OOTD | Summer Layering

Oh I do love the sunshine & being able to walk around without a heavy layer on top, although even during summer I can't not have a little layering.

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Jumper - H&M

Top - H&M

Necklace - H&M

Jeans - ASOS

Shoes - New Look

What's your go to trend during summer?
Love xx


(Pictures on this blog post are property of DaintyBride unless stated otherwise with an asterisk *. Any images marked with an asterisk * are sourced from the internet & are believed to be public domain & have no rights affiliated with DaintyBride)

Review | NARSissit Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow Palette

NARS has quickly become one of my favourite makeup brands. It feels premium yet not so expensive that you gasp at the price. I already own a variety of their products each of which haven't disappointed & this NARSissist Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow Palette is no exception.

May Wish List

I just can't stop looking online for clothes, makeup & home ware. I think it's becoming a little unhealthy! I need an intervention.

In the meantime, it means that you get to see lots of wish lists too. Although, that probably isn't helping your addiction either. 

Apologies.

DIY | You're Cordially Invited

As soon as I got engaged, I hunted high & low for various invitation styles requesting samples all over the place. It was a lot of fun but I just kept getting disheartened by the price. After a few weeks of being shocked & disappointed with how much people could charge for some paper, we decided that we'd be better off making our own.

Now believe you me, making your own invitations is a lot harder than you think! Especially when you're as creative as me. Which isn't an awful lot! I took to Upcycled Treasures to find some ideas & guidance for a wedding invitation as a "do it yourself'er" & came across an amazing free template. It also perfectly matched our colour theme so clearly, it was meant to be. 

Review | Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm

I discovered Emma Hardie's Moringa Cleansing Balm over a year ago now & I can honestly say, I've never not loved this product & can't imagine changing now! To be honest, I'm not too sure why it's taken me so long to review it. Must have just slipped into my routine & out of my mind.

OOTD | Spring Styling

As Spring sets in, the sun looks like it's going to stay although there's still that slight chill in the air.

I've been loving ripped jeans recently in all their shapes & sizes as well as clean white shirt. Perfect for relaxing on a sunny Saturday.

Festival Wish List

Seeing so many Coachella pictures has made me envious of all things festival. I loved going to Glastonbury & embracing the mud but luckily for me, the sunshine too!

Even though I'm not going to a festival this year, I can't help but look at the clothes & save them in various shopping baskets.

March Favourites

How quick has a year flown by since I started up my dainty blog?! Here we go again with another favourites!
1. Double Denim

I've always been a fan of double denim but only find I can pull it off with my white jeans. Now that the sun has decided to come out, I can double denim all I like!

Nottingham Favourites | Food

I like to consider myself a foodie. I love all things food & it tends to dictate how my day is planned. In the last few years, Nottingham has really upped it's game. There are a lot more independent places on offer & it's still growing but there's still some love left over for a good old chain.
Here are my top 10 favourite places to eat at the minute - (In no particular order)
1. Five Guys (££)
A recent opening in Nottingham but I imagine, already a favourite for many people! I tasted my first Five Guys back in Washington DC, so was happy to hear that one would be opening in my home town. If you're looking for a tasty but VERY unhealthy burger then head on over! You won't regret it... (Well your hips might)

Food, Friends & Exploring

Each time I visit good old London, I come back feeling shattered & not having achieved anything or explored anywhere! 
This time when I visited, I was still absolutely shattered but had such an amazing time & felt like I'd got to explore the real London, not just the tourist hot spots. I always put so much pressure on myself when I usually go down because I'm paying an arm & a leg for a hotel as well as a train fare & food.
Fortunately, one of my best friends (well not too fortunate because I'd prefer it if she was still living near me) has moved down to London which meant I could enjoy a stress free, relaxed stay & not feel the pressure of getting around the whole of London in a day or two.

Off I went, coffee in hand to London Town.

Wish List | Home

I'm currently in the process of looking to buy a house & whilst all the mortgage, payments & legal side of it can get pretty boring, the home ware & decoration is keeping me entertained!
I don't really know if I have a certain style as such but definitely keep stumbling across the same kind of thing.

Wedding | Guest Outfit Ideas

Have you got to that point in your life that each year, you're invited to more & more weddings? Having to decide what to wear for one wedding is hard enough, never mind more!

There are so many things you need to think about! 

What colour? What style? What length? Do you want to fit in with the theme of the wedding? Will the bride mind if you wear a creamy/beige colour? 

The list of questions is endless!! 

Guest Blog | Wedding Beauty Game

How do you ensure your beauty game is on point for the biggest day of your life?

What formulations will photograph well and last the distance at your wedding?

Doing your own make-up for such a massive occasion can seem nerve-wracking, but it could be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. After all, who knows your preferences, what suits you, and your plans better than yourself? With the right tools, good products, and a little know-how you can create the look of your dreams to complement that dress, I promise.

Who am I? I’m Sarah, a writer, make-up addict and connoisseur of all pretty things over at www.seriouslyshallow.co.uk. I had my ‘happy ever after’ three years ago when I married my husband Sebastian – and I learned a thing or two about wedding beauty along the way.

As a big fan of Charlie’s beautifully written blog, I’m delighted to be doing this post to share what I learned.

Review | NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

The Queen of all concealers. That's all.

Spring Wish List | Clothes

Spring comes around & I seem to develop a printed, pastel colour theme. I love spring & being able to wear those slightly prettier/girly clothes. I need to get my hands on ALL of these!

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Thank you for reading
Love xx (Pictures on this blog post are property of DaintyBride unless stated otherwise with an asterisk *. Any images marked with an asterisk * are sourced from the internet & are believed to be public domain & have no rights affiliated with DaintyBride)

Menu A or Menu B?

A few weekends ago, Stephen & I went for a food tasting at the wedding venue.
I was really looking forwards to this but I was worried I might be disappointed with the standard of food. It's always hard having to choose your venue before you know what the food is like. Unless you're having your wedding at a hotel in which case you could always have a meal there beforehand.
I loved the structure of our food tasting. We were sat with other couples who would be getting married around the same time of year as us which meant we could have a good natter about all things wedding.

Spring Wish List | Shoes

Spring is on it's way & so are beautiful shoes!

I've already got a long list of things I desperately want & it seems to be getting bigger & bigger. Not good when you're trying to save for a house & a wedding at the same time.

    

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What are your spring wishes this year?
Thank you for reading
Love xx (Pictures on this blog post are property of DaintyBride unless stated otherwise with an asterisk *. Any images marked with an asterisk * are sourced from the internet & are believed to be public domain & have no rights affiliated with DaintyBride)

February Favourites

Well well well, here we are again. Finally it looks as though Spring is on it's way & I can't wait.
Bring on bright colours, warmer weather & outside living.
1. Benefit Neutrals Eyeshadow Kit

Review | Soap & Glory Archery DIY Brow Bar

As you may or may not know, I am slightly obsessed with eyebrows. I love discovering new products to use & am a little OCD with my own.
I came across this Soap & Glory 'DIY Brow Bar' whilst searching the shelves & something about it drew me in. I'm not normally a fan of the 'eyebrow kits' as I like to mix & match products as well as colours but thought I'd give it a whirl!

LFW Wish List

I'm not usually one to follow the trends via London Fashion Week but this year, there was so much going on it was hard to miss.
Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not "cool" enough nor do I have the cash to buy these items so I've found some high street alternatives to fall in love with.

Eyebrows, Eyebrows, Eyebrows

For as long as I can remember, I've tried to enhance my eyebrows. It probably started in my early teens where I'd put a bit of eyeshadow clumsily onto my eyebrows because they were invisible.
It's now turned into a daily routine that has expanded to having different products & tools. 

Countryside Living | Part 2

A few weekends ago, the sun was shining & wanting to make the most of it, my mum & I went for a walk in the beautiful countryside.
I hadn't planned on blogging about this but there were such amazing views that I wanted to share the delights with you!

OOTD | Weekend Casual

I've come to realise that I'm definitely a comfort & casual girl. I love to be warm, cosy & feel comfortable at all times! There's nothing worse than wearing an item of clothing that's really frustrating & keeps moving or sits in the wrong place.

At the minute, I've been loving winter greys with a pop of colour!

January Favourites

Oh em gee! How is it already the second month in 2015? This year is going to fly!
Anyway, here are my January favourites!

1. Philosophy Shower Gel 

Travel | A Norwegian Adventure

I moved to Aalesund, Norway with very little knowledge of Norwegian culture and therefore didn’t know what to expect when I woke up the next day (I arrived at my apartment at midnight!). The things I had heard about Norway were that it is; always dark, very expensive, very cold, extremely patriotic and everyone is born with skis attached to their feet. 

OOTD | Day To Night

I'm always a fan of those staple clothing items that you can wear in the day & vamp up for the evening when you haven't got time to find another outfit!
Day

Gifts For Her | Valentines Day

Like the 'Gifts For Him' post that you can find here, finding a Valentines present for a girl is just as hard & sometimes even harder. 
Here are some easy go to presents that any girl is bound to love!

Brushes Galore

I've found that makeup brushes can be the key to great looking makeup. Find some you love & you're onto a winner! Even though I have 2 pots full of them, I always use the same brushes without even realising.

Gifts For Him | Valentines Day

Is it just me or does finding that perfect gift for Valentines Day fill you with dread?

I've never really been a fan of Valentines Day & even now I'm engaged, I still don't particularly look forward to it! 

Here are some ideas to help you find that perfect gift!

Lipstick Collection

My lipstick collection is starting to grow & with it my love for lipsticks. It's been a slow grower but I'm becoming more & more obsessed with lippy!
Here's my lipstick collection

Review | Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener

I've never been much of a fan of these tinted eye brighteners. I always find that they don't give me the coverage that I want & claim to be better than they are.
My sister bought this product a while back & I didn't really think much of it. She said I should give it a try, I did & was instantly hooked. I was so surprised how much it brightened my eyes & it also gave me a better coverage than other products I'd previously used.

The Classic Look

Is there a girl out there who doesn't love a classic red lip & liner? I don't think so.  Personally, it's one of my favourites but is one I leave for special occasions.
The good thing with a classic look is that it's versatile & can be made dressier or more casual. Use this look for your wedding day, a beauty blogger event, a party or even for every day life!
The Base

Review | Bee Good 'Vanilla & Honey' Lip Balm

Everyone loves a good balm product during the winter months to keep those lips moisturised & luscious. There's nothing worse than wanting to wear your favourite bright red lippy & then finding it cracks & looks dehydrated before you've even left the house.
During my first blogger event at FABB Events in Birmingham (you can find the post here) I was lucky enough to meet the brand 'Bee Good' & learn a little about their company. I loved hearing how they began & they have such an amazing ethos! 

December Favourites

Can you believe that it's the new year & we're now in 2015? This is an exciting year for me & I can't wait to get going but in the mean time, here are my December favourites.
1. Coffee

I went off coffee for about a year. Every time I drank one it made me really sick so I decided that it just wasn't worth it. My fiancé had a Costa one day but with soya milk so I thought I'd give it a go. I instantly fell back in love & have now discovered that having it with soya milk leaves me sick free. Amazing. Coffee here I come!

The Life Of A Bride | Thoughts & Advice

I was lying in bed the other night thinking about all things wedding which I must admit, is something I do more often than I probably should.
All of a sudden I realised that my fiancé & I have been engaged for 9 months already & the time is just going faster & faster! My brain then went onto overdrive about all the things I've done, need to do or haven't even thought about yet!  Scary times I can tell you.
Amongst all this craziness in my head, I found myself creating a list of things I would have done better or advice I'd have given myself which is why I thought I'd share it with you. My lovely readers. 

Goodbye 2014!

Happy new year beautiful people! How is it already 2015?! 

To start this lovely new year, I wanted to take a look back & share some of my favourite memories from 2014. I've had an amazing year with some amazing people for which I'm so grateful for but don't get me wrong, there have still been plenty of ups & downs but all in all it's been a good one. I hope you had a great year too!
Let's begin...

Giveaway | MeMeMe Cosmetics Ultimate Plum Eyeshadow Palette

Merry Christmas Eve beautiful readers! Seeing as it's the time for giving, I thought I'd offer up this gorgeous palette to giveaway. You can check out a review on the product here.

Christmas | Merry Mince Pies

I just love all things festive which of course includes making some homemade mince pies.
I decided to make own this year from scratch & thought I'd share my pictures with you!

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

One of my favourite things about Christmas is getting the tree! I've grown up having a real tree every year & it's a tradition that my dad, sister & I do every year! We empty the car, lower the seats & set off to a local farm that has hundreds to choose from!

November Favourites

Christmas is getting closer & closer, so this month's favourites is a little festive!!

(click on the headings to see the item :))

1. Eating Out

For some reason, during the winter I tend to eat out a lot more. I'm not sure if it's because of the cold that I feel the need to comfort eat but I quite like it. There's nothing better than being in a cosy countryside pub on a Sunday afternoon with a roast dinner & crackling open fire!

Review | MeMeMe Ultimate Plum Palette‏

A few weeks back, I blogged about some MeMeMe products that I was given at a FABBevents blog event which you can find here. This time I'm back to review another of their products which was kindly sent over.

MeMeMe have also kindly offered my readers a little extra special gift during the festive period by giving 25% off their full products. Simply use the code 'mememe25' at the checkout.

Gifts For Him

Every year there's a struggle to find 'gifts for him' whether that's your partner, brother, dad or friend.

If you're like me & get stressed in large gift hunting crowds then this is the post for you!

Here's some ideas to make the Christmas shopping experience slightly more enjoyable.

Gifts For Her

Even though it's slightly easier to buy presents for a girl, I mean there are so many options to explore, this is where the problem starts. Most men (& women) don't know where to start.

Some women will write an exact list of what they want but others just say "surprise me."

Here's some help in finding that something special for a girl :)

A Weeks Wardrobe | Christmas Party Edition

The Christmas party season is finally here & I just can't get enough of the sparkle!

It's that time of year when there are a million & one work Christmas parties happening every weekend so here's 'A Weeks Wardrobe | Christmas Party Edition' to give you some inspiration!!

Christmas Wish List

I love Christmas. I'm that person who gets excited straight after Bonfire Night & just wants to participate in anything 'christmassy.' 

Even though I love Christmas so much, I always struggle to make a list of what I want. For once, this year I have plenty of ideas so here's my Christmas Wish List.

Guest Blog | The Battle To Balance

Let me introduce myself, my name is Aj and I am a 42 year old wife and mother of one gorgeous little boy. I work full time in a stressful role and have taken fingers to keyboard to try and share some of my wisdom in all matters of Lifestyle and Beauty. Recently I have set up my own blog fortyfiedbeauty.com for this very purpose.  I would like to take this opportunity like to thank Dainty Bride for generously permitting me to write a guest blog to her readers, I hope that you all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. 

Thank You.