OOTD: Swap, Drop and Roll

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to be invited down to London again as part of my role as an Asos Insider for Access All Asos. After their Social Media School last month, Asos had yet another amazing event planned - a Swap Shop. We are all guilty of hoarding those items in our wardrobes which never get worn, and this was a great opportunity to send them to a good home - and of course, get something back too!

We were told to bring up to three items to the Swap Shop and, in return, could choose the same amount of items from the rails. Asos had kindly bulked up the rails with some of their own sample items too so we had plenty to choose from. I will post in more detail about the day itself later in the week but today I wanted to share how I styled one of the items I received from the Swap Shop:

Top: c/o Asos.Vest (underneath): Topshop. Skirt: c/o Asos Swap Shop. Socks: Primark. Boots: Asos. Necklace: New Look.

Both of these items are what I am now referring to as my 'bonus items.' After the initial swap, there were still plenty of items left on the rails, so the Asos team allowed us to have another round! I picked up this Asos top and Amanda from Monochrome Queen's midi skirt, and they team perfectly together. This Asos top is actually from their men's range and currently in the sale. I wear men's clothing probably more than I should admit, because I love the oversized feel and they often have some great prints. This top is no exception and I'm looking forward to wearing it all summer. Today I layered it with a pale turquoise vest top underneath to hide any bra straps and add a pop of colour to brighten up the whole look, co-ordinating with my favourite New Look statement necklace.

I'm currently having a bit of a moment with midi skirts, thanks to my recent discovery of Wonderweb. Midi skirts have always been slightly too long and unflattering on my short legs and I'm not confident enough to hem my own wardrobe. However, my Mum introduced me to Wonderweb, a hemming tape which you simply iron on with no need for sewing, and now I can easily turn up all my clothes! As soon as I got home, I cut a good two inches of this skirt, used Wonderweb to fix the hem and this skirt was now the perfect length. It's the perfect addition to my growing midi skirt wardrobe, as it's a great staple to dress either up or down. Today I opted for the more casual look by teaming it with the Asos top, some bare tights, cute ankle socks and my favourite boots. The overall look is really comfortable, hopefully flattering and a great new look for my wardrobe. So thank you Asos and Amanda; I hope you like how I've styled this look!

<3

xx

Neal's Yard Lengthening Black Mascara

Hello and Happy New Year! I can't believe I haven't blogged yet this year (what a strange thing to say) so today I decided to delve into the world of beauty. I rarely write beauty related posts, but I enjoy sharing them when I do, and today I wanted to talk about Neal's Yard's Lengthening Black Mascara, which I was lucky enough to receive for Christmas:

Thanks to its iconic blue packaging, you immediately know this is a Neal's Yard product - a neat branding trick, originally a result of practicality; blue glass stops light from damaging the products inside, a fact I learnt at a recent Leeds Neal's Yard blogging event. Ever since this event, I was intrigued by Neal's Yard's relatively new make up range and bookmarked this mascara to go on my wishlist. My eyes had been feeling particularly sensitive and I wanted to try a more natural mascara and see if this made a difference. Since I replaced my drugstore mascara with this, I have noticed a positive difference regarding the sensitivity of my eyes; just one of the reasons I love this product.

I love the sleek and chic packaging of this mascara, and the slim design is far more convenient to carry around as opposed to some chunkier, louder drugstore versions (I'm looking at you, Maybelline). However, my one criticism is that the case tends to show up my finger prints rather easily, which isn't ideal when photographing! 

The brush is slim and fine, which means that the mascara goes on easily without any clumping or mess. I think the end result is natural yet impressive as my lashes certainly look far longer, yet don't scream "I'm off clubbing!" As I've mentioned, the natural products within the mascara means that my eyelashes are protected, conditioned and nourished and it really feels kind on your face.

I wanted to share with you a proper example of this mascara at work. The photos aren't as perfect as I would have liked, but I don't see the point in beauty reviews without a proper demonstration of the product in action:

I hope you aren't too terrified by my eyes staring at you and can see the difference! I've only used the mascara, no eyeliner or shadow, so you can really see the product realistically. The Lengthening Black Mascara is £16, which seems to be pretty average for a higher-end product, and it certainly does the job well. If you are looking for a natural, nourishing mascara, I'd really recommend you give this mascara a try. 

Have you tried any Neal's Yard make-up products? What would you recommend from their range?

<3

xx

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