Jewel Tones

I bought this Whistles blouse a month or so ago when there was an offer in place of some description, and then like some items do, it just hung there waiting to be worn. Then one sweet day i just decided today was the day, annnnd now i can't stop wearing it. Its so so comfy and because its navy it goes with black, berry, like above, and normal jeans.

It's blouse love.

As i've mentioned a few dozen times, i'm edging more and more towards plain clothes, by plain i mean less prints, not plain boring of course. But with my wardrobe fast becoming a mass affair of black, white and then breton tops i decided an injection of pattern was needed.

This loop detail blouse was just the ticket for me. Kind of animal print-esque but different in the fact that it is infact a loop print. The colouring, as i've already mentioned is just spot on for me.
On the day i donned it for its maiden voyage (out for lunch that is, not a cruise around the world) i paired it with some gorgeous jewel deep tones, which i was really really pleased with the outcome. Rich shades can look so luxe, the forest green, the berry coated skinny jeans and the navy deep blouse all worked very happily together I'm pleased to report.

And as for the blouse, well I've already worn it 3 more times since, each time in a slightly different combination.

That is shirt love ladies and gents. Shirt love indeed.

And now i have a thing for shirts and blouses and the need for more. I may have just placed an ever so sneaky order for a gorgeous Star Print Equipment Shirt (scroll to the bottom of the Shopbop page and you'll see the black with white star beauty.... what d'you think? Lovely??)

Plus Shopbop has 25% off everything right now* TWNETYFIVE PERCENT OFF!! Yep you read that correctly.
I have a wish list as long as my leg...Shall share tomorrow and see if anyone wants to buy me an early Birthday present( my birthday is December.. never to early to start requesting early birthday presents right?)
But if you fancy anything the code is INTHEFAM25 or click the image to take ya through.
I may have also made a sneaky handbag purchase that i've been longing for (can you guess which one??)

Are you a blouse/shirt lover?

Wearing:

Whistles Mini Loop Shirt

Berry Coated Jeans: F&F last year. Similar

Clarks Heels

Radley Navy Bag

F&F Forest Green Trench (now available online 

and looks so much more expensive than its small price tag!!)

Necklace

Capes, Cardigans and Pochos

It's been the most bizarre weather here in the UK of late. Brisk and cold in the morning, which is seasonally perfect. But come 2pm i'm stripping off more layers than Magic Mike. Its hitting 20 degrees celcius in the sun some days.. i mean.. what the what? Our summer wasn't even this warm.
So i got to browsing for some cold weather options that could work for me throughout the day.
My answer i came to was capes, wraps and poncho like things.
Snuggly and warm, perfect for layering in the morning, then come afternoon either fling it off or take off the jumper underneath and wear with a simple tee.
So whats available for the wraps, capes and poncho's? Well there is literally a plethora of offerings from high end to easy on the wallet.
For me, i like them plain, neutral rather than tassled and checked (having said that i do have one that is both tassled and checked from last winter that i loved, and also a new gift checked one in grey which, also i love). But the rule of thumb for me is less sundance kid more chic layering.. apparently.
So findings?

Starting with a cardigan/wrap hybrid from BB Dakota, which could be my favourite.
Love this... Love the colour, styling and the remixabilty. The fabric looks soft and snuggly and the D ring tie belt is a nice touch, but could also me changed for a different belt if you so liked (i'm thinking a leopard print belt) Also price wise its pretty on the money. BB Dakota is a brand i've found more and more pieces i've liked by them lately. More on that soon i'm sure.

 Autograph striped wrap
Open Cape Cardigan

Next up i looked in good ol' M&S and there's a nice selection of knitwear in general this season.
Very berry and autumnal. Both these rich in colour, would look great with denim on denim, black and greys. I think in my mind, i like the idea of sleeves, so the second one for me works well. I love the colour combination of a light blue denim and a berry so this looks pretty darn good in my minds.
eye.

Mango Kate Moss 70's Blanket Cape

ASOS Camel Stripe Cape With Tassels

A skip and a hop over to Asos found some nice offerings, some that i didn't think at the beginning of this post was what i wanted, but what d'you know., i am always happy to be proven wrong (unless your my husband) 

The first one that caught my eye was the Mango Kate Moss 70's Blanket Cape.. It was the styling that did it for me. Who knew a blanket wrap could look so damn sexy. I always thought of them as weekend/casual wear. Snuggly and comfy. But that outfit really shows that the piece is versatile and can look great dressed up with some leather and a sheer blouse. 

Then we then have the safe bet with a good camel coloured wrap. Tassels are present but the simple neutral and lack of print keeps this still pretty chic and really versatile

Espirt Long Checked Hooded cape

Gani Fringed poncho in Navy

 These next two are not what i intended at all. But they're so so... well, nice!
The Espirt is borderline picnic blanket, but yet i love the red and blues together, plus the hood adds that nice touch and stops it from looking like you've just rolled in your nans blanket
The Gani, a bit more pricey but again, the navy is such a great colour. Wear with creams, blues and denims or against a whole black under outfit and navy boots. I actually really love it.

I had to throw a full on cape in here. Capes are set to be huge this winter and this one from 

The Kooples is divine. 

If i was going to tackle the cape ( i just can't get my head, or my arms around them: appendages hanging out the sides of something just doesn't sit right with me.. Plus say cape to me and i just think Batman, something i blatantly need to overcome.) it would have to be classic black for me. Timeless, chic and could be dressed up or down.

Line

 Finally finishing on a cardigan/cape in luscious grey. Now this one i could live in this winter. Pile the layers on underneath, even wear a scarf around the neck, hobo bag and good to goo.
Amazing with khaki, black, navy.. you name it. It could quite easily be my caped crusader.

Seven on Sunday 0.5

This week has seen me sink my teeth in to my new role of full time blogger/Yosa owner.
And here's where i will be completely honest with you. I could not get going at first, in fact my whole self motivation mojo didn't arrive till Friday. It could have been a mix of bloggers block, the thought of having all this time on my hands to do these things now, rather than a rush job as it has been for so many years, or it could have just been tiredness after a really hectic few weeks. It all just hit me.
But come friday evening, bizzarley all i wanted to do was work, i was sat at  my laptop after seeing tot he kids etc, and sat there like a busy little worker bee.

And now I finally feel the urge to get researching/writing/promoting.

Not sure if I've mentioned this before but i often find i work better in the night times, come 8 o'clock i find my best thoughts come. Half my teenage coursework was done at 11pm onwards (nothing like working at the last minute to get you to that luring  deadline ay) Half sleepy delirium perhaps, but that is when my mind is most focused.

So going forward i need to teach myself to focus my energies at a more approproiate time.. Shall keep you posted on that.

Do you have any tips on self motivation?

On to what i've been loving this week from around the world wide web;

0.1 I am so impressed with this foundation. I'm absolutely in love with it in fact. It does what it says on the tin, its matte, which is my ultimate personal preference. I'm not a dewy, glowy foundation lover for a few reasons. But the coverage on this is fantastic and it goes on like a dream. Highly recommend. Am thinking of doing a little makeup favourites vlog if you're interested? I have found some beautiful products that i would love to share with you?

0.2 I read Me Before You and balled like a baby and totally fell in love with the character and JoJo Moyes style of writing, so when my mum told me she'd picked up a book called Me After You i knew instantly what it was and that i'd have to read it. I've only just started but very intrigued as to where this will Lou Clarks character will go.

0.3 I discovered a new to me brand this week. So many good items. but the jackets and coats are what i'm loving (and the cardigans) especially the grey and burgundy faux leather jackets. Great styles and really on the money.

0.4 I've been buying lots of plain clothes this season so far. Navy's, black and grey, which i love! I currently love getting dressed each morning, but a little bit of colour wouldn't go a miss. Love this Katie Jumper in red. With flares or skinny jeans it could look lovely.

0.5 I've been on a berry boot hunt this week. Yep, last week it was navy, this week its berry. I am boot OBSESSED ladies. I need bootervention. So the contenders? Well M&S has some beauties i must say, But the decision is skinny heel? Or block heel? Or Oxblood? I love them all. Skinny heel can be dressed up? The block heeled would get more wear on the daily. But, but, but.. i don't know.

0.6 Continuing with jumpers, you can see where my mind is at right now can't you, boots and jumper!  But this jumper is gorgeous.. not many sizes left now.. booo. But will be popping in to Cardiff this week, may have to go see if they have my size in stock.

0.7 Just had my food delivery and this is on the menu.. shall let you know if its tasty! I love me a risotto!

So ladies over to you, what have you been loving this week? Do let me know in the comments below

Much Love,

My New Beauty Regime

My beauty regime has changed quite a bit over the past 5 years.
I used to be that girl who would sleep in her makeup and then use a wet wipe come morning time.. ick, i know, have i ever mentioned i was lhhaazzyy!!
But with my skin changing (ahem getting older) and having my son, i made a concious effort to start putting a little more effort in to this face of mine, 'cos lets face it, no one else will do it for me.
So through some trial and error i have found a plethora of products that work for me.
Some are oldies that i return to time after time, and some are new discoveries that i feel will become oldies and are in the stages of becoming firm favourites.

Recently i was introduced to Sk:n products, a brand i hadn't heard of before but wow...
So now i'm passing this little nugget of skincare info on to you.

Sk:n..
Where do i start?
With an ode of love perhaps? I'll spare you my horrific poetry and just skip to the facts.
This stuff is good.
So very good.
I got to sample these products, and it's not very often i'm blown away by samples. But Sk:n? Well they have very quickly become a firm favourite which i will be certainly be re-purchasing.
Where to start?
The beginning is as good as anywhere,
A little Cleanse and Exfoliate.

I like to cleanse every morning and every night, its a major improvement from my baby wet wipes cleanse days i tell you. I like quite a vigorous cleanser where i feel like my face is squeeky clean. But it also has to be fairly gentle as to not ruin my skin and leave me feeling like i've had a slap in the face. 

I pour a little of the cleanse and exfoliate liquid on to a cotton pad and it removes all impurities and all make-up. I feel so clean after, its the best i have found for both removal and cleansing. I don't have time to make up remove then cleanse and exfoliate in separate steps, 'cos quite frankly come night time my bed is calling and it takes all my will power to not reach for the wet wipes. So this for me is easy and i've really noticed the difference.

Next Moisturiser

For me, one of the most important steps: Eye cream.

I often suffer from sleep deprivation, stress and all those other pleasantries us ladies have to deal with. The one place for me that always shows the signs of my inner demons are my eyes. Bloodshot, grey and wrinkles are my giveaway signs.

I need a good eye cream.

The Sk:n eye cream is.. well, its lovely. Cooling and de puffing would be its best qualities. I have found my eye area is less grey after using for 2 weeks, but the lines are still there.. i don't think anything would shift those they're so engrained, but it feels lovely and like i mentioned the de-puffing is a great quality, especially first thing in the morning. I apply this morning and night again and it sits really well under makeup too, which is always good as i hate thick lotions that make you feel caked.

Next up Corrective and Moisture

 I think i've mentioned before, i suffer from red undertones and a really uneven complexion. I don't have one of those faces that could leave the house without a scrap of make up on. I'm quite lucky in that i don't tend to suffer from spots (Unless i've been on the ol' pop, which is rare, but inevitably causes a small outbreak)
When i opened the Sk:n products i was intrigued to see how the Anti-redness cream worked for me.
For me it evened out my complexion slightly, but more importantly for me, its the nicest moisturisers i've ever used. Its up there for me with Elemis. Its lightweight but you feel like it really does give your skin a drink. In the morning after aplying it the night before, my skin feels so soft its phenomenal.
Again its also lightweight enough to sit under my makeup, which is a must for me.
Out of all the products this was my favourite. I also love the scent, its quite masculine (not floral or fruity) which i love, and not overpowering, its subtle.

The Anti Blemish serum is great for breakouts. I'm quite lucky*touches wood* that i don't suffer terribly, but as i mentioned above, i do have the odd breakout when i've been drinking. Which recently i did and what d'you know? Spotty chin.
I applied the Anti Blemish serum morning and night and within 2 days i couldn't even see the culprits any more. Gone!

At the grand old age of 30 i have the best skin i've had in years (bar the extra wrinkles of course), and a regime that works for me.

Do you have any products that you love and that works for you?
I would love to hear!

PS Would you like to read about my current makeup favourites too? ( i would love to share!) Let me know in the comment section below if you would like an updated makeup post!