How to accessorize your LBD

 

A staple item in any girl’s wardrobe is the classic LBD. It’s a timeless and chic piece that you can dress up or down, and pair with different colours and prints to create a fabulous new look each time. If you’re on a budget or struggling to find an outfit to wear during the party season, here’s some fab and easy tips and accessories that you can use to accessorize your little black dress and still look like the belle of the ball.

1. So, let’s start with the dress. There are some gorgeous and affordable LBD’s in most high street stores and online, either treat yourself to an investment piece or pick out your fave black number from your wardrobe.

 

 

Asos V Neck Lace Bodycon Dress £25

 

H&M Strapless Dress £29.99

 

River Island Cap Sleeve Ballerina Dress £16

 

 

Lipsy Caviar Bead Bodycon Dress £55

 

H&M V Neck Dress £14.99

 

2. Next decide on what look you’re going for. What kind of event is it? Is there a theme? My favourite look for this time of year is glamorous with a touch of festive glitter and sparkle!

3. One of my favourite things to shop for are accessories. Shoes, bags, jewellery… I love them! I would always choose to spend more on a good pair of shoes as I find they are better quality, will last longer and most importantly they are more comfortable to wear so you can dance all night long without getting horrible blisters or being crippled the next day.

 

 Peep Toe Shoe Boots £60
 

Leopard Print Clutch £69

Diamante Earrings £8.50

 

 

Gold Glitter heels £80 

 

Black Glitter Clutch £129

 

Nude Platforms £45

 

 

Black Stone Cocktail Ring £7.50

 

Jewel Embellished Clutch £40

 

Pink Glitter Courts £100

 

 

Black Gem Box Clutch £40

 

White Embellished Boot £85

 

Rhinestone Bracelets £16

 

 

 Silver Glitter Hardcase Clutch £38

 

 Pink Glitter Clutch £129

  

4. Next up is the hair and make-up. Part of the fun of going out is the getting ready! I love experimenting with make-up when preparing for a night out, after all what’s the point in having a super-hot outfit if you don’t have the hair and make-up to match?

Bobbi Brown Nude Shimmer Brick £35

 

 

Roberto Cavalli Nero Assoluto Eau De Parfum £62

 

 

 

St Tropez Tan Kit £25

 

 

L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil £13.95

 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick £5.99

 

 

L’Oreal Elnett Hairspray £6.60

 

 

 

YSL Eye Shadow Palette £31.20

 

 

 

Stila Luminizer £16

 

 

 

YSL Shocking Faux Lash Effect Mascara £21.15

 

5. Before heading out enjoy a pre drink to get you in the mood, take a few selfies, final check that you have everything you need in your bag and If it’s cold outside, which it most likely will be, throw on a jacket or a coat to keep warm.

 

It’s time to party!! Enjoy J
 

Holly xx

 

 

 

Last minute gifts under £15

The big day is approaching with only 1 week to go and you are probably sick of the site of wish lists, gift ideas and stocking filler recommendations… however I thought I’d throw one last one into the mix for those who like me, still have a few last bits to get and are on a budget after over-spending on gifts already bought – some of which may or may not have been for myself (!)

Here’s some cute and cool bits I’ve found for under £15

Merry Christmas! :-)

 

 

IT By Alexa Chung £9.24

 

 

Sweetie Jar £15

 

101 Sandwiches Book £9.99



 

Alphabet Candle £4

 



 

I phone Case £10

Plum Throw £15

 



 

Percy & Reed Volume Hair set £15

Crabtree & Evelyn Mens Mini Gift Set £12

 



 

Hotel Chocolat Christmas Collection £10

 

Make-up Bag £10

 

This Works Dream Team £10

 

Maybelline Eyes Gift Set £10

 

NARS Nail Polish £14.50

 

Mini Moet Champagne £10.32

 

 

The Hangover 3 £9.99

 

 

 

 



5 ways to stay healthy during the holidays

Christmas is a time to have fun and enjoy yourself, and it is normal for us to over-indulge and forget the diet for a few days. However it is easier than you think to enjoy treats and relax while still saying healthy during the holidays, which will help you feel less sluggish and bloated, and give you more energy enabling you have a better time altogether.

1. Stay hydrated

Alcohol, sugar and salty snacks dehydrate the body and leave you feeling bloated and sluggish, by not drinking enough fluid you also risk getting dry skin and break-outs. Try drinking water throughout the day and if you are drinking alcohol, make sure you have one glass of water for each glass of alcohol. If you are suffering from bloating try adding a slice of lemon, especially first thing in the morning as it will alkalise your body, boost your energy and kick start your metabolism.

2. Keep moving

With all of the great TV shows and films on it can be tempting to get comfy on the sofa and stay there for most of the day. Don’t make the mistake of becoming a Christmas couch potato! Burn some of those calories by getting the family together for a short walk and some fresh air after dinner, test out your new Wii games or play hide and seek with the kids, take 20 minutes out to do some yoga, have a dance to your new CD or simply work out using one of the many quick and easy videos available online. There are so many easy ways to stay active over Christmas, and even a small amount of exercise is better than nothing, and you will feel much better for it.

3. Eat your fruit and veggies

Despite all of the wonderful festive food such as turkey, chocolate and salty snacks, traditional Christmas dishes can also be healthy. At dinner pile up your plate with delicious vegetables such as sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, parsnips and carrots. By eating more veggies you will be getting important vitamins and enzymes which will help your system to digest all of the other food, while also filling you up so you are less likely to over indulge on the other treats. Clementine’s, cranberries, oranges and dried fruits such as dates and figs are also widely available at this time of year, so make the most of them and enjoy them alongside the not so healthy stuff.

4. Stay motivated

While it is natural to be more relaxed over the holidays and forget about your usual diet and fitness routine, it is important to still stay motivated and not just think ‘I’ll start again in January’. By doing this you could be jeopardising your health and making it even more difficult to get back to normal in the New Year, after all, healthy living is not just a Monday to Friday task – it’s a lifestyle. Encourage others to stay motivated by giving healthy gifts, get the whole family involved with a Zumba or dance game on the Wii or plan a walk somewhere. Even hitting the sales for a day of shopping is a good way to stay active.

5. Moderation is key

While it is important to stay healthy during Christmas, no one is saying don’t have fun and enjoy a few treats, just don’t over-do it. By following the above tips and incorporating little changes in to your routine you will have more energy, and have an all-round better time without worrying about struggling to get back to normal in the New Year.

Eat, drink (in moderation) and be merry! Happy Christmas!

Holly xx

 Healthy Christmas Gifts

 

 

Pink Dumbells £8.50

 

Zumba Fitness for Wii £14.99

 

Stella McCartney for Adidas Yoga Mat £55

 

Sports Bra £105

 

Water Bottle £6.99

 

 

Nike Leggings £45

 



Christmas Tag

I saw this on someone’s blog recently and thought it would be fun to share my answers with you :-)

Now I’m tagging you! Fill it out and share your answers.

Holly xx

1.  Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic?
I prefer real trees as I think they look better and feel more festive, although cleaning up all of the needles afterwards is not fun! 

2.  You're in a coffee shop, it's December, what do you pick?
I love hot drinks – especially the limited edition Christmas ones. Starbucks is my favourite coffee shop and I love their salted caramel hot chocolate, but I also love Costa’s honeycomb hot chocolate, mmm! 

 

3.  Whats your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?
I’m not too fussed as long as it matches and looks pretty. I like gold and green or silver and purple.   

 

4.  Giving or receiving?
Both! I love getting nice presents the same as everybody, but I also enjoy shopping for others and being able to treat those I love. The best thing is watching someone’s face on Christmas day when they open a present from you that they didn’t expect :-)

5.  To mince pie or not to?
I love pretty much all sweet treats, mince pies included! But only veggie ones as traditionally the pastry is made with lard. 

 

6.  What's your traditional Christmas dinner?
Being Pescatarian my family has always opted for a non-traditional Christmas dinner. We usually have a nice fish dish such as trout stuffed with crab and smoked salmon along with lots of veggies (my favourite!) and some potatoes. For dessert we have Christmas pudding with clotted cream or chocolate yule log for my sister who doesn’t like Christmas pudding (crazy).

 

7.  Christmas day fashion
I don’t really have a set outfit. Last year I wore jeans and a woolly jumper but I think this year I want to wear something a bit more special. In the morning my sister and I will probably go and see my dad for a couple of hours to exchange presents, then return home to have lunch and open presents with my mum before driving down to Kent in the evening to stay at my grandparents and see the rest of the family.

8.  What's your favourite Christmas song?
I love all Christmas songs! My favourite has to be Fairy-tale in New York because it’s a classic! But I also love Christmas carols like Silent night.  

 

9.  What's your favourite Christmas film?
ELF! And Miracle on 34^th street is a classic too. Ooh and Love Actually because you can’t beat a bit of Hugh Grant! 

 

10.  Open presents before or after lunch?

Before, we have lunch around 2pm so it would be too hard to resist waiting until then. I love sitting next to the open fire with a Christmas CD on and fighting with my sister over who is going to be the person to hand out the presents! Haha.

 

 

My sister and I last Christmas day



Top 10 Party dresses for the Festive Season

Christmas has got to be my favourite time of year. The fun music and films, delicious food and drink, pretty lights and decorations, time with family and of course presents all fill me with happiness and joy! Ok maybe I’m being a little over the top but I really do love Christmas :-)
Another highlight to the festive season are the parties. If you are a social butterfly like myself and have a diary that rivals that of Kate Moss (just kidding) then you may also love getting dolled up ready to dance the night away, perhaps enjoying one too many cocktails.
Here’s my top 10 party dresses that will make you look glitzy and glamorous, and be the highlight of any party you head to this season!

  

Holly xx

 

White Beaded Tutu Dress £65

Sequin Mini Dress £250

 

Black Lingerie Dress £25.99

 

Blue Sequin Dress £58

 

Long Sleeved Glitter Dress £40

 

 

Pink Wrap Dress £29
                                                 

 

Purple One Shoulder Sequin Dress £29.99

 

 

Bronze Sequin Tube Dress £60

 

 

Navy Embellished Prom Dress £55

 

 

Burgundy Embellished Sleeve Dress £65

Keep an eye out for a post coming soon on How to accessorize your LBD!
 

Goodbye November

 

We have now entered the month of Christmas and it is officially acceptable to play Christmas songs, watch Christmas movies and soon it will be time to put up the tree and decorations! How exciting! :-) I love the festive season, I can’t wait to spend time with my family and eat, drink and be merry! I have also planned some lovely Christmas-themed posts for you in the up and coming weeks :-)
 

I had my first Christmassy beverage and tried the salted caramel hot chocolate from Starbucks – Amazing. I am yet to have my favourite holiday drink: the honeycomb hot chocolate from Costa, pure chocolaty indulgence in a cup!
 

Apart from keeping warm and drinking my body weight in coffee/hot chocolate I have started Christmas shopping but I still have so much to do. I think I’m going to wait until I break up from college for the holidays and hopefully the shops will have some good last minute bargains as I’m definitely on a budget this year.
 

On another note I’ve started doing yoga which I am loving. Although I’ve not been to an actual class yet I bought a beginners DVD and have been looking at moves online which I’ve been doing at home and I have noticed results already I love it! It’s definitely something I want to take up properly in the New Year and will be great to relax and keep active during the holidays.
 

In the next few weeks I’m looking forward to spending the weekend with my best friend Annie in London and also having a Christmas themed night in with the girls, we’re gonna watch Christmas movies, eat a feast and exchange secret Santa presents!

What have you been up to this month? Are you excited for Christmas? What are your plans?

Holly xx

 

Pouting selfie, henna tattoo for Diwali, my home-made chocolate cream pie, Rimmel Sugar plum lipstick, favourite breakfast: muesli and fruit, pre-gym, apple and raspberry candle – smells delicious, Mexican night: veggie fajitas, veggie percy pigs.

 

 

Bed time reading, before heading out for tapas with the girls, trying hair texturizers, sleeping beauty: new eye mask, breakfast on the go: apple and kiwi, sleepy cat, I cooked halloumi, sweet potato mash and veg #TopChef, skinny cappuccino pre-Christmas shopping, Vogue: fashion bible.

Follow me on Instagram @misshollyamber