2017
Somehow, we're at the end of another year and it's that time where everyones had a bit of down time, some time away from work, and we're all now thinking of the ways we want to do better in the new year. It's not all about setting unrealistic resolutions and piling pressure on ourselves, but more about just reflecting and improving. 2016 has been a weird year - in some ways it's been terrible, but in other ways it's been quite a great year for me. I got a new job, started to share my blog with irl people (lol), and went on my first holiday in 6(!!) years. So I might not have achieved some things that I wanted to, but I've achieved others that I didn't plan to and most importantly, I've moved forward. And that's why I've set some ~achievable goals for the next 12 months.
Self-love
I think we could all do with a little more self-loving in our lives, but really, I need to stop being so hard on myself. I should be proud of the small accomplishments, because a step forward is still forwards no matter how small, right? And tbh, just something as silly as actually celebrating my birthday for once would be a really big step for me.
Travel
As I mentioned above, I actually went on my first holiday in 6 years this month. And I loved it, but the anxiety I had was through the roof. I'm never gonna be one of those bloggers jetting off to new destinations every week, doing "12 countries in 12 months" challenges, but I just want to push myself a little more to get out and see more places. I already have a trip to Dublin booked for May with my family, but another trip with friends would be ideal.
Blogging
This time last year I set myself the same goal, but I want to get more ~social when it comes to blogging. Sharing my posts on social media has helped, and I got involved with one twitter chat, but I just find it hard. It's silly I know, everyone is new at some point, but I just struggle putting myself out there and not being too concerned with every tweet.
Healthy lifestyle
I have no goals in terms of losing a set amount of weight, or cutting out certain food groups (I have enough restrictions with IBS and being vegetarian) but I just want to eat a bit better, y'know? Stop having quorn nuggets and chips for tea when I can't be bothered to cook and actually plan meals in advance kind of thing. Also, stop with the chocolate every afternoon at work!
Saving
I'm not the worst when it comes to saving, but I definitely could be better. Especially when it comes to sales shopping, I'm so weak! But I'm at that point where I want to start seriously saving, because I can't live at home with my parents forever, no matter the bonuses! And I've still not got around to actually opening a new savings account which needs to happen.
Wearing: Dress, Forever 21 - Boots, River Island (old) - Jacket, Vintage
What are you goals for 2017?
Loves. Emma.
Girls Rock
So when this post goes live, I'll actually be in Paris which is super exciting! I haven't been on a holiday for like, 5 years? How mad is that! I was thinking of all the outfit photos I could get while I'm there until I realised it's December and I'm gonna be wrapped up in cosy layers because I'm always cold. (I have really bad circulation.) But hopefully I'll still get some good content for a Paris post when I'm back!
But talking about layers, this outfit is layering in a little more chic, less cosy way. I've seen the fishnet tights under jeans trend quite a bit lately and am loving it! I didn't have the right kind of jeans to do it, so got creative with a pair of scissors and a cheese grater (actually, lol). And I love the way it's turned out! I think the contrast of such light jeans against the tights really adds to it.
So I went through a bit of a phase a couple of years back, wearing checkered shirts like this one all of the time. I had so many different colours and styles! I haven't really worn many recently, but I saw this one and just had to have it because we all know, that girls really do rock. I keep venturing into Debenhams more lately when I go shopping and it's not really somewhere I've ever really shopped, but the H! by Henry Holland range is absolutely everything right now. It's so unique and quite a wide variety of styles tbh. I have a few sweaters and an amazing faux leather jacket from the range, it's such good quality and very reasonably priced. 10/10 would recommend.
Wearing: Shirt, H! by Henry Holland - Tee, Primark - Jeans, Next (customised) - Tights, Primark - Shoes, Topshop (no longer available)
Loves. Emma.
Taking Breaks
So we're into December and this is the first outfit post featuring a faux fur coat! A bit crazy considering I've been wearing all kinds of cosy coats lately, especially since we've had two bouts of snow already, but I actually shot these photos a couple of weeks ago and have just been struggling to put a post together. I went through the photos, edited them, got them all ready to go but they've been sat in a draft post ever since. So if you've noticed my absence lately, ain't nothing wrong, I just hit a bit of a rut and was feeling kinda unmotivated. I've been super busy with other things in my life which I had to prioritise, which in itself has now given me inspiration for this post.
Blogging is hard. When I started blogging a year ago, I had just finished university and wasn't working so could dedicate all the time I wanted to getting the right photos (I didn't, they were terrible looking back, but we live and learn hey). But with blogging, time is everything. Now, I work a full-time 9-5 and especially in winter when it gets dark at 4pm, and the weather is (almost always) terrible, finding the time to get half decent photographs can be a struggle, never mind the time to brainstorm ideas, write posts, compile them, schedule social media posts, etc. etc. I can never find enough time to read all the amazing blogs I follow!
This is certainly not a ~woe is me post at all, I choose to blog, I enjoy it and I don't want to dedicate my time to anything else right now. This is just me getting things of my chest and saying 'it's ok to take a break'. If things get too much, if you're really busy with personal things/health issues/work stress, just stop. Don't force yourself to stay up late to finish that post because it will wait. It will still be there to publish tomorrow, next week, at the end of the month. The kind of people who you want reading your blog will still be there. Put your laptop away, put the face mask on and get in the bath with that lush bath bomb you've been saving for a special occasion. Me time is the most important time.
I picked up this coat in the January sales at the start of this year and it's the softest faux fur I own! Being a cape, it's maybe not the most practical for winter with the bare arms and all, but I love it! It's that spotted kind of leopard print that's just a touch different and I loved the idea of putting it against another pattern, just a simple one like the striped top. And who doesn't love a pair of rose gold boots?! I lusted after these for so long and when I spotted them in the sale a few weeks back had to get them!
Loves. Emma.
Hold Up
Although the title of this post may suggest so, this isn't in homage to the Beyonce song. But it is a great song. I was just thinking about my blog and that whole 'what is your niche' and my blogging style and how I like to be quite chatty and personal in a lot of my posts. But then I was like, what do my ~readers even know about me? I've never done an 'about me' or a 'get to know me' kind of post, and the 'about' section on my blog is so brief it's quite pointless really isn't it? But that's just me and my love for minimalism tbh.
So I don't want this to come across all annoying or big-headed like 'she loves talking about herself' because actually, talking about myself is my least favourite thing to do, but I just want there to be more of ~me on the blog and for it to be a more personal place, if you get me? I don't really expect people to have been waiting to read about me or anything like that, obviously, I'm not exciting in the least, and I'm just rambling a bit now aren't I? This is just a post I wanted to put out there, so I am, basically.
I'm Emma and I have a shopping/spending problem. I've mentioned this a lot, most notably in this post and I don't want to say it's an addiction, that's not something to be said lightly, but I do have very low self-restraint. It's not always been like this, I used to be so good at saving, but I went through a pretty rough time where I had very little money to spend on myself, so now that I'm in a better place and have a full-time job, obviously I'm gonna have a lot of 'treat yoself' days! My bedroom is an overflowing collection of far too many shoes, coats, bags and clothes in general for one person to need. But it's not a mess. Not even an organised mess, because I am very particular about things being neat and tidy and organised. It's not OCD, but maybe a very very mild form? I'm forever rearranging things in the house that people have put away 'wrong' and I can't let other people do things because it won't be done my way.
I graduated University with a degree in Business Economics, but please never ask me a question about the economy. Especially not in the current state, because it's all just a mess.
I have a ~phobia of cheese. Cook it on a pizza and I'll eat it. But raw, I can't even touch the stuff.
I collect lipsticks (and lip products in general). Also, candles. But what's not to live about either of these things?!
My mastermind subject would be X Factor and I'm not even ashamed. Yes I've watched every series and can name you all of the winners.
I don't leave my bed nearly enough because anxiety is SO FUN. Plus, it's comfy, so?
This is rambly enough and I suspect most of you gave up after the Beyonce reference so I'm gonna end it here. But let me know what kind of posts you'd like to see more of. Personal, Styling, Wishlists? I'm in a bit of a rut!
Loves. Emma.
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Autumnal Shades: Lips
Following on from my last post about my favourite nail polish shades for this season, I had to share my favourite lip colours because I just live for dark lips. I'm all about nude, red or dark lips depending on the season and my mood. Not a fan of any kind of pinks. And I'm not a big make-up girl in general really. Well, some would disagree judging on my ever-growing collection, but try as I might I'm just not very good at doing make-up? The only way to make my make-up looks striking is through lip colour - it's the easiest and most statement. Plus, what is Autumn without a berry lip?
Side note: I'm trying to go cruelty free with all my makeup, skincare, etc., so a lot of my old favourites have been left out. Let me know any cruelty free brands you recommend!
You're probably sick of every blogger ever talking about this lipstick but it's so good! It's a nice creamy consistency even though it's a matte finish and it's a nice build able coverage too if you don't want the full effect. Perfect berry shade.
Not exactly a berry lipstick, but still a firm favourite and perfect for autumn. The lingerie range in general is a favourite of mine, the consistency and lasting power insanely good for the price! This shade is a dark brown with red undertones and the perfect shade to bridge the gap to a subtle berry tone if you prefer nudes.
I got a couple of the melted liquid lipsticks in the summer, but this is the first I've got in the new packaging with a wand instead of the usual applicator. I love the formula, the lasting power is great and look how dark it is! That pigmentation, though. Obsessed.
Any cruelty-free berry lip recommendations?
Loves. Emma.
Autumnal Shades: Nails
So it's been forever since I did a nail update, or any kind of beauty post, and I thought it was about time to change that. Autumn is not only my favourite season for fashion (and practically, everything), but for beauty too - any excuse for a dark lip and nail combo is good for me. I thought I'd split this into two post: my favourite nail polish shades for the season followed my lip shades - be prepared for lots of berry tones.
Barry M and Nails Inc are without a doubt two of my favourite nail polish brands, contended only really by WAH (but I don't have any dark autumnal shades from them yet). I know every blogger raves about Essie, but I've never found them to be any good for me. Maybe I've picked bad ones, but they always seem to chip and flake off from the first day? So I've got a selection of my top 5 here, a mix of both brands, both gel and normal finish. I was initially gonna pick my favourite berry toned polishes, but then I realised they were all so similar and why not mix it up a little.
This comes up almost black on camera, and it is the darkest of these shades. It's basically black with purple undertones and perfect for a vampy look.
I want to say this is a bright purple? It's not exactly luminous though, is it? Quite a strong, blue-toned purple.
The two biggest colours for Autumn are maroon and khaki, aren't they? This khaki shade is not a dirty khaki like they often can be, maybe a little more turquoise toned. And the gel effect from Barry M is the best.
Another favourite seasonal shade is mustard - it's kind of a love it or hate it and I definitely love it. It's another gel finish and such a different, statement choice.
I think this is my favourite berry shade, and I have quite a selection! It's bright enough without being bright, and has quite pink undertones to the purple.
What are your nail polishes of choice for Autumn?
Loves. Emma.
Chic & Sophisticated with sammydress
If you didn't catch my last post, it was the first of two in collaboration with sammydress. Although this outfit is much less 'me' than the last, I think I much prefer it? It's a complete contrast to the last outfit and that's what I liked so much about this collaboration. Also, you'll probably note the change in hair colour. I mean, it's Autumn! I had to go darker! I get bored with hair colours so it is only semi-permanent.
Frills and flared sleeves and the likes are everywhere this season and I'm a massive fan. I have so many different blouses/tops/jumpers with flared sleeves it is *quite* ridiculous. This blouse* is a bit different to any I own though, with the frills down the front and the cut-out/tie-up neckline. PSA the neckline can make it quite revealing depending on how you tie it and how the frills fall! It's great quality though and fits perfectly, but I did have to order this in an XL again which is beyond crazy.
I actually saw a pinafore very similar to this one when I was shopping a few weeks back and I was drawn to it, but didn't think it would suit me so I left it. Then I saw this one* and just thought, what the hell, basically! It's so nice and fitted, like often when I buy high waisted anything it's baggy on the waist in order to fit my hips, but this actually fits like a dream tbh. And it's so tailored and smart, but denim and casual at the same time, honestly can you tell how happy I am with this? It was one of those annoying pieces you order online and when it arrives the button holes aren't cut, so I had to cut them in, and the straps were excessively long, but there's not much that I can complain about with this really. Other than it being an XL again, but that seems to be the theme unfortunately.
So what we've learnt here is if you like something but don't think it will suit you, try it on anyway because you just might be surprised in the best way!
