29 August 2013

Favourite Bloggers

At the moment I'm really getting into reading other people's blogs and not just those about fashion - blogs about almost anything.  So I thought I would share with you some of my favourites and why I'm finding them interesting and I hope that you guys go and read them as well!

Zoella (http://www.zoella.co.uk/)

Zoella is a fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog that was set up and is run by Zoe Sugg.  It covers areas from her purchases to the products she likes and now, since her following has grown hugely, she covers what she has been up to and who she meets (recently One Direction - jealous!)
She has since broadened her social platform to Youtube and is a fashion and beauty "guru" on that (http://www.youtube.com/user/zoella280390).

I love Zoe's blog and Youtube channel purely because it's so easy to carried away reading it and before you know it you're back to 2011 seeing what she bought then!
Zoe is a keen blogger and Youtuber and someday I hope this blog is as big as hers!

what-katiesays (http://www.what-katiesays.com/)

what-katiesays is a blog set up and run by Katie Tudor (who is a flat mate of mine at Nottingham Trent University) and again, it's a fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog that simply follows what she does and what she wears/purchases!
Katie is similar to me as in we're both relatively new to the blogging world and we're crazy about everything fashion!
Katie has been lucky enough to go to various blogger events that have been held, including events by Harvey Nichols and Benefit and kindly bought us along (via what-katiesays) to get an insight.
Starting at Nottingham in September, we have promised to help each other out with our blogs and hopefully, what-katiesays.com will shoot off - it's definitely worth a read!

And Sapphire Too (http://andsapphiretoo.lilyandmay.co.uk/)

And Sapphire Too is a blog that covers fashion, lifestyle and, most importantly, Floristry.  It is run by Sapphire Bates (who I went to college with) who is passionate about vintage styles, floristry and events.  Sapphire is a trainee florist at Lily and May (http://www.lilyandmay.co.uk/) and definitely enjoys what she does.
And Sapphire Too is such an easy blog to read and covers almost everything there is to do with vintage and her work and I know for a fact that she is so dedicated to this blog so I would definitely recommend it.

The Affair by Natalie and Rachel (http://natalieandrachel.wordpress.com/)

The Affair is a blog set up by Natalie and Rachel (I couldn't find their last names) who study and live in Melbourne, Australia.  The Affair is a fashion blog and covers mainly the upcoming trends and what fashion lines are out their at the moment.
Their blog posts are fairly short but the pictures they include definitely make up for it and you can tell that they clearly spend a lot of time working on making sure their pictures are perfect.
The Affair has a huge following, fans and press, and this year was mentioned as Bloglovin's Number 11 Up and Coming Fashion Blogs in Australia so I would definitely head on over to check them out!

Bronzed Sundaze (http://bronzedsundaze.blogspot.co.uk/)

Bronzed Sundaze is a blog run by Alex Gens and is a fashion blog that covers her favourite products, her personal style and anything that she likes about the fashion industry at the moment.
I found out about Bronzed Sundaze through Independent Fashion Bloggers and I'm so glad I did because it is such a good read and you can tell that so much thought goes into each post.
Alex lives in Florida and is studying to become a physician and one of the main reasons I really like her blog is the fact that she promotes positive self image and I think that this is a really important factor when it comes to blogging and fashion so definitely go and check out Bronzed Sundaze.


I hope that this has given you an insight into what I like to spend my time reading and maybe in a few months or so I'll do an updated version with any new blogs I've sniffed out!

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28 August 2013

Detox Water

I was at a friend's house last week when she went to her fridge and bought out some home-made detox water.  I asked her about it and she said that she had found loads of posts on Pinterest (www.pinterest.com) about different recipes and decided to try it.

So, copying her, that's what I did.  I Googled different recipes that used different ingredients to give you a different outcome and thought I would try one.

I read that detox water is meant to flush out any impurities in the body and therefore making your body more healthy as a whole and I'm always trying out different things to make me more healthy - I've tried drinking litres of water, exercising, yoga, meditation, vitamins and cutting out parts of my diet such as chocolate (that did not last long) - and so this is another one of my attempts!

Lemon is also a major part of trying to keep healthy as it helps digestion, increases the immune system, helps keep the skin healthy and, of course, acts as a natural detox.

Below is the recipe that I used (I kind of made one up and based it on my friends one) but there are so many out on the internet that I really want to try and so I'm going to link them below!


My Detox Water

Ingredients: Raspberries, Lemon, Fresh Mint, Water

- Fill up a large jug with cold drinking water
- Wash the raspberries and add to the water (the amount depends on preference, I added the whole punnet)
- Slice the lemon into thin slices and into chunks to give more flavour and add to the water (again, the amount depends on preference, I used about 3/4 of a lemon)
- Break off a couple of handfuls of fresh mint and rinse under water and add this to the water (amount depends on preference)
- Then mix all the ingredients, trying not to break any up and store in the fridge
- It is best to leave the jug in the fridge overnight so that all the ingredients diffuse into the water
- Top up the jug every time water is taken from it - this will keep it fresh

- I will probably change the ingredients after a week or so, depending on if they're fresh or not!

My water tastes more lemony and minty rather than like the raspberries but I wouldn't change the amount of ingredients I put in - it's so nice and fresh!

And so far so good.  I'm trying to not drink as many fizzy drinks and only drink water, the detox water, tea and green tea!

Here are some more recipes that I want to try in the future!




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24 August 2013

Recents

A lot of the time, I post my recent outfits onto my Instagram page (www.instagram.com/katiecrossthwaite) and then completely forget about them!  So I'm going to start a new regular post on my blog showcasing my recent outfits or purchases using the posts from my Instagram page and I will try and do this at least once a fortnight (depending on if I remember/if I've worn or bought anything especially nice)...so here is my first "Recents" post!

Tea at Fortnum and Mason in London
Playsuit - Miss Selfridge
Chelsea Boots - Topshop
Bracelets - Thomas Sabo, Pandora
Earrings - Spitalfields Market

Tea at Tewinbury Farm in Hertfordshire
Jeans - Topshop
Top - Topshop
Necklace - Miss Selfridge
Shoes - New Look
Bracelet - Thomas Sabo

I finally bought the infamous Zara mini skort which I have wanted for so long now!
It is in this season's collection but they are very scarce as they are extremely popular but you can get them from here: http://www.zara.com/uk/en/-/mini-skort-c469005p1295913.html for £25.99

I got this bracelet as a present for getting my grades to get into University from my parents.
It is a single woven leather bracelet in purple (http://www.pandora.net/en-gb/explore/products/bracelets#!590705CPE-S) with a little dress pendant charm (as I'm studying fashion ) (http://www.pandora.net/en-gb/explore/products/charms/791031) and then two decorative clips either side (http://www.pandora.net/en-gb/explore/products/charms/791031#!790446/subcat/13
With the leather bracelets, it's best to get the clips either side as the charm always swivels round.  Also, when you get the clips, you have to get little rubber inserts, so make sure you ask for these as well!

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22 August 2013

Spitalfields Market

On Sunday 18th August, me and my sister took my mum and dad to Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane in London.  Spitalfields is one of my favourite places as it has almost everything you can think of - clothes, jewellery, artwork, photography, food, drinks - everything!
It has also been my dad's life long dream to have a curry on Brick Lane (as it's famous for its curry houses) and so we thought we would take him there.
If you ever have the chance to go to Spitalfields and Brick Lane, I highly recommend it!
Below are just a few of the snaps I took whilst in London!



And here's what I bought!!

Bob Dylan top - Tory Burch earrings - Henna tattoo


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Favourite Pieces

Searching the high street in order to find nice new clothes and accessories can be quite a challenge, believe it or not and for some of us, it can get very tedious so I thought I would share with you some of my favourite current pieces that are on the high street as I write this! (This should also give your Autumn/Winter wardrobe a kick start)

www.asos.com



Mango Structured T-Shirt (available at Asos) - £27.99 (also available in white) / ASOS Blouse with Frill Trim Collar in Floral Sport Print - £32

Whistles Katlin Blouse in Heart Print (available at Asos) - £125 / ASOS Midi Smock Dress in Nepi - £28 (also available in blue and khaki)


ASOS Formal Parka with Fir Trim Hood - £90 (ONE OF MY FAVOURITES) / Only Jersey Maxi Skirt - £9 (also available in grey and black)














ASOS Faux Fur Pom Beanie - £12 / ASOS Grainy SHopper with Front Metal Plate - £28


ASOS Mini Hair Brooch - £6 / ASOS Hoxton Heeled Sandals - £42


Topshop













Tall Crepe Tee Shift Dress - £42 / Petite Aztec Crop Cami - £10












Knitted Angora Cable Jumper - £46 / Off Shoulder Crop by Annie Greenabelle - £17


 



Gold Bubble Link Chain Necklace - £10 / Vintage Stone Brooch - £10














Stripe Bunny Scrunchie - £4 / Chunky Preppy Sungalsses - £18


Miss Selfridge













 Chiffon Yoke Solid Tee - £22 / Square Texture Jacket - £34













Black Rip Knee Jean - £38 / Ochre Waffle Jumper - £32












Handheld Boxy Bag - £29 / Posh Black Buckle Platform - £70


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17 August 2013

KOS!

At the beginning of August, me and my best friend went on a girly holiday to Kos, Greece!  We have been best friends for like 15 years now and have never been on a holiday together, just us two.  So what better time than this summer.  She is two years below me and so we had to wait for her to finish school (which was ridiculously late) to go but on the 3rd August, off we went!
If anyone is thinking about visiting Kos, I highly recommend it.  It was one of the best weeks of my life and we had such a good time.  We stayed in the Niriides Hotel just outside of Kos Town.  We got told that Kardamena was the "party place" but that Kos Town was still okay.  No...Kos Town was so much fun and had some really good places to go at night.  We became regulars at Hush and Wild Bull Bar which I think were the best places - oh and in Hush (if you're a girl), get up onto the bar - you get free shots!
I'm not going to put all of my 600 pictures up on here but I thought I'd give you a brief look into what we got up to - as well as my outfits!

 Kos tops - view from the balcony - beach - dinner shots - Kos town - first night - fish bowl - street dancing - Greek night - second fish bowl - beach - harbour - Cosmo - froyo - beach - being a child on the play area

beach - tan lines - last night cocktails - our new friend John - last night drinks - drunk walk home - Thermal Springs - in a natural thermal spring - beach - last night dinner - before travelling home




Playsuit - Topshop
Sandals - Accessorize

Top - Hollister
Shorts - Hollister


Top - Topshop
Shorts - Topshop
Sandals - Accessorize

Top - Miss Selfridge
Skirt - Miss Selfridge



Top - New Look
Shorts - Miss Selfridge
Sandals - Accessorize

Top - River Island
Skirt - Miss Selfridge



Top - Topshop
Shorts - Topshop
Sandals - Accessorize

Top - Topshop
Shorts - Jack Wills

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