h&m

Favourite places to eat in Nottingham,UK

IMG_2033

First loves let’s talk about this bag, if you follow me on Instagram then babes I warn you, this is going to be all over the place. I adore it, like completely and utterly love it. I’ve wanted a black tote bag for ages and as I knew it needed to be an investment, I wanted it to be amazing, and this gorgeous Lille-tote bag from the brand Rox and Ann certainly is amazing. The quality of the suede and leather is just so beautiful. Also loves up the 11th of May you can use my code ‘gracesurguy’ for a 50% discount off the Lille-tote bag collection, what a flipping good discount.

I’ve also got so much love for a oversized linen blazer at the minute and this one from H&M is perfect. I also adore a pair of red flared trousers, and I’ve realised that these trousers are the most worn pair of trousers in my wardrobe, something I never expected when I bought them, but they really do go with everything.

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

I live in Nottingham in the UK, and I just wanted to give you guys an overview of my favourite places to eat in the city. Whether you guys live here, study here, or are just visiting at some point.

  1. The Alchemist

This a very newbie restaurant/bar in Nottingham which I visited for the first time for brunch on a Saturday, and man was it good. My fiancé and I had the American style pancakes (yes that included bacon) and it was seriously amazing.

The restaurant/bar itself its really decadent, and this is certainly reflected in the cocktails. My fiancé (never one to shy away) ordered a bubbling gin cocktail that really was a work of art and tasted amazing. It’s the kind of cool place that you want to take your friends to for brunch at the weekend, but also drinks on a Saturday night.

What I also have to say about The Alchemist is the service was so good, the guys were really attentive (but not too attentive, you know what I mean) and made sure we had everything we needed.

Find the link to the website/directions here

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

  1. Bar Iberico

This is my absolute favourite place in Nottingham for tapas, and if you go at lunch time they have the most amazing lunch time menu called the menu rapido, its under £10 for the most amazing quality food and you really are full afterwards.

It’s the perfect place to take your family or partner for a yummy lunch, and a glass of wine (obviously).

My fav things to get are the beetroot carpaccio, orange, goats cheese walnut and the crispy chicken and spicy Jerez Sauce, soooooo yummy!

Link to the website/direction here 

  1. Edin’s Kitchen

So I feel like this is my secret little gem of a restaurant hidden in Nottingham’s city centre. This little multi-cuisine restaurant is so reasonably priced it is almost unbelievable. All meals are freshly cooked and although the menu is not huge (which is why I guess the prices are so reasonable!) there is such a good choice for meat/fish/veggie/vegan or whatever your diet choice because you know these guys will cater for it.

Plus the atmosphere is so relaxed and chilled, it really does feel like its everyone’s best kept secret.

Edin’s do not currently have a website but find them here on Facebook

Grace

Xx

Black leather & suede tote bag – Rox and Ann

Linen oversized blazer – sold out similar – H&M

Red flare trousers – sold out similar – H&M

White platform trainers – Superga C/O Nobody;s Child

 

My So Shape diet challenge

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

Hi babes, so I recently had the opportunity to work with So Shape which offer a diet plan (you guys can get 10% off both the 14 day and 28 day plan with my discount code Grace10), which consists of replacing both your breakfast and your evening meal with a So Shape smart meal. I tired the 28 day plan and got so many many amazing flavours sent through the post, from white chocolate and cookies shakes, to mushroom risotto and pesto pasta, the variety of flavours that are on offer is actually insane, and so important if you are not going to get bored during the plan. What I absolutely love about this plan is there is no calorie counting what so ever, which honestly is a breath of fresh air for me. Also due to the set morning and evening meals, it really does mean that you have a clear plan of how your diet is going to look, and what you are going to eat on a daily basis.

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

But first lets talk about the shakes, I have tried so many diet/protein shakes in my time, and honestly these are the best tasting shakes I have ever had, and I 100% woke up everyday looking forward to my morning shake. So to what you are really here for…my results! So what I want to tell you guys first is that I was most definitely less bloated, and that in itself was such a nice feeling. The area I did struggle in was the meals at night, I was finding that I’d come home a night so hungry that the smart meal was often not quite enough. The good thing is So Shape gave you a list of guilt free foods that you can eat if you are feeling peckish, so there always options there if you are struggling.

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

As with any diet 100% commitment is always needed, and in terms of my performance over the last 28 days I could certainly have done better. I could give you all of the excuses in the world, but any diet is down to how much you commit to it, and how motivated you are. So Shape really do give you all the tools you need to succeed, you just have to want to succeed enough not to pick up that McDonalds for the second time in two days (I didn’t do that badly I promise). My battle with healthy eating and weight less I am sure will be a long one, and it always seem to come last in my list of priorities, but with the kick start I have had from So Shape, I intend it no longer be last on the ‘to do’ list.

For 10% off the 14 and 28 day plans use my cost ‘Grace10’

Grace

Xx

Diet plan – So Shape

Pink jumper- sold out – similar H&M

Raw hem wide leg jeans – Topshop

Trainers – Fila Disruptors

 

 

 

3 things I wish I’d said to my 20 year old self

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

I am so obsessed with anything knitwear from Romwe at the minute & this yellow dreamy jumper is no different. I love the oversized fit and as always a roll neck. I love pairing quite an oversized jumper with wide legged trousers, and these black ones from H&M are my absolute favourites. Then the classic white trainer, is there anymore perfect shoe for a capsule wardrobe? I think not!!

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

I have a 15 year old sister, and as soon as she was born she changed my life, because of the age difference between us, she has always been more like a surrogate daughter than a little sister. There is not much I wouldn’t do for that girl, to make sure she is happy in life. However there is one thing I can and will do. As a 30 year old I fully understand and embrace popular culture, social media, all of these things that are now so prominent in our lives. 10 years ago they were of course less entwined within our everyday life, but the themes are still same. So this is what I would tell my 20 year old self, my 15 year old sister and anyone else who wants to listen.

  1. Love yourself for being you – As young adults, man can you guys be hard on yourself! I was exactly the same at your age and with the rise of social media it’s so much harder for you guys to step away from the idealistic view of the world we are served on a daily basis. Imagine the amount of time we could put into our own self love, if only we used the time we take to beat ourselves up,and tell ourselves we are not good enough. There will always be someone prettier, more intelligent, richer, but you are you, kind, passionate, thoughtful, loving and there is only one of you. Spend time with your friends and family and people who bring you joy and make you feel wonderful everyday. And do not criticise the way you look or your body, look after yourself and love your differences as they make you, you. This image you see in the magazines, Instagram is not real, how can you even aspire to something that is fake? Clothes and beauty are fun but thats all they are, family, friends love are everything.

 

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

  1. Work hard – In your 20’s you have the world at your feet and your whole future ahead of you. Take this time to decide what you want to do and work hard to get there. Whether this is in business or an apprenticeship (which I genuinely think are the best things ever, by the way) or a more creative role. At 20 I fell into marketing, although I felt my role at the time wasn’t my calling I worked hard within the industry and am now in a role that I love, and I know is perfect for me.
  2. Look after yourself – At university, I never ate vegetables, barely ate fruit and very rarely exercised. As your bodies are young they can take this treatment, but you really will feel better if you look after yourself. We all get into ruts where we eat badly for a few weeks, and realise we have put nothing green into our bodies for a while. If you eat well your body will thank you for it and you’ll feel healthier, with more energy and positivity than you can imagine.

I hoped that helped my loves, and remember it takes time to become who you imagined you be, it took me 30 years, but the journey to get there will make you who you are.

Grace

Xx

 

Mustard knitted jumper – Romwe

Wide leg black trousers – Sold out – Similar- H&M

Platform white trainers – Adidas Stan Smith

Bag – APC

How not to make mistakes when clothes shopping

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

I am so obsessed with anything from Shein at the minute & this checked coat is no different, its such amazing quality and only £25!! Not many high street stores offer such high quality at such a low price, so I have been mega excited to show you guys this coat. There are also lots of different versions of this coat on Shein, which is great if you want to see different options of a specific style of coat, in one place. Also I am so into this 70’s trend we are seeing everywhere at the minute, and this pussy bow blouse from H&M is honestly so perfect, I love how it is so flattering due to the nipped in waist. Then to my staple lace-up black skinny jeans from Topshop &  finished off with the cutest pink mules, also from Topshop.

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

Don’t get me wrong I still love going shopping, and not actually planning what I am going to buy, therefore coming away with something unexpected, and as a fashion blogger I think that is important. However to make sure that you do not make a shopping faux-par, and to ensure you actually wear and love every piece you buy, planning is an absolute must. If you guys read my blog regularly then you will know that I absolutely love a list, so what we are going to do is write a list! The first thing I do is go through my wardrobe and look at the pieces I love that may look shabby, maybe broken, or just really need replacing. Then I ask myself these questions, are they staple items in my closet? And will my wardrobe benefit from replenishing them? If so then they go on the list.

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

Then I look for any gaps in my wardrobe, do I have lots of bottoms but hardly any tops, or do I have no dresses and would love a few that I could just throw on when I feel I am lacking in creativity. Then I look at my lifestyle, do I need more items that work for the weekend & for my office job in the week, such as more blouses or tailored trousers, if so then they are added to the list. What I also like to do to make sure I really love the item, is find the item online, screen shot it and then add it to a folder, I then revisit these items in two weeks, if I still want them then, then I will buy them. I hope this helps when you go for your next shopping spree babes, because a bit of planning never hurt anyone.

Grace

Xx

Checked coat – Shein

Pussy bow blue blouse – H&M

Lace-up black skinny jeans –  Newer & better version – Topshop

Pink backless mules – sold out – Similar version Topshop

The perfect checked blazer & 6 things I do when I feel down

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

First to the world’s most perfect checked blazer!! I wrote in an Instagram post early last week, explaining that I think the checked blazer is the piece of the season, and I really think that’s true. This double breasted checked blazer from Shein is so perfect, the fit is amazing, its over-sized enough just to have the perfect dressed down feel, plus it’s an absolute bargain. If you guys haven’t realised yet I am completely obsessed with these red flared trousers from H&M, they literally go with anything, I also love the flared trousers & trainers look.

Processed with VSCO with j1 preset

So babes, this is what I do when I am feeling a bit crappy, when I want to feel a little better about myself and relax. 1. Organise some shiz, just take 30 minutes/an hour to organise what you need too, lunch for next day/pack your gym bag etc, etc, I know it’s boring but it honestly will mean that you are able to relax so much more knowing you’ve sorted all of the necessary things out. 2. Have a bath, I love a bath, honestly, I love it, is there anything more relaxing than sitting in lovely hot, lovely smelling water? I don’t think so! What I would now like to say is that I read a book while in said bath. I actually don’t….I catch-up on Instagram, my message groups etc, if I get behind this is actually something that stresses me out, so I like to take this time to catch up and get some inspiration (which is always fun).

Processed with VSCO with j1 presetNumber 3 is sort my eyebrows out, honestly if I don’t do this once a week I feel like such a scruff! I trim, pluck and dye them myself and it’s just a little thing that I can do for myself, that makes me feel and look a little better. 4. Ring my Mum, just to hear my lovely Mum speak about her day and what she has been up to, always make me feel so much better. Sometimes we just need to reconnect with family and to have a good old catch-up, because really what’s more important that our family. 5. Watch a film with my fiancé, and have a foot rub, I luckily have the most amazing fiancé who spends probably way too much time rubbing my feet (he’s braver than I am) and I love just snuggling up on the sofa with him and watching a good film & completely turning off. 6. Have an early night, I am a complete advocate on getting as much sleep as possible, and I know if I have a really good sleep the next day I’ll feel amazing.

Grace

Xx

Checked blazer – Shein

Red flared trousers – H&M

White t-shirt – COS

Trainers – Vans