Getting floral with Shopical.co.uk

Summer is here! I can finally say that without hesitation as the near 30 degree heat over the weekend proved summer has officially arrived in the U.K. Every summer I always find myself saying 'I don't have anything to wear' as I look into my all black wardrobe. But this year with the help of shopical.co.uk, I no longer have that problem.

The team at Shopical.co.uk believe that online shopping should be simple, fun and an activity that should be shared with your friends and family. The site stocks a mix of local and international cutting-edge ‘fast fashion’ and branded clearance goods using localised mobile and web experiences.

So, I was sent the Black Floral Tie Sleeve Cold Shoulder Dress. And words cannot describe how much I love this dress. The first thing that caught my attention were the amazing tie details on each of the shoulders, I really like the attention this brings to the shoulders as well as looking extremely cute. And then when I opened it up and tried it on, it was the deep v-neckline that made me fall in love. I struggle to find a v-neck that is deep enough to show off my bust yet also not too deep so it cheapens the rest of the outfit and this dress does such a great job at sitting in-between. Finally, the white floral pattern with the black background is perfect for someone who always ends up wearing a lot of black - this dress was the perfect summer transition dress. 

 

Other favourites of mine include the Navy Floral Midi Dress and the Blue Stripe Bardot Playsuit.

And if the clothes weren't already good value, shopical are pioneers in social shopping which means you can get your purchases at even cheaper price! So behold...Social Shopping! By simply sharing your purchases with friends and family to Facebook using the unique link on the shopical site you can save further on the already discounted items. So for example the Black Floral Tie Sleeve Cold Shoulder Dress is usually £23 but by sharing it on social media it goes down to £18.

Until the end of July, I have my own discount code 'MAYA20' which can be used on all purchases from shopical.co.uk.


#shopshareandsaveonline

Mx

Barcelona photo diary and my top tips!!!

My 5 top tips for exploring Barcelona:

1) Park Güell. 

You cannot go to Barcelona without visiting one of the major works of art by Gaudi. The official website of the park advises you to book your ticket online to avoid the crowds. BUT if you get to the park before 8:30am or after 8:30pm you can save the 7 euros and explore the park for free at your own risk.

 
2) The metro is your friend. 

Unlike some european cities, Barcelona has a pretty good public transport system with most metros stopping off at all the major tourist destinations leaving you within a short walk of whatever you're trying to find. The only downside is that some parts/lines of the metro close at midnight and as the city has banned Uber, it can make it difficult to get home or just give you another excuse to have another jug of Sangria. 

3) The shopping.

Of course you're going to head to Passeig de Gràcia, THE place to shop and with the country being the birthplace of Zara expect to spend a lot for less. Everyone knows the likes of Zara and Pull & Bear etc. are much cheaper in Spain than in England. The giant Spanish fashion brand sells clothes in its native country 39% cheaper than here, so wait until you get there if you’re planning on buying something.

4) Don't fall into the category of being a 'guiri'. 

A.K.A tourists who spend their time walking up and down Las Ramblas drinking (overpriced) watered down sangria and eating dodgy paella. Las Ramblas is a great tourists spot but do not, I REPEAT do not spend any money on that street. Take it from someone who got ripped off, your best bets include the hidden corners of the Born and the Gothic Quarter. 

5) Misc.

a) MACBA (Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art) is the place to go for all things 'cool'. From watching the skaters to the “calle Joaquin Costa” where you can see some street art. b) Hunt for bargains at the Mercat dels Encants (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays only).















































Mx

Maya's thoughts on Maya's Light Collection.

You know you've made it in life when you have a jewellery collection named after you. Well, unfortunately I don't have one named after me, we just happen to share the same name. And it so happens that the 'Maya's Light Collection' from ChloBo has some of the most beautiful pieces of jewellery I've ever seen (and coming from a girl who is very picky with jewellery, that's a compliment). The Maya's Light Collection is inspired by a collection of travels and experiences within the Peruvian Jungle and a story of spiritual awareness and new beginnings. I love the fact that this range empowers women, as the Maya's light woman has a gentle soul, strong heart, is grounded, feminine and appreciates simple truths.



The lovely stack pictured above is called The Serenity Set of 5 Stack and retails at £390 on Lance James. Whilst only the best quality mixes of 925 Sterling Silver and rose gold are used to create the stack, the addition of moonstone to bring about hope and intuition is what transforms the stack from just a pretty, well fitting bracelet to a meaningful, pretty, well fitting bracelet. I also love the fact that each of the different charms on the stack all have their own separate meaning.





The Serenity Stack features 5 bracelets all with different meanings:

Mandala Tassel Charm - The tassel distracts all evil and negativity.

Triple Open Heart Charm - Heart = Love

Lotus Charm - The Lotus flower represents purity, hidden beauty and truth.

Star in Star Charm - The well known 'wish upon a star' line resonates with this charm as the star is known to help bring wishes to life.

Mandala Disc Charm - The Mandala is a symbol of harmony, completeness and unity.

More information can be found by clicking this link....










Outfit ideas. 

The rose gold colour of the bracelet is great for accessory matching in an outfit. What do you team gold with?...Gold!!

I paired my gorgeous stack with a on trend gingham/frill skirt, a simple grey top and the 'Balmain-esque' blazer featured in my previous O.O.T.D and to finish it off, a chunky black belt with gold detail. Perfect for summer!






All items are available to browse and buy on the brand new website of Essex jewellers Lance James and the code MAYAP10 can be applied for 10% off your next purchase (Don't say I'm not good to you).

Mx

Anatomicals review.

There's nothing more I love than a good skincare routine. It's around the months of May/June when University exams take over,so I find myself taking time out on the evening to pamper myself. Not only does this relax me but also avoids the 2 hours sleep I've had from the previous night showing. The latest of my skincare ventures was with the brand Anatomicals. I've heard of Anatomicals before and have previously used their Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up Under Eye Patches on nights out. And as the saying goes, once you find something that works - stick with it. As I was so eager to try more of Anatomicals products, the PR team kindly sent me some over.

There's no denying the one thing that stands out about their products is the amazing packaging. Anatomicals claim to 'manufacture the world's funkiest toiletries' - and that they do! Lets take a minute to appreciate these amazing tongue-in-cheek product names. I love how quirky the brand is and best of all its affordable starting from just £3.









I feel like facial scrubs have lost the recognition they deserve. With clay masks and peel off masks taking over, the traditional scrub mask will always have a place in my heart. Firstly, this Get outta my face dirtball apricot face scrub smells great! Anatomicals are paragon free and use only the best ingredients, so don't have any chemically smells. The ingredients are also all free from animal testing so if the smell doesn't win you over, that will certainly do so. And the exfoliation I got from this mask was incredible - my skin felt so smooth and hydrated after I washed it off with warm water.

The only thing I can complain about regarding the coconut and mango body location was that there wasn't enough of it. Although 100ml is a good size if you're travelling. Another great thing about Anatomicals is the fact they do a Look Hot & Globe Trot travel set with all the essentials required to keep looking fresh on any type of trip - something I will certainly be purchasing this summer.



I'm not usually one to get a lot of spots(touch wood) but I've had a few tiny little pimples come up with all the stress of final year of Uni. So a couple of nights ago, I started using the
Night And Day Spot Zapper religiously. I love the fact that it has a day and night option as with a lot of other spot serums - I'll put it on in the night then still wake up with the spot in the morning and just cover it up with makeup in the day, without really addressing the problem. But with this miracle wand, I found that the aggravation of the spot reduced almost instantly as it brought bacteria to the surface(look at me getting all zit term technical).



If you wear quite a lot of matte liquid lipsticks, then you will know they can be quite drying so one thing which I'm always on the hunt for is a good lip balm(I seriously have about 3 in my bag, but can never find one when I need one). When something says 'balm' you don't expect the texture to be glossy - but I was pleasantly surprised by the never lose your cherry lip balm. The fact that it has SPF  in and stays on your lips for a long time leaving them look looking plump and soft also goes down a treat.






After relying on the Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up Under Eye Patches for a number of years, I wanted to 'upgrade' and try the No Old Bags Allowed Eye Gel. With this product a small amount goes a long way. The refreshing, light, non-greasy eye gel contains arnica and orange flower water – both essential ingredients for wide eyed. But it wasn't really an upgrade as this product is just as great! After a couple of 19 hour days trying to get my last piece of University work done, this was thoroughly needed. It is also great to use under make up as it sinks into the skin almost instantly whilst de-puffying any eye bags.



So generally, Anatomicals have some pretty amazing products with some pretty cool packaging. You can find Anatomicals for sale at Superdrug and ASOS.com. They also have a fantastic set of social media pages for you to check out.

Twitter

Instragram

Facebook

and of course www.anatomicals.net

Have you tried Anatomicals before and recommend a product that you can't go without? Comment below! 

Mx 

NB: This post was a collaboration with Anatomicals. However all opinions are honest and my own.

O.O.T.D. - Polkadots & Purple

So, I found a purple wall.

The Balmain style Blazer : Primark (For those who can't spend over a grand on the original)

Blouse: H&M 

Denim Skirt: ASOS.com 

Bag: Primark (I bought this when I was in Germany, however have found a similar style)

Shoes - Primark (You're most thankful for Primark when its raining and you don't want to ruin your Michael Kors Suede boots).

Windswept hair - my own.

 Mx