First Flat Interior Inspiration

I have mentioned in my previous posts (to anyone who has been avidly following along) that I am helping my boyfriend do up his new apartment. He only reads the posts he is mentioned in so he should enjoy this one!

I am the kind of person who has a million ideas all at once so my first step to any project in life is gathering my thoughts - aided by Pinterest of course – and pull together a little mood board. The next step is pulling everything together in a more sensible fashion: working out budgets, measuring what will fit where and sourcing actual products. So, before I get down to business, I thought I would share the fun bit with you.

Lazy girl slim recipes

Courgetti with avo pesto

You need

One courgette
Good squeeze of lemon
An avocado
Bunch of washed basil
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs pine nuts (plus extra for sprinkling)
25g Parmesan (plus extra for sprinkling)
1 clove garlic
Sliced baby tomatoes

Blend  together all ingredients bar the courgette, season well.
Peel or spiralize your courgette into long strips and tip that and your tomatoes into the microwave for 45 seconds on high.
Drain the excess liquid and top with your pesto and your extras and hey pesto! (Get it?)

1 minute gluten-free blueberry mug muffin

Recipe adapted from Thebigmansworld.com

You need

3 tbsp coconut flour 

2 tbsp granulated sweetener 

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 large egg 

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 tbsp almond milk

Handful of blueberries

Mix all ingredients, pour into a microwaveable ramekin and microwave for one minute, to enjoy steamy coconutty, bluberry goodness!

3 ingredient peanut butter fudge

Recipe adapted from blissfulbasil.com

You need

1/2 cup coconut oil melted

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

2 tbsp maple syrup

Mix all ingredients, pour into a tray and freeze. Keep it in the freezer, cut and enjoy.

The new IT girl: Olivia Culpo

Have you heard of Olivia Culpo? If you haven't then you are about to fall in love because depressingly she is perfection. I never thought I could fall in love with another Olivia after Olivia Palermo but this Olivia is almost sickeningly goddess-like. Wikipedia labels her as an actress, model and Miss USA 2012 but really she is just famous because we all want to be her and here is why...

Because this is what she looks like with no make up and her eyebrows are so on fleek it hurts!

Because this what her breakfasts look like.

Because she still looks classy with her knickers on show.

Because her hair is perfect, look at those hairline highlights.

Because this is how she naps.

Because she travels in dungarees and looks so fricking cute!

Because this is her wardrobe and it has real life tiaras in it with that dress and those shoes.

Because she reads Chanel to her teddy bear! 

Because she has the world's cutest half up do and she those gladiator sandals look so perfect she could have been born in them.

Because her hobbies include flower arranging and she has perfect little polaroids of her and her pals.

Because speaking of pals, her posse includes the likes of Taylor Swift and Gigi Hadid.

Because she looks great in anything, particularly leaning against walls.

Because she gives back to the community!

Because she creatively plays with her food and it looks delicious. 

Not convinced? This is what she looks like in a bikini.

The 5-piece capsule wardrobe to help you budget

Petit Bateau loose top / AllSaints biker jacket/ Paige Denim blue skinny jeans / Pretty Ballerinas leather flat/ Yves Saint Laurent beige purse

I have a confession to make and I really hope I am not alone… I have spent a lot of money on clothes; like seriously any income that could be even slightly disposable went towards my unnerving habit (I mean who needs bread and milk, right?). The funny thing about my job is that it goes hand in hand with buying fashion but not quite hand in hand with the big brand budget. I spent a large amount of time poring through high street sites in search of the perfect off-shoulder or the perfect pom-pom sandals. When I first started my current job, my little fashion problem was becoming not so little and I needed to make a plan. This plan proved quite effective and I have in the long run even come to the point where I can put away nearly half of what I was spending on desperately trying to keep my head above water with fleeting trends. 

I started to find that as gorgeous as my new bag was the handle would come loose, or I would be desperately in love with my new bomber jacket but the zip would come stuck. You soon find that you are endlessly replacing these ‘clever’ buys and racking up bills of hundreds. In an attempt to solve my problem I came up with five versatile pieces that I would really invest in (over a period of time) and throw out every other scrappy item that I seldom wore- and it worked! These pieces can be carried from season to season and year to year and will help you pocket those extra pennies that would have gone on bits and bobs. And the secret to keeping your fashion thirst quenched? You can still buy those cheap and cheerful items but mix them with these pieces and you will soon see you need way fewer to create an outfit. So get investing!

1. Jacket

A good jacket is always going to be the first thing people see and can hide a number of sins. I would opt for leather or suede as it can carry you from sticky summer nights with a slip dress to sharper winters with a woolly knit.

Recommended brands: Allsaints, Maje, Sandro, Massimo Dutti 

2. Pair of Flats

A pair of flats stand the test of seasons and keep bunions at bay, a beautifully velvety pair are good for your feet and a some chic to skirts, dresses or trousers.

Recommended brands: French Sole, Pretty ballerinas, Tods

3. Jeans

Jeans were originally invented for working and made popular in Hollywood. This means that they will always be fashionably practical! Team it with a lace cami in the evening or your tee during the day for the off-duty-model look.

Recommended brands: Levis (the inventors), Paige, 7 for all mankind

4. Tee

I lived in Paris and spend a lot of time in South of France and I think we have a lot to learn from their simplistic style. A tee can take you a lot further than you may think: from the gym to a bar. You can build on your collection over the years and here’s a promise: they will never go out of style.

Recommended brands: Petit Bateau, Boden, Whistles, Cyrillus 

5. Bag

I am admittedly a real bag person. In fact, my summer holiday this year is loosely based around where a particular bag I want is. I recommend any good leather in a neutral colour to follow you from Spring into Winter.