skater Dress, £38, River Island Gallop Patent Court Shoes, £58, Topshop Clean-Cut satchel, £32, Topshop Satin Back Overlay Dress, £48, Topshop Harp Metal Heel Boots, £80, Topshop Black Leather Croc Panel Tote Bag, £45, River Island Ribbed Funnel Neck Top, £14, Topshop Black Amelie Superskinny Jeans, £40, River Island Gallop Snake Effect Court Shoes, £59, Topshop
Every now and again I think we can all be guilty of getting stuck in a style rut. Since it's been ridiculously cold and I got far too comfy over Christmas living in a hoodie and my slippers, I feel like I've lived in the fail safe jeans, tee and stompy boots combo. In fact I struggle to remember a day I've worn anything BUT this, even to work.
Last year I was all about dresses with my favourite block heel boots, and mixed things up so much more than I do now so it's such a shame to think I have so many nice clothes hanging in my wardrobe (quite a few even with the tags on!) which haven't seen the light of day in a good few months.
Anyway, I had a browse on River Island and Topshop and saw a few bits and pieces which caught my eye. They got me thinking how boring it was to live in the same two pairs of jeans just because they were comfortable!
The above outfits are by no means fussy or OTT; they'd be just as quick to put on in the morning as my current jeans and tee uniform, so there's no excuse not to wear them. (Especially since I own most of the items above!) Maybe next week the purple satin dress with the tags still on could even make it's debut!
Are you guilty of sticking to old favourite whilst nice clothes sit unworn in your wardrobe?

High End Beauty Wishlist

There have been a few new beauty releases over the last few weeks which have got my attention, mainly from other blogs I read raving about them.
The one I'm possibly most excited about is the Lancome Le Duo- a contour and highlight stick. I've used Lancome products in the past and they're usually well worth the price tag, and that this stick comes in five different shades gives me hope that the highlight will be highlight-y enough for my pale complexion. (I've lost count of the times a highlight has been darker than my base skin colour- the perils of being pale!) It's not out quite yet, but it hopefully won't be too long before it's available in the UK. 
Dior is another brand I hear great things about, and their Nude Air foundation is supposed to be great for combination skin types.
Real Techniques brushes- but rose gold! Who can resist?
Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick is another one I can't wait to try. The colour range is lovely, with some berry colours which I'm always attracted to. As well as this one which is Melon, and looks like a perfect summer shade.
Since Sheer Glow foundation from NARS is one of my all time favourites, their new All Day Luminous Weightless one is next on the to try list. Coverage is meant to be very full, but it'll last all day.
Estee Lauder Little Black Primer is being hailed as a mascara innovation. You can use it to tint, amplify or set lashes and the results are said to be comparable to falsies. Testimony enough to justify giving it a whirl!
The colour range of Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector looks lovely and summery, with only a light colour wash for those days when you don't want to look too drag queen. They're meant to react with the natural pH of your lips to give a natural colour for each wearer, making it all the more tempting to give them a go.
Are any of these items on your beauty wish list at the moment?

February Wallpapers

Where on earth did January disappear to? It's hard to believe I'm already seeing Valentine's cards in the shops and dare I even say it, fantasising of the Easter break, tulip season coming and eating loads of chocolate!
None the less there are plenty of dark, cold evening still to come, but hopefully you'll enjoy these new desktop wallpapers I've made for the month!

iPhone iPad Desktop

January Playlist

1. Imagine Dragons - Gold 2. David Guetta feat. Emeli Sande - What I did for Love 3. Years & Years - Take Shelter 4. 7/11 - Beyonce 5. Taylor Swift - Style 6. Meghan Trainer - My Selfish Heart 7. Kanye West - Only One 8. Tinashe - 2 On 9. Fall Out Boy - American Beauty/American Psycho 10. Kygo - Firestone
A little selection of songs which have been on repeat for me over most of January. I've just recently discovered Meghan Trainer's album Title, and slightly embarrassingly, it's been on repeat for a long time.
Years & Years were also introduced to me after they topped Radio 1's Sound of 2015, a list of who's set to be huge in the coming year. They are set for big things this year and Take Shelter is one which is definitely worth a listen.
Who have you been listening to on repeat recently?

January Moodboard

I'm sure it'll come as no surprise to learn that I love trawling through Pinterest and Tumblr for design inspiration. They are both brilliant sources for interesting images, great photography, beautiful design, and sometimes the weirdest and wackiest things that can really make you think.
This is a selection of a few of my favourite things that I've stumbled upon. I love that the colour palette is so muted, it seems perfect for this time of year when everything is so grey and crisp anyway.
Where do you head to for design inspiration?

Staying Organised in 2015

The coming of a new year I always see as the perfect excuse to invest in some new stationary. For some reason when my desk is covered in pretty organisers, diaries, and stationary it's so much easier to be productive and stay organised. You're far more likely to write a to do list and tick things off it if you've got a new one sat on your desk with gold letting just inviting you to use it.
One of my favourite items is a weekly desk planner, perfect for planning what needs to happen on each day, any coming deadlines, and for me which piece of content is going where on what day. If you're a blogger it's also great for keeping track of your posting plan, plus, leopard print!
Here are a few of my favourite bits and pieces for staying organised:
1. White Lies Notebook, £12.99, Sloane Stationary 2. Sugar Paper Kraft To Do List Notepad, £14.95, Selfridges 3. Weekly Desk Planner, $12.00, Rifle Paper Co 4. Purple Weekly Planner, £6, Marks & Spencer  5. Kate Desk Calendar (Pale Pink), $56, Sugar Paper 5. Mean Girls Assorted Pencil Set, £5.47, The Carbon Crusader @ Etsy 7. Pink Sticky Note Set, £24.95, Liberty 8. Kate Spade Little Gold Notebook, £17.95, Selfridges

Currently Trending: Marble

1. Stella McCartney Marble Ring, £175, Selfridges 2. Marble Phone Case, £23.93, Pencil Me In Stationary @ Etsy 3. Marble Pinch Pots, £19.60, House of Fraser 4. Marble Coasters, £20, John Lewis 5. Marble Plate, £2.99, H&M 6. Marble Lamp, £120, John Lewis 7. Rebecca Minkoff 'Avery' Cross Body Bag, £159.26, Nordstrom 8. Marble Soap Dispenser, £15, Marks and Spencer
There seems to be a bit of a trend for marble home accessories. There's loads of pieces around and they're a super easy way to make your home seem a little bit more expensive, when actually H&M have some really inexpensive items which look extra fancy!
My personal favourite is the marble plate. It'd be perfect for my bed side table where I leave my jewellery at night, keeping it tidy and looking super fancy.
The Stella McCartney ring also looks super luxurious, and would be perfect for an all black outfit. I'm sure there must be a similar one in Topshop or Primark which is a bit more affordable.
Do you have any marble accessories in your home?

Hair Inspiration: The Long-Bob

There seems to be a trend at the minute of famously long haired celebs going for the chop and opting for a shoulder length style instead, or the "lob" (long-bob) has it's often known as.
We saw Rosie Huntington-Whitely debut a new style over Christmas, Selena Gomez posted on Instagram implying she'd gone for the snip, and last year Taylor Swift kissed goodbye to her long curly mane in famous of a much sleeker, shorter style.
Far easier and quicker to style, a shorter look is definitely becoming more and more enviable now these celebs are showing us how versatile and glamorous it can be.
January Jones is great at tailoring her hair for the occasion and has been seen sporting a variety of styles of late including sleek and straight, loose waves or retro pin curls. It's a refreshing to see a bit of variation from the long loose waves which seem to have become a uniform for the A List of late, providing that you don't have to have hair down to your waist to be able to look glam!
Whose celeb hair are you coveting at the minute?

Motivation Monday: Not my Circus

Today's bit of motivation comes from a Polish proverb: "Not my circus, not my monkeys"

I like to think of the message being along the lines of "Not my problem" and it's useful to keep in mind. Sometimes you're best to let the rightful people look after their own circus. :)

10 Photos to Trigger your Inner Wanderlust

There's nothing like cold, grey January mornings to get you longing for the feel of the sun on your skin and sand between your toes.
My thoughts have turned to travel a lot more than usual over the last few weeks thanks to those dark mornings and a frostier than normal commute. A few images in particular have got me researching where you can get a tan at this time of year as well as reminding me that there are so many breathe taking sights across the world I'm yet to see!
Look at the images below at your own risk, I accept no responsibility for them causing you to throw caution to the wind and booking a spontaneous, far-flung adventure for 2015. :)

Top 5 Beauty Tutorials 2014

Youtube tutorials promising to teach you the easiest way to do a simple 5 minute up do, which turn out to have 15 steps and result in a couple of hours of hard work and nothing to show for it but a matted mess are my pet internet hate!
But there are a few out there which do live up to their promises and amazingly enough, teach you how to do something amazing with your hair in five minutes!
I've weeded out the good from the bad and picked out those which really do teach you how to do something in an easy to follow way so you can copy it from home.

1. The Texture French Twist from Twist me Pretty A really easy way to quickly put your hair up, and looks deceptively difficult. 2. 5 Minute Curls from Kouture Kiss This is now the only way I curl my hair before work, so quick and easy. 3. No Heat Curls from Paper Mamma A super easy way to get curls without damaging your hair with heat. 4. Twisted Pony from Twist Me Pretty Confession: try as I might a three strand braid is just too damn difficult for me. This one solved the problem! 5. Fishtail braid from Once Wed Fishtails braids definitely aren't as easy as them seem, this video is great to help you figure it out.

Monthly Wallpaper, January

This time last year I had a rather fanciful idea that I'd make myself a new, seasonal wallpaper for my phone every month, and share it on here for the world to see.
Whilst in 2014 this ended up happening just one solitary time (for shame) this year hopefully I'll be able to up my game and share something new and pretty on the first of every single month. Whilst this is said with baited breath, I do really like updating my devices to be appropriate for the time of year, with the first blooms of the year in spring, cool beach sunsets in the summer, crunchy leaves in the autumn, and frosty mornings in the winter.
Right on cue, here is my first attempt made with an image I sniffed out on Pinterest (link). I think looking at a hot beach image will remind me that it is in fact possible to be hot whilst I'm putting on my double layer of socks each morning! And an inspirational message will never go a miss in deepest darkest January!

iPhone 4

iPhone 5 iPhone 6