FASHION || MY FAVOURITE ACCESSORIES FOR DRESSING UP

It's been a while since I got to dress up all fancy and be able to enjoy a normal night out where I can truly enjoy myself without any worries. But where those nights the best!! Over the years I have accumulated many accessories that never fail for when I'm looking for something to wear. Whether it's a lovely sunny day, or a dark cold evening these are my staples that can make my outfit go from a 7 to a 10 in minutes!

FASHION || KATCH ME HAUL AW20

 *AD - This post contains gifted items.

I was recently contacted by KatchMe to try some of their AW20 staples, so me being me obviously said yes because I'm always on the lookout to test out new brands!

2020 || The Hallotober Tag - Happy Halloween!

 

Happy Halloween my scary witches and warlocks!

I was tagged in this little Halloween Q&A by the lovely Kay from The Craft Room and Beyond to finish off this year's scary festivities!

LIFESTYLE || FILMS AND TV SHOWS I LOVE TO (RE)WATCH IN AUTUMN

I hope it's acceptable for me to post this on the first day of September even though it's technically still Summer? Autumn is by far my most favourite season of the year. As much as I love hot summer days and nights, Autumn definitely holds a close place in my heart. As I'm writing this I am sat down on my bed in the fluffiest dressing gown, got my Jo Malone 'Orange Blossom' candle burning, a cup of tea on the side accompanied by Morrisons' Quadruple Chocolate Cookies (the best cookies in the world). Now all I need is a good film or TV show on to complete my autumnal mood. 

2020 || JULY FAVOURITES

Oh boy, it has been a long while since I last shared with you my Monthly Favourites. I know that these are the type of posts that everyone likes to read to see and compare your favourites to others'. This month has been a bit hot and cold, hasn't it? Hence why all of my favourites are skincare related as I am still furloughed and not wearing much makeup!

FASHION || 5 SUSTAINABLE FASHION IDEAS FOR A GUILT-FREE WARDROBE

We all have a responsibility to prioritise sustainable items of clothing, including brands. I'm definitely pro thrifting and recycling old garments, but I do find myself shopping for new pieces to add into my wardrobe without a reason which is something I'm trying to move away from and make more sustainable choices. Eco-friendly alternatives are becoming a big part of our daily lives, and the fashion world should be no different. If you are looking to create a guilt-free wardrobe, then I hope some of these five sustainable fashion tips will help you as much as they've been helping me.

REVIEW || MAC MINERALIZE SKINFINISH IN SOFT & GENTLE, MINERALIZE SKINFINISH NATURAL IN LIGHT, AND MINERALIZE SKINFINISH NATURAL IN GIVE ME SUN!

I have been wanting to try all three of these products for many years now, and have finally treated myself to all of them. At a high price tag I've put off trying these products for so long, and now with my spending ban I wasn't really allowed to treat myself either; but when I was given some credit to use on my employee online staff shop I just had to treat myself to these (unnecessary) items.

LIFESTYLE || LOOKING AND FEELING YOUR BEST THIS SUMMER

Summer is finally here, well the season is definitely here if not the weather. With Summer comes the idea of getting into healthier habits, whether that means exercising more or eating better I will share with you my top tips for feeling your best this Summer.

There is no hiding the fact that we all like to look our best, we just all have different versions of that. However, health doesn't always have to do anything with the appearance and has much more to do with how you feel on the inside. We often neglect the time to take care of ourselves the way we used to when we had fewer commitments and more time to ourselves. Sadly, the days where we would soak in a hot bath for hours, relax with a face mask and take our time to get ready are gone. Nowadays we might be lucky enough to have an extra 5 minutes to ourselves other than being in the bathroom! Although I do not have any children yet, I can only imagine what it must be like for parents or carers having to sacrifice every minute of their day to other people! But all those things don't mean that we can't all be a little more health-conscious and use the Summer as the ideal time to focus on our physical and mental well-being. With that in mind, here are some of the small changes that can make a huge difference in how you look and feel this Summer.

FASHION || FEMME LUXE HAUL - SUMMERTIME PASTELS, HOW TO STYLE PASTEL CLOTHES SS20

*This post contains gifted items by Femme Luxe Finery.

I love pastel clothes a lot for someone who doesn't actually own anything pastel-coloured in their wardrobe. So I thought I'd dedicate this post to styling my brand new pieces from Femme Luxe and show you what I picked up. 

I feel like the only colour missing from this haul is a pastel yellow top, which is something I will certainly pick up in my next order. As pastels are really trendy right now I decided to stick to a theme. The items that are mentioned in this post were gifted to me, however, all opinions are honest and my own. Now, let's get to the haul!

FASHION || TOP BASICS EVERY MIDSIZE WOMAN NEEDS IN HER WARDROBE

*These images were taken from the retailers' sites to create a collage for this post.

It took me a while to find the right items of clothing I wanted to keep in my wardrobe all year around. Now that I have found what works well for me (a midsize woman) I thought I'd share my picks with you so you can consider trying these out for yourself.

FASHION || TRYING OUT FEMME LUXE FINERY'S JUMPSUITS - FULL REVIEW & STYLING TIPS

I was recently approached by Femme Luxe Finery, asking if I'd like to try a few of their jumpsuits so of course, I said yes because I already work with the brand on a gifted basis and really enjoy trying out new clothes.

2020 || MY LOCKDOWN EVENING ROUTINE

*Off the Shoulder Loungewear set gifted by Femme Luxe Finery.

When we first entered the UK Lockdown I was very worried about my daily routine. My anxiety can get quite bad unless I have a strict routine to follow. 

After dinner, I like to sit down and watch some TV or YouTube. Once I feel like my dinner has gone down a bit I would usually tidy up the kitchen and make sure all the doors and windows are shut and locked. Once I'm satisfied with the way my kitchen looks I will go upstairs to my office/beauty room and take my makeup off (if I'm wearing any). As soon as I've got my makeup off, I will hop in the shower. I like to shower in the evenings as I find it relaxing before going to bed. I tend to scrub and moisturise after my evening showers rather than in the mornings.

2020 || SUMMER SKINCARE WISHLIST

*The images used in this post have been taken from the Cult Beauty website, and are not my own.

I haven't bought any skincare since December 2019, can you believe it?! I have so many unused products put away in the drawers that I wanted to get through before buying new products to try, but I can't help but create a wishlist of a few products I am dying to try! To be honest with you all, I have never tried any of these brands other than a couple of body products from Caudalie which I really liked. I'm hoping that my family members will come across this post and decide to treat me to something nice 😂

REVIEW || GARNIER SKINACTIVE ROSE SOOTHING GLOW MIST AND ROSE SOOTHING TONER

I've never really been fond of rose-scented products as I had an allergic reaction to a Lush product before. It was hard for me to get used to the scent of these two products at first as I found them slightly overwhelming, but now that my skin is used to them I have really been enjoying using the products.

REVIEW || DECIEM / THE ORDINARY AHA 30% + BHA 2% PEELING SOLUTION

I was hesitant to try anything from The Ordinary for a while. The low price tag was very appealing but I was worried about trying any form of acid on my sensitive skin. Having decided that 2020 is going to be a year where I'll be on a beauty spending ban, I knew I had to do a mini haul of a few of the Ordinary's bestsellers to try out before my spending ban started.
I ordered the AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution among a few other items as I heard many people rave about how good it is. I love the Origins Night-a-Mins cream which has fruit-derived AHA's, so how much different is this product going to be?

FASHION || HOW TO STYLE A BLAZER DRESS

A blazer is one of those staple items of clothing that everybody needs in their life. Got an interview? Wear a blazer. A Baby shower? - Blazer! Daytime drinks with your friends? - A BLAZER DRESS!
This is why my favourite item of clothing is a blazer, it automatically smartens up any outfit which you can then dress up or down however you like.

I bought this gorgeous blazer dress for my (cancelled) trip to Amsterdam as I thought it'll be perfect for a few games and after drinks at Glow Golf. Unfortunately, as the trip was cancelled, it also meant that I wasn't going to be able to wear my dress anywhere at this moment in time.

If you want to look extra bougie in this dress, then you can play around with different accessories that accentuate its classy cut and fabric - I would go for silver and gold mixed together. A well-chosen brooch can add a dash of culture, or you can shop for a pair of glasses that will make it the ultimate businesslike outfit. The only limit is your imagination, with an outfit that is this versatile!

This dress is very oversized. I ordered a size 10 and it feels more like a 12-14 so I would suggest you size down for a more fitted look. A blazer dress looks great with a waist belt to really synch in on the waist to show off your body's curves. I love this chain waist belt with this dress as it really finishes off the outfit perfectly. I wore this dress to my back garden (a week before lockdown) and my sister came round to have a coffee with me - and to take outfit pics for me too. So, because I was in the comfort of my own house I decided to pair this dress up with a pair of white high-top converse. If I were going 'out out' then I would have worn heeled ankle boots and a pair of tights with this dress. I also wore my Moschino sunglasses which I got super cheap from TKMaxx for a fraction of the original price!

SHOP THIS LOOK:

How would you style a blazer dress? This is one of my current favourite looks!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2020 || FUN THINGS TO DO IN LOCKDOWN

*The jumper in this image was gifted by Femme Luxe Finery and comes in a Frill Waist Loungewear Set.

I don't want to talk about the quarantine or lockdown as I find it a very stressful and difficult topic, but I want to say that my heart goes out to those who have lost their lives due to the virus and the biggest thank you to all the key workers for doing amazing jobs.

During the first week of official lockdown, I was supposed to be jetting off to Amsterdam after 5 years of planning my trip. It is okay to be upset about a cancelled trip. So, I have been keeping myself busy doing a few fun things during this difficult time and I thought I'd share them with you.

1. Play The Sims.
I have been playing The Sims since I was 6 years old. I really loved the original game and I feel like none of the new ones will ever compare to it because of the sentiment behind it. The Sims 4 was free on Origin at some point last year so of course, I had to download it. I have recently purchased the Cats and Dogs Expansion Pack because let's face it, the game isn't as fun without the expansion packs!

2. Learn a new recipe.
I really enjoy cooking and baking but I hate the mess I make during the process. Washing up is such a huge chore that I often stick to simple recipes that don't require plenty of pots and pans. Since buying both of the Pinch of Nom recipe books many months ago I haven't used either of them, not even once. Now that I have plenty of time to cook and clean up the mess after, I wanted to give some of the recipes a go. So far, I have tried the Firecracker Noodles (I used chicken instead of prawns) and have planned out a few more recipes to test out for the following week.

3. Join a book club.
I've been a member of Beth's Book Club for a year now, but never really stuck to the plan and only read the books I came across when passing WHSmith. Now I have finished reading one book from the club, and even though it was a book to read throughout February I still really enjoyed it and I can't wait to start May's book (I'm currently reading April's book - Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce).

4. Declutter your wardrobe, makeup and skincare.
This is not my strongest point as I do think that I am a bit (definitely not a bit) of a hoarder. I find it hard to chuck out a foundation sample that's three shades too dark for me, so think about the things I actually use! This year I have decided to go on a makeup and skincare spending ban, which has allowed me to use up quite a lot of beauty products already - I love me a good old empty! So far, I have not bought any beauty products and have only purchased a few items of clothing that I wanted for a while from Zara and NastyGal; overall I spent less than £250 on myself this year.
As I work in the beauty industry, I am lucky enough to receive a little bit of monthly credit to use towards a product purchase which I always disclose in my hauls/posts. So if I ever need anything that I'm running low on e.g. the Origins Mega Mushroom Treatment Lotion (I use this a lot) then I will use my credit to buy it, so technically it doesn't cost me anything. I also receive PR samples from PIXI and others from time to time, which I am very lucky and grateful to try. I know that not everyone is going to be in the same fortunate position as me, but you can try great skincare on a budget while you try to avoid overspending. Decluttering will also help to clear your mind and make you feel super organised!

5. Work out.
This is something that I do not enjoy doing at all but it makes me feel amazing after I did a kick-ass workout! I have recently tried going for a 5-10 minute jog and I absolutely hated it! So now I've been really enjoying doing a 30-minute Zumba workout in my kitchen (with the blinds shut of course haha) and I have loved every minute of it! It's so much fun, and I absolutely love Nicole!

So those are the few fun things I've been enjoying during the lockdown. Let me know what you guys are doing to keep yourselves busy!

I hope you're all staying safe ❤️

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BEAUTY || LIP COLOURS YOU WILL LOVE THIS SUMMER

I can't be the only one who saves certain lip colours for specific times of the year, right? Especially when it's a bright orange or pink shade.

MAC Matte Lipstick in The Fashion Flock
This is definitely one of my favourite shades to wear in the Summer. I never go abroad without it as I believe that this is the perfect Peachy shade that goes great with a tan.

If you are after the actual lipstick, I found it on eBay. However, bear in mind that it might have been used/swatched or might be out of date if previously opened.

HOW TO MINIMISE SPENDING & SAVE MORE EFFECTIVELY

I'm very new to saving money and spending less. If you've been following my journey on Instagram or blog you'll already know that I'm not shy when it comes to spending money. In fact, I spend more than I earn - or at least I used to.
I kept a spending diary for a year which made me realise that I was spending way too much on things that I did not need. Did I need an extra coat this season? No. Did I buy one? Yes, I did.
After carefully calculating how much money I spend on unnecessary items I have decided that enough is enough and that I will minimise my spending to only things that I actually need.

As I work in the beauty industry I do get a fair amount of discount across many brands (most which I use). Occasionally, I receive free items from the brand that I work for as well as PR packages from some of my favourite brands. This puts me at an advantage to minimise my spending as I have heaps and heaps of makeup and skincare products laying around my house! So far, I haven't spent any money on makeup or skincare this year so I'm going strong 💪🏻

So far I have spent around £100 on necessities such as new tights, work uniform, toiletries etc. I have a holiday coming up and I have been very tempted to order new clothes specifically for the holiday - but why do I feel like I need a whole new wardrobe for a few days away? Instead, I have listed a lot of my old clothes that I haven't worn in a while online and whatever money I get from selling them I will allow myself to buy something new. My only rule is that if I really really want something, then I will treat myself to it as I do believe that we should award ourselves with nice things for working hard.

These are some of the things that I have done and that you can do to help you get better with money:
-> Open a savings account
-> Create a 'Save the Change' account
-> Declutter monthly - try and sell unwanted items
-> Cancel memberships you don't use/need
-> Recycle your old outfits
-> Use recycling programs to get free products - e.g. Back to Mac or Origins Recycling Program
-> Get insurance from Compare the Market to receive 2 for 1 cinema ticket and meal offers
-> Stock up on products you need when there are offers

I'm still learning how to become the best version of myself and to save up effectively. I want to have a constantly growing income, so I've started reading The Richest Man in Babylon. It's quite hard to read but the lessons it will teach you are very important.

Another thing I have started doing is buying multipacks of drinks, chocolate bars and crisps and keeping them in my locker at work. I don't always bring a packed lunch with me so this is a great way of trying not to overspend in shops when I'm hungry. On average I would spend around £5 on my lunch if I didn't bring one with me but now that I have snacks in my locker I will only spend £1.50 on a sandwich from the nearest supermarket. Still, the best option would be to make a packed lunch every day (it's best to use slow energy releasing carbohydrates as then you'll remain fuller for longer, but that's a lesson for another day haha 😂).

I hope you've enjoyed reading this post. Let me know in the comments section if there's anything you can relate to from this post 🥰

Do you have any tips on how to save money? Comment them down below for others to see! 

Lots of love,

Maya xo

FASHION || HOW TO STYLE A LACE BODYSUIT FT FEMMELUXE - AD

* This post contains gifted items. 

As some of you already know, I’m working with Femme Luxe on a gifted basis which means that I receive some items from them for free in exchange for a blog & Instagram post.

In my most recent order, I have picked this gorgeous Black Lace Long Sleeve Plunge Bodysuit and I couldn’t wait to wear it. I’ve paired it up with a white Primark ribbed high neck t-shirt, Primark mom jeans and Gucci belt. I’m not brave enough to wear this out on its own and I love the layered look in Winter.

The quality of this bodysuit is good, it also fits really well. If you wanted to wear it on its own then I would suggest getting nipple covers or wearing a bra underneath. I did find that it was slightly too small for me in the cup area so I'd suggest to size up if you have bigger boobs. It is also super high cut so is very flattering around the hip & waist area!

This bodysuit only comes in black, however Femme Luxe have a variety of gorgeous lace bodysuits in different styles and colours which you can find here.

*This bodysuit was gifted but the post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.

Lots of love,

Maya xo