HOLIDAY!!!

off on holiday on sunday to beautiful italy for 2 weeks with all the family (20 of us to be exact)... incredibly looking forward to getting away and seeing some sun!
and of course packing is becoming a tadge difficult... we're flying with easyjet so have a weight limit and i only have either a small case or a rather large case... (large in the sense i can fit in it..)
so i have been going through the wardrobe with a selective process choosing items to fit in the small case, ive done this about 5 times already. 
to help me ive listed my summer suitcase staples in a 'clothes' list and a 'beauty' list and to also help any of you readers also jetting off to somewhere hot...

main items that always make the cut are obviously bikinis, denim/jersey shorts, strappy/baggy tops, maxi dresses & a kaftan...however these seem to multiply while im putting them in the case with other tops and shorts that i have forgotten about decide to show themselves. 
ive decided that the main staples for clothes are:

• denim/jersey/'nice' shorts - tourist time/pool/evening
• plain white tops - go with EVERYTHING!
• cute skirt - day or evening - exploring or dinner
• maxi dresses - day & night - casual day look over bikini (good cover up) and instant glamour to an evening outfit
• kaftan - fab cover up while having lunch by the pool
• bikinis- cant always go skinny dipping
• gold jewellery - enhances ANY outfit and also your tan!
• flip flops/sandals/wedges - by the pool & popping to local shops/ visiting somewhere nice in the day/dinner & drinks
• playsuits - quick, easy and stylish for both day and night
• satchel type bag - a bag that will take you from day to night. (mine is a tan colour from primark years ago and has a really cute plaited strap and gold studs) adds a relaxed feel to the evening outfit and goes with any outfit in the day

beauty necessitys:

• of course number 1 has to be suncream (a great anti-aging cream too!)
• exfoliator - not only keeps skin extra smooth also helps you get a better tan as your skin is a smoother surface. i use st ives apricot scrub, love the smell and feels like im really giving my skin a brand new layer!
• moisturiser - enhances tan and helps keep skin extra soft after being exposed to water, sun, sand and wind throughout the day (and after being exfoliated) ... nivea do a fab hand, skin and face cream which i strongly reccommend as not only is it 3 creams in one, its refreshingly nourishing and surprisingly lasts ages!!
• a good shampoo and conditioner that will get any chlorine/salt out ready for the next day of tanning
• beautiful smelling shower gel and lufa - makes you smell nice and gently exfoliates
• mascara - shouldn't need to apply any 'skin make-up' such as foundation because your face will be nice and tanned, however a touch of mascara in the evenings makes your eyes look glamourous and as if you've done much more with your make-up
• nail varnish - i try to stick to one colour on fingers and another (or same) on toes for the whole holiday, however mixing up your nails will style up any of your outfits.  ive chosen a green, a silvery/goldy colour(champagne is the name), a really light peach and a white.  they will be alternating throughout the whole 2 weeks!
• if you're like me and completely forgot to sort out a waxing appointment try the venus embrace which is the razor that has the shaving cream/gel already on the razor... quick, easy, leaves your legs and underarms smooth and smells so nice!
• instead of a bottle of nail varnish remover ive got some of the remover pads - small, quick and easy.
• always take a selection of good and pretty hair bands, clips & grips. also a mini hairspray for extra volume in the evenings and to hold cute plaits in the day.

well i hope this has helped... it definitely has helped me work out what i need to pack instead of overpacking with things il never use/wear!

i cant wait to write about the different styles and looks i see on holiday ...

Happy Holidays everyone xx

(apologies for no photos too - no battery left on the camera to snap some of the items unfortuneately. i will use photos of the outfits i see on holiday!)

LOVE

fell in love this is image when browsing dkny pr girls blog  (up there with the best twitters and blogs i follow), and therefore had to share.  simply beautiful. 

ABSOLUTELY LOVE these plimsolls!! they're from Victoria on Unisa and come in a range of different colours... too many to choose from, but i fell in love with this cute lilac colour. only £30 too!! a pay day necessity...

Horrible Bosses

I went to see the new film Horrbile Bosses at the cinema last night with a friend and honestly haven't laughed so much in a long time!! i seriously recommend a trip to the cinema to see it (i barely go to the cinema - too lazy) as it is a must see.
the comedy factor is up there with the Hangover - guy friends embark on a stupidly hilarious journey - and there was never a dull moment in it.  Jen Aniston is a seriously HOT in it and makes me wonder how she can look like that when she's double my age. depressing really.

at work today i came across a customer with the coolest nails; they were strawberries! someone had painted a strawberry design onto the nails with green, red and yellow nail varnish.  when i typed "strawberry nails" into google to find some more examples to check out, i was shocked with the number of people people experimenting with strawberry designs! i was completely missing out on a fashion craze...

I have also recently discovered the website myflashtrash which i have become completely addicted to!! (owned/ran by made in chelsea's Amber Atherton) the "online jewellery boutique" is simply heaven for a unique jewellery lover like me and has such an array of types and costs of jewellery.  i specifically love the rings ...

and also loved this necklace...

(the price also is very appealing!)

I couldnt possibly list EVERY item i liked, because its pretty much the whole boutique... 

AM beauties

while browsing net-a-porter to lust over items of clothing i can't afford, i came across these beauties and felt i had to share.  alexander mcqueen have out done themself with these shoes in my opinion.  i could stare at them for hours... at £2095... they will be on the wishlist for quite a few years, but are more like a piece of art than a shoe.

sunglasses.

I am in a constant struggle to find a pair of new sunglasses. 
the first struggle is if i really need a new pair... i have a pair of Karen Millens from about 3 years ago which i love; dark tortoise shell, round & quite big... but its been so long since i shopped for sunglasses i feel as if i should buy some. while on holiday last year i tried heaps of Ray-Bans on trying to find a style i loved - all looked terrible on me - and now im off on holiday soon i feel as if i should get some new ones.
second struggle is of course, cost. i absolutely LOVE Marc Jacobs and Chloe sunnies... however my student budget most definitely doesn't stretch that far...

Marc Jacobs

Chloe

im a big fan of the tortoise shell effect and them to be BIG. they make you look glamorous and important without even trying.  they're effotlessly classic and ooze sophisitication. 

i cant seem to find a cheaper pair that i love as much as these two... to be fair, the marc jacobs are only $85 (so probs like £80) compared to the like £180 chloe ones... but thats still not worthy enough to spend what little money i have on...

after browsing topshop and h&m, i still hadn't found any cheap pairs i really liked... so i bought a REALLY cheap pair from primark for my car (always forget sunnies when driving) and i have given in to wearing them out and about too as i love the bigness and the gold detail on the side... they just look like quite cheap which is a letdown. 

i have searched most high street shops and still cant find a semi-cheap pair i really like which leads me on to the third struggle, the fact that i still do really like my current Karen Millen sunglasses!

this seems to be a common feeling amongst sunnie lovers who get bored of sunglasses quickly... the battle of wether to splurge on a new pair or not...

when pay day arrives... and i am sitting in south terminal... i may be encouraged to purchase a new designer pair, but for now il have to stick with my oldies and forever wish for Mr Jacobs and Miss Chloe to appear at £4.99...

denim shorts.

everywhere I look lately denim shorts are ruling the legs of girls. i must admit i have been taken in by this trend. i love how they go with pretty much any top.  they can be worn in the evening and day which also appeals to me as i am a fan of a casual outfit for a night out sometimes.
a few images of celebs rocking the denim short look:

 fave out of these 3: Beyonce.

 (all images courtesy of E!online)

(i have to say im a fan of rihannas look from the knees up)


ive found that the shorts will pretty much go with any top... i recently bought some high wasted ones from the one and only topshop and paired it with a baggy, striped, thin jumper  (from tesco!!) when the weather wasn't overly great in July... the next night wore them to town with a silky, blue tank top tucked in paired with nude heels... they looked like completely different shorts.

however i must say, i have seen some SHORT shorts worn by girls who may not have the most thinnest of legs.  the bum skimming ones with peeping cheekage, only really work if you're incredibly lucky to be incredibly thin... but if not, sticking to loose fitting or ones that come below the bottom i feel are best to go with...!