Wonderful You | Fashion and Style Blog: May 2014

Saturday, 31 May 2014

Guest Blogging for Avon!

Some rather exciting news to share with you lovely lot today...

Image Source

Over the next month or so, I'm going to be filming and writing over on Avon's blog and . The joyous occasion has already commenced and to kick it off I've started with a simple daily makeup routine, using some of my favourite products from the Avon range.

Make sure you keep your eyes peeled on their blog for regular updates. Some of my favourites, Suzie, Alix and Becky are also taking part and their content is wonderful!

I really hope you enjoy the first video guys, I'm so stoked to be contributing to one of my favourite brands and sharing the experience with you :D

Friday, 30 May 2014

The Hair Series #1: Half Up Half Down Top Knot

I rarely share my YouTube videos on my blog, but it’s something I think I might start to do a little more. I forget that perhaps just because you read my blog, doesn’t necessarily mean you stop by on other platforms!

My hair is something I get asked about the most on social. I would be a billionaire if I had a pound for every time someone asked me what colour I use on my hair*(not that I mind, mind!)

It made sense to talk about it a little more and so, the hair series was born. The first few videos will be based around easy-peasy hair styles then gradually moving on to hair care etc.

To kick it off I’m starting with the half up, half down top knot. Yes, it is the easiest hair style in the world, BUT, a handful of people asked for me to demonstrate it in a tutorial and here it is:

I’d love for you to hang around and possibly subscribe to my channel if you like it! There’s another video coming this weekend – because you know, I’m good to you like that.

And do let me know if there's any other hair tutorials you'd like to see!

*My hairdresser does it, using a brand called Matrix. I told her she needs to bottle it up and sell it via my blog ;-)

Thursday, 29 May 2014

It's a Kind of Magic

Camisole: Urban Outfitters. Belt: Vintage: Trousers: Sugarhill Boutique*. Sandals: Topshop. Bag: Becksondergaard. Glasses: Topshop

Do you have a pair of magical pants?

You know, the ones you put on and no matter the weather, no matter the problems in your life, those pants just rid you of any self doubt and you simply know, that today will be a good day?

That's these pants.

With the black chiffon fabric, they're perfect for transitioning your wardrobe in to the warmer months and with a loose, wide leg and high-waisted fit they're super flattering and comfortable.

Not to mention the fact I think I could easily be some sort of 60's backing singer wearing them.

Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Two Ticks With...Sunny Sweet Pea

It always leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy inside when one of my 'online' blogger friends decides to advertise with me. Jenny, who writes (can we give her a huge thumbs up for the best blog name ever, please?) is one of my absolute favourites on this here interweb. I'm so excited to introduce you to her, and her beautifully written, down to earth blog. Take it away, Jenny.

Dear Jenny, your blog is a firm favourite of mine - but for anyone who might be new to your corner of the internet could you give us an insight on what to expect from Sunny Sweet Pea?
I guess I'd describe as my creative outlet. I love writing, always have. And writing my blog gives me something to channel my creative energy into. My day job is all spreadsheets and figures, so having somewhere to share my photography, write recipes to satisfy my sweet tooth and simply record the everyday things that make life worth while, is really important to me.

Amongst an array of beautiful recipes are book reviews...what's your favourite book and why?
It's fair to say I'm a bit of a bookworm. I have a channel where I mainly post book related videos, as well as the occasional vlog and I love writing reviews on my blog. But Megs, you've asked the hardest question of all time! I'm not sure this is my favourite ever book, but it's a book that I bought for, and recommended to, so many of my friends, because when I finished reading it I felt inspired to change my life. That book is This I Know: Notes on Unraveling the Heart by Susannah Conway. Susannah lost her boyfriend very suddenly to a heart attack and subsequently started a blog that led to her whole life changing. It's the most positive, life affirming book I have ever read and if you're a fellow blogger, or in fact anyone who has a dream left unfulfilled, then this book will speak to you like no other book you will ever read.Here is my full review if you want to read it.

You live in a beautiful part of the country, Norfolk. Your pictures on your blog tell a thousand stories of how wonderful it is there, but if my readers were thinking of visiting, where would you suggest they stop by?
I still feel like I am new to Norfolk, but when I work it out I have lived here for over six years now. I've grown fond of its overtly agricultural landscape, its long sandy beaches and amazing sunsets. It's certainly a change from my home country of Wales, but the more I explore, the more I come to love it here. Norwich is a beautiful city, with a real vintage vibe. The shopping is amazing and down every little alley and lane you'll find cute coffee houses, tearooms and independent shops, a real city to explore. And on Norwich's doorstep is the beautiful Norfolk countryside, I recommend hiring a boat on the Broads. Perhaps a visit to some of Norfolk's magnificent stately homes - Blickling Hall being one of my favourites. And, one of my very favourite experiences living in Norfolk, visiting the seal pups at Horsey Beach. The grey seals arrive in the winter months to have their pups on the beach. You can get incredibly close to them, such an amazing encounter with nature.

As I said above, cooking is clearly a big part of your life. What tips have you got for any new foody bloggers out there?
Experiment and practice. I am no chef. I still make a crap Victoria sponge, I don't know what it is about them but mine come out so dry. Every time! I turn to Pinterest for inspiration, or find a basic recipe and adapt it. I love my floral flavours, so experimenting with lavender, rose, violets and any other edible flower is one of my favourite things to do. They don't always work, but that's okay, practice makes perfect and my readers don't see my culinary disasters. Trust me, they happen! More often than not.

What's your favourite thing to cook?
I have a seriously sweet tooth, so I adore baking. However I am on a bit of a health kick at the moment as I'm training for a triathlon. You're more likely to find recipes for summer salads, smoothies and protein shakes on Sunny Sweet Pea at the moment. Perhaps it's time to invent a healthy chocolate brownie!

Is blogging purely a hobby for you, Jenny? Or do you have plans for Sunny Sweet Pea going forward?
Blogging is a wonderful hobby of mine that I am lucky enough to make a few pennies from. I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunities my blog has given me. Back when I started Sunny Sweet Pea in 2009 I was quite happy that just my sister read it. I could never have imagined where it would take me over those five years. Going forward, I'd like to see my blog grow and I am working on finding the time to do that. But I also want to start writing more outside of my own blog. I hopefully have some exciting life changes ahead of me, which may see me studying again. 'Life's too short' as they say.

A quote to live by?
'You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore' - Christopher Columbus.

I'm sorry, but don't you just love her? Yes? Okay then, here's where you can find her:

This post is brought to you in association with the Exclusive Advertiser package. Available for blogs and small businesses you can take advantage of this 30 day service for less than £1 a day! If you'd like to snap up a package, you can find all the details

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

WIN A TRIP TO VEGAS WITH QUIZ CLOTHING!

Boy do I have a treat for you tonight....
are one of my go-to online destinations for beautiful, party dresses – so of course it made sense when they got in touch to advise they’re currently !

SAY WHAT?! I know. It’s not everyday something like that lands in your inbox, right? But it’s true.

Quiz are offering you, me and everybody else the chance to win . All you need to do to enter is 1 of 3 things…

:
1) Take a selfie showing your best 'Ijustwonthejackpot' face

2) Like their
3) Fill out the form to enter

OR :
1) Take a selfie showing your best 'Ijustwonthejackpot' expression
2) Follow them on Twitter account:
3) Post your selfie using the hashtag 'Ijustwonthejackpot' and mention us

OR :
1) Follow their instagram account:
2) Take a selfie showing your best 'I just won the jackpot' expression
3) Post your selfie on instagram,mention Quiz in the post and use the hashtag #Ijustwonthejackpot
4) Link to their Instagram account:

Now not only will you be put up in a 5* hotel, the winner will also receive 5 dresses from Quiz to take away with them, limousine transfers to and from the airport and tickets to see Britney Spears! Of course, you don’t want to go alone so Quiz will pay for your friend to come along too! It's just to0 good for words...

There are no age restrictions on entering, however if you are under the age of 21, you will need to be accompanied by someone 21 and over - simples.

It's a pretty awesome little competition, so I thought I'd share it with you lovely lot...you do deserve a treat, as you're always so bloomin' lovely!

You can find all the details , including terms&conditions - and let me know if you enter, I'd love to see your selfie's! I'm trying to think of something crazy to do for mine!! :)

Brought to you in association with Quiz*

Thursday, 22 May 2014

That Evening Sun

Blouse: Choies*. Leotard: Vintage. Leggings: Zara. Shoes: Office. Bag: Warehouse. Necklace: Strange of London*

The transition from cold to mildly bearable weather is a difficult one. We have sudden bursts of beautiful heat that are then snapped up by bitterly cold winds – and the question is, what’s a girl to wear?!

Layering is my best friend. You see, she lets you start off with the basics, a simple camisole or leotard and depending on Mr. Weatherman she’ll prompt how many layers she deems appropriate. Today, it was one and what a beautiful one it is. Blouses are versatile little things and I just felt like mixing it up a little, you know, by being a rebel and tying it at the waist instead of being normal ;-)

Granted, I was still a bit chilly, but even best friends get it wrong sometimes!

You can shop my look here:

Tuesday, 20 May 2014

Haters Gonna Hate

Let the haters hate. That’s something I’ve been hearing a lot of lately.

But why? Why is the general consensus that we should be silent when personally targeted by ‘trolls’ on the internet?

So you’re a blogger or a vlogger or a writer, or anything that’s possible to exist as an online profile with personality. When you sign up for exposure on the internet, no matter how large or small your social following you are opening yourself up for all to see and granted – they aint all gonna love you honey, that’s for certain.

I focus on the lovers a lot – you know, the ones who make everything wonderful and support you. Because honestly my blog makes my life better, it makes me better and I’m always thankful for that; regardless of how many people are lovely, each comment, like, favourite is a spoonful of sunshine in my life.

But one thing I won’t be sorry for is speaking out when haters (gonna) hate. Recently I’ve experienced a fair amount of negativity towards my blog and YouTube channel.

I wear too much makeup

I’m so ugly without makeup

I’m trying to be like Zoella

I’m lying that I have anxiety to get more blog hits

I’m fake

I’m the most boring person on the internet

I talk too much

I don’t have an original bone in my body

My voice is annoying

My acne is repulsive

The list goes on and whilst they’re not the worst comments in the world, really, truly they hurt. But I won't justify why that's a load of tosh, it goes without saying that I don't need to prove myself to you.

A lot of effort goes in to my blog and YouTube and I totally welcome constructive criticism and the fact that everyone has an opinion (I WANT TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF!) – but when did it become okay, acceptable even, to be such a nasty person and just get away with it because, well, that’s life? That is wrong on so many levels and is the reason why so many people are afraid to take chances in life; because there are vile, insecure humans hiding behind a computer, bringing others down.

Of course, I don’t mean that wallowing in self pity is the best way to tackle it, but I do believe that currently, if we do speak out, all we are faced with is: ‘Just shrug it off, you’re better than that’.

Well I think everyone knows that deep down, you can’t just shrug it off – it’s not possible, we are humans. Each nasty jab, be it fleeting or totally personal takes an inch of the confidence you’ve grown and it’s near on impossible to ‘ignore’.

What we should be doing is feeding off the negative. If you’ve got someone’s attention, good or bad, you’re probably doing something right.

But be mad, sad, get angry, tell people about it – just because you’re not pooping rainbows every second of the day doesn’t mean you’re an attention seeker. It’s okay to show you’re hurting sometimes and I’m sorry but I will just never believe that putting on a brave face is the best way to fight it.

I suppose the more popular you become on the internet equals an ability to ignore/not acknowledge the ‘hate’, on some level, because it would probably become mentally exhausting to keep taking notice. But for people like me, I just can’t let it be and I don’t feel I should have to.

I know that acknowledging it means we’re giving those people what they ‘want’, but what happens by just bottling it up? Someone who is sad and slowly becoming less confident and not willing to try? That doesn’t sound much fun at all.

Or should we speak out and have the support of others and reaffirm that it’s NOT OKAY? There needs to be a platform for victims to come out and speak their mind, feel they have a support that isn’t just liking their latest video or commenting on their latest blog post. We are human, we love, we bleed, we laugh, we cry, we need others.

I don’t know how we get there, but I’m making it an objective for this year, to try and change the lax and quite frankly, frightening approach to online bullying – even if it’s simply finding and directing people to something that already exists as a support network.

We may not be able to control those bullies rearing their ugly heads, but together we can change the way we deal with it.

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