#CambMeetUp

I love meeting local bloggers and have missed my amazing Leeds bloggers since moving down South. However, it turns out there are some pretty nice bloggers in Cambridge too and I recently got the chance to meet a few of them at the #CambMeetUp. The meet up itself was held in Revolution and I was amazed by how many bloggers there were in Cambridge, after assuming that there were hardly any of us! Pippa, from Clashing Time, did an incredible job of involving a huge range of brands to talk about their businesses and even treat us to some goodies. It was a brilliant mix of some very well-known brands and smaller independent companies.

The Million Dollar Moisturiser from Lush is an intense facial moisturiser, with the added benefit of SPF 15. It's a little heavy for me to wear on a daily basis underneath makeup, but I think it'll be great in Summer to provide some sun protection. I'll be taking it to Croatia with me next month! We were also treated to a miniature L'Occitane's Cleansing Oil. I love my The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil, so it's great to compare the two as I think they're a great part of my beauty regime. The L'Occitane version is very gentle and the size is perfect for travelling.

There were also some independent brands who I hadn't come across before. I love the cute cake-themed badges from Jilly Jilly - they couldn't be more perfect for me! This beautiful scarf from Lisa Angel was also so generous. I love the tie-dye and purple tassles, along with the motto 'we are made out of stars, you and I.' Finally, what better theme for a Cambridge meet up than a bicycle necklace? This one is from Claireabellemakes and is a cute addition to my jewellery collection.

There were also some tasty treats from Chocolat Chocolat and Kettle Chips, which were obviously demolished before I got round to photographing them! I'd also like to thanks The Blogger Programme for helping Pippa with her meet, and of course Pippa again for allowing me to meet some lovely local bloggers!

All products included in the #CambMeetUp Goody Bag.

Jess

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OOTD: I Wanna Be Adorned

It's time for an outfit post! Yes, I love clothes and so I love talking about them on the internet. I was excited to get the opportunity to shoot an outfit post in the beautiful city of Cambridge. I felt like a proper 'fashion blogger' as I posed on someone's doorstep, praying that they didn't come home or that my friend got ran over taking photos in the street! That's the weird reality of fashion posts, guys!

Dress: Adorned. Turtleneck: Matalan. Shoes: Primark. Hat: Asos.

This dress is another stunning find from the wonderful Sarah from Adorned. I am totally obsessed with Sarah's stuff and she always has some amazing vintage gems on the Adorned website and Depop. She's also a bloomin' stylish lady who had headed to Cambridge to visit for the weekend, so I obviously made her take photos of me in my purchase in return for shooting her for her Lookbook page (check it out for some hippy-fabulousness!)

I love the oversized shift dress with the fantastic bright blue and intricate pattern - not to mention the fact it was a total bargain at just a tenner. I layered it with a maroon polo underneath and left the dress flowing and oversized. I adore the jewel-like colour combination and turtlenecks have become a massive wardrobe staple (as you can probably tell from my last outfit post too!) They are so easy to wear underneath dresses to add some warmth and interest to the look. I added my favourite floppy hat from Asos and some smart but comfortable pumps which I picked up from Primark for a couple of quid.

I really enjoyed shooting in Cambridge and exploring some of the quaint backstreets of my local city. I've been working on posting outfit posts from locations other than my back garden and I always love the results. The real question is, where is that photographer boyfriend in my life to take all these photos of me?

Jess

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Fitness Friday: Eat the Right Amount with Gousto

I must admit, I'm a distinctly average cook. I love my food (and I need to work on what I eat) but I'd much rather be eating it than cooking it! My main problem is portion size - I always cook far too much or leave ingredients to go off in the fridge. So this Fitness Friday, I wanted to talk about Gousto,* who solves this problem by providing the right amount of ingredients for delicious, healthy meals:

I was sent three meals to try; Mushroom Bolognese, Lamb Biryani and Soy-Glazed Smoked Salmon - which my Grandad's dog couldn't resist having a look at! All meals were for two people and brimming full of fresh and organic vegetables. I sometimes struggle to eat the right things, with the right amounts, and Gousto simplifies this process, removing any unhealthy temptations and providing wonderful ingredients and easy to follow recipes.

My favourite of the bunch was the Lamb Biryani. It took just 15 minutes to cook and the instructions were clear and comprehensive. I am terrible at following recipes; not because I experiment but because I don't read the whole thing properly and then make mistakes! The Gousto recipe card was simple and easy to follow in a small amount of steps. There was even a speedy YouTube video showing how to cut an onion, which was very helpful for any newbie cooks. The spice level was just right for me, and I loved the inclusion of some fresh green beans to add some colour to the dish. Initially, I thought the amount of ingredients looked a little stingey, but once cooked the dish could have easily fed three people - this just shows how I would have definitely cooked too much if I didn't have the pre-prepared portions.

You can save a huge £20 off your first box with the code JESSICAINYOUREAR20 so it's a great time to check out what they offer. I was so impressed with the quality, fresh and organic ingredients and it's a fantastic healthy way to eat the right amount of the right foods. Have you tried any kind of subscription food service?

Jess

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