what would be a trip away without a little haul? for some, shopping might be the biggest torture and something they don't want to do when having free time but I L O V E it. shopping and buying things I wanted for ages is part of the whole experience and treating myself feels so much better when being away. I also don't really have time to properly shop and browse being at home so I like taking the chance. when I went to London recently, I had to just shop around a bit and I actually bought most in duty-free. usually, I don't do the whole duty-free thing but I had to get a few things anyway so I figured I would save some money whilst shopping too. Because I absolutely love seeing what people buy, I thought I would share everything I have bought with you.
I always have to go to Space NK when being in England. Some high-end beauty is just the best treat and their stores offer such a brilliant variety. staying very close to Westbourne Grove, I had to pop into the store there. I was served by a very lovely lady from by terry named Candice. not only was the service absolutely incredible, but I also walked out with a beautiful product I have wanted for ages thanks to the goddess that is Lydia Elise Millen. its the by terry brightening cc serum in apricot glow. it's pricey but oh boy, it is amazing. I use it on its own and under makeup and the glow it gives is utterly beautiful. it also smells so good and feels so luxurious to use.
One store I always make it to is the big Topshop at Oxford street. its a bit overwhelming but has such great stock. when I saw the shell jewelry last year, I knew I wanted it too but I wouldn't want to invest in the real deal. Topshop has amazing shell pieces in and they won't break the bank at all. I got some earrings and a necklace and I can't wait for summer or at least warmer days so I can wear them.
So I went a bit ham in duty-free but it was worth it. I am about to run out of my favourite ever foundation. it's the Nars natural radiant long wear foundation. ars just does foundations right. they all work wonders on my skin but this one is by far my favourite. it has the perfect coverage and makes my skin look its best. it's so glowy and goes on so smoothly. I adore it.
Another product I have recently run out off is a setting spray and I can't go without one. By far the best is Urban Decay allnighter. It just does the job right and its the best one I have tried so far.
when I was waiting in line to check out, I was sucked in by a few products sitting there. one is the cutest little hello kitty tangle teezer. The tangle teezer is the only brush I will use on my hair and having it in a sweet design makes it even better.
I also felt like trying a new mascara and because I liked all benefit mascaras so far and haven't tried the badgal bang mascara before so I went for it. so far, I really enjoy using it as it won't smudge down my eyes and gives me so much length and volume.
have you tried any of those products recently? let me know what you think of them. what have you bought for yourself recently? I would love to know.
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well, there's nothing I would want to do more at this very moment than typing this post up from London and not about London being back home. it sounds so cheesy and I usually am not like this but I feel like where my heart belongs and I hope I can make it my home at some point in my life. in the meantime, I like flying out to London as much as I can. I have to make it out there at least once a year. not only am I completely in love with London but my boyfriend is also which makes me really happy. it was our 5 year anniversary in February and we thought we would treat ourselves to a trip away, just a short sweet one to get away from day to day stress and routines and there was only one place we wanted to go: London.
because it was just a few days just for us two, I didn't get photos for a few posts but enough to share them with you. as greeting from my favourite city.
where we stayed
we decided to stay in a hotel and not an Airbnb this time and opted for Notting Hill as one of our favourite spots in London. I found the beautiful Kensington court hotel. it looked beautiful online and did not disappoint in real life either. it's a beautiful boutique style hotel located in a beautiful townhouse just minutes from Westbourne Grove and Bayswater station. it was furnished and decorated beautifully and the staff was so lovely and comforting. everything was perfect for our little stay and I would absolutely stay there again. I fell head over heels in love with their bathroom style and they even had rituals products in it. it made for the comfiest sleep and they were much needed as my boyfriend and I both caught a horrible cold before.
where we ate
I'm beyond sure there are many super fancy places in London and I will probably take my sweet time and test them all at some point but for now, it's the simple things that make me happy. We started with honest burgers and had more than one doughnut from doughnut time but the OG is just too good to be true. we had delicious pizza from franco manca and I brought back about 20 Malteser easter bunnies. to me, there nothing quite like a pret porridge and I also had my Wagamama katsu curry at some point. there's too much I want to eat and enjoy and I had the best time doing just that.
what we did
usually, when I do a city trip I like to make sure to see and do most. I love sucking it all in and really be on the go all day long. because I have been to London quite a few times, we decided to take it very easy this time around. we were so lucky being greeted with sunshine and not having the slightest bit of rain. we basically just wandered, did a bit of shopping, eating and exploring. I'm not really into seeing the big sights cramped with tourists anymore and when we actually went to Oxford Street to shop, we went early in the morning and did a long and beautiful walk through Hyde Park back. we just walked and window shopped through Notting Hill, dreaming about the houses we would buy if we had the money. it was really just a break from it all. one of our favourite past times when in london is a bit of puppy watching whilst drinking tea. it's beautiful.
what I loved most
I really shouldn't moan because we haven't had a proper winter this year and global warming is a very scary thing that has to be targeted but seeing spring arrive was just magical. Germany's climate is a bit harsher and it takes longer for blossoms and little green spruces to appear. it all seemed to be so much greener already and then we also stumbled upon blooming trees already. we saw beautiful pink trees and my boyfriend was convinced they were some sort of cherry tree, also beautiful camelias and magnolia trees with big buds about to pop open. it made me so incredibly happy. I can't wait for spring to arrive.
I hope this little London post made any sense but I just wanted to share my trip with you and I hope you enjoyed it. do you have any trips planned? let me know.
I hope this little London post made any sense but I just wanted to share my trip with you and I hope you enjoyed it. do you have any trips planned? let me know.
❤︎
I think we can all agree that this winter hasn't been the coldest and the warm rays of sun lately make spring feel near but I don't like to get my hopes up too quickly. the cold winds haven't calmed down and we went ice skating on a frozen lake at the beginning of March last year and also did our Easter egg hunt in the snow. as much as I wish for a very sunny and very flower heavy spring, it's not quite here yet. over the past years, I have noticed that I don't really go out as much during the colder months even though there are many occasions. maybe because it feels more cozy to be inside or maybe because the thought of putting on a dress even with tights gives me instant wind chills.
I have been trying to make a conscious effort to dress chic and fitting for my occasion but also staying warm at the same time. I might be inside a lot but still, walking places or changing locations can be enough for me to feel cold and ultimately wanting to go home.
thermals are a girl's best friend
never underestimate the power of a good pair of thermals. if you don't want to invest in proper thermals, super cozy tights from Primark are where it's at. the soft fleece lining doesn't make the tights look like actual thermals or leggings but it keeps my legs toasty and the walks to and from so much more bearable. if its super duper cold I will go even further and put proper thermals on but a pair of good thick tights and a top under whatever I'm wearing just does the trick and makes me feel toasty even when the winds are brisk and the nights freezing cold.
invest in a good coat
I have a proper big winter coat and it keeps me really warm on a day to day basis but even though I love it deeply, it's not exactly chic. in order to keep warm and fit with a slightly more put together outfits, I think a good quality smart coat can do the trick. a wool or even cashmere one will work perfectly and they usually look really cool. over the years and through the many cold winters I had to experience I have quite a few in my collection. a smart and very simple cut black one I a style staple. this year, I have added a neutral toned beige tartan one to my wardrobe and it has been my go to this winter.
go midi or maxi
I used to stay well away from midi or maxi dresses as I felt like they wouldn't dress me very well. I'm not exactly the tallest and my legs aren't the longest either but recently I have been loving them. they are not only very trendy but the extra layer of fabric just makes me feel a tad warmer and I don't have to fear a bladder infection or a horrible cold as a nice going out treat. they also just feel magical, especially with lighter fabric and flowy skirts. they give me the need to constantly twirl around and make the most of them.
find your going-out dress
accessories are key
sometimes, you need more than just a coat and a nice dress to keep you warm and ready to enjoy the night ahead. there are nights when I won't go out without a big scarf to keep my neck and sometimes even face warm. they can also look so chic too and paired with a good coat they just add something so beautiful to any outfit. sometimes I even take a pair of gloves and when you live somewhere with real winters, investing in some is a brilliant idea.
my outfit
dress: H&M
shoes: Zara
bag: Asos
Location: Potsdam, Germany
what about you? how do you like keeping warm when going out? let me know your tips so we can look cute and fight colds all in one go.
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*this post was sponsored by quiz clothing*
I would say I'm quite lucky to be born in a vibrant and also very trendy city: Berlin. I love my home and am very proud to call myself a "berliner". even though I never grew up in the centre and never moved there even when I flew the nest, its all on my doorstep. the club scene, districts, public transport, and food spots are very familiar and I also speak the accent very well, I still sometimes feel like I don't take as much advantage of it as I should. instead, I stay in my comfort zone and little shell of everything I know well and not just go and explore. I sometimes feel tourists or people who have recently fulfilled their dream to move to Berlin do much more. one of my missions always is to take advantage of what's close to me and maybe take the plunge a bit more to experience the new and unknown so close to me. so in today's post, let's talk about being a tourist in your own city.
"recently, my mum and I took a stroll around a neighbourhood I'm not usually in and it made me feel like exploring a new little piece of my beloved home town."
01. Get out of your comfort zone
due to my routine, I tend to spend most of my time in the same areas and tend to go for the same places to hang out, shop and eat. it might be because of my comfort and because I don't exactly want to drive longer or test out a new shopping centre when I just want to pick up a certain gift. I also like going back to restaurants I enjoy but it gets repetitive and I don't end up truly enjoying my own city. yes, it might be more of an effort to find a spot for brunch you haven't been in a part of my city I'm not in a lot but it really sets off a touristy feeling and I usually find a proper gem. I like to plan a bit more time when doing so so I can explore the surrounding area too.
02. browse Instagram
even though I'm from Berlin, I don't always know about the newest places to go or what new shop has just opened. in the time and age of Instagram, I find it to be so helpful to find what currently cool and hip and what I shouldn't miss out on. it's especially amazing for food recommendations and shopping which both are my favourite past time. not only is instagram great for your own city, but it's also amazing when you are actually being a tourist somewhere else
03. make a list
I know there is almost a cult around list making and whilst I can be an avid list maker some times and sometimes I despise it, to make sure you know where you want to go and what you want to do a list can be perfect. I have one on my phone with all the places I want to eat and events that are going on and I constantly add to it. it helps massively with not only remembering places but also making sure you start working through that list at some point. if you are really into your bullet journal it would be a great thing to add to that too.
04. bring a friend
exploring is great but it's even better shared with someone. exploring by yourself can be very soothing too but most of the time I love taking a friend, especially someone who maybe forgets to make the most of their city too. when having a very busy schedule it can also be the perfect time to catch up maybe whilst trying the newest and hippest brunch place. it's also a bonus if you want to take cute photos of your day out and maybe a little exploring date can become a routine once a month.
my outfit
Coat: Zara
Shirt: Zara
Jeans: ASOS
Scarf: A Gift from my Mum
Hair Clips: ASOS
Bag: Zara
Sunglasses: Bershka
Location: Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany
what about you? how do you like to explore your city and make sure you get the most of your home? let me know.
❤︎
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