OOTD: Switching Up Your Summer Style

Isn't the weather beautiful? When the sun is shining, I can't resist getting my camera out to photograph my summer wardrobe in my garden - so I hope you aren't all sick of my face yet! Today I wore a fun giraffe print dress from H&M and popped on a floral crown too:

Dress: H&M. Shoes: Primark. Headband: Adorned. Necklace: George @ Asda*

I love this tshirt style dress from H&M; it's short and fun but the oversized style means I feel comfortable and covered. I'm not the kind of person to wear skin-tight clothes, particularly in the heat, so I love wearing slightly shapeless clothing. It may emphasise my lack of a waist but at least I'm comfortable! I feel like I'm slightly in a style rut at the moment and my current wardrobe just isn't doing it for me. I'm trying to get through it by selling a pile of unworn clothes on my Depop and getting back into the habit of outfit posts. Do you ever feel like your wardrobe just isn't cutting it, despite the fact it's overflowing? What do you do about it?

Well, today I tried to breathe a bit of life back into my wardrobe by digging out an old floral headband to wear with a relatively new dress. As soon as I saw the giraffe print, it headed straight into my basket and the green colour looks great with a tan. I paired it with my favourite loafers from Primark, which are so comfortable for wandering around on a sunny day. I then popped on some accessories, including my George at Asda necklace which has become my go-to summer necklace, as well as a floral headband. I always feel a little silly in them as they are quite a statement, but what better time than summer to have a little fun with your wardrobe?

What do you think of my outfit? How do you switch up your wardrobe in the summer months?

Jess

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OOTD: Hippy Harems

So today is not only a happy Sunday but a rather hippy Sunday, as I'm showing off a slightly more unusual outfit post. I was sent these incredible hippy harem pants by Sarah from Adorned, my number one vintage gal, and I couldn't wait to share them with you:

Hippy harems: Adorned* Bikini top: George at Asda*

What better excuse to pull some yoga poses in my garden? I couldn't resist getting my om on and prancing about in these insane harems. They are beyond comfortable; I thought I was a leggings girl on my days off until I tried these bad boys on. The super elasticated waist and ankles means that they are one size fits all and as a result there is plenty of room for stretching, snoozing and of course, eating! You can wear them low slung on your waist, or if you like your wardrobe high-waisted like me, over your belly button and around your waist. They even have pockets, which as a dress and skirt wearer I am always appreciative of. I am in absolute love with the violet elephant print (Sarah knows me so well) and the pattern is incredible. 

I decided to be brave and pair my harems with a strapless bikini top from George at Asda*. It is from the Graduate Fashion Week range and the print is gorgeous. The strapless style is great for a tan and the additional beading makes it look much more expensive than the £10 it cost. Keep an eye out for a swimwear specific post coming next week, where you will be able to see me prancing around again!

What do you think of my comfy, hippy look? Thank you Adorned!

Jess

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Fitness Friday: Warrior Greens

It's Fitness Friday! I've been getting back into my gym routine after a few days off ill last week and I've also started taking my diet seriously again. There's nothing like a cold to make you crave cheese toasties and chocolate, making this clean eating lark pretty difficult. This week I've made a conscious effort to get my diet back on track, with the help of a new supplement to add to my daily routine:

As you may have read in my MyProtein post, I take a variety of supplements to make the most out of my workouts. I've also added Echinacea, Zinc and Vitamin C to my daily routine to help build up my defences and make my body stronger and healthier. The latest addition to my supplements are these Warrior Greens*. It's a great way to make sure you are getting enough vegetables into your daily diet and although kale and other greens may have become stereotypical 'fitness foods,' they have their reputation for a reason - they really are good for you!

Kieran Fisher, Managing Director of Bodybuilding Warehouse, informed me that the Warrior Greens products are designed to help improve your overall health and wellness, by packing your diet with over 21 powerful superfoods in every little shake. I've been trying to do this every day, as the greens are packed with kale, wheatgrass, avocado, spinach and cucumber just to name a few of the ingredients. What’s more, for a Greens shake it tastes lovely. You simply add a scoop to 150ml of water and drink it down in one. I like to drink it either first thing in the morning or before a workout. It smells great, really fresh and vibrant. and gives you a healthy boost in a much more affordable way than a constant supply of fresh vegetables. I still make sure I get my fresh salad and greens in my meals, but this is an easy and convenient way of getting the goodness of a shake without any added faff or calories. 

What supplements do you include in your diet? Do you have any recommendations?

Jess

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George at Asda AW15

Last week I got my first 'big' press invite to an event in London; the George at Asda AW15 press day. I love super affordable style and I have always had a soft spot for the clothes at Asda. I've recently fallen even more in love with the brand as I got to explore their Summer range when I styled three looks in Croatia. Now I've had the chance to explore their cold-weather range, and I was not disappointed:

George at Asda are going from strength to strength and their AW collection is a stunner. They are continuing the Seventies and Boho trends with a 'Wilderness' collection, and embracing ponchos, suede, fur and pattern. I have recently become slightly obsessed with suede so my favourite item was definitely the blue button down suedette skirt, teamed above with a turtleneck jumper and fur-lined poncho. I can't believe it's just £14 for something which looks like it's straight out of Topshop - what a bargain!

I also love this sheer boho black top, with peasant-style embellishment and another tiny price tag of £14. It would look perfect with a suede skirt or even denim and the sheer panelling makes it a great day-to-night piece. Another favourite was this shaggy cream gilet. Every winter I always almost buy one of these, as I think they look perfect with a 1920s style evening dress and are ideal for a dressed up evening of drinks. This George version is just what I've been looking for and will cost just £25. It's due to hit stores on the 12th October and I will be snapping one up!

Do you shop at George at Asda? What's your favourite item from the AW collection?

Jess

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Review: Wasabi, Cambridge

Last night, I headed to the hotly anticipated launch of Wasabi in Cambridge. Since I've been running my giveaway for a £40 voucher to spend at any Wasabi, I've been itching to actually try this sushi I've been promoting and I wasn't disappointed:

The Cambridge Wasabi has been hotly anticipated by everyone I've spoken to and as we arrived at the event, there were plenty of passers-by stopping and checking out the new restaurant. Rumour has it that over 120 people queued for the official opening today at midday but we were lucky enough to be treated to a sneak peak before the opening. The decor is futuristic and sleek and the eating area is full of light. The long wooden tables are communal, in a similar style to Wagamamas, but it doesn't feel crowded or like a canteen. The location is fantastic, near Boots and the Lion Yard Shopping Centre and the fact that it is open til 9pm every day is a huge bonus - perfect for a lunch whilst shopping or a pre-cinema dinner.

Most importantly, however, what is the sushi like? Much fresher and tastier than other chain brands (I'm looking at you, Yo Sushi) and far more affordable than I was expecting too. For example, the 'Harmony set' features 18 pieces of sushi and is just £6.99, or you can mix and match your own sushi for as little as £1 for two avocado or cucumber hosomaki. It's cheap enough to be brave with your choices and try something a little out of your comfort zone. Some of my favourites included the salmon nigiri, the crabmeat and avocado hosomaki and the chicken teriyaki roll. The Aloe Vera drink is also worth trying as I found it to be really refreshing and a little bit different. My only criticism would be that the soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi are all 5p a packet to add to your sushi, which seems a little stingy when I would argue that these are all necessities to accompany sushi.

I had created the ultimate test for Wasabi by bringing along a friend who had spent a year in Japan and is heading to Tokyo to teach in just a month's time. If there was anyone who they needed to impress, she was the one to convince! However she was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sushi and the affordability and gave it a thumbs up - success! We were both a little underwhelmed by some of the hot dishes, although the rice was deliciously sticky and full of flavour, but some of our fellow diners who weren't too keen on sushi preferred these dishes. Therefore, I think these dishes are perfect for those who are perhaps a little wary of sushi, meaning there is an option for most people. Next time, I plan on trying the tempura prawns and the pumpkin croquette salad set - delicious!

If you want to try Wasabi, remember that there is one day left to enter my giveaway to win a £40 voucher to spend at any of the UK branches - that's going to buy a lot of sushi! Have you tried the new Wasabi in Cambridge yet? Let me know what you thought!

Jess

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Review: Charlie's Coffee Company

Happy Monday! Today I wanted to write a review of my current favourite place to eat in Cambridge: Charlie's Coffee Company. Located near Primark and the Grafton Centre, it offers authentic stone-baked Italian pizzas and great drinks and has become my favourite place for lunch or coffee:

Last weekend, I headed to Cambridge with an old housemate from university who had never visited the city before and I naturally chose Charlie's for lunch. We couldn't resist sharing a gigantic 16" pizza and opted for the Dr Johnny, a spicy pizza topped with pepperoni, smoked mozzarella, olives and rocket. Charlie's is unique because of the wood fired pizza oven which sits in the centre of the café. You can sit and watch as your pizza is handmade and cooked in the hot stone oven right in front of you; the food is that fresh. I love watching my food being made and you can see the skill and enjoyment put into the cooking process. Not to mention that this massive stone baked pizza only cost us £16 and this was one of the more expensive options, which worked out as a bargain lunch at just £8 each for such a fresh and delicious meal.

We chose some homemade iced rose tea to accompany our pizza as it was a hot and sunny day but the hot chocolate is another of my favourite things at Charlie's. It's a proper thick hot chocolate, accompanied by a miniature jar of marshmallows and a glass of water. As someone who is used to getting a glass of water to accompany my coffee in Greece, this is a sign of something rich, luxurious and strong! I would definitely recommend it if you try there. The entire café is friendly and welcoming; Charlie the owner is generally working behind the till and all the staff go over and above to ensure that you have a fantastic meal and experience. It's somewhat of a hidden gem and I am so happy to have discovered it - so of course I had to share it on here.

Have you tried Charlie's Coffee House? Is there anywhere else you would recommend in Cambridge - I want to try everywhere!

Is sushi more your thing? Then don't forget to enter my giveaway to win a £40 voucher to spend at Wasabi!

Jess

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Fitness Friday: Get On Upbeat

Yes, I know it's Saturday, but for a moment let's pretend it's Fitness Friday - it will just make the weekend a little bit longer! Today I'm talking about a fun little protein drink called Upbeat, which I was kindly sent to trial:

I've recently joined the protein bandwagon thanks to MyProtein and have quite enjoyed getting into the routine of a protein shake after my workouts. These drinks from Upbeat are advertised as protein drinks, but I personally wouldn't have them post-workout. They are more suitable for a quick 'on-the-go' breakfast or snack. There is quite a high sugar content, 11g, as well as the high protein of 20g and are only 145 calories a bottle, so I wouldn't have lots of these a day but they are great for a quick and easy boost.

There are currently three great flavours; chocolate orange, raspberry and blueberry and strawberry flavour. I was expecting a milkshake taste but these are definitely more of a protein drink (which is what they are advertised as, so I don't really know why I found this to be a surprise!) My favourite was definitely the raspberry and blueberry flavour, as these are two of my favourite fruits. I wasn't as keen on the chocolate orange, but I always find that chocolate flavoured protein tastes a little odd to me.

I love the slogan "willpower in a bottle" and the whole fun feeling to the brand. My only question is quite who the target audience is. I think that most people who want a quick fix or meal replacement are more likely to choose a yoghurt or some fruit. However, if you are wanting to take your protein more seriously, you are likely to buy in bulk from a specific protein brand. I think it's more for those shoppers who want to pick up something to 'keep them going' and give you that extra bit of willpower.

Have you tried Upbeat?

Make sure you enter my giveaway for a £40 voucher to spend at Wasabi!

Jess

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Giveaway: Win a £40 Wasabi voucher

I love food and I love sushi - a fact which is odd in my family, as almost every other member of my family is hugely allergic to it. Wasabi is a great chain which offers high quality sushi as well as hot Japanese dishes and I've been itching to try it for a while. When I discovered that Cambridge was finally opening a store I was so excited! The sign outside the store reading 'Opening Spring 2015' has been taunting me from April so I might have let out a little squeal of joy when an invite to the VIP Press Opening of the Cambridge Wasabi landed in my inbox.

Imagine my excitement when I then discovered that Wasabi will be officially opening in Cambridge on Thursday 18th June and the first 25 customers at 12pm will receive free sushi every month for a year. How amazing is that? What an excuse to fill yourself with sushi at every opportunity! I will definitely be in that queue as there will also be plenty of free samples being handed out to the crowd even if you aren't one of the first 25.

In order to promote this amazing opening deal, and allow those of you who can't make the opening a slice of the action, Wasabi have given me a £40 voucher to give away. This voucher is for any Wasabi restaurant, so you don't even have to be in Cambridge to get your hands on some free sushi. All you have to do is enter my Rafflecopter giveaway below. The competition will close on the 19th July, so even if you don't manage to get a whole year of free sushi, you might still win £40's worth!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck to everyone - get entering, tweeting and joining that queue on the 18th June! I also need some recommendations - what is your favourite dish from Wasabi?

Jess

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Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

As you may know, a few weeks ago I travelled to Croatia for a wonderful four days. I posted some of my top tips about the town of Zadar but I also wanted to share some details about one of my favourite experiences in Croatia; the famous Plitvice Lakes National Park. If you start to research a holiday in Croatia, these lakes will inevitably come up and they are well worth a visit:

The Lakes are located about two hours from Zadar and are accessible by bus from most places in Croatia. We used Bus Croatia to access the timetable and this was accurate for both times and prices.
The bus was spacious, air-conditioned and much more comfortable than I expected! When we arrived, an English guide boarded the bus and explained that there were two entrances to the park; one for the lower lakes and one for the upper lakes. We decided to start at the lower lakes and work our way up, to be collected from the upper lakes at about 5pm - the guide also told us the pick up times to return to Zadar.

Entry to the Lakes is 55, 110 or 180 Kuna, depending on the season which you can check here. They also offer a student discount so I got my entry slightly cheaper, which is always a bonus. I had researched the various routes available on TripAdvisor and decided that route C was the best choice. This route was estimated to take 4-5 hours and started at the lower lakes. We walked down some steep stone steps to the lower lakes and I was amazed by the clear and sparkling water. You could see fish casually swimming around everywhere, completely unfazed by all the tourists.

By following the signs for route C, we worked out way through the lower waterfalls to the boat. We then caught the boat, which is included in your ticket price, across to the upper lakes. These lakes were much larger and more powerful and we followed the paths right to the top of the park. Then we caught the train back down to the upper lakes entrance with about an hour until our bus arrived, so we timed it well enough that we could explore this area too. If you are only at the lakes for a day, I'd definitely recommend this route as you cover pretty much everything over a few hours.

The lakes are incredibly beautiful and they were my standout favourite part of my trip to Croatia. I would love to go back as every corner you turn there is a new 'wow' moment. The photos are obviously incredible (if I say so myself) but the sights themselves are even better. Have you ever visited Plitvice Lakes?

Jess

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Fitness Friday: My First Hot Yoga Class

Last night, I tried my first ever Hot Yoga class and wow, my main reaction is that I have never sweated so much in my life! I've been wanting to try this recent trend for a while and I was amazed to discover that the Wellbeing Warehouse in Newmarket offered the classes. I was pretty impressed that this class has managed to reach Suffolk so I knew that I had to try it out.

I arrived and headed into the 'hot room.' It is HOT. Yes, I know it's hot yoga but imagine being hot and times it by ten. I was seriously shocked by quite how sauna-like the room was even though that is the point! The yoga routine was fast paced and relentless. This is not a class for people who have never done yoga before, as there is definitely an assumption that you know the yoga moves and are looking to go up a level. If I hadn't have done yoga before, I would have been completely lost and even though I knew most of the moves, I still struggled to keep up. It's a class which I think I am going to see a huge improvement in very quickly because once I know the set moves, it will be much easier to handle. It was one of those classes which I simultaneously hated and loved and I haven't quite worked out which emotion has the upper hand yet. I am determined to persevere and hopefully fall in love with.

If you haven't tried hot yoga before, I have two major tips, both of which I wish I had been told before my first class. Firstly, take two bottles of water. You will feel dehydrated and keeping up your fluids is vital. Next time, I'm going to make sure I am also properly hydrated before I head to the class too! Another less obvious tip is to take at least two towels. One is useful to wipe yourself down between sections (gross, I know!) The other one or two can be laid over your yoga mat to add some friction and prevent you from slipping. I was really struggling with even downward dog until I realised that using a sports towel as a mat make things much easier.

Have you tried hot yoga? What did you think of it?

P.S. Are you following me on Bloglovin? It's the best way to stay up to date with all my posts!

Jess

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Review: The Liquorist, Leeds

Leeds is such an exciting city and over the last few years, restaurants and brands are slowly starting to recognise this. The Liquorist is one of the latest restaurants to open in the city centre and I was invited down to try their menu and be 'lead into temptation:'

Firstly, the decor of the place is amazing. Think exposed wood, luxurious upholstering and a cosy yet opulent atmosphere. There are phone chargers and USB ports at every table, which saved my dying phone battery, and a great range of tables for all sizes of groups. I started the evening with a Peanut Butter and Jelly Cocktail; how could I have resisted? It was creamy, strong and tasty - and topped with popcorn, just to make it ever better!

To start, I chose the Battered Prawns, accompanied by a prawn cocktail sauce and some celery. The batter was fantastic and one of my favourite parts of my meal. The main course of Fish and Chips also looked brilliant as it was carried out for some fellow diners with the batter looking just as good. Unfortunately the prawns were over-cooked for me and I found the celery to be a little pointless, but I still managed to eat the lot!

For my main, I opted for the Tender Slow Cooked Pork Ribs. Normally if I want ribs, I head straight to Reds True BBQ and they are still the unrivaled best for me. However, these ribs were pretty good and, if you go on a Tuesday, particularly good value thanks to the three courses for £15 set menu offer. My meat simply fell off the bone and I gave up on my knife and fork and dug right in! The crispy floured onions were a nice idea but I felt that they needed to be cut into larger slices to keep some moisture to them. Another bonus were the warm plates. I cannot remember the last time I went to a restaurant where they bothered to warm the plates. It's something that really annoys me because it's such a simple thing, which I even do at home, yet seems to be neglected by most restaurants. As a result, my main course stayed nice and hot as I ate - hurrah!

I was so full after my main course, I initially refused the offer of a dessert. However, our wonderful waiter encouraged us to share a Warm Cherry Pie with ice cream and I am glad we heeded his recommendation. It was my favourite dish of the meal; sweet yet still slightly tart cherries, oozing out of a dainty pastry, served with quickly melting ice cream. The staff are another impressive part of The Liquorist. They are so genuinely friendly and enthusiastic about the food they serve with all the customers and it really makes such a difference to an enjoyable meal.

Finally I tried the Chocolate Orange 'Alcoholic Hottie,' which was the perfect soothing alcoholic ending to the meal. The sweetness of the chocolate was balanced by the hit of Triple Sec and left me feeling cosy, warm and content! Overall I enjoyed my meal at The Liquorist. There are a couple of teething problems with some of the dishes, as you would expect from a newly opened restaurant, but the overall excellent branding, welcoming ambiance and superb staff bodes pretty well for Leeds' latest offering.

Have you tried The Liquorist? You can check out the food menu here.

Jess

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Waterstones Blogger Book Club: The Opposite of Loneliness

I've been enjoying reviewing books on my blog recently, so I couldn't believe it when Waterstones got in touch with me about blogging for their Blogger Book Club. Myself and two other bloggers were sent The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan. It's a collection of essays and stories written by a student at Yale, who tragically died just five days after her graduation. Her essay 'The Opposite of Loneliness' written for Yale Daily News campus newspaper went viral with over 1.4million hits and this book includes this essay, alongside some of her other works.

I don't often read short stories or non-fiction essays so this book was a refreshing change. However, I had actually read the book before as part of my Masters in Publishing. I had recently written a marketing essay on the techniques used by the publishers for The Opposite of Loneliness, in comparison to Go Set A Watchman, and read the book then. It was great to re-read it in a completely different and non-academic context, and enjoy the book as a book. I enjoyed reading the short stories; I felt it was a great way to dip in and out and it provided a 'snapshot' of Keegan's writing and the potential she had.

Perhaps because my age and situation as a student is so similar to Marina Keegan and her writings, I felt particularly emotional reading some of the short stories. The constant refrain that "we're so young" was hard-hitting and I did find myself crying at the introduction, written by Anne Fadiman - I had previously read her book Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader and had no idea she was also a professor at Yale who had been so close to Keegan. However, there is a difficulty with the  book as a whole; it's impossible to separate the death of Keegan with her writings but as Fadiman writes "Marina wouldn't want to be remembered because she's dead. She would want to be remembered because she's good." Whether the book quite carries manages to separate the biography from the writings, I'm not sure.

I would recommend giving The Opposite of Loneliness a read; personally I enjoyed it and I feel like it is an interesting read which is worth getting slightly out of your comfort zone with. Just prepare to feel a little emotional! I'll leave you with one of my favourite quotes from the book:

"What we have to remember is that we can still do anything. We can change our minds. We can start over... We're so young. We can't, we MUST not lose this sense of possibility because in the end, it's all we have."

You can read the other reviews written by Kirsty from The Overflowing Library and Amber from The Mile Long Bookshelf on their blogs. You can buy The Opposite of Loneliness from Waterstones here. Have you read The Opposite of Loneliness? What did you think?

Jess

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