Beauty: spring nails

We've all been there. Chapped, worn out hands with stubby fingernails fingernails that have been battled by the elements all winter. By the time Spring arrives I'm feeling a little ashamed at the state they're in. The long dark evenings means they're often the least of my priorities and one of the last things I make sure I do when I'm rushing around the house in the evening. Covered by gloves, I neglect them because they're not often on show. But now I'm paying the price. They are in urgent need of TLC. So what tips do I suggest?

1. Invest in a decent hand cream
I can't stress this enough. As someone who suffers from very dry skin, I get through so much hand cream during the colder months. I honestly believe that it's worth investing - you really get what you pay for. After being persuaded by Hannah in Liberty I invested in the Khiels Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. What a good investment it was. It's pretty pricey at £18.50 but it does wonders.  You only need a little so I think it's going to last a long time.

2. Shiny shiny nails
I love the gel effect nails but I don't like the price of £30 of having them done at the beauty salon. So I picked up this Sally Hansen Gel Shine on a Boots binge one morning before work. It's lethal having a decent boots next to my office... It helps to give me the same super shiny effort at home and helps to keep my polish in place. It takes a good few days before it starts to chip which is a revelation when they usually chip within the hour.

3. Buffer away
This buffer tool can be picked up from Boots for a couple of quid. They're a great tool to help keep your nails in tip top shape. Especially if you're prone to biting them every now and again. Not that I would ever do such a disgusting habit...

4, Pretty pastels
I love a good pastel once the weather starts to warm out and my favourite brand is OPI. They always have such a great selection of colours. I managed to pick these two up for a couple of quid from a beauty sale at work.  I just think pastel shades look so spring like and can really brighten up your outfit. Crawfishin' for a compliment is the pretty peachy orange shade and Got myself into a Jam-balaya is the dusty barbie pink shade.

Read more

Review: Nopi, Soho, London

I'd been eyeing up Nopi after hearing rave reviews about the cookbook. As tempted as I was to take the plunge, I wanted to try out the restaurant first. Luckily Hannah suggested it for brunch so off we went one Sunday morning.

We opted for a spot at the communal table downstairs in front of the hustle and bustle of the open kitchen - right in the heart of the action. The clattering of plates and chopping of knives wasn't a distraction in the slightly. Simply adding to the atmosphere. Coming hungry we decided to opt for three dishes to share. Gotta try as much as possible right?! Shaksuka (baked eggs) with chunky sourdough, beef brisket hash and corn and polenta cakes were the meals of choice.

The beef brisket hash just melted in your mouth and had a great flavour. The crispy potatoes may have been slightly overdone but it didn't take anything away from the dish. Just a matter of personal preference. The corn and polenta cakes were the stand out star for me. Perched on top of smashed avocado and smothered in a mixture of green leaves and fried egg, these fluffy parcels were delicious. The dish felt light, filling and the runny yolk was the perfect finishing touch. Finally the baked eggs were packed with peppers, tomatoes and smoked cream. The dish had a great kick to it and the sourdough was the perfect partner to mop up all the juices.

Nopi was brilliant and the brunch has made me desperate to try even more of the menu. There's so much I wanted to order. I'd also love to go along for dinner but I've heard it can get quite pricey. I think it's about time I invested in the cookbook to recreate the dishes at home!

These pictures were taken using a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. As a iPhone nerd I'd always wondered about the other side. And when I crossed over to the other side I was delighted. The camera on the phone is absolutely great and hands down is one of the best phone cameras I've ever used. An Instagrammers dream. Thanks for letting me try it out Three mobile! Keep an eye out for some more reviews showing off the camera over the next week.

Read more

Timex A/W collection

A few weeks ago I was invited along to have a sneak peak at the new Timex a/w collection at Shoreditch House - a venue that has been on my wish list to visit for ages! A brand I have a soft spot for and a venue that promises to offer fantastic views of the city? Win win situation! The American heritage brand certainly had a lot of fancy watches to show off.

I found that brightly coloured material straps were very popular. These statement watches had a great nautical theme to them. In fact, I was lucky enough to take home the yellow and blue number and my boyfriend is already trying to steal it from me - the little rascal. The straps on the Weekender Fairfield are reversible making them perfect for those who change their mind like the weather!

If leather straps are more your jam, the earthy neutral watches come with matching face. This heritage collection offers a more subtle watch but still makes a style statement.

What I loved most about the different collection was that they were all unisex and timeless. I got the impression that wouldn't date and would look just as good now as they would in ten years time. Perfect for an investment piece. Can you believe the brand is over 160 years old?

Do you have a favourite design? Thanks so much for a lovely evening Timex - my wish list is now as long as my arm!

Read more