Sunday Night Nails #3

This is a really basic Aztec nail art that you don't need a lot of time for. I've used my trusted colour combination of turquoise, pink and white, but play around with the colours and see what works for you.

Step 1: Paint your base colour and leave to dry

Step 2: Use a black nail art pen to draw three equally spaced triangles from the base of the nail

Step 3: Use a white nail art pen to fill in the first and third spaces in between the black lines

Step 4: Use a pink nail art pen to draw a point above the top black line

Step 5: Use the black nail art pen to draw symmetrical dots all up the pink line to finish

Life: August 2013

I ate a LOT of ice cream at Roskilly's Dairy in Cornwall
I tried porridge for the first time ever. With cinnamon and bananas. Yum!
The amazing Charlie & the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea at One Aldwych
I made a Cookie Monster birthday cake for a colleague

I met Benedict Cumberbatch! He signed my book and spoke to me and I died of happiness
I want a puppy :(
Window cleaners on The Shard
Dug out my 2005 NIN tour t-shirt for Reading Festival

Watermelon nail art for Dirty Dancing Future Cinema
Willy Wonka nail art for afternoon tea
Swirly nail art
Kiehl's discount event at work is VERY dangerous!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea

I was brought up on a healthy diet of Roald Dahl stories, and even as an adult I still revisit the quirky and bizarre fantasy world created by him for a quick read. Aside from The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was my favourite and when I saw this afternoon tea announced I was so excited. Hosted at One Aldwych, it's to celebrate the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical in London and the menu is enough to make your mouth water. Get ready to be jealous!

The menu had cute drawings of different characters from the book. I had the Gloop family which was pretty fitting considering how much I was about to wolf down.

We sat in beautiful high backed chairs and I tried to look as much like a golden ticket as possible in my favourite vintage skirt. I even did some Willy Wonka themed nail art, what do you think?!

But no-one cares about that, it's all about the food here. We started with a selection of sandwiches (no crusts of course), an amazing tomato tart and awesome mini leek and stilton quiches, all washed down with caramel tea which was surprisingly delicious.

And so to the sweets. Oh my god. There was chocolate caramel milk, candy floss, chocolate golden egg with vanilla cheesecake and mango filling and mini eton mess. That was one side. Then we moved on to scones with clotted cream and berry jam, blueberry brioche (my favourite from the day) and cocoa bean financiers - that's a really good brownie to you and me.

The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea is at One Aldwych until 31st December and is £29.50 per person. Book your reservation online here. You won't regret it!

Life: June 2013

I can't believe I haven't even had time to write this little monthly Instagram round-up. End of June and July so far have been crazy busy at work, and then I took a much needed holiday to Spain. Now I've sorted my life out a bit I am going to try my best to blog a bit more frequently! So, June 2013:

Very proud of my Aztec nail art attempt!
My first trip to Meat Liquor. I was so full and SO happy.
My aunt's beautiful dog. She's old now and doesn't like as much fuss.
The penny farthing race at the IG London Nocture

My aunt's Marmite collection
An aerial view of my hometown of Milton Keynes from a business flight to Scotland
More nail art I'm proud of
The lumberjack breakfast at The Luxe: cinnamon french toast, pancakes, waffles and bacon

A good Friday night in
Sitting ON the stage at The Hothouse starring John Simm
Mr Darcy on Netflix
Revisiting Highgate Cemetery

Gold Bangle, Aztec Nails

I never wear bracelets. I have teeny tiny wrists that just about hold a watch in place so I've always struggled to pass off bangles no matter where they are on the chunky scale. I saw this thin filigree bangle on ASOS and thought it was very cute and tasteful, and a great way to subtly dress up something casual.

 It splits up my floral jacket and aztec nails in such a simple way that I think I'll be adding this to loads of outfits from now on. And speaking of nail art, what do you think of mine? It took me 2 hours to do but I'm really pleased with the outcome! It took a steady hand and a lot of patience, but I think it's turned out great.

Life: February 2013

Life has been so hectic recently, I haven't had any time to do much let alone blog which is disappointing, but here's what I have had time to do last month. More blog posts to come soon hopefully!

Dita von Teese signed bowling pin at All Star Lanes
Amazing food at Pitt Cue Co
Cocktails at the Experimental Cocktail Club
Valentine's Day cocktails with the girls

Cheer up post-its made for me at work
My housemate trying to flip pancakes
My February read given to me by Pink Julep
My sample sale Miu Miu boots!

  

All the glittery shoes at work
Chocolate milkshakes at Byron are a meal in themselves
Getting my hair did
NYFW inspired nail art

Let It Be at the Savoy Theatre with Vogue Alchemist
Cocktails a-go-go!
Pancake Day feast
Filming with Alex Loves for O2

Getting Arty

I love nail art, but I don't have the steadiest hands. I also don't really fancy forking out on loads of expensive equipment to make all the pretty swirls and patterns I see on blogs and Pinterest, but while browsing on eBay the other day I found these paintbrushes specifically for nail art. At £1.99 for 6 I figured they were worth trying out.

The chrome ones are stiff so they're more for actual drawing, the others are more like a paintbrush and better for squiggles and less rigid patterns. I've just tried out the first set to draw some simple chevrons. Remember that my hand is not steady so these are far from perfect, but it was a lot easier than using the actual nail varnish brush. Practice makes perfect!

Sunday Night Nails #2

It's been a busy couple of weeks! I spent 5 days in Birmingham at Clothes Show Live working with some fabulously talented bloggers and snapping up bargains when I had the time (which wasn't very often!). Because of that I haven't written a blog post in what feels like so long. If you're new to this blog then I promise I don't just put up a nail art post once a week! But here is this week's Sunday Night Nails - Christmas style!

First I applied True Blue by Models Own:

While the polish was still wet on my ring finger, I dipped it in blue caviar beads (I got mine from Topshop, but you can get similar ones from eBay):

I then used Kathleen Stripe & Sparkle by Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique from Superdrug. I didn't use the sparkle, just the white polish to paint the snowflakes on each nail. I always find white nail pens to be a bit difficult to use, but this was much better than the Sally Hansen one which washed off in the shower!

It's nearly Christmas!! I've got one more week of work and then I'm going to my parents where I'll have more time to write some posts and get cracking on my New Years Resolution of blogging more.

Sunday Night Nails #1

Doing my nails has become a bit of a Sunday night ritual in my flat and I always Instagram them. It seemed a shame not to share them on here too so here's the first of (hopefully) many Sunday Night Nails installments.

First I applied Bubblegum by Models Own:

Then I added a layer of Hot Stuff by Models Own on top.

Possibly the girliest nails I've had in a while, something to brighten up the dark Wintery days!

Life: November 2012

Spiky spiky shoulder pads from a Soho haberdashery
Beautiful ceramic doorknobs on Portobello Road
Getting excited about Christmas with Jack Skellington
My mum's roast dinner wins all the food awards

Finally visited the Models Own bottle shop in Westfield White City
Cartier Bond Street's Christmas front
Models Own comic nail wraps
Discovered a Japanese food store in Finchley

My first attempt at caviar nail art went quite well!
Photobooth at Channel 4 party
My place setting for Thanksgiving at Pink Julep's house
Our award for Best Team Effort at Musical Bingo (we were Zombie High School!)

The Marmite Oxford St Christmas lights
Underfire Red by Carine Roitfeld for MAC with gold nail studs
Pulled pork, apple and black pudding burger at BKB
Skull pin on my coat lapel

Life: October 2012

My Halloween nails
Late night tea and biscuits
An early stroll over Tower Bridge
My new work wallpaper!

Finally got my hands on some Anna Dello Russo for H&M stuff!
I met the author of my favourite book and got my battered copy signed
Lunch at Baity Kitchen, Chelsea
Very proud of my boyfriend who completed his first half marathon

My Halloween make-up!
Most pretentious round of tea I've ever made
Accidentally walked onto the set of new film Jack Ryan in Shoreditch
Post-it wall at Korean deli, Seoul Bakery

Chelsea Girl by Andy Warhol for NARS + Urban Outfitters glitter
Amusing headstone at Highgate Cemetery
Amazing Christmas decorations at the British Library
Love my big sisters sign in her hallway!

Fashion: In a Galaxy Far, Far Away...

Well not that far away actually. Galaxy prints are all over the high street right now and I lovelovelove them. My housemate and I are (not-so) secret sci-fi geeks and over the last couple of weeks we've both debuted our galaxy print items in smart and casual situations.

I wore my leggings on a bog standard Saturday afternoon to wander to the supermarket. With my big fluffy vintage jumper I was so cosy!

Jumper: Vintage
Shirt: Bershka
Leggings: New Look
Trainers: Primark
Ring: Spitalfields Market
Nail art tutorial can be found here.

And how amazing does my housemate look in this peplum galaxy print top with sequin leggings for my birthday drinks the other week? Stars and sparkle = perfect combination!

Top: New Look
Leggings: Topshop
Shoes: New Look
Clutch: Irregular Choice