The Perfect Christmas Gift

December 9, 2015, 10:44 am

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SEIKO solar powered watch | CHARLOTTE SIMONE faux fur stole | H&M tailored jacket & leather trousers | TOPSHOP 'Paris' jumper | ASOS suede boots | ASPINAL Marylebone mini 

Sweet lord is it getting cold, I'm one step away from sleeping in this fur wrap. Today's outfit post is based around my new time piece from the wonderfully sassy Seiko. I couldn't decide whether to dress it up or down, because it really could go either way, but I decided in the end to go for a wrapped up casual look to match the weather outside. As you might have noticed, it's a little different from my usual chunky man-watch, but it was actually so refreshing wearing such a feminine watch for a change. For starters I can lift a cup of tea up to my mouth without feeling like I'm doing weights. All jokes aside, I really do love it.  Aside from how delicate it is, I absolutely love that the strap has both gold and silver in it because I'm forever mix and matching metals when it comes to jewellery - don't let anyone tell you you have to stick to one or the other, you don't need those kind of people in your life - as well as the mother of pearl face and the little diamond numbers. However, my absolute favourite, favourite part is the little sapphire crystal glass on the end of the crown, which my 10 year old self would have absolutely loved. So magical, isn't it?

If you're looking to treat someone this Christmas with a little sum sum special then Seiko's definitely one to keep in mind. Now, I am a bit of a watch obsessive so I'm always going to recommend a good watch as a gift, but I really do believe you can't go wrong with investing in a good one - it's the kind of thing that won't go out of fashion, so really you're giving them both the gift of time AND a gift that they'll potentially have for years and years. Does that mean you won't have to buy them a gift for another decade? I'm not saying anything... 

Founded by Kintaro Hattori in 1881, Seiko has been at the forefront of technological watch innovation for over 134 years.  As one of only a few fully integrated watch companies in the world, Seiko manufactures every component of every watch it produces, guaranteeing the quality of its watches.  

There is no compromise on design or quality as the brand continually strives for innovation in design and technology.

Amy

- Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Seiko via Mode Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Seiko -

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Getting Lippy With It

December 10, 2015, 7:49 am

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RED VALENTINO lips collar dress via VERY EXCLUSIVE | HUDSON ankle boots | MIU MIU tortoiseshell sunglasses via VERY EXCLUSIVE

Oh hellllo! Today's outfit's one of my favourites in a long time, shot by my favourite little Amber Rose. It was completely unintentional, but between the beehive, the specs, the dress and the location we settled on it's ended up looking like something straight out of the schwinging 60s. A Red Valentino collar dress is something that's been on my wishlist for a long time - mainly because they look like they could have stepped straight out of Alexa Chung's wardrobe - so I'm so happy to finally be the proud owner/mother of one. It's, along with these sassy as hell Miu Miu shades, from the wonderful Very Exclusive which, in case you haven't heard of it, is an entire hub of designer goodness and is one of my favourite websites I've come across yet. They've got everyone on there, from See by Chloe to Reiss to Senso, which I'm over the moon about because they're SO friggin hard to find in the UK, so, yes, they are very much worse a good browse. In fact, pop that kettle on and I'll come join you.

Whether you're looking for a Christmas party outfit or a Christmas gift I can guarantee you'll find it on there, plus with their next day delivery option, free returns and 'Take 3' option - where you can pay for your items over three months in three payments with no interest; dangerous, I know - it'd really be rude not to (teehee).

Shop my top VE picks:

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A Big Ole Topshop Christmas Gift Guide

December 14, 2015, 9:19 am

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As always, just click on the item to be taken straight to it (if you can't see them it might be because you have AdBlock on)!

Why, Bonjour! Today's post marks the first of a week of gift ideas (believe me, I've spent longer listening to Michael Buble than even I care to admit). Today's is a round-up of the best Christmas gift and party outfit ideas on Topshop right now, which I genuinely struggled to keep under 30 items. They've already done most of the hard work and split their gift ideas ino 6 handy sections; Glitter Girl, Minimal Mood, Rebel Rebel, Jetset Go, So Retro and She's Luxe, with the idea being that you can pick a category based on the personality of your chosen giftee. There's 40-60 items in each category so they're great to have a browse through if you're struggling on the idea front! I couldn't pick a favourite category - is it so wrong to like them all? - so I've kind of mix and matched between the six for my wishlist. Hold me at gunpoint (please don't), my favourite items would be the ridiculously beautiful gold dress - which wouldn't look out of place on the Self Portrait website - the leather mini skirt, the leopard pencil skirt (£26, hello, and it comes with matching top) and the gold heel boots. I don't know, I kind of just love it all. If you're looking for presents of the small variety or stocking fillers, then one can personally recommend the make-up linked above, all of which I've used and loved, in particular the Chameleon highlighter - that badboy goes on my face on the daily. I should also mention that,f you want to send someone a massive hint, you can now make up your own 'Want List' GIF on site (complete with festive stickers) by hovering over an item and clicking on the little star!

But, yes, there we go; my gift and party recommendations. Let me know which ones are your favourite (I'm hoping you're an animal like me and just like them all)!

Amy 

Post in collab with the ever-wonderful Toppers

The Big Christmas Gift Guide: For Her

December 17, 2015, 3:32 am

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I'm not going to lie, writing this Christmas Gift Guide is one of the happiest I've ever been. I frigging love Christmas, I'd marry it if I could and Michael Buble would sing at the wedding while elves carried the rings to the alter. Moving on, one of my favourite parts is gift-giving, which I truly believe is one of life's great simple pleasures; there's nothing better than stumbling across something you know someone will absolutely love and then seeing a big cheesy grin on their face when they open it. Truly magical stuff. Anyway, this has gotten pretty soppy, pretty quickly so I'll move onto a round up of some bits and bobs I reckon would make some cracking gifts.

£25 & Under

• Topshop Lipstick & Nail Varnish Christmas mini decorations, £10: I'm a big fan of Topshop make-up - their lip bullet stayed on through an entire meal, drinks included, and you can't really say no to that - so that plus the extra festive packaging on these was enough to push me over the edge.
• Sir Plus boxers, £20: I'm a big fan of girl boxers, whether it be for lazing around the house in or for wearing on a comfy day where you want nothing more than to feel a cuddle round your bum, and the Sir Plus designs are one of my favourites I've come across.
• Oh Deer wrapping paper and cards, £mixed: Oh Deer is an absolute little treasure chest and one of my year round go-to's when it comes to gifts and cards. The perfect place for something a little different to the norm, especially if you're looking to give someone a giggle.

Popcult pencils from LalaLand, £4: The perfect novelty gift; they'd make an amazing stocking filler or Secret Santa gift. These are the Mean Girls ones (obvs), but they have everything on there from Bridesmaids, to Almost Famous, to Anchorman and back again.

Anthropologie Candles, £mixed: I really do love everything and anything Anthropologie, and their candles are one thing in particular I could fill my house from top to bottom with. The packaging is beautiful and keeps as an ornament long after the candle's melted away. Don't even get me started on the smell... That little copper topped one in particular is Heaven in a box. The kind of gift you couldn't really go wrong with!

£50 & Under

• Lucky Voice karaoke kit via Urban Outfitters, £50: Now we're talking. This badboy's up there with unlimited chocolate and Paolo Nutini as my ideal gift. I absolutely love a bit of karaoke (post-mulled wine generally, of course) so any kind of karaoke machine's a win in my eyes, but this one's perfect because you plug it into your iPad or computer and can just tuck it away afterwards without having a big-ass machine to tend to. I can only apologise in advance to your neighbours and anyone else within general hearing distance. 
• Liz Earle Botanical Shine Hair Heroes & Beauty Icons gift, £50: I'm a huge Liz Earle fan, as I think we probably all know, so these were a no brainer. Their hot cloth cleanse and polish was one of the main things that helped combat my pesky teenage boy-esque skin at the beginning of the year, so it'd be wrong not to include them here. Some of the smaller tubs would make lovely stocking-fillers, or you could really go all out with one of the gift sets above and get in someone's good books (you might even get away with not doing the post-Christmas dinner dishes). 
• The White Company Twenty One candle, £35 / Daisy London Chakra Candle, £29: Both smell like absolute dreams (me and my nose can confirm this with great conviction) and both come beautiful packaged. A candle's one of those wonderful things you can never really go wrong with, so if you're stuck for gift ideas then this is the one for you! 
• YSL Black Opium, £39: This Eau de Toilette is the newer scent from YSL and comes in the sassiest bottle. It's floral and fruity, with sweet blackcurrant, orange and pear notes, as well as its signature coffee bean scent woven through.

• Biscuiteers Gluten Free Biscuits, £40: These are one of my favourite gift ideas, I truly think you can't go wrong. They have a whole host of lovely 'normal' biscuits but, being a little GF freak, I was over the moon to find a) that they offered that option and b) that they actually tasted GOOD. So good. Oh and c) The packaging was so cute it made me want to cry. They don't just offer Christmas ones either, there's birthday, congratulations, wedding as well as a range of chocolates and cakes too. Something a little different!
• Tom Ford Lips and Boys lipsticks, £27: Tom Ford boys are back! Named after men in his life, these little miniatures are limited edition and roughly half the size of the usual lipsticks. There's 50 (25 best sellers and 25 new shades) to choose from and, at £10 cheaper than the originals, they're the great gift for someone who'd like a little bit of Tom Ford in their life. I can also confirm that they're the perfect size for a handbag on a night out!

£50+

• Cloud 9 x Emilio de la Morena Christas gift set £135: Made in collaboration with Spanish designer Emilio de la Morena, these are something a little different to your usual straightener sets. They come in a beautiful black and gold velvet bag - inspired by his collection - and come in either The Original Iron or The Wide Iron, so there's something there for every hair type. It truly is a beautiful set, and is guaranteed to make a great gift for any sassy sista who's into good hair (i.e. every one)
• Tom Ford Noir Femme, £53-105: Yes, I've got Tom Ford on the brain. Another floral fragrance, this time with rose, jasmine and orange with citrus and spice woven through. It's a strong, lasting scent and comes, of course, in the beautifully classic Tom Ford gold and black bottle. 

Prescription by Codage On the Road Again, £69: I spend practically half my life on a plane and can promise you this badboy wold make the ideal gift for anyone you know who travels a lot. It comes in a really sweet little bag and contains 5 miniatures targeted at rejuvinating skin that's been hit with the joys of jet lag and temperature changes. 

Creme de la Mer Renewal Oil, £155: Now this, this is one of my favourites. Every Creme de La Mer product I've used I've loved and this one, coming out only in October, has fast become a staple in my daily beautifying regime. What do I love best in a product? You got it, multi-purposeness, and oh boy does this tick that box. It was made for the face but can be used on the hair and body too, so it's a real all rounder and definitely one that won't be left sitting gathering dust on the bathroom shelf. I'll come back to this for a proper review because I really do love it so, but just wanted to mention it here in time for any gift hunters!

Fleur of England Lingerie, £105: Following a favourite with another favourite, Fleur of London's a lingerie brand I've discovered this year and fallen head over heels for. It's at the pricier end of the spectrum, but lingerie's one thing I don't really mind splashing out on as you reap those rewards in quality, design and fit. These nungas won't look after themselves, you know. I went for the Desire and the After Dark set and they're both just beautiful, as soon as you put them on you're like, 'YES, I AM MARILYN MONROE. I AM DITA VON TISSE, COME AT ME WORLD'. You know the kind? I do think that lingerie's a lovely gift to receive, and I promise you can't go wrong with Fleur. 

Amy

What I'll Be Wearing This Christmas

December 17, 2015, 9:25 am

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(... and I don't mean Christmas day. That's reserved for jammies and jammies only).

Boy oh boy are things getting festive around here today. I recently put together a little post for SoFeminine based around H&M's new Christmas collection (which is uh-mazing by the way) and what I'll be wearing this Christmas and - to cut to the point - it's just went live today! You can see the full feature, as well as two of my other favourite laydies Christmas looks, here.

Ciao ciao for now,
Amy

Furry Bear Hits London

December 20, 2015, 10:16 am

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RIVER ISLAND faux fur jacket& grey fedora | HUSH grey scarf | H&M leather trousers (similar) | RAY BAN round glasses | JAEGER cross body bag (now 50% off in the sale) | SENSO glitter ankle boots

Photos by Amber Rose

Myself and my little Amby quickly snapped these on the way back from a birthday lunch in London and they've turned out to be some of my favourite snaps we've done yet*. And that's only partly because they have sun in them and I'd kind of forgotten what that looks like. I think you've all seen this coat before - especially if you follow me over on Instagram - it's basically been glued to my back since I got it. My little Winter saviour, I've deemed it. I paired it with my age old fedora (it's catching up on me in the age stakes) and hush scarf to battle the cold and, by the time I'd added my favourite Jaeger bag into the mix, we had a surprisingly colour co-ordinated outfit (for me) on our hands. What lark!

In other words, I've been a horrible person and left almost all my Christmas shopping until last minute - it doesn't help that I ate 85% of the food-based gifts I bought either - so I've got that to look forward to this week. I think I need to get my some elbow pads..

Amy

Shop the Post:

* I say that every time, don't I..

New Hair! Ishoka Aberdeen Review

December 24, 2015, 3:39 am

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I gots me some new hair! I've been wanting to go lighter for a little while, so I popped into the lovely Ishoka in Aberdeen a couple of weeks ago to get the deed done. It was my first time in there and it's SO bladdy good; it's all done up for Christmas right now so I was in my (polar bear) element. It's a really beautiful salon all round in fact, from the huge big fireplace to the million and one products lining the walls. 

I had the lovely Gareth doing my hair, who I couldn't recommend more. He spent ages talking me though what I wanted to make sure we were on the same page and settled on a few different shades of blonde to give my hair a lift without being to summery. Overall, it's the happiest I've been with my hair in ages and the actual cut is the best I can remember having. Gareth's technique was verrrry different in comparison to cuts I've had before but it worked a dream, my hair's been bouncing abut like something out of a L'Oreal commercial ever since. I either wear my hair centre parted or flipped to one side - such a fickle bunny - so I've included a photo of each to show you the cut, sits well either way huh? A right top notch job. So, absolutely, if you're looking for somewhere new to get your hair done then I couldn't recommend Ishoka more! I obviously had most of my experience with Gareth but everyone else seemed absolutely lovely. They offer styling services as well so, if you're after a fancy 'do for New Year then it's something to keep in mind.

Amy

Baby It's Cold Outside

January 2, 2016, 8:23 am

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JAEGER sleeveless jacket and cross-body bag (now in sale) | ASOS mesh top | H&M leather trousers (old, similar here) | SENSO glitter ankle boots | Bobbl Hat 

                 Photos by Amber Rose

Oh hey there. Merry (belated) Christmas and Happy (...belated) New Year! Heh. I'm in that horrible phase right now where I don't know who I am or what day it is. I think it's the 2nd of January but I really can't be sure. Me and my little Amby shot these in London a few weeks ago and, despite the weather actually being quite mild, they ended up looking all nice and Wintery and cold so I thought now was the perfect time to share them. I've wanted a sleeveless jacket for a while now - being so short I'm constantly rolling up my sleeves, so why not get rid of them entirely - and the lovely Jaeger came up trumps with this navy number, which is actually now in sale alongside the croc bag and lots of other wonderful bits. What lark! I was trying to hard to avoid the sales because I don't really need anything, but that backfired because then I ended up sifting through the British Airways sale to distract myself. I really do need some sun on these ole bones though, my skin's practically transparent. Basically what I'm saying is that if anyone's going away and feels like they really want someone to come in their case then I'm more than happy to fill that position.

I'm just putting the finishing touches to my Barbados posts (who knew something could be simultaneously so exciting and so depressing) so they'll be coming atchu this week!

Amy

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Barbados: A Photo Diary

January 4, 2016, 11:11 am

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Oh Barbados, where do I start. Never before have I loved somewhere so much. I actually spent the entire week post-returning listening to Bob Marley with my heating cranked up to 20.

...You think I'm kidding don't you.

The best way I can explain it is that I kind of feel about it like you would an ex-boyfriend. Every time something mentions they've either been or are going there I'm like, 'Oh.. how was it? Did he.. did he mention me?', whilst my big jealous eyes burn on. Someone merely needs to mention a word that sounds like Barbados and I'll take it as a cue to sit for hours and talk about it. Again, you think I'm kidding. Two of my best friends sat for an hour and half solid while I pulled out the 'just one more story' routine. I'm not proud of it but it happened. More than once.

So.. what did I love about Big Bim? First up, the people. I've never met such a welcoming bunch in my life. Some places you go you find there's a real tourist-local divide but you don't get that impression at all here, which I think is one of the main things that leads very quickly to it feeling like home. What I've done for today's post is put together a little photo diary before I fire on with my 'things to do in Barbados' post, because I think that's the best way to get a feel for a place. However, I do feel it's one of those gems that you really need to experience yourself and, once you do, you'll be like, 'ah, yes, I get it. I get it and I'm never leaving'. In fact, one of the first couples we spoke to were on their 10th visit there, and the second were on their 12th  - you see where I'm going here - there's some sort of magic that just makes people want to go back and back again. I actually looked to see how much flights would be to go back the day after getting we got home, which isn't something I've ever done.. I also got into a nice little daydream on the plane home about how I was going to move there but that's a whole other story*

So pour yourself a cup of tea and come take my hand while I take you on a magical tour of Barbados. Ok, you don't need to do the hand-holding part.

* Can a country take out a restraining order on a person? Asking for a friend who needs to calm down

I feel like these are the kind of images that pop in to your head when someone mentions Barbados, yees? I won't lie, this is exactly what I had in mind - well, that and me making best friends with Rhianna but that's something else entirely - but that's just one side to the island. Don't get me wrong; the white beaches, rainbows, palms and the sunsets and sunrises are incredible and would be enough on their own, but that's just where the fun begins. 

You seee? There's a whole leafy green side to it too - if I told you the windmill and the bridge were in Scotland you'd believe me wouldn't you? If you couldn't tell it was 30 degrees, of course. There is actually a part of the island known as The Scotland District because it's so hilly and green, but I'll come back to that in my What to Do Post. And there's your cliffhanger right there.

The waves get pretty choppy on the South and the East of the island; Barbados is surrounded by the Atlantic ocean, not the Caribbean as commonly thought.. If you win a pub quiz on this you're welcome, so it's really popular with surfers. In the third photo down there you can see some people - sorry, surfer dudes - getting ready for a big competition that was coming up that week. 

Barbados pretty much had me from the get-go, but what you see in these last photos here were, for me, the parts that really sealed the deal - the bright colours, the amazing people and just the general air happiness. Honestly, it's infectious* Oh and, of course, rum. I think I had a rum punch in my hand about 93% of the time. What's not to love? As you can see by that second last photo, we had some (crazy) rain during our time there, but it really didn't matter. The showers are generally quite quick and heavy as hell so, since it still sits in the 20s, it's all part of the fun. Believe me, this is coming from a little sun bunny.

So, there we go! I genuinely feel a little crushed looking back at these, especially with Storm Frank raging at my window and the notable absence of rum in my life. Stay strong Amy, stay strong. I'll go into it all a little more detail in my next post, but I hope for now that gave you a little glimpse into the wonderful world of Bim and why I love it so. Barbados is warm all year round, but dry season typically runs from January to June and flights start as little as £299 (I know, who'da thunk it!?) so if you're looking to get a little bit of Winter sun on your bones and fancy heading outside of the usual Canary Island bubble then this is a definite one to put on your radar. One condition though.. you take me with you.

Amy

Glasgow to Barbados  from £298.98 return   |   Manchester to Barbados from £335 return *subject to availability

To book visit www.thomascookairlines.com

For more information on Barbados visit http://www.visitbarbados.org/

* Have you ever known me to be so soppy? Honestly, I don't even know who I am any more. 

Lazy Day Outfits

January 12, 2016, 7:54 am

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BRUUNS BAZAAR jumper dress | LE SPECS sunglasses (now in sale) | MAI PUI SENZA over the knee boots | ASPINAL OF LONDON Marylebone mini 

All via Zalando

Bonjourno! I was going to say welcome to my first outfit post of 2016 but it's not is it. My head is, apparently, still up my ass. If you've watched my latest video (or if you've got a sixth sense) then you'll have known exactly what today's outfit was going to be. If not, fear not, I shall link it below. Just be warned, there's a whole lot of unnecessary dancing and singing in there because I have a problem.

Just before the holidays I put in a big ole order in on Zalando - their Winter sale's on just now and it's ruddy amazing - and couldn't choose which ones to wear for the blog post because they all ended up being so good. It's like when children have to have a favourite thing but can't pick so just end up crying and calling them all their favourite. In the end I settled on this classic Amy jumper dress and over the knee boots combo, because it's such an easy chuck-on one. If you're curious as to what else I bought then be curious no more.. behold:

                       

Amy

Post in collaboration with my brotha from anotha mutha, Zalando

10 Amazing Things To Do in Barbados

January 17, 2016, 4:04 pm

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And we're back! If you've not caught up with my last post (love letter, whatever you want to call it) and photo diary then you can do so here and get yourself a good feel for Barbados before I lunge full force into this guide. If you have read it then, um, thank you and I hope you're ready to go again.

I'll start with another miniature love letter (you in the back, stop making sick noises please); I'm not someone that ever turns off. In the past 5 years I can't remember the last time I actually fully relaxed and forgot about e-mails, bills, schedules... all the fun stuff. In Barbados I actually completely forgot about everything. And I mean errrthang. It's like a wonderful little bubble that takes you in from the real world and protects you from life for a bit. In this special little bubble we squeezed quite a lot in, so for today's post I've rounded up the best of the bunch. Hopefully this will help any of you planning a visit, or perhaps even inspire a future trip... Again, please take me with you. Apart from 1 and 2, these aren't in any particular order because I'd feel too bad for the ones that ended up at the bottom - like that kid who gets picked last in gym class - and also because I truly did enjoy them all. So here we go, a round up of some of the many, many things you can get jiggy with in Barbados. 

JAMMIN'

I think Jammin was actually everyone's favourite thang that we did, and if you check out it's glowing TripAdvisor reviews (cough teacher's pet cough) you'll see we're not alone. I hadn't realised it was a party boat and turned up a little, eh delicate (thanks to a trip to Hal's karaoke bar the night before, but more on that later) and as soon as the music started blaring as we left the harbour I was like, 'Of course, this is it. This is how I'm going die'. However, I had an actual ball despite my horrendously hungover state, thanks to the amazing crew, the music and the general atmosphere.. it's kind of impossible not to enjoy it. Once I had seasickness tablets and a gallon of ginger ale in me that is. It's not a party boat in the sense of those mental Ibiza ones where there's teenagers drinking upside down and vomiting everywhere, more just somewhere you can let off steam and go a little crazy.. there were chiddlers in our group as well as adults and they had a ball too. As well as rum punch on tap, you've also got a stop to scuba dive with the turtles (complete with shipwreck), breakfast and a big-ass buffet stop over-looking Sandy Lane hotel, complete with view of Rhianna's condo. So yeah, a definite must from me... and I can tell you with confidence that if even if you're not feeling well you'll love it, just enjoy the priviledge of getting to watch everyone unravel in front of you. Your Aunt Margaret will be swinging round the sails with her bikini top in the air long before the day's over.

Jammin Catamaran Cruise - http://www.jammincats.com/  costs $88 (£57) for adults and $40.00 (£26) for children

ISLAND SAFARI TOUR

Shit. Yes. This was another of my favourites, maybe joint first with Jammin. Eight or so of you are bundled into the back of a 4x4 and are taken on a very magical, and very thorough, tour of the island. It starts with a shamazing viewpoint (Edge Cliff I think? But don't quote me on it) and - coincidentally - is also where the first rum punch of the day is poured, at a very sociable 10am. Yes, I was drunk by lunchtime.. no, that's not why I enjoyed it so much. Short of hiring a car and doing it on your own, it's the best way to explore the island whilst learning all about it along the way. And you know how I feel about having fun and learning at the same time. Good, is how. As well as stops at the most stunning viewpoints, there's a visit to The Lion at Gun Hill, a chance to pick fresh bay leaves, as well as off-roading in Joe's River Forrest; it really is a definite one to add to your list. I honestly don't think I stopped smiling the entire time, and that's a big claim coming from someone with chronic resting bitch face.

Island Safari - http://www.islandsafari.bb/ costs $92.50 (£60) for adults and $60.00 (£39) for children

SUNSETS & SUNRISES

I'm a little sunset nerd, as you may already have noticed, so I was in my absolute element. Barbados is home to some of the most beautiful I've seen.. it's rare I'd recommend a 5am rise but in this case it's definitely worth it. The sea's already lovely and warm in the morning too so, if you're struggling to shake off the sleepy susan in you, you can take a little dip to wake you up while you watch the oranges and yellows do their business. 

GARRISON TOUR

The Garrison Tour is an interesting one, and a great one for the history buffs among you in particular. Visit Barbados' Historic Garrison -  UNESCO World Heritage Site, I should add, exciting I know - and learn a little bit more about the history of the island. There's a visit to George Washington's home from the 1700s - Barbados is the only country he visited outwith the US (thinking the air would cure his brother's tuberculosis. No comment) - a trip to Charles Fort, a rum punch stop at St Ann's Fort (alcoholic or non-alcoholic, you choose), finished off with a visit to see the changing of the sentry. Outwith the tour, you can also attend a dinner with big George himself (who's actually Dr Karl Watson in disguise, one of the world's leading experts on George.. so if you have any burning questions then now would be a good time to ask them) at his house, compete with an authentic five course period dinner. That one in particular runs every Monday evening from the end of December until the end of March!

If you so please, you can also do a tour of the tunnels - either alongside the Garrison Tour or on its own - which is what you can see going awwwn in the last picture there. Explore sections of the ha-uge (up to 10,000ft long) underground tunnels and learn- learning again, you can't avoid it - a little more about their history as you go.

Garrison Historic Tour - http://www.barbadosgarrison.net/ costs US$48 (£31.50) for adults and US$38 (£25) for children

SUBMARINE

Now. Technically I can't reeeally recommend this because I didn't go on it. Yes, you heard me right. I knew I was claustrophobic but I didn't realise quite how much until I stepped down the ladder into the submarine and was like, 'nope, sorry' and scrambled back up like a panicked monkey. The crew were all so lovely though, and didn't mock me once - in fact, I just sat on the boat with them and got drunk on rum punch until everyone else finished on the submarine so win win for me, really. So, I've popped it on here because I'm the only person in - and I quote, even though it hurts me to say it - 'a long time' who's backed out, and it's supposed to be pretty lovely down there, with lots of fish and a shipwreck thrown in for good measure. You can do the daytime one, like we did - again, I use we loosely - or an evening one, which I've heard is also pretty special.

MOUNT GAY RUM TOUR

This I liked because it was short. And I don't mean that as offensively as it sounds. I'll normally always go on distillery tours when I'm away - free drinks throughout, sure - but sometimes they can drag a bit.. there's only so much information my brain can hold about hops and barley before it starts to go into emergency shut down. The tour only lasts around half an hour, but you get a good thorough insight into the history of Mount Gay rum, with lots of giggles and shots of rum thrown in along the way (don't say I didn't warn you, fellow lightweights). You can also start or finish your tour - or both, we're all friends here - at the bar where you'll find some deeeelicious mojitos.

Mount Gay Rum Tour - http://www.mountgayrum.com/ signature tour costs $10 (£6.50) and under 12’s go free

Restaurant at The Animal Flower Cave

What a view, yees? The weather wasn't great this day but it actually worked out better for us because the waves were all angry and indie and moody and throwing themselves off the rocks. Measurements have never been my strong point, but I want to say they got up to 100ft or so (but if that sounds ridiculous then please ignore me and, um, use the pictures above to make your own judgements). Animal Flower Cave is located in St Lucy - right at the top of the island - and is known for its spectacular views. Howveer, we didn't actually get to go in because the weather was a little too angry that day, sadly. It's also been featured in a Billy Ocean music video so if that doesn't tempt you I don't know what will. Instead we stopped off at the clifftop restaurant and enjoyed the views from there, alongside some homemade lemonade - do not, whatever you do, miss out on this - as well as some fishcakes and mahi mahi.

CHAMPERS

Oh Champers. Of all the places we ate, Champers was my absolute favourite. And that's not just because they had lots of GF items on the menu (yes, t'is true. What lark!). The view from the restaurant alone makes the visit worthwhile, day or night, even the rain pissing it down on the night we were there didn't taint it. It actually might just have made it all the more magical, but.. that could just me. The food's beautiful, the staff are all ridiculously lovely - but really, who isn't in Barbados - and you'll find yourself a delicious meal in a lovely setting without a hint of stuffiness. Bellllllissimo.

Champers Restaurant - http://champersrestaurant.com

CAFE LUNA

Now, Café Luna had mixed reviews from our group, but personally I really liked my meal and the setting made me a bit giddy (not the rum punch talking, just to clarify), so I've decided to include it, but there's your sidenote. There's panoramic views of the sea and fairy lights a-plenty, and that's really all I need in life. Plus some very, very good cocktails.

CaféLuna - http://www.cafelunabarbados.com/

Hal's Car Park Bar

Hehhhhmygod I loved Hal's. I'd actually put that right up there with Jammin and The Safari Tour on my top things to do. It's a big open air karaoke bar that's crammed to the brim with locals and tourists alike and has the best atmosphere... in the world (too much?). We went there after Café Luna and ended up staying 

 very, very late (or very early, depending how you look at it), hence arriving for Jammin with two hours sleep and a belly full of tequila under my belt. Which is one thing I would not recommend, by the way. But seriously, whether you like doing karaoke or not, make sure and fit in a pitstop here if you can because I guarantee you'll have an amazing night and meet some weird and wonderful people along the way.

Oh god we've reached the end of my Barbados posts and now I have no excuse to keep talking about it. There's only one thing to do... Book another trip, bebé.

Amy

Glasgow to Barbados  from £298.98 return   |   Manchester to Barbados from £335 return *subject to availability

To book visit www.thomascookairlines.com

For more information on Barbados visit http://www.visitbarbados.org/

The Jumper Dress

January 21, 2016, 2:08 am

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H&M jumper dress | LIPSY suede look over the knee boots | HUSH grey scarf | ASPINAL OF LONDON Marylebone mini | RAY BAN rounds | MISSOMA gold necklaces and rings

Photos by Amber Rose

Oh hey there! Welcome to another outfit post shot by the one, the only, THE AMBER ROOOOSE. What a little cracker she is, huh? We shot these around London last time I was down, as soon as we spotted this little car we were like, 'Yes. Come to mamma'. I went for my usual jumper dress-knee high boot combo (sue me) and my favourite Hush scarf. As you know, I'm usually found in black knee high boots, so these ones from Lipsy called out to me as soon as I saw them in a 'go on, branch out from your usual colour palette you little bore' kind of way. I mean it's not exactly what we'd call a colour pop, but it's exotic for me. I've also got on some new jewelz from Missoma (which you might actually have spied over on my Instagram already), which is my favourite jewellery site of le moment. I'm not a big jewellery person anymore, I really only like small subtle pieces, so their delicate chains and rings called out to my heart as soon as I saw them. Cue the John Lewis 'Real Love' song please.

Oh, I'm currently in Tenerifia and don't have access to twitter (#phonedramz) so if you're wondering why it's gone a little quiet on there please don't panic, I'm not dead.

Amy

Hey MTV, Welcome To My Crib

February 5, 2016, 11:06 am

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As you may very well know, I have to go to the land of London a lot - and I mean A. Lot. - with blogging, so I've had the pleasure of trying out a whole lot of hotels. A hotel whore, you may call me. Actually no, please don't call me that. On my most recent trip down I stayed at the Cheval Three Quays and I am 99999...999999% sure that it's my favourite place I've ever stayed in London. Up there with my favourite places I've stayed over all in fact, if we want to get specific. I arrived late at night because my train was delayed - thank you again Scottish weather - so was in a very weary and hangry state. I was met at reception by the loveliest of lovely staff and taken up to my apartment, and that's where my weariness lifted and the tears of joy started to flow. Internally, of course, I didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable. They are, in a word, incredible. I was taken a quick tour of the two double bedrooms (one bed for sleeping, one bed for eating in.. I think that's how it works) , en suite shower room, bathroom - completely with exciting little Hermes toiletries - open plan kitchen and living room and then onto the balconies (again, plural, yes) that look right out across Tower Bridge and the River Thames.

 

It's already looking' good and then you turn of the lights and...

BAM. The whole apartment's lit up with the lights of the Tower Bridge, The Shard, The Thames and more. I kept the lights out and went out onto the balcony to explore some more ok, and, yes, to take 5600 pictures of the view.

After that I was left to my own devices and, where did I go? Straight to the big ole food hamper left as a welcome gift. Yes I'm an animal, but I did tell you I was hungry. It was brimming with beautiful goodies like shortbread, tea, fruit, you name it.. and as if that wasn't enough, the fridge was filled with fresh juice, olives, cheese and milk. I whipped myself up some cheese on toast - hello Nigella - and grabbed a bowl of popcorn and crisps (what? Ok, you got me, and some truffles) and cosied up on the couch to catch up on some Graham Norton. Seriously my dream night. 

Cough massive Grandma alert cough.

Then it was off to bed with one last sneaky glimpse of the view from bed. God, I know, get a room. Well.. we did. 

The next morning I was woken up with the sun coming through the curtains and nipped out on the balcony to find this waiting for me..

Beautiful, innit? If you follow me over on Twitter then you'll have seen this view many times over, and all I can say say is prepare yourself to see it many times more. It honestly is breathtaking, proper pinch me stuff. Ow no, don't pinch me that hard. I poured a cup of tea and sat on the balcony and watched the world go by for a little - it's SO quiet at this time in the morning - and then nipped out to Tesco to get me some more food. The joys of it being self-catering (and believe me, the kitchen is as fully equipped as equipped can be) is that you can make what you want when you want, and not have to worry about sneaking in a bag of groceries under your jumper. It really is like a little home from home. Except.. it's much better than your home.

The next morning there was an even more beautiful sunrise, so I got up to enjoy that - not much pulls me out of my bed at that time of morning so that's a testament on its own right there - before my little Amby came over to join me for breakfast with a view. 

I can't honestly praise it enough (oh, you go that?);  if you're looking to head to London - especially for something special or with a group of friends - then I couldn't recommend these badboys more. Before I get too soppy, I'm going to round it off and let some of Amber's snaps do the talking now.

Photos by myself and Amber Rose

Amy 

Meet My New Friends, Ted & Muffy

February 7, 2016, 12:58 pm

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Ted & Muffy over the knee boots | ZARA brown high neck dress | MAJE cropped leather jacket | HUSH scarf | ASPINAL Marylebone mini

As you may have noticed, I'm very partial to a knee high boot. It's weird, I think they're a pretty statement item to some people - in fact in know they are; one French woman actually stopped dead in her tracks and ugh'd me when she saw this outfit. Thank you very much again - but I wear um all the time without really thinking twice about it. These ones from Ted and Muffy are, hands down, the best pair I've found. You can choose the calf size, half shoe sizes and then on top of all that, they've got little ties at the top so that you can tighten them as much as you want once they're on. Because no one like a saggy thigh. So, really, all in all, you've got yourself the perfect fitting boot. The FairyTale Fit one might say.. Ok I didn't coin that, they did. Another great thing about them is the heel height; when I'm out I'm generally out for the day (normally because I get distracted by multiple coffee stops, I won't lie) so they're the ideal height. High enough to lengthen those legs but sociable enough that you're not hobbling home at the end of the day with crippled feet. As always, I've paired mine with a jumper dress (getting seriously predictable here amn't I?) but, because they're so tight fitting, I've been wearing them loads with jeans and my leather trousers too, Catwoman style, so I'm sure you'll see them pop up again before long. They come in a range of colours - my Aunt's been drooling over the grey ones for months - as well as stocking a whole other selection of boots and shoes. One of my favourite brands I've discovered in a long time!

Well, I'm currently on a plane to Barbados (the wonders of technology), but will be posting whilst I'm away so don't get those tissues out just yet. I'll be updating regularly over on my Instagram and Twitter - mainly pictures of rum, I'd imagine - so you can keep up with what I'm up to over there if you so wish!

Amy

Dream Denim

February 9, 2016, 10:51 am

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DOROTHY PERKINS coated Bailey jean, suede tassel jacket & black body | TED & MUFFY over the knee boots | ASPINAL OF LONDON Marylebone mini | RAY BAN round glasses

Photos by Amber Rose

Oh how I love a leather trouser. I could write pages and pages and odes upon odes about how much I love them, but I won't because, for some reason, I think that might not appeal to the mass. One thing I've never really tried out, however, is a coated jean and, oh my god it's a revelation. They've got that extra bit of sass that leather trousers do, so you can dress up what would otherwise be a plain ole tee and jeans combo, but without any of the added squeakiness that comes with leather... not to mention the risk of ending up in a Ross from Friends style situation. Plus I can squat all the way down to the floor if I want, no constriction whatsoever. What lark! This particular pair are from Dorothy Perkins and, believe it or not, are actually my first pair of jeans I've owned from there. I know, a day of firsts! I'm so impressed though, they fit tight at the butt (good) are low slung (also good) and have nice little detailing and pockets on them (you guessed it, good again). The overall fit is actually pretty incredible - these ones are called the Bailey (just in case anyone was wondering) and I think come in at something crazy like £25? They also come in different lengths - tall and short people of the world rejoice! - and the Bailey itself comes in all different denim washes. So there we have it, for a gal who's very specific about where she buys her denim, I've very much found myself a convert.

If you'd like to see the full denim SS16 collection (check it out fo' sho', there are some lovely pairs), as well as how some other bloggers are styling theirs then you can check it out over on the hub here.

Amy

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Under the Boardwalk

February 21, 2016, 11:30 pm

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ZARA striped culottes (old, similar linked) | TOPSHOP cropped navy jumper | ASOS lace up heels | RAY BAN round glasses

Photos by Amber Rose

Well hey there! Here's some snaps my lovely little Amby took when we had a wee girly couple of days down in Brighton (but more on that soon!). It was really early in the morning - I'm still not sure how we got ourselves out of bed either to be honest - so we managed to catch Brighton beach when it was empty as an empty thing and bathed in morning glow. Oh, so very peaceful. Outfit-wise, not too much you haven't seen before this time round; I swear to god I'll end up buried in these Zara trousers. Cost per wear is currently sitting at roughly 0.078p. The jumper's a newbie though, it's so hard to find a nice cropped knit that's not really bulky so it was very arousing, I mean exciting, to come across this one.

Apart from that there's nothing new to report, I'm still in Barbados and currently trying to find ways to a) Subtly develop a Bajan accent and b) Grow a moustache so I can go into hiding and live here forever. Any tips on how to go about either would be most welcome. I'll be putting blog posts together on my time here - of course - but if you'd like to see what I've been getting up to in the meantime then you can check it out on my Twitter or Instagram!

Peace out mutha..truckas

Amy

The Outfit With No Name

February 29, 2016, 1:25 am

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TED & MUFFY over the knee boots | TOPSHOP leather look skirt and crop jumper | HOLLISTER white shirt | ASPINAL OF LONDON Marylebone mini bag

Photos by Amber Rose

I call this look 'Ode to a Schoolgirl'. Actually no that makes me sound kind of weird, I'd like to take that back. Ode to a school girl's uniform? Nope, still weird.

... I call this look 'this is what I'm wearing today'. I did tell you you'd be seeing these Ted & Muffy boots again soon, huh? I can't get enough of them, they've made themselves a very good husband to my feet. It does make me laugh how many nervous glances they attract from men though; it's just an inch of thigh, please calm yourself down. The jumper, we've already been over in my last outfit post - love it, can't get enough, if you're not up to speed - and the skirt's relatively new too actually; possibly a first time feature on here. It's a little tight right now, mainly because I keep daring myself to eat all the chocolate I come across - the only person that loses in that game is you, Amy, when will you learn - but I'll be back on the healthy path soon. Just as soon I finish this bar of Milka.

Nothing else new to report really, still in Barbados and still willing real life not to resume. I'll keep you posted on any further developments.

Amy

The Dream Body

March 2, 2016, 9:46 am

≫ Next: A Big Ass ASOS & Topshop Wishlist

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TOPSHOP body | SkinnyDip London Case 

Hello (...it's me). I had a lot of you ask on Instagram and Tweeta where what I was wearing was from, so rather than reply individually I thought it'd make more sense to pop the details on here. The skirt, sadly, is a goner. I picked it up in the Zara sale in Paris at the beginning of the year for something crazy like 7 euros and haven't seen it since.. They do have lots of similar ones in the TRF section right now though. The body, however, is new - huzzah! Not only that, but it also comes in black, red,nude, khaki and pink as well. It's such a nice fit and completely open at the back, one of my favourite finds in a while. The case is a good old SkinnyDip London (I really can't resist me a good tacky, glittery phone case) and, of course, my trusty Ray-Bans. Oh, and Monica Vinader bracelets, which I rarely take off. They're so good for holiday because they don't go green in the water or anything crazy like that. Arm parties all day long! 

So there we go! I'm currently working on some fun content - a lot more beauty since so many people have asked (at least two) and just good old OOTDs and travel posts, so all that will be coming soon to a blog near you. Clue: it's this blog.

Amy 

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A Big Ass ASOS & Topshop Wishlist

March 4, 2016, 10:40 am

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Oh hey! It's been a while since I've wishlisted, huh? Well, I wishlist all the time in my head but I haven't actually put one down here for a while. However, Topshop and ASOS are both looking so incredibly good right now that it'd be rude not to. I've tried hard but I just can't decide what I like the most - the little high necked dress (hello £28-Alexa-Chung-lookin'-bargain), the frill neck shirt dress (genuinely one of the nicest dresses I've seen in forevaa. At least a month) and the bangin'ripped knee jeans are all firm favourites, but then again the scallop neck blouse and 'Stay Weird' top are very much calling to me. I'm off to the Maldives in a couple of weeks (trying to say that casually but there's tears running down my face as I type) and genuinely need a daytime dress, so the little off shoulder dress is one I can actually justify.. Basically what I'm saying is that I'm destined to end up poor but the time the weekend's out. What aboutchu - what do you like?

Amy

P.S. Don't get me started on the Self Portrait lemon dress... oh my word. I'm yet to meet a dress of theirs I don't enjoy.

Tamarind, Barbados

March 14, 2016, 4:32 am

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Well hello there ya filthy animals, and welcome to the first of my Barbados posts. It's actually been highly depressing writing these up; I'm trying so hard to crawl into my screen and transport myself back there but for some weird reason it doesn't seem to be working. Alas, we all know already how much I love Barbados - I've linked my previous gushing posts at the bottom of this one - so let's get on with it. Today's post is all about the wonderful Tamarind hotel on the west coast of Barbados, which is where I started my stay. I got there a little early - this literally never happens to me and I spent a good ten minutes congratulating myself - so I left my suitcase at reception and had a little wander round.

The little beach in front of Tamarind is just beautiful. It's so secluded, with sand almost as white as my skin was at that point, so I just sat and read my book for a little while and caught up on some work (god, I know, such an adult). Water-sports are complimentary for all guests, which is normally code for, 'we have one rubber ring, an old snorkel and a couple of armbands in the back, take what you will', but Tamarind have the whole shabang ready and waiting for you. From windsurfing, to kayaking and boogie boarding, to water-skiing and banana boats, it's a water-sports fanatic's dream. 

After my little explore, I came back to find my room was ready and oh my word. Brace yourself..

What a sight, huh? I didn't know where to start, so I just threw myself on the big-ass bed and lay there taking it all in for a minute. The whole room was so light and breezy, and honestly everything I could have asked for. The absolute highlight for me, though, was the balcony. I was lucky enough to get a sea-facing room on the corner of the hotel and, if you're ever looking to stay here in the future, make sure to book one of these. It's so, so worth it for the views.. but hopefully you'll see that in the pictures to come. Brace yourself, people.

It's incredible isn't it? And so peaceful too. They'd left me a beautiful big fruit platter as a welcome, so I sat and enjoyed it on the balcony and watched the world go by. Normally I prefer to move at the average pace of Road Runner, but there's something about Barbados that just draws you in and makes you sit down and appreciate what's going on around you. Bonus points if you start to contemplate life while you're at it. The two birds above became my little Bajan compadres whilst I was there, visiting me every day - it's so much less tragic than it sounds - so I took it upon myself to become Snow White; feeding them little bits of food here and there and encouraging them to help me with the cleaning while they were at it (didn't work out as well as I'd hoped. Surprisingly).

As the afternoon went on, I decided it was time to get up off my ass and explore some more. 

I walked all through the hotel and grounds and found out a bit more about what was a-goin' on (ie when is Happy Hour: 4.30-5.30pm daily FYI) and then went a walk along the beach. Tamarind's located just along the beach from Sandy Lane hotel - which is absolutely beautiful, and also right beside One Sandy Lane where Rihanna owns a condo (for anyone wondering where to head to make her their best friend, cough, me) and also where all the boat tours stop so you can sit and watch them come and go. 

Now... what's the best bit about a sea-facing balcony? That's right, sunsets. And, oh my, were there some beautiful ones. The first night it was a little cloudy so I didn't have high hopes, and then suddenly these big sunbeams shot out of nowhere and were like, 'actually, take that doubt and shove it up your ass'. Behold:

The second night's sunset was possibly even more incredible - I didn't actually realise it had reached sunset time because I was so absorbed in my book (I know, I can hardly keep up with how wild my life is either), until my eye was caught by some very intense orange sunlight streaming through the curtains. A very kind reminder from my old friend Mutha Nature. 

Very accidentally spying on someone romantic's moment there ^.. it is a nice place to watch the sunset though, huh? Something tells me it'd be weird to ask if I could join them though.

Incredible, innit? It was so bright and - dare I use such a sappy word - transfixing. I honestly can't put into words how much I love watching sunsets and rises, but then again I have already talked about it a lot in previous posts so I'll stop before it gets weird(er). But seriously, if anyone wants to continue this discussion then get me on my cell and maybe we can start up a club or something. After this little winner of a sunset I went another walk around the resort - I absolutely love seeing the pool post-sunset - and it did not disappoint. Make sure and have a wander around this time to see what's on, as there's often entertainment, like steel drum bands, or even just for a drink at the bar.

So there we have it in all its beauty. Thank you once again to the lovely Tamarind to having me stay and for making my welcome back to Barbados as wonderful as it could be. And thank you to Mother Nature for serving up some bad-ass sunsets.

Catch up with my Barbados Photo Diary and 10 Things to do in Barbados posts here if you missed them!