The Perfect Valentines*

No matter what my relationship status, Valentine's day is a "holiday" I look forward too each year.. Whilst a little corny & yes, I do agree that there shouldn't be just one day to show someone you love them.. I do love an excuse to really over-indulge in all things romantic (whether that's a romantic meal for two or simply lounging on the sofa with a cheesy rom-com).

With Valentine's day fast approaching, Adore Me* have put together some some great hints & tips to help ensure celebrations run as smoothly as possible, whilst catering to all relationship stages & budgets.

I personally think the ideas above would make for a great romantic evening.. Dressing up heading out for some cocktails is my idea of date-night heaven whilst a customised Spotify playlist & new pyjamas would make for the perfect cosy evening in. Plus, who knew Orange roses represented passion? I'll definitely be passing that bit of information along!

What do you think of Adore Me's Valentine's tips?
I'd love to know in the comments. 

xxx

Autumn Date Nights*

Whether with best-friends or loved ones, date nights (or days) are always fun. There really is nothing better than heading out & spending some much deserved quality time together. However deciding what how to spend date night can definitely be challenging. Sure heading to the cinema or for a meal is fun, but sometimes the best memories are made when things are mixed up a little. So I was inspried by Turo* to think of ideas to "shake-up" date night & put together four ideas of different dates that are little out of the ordinary.

Pumpkin Picking: 
With Halloween quickly approaching, pumpkin picking seems like a great way to spend a date. Instead of heading to the local supermarket, a quick search on Google brings up local farms with Pumpkin patches - some even offer themed events that are pretty reasonably priced.

Statley Homes: 
Statley Homes aren't something I'd have considered for a date until I visited one myself. Photoed above is the gorgeous Hanbury Hall in Worcestershire. Not only are these Homes usually set in acres of stunning countryside to wander around, some even offer extras such as afternoon teas or spa treatments.Want to really push the boat out? Why not rent a classic or rare car to really impress your date.

Harry Potter Studio Tour:
Whilst slightly on the pricier side (tickets start at £35.00) the Warner Brother Studio Tour is a great way to spend a date. Not only does the tour offer the chance to view the actual props & sets  (who doesn't want to visit Diagon Alley?!), it also allows visitors sneak-peaks at various special effects used. Perfect for any Harry Potter fan.

Sea Life Centre's:
With locations all over the U.K, a Sea Life Centre is one of my favourite places & somewhere I would love to go on a date. Not only does visiting one of these aquariums offer the chance to see many different types of marine wildlife, it also helps support The Sea Life Trust - a charity dedicated to protecting marine wildlife & habitats. Plus - if you fancy paying a little extra - many centres offer VIP experiences such as feeding animals & behind the scene tours - perfect for that extra special date.

Adding a little extra something to a date is a great way to make special memories with friends & loved ones. As I mentioned above, a great way to mix things up is to rent a car. Turo* offers customers the chance to rent cars from a community of local owners. These range from VW camper-vans (for a picture perfect road-trip) to Telsa's (for a little extra luxury). Whatever you're looking for renting a car is a great way to add a little something special to a date night.

What's the best date you've ever been on?

I'd love to know in the comments. 

xxx

Date Night With Adore Me*

If there's one thing I love, it's date night. Whether it's a night with a loved one or time with the girls, there's nothing better than that quality time together.  So when Adore Me* asked me to put together my ideal "date-night outfit" I immediately jumped at the chance.

Embellished Mini Dress - Asos - £35.00 [x]

As soon as I spotted this dress on Asos I knew it had to be featured in this post. Not only is the fit and flare of the skater-style a personal favourite of mine (perfect for covering any pesky lumps & bumps) the delicate floral embellishments add the perfect amount of flirty fun.

Lidia Push Up Bra Set - Adore Me - $39.95 (roughly £31.00) [x]

Whilst it may not necessarily be on show for all to see - an extremely important part of any date-night  outfit has to be a gorgeous bra set. The delicate floral lace from the Adore Me Lidia Push up Set would easily create the perfect base for any date-night look.

Glitter Clutch - Skinny Dip - £15.00 reduced from £40.00 [x]

Skinny Dip are very well known for creating items that stand out from the crowd - & this statement clutch is no exception. In my opinion this is the ideal bag for this look as it's not only gorgeous but the jewels also perfectly compliment the Asos embellished dress.

Marble Block Heels - New Look - £22.99 [x]

For me the perfect date-night shoe has to include a chunky, block heel. Not only do I find them heels much easier to walk in (especially after a few date-night cocktails) I also love the "marble-effect" on these New Look shoes.

If you're looking to put together the perfect date-night outfit, be sure to check out the gorgeous selection of sets from Adore Me* - a company that believes "lingerie is the most intimate expression of style" (which I couldn't agree with more!).

What is your ideal date night outfit?

xxx

Friday Date Night

If you read my previous post you'd have seen how I was glamming myself up for Friday afternoon date night. As I mentioned, my boyfriend tends to work over the weekends so I booked Friday afternoon off work & we decided to treat ourselves to much deserved some time together.

Instead of going for a meal and/or drinks we decided that we wanted to make the most the time by doing something fun and a little different. Hello Sea Life Centre! 

A few of my favourite shots from the day..

We're lucky enough to live within walking distance of one of the National Sea Life Centre locations & have been meaning to visit since being at university. Whilst it's not your typical romantic date it was honestly one of the best afternoon's I've had in a while.. 

It was adorable to watch all the animals swimming around & having the chance to learn about the different species (who knew sharks have been on Earth since before the dinosaurs?!)..  But above all, there was something so calming about the whole experience. I can get a little nervous when heading into a new situation, but a combination of the atmosphere & watching all the fish/sharks/penguins etc. swim around instantly relaxed me. Perfect after a long & stressful week in the office! 

Whilst I appreciate that not everyone lives as close to a Sea Life Centre as I do, there's still a chance that one may be one near by. There are 12 Sea Life Centres dotted around the UK & another 34 located across the world - this includes America, Italy & Thailand. Click here to view a complete list of centres worldwide. 

Although romantic evenings will always have a special place in my heart, it's pretty safe to say that I'm looking into  more fun/exciting ways to spend date nights! 

What's your favourite way to spend a date night?
xxx

Friday Date Night - FOTD

Anyone who works full time will understand the sheer joy that any annual leave brings.. especially when that annual leave comes on a Friday.

As my boyfriend tends to work over the weekends, I decided to book Friday afternoon off from work to enjoy a "date night" style afternoon together. After getting dolled up for the afternoon - & feeling pretty satisfied with how my make-up turned out - I thought this was the perfect excuse to put together a Face Of The Day style post. 

Products:
(Not used in this order.. obviously)

Moisturiser: Olay Essentials Complete Care Sensitive [x]

Foundation: MAC Studio Sculpt in shade NW15 [x]

Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder [x]

Mascara: Maybelline "The Falsies Volum' Express" [x]

Under-eye Concealer: Rimmel Wake Me Up [x]

Blemish Concealer: Collection Lasting Perfection [x]

Bronzer: Rimmel Natural Bronzer [x]

Eye Brows: Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in shade Hazel [x]

Lipstick: Make-up Revolution in shade "Rebel Without A Cause" [x]

My personal favourite part of this make-up look is the lipstick shade. Although I haven't built it up to the full colour potential, I love the pop of colour it adds to an otherwise neutral look. 

Have you tried any of these products?

If so, what are your thoughts?

xxx