How to wear a leopard print coat

Outfit:
Leopard print smart coat: Next (similar)
Distressed black skinny jeans: New Look
Grey chunky knit roll neck jumper: New Look
Tan faux suede ankle boots: ASOS (similar)
Red poppy red Lily: Mulberry

I have such a soft spot for leopard print in all forms. Shoes, coats, dress and bags. But sometimes it just doesn't work. You want to look classy not tacky. Now I much prefer more muted, understated animal prints. I feel like they can be remixed better as the more gaudy patterns can make an outfit look too busy. As much as I love clashing prints on other people, I just don't like them on me. So what are my tips on how to wear a leopard print coat?

I like to wear a neutral top underneath, This chunky knit gray jumper is a bit less boring than black or white but still offers a good base. It keeps in with the snuggly winter theme I was aiming for. A white crisp shirt will also work well. These distressed black jeans again add a neutral base. But the ripped knees and frayed ankles help to keep the skinnies interesting. Finally the tan boots bring out the browns in the coat to bring the whole outfit together and the red bag brings a pop of colour. I think accessories are great to jazz up an outfit.

Read more

How to spend a lazy weekend

Mustard pattern cushion: Rooi*, grey ombre throw: Next*, Lonely Planet guide books: Amazon, 36 hours 125 Weekends in Europe: Amazon, pineapple candle: Primark, white chair: second hand

Due to a few things happening in real life, I've really scaled back my weekends and taken a step back. Usually I spend both days frantically fitting things in and constantly back and forth on trains into London. By the time Monday morning rolls around, I wake up exhausted ready to start the working week. The last few weeks I've very rarely left my Essex town instead choosing to spend my free days at home. I feel so much better for it and haven't even really felt the FOMO. It's been so nice to mooch around at my leisure and spend some time with local family and friends.

I've been setting aside one day at the weekend where I literally don't leave the house. Sometimes I don't even get dressed! Boy has it been good for the soul...

I never set an alarm and even if I do wake up early I like to lounge around and very rarely get up before 11am. I love to treat myself to a indulgent breakfast - smashed avocado, crumbled feta and chili flakes on crusty tiger bread is my brunch of choice. Then I like to potter around to do a few life admin bits and bobs that I have missed out during the week.

After lunch I like to settle down with a book underneath a cosy throw with a cushion and a candle flickering in the background. Sometimes it is my Game Of Thrones book on my kindle - on the third book now! - or it something from my collection of travel books. I'm absolutely obsessed with travel books. It could be researching places I've already booked or looking for inspiration for must-visit countries in the future. My list grows bigger by the day! I'm forever making wish lists on Air BnB in far flung places.

I've been really enjoying to put aside a Sunday to bake or cook something new from my mountain of cookbooks. So I usually volunteered to cook dinner for the evening.

How do you spend a lazy weekend? I recommend you take a day out for yourself!

Read more

Travel plans for 2017

2017 is the year we finally move out - fingers crossed! - so travel will have to take a bit of a back seat. That's not to say I'm going to be sitting at home twiddling my thumbs but there won't be any huge holiday plans. We'll be visiting a few old favourites again and trying to keep it cheap.

Paris
I've never been a massive fan of Paris but keen to explore more as I really don't think I have seen the best of it it. I stumbled across some cheap Eurostar tickets thanks to Hannah so decided to treat my mum for Christmas as she's never been. We're heading over for the night in January for less than 24 hours in the French capital. We probably won't do much sightseeing preferring to eat cheese and drink wine. But I can't wait. It'll be so nice to introduce my mum to some things I've seen before. If there's someone who enjoys stuffing their face as much as I do, it's her!

Image taken from My Sentimental Heart

Ireland
Originally the boyfriend and I had big plans to spend our ten year anniversary - say what?! - in Marrakesh. But buying a house has put a serious strain on our finances so that idea soon went out the window. Instead we're heading off to Northern Ireland for a few to spend time with Connor's family and embark on a Game of Thrones tour around the country. This has been high on my list for ages! Despite the fact I'll probably freeze to death, I'm so looking forward to it. Northern Ireland is absolutely beautiful and I've never explored the countryside, only the city. We're going to be doing the Causeway Coastal Route with the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, the Dark Hedges and Ballintoy Harbour on our list to visit.

Image taken from Little Winter

Brighton
This year I managed to squeeze in two girls trips to Plymouth and Bristol. They were so much fun that we've decided to need to do one next year. I've been to Brighton quite a few times but it's one of those places that never gets old. There's always somewhere new to eat, to drink and to wander. We've got a few days plans for when the weather starts to warm up in the spring.

Image found on Pinterest via All That Is Interesting

Poland
Our big holiday next year is a two week trip in Poland with our partners in crime - can't quite believe that will be our fifth annual year of going away with each other. We're heading back to the place that started it all. Warsaw. My friend's family have a flat in the city so it will be cheap and cheerful. Plus there's so much more to Warsaw to discover! After four days in the capital we will be heading about an hour away from the city to spend a few days with his grandparents in the country then catching the train north to Gdansk. Here we'll be basing ourselves for a week whilst exploring the beach of Sopot, Hitler's chilling Eastern Front headquarters Wolf's Lair and the port city of Gdynia. Despite it being a budget option, I'm really looking forward to it. I stumbled across Gdansk on Pinterest earlier this year and looks so beautiful, my friend also has some great things to say about Polish beaches too!

Image taken from Fat Frocks

Cardiff
In September I'll be heading into Wales for the weekend for a very good friend's wedding. I'm looking forward to an almightly catch up. I've been to Cardiff before so am really pleased to go back for some more exploring. I think the weekend is going to be one of the highlights of my year!

Image taken from Bow Dream Nation

German Christmas market
Finally I wanted to round off the year with a trip to a German Christmas market. We trekked to Bruges two years ago for a festive market but haven't been to one since. I'm sure I've mentioned before that Germany is probably one of my favourite European countries so I'd like to experience a proper Christmas market. I'm not 100% sure which city yet as I'm hoping to score some cheap flights but it will be somewhere in the country.

So now you know mine, tell me your 2017 travel plans!

Read more