Dubai lookbook

I didn't take pictures specifically for a blog post but I thought I'd incorporate it with what I did on my holiday. It was so hot most of the time was spent inside but if any of you have been to Dubai or countries with similar cultures you'll know that people there aren't used to seeing women uncovered so I tried to cover up to avoid all the stares. This was mine and my boyfriends first holiday together so we packed in as many things as possible.

So firstly we went to the shopping mall and went bowling. I wore an off the shoulder top from primark £3.00 (It also comes in white) with loose high waisted trousers from a shop in dragon mart.

This picture is of us in the biggest sweetshop in the world that's located in Dubai Mall. I'm wearing a miss selfridge crop top (£8), zara trousers (£25.99) and topshop sandals (£30).

Next is me on the podium at ferarri world wearing a white topshop shirt (£10), black shorts and mint green vans. 

The day we went to Alain zoo and up the mountain was by far the hottest day but  I still had to make sure I was covered properly so I wore a pashmina over my shoulders too. The top was from new look  as were the sandals (£15?) and the trousers were from Dorothy Perkins (£5).

In the picture below we went up the Burf Khalifa (the tallest building in the world). I was wearing a white lace dress from Topshop with my brown Topshop sandals (£30) along with my pashmina and Michael Kors handbag.

I look like such an idiot in this picture and have no clue why I was looking at the camera in this pose but I was. Here we were on a boat which travelled along the creek as we had dinner.  I was wearing a Miss Selfridge top (£10) and my black shorts with my black new look sandals.

This final picture is from our two year anniversary. Callum took me to the Burj al Arab for afternoon tea. If you get the opportunity I would 100% recommend going. The seven courses were amazing and I really hope one day I have the opportunity to go again. Here i'm wearing a red dress from Zara (£15.99) and chunky sandals from Primark (£10).

I hope this gives some ideas and inspiration for other peoples holidays even if most people have already been on theirs

Amy x

Dubai Haul

I wouldn't say I went overboard on my holiday shopping, my boyfriend definitely did. I was actually surprised with how little I came home with but as always it was a struggle to repack my case as much as it was to actually pack it in the first place. Yes I am that person who has to pack an outfit for each day of the holiday and especially if it's going to be 50 degrees. Everything I bought was in dirhams but I'll tell you the prices anyway incase you're visiting.

The picture above contains all of the items I bought for my room as I've recently moved rooms because we had an extension built. I chose to paint it light grey and have white furniture so I can jazz it up with decorations and it doesn't matter what colour they are. At the top is a piece of art made out of leather (60AED). I picked this up when we went to the heritage museum which was really interesting, containing information about the history of Dubai. The seven camels represent the seven sheikhs of the UAE. I am currently on the look out for a frame to put it up on my wall.  I chose this cushion (44AED) above from Fakih collections Antiques Museum because I think it's beautiful. If you're ever in Dubai this is the place to go and get all your souvenirs as everything is in one place. Finally just on the right is a metal postcard, I have an obsession with collecting postcards wherever I go. I never send them but I like to put them in my scrapbook. In this case I can't so this is another piece to decorate the wall with.

Next are a few bits and bobs. I got the two pouches as I thought they'd be useful to put in my bag and keep small things together so like chewing gum or make up etc. The camel one was from the textile suke (4AED) I think? and the pink one along with the keyring were from the Fakih Collections Antique Museum.

I bought the saucepan and frying pan from Daiso (9AED each) because one they're mini, two they're pink and three they're cute and I couldn't leave them there. I'm not sure how much food I'll exactly get in them but at least I can make mini pancakes. I then got the giraffe salad scoop things (10AED) from Fakih Collections Antique Museum because giraffes are my favourite animal and I find it hard to resist anything with a giraffe on so I just had to pick them up. Lastly there's the car air freshener (19AED) from lifestyle. I currently can't drive and don't have a car but as my test isn't far away I thought I'd prepare for the future somehow. These do smell amazing though, my mum's got one in the car and it's really strong so does what it's there to do. I've got mine in Vanilla but there are loads of other scents to choose from.

So moving on to my toiletries/cosmetics. I can't stress how many times I've been into Bath and Body Works. It is one of my all time faves. I have about 10 of their mini hand sanitisers but  haven't ever walked out with anything else. Both my mum and nan love them as they're so handy and come in every scent so I guess it runs in the family. This time I set out to buy matching shower gel and hand soap to look cute in my en suite but they didn't do the hand soap of my favourite shower gel scent (Amber blush 70 AED) which messed that one up a little so I ended up with these two above. They're fresh and the hand soap (Midnight pomegranate 40 AED) is a little fruity which is all you want when you leave the bathroom smelling your hands. That kind of sounds weird but everyone does it if the soap smells good. Hiding up the top there is my first ever NYX purchase from Lifestyle. I love this product! It's so nourishing for your lips but buildable for a more pigmented colour. It doesn't last all day but it's similar to a lib balm, once it sinks in it's gone but I like that it does two in one. 

How can you expect me to go into the worlds biggest sweetshop and come out with nothing. You're right, you can't. I could literally spend all day in Candylicious. Every time I go I bring back a bag of jelly beans that I've never tried before so I thought I'd carry on that tradition and this time thought I would try some more things out. I got the birthday cake m&ms (9AED) to try but I'm not too sure what they're going to be like, I guess I'll find out soon. As goes with the desserts flavoured skittles (9AED). I have never ever seen these before. Unless I'm blind I don't think we have these in the UK either. We're so boring when it comes to food really. And last but no means least are the two Airhead bars (9AED each) at the back. I've only ever tried raspberry and cherry ones I think before and they were nice so I thought I'd try some other flavours but the ones I found were no normal ones, they have 2 in 1 bar! I have one strawberry & watermelon and a pink lemonade & orange to try so I'll find out soon if they're good enough to repurchase 

Amy x

June Restaurant Review

Last week was such a busy week as it was my birthday so I only had time to write a quick post and decided this week would be a longer one. I had such an amazing day and would like to thank everyone who made it so great. There was so much food and this is the reason for this post. I thought I would use this as inspiration to review places I've been to eat over the last month. I hardly ever eat out so this month has been a shock to the system haha.

So first up is FIVE GUYS. My sister had visited with her friend and said I had to go, so the next time we went to London with mum we went there for dinner. The portions are massive! I ordered a little burger and small fries and still had a bag full after. The fries are the best I have ever had (maybe the same as sweet potato fries). They're cooked in peanut oil and that must be the magic ingredient. They don't just taste of potato or salt, they have such a nice taste. I really can't describe it so just go and try them. They also have a station where you can pick up peanuts and take them to your table and a station to refill drinks. It has nearly every flavour you can think of from strawberry lemonade, peach lemonade to orange coke. I do, however much I love this place, recommend avoiding here if you're allergic to nuts for obvious reasons.

Secondly my boyfriend took me to Buddies in Northampton. If you like american food you'll love this place. They have about 70 burgers on the menu so there'll definitely be something you like. The portions were massive and the service was amazing, our food was out within about 10 mins. You do genuinely feel as though you're in America as it was just like a diner with the traditional seats, decoration and music. 

Me and my sister have wanted to go to Spaghetti Johns for ages and were lucky enough to be taken for our birthday meal. I loved the food and had lobster ravioli which was soo good. I would definitely go there again. Due to the fact it was an italian restaurant they had a huge range of gellato. This is where my new found love of praline gellato comes from. It tastes exactly like the guylian chocolate shells which are my absolute fave! 

Lastly there's the Harvester. I went there with my friends and had such a good night. I love going to the harvester because it's so affordable, I always enjoy my meal and always leave full. They also do my fave chips (sweet potato fries). I would most definitely consider myself a sweet person because I always look at the dessert menu first. So I'd already decided I was going to have the oreo cheesecake mmm. 

Amy x