TGIF // Friday Favourites

There's a definite Autumn/Winter theme to today's Friday Favourites. I just bloomin love A/W.

This tote bag is from Waterstones, the illustration is by Quentin Blake, it's a total throw back for me so when I saw it I snapped it up right away. It's smaller than your average tote bag and I've been using it to transport my lunch to and from the office every day. It's the perfect size.

I've been lucky enough to have some how managed to have a cold for a month straight now, this ginger cordial has been a total life saver for me. This cordial is the only reason I've not lost my voice/ torn out my throat in annoyance or curled up in a ball and tried to hibernate.

I have these pyjama trousers as part of a set from Primark. There is nothing more wintery (is that a word) in my mind than a set of red tartan pyjamas. Every time I wear them it makes me happy. My sister and Bekah also have the same set because I made them get them and we are that cool. Jealous? I thought so.

My sister got me this lipstick last year and I love it. It's really dark and probably as close to black as I will ever be brave enough to wear. Plus, could the packaging get any nicer?

I picked these boots up from Ebay for £16 and oh my am I in love. They are so comfortable and they don't make the clip clop noises (the two things I value most in a heeled boot).

What are some of your favourites during the Autumn/Winter seasons?

Kate // SK

TGIF // Friday Favourites

I've not done a Friday favourites in a while, most of my favourites recently have been birthday presents and I'm doing a blog post on my presents.

I just finished reading this book and if you're looking for a quick cosy read this is perfect. Plus if you know me you know I love a book about books!

TGIF // Friday Favourites

This nail polish has been a favourite of mine for years. It's the perfect nail polish for those days that I can't make a decision about what colour to wear. Depending on the light and angle the polish can look blue, green or purple on the nail.

How-To // Survive Summer - Tanning

Okay okay I know, tanning is not particularly essential to surviving summer, but it helps. I am not one who tans particularly well, not unless I get unbelievably burnt, and even then I think most of the colour comes from all the new freckles that crop up. I'm very British okay!?

Over the past couple of years I have had the odd fling with fake tan but I've never settled into a committed relationship. I think this year we're going to have summer romance and see how that goes before I think about going long term.

Once I found a tanning brand that seemed to work for me I stuck with it. No way am I risking using a different brand and it going horribly wrong! I use a brand called St Moriz (which I'm guessing is a St Tropez knock off), it's pretty inexpensive at around £6 per bottle.

There are two main types of tan that I use (both by St Moriz):

Fast Self Tanning Mousse

and

Tanning Mousse in Medium

How-To // Survive Summer - The Clothing

Summer in Scotland can be a relatively elusive thing. There's usually a week in May or June when the summer arrives and the next week it's gone again. People rush out to buy sun cream, BBQ's ice creams and the parks are full of pasty white people desperately trying to get some colour. And then as quickly as it came it's gone again, the very next week people are back in trousers and jumpers and suncream goes to a cupboard somewhere where it's forgotten about. All we have to show for the week of sun are the Instagram pictures and the sunburn.

Last week we had that week of sun and it got me thinking about the things I change when the weather gets hot. My fashion choices change, my make-up changes, my hair changes. For that one week I adapt happily to the sunshine hoping that this time it might stay.

TGIF // Friday Favourites

Time for another Friday favourites. This time I've based it around a "normal spring look" for me. I haven't put trousers in but obviously I do wear trousers....black skinnies (duh).

Monthly Favourites | APRIL

I missed Decembers and January's and February's oh and March's monthly favourites! I'M SORRY!

There's no excuse...apart from I've been working. But what kind of excuse is that?

I'll just get straight into this months favourites.

1. Loreal True Match Foundation. I have a small feeling that I used to own this when I first started Uni but I really can't remember. Anyway, when I first got paid I decided it was time to start buying makeup that was a little bit more pricey, purely because I'd never owned any and I wanted to see how my skin would take to it. Priciest drugstore makeup is technically Loreal. I love this foundation! It's slightly watery but blends really well and has great coverage. You don't even need a lot, just a couple pumps and that's it. Definitely recommend.

TGIF // Friday Favourites

I would first off like to complain about the photos in this post. It was an unbelievably grey day and my camera was not in a cooperative mood. So sorry!

A blog favourite for the last month or so has definitely been BohoBerry. Kara's entire blog is perfection but I've especially loved her Bullet Journal posts. I've not found anyone else who makes such a simply, effective and beautiful bullet journal!

How-To | Finding Your Style

I'm in the process of starting something called a 'Capsule Wardrobe'. This is when you choose so many items to be in your wardrobe over a period of, at least, 3months. It's meant to also help you spend less money on clothes, which is something I desperately need stop doing, and then at the end of the three months you can spend a little bit on new clothes for the new season.

But anyway, another blog post will follow explaining how it all works and how I'm doing my 'Capsule Wardrobe'.

However, before we get to the 'Capsule Wardrobe', we need to find our style.

Indie, Bohemian, Chic, Grunge, Classy, Preppy, even a mix of styles.

If I'm being completely honest I just buy things that catch my eye and I feel look good on me and also are pretty comfortable. I never really thought about my style till recently and actually think it's a pretty good idea knowing what your style is.

TGIF // Friday Favourites

 Some of you may know that I've given up diet coke for lent. If you know me you'll know how much diet coke I'll drink, I don't want to be dramatic but oh my goodness do I miss diet coke. So now I've discovered Ice Tea, I'd only ever had peach tea before and I hate peach so I assumed I didn't like iced tea. Man was I wrong.

Travel Essentials // Make-Up

Narrowing down make-up to take with me on a trip is hard. I think I've finally got to the point where I know what I want and need to take.

Wishlist #6 // Accessories

Urban Outfitters: Reason Marled Black Beanie - £18 

H&M: Wool Hat - £19.99 

Asos: Woven Oversized Scarf with Overprinted Check - £20 

Asos: Feather Hair Comb - £10 

Asos: Liquid Sparkle Glitter Case - £12 

Asos: Oversized square scarf in 70's check - £18 

Twitter and Instagram @SimplyKarah10

Kate // SK

Travel Essentials // Face and Body

I can't pack lightly. I try, every time I'm going on a trip I think to myself "this is it, this is the time I'll pack really light and only take the absolute essentials". It's never yet happened. So, I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm not a light packer. I thought I would show you some of the products I take with me when I go away for a weekend.

 The Bag: I got this from Primark not long ago, it's perfect because it's huge and as you're about to see I fill it.

 The Basic Essentials: Deodorant and Face Wipes - need I say more?

 Shower: 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner is pretty handy when it comes to travelling. You might not get you're usual high shine or high volume hair but it's quicker and lighter to travel with. And a body wash is another obvious one!

 Skincare: I've recently been trying to find a skincare routine that works for me, at the moment I have a 5 product regime which is all well and good until you need to take it with you. I found these in my "random products I've not used yet" box and thought I would take this trip as an opportunity to try them out.

 Teeth: Toothpaste and a toothbrush (with a brand spanking new head on it - ooo aahh what a treat!)

The Tools: Facecloth, Hairbrush and Razor

And there you have it. We already have a Travel Non-Essentials blogpost up here and we'll be doing more travel posts as we go.

What are some of your travel face and body essentials? Tweet us @SimplyKarah10

Kate // SK

Wishlist #5 // Jewellery

 John Lewis: Gemstones Gold Plated Round Stud Earrings, Lapis - £35

John Lewis: Skagen SKW2346 Women's Holst Leather Strap Watch, Grey - £165 

 Urban Outfitters: Suspended Howlite Necklace - £22

H&M: Watch - £12.99 

H&M: 4 Pairs Earrings - £3.99

Twitter and Instagram @SimplyKarah10

Kate // SK

Wishlist #3 // Trousers

Aritzia: Talula Los Feliz - $40 

Aritzia: Wilfred Marais Pant - $70 

H&M: Superstretch Trousers - £14.99 

All Saints: Tiya Leather Leggings - £398

Dorothy Perkins: Rust Ankle Grazer Trousers - £18

We hope you enjoyed the latest fashion wishlist. Tweet us your wishlist items @SimplyKarah10

Kate // SK

Wishlist #2 // Shirts and Blouses

Zara:Check Shirt - £12.99 

Aritzia: Wilfred Caen Blouse - $67.50

Aritzia: Community Veritas Shirt - $47.50

H&M:Flannel Shirt - £14.99 

 H&M:Cotton Shirt - £14.99

Tweet us your favourite tops @SimplyKarah10

Kate // SK

Wishlist #1 // Shoes

 Adidas Originals Superstar: White and Black - £67

 Daisy Street: Black Over the Knee Tie Back Flat Boots - £44.99

 Nike Internationalist: Off White - £67

Pull&Bear: Glitter heeled ankle boot - £35.99

Tweet us pictures of your favourite shoes @SimplyKarah10

Kate // SK

My Sisters Daily Make-Up // A SimplyKarah Guest

 Today I thought it would be nice to grab my sister to help us out with a post since she's on holiday at the moment so is around for me to bug her until she says yes..

Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (52 Vanilla) 

Concealer: Bourjois Healthy Mix (51 Light Radiance

Brush: Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Bronzer: The Body Shop Bronzing Powder (02 Fair Matte)

Brush: Real Techniques Contour Brush

Blusher: Make-up Revolution Ultra Blush Palette  - Hot Spice

Brush: Real Techniques Duo Fibre Face Brush

Highlighter: Sleek Highlighting Palette - Solstice

Eyeshadow: Sleek I-Divine - Enchanted Forest

Mascara: Loreal Paris False Lash Flutter (Extra Black)

Lips: Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet - 08 Grand Cru

Setting Spray: Maybelline Super Stay 24

"I'm living away from home for Uni so this palette is really useful for bringing back and forth with me because it has so many shades as well as matte ones and shimmer ones"

 "This was a coming home present from Kate because she knows I'm all about the glow. It's super pigmented and the bronzey orange one is perfect for my skin tone"

"This was another present from Kate, this time for Christmas. It's a really good winter palette and I'm really enjoying experimenting with the purples."

"I love this bronzer because I'm really pale at the moment and they do really light shades so I don't look dead or orange but somewhere in the middle"

"I recently picked up this healthy mix serum foundation and the matching concealer and it's doing wonders for my skin. I actually think it might be improving my skin. Bourjois have a really good colour range for light skin tones too so I can find a foundation that matches when I'm super pale in the winter and when I have more of a tan in the summer."

What are some of your favourite daily make-up essentials?

Comment below or tweet us @SimplyKarah10

Kate // SK

&

Becky (the sister)