Life's a beach.

West Mersea Beach Huts, Essex | www.itscohen.co.uk
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Mersea Island Beach Huts, Essex | www.itscohen.co.uk
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Mersea Island Beach Huts.

Whether you consider it the seaside or not ("it's a river!" "It sits on the estuary!"), I still count anywhere that's sandy and has beach huts as a trip to the beach. Obviously not your slightly warmer whip out a bikini and take some clichΓ© snaps for the gram beach, but a take some mysteriously windswep photos by the pastel coloured Mersea Island beach huts beach instead. And I'm totally OK with that.

After seeing 500 (probs not an exaggeration either) photos of the Mersea Island beach huts on Louise's instagram, I suggested a day trip to the sorta-island, sorta-not with my mum, with the promise of a LOT of seafood. It was definitely one of those "why have we never been before?" trips, with good vibes as soon as we got over the causeway and parked up. We initially had a wander around the high street to look around the gift shops (fave) and buy some bread (also fave), before heading to the edge of the island for some food. We didn't manage to get a table at the Company Shed which we'd only heard good things about, however we were more than happy to end up at the West Mersea Oyster Bar. Obviously not the best place to go if you're not keen on seafood, but as someone who bloody loves the stuff we shared one of their platters so we could try a little bit of everything, and it comes highly recommended.

We quickly managed to take some outfit photos before the wind made me shout "abort", but I hope you enjoy these snaps and have a chuckle at my windswept expense.

What I'm Wearing.


Lacoste striped top. Missy Empire raw hem jeans (trust me, do not size up in these, hence the belt!). Cath Kidston red polka dot bag. Adidas superstars. Charity shop belt.

What's on the Gram.


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The sweetest thing.

bettys tea rooms macaroons
cath kidston ric rac mug
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Asos french bulldog jumper (I KNOW): £22. Debenhams jeans. Cath Kidston ric rac mug. Look of pure sugar-enthused delight: c/o Bettys Tea Rooms.

Me and Bettys, we go waaay back. I have no photographic evidence - shock! horror! - but I visited back in 2011 when visiting my friend Sam in York for the first time. Having zero money as students with poor life choices (we went to Willow in York - need I say more?), we shared an afternoon tea for one downstairs in the St Helen's Square team room (on the map, above) and decided that was quite enough cute for the weekend. Fast forward four years and my days have been sorrowfully Bettys-free, until an email arrived in my inbox which I replied to quick enough to give me indigestion: Bettys was popping up in Islington for one day only.

As someone who actively avoids heading into town/into full-blown pollution clouds on the weekend, it was a welcome change to my usual trips on the train as I could amble along to meet Charlotte to take these photos before heading over to the venue. Popping to Bettys was like stepping into your best friend's; plenty of smiles and plenty of sweet treats. We started off the day by learning how to ice our own french fancies before prepping for the ultimate afternoon tea/flat lay situation. It was definitely more hands on than my previous Bettys experience, but who'd mind mucking in when there are mousse mice to be eaten? The sugar crush was warded off when I got home by getting changed into my new favourite jumper (two words: French. Bulldog.) and having a little read through the 'Who's Betty?' selection of short stories.

Because, if anything's my cup of tea, it's a good slice of cake (heh).
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It was her heart that he was stealing.

Oasis leather collar shift dress: £5, via sample sale. Vintage leather jacket: £17.50. Bally chelsea boots: £8. Cath Kidston leather bag: gift. Topshop lace frill socks: £3. Topshop really ruby lipstick and BECCA Hotel California lipgloss.

Hello, weekend! However much I adore the pace of my job, I can't help but savour a little bit of an escape from the computer screen - and a little bit more sleep! One sunny Saturday I headed over to the ever-faithful Lakeside - a shopping centre in Essex, for those not in the know - to fill my wardrobe with winter pastels and, ahem, another fedora. We went for a little stroll along the lakeside (how could I resist?) to make the most of summer's last rays before coats and tights become a necessity. Or wellingtons, knowing the British weather...
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My girl's got a city to run.

Vintage leather jacket: £17.50. Brandy Melville trouble maker t-shirt: €26. Topshop leopard print skirt: £38. Clarks two-tone sandals. Autumn Bloom small tote: c/o Cath Kidston.

As Fashion Month draws to a close, I'm just getting around to posting the one London Fashion Week event I went to - maybe I'm stuck in the past or maybe I'm rationing the rare times I get to take photos, you pick. I decided to shy away from Somerset House again this season in favour of spending time with friends, working and, you know, sleeping, but when an invite to Lulu Guinness' party popped into my inbox I did think it'd be the best way to dip my feet into my favourite fashion week of them all. Of course I did my best to represent the British high street in my usual way with a little pop of Cath Kidston print, vintage leather, Clarks not-school-shoes sandals and good ol' toppers (after heading to an embarrassing amount of stores to try and get this bloody skirt), although my favourite Brandy Melville t-shirt did end up muscling its way in somehow. It was amazing to finally meet Clare after we started our blogs around the same time, as well as spending the evening doing something outside of the ordinary - even if we did leave early to make sure we could get to Nando's before it closed!

In more current news, it's finally starting to feel like Autumn. I haven't actually ventured outside today as that means finally accepting that it's time to do something, but from the breeze sneaking its way through my slightly open window things definitely feel chillier. Autumn's my favourite time to dress for, said every blogger ever, but it does mean that I can leave my bronzer alone for the next six months as everyone else looks pale too - hooray! And, sorry if it's a sore spot, I managed to get my first ever Glastonbury tickets, so I'm starting to mentally prepare myself for the mother of all festivals: I. Can't. Wait.
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I wasn't born last night.


For some reason, Leeds is one of the northern cities I'd never quite managed to explore, so when my favourite Yorkshire lass announced she was getting married, me and the rest of the uni girls booked our train tickets North for her hen party, packed some pretty frocks and arrived prepared to be drinking for the next twelve hours. We were correct in that assumption. It's been a while since I've had a session quite that long, but self-made long island iced teas followed by something of a nostalgia-fuelled reunion with baa bar (nothing on Liverpool's four walls of complete debauchery, of course) took their course and we somehow emerged unbroken - although the same clearly cannot be said for my shoes, illustrated above. After a rather long (we're talking hours here) breakfast Clarity and Georgia had to head home to dissertations and ice bucket challenges but Sita and I stuck around for a coffee and I sneakily managed to get some outfit photos which magically portray me hangover-free: god bless BB cream.

I thought it would only be appropriate to post these photos while I'm up in Chester celebrating the Coppenhalls' wedding, so here's to more northern adventures and significantly less morose mornings.
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My evening skincare routine.

my evening skincare routine
soap and glory body butter
vichy puretΓ© thermale cleanser

Every time I write a beauty post, I like to reaffirm that I am not a beauty blogger, know absolutely diddly squat about make up, and instead tend to fill my "reviews" with sarcasm and test products in a rather obscure way. I only really religiously read two beauty blogs (looking at yours, Kate and Ellie), and instead form my decisions about what I put on my face by what happens to be on offer when I head into Boots or am feeling reckless browsing Feel Unique. I have, however, found a few products which I absolutely adore, and thought you guys might be interested in something of a little insight as to what I do on autopilot when I'm absolutely cream crackered.

cleanse

On a normal night, I'll use the Bioderma Micellar solution (or whatever it's called) first, then double cleanse with my Vichy PuretΓ© Thermale cleanser. The Bioderma is absolutely amazing at removing make up, and despite its claims of being for sensitive skin I do find that it dries mine out a little. I did try to use the Vichy one on its own, and it tends to be the one I throw in my gym bag as it's a pretty secure little tube that won't explode in my bag, but I wouldn't say it's the best at removing make up, but better at actually cleansing the skin. When I use the two together, they kind of equal out, and my skin feels squeaky clean without needing any extra moisture (but don't worry, I do moisturise too!).
Of course, my favourite Liz Earle cleanse and polish is still included, but I don't really use this every day, I instead use it when I feel like my skin needs that little extra bit of lovin' or if I've got the extra time.

moisturise

I don't tone (can't be bothered, and I've never seen any benefits when I've tried samples of the stuff. Remember the whole "not a beauty blogger" thing), and instead skip straight to the moisturising step. I use Lush's bubblegum lip scrub when I remember, but I probably won't repurchase as it's pretty easy to make your own. I will give it its dues though, it smells and tastes amazing, and has lasted me absolutely bloody ages.
I then use the Kiehl's ultra facial moisturiser which I picked up during Glamour shopping week and therefore had 20% off. It really is super moisturising, but I'm kinda disappointed (and annoyed with myself for not noticing till I got home) that it doesn't have any SPF. Thankfully my BB cream has some, but I much prefer my moisturisers to include it so if I fancy being reckless and going make up free I don't have to worry about exposure to the sun.
When it comes to the rest of me, I'm a bit of a sucker for Soap and Glory's products. Not only is the packaging pretty and it smells amazing, it's also pretty good at what it promises to do. I frequently use the righteous butter body butter and heel genius foot cream to try and combat my horrifically dry skin. During the summer months I try to look less see through by using the Palmers natural bronze cream. I'm a long time fan of their normal body cream (I'll probably repurchase it when all my other body creams and butters have run out) and it's pretty cheap when you pick it up from Wilkos, so was excited to try out the bronzing version when I got a small bottle of it in a goodie bag. Once that had run out, I went to buy the full version as it doesn't smell as bad as other tanning products (although it does tend to hang around for a little bit), and builds up naturally and subtly, whilst still being as moisturising as the normal one.

So, this may not be the post to end all beauty posts, but it's the routine I've fallen into, and I don't think it's doing all that badly. Do let me know if you'd like to see more of this kind of thing, if not it's more than likely I'll leave it a year until the next one (again).

ps, don't forget to enter for your chance to win a Lilylulu kimono!
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'Cause I'm holding onto heaven.

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Topshop scallop hem sheer blouse: gift. American Apparel sunflower shorts: £54. Cath Kidston leather polka dot bag: gift. Asos tan leather sandals: £25. H Samuel bracelet: gift.

Looking at these photos shortly after closing your window due to the chill is a bit of an odd contrast, isn't it? Here's hoping the sun comes back by the end of the week as forecast, as my pins are slowly but surely starting to resemble something other than milk bottles.

After work, my mum and I decided to go for a stroll through the park to make the most of not being on a train/in the office/it not raining. Despite having lived here for a good decade, I've never really wandered round Admiral's Park, having tended to stick to the bits nearer to town, and thus nearer to Topshop and M&S. For this particularly sunny occasion, I donned my sunflower shorts (again) and my now go-to bag from Cath Kidston, which the lovely team presented me with after my two weeks interning at their Head Office, and it's definitely come in handy over the past fortnight. I was unsure whether to post these photos as I'm well aware that I'm not the size 6 lithe fashion blogger that saturates and is most successful in the blogging world, but in the end I decided it would've been a complete waste of time taking and editing these photos to have even more self-confidence doubts, and it's hardly new to you if you've ever seen the front pages of rubbishy celebrity gossip magazines. So, enjoy the cellulite guys, I'm off to watch the cricket.
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Hello, I'm Rebecca: social media exec, new-ish coffee drinker and loafer-wearer.
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