#Blogmas 5&6: Partying with Luxemme & Giveaway

Party season is upon us and although I am very much a home body I do love to party on occasion. Feeling fabulous can help with the mood of the night so make sure you wear something that makes you feel confident on the night. I got sent this playsuit* by Luxemme and I absolutely love it. I've received so many compliments on it and so I can't wait to wear it again.

I love the lace detail, drop back and bell sleeves and they all go hand in hand to flatter your figure and show of what mumma gave you, to its best. I paired this some chunky strap wedges and a fluffy grey bag to bring the look together but it would also look great with accents of colour. 

If you’re looking for a cool jumpsuit to add to your wardrobe this Christmas I’d highly recommend you try Luxemme. They’ve got a really stylish range and a few different types available including culotte and wide leg styles as well as the usual slim-fit, tailored ones. Luxemme clothes are always very well made and I think for the quality they’re really affordable too.

They are also doing a voucher giveaway this Christmas to help out those of us who are less fortunate to be able to get great gifts for their friends and family. All you have to do is follow them on social media and fill in the form here and they will send them to you. They would make a great stocking filler, buy a gift with it for someone or even treat yourself so something special for the new year. 

ORDER NOW

Facebook - /Luxemme
Twitter - @luxemme
Instagram - @luxemmeuk

Enjoy the free treats and let me know what you decide to get once they arrive, I would love to know!
Love Khrissie x

An afternoon at Ascot

I got the wonderful opportunity to attend Ascot on the 17th October for the QIPCO Champions Day*. Me and a group of other bloggers got the chance to experience the Winning Post package at the Pavillon Restaurant which included a four course lunch, afternoon tea and drinks on tap. The food was delicious, the drinks were a great addition to a wonderful afternoon and the company was delightful.

Dress: Very / Coat: New Look (similar here & here) / Shoes & Bag: H&M (similar here & here)

I decided to wear this dress which I got from Very in the Rochelle Humes collection. It fit like a glove, was figure hugging enough on the bottom half and looser of top so you didn't feel too constricted. I love the autumnal pattern and the hint of purple in it, which I feel really suits my skin tone. I was lucky enough to have a bag and some pretty heels that matched the purple of the dress really nicely to bring the look together. I got the hat very last minute online but I didn't actually like it all that much so I barely wore it but it was nice to have and I threw on this old coat as it was the only one I could find that kind of went with everything. 

Champagne, wine and my favourite flowers covered the table when we entered the restaurant. It was a beautiful sight to say the least, you can't go wrong with a few bubbles.

For the people who decided not to dine at one of their restaurants, there were lots of food trucks to choose from if you got a little peckish. Even this super adorable vintage ice cream van that I was very tempted by.

Our starter was a prawn pate with crayfish, anchovies and a crisp bread. It was nice, light and refreshing for a starter, which just made me hungrier for the next course so I had so snack on some bread in between.

After the starter we checked out the first race. I annoyingly forgot cash with me on this one so I sat out of the first few. It was exciting to watch as the atmosphere is always full of energy and adrenaline, which is what makes the races so great to begin with. 

We then went back for our main which was a delightfully tasty roast chicken, fondue potato and a side of peas, pancetta and kale. There was just enough there to satisfy your cravings and without making you feel too full. Plus I loved that kale was an option on something like this, I really enjoyed it.

I soon found a cash point and put in some bets! I'm not the gambling kind but its good fun for a one off and it really is addictive once you win. I actually won on Solow on the left which was brilliant! I didn't win my money back but it was a laugh all the same.

 To finish our meal was a tiramisu with chantilly cream and a buttery biscuit crumb. I'm not the biggest coffee fan but I do have a sweet tooth so this went down pretty quickly. It was at this point I started to get really full but that wasn't the end of delicious food for us.

The queen of England (taken on iphone)

We then had a cheese and cracker plate to devour which excited me the most. I am a massive fan of cheese and with wine at the table, I had me my very own cheese and wine night. I actually missed a lot of this as I went to see if I had won a mini cooper in a number raffle they had for the whole of Ascot. The chances were like 1 out of 9,000 but still, its a FREE car! 

I sadly didnt win but I ended up being much happier about this as on the way back I got stopped at a barrier and couldnt get through. A few moments later the queen came elegantly out the of entrance. THE QUEEN! This was an OMG moment for me as it was only a few days later I was explaining to my housemates that I would die a sad person if I never got to see the queen in real life, and there she was!! This was a massive highlight to me and a huge tick off my bucket list. Thank you iphone for not running out of storage too, I appreciate it!

When I got over my shock of the day I came back to a beautifully selected Afternoon Tea. Full of delicious treats, sandwiches and tea for us all to share. I didn't think I could eat anymore but as it was there in front of me, I couldn't help myself.

Carolin (left) & Primrose (right)

The day ended with us all having chats around the table and getting to know each other a little better. This was a good way for me to push myself out of my comfort zone and be more confident with myself. I tried my best to chat to everyone and stop myself from pulling my famous RBF and I think I done okay. Thank you so much to Ladbrokes and Victoria and Will from Branded3 for inviting us and making it such a wonderful day. It was lovely to meet you and the other bloggers who attended who I have followed on twitter for ages and some new faces too, they were all so genuine and a delight to talk to.  

Check them out here: Little Miss Katy / Beautyfromthefjord / Style Lingua / StylePetalBlog / CharlieDistracted / CardifforniaGurl / StyleLobster / Paleandinteresting

(p.s sorry if i missed anyone off, that I spoke to I'm the worst with remembering names)

Also congratulations to Primrose for winning best outfit of the day. You looked gorgeous and it was truly deserved! 

I got home shattered from the day but with great memories that I will always keep. I had a gift toopen when I got home that Vic and Will had arranged, which was this amazing tea cup with our names on. On the back it has the date and venue written on it as a beautiful keepsake from the day. I have already used it a lot and I feel the queen would appreciate this amazing gesture too.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my day. You should definitely go with friends or family next year and experience it for yourself, if only to get all dressed up for the day. 

Until next week...Love Khrissie x

Duvet day with Tanya Burr

Today I wanted to share with you a recent make up release I have been lusting over, the new and improved Tanya Burr cosmetics line. Now I have been following Tanyas footsteps for years now so I am and always will be a proud 'fan' of hers and seeing as she is my age I always feel I can relate to her.

I am a packaging designer by day so these things dont go unnoticed fby me and it is usually a reason I will pick something up. I love the fact she has considered her target market but given it a grown up edge for those like me who are on 'team overs' (luckily without Simon Cowell I might add) with the metallic accents and simple typography. I thought I would pick up a couple of pieces to try and to see how they faired on a day to day basis as I know she is a perfectionist so I trusted that these would be nothing but spectacular. 

 Hollywood eye palette 

Some of the main products that intrigued me the most in this collection was the new additions to her line, the eye palettes. Now I'm getting to the point in my life where I want to try and nail an everyday smoky eye look that will take less than five minutes while I ponder over twitter in the morning. I thought this gorgeous golden toned palette 'Hollywood' over all the rest would give me the best chance at achieving my goal and so it quickly went into my basket. 

The eyes shadows are velvety to the touch and have a beautiful colour pay off. They all work together like bees on a summers morning, seamlessly blending into each other like melted chocolate. A must have for the bronzed goddess look which will last you throughout summer and autumn, just as the leaves are turning golden and the morning sky is shining behind the trees. 

The base colours work best applied with your fingers and softly worked into the skin with a clean fluffy brush. Creating a smoky eye is effortless and with little practice that perfection I want to achieve in the mornings will be a distant thought. Some colours are quite sheer on first application but are perfect to build up to the desired consistency, especially if you are practising eye looks.

Gold coin has to be my favourite colour (top right) from the palette, as it looks so elegant when worn alone with a nice layer of mascara and an inner corner highlight. I can see this being a keeper in my everyday palette collection as the versatility of it is just perfect for me. 

The next purchase I made was of a nail polish. Now I am a hoarder of sorts when it comes to nail colour. They are so cheap and easy to store that I just cant help my hands gravitating towards them every time I step into a drugstore. Now, if you see me on a daily basis at the moment you will notice I look the same most days. Not because I decide to wear the same clothes every time I step into my wardrobe, but I have a new undying love for the colour grey. 

Duvet Day £4.99

I know its possible I look like a rain cloud floating through London on my way to work every week but I just can not help myself. Black just isn't me anymore, and it took me a while to realise that it accentuated my RBF (resting bitch face) more than I would have liked. So when I saw this on the shelves with its shimmering gold lid, muted tone and perfect name 'Duvet Day' I just couldn't say no. I would have been like visiting Battersea cats and dogs home without bringing back a new best friend. Sorry Christian, I have a new love now.

Do have a peak next time your in Superdrug, you might be surprised. Congratulations to Tanya too for all the hard work and dedication into making something you truly have a passion about. This is one for the women out there.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my post this week. Do keep me up to date on any new purchases you have made recently and do let me know I'm not the only one in the grey gang this year. 

See you next time

Khrissie x

Pre-Fashion Week dinner at Balans Soho Society

Last week I had the privilege of being asked to a bloggers event held by Danielle of The Bloggers Hangout. As there was going to be a fashion week event on the Monday, Danielle wanted to organise a pre party at Balans Soho with a few bloggers she hadn't had the chance to get to know as well.

Now I'm all for an event as it is one of the nicest perks of being a blogger. You get to meet new brands and like-minded people with the chance to also try and review a few products you might not have known about before but then I am also a socially awkward person. The two don't really mix.

The reason I started my blog in the first place, was to have a new hobby with the hope that it would help with my self confidence and social anxiety. I am now saying yes to a lot more opportunities by realising that things are never as bad as they first seem in your head, this event being one of them. I was very close to not going as I was so nervous but as soon as I arrived I was greeted with smiles and great conversation with Rosie from 'A girl on a journey' and felt comfortable straight away. 

Danielle was really thoughtful and added personalised seating cards to the table which I got very excited about, as I never have anything with my name on with its unusual spelling. We all talked while we waited for the other girls to arrive before we each ordered a cocktail of our choice. It was really difficult to choose from the colourful menu but I ended up going for the Apple and Elderflower Collins with a little persuasion from our very attentive waiter David J. Its the perfect cocktail if you don't want something too sweet as it packs a slightly bitter kick at the end of every mouthful. A good choice if you want something light before a heavy meal.

 Next up it was time to choose what we wanted for our main course. What I like about Balans Soho is the variety of food they do, from burgers to crab linguine and all thats in between to cater for every palette. Now I'm a sucker for a burger and even though there was such good choice on the menu I just couldn't resist it and its triple cook fries, it did not disappoint. The burger was cooked to my medium/ well done satisfaction and the chips were delightful. Creamy in the middle with a crispy coating so moreish that the salad on the side was like an old friend I had grown out of. 

Conversation with the girls fell like a seamless waterfall and it felt like we had known each other for ages. We were a great mix of people with different personalities which would make for the perfect girlband. We talked for ages during and in between the courses which made time fly by, nearly forgetting that we still needed to order our dessert. Now this was another tough choice but David J was ready with his best recommendations, which led to my decision of the banoffee pie. Not having ever tried this before, (I know whats wrong with me?) I had to break my banoffee virginity. 

It was delicious! A buttery crumb with layers of perfectly ripened banana, topped with a mountain of delightfully light cream so big, even I was unsure if I could climb it. To add to the abundance of layers, it sat on a river of toffee so delicious I had to eat it by itself once I was shamefully defeated half way through. I had never been so satisfyingly full in a long time.

As we had turned down the offer of a hot drink, David J decided we needed to end our night with a little tipple. A tray of sweet (but yet very strong) limoncello shots came our way which warmed our bodies like a hot water bottle on a winters night. We made a toast to new friendships and celebrated what a wonderful evening it had been before the night had ended and we had to sadly go home. We are all going to keep in touch and hopefully I will see all these amazing girls again soon. 

They were all so friendly, talented and very beautiful. Their stories were enchanting, with personalities to match and I am so grateful I got to meet them. A huge thank you to Danielle for organising the evening and to Balans for looking after us so well, we felt spoilt. The food was delicious and the company was even better, I will be returning to the restaurant in the future for sure.

I love their quirky interiors and cosy atmosphere. You don't feel rushed to eat and get out the door quickly with its relaxed vibe and friendly staff. Perfect for a catch up with old friends.

You all need to follow these lovely ladies I got to spend the evening with, their links are all down below. They all have amazing blogs by the way so definitely check them out:

Rosie from 'A Girl on a Journey'

Aura from 'Aura B Verene'

Amy from '50 Shades of Blonde'

Angie from 'Chocolate & Lipstick'

Danielle from 'The Bloggers Hangout'

Love Khrissie x

New Nudes by Rimmel

 Today is all about the nudes. Beautiful creamy tones that reflect the morning sky on an autumn morning. Subtle hues that enhance your complexion like a sparkling diamond in those bright down lights, that you can not help but stare at. These are the kinds of colours that suit all skin tones in a matter of ways. Pairing these with copper and gold tones make the perfect combination for an everyday makeup look and Rimmel are kicking ass in this spectrum of colour right now.  

 First up we have the forever known and highly popular lipsticks by the style queen herself, Kate. These are long lasting and look perfect on everyone I have seen them on and who better to support the fans of nude, than Kate herself. Rimmel have a variety of shades to suit all skin tones and I felt the 45 lasting perfection lippy was the one for me. This is a nude that looks different on everyone and in different lights too. It can look more pink in bright lights and muted in dim but always perfection on the lips. 

The nude Salon Pro nail polish then caught my eye and I always love to buy beauty purchases in pairs. This is Mistify Me, an all button mushroom colour that will gracefully coat your nails in a loving hue, complimenting your complexion like your best friend. Chic yet sophisticated when paired with any outfit and perfect for that minimalistic look we all hope to achieve on a daily basis.

Welcome to the world of nudes, a world where Kim K graces the lands that I now need to be part of. Embrace your inner chic and pick some products up next time you pop by your local drugstore. You will not be disappointed. Trust me.

Love Khrissie

Jewellery: Dolly Box

Happy bank holiday weekend everyone! Spring has well and truly sprung and so I thought I would treat myself to a Dolly Box. This is a one off box subscription curated by Kate Murnane of 'Dolly Bow Bow' on YouTube, consisting of 4 everyday pieces of jewellery and one statement necklace. After seeing how beautiful the pieces are from her shop and the great taste she has in fashion, I just had to give it a go. 

This spring the box was inspired by Paris which I didn't know until I received the box. I was really happy as I have wonderful memories of Paris and so wearing pieces that represent the wonderful city of love is just wonderful. The package comes in a black box (pictured above) with the cutest bow around it. Once opened the pieces are neatly displayed in sweet little pink bags. 

The first piece I opened up was this adorable rose gold necklace of the Paris skyline. Rose gold is my new favourite colour of metal so I was really pleased with this. 

I then opened up the cutest little silver earrings. They are inspired by the lovelock bridge and would look cute on any earlobes, the only problem you have is deciding what ear you put them on.

Next up was this beautiful rose gold heart ring, which you can wear with the necklace for a love inspired themed outfit. Its so dainty, it would look gorgeous layered with some other simple rings.

Last of the pink pouches was this yellow-gold bracelet with the French phrase 'je t'aime' which means 'I love you', how sweet. The only problem is that I have the smallest wrists in the world and its miles too big for me. I'm going to keep it non the less and see if theres some way of changing the chain to something I can alter.

I was really happy with all the pieces I received, not remembering there was another surprise awaiting my eyes. Behind the pale pink tissue paper a dainty chain was poking out. I lifted the paper to realise the most gorgeous statement necklace was waiting for me! I mean... look at this!

Light rose gold with flowers in the most amazing soft pink hues, its just too pretty! Perfect for pairing with a cute cream day dress to add some sparkle on a picnic date with your loved on by the eiffel tower! (breathe) It just makes me dream of wonderful memories with my favourite person! <3

The box is sold at £26.99 but as it included the statement necklace and as your getting another 4 pieces of hand selected jewellery on top of that, I feel like its a pretty good price. I was really happy with the selected items anyway and now that Kate has redesigned her website and business cards, I'm sure its going to be an even more exciting box to receive.

Thanks Kate for an amazing box. I look forward to the future subscriptions to come out. In the meantime check out her shop as there are some amazing pieces on there and I've just noticed a home where section which I need to grab a few pieces from quick!

I hope your enjoying your weekend and you enjoyed this post.
Let me know if there is anything you would like to see from me as I want to start getting back into
blogging again as I have missed it! I've just had other things I've had to deal with first :)

Love Khrissie x