My Instagram diary #1

Instagram Username: @Anniemacblog

*A surprise gift from Hobbs * Main Stage at IMATS * I passed my exams and got a Merit * A sunny town selfie * My Top 10 Summer Staples * A preview of the Hobbs A/W Collection * First one to arrive at Hobbs HQ * Seeing ducklings on a walk home from college * Home-made kebab day * My boyfriend enjoying a meal at Sloppy Joes * Selfie after a long day decorating college studios * Topshop changing rooms * Babysitting my cousin in the local park * Decorating my bedroom wall with old memories * Last full day of Art Foundation with my besties * Trying to get a tan (failing) *

Considering I'm obsessed with Instagram I was surprised to realise I had never done an Instagram Diary! I love to see what everyone has been up to and following all my favourite brands. Here is a small collection of my Instagram images from the last couple of weeks. If you enjoy this kind of post then do let me know and I'll keep doing them!

Feel free to check out and maybe follow me on instagram to see all my photo updates!

HOBBS A/W14 Collection Preview

Whilst I am still awaiting my college grade results, I decided to go on a little trip to London where I was lucky enough to be invited to view the Hobbs AW14 Collection and it certainly lived up to it's name. We were let loose in the press room where delightful cakes and Prosecco awaited our arrival.

Ruby from Modus and Hobbs chief designer Jason talked us through the 3 collections and their inspiration. First was the Invitation collection which was probably my favourite, full of detailed and elegant evening wear. There was a lot on emphasis on how these fine evening pieces could be transformed into daywear by adding a textured knit to the equation. Latest Exclusive: Hobbs have now teamed up with the Royal Palaces to allow them access to their archives, which is the root of their inspiration for A/W Invitation collection however its all very hush hush, but once more is revealed, you will be the first to know!

MY FAVOURITES OF THE INVITATION COLLECTION

The Hobbs London Collection; tailored and polished to perfection, this collection was  full of camel, navy and granite coloured tweed jackets, thick pencil dresses and skirts. Perfect for a winter work wardrobe, although styled with a casual tee or some converse and these pieces can easily be put to everyday casual use as-well.

MY FAVOURITES FROM THE LONDON COLLECTION

NW3 is much more playful and casual than the other two collections, mainly for its use of colour. To be honest I was very intrigued by this collection as previously my only thoughts of Hobbs were "classic everyday workwear and elegant evening outfits made for a more mature generation" however NW3 completely smashed through this pre-misconception and showed me that Hobbs also caters for the more "relaxed at home" type of person and for a younger audience as-well.  NW3 was filled with similar styles and trends that you would see in favourite high street stores such as Topshop, Zara, River Island and New Look however you can tell that the clothes at Hobbs are made to a much higher standard.

MY FAVOURITES OF THE NW3 COLLECTION

One of my favourite parts of press gatherings is meeting new people/bloggers!

Here are some of the lovelies I met that day:

Bessie from FashionNoodle

Justine from FashionMixBag

Banke from A Style Diary

Jasmin from What Defines Us

Cristina from ChrissaBella

Tricia from Thread and Mirror

Tolu from FashinateMe

Thank you so much to Hobbs for inviting me to the event! and also a big thanks to all the team at Hobbs HQ for putting on an hosting such an amazing preview! Go check out the Hobbs Site HERE as they have a big sale on right now, and some of their A/W pieces have already started to be released. Go! Go! Go!

(P.S. I uploaded some more pictures from the event up on my Facebook Page for you guys to marvel over as-well so go have a look HERE if you're interested)

My 10 Summer Staples

1.Topshop floral shoes
A classy alternative to flip flops, two strap heeled sandals are a big trend this S/S14 along with jelly shoes (I own a pair and they are still causing blisters). I love these beauties from Topshop and they are only £32, bargain!

2.River Island mini tote bag
When travelling I hate carrying big heavy bags, so a mini tote or satchel bag is perfect for keeping little essentials safe. Also these adorable pastel colours are too hard to ignore! £30 at River Island.

3.Boohoo v neck cami

Camisole's are so simple but can start off any outfit, making them a must for summer! Stick to Monochrome colours as these can be paired with absolutely anything. Team it with any of these staples for an effortless but chic look. You get this particular cami from Boohoo for £8.

4.Topshop skinny ripped jeans

If you don't want to wear shorts but want to rebel and show some skin, ripped skinnies are for you. They add attitude to an otherwise simple outfit but still manage to look effortlessly chic and casual. You can find them at Topshop for £40.

5.Topshop white scallop jacket
I was really drawn to this beautiful scalloped jacket from Topshop. To keep it simple and as a staple I stuck with a classic white (my own rebel from black jackets), this allows the jacket to be paired with many different colours and textures. Tip - If you are pale (or are not blessed with luscious tan skin) pair this jacket with jewellery or the white will swallow you whole! £55 for insta-class.

6.Zara asymmetrical hem sweater

For days when it's a bit too chilly to wear a cami but too hot to wear a jacket, we have the thin sweater. Comfy and casual approved it looks perfect paired with ripped jeans, disco pants, shorts or even a skirt. £15.99 from Zara.

7.Topshop denim jacket

A classic here! The denim jacket has been a summer staple for years and for a good reason. Looks best paired with a dress or just anything that doesn't already include denim (i've never been able to understand the double denim trend).A classic denim jacket at £40, yum!

8.Reiss black velvet skirt

Simple and Classic; the black skirt add's class to any outfit. It also slims down those bum's and tum's we don't always want people to see. Paired best with a white jumper, cami or coloured top you can get this lush skirt from Reiss at £125.

9.Charlotte Russe skater dress

The white dress can be paired with pretty much anything, it's innocent, it's light, it's dainty and most of all adorable! One of my favourite trends of the moment because you can do so much with it. This beautiful skater dress is $34.99 (or £20.60 sterling)

10.Zara floral print skirt
I love but also loathe this trend. Midi skirts are back! The one I picked out is a favourite from Zara for £29.99 in the sale (it also has a matching peplum top), unfortunately due to my hobbit height I cannot wear these wonders *sobs* but theres no denying, Midi skirts are in and trending.

Hope you enjoyed this post, if you did please leave me a comment in the box below!

LUSH "The Comforter" Review

(image from weheartit.com)

To be honest I used to hate baths. I don't own one and I never saw the benefit of one until I found "The Comforter" in my Local LUSH store. I had to head over to my boyfriends house to use this as none of my family own a bath!

"The Comforter" is a bubble bar made from Cassis Absolute (a fruit that smells very similar to blackberry) and Bergamot Oil.

Firstly it's a long lasting product as you only have to use about a 1/5 of it to get lots of bubbles.

Secondly it's easy to use as all you have to do is crumble the bar under your tap and voila! Instant fuchsia bubble bath.

Another thing to note is that its one of LUSH's best scents, it's quite a fruity smell (similar to  blackcurrant)and it's my personal favourite scent.

Would I repurchase?

Definitely, as it's my favourite product from LUSH so far.

Score: 5/5

You can buy it from LUSH here at £4.50 a bar.

Go give it a try and tell me what you think in the comments! Also I was thinking of videoing bath bombs, bubble bars etc on my Instagram so you can see what it looks like before you buy, do you guy's like this idea? or am I mad?

LUSH Ocean Salt Review

(image from wehearit.com)

As I am rather poor at the moment i've resorted to collecting samples from my new favourite shops, LUSH. Recently I picked up a sample of Ocean Salt as I had heard some rave reviews about it and wanted to try out new products. Ocean Salt is an exfoliator made with lime, sea salt, and vodka meaning it's especially beneficially for spot-prone skin! I would only use this exfoliator once a week as the sea salt can become quite harsh on the skin and irritate it. 

Would I repurchase?

No because it is a little too harsh on my skin, but if I had a massive breakout this would be my go-to exfoliator. 

Score: 3/5

Give it a go and see if it works for your skin. You can buy it from your local LUSH store at £13.25 a pot. Leave me a comment on your opinion on Ocean Salt and recommend some LUSH  products I should review as Im still quite new to the franchise.