NEW LACE UPS

Buy here: Whistles £175 £87.50

I love a good Whistles sale, especially when the shoes you have been lusting over for weeks drop down in price! £87.50 is still expensive but when you half the price with your sister (the benefit of having the same size feet) it is totally worth it.

2016 Aims

There is something about January that I love. It is the start of a new year, therefore, an opportunity for a clean slate, or at least, the chance to start new good habits. 

This year I have set myself 10 things I hope to do more or less of:

1. Work smarter not harder

As a study enthusiast, I have noticed that I work very hard but I do not use my time wisely and lack sleep, energy and motivation when studying. This year I aim to resolve this bad habit by creating an organised schedule so I find a balance between studying and relaxing. I also intend to be well rested by going to bed  at 10:30 pm at the very latest.

2. Get fitter

I have stopped creating resolutions such as 'get abs' and 'tone my arms' as it does not motivate me in the slightest and I end up quitting within the first week. This year I have set the goal of working out more and get fitter rather than saying I will look like this by the end of the year. By doing this, I am not putting pressure on achieving a specific goal instead I am allowing myself to develop my fitness.

3. Budget money

Living in London is expensive and as a student, I need to learn to be frugal. I intend to do this by creating a budget spreadsheet in which I track all of my expenditure and do a food shop on designated days rather than grabbing food on the go.

4. No takeouts

Talking of food, 2016 means no takeouts! Last year, my sister and I got ourselves into a bad habit on constantly ordering food as it was convenient. Yes, it may have been quicker than making food but we were wasting so much money and resulted in us feeling bleh. In 2016, we are aiming to prep our food every Sunday to last us all week and then at the end of every month try out a new restaurant in London.

5. Stop romancing

I need to face the reality that everything happens for a reason and forcing/ dreaming about a 'perfect' life will not make it happen. To achieve anything you cannot just dream about it, you have to see what is realistic and go out and get it.   

6. Focus on goals

Where do I see myself in 10 years? That's a good question, but one I cannot answer. Life unfolds in mysterious ways and I can only focus on my current situation and make decisions based on today rather than the future. All I know is that my life goal is to be the best version of myself.

7. Stay calm

From an outsiders point of view, I seem calm and collective, from an insiders point, I am the complete opposite. I am a stress head and worrier when it comes to studying and tasks I feel unconfident about. I do not know when my anxiety and panic became more apparent but it can sometimes take over my thoughts and actions. I have done everything from reading self-help books to watching videos to overcome this emotion but I have realised it is not something I can get rid of, it is something I have to control and accept. I have therefore decided to start practicing yoga every morning (Yoga Camp with Adrien is a great place to start) and meditate every evening to calm my nerves and stress levels. I have also started to write a journal about the things I am grateful for, daily affirmations and things I could have improved each day. These new techniques allow me to think and appreciate the good in bad situations, take a break from my day and be grateful for the little things.

8. Drink more water

Water is the key to feeling revitalised, keeping the skin looking clear and hydrated and energising the body. This year, I aim to drink 2-3 litres of water a day in order to benefit from all the nutrients as well as to generally feel good about myself.

9. Read more

Whether that be on the tube, during my lunch or just before bed, I want to spend time reading more books rather than being constantly on technological devices. This year, I am particularly excited to read Wanderlust by Rebecca Solnit and Lazaretto by Diane McKinney-Whetstone.

10. Be Spontaneous

Go wild! I am young and free.

FITNESS ALERT: HANNAH BRONFMAN

Hannah Bronfman; Entrepreneur, DJ and fitness enthusiast is the ultimate woman. When I'm in bed, and struggling to find the motivation to get my arse to the gym, I take a quick scroll through her Instagram and before I know it my trainers are on and I'm out the door, ready to get my sweat on!    

She has the most incredible physique and fitness style and is a great example of health and happiness. She is all about building strength over being skinny, and is always seen doing a variety of moves in the gym, so if you're finding your gym routine boring, definitely check her out.  Take a scroll through her Insta, follow her on Snapchat or take a look at her site, HBFit and I hope you find her as inspiring as I do…

Instagram: @hannahbronfman

Snapchat: @hannahbgood

Website: hbfit.com

A/W Wishlist

IT'S JUMPER SEASON

I am a huge autumn gal. There is just something about autumn which makes everything look like a scene from a movie. Cold crisp mornings, leaves on the ground, long-due catch ups over hot drinks in artsy cafes, windy weather, hair tucked into scarves and gloves wrapped around a Starbucks to-go! Everything and everyone is just perfect. Why? Because it is so hard not to look good in autumn. Drag yourself out of bed, throw on a jumper, team it with some skinnies, messy hair and a good ol’ pair of boots, a pair of aviators, grab a coffee and fool everyone into thinking you’re effortlessly fabulous. 

Jumpers are essential when it looks to autumn, take a note of my 5 style tips for buying jumpers this season and have fun shopping!

Here are 5 jumper styles to rock this A/W: 

Oversized

The bigger the better! It's as simple as that. 

Chunky

Chunky jumpers to autumn are what t-shirts are to summer, bloody essential! They can be worn tucked into a pencil skirt, over a crisp white shirt, under a dress or paired with your favourite boyfriend jeans. 

Turtleneck

Turtlenecks are such a stylish way to hide from the cold. For extra style points, tuck your hair in. 

Plain

You probably know by now, I’m not really a pattern and prints kind of girl. One colour jumpers are so easy to wear and it is always best to go for texture over colour. I am loving the bright green one I picked up not so long ago. I love styling it over a white shirt.

Metallic

If plain jumpers are too boring for you, go for a metallic shade. Gold and silver are so hot right now. They are perfect for cocktails or dinner with the girls. I'd team mine with a feathered skirt or leather pants.  

Take a look at my top picks and a few of my personal buys.

Bershka

& Other Stories

Zara

& Other Stories

M&S Cape

INSIDE OUR FLAT

After many requests here is a mini tour around my new apartment. I recently moved down to London with my sister and have spent the last week doing up this little gem we found in the North of London. We are so happy with it and we have learnt that a little goes a long way. 

Being two students, our aim was to make our place feel as homely and stylish as possible without breaking the bank. We bought many of our furnishings from H&M home, Asda, local markets and obviously IKEA! You cannot go wrong with a little (okay, a lot) of IKEA. It also doesn't hurt to have an uncle who is an architect and no longer wants his Paul Smith rug which should arrive any day now!

My five tips for sprucing up an empty space are:-

Cushion it up. 

Go bold or go home. Mix & match colours and patterns to give your sofa an instant facelift.

Books

Grab your favourite books/magazines and layer them up to dress an otherwise empty coffee table. So effortlessly chic. 

Go minimalistic 

When it comes to choosing a duvet cover, go plain and dress it up with a funky bedspread and 1 or 2 large patterned pillows. There is something about a grey bed which is just so inviting.  

Frames

Framing a few of your favourite words is such a cheap way to decorate a boring window ledge or an empty desk. They can be highly motivating too! 

Recycle

Don’t throw your old jars or candles away. Give them a clean, a lick of paint or a label and turn it into a stylish way to store those annoying bits and bobs.

SEPTEMBER AIM