OOTD: My Redoute Style

Last year (it still feels so strange to say that, doesn't it?), I went to a fantastic blog event organised by La Redoute. For me, La Redoute is the first 'catalogue brand' I really noticed and I remember pouring over the images in the catalogue as a child, but I hadn't bought anything from them for years. Therefore, I was excited to see how the brand had changed and headed to Leeds for an evening with some fellow bloggers. We were treated to plenty of alcohol, lots of food and the highlight of the evening was the opportunity to choose an item of clothing to take home with us. I had so much fun browsing the rails and trying on clothes in the toilets with my blogger buddies and when Tea Party Beauty insisted I try a certain burgundy lace dress, I fell in love:

Dress: La Redoute* Heels: House of Fraser* Bag: New Look. Rings: Adorned. Necklaces: Primark. Earrings: Adorned. 

You know those times when your friends know your style better than you do? Hayley seriously nailed it when she made me try on this dress - the bodycon style is slightly out of my comfort zone so I hadn't picked it up for myself. However, the fit is actually really flattering and I felt really confident as soon as I put it on. The length of the dress and sleeves means that the dress feels grown-up and suitable for a huge variety of occasions, from a job interview to a party. The colour and lace material is stunning, along with a cute cut-away back detail. 

I was so impressed with the range of gorgeous evening dresses from La Redoute as well as the prices - some are reduced even further thanks to their current sale. I feel like the quality is fantastic and La Redoute really get women and what they want from fashion. At the blog event, we were provided with a huge range of sizes and styles, something which is sadly very rare at blogger events who often act like women are only a size 8, and every single girl I spoke to left feeling happy and confident about the evening. 

I decided to style the dress with some simple black and gold accessories - star print heels from House of Fraser, a glittery bag, chunky rings and some delicate necklaces. I love these statement rings from Adorned, which are perfect for mixing and matching with a variety of outfits. I kept the outfit fairly simple but by adding a little sparkle, I think the look is pretty lovely - what do you think?

Jess

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Fitness Friday: A FitBit for your dog?

FitBits and other activity monitors are so popular right now - but did you know you can also track your dog's activity? PitPat is a fun product which clips onto your dog's collar and tracks their daily activity. I was sent a PitPat by Go Compare to test out with my dog, so read on to find out what I thought - and how you can bag yourself a FitBit as well as a PitPat for your dog:

It's a slightly mad product but I absolutely love it! Everything from the name PitPat to the customised app, allowing you to add a picture of your dog and track their movements, is perfect for dog-lovers. It may sound like a silly product but it is actually really useful. Dogs need a lot of exercise and I was surprised that my 7 year old medium mixed-breed was set a target of 60 minutes walking a day - more than I might have guessed.

The app doesn't record steps like traditional activity monitors, but rather tracks the minutes that your dog walks, plays and runs throughout the day. It gives a good reflection of the effort your dog is putting in to their daily exercise and is tailored towards their breed and age, which you input into the app. The PitPat simply attaches to your dog's collar with velcro and my dog Meg didn't even notice it. At the end of the day, you simply go onto the app and press the orange button on your dog's collar to sync and see a review of their exercise.

Go Compare are currently running a competition to win a FitBit Charge HR for yourself and a PitPat for your dog. All you have to do is follow them on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and submit a photo of you and your pet enjoying some exercise with the hashtag #BarkRun. There will be five winners and ten runners up will receive a PitPat for their dog. The competition closes on Friday 29th January at 5pm so you have just one week to enter - read the terms and conditions here and get snapping you and your dog on your walkies! Good luck!

Have you ever tried or considered an activity monitor for your dog?

Jess

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4 Tips to Travel to New York

Facebook Memories can be both a great and terrible thing. They remind me of great times with friends over the years but they can also induce some pretty intense wanderlust. This week, Facebook decided to kindly inform me that exactly one year ago I booked an incredible trip to New York and since I don't yet have any holidays to look forward to this year, I spent my week reminiscing about my previous travel. I wrote a diary of our New York trip last year but I thought I'd put together a tips post if you were thinking of heading to the Big Apple in 2016:

1. Time It Right
This time of year is perfect to book a holiday to New York, as almost all of the airlines are offering great savings to tempt you to spend away those January blues. Last year, we booked some great value flights with British Airways and they currently have another great sale running, which is due to end on the 2nd February.

2. Plan, Plan, Plan!
We spent four days in New York and I found my need to organise every detail of a holiday really useful. Sometimes it's nice to 'go with the flow' but since we had such limited time in such a huge city, we wanted to make the most of our time and planning was the way to do this. Another great way to ensure you see all the famous sites is to consider a Vacation Pass, which allows you to pay one lump sum and guarantee your entry to all the museums, tourist attractions and tours in New York - they can be pricey, but they definitely take the hassle out of your trip.

3. Get Spendy
One of the things we were most excited about was, of course, the shopping. There are some incredible deals to be had in the USA and there are also plenty of products which aren't available in the UK. I watched tonnes of American YouTubers and decided on two 'must-buy' products I needed to track down; the Kat Von D Foundation and the Sephora Lip Stains - both of which have become staples in my make-up routine.

4. Layer Up
If you do plan to travel to New York in February, remember that it will be cold! We weren't quite prepared for the cold and snowy weather, although it resulted in some pretty and impressive photos in Central Park. Definitely invest in some warm layers, a coat, snuggly scarf, gloves and a hat to keep your ears warm. There is nothing worse than the cold ruining a fantastic trip - although it's always an excuse to go shopping in the huge Forever 21 on Times Square!

Do you have any other tips for a trip to New York? Will you be heading to the Big Apple this year?

*This is a sponsored post.*

Jess

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Discover Newmarket

I've lived in Newmarket all my life, but in reality I know very little about it. Growing up in a horseracing town when you have never ridden a horse means that I am blissfully ignorant about the most of the history and culture of the town in which I live. Luckily, things recently changed when I went on a Discover Newmarket tour to find out more about the town I call home:

Discover Newmarket is the 'official tour guide' for Newmarket, working to promote the town as a centre for horse-racing and everything connected to the sport. We started our tour by driving in our tour guide's car to The Gallops and watching the horses ride out in the morning. By using a car to get around Newmarket, we were able to see most of the town from the comfort of the vehicle and I was seriously impressed with our guides' local knowledge and gossip! After a quick driven tour past some of the key studs and buildings, we headed to The Jockey Club Rooms for a viewing of this prestigious member's only club. There are limited opportunities to visit The Jockey Club Rooms as a member of the public, so a tour around the artwork and building was a rare treat and I was fascinated to hear about the history of this club which was so vital to Newmarket's beginnings.

Next, I was excited to have the chance to go behind the scenes of a working stud and see the horses and trainers in the yard. The horses were, of course, beautiful and we were shown around by the head trainer, who was able to answer all of our questions, big or small. We then headed to the National Stud for a quick cup of tea followed by a tour of the stud. We were told about the famous lineages of some of the most successful racehorses and the insane amount of money involved in breeding future horseracing champions. Finally we headed to the National Horseracing Museum for a quick look around the exhibits before heading back.

We packed a huge amount in to the couple of hours spent on the Discover Newmarket tour and I left with so much more knowledge about my home town. We often neglect what's on our doorstep and I loved the opportunity to explore and learn about the town and the horseracing industry which is so important to it. If you're interested, check out Discover Newmarket to find out more about the various tours they offer - it's definitely worth it!

Do you often overlook your home town? Have you ever visited Newmarket?

Jess

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Fitness Friday: Dry January

After somewhat overindulging over the festive period, like many, I have decided to use January as an opportunity to give myself a healthy boost. I’m back at the gym, watching my diet and taking those all-important vitamins; none of which are unusual in the new year. However, this year I'm also doing something new – I’m taking part in Dry January.

Dry January is fundamentally a charitable cause and you can donate here. However, for me, it’s not just about charity. January is the perfect time for a ‘detox’ and as 2015 drew to a close, I frequently found myself thinking about having a break from alcohol. I don’t think I will ever be able to resist a gin and tonic, but after a few too many nights out, I found myself waking up with bigger hangovers than ever before, getting ill more frequently and (whisper it) feeling a bit old! 

I decided to take a break; partly to feel healthier and partly to simply see if I could do it. I drink alcohol because I enjoy the taste and for me it is a social pastime, so I was curious to see if this suffered when I cut out the booze. My weekends always involve gin and tonics or a bottle of wine with my parents, cocktails with friends or drinks at blog events. Once the bottle has been opened, it always get finished, so for me, I really needed to go extreme and cut out the booze completely.

It’s now half way through January and I haven’t had any alcohol – hurrah! I was worried that I would genuinely forget that I was taking part in Dry January and have a drink without thinking about it, but I’ve stuck to lime and soda when out with friends. There is of course the added bonus of saving money and I haven’t felt like my social life has suffered at all. I'm interested to see if my drinking habits change when February arrives, particularly when it comes to finishing that opened bottle or simply choosing to be the designated driver once in a while. I'll make sure I post an update once the challenge has ended!

Are you taking part in Dry January? Do you think you could cut out alcohol completely?

Jess

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Over The Knee Boots: Trendy or Tarty?

Over the knee boots are a tough item to style. I can't ever quite shake the 'Pretty Woman' vibe but they also look so damn stylish on other people, I love the trend and it doesn't look like it's going away any time soon. Today I decided to style them in possibly the hardest way - with a fur coat:

Top: Primark. Skirt: Tesco. Boots: H&M. Coat: Primark.

A fur coat and over the knee boots was always going to be a risky combo. I tried to keep the style retro with an A-line skirt in a fun 60s style print. I picked up this skirt in my local Tesco, which was a total bargain. It's such a flattering cut as it's not too short and gives the illusion of a smaller waist. I adore the geometic pattern and the colours match with so much of my wardrobe, meaning it has quickly become a favourite in my wardrobe.

Today I paired it with a sparkly metallic turtleneck from Primark. Turtlenecks are one of my favourite winter staples and this metallic version adds a bit of interest - even though it's not Christmas anymore, I still love adding a bit of sparkle! Another one of my Primark favourites is of course this stunning fur coat. I always get compliments whenever I wear it and it's just so cosy! 

Finally, I have to talk about these over the knee boots. I haven't quite managed to pull off the heeled long boot trend so I was so happy to discover this flat pair. However, I do wish they were a little longer to completely cover my knees - and I only have short legs! They feel casual and comfortable to wear but I must admit that over the knee boots are a trend which you need to be confident to pull off. Working on my confidence is a constant process for me, so wearing an outfit like this may seem like a small thing but for me, this outfit is a great way to express myself, feel more confident and go about my day feeling fabulous!

What do you think of my outfit? How do you style over the knee boots?

Jess

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Olive Focaccia Recipe

Olives are a divisive food; you either love them or hate them. I used to hate olives but I now love them. In fact, I remember a turning point in my teenage years when I suddenly liked olives and felt like I had become an adult! So when I was challenged by Olive It so create an olive-based recipe, I was excited to get creative in the kitchen. I love tapas so I decided to use the olives to create an Olive Focaccia, accompanied by Spanish meats and cheese.

You will need:
1 lb strong white bread flour
1 sachet dried yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
3 tbsp olive oil (and some to drizzle over dough)
300ml warm water
1/2 tin or 100g green olives (chopped)
1/2 tin or 100g black olives (chopped)

1. Preheat oven at 200C. Add flour and salt to a large mixing bowl. Then add sugar, yeast and olive oil. Add warm water and mix to a dough.

2. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Rise for 45 minutes.

3. Add the chopped olives to the dough and knead in until distributed throughout.

4. Place into baking tray and spread to fill the tin. I used a 22 x 28cm tray, with a depth of 5cm. Make finger indentations in the top of the dough.

5. Pour olive oil over the top of the dough. Leave to rise for 15 minutes.

6. Bake at 200C for 30 minutes until golden.

I was really pleased with how this recipe turned out; the great quality olive oil added a delicious crust and the chunks of olives were delicious throughout the focaccia. If you love olives, I would recommend using a can, or 200g, of both the green and black olives as you can see that the olives are quite sparse in my version. Although I was initially unsure about the idea of tinned olives, the olives from Olive It! were really tasty, plump and fresh. Accompanied by some Spanish chorizo, Iberian ham and Manchego cheese and, of course, olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip, we were treated to a perfect tapas picnic. 

Are you an olive fan? I'd love to hear if you try my recipe!

*I was sent a Spanish hamper of food by Olive It to help create this recipe*

Jess

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LEGO To The Moves!

Lego has emotional memories for me. My Mum used to teach at a local middle school (ages 9 to 13 for anyone who doesn't live in Suffolk) and she often used toys from our childhood to work with her pupils. One summer, our middle school was burnt down and although nobody was hurt, my Lego melted in the blaze. Ever since, my brother and I have mourned the loss of our precious childhood Lego and whenever I see Lego, I can't help but think of the story. Now, at the age of 23, I finally have some more Lego and everything is awesome:

You might have heard of a little film which has been fairly popular this Christmas... yes, I'm talking about Star Wars. Talented Talkers kindly sent me a Cineworld voucher so I could see the film and if you haven't managed to go yet, you really should! It's brilliant, whether you are a die-hard Star Wars fan, an admirer of JJ Abrams' directing or simply love a blockbuster and want to see what all the fuss is about. 

I also was able to choose some Star Wars Lego* from George at Asda's Lego range. I was really impressed with the prices and range of different sets, from Star Wars to Marvel Avengers, My brother and I quickly assembled the sets and the joy of building your own Lego never really leaves you - you really can never be too old! We were impressed with how much Lego has improved over the last decade, particularly the firing power of the tiny Lego guns. 

However, this Lego isn't just about reminiscing about my childhood. It's going to be used by my Mum for a more important purpose; Lego Therapy. My Mum works as a specialist teacher with ASD children (otherwise known as Autistic Spectrum Disorder) in mainstream schools and Lego Therapy is a vital technique to aid social interaction in a structured way. This Star Wars Lego is going to be perfect, particularly for her pupils who are fans of the Star Wars franchise - although I still plan on playing with it myself in the school holidays!

Have you seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Do you have any Lego memories?

Jess

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