NB: Press visit to RUSH Ipswich, all thoughts and views my own
I’ve always been a sucker for an iconic look. Be it Dorothy’s bunches from the Wizard of Oz or Frenchie’s easter egg do from Grease. I’ve attempted many looks throughout my teens and into my twenties. I decided I was fed up of my poker straight hair at 16 and got a perm. During my Sixth Form years (and my obsession with Twilight) I decided to chop it all off and recreate Alice Cullen’s pixie style.
Then I discovered hair dye. Over the course of ten years I had my hair dyed professionally in numerous shades. Cherry red was my boldest move as I started teaching abroad in Spain, right up until my last escapade in 2016 for my wedding when I went silver/grey.
I absolutely adored these looks, but found the upkeep far too tiresome for someone with very dark roots. Falling pregnant was the only thing that slowed me down, and so for the past few years I just let the blonde grow out leaving me with a subtle ombre. That was until the start of this summer, and I decided that I needed to up my barnet game, for lack of a better expression.
I had dabbled with a fringe as a teen, but it was more of a side fringe rather than an extreme level blunt statement. So as I entered the later stages of my 28thyear, I decided that over the summer I would go for a bold fringe. I experimented for weeks trying to fold my hair back on itself to see what it would look like and I was strangely calm as the day came round to have it cut. You can find my blog post featuring the before/after chop shots right here! The fringe, although awesome, does require a frequent upkeep schedule so that I can wear mascara and not get it in my hair.
Ever since I started blogging (half a decade ago now) I have always used RUSH Hair and Beauty salons. The majority of visits usually happen in London, but it was very exciting when the Ipswich branch sent out a press invite request for my hometown in the heart of Ipswich town. I love the continuity of the RUSH salons. They are always so sleek and neat- much like how you want your hair to transform once you step out of the black chair. The RUSH Ipswich salon did not disappoint…
I ordered my usual tea upon arrival and met my stylist who listened to what I wanted. Not too much off the length but a good trim up of the fringe. We went to get my hair shampooed and conditioned, I just love the feeling of a salon professional washing my hair, they do such a better job than I can ever manage to achieve. So after twenty minutes of washing, blowdrying and snipping, here is my finished look.
A layer of smooth, bouncy waves, a shine to die for and a smart, new fringe that won’t have me rearranging my hair every five minutes. The Kerastase products really do give you that extra wow factor. Top end results every time, RUSH Ipswich did not disappoint so my iconic fringe will stick around for now!
Items in this blog post have been gifted, all thoughts and views my own
It’s not that often that I find myself perusing shop windows or my browser for jewellery. My saved tabs are heavily preoccupied with clothes for Alice and I, and the occasional gluten free recipe. So when a set of jewellery makes my head turn, I have to stop, take a bunch of pictures and write a blog post about it. Muru has been producing feel good jewellery since 2006. Their message is one of empowerment, meaning and expression which is probably why I was so drawn to their pieces. Over the course of a very intense month, I paired a selection of Muru items with my outfits just to show you how little touches can up your style.
This is the Belle and Bunty Unity Necklace in gold. I had the pleasure of meeting the gorgeous blogger duo last year as we were invited to the same Henley Regatta event with Debenhams. I knew instantly that they were genuine and such talented ladies, so it was not surprising to see that they had released a collection with Muru. “Our unity necklace in gold vermeil can we worn to remind us that when we stand in unison with those around us, we gain the courage and strength to face anything. With hanging drop charms this necklace will capture the light perfectly giving you an effortlessly chic look.”
Unity Gold Necklace: £75
Below is the Mother and Child Bracelet in gold. I simply adore this elegant design with the two stars bonded together. Being a mum has no doubt changed my life, yet wearing this piece shows me that my style is still the same even with a mini me attached to my side most days. I wore the bracelet and necklace to a Welsh wedding in late August. The gardens were the perfect place to take some close up shots of the jewellery and I had so many comments about them during the day.
Mother and Child Bracelet: £45
The third piece is a simple Bead Anklet in gold. There’s something about wearing an anklet that makes me feel like I’m escaping on holiday. With this beautiful, golden piece wrapped around my ankle I feel like I can wear anything, go anywhere and be anything. I decided to dress down with the anklet in a loungewear set and basket trainers. A little touch of glam can really uplift your wardrobe choices, and I am definitely investing in this advice from now on.
Bead Anklet: £35
I just had to add this collection into my post as it is officially my birthday month! Muru have a stunning range of star sign pieces that you must see. Whether you’re into gold, rose gold or silver, the star sign collection scintillates just like the real stars!
*Items featured in this blog post have been gifted, all thoughts and views my own
As the world produces an ever increasing amount of bloggers every day, the endeavours to generate engaging and top-quality content become that much harder. Take it from a blogger that started almost five years ago and still going, a blogger must go through great lengths to get the shot, even if they have no help. Although I am lucky to have a husband that doesn’t complain when I ask him to hold off taking a bite of dessert or to do the same shot again but from a lower angle, during the week I find myself rooting around the house to find a good place to prop my camera up and set it on the timer. Being a blogger without a photographer to help does have its limitations, nevertheless I find that when I am forced to be my own ‘tog’, I can create my best work. Last week I planned to shoot a few looks once Paul got back home from work, but alas the boy hadn’t left as I found myself dressed, makeup/hair done, child asleep and ready to shoot. So I pulled my softbox into the living room, used Alice’s high chair and a toilet roll as a functioning tripod and got to it!
This green camo playsuit is like nothing I own, which is saying something! I have always looked at other playsuits but nothing ever quite called out to be the way this one did, and so when it came it was the first thing I wanted to try on from Femme Luxe. Matching it with one of my sister’s hand-made orange buckle belts (e.buckled) and some suede khaki block heels I hit the self timer button on my Huawei P30 Pro! I learnt the ‘flamingo leg’ trick from Kendal Jenner and was so pleased to find this shot in my camera roll amongst other dubious attempts at posing. I used the free photoshop app to add a little more saturation plus a light flare et voila. Would you have guessed this was a self-taken phone shot??
Look two: Black Chain Print Belted Satin Shirt Dress
A satin shirt dress will always have me hitting add to favourites, especially one with such a gorgeous print as this one. This chain print shirt dress was second on my shoot list, so I shifted my softbox to the sofa and decided to set up again. I do actually own a tripod with a phone holder, so this time I used it as the shot required was from a lower angle. I find this type of self-timer shot easier from a seated position, I can just lean forwards rather than running back to find my spot again if standing up. I left my makeup be, but tried out a space bun look on my hair which actually ended up being awesome so will absolutely try this hairstyle again soon. Heading back to the outfit, I chose a pair of croc-effect ankle boots from Topshop that I salvaged from a charity box from my mum’s garage recently. I experimented having my feet up on the sofa vs on the floor, and landed this half-up, half-down shot that ended up being one of my favourites.
Look three: Red Satin Cowl Neck Bodycon Midi Dress
Red Satin Dress: Femme Luxe Finery
Red Patent Shoes: Karen Millen
White Clutch Bag: Dior
Paul made it home just as I was ready with the third look of the night- a sultry satin red dress. I couldn’t help laugh as I opened the door to him wearing this. Any other man would have thought that he had missed an anniversary, but Paul understood straight away this was not for his benefit. He did mention he liked my space buns though! So…the red dress… I was a bit dubious adding this one to my order. It was one of those items you see on the model looking amazing and you think to yourself, this is never going to look as good on me. But actually, I was feeling all kinds of Jessica Rabbit in this number. It fit so nicely, every curve flatteringly accentuated and the ruches were in the right place to hold it all together. I must admit I had trouble doing up the corset-style back, but tonight I was on my own as Paul was getting his dinner so I sucked it up and carried on. I found one of my favourite pairs of earrings (hand-painted, clay flowers to look like the ruffled tulip from the New Moon book cover) and paired the look with patent red heels and a white Dior bag.
Look four: Mid Wash Denim Button Down Dress
Denim Button Down Dress: Femme Luxe Finery
Lapis Orbis Ring in Gold: Sacet Jewellery
See-through Tote Bag: Vogue
Look four happened the day after – three looks in one night was enough for me! The day in question was going to be 32 degrees if we stayed put, so I opened my weather app and found a much cooler, coastal spot to visit where it was only going to reach 26 degrees, and that place was Clacton-On-Sea. The drive only took us an hour and fifteen, and I knew that Alice would love a trip to the beach. I packed up her things as well as my own and we made it there just after lunch. We had fish and chips (gluten free) at Armstrongs – I’d been there before and was really impressed with the food – and after a play on the amusements we headed for the sand. The day was beautiful, we found a spot to set up camp about fifty feet from the pier. Children were playing, parents were sunbathing and Alice was totally content with an empty jar to collect sand and shells in. I set up my camera, this time perched on top of Alice’s changing bag on a rock, and I took these shots. I paired my denim blue dress with this stunning orbis lapis ring (gifted from Sacet jewellery). This next photo essentially epitomises my role as mother and self-employed blogger, rolling them both into one in perfect harmony- well, most of the time!
So, for any blogger out there who is just starting out or has been in the game as long as I have and worries when having to go it alone, the truth is that most of us are and you wouldn’t even know it. The real truth is that people don’t admit what goes on behind or in front of their cameras enough and I want to tell it how it really is day to day. Being a blogger without a photographer is quite alright – we are resourceful, creative and bloody proud of our hard work.
Whether you’re a Katherine Heigl and trying on 21 dresses or you’re getting hitched yourself, wedding bells are in the air as the summer season is here. I have two weddings to go to over the course of July and August which I am super excited about, however this brings the dilemma of outfit choice. There are several rules when attending a wedding such as don’t wear white, but I also want to wear something that is long-lasting, dance-capable and just killer. So, I’m here to share with you two of my killer outfits for a summer wedding with Goddiva.
Goddiva is the perfect choice for a wedding outfit as they specialise in luxury, affordable wedding attire. They even have a section for mother of the bride, and have recently launched a collaboration with Vicky Pattison. I have two dresses to show you from the VP collection which are just stunning, so without further ado…
Outfit 1: Burnt Orange Beauty
The first dress is a halter neck maxi dress in my favourite shade of orange.
This dress is great for summer weddings, and as the evening draws in you can pair with a neutral jacket to cover up. If you want to rule the dance floor, go for a dress with a side split so you can move and shake the night away.
I have two bags with this dress, a yellow and a neutral so you can get creative with how you accesorize.
Orange Halter Dress: £69
Outfit 2: Lime Green Goddess
I’m sure you’ve seen that lime green is all the rage this season, so why not go for something that you have never dared to try before?
I was so surprised at how much I loved this colour and one-shoulder, asymmetric effect. The one way you can dress this down a bit is by using dark accesories and some shades to make it slightly more edgy.
One Shoulder Lime Midi Dress: £45
The only decision I have to make now is which dress for which wedding! Shop the Vicky Pattison Goddiva collection here
Saharasplash x
Thanks for stopping by. Before you go I have a post all about money saving tips and ideas for summer, so if you are looking for a dress on a budget then definitely check this one out!
Press Samples gifted in this post. All thoughts and views my own
For those of you who have followed me since I started, you will know that I got married in 2016. My hen do was a few months before the big day, and I will always remember watching Magic Mike XXL at midnight as we ate popcorn on very low beanbags. The film was one of my highlights from my 2015 cinema trips and puts a huge smile on my face each time I hear a song from the soundtrack on the radio. So, when I was contacted by Seckford Hall in Woodbridge about a ‘Magically Mike’ tribute night event, my seat was definitely RSVP’d!
As the evening drew closer, the race was on to find a kickass outfit worthy of a night that was clearly going to be one to remember. I narrowed it down to either a floaty maxi dress or a glitter playsuit, keep on reading to see which one I wore…
The evening began at 7pm sharp, Paul was at home with Alice so I had a baby-free night ahead of me with one of my amazing friends, Gemma. We definitely came dressed for the occasion as seats started to fill, glamorous girls were celebrating their own hen nights all around and it took me right back to 2016.
This playsuit from Quiz Clothing was definitely the right choice
We dined on a delicious three course meal that really set the tone for the evening:
PEAR AND STILTON SALAD with watercress and glazed walnuts
SUFFOLK CHICKEN PARMIGIANA with roasted new potato and seasonal vegetables
VANILLA POD CHEESECAKE with raspberry coulis
The starter was a delight- though being a stilton virgin I wasn’t quite sure how I would like it…but I loved it. The chicken was effortlessly scrumptious and definitely left me wanting more. The cheesecake however was not gluten free, but I have it on good authority from Gemma that it was heavenly!
We had a fabulous drag queen to host the event called Miss Crystal, and by the third song we were all up and dancing with her. And then came the part of the night we had all been waiting for- the UK Pleasure Boys…
It was such a fun show, and although I tried to capture some shots for this blog post, I was also trying to watch and not be rude with a camera in my hands. I definitely saw the whole thing with my own eyes, and that is most definitely a pun! The Pleasure Boys really knew how to work the audience, pulling up brides to be to sit on chairs, participate in many acts which left us all cheering and having the best time.
As midnight approached, my final fantasy came true… a tea and coffee table! I’m actually being serious, as everyone else around me was on their third bottle of Prosecco, I wouldn’t have wanted to trade my pot of tea for the world! A perfect end to a perfect night at Seckford Hall.
Saharasplash x
Have you ever been to Seckford Hall? If you are local to Suffolk, you should definitely consider stopping by for a range of fun activities, spa sessions and dining out options.
Seckford Hall invited me to the event to review the evening, all thoughts and views my own.
Items in this blog post are gifted, all thoughts and views my own.
There comes a time in every blogger’s life where they discover a new app that is a game changer for creating content. If you took a tour through my old iPhone (which is now far behind me thank goodness) and scrolled into my blogger apps folder, you would find the usual FB, IG, Pinterest, but for editing my photos you would find Phonto, Huji and Photo Collage. Now I have had an upgrade to the new Huawei P30 Pro, I decided to upgrade to more sophisticated editing. On my new android you would find Photoshop Express, Over and Canva which are all working brilliantly. Something I did not expect to help as much as it does is Google Photo. Every so often an ‘animation’ pops up which I can save in the form of a GIF and you can also have fun with a random collage generator. So here’s where today’s post theme stems from- every blog needs a fashion collage. And what better brand to collaborate with than Femme Luxe for a brilliant and on trend blog post?
You know what they say- twinning is winning! We decided to team up wearing our matching loungewear sets from Femme Luxe Finery and have a little slumber party. My sister is wearing the black with white stripe off shoulder set and I am wearing the khaki hoodie loungewear set which is my go-to after I get home and need something quick and comfy. Hot chocolates in hand plus many dodgy selfies later, we took this shot which is so cute and sums us up succinctly; two twenty-something year old sisters just looking for a bed and a warm beverage past 10pm on a Thursday evening.
Orange floral lace bodysuit with Black high waisted PU leggings
This outfit has to be my most favourite look of all. It’s daring, bold and pure sass. Naturally I had to borrow my sister’s animal print bag and teddy coat jacket to finish off the look. The leggings fit like a glove and are thick enough you don’t show VPL (visible panty line) which is what a girl dreams about in a legging. The bodysuit is my perfect shade and I would definitely wear it with a matching shade of lipstick.
Black belted one shoulder jumpsuit
I used my sister as a model for this jumpsuit as it suited her really well. She tends to dress down when it comes to shoes so decided to try on a pair of crisp, white kicks with the jumpsuit. I think it worked a treat, and the curve of the neckline is so flattering and stylish. A huge thumbs up from me!
I am in love with this camel cold shoulder long sleeve jumpsuit. It’s such a simple outfit that I have paired with a white and black buckle belt from e.buckled and nude studded stilettos. It comes with a matching belt in case you want to stick to the original look. I will definitely be wearing this once I have some free nights to go dancing.
It’s clear to see the endless possibilities with these outfits as well as all the crazy collage options from different editing apps. What apps are top of your list for creating and designing? Let me know in the comments below, or reach out to me on social media.
