Baby, it's (still) cold outside

I don't care what they say; it is most definitely NOT Spring in the UK. Ever since 26th December stores have been inundated with florals, pastels and macs. As much as I love a piece of the Spring pie, leaving the house without a woolly coat is simply not an option in this (so far) bitterly cold year. The sales have been, well and truly, picked over now but luckily I've managed to find a few pieces, reduced and new season that are appropriate for winter and the transition into Spring...

• Topshop Cat Umbrella, £16

An umbrella is mandatory in the UK unless you want to end up looking like a drowned rat (or cat, given the brolly?), so I love the concept of making such a boring, functional piece fun and quirky. Sure, it's a little more then what I would usually pay for an umbrella (hello Primark!) but it's just too adorable not to.

• Dorothy Perkins Check Pencil Skirt, £22

I try to avoid midi skirts at all costs given my short legs, but I must admit I am so tempted by this Dorothy Perkins beauty. I'm sure you're aware that tartan is 'a thing' this season, so if you have a particular interest in following trends this skirt is perfect, both aesthetically and for keeping you warm.

• Aldo INDU Loafers, £35 £24.98

My love affair with loafers, brogues and any footwear that looks androgynous continues. The soft, feminine colour and tassel detail contrasts with the basic shape of the shoe. Buy now, wear now.

• Carvela Kurt Geiger PAULA Boots, £195 £99

Yes they are pricey but think of them as an investment;

1. They have just under £100 off.
2. They will be great quality so will last as long as probably three pairs of cheap boots.
3. They go with EVERYTHING.

I'm sold. If only it were student loan day today and rent wasn't due...

• Boohoo Boyfriend Jeans, £25

I love the cut of these jeans and the casual-yet-sophisticated silhouette they create. Of course jeans are a winner in winter but the loose fit and light colour of these jeans make them an excellent pre-spring purchase.

• H&M Wool Blend Jacket, £34.99

The effortless way that this jacket falls is enough to convince me that this is a key, budget piece. Complementing the cut, the black and white checked pattern radiates a nonchalance rebellious attitude-perfect for crisp, winter days and cool, spring evenings.

• New Look Shirt, £14.99

As soon as I saw this I headed for the changing room and proceeded to the tills, debit card in hand. The fabric is lightweight so I wouldn't advise wearing it alone on a cold day but the sleeves can be adjusted, so you have the option to roll the sleeves up for a warmer day, making it an ideal transitional piece.

• New Look Check Print Scarf, £7.99

A scarf, come autumn, winter, spring and even summer (thank you Great British weather!), is a key piece in my wardrobe. Over the years my obsession has grown from borrowing one of my mum's scarves every so often to not being able to leave Primark or New Look without one. This scarf looks super cosy and the pattern is bold enough to brighten any simple outfit up.

• River Island Fluffy Jumper, £35 £25

I don't think I've ever seen such a toasty looking jumper as this. When you live in student housing you soon realise that the humble jumper is your best friend. I can just imagine wearing black skinny jeans and Chelsea boots with this on a cold day, and a black miniskirt come Spring.


Keep Warm!


NG <3

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

Deadlines

Alas, the coursework is in, the exams have been sat and my deadline week is officially over! It's been a stressful, emotional, exhausting, occasionally optimistic, mostly pessimistic week with some bizarre statistics;

• 1 birthday party with a very painful game of musical bumps
• 0 pre-3 AM bedtimes
• 100495960493 words written
• 1/2 of a bottle of wine (drank at 2am, out of the bottle, no less)
• 2857 gallons of caffeine consumed
• 1 stress-fuelled Boohoo order
• 3 Ginsters steak slices
• 2 all nighters
• 1 day where revision was abandoned to go shopping which resulted in 1 Benefit purchase (it was my birthday!)

And now? I'm making the most of Netflix before the next semester begins on Monday. Good luck if you still have exams!

NG <3

The Face; 2013

2013. Last year. Oh, gosh that sounds scary, but then again I am one of those people who still write and scribble out last year, when writing the date in March. 2013 was a great year for me, in regards to finding reliable make-up products that I stuck with permanently. Chances are, I have probably raved on about these beauties before on NG but honestly, these products have seen me helpfully through 2013 and it would be a disservice not to compile a list of my beauty heroes from last year.

Clinique Stay Matte Oil Free Makeup Foundation

Probably my most used product of 2013, I discovered this product by chance when browsing online and have never looked back since. I use the shade 'alabaster', the second palest shade available. The foundation's formula is ideal if you have oily or combination skin as it has a matte finish, yet astonishingly, it still has a lightweight feel and avoids the dreaded 'cake' that is a side effect of so many matte products. I find the foundation to be long-lasting, although I would advise wearing a powder also to keep the foundation in place. The only downside is it's a little on the expensive side. I must admit, no matter how skint I am foundation is the one beauty luxury I will always allow myself!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

I bought this concealer after seeing Tanya Burr use it in a tutorial.
I am surprised at just how long the small tube lasts, I bought this one months ago and it's still going strong. The method of application reminds me of a lipgloss wand, which I like better than concealer brushes as I believe it makes for an easier and more precise application. I also found that, rather than  rubbing in this product to cover blemishes, it is more effective to dab your finger over the blemish, after you have applied the concealer so it targets the blemish itself and not the skin around it. Easy to apply, great coverage (especially of dark circles) and long lasting. What more could I ask for in a concealer?

L'Oreal Super Liner Brow Artist Pencil

This year, in the beauty world, eyebrows have been big, literally. I have always liked to have thick brows but this was the year I started filling my brows subtly in. This product is a multi-tasker. The pencil (I use the shade 'Blonde') fills in eyebrows and the shades are excellent as they are tailored to your hair colour, meaning you won't choose a shade too light or dark (I must say though, I haven't seen any shades for redheads, which is a shame). The brush allows for shaping and tidying the brows, and then finally the wax finishes brows by fixing them in place. What's not to love?

Sleek 'Mirrored Pink' Blush

2013 was the year I discovered Sleek. Despite some terrible customer service on the website, it has not put me off the brand (although, I will only purchase IN store now!). This blush in the shade 'mirrored pink', may just be my favourite blush colour I have encountered so far. The shade is a shimmering rose-gold pink, that not only colours, but highlights. The packaging even has a mirror in it for application on the go.

Max Factor Wild Mega Volume Volumising Mascara

I was surprised at how great this product was, given the price. I am a sucker for wanting big, long, voluminous lashes and this little budget buy did give me the effect I wanted. The brush is an hourglass shape, which enhances the volumising effect of this mascara. The packaging isn't what I would expect from Max Factor, it's a lot less sleek and sophisticated than their other mascaras, but at £4.99, let's face it, does the packaging really make a difference? A firm makeup bag favourite!

And other favourites of the year?

Haircare Product-Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray
Nail Polish-Essie Polish 'Naughty Nautical'
High-Street Store- New Look/H&M/ River Island (I couldn't choose!)
Television Show- Revenge
Album- Vampire Weekend-Modern Vampires of the City

What were your favourite products of 2013?


NG <3

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

Promises...

Firstly, a very happy new year! I hope that this year brings you joy and success, and that you had a fabulous time bringing 2014 in (it feels so strange writing 2014). If I'm honest, I had probably the quietest new years yet and part of me is kinda glad I didn't go out. The run up to Christmas this year was so hectic, especially with the new puppy and the house being decorated, so I just wanted to sit back with a glass of cava and chill. How did you celebrate?

With the start of a new year, comes new year's resolutions. I have a love/hate relationship with them. On one hand I relish in making a long list of promises to myself, in an attempt to kick start a new lifestyle, yet at the same time I am so cynical when it comes to keeping them. Take, for instance, the phrase 'new year, new me', for me, it's a load of rubbish. You can't and won't change who you are. So I propose a new tag line; 'NEW YEAR, BETTER ME'. And that's what I aim to do this year, be the best version of myself that I can be (well, to a certain extent-I'll never be able to wave goodbye to cupcakes and 'bad' carbs, nom nom).

I suppose my main resolution for this year is a broad one; to be happy, healthy and live life to the fullest. It scares me that I'm already half way through my degree, so this year I want to embrace it more, before it's too late and be grateful for every opportunity given to me. In terms of being healthy, the latter end of last year wasn't amazing for me in that respect. I seemed to have a continual succession of flu, and despite medical tests showing everything was fine, I think I can pinpoint the trigger exactly; my lifestyle. Before, I hardly got any exercise, lived off noodles and chocolate and had a very lazy attitude. So this year, it's time for a change. More fruit and veg-student living is no excuse for such bad habits. At uni I have gained weight, I'm not exactly overweight, but if I'm truthful, my weight at the moment doesn't bother me, rather it's the sluggish, unhealthy feeling I hate. I want to be fit again and feel strong. But not to the detriment of my sweet tooth-life's too short to not enjoy treats every now again, but I'm trying to not make it as regular as I did last year. Fingers crossed...

What are your hopes for 2014?


NG <3

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you had a lovely, relaxing time over the festive period and are looking forward to a happy new year. I'd love to hear how you celebrated Christmas.
I wanted to share with you some of the bits I was lucky enough to receive this Christmas. Most are beauty related, and I thought it was appropriate to post seeing as NG is part beauty blog. Again, I'd love to hear what presents you kindly gave and received this December!

Soap and Glory is by far one of my favourite beauty brands so I was delighted to receive The Yule Monty gift set off my parents. It contains lots of lush beauty products that I am sure will see me through the year!

I love opening a new perfume on Christmas day and the surprise of smelling the fragrance for the first time. This year I got Taylor Swift's Enchanted Wonderstruck. I must admit, I expected the smell to be slightly more sickly but I love it! It's a fruity scent with notes of peonies and passion fruit-perfect!

I was so grateful to receive this River Island satchel. I've been after a satchel for ages and I love that this one is so compact and sleek.

Between the Soap and Glory set and other bath gifts I got, I think (hope) I will be smelling nice indeed, next year. My boyfriend's sister got me a lovely body spray and body butter set. I love the fruity fragrances.

I like my jewellery big and sparkly, so I was so happy with this emerald-coloured necklace, from my boyfriend, and this bracelet, which I think has a Moroccan look to it.

For me, there is nothing as luxurious as a long soak in the bath whilst reading a magazine. Add a face mask and some wine and it's pretty much my perfect night in.

And last, but certainly not least, say hello to Tilly, the new addition to the Gregson family. If you follow me on instagram you will know that I was blessed to be gifted this gorgeous cocker spaniel puppy from my boyfriend's family. She's settling into the family home lovely, and I have to say she's as cute as she is naughty...

It took me ages to get this picture of her-she is so energetic so it's hard to get her still. Probably the best Christmas ever!

I hope you've enjoyed this post and I haven't bored you. I am so grateful to receive the gifts that I did. I think, though, that it is always so important at Christmas to cherish the things in life that aren't material, family and love, for instance, and  to spare a thought for those who aren't as fortune as yourself.

Again, merry Christmas!

With love,

NG <3

 

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

O Tannenbaum

I think, aside from 'scheisse', the only vocab I remember from my German lessons is 'tannenbaum', from the German original of the song 'Oh Christmas Tree'. I suppose it is fitting for this post, given the Germanic origins of my family's Christmas baubles. Each year a new addition is added to our tree from German and Scandinavian stalls at various Christmas markets. Personally, I love the unique effect it adds to our Christmas tree and the happy memories evoked by each bauble. Here are my favourite ones that my family has collected over the years...

I'd love to hear if you have any similar traditions at Christmas and how you decorate your tree!

Keep festive!


NG <3

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

Flat Note

At 5'2", I am undeniably a 'short arse'. There is a common misconception that if you are short you must wear heels at all times, which I am totally against. Don't get me wrong, I love heels as much as a TOWIE extra, but sometimes five-inchers just aren't practical. Take, for instance, when on campus. There is no way I would make it to a 9am lecture if I was tottering around in heels. So, just in time for Christmas, I've compiled a montage of my favourite high street flats this Winter...

1. Topshop MARDI3 Metal Trim Slippers, £24.

2. Office Kitsch Cobalt Blue Suede Flats, £50.

3. New Look Black Leather-Look Lace Up Brogues, £15.99.

4. Zara Suede Leather Ballerina Pumps with Bow, £29.99.

5. Aldo KOTEN Pumps, £45.

6. Mango Tassel Slippers, £29.99.

7. Kurt Geiger LARK Black Flat Studded Loafers, £49.

NG <3

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

The New NG

I've ran this little blog for over 18 months now and as much as I love it, it is undeniable that sometimes things needed jazzing up, trimming around the edges, and a little transformation. So I present to you the new NG. You may have noticed the little redesign that I've been, and are still, working on, and I believe (and hope!) that this marks a new phase for NG. Sometimes as bloggers we can be guilty of posting for the sake of it, to fill in a weekly quota, which in turn affects the quality of the posts. Similarly, I am just as guilty for letting my blog take a backseat, especially at busy, overwhelming times. So my aim for NG? To produce consitent, high quality and more personal posts.

Sometimes, change is good. Welcome to the new NG.
 

NG <3

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

Duck Egg

It may be my inner Blair Waldorf. Or it could possibly be my obsession with interior design on Pinterest. Whatever it is, my latest love is influenced by the wonderful world of home decor. Ever since summer I've fallen for the colour blue and its calming connotations and now my adoration has progressed even further; I want my bedroom in all its rose pink glory to be transformed into a blue haven. This is quite a drastic change for the 13 year old who swore to never have any other shade on her walls than pink (Elle Woods was my icon at the time).

My chosen shade is duck egg, a light, pastel blue. I find it so regal and when I see the shade I'm instantly reminded of Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette and Downton Abbey. The truth is though, seeing as I'm not actually living at home at the moment and only spend a few months a year away from my student dwelling in Nottingham, the transformation's on hold. All the more time for Pinterest inspiration I say!
So as an antidote for my craving blue, here are my top pastel blue style picks!

NG <3

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

Remember Remember the Fifth of November

I hope you are all having a great bonfire night! If you're not aware what this is (I'm not sure if it is an international celebration but I'm guessing it's a UK one due to its origins) it is basically a night, at the beginning of winter, that is the anniversary of the prevention of Guy Fawkes' attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament-history lesson there for you! To be honest there's not too much history in the festivities, it's a night to get wrapped up, see some beautiful fireworks and eat some comfort food, which is always welcome for me! I'm being boring and staying in tonight but last night my housemates and I had a mini bonfire and toasted marshmallows which was really nice so I suppose I have celebrated in my own little way.

I'm wearing a New Look coat, H&M dress and blazer, Barratts boots, Boohoo bag and Primark tights, scarf and necklace.

When winter comes there's nothing as nice as a big, comfortable coat. I honestly have been wearing this one every day-it goes with everything! I suppose if there was a subconscious 'theme' behind this outfit, given the coat and the dress, which has made many an appearance on NG, it would be my most worn clothes/accessories. What a good idea to put them all together!


I hope you have a great week and stay safe and warm this bonfire night!

NG <3

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram