Baggy Jumper & Boots

With spring just around the corner, it’s time to start putting your cosy winter knits to the back of your wardrobe and dusting of your denim jackets ready for some (hopefully) warmer weather and sunny days.

I’m not a great lover of winter, so I can’t wait for the season to change and be able to step out without a million layers on- let’s be honest I think we’ve had our fair share of cold weather now, it’s been bitter for the last few weeks!

  

I’ve already started planning my spring wardrobe and ordered this oversized slogan jumper from Megan McKenna’s Street Edit, which she has collaborated with Miss Pap on. I teamed the jumper with chocker, knee high socks and timberlands for a relaxed day time look, perfect for a lunch date or afternoon of tea and cake, as you can eat as much as you like without having to worry about seeing your post pig out bulge.

This jumper can so easily be dressed down like I’ve done, or team it with some over the knee boots, slicked back hair and statement earrings for a glam evening look. The only down fall is that they only come in S/M and M/L, so the sleeves are a bit too long for me :(

There’s lots more great pieces in the collection, including more baggy jumpers, denim jackets and boots- I’m sure I’ll be buying more pieces!  

I’ll be posting more spring outfit inspiration over the next few weeks, so if you want to know as soon as a post goes live please follow me on Bloglovin’ or subscribe :) 

AJ Blogs x  

Valentines Gift & Date Ideas

A lot of people think valentine day is a con for retailers and restaurants to whack up their prices and make a tidy profit. I however am an old romantic and love putting that little extra effort in to remind my fiancé how much he means to me. Its only one day a year, and it’s a nice little pick me up following the January blues. So if you’re a romantic at heart like me and looking for ideas on what to get your loved ones this valentine’s day or for inspiration on how to celebrate? Look no further, here are my gift ideas for whether you want to splurge, spend or save and they’re all available on the high street for those last minute shopping sprees!   

For Her

Pamper treats. Girls love to be pampered- I know I sure do! Spa days are a great present to treat your loved and it’s something the two of you can do together. Recently me and James went to Thermae Bath Spa for their Twilight package, it was amazing!  We spent ages just reclining, gazing at the stars and admiring the spectacular views of Bath in the open air roof top pool, before hoping back into our complimentary robs & slippers and wandering down to the aromatic steam rooms. There was 4 different steam rooms to choose from which all smelt divine and after spending time in each room, we came out feeling refreshed and relaxed. 

Once we’d spent a couple of hours enjoying the spa we then headed up to the Springs Café for a meal and drink, which was all included in the package. The food was delicious, and it was a lovely way to end the evening. All in all it was a great experience, I would definitely recommend it. However if Bath isn't local to you Champneys have spas across the country, and I've heard great reviews about them.

One gift I always look forward to receiving is luxury body washes and moisturisers, so I can pamper myself whenever I have time. Molton Brown have an amazing range of gift sets for both men and women, which all come beautifully wrapped in tissue paper and then packaged in their iconic brown boxes. Their Japenese Organge gift set smells incredible!

If you’re looking to save the pennies create your own spa and pamper treatment at home. Run a bath, light some candles pour your partner a glass of wine and get a box of chocolates at the ready. 

Make it personal. You don’t have to spend a fortune to show your love for someone, it’s that personal touch that means the most. Buy a nice picture frame and print of your favourite photo of the two of you, or a photo that marks an occasion like first date, anniversary or wedding day. Next and Asda have a great range of photo frames. But if you do want to splash out, Thomas Sabo has a gorgeous selection of engrave-able necklaces and bracelets for you to add a special note- there currently offering 15% off all heart jewellery too! 

Fragrance. Buying perfume is a popular gift, and there's nothing better than getting another bottle of your favourite fragrance, when  your close to running out.  If you don’t just want to give the same old perfume, get it as a gift set, then it's something you know she'll like but with the added extra of a body lotion too. My fav fragrances are Micahel Kors Sexy Amber, Paco Rabanne Olympea and Viktor & Rolf Flower Bomb (which I've just ran out of hint hint!).

Be cute. Cheesy presents are always a winner on Valentine’s Day. Whether you stick with the common present of a dozen red roses, grab a mug that declares your love, or buy a light box to leave soppy messages to each other. 

For Him

So what can you get for the man in your life? I always struggle finding the perfect gift for my partner, as he is too good at buying gifts. It’s not even like he spends months planning what to get, he will literally go out the day before my birthday or on Christmas Eve and come home with amazing presents.

Fragrance. Like girls, guys like to shower themselves in their favourite fragrance, so you can play it safe by picking them up a bottle of their favourite aftershave. Joop Homme & Davidoff Cool Water smell great.

Clothing. Unless you know your partner really well I wouldn't suggest buying clothing, as it can be a real hit or miss at times. Me and James have been together over 5 years now, so I know what styles he likes and his favourite brands. He really like Ralph Lauren shirts, so he would be well chuffed to receive this. 

Beard Grooming. If you're like me and like a clean shaven man, then a new beard trimmer and grooming products is the gift for your beau. Nivea have a great range of men’s toiletry’s and Babyliss have lots of different shavers. 

Accessories. If you really want to treat your boyfriend you could splash out and buy him a new watch or designer wallet, something you know he'll use a lot. This Citizen watch currently has 50% off at H Samuel- Bargain! 

Date Ideas
If you’re not into buying each other present's, here's my top five ideas on how to celebrate v-day with your love...

1. You could grab a couple of glasses, bottle of Prosecco, blanket and head to your local park for an evening star gazing.  

2. Cook up a storm in the Kitchen! Who needs to go to a miscellan star restaurant, when you could don your apron and whip up your own three course meal of your other half’s favourite foods.

3. Have a date night at the cinema, it’s Meerkat Tuesdays and there’s loads of new films out. Maybe you could persuade the boyf to watch 50 shades darker?

4. Pack a picnic and head out on a bike ride exploring your city.   

5. Let your loved one have an extra hour in bed, whilst you do the morning jobs like walking the dog, dropping the kids to school and putting the washing on- the little things really do mean a lot.

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

AJ Blogs x 

P.S. Don’t forget to pick up a card! 

Lactose Intolerance

Any one who knows me, knows how much I love food. So when I was diagnosed lactose intolerant two years ago it was my idea of hell. It came as quite a shock, as before then I'd eaten dairy almost everyday of my life with no problems and I just couldn't understand how it could change so suddenly. 

Before I was diagnosed I had constant sharp stomach pains, uncomfortable bloating, diarrhoea almost every day and lost just under a stone in weight. Eating went from being something enjoyable to a chore. 

The side effects had a big effect on my life, I found myself turning downs plans with my friends and boyfriend to stay at home instead- I was too scared to go out encase I got ill. The few times I did venture out the first thing I would do was look for the loo, then the rest of the time I would spend panicking about what would happen if I got a dodgy stomach. My handbag essential was no longer a hairbrush, but a box of Imodium, which I got through by the bucket load. 

I seemed to spend my life sat in the waiting room of the doctors, only to be told time and time again that I had IBS triggered by stress, apparently it was common for girls of my age! My doctor prescribed me 3 different types of medication for IBS, which I forked out a fortune paying for them, to find they made no difference. To be honest I wasn't that keen on taking them either, as why would I want to fill my stomach with tablets I knew wouldn't help?!

After a year of going back and forth, I was fed of feeling like I wasn't being taken seriously and my doctor treating me like I was 12 not 21. My mum was fed up too, as she could see the upset it was causing me, so she booked an appointment and we both went along. It took my mum telling my doctor exactly what I'd been telling him for the last year for him to finally realise I wasn't just making it up, and if the medication wasn't working, then we needed to look into it further. He finally referred me to the gastroenterology department at my local hospital for tests, hallelujah!

I had zillions of blood tests (even passed out in the chair a couple of times, as me, blood and needles don't mix!), 2 ultrasounds, 3 breath tests and another year of agony before it was confirmed I was lactose intolerant. As we all do, before being diagnosed I 'Googled' my symptoms and at one point I generally thought I was dying, so I was over the moon to find out what had been causing my body so much upset. Word of advice- don't believe everything you read on Google!

When I had an appointment with a dietician it really hit me how many food products contained dairy or traces of it, and the effect being lactose intolerant would have on my life. Striping my diet back and starting from scratch was difficult, it was so easy to slip up and fall back into old habits. I would make myself a cup a tea without even thinking, then immediately after regret it.

Breaking bad habits wasn't the hardest part though, the hardest part was learning to like the new tastes and textures of diary free foods, it took months. At first I started off covering my foods in sauces and spices to mask the taste, then eventually one day something in my brain clicked and they tasted normal to me. The foods I was now eating, were the foods I used to turn my nose up at. 

Now a couple of years on Being dairy free isn't such a burden, there is such an amazing range of free from foods in the majority of supermarkets, most restaurants have a dairy free menu (make sure you ask), and with more and more people opting to following Vegan or Paleo diets there's so many recipes floating round the web. 

Also I have discovered 'Super Lactase Enzyme Tablets' in Holland & Barrett, which are a life saver if I'm ever craving anything I shouldn't! You just take one tablet before you eat the dairy product, then the enzyme breaks down the food so your body is able to digest it.  Not the cheapest at £11.99 a pot, but there often in the Holland & Barrett Penny Sale, where you get a second pot for 1p- bargain!

What I've learnt from this experience- you know your body better than anybody, don't let anyone tell you your fine, when you know your not. If you feel like your not being listened too, be persistent.

AJ x