Flashing a Lifeguard in a Triangl Bikini*

I am a big fan of the swimwear brand, TRIANGL*. I don't think I know a girl who isn't, so my friends were most upset/jealous when I managed to get my hands on one. When it came to ordering one, I honestly didn't know which to choose - there is just so much choice; different shapes, colours and styles. I eventually settled for the Ruby - Paris Playground, a black bandeau top with zip detailing and hot pink bikini bottoms. The bikini itself is made from Neoprene, making it very comfortable, but you do have to be wary with sun cream as it can stain easily. Despite how pretty and comfortable it is, I would say to get yourself properly measured when ordering. Though my bottoms fitted perfectly, I had to exchange my top and, even now, it's a bit too small. I just have to make sure I'm sat still when wearing it and not kayaking or paddleboarding (been there, done that, flashed the lifeguards) I'd suggest perhaps going up a size or two when ordering the top, especially if, like me, you have a large chest, and maybe avoid the bandeau tops. I've been wearing this a lot over the Summer, and I'm so happy it hasn't faded in the sun. I've also been mix and matching the bottoms with other bikini tops that I own. The floral one pictured below is from H&M.

I Ruined a D&G Watch - Closet Confidential Tag.

You know when you spend hours and hours watching YouTube with the videos only getting more and more random (because who doesn't want to watch someone paint and then pull off 100 layers of nail polish?) until, suddenly, there's a ray of hope and you find a video from years back of one of your favourite YouTubers? That happened to me recently, and the video in hand was Lily Pebbles' Closet Confidential tag. This tag seemed perfect for everyone like me that seems to have a bit of a shopping/clothes addiction. Admittedly, this could just fuel my addiction that bit more, but I'm not complaining (my bank account is though).

Why Harrods is the Best & Worst Place to Visit in London.

Most people who visit London want to visit Harrods. I was definitely amongst that group of people and it's actually where some of my favourite memories from my time in London took place. From sampling all the delicious food, trying on the gorgeous shoes or even flirting with staff (my favourite past-time), there is plenty to do. The down side? It can end up being pretty pricey and on more than one occasion, my best friend, Ariadna, had to stop me from spending 50 GBP on chocolates or 2000 GBP on my dream handbag...

Places I Want To Visit This Year.

Travelling is not only a hobby of mine, but also a passion. There's just something about visiting a new city or country and experiencing new cultures, food and lifestyles that is so fascinating to me. Whether it be a city that is 3 or 30,000 miles away, I'll probably find something that I love about it - hot or cold, a beach break or adventure holiday... I'm in! I was lucky enough to visit some incredible countries last year, and I'm hoping to see even more of what the world has to offer. I'll hopefully be visiting these places...

February Wishlist: Books.

Up until last month, I'm ashamed to admit at just how little I've read over the past few years, something I'm slightly horrified by considering just how much I read up until I was about sixteen. I was that child that didn't want to watch TV, I just wanted to read. When going on holiday, half of my suitcase and hand luggage would be filled with books. Some may say taking the entire Harry Potter away with you is a bit excessive, but I disagree. I don't know why I stopped but I'm determined to get back into it - my only problem is that I can't see to find any books that I think I'll like, other than coffee table books, which I'm obsessed with, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which I still haven't read (shocking!!!!). Until I find some books that I want to read, and suggestions are more than welcome, here's what I'll be adding to my Amazon basket...

Favourite Fashion Instagrammers.

Today has been one of those days where I have spent hours absentmindedly staring into my larger than average wardrobe but still can't seem to find anything to wear. It's days like this when I turn to one of my favourite social media platforms, Instagram, for a bit of fashion inspiration. While that may mean sieving your way through endless photos of Givenchy Antigona bags, fluffy Céline shoes and more Kylie Jenner selfies than one wants to see, but I've learnt to skip that part and go straight to some of my major Instagram style crushes' pages. 

15 Under 15 (With One Exception).

As a student, I don't have a lot of money to spend on fashion and beauty so I have to be incredibly careful with my purchases. You'll often catch me having a browse through NARS, MAC, Charlotte Tilbury, etc. but I never really buy anything from there. I'd say about 90% of my make-up is KIKO or Rimmel, with the odd exception being from a more expensive (or cheaper) brand. Here are 15 reasonably priced products, tried and tested, that I consider to be staple products...

From Me to You: Tips for Long-Haul Flights.

It's safe to say that I've done a few long haul flights in my life. Two personal highlights include a fifteen hour flight followed by a nine hour flight - they were GREAT (major sarcasm) and oh so long. They involved me becoming so ill and the plane staff being no help whatsoever that I burst into tears and told them they were going to have to give me drugs or do an emergency landing... So they gave me Calpol. NO HELP WHATSOEVER. Those two flights aside, the rest have been great and I've strangely enjoyed them, so I thought I'd share a few tips with you. Oh, and once you're back flying short haul, it will be like you've blinked and you've landed. It's so weird. 

A Once in a Lifetime Experience.

As an animal lover/human with a brain, I know zoos can be a touchy subject. So, when a trip to Perth Zoo was suggested, I was understandably a little bit skeptical, but, after much research into all the work Perth Zoo do and just how much they give back, I was determined to give it a go, and I'm so glad I did. The habitats were large and designed to be exactly like the animals' regular home, and the Zoo itself works with charities across the globe and is determined to fight the extinction of many animals the zoo is home too. While there, I was actually allowed to have a one on one experience with some of the animals. You can book to do this either online or on the day, and can meet/feed/help bathe so many different animals: giraffes, elephants, different breeds of monkeys, etc. (prices vary). With the giraffes, you would normally be in a group of 10 and each person is allowed to give a giraffe one branch. I was lucky enough to be allowed to do it on my own and spend a good twenty minutes up there. Giraffes are easily one of my favourite animals, so this was a dream come true. Myself and Armani (!!) got on very well. All in all, I don't have a problem with certain zoos, as long as they are actually trying to better the lives of animals in the long run, with breeding and research that they do with the animals in their captivity. AND NO SHOWS.

My Happy Place (Excluding the Bankruptcy).

Is there anything better than a complete stranger coming up to you whilst you're wearing a £6000 Dolce and Gabbana crown and telling you how much it suits you? Just in case that hasn't happened to any of you, I can tell you that there's not. It almost made me jump for joy (the crown was being carefully watched by a shop assistant, who was ready to dive for it at a moment's notice). this happened in Bicester Village, a shopping outlet in Oxford, which is basically heaven on earth. Oxford is about 40 minutes out of London and clearly Geography isn't our strong point because it was much more in the countryside than we expected. Ariadna's first words once we'd stepped off the train, other than "take a photo of me", were "it smells of horse shit". Charming. Asides from that, there are designer stores with items just a fraction of their usual place, pop-up stalls, places to eat and, if you go in December, the most amazing Christmas decorations you will ever see and an incredible playlist of Christmas songs. Make sure to wear an amazing outfit and to take your purse and a lot of self-control. I ended up buying a Mulberry card holder and a Fossil watch. 

Snug as a Bug in a Rug.

I didn't think it was possible to own as many coats and jackets as I do and still want more. Black, camel, leather, denim... you name it, I've probably got it and, if I don't have it, then I'm probably currently saving or have my eye on it. Yes, living in wet, cold and rainy England can sometimes get you down, but there's something about wearing more layers than an onion has that it oddly satisfying. This winter, I'm determined to avoid the combination of a thick jumper, coat, jeans, snood and boots. Instead, I want to incorporate them into my everyday look in a different way. Also, I want to bring tracksuit bottoms back in a big way, mainly because I can't be bothered to get dressed for university on a morning... Here are some looks I'll be hoping to copy...

 

I Want To Get Away.

It's wet and cold in England and I am ready for some sunshine. I'd put up with it all - the not buying any clothes so I could save for a ticket, an annoying kid behind me kicking my chair, the inflatable pillows and air-conditioning that's set to freezing and the awful plane food - if it meant being able to jet off another adventure, preferably somewhere tropical with sandy beaches, palm trees and crystal clear water. I feel a warm winter holiday coming on... Until I (hopefully) get around to going on one, I'm going to spend my time on Tumblr and Pinterest, searching for all things Summer and the perfect holiday destination for some sun in Winter...

January Wishlist - Perfumes.

Everyone has their vice. Mine personally is watches and coats - I have a rather large collection of each, far more than your average person needs, but not far behind them is perfume. Perfume is definitely something I own too much of, but always something I want more of. Scent is such a personal thing and, to me, the perfume I choose for the day depends on my mood, the weather and what I have planned for the day. These are the five I currently have my eyes on...

DressFashion* - Christmas and Party Dress Shopping.

Ah, the festive period - it's time to spend time with family, indulge a little too much, give gifts to the ones you love and, uh, stress about what you're going to wear? Don't worry, I've got you covered, thanks to a little help from DressFashion. DressFashion is a UK based online store who offer a wide range of prom dresses, special occasion dresses and wedding dresses, all of which come in a great variety of shapes, sizes and colours: long or short, sleeveless or full sleeves, backless or not... The list is endless. I've put together a list of some of my favourite dresses from their site to get you ready for any Christmas party...

But I Don't Want to Look Like Mrs. Claus.

It's official; the countdown is on and, in just fourteen days, I will be waking up much earlier than usual (mainly because I'm a massive child), throwing on a dress, probably something black, and, of course, a red lip and gold nail combo and I am definitely more than ready. Until then, I am going to make the most of Winter and wear as many wintry shades of nail polish as I can.

A Hangover, Baubles for Earrings and Why I'm Never Getting Out of Bed.

Remember back when I talked about how excited I was for Autumn, but how that I knew that the happiness wouldn't last because the days would get shorter and the weather more dreary? Yup, I've reached that stage. Someone please take me to the Maldives because I need, in no particular order; a tan, a bright lip, lots of bronzer and to not have to wear a coat. Until plane tickets are booked and accommodation sorted, I'll be making the most out of my top Winter essentials:

Tyler Oakley & His Warby Parker Collection.

For those of you who perhaps live under a rock, Tyler Oakley is a YouTuber, internet personality, podcast-owning, author and presenter who has recently added something else to his repertoire: a glasses collection with Warby Parker. It started back in May 2013 with a simple tweet in which Tyler stated his love for brand. Flashforward three years to this video, and we have an incredible collection of both sunglasses and normal glasses. 

How to Avoid Looking Like a Christmas Bauble.

I seem to have a bit of an obsession with glitter. Whenever I see something with even the smallest amount of glitter, my magpie tendencies come to life and I am drawn to it. I say this, but I'm not quite the type to go out in a dress made entirely of sequins. No, I like to think I'm slightly more subtle than that. Instead, I like to incorporate small amounts into my outfits, using things like this...

Nail Care.

I wear a lot of nail varnish. In fact, there isn't a time when I don't have both my toe and my finger nails painted. When I don't have my nails painted, I feel the same way others feel when they aren't wearing their favourite piece of jewellery, like I'm missing something. Because of this, it's important that I take care of my nails, which is actually something I've only recently started doing...

My Perfume Collection.

I've always wanted to do a perfume collection post, I just never thought I had enough. That's probably down to the instagrams, tweets and blog posts from popular bloggers containing more perfumes than Duty Free. How do they even use them all?! When talking to a friend, she pointed out that I have more than the average person. I gathered up my perfumes, laid them out on the dining table and realised she was right. After all, there are some still in their plastic packaging. I've actually recently had a clear out and have been using up as many products as I can, so there are less than there were. Let's have a look through my current collection, shall we?...