This post is sponsored by Shein. Yep, so I'm going to annoy you again with yet another post that mentions Autumn..I honestly can't help it; the changing in seasons has got my creative juice flowing all over again. Anyway Autumn really is great when it comes to fashion - new trends appear, fashion month is upon us which gives great street style inspiration and everyone seems in the mood to add a new lease of life into their wardrobe; for tips on updating your wardrobe for Autumn read my post here. Since the Autumn trends have started to trickle down into the high street and the mists of online; I thought I would share my thoughts on some of the new trends that I'm absolutely loving right now and the one from summer that I don't think I'm ready to let go of just yet! Shearling I am seeing Shearling everywhere and honestly I am not mad about it at all. I am obsessed with Shearling right now - in fact I actually have my eye on at least 4 different A/W coats that incorporate it. One thing I'm really loving about it right now is that it isn't just in the normal camel and cream colours instead I'm seeing millennial pink, burgundy and mustard shearling jackets that I just need in my wardrobe. Tailoring When I think of tailoring now, I don't think of those office jobs where you have to where the tailored dresses and skirts. But instead I think about the power suit (thanks H.Clinton); there has been some great additions to the high street right now - my absolute favourite just has to be the grey checked blazer that everyone is sporting (myself included). Not only that but paired with the "red" trend that has hit the high street lately, it has just taken the tailoring trend to new heights! Vinyl This trend is definitely not everyones cup of tea as it is probably without a doubt one of the most daring out there but mark my words this trend is for the fashionistas who want to stand out. Inspired by the 80s, this trend I think has to be one of my favourites - whether you want to be subtle with adding a pair of vinyl boots or whether you want to go bold with a pair of vinyl trousers; this is one trend I can't stop pinning all over Pinterest! 70s vibes As my mum always says Fashion always tends to repeat itself; and for this trend I couldn't be happier - this trend had a revival a few years back but this year it has come back stronger than ever! Think colour palettes of mustard, caramels and burgundy and you are on to a winner. Not only are the colour palettes in this trend just perfect for A/W but the vintage florals and the corduroy are really something that right now I can get on board with. Gingham Ahh, the one trend that I just don't want to let go of right now. Gingham absolutely dominated the high street over Spring and Summer but thankfully it is not gone just yet. For me Gingham is perfect for that transitional wardrobe that you can sport for just a little bit longer before it becomes really cold. For me a Gingham Dress (like this one from Shein) layered over the top of a cream roll neck and teamed with my favourite sock boots creates the perfect Autumn transitional outfit. There is so many trends that I currently love that I just don't have the time to mention (else you'll be reading for a millennium!) but I'd love to know what trends you can't wait to try and incorporate into your Autumn wardrobe?
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How are we half-way through September already?! Before you know it the Autumn season will be over and winter will be here and whilst I can't wait for Winter as it is the best season in my eyes - there is a few things that I want to appreciate whilst Autumn is here. Life is always so busy; thanks to part-time jobs, preparing for my third and final year of Uni and trying to run Haute on my Heels to be the best that it can be and lately I've been struggling - work gets repetitive, I don't always feel good enough for the blogging community and sometimes all you can do is procrastinate doing your university work... That's why this season I'm taking a step back, taking a deep breath and going to enjoy Autumn when I have time away from my work and uni commitments. Every season, I have a list of things that I want to do but only ever get chance to do a few things on them so this Autumn - since it will be my last where I'm not working full time (hopefully) I'm committed to spending my free time doing things that I WANT to do! So I thought I'd share with you the 10 things I definitely want to do this Autumn! Go Pumpkin Picking I wanted to do this last year but never got chance; so this year I'm determined to pick out my perfect pumpkin at our local pumpkin patch - ready for carving and creating pumpkin treats! Go to a ghost story evening I love Ghost stories (despite being such a scaredy cat!) - they are especially fun on a cold crisp evening. Whether it is a local one or one away from home I definitely want to go to at least one! Continue Baking Autumn treats Recently I've really loved baking as I find it really relaxing and love to try new things. I've already got an Autumn Spice cake under my belt (see the recipe here) but I can't wait to try out some more especially with the festive season coming up. Find the perfect knitted dress Why is it so damn hard to find the perfect knitted dress?! Any I have tried have either been skin tight or made me look like I've been swallowed by a jumper. So yes I will be dedicating some of my spare time to finding that all important AW staple: the knitted dress! Make my own hot chocolate Continuing along my baking journey; I am ready to find the perfect recipe that makes the most decadent hot chocolate in history of hot chocolate. Hot chocolate has always been one of my favourite drinks so I definitely want to learn to make my own signature hot chocolate. Read as many books as possible Over summer I did that ever so annoying thing where you start a book but only ever get through half of it because your brain decides to wander onto all the other things going on. So since the cosy nights are drawing in; I'm going to give it a go and try and read as many books as possible just like I used to do. Go to the Kinema in the Woods The Kinema in the Woods is possibly one of the cutest cinemas you could ever go to; they show a mixture of past and present films and even use a rear projector to show the films. I've always wanted to experience this cinema as my sister says it is amazing so hopefully I'll get to go this Autumn. Have the perfect cosy night in As it gets colder outside I love spending my evenings cuddled up in a blanket, drinking hot chocolates and spending time with my favourite people. I want to try do this at least once a week where we can all just relax together rather than rushing about everywhere. Binge watch Christmas Films My boyfriend always tells me to wait till November 1st to start watching Christmas films and as much as I try; one or two tend to trickle into my watch list in the middle of September (I may have watched three already..oops!). However once November the 1st comes I definitely want to have a Christmas movie marathon; whether that's a different film every day or week, I can't wait to start watching them. Spend a festive day with my loved ones Everyone always is so busy and life sends us in a million different directions so I'm definitely planning at least one day where we can all spend time together either doing Autumnal or Festive things because after all spending time with your loved ones is the most important thing.
I can't wait to start taking some time to do these things, but I'd love to know what is on your Autumn to do list?
I'm pretty sure that you are sick of me stating how much I love the Autumn period but I really do love it, and let me tell you that I'm even more excited for the Winter/Christmas period! This truly is my favourite time of year - maybe it was because I'm a winter baby, maybe its because I look the colour of lobster for most of summer or maybe it's the upcoming festive season that makes me so happy but I absolutely love Autumn/Winter. Another exciting thing about A/W is that the new collections are all coming out and it's a time when you can add new pieces to your wardrobe. Past seasons I would add and add and add to my wardrobe until old pieces had been long forgotten about. However this season I am trying to take a different approach entirely. That doesn't mean that I won't be adding new things to my wardrobe but it means that I am going to weave the old into the new. Instead of forgetting about all those old season pieces that I have stuffed in the back of my wardrobe for the past few months; I want to love the pieces that I obsessed with last season and pair them with my new wardrobe loves. That's why I am sharing with you my tips for updating your wardrobe for Autumn whilst loving those favourites from last season. Have a wardrobe clear out This sounds super obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people at the change of season don't actually thoroughly go through their wardrobes. Every so often, I'll clear everything out my wardrobe and then go through it all - piles are made: keep, storage and donate piles to be exact. Then I go through every piece I have asking whether it still fits? how often I wear it? and whether it's a transitional piece? - after I've done this they go into their respective piles. This means that at the start of the season my wardrobe is free of any excess that I don't actually wear and season inappropriate pieces are put into storage; meaning that pieces can be added without being an unnecessary purchase. Organise your wardrobe After a thorough clear out I like to organise my wardrobe so I can clear see everything that I need. Everyday shoes are pulled to the front of the wardrobe, whereas occasion shoes are behind. In the sense of how everything is organised, some people do it in outfit ideas, some people do it by colour and some people do it my pieces. For me the easiest way to find everything in my wardrobe is to organise it in type of clothing - jumpers are all hung together and so on and so on. Refresh your colour palette No matter what there is always ALWAYS a colour that just dominates the whole season - for S/S we saw the rise of millennial pink and for A/W I'm seeing a whole lot of red/burgundy and mustard hitting the high street. For me; I tend to have a quite neutral base for my wardrobe with only one of two pieces that add a pop of colour. My advice and the way I find best to update my wardrobe is to figure out which colour of the season suits me the best and slowly filter a few pieces into my wardrobe - much like the Burgundy Skirt in this post! However if you feel confident to mix and match colours then definitely go for it because it's all about your wardrobe reflecting your personality! Find your own style I say this rather a lot but you really must find your own style because that is how you are going to feel comfortable. If you are a jeans and tee kinda gal - than work that to your advantage and add a colour blazer and some statement boots. Or if like me you are a different cosy knit everyday kinda girl - find how you feel comfortable wearing them. Update your wardrobe with pieces that not only are you obsessed with but also things that you are actually going to wear - it's okay having this beautiful long flowy dress but if you bought it because its pretty but you don't feel like you are going to wear it then it is definitely just cluttering up your wardrobe! How do you update your wardrobe for Autumn?
Shorter days, less daylight, rain and the uncertainty of whether you're going to swelter in your fluffy jumper by lunchtime or not? These basically sum up Autumn - whilst Autumn is one of my favourite seasons (as if I have to say it again?!) staying motivated when working at home when it feels like its 9pm when it's actually 5pm or waking up before the sun can proof difficult for staying on top of things. I myself have found myself procrastinating lately, particularly when it has come to uni work or blog writing. In the middle of the day if it is gloomy outside I decide to put on a film and grab a cup of tea rather than getting on with what is important. Likewise when it comes to the evening; by 4pm I usually have a little break anyway, then if I go to an evening class at the gym; by the time I come out it's practically nighttime and yes, you guessed it - no work gets done.. This year I'm going into my final year at uni and am really trying to push myself to make my blog the best that it can be; so I definitely need to try stay motivated throughout Autumn! That is why I've been trying out these few things to see if I can stay as motivated as possible. Waking up early Personally waking up early never really bothers me, since my mum and dad used to have to get up to get ready for work before me and my sister started school I've always been used to be awake early. Yes some days I wake up more bleary eyed than others but I find the earlier that I wake and get out of bed the more likely I am to get things done. I recommend setting yourself a time to wake up and get out of bed within the first 15 minutes. The longer that I spend scrolling through my social channels the longer it takes me to get motivated. Plus getting up earlier means you'll have a longer time to catch the light to take blog photos before the darkness draws in! Get your exercise Whilst I've been away from uni and those early morning lectures; I've had time to join the gym. As part of my waking up early routine, if I haven't got a class at a specific time booked in I will get up and dressed, grab a quick healthy breakfast and then head out to the gym. The earlier I get my exercise in the more that I feel awake for the day ahead. If you like a true challenge I highly recommend going along to your gym when you've woken up and going to a TRX class - you always feel like you've achieved something good from one of these classes. Alternatively, when you take your breaks from working, pop along to an exercise class or do 30 minutes in the gym; you may feel like jelly after but I guarantee after a large glass of water when you sit down to start working again, you'll feel ready for anything! Create a plan/to do list More often than not, I'll be happily working along writing a blog post, when another job will pop into my head and I'll move onto that instead of finishing what I'm currently doing (and then it'll happen all over again!). Instead I've been trying to organise my time a little more efficiently, popping a pad (or the most instagrammable notebook) next to my desk has proved very useful as I can jot down the job to remember for later and finish what I'm doing. Currently I am going through the day with "to do" lists and seeing how many I can tick off in the day. Writing down exactly what you need to do and then prioritising the tasks is great for motivation; as is creating a plan for the day - if you are one of these people that says you'll have a break for 10 minutes but it turns into 45 minutes instead, planning out your day and breaks will help you keep on top of things. Take regular breaks Yes, you are trying to stay motivated BUT if you are constantly working you are going to get really bored/annoyed really quick. Taking breaks every so often is great for you and your brain as it allows you to take a breather and relax your mind so when you get back to working you don't feel so stressed. For my breaks I like to take an hour for lunch and then 15 minutes every so often and schedule them in before I start working, I also set timers for the start of my break and the end of my break so I don't end up over or underworking. For your breaks as much as I spend at least two of them browsing the new in section of ASOS, try to take time away from a computer/phone screen and get outside for some fresh air, alternatively go stick the kettle on, grab a cup of tea and take 15 minutes for yourself. Create a cosy personal space I always find that I get the most work done when I am sat at my desk rather than sitting on the sofa or on my bed; however I cannot get anything done unless the desk is tidy - if it's not tidy you will find me procrastinating by cleaning it. Last year we all learned the importance of hygge (see my post on embracing it all over again here) and I've brought that into my work environment as well. Having an organised but cosy desk is going to make you feel comfortable and happier which will definitely improve your motivation. I recommend adding a gorgeous diffuser or candle to your desk, along with a pretty notebook and photos! Currently on my desk I have the Marshmallow Fireside candle (£3.99 from B&M), a unicorn ring holder, a marble notebook and my Chrissy Teigna Cookbook, all organised, neat and tidy! Personally I've found myself more motivated now Autumn has begun and I've got my plans and priorities in order, but I'd love to know what tips you have for staying motivated in the Autumn/Winter period?
So it's that lovely time of the year again, where you layer up in the morning and by lunchtime you are stripping them off since you are absolutely sweltering! But for those days where it is positively grey and cloudy all day long, there is only one thing to do - start embracing hygge all over again! In case you have absolutely no idea on what hygge is it is a danish tradition of cosiness. Hygge burst onto the scene late last year/early this year (although I'm sure that is has been around for a fairly long time) and I cannot wait for Autumn to be in full swing so I can start embracing it all over again. Since I'm pretty impatient, I've been slowing adding hygge back into my everyday life and here is how I've been doing it! Cosy Jumpers I actually bought my first jumper for the upcoming season in the middle of August - because A: It was super cuddly and irresistible, B: it was only £10 from Primark and C: I was so over summer! I've been slowly adding new cosy pieces to my wardrobe and swapping them out for the denim shorts and bardot tops I've favourite throughout the summer. For ultimate hygge think: chunky or chenille knit! Autumnal Candles Candles are one of my worst obsessions, I think I own at least 20 that are half burnt and 5 that I haven't even starting burning yet. But hey I just had to buy some more. I was delighted when I went into B&M stores to find their Bath&Body works dupes that I actually went back and bought a few more! My particular favourites that give that hygge feeling are 'Pumpkin Waffles' and 'Marshmallow Fireside'! Autumn Recipes/Bakes One of the best things about the AW period, besides the clothes are the food/flavourings! Since Bake Off is back on TV, it made me want to try out a few of my own signature bakes.. For me embracing hygge means eating food that makes you feel good and tastes amazing. Pumpkin Pie, Apple Crumbles and Spiced cakes are some of the nicest desserts to have throughout Autumn. This week in embracing hygge; I actually tested out the comforting recipe of an Autumn Spice Traybake (see my recipe below)! Autumn Spice Traybake (based on Mary Berry's Ginger and Treacle bake) Ingredients: 225g of stork margarine (or dairy-free substitute) 175g of Demerara sugar 200g of black treacle 300g of self-raising flour 2 teaspoons of baking powder 2 and a half teaspoons of mixed spice (add more if you like really strong flavours) 4 free-range eggs 70ml of milk (or dairy-free substitute) 50g of chopped crystallised ginger Recipe: Pre-heat the oven to Gas Mark 4. Grease of deep rectangle baking tray and then line with greaseproof paper. Mix all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl until the mixture feels light and airy (and as my mum says, the mixture sounds like it is laughing!). Pour into the baking tray and even out mixture, place into the oven for 35-40 minutes. Test that the sponge is ready by poking a skewer into the middle (if no cake is on the skewer then it is ready!). Leave to cool inside tray for 5 minutes, before removing onto cooling rack (remove greaseproof paper whilst cooling). Once fully cooled, ice if required and decorate with chopped crystallised ginger and sprinkles! Cut into squares/rectangles - you should get at least 15 pieces. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy! I can't wait to try out even more Autumnal recipes and add even more hygge to my life, how are you getting ready for Autumn?
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December 2018
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