Oct 24, 2013

Desktop Beauty

Posted in Beauty.

Despite my freelance status, I work from a studio and have my own proper desk space (which I wrote about here, if you’re interested). Getting up and heading out every day does wonders for my productivity, and having a desk away from home means I can leave work when I leave the building… in theory. Not always the case, but it’s nice to have the option!

As my studio is in the city centre, almost every night is an opportunity for after-work drinks, meals, events, karaoke… I love winding down after busy days with a glass (bottle) of red wine. And after sitting at a desk for 8 hours, I like to refresh with a few beauty essentials. Which is where my Desktop Beauty Booty comes in.

I carry my cosmetics in my handbag, so my desktop stash is dedicated to products that wipe away a day’s work and get me ready for a night out. I have the basic essentials – deodorant, hairspray to keep curls intact and dry shampoo to resurrect my limp locks. There’s also a mini pack of face wipes for when makeup retouching goes awry and a hand sanitizer to keep germs at bay (keyboards are truly disgusting places).

Then comes the fun stuff – hand creams from Neal’s Yard and Clinique, mini perfumes from Clarins and Hermés, an emergency Topshop lipstick for those awful days I leave mine on my dresser and a teeny pot of L’Occitane’s wonderfully-titled Precious Cream, which smells divine and is great for soothing chapped lips.

Having some home comforts on my desk makes the transition from day to night much easier. These products help me shake off my working day and keeping them stationed on my desk means I never have to make a mad dash to Superdrug to get my hair looking halfway decent.

I’ve given my desk a bit of a spruce so I thought I’d show you around. I love having things on display and will always pick up a cute postcard to stick above my iMac. The NYC map is by Herb Lester, bought from the fantastic Colours May Vary which is on the ground floor of my studio building.

The milk bottle vase and cactus plant are both Ikea, and the wooden ampersand was an eBay find. The grey felt coaster is part of a pack from BHS – I really recommend BHS for gorgeous homewares at really decent prices. It’s also where I found the white wicker heart basket that my desktop beauty goodies are stored in.

What beauty essentials do you keep on your desk?

When Two Become One

Posted in Daily Outfits, Fashion.

(Sorry to get that song stuck in your head).

Dress, Cos | Leather trousers, Topshop | Necklace, Zara | Shoes, Dune | Belt, Forever 21

Remember the 90s? If you don’t, stop reading this and go watch Clueless. Then we can talk.

If you do, you’ll know 90s fashion was all about two seemingly separate and unrelated items becoming one. Skirts and shorts became skorts. T-shirts came with those attached-but-separate long sleeves, to give the appearance of layering without the additional washing and we wore cycling shorts under our skater skirts. I even recall a pair of jeans with a built-in bumbag.

And, of course, we wore dresses with trousers. Always.

I took a leaf out of The Book of the 90s (not a real book) when getting dressed today. Although it’s not quite an outfit worthy of the heady, Global Hypercolour days of 1996, it has that 90s RnB vibe about it, and that’s pretty awesome in my book.

What trends do you remember from the 90s? Any you’d care (or dare) to repeat today?

Trinity Kitchen Launch, Leeds

Posted in Food, Home.

Last week I popped down to the launch of Trinity Kitchen in Leeds. If you’re a local, you’ll know all about the Trinity behemoth that opened earlier this year – a huge shopping mall in the city centre, filled with big flagship stores.

Trinity Kitchen is the centre’s food hall, but you won’t find McDonald’s or KFC here.

I’m not a ‘foodie’ by any stretch of the imagination – I will quite happily admit that Nando’s is among my favourite restaurants and I love a good frozen pizza. I’m probably prime target audience for Trinity, and I would’ve been perfectly satisfied with a Maccy Ds and maybe a Leon for when I’m feeling fancy.

But Trinity Kitchen is much more than that. I was blown away by the space, the styling, the fantastic mix of flavours. As a non-foodie, many of these brands are totally new to me (and will be to much of Leeds too, I bet) and the whole experience was something I hadn’t seen in my own city before.

I also love the notion that Trinity Kitchen will be ever-changing – as well as resident restaurants like Pizza Luxe, Pho and Chicago Rib Shack, there were pop-up stalls selling everything from curry to brownies, all styled to perfectly represent their brand ethos.

For me, eating out is as much about the surroundings as it is the food. A well-designed space will capture my attention and stick in my memory just as much as a great meal will. I loved the flow of Trinity Kitchen – from sleek minimalism to creative street art (by Leeds-based artists, no less) with a slice of Americana in the middle.

I should probably mention the food itself – I tried mini pizzas from PizzaLuxe, spring rolls from Pho, ribs from Chicago Rib Shack and brownies from The Marvellous Tea & Cakes Shed. All delicious, but especially the PizzaLuxe pizzas. I’m an absolute sucker for a good pizza and the goats cheese, chorizo, honey and grape one was right up my street.

I know it’s rather ‘uncool’ to enjoy hugely commercial enterprises, but Trinity Kitchen is a winner in my book. Perfect for grabbing a bite on a hectic Tuesday, winding down with a champagne cocktail on a Friday or enjoying dinner before the cinema on a Sunday.

(Sorry for all the photos… this was the first time I’ve taken my proper camera to an event in a while and I had a great time playing photographer!)

The Perfect Gin & Tonic

Posted in Food.

Gin and tonic has been my drink of choice for many years. It’s refreshing, simple to mix and easy to sup. I rarely drink anything else when I’m out (although if red wine’s on the cards I can always be persuaded).

My gin of choice is Hendrick’s – it’s a very light gin infused with rose and cucumber that helps neutralise the hint of bitterness you sometimes get with tonic. Despite having been around since 1999, I’m still often met with blank stares when I ask for a Hendrick’s and tonic in a bar. So I thought I’d write a very quick guide to making my favourite drink – also known as the Perfect G&T.

You will need:

Bottle of Hendrick’s Gin
Bottle of Schweppes Tonic Water
Cucumber
Ice
Tall glass

Method:

Making a G&T is an entirely straightforward process. Ice goes in glass. Gin follows ice. Top with tonic (Schweppes is the original and best, in my opinion). Then add… cucumber?

And this is where it can go so wrong. Normally, gin and tonic is served with lime but Hendrick’s and cucumber were made for each other, and no other finishing flourish will do. Slice up a little cucumber, slip it into your glass and we’re good to go.

A little something for the weekend, maybe? Cheers!

I Love It When An (Outfit) Plan Comes Together

Posted in Blogging, Daily Outfits, Fashion.

I’m constantly scribbling down ideas for outfits. I’ll spot a stylish lady on the train and tap ‘leather pants pointy shoes good’ into my iPhone. I’ll see a particularly lovely editorial in a magazine at the hairdressers and covertly rip out the page. I’ll pin a photo of my favourite blogger. Inspiration is everywhere, but my ideas very rarely come off.

I’ll lose the ripped page and find my note indecipherable. Or inspiration will come at 3am and by 8am I’ve clean forgotten. More often than not, I’ll go shopping with good intentions to recreate an outfit I’ve seen on Atlantic Pacific, then only remember I’m three dress sizes larger with ridiculous boobs when I’m in the fitting room, despairing. So usually my ideas go un-acted upon.

This was one idea that did come to fruition. I’d seen both these pieces – the Topshop fluffy jumper and Whistles leather skirt – on various bloggers, but always separately. The fluffy cropped jumper has that 90s appeal that many 20-year-olds are into these days (I remember it the first time around and definitely won’t be going back), while the Whistles skirt was featured by the timelessly classy Laura from Wearing It Today. Two entirely different aesthetics that, in my mind, would come together perfectly.

(This photo makes me DIE.)

Skirt, Whistles | Jumper, Topshop | Shoes, Dune | Necklace, J Crew | Watch, Michael Kors

… I think I was right! I absolutely love this outfit. I’m really into mixed textures at the moment and think the fluffy jumper works so well with the tough leather. Teamed with my new favourite shoes – these were £79 reduced to £27 (!!!) in the Dune sale – I think this is one I’ll repeat again and again.

Do you dream up outfit ideas?

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