Clashing Pancakes

So I had a pretty fantastic weekend - a huge weekend - at Radio One's Big Weekend. It was amazing, and so good to see so many acts all together. Anyway we all got a bit carried away and what better way to recover than a massive plate of pancakes.

Pancakes to me this particular morning meant comfort and so I wanted to feel comfortable too and this slouchy t-shirt is perfect. I love stripes at the minute, they're just so easy to wear with anything and always remind me of seaside sunny days and there's something a little bit chic about a stripey top. This particular one is designed as boyfriend fit so is big, roomy and slouchy comfortable.


I paired it with this fantastic H&M trousers. Clashing patterns look great and this is a great alternative if you don't want to go all out to start with. The stripey blue and white pattern look really complimentary against the swirly, whirly, paisley - basically pretty darn patterned - trousers.

Pop on some pretty summer flats, a spikey statement necklace and a cosy cardigan and you're all set for the perfect recovery breakfast. These little sandals are so cute for summer! I feel like I have so many winter boots and so some new summer flats seemed  in order. Primark's great for this as you can pick up a whole load of really sweet ones for cheapo prices.

And onto the pancakes!

We headed into Charlie Rocks on Byres Road. I love going out for breakfast, it's such a treat and catching up on weekend gossip over a cappuccino is ideal. Charlie Rocks is kind of rustic American in style, the decoration is nice with little vases of flowers dotted about. The best bit is the massive windows so you can sit and watch the world go by.

The portion of pancakes was huge! But tasty and definitely helped my recovery!

Cardigan - Topshop
T-Shirt - Primark
Trousers - H&M
Sandals - Primark
Necklace - Primark

REVIEW: Bargain Beauty

For some beauty products you do just have to pay that little bit extra to get exactly what you're looking for - but this doesn't always have to be the case! So I decided to share with you some of my beauty essentials that are an absolute steal.

1 - Rimmel Nail Nurse, Base and Top Coat - £4.49

This is an amazing base for nail varnishes. It boasts of a 5 in 1 formula that claims to keep your nails smoother, stronger, longer, moisturized and shinier - although I've maybe not noticed all of this things straight away, using it over time I would definitely say that my nails stay longer and are stronger. However the reason I fell head over heels with this product is because it really keeps the varnish on for a whole lot longer! Using it as a base and top coat every time I apply a colour I find that my nails stay put, with little to absolutely no chips for up to a week and more - amazing I know. The base coat also stops darker colours dying the nail - but it's the staying power that wowed me for sure.

2 - Superdrug Simply Pure Eye Make-Up Remover - £2.59

Aimed to be used on sensitive skin (which I think is ideal for the delicate eye area) this eye make-up remover is fragrance and paraben free - for that area of make-up removal the simpler the better, so this makes me pleased to start with. It's really mild and gentle and I've never felt irritated by it, leaving a clean and refreshed feeling without the greasy residue. And to top it all off it easily wipes away eye make-up without having rub your eyes raw. With other removers I would be convinced every smidgen of mascara had gone but would still wake up with panda eyes - but Superdrug Simply Pure fixed all this.


3 - Boots Essentials Nail Polish Remover - £1

So once I've painted my nails - and they've lasted amazingly well with Rimmel - I've got to switch the colour up every now and again. This nail polish remover is one that I highly recommend. It glides easily over nails and I often find I only need one cotton pad, without scrubbing away for ages. Even dark and glittery polishes come off really easily, simply wiping off and leaving little residue behind - without drying nails out.. It just really is pretty darn good, and for that price I mean who could complain.

4 - Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer - £5.99

I have had a long term love affair with YSL Touche Eclat - and don't get me wrong this love affair hasn't ended I've just found an alternative that's a tad on the cheaper side. It's a gel concealer with no waxes or fillers and blends into skin really well, going on smoothly and feels nice and soft on your face. As a concealer it's not too heavy, but still covers up blemishes and imperfections brilliantly without leaving a caked feeling on your face, opting for a more natural look. The light coverage feels so much better leaving you with a make-up look that feels fresh, breathable and natural. 



5 - Superdrug Cleansing Wipes - 99p

What a price I know! These cleansing wipes are super soft on your face and aim to gently cleanse and purify. What I first noticed about these wipes were how wet they were, some wipes can tend to dry out, but these are moisture rich - meaning that they can easily glide over the face removing make-up without rubbing. With ingredients including witch hazel your skin is left cleansed, soft and refreshed. Best of all mascara comes off easily, result! I don't use face wipes often, but sometimes on holiday, a weekend away or rolling in after a night out they're just easier and for these times the Superdrug cleansing wipes are ideal.

6 - Nivea Tinted Moisturiser - £3.59

Along the lines of the Maybelline concealer this tinted moisturiser is perfect for a more natural make-up look. It's a natural day cream with a hint of coverage that evens out the skin tone with a tiny amount of colour. Filled with vitamins and SPF you're skin is left feeling moisturised and healthy and it claims to be packed with light reflecting and colour pigments that give your skin a flawless finish, reducing imperfections. Just out teh tube it can look a bit dark, but it blends beautifully into your skin with a lovely finish - it's an ideal alternative to foundation.

7 - Boots Essentials Body Lotion - £1.49

Packed with cocoa butter and vitamin E this body lotion softens, nourishes and smooths the skin. It absorbs really well and you're left with silky feeling skin that has been both moisturised and conditioned - perfect! The smell is delicious, but not over-powering and even feels a little luxurious. I smooth it all over every night and I've definitely noticed a difference in my skin, feeling much softer and moisturised - and I'm not left with a greasy feeling by bedtime as it soaks into your skin really well. As far as value for money goes it's fantastic as it's a 390ml bottle that seems to last forever.

     ***** All prices were correct at time of post publish.

                                               

Plaid and Simple

A plaid shirt really is a wardrobe staple and I find myself going back to this little number over and over again.

They don't have to be just 'grunge' and can be dressed up as feminine and cute or if the mood takes you androgynous and tough. This particular shirt is great for a softer look - with the pinks and purples, but I won't lie I would never say no to the more classic red, blue and green flannel.

It is an ideal style for every day wearing and is easy to wear with anything at all - being perfectly effortless and simple. Plaid shirts are pretty much made for layering and that's just how I styled up this particular look.


With a plain white jumper on top the pop of pattern jazzes up what would be a fairly simple choice. If you do layer-it-up make sure you can see the cuffs and collar - I just rolled up the sleeves of the jumper for some more flannel loving. This jumper is ideal with a deep v-neck, I got it wandering round a little French village and it does make me feel like I should be sailing away on my yacht, but oh well!

Just add dark wash jeans, some tattered old brogues and a statement necklace round the collar and voila! I have almost worn this shoes to death, but I think they look even better this way - a wee bit scruffy and raggedy. And just to add some sparkle and a bit more of a girlie touch this pink and diamante statement necklace is lovely.



Plaid is all over the place just now and can be worn with pretty much anything - over dresses, with leather leggings or even tied round the waist - and it always looks great. Right now I'm craving some short dungarees to layer over a flannel shirt and go for the proper lumberjack look!

Shirt - Topshop
Jumper - A little French shop 
Jeans - Miss Selfridge
Brogues - New Look 
Necklace - Primark

Slouchy knits and Sunday burgers

There's no better way to spend a Sunday than snuggled up in bed with tea and glossy magazines, before throwing on some cosy knits and heading out to gorge on delicious burgers - and that's exactly what I did!

Once I'd unraveled myself from my bed cocoon I popped on my favourite big knit cardigan. This one is a gorgeous maroon colour, which I think suits everyone and looks great with all sorts. The oversized shape makes it feel like a big fashiony hug - ideal for a Sunday afternoon.

I paired it with a silky top, navy blue with a bird print design. I found this little beauty in London a couple of years ago. Wandering down some cobbled street we stumbled across an adorable boutique and this top has been a fantastic wardrobe faithful ever since. Again, it's quite oversized, with a racer back and can reveal a sneaky peek of lace bra - oooer.

The jeans are a Topshop staple. I find that the style of jeans in Topshop fit me really well and these are a Leigh cut that are coated. The coated jeans are nice for something a bit different from the everyday jean. It gives them just a little sheen and an almost leather look to them, they are a great alternative if you wanted something a little bit dressier than normal denim.


Now, I'll let you into a little secret here, I have pretty small feet, I mean pretty-very small so I can get away with buying kids shoes.... And these boots are just that - from the New Look kids section. If you have small feet I recommend it! Sizes tend to go up to a 4 - 5, most of them are actually really nice and the best bit is they're cheaper!

It was lovely sunny Sunday and we headed off in search a proper Sunday roast. However, as it does in Glasgow, the rain came on, so at this point burgers began calling. And thankfully The Left Bank was nearby.


The Left Bank would probably, pretty much definitely, win the award for best burgers in the Westend. They are simply delicious, with a selection of toppings, rosemary chips, beetroot, salad and chipotle mayo  all washed down with a beer and you're in heaven.


I opted for some gruyere cheese and bacon on top, but did get a lil bit of food envy when the side of pulled pork arrived opposite me. Every scrap on the plate was munched - and that's how you do a perfect Sunday.

Cardigan - Missguided
Top - A little boutique in London (I'm sorry I can't remember!)
Jeans - Topshop
Boots - New Look
Chain - An old broke necklace