Daytime LBD

ZARA Shirt//Dress and Bag from market on holiday//CLARKS Sandals

Who says LBD's are just evening wear? Chuck a cute shirt on, pop some sandals on your feet and you've got yourself a cute effortless daytime look.

Noni xx

Festival Fever #2

TOPSHOP Kimono//ZARA Crop Top//LEVI DIY Shorts//PRIMARK Belt and Shades//U.O. Bag// THRIFTED Chain

So here is outfit two as promised.

I found this gem of a crop top in the Zara sale a couple of days ago so decided to rock a bit of cheeky double denim and I think its worked out alright? What do ya'll think? You guys been to/attending any cool festivals this summer and what have you been wearing?

Peace, Noni xx

Festival Fever #1

I am attending V festival this weekend and I am super excited. I am very sad to say that I am a festival virgin. I've forever drooled and lusted over disposable images of groups of friends sat round tents looking so messy come hippie cool having a great time, but sadly said images never did anything for my own friends. Alas, I have finally found some festival companions and off to V I head with the hope that the next stop will be an ultra cool European festival like Benicassim, Sonar, Sziget or the ultimate - Glastonbury. But now lets not run before we can crawl.

THRIFTED Shirt//COW Playsuit//PRIMARK Belt and Shades//NIKE High Tops//U.O. Bag

Outfit two is soon to follow.

Peace, Noni xx

White Trousers

THRIFTED Blazer//H&M Cami and Trousers//TOPSHOP Heels//WAREHOUSE Purse

As you may have noticed, I am on a kick to try and wear everything in my wardrobe, especially all those old pieces that haven't had a good run in a while. Starting this blog has really helped me in this process and I'm really enjoying seeing my clothes in a new light. I have so many clothes (well so my friends say, I would of course argue otherwise) and this often makes it easy to forget the older items.
I've had these white trousers for the longest time, being the lil shorty that I am, I can only wear them with heels so I thought i'd go all out dressy for this outfit.
Restyling the old clothes in your wardrobe is challenging, in a nice way, and so so so refreshing. Plus you feel so good for having not gone out and spent money. Everyone should give it a go! But makesure you have a sensible old clear out first.

Noni xx

NONI'S KITCHEN// Blonde Brownies

I'd never even heard of blonde brownies until I stumbled upon this recipe. They're lovely and goey, just they way I love my brownies. For those of you, who like me were unawares, blonde brownies are just brownies without the need for chocolate. I know I know, you're thinking what is even the point, but trust me, they're good. I decided to add some chocolate chips as I had some lying around anyway. Next time I shall definitely also add some nuts, maybe walnuts or macadamias (my weakness).

Ingredients:

125g (1 cup) sifted plain flour

225g (1 cup) packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/2 tsp salt

75g (1/3 cup) butter, melted

1 egg, beaten

1 tbsp vanilla extract

110 (2/3 cup) milk chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.

Sift the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt (and nuts and chocolate chips) into a bowl, mix well and set aside.
In another bowl mix the brown sugar and melted butter, allow to cool, then add the vanilla extract and beaten egg and mix well.
Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Spread into prepared tin and bake for 20 to 20 minutes. 

Enjoy! Noni xx

Original Recipe from Allrecipies.com

'Dem shorts again

URBANOUTFITTERS Crop Top//JAEGER Blazer//TOPSHOP Shorts//ZARA Boots

So here's a quick OOTD for you.

This beaut heat wave called for shorts, and as I am so madly in love with these shorts I had to rock them again.

I paired them with my new booties again but this time a crop, I feel rather naked with just a crop top on so I chucked on this blousey blazer from mothers wardrobe.

Hope you're all enjoying the sun! 

Noni xx

REFLECTIONS//Confidence

Confidence is sexy.
I live by this mantra.
I wish for everyone to live by this because one of the greatest feelings you can have is to feel and believe that you are sexy and beautiful.
Once you start to believe this about yourself, it'll start to show, you'll be glowing and radiant and happy.
This confidence will shine through, it'll shine through in the way you walk, the way you carry yourself, the way you communicate with others and the way you smile and laugh. People will notice and appreciate this, and in turn will reaffirm this new found feeling you have.
Be confident in the skin you're in. Be confident in the body you own. Be happy with the person you are. Never apologise for loving who you are despite your flaws.
We are responsible for our own happiness, and to be happy we must be happy with all of ourselves, we must love our bodies.
Surround yourself with positive, supportive and confident people. Respect yourself by filling your mind body and spirit with the good.
Learn to love your body. Learn to love yourself. Be happy.

Feeling Blue

I've had this skirt in my wardrobe for a while now but haven't been quite able to style it (in a hurry as is always necessary), but I had so many visions, as one does, when I bought it so I stared at my wardrobe hard to come up with a couple of ways of wearing it:

For that summer bbq/garden party?

H&M Top//TOPSHOP Skirt//CLARKS Sandals

A fancy evening of dinner and drinks? (these shoes aren't made for dancing gals, sad I know)

H&M Top//TOPSHOP Skirt and Shoes

I be loving me some colour, but have been neglecting it of late, but i'm feeling back in the full spectrum of things!

Noni xx

Zara makes everything better

H&M Top//Topshop Shorts//Ted Baker Bag (Thrifted)//Zara Boots

I really haven't been feeling my wardrobe lately, these last few days I've just struggled to find things that I want to wear, despite clearing it out last month (filling 5 bin bags!). A sad combination of feeling like I've worn everything a million times, and nothing in there bringing me joy (naturally I look for this in my clothes). Thankfully, it was just my birthday the other day and two of my laaavely friends who know me all too well got me a couple of Zara vouchers just in time for the summer sale so I trooped down to my wardrobe's HQ and was most definitely not disappointed, naturally. After trying on nearly the entire store (I went to the changing rooms three times, each time with more than I was allowed to), I decided to snag these beautiful boots.

I have been eyeing up these beauties since what feels like forever but just wasn't ready to part with £100 on one item (being a stingy student and all), but the Gods were looking down upon me and I got them for a pleasant £30. 

I guess sometimes you just need a little injection of something new to see your wardrobe in a whole new light?

I do however still feel that I am changing my style ATM, but alas, pay day is on its way, and I have many many many items ready in shopping bags for that magical day so watch out for lots of new fashion posts. 

Hope your holidays are going swimmingly :)

Noni xx

My Take on Carbonara

So beside fashion and beauty, my first and probably most loved passion is cooking. From around age 8 I used to hover round the kitchen begging my mum to let me help her and it eventually paid off as I am now a reasonably good cook. I thought it might be nice to share some of my favourite meals and recipes, so here's the carbonara-esque meal I made yesterday that went down a treat:

Who's not been washing??

Washing brushes guys! Of course I wouldn't accuse you of being unclean!
Yes, I know, washing brushes is such a bore of a chore (not sure which chore isn't a bore mind), but we must all do it. I am definitely not claiming to know the 'right' way to clean brushes, but I thought i'd share my method with you guys. I've been washing my brushes like this for the past two years, and i'm yet to have to get rid of a brush so I guess its doing all right?
There are lots of fancy brush cleansers on the market sold by most makeup brands, but I can think of soooo many better ways to spend that money, because they sure don't come dirt cheap, so here is my cheap and cheerful method:

Underdressed?

Gant Men's Shirt// H&M Jeans// Marks and Spencer Sandals// Urban Outfitters Bag and Sunglasses

My mum took me out for dinner the other week as a goodbye before I head back to uni for exams (aahhh). I thought it was just going to be a casual trip to Wagamama's but nope, we last minute decided to go all fancy to this beautiful Thai restaurant Chaophraya. I ended up being rather under-dressed for the restaurant, but here's my outfit nonetheless. I am so in love with this shirt that I picked up from a charity shop a while ago! Only thing is that it creases really quickly, but I am forever wearing creased clothes anyway so it doesn't bother me.

I would definitely recommend the restaurant if you're in the Bullring area of Birmingham, the food was great, really fast service, and the staff were so so lovely.

Noni xx

Secret Soirée

Zara Dress //Mango Heels //H&M Clutch //Miss Selfridge Necklace

I recently attended a really exciting ball at uni. It was a secret charity ball so the location was released an hour before it was due to start. Being my first night back at uni and having a had a pretty sober Easter, I got suitably smashed and had a cracking night! Orange has for the longest time been my favourite colour so when I saw that Zara had this dress in orange as well as white (what I was originally going for), I of course had to jump at it, and I think it worked out pretty swell? I decided to partner this look with a dark lip so I just used MAC's Nightmoth lipliner which is my current makeup love. 

This camera/tripod situ tho!? 

Noni xx

Layer it Up

Urban Outfitters Shirt //Urban Outfitters Crop Top //Levi Jeans //Clarks Boots //

ASOS Marketplace Fur Coat //TK Maxx Bag

This outfit basically encompasses all my favourite/most used items of clothing. My jeans are permanently attached to my legs, they're so comfy and such a wonderful fit, definitely worth every extortionate penny I paid for them. This crop top is basically a staple item in every night time outfit and its now managed to squeeze into daytime attire, wahoo! The shirt is an AMAZING layering piece, it can be added to so many outfits and just make them, because I mean for me, an outfit isn't really an outfit without some colour and/or pattern.

I've worn my Clarks boots basically every winter day since I bought them three years ago and they still have many a year left in them yet, they were definitely the ideal investment. And well, as for the fur coat, I don't think I need to say anything.

Noni xx

Thrifty

Charity Shop Shirt// Urban Outfitters Skirt and Crop Top// Miss Selfridge Heels

I wore this outfit on a night out a while ago. The theme was 'Thrift Shop', as you can guess it was around the time of Macklemore's big hit! Me and my friends were trawling round the Newcasltle charity shops trying to find something to wear, all last minute of course, and me being the self-professed charity shop queen that I am managed to find this gem of a shirt! Everyone kept complaining that I looked like I hadn't even tried to be thrifty as this is how I dress all the time anyway. What's a gyal to do??

I'll leave you with a sneak peak of the kind of moves I pull in da club.

Hope you're not too jeal!

Noni xx