Interior Inspo: 8 Amazing Bedrooms

October 14, 2015, 5:46 am

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Bonjour! So, me and Rob are finally (well, almost finally but I'm just going to count it as a win) finished with decorating our living room, and so the past few weeks have seen me scrolling endlessly through Pinterest trying to settle on what to do with our bedroom. Onto the next one and all that. Now that I've grouped these together like this it's become pretttty clear I'm going for a minimal, white Scandi look. I just love how clean and relaxed it looks with a little bit of homeliness coming in through the wood features. God damnit those Scandi's know their shit. Anyway, I thought I'd share a few of my favourites with you because I personally love scrolling through posts like this, feeling inspired and a little jealous ('shit that's fresh. Why are you so good at interiors you bastard, tell me your secrets' is generally my train of thought) so I hope you enjoy. And please do send me your favourite homeware blogs and shops if you have any... I. Need. More.

Amy 

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24 Hours in Valletta, Malta

October 15, 2015, 8:52 am

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Well hey there! And welcome to the first of my Malta posts. We stayed in Sliema the entire trip, but went on a couple of day trips throughout the week - for being so small, Malta has SO much to do - so today's post focuses on the first of our day trips, which was the shamazing Valletta, the capital of Malta. Ok, so I lied a little... it was more 8 hours in Valletta rather than 24 hours, but it doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it? Anyway, I digress. Our taxi dropped us off outside the city walls and we walked through the gate into the city to what felt like an Indiana Jones-style lost city set. The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage site with buildings dating back as far as the 16th Century so it's filled to the brim with history. But first, behold the beautiful streets..

After ogling at the buildings for a good while, we headed down to the waterfront.

Do you see what I mean about it looking like a film set? There's so much to see down this way, from the Siege Bell War Monument, to the Lower Barrakka Gardens as well as the War Museum.

Having spent a good while down there, we headed back into the main part of the city to get something to eat, stopping along the way to admire The Grand Palace and the fountains at St. George's square (which dance in time to music for five minutes on the hour every hour, very sassy).

For lunch we headed to Piadina cafe, which I'd found whilst looking for somewhere that did GF food and oh lordy, it did not disappoint. They do a salad, a soft drink and a coffee combo for 7 euros (7. Euros. MADNESS), a salad which, I should note, was about three times the size of my head. It sits right on a main set of stairs so we just sat and ate and people watched for a good couple of hours, making friends with the most adorable little Frenchie along the way.

Once we'd finished our lunch we hopped on the Upper Barrakka lift and headed down to the harbour. By the time we'd walked along in the 30 degree heat we were parched, so stopped off at Hard Rock cafe and re-hydrated ourselves with, um, alcohol. When they look this pretty it'd be rude not too, right? I went for a big 'un but as soon as I saw Rob's little trio COMPLETE WITH NACHOS I knew I'd made a huge, huge mistake.

After that, we walked up to the Upper Barrakka gardens which are absolutely breathtaking, the fountain (top two photos) genuinely gives the feel that you've walked into Heaven - I was half expecting naked little cherubs to come flying down at any minute. It used to be a private garden for the Italian Knights, but opened to the public in the 1800s. And for that, Valletta, I thank you. Being the highest point of the city walls, there are some really beautiful views to be had up here, riiiight across the grand harbour and over to the three cities. 

By night, once the tourists have started to filter out, Valletta is much more peaceful and feels like you've walked back in time, Midnight in Paris style. We headed along to Rampila for dinner, located right in the historic bastions of Valletta, which was such a lovely way to end the evening. It's tucked away down a little set of stairs, which open up to a (very well stocked) underground bar and restaurant. The tunnel that the restaurant's built in to is, like everything is in Valletta, filled with history; it was constructed all the back in 1570 and was originally used as the access passage to the Bastion gun emplacement. So there's your fact for the day! We chose to eat on the terrace which, as the sun set, lit up with little fairy lights, and we alllll know how I feel about fairy lights (good. Very good). They were so good with GF too, and able to tell me exactly what was and wasn't GF so it's one to keep in mind if you're a fellow gluten free-er! The food was really incredible too, and oh-so-very-flavoursome, one of my favourite meals we had in Malta in fact.

And that was it, back to Sliema we went! There's so much more to do in Valletta (St John's co-cathedral and The Casa Rocco Piccola for starters) so I'd love to go back but, as we only had an afternoon that was all we managed to squeeze in. I hope that gives you a nice little taster of the magical land of Valletta though!

Amy

Going Bananas

October 18, 2015, 2:15 am

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BANANA REPUBLIC @ Zalando sleeveless jacket, blouse, leather trousers& metallic bag | RAY BAN @ Zalando sunglasses

Bonjour, bonjour! Today's outfit is entirely from good old Banana Republic, who've recently started stocking at Zalando. It's a brand I'm often drawn to because of their expert tailoring (you need all the help you can get when you're petite to avoid looking like a small, walking ball of material) and because of their general smart-vibe.. I've always been drawn to work clothes; even as a little chiddler I decided I wanted to work in an office so I could 'dress like a real grown-up'. As good a reason as any, if you ask me. Zalando are one of the only UK retailers who currently stock them and, juuust in case you weren't aware, Zalando are basically Germany's answer to ASOS, stocking a million and one brands all on one wonderful website. They've got everything from the high-end, like Tibi, Reiss and Love Moschino, to brands like Miss Selfridge and Quay so there's a little sum' sum' for everyone there. They offer free delivery too which I'd feel it'd be rude not to mention.

Well, I should go. Winter has well and truly hit Scotland and our heating thought, 'yes, this is a very opportune time to break',  so I'm struggling to feel my fingers as I type. I'm going to use this as an excuse to bury them, and my face, in a nice hot pizza.

Amy

Post in collaboration with Zalando; all opinions, product selections and workwear fetishes my own.

A Little Home Tour

October 22, 2015, 10:34 am

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Hello hello! I thought it was about time I shared some more interiors snippets with you, so here we are. Our flat's been a very slow work in progress and, I won't lie, once we had sofas and a tv in things got even slower. However, after getting a few lingering diy jobs out the way last month, I finally got my interiors hat on and got cracking. The living room's the closest room to being finished, especially now that the alcoves (A.K.A my little pride and joys) are shelved. Being the Fickle Fiona I am, I change the order of things all the time, but I'm pretty happy with how they're sitting right now. The copper cactus pots are a particular favourite, they're just your bog standard plant pots painted copper to jazz them up a bit.. although it has led to an unhealthy addiction of spraying everything and anything copper; Lilo caught me looking at her funny the other day and ran a mile. All we need to do now is tile off a little bit under the fire and box off some of the wires to disguise the sheer ugliness of them (sorry guys) and that's us done! Bedroom plans are still very much underway, just... give me till 2018. 

I feel I should mention that a lot of the things above were either passed down from my mother, Queen of Interiors, or from random little shops when I've been travelling. I've tried to link as many as I can below though:

URBAN OUTFITTERS Crosley record player,  gold terranium& brass bison head | DUNELM copper shade | PAPERCHASE copper bison head | H&M turquoise vase

Amy

6 Miracle Moisturisers for Winter

October 25, 2015, 12:19 pm

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Up until last year I was never really that into skincare; I cleansed at night and slapped some moisturiser on (face, body, foot cream.. whatever was nearest) and didn't really think much of it, but late one night I realised that neither me or my skin were residents m of Neverland and would very soon begin to age so did a big ole u-turn and started to focus on a bit of self-lovin'. Not that kind, you dirty fool, the moisturising kind. One of my friends is verrrrry beauty-knowledgeable so, with her advice, I started stocking up on some sassy skincare. With Winter creeping up (or should I say running at us at full speed) I thought I'd focus on moisturising products today and I'll loop back to skincare a little further down the line. Without further ado, here are 6 of my favourite moisturisers.

LIZ EARLE HAND REPAIR

Oh how I love this badboy. I've had the hands of an adult since I was about 8 (I think because I bite my nails so often they've wrinkled at a rapid rate) and in Winter in particular my hands just shrivel up, so I'm always on the hunt for good hand moisturisers. My favourite of the moment is the Liz Earle hand repair, particularly the Rosemary & Rock Rose (it also comes in Orange Flower and Lavender & Basil). I already love, and use daily, the hot cloth cleanser, so had a feeling this little guy was going to be good. It's nice and thick, in a similar texture to the cleanser, and leaves your hands feeling thoroughly moisturised and plumped up without being greasy. It's filled with echinacea, essential oils and Vitamin E so you know your hands are getting a whole lot of lovin'. It's not the most travel friendly size so is a good one to apply when you wake up in the morning and just before you go to bed. I also put some on just before I pop on my gloves to do the washing up for an extra bit of TLC, so there's a housewives secret for you.

NEAL'S YARD BEAUTY BALM

I only discovered this at the beginning of summer and instantly fell in love. It's made with 99% organic ingredients (no parabens, no synthetic fragrances etc) so is very gentle on the ole skin. It's one of those wonderful products that has many, many uses - cleanser, exfoliant or nourishing balm - but I tend to use it mainly as a moisturising balm at times when I need some extra help. You don't need a lot of it; I actually only use a little on particularly dry areas, but just a tiny bit will give your skin the re-juvination it needs and will leave it feeling SO soft by morning. And the smell, oh the smell... don't even get me started. Spa-arific. It's one of their cult products and from what I gather, and can also back-up, once you go balm you never go back. I should also add that the tub will last you forever, I've been using mine for months now and it's still more than 3/4 full. Schwing. 

LA PRAIRIE SKIN CAVIAR LUXE CREAM

One of the more recent creams I've added to my collection but it's very much become a favourite. In fact, it had me at packaging (don't judge a book by its cover, I know, but it's hard not to when it looks this good); it comes in a beautiful silver box all wrapped in silver tissue paper, with the pot sitting on a little silver stand complete with MINI SILVER SPATULA. I feel like Mr Bean's character in Love Actually might have had something to do with the wrapping. The texture's absolutely beautiful; it's thick but weightless (no richness or greasiness here thanks) and after only three days of using it I was sold - my skin felt softer than that cute little Pampers baby's butt. Now, let's not avoid the elephant in the room.. the price. It's obviously a very high price point - which is why I was hoping not to like it so much - but really is an absolute treat. That's a good few weeks I've been using it on and off now (special occasions and all that) and there's hardly a dent in the pot so, if you work out cost per wear, it makes you feel a lot less nauseous. Classic girl trick. If all else fails, buy it for your Mum as Christmas gift and offer to trial it for her... every night.

LA PRAIRIE EYE & LIP PERFECTION A PORTER

This pot's an absolute dream. An eye cream and a lip balm in one suave compact, both very moisturising,beautiful in texture and perfect for when you're on the go. I've always suffered from dry, chapped lips - sexy, I know - and this is one of the few lip balms I've found that deeply moisturise my lips rather than just sitting on the top of them. It's got a nice shine to it too so, as well as looking good on its own, is great to pop on on top of lipstick to add some shine. The eye cream's pretty shamazing too, lightweight but moisturising, and you can apply it over foundation if you need a wee boost throughout the day (it lasts for a good few hours too which is rare, for my thirsty eyes anyway). However, this is another one with a high price point and isn't something you'd just pick up on a whim, but if you're feeling like a splurge then I'd definitely recommend it. On another note, a budget-friendly lip balm with top notch results is Carmex, one of my first loves in life and one of the best I've found for chapped lips. I always have at least three on my person (I'm not a dodgy Carmex dealer, I just like them. Unless you're offering a good price?).

KIEHL'S ULTRA LIGHT DAILY UV DEFENCE

Kiehl's was one of the first skincare brands I really got into when I started my quest last year so it'll always have a special place in my heart. I've already mentioned how much I love the Midnight Recovery Concentrate, which is why it's not included in here, but I don't think I've touched on this one before. I've been using this daily for about a year now and it's one that I don't think I'll ever stop re-purchasing. It's so lovely and light, moisturising without sitting heavy on your face (notice a theme here?) and has SPF 50 in so will keep you protected from the skin nemesis that is sun. It's fragrance and oil free which is important for me for a daily moisturiser because my skin's a bit of a sensitive sally and breaks out at the mere mention of oil. See? I got a spot from typing that word alone. The Superhero of my hero products!

THIS WORKS PERFECT LEGS SKIN MIRACLE

A little known fact about me; I was born with the legs of a lizard. I don't know why but my poor, poor shins get so dry sometimes that they actually look scaly. Again.. very sexy. I admit to chopping and changing a lot with body moisturisers, but this is one of the ones I keep coming back to. It's sold as being for the legs but you can use it all over the body, which I very much do. It promises to enhance and combat imperfections and I have to say it does, because of the silky texture and the light tint to it it leaves you looking very smooth (in the leg department in particular, mine looked like I was wearing shiny skin coloured tights, a more attractive sight than it sounds). It's not the most deeply moisturising moisturiser I've ever met, so I use Palmer's cocoa butter every few days for a more in-depth moisturise and then this in between to get my glow on. It smells quite strong but it's a nice smell, again quite spa-y. I know that's not a word but work with me here people. The only thing I would say is that the packaging's pretty terrible, especially for the price point, the little squirter's pretty delicate and isn't the easiest to use which is a shame.

Wow. I did not mean to write so much there.. I hope you had a cup of tea or a biscuit/packet of biscuits to help you through this post.

Amy

4 Coats To Get You Through Winter

October 29, 2015, 4:32 am

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Hello, hello! If there's one thing that you'll know about me by now it's that I love a good piece of outerwear. Living in Scotland where it's cold 90% of the time means that a jacket or coat ends up being the most important part of your outfit and that, ladies and gentleman, is how I justify my ever-expanding jacket collection. Since it's getting to that time when you're looking to do the annual coat or jacket shop (or maybe you have already, depending on awn it you are) I thought I'd share a selection of my favourite styles with you alongside some of my top high street picks right now. Believe me, if anyone's qualified to be talking about jackets it's me.

TAILORED

I do enjoy a smart, crisp look, so this is very probably my favourite style. Well, that or leather. Or fur.. I can't choose. Don't make me choose. Being petite, I need that good bit of tailoring so that I don't look like I've gone out in my Mum's coat. Generally I prefer one that finishes above the knee because it gives the illusion of being that tiny bit taller (every little helps) but I'll make an exception every now and again for one that particularly tickles my pickle. Plain black's always a safe choice as it'll go with everything, but a nice muted print  - like the leopard or check one above - is a good option too because, as well as going with everything, it'll give your outfit that added bit of funk. And we all need a bit of funk in our life. 

Shop my top tailored jackets:

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BLAZER

Not too different from the tailored jacket but I felt it'd be rude not to mention because I do love a good blazer. They can be made a little more casual than a tailored jacket, especially if you get a good slouchy/boyfriend one on the go, paired with a stripy tee and skinny jeans. Again, black is always a winner, but keep your eyes peeled for printed ones or ones with detailing - a la this Reiss one on the left - if you're feeling adventurous. And if you're feeling very, very adventurous, pair it with a pair of matching trousers to make a full suit, which is one of my favourite looks ever (I've told you that a thousand times, haven't I?). If you're lacking inspiration in the blazer department, give Kate Moss AKA the queen of blazers a quick google and you'll be bursting with ideas.

Shop my top blazers:

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FUR

Don't worry, I'm talking faux. I friggin' LOVE a good fur coat; I wore the one in the middle so much last year that people started to think I'd lost a bet. They're just so warm and snug and one of the only things that get me and my cold bones through Scottish Winter. I truly believe that you can't go wrong whichever colour or print you decide on, they're quite a statement piece so you might as well go for it, but if you're feeling nervous, start with a neutral brown or cream and take it from there. Lacking style inspo? The Olsen twins are your best friends.

Shop my top faux furs:

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LEATHER

Ah leather, where would I be without my beloved leather jacket. If you're in the market for an investment piece then I couldn't recommend All Saints more (which is where all three of the above are from, actually, I'll await my restraining order any day now), they've got such an amazing range in both colour and shape and the fit and quality is faultless. Plus they grow old VERY gracefully. Also good go-to's are Reiss, Whistles and Sandro. However, there are some amazing faux leather alternatives out there on the high street if you don't fancy breaking the bank! You probably won't need any styling advice with this one as they're so easy just to throw on with anything - such is the joy of the biker. 

Shop my top leather picks:

A Quick Everyday Make-up Look

November 1, 2015, 5:37 am

≫ Next: Reiss Outerwear: Part I

≪ Previous: 4 Coats To Get You Through Winter

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ESTEE LAUDER double wear foundation in 1W2

LOREAL Super Liner eyeliner & Superstar mascara

BENEFIT Gimme Brow & Instant Brow pencil 

URBAN DECAY smoky palette in 'High' and 'Radar'

TOM FORD Shade & Illuminate

MAC lipstick in 'Hue' and 'Viva Glam V

TARTE LipSurgence lipgloss
NYX white eye pencil (the one that's been, um, thoroughly chewed by Lilo)

Bonjour! Today's post is a little round up of what I currently use on my face when I'm going for a simple, every day look. As you can see, I'm not really a 'stick to one brand' kind of gal, but a few brands I do always go back to are Benefit, Nars (not featured this time but coming to a post near you soon) and Tom Ford. When it comes to eyeshadow, I love all my Naked palettes like children (that's normal, yes?) but I do have a particular soft spot for the Naked Smoky palette. I like my eyeshadow like I like my men tan; golden to brown, so it's the perfect palette for me. I've linked not one, but three lip products. Before anyone worries I'm layering like crazy in a vain attempt to get a plump Jenner-style lip, it's just that these are the ones I always chop and change between when I'm going for a simple everyday look so felt bad only mentioning one. However, the one I'm wearing in this particular post is the Tarte gloss which, as you can see, gives a pretty natural finish with a nice pink tint. It lasts for hours as well (just beware of the whole wind/hair situation because it's some sticky shit), making it one of my go-to glosses.

Foundation-wise, I've never found one I like more than Estee Lauder double wear. A lot of people have said they find it too heavy to wear on a daily basis, but I find if you mix it with a little moisturiser (I like Astral cream) then you'll still get a really nice coverage as well as a lighter finish. Then I pop a little Tom Ford shade and illuminate on top (I can't conture to save my life so I really just use it for a light bronze/highlight) and that's me, good to go!

Amy

Reiss Outerwear: Part I

November 3, 2015, 9:41 am

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REISS checked jacket, Victorian blouse & black trousers | TOPSHOP tassel detail courts | ASPINAL OF LONDON Marylebone mini

- Photos by the one, the only, Amber Rose -

Bonjour and hello! Welcome to the first of a three part collaboration with Reiss, where yours truly will be styling up three different pieces of - I'll bet you a tenner you know what I'm about to say - outerwear. Yes, I am officially coat obsessed and shall be checking myself into rehab forthwith. In all seriousness, Reiss is a brand I've loved and worn for years, their coats and jackets in particular bringing out the heart eye emojis and excited giggles in me.In fact, you may or may not remember this post from last year featuring my little leopard baby, which I still wear non-stop. I'm not going to bore you all by telling you again how much, being petite, I love a good bit of tailoring but- oh no wait, I just did. So, yes, today's post is focusing on the thing of beauty that is the tailored coat. As soon as I saw it I thought, 'YES. You, my friend, have my name written all over you'. Not literally, of course, but if I'd had my Sharpie on me things might have been different. Well fitted, checked print, muted palette.. everything I look for in a life partner, sorry - coat, is in there. It's so wearable too which is great for me, being the generally lazy dresser that I am; just chuck on a pair of black skinnies and white tee and you're good to go. I'd also like to touch on the trousers I'm wearing too BECAUSE, I am entirely unblessed in the thigh region so find it very, very hard to find trousers that hug my thighs but don't draw attention to the fact that I like a good cake, and these are just the ticket*. They're slightly high-waisted, which I enjoy (perfect for tucking blouses like this Victorian one in) and, although they're slightly long - #petiteproblems alert - I just tuck them under at the bottom and all is well.

So, there we go, that's Part 1 for you! I hope you liked it and I'll be back on Thursday with Part 2 and you can start to form an option on which of the three is your favourite (note: it's perfectly ok if you want to say, 'I LIKE ALL THREE, AMY. I, TOO, AM ADDICTED TO COATS)

Shop the look:

* Proud to be the only person under 80 still using this phrase

Post in collaboration with the wonderful Reiss

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Reiss Outerwear: Part II

November 5, 2015, 9:11 am

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REISS burgundy fur coat, t-shirt& coated jeans | FLORIAN LONDON bag | ZALANDO knee-high boots

Happy Bonfire Niiiiight! I was away last year and missed it (which I was bitter about until Christmas, I won't lie), so this year I'm armed and ready to go with a handful of sparklers and the enthusiasm of a child. Anyway, I'm pretty sure you didn't come here to listen to me pour my heart out about sparklers, so I'll move onto the outfit. 

Yes, welcome to part two of my collab with Reiss, and I don't think anyone will be surprised to learn that I went for a (fax) fur coat. I'm sure we're all aware of this coat's pale pink sister, which is one of the most beautiful jackets I've ever laid eyes on in real life FYI, but I decided to go for this beautiful burgundy one in the end as I wear dark colours so often. How friggin' Autumnal is it!? I love it. It's as heavy and as warm as a real fur - note that it's November and I only have a t-shirt on underneath, beautiful stuff - but without having to hurt any animals in the making. I honestly can't say enough good things about it (stop flirting, Amy, play it cool..). I decided to go for a tonal look, just call me The Human Grape, and paired it with a burgundy tee and coated jeans which, I have to say, have garnered a LOT of attention. They're somewhere in the middle of jeans and leather trousers and seem to intrigue people far and wide as to what they're made of. I've said it before and I'll say it again; you can never go wrong with a piece of clothing that also doubles up as a conversation starter... anything to stop talking about the weather for once.

And that's Part II! I hope you liked it and I shall return with another outerwear delight on Sunday for part three!

Amy

Shop the post:

Reiss Outerwear: Part III

November 8, 2015, 1:00 am

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REISS Burgundy trousers and jacket | REISS cream blouse | TOPSHOP fringed court shoes

Photos by the shamazing Amber Rose

Oh heyyyy there. Welcome to the third and final part of my outerwear collar with Reiss! We've had the fur and we've had the tailored, so for my last post I was very, very tempted to go for my other favourite kind of jacket... Yep, you guessed it, the leather jacket. In particular, this beautiful leather here. However, I do love a good suit as we all know, and as soon as I saw this badboy in its beautiful burgundy hue I said, 'You, sir. You will be my last look'. I also thought it would be quite fitting with Christmas coming up - am I allowed to say the c-word now that Halloween and Bonfire Night are out the way? - because generally I'm much more a trousers and top girl than a dress girl for a night out  so this would be my ideal party look. I do love a good blouse too, particularly as this one can be worn tied up (like they have it on the website) or loose like I have it here. Multi-purpose people, you can't beat it.

And that, amigos, draws to a close my three-part series! So now you can tell me (out of earshot of the others of course), which coat's your favourite? Whilst you're mulling it over, you can have a little look at Reiss' full outerwear collection here. They've just added THE most beautiful green fur coat as well as a velvet dinner jacket that's calling my name. God help me and my wardrobe.

Amy

Tom Ford A/W Make-up Look

November 16, 2015, 9:44 am

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TOM FORD Traceless Powder Foundation in 'Fawn' | TOM FORD Complexion Enhancing Primer | TOM FORD Eye Colour Quad in 'Nude Dip' | TOM FORD Brow Sculpting Kit | TOM FORD 'Black Dahlia' lipstick | BARE MINERALS bronzer in 'The Skinny Dip' | LOREAL SuperStar mascara | TOPSHOP Chameleon highlighter 

First things first, I friction' love Tom Ford; both as a brand and as a person. To built such a strong brand - empire? - in 10 years is nothing short of incredible.. in fact, if he could bottle some of that motivation and send it my way that'd be just great. I've used different bits and bobs from the Tom Ford beauty range for the past year or so, so today I thought I'd put together a little TF A/W beauty look. I normally prefer a nude lip but, since dying my hair dark, I've been a little more adventurous with the ole lip colour and, I have to say, it's exhilarating. Even if I do sometimes look like I've just hit the Ribena too hard. 

So, I'll start from the bottom. I started off with the complexion enhancing primer which is oh so very bright and nourishing. You could easily get away with it on its own but, since I was going for a full blown Vamp look, I added a little of the new traceless foundation on top and, I have to say, this shit's bananas. As you know, I'm a big fan of Estee Lauder Double Wear but this has blown my foundation world wide open. It's SO light, but still gives a really good coverage - especially if you layer it up a little - but what I liked best was how my skin felt with it on i.e. it felt like I wasn't wearing any. No stickiness to touch, no feeling like your face was suffocating.. nothing. In fact, paired with the primer it left my skin feeling, quite frankly, like a little baby's butt. Lovely stuff. Then I moved onto ye ole eyes, using the colour quad in 'Nude Dip' as it has some lovely brown and gold stones in it which I enjoy greatly with a dark lip. I didn't go for any eyeliner this time round (gasp shock horror) as I wanted the lips to do most of the talking, so just finished them off with my favourite SuperStar mascara. Then I did my brows with the sculpting kit, popped on some bronzer and highlighter and got to work on my lips. Tom Ford lipsticks are beautiful, really creamy and buttery (did anyone else think of mashed potato and get hungry there), and moisturising too. The particular colour is Black Dahlia which is a little banger and very, very striking. 

And that, my friends, is today's make-up look. I hope you liked it! I've still to loop back and do an updated daily make-up routine, haven't I? Coming soon!

Amy

P.s sorry for throwing a 'thinking man' pose in there. I just.. forgot what to do with my face.

A Stay at The Dorsett Shepherds Bush

November 19, 2015, 1:22 am

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Well hey there. How goes it? You may or may not know (I forget what I have and haven't told people, old age, sorry) that a couple of weeks ago me and my wee Mam met in London for a couple of girly days together and a good catch up. Every time I'm down in London it's for work so we thought we'd have a couple of days of being tourists for a change. Read: eating as many afternoon teas as possible without vomiting. The Dorsett Shepherds Bush were kind enough to put us up for a few nights and it truly was a lovely stay, so I thought I'd put together a little piece on it in case anyone themselves is looking for somewhere to stay in London in the future!

First up, I should mention that the hotel's only around a 15 minute tube to Oxford Street, 5 minutes tube to Notting Hill, 10 minute tube to Paddington (handy if you're coming to or from Heathrow Express) and a 30 minute drive from Heathrow itself. Oh - it's also literally two minutes away from Westfield so if you're a big shopper it's in a bit of a dream location. The decor and tone of the hotel is Chinese-inspired and very beautiful; fancy but welcoming in one - i.e. enough to pretend you're a lady but no biggie if you accidentally dribble egg on your top. The staff are all truly lovely too, and so helpful if you need anything. The room was beautiful; big marshmallow bed, two showers, cosy robes and slippers, a desk complete with big mirror, teas and coffees a plenty, iPod dock, minibar and lovely toiletries. And, most importantly, free wifi. The only thing I'd say is that, although there's a beautiful big flatscreen, there's no option to rent/buy movies, so if you're someone who likes to have a night in with a film then that's something to think of. We were absolutely pooped the first night - too much shopping, I mean, walking - so just stayed in and got some room service. A quinoa, pomegranate and feta salad to be precise which was deliciouso.

On our last day there, after stocking up on breakfast - including the muffins above, cooked breakfast, omelette, yoghurt and fruit and, I should add, gluten free bread - we went out for a couple of hours and then came back to the loveliest of lovely afternoon teas in the Jin bar.

If you're Coeliac, GF etc etc then this is one to keep in mind - every single thing you see above is gluten free. That's right, cupcakes AND scones. Such a rarity, innit? They also offer nut free and vegan afternoon teas, which I'm sure would be equally delicious. Everything was truly lovely, with my favourite thing being the little fruit smoothie on top (my advice: drink it last so you can balance out all the cakes you've just eaten. I think that's how it works anyway) and my Mum's being the little chocolate and strawberry cups complete with flowers on top. There was a huge choice of loose leaf teas as well so it's a Tea Jenny's Heaven! It's only £24pp (a little more if you'd like champagne) so is pretty well priced for London. A definite winner!

Amy

Malta Photo Diary

November 22, 2015, 12:19 pm

≫ Next: Burgundy Strikes Again

≪ Previous: A Stay at The Dorsett Shepherds Bush

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Oh Malta, how I miss thee. It's a place that's been on my bucketlist forever, so this year me and Rob finally decided to head there for our summer holiday. It's one of the most unique places I've been, where you can enjoy a wonderful mash-up of city break and relaxing summer holiday all in one. For being such a small place there's so much history, so much to do, and so much to see, but with how good the weather is (27 degrees in September, schwing) you could quite easily spend the whole time reading a book by the pool. We had a nice mix of the two, but to be honest I could have done with another week as we didn't get to explore even half of what I wanted to. I've already done a little sum' sum' on Valletta, so for today's post I've put together a photo diary so that you can get a good feel for the place. Fear not,  I've got a more practical 'where to eat' and 'where to stay' one coming your way very shortly too.

The architecture is Malta's just beautiful; one of my favourite things to do was just wander round with my head up taking it all in (yeah, my conversation wasn't great that holiday). Also, if you're a bit of a door pervert then a) Don't worry, you're not alone and b) you'll be in your absolute element in Malta. 

We spent a little afternoon in Mellieha which was just beautiful. It's quite small but is bursting with lovely restaurants, amazing street art, colourful fountains and, again, gorgeous buildings. One to check out if you're near by!



Look. At. That. WATER. Beautiful, isn't it? The only place I've seen water come close to being this beautiful is Barbados (but more on that soon). It's a shade of blue I thought was reserved only to dreams, and so clear that you can actually see a shipwreck at the bottom if you're flying over. I'm a terrible swimmer - I watched Jaws at too young an age and have a very fruitful imagination is all I'll say on the matter - so it was one of the most pleasant and stress-free swims I've had, being able to see everything and anything going on below me. Now, let's no avoid the elephant in the room... it's frickin busy. So much so that I actually got a bit claustrophobic when we arrived (this paragraph has done nothing to dispel rumours of my being a wimp), so I'd recommend climbing up and right along the rocks where you'll find it's a bit quieter. Just remember to wear your sensible shoes, folks. Oh, and make sure to get a boat back that goes via the caves (second last photo), it's a really lovely way to finish off the afternoon. I don't throw the word breathtaking around easily - aside from when it comes to chocolate - but breathtaking indeed is what it is. One of the only sandy beaches on the island is up this way too, so it's worth keeping that in mind too if you're a beach bunny!

And a couple of snaps from our hotel, including a very moody balcony view, to finish off! We stayed at The Palace Hotel which was just wonderful, but more on that in my next post.

Oh I should also mention that pretty all the swimwear I'm wearing here is from Simply Beach (including that Melissa Odabash white cover-up of dreams), who are my go-to's every time I go on a wee break. Check 'em out for some beautiful beachy goodness!

Amy

Burgundy Strikes Again

November 26, 2015, 2:58 am

≫ Next: ASOS Black Friday Wishlist

≪ Previous: Malta Photo Diary

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RIVER ISLAND snakeprint skirt& oversized jumper (now in sale) | ASOS over the knee boots | ASPINAL Marylebone mini 

Photos by the wonderful Amber Rose Photography

Look at those veins go! I think we all know who's the nurse's favourite when they go to get blood taken,

Here what we have is an unashamedly lazy outfit. Before you have an odd mental image of me lying on the sofa on a Sunday eating chocolate in a PU skirt and knee high boots, what I mean is that it's a go-to combo I throw on when I'm lacking in inspiration. These boots, a skirt and a cosy jumper = fail safe Autumn outfit. I seen to have a penchant for dressing all in one colour as one of late, particularly burgundy, so who knows where that's come from. Let's just go with it.

Shop the post:

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ASOS Black Friday Wishlist

November 27, 2015, 12:32 am

≫ Next: Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea at The Sanderson

≪ Previous: Burgundy Strikes Again

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As always, click on your favourites to be taken straight through (you'll need to turn ad-blocker off... sarrree). And - more importantly - get 20% off  ERRRTHANG at ASOS with the code 'CYBER' / 'BLESSED' for 30% off in U.S

It wouldn't be Black Friday without a wishlist post now, would it? I can't handle the madness of the shops so instead I've spent my morning pulling together what, in my humble, shopaholic opinion, I consider to be the best of ASOS right now. You might notice it's a little more.. sparkly than normal; it seems that Christmas fever has well and truly hit. If you've got a Crimbo party or night out coming up then it's the perfect time to snap yourself a sassy bargain. And if you don't - cough, me - you can always buy yourself a dress to console yourself. Win win. The blue tassel dress is absolute top of my wishlist, I seriously think it's one of the most wonderful dresses I've seen all year. I also love the little Missguided lace number - looks so much more expensive than it is, dunnit? - as well as the Boohoo sequin dress. On a more casual note, I ruddy love the leather trousers, the lace-up wedges and the velvet shift dress. Someone help me.

Best of the Black Friday deals:

30% off at ALL SAINTS with 'CYBER' | 50% off at BOOHOO automatically applied | 20% off at ANTHROPOLOGIE automatically applied  | 20% off at RIVER ISLAND with 'BFRIDAY15' (between 11-3pm) | 20% off everything at MISSGUIDED with 'CYBER20 | 50% off TOPSHOP selected lines

Amy

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Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea at The Sanderson

November 29, 2015, 3:43 am

≫ Next: Starting with the Shoes

≪ Previous: ASOS Black Friday Wishlist

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So, as you may remember from this post, me and my wee Mam met in London last month for a girly couple of days. As you also may remember (possibly because it mentally scarred you), we chose to focus on eating as many afternoon teas as possible without vomiting, one of which being The Sanderson Hotel's Mad Hatter's afternoon tea. I'm not going to lie, they already had me at the name.

  ... And then they had me at the menu. Beautiful, isn't it? Ordering from a dusty old book makes me feel like I'm in Harry Potter so I was in my element. Two points to Gryffindor.

We started with the teas, of which there was a ruddy lovely selection. This selection comes to you in individual little glass bottles - very Alice in Wonderland - and if needed you can find out a little more information about each from the playing cards provided. I tried 4 of the lot (yeah, my bladder had a field day) and can confirm they were all delicious.

  In fact, we went to town and got a glass of bubbles too... when in Rome and all that.

When it arrived my mouth sat in a perfect 'O' for a good five seconds before I realised I was starting to put other diners off their food. Visually, it's the best afternoon tea ever to grace my life; the Brad Pitt of the fine dining world. The Sanderson have really have gone to town on the theme; from little pocket-watch macarons, to playing card bourbons, to chocolate caterpillars, to the classic 'drink me' mini smoothies. There's even a little treat hidden in the grass at the top of the tier, but I'll say no more. Keep it a surprise and all that.

  The sandwiches were - important announcement klaxon - the best I've ever had in a gluten free afternoon tea. There was a crab eclair, a cream cheese sandwich, a caviar scotch egg, and, my personal favourite, a crispy little Croque Monsieur. However, if you're not gluten free, then lucky you because you'll get one of the little green badboys.

Finishing it all off were two little pots filled with mango sorbet and chocolate crumble. There's something so deliciously naughty about eating from a plant pot, my 10 year old self was in her element. And that was that! A truly lovely afternoon. If you're thinking of treating someone special, maybe for Christmas - cough, me, cough - then it's definitely one to keep in mind!

Amy

Starting with the Shoes

November 29, 2015, 10:45 am

≫ Next: 6 reasons to Stay With Airbnb

≪ Previous: Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea at The Sanderson

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DUNE red suede lace-up shoes (get 20% off errrthang until midnight Mon 30th) | ASOS distressed jeans | H&M jacket | ASPINAL OF LONDON Marlebone mini | RAY BAN sunglasses

Photos by the incredible Amber Rose

Bonjour! Today's post is to celebrate Dune's'Start With The Shoes' campaign which - you guessed it - is based around the idea of choosing your outfit based around your shoes. I normally pick one thing to base my outfit around when I'm getting ready anyway, otherwise it's far too overwhelming for my pea-brain, but this is possibly the first time I've based it around the shoes. I have to say, it works. Especially when the shoes are as badass as this. As you may have noticed, I'm generally not that big on dressing up; when it comes to a night-out I'd much rather be jumping about in trousers and heels than a tight dress, so even though the shoes are all sassy and wonderful I decided to pair them with quite a casual daytime look. Controversial, I know. They surprised me with how comfy they were, me and Amber were trotting around London, on and off tubes and everything, and my feet were in their element. And if my feet are in their element, I'm in my element. Them's the rules.

You can find these puppies here and in grey here and black here. Whilst we're at it, here's a selection of some of my favourites on site just now and, as you may have noticed above, there's currently 20% off right up until midnight tomorrow. Please send my sincerest apologies to your bank card.

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6 reasons to Stay With Airbnb

December 2, 2015, 9:19 am

≫ Next: Where to Stay & Where to Eat in Malta

≪ Previous: Starting with the Shoes

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Oh hey there! Today, folks, we're talking Amsterdam. One of the questions I was asked most when I was out there was where did I stay, so I thought it'd make sense to start with that! We decided to go down the Airbnb route, which is what we did back in Iceland at the start of the year and loved it, and - from asking around - it's definitely the way to go in Amsterdam. There's SO much choice (seriously, check it out if you don't believe me) and something there for every price point. We decided to go for Ron's apartment and I'm so glad we did; it was only a 10 minute tram from the centre of town and right on the canal front, straight across from the zoo. Plus, as you can see, it came with a big ole dollop of interior inspo. Ron himself was absolutely lovely, even leaving us with a personalised map with lots of his favourite restaurants and spots marked on. Don't get me wrong, I still bladdy love a nice hotel but it is nice to mix it up now and then, so I've put together a little list on why airbnb might be for you:

1) If you choose an apartment with kitchen access then you've got the option to make your own breakfast/lunch/dinner to save you eating out every day. Dolla dolla saved instantly. It's also pretty handy if you're GF/coeliac etc - it can be quite hard finding places abroad so this way you know exactly what's going in your food.

2) It's a great way to get tips from a local; most hosts are more than happy to share their favourite restaurants/hot-spots with you that might otherwise have gone under the radar.

3) Nosiness. I friggin love seeing inside other people's houses so airbnb's a bit of a dream. I've picked up many an interior tip this way (most recently being Ron's blown up photo collage of his New York snaps which you can see above).

4) Flexibility. You can normally work out check-in and check-out times that suit both you and the host so that you're not arriving in a city with 4 hours to kill before you can check in. Even though our check out was 12, Ron let us keep our cases there for the afternoon until we had to go to the airport to save us lugging them about Amsterdam, and often you can arrange for a later check-out altogether if they don't have anyone staying there that night.

5) If you spend a little extra time looking around then you'll start uncovering gems with exciting extras; I spotted everything from hot tubs to roof terraces on there.

6) It's like a little home from home. One night we were pretty knackered from hoofing it around all day, so just got in some food - including a big-ass tub of ice cream - and watched a film. Bliss.

So there we go! Next up, what to do in Amsterdam. Or maybe a photo diary? Decisions, decisions...

Amy

Where to Stay & Where to Eat in Malta

December 7, 2015, 10:37 am

≫ Next: New Acoustic Cover!

≪ Previous: 6 reasons to Stay With Airbnb

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Following on from my Malta photo diary, today's post is focusing more specifically on where to stay and a little bit on where to eat in Malta. I can only apologise at how depressing it'll be looking at these photos in the current 0 degree weather we're having but, if it makes you feel better, I'm currently writing it with a dressing gown on over my clothes. Whilst weeping. First up, where to stay...

The Blue Palace

We stayed at The Palace Hotel and I couldn't recommend it more; I feel now you've seen the pool you'll understand why. It's right up on the roof and has views all across Sliema right down to the sea. We went for cocktails in the rooftop bar one night at sunset (1st and 3rd pictures) which is a definite must, even if you're not staying at the hotel. They set up a little buffet dinner right on the edge of the pool which we didn't try ourselves but I can imagine would be lovely. Something else I'd recommend it getting up at sunrise - such a sunset/sunrise pervert aren't I - which you can see a little bit of in the last photo. It's the perfect viewpoint and well worth a 5am start. Believe me, those words don't leave my mouth often.

The room itself was beautiful; big ole tv, fresh water daily, nice big bathroom and - most importantly - a little balcony complete with chairs and mini table. We had the most beautiful view, which you can see from the top photo on a very moody day - looks like something from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, dunnit? - which looked over both Sliema and across to Valletta. Breakfast was a lovely affair with lots of fresh fruit, omleettes, fresh pastries and bread (including gluten free bread, winner) as well as your standard cooked and continental breakfast. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the little book borrowing section, cleverly disguised as a red phone box. The tricksters. I should also mention that the staff are all ridiculously lovely and that the location of the hotel is spot on. An all round winner in my eyes!

Now, here we have my top restaurant recommendation from Malta and, lucky for us, it was part of our hotel. Temptasian (oh how I love a crafty name) is located on the top of The Palace and has a 360 degree view across Malta - just look at it. Beautiful stuff. The food was something else; we got a sushi platter to start with and then for main I went for my standard Murgh and egg rice and, oh lordy, was it good. Hands down the best Indian I've had and that's a big claim for me. Don't tell my local though in case they seek revenge on me. They were also amazing with GF I should mention (and if you want a good drinking game, take a shot every time I say gluten or gluten free on my blog).

A couple of other places to grab a bite..

Debbie's Cafe

So these are just a couple of ones I thought I'd pop in that we had some scrumptious lunches at. Debbie's Cafe in Mellieha is first up, which we nipped into because we'd heard they did gluten free sandwiches and cakes. Turns out they're quite the popular little haunt and are very well known amongst GFers and, y'know, normal people alike for their cakes, milkshakes and - wait for it - AFTERNOON TEA. Sorry, let me just take a minute to compose myself. I actually had a very good GF ciabatta bread which could be a first. 

PURE juice bar

This my absolute favourite of all the lunch/snacky places we ate. I friggin love raw cakes (as you may have guessed from the million and one recipes I was throwing at you over summer), but they're hard enough to find at home never mind abroad, so I couldn't believe my luck when we stumbled across this little gem. They've got a whole array of fresh, cold-pressed juices and the most amazing assortment of gluten, dairy and sugar free cakes (the one above is their Snickers one which almost made me cry it was so good). You can also get a huge box of freshly made salad for something crazy like 5euros, or even get it rolled up in a wrap if you're feeling crazy.

Mint

Mint was another one of my favourites, but it can get really busy so try and avoid peak times if you can. They've got lots of traditional and non-traditional Maltese foods and are great for vegan, vegetarian and GF options. If you're not in the market for lunch then check out their fresh juices and hauuuuage cake selection.

Find my other Malta posts here:

24 hours in Valetta | Malta Photo Diary

Amy

New Acoustic Cover!

December 8, 2015, 11:02 am

≫ Next: The Perfect Christmas Gift

≪ Previous: Where to Stay & Where to Eat in Malta

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Bonjour! I don't know if I've ever shared one of these on here - seriously, memory of an 80 year old - but me and Tim have just uploaded another cover, so I thought I'd whack it up here too so you can have a listen if you so fancy. It's horrible quality and has a completely unrelated thumbnail, so you might want to view it with your eyes closed... don't say I didn't warn you.

Amy