Our Engagement Party and Amazing Cakes!

On the 1st of June the fiance and I hosted a much belated celebration of our engagement with our closest friends and our families. It was a wonderful evening and while I was having far too much fun catching up with everyone to take many photos I did want to share some pictures from the night and also give a special mention to some of our amazing suppliers :).

You all know I love any excuse to dress up, so while the Mr kept it pretty casual I decided to wear something a little more adventurous. I chose the Talia dress from the Hobbs limited edition Invitation collection with matching shoes. It's a nifty little corset number with a very voluminous skirt that really reminds me of the shape of Vivienne Westwood dresses, which I adore. I paired it with a white L.K Benett chiffon petal bag.

As the dress was already quite a statement I kept my hair simple by curling it with Babyliss hot rollers and brushing through the hair with a soft Denman brush to create loose, soft, shiny curls. For the makeup I went for a silver and grey smokey eye to complement the dress.

I chose the Blanchard Room of the Hollywood Arms as the venue for its amazing decor and it did not disappoint! All our guests loved it and I must say that the staff were outstanding on the night, making sure everyone had plenty of bubbles in their glasses until the early hours ;).

Since we are not getting married till next July we wanted to give our guests a little taste of what to expect next year and decided to order a cake as a sweet finishing touch to the evening. I am a huge dessert fan and loved the idea of having a cupcake cake for our guests to enjoy. After getting quotes from a few suppliers I chose the Chelsea Cake Company. Nessie was an absolute sweetheart in creating the perfect cake for us and it's just so lovely to work with someone who is incredibly passionate about their business. I highly recommend you check her website out for wedding, party or celebration cakes as she does some incredible designs using only the best organic ingredients.

Nessie also made some adorable wedding themed cookies for guests to take away with them! They were just as yummy as they look.

After the party we carried on the celebration at Embargos, although not all of our guests made it that far ;p. Fingers crossed I will be able to make the wedding go as smoothly! xxx

Things I am currently loving!

With work, exam revision, a videoshoot to prepare for and a wedding this weekend I am desperately trying to get some blog posts up for you guys in between! However, with time falling short I thought I would do a little favourites post of things I am currently loving.

Carmex Moisture Plus Lipbalm (£4.49)

This lipbalm is inexpensive and easy to use while on the go. It gives lips a glossy finish with a hint of colour and a shot of moisture. It also has vitamin E and SPF 15 to protect the lips and keep them soft. Yum!

Rituals Under a Fig Tree Fragrance Sticks (£21.50)

I am not usually a lover of fig scents, but these fragrance sticks give the room a subtle wonderfully delicious, juicy fragrance that is fresh and comforting all at once.

Jo Malone Rosewater and Vanilla Cologne Intense (£95)

This fragrance is probably an acquired taste, but I am completely obsessed with it. Rose Water and comforting vanilla are enriched with a succulent bite of rose loukoum. 'A tempting and addictive fragrance'... they certainly got the addictive part right, though given the price tag I won't be bathing in it anytime soon!

Philip B Oud Royal Shampoo and Conditioner

This is an intensive hydrating duo that leaves my hair silky soft, smooth, light and buoyant. Once again given the price tag I only use this once a week or as a treat, but you can definitely see the difference even after just one wash.

Peplums

I absolutely adore peplums and am keeping my fingers crossed that they never go out of style as I have purchased numerous tops, dresses, jumpers and jackets with peplum detailing. It's extremely flattering, easy to wear and gives that amazing exaggerated waist silhouette that I lust after. However, if you are feeling a little hesitant about diving into this trend I highly recommend checking out this nifty little leather peplum belt that will look beautiful teamed with... well anything!

Hobbs Marissa Peplum Belt (£99)

Zaggora Hot Pants (£50)

I was recently sent a pair of Zaggoras to try and they have become a workout staple, so much so that they are making tri-weekly turns in the washing machine. I can't comment on their exact weightloss properties, but they sure do make you sweat (in places I didn't know I could). They are great to wear when doing aerobic exercise and are flexible and comfortable enough to join you on a run, cycle or even dance class. They are a little pricey, but having worn both the viva and original hot pants styles I can equally recommend both. Personally I think the shorter style is just as good and is a more purse friendly £30 here.

Denman Be-Bop Massage Brush (£2.87)

I love my tangle teezer, but sometimes my hair is so knotty that I lose patience. After discovering this amazing little brush from Denman that can be used in the shower I have cut minutes from my routine, and not just any minutes... tangled, frustrating minutes of pain. There are lots of ways to use this little beauty, but my preference is to run it through my hair while I'm rinsing out the conditioner. This makes detangling an absoute breeze for kids and big kids alike ;).

What are the products you are currently loving? I would love to know! xxx

Birthday OOTD

Last Friday was my birthday and though a lady never tells I can let you in on a little secret... it was quite a special date! In the evening we went for an amazing meal at Roux at the Landau in the Langham hotel so I decided to dress up a little for the occasion. As if I have ever needed an excuse!!

 Dress: Hobbs Fulham Dress (on sale here), Shoes: Manolo Blahnik.

For my makeup I kept the eyes very neutral with just black gel liner and false lashes. I then used a bright pink on my cheeks and lips - MAC's fuchsia blush and Barry M's lip paint in Shocking Pink (no. 52), which is  a great dupe for MAC's Girl About Town lipstick.

I had such a lovely birthday. Thank you to my mama and bf for making it so special! xxx

Work It Out: Instalment Vingt-Huit

Sometimes it's fun to add a little splash of colour. I call this my Charlotte (Sex and the City) dress ;).

 Berham Dress: Hobbs. Patent leather belt: M&S.

Despite being sleeveless this boiled wool dress is super warm and cosy. As many Hobbs dresses it is designed for the classic English pear shape - skimming over any lumps and bumps, while accentuating a slimmer waist. Luckily as the material has a good amount of stretch it works well on a bigger bust too, plus the fuller skirt creates some balance. It's currently in the sale in graphite, purple, red and storm as above.

L'Heure du Cocktail

Last week I attended a cocktail party in Paris. As much as I would have loved to be swanning around the streets dreaming of fashion week, after a 4am wake up call and back to back meetings I was feeling far from glamorous, so getting ready was a rather rushed affair.

 Dress: Hobbs (limited edition). Suede Shoes with pink detailing: Manolo Blanhik.                  Pashmina/ Wrap: H&M

 Cream belted wrap coat: Oasis.

Sorry for the rubbish iPhone photos, but even when running out the door this dress had to be documented. I just adore the corset style, fold over detailing at the waist, which creates a lovely shape and balances the full skirt. The only downside is since the stiff tulle sown into the skirt is very stiff and weighs a tonne. Not quite 'Gypsie Weddings' dress, but as full as I would ever dare to go ;).