Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Balm - Percy & Reed

What a statement. When I glanced at this for the first time I was expecting wondrous things. Usually I don't really bother with much product other than shampoo and conditioner (and the occasional mask) for my hair because I never really try anything new to prevent any damage - I have a horrific-hair-phobia. When I slowly digested the information on the back I realised that this probably wouldn't do any damage, if anything it would prevent damage! In simple terms, it's a leave-in balm for your hair which is a huge plus since I hate having to get back in the shower to wash off a mask! And it's supposed to keep your hair looking beautiful, healthy and flawless - thumbs up.

First of all; the packaging. I think it looks very cute and pretty with the font and the slender woman in a chic outfit. It definitely has a big statement on the bottle that could fulfill or disappoint - let's just say now, I was not disappointed. The only problem I have with this packaging is that the product runs out of the hole in the tube - don't worry it doesn't leak per say... it just sort of escapes a bit and fills the center of the cap.

This is primarily because of the texture of it I feel. It's not a mousse by far, but it isn't a gel-like texture either, it feels like a thicker serum that's flowing - evidently. Nonetheless, because of this texture it's nice and easy to apply, there's no need to spend ages working it in which is "perfect" as they claim! 

Now for the super important part - the final look. The first time I tried it out, I asked some of my friends if they'd noticed anything different about my hair and they all said it looked more shiny (of course in a non greasy way:P) and healthier so I was very very pleased with outcome. The greatest part is that it stays this way ALL DAY so you can have silky soft and healthier looking hair for hours on end! 

This product is £18 which some would argue is too pricey but at the end of the day, it is a high-end hair care product and I think it is worth it - especially if you're willing to splash out on hair products. I would highly recommend this to, well anyone really, I don't think there's a quality about it that won't work with a hair-type. 

"I believe in miracles" - so do i now!

The Neglected Jewelry Piece

Pendants. Ever since the statement, chunky necklace took it's spot in the limelight I rarely see people wearing lovely long pendants anymore! I do love making a statement, but sometimes It's nice to keep things subtle with the ever-so divine pendant.

To me, a pendant is timeless. Although it may not always be 'it' or on trend I feel that no one will ever make the comment "omg that's so last season" on this piece. Whenever I'm creating an outfit and can't seem to point out what's missing, I 99.7% of the time grab either a silver or a gold-rustic pendant.

I do actually have a Top 3, the pendant's I wear on a weekly basis because they go with absolutely anything and everything!

 In 3rd...

This to me is almost a statement necklace in pendant form because it has so many different little shapes and textures on top of the big rustic-styled heart. It goes with everything and although I don't wear it as often as the other two, I always come back to it - especially in Summer!


2nd...

This is quite different to any jewelry piece I own but I think it's so pretty and unique and is good to add to an outfit to mute down any bold colours slightly because of its worn-in look and colour. This was briefly mentioned on my blog in my Guess What Style series for Smart Casual if you'd like to read what I usually wear this necklace with.

And Number ONE!

There's a running theme of hearts in my jewelry collection - clearly. I think silver just goes with everything, it never fails me and doesn't ever seem to look cheap if it's silver plated from the high street. Having an auntie who's a silver smith has made my love for silver pieces grow more and more over the years and so I will continue to wear silver pendants - even if it's 50 years from now and we're living in a futuristic world where only neon is acceptable.

I hope this has brought the pendant back into some lives again and I shall write to you next weekend! Bye!

Cities are Full of Secrets

When you think of any capital city nowadays, you must think of shopping centers and high sky buildings. We don't often think of the history behind some cities, with the exception of Rome of course. Although I am aware of this, I had never really bothered to learn about the history, even quite recent history of my closest city, Cardiff.

I really like Cardiff for shopping, it has great high street shops and a fair amount of department stores so there is a large variety to choose from. The main streets, for instance The Hayes have an arcade running through in between some shops, but not everyone knows about them or goes there because there aren't many of the 'big brands' there. But, fear not because this post will be a bit about the arcades in Cardiff.

Walking through the arcade is like walking through an old version of Cardiff, because it is:P Nonetheless, there are some lovely little shops and cafes that are sadly neglected due to the huge food halls and stores that the shopping centers offer.

One of my favourite stores in the arcade is Wally's, an Italian Deli that is so sweet and full of amazing Italian style foods (apart from the pop tarts). The truffles look delightful and the pasta selection is a dream.

The best part about the arcade is the balcony. I never knew how to get up there and didn't even think it was possible until my friend, Carys showed me. There are little shops above the cafe's and independent deli's and shabby chic shops. There aren't many, but they are very sweet and small. The teeny bridge and the entire balcony really gives a sense of history and culture to the city and is really interesting to look at.

The architecture is beautiful and I find it so fascinating that it all is still there! If you ever come to Cardiff, I highly recommend visiting one of the arcades as you can find some lovely cafe's and homeware - my favourite has to be Rossiter's for cute decorations. One of the best cafe's is New York Deli which sells huge hoagies for a reasonable price so great value for money!

I hope you enjoyed these pictures of the arcade and I hope it has given you some ideas on what to do when you visit any city that has some culture behind it!

Who doesn't love a bit of Vintage?

So, I ask you the question - who doesn't love a bit of vintage? Whether it's 1920's jewelry, 1940's skirts or even 1990's grunge, I'm certain all of us have a love for something nostalgic. If you've been reading this blog since I started, you may have guessed that I'm somewhat of a 'girly-girl', I love my skirts and Chelsea Boots as well as tons of lace! But a family member recently came across an old pair of her Guess, high-waisted, turn up shorts from California in the 90's - I was ecstatic.

I've always loved shorts but never ventured into even vintage-looking shorts so to own a vintage pair I felt excited to try out something new this Spring (hopefully) and Summer. As I've been thinking about these shorts since I received them, I've been wondering what outfits and styles I could incorporate them into. There's a lot of ways to say the least and so instead of sharing them all in one painfully long blog post, I thought I'd split them up and every few weeks I'd write about a new style over this season - we'll call it 'Guess what style?' (Apologies for that poor pun).

   
First, smart casual. Sometimes I don't even know what this means. A pencil skirt with a hoodie? Black trousers and a sloppy t-shirt? Or a full on lounge-around-suit with a briefcase in one hand and a black takeaway coffee in the other? Thing is, it's what YOU make of it. With these shorts, I'd say this look is slightly more on the casual side so something ideal to wear on a day out shopping.

The collared white shirt and the cute yet sophisticated ballet pumps make this look more smart and chic.

The light blue sunglasses gives the look a more chilled vibe and the rustic-styled pendant adds a little something to the completed look and keeps it casual as it dangles above the stomach so quite low down, toning the sophistication of the shirt down.

That is the end of part one of the 'lookbook', I hope you enjoy and if you have any tips on styling vintage items, say so in the comments!

Pip pip cheerio!