Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : March 2014

Hard Rock Cafe Event

Last week I was invited to one of my favourite bars - the Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester to celebrate their new scrumptious food and cocktail menu and learn more about Clarins from the girls at House of Fraser. I have been going to Manchester quite a lot recently, I'm enjoying spending time with my favourite blogger friends and embarking on new beauty, food and fashion discoveries. During the last few weeks I have attended many events and met so many wonderful people - the networking element has to be one of my favourite parts of blogging. Before blogging, I had very little friends, but now I feel I have a group of people in Manchester and Leeds where I belong. Our recent little outing to the Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester started out drinking these fabulous cocktails, they tasted as good as they looked. A few of us were also invited behind the bar to make the cocktails ourselves. Needless to say, I made a total fool out of myself almost dropping my glass on the floor and spilling spirits over the bar top, maybe cocktail making is not my thing.

Our next treat was to try some of the items off the new Hard Rock Cafe menu. Admittedly going to events can be a little bit difficult when you are vegetarian, especially if evolves around food. The Hard Rock Cafe were more than accommodating and it was an added bonus that a lot of the new menu choices are vegetarian.

We started with the mouthwatering Bruschetta. The tomatoes tasted so fresh and the bread was deliciously crunchy. The balsamic vinaigrette was not too overpowering and the hint of basil finished this starter perfectly.

A lot of the new menu revolved around the new shrimp platter, Fiesta burger and Tango burger all of which were not vegetarian friendly, however us vegetarians were treated to our own mini vegetarian burgers. As soon as the mini burgers, vegetarian and meat hit the tables all the bloggers whipped out their cameras and started taking photos. They looked so succulent and yummy and was the perfect little bite for this event. If I had to be extremely picky, I would say the bread did not seem as fresh was I would have liked, but everything else made it worthwhile. I have been craving one of these burgers ever since the event.

Our final little nibble consisted of these creamy, indulgent Oreo Cheesecakes. I love Hard Rock cafe cheesecakes. Whenever I am at the Hard Rock Cafe I have to order one of the cheesecake before leaving. The Oreo Cheesecake is a welcomed addition to the menu, incorporating one of the most loved biscuits into a simple, yet scrumptious dessert. I usually prefer my fruity cheesecakes, but this dish converted me to the dark chocolately side. I have always been a fan of the Hard Rock franchise, but now I love it even more. This had to be one of my favourite events - combining my love for yummy food, rock music and my wonderful blogging friends.

Have you been to a Hard Rock Cafe recently?

This week feels like it has been a hell of a long week. I have been busy almost every day with university work and on the evenings I have been attending product launches and blogger events. It has been fun, yet hectic and part of me is glad it is the weekend so I can finally let my hair down...even if I still have lots of work to do.

Last weekend was one of the first weekends in I have had in a long time. For the past few years I have worked behind bars or worked every weekend in a hotel. It was very rare that I had any time off. To celebrate our movie night in, me and my partner burst open a bag of our favourite popcorn and popped open this beautiful bottle of Laurenti Grand Cuvee Champagne. Our film of choice was none other than the Great Gatsby, a film that needs a splash of style whilst watching it.

The Laurenti Grande Cuvee* Champagne is a new bottle of bubbly to hit the UK shores, after being a firm favourite in France for over 90 years. The brand was founded by Joseph Laurenti in 1923 and the Laurenti Grande Cuvee is a unique blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes picked from South Champagne. This Champagne Brut has been aged for 3 years in the Laurenti's cellar, giving it a smooth taste. I personally find this champagne to be sweeter than most Champagnes I have tried before as most of them have the tendency to be a little bit tart. The champagne exhibits delicate notes of pear and apple, with a citrus after taste. I personally prefer my fruitier wines and Champagnes and this is the perfect blend. Both me and my partner have agreed this is one of the best Champagnes we have both drank and trust me, I get through a fair few glasses a month of bubbly.

This Champagne is available from The Wine Direction at £34.99.

Perfumes are always the first gift I think about for Mothers Day. Selecting a perfume is not an easy task and if you get the perfume right, you could win brownie points. There are so many variations of scents on the market and every woman has their own preferences. Selecting a perfume that incorporates your mums favourite flowers, scents and style will show how much you really know her. My mum has always gone for either the strong musky scented perfumes or ones that are light and airy. Her favourite is the cheap, but delightful Georgia Armani as it is the same one she has worn for years and brings back special memories. A perfume that reminds me of my mum on other hand is the Calvin Klein Europhia. She had it bought for Christmas and I remember that year she wore a long blue velvet dress and had her long brunette hair in curls, it was when I looked at my mum for the first time and thought, hey, it wouldn't be so bad if I turned out like her.

The Clinique Calyx is currently one of my favourite perfumes and a scent that I think everyone should consider buying for their mum for mothers day. Admittedly before this perfume, I had never really tried any of the Clinique fragrances and at first glance, I did not really find this bottle that appealing. Calyx has a sweet citrus scent, complimented with heart and lush green tones. When I first tried the Calyx fragrance, I was blown away with the instant fresh aura and loved the sweet sophistication of the perfume. Each day I have found myself leaning towards this perfume more than my other scents with includes Chanel, Michael Kors and many others. The Calyx just makes the perfect everyday fragrance - it's not too heavy and not too light. The perfume is long lasting and keeps you feeling as fresh as a daisy all day through. When my mum had a whiff of this perfume, she said that it is the perfect fragrance for someone her age as it makes her feel youthful and vibrant - a feeling that I am sure many older woman like to have everyday. The Clinique Calyx* is £46 - which I think is a little bit on the expensive side, but nevertheless a great investment piece. It is a scent that puts you in a good mood at the start of the day and leaves you still feeling fresh towards the end.

What scent would you buy your mum on Mothers Day?

Jewellery is one of my favourite items to collect, I have boxes full of it. I remember watching the Rachel Zoe project and seeing her jewellery draws and thinking, one day I want a collection like that. Unfortunately my jewellery box is not full of vintage Chanel, YSL and Dior, but I do have plenty of beautiful, bespoke and handmade items that I fall in love with over and over again.

The newest item to my jewellery collection is this pretty 'Pink Swarovski Luxe Celebratio*' bracelet from Niteo Jewellery. Niteo jewellery was founded by a Leeds based mother of two with a passion for jewellery making. The word Niteo is of latin origin and has many meanings such as 'Radiant, Glitter, Sparkle, Glisten, Sleek and Beautiful' all which define the Niteo genuine Swarovski collection. Niteo jewellery creates beautiful items at affordable prices, meaning that everyone can have a little bit of luxury in their life. All the items are handmade to order and can be customised - which is perfect for a mothers day present.

I have been wearing this bracelet non-stop since it arrived and I love the soft neutral colours that go with almost every outfit I own. The soft pink colour teamed against the crystals makes the Swarovski sparkle and the bracelet looks highly extravagant despite it's relatively small, £16 price tag. The collection features adult and children's bracelets meaning that there is something for everyone

http://www.niteojewellery.co.uk/

Have you shopped at Niteo yet?

I look a tad psycho on this photo, but I love my handbag...

A few weeks ago I was kindly invited to the OMG Fashion press party in Manchester and boy, I had fun. Before the event began I met up with a handful of bloggers including my lovely blogger friends Anoushka and Katie for cocktails at Revolucion De Cuba. It was then I became hooked on Toffee Daiquiris and since the moment I left I had been craving one - I am hoping I get the chance to go back soon.

We then made our way to the event and was greeted by a handsome fire eater at the doors of the private lounge, The Milton Club. As we all queued, we were all highly anticipating the event and getting excited. When we walked through the doors we were ushered towards a red carpet and the OMG fashion backdrop where we all had our photos taken. Because we were lucky enough to be in the first 30 people that arrived, me and my friends were given a £50 voucher to spend at Omg Fashion, I don't know about them, but I definitely felt like a VIP - it was great.

During the event we were all treated to champagne and canapés whilst being able to browse the S/S14 OMG Fashion clothing line. This seasons clothing is a lot of floral prints, pastel colours and frills. It is really feminine, flirty and bold. I saw many items that I wanted to buy and could not wait to go home and spend my voucher.

The Milton Club looked luxurious and it was such a fabulous venue for the event, but admittedly I found something a little bit lacking about the night. Maybe it was that they promised so much at the door with the fire eater, my expectations were slightly raised or maybe I went before the party really started as I had to leave early due to my train. I still had an amazing time though and seeing all my blogger friends made it all worth while. The OMG Fashion staff were welcoming and the topless waiters were definitely a bonus (I'm sorry to my fiance, I do love you).

When I got home I purchased this soft pastel pink Kim Kardashian inspired dress and a pink PVC pencil skirt from the OMG Fashion website. The dress is probably one of my favourite outfits at the moment and I am always getting compliments from it. The PVC skirt is fabulous teamed up with a black or white blouse and I am looking forward to blogging about it shortly, but for now you will have to wait.

http://www.omgfashion.com/

Have you shopped at OMG Fashion before?

For this first time in what seems like a century, I am able to say 'Thank God It's Friday'. The reason for this is because last week I left my job and up until then, I have been working weekends since I was sixteen years old. In fact, I very rarely had a weekend off when I worked in the hotel, worked a lot of late weekend nights at my first bar job and my third bar job almost killed me (not literally). There comes a time when you need to balance out your life and see what truly matters. As I only have a few weeks left of university, my life is hectic and a part-time bar job is not really practical for me at the moment. I am now focusing my efforts on my university work, my blog and a few bits of freelance writing to tie me over until I get my first full time job. As daunting as all this sounds, for once I am happy to be able to say I have a weekend, I can meet my friends whenever I like and I can have nights in with my partner as he works 9-5 during the week.

When me and my partner have the time, we love to have a movie night. This generally consists of a handful of snacks, a heated debate between what films we are going to watch and a few too many glasses of bubbly. Nevertheless, it's nights like these that make me love the weekend. As much as I am a social girl, I love nights in with candles around the fire place and my bunny snuggled between me and my man.

Although I love my snacking, I try to stay as healthy as possible - which often comes as an annoyance to my friends. When we are having a girls night, I will bring round hummus and carrot sticks, whilst they are trying to force me into eating donuts. They always seem to succeed and I am usually left which a terrible hangover and guilt from eating too much food.

To help cure me of snacking guilt, Popchips* sent me a box of their low calorie snacks to try and having heard so much about them, but never tried them, I couldn't wait to open the box. I was sent a variety of flavours to sample and to be fair, I loved every single one of them, but salt and vinegar was possibly my favourite. If you haven't heard of Popchips before, the brand started out in America and after word got out about how amazing they are, they decided to branch out into the UK. PopChips 'never fried, never baked' are potato chips that are popped similar to popcorn and exhibit all the flavour of full fat crisps, but are less than 100 calories per serving - perfect for all those diet conscious women out there like me. I found these to be one of the yummiest 100 calorie potato snacks I have currently tried. They are bursting with flavour and do the trick when you are feeling peckish. The chips are not greasy, you feel great after eating them and the best thing is that they have quite funky packaging. As I was reviewing my box full of goodies, I noticed one or two packets disappearing and I found the culprit, my fiance sat on the sofa watching Dexter saying how yummy they are. They have definitely won the attention and me and my partner and have become a firm favourite on our shopping list.

Do you like PopChips?

If you asked me last year if I could hang upside down on a pole and contort my body into various positions, I would have laughed. Me? Seriously? No. Throughout most of my life I have never been athletic. I was the one in P.E that got out of breathe just walking to the opposite side of the gym hall and I was the one that got heavily bullied and whacked with hockey sticks on the playing grounds. Me and fitness never seemed to gel...apart from swimming, I'm a pretty good swimmer.

When I was about 13 years old, I came across the music video for Crazy by Aerosmith and was mesmerised by the beautiful Liv Tyler dancing around the pole. It was from that point onwards that I knew I wanted to be a pole dancer. Before you get the wrong idea, let's get this straight. I did not want to be a stripper, I have no desire to prance around in my panties in front of men old enough to be my father, I just wanted to be dancer. I love seeing how elegant and poised pole dancers are. The way they slide down the pole or lift themselves up in the air with their beautiful silhouette on show. Watching pole dancing videos became my secret obsession, but it wasn't something I felt that I could express to anyone. I knew they would get the wrong idea, especially when I was that young.

In my first year of University I learnt about a new fitness phase sweeping across the UK, pole fitness. I was even more impressed to see that they had a pole fitness society at my university. Due to nerves and the general feeling of incompetence, I did not sign up in my first year - this is probably one thing I really regret. After seeing a showcase of all the university dancers back in March 2013, during my second year of university, I signed up to the pole fitness classes, something that would eventually turn my life around, in the best way possible.

Before pole fitness, there was only two things I truly loved in my life - blogging and my fiance, but now I'm happy to add a third, the pole. The pole brings me confidence, strength and allows me to release myself through dance after a long day at work. I am able to express myself when I feel tense and I can have fun when I'm feeling low. Pole dancing has brought me new friends, a new lease of life and a 'can do' spirit to my attitude. Having recently been diagnosed with arthritis, I admit I have found some things difficult and some days, the pain can interfere with my motivation, but I will not allow this to stop me.Every week I am learning new things and although it may take me a little bit longer than other people to get it, the thrill of mastering a new move is worth the wait. I feel a much more confident person these days and as the Vice President of my local pole fitness class, I feel honoured to involved with so many talented people. If it wasn't for pole I probably wouldn't be half the person I am today.

If you live local to Huddersfield, I really recommend getting involved with the fun and joining Princess Pole Dancing. My tutor is fantastic, not only is she a mentor, she has also become such a good friend. Her classes are warm and inviting and she is an amazing dancer. It is funny how a new hobby can really change your life. My parents at first were naive and worried about my new found love, but once they saw me perform, they were proud of me for mastering such a skill...even if it was just a few simple spins back then. I now have a pole in my spare room and practice nearly every day. I'm not the next Cleo The Hurricane, but so what? I'm having fun.

Happy Friday!

Recently I have become a little bit obsessed with my skin care routine, something I have highly neglected in the past. I'm not sure, but I think it is down to the fact I turn 23 in a few weeks time and I have come to the conclusion that I need to start looking after my skin more before the wrinkles start appearing. I am incredibly lucky that I have never had many issues with my skin - I never suffered from bouts of teenage acne like my friends, I haven't got any blemishes and my skin rarely suffers from dry or oil patches. In fact, many beauticians have said I have wonderful skin, my only issue is...all this seems to good to be true. I have a theory that eventually I will get really bad spots or my wrinkles will look hideous to revenge me of having beautiful skin throughout my teenage years. I'm pretty sure this almost perfect complexion will not last.

Recently I discovered a brand called Celebrity Skin and I have since become hooked on their Clarifying Skin Polish*. Celebrity Skin 'is an online advanced skincare and mineral makeup retail boutique' based in the UK. The brand was established by Cheryl Foster, an Aesthetic Practitioner who was trained at Harley Street, London and has many years of beauty experience. Celebrity Skin products are Paraben free and made from organic ingredients, meaning that your skin is free from nasties. The Skin Clarifying Polish is a cream cleanser and moisturising face wash that promises to leave your skin feeling 'softer, brighter and healthier.'

Firstly, I am a sucker for good looking packaging and I love the pretty pink logo of all the Celebrity Skin products. They look like they would be nice to sit on a dressing table and evoke a sense of femininity. Secondly, I am happy to say that the product lives up to the expectations set on the website. The Clarifying Skin polish has a light, delicate fragrance and softly glides on to the skin. Some exfoliating products from my past experience, has the tendency to be a little bit too 'bitty' (probably not the best description, but I am sure you know what I mean), but this product gets the balance right. Once the cleansing product had been washed off my face, I could feel the instant softness of my skin and I was happy to see my face looking more radiant. The best bit about this product is the fact that it is affordable. The Clarifying Skin Polish is sold for £18, which is cheaper than Clinique or Clarins, but still has the quality of high end products. The fact that you only need a small amount each time ensures you get your moneys worth and finally, it's a product that I'm pretty happy to be shown off in my bathroom.

Have you tried Celebrity Skin before?

http://www.celebrity-skin.co.uk/

They say there's only one thing a girl can rely on - diamonds. Diamonds make you feel luxurious, give you a sparkle when you are feeling down and make you centre of attention when you are craving the limelight. What girl does not like diamonds? They make every outfit look instantly glamorous and when given to you by the man of your dreams, they make him seem irresistible. My diamond engagement ring brings joy to my day every time I see it twinkle in the light. Not only is a symbol of mine and my partners love, it is an expensive jewel for me to treasure and wear daily.Unfortunately, diamonds often come at a price and therefore many us are left dreaming of those sparkling wonders and hoping that a rich man will walk into our lives and change our fortune.

Luckily for us girls, on Sunday 22nd of March, Gems TV are featuring a genuine Diamond Buckle Ring set into sterling silver for under £100 in their live action. The ring features 0.75t of dazzling Black and White Diamonds with usually costs around £1,249 on the high street. Rings similar to this one from the Gemporia website have been seen on celebrities such as Ellie Goulding and Amanda Holden.

To celebrate the auction of the Buckle Diamond Ring from Gemporia, I have done a mini style guide of how to wear it if you are lucky enough to grab one for yourself. I have teamed the buckle diamond ring with the velvet ruched low cup bodycon red dress from Topshop and an extravagant pair of the Paris Kandee Shoes. I would wear this outfit with full bodied curly hair and a smoky eye makeup.

You can watch the auction live on Gems TV (Freeview 43, Sky 652, Virgin 755) on Sunday at 10pm or watch online here: http://www.gemporia.com/en-gb/auction/uk/

Lately I have been a little bit obsessed with the colour blue and when I saw this amazing dress on the Laundry Boutique* website, I knew I had to have it. This Cobalt Blue Leopard Bodycon Dress is perfect for those wanting to embrace print pattens this season and the mix of cobalt and baby blue blends in with the current pastel trends.

I love this dress as it gives you the most perfect hourglass silhouette and hides the areas you feel most self conscious about with its strategic lighter print in the centre and dark along your bodies curves. The material is stretchy, but not too stretchy that it gives you too much excess material. This dress is a size 8 and fits my body perfectly, in fact there is plenty of breathing space. On my 5ft2 little body, the dress sits nicely above my knees and does not look too long on me, something that often causes concern when I shop for midi bodycon dresses.

If you still feel a little bit self conscious in this dress, you can opt for shape wear that will help enhance your figure further and give you a smooth contour. I have recently fallen in love with this Naomi & Nicole Luxurious Shaping Torsette slip*. The garment is made from soft fabric and is designed with a seamless front to provide elegant shaping. If you are looking for tummy, back-fat and hip control, this is perfect for you. I don't always need shaping underwear, but when I feel like my fat days are getting the better of me and I need a little bit more support, this nude slip feels like my comforting best friend.

If you love this dress as much as I do or feel like making a sneaky purchase at The Laundry Boutique, use the code Forevermissvanity10 and you can get 10% off. This code is valid for 6 months.

What do you think of this dress?

http://www.laundryboutique.co.uk/

As a blogger, I am always trying to find affordable, trendy fashion items to feature on my blog, but sometimes keeping up with the latest trends can be rather difficult and can also tug on the purse strings. That is why I love eBay. Imagining the Internet without ebay is like bread without butter or ice-cream cones without the ice cream, it is a website that many including me have grown accustomed to and cannot live without. If it wasn't for eBay, I wouldn't have been able to afford my favourite Samantha French Connection dress and I bought my first IMac back in 2011 from eBay as I couldn't afford one full price and using that Mac really helped advance my blog with the software I was able to use. It is amazing how many opportunities one website can evoke

If you like affordable fashion, you are sure to like eBay and if you have an addiction to Pinterest like me, you will love eBay's new feature. eBay have recently launched a new feature called 'ebay Collections.'eBay Collections enables you to create a Pinterest style mood board for all the items you would like to buy and later on, you have ability to shop for your products. The possibilities for the collections are endless. Maybe you are looking to do a birthday wish list collection? or you are looking to create a mood board of clothing you would like to take on holiday? With eBay's new feature, it is easy to add items and create virtual shopping lists based on your moods. All you need to do is browse eBay as you usually would and click the 'add to collection' button. You can then name them all and choose your themes. If you are a social bunny and like sharing your collections, there are social media buttons in the corner so you can share them all with your friends. Perfect for giving birthday present hints or even creating a wedding day wish list.

To launch the eBay Collections, eBay teamed up with many well-known bloggers and asked them to create their own mood boards. When I was approached to be a part of this campaign, I felt really privileged. I have been using the website for such a long and never in dreams did I think I would have this type of amazing opportunity. eBay asked all the bloggers to create collections that told a story or have a theme running through them. Each blogger has been 12 - 15 mood boards between them in which you can browse and shop for items - you can even share the collections with your friends. My collection boards are based on the things I love - for example 50s fashion or things that I like to dream about, like the Rapunzel hair. I always loved that fairytale growing up and I would love to have Rapunzel hair. The collection is series of hairpieces, hair tools and products that would enable my hair to hopefully look more vibrant and gain the length of my dreams. Some of my mood boards are a little bit quirky and reflect my childhood or films that I like - the Bond Girls mood board is tailored around my secret obsession of being a James Bond girl - hey, every girl can dream and 'Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend' symbolises my love for everything luxurious.

For anyone looking for an easy way to keep on track of their shopping in a fun and exciting way, I really do recommend the new eBay Collections - make sure you check out mine.

*This is a sponsored post by Ebay.

Image source

Online shopping has become as natural as popping into a store for milk, it is something that we all actively participate in and a trend that more people each day are becoming accustomed to. I regularly shop online as I love finding bargains and searching through new online boutiques that offer unique, inexpensive clothing. However, there comes a time with many online shoppers, where they click a link that does not seem right and it suddenly dawns on them that the £1.99 dress they saw is not quite legitimate. The issue is, many people believe what they see on the internet to be honest and genuine. If Google supplies you with a link, of course it is going to be okay, isn't it? This is not always the case. Many people forget that although online shopping makes everything easier and more accessible, it can come with dangers.

A few years ago I was shopping on Ebay for a new dress - something that I regularly do and thought nothing of. I purchased this dress and it went straight to my Paypal account where I paid on my debit card. I don't know why, but I had a feeling that I ought to check my Paypal history - maybe I was suffering from post shopping guilt and wanted to scare myself into stopping shopping by showing how much I spent or a regular basis or maybe it was just an instinct, but nevertheless I'm glad I checked. My Paypal history showed me that someone had taken £17.98 out of my account. I began questioning what I had spent that money on and eventually shrugged it off thinking it must have been one of my countless dresses. Later on that day, I decided to go back to my history and look again. Eventually I began to unravel something that I found truly disturbing. Someone had hacked my account and was taking various amounts out of my Paypal. It was little things they were buying - such as items for £3 or sometimes even £25, but it was relatively low transactions that I would have barely noticed. This had been going on for quite some time under my nose and I knew nothing about it. After going through my Ebay, I had noticed it was my Ebay account that had been hacked and that they used my card to make payments and ship these items to an address in China. When I rang the bank, they knew it could not have been me and refunded all the money and chased my hacker. Needless to say, ever since my little encounter, I have strict when it comes to online shopping safety.

So why am I bringing this up? Well, as a fashion and beauty blogger, I am always promoting products - many of which are online and although all the shops I feature are genuine and trustworthy, there are still ways those pesky little hackers can access your accounts. Plus, many of you will probably do a lot of online shopping and accidents can happen with it comes to clicking on the wrong link. There are many ways to fool online shoppers into being hacked or handing over money and not getting their product, this means we as consumers need to be on our guard now more than ever and take control of what we do.

So here are my helpful tips:

Try get yourself a credit card. Credit cards offer you more legal protection than standard debit cards and usually offer free fraud assistance. My dad has always advised me to get a credit card, but I have always shrugged it off. Since being a victim of fraud, I have used my credit card every time I shop online.
Beware of URLs that do not look genuine. If something looks far too good to be true, it usually is. If it involves cheap shipping from China or has a website URL that does not reflect the store, the majority of the times it can come with problems.
Search for online reviews. I rarely shop online these days without looking for a review first. There are so many bloggers reviewing products these days that it is generally easy to find a good review of a reputable company. Many scam awareness sites may also highlight non genuine websites.
Mix and match your passwords. Make sure that you do not regularly use the same password, because if someone has hacked your account, there is a chance they may try other methods of getting additional bank details and if your passwords are all the same, they have a higher chance of getting to your personal details. It also helps to incorporate many numbers, letters and even symbols if they are allowed in your password, to make them complex and harder to hack.
Check your shopping history. Make sure you regularly check bank statements, Paypal history and other methods of payment so you are up to date with your finances and you can see where you money has been going.

Recently a website called CyberStreetWise was launched and their main objective is to make people aware of the scams on the internet and to raise awareness of online safety. The website features a street in which you can pop into the shops, take quizzes to see how safe you are when it comes to the internet and give you helpful tips. I really enjoyed going through the virtual stores and seeing if I could spot the safety hazards.

Have you ever been a victim of fraud?

Isn't it great when the sun comes out and you instantly feel more confident, daring and flirty? I love how everyone seems to be their best dressed when there is a little bit of sun in the sky and we able to flaunt ourselves rather than covering up in heavy scarves and large, unflattering anoraks. During the last few days whilst the sun has been out, I have grabbed some of my favourite summer dresses out of the closet and I have been walking around town feeling the best I have done in a long time. I love summer colours, pretty dresses and the ability to show of my legs - which I believe are my best asset. It is also nice to be able to do your hair and know that it won't be wrecked by wind or rain on the way to work, for once you can arrive looking close to perfection and not feeling the need to rush straight into the toilets to adjust yourself. The walk of winter fashion shame seems to be disappearing with all the nice weather.

Whilst it was sunny outside, I took the opportunity to take some photos of one of my new dresses from Fashion Union, the Jennine Round Neck Printed Shift Dress in Pink*. The dress makes me think of the 1960s and I love the striking colours and pattern. The dress feels really comfortable to wear and fits easily, my only criticism is that it is a little bit too baggy for my liking, I would prefer it to give me a little bit more shape, but nevertheless it is still one of my favourite new dresses.

Have a wonderful stylish Sunday.

http://www.fashionunion.com/

So many beauty blogger have raved about electric cleansers and every time I read a review, I have been left wanting to try one for myself. Recently I was given the opportunity to review the Rio Deep Pore Cleanser, an alternative to the current beauty blogger favourite, The Mia Clarisonic.

According to the Rio website:

The Deep Pore Cleanser uses micro-current technology to cleanse, moisturise and refresh, leaving the skin feeling invigorated, vibrant and deeply cleansed. The ultimate skincare regime features four treatments:
1. Deep Cleanse: dirt and grime are purged from the skin.2. Preparation: the skin is prepped for optimum moisturising.3. Moisturising: enhances hydration of the skin.4. Refresh: pulsed micro-current stimulation to invigorate and refresh.

My first impressions of the Rio Deep Pore Cleanser* were positive. I like the simplistic design and the compact size of the product - it looks like the ideal to fit in your suitcase when you are away and doesn't take up too much room on your dressing table. I found that the product seemed to be sturdy and well-made and I could not wait to see if the product really lived up to expectations with the rest of my testing.

The Rio Deep Pore Cleanser seemed very easy to use - simply attach a wet cotton pad doused in the serum and use the high, low and mode buttons to cater for your treatment desires. Up until this point, I was rather happy with the product and everything seemed in order, but when it came to the actual treatment, I found it a bit of a let down. When I used to the cleanser, I was expecting a higher level of penetration on the skin from the product, but it seemed like although it was set to high, it wasn't really doing anything. I felt like I had to put in just as much work as if I had got a cloth and tried to do my old fashioned cleansing ritual using a simple face cloth and a variety of products.I left it a few days and went back to the product thinking it was simply because I was an electric cleanser virgin and that I had not been doing it right. Yet again I was greeted with the same disappointment. It does clean my face, but it doesn't give me a radiant glow or the feeling of being £150 worth of fresh. With that said, I do love the brand Rio as I have tried some of their other products, but the Rio Deep Pore Cleanser wasn't really for me, especially at the hefty price tag.

Have you tried the Rio Deep Pore Cleanser before or anything similar?

There are many things I love in life - fashion, beauty, my pet rabbit, playing guitar, blogging and of course my fiance, but I have one strong passion that resonate through all of these and that is my love for anything vintage. Okay, my pet rabbit isn't vintage, but hey, in the 1950s people used to keep a lot of pet rabbits. My makeup is often done in a vintage style - cat flick eyeliner and bright red lip is my go-to style, when I'm feeling down I'll pick up my guitar and play vintage songs, I love wearing vintage clothing and me and my partner were drawn together by our love of The Beatles. There's only one thing left - blogging...well blogging allows me to write about how much I love vintage inspired items and even though my style doesn't always have a 'vintage style' I like to think that I try my hardest to look classically elegant most of the time.

A few days a go I was approached by a local hat designer looking to do a blogger collaboration. Her company is Indie Cindy Hats and she makes the most beautifully handcrafted vintage inspired hats which are cruetly-free, using only wool felt and faux fur. The hats are designed for everyday use and for special occasions and provide a great way to jazz up a dull, boring outfit.

Instead of doing the usual blogger collaboration in which I am given a product to review and give my opinion on, we decided to meet up a vintage inspired ice-cream parlour and conduct a mini blogger photo shoot of me wearing the hats. The mention of the words ice-cream, milkshake, vintage and hats had me from the off and this morning we made our way to A Month of Sundaes in Marsden, Huddersfield to take a few photographs and eat as much ice-cream as we could.

I had so much fun walking around the ice-cream parlour in my favourite tea dresses and wearing the wonderful hats. I was amazed by the high quality of the products and the beautiful array of colours. Indie Cindy's current collection is all about pastels, channelling this seasons current trend.

Of course it would have been rude not to sample the ice-cream whilst we were there, but there was so much variety to choose from. I opted for the toffee flavour, but there was so many other intriguing mixes. One flavour that really grabbed my attention was the cake mixture ice-cream, but as summer is fast approaching, I was slightly worried about the calorie content. Cake and ice-cream seems like a delicious, yet lethal to the diet mix.

I had so much fun at the ice-cream parlour today, I only wish I could wear hats like this everyday and eat ice-cream without any care in the world. Special thanks to Sally for helping with all the imagery for this blog post, you are an absolute star.

Check out Indie Cindy Hat's Twitter Page and Website.

What do you think of the hats?

Spring time is always my favourite fashion season. Out come the all the vibrant juicy oranges, plum purples and aztec prints, contrasted with subtle pastel colours, beiges and crisp whites. I always find spring to be the most classically feminine season. The clothes are modest - covered up enough to keep you warm through the ongoing blustery winds, but short enough to reveal a little bit of leg or midriff once the sun comes out. As a fan of vintage fashion, I love how spring time clothing is all about the subtle transition to summer and whilst we are seeing shorter skirts and cami tops on the horizon, the majority of clothing still leaves a lot to the imagination.

As I was browsing the rails in Topshop today, I had a sudden burst of inspiration for a wish list post, mainly brought on by this sunburst orange lace dress I had fallen head over heels for. This dress is the Premium Lace Pencil Dress new in to Topshop and features beautifully tailored short sleeves, a bodycon lace pencil skirt and a crop top overlay. At £78 this dress is a little bit pricey, but it will definitely become a staple item that you can take through season to season. The design is timeless and the colour will light up your wardrobe.

The next item on my wish list is this Pink Colour Block Structured Tote bag from River Island. I quite like my River Island handbags. They always seem to last me quite awhile, they are able to carry around my Macbook and they always have such a beautiful collection. This season River Island has many pastel colours and cream handbags, it is every girly girls dream.

Next is this wonderful Hugo Boss watch. For quite sometime now, I have been looking for a new everyday watch and I have struggled to find one that quite matches my style. I am forever in love with Michael Kors, but for a day to day watch, I find them to be a little bit too dressy. I want a watch that would look good with my hair tied back and a pair of jeans without making me look too overdressed. This Hugo Boss watch is simple, yet elegant and I love striking clock face.

Finally, to complete the outfit I have opted for a classic pair of Kurt Geiger court shoes. I don't think a day goes by without me sneakily browsing the KG website or me day dreaming of buying a new pair of shoes. Kurt Geiger create the most versatile shoes that fit around your life, it's impossible not to find a pair for the mood you are in. These are the Ellen court shoes - classic, beautifully shaped and perfect for this seasons soft colours. Coincidentally, these heels are also the same name as my late grandma - a wonderfully classy woman with impeccable taste.

In just under four weeks time I will be another year older. The past year has gone incredibly fast, it feels like I have only just started my third year of uni, but in a few weeks time I will be finishing my degree. It is a daunting, yet exciting time. A time when everything I have worked hard for will hopefully come together, but unfortunately the hard work isn't over yet. My birthday (just my luck) happens to fall a few days before one of the biggest deadlines I have ever had in my university lifetime, my dissertation. I can imagine it being rather stressful and I will have little time to celebrate, but luckily for me, the week after marks the start of the Easter holidays and I will have some time to celebrate my belated birthday.

To help me get in the mood for my birthday, I have created a little birthday wish list and I'm hoping that somehow my partner may stumble upon it. *hint hint* The first item on my wish list is Marc Jacob's Daisy Delight. A few days ago I went into my local Boots store and after trying this on for the first time, I fell head over heels for it. It smells absolutely divine. The Limited Edition Daisy Delight smells sweet and juicy, with a floral, musky base. With notes of apple, gardenia, iris and peony, it makes the perfect springtime fragrance.

The second item on my wish list is this white blazer from H&M. It isn't so much a gift that I would ask people to buy me, it is most likely going to be a gift to myself as a birthday treat. I was shopping in H&M last week and tried this blazer on, but unfortunately they did not have my size. I could see myself wearing this on a regular basis with my faux leather trousers and chelsea boots - I really need this blazer in my life.

The third item is the Chanel Rouge Allure Incandescente. I love my bright lipsticks and I love Chanel, this would be the perfect birthday gift.

Finally, I've been wanting these Vivienne Westwood orb Anchor earrings for quite some time now and if I don't get them for my birthday, I'll definitely be treating myself to them after graduation. I have always taken a liking to anything nautical. My dad's obsession with sailing has definitely rubbed off on me.

Are you planning on treating yourself anytime soon?

I'm a girl that loves experimenting with my hair. Hair extensions, hair chalks, you name it and I have probably tried it. My favourite style of hair has to be big and bouncy. I hate to say it, but in the hair department, I'm a little bit of a Cheryl Cole hair 'wannabe'. John Frieda have recently released a set of two tutorials showing you how to get the best hair this spring and I thought I would share* them with you.

The first video is of floral curls - two of my favourite spring trends. The hair looks retro, striking, yet somehow looks quite sophisticated. Short hair isn't really for me, but if I did dare to go short, I would be giving this a go.

)

The second tutorial is Big Bold Waves. I love experimenting with velcro rollers and I love big curls - this hair tutorial is definitely one I will be trying out in the near future.

Which style is your favourite?

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved vintage inspired clothing, especially if it is to do with the 1950s. I love the classic feminine look of 50s style fashion - the clothes all gave the most wonderful hourglass silhouette and flattered every figure. It was a time when women looked elegant and girly.

Recently I was asked to participate in a challenge by Tesco called 'How You're Wearing It' and I was asked to pick and style an item of clothing from the F&F website. Recently I blogged about how supermarkets are upping their game in the fashion department and yet again, this dress is an example of how chic supermarket clothing are becoming. For the challenge I picked this wonderful F&F Limited Edition Off the Shoulder Skater Dress to review and styled it to replicate a 1950s look. To accessorise this outfit, I teamed the dress with my grandmas vintage pearl necklace - which was given to her by my granddad in the late 1940s and I wore by Chandelier earrings from Lipsy that I bought last year. This dress is very comfortable to wear and easy to dress up or down. I have been wearing it quite a lot recently now the weather is a lot warmer and I can easily see myself wearing it all through summer.

This dress makes me want to watch Dreamboats and Petticoats the musical all over again and dance the whole night through to my favourite 50s songs. Even better, it is a reminder that just over 6 months from now, I will be having my own 50s style wedding - excited is an understatement.

http://www.clothingattesco.com/

Hard Rock Cafe Event

Cheers to The Weekend

Mothers Day Perfume: Clinique Calyx

Pretty in Pink: Niteo Jewellery

OMG Fashion Press Event

That Friday Feeling: PopChips

My New Found Love: Pole Fitness

Celebrity Skin Clarifying Skin Polish

Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend

Feeling Blue: Laundry Boutique

My eBay Collections

Are You Safe? Online Shopping

Sunday Style

Rio Deep Pore Cleanser

Playing in the Ice-Cream Parlour: Indie Cindy Hats

Spring Time Wishlist

My Birthday Wishlist

Spring Hair Inspiration with John Frieda

Take Me Back to The 50's