blogger Archives - Megan Taylor

John Lewis AND/OR

Last week I was invited to one of the best fashion parties I have ever been to…and it was held in a shop! It was at John Lewis on Oxford Street. Liam and I were ushered in through the side door entrance and dropped off in front of the AND/OR sign to have our photos taken. The next day I found my cheesy mug shot on Getty Images. I have been on Getty Images a lot before but as an anonymous model from photoshoots, not as a named blogger. You may cringe but I was pretty chuffed that the photographer even remembered my name haha. The event held by John Lewis was to launch their cool LA inspired own brand collection called AND/OR. The collaborative collection between John Lewis and West Coast cool duo Calvin Rucker has resulted in an affordable fashionable look for the fashion conscious ranging from £22 for a t’shirt to £250 for the softest, creamiest leather jacket you can get your hands on.
(What I am Wearing In The Header Pic: AND/OR Jumper • AND/OR Avalon Jeans)

(Photo: David M Benett @ Getty Images)
(Wearing: AND/OR Avalon Jeans)

CUSTOMISE YOUR CLOTHES

A super exciting bonus to this collection is that John Lewis on Oxford Street has opened a Denim Workshop which is open daily from 12 noon until store close from 6th April – 19th April (apart from Easter Sunday). The service is FREE to AND/OR customers and only a small fee to personalise non AND/OR products. I am definitely skipping on down there next week with my jeans to get them personalised. Check my image above of all the amazing patches you can have attached. It is such an incredible service which is normally a process saved for big press and blogger events, so to see a store providing this is really exciting.

THE EVENT

Huddled in the AND/OR section of John Lewis store we were all on show for everyone to look on and wonder what all the fuss and party was all about. The event was attended by some exciting celebrities including the ever so gorgeous Gemma Chan who I have been loving in Humans…seriously, how can someone be that pretty?!!! Mollie King from the Saturdays was resident DJ for the latter half of the event playing some of my favourite sing along pop/dance music. The changing rooms housed a photobooth/Giff-booth which Liam and I played around with and got some lovely photos…I should have inputted them in this blog whoops! With the flowing alcohol you had a chance to shop the collection in an inebriated state, I am hoping for the sake of the cool collection that they made a fortune that evening hehe.

THE DRINK

The LA inspired nibbles and cocktails were readily flowing, along with yummy bubbly from Skinny Prosecco. I loved the touch of straws in open bottles. Not only does this save the environment with no washing up and plastic cups but it also looks super cute when photographed with the branded lipstick friendly straws. The mojitos were wonderfully lethal!

SHOP ☆ AND/OR

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What is your favourite item from the collection?

Playful Fashion OOTD

As the days are getting darker and more and more rain seems to be falling, I have began to add a hint of colourful playfulness to my outfits. I have realised that I tend to wear all black everything for model castings. Mostly because it is easy to decided what to wear but I recently realised that I kind of looked like a cat burglar. It is with this that I have decided to start adding a little pop of colour and playfulness to my outfits. Whenever I wear one of my tops that I have included in this post someone compliments me on it. It is a great conversation starter for sure.

I may not have spoken French since I flunked my French GCSEs but I am a sucker for a Bretton style top, especially this simple vest from H&M.

Who doesn’t love a flamingo?

Flamingos have been popping up all over the high street. This one is from H&M. I also know for a fact that a high fashion company have flamingos in their collection for AW17! So invest in some flamingos now ahead of the fash pack.

This Mickey Mouse Tshirt is from Topshop and is gorgeously bright. Very simply paired with a pair of black jeans, you have the perfect weekend outfit.

☆

Have you got any exciting colour pop outfits you can recommend?

London Fashion Week Social House

My wonderful model booker Hannah, from MOT who unfortunately for me moved to another company a few years back invited me to an exciting London Fashion Week event last week. I thought I would tell you all about it because it was an absolute dream that I wish I would be on all year round. This event was actually a four floor house in the centre of London set up as a retreat especially models and bloggers. Presented by Meitu and Fashion Beauty Monitor I knew I was going to have a good time at the ‘London Fashion Week Social House’.

Floor One
Floor one was set up with a bar that served free drinks including watermelon juice, gin & tonic, Smart water, coffees and teas. Beside this was a spot for scrummy food by Vietvan. In the same room was a lounge of sofas, a table full of nut bars and a TV live streaming LFW.

Floor Two
This room was full of selfie spots with walls that were beautifully decorated. There was also a large table where you could work from and charge your phones and laptops. At one end of the room were two nail technicians from Wah nails doing manicures for anyone that wanted them. I went for a nude nail because I had a job the next day. I love painting my nails but I am not a fan of filing my nails so it was quite a luxury to have them done for me that afternoon.

Floor Three
This floor was a large room full of white chairs set up for some fabulous talks, I wish I had been able to attend them all. I attended a talk on social media and social influencers and left feeling incredibly inspired.

Floor Four
Floor four was a beauty room with hair being done by Revlon and make up by Nyx. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to hang about here being beautified but it looked like heaven and everyone was leaving looking Pinterest style braided. One girl I met had had an insanely awesome striking white eyeliner on her upper lid…I kind of want to replicate this asap!

Overall this whole event and venue was a dream come true and I wish I had had the time to visit everyday. It would be really great if a place like this existed all year round. It is really helpful during fashion week where you need somewhere to spruce up your look and it is even better when there is someone there to do it for you. Also, you can head here in between shows to write up your latest fashion report. Most bloggers don’t have an office to work from and not many actually live in London so it is like having a little homely hub to hide away in.
…bring on next fashion week.

Thank you Meitu and Fashion Beauty Monitor.

Tried & Tested : Deliciously Ella Energy Balls

I have followed Deliciously Ella‘s work for a while and have been inspired add a little more vegan-ness into my life because of her (I have been a vegetarian since the age of 9). I love her books and have reviewed them both here:
Deliciously Ella
Deliciously Ella – Every Day
If you follow my Snapchat you are likely to know that I am a huge fan of Whole Foods and buy many yummy healthy goods from there whenever I pass by…thank goodness there isn’t one down my road, else I would be broke. So when I heard the Ella and her husband were selling their energy balls in Whole Foods I rushed there in a flash and bought one of each to try them all and review them for you. The balls sell for £1.99 and are rather generous in their size and really fill you up with their density.

Cashew & Ginger
Although I enjoyed this cashew and ginger flavour it was in fact my least favourite out of the three. I love cashew nuts and I adore ginger but this ginger felt a little too sweet and overpowering for me. That being said I still really liked the ball and feel like it would have many benefits to you if you were run down and would also be a fab morning breakfast pick me up.

Hazelnut & Raisin
The hazelnut and raisin flavour was my second favourite. There is a lovely hint of cinnamon in this flavour which makes me feel a teensy bit excited for Christmas. I also really enjoyed the crunch and density to this one. I feel like everyone should like this one because there’s nothing really to dislike 🙂

Cacao & Almond
This is by far my favourite of the three energy balls on offer. Imagine a chocolate brownie without the guilt and that is this ball. I have a very sweet tooth and my first downfall when I am trying to be healthy is my craving for chocolate. This cacao and almond ball is the perfect remedy for the mid afternoon sweet cravings.

Have you tried these yet? What do you think?

Top 5 Summer Beauty Must Haves

Sun Sea Sand … a few of my favourite words in the summer months. Your skin is also another very important word during the summer. With the increase in sun exposure we need to look after our skin with lots of high SPF products even when we want a glowing tan. Having just been on holiday I thought I would share with you my Top 5 Summer Beauty Must Haves. I have linked where you can buy the products from and a You Tube video below that I filmed to tell you a little more about each product.

Kiko Lip Balm
I have raved about this product in a past post about how to stay safe in the sun. This product is great as it is a tinted lip balm with an SPF of 15. It is great for make up free days at the beach.

Rimmel Foundation
The mousse style foundation has a lovely creamy texture which is lovely to apply. I would say that as it is quite thick it is best to buff it in with a make up brush. I have been using the Real Techniques foundation brush.

NYX Lipstick (Honey Nectar)
This NYX lipstick crayon in Honey Nectar is creamy and non drying. I have been using it non stop for about 4 months now and it doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of running out. I am pretty sure this will last me forever. I think I am going to have to buy lots of other colours as well.

Eyeko Eyeshadow Stick (Topaz)
I have raved about this Eyeko eyeshadow stick on numerous occasions and I have to tell you once again how fabulous it is. I used it as my only eyeshadow while I was on holiday and there was no need for a make up brush and no need to blend, simply use it like a crayon on your eyelids. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Eyeko Waterproof Mascara
This mascara comes in a sort of squeezy tube which makes it a great travelling companion. I love the way it separates my lashes so well and is waterproof.

Are there any summer beauty must haves that you always use?

My Latest Make Up Obsessions

I am having a bit of a love affair with make up lately and have recently stocked up on plenty of new goodies so expect a lot more make up obsessions to be coming soon to my blog. The pieces I have selected to show you today are from Too Faced, KIKO and Make Up Forever. I hope you enjoy my latest make up obsessions.

KIKO eyeshadow brush
I love KIKO. Everything they sell is affordable so you can try out new products without breaking the bank. This make up brush has been perfect for a bit of precision eye shadow blending.

Make Up Forever eyeshadow brush
This brush is a little chunkier than the KIKO brush which makes it great for an easy application of a large expanse of eye shadow.

Make Up Forever Eyeshadow – Platinum
This eye shadow is absolutely beautiful, it is like a zillion stars clustered together into a little pot. With just a small brush of this on your eyelids when you are on holiday you will be all set to go for your evening ahead.

Too Faced Smokey Eye Palette
I have been a lover of Too Faced for a while now. Their packaging is always very enticing. This Too Faced palette is wonderful. All of the colours are wearable with no eyeshadows that are too “out there”. I normally find that with an eye shadow palette there are colours that I never use but that is not the case with this one. ‘Firefly’ and ‘Cloves’ are my favourite colours to use for a day look and then build it up with the darker colours and the silver ‘In A Flash’.

What make up have you been loving lately?

Blogosphere Magazine Event – Goodie Bag Reveal

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to Blogosphere’s cover reveal party for issue 9 and I had a wonderful time. In a little hidden away spot in Soho we entered into a long winding location full of rooms with different entertainment. The goodie bag was rather epic so I have filmed a video showing you everything that was in it.

☆☆☆

What Was In The Goodie Bag

Blogosphere Magzine
Yes To Facial Wipes
The London Tea Company – Pure Camomile
Snact
Lee Stafford – Coco Loco Genius Lotion
Aeos – Refreshing Hydrating Mist
Inika – Ultimate Lip Balm
UBU – Foundation Brush
Evolve – Satin Leg Gloss
You Beauty Box

☆☆☆

Blogosphere Magazine Event - Goodie Bag Reveal

Launch Party For Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula

This blog post has been a long time coming and I am sorry for the wait. Unfortunately I just had too many other blog post scheduled. Last month I was invited to an event by Palmer’s and their lovely PR team. The location was at the wonderful Ham Yard Hotel. If you are an avid reader of my blog you may remember me recommending Ham Yard Hotel in my ‘A Night Out In Soho’ blog post. Even though I often visit their bar I have never been lucky enough to have drinks on their balcony, until now. The rooftop is idyllic and so quiet that you wouldn’t believe you were a stones throw away from Piccadilly Circus. For more details on Ham Yard Hotel click here.

{A beautiful day for a beautiful location at Ham House Rooftop}

When we entered the lobby it was filled with the scent of coconuts because of both the products and the fact Palmer’s had custom made some candles scented with the fragrance of their products.

{The goodie bag had all the four products in the picture above. There was also a candle scented like the products made especially for the event}

The cocktails and canapés were beautiful and tasted amazing. Like all great events and parties Palmer’s of course had a photo booth which many of us bloggers leapt into and couldn’t get enough of.

{All good parties have to have a photo booth}

{This was my favourite product as it is super thick and moisturising for dry tanned skin}

The evening was quite warm for May so I headed out in skinny jeans, pink pumps and a smart blouse and my Mulberry Lily bag to dress up my outfit a little bit.

{What I Wore – Shirt: Zara, Jeans: Topshop, Shoes: Clarks, Necklace: Monica Vinader, Bag: Mulberry}

How to update your furniture – the quick and easy way

I am loving the white Scandinavian and French interior look that has been popularised by Pinterest in the last 10 years. Adding one piece of white furniture to your home can immediately make your room look bigger. I have found that buying white furniture can be both expensive and limited in terms of space capacity. It seems that most white furniture is either cheap plastic or gorgeous shabby chic French wood that can barely store a single sock within it. With this in mind I have been loving transforming old furniture that was dark wood and falling apart. I have even been known to find old mirrors in skips and rejuvenate them. I have documented my latest project which was my Italian grandmas old cabinet which my husband and I now store all our cocktail booze in. It is beautiful as it is but doesn’t fit with the rest of our interiors as it is so dark. Below I have shown you how I, as a complete “furniture rejuvenating amateur”, has updated this piece of furniture in two days – the quick and easy way with very little or no money. I actually didn’t spend a penny as I found everything I needed in either mine or my parents garage.

You Will Need
Light sand paper
White paint
Brasso
Wax
Cloth
Masking tape
An old candle
Screwdriver
Chop stick
Tomato ketchup

I painted on a very sunny day which allowed me to paint many layers in one day.

Method
1. Start by taking the doors off…this took me a while figure this out.
2. Start by sanding down all of the areas which you are going to paint. You don’t have to take off all of the old varnish or paint. You just need to provide a little bit of grip for your new paint.
3. Use masking tape to cover and areas you don’t want to get paint on.
4. Start painting. Do not use lashing of paint. Slowly build up your layers. I painted about 5 layers. After layer 3 I lightly sanded down any corners that had too much build up of paint. I also kept a chop stick nearby to scrape away any globby bits of paint that build up in the more intricate corners.
5. Once you are happy with your painting and the surfaces are completely dry you can wax all the surfaces with a buffing cloth. This will allow you to lay mugs, glasses, candles, picture frames etc on the furniture without worrying.
6. I used Brasso to do some extra buffing and shining to the trims. I actually soaked the hinges and handle in some ketchup for a while which worked wonders…this almost put me off having ketchup with chips, think of our teeth eeek.
7. Once you have screwed the the doors and handles back on, rub an old candle all over the lengths of the doors to allow them to shut with ease.
8. Et Voila☆

My Top 5 Favourite Sweet Sugar-Free Snacks

January is passing by quicker than ever and being healthy is getting increasingly more difficult.
I find the best way to succeed the healthy eating lifestyle is to find some sweet treats that are healthy.
Below are My Top 5 Favourite Sweet Sugar-Free Snacks.

1. Booja Booja Ice Cream
I am not usually a fan of ice cream because I don’t like milky creamy products
but this product is completely free of those ingredients.
It is dairy free in fact and has no added sugar whatsoever.
Booja Booja make scrummy truffles and ice cream.
They are on the pricey side but savour every mouthful, it is worth it.

2. Apples and Grapes
Once you give up sugar you will realise how sweet apples and grapes are.
These fruits give you a big sugar burst so try to not gorge on too much if you are trying to limit your sugar intake.
*TOP TIP: Next time you buy a bunch of grapes, put them in the freezer.
Every little grape tastes like a biteful of grape sorbet.

3. Honey and Cinnamon Popcorn
I blogged this recipe on my blog a few months ago and have had great feedback.
This sweet popcorn is sugar free and very addictive.

4. Yoghurt and Honey
This may sound like something you would normally eat for breakfast but it is a lovely healthy sweet treat.
Add honey or date syrup to a tablespoon of natural Greek yoghurt.
Sprinkle raspberries and strawberries on top for added yumminess.

5. Sugar Free Nutty Biscuits
I came up with this recipe last week by smushing loads of nuts and seeds with dates.
They are incredibly filling and a guilt free sweet treat.

Do you know of any other quick and easy sugar free sweet snacks that you can recommend?

@itsmegantaylor

Chocolate Rice Pop Puddings

I’m not a fan of Christmas pudding but I love their classic festive look.
I adore chocolate so I created this chocolate Christmas pudding copy.
These are very simple to make and no baking is needed.
{Video Link At The Bottom Of This Page}

Ingredients
x2 bars of dark chocolate
1/2 bar of white chocolate
Rice Pops
Truffle/small cup cake holders
Holly decoration (I used these)
Teaspoon of honey

Method
1. Melt the dark chocolate.
2. Once the chocolate is melted add the honey and stir in.
The honey will prevent the balls from being too hard to bite once set.
3. Pour in your rice pops into the melted chocolate and stir until they are completed covered.
Slowly add more rice pops to use up all the chocolate, making sure the rice pops are completely covered in chocolate.
4. Spoon the mixture into the cupcake holders making them look like spherical mounds.
5. Place your chocolate balls on a tray and place in the fridge until they are 99% set.
Approximately 10 minutes.
6. Take your chocolate balls out of their cupcake holders and put them back in the fridge for 10 minutes.
7. Take your chocolate balls out of the fridge.
Melt your white chocolate and pour over each ball, representing the custard on a classic Christmas pudding.
8. Decorate the tops of each ball with a holly leaf made from the sprinkles.
If you are drawing holly leaves with writing icing do this after step 9.
9. Place back in the fridge for 10/20 minutes until completely set.
10. Lay them all out on a Christmas plate to serve at a party but keep a few aside in the kitchen for you to nibble on.
Your guests will devour them in minutes.

I hope you enjoy them. Make sure you tag me in a photo of you make them.
Instagram: @itsmegantaylor
Twitter: @itsmegantaylor

Autumn Fashion Picks To Keep You Warm

Although I love this time of year, I really do not like being cold. Over the years I have discovered many staples that I keep on using. Below I have shared what I believe to be the best ‘Autumn Fashion Picks To Keep You Warm’.

1. UniQlo Jumper £14.99
I can’t get enough of these UniQlo jumpers. In fact I now have five of them in an assortment of colours.
I buy the “extra warm” variety which keep me cosy throughout the coldest winter months.
They can be worn as a base layer or you can wear them on their own. I will be pairing mine with pinafores this winter.

2. Topshop Coat £89.00
A little faux fur never hurt anyone.
I adore this white Topshop coat. It can be worn in the day but would look great over a party dress to keep you warm on nights out.

3. ASOS Duffle Coat £75.00
It can be lovely and romantic under an umbrella, hearing the rain above you. Yet on an average day umbrellas can be a bit of a logistical nightmare with their wetness once you are indoors, putting them up and down and getting one good enough not to blow inside out. For this reason, I am a huge fan of hooded coats. I adore this ASOS duffle coat. It looks smart enough to wear to work yet has a hood to protect you from the unsettled autumnal weather.

4. ASOS Jumper £22.00
I tend to wear breton all year round. The sailor style looks really clean and refreshing. I feel the white blocks of colour are a great pop of colour to a earthy toned season.

5. Marks and Spencer Dressing Gown £45.00
This dressing gown is my favourite purchase of the year, honestly!
Welcome to the softest most cosy item you shall ever own. Once you are wearing yours everyone will want to give you a cuddle.
**be warned, this gown makes leaving the house very difficult**

6. Topshop Pinafore £39.00
I am loving pinafore’s this year. The whole Raggy Doll look is adorable and a very comfortable style to wear. The deep red of this Topshop pinafore is perfect for the autumn and winter months ahead. I have seen red pinafores in loads of high street stores this month including Topshop, Primark, New Look, ASOS and Urban Outfitters.

7. Topshop Baxter jeans £40.00
Black jeans are a must have all year round.
I love my Topshop jeans. They are well made, cheap and stretchy…therefore very comfortable.
**wardrobe staple**

8. Vagabond Boots £80.00
I have a great love for my Vagabond booties. I have the flat Chelsea boot style Vagabond’s and the very chunky healed version which I wear to castings.
Vagabond boots are great for the winter. I have had my two pairs for two years and still look brand new even though I wear them almost everyday.

9. Zara Scarf £17.99
Zara are wonderful for many fashion pieces but their scarfs are, I believe, the best on the highstreet. I buy these scarves each year in different colours. They are very soft and importantly they don’t leave fluff on your black coats. The scarves are incredibly large and can be doubled as a blanket when you are out and about. I always take mine to the theatre or cinema as a blanket as I always get sleepy and chilly in the theatre and cinema…am I the only one?

Hope you like my fashion picks for Autumn. Let me know if there are any more warm items I must stock up on.

My 5 Autumn Loves

When I was younger I didn’t much care for autumn. I found it depressing that the summer was over. This was mostly because it meant the end of the school holidays. As an adult I have discovered all the excitement of autumn and must admit I now find it one of my favourite times of the year.

Below I have listed my 5 autumn loves, explaining why this time of the year is so wonderful.

1. Candlelight and fires
I adore those evenings when it is super chilly outside but you have nowhere to be. I love sitting on the sofa in front of the fire with candles all around the house…and Strictly Come Dancing on the TV.

2. Anticipation
There is so much to look forward to. There’s Halloween, fireworks night, Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve to plan for.
Eeeek…very very very excited for all of the above.

3. The food
Hot soups and warm baked cookies are my comfort foods of choice at this time of year. A big bowl of soup and a crusty loaf on the side is a perfect lunch when out and about. My favourite place to get soup when I’m in town is Pret. Their vegetarian soups are always yummy. I keep an eye on this page each day to see if they are selling a soup that I fancy.
I also feel this time of the year is a key baking time. A freshly baked biscuit is wonderful with a big mug of tea. Why not try out my Chocolate Dipped Orange Zest Biscuits for that festive flavour.

4. Bright and crisp mornings
How incredibly gorgeous are those bright mornings to wake up to! I love it when the sun is shining bright, there are no clouds in the sky but the air is super chilly. These mornings are actually my favourite to work out in. I love going for a run or going to Bootcamp in this weather. The mix of sunshine and endorphins is always a winner to me.

5. The fashion
A gorgeous coat, jeans, Chelsea boots, thin layered jumpers and BIG sunglasses are my favourite go-to outfit of the season.
My main aim is to prevent being cold so I can run around in the leaves like a big child whilst keeping warm.
(Keep an eye out for my next blog post on my ‘Autumn Fashion Picks To Keep You Warm’).

What do you love about autumn?

Autumnal Granola Recipe

The nights are getting darker, the wind so much chillier and the autumn leaves are falling at a rapid speed. I personally love this time of year. We can layer up our clothes, put the fire on and have an excuse to hibernate at home with a great movie, hot water bottle and a cup of hot chocolate. That’s not to mention the great anticipation of the festive Christmas period.
The only downside to the chillier season is pushing myself out of the door in the morning. I have to eat breakfast before going to work otherwise my tummy rumbles like a mini earthquake. When I am cold I tend to crave a warm croissant or a fried egg sandwich sssh. I have come up with this granola recipe which is low in GI, super healthy and can be eaten warm or cold. Shop bought cereals, granola’s and muesli’s are full of unnatural sugars and ingredients that you would never find in your kitchen cupboards. My granola recipe is full of seeds and nuts and the only sugars are date syrup and honey…very natural and wonderfully sweet for that yummy sugar hit in the healthiest way possible. The great thing about this recipe is you can just use anything you have in your cupboard you don’t have to follow the recipe meticulously. You don’t need to go out shopping for any expensive ingredients…have fun experimenting.

Don’t forget to tag me in photos of your granola if you make it. @itsmegantaylor
Here is how to make my autumnal granola recipe.

Time

Prep: 5 minutes

Cooking: 10 minutes

What you will need

Syrup:

1 tablespoon Coconut oil

1.5 tablespoon Date syrup

1 tablespoon Honey

Granola bulk:

1/4 cup Mixed seeds

{I used: flaxseeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds}

3/4 cup Mixed nuts

{I used: haselnuts, Brazil nuts, walnuts. If you want a mix of nuts but don’t fancy spending a fortune on bags of nuts, Waitrose do a great mixed nuts bag so you can get a good variety in your granola}

1 cup Jumbo oats

1 cup Coconut flakes

1 cup Quinoa pops

3/4 cup Raisins

2 teaspoons Ground cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 160°

2. Blend your mixed nuts in a blender until lightly mixed. Do not let them go to dust…unless you are aiming for more of a muesli texture.

3. Throw all dry ingredients into a baking tray (nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, quinoa pops, oats, raisins).

4. Melt the coconut oil, date syrup, honey and cinnamon in a pan on a low heat until mixed together.

5. Pour the syrup over the dry ingredients and mix together.

6. Place in the oven for ten minutes, mixing up the ingredients every few minutes.

7. Leave to stand until cool before storing to prevent the ingredients going soggy.
Enjoy with yoghurt, milk or even by itself as a healthy snack.

What’s In My Handbag {evening edition}

What’s in my bag : evening edition

I have always loved reading bloggers posts about what is in their bag.
I have been using my Mulberry Lily bag constantly and have had no trouble cramming it full of everything I need for a night out.
Here is a little insight to what I keep in my bag on a night out.

Handbag:
Mulberry Lily {black glossy goat with soft gold}
I have always adored my Chanel 2.55 but it seems everyone in the world now owns one (fake or otherways) and I am sure the same will happen with this bag.
I feel it looks as classic as the Chanel 2.55 but a little more individual. It fits a lot more in as well. I have only had this bag for a month but have used it constantly.

Diary:
I seem to buy a Moleskine diary most years. I live out of my diary and it has taken me years and years to find the perfect one. My requirements are week view, slim to fit in any bag, stylish and enough space to write down all my casting details for each day. This diary fits all of my needs.

Purse:
I have wanted a new purse for a really long time and this Mulberry French Tree {black glossy goat} purse is simply heavenly. It fits so many cards in and has space for coins and notes. The only downside is that the card slots are a little tight so when pulling out your credit card the cashier may have to wait a moment. I am sure it will ease up after a while…I have only had the purse for a couple of weeks.

Pink mini notepad:
You will always find a Moleskine notebook in my bag. you never know when your next great idea may spring up.

Eyeliner:
Chanel Intense Eye Pencil in NOIR.
My husband bought me this eye pencil for Christmas and I use it every day. I have been a Rimmel eye liner addict since I first started using make up and have never branched out until now. This eyeliner last a lot longer. I don’t need to sharpen it as much, probably because it has a much more intense colour than the Rimmel Jet Black kohl so you need less.

Lipstick:
Clarins Joli Rouge 730 in PINK BLOSSOM.
My mum bought me this for Christmas (bit of a trend here…I only seem to try new products when people buy them for me 😛 )
I use this lipstick for castings when I need a natural look and for those evenings when you have a strong smokey eye and don’t want a full on lip with the strong eye look. It is a bit weird of me to say but it smells so scrummy…a bit like strawberry roses. Go on pop into Boots simply to give it a sniff.

Lipbalm:
Balm Balm Rose Geranium lip balm in a tube. Everyone knows I am a real Balm Balm addict. It is 100% organic and I have never had dry lips since using this product…whats not to love!
Balm Balm is one of those fabulous multi-purpose products. I always keep it in my bag and use it for my lips, hands and any flyaway hairs on nights out. Its dinky size is perfect for your evening bag.

Tweezers:
Pink mini tweezerman.
This is the travel tweezerman in bright pink. I also have the larger ones that I keep at home but these small ones are perfect to keep in your handbag incase you spot any strays whilst you are out.

Hairclips:
You can buy these standard hair clips from most shops but these ones from Superdrug have some sort of plastic safety bit on the underside. I adore these because they don’t get any hair tangled up in the clip and pull your hairs out. Also, they look super cute and schoolgirl retro.

Pencil:
I bought this pencil from Paperchase years and years ago. It is so small but perfect to keep in your smallest of handbags.

Pen:
I love these Stabilo pens…simple.

Hairband:
If you saw blog post on Popband a few weeks ago you may already know why I love these hairbands.
They don’t leave a kink in your hair which is great for nights out when you just need to pull your hair out of your face but don’t want to ruin your freshly blow dried hair.

Oyster Card:
I would obviously have my Oyster card in my handbag but I do not currently have a nice case for it…can anyone suggest a pretty one?

Hair Help

I think I have stumbled on a hair saviour.
I am sure you have all been there…freshly styled hair but you have to tie your hair up for the gym or simply for those day to day chores where having your hair in your face will just stress you out! On many occasions I have tied my hair up and been left with an unwanted kink in my preened hair. I used to sport the scrunchy look back when I was nine but I don’t feel trendy enough to do that look in the current “ironic” way.
I did found some chunky plain black fabric hair bands from H&M for about £3 which are fab but look like a bit of an old rag on your wrist. This week Popband caught my eye with their pretty elastics and ever since then my wrist has been adorned with a different coloured band each day.
At £8 they are a bit pricier than a standard hair band but the way I think about it is you are also paying for a bit of jewellery. I wear mine to bootcamp classes for the pretty effect but also the fact that there is no kink in my hair afterwards if I don’t have time to wash my hair.
I bought mine from a Joy store but you can buy them online at their PopBand.