Frills 'n' Spills

Whenever I wear this dress, I tend to steer clear of anything too pretty and go for something a little less precious. Looking at these pictures, this outfit was clearly inspired by the 'Gucci geek', especially with the addition of this camel coat! I love the oversized, slightly androgynous shape and the longer length makes it perfect for my chilly walks to work. When I posted my Instagram picture of this outfit, people were concerned that I was out with bare arms but trust me, this was just out of shot haha!

I have been wearing this Nars lipstick a lot recently and it is such a fun colour. I was tempted to go for a more muted berry tone but the splash of pink (hopefully!) helped to stop this from looking too fusty. You can get a slightly better look at my glasses here too: I opted for a slightly less statement pair this time round and I really love the tortoiseshell frames, Marc Jacobs has done it again!  

These velvety soft tights have barely left my legs recently, they are so soft and keep me nice and toasty. They are well worth investing in if you want a luxury feel without spending a fortune. These Orla Kiely shoes are one of my favourite pairs and the chunky heel made me feel unstoppable- just what you need when your to-do list won't stop growing!

Do catwalk shows inspire your outfits?

As we get to the end of 2015 (I can't believe it has gone so quickly!) it is interesting to look back across the year. There is always a lot of talk around what women can't do and I'm pleased to note that this was the year of saying that I can for me. I have changed quite a lot this year and I'm ending the year happier than I started it. I always think that confidence is very visible and I was really chuffed with how this outfit turned out. This would be perfect for a festive drink with friends, you don't want anything too fancy but still like you have made an effort and the addition of pleather trousers allows you to do just that, especially when you add heels!

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year, see you in 2016!

When I'm feeling under the weather, my outfit goes one of two ways: either comfort central or dressing up to pull myself out of my funk. This outfit was definitely the latter, it's been a while since I last wore this stripy dress on the blog but it is one of the nicest dresses I have in my wardrobe. I tend to wear it with leggings but it was nice to jazz it up with some nude tights and bright shoes instead. The neon accents on this dress are super fun but as I sadly don't own any neon yellow shoes (yet!) my coral pair were the next best thing. Despite my grumpy face in these photos, I really loved this outfit, it is super fun and it was perfect for making me feel less gloomy- always a good thing! 

Yes, it's another day wearing peachy coral lipstick, why mess with a good thing right?! MAC Vegas Volt is a blogger favourite but it is one of those shades that I'm sure would suit anyone. I blotted it down slightly here but I do love how vibrant it is when it is opaque!

How do you get yourself out of a funk?

I thought I would give you all a break from being all dressed up by sharing one of my favourite casual outfits that I have worn recently.  This oversized jumper is one of my favourites and although it has only ever made it to the blog once before, I wear it a lot. I find this time of year really difficult to dress for as it is cold when I leave in the morning but I am boiling by the time I get home- I don't know how anyone manages! Luckily this outfit comprises of lots of thin layers which are surprisingly versatile as well as being ridiculously comfy. I mean, you're only about one step away from pyjamas which can only be a good thing, amirite?!

Weekends for me fall into one of two types- jam-packed and full of nice food and dressy outfits  and travelling to see friends and family or slobbing around, doing as little as possible whilst binging through series on Netflix- please tell me someone else is as obsessed with Agents of Shield as I am?! This outfit was worn for a weekend like the latter a few weeks ago, quite often  I won't bother to get dressed and you will find me happily curled up in my 'slob suit' but I had to make a run to Tesco so had to wear proper clothes which was a bit of a shock to the system! I rediscovered this Monki dress at the back of my wardrobe- yes I know, I need to have a proper clearout! I bought this dress back in January 2014 (along with this dress and these tights- I was clearly having a burgundy moment!) and although I have worn it a lot, it has never made it to the blog, until now! Although this is a super cosy outfit, it is slim fitting enough to be flattering and I don't boil to death which is always a bonus, I think I have finally found the perfect jumper dress!

Which TV series should I watch next? Send me your recommendations please!

Toad-in-the-hole is one of my favourite meals and it is guaranteed to make you feel instantly comforted. You are in for a special treat today though as although this recipe is super simple, Mark is the expert at making this in our house, so this post comes from him rather than me! As you may have seen on Twitter, I have had to switch to a low carb diet (no more than 30g of carbs per meal, the equivalent of a large banana or 2 slices of bread!) so I have to restrict this meal to special occasions, sob! If you do have any low carb meal ideas, please do send them my way, I need exciting new ways to eat chicken! ;)

I was really keen to share this outfit, it is one of my favourites that I have worn recently but my exploring Cheltenham post was getting a little overcrowded so I thought I would save these outfit pictures for a separate post (lucky you!) These photos were taken with Mark's phone and they came out rather well I think! This was perhaps a bit work-y for a lazy Sunday but I loved all of the separate pieces so much that I ended up including them all in one outfit post instead... I've ended up looking like a flamingo in these pictures, I promise its my dodgy posing skills rather than a bad Photoshop job ;) As you know, I am a massive fan of bouclé and although this jacket isn't available anymore, there is a very similar one from ASDA here...

This tan cloche hat is a long-term resident of my wardrobe and although it doesn't get worn very often, it sometimes adds the perfect finishing touch to an outfit. Cold weather often leads to pretty dull outfits from me (just check my Instagram for proof!) but although this one is pretty simple, I think it is just interesting enough. I didn't realise that a couple of the pieces from this outfit were c/o until I uploaded these pictures, I guess it proves that I don't just wear things that I am sent in the photos and then never again, this coat and these shoes are an integral part of my wardrobe. I look slightly sheepish in these photos, thanks to lots of nosy neighbours and keen dog-walkers, it is difficult to keep a straight face when you are hissing 'hurry upppp!' at Mark, haha! The 1920s and 1930s are not usually decades I am inspired by but I have been watching a lot of Poirot recently and they sure knew how to wear a hat... ;)

Since cutting my hair, there have been a few things that I have had more trouble wearing and this hat is one of them. When my hair was longer, the hat gave just a hint of 1920s style but it looked a bit costume-y when I was trying it on with various dresses from my wardrobe so I decided to go with a more modern outfit instead. Paired with MAC Vegas Volt, my favourite new peachy coral lipstick (it even suits my pasty pale skin!) it felt more modern than musty. This lovely necklace was a surprise gift from my lovely friend Jules a while ago and it is one of my favourites. The knot is simple but adds a bit of interest to plain tops and you know I can't resist a tassel! 

These shoes are also a few years old now, I originally wore them back in March 2012 and they get pulled out when I am looking for a little bit of height and a more interesting colour than nude to wear. These Jamie jeans have been neglected in favour of my ASOS and Warehouse jeans recently but they are ideal for if you want to flash a bit of ankle or show off your shoes which you have to when they are this jazzy!

Are you a hat wearer? 

Cold nights call for warm stews and casseroles and this Leon recipe is another veggie favourite that is pretty quick to pull together when you want something hearty. It all ends up looking a bit orange, but you could add peas or green beans if you wanted to add a bit more colour! I always make a huge batch of this and it tastes even better for lunch the next day, the flavours mature really nicely overnight. It also freezes well so there is no excuse not to have a 'proper dinner' when you get home from work! ;)

I got this lovely Tassimo mug for Christmas from my parents and I couldn't be happier. I have been taking a cup of coffee into work each day and this has replaced my beloved coffee cup which went to the great draining board in the sky (sob) These earmuffs were a recent sale purchase from Accessorize and they couldn't be jazzier- yes they are both furry and bejewelled! ;)

I am a massive fan of scented candles and this RHS Vanilla and Cinnamon candle is the perfect wintry scent, I'm onto my third candle this year! I bought this in Waitrose and I think it may have been a limited edition one for Christmas as it seems to have sold out instore now which is a shame as I absolutely love the smell!

These slippers are probably my favourite thing that I bought this year. They were supposed to be £10 but  I got them for a mere £1.75 (The cashier must have scanned them through wrong!) and they keep my feet so nice and warm. I have been spending most of my evenings curled up on the sofa underneath my new throw (I love you IKEA!) with a big mug of Hotel Chocolat Christmas drinking chocolate (another very lovely Christmas present!) to keep the chill away and although I'm not a fan of the dark evenings, there is something quite lovely about not having to go outside!

Whilst it's not the most exciting outfit, this is a pretty standard look on a lazy Sunday for me. I can't be dealing with wearing anything too structured but occasionally you have to leave the house and pyjamas are not acceptable attire so this outfit is the next best thing! I wasn't going to take or share these photos but this blog is supposed to be about my everyday outfits however dressed up (or not!) I am! I last wore these leggings with my favourite oversized shirt but this long ASDA tunic top is a much cosier alternative for a lazy weekend! I got it from my friend Matilda and it goes perfectly with leggings and skinny jeans. I do always worry that I look slightly pregnant with the empire line waist but it is so comfy that I don't even mind!

What do you wear on a lazy Sunday? Any recommendations for which lipstick I should try next?

I wasn't planning on doing any sales shopping but I found this beautiful Wallis red biker style coat (amongst a few other things!) when I was supposed to be looking for a coat for Mark instead (oops!) and have barely taken it off since. I did have a little red coat a few years ago but I sadly grew out of it (sob) so I have been on the hunt for a replacement ever since. We decided to try another location for these pictures. There is a beautiful quiet garden in the centre of the estate that we live on and it made such a beautiful backdrop- even if it was slightly more public than my usual spot! The temperature has finally dropped below zero here in Cheltenham and I have enjoyed bundling up in cosy knits and my favourite scarf to keep out the chill although I think I am probably the only person to enjoy it being this cold! I think you can tell how chilly it was from these pictures, that is frost on the ground and those are some gritted teeth I have there ;) 

You know how much I love these jeans and they work just as well dressed up as they do more casually. I am also on the lookout for a replacement for these shoes, they are so darned comfy and I am a little bit worried about what I am going to do when they fall apart, eBay hasn't thrown up anything as yet but I am hopeful!

What have you been wearing to keep warm this winter?