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The Parla Pop-up is a Minimalist’s Dream

parla pop-upParla Pop-up | Nearest tube: Notting Hill Gate | Map

I get a little bit giddy anytime a favourite brand of mine expands. Especially when that brand is an independent one, with a strong emphasis on talented females. Enter Pärla, an East London store based in Boxpark Shoreditch, whom you may remember from some of my previous posts. I’ve been chatting about the brand online – and off – for a while now, which makes their new pop-up even sweeter for me.

Being the fangirl that I am, I decided to go check out the Parla pop-up as soon as it opened. And I don’t think I’m going to be the only one falling in love with it.

The Summer Parla Pop-Up

Pärla may have started with an East London store, but some of you will be glad to hear that they’re now expanding West. Yep, their special Summer pop-up is based in none other than the famous Portobello Road, Notting Hill. The new pop-up is airy, bright, and filled with contemporary jewellery and gorgeous lifestyle items (including lingerie and candles). The usual jewellery design players are all there: V Jewellery, Jessie Harris, Clarice Price Thomas, Smith/Grey, and more. And this time they’ve been joined by a few fashion designers too, such as Danielle Foster, Jody Shafton and others.

I personally can’t stop by Pärla without adding a hundred things to my wish-list, and buying several of the ones already on it. This time I added a piece of V Jewellery to my collection; a little bling to perk up the numerous ear piercings I’m stacking up. And naturally I added everything from Clarice Price Thomas and Jessie Harris’s new collections to my wish-list. It’s safe to say that the new Parla Pop-up is everything I had hoped for, and I can honestly say it’s a minimalists lifestyle dream.

You can visit the Parla Pop-up yourself at 201 Portobello Road, until Sept 3rd.

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I’m Getting Married, And It’s Frightening!

Getting MarriedI’m Getting Married, And It’s Frightening!

Wait, what? Yes I’m getting married. Don’t worry I’ve been pretty quiet about it, only occasionally referencing it. It’s pretty typical of me, and my fiancé is even more subtle. That said, Ben and I have been engaged for a few years now. However we had both agreed that we would wait to get married until the perfect moment. And after viewing an amazing venue a few months ago, it would appear that that moment is now. Well, Summer 2018 to be more precise. It’s incredibly exciting, but at the same time very frightening.

I’m Getting Married, And It’s Frightening!

Why is it frightening? Well because unless you didn’t already know, this is my first time getting married. I did stop and think of hiring a wedding planner, for all of five seconds. Then I remembered how much of a perfectionist I am, and how that would never work. So the task comes down to me (and Ben). However I’ve only been to one wedding in my adult life, and I wasn’t involved in any aspect of it. Unless you count eating, celebrating and partying. And if that was all there was to it, then I’d probably be a lot less nervous, and a lot more qualified. But let’s be honest, there is way more to getting married.

And luckily for me I was recently invited to the notonthehighstreet.com wedding press day. Everything was laid out so expertly, making things seem so simple…and appealing. Alongside some amazing friends who have offered to help me along the way, it showed me that wedding planning doesn’t have to be complicated and confusing. And I want to be involved in all of it along the way, even if it is a little frightening.

I’ll be documenting my wedding along the way, so keep an eye out!
You can find the products featured in this post on notonthehighstreet.com.

Getting Married Getting Married Getting Married Getting Married Getting Married Getting Married Getting Married

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24 Hours in Aarhus, Denmark | A Travel Guide

24 Hours in AarhusIt can be pretty tough visiting a new city, or country. You’re not sure where to eat, what to see, or even where to stay. Well I’m here to change all of that with my handy guides! They’re full of tips, tricks, and the best places to go. So stop worrying about how you’re going to make the most of your time in a new place; here are my recommendations for spending 24 hours in Aarhus, Denmark!

24 Hours in Aarhus

24 Hours in Aarhus, Denmark

  • Do breakfast at Bills Coffee 
    • The Danes know their coffee, but they know their pastries even better. And Bills Coffee won’t let you down on either front. They offer up the best pastries in town (in my opinion), and a relaxing atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to chat to the staff – who are super lovely – they’re full of great recommendations.
  • Tour Aarhus City Hall
    • If there’s one thing you don’t want to miss in Aarhus, it’s the city hall tour. This architectural marvel is the epitome of Danish design. You can find photos and tour information here.
  • Enlighten your senses at ARoS
    • The art museum features an array of amazing artwork, and possibly the world’s most colourful rooftop.
  • Refuel at La Cabra, Coffee Roasters
    • This ridiculously stylish coffee shop also offers up plenty of fresh, local produce. My recommendation: the crayfish sandwich, which is hands down the most delicious sandwich I’ve ever had!
  • Fancy some retail therapy?
    • The streets around Vestergade are littered with independent designers, well known brands, and Magasin department store.

24 Hours in Aarhus

  • Take a bus out to the Deer Park
    • Just a 10min ride from the central bus station is Dyrehaven (Deer Park). This piece of woodland is open to the public, but you’ll have to share your walk with some of Aarhus’s friendly deer – and there are lots of them!
  • Stop by the beach!
    • The woodland borders the Kattegat sea by Dyrehaven, and it’s absolutely beautiful. There are showers and changing facilities for those who are brave enough to take a dip.
  • Choose street food for dinner
    • Conveniently located next door to the bus station is the Aarhus Street Food market. You’ll find a wide variety of cuisines, including traditional Danish food. But don’t fork out on the alcohol, instead…
  • Finish the night at a local craft beer bar
    • Mig og Ølsnedkeren is a cozy – some might even say hygge – spot, filled with groups of young stylish friends and couples. Their main offering is a variety of specialised craft beer, but don’t worry they also serve other drinks.

24 Hours in Aarhus

If you have some extra time…

  • Visit Den Gamle By
    • A must-visit for budding architecture nerds and historians alike. Den Gamle By is a small recreation of a Danish town throughout the years, including houses, shops and more.
  • Pop by the Botanical Gardens
    • Nestled right next door to Den Gamle By, and with free entry too! It’s small, but worth a visit – especially for the butterfly room!

Well there you have it, my travel guide to 24 Hours in Aarhus, Denmark!
And don’t forget to check out the my other 24 Hours In… guides.

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CHANEL Matte Liquid Lip Ink in Amoureux

CHANEL Matte Liquid LipCHANEL Matte Liquid Lip Ink in Amoureux

I’ve always sung the praises of Chanel’s lipsticks, but in recent years I’ve gone off the classic brand, in favour of more contemporary ones. In fact I’ve found that a lot of the “old school” brands such as Chanel, YSL etc. have been pretty late to jump on the current make-up trends. I’m looking at you matte liquid lips!

There are so many brands out there that have made it big thanks to their liquid lipsticks. And finally late last year Chanel released their own matte liquid lip with “an intense, luminous and long-lasting colour.” But with only minimal marketing, the Chanel Matte Liquid Lip Ink slipped under my radar. In fact I’ve not really seen any of my beauty faves talking about the product. I was still curious though, especially with the shade Amoureux, which is a great nude for my pale skin tone. So when I got my latest Debenhams beauty card points through, I decided I’d visit a counter and take a chance.

CHANEL Matte Liquid Lip Ink

  • Cute packaging
  • Doesn’t dry to matte
  • Handbag/travel friendly
  • Not as pigmented as I would like
  • Sheer application, but can be built up
  • Comes off when eating/drinking

What can I say about a matte lipstick that doesn’t dry matte? Because that’s exactly what Chanel have given us. This liquid lip goes on with a sheer glossy look, and it never fully dries. Instead it just looks like a lip tint with a sheen. I’ve heard some of the other shades are more pigmented, but still have the same issue. And of course all this means that the product doesn’t last. In fact the only way I can see it lasting the 8 hours Chanel state is if you don’t eat or drink during that time.

I personally wouldn’t purchase this again, especially at £28 for such a small product (only 6ml!). Instead I would go for the high street dupe Collection’s Velvet Kiss in Caramel – which is actually a matte lip! In fact this dupe is so good that when I wore it recently and went to buy the Chanel Matte Liquid Lip Ink in Amoureux, the counter staff thought I was already wearing it.

Check out more of my honest beauty reviews now!

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The Yauatcha City Summer Tasting Menu is Hot!

Yauatcha CityYauatcha City | Dim Sum Teahouse | Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street | Map

Working right next to Yauatcha City used to be oh-so convenient. Anytime I fancied one of the most beautiful desserts in London, I’d just skip on over. So when my office moved, I was almost certain that was the end of my love affair with the dim sum teahouse. But it was just my luck that I was invited back to try their new Summer Tasting Menu last week, which I dragged my friend Zarna along to (spoiler: she wasn’t unhappy).

And so rather than being petty and keeping all the good food in London to myself, I decided to let you all know about it too.

Yauatcha City Summer Tasting Menu

The Yauatcha City Summer Tasting Menu comes in two varieties: meat or vegetarian. We both chose the meat option, however Zarna can’t eat beef, and Yauatcha were very kind and replaced her venison puff (incl. beef gelatin) with a duck spring roll. I like to mention these little gestures as customer service is very important to me, and all these little things add up to an even better experience.

But of course I’m here to talk about what we ate…or more accurately, what we devoured:

  • Cocktails
    • Asian Daiquiri
    • Thea Martini
  • Steamed Dim Sum
    • Champagne scallop & prawn dumpling
    • Wild mushroom dumpling
    • Crystal dumpling wrap with pumpkin
  • Fried Dim Sum
    • Venison puff
    • Mushroom spring roll
  • Mains (1pp)
    • Stir-fry sliced beef
    • Stir-fry pepper chilli seafood with asparagus
  • Sides
    • Chinese vegatables
    • Jasmine steamed rice
    • Macarons (2pp)
  • Tea (1pp)
    • Classical beauty
  • Desserts (not included in tasting menu)
    • Fromage Frais
    • Tropical Dome
    • Chocolat Mint Delice

How hot is the Summer menu?

My favourites from the menu were: Venison Puff (the pastry & filling is to die for!), Stir-fry Sliced Beef (melted in the mouth), Thea Martini (sweet & fruity), Fromage Frais (beautiful & tangy), and the Chocolat Mint Delice (rich, indulgent…with popping candy!).

The Yauatcha City Summer Tasting Menu is £34 per person (min. 2 people), which includes a glass of wine/cocktail, macarons (2pp) and tea. For such a generous menu, I think the price is more than fair. We were pretty much full by the time our main course came round, but of course we couldn’t let good food go to waste so we devoured everything.

Check out more: Where to Eat in London

Yauatcha CityYauatcha CityYauatcha CityYauatcha CityYauatcha CityYauatcha CityYauatcha City

 

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The Ordinary Serum Foundation Very Fair 1.0NS

Ordinary Serum Foundation Very FairThe Ordinary Serum Foundation Very Fair 1.0NS

My love affair with The Ordinary and their affordable, amazing products continues. This time round it’s the foundation on everyone’s lips…and cheeks…and forehead…you get my point. Yes, it’s The Ordinary’s Serum Foundation. The most hyped foundation on the market right now.

But what makes this one so special? There are tons of brands out there that offer up serum foundations, that’s true. However there aren’t many that feature 21 shades. Yes, you heard me right, 21 shades! Praise be to the beauty Gods, a brand that finally understands we come in more than 3 shades (don’t even get me started on ‘ivory’ and ‘dark’).

And I had my eye on one particular shade…

The Ordinary Serum Foundation Very Fair 1.0NS

The Ordinary’s serum foundations offer 21 shades from Very Fair, to Very Deep. The shades are divided into three categories: 1 fair-lighter tones, 2 medium tones; and 3 darker tones. Each one is then marked by a second digit from 0-3 to indicate depth within each shade. Within these shade ranges you’ll also spot letters: P (Pink) & R (Red) cool undertones for lighter & darker shades; N – Neutral tone; and Y – Yellow undertone. On top of this, three of the shades also have S (silver highlights) and G (gold highlights) at the end. These particular shades use natural-looking, exceptionally fine dispersions of metallic effect pigments for added highlight.

So to break down my shade, I use: Very Fair – 1.0 (lightest) – NS (neutral with silver highlights).

Final Thoughts?

  • Very lightweight
  • Good formula
  • Light-medium coverage
  • Applies, blends, and sets well
  • A great base that works well with other products
  • Swatches

This foundation goes on smoothly, and blends really well with my skin tone. In fact it blends so well it’s difficult to see where I’ve applied it at times. I would say the coverage is light-medium, which I prefer because it feels much more lightweight on my skin. It works well with other products, meaning no pilling or movement. I actually potted mine into a cushion compact, which is perfect for this formula.

Now I’m not a foundation kinda gal, which you’ll know if you’ve read some of my previous beauty posts. I tend to prefer concealer because I dislike how my skin feels in foundation. And more importantly, I’ve never been able to find a shade that matches my skin tone. In fact in the past I’ve had to use white foundations – to mix – when trying to get a match. But finally I’ve found one in The Ordinary’s new serum foundation line-up, and I’ve been converted!

You can purchase The Ordinary Serum Foundation Very Fair 1.0NS online and in-store.
Check out more of my beauty must-haves now!

Ordinary Serum Foundation Very Fair Ordinary Serum Foundation Very Fair Ordinary Serum Foundation Very Fair

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5 Inspirational Instagram Accounts You Should Be Following

It’s been a rough time for Instagram. There have been scandals, controversy and people have generally lost their interest. But us long-term plans have stuck by it, and so I thought it was time to bring back my ‘Instagram 5′ series, and this time I’ve picked out 5 of my favourite inspirational Instagram accounts, to keep us all motivated.

Inspirational Instagram Accounts

Who? @asiyami_gold
Where? Worldwide
Why? Asiyami is a lady of many talents. As an art director and visual storyteller, her Instagram boasts beautiful images from her travels across the globe. However my love of her Instagram comes from her authentic, heartfelt messages, and inspirational designs.

Inspirational Instagram Accounts

Who? @streetview.portraits
Where? Worldwide
Why? I was first introduced to Streetview Portraits by Worshipblues. The account is run by someone with agoraphobia and anxiety, which limits them from travelling. Therefore they decided to see the world digitally, via Google Streetview. There’s something very inspirational about understanding where this account is coming from, not to mention travelling the world through someone else’s eyes.

Inspirational Instagram Accounts

Who? @vikkeview
Where? Copenhagen, Denmark
Why? Karen’s account is centred around ‘urban minimalism’. Her unique take on architecture, Danish lifestyle, and people is incredibly refreshing. Not to mention it’s extremely colourful and fun. I really love how she interprets ‘everyday’ things, and creates something beautiful from the ‘mundane’.

Inspirational Instagram Accounts

Who? @mikkoputtonen 
Where? London, UK
Why? You won’t find a more stylish guy than Mikko. His Instagram account effortlessly blends fashion, architecture and design. So much so that it reads like an editorial feature in a lifestyle magazine. I’m constantly inspired by Mikko’s dedication and individual photo style. Not to mention, he’s a great guy.

Inspirational Instagram Accounts

Who? @colorpalette.cinema
Where? n/a
Why? If you’re a photography/cinematography geek like me, then you’ll find inspiration in Colorpalette Cinema. The account takes stills from iconic movies, and combines them with their colour palettes. Design aficionados will find the Instagram useful, as well as an inspiration for their own work.

Do you have any favourite inspirational Instagram accounts?
Let me know in the comments!

Source: Please see the individual Instagram accounts listed above.