(Life Through my Lens) via Instagram

This weekend was spent relaxing, catching up with friends and learning my way around my new computer. I've wanted a MacBook Pro for so long and this weekend, I finally got what I wanted and so far, I'm loving it :)

[My new MacBook Pro & the sun setting/moon rising late on Friday]

[Started the day with healthy blueberry pancakes & finished with not-so-healthy Sauvignon Blanc and chocolate]

[The office cat has decided that I'm his favourite and now spends the day asleep behind me -- I don't mind this as long as I'm not wearing black! And an adorable picture of my parents' black Labrador, Poppy]

Overall, a fairly uneventful weekend but thoroughly enjoyed. I'm off to Turkey on Thursday and then, with my friend's wedding fast approaching, I don't think I'll have an uneventful weekend in the diary for a while.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Have a very Happy Monday :)

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Are you on Instagram? You can follow me @MissSamantha25

PS: I was featured on The Ten last Friday, so pop on over to the Yuppy Files to find out ten new things about me :)

Linked with: Ashley

(Something for the Weekend) Date Night

This week for for Friday's Fancies, I'm dreaming big -- the total cost of this outfit would be over £4000! Wow, can you imagine?!

I actually text the boy whilst I was putting this outfit together, wondering what he would want me to wear on Date Night (I said we were going for cocktails, dinner and drinks) and he responded saying "little black dress, heels", so I was on track with my outfit creation. At least we're on the same page but then I guess, what guy wouldn't want a little black dress and heels ;)

Our Date Night is in the diary for July, so this weekend, I will be catching up with a favourite friend tonight, family tomorrow night and relaxing in between -- I cannot wait for 5.30pm to come around :)

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend and if you have a Date Night planned, enjoy every second!

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Linked with: Long Distance Loving

(Thursday's Thoughts) Dreamers

"All people dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the morning to find that it was vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous people, for they dream their dreams with open eyes, and make them come true." 

- D.H. Lawrence -

I believe that I'm a dreamer who dreams by day :)

Isn't that picture dreamy?

One of my very favourite parts of Spring time are the amazing flowers and trees that are blooming all over the place. I can't go anywhere without spotting lines of beautiful pink cherry blossom trees or parks full of  bright yellow daffodils. It is such a happy time of year.

Have a dreamy Thursday :)

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Image thanks to: 1

fit for the gym.

I am a regular gym goer, with Body Pump* being my activity of choice for staying trim and I probably spend about 3 - 4 weeknight evenings in the gym. 

Whilst I was changing for my regular Tuesday night class last night, I all of a sudden realised that I look terrible at the gym! I try to add an element of style to every area of my life (I even like to look nice in bed!) but when it comes to the gym, it would appear that any old thing will do... 

last night's ensemble included: 

baggy jogging bottoms, a vest that used to be white until I washed it with something black and an old, over-sized university jumper! 

Needless-to-say that when I bumped into my friend's boyfriend after my class, I was a little more than slightly embarrassed about my appearance.

So, in true blogger style, I've put together an outfit that I know I would be proud to attend the gym in and I cannot wait to purchase these items (or similar, less expensive items).

Jumper | Vest | Shorts | Trainers

I think that if I had a couple of cute outfits similar to this, I'd be even more motivated to hit the gym and don't even talk to me about those trainers -- I really want a pair!!

How do you stay fit and do you care about the way you look when you're working out?

Have a wonderful Wednesday :)

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*little side note -- I couldn't recommend Body Pump more. Since starting the classes last September, I've never been in such good shape, and that is coming from someone who ran the London Marathon last year. Cardio might be brilliant for your fitness but weights are definitely the way forward if you want to tone up and look slimmer :)

(Colour Collective) Aqua & Turquoise

I never realised how much I love the colours aqua and turquoise until Brynn announced the colour study for this week. I have spent ages looking at images in these pretty colours and I am definitely going to find away to incorporate them into my everyday life.

They are such calming colours -- I always associate aqua with the colour of the ocean when I'm away on holiday and I think this transfers well to the bathroom above, which I always believe should be a relaxing, calming space. 

I think the vespa and the bike look fab in this colour and I would do anything (anything!) to own a Bug just like that :)

What are your favourite colour combinations?

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Linked with: Chartreuse & a Twist

(Life) Through My Lens

April has been a bit of a whirlwind so far and I've been loving every second of it!

Here are some recent snapshots of my life, via Instagram of course :)

Ahh such good memories!

Follow me on Instagram @MissSamantha25

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Linked with: Ashley

(Something for the Weekend) Picnic in Paris

In my dream world (and Friday's Fancies are all about dreaming right?), I would fly/teleport/time-travel my boy over from California and we would go to Paris for our picnic this weekend... ahh, how I love to dream :)

Of course, the weather would be warm and sunny. We would wander around Paris, hand-in-hand, taking in all the famous sites. We would shop, stroll through the old streets, drink coffee in tiny cafes and stop by the river for a romantic picnic :)

Watch | Nail Polish | Bag | Belt | Sandals | Jeans | Top | Hat | Sunglasses | Camera

In reality, I'm not actually doing anything this weekend, other than working out to burn off a few of the pounds that have crept on around my waist thanks to the rather delicious/slightly unhealthy American food I've been consuming over the past ten days :)

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

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Linked with: Long Distance Loving

(Thursday's Thoughts) Feeling Blue

I've just returned from visiting the boy and the daunting prospect of three months apart is now ahead of me/us.

However, there is now a light at the end of our long distance tunnel and exciting times are definitely ahead.

But, it doesn't stop me from wishing I was sill here with him...

... However, I try to stop myself when I start wishing like this. Life is short and I need to remember to love where I am right now and enjoy my life exactly how it is right now. Yeah, I miss him (a lot) but I know we'll be together soon enough and until then, I am going to make every effort to enjoy life just the way it is and stop wishing the weeks/months/my life away until I'm with him next.

This quote sums it up perfectly...

"Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. 

Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy 

in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored."

- Earl Nightingale -

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(Guest Post) Long Distance Loving

Hello--and happy Friday! I'm {av}--the blogger behind {long distance loving} and I'm so happy to be filling in for Samantha while she is on holiday :) She has been participating in Friday's Fancies for awhile now, so I don't have to introduce you to the idea of dreaming up an outfit without paying any attention to a budget. Here is a preppy outfit, suited for a date night in America. Enjoy!

1) Since I know Samantha loves green, the moment I spied this Marc by Marc Jacobs Tate Dress, I knew it had to be the focal point of this ensemble. Navy and kelly green happen to be one of my all-time favorite combinations.

2) Simple and sweet, these Kate Spade Putting on the Ritz Studs allow anyone to sparkle the night away. 

3) This versatile Rattan Turn Lock Clutch from Tory Burch would work with nearly any outfit stowed in a suitcase. It brings a bit of spring with the rattan feel--without being too beachy.

4) To help create a more defined waistline, this J.Crew Skinny Belt would do the trick. It also ties in the gold from the earrings and the clutch :)

5) Keeping up with the navy and green, these Tommy Hilfiger Venice Sandals were the ideal way to pull this outfit all together!

Many thanks to Samantha for having me here today and for being a Friday's Fancies faithful! Have so much fun on your holiday, pretty lady :) xoxo {av}

(Guest Post) Schue Love

Well hello there, I'm Natasha from Schue Love and I'm so happy to be here today, filling in for Samantha while she's vacationing in Tahoe!  :)

I happen to live in Tahoe, so I thought I would share some of my favorite things to do during the spring here!

During this time of year, there is still a good amount of snow, so spring skiing is abundant!  But if you're not much a skier {like me!}...you can still have fun!

 There's snowshoeing...I recommend venturing out the Camp Richardson, where you can show shoe along the lake!

 A must on all trips to Lake Tahoe is visiting Emerald Bay.  The views are gorgeous, no matter what time of year!

And there are some hikes that are open...like Cascade Falls.  It's gorgeous seeing the snow on the mountains!

Once the night sets in, things don't need to settle down!  We have a ton of nightlife and entertainment at our fingertips.  Most of which can be found at the local casinos.

Whether it's dancing, comedy shows, or simply gambling...there's tons to do!

  

As for food, there are tons of great spots for dining and drinking!  Some of my favorites include Sugar Pine Bakery for sweets, Freshies for shrimp tacos, Off the Hook for sushi and Wet Woodies {or Rum Runners}!

If you're ever in the area, please do get in touch...I am happy to offer recommendations!  :)

Thanks to Samantha for having me today! Would love for you to stop by Schue Love and say hi! 

xo natasha

(Guest Post) Style Notes by Laura

Hi everyone! 

It's Laura here from Style Notes and I'm delighted to be stepping in for Samantha while she is away on holiday! I was very excited when Samantha asked me to compile my dream Spring Wishlist - my only problem was narrowing my list down to a few key pieces! But here are some of my current favourites...

Miss Selfridge Dress | Warehouse Blazer | Tom Ford Nail Polish | Proenza Schouler Bag | ASOS Watch | Karen Millen Shirt | Carvela Heels

I've had lots of fun with colour when putting this post together and I can't wait to incorporate it into my wardrobe this Spring! From neon brights to dreamy pastels, there's a fabulous spectrum in the shops at the moment. The watch and bag are great accent pieces, adding the perfect pop of neon. This sheer maxi dress also caught my eye with its beautiful print and blend of colours. It reminds me a little of this Tibi Arizona look that the blogosphere has gone crazy over!

I have been on the lookout for the perfect denim shirt and I really love this fitted style from Karen Millen. It would look great teamed with white skinny jeans! I'm also coveting a pair of pointy toe shoes and I've fallen head over heels for these Carvelas, the bows just make them extra sweet! My wardrobe would not be complete without a selection of blazers and this coral number is just peachy for Spring! Finally, a sugary sweet nail polish is a must to finish off any outfit!

Thanks to Samantha for letting me share my picks!

Have a great day :)

Laura

x

(Guest Post) FEA

Hi I’m Carrie from the Female Entrepreneur Association, Sam’s asked me to step in and write a guest post whilst she’s away in California (I’m not jealous at all, honestly!) 

So, who am I? Well, like Sam, I’m a twenty-something year old girl living in England and I spend my days doing what a love; building the Female Entrepreneur Association. 

I absolutely love, love, love running my own business and being the boss of my life, however, sometimes it can get a little overwhelming! So, everyday I try and take a few minutes out to get inspired, learn something new – do something outside of my daily work/to-do list! I force myself to do this, because not so long ago I began to feel totally wiped out! I realised that it was because I’d get up early and then I’d go to my desk and work all day and I wouldn’t leave! I’d just keep going and going, a lot of the time I wouldn’t stop for lunch, in fact some days I’d still be sat there at 10 o’clock at night and I’d still not eaten properly! It was a bad cycle to be in, because I wasn’t taking a break.

So, I decided that I’d take time out everyday to learn something or watch something new – I find that TED and YouTube are great resources for accessing brilliant videos that you can learn so much from. By taking time out I find that it helps to refresh my thinking, so that when I get back on with my work I’m much more effective. 

I’m a big fan of personal development. I love learning new things about how I can be a better person and how I can do things more effectively. One of the people I love listening to is Tony Robbins and not so long ago when I was taking my ‘inspiration break’ I found a video of him giving a TEDTalk. In the video he discusses the “invisible forces” that make us do what we do. 

He says, “In the last 5 or 10 years have there been some decisions that you’ve made that if you had made a different decision your life would be completely different?” 

He goes on to talk about how important our decisions are and how they change our lives. I thought it was really powerful. 

I really enjoyed watching it and thought that you might enjoy it too. 

(It's Monday) But...

Happy Monday everybody :) Did you all have a lovely weekend? 

I'm currently enjoying myself in California, so this week, I have four amazing guest posts from some really lovely bloggers and the line-up of the week looks something like this...

Tuesday: Carrie from the FEA

My beautiful, amazing and talented sister (who also happens to be the founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association) will be here talking about her journey as an entrepreneur and she will also be sharing some tips on remaining positive and focused on your goals.

Wednesday: Laura from Style Notes by Laura

Laura's blog is definitely my daily source of style inspiration. I love everything from her personal outfit posts (I wish I could be brave enough to do these!) to her Style Stars and she's also from this side of the Pond -- something I love as I don't come across this very often :)

Thursday: Natasha from Schue Love

With Natasha's blog, you really do get an insight into her life and it is one of my very favourite daily reads. I have been following her baby bump grow from announcement to very visible over the past few months and it's crazy to see how quickly it's grown. You also get weekly recipe posts (I've tried and recommend this) and all of this comes with splashes of fashion and a lot of style :)

Friday: {AV} from Long Distance Loving

Well who else would I have filling in on a Friday?! The creator of the extremely popular Friday Link Up My Friday's Fancies.

I've followed and LOVED this blog since way before I even started blogging myself and I'm very excited that {AV} is here for me today.

Long Distance Loving covers everything from loving fashion from afar to travel to interior design and her graphics are absolutely amazing :)

Thank you so much for helping me out this week ladies!

Lots of love xx

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Image thanks to: 1

(Something for the weekend) Flower Power

Dress | Watch | Wedges | Necklace

Happy Friday everybody :)

Being a girl and an absolute lover of everything floral, I really enjoyed putting this pretty post together today :)

Keeping this short and sweet as my vacation starts here!

I hope you all have the most fabulous weekend.

Love xx

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Linked with: Long Distance Loving

(Thursday's Thoughts) Friendship

Isn't that so true?! I love that feeling when you click with someone for the first time and a new friendship is formed.

I get to see my best friend tomorrow for the first time since NYE and I'm so excited I could burst. We will be spending the weekend at Lake Tahoe with our boys, plenty of wine, good food, skiing, hiking and much more. I couldn't think of anything more perfect right now :)

Wishing you all the most perfect Thursday.

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(Travel) This Weekend

Some photographs that are making me excited about the impending weekend and my trip to California...

San Francisco | Lake Tahoe | Yosemite | in'n'out

I cannot wait!!

Happy Wednesday everybody :) 

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First photo, image thanks to

All other images are ©every shade of {green}.

(Colour Collective) Citrus Hues

Today, I am very excited to be linking up for the first time with Chartreuse & a Twist for the weekly Colour Collective series.

With this week's colour theme being Citrus Hues and Spring being here in full force, I've put together a selection of my current citrus coloured fashion favourites...

Watch | Bag | Jeans | Top | Nail Polish | Ballet Pumps | Shorts | Dress

I dream of adding an Hermès Birkin bag to my collection one day and I'm loving Nixon watches at the moment -- this one would brighten any outfit.

The highstreet is full of pastels at the moment and I've been wanting to add a pair of pastel jeans to my wordrobe for a while but I'm undecided on which colour to go for. Following this research, I'm now definitely leaning more towards either pale lemon or lime -- both of which would go perfectly with this pretty green top and these cute lemon ballet pumps.

I can't get enough of orange nail polish -- I currently have this colour on my nails and toenails and I'm loving it. Orange is such a happy colour :)

What citrus hues are you loving recently?

Pop on over to Chartreuse & a Twist for some more citrus inspiration.

Have a great Tuesday everybody :)

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