NYE with Whittard: G and Tea

Hello! A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to receive some teas from Whittard, after they saw my Chilly Wishlist post. As soon as they arrived, I knew that I wanted to do something a little bit special with them for the Christmas season. As you may have guessed by the title, this involved adding some booze!

If you still aren't quite sure what you're drinking this New Year's Eve, how about my G and Tea cocktail?

You will need:

Apple and Elderflower Caffeine Free Fruit Infusion*

Gin (I used Heston's Earl Grey and Lemon Gin)

Elderflower Cordial (such as Bottlegreen)

Teapot for loose tea

Spirit Measure 

Slice of lemon

Cute teacups are optional (but adorable!)

1. First, brew your tea. It doesn't matter if you don't have a fancy loose tea teapot like I do, just use a normal pot and a tea strainer. Use a generous scoop per cup and leave to brew for as long as possible until cool. If needed, place the teapot in the fridge or freezer to ensure that the liquid is nice and cold. 

2. Add two shots of gin to a teacup, using your spirit measure (or, hey, just do it by eye, I'm not judging you!) Heston's Earl Grey and Lemon Gin from Waitrose is by far the smoothest and tastiest gin I have ever tried and really adds to the tea theme.

3. Add a splash of Elderflower Cordial, such as Bottlegreen, to add some more gorgeously sweet elderflower flavour.

4. Top up with your cooled Whittard Apple and Elderflower tea. I love this tea - it's smells delicious and tastes just as good. The combination is perfectly balanced and leaves you feeling refreshed and invigorated, thanks to the crisp apple and tangy elderflower. 

5. Add a slice of lemon and enjoy! To add some glamour to your New Year's Eve cocktail, why not add some Champagne for a little extra fizz? Or how about some apple or elderflower flavoured liquor for an extra kick?

What will you be drinking this New Year's Eve? Let me know if you give this cocktail a try, and if you personalise it in any way! Remeber to follow me via Bloglovin so you can keep an eye out for two more tea-themed cocktails coming your way soon.

<3

xx

DIY Christmas Wreath

It's getting rather Christmassy in our household, so today I wanted to share with you one of my yearly traditions - decorating our Christmas wreath:

You will need:

Christmas wreath base

Fir tree branches

Dried orange slices

Red berries

Ribbon
Large ribbon for bow

Scissors

I made the base of the wreath many years ago at a workshop in Wicken Fen, a local National Trust site. Using local willow and reeds, the wreath is both natural and sustainable and provides the base for my decorations. However, if you don't already have something similar, Martha Stewart explains how to make a Christmas wreath using wire as a base instead.

Once your base is ready, we can start the fun part - decorating. This year I decided to use a selection of fir branches from our Christmas tree, rosehip and other red berries, and dried fruit. To dry the fruit, I sliced some oranges and placed them on a wire rack. I then slowly dried them out in a preheated oven at just 80C for about two hours. I kept some of our fir branches left over from trimming our Christmas tree and collected my red berries whilst walking the dog.

First, I began to bulk up the wreath with my fir branches. I threaded the branches under my plaited reeds, which ensured they were kept secure. You could also use wire to keep the branches in place.

Then I began to add some colour with the berries and orange slices. I started with the orange slices by punching holes in each slice and threading it with gold ribbon, which I then tied onto the wreath. To finish off the ribbon, I curled the ends with the blade of the scissors.

I then added my red berries to the wreath by threading the twigs underneath the reeds and into the willow. I arranged them into bunches sporadically around the wreath to add some Christmassy red colour. Finally, I tied a bow on the top of the wreath, added some ribbon to use to hang on the front door and it was finished!

What do you think of my DIY Christmas wreath? Do you make your own or just buy one? I'd love to see your versions!

<3

xx

Access All Asos: Social Media School and Asos HQ

Last weekend, I was over the moon to be invited to Asos HQ in London for 'Social Media School.' As part of Asos' Academy School series, I caught the train from York to Camden for a lecture on social media by Sedge Beswick, followed by a tour of Asos HQ:

Of course, we were greeted by some yummy treats - I particularly enjoyed the social media themed cupcakes - then ushered into the 'classroom' for our talk. However, this wasn't your usual university lecture; we were given 'Social Media Bingo' cards to cross off topics once they were mentioned and ensure we paid attention - a great tip for all teachers out there, as I intensely focused on my card and was ecstatic when I won some Anna Sui Minnie Mouse Hand Cream.

We learnt some fascinating facts about the world of social media and its importance to brands. For example, if Facebook were a country it would be the third largest in the world and over 350 million Snapchats are sent per day - that's a lot of power to be harnessed! Asos of course are great at social media, especially with Twitter where you will be responded to almost instantly whether your comment is positive or negative. As a customer, this means I am far more likely to buy from them as opposed to brands which aren't so responsive, and Asos really understand this.

We were then treated to a tour of Asos HQ. It was a dream come true to trawl through all the offices and studios, and we even got to meet some models and photographers shooting for the 'New In' section. How amazing would it be to work here every day?

Access All Asos applications are now open for 2014, so if you'd like to get behind the scenes at Asos, fill in their application form. You get all the insider gossip from the brand - for example, Asos are launching Asos Helpouts on Monday 16th Dec. You can book a slot via Google Helpouts to chat with a stylist and resolve all your styling, make-up or Christmas gift dilemmas. Yet another example of Asos putting the customer first, and as an Asos Insider, I'm the first to know about it!

You don't have to be a blogger, just an Asos addict like me, so why not apply today and join me?

<3

xx

#MyFabbHaloHair

A few weeks ago, I was invited to the White Cloth Gallery in Leeds by Halo Hair Extensions and Fabb Events. I arrived at this trendy venue hidden behind the train station, with the only hint for the day being Fabb's hashtag #MyFabbHaloHair:

Myself and a small group of bloggers were greeted by champagne and cupcakes (an excellent start) before being introduced to John from Halo Hair Extensions. He explained the history and development of their brand and introduced us to their signature product - the Halo. Many bloggers who were more hair-savvy than myself nodded along to this introduction, but as a complete novice when it comes to hair extensions, everything was new to me. I was fascinated to discover that the Halo is simply placed on your head, tightened with a 'miracle wire' and you immediately have longer, natural-looking hair! No damage, no clip ins, no scary glue - it really is that simple.

Hair extensions have always intrigued but scared me, thanks to all those horror stories out there and the fact that I am far too low-maintenance to bother with the upkeep required by 'normal' hair extensions. The simplicity of the Halo is therefore for me it's main selling point - I promise that the fact I can easily put on my Halo in a matter of minutes, means anyone can! On the day, professional hair stylists demonstrated how to attach our Halos and then styled them for us. This was a brilliant idea because it showed quite how simple the process was, and gave me far more confidence to go home and try it out for myself. Before the event, we had all sent photos of our hair colour to ensure we received the right shade - a service which is available for anyone thinking of purchasing a Halo, and meant that my #4 Chocolate Brown 16" Halo matched my hair perfectly.

We were generously gifted a goody bag, which included our now-styled Halo, shampoo and conditioner and a tail comb, which is perfect for combing your hair over the Halo wire. Unfortunately, I haven't had the right opportunity to photography my Halo properly yet, thanks to the dark and gloomy weather, but I'm looking forward to sharing my next post showing off the process of putting on a Halo in more detail. In the meantime, check out Halo's own How-To videos and I hope you enjoy the images from the event - especially these 'transformation' shots (thanks to Hannah Rose Photography and Fabb Events):

I felt like Cheryl Cole and couldn't stop playing with my new, voluminous curls! If you want to add some extra glamour to your Christmas party outfits this holiday, check out Halo Hair Extensions as a fool-proof, user-friendly way to really make an impact. I'm certainly a convert!

<3 

xx

Fitness: Benefits of Body Pump

Well, my Fitness Friday posts have fallen down the wayside a bit, so I thought it was about time for another post. Yes, it's not a Friday but close enough!

Today I thought I'd talk about my favourite gym class - Body Pump. It's a pretty hardcore class which scares a lot of people, so I wanted to explain some more about this class and girls lifting weights in general:

Now let's dispel some myths about lifting weights, ladies. Here are four points I think every woman should know:

1. Let's stop all this worry about getting bulky. Have you ever seen somebody get bulky by accident? No. If you want muscles, you can certainly get them, but it takes a lot of effort, exercise and precise dieting - you can't go to a few Body Pump classes and suddenly look manly. 

2. Want toned thighs? Well, I'm sure you know the answer is squats. But the 30 day squat challenge? Pointless if you aren't using some weight - it's simply not hard enough. Using a bar helps you think about your technique, depth and you can really feel the burn. Not only that, but you see the results much faster.

3. Lifting weights burns calories not only during the class, but for the rest of the day. Cardio doesn't do this; that's why you should start your gym sessions with weights and finish with cardio, as you will burn much more than the other way round.

4. Yes, muscle weighs more than fat - but it takes up less space. So even if the pounds aren't dropping off as much as you'd hoped, remember to keep a track of the inches too. 

So are you now thinking about doing more weights? If you are new to using weights, Body Pump is the perfect place to start. The instructors are really supportive and will ensure that you are using the right weight for your level and your technique is correct. Normally in the gym on my own, I couldn't lift weights for a whole hour, but the structure of the class means that the time passes much quicker. Each track focuses on a certain body part or move, such as squats, biceps or abs, ensuring that you get a complete full-body workout. The sets also change regularly, along with the music, meaning that you don't get bored from week to week. The instructor will also make sure that you regularly increase your weight, which means that you are constantly progressing. Overall, I never leave a class feeling unsatisfied and I really couldn't recommend it enough to anyone looking to boost their fitness regime. 

Do you enjoy reading my fitness posts? Let me know if you give Body Pump a go!

<3

xx

Queen of Hearts Fancy Dress

As you may have guessed by my heart-shaped shoe-clips DIY and Alice in Wonderland themed party post, I decided to dress up as the Queen of Hearts for my birthday. It's my birthday today so I'm looking forward to an evening of food, cocktails and champagne with my housemates to celebrate turning 21. However I wanted to share with you my look from the weekend as it's probably my favourite ever fancy dress costume. I'm pretty proud of the result and hope that you like it!

Dress: Jones and Jones (via Topshop.) Shoes: c/o Barratts. Shoe clips: DIY. Floral headband: DIY. Crown: DIY. Earrings: New Look. Ring: c/o Temp Sec.

Ever since I decided on the Queen of Hearts I had a very specific dress in mind - bright red, with a lace top and full-on tutu flared skirt to give a striking impression. It took me way longer than it should have done to realise that Jones and Jones are the experts for this look. When I discovered this beauty in the Topshop sale for just £27 including a student discount and free p&p, my search was over. I was worried that the puffy tutu wouldn't suit me and that it would be too short, but I was overjoyed with how it looks. I ordered a 10 after reading some reviews that the sizing was quite small and I was glad I did - it is slightly too big around the waist, and the shoulders and back gaped a little, but I don't think I could have managed to squeeze myself down a size! The height was short but not too indecent on me, but watch out taller ladies because a couple more inches would have made it quite inappropriate! I love the deep open back, lace overlay and focus on my waist - I even like my legs in these pictures, which for me is quite an accomplishment!

My legs are of course helped by the assistance of some heels. I wanted something sparkly yet comfortable and luckily I had these amazing shoes from Barratts already in my wardrobe. I added my custom DIY shoe clips, which I explained how to create here, as a key heart-themed accessory to the costume

The other key accessory to the Queen of Hearts theme was of course my crown. I created the floral headband earlier in the summer by simply wrapping some red paper roses from Hobbycraft around an old headband. I made the crown by using some pliers to wrap and shape gold wire on another headband and then adding some pearl hearts. I didn't think to take photos of this process, but I hope you understand what I mean!

Finally, I added a glitzy pearl necklace and some heart-shaped earrings and a ring. I curled my hair and added some simple make-up focusing on my bright red lips and nails and a simple heart shape below one eye. With such a showstopper of a dress and a crown, I wanted to keep the make-up simple and regal so my outfit didn't become too costume-y - it was my birthday party after all, not Halloween! I then had some great fun acting all moody and Queen-like in my garden for these snaps before the party kicked off.

So, what do you think? Do you feel inspired to try an Alice in Wonderland party or perhaps dress as the Queen of Hearts this Halloween? Please let me know your thoughts!

<3
xx

Alice in Wonderland Birthday Party

I have always been a massive fan of fancy dress and themed parties - people seem to either love them or hate them, and I am firmly in the former camp. Therefore for my 21st birthday party, I decided to host a Alice In Wonderland party. I went all out with themed food and decorations and I wanted to share my efforts with you today:

I baked two different batches of cupcakes using one of my favourite cookery books The Hummingbird Bakery: Cake Days. It has a great selection of fun, different and easy cupcake recipes for every occasion and season. I decided to bake Earl Grey cupcakes and some Strawberry Daiquiri cupcakes too. I was worried that the Earl Grey would be too bland as I find it to be quite a subtle tea, but I was pleased to be able to taste the tea in the buttercream frosting. I was excited to try out the Strawberry Daiquiri cupcakes, mainly thanks to the rum element involved in the recipe. However, although yummy, you couldn't taste the rum which is a shame for a pretty expensive ingredient, and the strawberries placed in the bottom of the bun cases created a very soggy bottom - Mary Berry would not have been very impressed!

I also baked some heart-shaped jam tarts and created some rum jelly limes. I was heavily influenced by Pinterest with all my party planning and you can see my inspiration board here. I create my own 'eat me' cake toppers and 'drink me' labels using John Tenniel's Victorian illustrations and cut up playing cards to top the remaining cakes. I printed famous quotes alongside illustrations to cover the walls, created card bunting and 'this way/that way' arrows to direct my guests to the house. Yes I really went all out!

I'd like to think that it was a successful party. I felt almost like a real grown up as my friends tasted my cakes and drank wine. Obviously this was somewhat balanced out by the amount of wine they consumed, the fact that everyone was in fancy dress and the various shots involved! Overall, it was nice to have a proper house party, a surprising rarity in my student life, and spend some quality time with some great people.

What do you think of my Alice in Wonderland themed party? Look out tomorrow for what I wore!

<3

xx

DIY: Sequin Heart Shoe Clips

In one week's time, I will be 21 years old. It's a scary thought, which is starting to hit home when I look at all my current bio descriptions which I will soon need to update - the downside of including your age on your profiles! However, the exciting part of this milestone is the birthday party I have planned this weekend. I am a massive fan of fancy dress, as you may have now realised, and my favourite part is creating an effective costume on a very low budget. Therefore I wanted to share with you a few of my DIYs for my costume before you see the finished look. Perhaps they can offer some clues on my theme and character!

Today I made some simple heart-shaped shoe clips and I was surprised at how easy and effective they were. If you want to make some too, you will need:

Red felt (eBay)

Red sequins (eBay)

2 hair grips

Pen

Scissors

Fabric scissors (if possible)

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

I have linked the two eBay sellers where I bought my felt and sequins from because they were cheap and arrived quickly, meaning that I didn't need to brave the cold to make a trip to my local craft store (I'm that lazy!)

1. Print a template (I used a simply drawn heart shape on Word) and trace around it onto the felt:

2. Cut the shapes out of the felt using fabric scissors, if you have a pair. If not, normal scissors are fine:

3. Heat up your glue gun and start to glue the sequins from the outside into the centre of the heart:

4. When complete, cut the sequin strand and do the same with the other heart (can you tell which one I did first?)

5. Glue a hair grip onto the back of the heart, ensuring that it is the right way up! I clipped mine onto peep toe heels so I glued the hair grips with the opening at the top. They therefore slide from my toes up towards my ankles, which is far more comfortable.

And you are finished! I found the clips very cheap and easy to make and I feel that they add an extra touch to my outfit, clipped onto my Barratts shoes. I love the Melissa Vivienne Westwood vibe that they channel, without the price tag or need to buy a new pair of heels. I think that they are a really cute accessory that can be used in many different ways and for many different occasions; I have also seen them used as hair clips or on wedding shoes - adorable! How would you style yours?

What do you think of the DIY? Will you be giving them a go? Let me know how you get on!

<3

xx

OOTD: To the max

Today, I looked back over some of my recent posts and realised something quite obvious - I haven't posted an OOTD in a very long time! Thanks to a combination of terrible weather and moving house (it takes me a while to find a new spot to pose in,) I haven't managed to photograph my outfits for far too long. Today I wanted to begin to rectify this with a new OOTD featuring my new maxi dress:

Dress: H&M. Jumper: Urban Outfitters. Belt: Primark. Boots: Matalan. Necklace: c/o The Vintage Set.

I picked up this simple black maxi dress for a cheeky £12.99 last week in York's H&M. I have only recently started to appreciate quite how versatile maxi dresses really are, and have been on the look out for a simple black version to wear as the weather cools. This one is perfect - the elasticated waist means that I have some definition, but it isn't too tight to wear casually. My legs are kept warm and hidden away, and when I team it with a jumper, as I did today, I think it's the perfect Autumn outfit. Unlike some maxi dresses I have seen, this one is thick enough that I don't need to worry about any see-through wardrobe malfunctions and the material feels soft and comfortable. And most importantly (although I may just be kidding myself) I think it makes me look taller - hooray!

Tonight I am heading off to Coppergate Student Take Over in York. I'm hoping to bag myself some student-discounted bargains and hopefully a few freebies too. It's a busy shopping week for me, as I'm yet to decide whether to go to Vogue's Fashion Night Out in Manchester on Thursday or the Victorian Quarter's 'Big Apple' event in Leeds. I'm currently swaying towards FNO but have no knowledge of Manchester - are any other bloggers heading there on Thursday? Let me know if you are!

<3
xx

Fitness Friday: 30 Day Ab and Squat Challenge

Today for Fitness Friday I wanted to share with you a great pin I found on Pinterest. I often use my Fitness Time Pinterest board for inspiration and and recording great mini-workouts to try out later:

This challenge looks like a nice mix of sit ups, crunches and squats. Although squats at home will never work as well as weighted squats, they're certainly better than nothing. Focus on your technique with all of the exercises, rather than rushing the set, to really feel the burn. I'd recommend printing off the challenge - I always stick these things on my wall and cross them off each day to keep me motivated. It looks so satisfying once you've completed it!

Let me know if you try the challenge! Do you like this kind of Fitness Friday post?

<3

xx

Elephants never forget

I haven't done an outfit post in SO long! Today, I finally got chance to take some snaps in my garden, and they even include a guest appearance!

Dress: Sugarhill Boutique (via Asos.) Sandals: Topshop. Necklace: c/o The Vintage Set. Headband: DIY.

I adore Sugarhill Boutique due to their fantastic quirky prints in such beautiful colours. However, my poor student budget can't support spending £55 on a dress, so I have to bide my time for their sales. I love this elephant print, with their cute heart-shaped entwined trunks, and the orange colour is vibrant and striking. Today I teamed the dress with my favourite Topshop sandals (which are now starting to fall apart *sob*) and simple jewellery. 

Half way through my photos, my dog decided to come and see what on earth I was doing. Any previous attempts to persuade her to pose with me have failed miserably, but today she played along and actually looked at the camera - even if she does look miserable! Nonetheless, I think I may have found my new favourite accessory...

<3

xx