A/W Nails: Miss Sporty Check Matte

It's officially winter, forget autumn. Winter has arrived in London.

All of a sudden it's jacket & scarf cold.

Some of my favourite colours during Autumn/Winter are burgundy & maroon. Lip products, nail polishes & clothes.
Recently I found myself being drawn in to Superdrug due to their big 3 for 2 offer on all their cosmetics, nails and lashes and picked up some Miss Sporty polishes. One of them being this gorgeous maroon shade. As part of the 'Check Matte' collection, it applies nicely and dries instantly to give a sleek matte finish, which I love! I've never tried this colour on my nails before but I'm so glad I picked this one up for £1.99.

I decided that I missed false nails so this was the perfect time to test out this new colour. I also purchased another shade which I will share in another post. I've received so many compliments from wearing this nail colour, it's such a different colour for nails but looks so good on. Although real life black girl struggles occur when I grease my hair and touch it which turns the matte nails to shiny, slightly defeating the purpose but hey, still a lovely product!

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

New In: Lipstick Haul

Left: Makeup Revolution Lipstick in 'Rebel With Cause'
Top to Bottom: Primark PS Love Liquid Lipstick in 'Nude'
MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in 'Kooky'
Makeup Revolution Salvation Velvet Lacquer in 'Velvet Rebel'

When it comes to makeup, I just about do my eyebrows nowadays if I have time. However, I've been loving the sudden surge of liquid lipstick products on the beauty market lately. The easy application of a lipgloss with the finish of a lipstick. Perfect! So I've decided that I want to get into lip products more because I can't have carmex as the only thing I use for life. My current favourite lip combo is L.A Girl Lipliner in Cocoa combined with NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in 'Stockholm' which is the perfect nude lip for me. 

I picked up these four products; three from Superdrug and one from Primark. Makeup Revolution has always caught my eye due to their palettes so I gave them a look. The two products I found are pretty similar in their colour which is like a dark fuschia pink, this is probably why the names are similar. One being a lipstick (which smells like Refresher sweets) and the other a matte liquid lipstick (which does not smell nice). The PS Love liquid lipstick, a pinkish nude, was a random purchase in Primark because I wanted to try it out, I don't like the gloss on this one and the brush is tiny so it's hard to apply. Kooky by MUA, a dark purple colour, is something I have wanted for so long now but it's always out of stock in my local Superdrug, turns out they changed their packaging and brought it back again in Marble Arch's store so I was so happy to finally get it. 

I won't go into much detail as I'm not that clued up on these kind of things but if I find anymore I'll be sure to post them here.

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Inspired | Interior Diaries #2

Two things I like when it comes to bathrooms are the colour grey and huge tiles. The tiles in the first image & the ones on the left of the collage above are something I would love in my future home. I love how in the first image they painted the side walls white so it doesn't feel like you're boxed in, opening up the room to more light. Gold accents or wooden aspects here & there add something different & break down the grey overload so it's not overpowering. The clear box sink with the black trim. Omg. I love things that are modern and different. I can't quite figure out how the water would empty out but I want it regardless. Backlit mirrors and plants in the bathroom. So tumblr, but I'm here for it. Looks like I'll be residing in my future bathroom more than I should be. 

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Styling | Denim

Polyvore: teearghh

Denim has been a big trend recently especially during the 70's trend hype.
I've been seeing a lot of high street stores selling different denim pieces e.g. playsuits & jumpsuits/skirts etc.. so I thought why not style some pieces. I got good feedback from my Wireless outfits post so why not.

Outfit 1: Longline Denim Shirt

Kylie Jenner style, as people would probably know it as. I love anything longline because it covers your bum and you don't have to worry about being exposed. A longline shirt is basically a dress so you have the choice to not wear trousers. Paired with some thigh high boots that pretty much makes up for the lack of bottoms. To dress it up add a sleeveless waistcoat & even a cap if the casual look is what you like. This would look great for lunch dates.

Outfit 2: Denim Skirts
If I was a mini skirt person I would live in these skirts with the button up fronts. So many people have been wearing these in different materials but I do love the denim ones.
This would be a great outfit for college/uni. A bodysuit would be great with this skirt as you wouldn't have to do all that tucking in, this lace up one is lovely but you could always go for a more plain one. As this is a more casual outfit I paired it with plain white trainers & a longline beige waistcoat if you are conscious of the skirt length it also adds more colour. This is perfect for casual days out with your girls.

Outfit 3: Denim Dress
 Denim isn't just for casual days it can also be worn out in the evening. There are so many styles of denim dress about, I recently got a shirt dress one from Zara. This shift one is very plain so I went for a statement necklace & silver jewellery to jazz it up a bit. A nice pair of black heels and a black clutch to match makes it perfect for any night out. Wearing denim would definitely make you stand out as a lot of people wouldn't usually opt for it.

Outfit 4: Classic Denim Shirt
This is a wardrobe essential for me. Everybody should have at least one denim shirt in their life. This is definitely one that I would wear. Something to run errands in or just go out but feel a bit more dressed up in. Double denim is something I am yet to try but if you're not a fan of it either you can always switch the jeans up for black trousers. Heeled ankle boots. The inbetween of flats and heels. Find a comfortable pair, I have great vagabond dupes in Topshop, wear them whenever you want to look more dressed up. I don't know what it is about this black cap but I've been so in love with mine lately I want to wear it all the time. Randomly I added this purple liquid lipstick for a pop of colour but each to their own. If you work somewhere where you have choice of uniform this would be a great stylish/casual outfit, just make sure those boots are comfy!

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Flourless Chocolate Brownies

A food post was way overdue.
My snapchat stories & camera roll are always full of food pictures but never do I share any on my blog. I love food but I usually eat it before I have time to do take some decent photos of it. Recently I've been craving something really chocolatey lately & remembered this recipe a friend told me about.

I've never made brownies before but I'm trying to get more into cooking/baking as much as I am into eating lool. So I decided to give it a try. Let me just add I'm not a fan of chocolate,I have to crave it but omg guys, OMG! I could cry happy tears at how great these taste. All cravings satisfied. They're supposed to have a gooey interior and as you can see they are that, chocolate lovers this is really something else. I was so proud of them for a first try I had to get my camera out and snap. I did eat three beforehand but you know, they fit better on the plate that way. Of course. Enjoy and treat yourself once in a while. 

All the walking I did & water I drank during the week made up for this. Just saying.

For the full recipe online click here → Nigella Lawson's Flourless Chocolate Brownies.

for the brownies

• 225 grams dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids)
• 225 grams butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 200 grams caster sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark 3/325ºF. Melt the chocolate and butter gently over a low heat in a heavy-based saucepan.
2. Take the pan off the heat, mix in the vanilla and sugar, and let it cool a little.
3. Beat the eggs into the pan along with the ground almonds and chopped walnuts. Turn into a 24cm / 9 inch square baking tin or, most sensibly, use a foil one.
4. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, by which time the top will have set but the mixture will still be gooey. Once cooler, cut carefully, four down, four across, into 16 squidgy-bellied squares.

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Inspired | Interior Diaries #1

I have a serious love for interior design. My Sims lived great lives because of this. So I thought I'd bring some of my inspiration for my future house (a girl can dream) to my blog. So welcome to the first of my new inspiration posts, starting with some interior design..
I love the simple look for an office. Too much clutter would distract me anyway. These are some of the pins I came across that I really liked. I'm such a simple person so I would keep to the minimal theme. I love the different desks they have; glass, wall-to-wall and the small counter top style one.How fab is the see through desk I need that. Lies. I want that. I think it's clear that an Apple product makes an office look very neat and put together lol but any computer would fit in great. A white room would bring in so much light in the daytime, with a great side lamp to help with all the late night online shopping, I mean working.

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Currently Loving | F21 Love 21 Contemporary

1st Line - Jumpsuit / Skirt / Dress
2nd Line - Grey Coat / Culottes / Waistcoat
3rd Line - Midi Dress / Lace Dress / Trousers
4th Line - Shirt / Playsuit

[linked all items that are still available online but check instore]

Forever 21 has been such a popular store since moving to the UK. I remember seeing pictures of it all over Tumblr before it came here and being excited to go there when it first opened.

It is great for simple pieces and jewellery but a section I have been loving lately is the Love21 Contemporary section. A lot of the items within the store are teenage girl style and casual but this line seems to take a more mature & stylish route which I love especially the colour palette. For the trendy female adult I'd say. I was having a browse online and thought I'd post some of the items that interested me, I have a gift card from my birthday so I might just be heading down there soon to pick something up.
I've linked what's still online as pieces are disappearing fast but check your local store.

What are your favourite pieces from Love21 Contemporary? Comment below!

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Soccer Mom Vibes

One day I will give a full body shot in an outfit post shot on my DSLR...but today is not that day. Sorry.
I literally just shot these photos quickly on Tuesday morning after waking up extra early to do Aunty duties. When I got home I had so much energy I thought why not take some shots of my outfit. By now it's clear that I'm a simple dresser with a basic colour scale. This outfit is somewhere between soccer mom x her daughter. I'm not one to wear hats but when my hair is freshly washed in its natural state, a hat is essential. Adidas is my favourite sports brand clothing wise so I had to have an adidas cap when it came to me deciding where to buy a black cap from.

Anyway this outfit is a simple throw on casual outfit. These skinny joggers from Bershka. Yes! Whoever decided that maybe people wanted to wear tracksuit bottoms without looking like they're about to ride out on the streets. Thank you! Paired them with a basic black tee & my black waistcoat from eBay & of course my black Nike Theas (I seriously need to let them go) and that is how I run errands at 9am.

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Out With The Old, Out With The New

Being a "photographer" I have this habit whereby things have to be perfect visually otherwise it bothers me. So I found myself spending a lot of time in the last month taking photos for my depop. As you can see from the above screenshots of my Depop I have quite a bit that I'm getting rid of and that's just some of the recent stuff. I love this app I've sold quite a bit so far and find it so much easier than eBay when it comes to selling.

I seem to be quite a hoarder when it comes to clothes, I don't know why, I live in black Leigh jeans, basic tops and Nike Theas. I decided now was the best time, post uni post student finance *cries a little* to get rid of a load of clothes. A lot of items are brand new or have only been worn once then never touched again. Such a shame. So now they have to go. If you don't have Depop seriously you need to download it, so many great clothes for good affordable prices as opposed to some RRP.

Follow me on Depop search 'tiaao19' as seen above. UK shipping only.
I'm also starting my new venture on there #SourcedByTee, where if I come across any great items, I buy and then resell them for more affordable prices. So keep a look out for that!

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Pop That

 TOPSHOP Ribbed Popper Crop Top

Incase you didn't catch the drift, this post is named after French Montana's song.

No. I am not ashamed. It was the first idea that came to my head & I went with it.

I seem to be more motivated to blog since finishing uni. I'm in two minds about talking about my uni experience on here but I do feel like the biggest weight has been lifted off my shoulder and things are going to get better.

 

This cute white crop top is one of my most recent purchases. I saw Beauty&TheBlog post about it & she said it was on sale. Next thing I know I was on Topshops website making an order. It's a simple basic top but the popper buttons add a different style to it. It's also a ribbed material which I love more than the plain cotton material. I can pop two buttons without exposing my chest to the world, which may I add, I have decided to give Primark bras a try finally and guys, I feel like a new woman lol. Don't underestimate. I only paired it with my joni jeans because I was just trying it on initially but this is probably how I'd style it. It would look so nice with a high waisted skirt or trousers though, even a button up skirt which i keep seeing everywhere. The top is currently £6 in the sale if it's still available I'll link it above or try to find an alternative.

 

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Sassy Pants

Now if you regularly read my blog you'll notice that outfit posts aren't something I tend to upload. For several reasons, one being that I'm a 'photographer' so it's harder for me to find someone to take my photos, another being I have limited space to do so if I take them myself. Anyways...before I ramble.

 

Come see how Zara sale has blessed my life guys. Have you ever seen somebody wearing something and you go on the hunt for it, image in your mind, come across it and it's on sale THEN you take it to the till and it's cheaper than the ticket price. Well hello to the best £9.99 I've spent in a long time. I have been on the hunt for these particular trousers and popped into Zara last Saturday to return a dress and saw them. The fit. PERFECT. The length. PERFECT. I can't even express how much I love them and how comfortable they are. I've named them my new Sassy Pants because I walked the streets of London feelin' myself. My style has a very basic colour palette; black, white, navy & occasional other neutral/earthy tones so these being in navy is the best thing ever. I paired them with my Topshop boots and a plain black T-shirt. Sad thing is they're not even online anymore but you might see them pop up in your local store so look out!

 

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop



Wireless Festival Accessories

Silver cuff ring - eBay | Tribal Stone Rings - Primark

Hamsa Necklace - eBay | Layered Birthstone necklace - Primark

 

I popped into Primark to pick up some bits in the approach to Wireless and found these really nice tribal stone rings for about £3.  They came in a pack of 5 and went so well with my blue nails. I also wore this silver cuff style ring which I got from eBay for about 99p with my two tier silver ring. I've become obsessed with rings nowadays, I have to remember I only have two hands.

 

My necklace choices were between two so I just chose both in the end. The hamsa hand comes from eBay and I love that it is believed to protect you from evil because we all need that. The leaf and flower gem one is a layered necklace from Primark and the gemstone is my birthstone for my birthday month, December.

 

Clearly I had a thing for blue this day. I wanted it to match the dress I originally planned to wear but it was so hot that day I opted for my  thinner black maxi dress instead and just knotted it to make it shorter.

 

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Tech | Majority Portable Charger

 

What do you do when you're about to go to a long event, your phone is your camera, social media source & music player... well you get a portable charger that's what.

 

I previously purchased a portable charger from eBay, the powerbank brand (posted it here) but didn't feel it did a great job in charging my phone so the second time I purchased one I decided to do a little research into what I should look for. I found out that of the mAh charger determines how much it will be able to charge your device. In order to find one that would give me the best possible charge I had to first check my phone's mAh which can easily be found if you google for example 'Samsung S4 mini battery'. Mine was under 2000 so I worked out that if I got one that was 8000mAh that should work out to at least 3 hopefully 4 full charges.

 

I decided to go for a bigger and better portable charger this time because I was going to Wireless Festival and wanted something that would last the whole day especially with the way Snapchat drains your battery. It has dual charging ports so you can plug in two devices at the same time but of course this will make it drain out faster as well as a LED flash light.

 

[Post Wireless] The charger kept my phone alive for the whole festival. Usually my phone would of died from taking photos and recording but I was able to charge it up a bit during the breaks which really helped. The charger lasts so long it was still on its first 25% when I got home, a bonus that doesn't die so quick. So I would highly recommend it.

(Link)

 

love&kisses, Tee xo

Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Festival Outfit Ideas - Wireless 2015

So I've only ever been to one festival before and this year I'm about to go to another one. Wireless festival is NEXT WEEK and I cant wait, Drake you better turn up! I've never been before but I'm hoping it's not as muddy as the last festival I went to.
I'm still trying to piece together an outfit for the day so thought I'd turn it into a post incase I was not alone in this struggle. I've tried to cover something for everyone & any kind of festival, the items can be swapped with alternatives obviously, colour wise or you might wanna take something from one outfit and mix it with another.

 

Outfit 1:Dashiki/Dresses

This is the one I'm currently leaning towards, I really want a Dashiki and I'm loving the beautiful colours they come in. I've been considering a blue or green one and wearing it with trainers or boots. For this outfit I paired it with gladiator sandals which would look nice with any dress/tshirt dress. If the day is nice why not wear a dress, easy to move around just remember to eb ware when you are jumping around. I also added a small bag to put your things in e.g. glasses, camera, fringed styles are always coming in and out of fashion so I love this black one and finally a green polish to match.

 

Outfit 2: Denim & Kimonos

I'm not one for getting my legs out unless its overly hot & unavoidable. I live in trousers and jeans so this one is for the girls who might wanna dress more casual or if the weathers not looking too great. I chose two different denim styles; high waisted & boyfriend. Pairing both with white bralets, which could be swapped for any colour as well as some light trainers e.g. converse. A kimono is perfect festival attire because they're light and flowy so you won't get too hot with it on. I'm currently looking for some long summery ones as an outfit idea for myself.

 

Outfit 3: Co-Ords/Shorts

Now I'm not a shorts person but it appears that shorts are always a go to item for festivals. If you don't want to go for the usual denim shorts, a great alternative is a pair with a nice print or even going one step further and getting a co-ord. I know Missguided is great for Co-Ords at the moment so check them out. Again a kimono is great to throw on top especially if you're a little self conscious. A good pair of boots should help you trek through the mud without losing a shoe, can't beat a pair of Dr. Martens. I opted for a bum bag for this outfit, if you're not carrying much & don't want the annoying bag on your shoulder this is probably the best thing to go for.

 

Outfit 4: Jumpsuits

First of all I LOVE this jumpsuit. It popped up when I was putting this outfit together on Polyvore. The best thing about jumpsuits is they can be worn through all weather conditions. This paired with a nice shoulder bag and some converse maybe would make a cute summery outfit. Damn I like this even for a normal day. The accessories for this outfit are just colours within the jumpsuit that can be made to stand out more.

 

I can see me still deciding on an outfit next week to be honest. Let's hope that's not the case! Hope everyone that's going to festivals this summer has fun, I've just finished uni so this is my end of education celebration basically. 
If anybody wants me to style a particular item, comment it beow.

 

love&kisses, Tee xo
Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

 

Hair Care: Recommended Products for Natural Hair

These products are recommended based on my experience.
I don't even know if anybody will be interested in this post but I get a lot of lovely comments on my hair so I thought I'd share some of the products I've been using for a while and highly recommend. This post is mainly aimed at girls with afro-textured hair because most of the products are quite oily/greasy & I know they work better on that type of hair from my own experience but are not limited to that audience only.
They may/may not work for all but hopefully for some ...
 

 Organics Hair Mayonnaise (Conditioner)

If you do not have this in your life...GIRL!

This is probably the MOST recommended of all the products I'm going to list.

I use this as a conditioner and let me tell you it has saved my hair in the process. It is great for weak and damaged hair as stated on the front but guys, this does wonders for your hair I'm telling you. I use probably 1/2 or 3/4 of a tub all over my hair (the more the merrier) and then put a plastic cap on top or cling film works too and leave for about 30 minutes. Wash it out and then I'm good to go. It's been really good for my scalp and keeping my hair soft. So I definitely recommend this!

Blue Magic Coconut Oil Hair Conditioner (Grease)

 

Even though it's called a conditioner, this is actually a grease.

We all know by now that coconut oil is great so I'm not surprised this product works well. I just use this when I grease my hair and it is very moisturising and stays like that for a good amount of days. I don't know what else to say about this apart from if you're looking for a good grease for your natural hair this might be the one. I have used this Blue Magic grease for a long time and can say it has been great in keeping my hair greasy for a good few days and not drying out instantly.

 

 ORS Heat Protection Hair Serum (Heat Protector)

This product was actually recommended to me by someone else. Years ago I followed this american black girl on Tumblr and she had such amazing long natural hair so I messaged her asking if she had any tips and she recommended this. Not gonna lie it took years until I actually bothered to buy it but I should have done so a long time ago. Believe it or not I've never used heat protector before this, which means my hair is probably so damaged in places but the first time I used this and my hair went dead straight I was so shocked. It smells good and is oily so it moisturises your hair as well as protecting it. Saves all that greasing the hair before straightening to get it straighter (DON'T do that) I feel like my hair straightens better with this, as well as, using my carbon comb whilst straightening.

 

Organic Root Simulator/ORS Olive Oil Sheen Spray

To end the list, a spray but not just any spray. This spray is the one! I'm pretty sure most black people have this in their household already lool but I'll still include it. I've noticed that when my hair is feeling a little dry I spray this on the ends and edges and brush it through and my hair is softer and easier to maintain. This is great for spraying over hair to add a little more moisture or a little sheen. I sometimes spray it over my bun when I'm done to add a sheen to it but it's also great on the scalp. Also if you have braids and just want to moisture your scalp it says on the tin it's good for that.

Hair after washing vs Hair after straightening

I've listed the products in the order that they would be used from washing hair to styling it. All these products can be found in Paks and other hair shops. If people want any further info on them from my experience, contact me on my email in my sidebar rather than my comments so I can give a direct and thorough response. I'm not a hair expert, these are just my opinions and although they might not work for everyone, every tip helps I guess.

love&kisses, Tee xo
Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop

Spring/Summer Haulbook

I've never done a try on haul before but I've been slowly piecing together my wardrobe for spring/summer. I've accumulated some lovely pieces for summer as well as some casual items for everyday wear and have been waiting to share them. I probably have some more bits to get but for now this it. Links are below as I didn't snap full length views of all items.

Zara Shirt Dress | Link

Zara Floral Two Piece Top | Link
Zara Floral Two Piece Skirt | Link
Sleeveless Waistcoat via eBay | Link
Bershka Camoflauge Trousers | Link
H&M Boiler Suit | Link
H&M Navy Jumpsuit | Link
H&M Slacks | Not online, bought recent
Adidas Tops via eBay| Link

Also apologies for the change of colour in the backgrounds, I've never shot something like this and natural lighting is a pain. Let me know if you like this kind of post!

love&kisses, Tee xo
Portfolio | Instagram | Tumblr | Depop