Not Ashamed to Say - I LOVE Primark

 Denim Spot Shir £12, Pink Cable Jumper (price unknown), Scarf £4, Plaid shirt £9, White/Grey Sporty Jumper (price unknown), Bird Shirt (price unknown), White/Black collar t-shirt £8, Lovely necklace £3. 

If I ever get asked the question "ohhhhhhh, I love your top/bikini/shirt, where is it from?", the most likely answer you'll hear is "It's actually from Primark, it was only £XX".

Bargain tourettes. A genuine, crippling condition that many of you will be familiar with.

But I'm not embarrassed to say that the majority of my clothes are from Primark. They're cheap, they're on trend (or at least I like them!) and when they're not trendy any longer I won't feel bad about over spending or chucking them into the charity shop.

And with an Autumn Collection as good as it's current collection, why the hell wouldn't you shop there. Above are just a few items that I'd be keen to pick up on my next visit. The spotty denim shirt is my absolute favourite, and it's only £12. I mean seriously. Pizza Express or new shirt? I know which I'd chose.

I know that certain items are worth splashing out on, staple pieces that you will keep for a long time (good trainers for example). I'm not cheap, but vest tops, pumps for £3 and jeans that fit like a glove for less than £10 are just silly to miss.

If you don't ever make the venture into Primark for fear of being trampled, do as I do and go early. The Tottenham Court road branch opens at 8:00am and Marble Arch at 8:30. It's tidy, empty and full of lovely bits and pieces. You'll be surprised not only by the value, but by how many bits and pieces you want to buy.

My only warning is this, only buy stuff that you really like. Don't buy stuff just because it's a bargain. It is no longer a bargain when one month later you haven't worn it and you definitely wont make the trip to return it. 

Now I'm just praying for a meeting in Soho very soon so that I can pop into Primark beforehand.

Not Sure If I Can Resist These...!

Oh god. It's happened. Nike Air Max WITH leopard print. Who is testing me with such products?! How am I meant to resist!!

It's like two of my favourite things laced together in one mouth-wateringly amazing combination. Nike iD have released this range (which is officially Cheetah print, but who really cares) in various colour combos, but I am loving the white and black vibe. I'd have mine as above, but am yet to decide on the sole. Solid white or black, or translucent Atomic Red? Decisions decisions. 

If there's ever been a moment for testing self control this is it. I worry I might just be too weak. I'm currently trying to think of what items of my wardrobe I can eBay to get some extra pocket money to purchase these bad boys.

Please don't sell out Nike - I beg you.

Not Happy To Be Back

Sadly, I have now returned from my last holiday of the year. I've been a busy bee this year, visiting Rome (Alex's 30th present), Greece (Alex's mums 60th present - family holiday), Ibiza (4 night party with the girls) and most recently the amazing Dubai (a relaxing and food filled treat with Al).

I have lived JUST within my means and spent all my savings on holidays but you're only young once right? Based on this thinking, I've been making the most of cheap deals and my annual leave from work. I now have just 1 more day left to get me to December. The least I think about that the better. 

Dubai was as fantastic as ever. My third visit, I'm an advocate for this cosmopolitan Emirate. I know it's not to everyone's tastes and you can say it lacks culture and atmosphere but to that I'd say "utter toss". 

Have you tried authentic Arabic food in the dessert? Or ridden an Abra down the river? This place is full of amazing food, fun times, activities, stunning sites and most importantly for me (dare I say it) luxury! Utter luxury. I am not afraid to proclaim that I enjoy having a cold flannel handed to me as I sunbathe in 40 degree heat!! God knows we all need some R&R in life and Dubai provides it in abundance. 

During our stay we ate some amazing meals, shared some great company and some really special quality time. It's all I could want from a holiday. 

For now, I will remember it fondly and look forward to my return. 

Not the Usual Wedding Guest Photo

This is a moment in time that I just love. God knows what we were laughing at (it's usually me laughing AT Alex and him having no idea), but it's so far removed from the usual posed wedding guest photos that I really like it. One for a frame perhaps.

Not Full After Dinner?

It had been some time since we saw our faves Ryan and Bev, so we wanted to go for a lovely lunch with good food and great chats. So we headed to Westfield (Shepherds Bush) as there is so much choice. After perusing the menu at a couple of places  we hadn't tried before we ended up settling on Wagamamas. Not that it's a bad thing, we all absolutely love Wagamamas but I was a little worried we might be a little rushed. It's not exactly a fine dining experience.

However, we were quite tactical and ordered drinks, then ordered starters, we ate the starters and then ordered mains so it was perfect for having a really good catch up. As ever, the food was lovely and we were all suitably fed and watered when we left.

That said, Alex had been craving a coffee all day so I suggested we pop down the way to Le Pain Quotidien to sort him out. They do a mean coffee and the atmosphere is nice and chilled, with consistently good service no matter what branch you happen to be in. After browsing the menu we happened across the Desserts. Uh Oh. It had to be done. I went wild and ordered up the Chocolate Brownie, whilst Alex, Bev and Ryan (sharing) had the Warm Belgian Waffle which came with berries. We inquired about what sauces we could have and after a chat with the waitress we were bought syrup, honey, white and milk chocolate spread, chocolate sauce, and god knows what else. They were set.

My Brownie was ridiculously good. I ate every single crumb. If you never have another Brownie again you need to try this one. Mmmmm, it's making me hungry even writing about it.

I think I might swap a few breakfast meetings for a afternoon coffee and cake?!

Not Going Out in This Weather

Today has definitely felt like the beginning of Winter. It's been consistently drizzling since this morning and is quite frankly already getting on my tits. I hate the way it messes up your hair, the way it makes your feet soggy and the fact you have to hold an umbrella whilst trying to text/instagram/facebook.

So when I finally got to my desk after a morning long meeting I was loathe to go back outside. I couldn't bare the idea of the 5 minute walk around the square to Marks and Spencers. Not laziness, just a very strong objection to getting wet. So I googled "food delivery Kensington" to no avail. And then I had a true light bulb moment. I remember Potage. I don't know where I even found out about it, but I'd had the homepage bookmarked on my computer for months.

Homemade food, delivered to your desk for £6.50. What's not to love. The Evening Standard got it right when it descirbed Potage as "the real hearty deal". I couldn't agree more. My All American Mac and Cheese with Bacon was filling, tasty and sizable. Enough to fill me up for lunch and make me think a light dinner will suffice this evening. Admittedly I didn't go for the healthiest option on the menu, if I was being good I would have gone for the Raw Autumn Veg Pot, don't judge me.

The Menu changes daily, and this weeks selection includes Chilli Con Carne, Irish Stew and Thai Green Curry to name a few. Not realistic to spend £6.50 a day on lunch for me, but singles looking for a nice homemade dinner for one will be delighted with this.

The lovely Georgia hand delivered my Pot within about 20 minutes of ordering, and even let me off the £2.50 delivery charge that comes with orders under £15.00 (first time order!).  A nice touch that endhered me to the whole idea even more. I know that I'll be ordering again, and hopefully my colleagues will have a go to. There will be inevitable late nights in this office over the coming winter months and I know I'd rather have a Potage than a microwave meal from M&S.

Not A Bad Word to Say About MASH

I'm not usually as much of a socialite but the last couple of weeks have turned out to be quite busy. Drinks and food have flowed and I've been having way too much fun. I am back on my "not a diet, diet" as of tomorrow.

Thursday night was an absolute delight. The WTF gang and our lovely clients HBO ascended on MASH (Modern American Steak House) in Soho for drinks and more importantly, dinner. MASH is not long opened and is based in the old Titanic Restaurant on Brewer Street. It's luxurious and opulent from the moment you ascend the long spiral staircase. It was fairly quiet at 6pm so we were able to have a couple of drinks in the bar before being seated in our private room.

The drinks list is extensive to put it lightly, with a huge amount of cocktails. We did a good job of trying nearly all of them between us. Some were winners and some left us trying to sniff out any sign of what might be in the glass/tankard/flute. On the other hand Mikey and Neil were kept happy with over 20 types of rum, from various places and various ages.

The room we'd hired was the perfect size for 12 people but could fit up to 16 comfortably. We had a designated server whose manner and knowledge were spot on. He knew all there was to know about the food and was happy to help with any questions we had. We certainly needed some guidance on the wine list, which went on for pages and pages (and pages). My favourite tipple was by far the Malbec we had with our steak.

The group ate from a set menu, which consisted of 4 starters to share, a choice of 3 steaks and a choice of 3 desserts. Every single morsel of food I ate was gorgeous. I went for the American Ribeye 300g which was an absolute beast of a portion. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't finish it. Maybe it was all the wine? I had mine medium, and it was cooked to perfection. Exactly to my taste. If you want steak cooked your way, go to MASH, as every single guest was impressed with what they had and how it was cooked. The sides accompanied the steaks perfectly. Gorgeous mash potato and bacon, creamy spinch, golden fries and salad were available in abundance. No one could have asked for anything more, and by the time dessert arrived (a good break between mains and dessert was much appreciated) we all groaned at the thought of any more food. Saying that, we still managed to tuck into cheesecakes and meringues. I think it's called a second wind. 

The double doors into the room were constantly left open, so whilst we had the pleasure of dining exclusively with our guests, we didn't feel shut out and could still enjoy the buzz of the restaurant. The room is airy and spacious and with a fully mirrored wall at one end feels huge. With a minimum spend of £1500 (for the room) it's not a cheap option, but with a few magnums of wine and champagne you'll soon ramp up the spend.

Not to say that this is a really expensive restaurant, it's just the way we decided to do it. I would love to visit again with friends or Al and see another side to it and give the rest of the menu a try. I wonder if they do a burger?! And I've also got to find out the name of the Malbec we had.

This is another hit in the heart of Soho. One I am happy to recommend. As ever, if you decide to give it a try, let me know. 

Not at Carnival. Dont care.

After Ibiza and a few heavy work related night outs, my body still doesn't feel 100%. So sitting at my desk on Monday morning I decided there was only one thing for it. A trip down to see my folks (and Poppy) at their gorgeous home in Freshwater, Isle Of Wight.

I don't know whether its the sea air, the ridiculously comfy beds or just the fact that I feel totally at ease here but I am always able to completely relax. Walking, talking and eating are always on the agenda, and I just love it. Today we popped in to see my Auntie at her sea front beach shack down at Gurnard. I say shack, but it couldn't be further from an accurate description - you can see it for yourself here.

After coffee and a catch up with Antonia, we took a long, leisurely stroll into Cowes where we made an inevitable pit-stop for some icecream. It was all my mums idea, I swear. I felt good for having walked a good few miles, after completely chilling out yesterday.

I'm now currently sat on the most enormous sofa, and the house is filled with the aroma of Jackies infamous Lasagne. I can't tell you how excited I am to chow down on what is my absolute favourite meal of all time. I'll most likely have at least two portions, unashamedly putting myself into a severe self-induced food coma. I'm not even embarrassed to say it. 

I'm heading back to London tomorrow, but will enjoy a casual brunch with my Auntie, cousin and Nanny Fletcher before I go. Another session of over indulgence I'm sure, but as they say "when in Rome".

By Tuesday I'll be fed, watered and relaxed. As good as new.

Not just a couple of drinks

It was a happy accident that I ended up at The Blind Pig on Thursday night. What I thought was to be a couple of cheeky drinks after work with some clients and colleagues, turned into a rather lovely yet messy night out. I'm extremely lucky that in my line of work I get to grace establishments such as these, and spend my evenings with some superb company.

I just wanted to give The Blind Pig the recognition it deserves and highlight a few of the details I loved about it that make me think I definitely want to go back.

They have a gorgeous cocktail list, with such an array of interesting tipples it took all of us a good 10 minutes to choose. The coffee bean treat you can see above is known as a "Mochachocafrapacino" or something to that affect. It had a lot of rum in it, a lot of port in it, and a lot of taste to it. It was like dessert in a drink and everyone who tried it loved it. The cocktails come in all shapes and sizes and that's half the fun of this place. You could work your way through the whole list and never know what was going to turn up at your table. I saw fruit, wooden cricket bats (!) and glass milk cartons appear from the bar.

The staff were super attentive, and well presented. The ladies all matched in a cute floral dress I had my eye on from Zara last season. A nice touch I thought, a change from the usual black shirt and trousers combo you so often see. The gents were smartly dressed, with one possessing a beard to rival even 1t (Mr Etta Din).

I have to mention my excitement over the food in this place. I only tried their chips (with curry mayo) and olives but I have already requested a date night there with Al. Fleshy, juicy, salty olives were what kept me going through the copious amounts of wine. I think I told everyone there about 8 times how tasty the olives were. Whoops.

Whilst this place is really quite luxurious, you're not taken for a ride with the prices. Cocktails are neither cheap nor expensive, ranging from £7-9.50 ish. However, we stuck with red wine after the first round of cocktails which was really lovely and reasonable at £17 for the bottle. Beers in chilled tankards came in at about £4.50 I believe.

You'll notice I took a snap of the toilets, which may not be important to some but it just outlines how much attention to detail has been paid here. I honestly cannot fault a thing.

If you have plans to go to the Blind Pig or give it a try based on this review, please do let me know how it goes. I'd love to hear.

Not In A "I'm so Miserable" Kind of Way

I'm sure I'm not the only one but I'm just never happy. Not in a "I'm so miserable" kind of way. I just always want more. Whether its money, social activities or clothes, as soon as I get one sorted I'm keen to get the next.

On this occasion I'm craving trainers. I just bagged myself the gorgeous Nike Hyperfuse as seen here, but already I've got a wish list of my next potential pair.

First up, and likely to cause a divide in opinion are these Reebok beauties. An absolute Classic (!) I've already heard them described as very "Croydon" but I think, worn with the right outfit they could be a really nice spring, girlie outfit finisher. Pastels are going to be everywhere next season and this for me is a great way to work them in to my wardrobe. A bargain pair too at only £60.00

Next up are my favourites on the list. They're the Nike Airmax 90 Hyperfuse Independence Day special edition. Already sold out pretty much everywhere they are just a pipe dream. The range consisted of a gorgeous blue pair and deep red, but I just think crisp white are the best. At £103.00 they're not cheap but I'd say worth every penny. If only I had the budget, the money and the access!! Dammit.

Next up, ANOTHER pair of Air Max 90's, this time the comfort range. These are a more Autumn type trainer for me, but the bright coral still makes them an eye catcher. Not sure I'll ever go for an all black trainer, these are a girly alternative for darker months. As will all Air Max, they've got the comfort factor and even give you an extra inch in height. Why do you think so many boys love them! £104.95 ish for these beauties. At what point is it acceptable to buy yourself an early Christmas present?

Lastly, and by no means least are a standard white Van. I've never owned a pair of Vans, having stuck with Converse and more recently Superga for my less sporty footwear, but I think the time has come. Bang some Crep Protect and these will keep me going through the rest of August, Sept and maybe even October. I'll be laughing in the face of rain. They go with everything, from dresses to leggings on a fat day, so they're a no brainer. The cheapest pair on the list as well at just £45.00, what's not to love?

Picture credits: Well Gosh, Drop Date, Foot Locker + Crooked Tongues

Not Me, The Other Al

My best friend is also my house mate, and my go-to man for everything. He's Al and he is my better half. Yes, together we are "al and al".

Al is pretty much the nicest guy you'll meet. And that's not being biased, a recent survey of everyone who's ever met him said the same (I lied). The reason he might appear on my blog now and again is likely to be because we hang out a lot together, naturally, but also because he has a sense of style that should be shared.

He's cool. To the bone. He never looses his rag, he's calm at every moment and he is a good balance for my firework-like nature. But it doesn't end there, he has an ability to make the most simple outfit look smart and perfect. Chinos and a white shirt are all it takes. He's preppy and I like that. Never a hair out of place as the saying goes.

The thing I love the most is that he looks so good, he makes me look good. Result.

Not Sure on An Outfit?

It's safe to say I come from a female orientated environment. 9 aunties, 2 sisters and of course Mum.

So when it comes to fashion, hair, style or in fact anything in life, there is never a shortage of opinions. Fantastic, when you want it. When you don't, well that's another blog post. 

My two sisters and I, have become heavily reliant on "outfit whatsapps". Even my mum has got involved in recent months. Almost weekly I am called upon to judge one sister or anthers outfit choices for the next wedding/night out/party. And of course, I also call on them to help me out with a second and third opinion when I can't quite decide if I'm in love with an outfit.

If you don't already do it, you need to get involved. It's instant feedback when you most need it.

In the changing rooms, when you 'need'  an outfit and you 'think' it's the one but just need some reassurance. If they reply with a "hmmmm" it's back to the drawing board. If its an "I like" then you finally let go of the breath you've been holding and rush to the checkout.

If you're not lucky enough to have two fashion forward siblings, ask your friends, ask your mum, ask whoever it is you know will tell you the truth. As that's what we all need. Some good clean honesty.

Not to say I don't ever return items or disagree with a sister or two, but it definitely helps shorten the process a little.

You can download Whatsapp here 

Please excuse the not smiling in pics.... Never knew I'd be blogging them! 

Not Fresh to Super Fresh

I'm fairly low maintenance overall, but there is one thing I cannot let go. My brows.

Some of you might think it ridiculous, obsessive or unnecessary to get your eyebrows threaded every week, but once you've done it once, you'll never stop. I blame Connie (middle sister) for the weekly habit, she too is an eyebrow obsessive, known to visit every 5 days at her worst. I used to be a happy bi-weekly regular at Adorn Beauty, but ever since I made the visit just 7 days after my previous I haven't stopped. At £4 a go its a luxury I can actually afford. Even better is the fact that every sixth visit is free with a loyalty card (at Adorn).

Recently however, I broke my habit. In order to ensure the best brows possible for my holiday I have let them grow out for 18 days (!!!). It has been a struggle, and I have to confess I have plucked the odd couple that were impairing my vision (slight exaggeration), but they are seriously overgrown. They've lost their shape and former beauty. Take a look for yourself.

The upside of this is that I have been able to step into the salon a mess and step out with a newly framed face! The way your eyebrows can change your face is incredible. Look at the difference! 

I would implore anyone to give threading a go if you haven't already. It's virtually pain free once you've done it a few times, it's cheap and it's readily available these days on most high streets and shopping centers. I can recommend Adorn and Zara at Hi-Lites in Ruislip Manor. Just be sure to explain clearly what you want. My usual line is "I want to keep them thick, same shape, just tidied up". 

However, if you're going for a totally new shape, it's worth splashing out a little and visiting somewhere like Blink. You can talk through your face shape and what would suit you so they get it just right. Once you have your new eyebrow shape you can just get a tidy up locally at a fraction of the cost. 

Another tip from me and my sister would be to kindly decline the "lotion" or "cream" you are offered after threading. Meant to cool your skin from the pain, it can actually clog your pores and cause spots around the forehead/temple area. So I always say no thank you. 

Lastly, if you want to see how much difference eyebrows really can make, check out this link.

Not To Be Worn In The Rain

Some girls like Louboutins, some like Jimmy Choo, I like Nikes and I like them bright. These are my new faves shipped in from the US of A.

Not Enough Time

So it's exactly 14 days until I jet off to Ibiza with the girls, is that enough time to shift 2 stone?! Probably not!

After starting the year on a complete health kick, including a personal trainer, gym sessions, no alcohol and healthy eating I am now completely and utterly "off the wagon". I've been totally undisciplined ever since I got back from Greece. After relaxing for a week, feasting on gorgeous food and doing nothing but laying by the pool I lost all sense of motivation and haven't got it back since.

So for the next 18 days I HAVE to be good. The outcome if I'm not good does not bare thinking about. This "not a diet diet" includes:

- Limiting my carbohydrate intake to almost zero
- Plenty of salads
- No tea/biscuits/chocolate
- Frozen yoghurt no more than once a week
- No takeaway
- Only low fat hummus allowed
- Grilled or roasted meats/fish
- Loads of water

I'd love to say I'll get to the gym 5 times a week too but that's just not doable with workload and the amounts of evening plans I have scheduled. So I'm committing to swimming as often as possible! With the encouragement and forceful nature of my sister Connie.

By following these simple rules I can hopefully loose 7lbs before I go and whilst I won't be impressing anyone with this Bikini Body, I will feel a little bit better when the time comes!

 

Not A Hairdresser

Whether you stumbled upon this blog by accident or if I've actively encouraged your visit, I thank you for dropping by. I hope you like what you see and I hope you become a regular.

My name is Alice, I'm 25 and before I go any further you should know I'm not a hairdresser.

I style hair, I braid hair, I pin it and grip it and curl it and spray it. But I don't cut it. Or dye it.

I'm lucky to live in London and work for a cool design agency as their account manager, but outside of that I am perusing my passion for hair by using my self taught ways and my ideas to create this blog and help out the odd friend when they need it.

This blog will be mainly about hair but some of my life, loved ones and likes may also appear. I look forward to sharing it all with you.