House Of Fraser #SecretStylist Blogger Secret Santa! #yourrules

House Of Fraser #SecretStylist Blogger Secret Santa! #yourrules

Monday, 30 November 2015

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The fab House Of Fraser have been helping a few of us bloggers play Secret Santa, giving us the run of the Jewellery dept to select a piece of their beaut designer treats for our designated blogger, using our eyes and wits to find out what we can about them in order to choose something perfect! 

I found it really easy to do mine because I was luckily allocated a chick who is already a very good friend so I was pretty confident that I could put a smile on her face, but I imagine it must've been quite hard to choose for someone you don't know, or (GASP!) whose blog you have never read before :) Anyhoo, it turns out that my #SecretStylist was the lovely Natalie of Le Blow, and I don't know if she knew anything about me before getting the task, but boy did she nail it! 

I literally squealed when I opened this amazing Biba leopard leather wrap bracelet! I had spied it when I was browsing for my own pick, and OBVS it caught my eye with all it's leopard and gold goodness (basically my life neutrals), but I actually never thought it would end up on my wrist. For some reason I assumed that they would choose some Ted Baker as we have recently featured one of their pieces on the blog and it's a pretty safe bet. I'm so glad that Natalie noticed my love for leo and went for it! Isn't it rawrsome? 

I'm totally going to rock this bracelet with everything from an LBD and heels to a pussybow blouse and denim flares this Christmas, it's literally never coming off my wrist! Thanks so much to Natalie for getting it so right, I want to give you a huge thank you hug! MWAH!

Biba is such an iconic brand that epitomises 70's cool. If you love a bit of retro glitz and glamour, check out the House Of Fraser Days Of Disco Edit, featuring everything the modern roller girl needs to feel fly!

J xoxo

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Vidal Sassoon Infra Radiance Hot Air Styler!

Vidal Sassoon Infra Radiance Hot Air Styler!

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

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We're all about the beauty electricals in the run up to Christmas, there's always something new to covet in the constant search for the next perf plug in! I was recently sent the Vidal Sassoon Infra Radiance Hot Air Styler (£34.99) to try out, and boy was it welcomed with open arms. I don't own a hot air styler, and as an unruly fringe owner I was intrigued to see if it could make life easier!

This is a multi-tasking tool designed to dry and style your hair in one go, perfect for those early morning starts, and it has a gazillion features for something that retails at just under £35 . . . 

• 38mm thermal brush with protective cover.
• 700w power.
• Infrared and Tourmaline Ionic technology to deliver more heat in a more even, kinder manner whilst smoothing the cuticles.
• Rubberised handle for easy grip.
• Nylon bristles for a sleek finish.
• Curl release button.
• 2 heat settings and 2 speed settings.
• Cool shot button.
• Swivel cord for freedom of movement.
• 2 year guarantee.

It's really easy to use, lightweight and fun to wield. I have thick, heavy, very long hair and I wasn't expecting it to do the whole job from scratch so I gave the roots and ends a quick blast with my hairdryer first so my hair wasn't shower wet. I then lightly spritzed my hair with OSMO Root Lifter, one of my fave volume creating products, before setting to work with the styler.

It most definitely made quick work of my fringe. I was able to get the straight and smooth look that I struggle for when using a round brush and a hairdryer. It's usually either too bouncy and turned under, but if I use straighteners it's then too straight, but this was just Goldilocks and helped me achieve a pretty perfect side sweep in no time at all. As for the rest of my mane, the styler swept through the length as if I was brushing it. There was no tangling, even when I threw my head forward and tried to get a bit more volume at the roots. I also used the top heat setting and there was no sign of overheating at all, despite powering through for around 15 minutes. I finished with a cool shot and my hair looked and felt really sleek and healthy. 

I think this styler would be ideal for shorter hair than mine, as I wouldn't really want to use it on my whole head from towel dry. It could probably handle it but it would take a bit longer than I'd like to spend on it. My friend has a really cute bob so she tried it when she popped round and got some really good voluminous, shiny results with just a bit of product sprayed onto dry hair, so it would be super convenient for someone like her! 

Overall, I think the Vidal Sassoon Infra Radiance Hot Air Styler is a great product for the price and a fab stocking filler for anyone (it's also been featured in BlackHair Magazine in case you were wondering if it was suitable for Afro Caribbean or multi-textured hair) as it has so many functions and features! 

Stockists include Very.co.uk, Amazon, Boots, Tesco and Asda.

J xoxo

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Top Christmas Party Tips With George!

Top Christmas Party Tips With George!

Monday, 23 November 2015

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Guys. There are 31 sleeps until Christmas. Fact. Both Jade & I spent the past weekend sipping cider in a winter lodge in London and we couldn't be more excited that it's Christmas party season! George recently asked us to style a festive pick and share our top Christmas party tip. We're both firm believers that you can never be too overdressed, so lo and behold, our top tip is . . .

Sequins are appropriate, no matter what the occasion. 

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Winter Warming Gifts - Charlotte & Co. Cotton Pyjamas!

Winter Warming Gifts - Charlotte & Co. Cotton Pyjamas!

Saturday, 21 November 2015

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I think everyone enjoys the 'new PJ's on Christmas Eve' tradition, no matter what your age. I have an aunty that specifically buys me a yummy new pair every year so I can open them on Christmas Eve and go full festive, and I'm nearly 21 (ahem)!

Charlotte & Co. is a niche homeware label that hails from the beautiful Cotswolds. Each piece is designed by Charlotte herself who specialises in comfortable chic, and sold exclusively online/by mail order. The AW15 collection is all about long winter nights, featuring fab prints and soothingly soft fabrics that you'll love. The brushed cotton flannel pyjamas have a lot of fans and have developed cult status, so it was with open arms that I welcomed a beaut pair in the 'Flower' print into my bedroom for a show and tell.

Every order comes with a cute satin travel bag which is such a nice touch! The ladies cotton pyjamas are £48 each or £75 for 2 pairs and come in sizes 10 through to 18. To the pics! . . 

The brushed cotton is just the softest and feels amazing against your skin, warm yet cool at the same time. I have a few pairs of PJ's that I love because they are so cozy but boy will they whip up a heat storm as soon as I so much as light a scented candle! £48 might sound expensive at first, but you are definitely paying for quality here and it's no different to what you'd pay for any designer brand so I'm completely down with the price. 

This particular pattern is so pretty and feminine. I think they'd work well for any age range too, I know I'd gift them to a friend's teenage daughter, any of my own gal pals, through to T's mum and even onto my mum's elderly neighbour. They're so versatile. I love the classic piping trim in baby pink, the finish is spot on.

I think anyone would feel lucky to receive a pair of these Charlotte & Co. jammies this Christmas. You might even spark an obsession in someone. I know I love being introduced to an amazing new brand via gifting because it's so nice when people think outside the box and I personally try to surprise my recipients as much as I can, it keeps them on their toes :) 

Huge thanks to Charlotte & Co. for the beautiful gift of cosiness!

J xoxo

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People Make Glasgow: A City Guide - Part 2

People Make Glasgow: A City Guide - Part 2

Friday, 20 November 2015

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It's time for the second installment of my Glasgow city guide! Last month I caught a plane from Bristol to Scotland for the Scottish Style Awards 2015. I've visited Edinburgh a few times in the past but this was my first time in Glasgow. We had a packed itinerary (you can read what I did earlier on in the day, here) and on Saturday night we made our way to the beautiful Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum for the style awards.

The awards were held to honour Scotland's most stylish restaurants, businesses and individuals. Dubbed as 'Scotland's most stylish night of the year', it didn't disappoint... and the food was incredible. As it was the 10th year of the awards, it was even bigger and better than ever before! The host of the show was the beautiful Sophie Kennedy Clark, an incredible actress and all-round total babe. We had such a fun evening being wined and dined. 

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Festive Bedding: Graphic Prints and Winter Warmers

Festive Bedding: Graphic Prints and Winter Warmers

Thursday, 19 November 2015

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Hands up if you love festive bedding! I am such a sucker for new bedding at this time of year, I genuinely raid all the affordable homeware stores and stock up for the winter. My latest set is this rather awesome photographic stag duvet cover from George. Cuuuute, right? I tend to opt for girly bedding but Sam is a real man's man so I figured he'd also love this one. Which he does. 

The price is just ridiculous. A mere £15 for a double. I know. They also have other fierce digitally printed bedding sets including a polar bear and a wolf! Let me just tell how good the quality is, I've seen similar styles in Primark but when you get up close they just don't compare. The prints on the Primark ones are all blurry and the material is thin - unlike the George sets. 

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Debenhams Partywear For Less Than £100

Debenhams Partywear For Less Than £100

Wednesday, 18 November 2015

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Christmas party season is approaching and at Rawr Towers we're busy planning our outfits. I completely agree with the statement, 'you can never be overdressed' and I'm always up for wearing sparkly partywear dresses, but this Christmas I wanted to challenge myself to try something a bit different. 

So here's the truth, I tend to wear multiple frocks during the festive season but I never really opt for separates. So this year I wanted to create a smart casual Christmas appropriate outfit which I could wear again... and I'm pretty chuffed with the outcome! Debenhams have a wide range of occasion wear and I remember spotting this silver sequin skirt months back while I was browsing in store.

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Reiss Menswear at Lovethesales.com

Reiss Menswear at Lovethesales.com

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

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I'm starting to buy Christmas gifts and as we're being focusing on saving as much as possible for our wedding next year, I'm all about savvy purchases. Everything I buy needs to be discounted... But is it sale time yet? Thankfully at LovetheSales.com, it's always sale time!

If you haven't used this website before, it's absolutely awesome, you can monitor your favourite shops and brands (hello email alerts), save your sizes and search by discount. There are also special member only prices - membership is absolutely free and it takes about 30 seconds to sign up - but it isn't necessary. I've got a list of my favourites just in case there is a new Banana Republic, Senso, Wildfox, Free People or Reiss sale.

They stock homeware, beauty, electricals and clothing, including menswear! I'm always looking for sale bargains for Sam so when I spotted their selection of Reiss menswear, I was interested. He still hasn't found a suit for our wedding and they have some really dapper tailored pieces on offer.

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Pertz Leggings - The Shape Of Feeling Good!

Pertz Leggings - The Shape Of Feeling Good!

Monday, 16 November 2015

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Leggings. We all have them in some form of another, some of us wear them everyday with everything, others like me keep them for down days when I want a bit of comfort, but I think we'll all agree that finding a good pair that you actually enjoy wearing can be a chore?!

I was recently sent a pair of Pertz leggings to style up. I'd not heard of the brand before, but a quick scan of their webby got me all intrigued. Pertz was founded by creator Caroline who designed her own after a struggle to find a pair that had everything she wanted. After 18 months of design, research and development, Pertz Leggings were born! The promises of muffin top limitation, tummy control panels and a pert bottom were too good to pass up, so I had to try a pair for myself . . .

Outfit: Sweater dress - Somedays Lovin', Leggings - c/o Pertz, Boots - Dune, Bag - Whistles, Scarf - Becksondergaard.

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Competition! Win a Johnny Loves Rosie Jewellery Advent Calendar!

Competition! Win a Johnny Loves Rosie Jewellery Advent Calendar!

Friday, 13 November 2015

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Johnny Loves Rosie are one of our fave jewellery and accessory brands. They've been going for years yet somehow stay just as fresh and current with each new drop as if they've only just popped up on our radars. Their quirky style and fun but glam designs are often imitated but never duplicated, and the new lines for the party season certainly don't disappoint. Check out the candy cane necklace, and that leopard print hair bow?! Squeeeeee!

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#AWsomeGeorge Winter Warmers!

#AWsomeGeorge Winter Warmers!

Thursday, 12 November 2015

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George at Asda recently treated us to a few cosy treats from the new George Home AW range, think festive cushions and bedding, with beaut throws and trinkets to make any house a welcoming home this season! 

I'm all about monogrammed pieces. Basically if it has a J or a T (Tim, not Tara haha!) on it, then I'm on it, so I was totally stoked to get these red tapestry letter cushions (£5 each) and gorgeous grey letter throws (£12 each) to adorn this fab 'Baby it's cold outside . . .' bedding (£18 for King). It looks amazing on our bed, that perfect mix of winter greys and crisp white with a flash of Santa red! As you can see, my cat Logan also took a shine to it as I was taking pics. He's a bit of a poser so I let him get comfy and stay while I snapped away, I think he adds even more to the look with his dark handsome looks! 

Scene : Duvet set and cushions - c/o George at Asda, Throws - George at Asda, Cat - Blogger's Own :)

The cushions are just adorable, and just the right size to even spell out a few words if you fancied it! The throws are super soft and really quite lovely for the £12 price. They'd make a fab gift for anyone like me who is obsessed with their initial! I pretty much get most of my bedding from George anyway, it's always good quality for the price and the designs are always super hot for the season, I like the reversible nature of this one, with the plain mini snowflake pattern on the underside for that throwback flourish. 

I'm already hooked on having a nose at the new stuff in the Home aisles every time I have an Asda trip lunch break. There are some absolutely amazing little bits and pieces you can pick up for a few pounds that will give your room an instant winter makeover, it's definitely worth a trip to your local store!

J (and Logan) xoxo

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Banana Republic June Jumpsuit at Zalando

Banana Republic June Jumpsuit at Zalando

Wednesday, 11 November 2015

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I've finally jumped on the classic jumpsuit bandwagon! Huzzah! So I've been waiting years (literally) for a chic one-piece and last week it landed on my door stop. I am the biggest Banana Republic fan but unfortunately Bristol doesn't have its very own store, so I always have to catch the train to Bath to go shopping... Until now. 

Zalando, one of my favourite retailers, has become an official Banana Republic stockist! Best news ever. BR's autumn/winter collection is pretty darn incredible so it's worth checking out - my wish list is growing by the day.

Jumpsuit: Banana Republic via Zalando (c/o) - Hat: ASOS - Shoes: F&F

As soon as I slipped on the June jumpsuit, it was love at first sight! I was a bit worried about the sizing (this is a UK 8/US 4) but it has a nice relaxed fit and is so soft to the touch... When I wear it, I pretty much feel like I'm walking around in pajamas. Living the dream.

Life has been a bit crazy for me recently (and still is) but I'm doing my best to get back into my blogging routine so expect to see lots more style posts this season! Jade & I have lots of cool 'style off' posts planned and an exciting competition or two.

Do you own a jumpsuit? Have you ever shopped at Banana Republic?

T - Drafting a letter to Santa...

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Konifer Wooden Watches Review

Konifer Wooden Watches Review

Tuesday, 10 November 2015

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If you want to buy Sam & I a gift, just because, buy us watches. We both love our timepieces and Sam is a little more obsessed than me. Teens and early twenty-somethings tend to rely on their smartphones, Fitbits or digital Apple watches but we're kids from the tick tock watch generation.

A little while ago we were sent a pair of wooden watches from Konifer, a cool Canadian brand who specialist in eco-friendly, 100% natural hardwood watches with a non-toxic oil finish. We aren't wood watch newbies so we were excited to see how they compare to their competitors. Upon arrival, I was quite surprised by how large they were! They both came in nice presentation boxes (cardboard) and were happily ticking away.

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Toni & Guy Limited Edition Fluid Metal Iridescent Titanium Styler!

Toni & Guy Limited Edition Fluid Metal Iridescent Titanium Styler!

Monday, 9 November 2015

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I've been a Toni & Guy salon customer since I was 17 and I follow their product releases with fangirl enthusiasm, so I was stoked to receive the latest addition to the electricals range to feature, the Limited Edition Fluid Metal Iridescent Titanium Styler (RRP £90)! 

The set itself is stunning and includes a sleek barrel case to protect your new baby, plus a must have heat mat to protect everything else from them! This would make a fab gift.

The barrel case matches the beautiful styler plates, with that touch of rainbow oil slick popping through in a funky dot pattern. Definitely a dressing table show stopper!

The 25mm plates heat up in seconds and move around (or 'float'), because they are designed to straighten, curl and wave through the hair with minimal pulling, which I for one always find difficult and usually rip a few out with each curl creation!

The titanium plates themselves are ridiculously pretty. I'm such a sucker for anything iridescent anyway, it reminds me of unicorns and opals and all those magical things, but they really are gorgeous. And that sounds weird when talking about a hair styler, but they really do provoke a good 'Ooooh!' on the first unboxing.

They're not just a pretty face though, this styler also features a few awesome features that seals the deal. I love the variable temperature control dial which allows you to select the right heat level for you, from 80 degrees to an impressive 230 degrees. You'll also find an auto shutdown feature which turns them off after 60 seconds, which is an absolute godsend if you're a nervy person like me who checks if something is off a million times before leaving the house, and then phones the cat to check on it when you're halfway to Asda. 

As with all T&G electricals, you get the standard 5 year guarantee which is a nice bit of peace of mind, especially if you need to convince a parent, sibling or partner that you absolutely positively have to have these in your hand on Christmas day despite them being quite expensive. Pounds per wear remember, and you'll get A LOT of wear out of these ;)

This set is limited edition though, and only available until January so if you want them you'll have to get a move on. Check Amazon, Very, Argos and Superdrug, some of which currently have them at a very attractive half price!

J xoxo

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Love Aroma Yankee Candle & Woodwick Christmas Candle Range!

Love Aroma Yankee Candle & Woodwick Christmas Candle Range!

Friday, 6 November 2015

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Okay, it's November now so we can officially start thinking and talking about Christmas and gift buying - squeee!

One of my fave things to both give and receive is a good premium candle, so I jumped at the chance to review a couple from the Love Aroma Christmas gift guide! Love Aroma are the largest independent Yankee Candle retailer in the UK, offering over 60 fragrances, as well as stocking other well known home fragrance brands such as Lampe Berger, WoodWick, Stoneglow, Kringle Candles, Lily-Flame and madebyzen amongst others. 

I was sent two candles from their Christmas range to review for you, Yankee Candle Sparkling Snow Medium (£18.99) and WoodWick Autumn Comforts 10oz Trilogy (£17.99), both were very well packaged and arrived safe and sound :)

You can always count on a Yankee Candle, they aren't a world favourite brand for nothing! I look forward to the Christmas range every year because the scents often fall into my fave types, think warm, spicy and sweet fragrances. My fave Yankee ever is Frosted Snow, found in the Simply Home range this year for some reason, so I was majorly excited to receive Sparkling Snow which appears to be the updated version of my old favourite. It's described as 'the crisp, naturally fresh scent of gleaming, snow-covered pines', but don't be fooled into thinking you're going to get a pine-fresh bathroom cleaning product scent, it's a lot more complicated than that. It's definitely crisp and fresh, but the pine doesn't come through for me. Instead I get a sweet, almost candy-like scent similar to those white candy sticks we used to call sweet cigarettes as kids! It's literally perfect and my nose adores it. The wax is a beautiful shimmering off white, and would look fab in any festive display. The burn time is around 65-90 hours which is standard with this size, and more than enough.

Next up we have the WoodWick Autumn Comforts Trilogy. WoodWick are probably my fave candle brand, not only are the scents amazing but the wooden wick puts out a fab crackling sound that I can't get enough of! The WoodWick Trilogy candles are always a good time, 3 layers of complimentary scents that gradually burn into each other to create an ever changing fragrance. This one is just beaut. It starts with Sonoma Sunset, a fruity peach blended with bergamot, cinnamon, sweet balsam and vanilla. Then it moves onto Pumpkin Butter, a yummy buttery and spicy pumpkin blend, and finishes with Apple Crisp, think fresh apple slices baked in caramel with a crumb crust - NOM. And all the while the gorgeous crackling wick is doing it's thing working through the fudge-like coloured wax. The burn time is around 100 hours which is amazing for this size, and believe me you won't want it to end. I find the crackle extremely soothing and it's hard to give up when it runs out!

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Rawrgirls Review . . . Original & Mineral Atonic Thickening Spritz!

Rawrgirls Review . . . Original & Mineral Atonic Thickening Spritz!

Thursday, 5 November 2015

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I was recently sent a few new styling products to try from brands that I've not really come across before, which is always a good time because you have no expectations or favouritism to play I find, often resulting in a pleasant surprise.

Anyhoo, first up is Original & Mineral Atonic Thickening Spritz (£20 for 200ml). O&M is an Aussie brand that bridges the gap between natural and luxury haircare, and Atonic was the winner of the Best Texturising Spray in the Australian Beauty Awards. It's enriched with Lilly-Pilly to promote volume and firmness at the roots and Aloe Vera to induce shine.

The instructions are simple enough, spray on towel dried hair and blow dry! So I spritzed it from roots to tips and then combed through evenly, and okay, I freaking love it. Drying my hair to a fairly straight and glossy finish seemed easier than usual and once dried in full, my hair moves so naturally like there is no product on it at all, but it is noticeably thicker all over, with some good volume showing at the roots. Blow dry sprays can often make my hair feel heavy and almost dirty if I've been a bit heavy handed but not this one, it's pretty darn impressive!

The only thing that worries me is the price. £20 is a lot to shell out, but I've had a good think about it and it actually does the job of my in-shower thickening lotion (£8 off the bill), pre-blow dry root booster (a further £6) and pre-blow dry smoothing serum (another £7) so in that sense, I could bin those off and just use this one product meaning I'm kind of saving money, yes? Ta daaaa! 

J xoxo

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People Make Glasgow: A City Guide - Part 1

People Make Glasgow: A City Guide - Part 1

Wednesday, 4 November 2015

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A few weekends ago, I boarded a plane to Glasgow for a weekend of fun in Scotland's coolest city. With a flight time of just 55 minutes from Bristol to Glasgow thanks to Easyjet's new direct route, I was full of energy and excitement when I touched down in Glasgow airport. It wasn't long before I was joined by Steph of FAIIINT, who was also visiting the city ahead of the Scottish Style Awards.

We checked into Citizen M, a pretty awesome hotel in the centre of Glasgow! If you've never stayed at a Citizen M hotel before, the rooms are relatively basic but ridiculously cool. Everything is controlled by an iPad and each room is identical, comes with a king sized bed and mood lighting. I won't say anymore as this hotel is getting its very own blog post.

The Glasgow tourist board had arranged an action-packed weekend for us, full of fashion, food and culture! On Saturday morning we were introduced to the gorgeous Fiona and Erin from the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau along with the other bloggers who we'd be hanging out with - Emma, Lizzie & Chloe. Let me just take a moment to gush about these girls... They are some of the nicest women I've ever met.

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Ray-Ban 3016 Clubmaster Black Sunglasses Review

Ray-Ban 3016 Clubmaster Black Sunglasses Review

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

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At the weekend we headed to the Cotswolds to meet our wedding florist. She's absolutely incredible, so sweet and full of ideas. I haven't got a clue when it comes to flowers or their names, but she seemed to grasp exactly what I was looking for - which is basically just boho, vintagey wildflowers. We even saw the venue all set up for a wedding but it looked really stark and empty, as the bride-to-be only had a few flowers and opted for candles instead... Argh! Each to their own but I want ours to look like a Pinterest dream (same goal as any girl, right?).

After our meeting, we headed to the Westonbirt Arboretum to see the trees full of autumn colours and re-live our engagement, which was over a year ago! It was surprisingly mild and sunny, but we were packing a pair of Ray-Ban 3016 Clubmaster's from Sunglasses Shop which protected our eyes from the sunshine (we took it in turns because sharing is caring).

Ray-ban Sunglasses: c/o Sunglasses Shop

Sam & I always share sunglasses and we both have a bit of a weakness for anything Ray-Ban. The Clubmaster is our favourite style, loved by all the greats - Robert Pattinson, Gaga, Beyoncé etc. The price has come down a little since I got my last pair because these beauts are pretty darn affordable, especially when you redeem one of the discount codes Sunglasses Shop have on offer.

Do you have a favourite sunglasses brand? Which Ray-Ban style is your favourite?

T - 6 months until we get hitched!

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