Simple Oast House

Simple Bar & Kitchen

I have had such a lovely weekend in Manchester and Warrington with some friends I thought I would share a review of some of the places we visited.

We hit so many nice places all planned for by the hosting couple, I really don't know how these guys find such lovely places. Planning in advance seems to be key but I never plan that much ahead.

After arriving in Warrington we parked up, had a brew then took a short train ride into Manchester. We were all starving by this point so went straight to the restaurant 'Simple' instead of into the heaving Christmas Market. Luckily they had enough space and we were able to be seated immediately despite arriving an hour earlier than our booking.

The food, cocktails and atmosphere were brilliant. Between us we tried the 'Tom, Dick or Harry' a fruity tangy rum cocktail, 'Basil Faulty' a lime basil gin drink and the 'Punching Above Your Weight' a red fruity cocktail. All were absolutely lovely and the TDH was so strong I was very merry after just two so it was worth the price. I hate it when you splash out on a cocktail only to find next to no alcohol in it!

Oast House

The food itself was such good quality, tasty and well priced, they had great portion sizes too. We then headed to a cool bar in a wine seller with vaulted ceilings. Sounds strange but it was brilliant.

We then headed to Oast House for someone's leaving do. It was decked out for Christmas and the food smelt amazing, It was freeeezing though as all the seats were taken and we had to sit on the stone benches, The prices were extortionate as well.

We finished the night by heading back to Warrington and partying away in a brilliantly cheesy club complete with a 70s dance floor!

Blanket Capes and Grey Allure

Links to items at the bottom of the post

Sometimes I walk in to River Island and want everything in there and sometimes I really don't like anything in there. Unfortunately for my bank balance it was the former the other day.

It does all look a little dark and grey but I really love all these items. I am going to Manchester Christmas Market at the weekend, then out for dinner and then drinks...possibly leading to a night on the town. For a day that has so many different outings in one I think this dress would be perfect. Good for day, pub and possible casual nigh out. 

I really want it but I have two grey dresses already. One a casual skater and another thats a shift summer one. I really dont think I should have three...but I want it so much! We shall see if I cave or not in the next few days!

All River Island: Coat / Boots / Cape / Dress

Jupiter's Influence

Links to items at the bottom of the post

I bought this Jupiter coat from Ark recently as art of a coat haul with full intentions of taking the one that least suited me back. Unfortunately as it turns out Arks returns terms and conditions are not the standard 28 days. Instead you have two weeks to get the items back to them.

So I have ended up keeping the coat but I at least got it on sale and I do actually really like it I just didnt fancy buying two coats in one go. I wont be shopping from there again. I think this coat looks great dressed up or down but for this OOTD I wanted to keep it simple and let the coat be the main piece.

New Look Grey Jumper / Topshop Leigh Jeans / New Look Chunky Boots / Ark Coat

WIWT and Lookbook

sarazavernik 

I always love browzing through my favourite bloggers and looking to see what outfits they have recently thrown together. The only problem is that my favs only do outfit posts every now and again not every day or every other day. So I have been searching for new ways to get regular inspiration.

River islands style guides are usually a good source but they haven't been as good recently and they are only updated as the trends change. Then I came across the sites WIWT and lookbook. I would love to do street style watch on my blog, going out onto the streets and getting snaps of real people and finding out where their pieces are from.

Unfortunately I am up north now and the abundance of amazing styles is not as good. There are some brilliant OOTD but as they are not regular finds when I am out and about I think the posts would be few and far between.

These two sites are great for that street style without leaving the house. I love this one from sarazavernik who shows off the olive trend coming in this season. Its classic yet on trend. Detailed yet simple. Love it.

Pinterest Winter Outfits and LWGS Update

Left Outfit from HERE // Right Outfit from HERE

I totally didnt mean to but both these outfits are from the same pinterest account! You have good taste girl...whoever you may be :)

I love how these outfits incorporate items I have in my wardrobe. It inspires me with different ways to dress up my existing wardrobes for the colder weather.

Winter has officially started now as I just had my first two 'frost on the car' mornings. So glad I have a nice car now as this would be hell in my old banger. I am now a proud mini owner. I love it! May not be brand new but its only from 2009 and has all the added frills making it a pleasure to drive.

Also Weigh in and measure yesterday....two pounds down and an inch off my stomach :D Bring on next week! Though I did go out as a treat with my partner to Frankie and Bennies as a congrats on my progress so far. I had the Sicilliana calzone and it was gorgeous.

LWGS - Almost 2 weeks down

So its almost  time for my third weigh in. Monday is looming but instead of dreading it I am almost looking forward to it. Perhaps I am a little worried that I wont see a change on the scales or on the tape measure but I have reason to be optimistic.

I registered at a new GP practise yesterday and I got weighed as part of the sign up. According to their more accurate scales I am 1.5kg less than I thought. That's roughly 3 pounds lighter. May not seem alot to others but its alot to me. So fingers crossed for Monday.

Image from Blogilates website, mine unfortunately didn't look this good. They tasted great though

Starting to see changes in the mirror and in how well I am doing in the blogilates. I am doing harder exercises now and loving it. Also eating even better now and trying more of the Blogilates clean meals. Cinnamon protein pancakes this morning, they were gorgeous!!

Wish me luck, 2 days till weigh in :D

My favourite videos the last few days have been 'Extreme Abs' or '10 Minute Ab sculpting' and the 'Feel good soul stretches' to relax after a workout.

LWGS - Starting Again

So after getting down to 8st 12 and a comfortable size 8-10 I have ballooned back to my start weight.

Though angry and devastated and I have started the weight loss journey again.

The first week of blogilates and eating right is done. It was hard but I did it and am now getting back into the routine of exercise.

I felt a bit defeated that I have been putting in alot of effort and have only lost half a pound! However I took my measurements at the start and some pics and I can see a difference already. I have lost 1 and a half inches off my stomach and an inch off my hips. 

Just goes to show its not all about weight but I hope to see both inches and pounds lost by next week. Fingers crossed!

My fav of her videos this week was 'What makes you Bootyful' check it out.

Misguided Wishlist

Links to all items at the bottom of the post

I was drawn in by the sale and the fact that so many co-ords I wanted at full price were now a third of the price. However I couldn't find both parts to the co-ords I wanted :(

I went into the sale anyway looking for something else and found so many great playsuits. I want all of these but it still comes to £75 for all.

Amazing Co-ordinates

Links to items in the 'read more' section below

I have not been a lover of the co-ordinate trend thats been going strong for a while now, I didn't hate it I just wasn't fussed. But Oh My God the misguided collection is amazing!!!

Check out these three beauities and they are only trhe beginning :)

Alopecia - Wig Wish list

Links to items at the bottom of this post in the read more section

As well as a long clothes wish list my wig list is just as long! I have alopecia and my hair is growing back thick and fast after my latest bout of almost total hair loss. However I really want to get some new wigs though I may not need them anymore.

I have two at the moment. The first is a front lace from stylish lace wigs, the only place I will buy real human hair wigs from now due to their amazing service. The second is a synthetic £30 one that's proved very good value. I love the colour and its lasting really well. However it does aggravate my alopecia due to the poor cap quality so I don't wear it that often now.

I realized however that I suit blonde and red. So I want to get a truly blonde and a deep red wig to really swap around and embrace the only up side to alopecia; the ability to change your hair style, length and colour in a flash!

If you know any reliable sites for human wigs let me know please. Sticking with stylish wigs atm as they are always amazing and I have had bad experiences else where. However always on the look out for other good sites.

May Wish List

Links to items below in the read more section

I have ordered some of these but I want all of them! So impressed with Dorothy Perkins atm in Chesterfield. I went in and wanted so so much of their new rang. I could instantly see pieces that would go with each other and would double up with things in my wardrobe already.

Going in tomorrow and am definately picking up that orange tropical shirt!

Though as I am loosing weight at the moment I will buy everything in a size down.

Do you have your eye on anything?

Distracted by Life!

Knew I had not been on for a while but cant believe its been almost 6 months!! Insane!

Well I have been driven back by my diet, or lack of it! I am starting the blogilates course for fitness and wanted to document my progress.

I almost went for the rasberry ketone or Gacinia Cambogia suplement kick to see if I could get my weight loss rolling that way but after seeing blogilates app has come to android I'm going to try the good old fashioned way. Hard work!

I did get down to 8stone 12 just before Christmas and was so so happy. However that led to over eating and not trying which led me back to 9st 12 :'( 

Going to Egypt in September with my partner so want to look amazing for that. Never been in a bikini before so I am determined to for this holiday.

Not posting a bikini body pic until the before and afters in 4 months. Fingers crossed, feeling excited :)

As I'm not going to purchase the meal planner here's my own version I made using some of her recipes mixed with mine.....weeelllll mainly hers!!