Summer Favourites

Summer has finally arrived in London! Well it had arrived, but it seems to have been washed away in the last few days of stormy rain clouds - along with every Londoner's pitiful hope of a sunny summer. However, in true British style, we're all sticking it out, sucking it up and acting like it's still 30 degrees! So without further ado, here are a few of my 2013 summer favourites:

5. Sleek Eye-shadow Palette 

I bought this eye-shadow palette from Superdrug in June for my school's prom. I used a combination of the first and fourth eye-shadows on the top line of the palette for sweeping over my eye-lids and the first colour on the second line down of the palette for just the outer thirds of my eye-lids and also for brushing along the crease of the eyelid. 

I loved how this turned out because the lighter shades gave my eyes a shimmering and elegant look while the darker bronze colour gave my eyes depth and a sexy smokey eye that is perfect for an occasion like prom! 

4. Lancome Hypnose Mascara 

I was bought this mascara for my 18th birthday in March and I think it's amazing! In just a few strokes of this mascara, length is added to my eyelashes which I've never managed to achieve with any other mascara! Hypnose gives you the effect of naturally long eyelashes - I would say they give similar lengths as false eyelashes but without the obvious 'fake-ness'. A perfect addition to your summer make-up to keep you look fresh-faced and naturally beautiful!

3. MUA 'Kiss-proof' Pink Lipstain

It was initially difficult for me to stray away from my beloved rep lipsticks but I needed a lighter and more summery colour this year to compliment my shimmering gold eye-shadow. This MUA lipstain was only £3 from Superdrug and it really does stay in tact for hours! Throughout a full day of wearing this lipstain, I only re-applied once - and that was me just being a little bit picky with my makeup having to be perfect! The bright pink colour gives a bold addition to a plain outfit and compliments my green eyes nicely! 

2. New Look White Lace Shoes

I got these shoes in the New Look sale with an extra 10% off because they already had some dirt on the toes when I brought them to the till - bargain! For only £7, these shoes have done me well as I have hardly taken them off since I bought them! As they are white, they'll go with nearly everything I wear and the lace sides add an extra feminine touch to the shoes as well as a pretty, summer look to my outfit.

1. New Look Yellow Floral Dress

My number 1 summer favourite is also from New Look. This pretty summer dress is perfect for walks in the park, barbecues with friends or shopping days up London in the sun! 

The stunning contrast of the soft purple flowers against the diluted yellow background make the dress seem understated yet still very girly and pretty. The gorgeous white crochet around the centre of the dress adds to that summer feel while also ending the annoying need for a tight belt, which can sometimes feel a bit too uncomfortable while out in the sweltering summer sun. 

Paired with some beautiful rose bobby pins (the rose is dyed cardboard, about an inch in height and width and attached to the end of each pin) completes this fresh, natural and summer look for me with the final outfit feeling comfortable and pretty!

Guest Blogger Competition Entry for Free People!

London

London is a vast, dazzling and unique city full of unexpected beauty filling every nook and cranny of its area. Personally, I feel I may be a little bias in thinking London is the most enchanting city in Britain as it is my hometown. However, as it is also one of the largest tourist cities in the world, I believe many other people may also agree with me. 

It is undeniable that the bright lights of this bewitching city is equally as enchanting as it is striking. Here are just a few of my favourite places from inside London and Greater London:

3. Westminster

To start off the countdown of my top three favourite places in London is the very popular tourist (and local as well, I suppose!) attraction, Westminster. Westminster lies on the north bank of the River Thames, making the Palace of Westminster (left hand image) extremely beautiful at night when the Palace and bridge is lit up with hundreds of soft yellow lamps, creating a warm and comforting vibe to Westminster. 

Westminster is also home to the world famous landmark Big Ben. The tower is now officially called the 'Elizabeth Tower' after 2012's Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. As Big Ben dominates over the rest of the structures in its proximity, Big Ben embodies the aura of authority which is also supported by the clock tower's world famous reputation of being one of the most recognisable landmarks in London.

Due to it's soft lighting and historic structure, I believe Westminster perfectly embodies London's subtle pride in its classical architecture and embellished history and therefore deserves a place in my top three favourite places in London.

2. Primrose Hill

I included Primrose Hill in my earlier post 'Top 5 Most Beautiful Places in London' and rated it as the number one most beautiful place in London. As a result of this I couldn't resist also including Primrose Hill in this post - anything to be able to talk about the views again!  

Every time I have sat at the top of Primrose Hill, I have always felt the same senses of peace, content and being unified with all things around me - whether it be friends, nature or even just random strangers also enjoying the view. Sitting on the top of the hill and watching the lamps switch on, twinkling and glowing like earth-bound stars creates an intense sense of optimism and well-being within me which is hard to find anywhere else. 

The sky scrapers of London stretching up and reaching into the nights soft indigo sky reminds me that even a busy, modern and digital city such as London can even possess beauty and enchantments which is unequaled in many other 'unspoiled' landscapes. 

1. Eastcote

As I become even more bias now, I have chosen my hometown Eastcote as my number 1 favourite town in Britain. I took both the pictures above myself as they are my favourite places to be in the world out of all the places I have ever visited. 

The first (left) picture is taken in what I have nicknamed the entry to the 'secret garden' in Eastcote House Gardens. The wooden arch leading up to the huge and twisting tree reminds me of a setting of a fantasy book where fairies, elves and goblins could be discovered. In the summer, this arch is especially beautiful as flowers of many colours grow in the grass on either side of the arch and vines and more flowers grow and twist around the wooden beams in such vast numbers it feels as if you are walking through a tunnel of flowers. 

The second (right) picture is taken from the memorial garden in St. Lawrence Church, Eastcote - the church I grew up in and was a member of until the age of fourteen. The collection of flowers and psalm crosses left for the ashes buried in the garden creates the almost tangible sense of sad beauty but equally happy memories. 

The garden has a special and personal sentiment for me as a loved one is buried there and so I enjoy sitting in the garden on a sunny day and letting the sun shine down and warm my face and back as the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. As I sit, I feel a sense of unity with and understanding for the people's memories and love for the one's who have passed on and because of this reason, the memorial garden is a very significant, very graceful and very radiant place in my eyes. 

A few more pictures of Eastcote House Gardens and St. Lawerence Church:

Eastcote House Gardens

Eastcote House Gardens

Eastcote House Gardens

St. Lawrence Church

May Fair at St. Lawrence Church

 All rights of the pictures go to the owners.