OOTD: Beige trench coat

Outfit:
Beige midi trench coat: ASOS
Red and blue leopard print shirt: ASOS (similar)
Ripped knee denim jeans: F&F (similar)
Tan block heeled ankle boots: ASOS
Poppy red Lily handbag: Mulberry
Peach nail polish: Crawfishin' for a Compliment OPI
Weekender Fairfield watch: Timex*

Well don't I look a little like a walking advertisement for ASOS. Maybe I should take that as a hint that I place too many orders online... That new loyalty scheme is fast becoming my new best friend. I'll have those £5 vouchers in no time! I'm on a bit of an ankle boot mission of late. I can't stop picking up new pairs here, there and everywhere. The weather really isn't playing ball so I've been living in them. The tortoiseshell heel of this tan pair had me hook, line and sinker when I spotted them. They took a while to feel fully comfortable but now they've hardly been off my feet. I love the fact they're pretty neutral but have a surprise heel to keep them looking interesting.

I wore this on a Peruvian brunch date with Hannah and Lauren at the weekend. Lauren was down for a few days from Scotland so it gave us all an excuse to catch up, drink some cocktails and stuff ourselves silly. It was such a lovely afternoon and it was a shame when we had to say goodbye.

Read more

Review: Stable Pizza, Whitechapel, East London

Last week I was invited to the launch of Stable Pizza in Whitechapel. Back in 2009, Richard and Nikki Cooper swapped London for Dorset and their first restaurant in a renovated stable at the back of their hotel. Cider is produced in abundance in the West Country so the pair decided to combine it with pizza to create a chilled out atmosphere where crowds of friends could gather for a laid-back night out. The chain uses local produce when possible and each menu is different depending on which restaurant you visit.

Stocking over 80 different types of cider from dry to sweet, fizzy to still,  Stable has one of the biggest cider selection I can think of in London. There doesn't seem to be anywhere like it. Craft beer and Gin, yes. But cider no. The great thing is they change it regularly so there are always different ones to try.

Now to the crispy sourdough pizza. The toppings seem endless, giving you some really tough choice to make! My favourites included The Coppa-Cabana, creamy Direct Coppa topped with field mushrooms, fresh tomato sauce, milky mozzarella before being drizzled with a dijon dressing and a handful of rocket leaves.  I was converted by The Porky Pancetta. A delicious combination of tomato sauce, sweet white onion and Dorset pancetta before being topped with a free range fried egg. Why have I have never had egg on a pizza before? Finally The King Crabbler was absolutely delicious.  Hand picked West Country crabmeat lightly infused with red chili, garlic and lemon provided the star player. It was topped with tomato sauce, roasted red peppers, fresh basil leaves and mozzarella. Creme fraiche, lemon and parsley provided the finishing touch.

It was honestly one of the best launches I have been lucky enough to attend. The staff were so knowledgeable and blew my mind with their cider knowledge. The pizza was absolutely delicious with so many different, unusual toppings. The venue was great, so laid back with a fantastic atmosphere. I genuinely can't wait to go back and have a table booked at the branch in Bristol for when I go stay with a friend in June. If you're looking for a chilled, fun night out then Stable Pizza should be first on your list. Thanks for such a great evening guys!

Read more

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