Author: katielouisaclarke

I'm 20, a student, living in London. Just wanting to put something out there.

ck in2u.

It’s hard to find a new fragrance. There are so many out there and when you go to try them out you end up with a thousand smells sprayed up each arm in a cloud clashing fragrance that make you dizzy. I’ve decided I am not much of a fan of floral smells, I find them almost bitter and some put my teeth on edge. I also don’t like musky based smells as I find them too strong and lingering. How ever I did really like Lady Million for a while, it has a sweet but not to sickly smell that you can wear day or night. My Lady Million was running out, I wanted to find a new fragrance but didn’t know where to start.

My boyfriend Zac started wearing Calvin Klein in2u soon as I smelt it- I loved it. It has a sweet manly fresh smell, when Zac wears it, it makes me melt at the knees. Mmmm it’s good. I think I also like it so much because to me it’s Zac’s smell, the smell he wears when he’s all dressed up.

A popular fragrance for young men, Calvin Klein In2U Him Eau de Toilette is a masculine and fresh fragrance which is perfect for evening use. On trend and distinctive, Calvin Klein In2U Him is a combination of Lemon and Tomato Leaf top notes, heart notes of Cacao Pod and base notes of Vetiver, Cedar and White Musk. Calvin Klein In2U Him features a stylish glass bottle which makes it an essential fragrance for any young man looking to make a fashion statement.

I then thought I should try the ck in2u for her- then we could have the matching couples fragrance. I tried it and fell in love with it, its sweet but clean and fresh. I like the vanilla under tones mixed with the pink grapefruit, it’s such an easy sent to wear.

Described as a fresh and floral scent which opens with fresh pink grapefruit and sugar orchid, Calvin Klein In2u expresses the freedom of the new age and the possibilities available to the youth of today. The base notes feature amber, red cedar and vanilla, making it a perfect concoction for the modern day woman. Housed in an urban style bottle with an attractive and minimalist design, Clavin Klein In2U is deliciously floral and is a signature scent not to be missed.

Ck in2u pair

The ck in2u range has been around for quite a few years now, Calvin Klein have brought out ck in2u Heat for Him and Her as well as a Pop range- I haven’t tried them out but I will. I have been using their original line for about 2 years and I can see myself continuing to use it for the foreseeable future. The fact it’s been around for a little while also means its often on offer or reduced in price, I picked up a 150ml bottle of for Her for £19.99 I think it is RRP is £50. It is available at most fragrance retailers and department stores.

HTC One M9 Release.

I currently have HTC One M7 my phone is due for an upgrade in May but what do I get. I was waiting to see the launch of the HTC M9 and now it’s here I need to decide whether to continue with HTC -considered the best android run smart phone or do I finally give into Apple with the iPhone 6- I have resisted everything “i” up until now, I’ve just not felt the urge but there is no denying the iPhone 6 is one of the best phones out there at the moment.
I have had no major problems with my phone considering its coming up for two years old, the battery have gotten worse but that’s expected, its still pretty fast and does the job well. For me it’s just the camera that lets it down. It started off okay but the UltraPixel camera is just useless, I was interested to see how HTC addressed these issues in their new model.

htc-one-m9

So the HTC M9 doesn’t look that different from it’s predecessor. HTC have found their clear design template and have only tweaked it slightly. The phone is visually stunning- it’s slightly shorter than the M8 but it is also thicker. This is the house the bigger more powerful battery, it does go against the ever slimming trends of new phones but it doesn’t distract from the gorgeous design.
Finally after 3 years they have ditched the UltraPixel camera on the back and upgraded it to a 20MP camera. They have moved the UltraPixel camera to the front for ‘better selfies in low light’- they say but we’l have to see how that copes. The camera is still in the centre of the phone and they have make it bigger with a rounded square surround, it is striking but I can imagine it would get scratched even though they say there is a scratch resistant film over the phone.

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The M9 is available in hero (silver with a gold band), gunmetal grey and all gold. For me it would be Hero, all gold is a bit much while the gunmetal is more mescaline. There is no denying its a good looking phone with an improved battery and camera but the hardware hasn’t stepped up that much, there is also the fact the design has moved on and it looks good but there isn’t a dramatic change in the looks from previous models, if anything to seems to be a merge of the M7 and the M8. The M9 is due to be released March 31st so I still have a little time to decide between HTC and Apple.

Jet Set. Go.

We have booked our holiday for summer 2015. We are going to Egypt! Zac and I went last year and we have decided to go again, this time with our friends Pierce and Simona for a double couples holiday- Yay!
Last year we spent two weeks lapping up the sun, getting drunk on cocktails at the pool bar and going snorkeling with all the gorgeous fish and corals of the Red Sea. It was the most incredible two weeks, we felt so far away from the ordinary- it was our two week slice of heaven.

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Egypt is such an incredible place and super cheap, making it perfect for us students. In my opinion its a perfect place for 18-30 year olds, you get the perfect balance of chill out time, activities and night life. You can take a boat trip to the best snorkeling spots along the red sea coast. Go quad biking in the desert. Enjoy the water sports on the beach. Chill by the pool and go out in the evenings. The hotel animation teams arrange lots of the activities for you and are always willing to give advice on the best places to go.

sharm
The hotels in Egypt are pretty much all 4 and 5 star hotels, all grand with huge receptions and large spacious king size rooms- its so much nicer than the often tacky hotel tower blocks in places like Spain. Then there’s the prices: all inclusive hotels start from as little as £15 a night, that’s £15 for all the food and alcohol you could wish for as well as a really nice room in a hot country for literally pennies!
Then there is the weather: between July and August temperatures can reach as much as 45°C. Which is seriously hot! but the sea breeze cools it a little and as long as you like to be by the pool or the sea and don’t mind being lazy for the middle of the day then its perfect. Lounge by the pool, build up the tan, when you get too hot take a dip in the pool and then grab a drink at the pool bar when your thirsty. Just total bliss.

Egypt, Red Sea, Sharm el-Sheikh, Coral reefs!

We booked our package with onthebeach.com- they are great because you can pay right up until 2 weeks before you leave and the deposit is spit into two parts to help you to spread the cost. They also make it really easy to compare destinations, dates and flights to help you find the cheapest package. For us we found a 13 night all inclusive package to Sol y Mar Sharks Bay, Sharm el Sheikh for a steel. To put it in perspective we have originally thought about going to Ibiza; we found a 7 night basic bed and breakfast for the same price as our 13 night 5 star stay in Sharm.

For anyone looking for an action packed holiday with plenty of time to chill and relax then I would really recommend you look into Egypt. I am so excited bring on June 28th.

https://www.onthebeach.co.uk/

So Nails.

There’s nothing more girly than painting your nails. It looks so pretty and stops them breaking. Wack on some colour and look fabulous all week and then surprise yourself a week later with how much your nails have grown. Also a good colour on your nails finishes your look and makes you feel like you’ve made more of an effect even when you haven’t. Right now I am wearing Barry M Matte in Crush- its a dark burgundy berry colour- the matte finish is so sophisticated, in my opinion its just more subtle than the glossy finish making it more wearable. All the colours in their matte range are so nice and at £3.99 a bottle and often on offer with 3 for 2 they are definitely well worth a try.

Barry-M-Matte-Polish

Another nail vanish range I am in love with is Essie’s Autumn Collection- I know we are heading into spring but theres still plenty of time was those autumn shades. Essie is a little more expensive but the vanishes do last longer without chipping and the colours are so scrummy. I have Sew Psyched which is a neutral pale khaki tone.essie

A cashmere-soft sage pewter nail lacquer is perfectly suited to set off fall and winter styles. dressed up or down, this shade is sure to start a fashion frenzy.

Its something a little bit different and I think it goes really well with my skin tone and being neutral it goes with everything.

http://www.boots.com/en/Essie-Nail-Polish-Sew-Psyched-13-5ml_1347605/

http://www.boots.com/en/Barry-M-Matte-Nail-Paint_1388205/

The Bearded.

Beards are sexy as hell. There is nothing more manly than a man with a beard. Its that rugged, worn in, easy look that’s charming and so endearing. A smooth faced man is like a man with a high voice- luckily David Beckham has a beard to cancel out the latter and thank god in pictures you don’t have to hear him speak. And no girl likes face burn. To avoid that sore blotchy face from too many kisses there is one simple solution… just head straight for the bearded instead.

stubble

I watched the Oscars earlier this week. I think nearly every guy there was fully suited and booted and finished with a well groomed beard. My first prize would have to go Chris Pine-Who else; what a fine specimen of a man he is. But in at a very close second it would have to be Chris Evans- such beard perfection.

pine and evans

So dreamy. A good beard adds to the jaw line and frames the face. It should be trimmed under the cheek bones to create a clean line, similarly a straight line can be trimmed into the neck line, this gives a neat edge to the beard and keeps you looking polished and fresh.

In my opinion baby faces should be left for babies. Full stop. I’l just leave you with one final image of the ever so handsome Chris Pine. If the don’t share the same enthusiasum for a good beard then maybe Pine’s fine blue eyes will change your mind.

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Calvin Klein.

I adore a little bit of CK- If only I had the money to get to really enjoy their clothes! Their collections are always simply Clean cut, Minimal and Modern. But they carry a price tag to match.Main-Moss

More in my budget is their underwear range- So comfy and they look so good. Theirs nothing better to lounge around in the house in. Or for a casual weekend look keep it comfy with a loose over sized jersey top and jeans maybe show a little bit of that iconic branded elastic above your jeans or through a dropped arm whole vest.

On my wishlist next is this gorgeous set of Grey Dual Tone Bra and matching Briefs. Triangle bras are very in at the moment and that suits me fine- no uncomfortable under wire and unnecessary padding, they are so feminine and a splash from the past.grey dual bra set For me this Duel Tone set sits perfectly between aesthetic fashion underwear and sports underwear making it extremely versatile. A defiantly staple. The triangle shape frames the cleavage more so than the more traditional scoop neck sports bras, this means you can wear it under more as it doesn’t have those thick shoulder straps.
This set is still a lot to spend on two triangles of fabric but they are so gorgeous. I’m resisting the temptation to get them just yet. They are out of stock in a few stores but I’m waiting for a good student discount perk to come along so I snap them up for less.

Missguided Sale Haul.

Missguided have an extra 40% their sale items, ending soon! Before you dash off and bag yourself some bargains let me just show you what I found.
missguided

I was just after a few staple pieces that would lift the colours in my wardrobe to take me through into spring. Starting from the left I have Cerrie Zip Detail Waterfall Blazer in Grey- to help me ease out of the thick knitwear and into the more breezy tops, I love the grey colour making it very versatile and wearable with any colour. Next along is Avery Lurex Long Sleeve Top in Baby Pink- this is a lightweight top perfect to wear with jeans but it’s easy to dress it up because the lurex finish gives it a slight sparkle and is so pretty with its delicate texture at the same time- in my opinion you can never have too many boxy long sleeves tops; they go with everything. Then I have Taleasha ‘Basic T Shirt’ Slogan Top- I’ve seen a lot of these tops and normally I steer away from them but here I think you can’t go wrong stating the obvious in this oversized white T. And finally on the right I have Marrie Cropped Peg Leg Cropped Trousers in Black- These cropped trousers look great on this 5,11″ model but for me I was praying these trousers would be perfect ankle grazers- Fingers crossed. I love the high waist, most smart trousers are low rise but here they sit perfectly on the waist creating the illusion of longer legs which I can’t get enough of. These trousers could be paired with any of the other items I ordered as well as dressed up or down again very versatile.

There was one last piece I did resit from buying. It’s such a show stopper I was worried I wouldn’t get the wear out of it but just look at it!
missguided jumpsuit

Plunge Cut Out Tailored Jumpsuit in White. Its so gorgeous. I love the neck line and open back and the straight trousers keep it easy and clean. It would look stunning paired with a camel longline coat or go monochrome with some black stilettos and a black tote bag- I would have loved it but I have no where to wear such a stunner. It was originally £30 (which I don’t even think is a bad price) it then it dropped to £28 in the sale but with the extra 40% off it makes it £16.80. Such a bargain! If anyone has this jumpsuit or just loves it why don’t you leave a comment bellow- tell me what you think.

I am really pleased with my buys and hope you snap up some goodies too 🙂

And here is the link to the Missguided Sale. Happy Shopping!!
http://www.missguided.co.uk/sale

Pinterest.

I just wanted to talk a little bit about Pinterest. Firstly i think its amazing and for those of you who don’t know what it is or just haven’t created an account -let me give you the low down. Pinterest is a web application where you can store, save and share images, links and inspiration that you find anywhere on the internet. When you come across an article you want to read again later or a recipe you want to try for dinner or even an image that shows exactly how you want your hair cut Pinterest allows you to keep all these clippings together. Before i would bookmark some pages or save images to my laptop with Pinterest everything is now all in one place.

Pinterest is essential a pin board for the web. Read something you want to see again- just stick a pin in it.
As well as being able to Pin the things you are interest in, you can follow friends and bloggers and view their boards as well. You can then repin things you like to your own boards.

katie's pinterest

Here’s a snapshot of my Fashion Board. See, so easy and clear; everything I view, like and love in one place. If your redoing your bathroom or your after DIY tips and tricks Pinterest is perfect. Say you are getting your hair cut so you turn to google for some photo inspiration but you know when the images are just a little bit naff and out dated and just not quite what you are looking for. I garentee search the same thing on Pintrest and the images will be exactly what you are looking for. 
If you want to follow me and see where I get my inspiration from feel free the link is below.
And why not create an account and start your own board. Happy Pinning.

Frenchies.

I am absolutely and completely in love with French Bulldogs. I love everything about tthem from their wrinkly faces to their big ears, little legs and chubby bodies. Eeeekk- makes me all gushy just thinking about them! They are so cute.
I have managed to convince my boyfriend that we are going to get one some day. Maybe if I’m good he might surprise me with one sooner- a girl can only wish.
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French bulldogs are a cross between an English Bulldog, a Pug and a Terrier this adorable combination came about in the 1800’s to create small friendly companions for lace makers and ladies of the time but the bread was then popularized in France giving them their name.

Frenchies have the softest, glossy coat and big eyes and a snuffly nose. They are inquisitive and affectionate even though they are a little lazy and love to sleep. But for me its their endearing mannerisms that are surprisingly human that make them so charming to me. They have little tiny hips so they often sit cross legged and the large heads are heavy so they often prop it up on a cushion- too adorable. And they snore, but it’s a cute little snuffly snore you can’t help but love. Also they are the perfect pet for apartments and small living spaces as they don’t need too much exercise and they are quiet so won’t wake up the neighbours.

"Will you play?" French Bulldog

I can’t think of anything better than coming home to an excitable Frenchie who wants nothing more than to snuggle up in my arms for a cuddle some affection and play.
Frenchies come in white, black, fawn, tan, blue and brindle or a combination of these colours. For me it’s fawn and black which are my favourite, one of each colour would be my dream but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.
But for now I’l just have to settle with following a few of my favourite Frenchies on instagram. little_rooney & THEO_THE_FRENCHBULLDOG & bear.the.frenchie. They are so adorable and lighten up my day every time I scroll past their beautiful snaps.

If you can’t get enough of Frenchies then why not follow my doggie pinterest board https://uk.pinterest.com/clarke1809/doggies/

Black Vanilla.

So many flavours. So many colours- And you get to taste them all before you commit to a scoop. Black Vanilla has won 9 ‘great taste’ awards and its no wonder as their wide range of gelatos are made with such fresh ingredients they are simple and deliciously perfect bring Italian charm to Greenwich town centre.

Our beautiful Greenwich store is our headquarters and our pride and joy, with its sunny garden, stunning champagne gallery and gelato counter serving 36 flavours of fresh gelato made downstairs by our talented gelato chefs. Whether you are popping in for a tasty gelato treat, coming by for a coffee break with views of the Cutty Sark, or hosting your party in our gorgeous gallery with sorbetto cocktails and champagne, our Greenwich store has it all. Come in and say hello to our team, who will help you create the perfect flavour combination for your delicious frozen treat.

For me fruit always wins, so refreshing and you feel more healthy- well as healthy as you can whilst eating ice cream. For me Pink Grapefruit hit just the spot it was delicate and such a pretty baby pink.

Whether you want to grab a scoop and walk down to the river or sit in with a coffee or maybe even try a cheeky gelato cocktail with the girls black vanilla is such a lovely spot. If like me you can’t get enough of their ice cream and want to always keep some handy in the freezer then you can order their range from Ocado.com