life

The Big Black Bag.

The black bag is every girls staple. Its more wearable than the little black dress- the black bag can accompany anything from jeans and a T shirt on weekends to work to a night out. I just wanted to talk you through my favorites right now. With the black bag you need to consider what makes it different from other bags- think different textures something that breaks up the shape.

For everyday- Go Big. Think Tote, Shoppers, Box bags. Keep it black but consider contrasting leather with suede, gold or silver finishes and consider croc- a popular texture for the season.

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From left to right. First we have River Island Suede and Leather Shopper bag £45. I love the croc suede, you don’t often see it, also the luggage tag adds a relaxed feel perfect for the weekend. Next along is Zip Top City Bag by ASOS £32- the all over crock makes it stylish and sophisticated, the gold finishes and boxy style make it perfect from the office. Next along is Pieces Tote bag in Contrast Black with Strap Detail £40, the perfect bag to wear on your shoulder suitable for any occasion and a good size for all your must haves. And finally Mango Hobo Bag £34.99- the most relaxed bag of them all but the slouchy nature is dressed up with the contrast black nylon with leather front pocket, perfect for Monday all the way through to Sunday.

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For anyone living a busy life these bags are perfect. Keep everything you could ever need to get you through the day close at hand.

All these bags are available from ASOS.

http://www.asos.com/women/bags-purses/cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=8730&via=top

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.

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/

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.

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

Sticks n Sushi.

We love sushi. Sticks n Sushi just opened a restaurant in Greenwich, it’s sophisticated yet minimal dressed with walnut and floor to ceiling chocolate walls, gorgeous gold pendent lights and modern fixtures add to the warm while huge glass vases filled with delicate flowers reminding you of the oriental theme.

And now to the Sushi- it was amazing. It was the nicest, freshest sushi i have ever tasted. The menu is so vast filled with the most stunning looking sushi and fish but there was so much more to it- delicious skewers, steaks, salads and side dishes but the little red book in the centre of the menu is where the goodies lie. Completely blown over with the chose from the menu this red book is full of sharing dishes and platters giving you the perfect array of chose without spending hours making up your mind. Dinning as a couple or in a large party there are platters of all sizes combining the perfect selection of everything.

sushi

My boyfriend Zac and I shared the Mixed Emotions platter and Duck, Salmon and their Friends plate as well as the Beef Tataki coz it just looked so good. We defiantly order too much food but they neatly boxed up what we couldn’t eat and we saved it for later. The food is absolutely amazing and when paired with its’s gorgeous atmosphere your evening is going to be a night to remember filled with so many exciting flavours, fine wines and cocktails.

Breakfast. Lunch. Afternoon Tea.

Peyton & Bryne has recently opened a new bakery branch in Greenwich. I have to try it out- I have a sweet tooth. I could not turn down an invite for morning coffee, it was needed in this miserable January weather- a hot coffee and a cozy seat from the rain, Peyton & Bryne was just the spot.

They have a gorgeous display of cakes and pastries in the window that instantly draw you in to which you are met with the fresh sent of coffee. The shop is dressed with that modern industrial decor while still managing to create a homemade cozy atmosphere. Its not just cakes though, for breakfast they offer from the classic bacon role to avocado and cherry tomatoes on toast and even a leek and blue cheese muffin or the healthier option of fresh fruit, yogurt and granola. For lunch you can have a sandwich or choose from their platter of salads and couscous, their menu is select and sophisticated appealing to the young market, the food is all fresh exploring flavours while maintaining the home made touch.

Its priced reasonably competing with the other more commercialized coffee businesses such as Costa and Starbucks which are also on the same street but I’d choose here over them any day. Its always bustling with people on their breaks and friends catching up, it’s popular and getting a table is not always easy but if you are passing I’d recommend you pop in for a coffee and grab one of their window seats, enjoy a lovely slice and watch the world go by.
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London.

I love living in London, there is so much to do and explore. I live in Greenwich not far from the 02 arena making it so easy to travel around London on the jubilee line.
Last weekend we stayed alittle closer to home and tried out the Emerites Airline- the cable car the takes you across the river from the North Greenwich to Victoria Docks. It was a really nice afternoon. The cable car opened in 2012, it’s a practical way to cross the river but it is also just as much a tourist attraction. The trip takes about 10 mins each way and you can buy a ticket at the entrance or for a cheaper price you can board using your oyster.

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It was a gorgeous day last Saturday, bright clear skies despite it being bitterly cold but what do you expect for the middle of January. We wanted the catch the sun set so boarded the airline about 4:15, it was quite quiet we didn’t queue for long and was well worth the £3.60 it cost. The view is incredible especially with the bright orange sun setting behind us.

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Over in Victoria Docks we had a walk around and took some pictures by which time the sun had set, the trip back was even prettier seeing London all lit up was so nice. If you are in the area I would really recommend you try it out, it runs till 8pm every day – I’d say going when it’s dark is better though. It’s cheap and relatively new and definitely a most just to say you”ve done it.

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