5 lessons from 2014 | Musings

After Christmas but before the New Year we always find ourselves in a sort of end-of-year-limbo where we don't really know what to do with ourselves and just fill up the days watching films and eating left over chocolates until NYE celebrations come round. Personally, I spent today watching Aladdin and Mulan while simultaneously reminiscing about this past year.  As this year is slowly rolling to an end, I've decided to collect a few well needed life lessons from 2014 and two things that I'd like to improve on in the New Year.

Just do it

So, first lesson of 2014 is: if you want to do something, just do it.  I haven't just stolen that from Nike, I promise, but if there is something you have been thinking about trying out then get up and go do it, no excuses, no 'what ifs' 'buts' or maybe'.  I've learnt that if it's something that you are thinking about and you know that if you were to succeed in it, it would make you very happy, then you owe it to yourself to give it a go. Make plans if you have to, build up the courage to begin your journey and start somewhere, anywhere.

Say what you have to say

Certain personal and world events throughout the year have taught me that it is important to say what you have to say. Ferguson and Eric Garner protests in New York against police brutality have spread right around the world while earlier this year we witnessed protests to save Gaza and recently calls for democracy in Hong Kong with the umbrella movement shows that people are calling out and demanding justice, freedom and democracy. These are only a few examples I can give that represent a wide spectrum of social and political issues and I don't want to take away from the importance of these events but if there is one thing that they have showed me, it is that you have a voice and you can use it any way that you want. Whether this is on a global level, a local level in your community or a personal level among family, friends or anyone else in your life; you have the rights and freedoms to speak what is on your mind, say what you feel and just be honest with your emotions.  

Learn to Listen

So this might contradict the point above but in 2014 I learnt to listen. Ok that sounds really weird because obviously I do listen but what I'm trying to say is to actually listen to what people are telling you, not just spend the time thinking about what you're going to say next. Listen to what people are saying and what they're not saying.  Be wholly present in a conversation, keep your phone in your bag if you have to, and just listen and respond without pre-planning your reply in your head. 

Be spontaneous with your free time

I spent the majority of 2014 feeling bleaurgh and just meh. I don't really know why or how I got to that place but I found myself in such a rut, feeling unmotivated about a lot of things. I remember a particular period just before summer where I spent my free time after exams just staying indoors, not really doing much. I think it can be so easy to let these sorts of feelings linger but the longer they do, the more it can effect your mood and outlook on life. So I learnt to become proactive - I got out of the house, I went for walks both with and without friends, and became more spontaneous with my free time instead of spending it infront of my computer or just 'chilling' at home.  Doing nothing can be nice and relaxing, but making plans, making the effort to meet up with people, hosting dinner nights (if you have your own living space) or just planning day trips away can be even better. The thing is, I knew all of this already, but 2014 made me forget how awesome it could be.

People are people

Growing up I had many diverse friendship groups and I never really paid that much attention to how amazing that was but this past year I've really appreciated that fact. I've learnt that country of origin, race, religion, sexuality or gender really does not matter - people are people and if you click then that's great, if you don't, then you move on. I did my masters this year in International Relations so you can imagine just how diverse my course was and it just made me appreciate my own diverse friendship groups while also making new ones. Some of my best friends are of different races, religions and backgrounds to me and I think that's a great thing. It's great having friends who are similar to you as there are certain things you won't have to explain - they will just understand because they've experienced it too. But it's also a great thing to make the effort to build strong friendships with people who have lived in different situations and experiences to your own. They can challenge you to see the world a little differently or bring a completely new perspective to your life. To me, there is nothing better than being able to broaden your mind. 

What are some big ol' life lessons you have learnt this past year?

Check out my latest YouTube video HERE

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Thoughts on loneliness // Musings

'Negative emotions like loneliness, envy and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; They're big flashing signs that something needs to change' 

 Gretchen Rubin 

I recently read an article about loneliness and how it's becoming a great concern for young people, and shouldn't be seen as something that is exclusive to the elderly anymore. Feeling isolated is often seen as a trait of growing older but now this 'epidemic of loneliness' sees that our 20's are riddled with late nights, lonely days, FOMO, stress, anxiety and maybe even depression. While I definitely don't have these feelings now, I have felt a sense of loneliness in the past during a certain period of time at university and the effect that loneliness, or a certain type of isolation, has on your mental health is striking.  And even then I shouldn't really call my experience loneliness because all I had to do was Skype a friend, arrange a lunch date, a shopping trip, a walk in the park anything simply as a way to force myself out of the house.  Sometimes that's all it takes - the effort to spend quality time in the presence of a friend or family member and more often than not this can be enough to banish the dull feeling of isolation and remind you that you have people, you are not alone.

But what happens if that isn't enough? What if you get to the point where you find that you have no real friendships, just mere acquaintances, no close family members, just mere relatives?  Don't get me wrong, I think knowing how to enjoy your own company and how to spend time alone is an invaluable thing to learn and is often needed in a world of constant communication. Being surrounded with the wrong people in order to fill an empty void is just as bad on your mental health as feeling lonely in the first place. But being lonely for a prolonged period of time in a town, city, school, place of work or, even, the entire world, can seriously affect you mentally, physically and emotionally. And by being lonely I don't mean being single, I mean no close friends, no close family, no close...anyone.  Maybe I'm over-thinking this but it's something I seriously worry about happening to me. I feel so incredibly grateful and lucky to be surrounded by loving, caring and happy friends and family that it's hard to imagine somebody not having the same.  And sure, it is easy to blame things like social media because being connected in the digital world is no substitution for face to face communication, no matter how real it may be. But I think our 20's are filled with great change, growth and maturity which causes you, the people around you and your circumstances to change drastically, sometimes multiple times. Concentrating on education, work, romantic relationships or even starting your own family of course takes up our time and energy and if everyone of your friends are doing the same, it may feel like you're on your journey alone.

Some say loneliness is part of the human condition but, ultimately, we are social creatures - we crave community, intimacy and a sense of belonging. Maybe you had this in the past and don't have it any more, maybe you are still searching for your own community or maybe you have a great close group of people in your life right now.  I'm happy that I can say that I have my own group and individuals who I know I can count on but wherever you are on your journey, if there is one thing I do know, it is that any feelings of loneliness need to be met by action - small steps to finding those that feel like family and more often than not, you won't have to look that far because great people can be found in great places.

What are your experiences with loneliness?

Check out my latest YouTube video: Thoughts on Letting Go

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Wardrobe Basics // Shirts

Print Shirt; Vintage, borrowed from my mum // Black Shirt; Primark //
White shirt; Vintage, also borrowed // Mint green; H&M
Jewlerry; Primark, H&M & River Island

A couple of posts ago I shared some of my favourite cosy jumpers for the winter months and wanted to do the same with shirts as they are my second fashion love.  I have quite an eclectic collection and wanted to show that with these picks; one with some pretty cool prints to add a little SHAZAM to your outfit (yep, that is a word...), a crisp white shirt with small detail to make an office outfit more interesting, a classic black shirt and a mint green one for some colour.  My favourite has to be the white shirt, I just love the small embroidery detail and the slightly large collar which makes it perfect for wearing underneath jumpers with a v-neck or just on it's own, paired with jeans for a casual look or a black skirt for a smarter look. I think that's the great thing about shirts - they are pretty versatile and can be worn for pretty much any occasion.

Are you a fan of shirts too?

Currently, I am loving (taking it back old school)

Usher & Alicia Keys - My Boo (Used to LOVE this song)

Jennifer Lopez - Love don't cost a thing

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

American Eagle comes to the UK!

American Eagle - Denim X

I love shopping. Shopping with friends, with family, with my sister, online or by myself - I mean who doesn't love it?  But when it comes to shopping for some new jeans I'd rather just re-take my final year exams ten times over. Ok, so that's definitely an exaggeration, but when I have to buy new jeans I just cry a little inside at the thought of countless hours strolling through shops to find jeans that fit right, you know? Not tight on the legs then big on the waist, or too short or too long or just not right. And being 5ft8, it's a bit of a struggle. So when I found out that American Eagle Outfitters had opened some stores in the UK (Westfield White City; London, Westfield Stratford and Bluewater Kent) I was pretty excited.

They're are known over in America for their great quality denim and jeans which, when you're as fussy as me, is vital.  Their recent collections Denim X and Shine Thru The Night both look perfect for winter, whether it's for keeping warm or dazzling at your work Christmas Party. I always love buying new jeans, jackets and jumpers for winter so their recent collection is pretty perfect if you're looking at updating your winter wardrobe.

For their store opening they've even teamed up with the babe that is Daisy Lowe, who looks pretty  in their ad:


So if you're near Westfield White City Westfield Stratford in London or BlueWater in Kent, why not check out the new American Eagle store nearby!

*This post has been sponsored by American Eagle, 

but all thoughts are my own

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Sponsored Video: Inspired By Women // Inspiration & Musings

I recently came across the #InspiredByWomen campaign by Moroccan Oil which celebrates the work of six women who are inspiring and impacting the lives of those around them and I wanted to share this with you guys.  It's so great to see women using their knowledge, abilities and experiences to do and achieve truly remarkable things and this is exactly what this campaign celebrates.  The campaign follows Jessica who provides energy for children who live in homes that receive very little electricity which, in turn, impacts their education (her idea is actually quite cool and one of those 'I wish I'd thought of that!!' things), Allyson who provides free clothes for at risk teenage girls, Kavita who has come up with a remarkable way to keep fruit and vegetables fresh for longer, Rebecca who works with at risk children to help them feel comfortable enough to express themselves, Chrissy who rescues abandoned dogs in terrible states to find new homes for them and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley who is the campaign ambassador. If you have the time it's definitely worth checking out these women and their stories. (If you do, let me know which one is your favourite story!)  It's great to see women successfully inspiring quite possible hundreds of thousands of people in very unique ways and even better that Moroccan Oil have decided to build a campaign celebrating inspiring women.



Coming across the campaign actually made me think about myself and what I find inspiring in my own life. I think everyone at some point has had that moment in their lives where they feel like they want to inspire, make a difference and change the world (which is a pretty big dream to have - changing the world). I certainly felt like this for a long time growing up -  I'm a dreamer at heart and the idea of doing something as extravagant as changing the world seemed like the ultimate dream. Whenever I would mention this to my mum however, she would always reply with one thing - 'you want to change the world but you can't even wash the dishes for me.' And maaayyybe this was just her way to get me to wash the dishes ha! But I never really knew what she truly meant by that until now.  Fast forward a couple of years and I've come to realise that, as noble as wanting to change the world is, it really starts with changing the world of the people in your own lives.  Inspiring people in your life, adding something of value to their lives because of who you are and being a positive influence on anyone you encounter is something I consciously try to do and by choosing to help or simply to listen can have such a long lasting impact. You're not going to meet everyone on this planet or even have a way to contact every single individual but, with the ones you do meet and interact with, changing their individual worlds is good enough. And like I said, it doesn't have to be extravagant and can be as simple as a kind gesture or your time. I'm so grateful that many of my own girl friends have inspired and helped me, probably more than they will ever know - and to me that's the great thing about inspiring others. It doesn't have to be this great, extravagant, exhausting feat but simply striving to be the person who can give guidance, advice, faith, honesty and adventure to your friends, family, colleagues and people you encounter on a daily basis slowly adds to changing the world.

To find out more about the #InspiredByWomen campaign check out their Facebook Page and Website

What do you guys think about the idea of changing the world?
Who inspires you in your life?

*This post has been sponsored by Moroccanoil, but all thoughts are my own.

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

A Few Moments With: In My Sunday Best // Interview #10

In My Sunday Best is one of my favourite blogs in the blogosphere right now and I'm super excited about sharing this interview! Sade's style is the perfect mix between elegance, grace and casual wear that all blends seamlessly together, whether it's layers for winter or cute dresses for the summer months, her style is pretty much flawless.  Her blog is pretty great for style inspiration and often infused with lifestyle and personal posts which proves to be the perfect addition. Oh, and her photography? It's pretty awesome!! To find out more, I decided to ask her a few questions on her style, photography tips and staying creative.

Hello Sade! Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hello! I'm an Architecture graduate, coffee connoisseur and floral fanatic. I write over on www.inmysundaybest.com

 How and why did you get into blogging?

I'm honestly not really sure, I think it began more as a place for me to share my illustrative and photographic work and just spiraled into so much! I read blogs like Jazzabelle's Diary, What Olivia Did and Shirley's Wardrobe for serious inspiration when I first started!

In three words, how would you describe your style? 

Difficult question! I think I'd like to describe it as an eclectic mix of lady-like wear with a bit of kitsch to it!

What are you looking forward to for A/W 14?

Oh it has to be the crunchy leaves, warm mugs of hot chocolate and having multiple snuggly duvet days!

You've just graduated from university after studying Architecture! Congratulations! Did your blog help shape your creativity in your professional life? Did your course ever influence your blog posts?

It has helped keep me creative, and granted me a lot of opportunities, but unfortunately in the case of Architecture (at least where I'm at in life now) the two have yet to collide! My course has influenced this blog post, in which I talk about the realities of life after university.

Last year your blog was shortlisted for 'best use of photography' at the Company Magazine Blog Awards! How do you manage to incorporate such beautiful photography with a simple OOTD post?

It was indeed! And it was such an honour to be up against professional bloggers! I have to give the credit to the people who have shot my outfit posts over the years haha! 

What top tips would you give to someone wanting to improve the photography on their blog?

It's a difficult one, because on one hand you can get some pretty good shots with a phone, however they will never be the same quality as using a good DSLR and a good lens. Don't put yourself out of pocket though! I've been using my Pentax Ist DS for about four years now, and I currently use a 50mm f 1.8 lens which is amazing for blog photography as it gives you that gorgeous depth of field.

How do you manage to maintain your creativity?

By blogging and being sociable! The best part of being a blogger is meeting new people and sharing interests! 

So tonight you're meeting friends for dinner! What look will you go for?

Most probably a LBD, some vintage jewellery and some killer heels. Add some red lippy and you've got my look down to a T!

Thank you! Where else can we find you?

You can find me on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest :)

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Wardrobe Basics // The Cosy Jumpers

Hat; Matalan // Mint Green; Tesco // Dark Blue; Primark // Bright Pink; H&M //
Green & White; Found in the back of my wardrobe, I suspect it's from a market of some sort

Autumn and Winter is upon us. Which means dark nights, scented candles and cosy jumpers (among other things).  I have to say that I much prefer Spring and Summer - everything is so much lighter and happier, but sometimes nothing beats a big old jumper, layered over a shirt with a chunky scarf, hat and your favourite pair of boots.  I have far to many jumpers to count (yep, self confessed jumper horder over hereeee) but these four are my favourite.  The first mint green one from Tesco is oversized and is the perfect throw-on-and-go jumper. It's big, it's comfy and it's a great colour too. The second blue one is also oversized (hmmm, I'm seeing a recurring theme here...) from primark and is long enough to be worn as a sort of jumper/dress type thing. Imagine pairing it with some knee high boots and a great winter coat and you're good to go. So the bottom two are actually my size with a perfect fit and thick enough to keep warm. I found the green and white one at the bottom of my wardrobe when I was having a clear out and couldn't really bring myself to throw it out and I bought the pink one from H&M because WELL, IT'S PINK. The nights might be darker earlier but it doesn't mean you can't rock a bit of colour through November and December, amiright, amiright?? Ha.

I hope you guys liked this post! Been a bit of a struggle trying to get ootd posts up so I thought I would adapt it slightly! Let me know if it works or if outfit posts are best when they are worn and photographed, not just folded neatly on the floor!

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

You are Golden // Tumblr Inspiration

Some Tumblr inspiration to get you through this Sunday...

This is legit how I dance, no word of a lie. And my friends have the same facial expression as Lisa whenever I do.
All images sourced from Tumblr

Currently, I have been loving:

Tumblr, obviously. 

You can follow me here if you wish!

Check out my latest YouTube video: 'Beauty in the Mundane' 

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

I know this great little place... // Lincolnshire

A couple of weeks ago my friend and I decided to head a little further up North to Lincolnshire for a day visit. It was pretty spontaneous actually as she called me up the night before and since I've officially finished uni now (ohhhhh yeeeaaaah) I have quite a bit of spare time at the moment. So I decided to put the job applications to one side for the day and went along with her.

Lincoln is just under two hours away by train and the best way to describe it is a sort of hybrid between a town and village.  It's so pretty and I can imagine it being even more stunning during the summer months. We wanted to head to the Cathedral which is about a 10 minute walk from the main city centre and it's situated on top of what is quite possible the biggest hill I've ever had to climb. Ever. One of the streets leading up to the Cathedral is actually called Steep Hill and, let me tell you, it lives up to it's name. At one point me and my friend were half way up and there was a woman walking up behind us who was pretty much wheezing as she was walking up and it just made me feel 1000x more sorry for people who lived at the top and had to do the walk everyday!

This was about halfway up the hill and already the view was pretty incredible.

The Cathedral was HUGE.  The design and architecture of the building was so great you have to just take a couple of minutes to take it all in. 

We also decided to visit Lincoln Castle and climbed up one of its towers to see such an amazing view. I must have taken so many pictures up there but this was one of my favourites, It's of the Cathedral from afar and just shows you how big the building is and also how high up we were.  My camera doesn't really do it justice but if you're ever in Lincoln make sure to also visit the castle and go up one of the towers - it's the best.

I made my friend take a quick ootd photo for me!
Top; H&M // Denim Shirt; New Look // Jeans; New Look

I've never been to Lincoln before and walking around reminded me of when I used to live down in Devon. We lived in a sort of town/village about half an hour away from Exeter that was filled with one off shops and tea rooms that felt quintessentially British.  Living in a main city it's quite nice to take a trip to somewhere a bit quieter.

Where is one of your favourite quick getaway places near where you live?

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Sponsored Video: Learning a new language & Living fearless

‘Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover’ - Mark Twain

The above is one of my absolute favourite quotes in all of existence.  It really makes you think about anything in life that you have always wanted to do, try or see but for some reason, have managed to put off or postpone.  This can pretty much be anything from auditioning for a school play, to starting up life in another country, running a marathon or even going for a job interview for a specific position. The great thing about it is that it doesn't really have to be anything grand, just unique to you. I think it changes our perception of regret and provides a little push to step outside of your comfort zone and fears.   

This is something that I have definitely been trying to take on board recently and has resulted in this somewhat absurd dream of mine to finally take up lessons to master the Spanish language and become fluent in Arabic. Errrrrmmmmm Yeaaaah. Now that I’ve written it down I see how random that is haha! I’ve always been surrounded by bilingual people, whether it’s my family (my parents can speak 3 languages each), my parents friends or my own friends.  My brother has actually recently completed a course learning to read, write and speak basic Arabic while one of my friends can speak 5 languages (Greek, Serbian, Spanish, French and English, it’s crazy, I know) so you could say that I’ve been influenced, to put my excuses to one side and finally put in effort to learn. I’ve been telling myself forever that I want to learn Arabic and Spanish and I took Arabic lessons when I was in school (I took enough that I can read in Arabic but have no idea what I’m reading) but stopped because I thought it would take me forever to learn, BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER.

It’s only been two months since I formed this crazy plan so I have decided that, until I have the money to pay for lessons, I will use free online resources and download any relevant apps that can help. Yep, this is serious guys. I've been keeping this to myself but have been inspired by the latest BodyForm ‘Live Fearless’ campaign to share it with you guys in the hopes of also inspiring anyone reading this to think ‘HELL YEAH I’M DOING THIS’ (whatever ‘this’ means to you). Doing what you’ve always wanted to do and facing your fears in the process is one of the most liberating things in life and it’s so great that there is a campaign to encourage this.  BodyForm are challenging women to open up about their own fears and face them without a second thought and, if I’m honest, the results have been pretty epic.

The whole campaign is truly inspiring and you guys can get involved, every step of the way.  Over the next ten weeks there will be a set of challenged to encourage and inspire you to adopt the ‘Live Fearless’ approach in your own lives  You could even win prizes including £500 ASOS vouchers and be in with a chance to win the Grand Prize at the end of the campaign whaaaatttttt pretty cool right?? All details on how to take part can be found on their Facebook page so definitely make sure to check it out! You can also get involved on twitter too with #LiveFearless or learn more on Facebook

What have you always wanted to try but find yourself putting off?

*This post has been sponsored by BodyForm, 

but all thoughts are my own

Check out my latest YouTube video HERE 

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Whatever brings you down, it's not worth your time // OOTD

'The moon is ancient as time itself

and still no older than a month.

I am trying to learn from her,

the art of growing

without losing my child within.' - Pavana

Shirt; my mother's wardrobe | Trousers; H&M | Belt; Primark

I was sorting through my blog photos and realised that I never published these outfit photo's from a couple of months ago. I don't know if it's weird to post old photos (???) but I wanted to share it as it must have gotten lost among my gazzillion folders (I really need to sort through and organise my computer files!) The shirt is actually my mums and she got it from Bonmarche, a shop that I have always associated with older women but hey, I love the print so I had to 'borrow' it for a 'while'.

Things have been pretty up and down recently with a lot going on which has meant less time spent writing up posts and taking photo's but I hope to get back into the swing of things very soon. I do, however, want to just say the biggest thank you to those of you who read, follow or leave comments on my blog.  It's crazy to think how long I've actually been blogging for and to see it evolve has been great too. I don't really have any grand plans for my space on the internet and I know that my readers are small in numbers but it still means a great deal to me that people are still interested I guess!

Currently, I am loving:

James Bay - Let it go

Enrique Iglesias - Bailando

Check out my YouTube channel here

Find me on: Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Daily Paper // Current Love

I came across the Daily Paper about two weeks ago through twitter and was instantly amazed by their geometric print, clean designs and contemporary style with inspiration derived from the creators African culture and heritage.  The brand, based in Amsterdam, started out in 2010 as a menswear label but has recently branched out to womens-wear with a Daily Paper Womens Capsule Collection and, I gotta tell you, it's pretty epic. I thought I would share some images from their recent lookbook

I love the prints and the laid back vibe of the clothing - a mix of sport luxe and urban style mixed into one with a subtle nod towards traditional print and images. Check out more of their previous collections here and have a look through their instagram too which is full of snaps from their collection and behind the scene images. Also, if you're interested in mens fashion, I love their Spring/Summer 14 collection, Fall/Winter '13 collection, Spring/Summer '13 collection and Filling Pieces Lookbook (basically all of them ha!) too so check them out!

Currently, I am loving:

Half Moon Rub - Full Circle

Check out my latest YouTube video: The Compliment Challenge  

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Orange skies and fireflies // OOTD

'How beautiful is it to stay silent 

when someone expects you to be enraged from them?

How beautiful is it to laugh

when someone thinks you are going to shed tears? - Unknown

 

Jeans & cardigan; New Look // Dress; H&M // Scarf; Market stall

I went shopping with my sister a couple of weeks ago and spotted this orange cardi in New Look and instantly fell in lovvveeee. They had it in black, grey and blue, but I dunno, there's just something about orange you know? Also I figured that if I wear it with quite neutral colours it won't be too bad/in your face so I convinced myself to buy it. I'm also wearing a dress as a top because... idk? (Sometimes I laugh when I tell people I have a fashion & lifestyle blog because lol my outfits are questionable at times).

I am frantically working to get my dissertation done and the finish line is so close I think I'm gonna cry (yep, still as melodramatic as ever) but this summer has been intense. I can't wait to (hopefully) chill for a couple of days after!

Currently, I am loving

Ed Sheeran - Thinking out Loud 

(is Ed Sheeran even real?? This song is absolutely beautiful)

Check out my latest YouTube video: The Compliment Challenge 

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Urban Outfitters comes to Leicester!

In November last year I wrote about Urban Outfitters coming to Nottingham and now they have a brand new store opening in Leicester (about 30 mins away from Notts) and it is just all kinds of exciting!! I've come to the conclusion Urban Outfitters are like buses. You know, you wait ages for one and then two come along at once? (yep, great analogy there..). Anyway, I was lucky enough to be invited to the store opening in Leicester last week to have a look round the new store





I'm always amazed at how cool the mannequins are dressed in Urban Outfitters stores, definitely a place for fashion inspiration in terms of layering and mixing prints!



One of my favourite parts of the store was the little homeware section upstairs by the fitting rooms. I'm a bit of a sucker for homeware and random books and quirky ornaments so was eyeing up the Wes Anderson collection book and the fairy lights too so I think I shall purchase them on the next payday!






The store was so lovely and had a great old school feel to it - I think there will be many people spending many hours browsing through the shop floor.  It's located in such an easy to get to place too in the Highcross Shopping Centre so if you live in Leicester or are planning a trip there soon, be sure to pay it a visit! As well as being invited to the opening I was also lucky enough to pick out an item of clothing so I shall have an ootd post for that at some point next week!

Currently, I am loving:

James Bay - Let it Go

Check out my latest YouTube video: The Compliment Challenge 

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya