Here's to 2012!

In many ways 2011 was my annus horribilis but became my annus mirabilis.

I have a lot to be thankful for and a lot that I am will continue to be reflective of to make sure that 2012 delivers everything I hope for.  I guess it shows how we can turn things around even when we think nothing will be the same ever again or when we lose all faith in ourselves and those around us.   You can always make the change and things can always get better.

With that I walk into 2012 with an open mind and a new found determination.  With every trip, you've just got to dust yourself down and start again and maintain a positive outlook.  Easier said than done but no better time to look forward with excitement to a new year of new experiences and opportunities!

See you on the other side :)

Sourced from We Heart It

x

Get the look: Dot Cotton

My friends must have thought I was mental a couple of weeks ago when I took to Facebook to find out where Dot Cotton had bought her coat from.

The request was met with some cheeky comments and a couple of texts asking if I was okay! Yes I am okay... look at Dot's coat ... it's a belter!

Who'd have thought Dot Cotton was a style icon?  Maybe it was the camel tones or the massive faux fur collar - you KNOW I love my fur ... but it just screamed out to me as I was watching Easties one night and found myself lusting after auld Cottons wares.

Anyway, it's taken a bit of searching but I eventually found the ultimate looky likey coat and what a bonus, it's on sale too :)

Meet Biba's take on the Dot Cotton coat.

Originally priced at £290 it's now on sale at £173.  Maybe they will reduce it again, even at discount, I can't justify the spend just now.  So I will wait patiently. 

I've also taken a shine to Dot's blue eyeshadow and red nails.  I'm going to recreate the look with Estee Lauders Enchanted Garnet on my nails and Laura Mercier Luster Eye Colour in Celestial.  Clearly I will look smokin'! 

Do you have a closet style icon?

Go on, share you're secret style queens?

x

Morocco Styling

As per my last post, I mentioned I would offer up some advice on what to wear in Morocco.  This is mainly for us gals but there is a wee bit for the boys too.   This will also feature some unflattering photos of me all glowing (read: sweaty) on holiday too! Be warned.

Before going to Morocco I found that different websites and even twitter friends had very contradicting opinions on what was acceptable to wear and what was not in Morocco.   My advice is more based on what you are going to feel more comfortable in rather than strictly what is acceptable.

Morocco is an Islamic (mainly) nation but despite this is known for being more liberal than other Islamic countries.  However there is still an element of respect that needs to be shown for the culture and faith despite the somewhat relaxed attitudes.    I have been to Egypt which again frowns upon too much flesh being shown but on a beach resort like Sharm-El-Sheikh you can get away with anything so this was the first time I really had to think about what was going in my suitcase.

Playsuit with cover up tied round my waist

black maxi with cover up and flip flops

In the old town of Marrakech it is more traditional, you see both Moroccan men and women in traditional dress but equally many are dressed a little more western but covered up (especially females) or what could maybe be described as casual.  If you wear hot pants, mini skirts, bikini tops, string vests etc in the old town, people will look at you.  Some in disgust, others in disbelief, never in a good way, even other tourists.  If you are comfortable with the stares then go ahead, knock yourself out.

In the new town, it's more of a free for all.  Especially at night time, short skirts, hot pants, boob tubes ... anything goes.  It was never a problem and no one stared other than other Moroccan women who are probably interested to see international fashions.  The new town is where people party so it's very open minded.

There is a whole list of things that are apparently shunned upon clothes wise.  Showing too much leg, showing too much foot, showing too much shoulder or showing too much collar bone.  The list is endless and it's not realistic to stick fully to the 'rules'.

So smart things to pack to keep you right...  It's very hot in Morocco so try to keep covered up or have the option to cover up without passing out with heat stroke.  I packed maxi dresses and jumpsuits in light materials with flip flops, sandals and cover ups in the form of scarves and sheer tops.  Heels are hard to wear in Morocco unless it's night time, even then, cobbled and uneven ground made it too much of a hassle for me.

Jumpsuit covering shoulders as well as legs

By wearing a normal summer maxi dress with a pashmina or scarf, it meant I could have my shoulders out when I wanted but had that option to cover up if I was in a built up area where it was frowned upon.  T-shirts, long shorts, knee length skirts and playsuits would all be fine to wear.  Even at night in the old town a strapless top would be okay as long a you could cover up if you felt uncomfortable at any point.

strapless dress suitable for the beach in Essaouira

But i could cover up at night 

For men, longer shorts with t-shirts seem to be more acceptable for daytime.  So no Joey Essex hot pants and vest for your boyfriends/husbands/dads!!   Night time is easy for boys there is nothing that would be frowned upon.

Going back, I would pack a couple of glitzier things for night time in the new town but sticking to a similar wardrobe to what I packed for the old town.  My trip also took in the beach resort of Essaouira where I wouldn't recommend showing too much skin apart from on the beach.  In fact wearing the exact outfit below (without cover up) I was spat on by a group of men.  Clearly too much shoulder/arm on display was offensive.

Despite being spat on in Essaouira it was also an amazing place to visit and may even deserve its own blogpost.  But lets stop here before this turns into a very amateur attempt at a travel blog!

Hope this has been helpful for anyone packing for a trip to Morocco.

x

Marrakech - My top 10 things to see and do

My trip to Marrakech is now but a distant memory (see some pics here) but I did promise to do a post about my visit with some tips for anyone else excited about visiting this magical city.  It's such an amazing place I thought I would share a snippet of what there is to see and do.  I was here for 2 full days only but managed to fit in  quite a bit.  I am already planning on going back for longer. 

In terms of what you must see and do, here's my list, in no particular order:

1) Stay in a Riad

Morocco's own version of the boutique hotel, usually in the form of a traditional Moroccan townhouse with courtyard and sounds of running water.  Once behind the doors of your Riad the chaos and noise of outdoors seem to disappear.  If you get the right Riad, you will be treated to a more traditional Moroccan experience.  We stayed at Riad Jonan in the Kasbah, I swear they make the best lamb tagine here.  It was comfortable, cool and the service was second to none.  Not the most modern of Riads we researched but this was part of its charm along with the reviews that were so good we had to see for ourselves.  It certainly lived up to it's reputation.

Riad Jonan

2) Travel in a petite taxi

The taxi below is the grande version, they will charge you a hefty fare so look out for the smaller ones and be prepared for a white knuckle ride.  I still don't know why there aren't more fatalities on the roads as the driving in Marrakesh is mental!  A taxi was essential for us moving to and from the old and new town. 

3) Shop in the Souks

One of the best bits about Marrakech is the shopping from spices to leather goods from the tanneries (also a must see) to jewellery and homeware, you don't want to go home empty handed after a good old haggle.  The souks are a bit of a labyrinth to navigate through but it's a fantastic experience, just don't go after dark!!

Lighting stall in the souks

4) Jemaa El Fna

Probably one of the most chaotic and magical places I have ever been to, Jemaa El Fna is the central square in the old town of Marrakech.  From storytellers to henna tattooists, there is something going on every which way you look.  Boxing matches, dancing, street sellers, snake charmers, it's a true feast for the senses, filled with smells, sound and colour.  It's truly amazing and despite it's intimidating nature, you quickly adapt and feel quite at home caught up in the thick of it all.  For great views of the square, go for a drink or offer a tip to go on the top floor of one of the surrounding cafes.  For anyone looking for a Henna tattoo - you might be better to wait on your journey home - they offer free henna in the airport :)

The buzz of the restaurants at Jemaa El Fna

Boxing Match

Games in the square

5) Street Eats

At night, part of Jemaa El Fna turns into a giant outdoor restaurant with countless stalls all competing for your business.  Don't be afraid to take a seat and sample the food that is barbecued in front of you as you sit.  The service is friendly with a bit of European banter thrown in for good measure and all the stalls have caught on to offering up chips with their kebabs!!  The food is delicious and you can wash it all down with a fresh orange juice from the juice stalls on the periphery of the outdoor restaurant.

Also, make sure you indulge in a lamb/chicken/beef tagine in Morocco.  I was already a tagine fan so to have it made for me in the traditional sense was just delicious - don't miss out on it! 

6) Majorelle Gardens

Take a trip to the stunning Majorelle Gardens owned by the late Yves Saint Laurent.  With it's own blend of Majorelle blue covering most of the buildings in this oasis of bamboo, cactus and floral delights, it is simply beautiful.  A peaceful haven hidden away, there are ponds with beautiful goldfish, turtles and frogs.  There is also a YSL exhibition and gift shop you can visit here too.  Go and feel inspired by the colours and nature behind it's gates. 

7) Visit the New Town/Old Town

Wherever you are staying, visit the opposite.  The old town is a little more traditional and respect must be shown where possible for choice of dress and behaviour however the new town is a lot more liberal where you will see Moroccan women dressed in Western fashions.  This is also where the party scene comes alive at night.  We visited Comptoir in the new town at night which in hindsight is a bit of a tourist trap but was great for an experience of moroccan belly dancing.  There are also some big clubs in Marrakech like Pacha but you can find much cooler, laid back places to party if you think outside the box. 

8) Visit a Hammam

Something I didn't get to do which I regret and will definitely be top of my list when I return (I definitely will return one day soon i hope) ... was a Hammam.  A Hammam is a kind of turkish bath/spa that lie within the streets and alleyways of the city.  I have heard so many great things about the Hammam, I am disappointed not to have made it to one. 

9) Take in the History

See the sites, walk the walls of the city and stumble upon the many palaces and tombs.  I made it to El Badi Palace and Bahia Palace, probably contradictions of each other in terms of size and appearance.  We also stayed close by to the Saadian tombs but didn't get to explore.

10) Buy some leather!

This kind of ties in with No.3 and it's something I kept deliberating over the whole time I was in Morocco and ended up not bothering.  I was so busy buying rugs, pouffes and teapots for my new house, I kicked fashion to the kerb.  Now I am back I am regretting leaving behind some killer leather bags for bargain prices.  Don't make the same mistake as me! 

Another thing I haven't really covered is choice of dress in Morocco but I will save this for another post as this has got a bit out of control.  It's hard to find firm advice on respectful dress in Morocco so hopefully I can offer some advice from my own experience. 

Hope this was helpful for anyone considering a trip to Marrakech. 

x

Are you a Bubbble Betty?

Now for something a l'il bit different ...

Meet Bubble Betty ...

Now before you burst out laughing and say 'No Way!', just think about it.

Picture the scene: a horrific downpour of rain, gusty gales, a now defunct umbrella and you've just had your hair done.  What you gonna do?

This is where Bubble Betty can help.  Although I have to say I am still trying to convince myself but here goes ...

Scottish brand Bubble Betty (they know rain only too well) is combining vintage style with weatherproof practicality in a bid to defeat the nasty elements of winter.  Bubble Betty is a classic vintage rain proof bonnet brought up to date in a stylish print - they say it's guaranteed to make your granny proud!

My granny would be proud.

Once you get over the initial 'You cannot be serious ...?' it all starts to make sense.  Why struggle through the sales with all your bags, a hood that won't stay up, a brolly thats blown inside out when you can keep your 'do in tip top shape underneath one of these?

I can just imagine some gorgeous red lipped lovely with pencil skirt and seamed stockings hot footing it through the elements to work perfectly preened under her Bubble Betty.  It's definitely something that would suit the vintage/retro loving gal but I am not so sure I could get away with it in my parka.

You can buy them from the Bubble Betty site for just £6 and they come in their own little tins.  At the moment they come in 4 different prints, leopard print, black and red lace and tattoo print with more to come apparently.

So what do you think?  Are you a Bubble Betty?

x

Scottish Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty

Christmas time is probably best known as the season of pantomime and while Sleeping Beauty - the panto has been ripping up a storm at the Kings Theatre in Glasgow, I let go of tradition this year,  in favour of something a little more decadent and cultured in the form of Scottish Ballet's very own performance of The Sleeping Beauty.

Performed to Tchaikovsky's acclaimed and iconic score, Scottish Ballet presented a cutting edge and contemporary version of the original Sleeping Beauty adding in their own elements of comedy and the unconventional.

As usual the costumes were outstanding with quite a traditional tutu clad Princess Aurora to a stunning Red Riding Hood in her 1940's esque hooded dress in the final scenes.  The sets themselves were not to be outdone by the fashion with stunning backdrops, a Victorian glasshouse, a Russian garden party and art deco bar/club.  In every scene, there was something to capture your attention, not just the main characters but the acting from the ongoing scenes in the background but nothing was too much to divert your concentration from the story and the music that created the magical atmosphere in the theatre.

Photo taken from Scottish Ballet 100 days of sleeping beauty Blog

Somewhat scary the villainous witch Carabosse and her evil daughters brought an expected dark side to the performance juxtaposed perfectly with humour.  With their pointed ears, egg heads, swirly tails, trotters and multiple nipples (yes, nipples!), they were the perfect picture of mischief makers.  Their antics on stage were both hilarious and excitedly terrifying!

The Sleeping Beauty is the longest of any ballet performances I have been to see but I was so fascinated with the magic happening on stage, the time passes within the blink of an eye, quite literally in Aurora's case.

The tour is now very much in full swing and is travelling across Scotland and Newcastle, if you are interested in soaking up the enchantment of The Sleeping Beauty, you can book tickets at the following locations and dates:

Glasgow Theatre Royal (17-31 December)
Festival Theatre Edinburgh (11-14 January)
His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen (18-21 January)
Eden Court Inverness (25-28 January)
Theatre Royal Newcastle (1-4 February)

Next up for Scottish Ballet in spring 2012 is Streetcar Named Desire.  I am so looking forward to it!

x

Fone Jacker

There's something I am not quite comfortable with seeing fashion bloggers pose for photos in next to nothing in front of a backdrop of snow covered fields, mountains, park, delete as applicable.

Of course, they always look gorgeous and there are always style tips to be inspired by but realistically, it's not possible to spend a day out in the blistering cold and ice rinked pavements in a pair of hotpants, stilettos, vest top etc etc, you get what i'm saying, right?

I sometimes think it puts too much pressure on others to live up to this 'stylish' ideal which I would normally reserve for magazine editorials.  In my mind, blogs represent reality and what 'normal/real' people with average incomes  (i.e, not celebrity) showcase their own style, ideas and inspiration.  Recently, I've noticed the crossover to 'blog editorial' with unrealistic images of girls prancing around in the snow with bare arms/legs.  Wouldn't it be of more value to readers to present how to stay stylish and stay warm in winter?

Despite my thoughts on this,  I must stress, it still captures my attention and most of the time looks pretty cute even if I do pray the subject doesn't come down with a bout of pneumonia.

With this in mind, I thought I would show you what I wore today, on a lazy cold Sunday, to go out for the day.  Unless I am on a night out, or have the car with me, I tend to be sure I keep cosy and have a wardrobe choc full of coats, jackets and lashings of fur (faux) for all occasions.

Hat: H&M
Parka: Primark
Sweater: Warehouse
Aviators: Berlin

Two things I should mention about this outfit.  The £5 wooly hat from H&M, it's so cosy and has that perfect slouch fit and of course a furry bobble on top.  Next is the Primark Parka ... what a find.  I had been looking for a parka for winter and every one I found was expensive and 'not all that' ... I had almost decided on a fairly expensive one when I stumbled upon this in Primark (after being nudged along by a work colleague).  The quality, colour, shape and sizing was so similar to it's more expensive competition that I decided to save my pennies and opt for the Primark version - it literally was a steal at around £20-30.  Down below I wore skinny jeans and my brown bear paw boots - cosy at it's best. Obviously I stuck the aviators on last minute in attempt to look a little bit cool ... it resulted in me looking like a female Fone Jacker but i kinda like that ;)

Face: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser
Cheeks:  NARS Laguna and Orgasm
Eyes: 17 Wild Metallic Eyes in Wild Nude, MAC Blacktrack liner
Lips:  MAC Vegas Volt mixed with Angel, Clinique fireberry gloss

As for make up I stuck with an easy Sunday routine of tinted moisturiser which does give a much softer look for daytime.  Another product I love for ease of use and a natural effect is the 17 Wild Metallic creme shadow in Wild Nude.  This was recommended to me by Amanda and I have to say they are a lovely consistency and create a nice natural sheen to the eyes.  They also work great as a base but beware they do crease.

17 Wild Metallic Eyes in Wild Nude

So, in essence what I am trying to say is staying warm in winter IS stylish! How do you keep warm and stylish in winter?

x

Blingy Leather Nails

Who can resist sparkle this time of year?  Nails, make up, a dress... it never feels quite right without a bit of glitter or sequins, anything otherwise is positively bland and dare I say it a little scrooge-esque. 

Or is that just me? 

Probably. 

Anyway, with this spangly obsession in mind, I present to you this weeks nails.  I like deep, dark, intense colours in the winter so black ticks all those boxes.  I used China Glaze Liquid Leather.  They didn't scream 'FESTIVE' enough for me so I decided to add a bit of bling on the tips the simplest way I knew how, with a glitter polish.  I used a Kiko sparkly polish - unsure of the name I'm afraid but dabbing it on helped the chunkier glitter particles stick to the nail tip better offering up a dazzling set of digits. 

Speaking of Kiko, I am so pleased to hear it has hit the UK, in Westfield to be exact.  Still a bit too far for me but hopefully it means it will start to spread through the country and up to Scottish lands before long!  It's such a reasonably priced cosmetic brand with some fabulous blushers on offer among other things. 

Hope you are all in full festive party swing by now!! 

Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy! 

x

Back Pain

Ugh, it's hideous, I have suffered from back pain for quite a while now and it is only getting worse.

I have a lot of tension in my shoulders and neck which causes a lot of discomfort but in recent months the pain in my lower back has become unbearable.  Most of my pain is caused from stress tension but my posture is also quite bad contributed mostly by the fact I am quite well endowed up top!  Now, I can't stop the ageing process but I still feel far too young to be dealing with joint and muscular pain like this.

I go for the occasional massage but nothing gives me the sweet relief I am looking for and really the next option is to see a chiropractor.  While I research the best ones to visit however, I needed something to ease my poor muscles and it seems I have found a brilliant solution.

I happened to mention my back pain to the girls at Aromatherapy Associates who quickly recommended their De-Stress range, in particular the Muscle Bath & Shower Oil and the Muscle Gel.  The Gel contains essential oils with a mix of black pepper, ginger and rosemary.

RRP £37

RRP £20

In all honestly, I thought this would just be a case of having a nice, luxurious bath, relieving the ache for half an hour or so before going back to the same old moaning and whining and requiring a billion pillows to prop me up on the couch.  I was so wrong.  So wrong.

I had a lovely warm bath.  No, it was a hot bath, really hot in fact with the De-stress bath oil which smells divine by the way.   I felt no real difference in the bath, it was just relaxing and purifying for the soul to take half an hour out to float away all the stresses of the day.  After my bath, I resisted the temptation to talc up (anyone else still do this? ... I am obsessed with talc - such an 80's child!) ... and instead used the muscle gel on my problem areas - my lower and upper back.  You might need a bit of help doing this.  It's a smooth gel, a little cold to apply but doesn't feel sticky at all, it's really just like applying your moisturiser.

Off to bed I went in nice snuggly jammies and fresh bed linen (ah, what a feeling!) ... next day I got up and my achey back was barely noticeable.  My back is usually at its worst in the office around mid-day but again, I still felt comfortable - it was as if by magic.  I kept waiting for a tinge of heaviness to kick in around my lower back but it never came.

That has been over a week now and I have only used the oil once and the gel a couple of times since but it seems to be doing the trick.  I can't contribute the ease of pain to anything else other than the new products as this has been a constant problem for months now with no relief whatsoever.   I have used various bath salts and massage bars in the past but nothing has made a difference until now.

I plan on keeping this little ritual up on a weekly basis to hopefully keep the pain at bay although for a longer term solution I will still continue my search for a fabulous chiropractor.  I am not sure what it is in these products that have made them so effective, maybe it is just the natural wonders of essential oils like so many people keep telling me and I am forever a cynic?!  One thing's for sure, this is working out for me.

Does anyone else have back cures they swear by?  Any must have products that lifts the ache as if by magic?

x

All I want for Christmas is Shoes!

I have to tell you about this twitter competition before it runs out.

Mainly because I have only just discovered the site Sarenza.co.uk and I am actually amazed at the amount of brands and number of shoes they have available in all shapes, styles and sizes.

Basically, Sarenza are running a twitter giveaway to win a pair of shoes from their site.  All you have to do is follow SarenzaUK on twitter, tweet the link to the pair of shoes you are lusting after using the hashtag #AllIWantforChristmasisShoes

It's worth a shot, ain't it?

The competition closes on the 13th December - tomorrow!! .... and the winner picked on the 14th December. I will be tweeting my entry as soon as I can decide between this medley of tootsie delights ...

Carvela riding boots - I have yet to find the perfect winter boot

Dainty, vintage-esque but still practical, well, a little

Green, flashy and total inspired by ... 

Kelly Rowlands gorgeous green heels on the XFactor final :) 

Oh, and just to let you know - only 1 entry is allowed per person/twitter account ... Dayum! ;)

Good Luck!

x