Bank Holiday Treat: Fall Back In Love With Dressing Up with Maggio

With many Covid restrictions now lifting across the UK, it's time to fall back in love with the art of dressing up for all those social catchups that you've been missing out on!

I don't know about you, but I feel like I've been living in loungewear for the best part of a year now. I can't even remember the last time that I felt good about dressing up or made the effort to even look in the mirror before leaving the house. Sound familiar? You're not alone. 

Whilst I've enjoyed many aspects of WFH life, I've really missed spending time with friends and family so I've been looking forward to getting back to normal and that includes dressing up. 

Shoes are an easy way to get back into the swing of things and there's something about a fancy pair of heels that really add that special finishing touch to your favourite outfit. I was over the moon when Maggio offered to help me through this style crisis by sending me a pair of their beautiful shoes to make me fall back in love with dressing up.

Maggio describes itself as an 'affordable luxury' shoe brand for women who want to stand out. All of their shoes are handmade in a family-owned factory in Italy, with all of the designs custom made by the brand's founder, Marianna Kontogeorgos. 

I feel it's important to support independent, female-led businesses and when it comes to shoes, you get what you pay for so now's the time to ditch those cheap fast-fashion heels that break after one season, and invest in a pair that will last you for many, many years to come.

I opted for Maggio's new Eudora heels in Navy Blue as so many of my shoes are just plain back, it was lovely to have the opportunity to try something different but still very classic and timeless. 

In Greek mythology, Eudora was the daughter of Nereus and Dorris. She was one of the 50 daughters called the Nereides also known as nymphs who are female spirits of sea waters. It was said that the Nereides were goddesses of the sea's rich bounty and protectors of sailors and fishermen, coming to the aid of those in distress. Nereides are associated with the Aegean Sea where they dwell in the depths in a golden palace.

I'm utterly smitten with these shoes! Not only are they comfortable to wear thanks to classic French-inspired cutout design, but the easy slip-on style and 7.5cm kitten heel make them remarkably easy to walk in and the navy blue and gold design go with a range of different outfits and colours. The suede and leather materials feel incredibly high quality and they feel much more expensive than they actually are, plus the gold underside adds a subtle extra touch of glamour. It's a win all-round!

Available in three colours, this is a Bank Holiday treat that you'll truly treasure having in your shoe collection.

Maggio Eudora Navy Blue Shoes* (€250, link)

What are you treating yourself to this Bank Holiday?

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Holiday Style: Summer 2019 Trends Wishlist #AD

Shopping for new holiday outfits is almost as fun as booking the holiday itself, so I've put together a wishlist based on some of Summer's biggest fashion trends this year to give you a little shopping inspo on this rainy Bank Holiday Monday. 

(1) The Timeless Straw Bag - Hit the beach with this Classic Straw Shopper Bag (£20, link) which features a vintage-esque straw body and tan handles. Straw bags like this are popular every Summer as they have a wonderful timeless charm about them, so they never really go out of fashion!

(2) The Bold Striped Jumpsuit - Jumpsuits have made a big comeback again and I love the bold pattern of this Multi-Stripe Button Through Jumpsuit (£49, link). Super flattering and easy to wear, just add flip flops for a casual look or dress it up with heels for a dinner date.

(3) The Classic Black Jumpsuit - If you want to keep it simple and still get on in on the jumpsuit trend, opt for an all-black number like this Black Button Through Jumpsuit (£45, link) instead. Like the Straw Bag, this is one of those capsule wardrobe favourites that you'll end up wearing all the time!

(4) The Vegan-Friendly Sandals - Vegan shoes are becoming easier and easier to find nowadays, and these Kendra Toepost Sandals (£10, link) are an absolute bargain for only a tenner! The black faux-leather straps and gold chain detailing will go with every dress you wear this Summer.

(5) The Hot Pink Maxi Dress - I love maxi dresses and this hot Pink Vest Maxi Dress (£20, link) looks particularly flattering on olive, tanned and darker skin tones. The tie-in waist adds a cinched-in structure to your silhouette too.

(6) The Bright Graphic Print Maxi Dress - Inject some extra colour into your holiday wardrobe with a bright Stripe Print Maxi Dress (£29, link) in this on-trend graphic style. Flattering for all your curves, the floaty fabric makes you feel like a million dollars!

(7) The Rose-Tinted Sunglasses - Another key Summer trend this year that has a classic vintage vibe, are these ultra-cool Cat Eye Sunglasses (£12, link) with rose-tinted lenses. The nude-light mocha frames also ensure that they'll perfectly compliment all of your holiday outfits.

Shop online for all of these items and more at JDWilliams.co.uk

What's on your holiday wishlist this year?

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Foodie Friday: Easy Scrambled Tofu (Vegan / Dairy-Free recipe) #WeekendBrunch

Brunches are made for long weekends, so why not treat yourself to a special vegan style fry-up and add this tasty Scrambled Tofu to your plate?

A lot of people seem to be scared to use Tofu but you needn't be! My top tip would be to look out for an extra-firm version - all of the major supermarkets now stock this which means that you don't have to press it yourself, so it's ultra convenient if you haven't got much time on your hands. 

The very first time that I made Scrambled Tofu, I was completely dumbfounded by how realistic it looks, and even tastes, compared to real scrambled eggs. I'm a vegetarian, but I've been looking at simple ways to cut down on things like eggs and dairy and this Scrambled Tofu is such an easy swap to try out. It's also a good source of plant-based protein, calcium and iron, and it's low in fat too.

Serve this Scrambled Tofu on some toasted sourdough with your favourite veggies or add some vegan bacon/sausages for a brunch made in heaven!

Ingredients: (serves 1)

• 100g extra-firm Tofu (I used Tofoo)
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric
• Pinch of Smoked Paprika
• Pinch of Ground Cumin
• Drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt & Pepper (to season)

Method

• Open the pack of Tofu over the sink and drain any excess water. Place in a bowl and with a fork, mash up the Tofu to resemble a 'scrambled' egg style texture. 
• Add the Turmeric, Smoked Paprika, Ground Cumin and a tiny amount of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, combining everything together. Let it all soak in for about 5-10 minutes.
• In a frying pan, heat a little Olive Oil and add the now scrambled Tofu. Cook for 5 minutes over a medium heat, making sure to move it around the pan regularly so that it doesn't burn.
• Serve immediately and enjoy!

Are you a fan of Tofu?

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Bank Holiday Beauty Buys: Footner, SOSU Lashes and Sunkissed Tan

Get ready for Spring with these Bank Holiday Beauty Buys from Footner, SOSU Lashes and Sunkissed Tan!

Treat Your Feet: Footner Exfoliating Socks* (1 pair, £19.99, link)

After months of hiding your feet away in socks and boots, it's time to take everything off and let your tootsies enjoy the warmer weather! Being able to slip on a pair of sandals or flipflops is when Spring truly starts for me, and there's nothing easier to prep your feet with than a pair of exfoliating socks. Lots of different brands do these and I've recently been trying out a pair from Footner. 

Exfoliating Socks basically work by saturating your feet in a formula that contains AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) and this helps to kickstart the natural process of shedding dead skin cells. It's an easy and gentle method to remove any unwanted dry skin on your feet by slowly peeling it all away over 7-10 days - it sounds gross, but it works and it's actually quite satisfying to watch at the same time ;)

I slipped on this pair from Footner onto clean feet and left them on for 60 minutes, after which I took them off and rinsed my feet with warm water to remove any residue. Immediately afterwards, my feet felt very soft and moisturised and then around 6/7 days later, I started to see the peeling stage happen (don't be tempted to pick or pull at this dead skin - just let it do its own thing naturally so that you don't cause any damage to the healthy skin underneath). After 10 days, all the dry, hard, dead skin had completely peeled off and I had beautiful baby soft feet, ready for my favourite pair of flipflops!

N.B: These are single use but you only need to use a pair once every three months so they're a nice, luxury pampering treat for your feet.

For Special Occasions & Nights Out: SOSU Lashes* (from £5.95, link)

Bank holidays are a great time to meet up with friends and family, and if you have any evenings or nights out planned, why not use the occasion to try out some new false lashes? SOSU very kindly sent me these two designs to play with and I've been impressed by their overall quality. 

For a full-on glam look, SOSU Premium Lashes in Katie* have a beautifully textured flutter with lots of wispy drama that's surprisingly very easy to wear. They're handmade and feel lightweight on, adding full definition and volume - I love them! If you prefer something more natural looking instead, try the SOSU 7 Deadly Sins Sinful Lashes in Lust*. These synthetic, cruelty-free lashes are also handmade and are crafted from high-quality fibres that deliver a light and flexible finish for a gorgeous, fuller, longer and flirty look. Apply them with the SOSU GLU Eyelash Adhesive* which has a latex-free and waterproof formula, and you're good to go.

Sunkissed Professional Hydrating Jelly Tan in Light-Medium* (200ml, £13.99, link)

I always get excited when I come across a brand new self-tanning product and this one from Sunkissed arrived on my doorstep last month. Their Professional Hydrating Jelly Tan has a really interesting 'jelly' type texture, yet it's made from over 95% natural ingredients, is vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and free from parabens, sulphates, phthalates, silicones and alcohol. The bottle itself is partly made with recycled plastic and features a 'Bio Pe' label which is derived from sugar cane - how cool is that?!

The tan has a handy pump applicator which makes the jelly-like formula easy to dispense. Once applied, it soon transforms into a light gel that quickly absorbs into the skin without any stickiness. There's a bit of a fake tan scent, but it's not overpowering or anything. I left it on overnight to develop for the strongest colour and was pleased to see a streak-free, lightly golden, very natural tan looking colour come through the next morning. Even better, my skin didn't feel dry as it contains Hyaluronic Acid to keep it moisturised - clever stuff indeed.

Will you be doing any beauty shopping this weekend?

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Bank Holiday Weekend: Fruity Summer Cocktails with Pago Drinks

Hope everyone's having a good Bank Holiday Weekend? These Fruity Summer Cocktails will bring some sunshine to your day - even if the weather is disagreeing!

Pago Drinks recently challenged me to come up with some unique Summer Cocktails using some of their premium fruit juice flavours, and I'm never one to turn down the opportunity to indulge in a couple of drinks over the Bank Holiday! They have a large range of flavours available, but I ended up choosing Cloudy Cherry, Multivitamin Tropical and Pink Grapefruit as these appealed to me the most. All of Pago's drinks come packaged in glass so yay for no plastic!

 Cloudy Cherry Gin Daiquiri

How To: Add 40ml Gin, 50ml Pago Cloudy Cherry, a squeeze of fresh Lime Juice, a dash of Bitters and a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker. Give it a good shake and strain into a cocktail glass.

Why I Love It: Gin and Cherry are a flavourful match made in heaven, and Pago's Cloudy Cherry is an excellent fruity mixer with any kind of classic dry Gin. The Bitters and fresh Lime Juice give it a lovely extra kick and zing!

Tropical Fizz (non-alcoholic)

How To: Pour 50ml Pago Multivitamin Tropical into a glass, top with a little Soda Water and finish off with a fresh Strawberry garnish.

Why I Love It: This one's a great 'mocktail' to serve to guests who are designated drivers or are cutting back on the booze. The Soda Water gives it enough fizz to liven it up a bit and brings out the best of these tropical fruity flavours.

Pink Grapefruit & Raspberry Rhubarb Tipple

How To: In a small shot or tipple glass, add a dash of Pago Pink Grapefruit, two dashes of Rhubarb Gin Liqueur and gently stir. Add a few fresh Raspberries to serve.

Why I Love It: I'm always looking for ways to experiment with the more unusual Liqueurs in my drinks cabinet and was delighted to come across this 'happy accident' when I was mixing drinks for friends the other night. The tangy sharpness of the Pink Grapefruit is subdued somewhat by the slightly sweeter Rhubarb Gin Liqueur, but it still manages to retain a wonderful tarty aftertaste.

To find out more about Pago Drinks, visit pagofruitjuice.co.uk

 What are your favourite Summer Cocktails?

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