Beachin’

red wavy hair plimsolls outfit

neon rucksack asos

IMG_2379

pink and black outfit

tropical print zip up surf top

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sporty outfit

neon orage rucksack

white round sunglasses wavy hair 

Surfs Up!

Wearing a tropical print cropped rashguard is probably about as close to surfing as I’ll get! I’m someone who couldn’t tell the fin from the deck and wouldn’t be seen out for a paddle in the sea, let alone adopting theat cool balancing pose a top a wave (as much as I really wish I could of course.) This doesn’t however, stop me from pinching a bit of surfer style and dropping it into my every day wardrobe.

Since seeing a model stalking a beach in bikini bottoms and a zip up crop top in some style magazine, I’ve been keeping a beady eye open for my own rashguard. I’m definitely one for adding a spot of sport into a look and this one from Beach Cafe does the job just nicely. It may have been the hottest day of the year so far when I shot this, but I coped fairly well even in long sleeves. Hey, if it gets too hot to handle this summer, there’s always a bikini-baring unzipping option!

sporty outfit

rashguard surf tropical print top triangl bikini

summer sporty outfit

Rashguard – Seafolly at Beach Cafe / Bikini – Triangl / Plimsolls – Dune / Jacket – Next / Skirt – New Look / Sunglasses – ASOS / Watch – ASOS / Necklace – Topshop

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A Day in East London in 3 Eats

Spending a day in Shoreditch? Check out my 3 new fave places to eat in East London whether working, looking for the perfect tea room or a cool new secret place to dine come nightfall.

Forge & Co cheese burger

1 – The Working Lunch Venue:
Forge & Co.

Whether setting up a working lunch meeting or just needing to shoot a few emails, Forge & Co is your new go-to place for when you’re wandering around East London and get caught short for an office. Forget 2 year waiting lists and hefty membership costs at nearby Shoreditch House, just make a booking, meet your guest and make things happen. Just make sure you book over lunchtime so you can get your mits on that hefty burger.

Forge & Co. Canteen is open 8:30 – 23:30. Located here.

Forge & CoForge & Co bar spiritsForge & Co copper brewing tanksForge & Co barForge & Co bitters bottlesForge & Co burger grillForge & Co desert

2 – The Afternoon Tea Room:
Hawkhurst Vault

You know Hawkhurst Vault is going to be your fave new hangout the minute you walk in. Handsome dandies behind the bar, cheeky tea-themed typographic posters on the walls (they change up the artwork to showcase different artists) and chunky cakes on the counter by the charming Victoria Yum are pretty sure signs.

Then there’s the main event: The Tea. Pick from the exotic 17-option loose leaf tea menu and the boys will ceremoniously dish out your leaves, telling you the story behind each one. I chose a leaf picked in the year of my birth. Now tea don’t get much cooler than that!

Hawkhurst Vault is open every day 8:00 – 20:00. Located here.

Hawkhurst Vault loose leaf vintage tea

Hawkhurst Vault tea menu Hawkhurst Vault fine loose leaf tea room

Hawkhurst Vault dandy gentlemens tea room london Hawkhurst Vault vintage style tea room Hawkhurst Vault serving loose leaf tea Hawkhurst Vault loafs of fresh cakes victoria yumHawkhurst Vault Hawkhurst Vault smashed avocado on toast Hawkhurst Vault independent brewery beers

3 – The Dinner Date Venue
Back in 5 Minutes

If you’re after something a little different come dinner time then look no further than Back in 5 Minutes. It’s secretly tucked at the back of a cool clothes shop at the top of Brick Lane, barely a stones throw away from Hawkhurst Vault. You don’t even have to book, just stroll in with confidence and take a seat behind the velvet curtain…

Being a simple salad or burger kinda gal, this fine culinary experience was a very exciting adventure for my palette. Go for the tasting menu where you’ll be treated to the delicious dishes of the day. Whether seared scallops or succulent duck, it’s all seasonal and sublime. Naturally, I highly recommend you sample a different cocktail between each course (the Black Russian and truffles with your panna cotta to finish.) Make like I did; get cosy and gossip the evening away, speakeasy-style, for no one will ever know where you’ve been and what delights you’ve indulged in!

Back in 5 Minutes is part of Disappearing Dining Club. Open Wednesday – Saturday from 6:30. Located here.

Brick Lane motorbikes

Back in 5 Minutes Brick Lane menswear shop secret restaurant Back in 5 Minutes Brick Lane secret restaurant Back in 5 Minutes Brick Lane gazpatcho Back in 5 Minutes Brick Lane Back in 5 Minutes Brick Lane cocktails Back in 5 Minutes retro homeware Back in 5 Minutes Brick Lane salmon Back in 5 Minutes Brick Lane chocolate desert fruit pana cotta and iced coffee

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Make a World Cup Coco Cocktail!

vita coco cocktail

cutting up limes cocktail

brown sugar cocktail

bacardi rum cocktail

shaking cocktail Caipirinha cocktail vita coco

Game On!

With an hour to go until the world cup kick-off, you’d best get set with the perfect refreshment. Lucky for us, Brazil isn’t short of delicious cocktails to get inspired by, so I’ve chosen to get into the spirit with a Caipirinha! Mine is made with a good old rum and Brazil’s fave soft drink – Coconut water. Apparently Brazilians will be splurping up 30million litres of  ’agua de coco’ during the festivities and you can grab a few Vita Coco‘s from your corner shop to join in!

Though Brazil won’t actually be playing in their own final (DON’T mention the Germany game…) it’s still the country’s national sport and had they won this year, the whole nation would have been granted a free bank holiday! Whilst we’re on pop quiz facts, here’s one: instead of saying ‘Just my cup of tea’, Brazilians say ‘Just my beach’! I guess it’s understandable, what with the longest beach in the world spanning a large strip of their coastland!

Caipirinha cocktail vita coco

Caipirinha cocktail vita coco

Caipirinha cocktail vita coco

brazil nuts

Caipirinha cocktail vita coco

 

Caipirissima

Caipirinhas are usually made with Cachaca rum, but with it being pretty tricky to find in your local supermarket, grab a bottle of white rum and you’ve got yourself a Caipirissima instead! Cut up your limes, two spoons of sugar and plenty of ice into a shaker, shake it like a polaroid picture and strain it out into a glass filled glass and top with Vita Coco!

They say Brazilians are the happiest people in the world so grab a glass, get comfy, enjoy the game and get into the spirit!

Caipirinha cocktail vita coco

Thanks Vita Coco for the cocktail idea!

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Giraffe! + Bloggiversary Winners!

missguided paint print co-ord layered trench coats outfit

asos sleeveless grey mac trench

missguided paint print co-ord layered trench coats outfit

pony skin leopard print plimsolls

Daniel footwear slip on trainers

asos chunky chain necklace

paint print co-ord outfit

Two-piece and Trainers

So this is the most sophisticated I’ll ever dress. That’s if you could ever describe this look that way! Whilst it might scream ‘girls night out’ for some, this giraffe print crop top and skirt co-ord is what I’d call work wear and is the most ‘officey’ I’ll ever catch myself looking!

That’s if you wear them together though. Of course that’s the beauty of the co-ord and now that it’s suddenly super-trendy to wear one, girls like me who are all about the separates (a dress? what’s that?) a co-ord offers up the perfect solution for lazy days or options for when you want to get creative! Talking of creative, I layered up my sleeveless asos trench coat over a sheer Mint Velvet jacket and I quite like the outcome – win!

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See below for my Bloggiversary winners!

Red brit-stitch bag satchel

Co-ord set - Missguided / Sleeveless trench - ASOS / Jacket - Mint Velvet at John Lewis / Shoes - Daniel Footwear / Bag - Brit-Stitch / Earrings - ASOS / Necklace - ASOS

two piece co-ord outfit

 And The Winners Are..

Thank you all so, so, so much for all your incredible comments on my 5th Bloggiversary post last week! What can I say?! There are no words! *wipes tears dramatically.* I asked you to enter by letting me know what you liked most about ShinyThoughts so I guess I was asking for compliments galore! But really, I didn’t expect to hear such wonderful stories about how this colourful little internet corner has inspired some of you; whether just to raise a little smile or to go out and make a major change in your life. Thank you so much for reading – here’s a big <3 to you all!!

Without further ado, congratulations to Chloe Wilson, Harisa, Emma, Ina and Fox a Go Go – you’ve each won a special package of fun, shiny things!

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Happy 5th Bloggiversary!

FIVE

playing with waffle balls party

silver glitter cupcakes

five year blogging anniversary party

burts bees gift boxes

shiny glitter cupcakes

blogger party

rainbow puffed rice sweets

colourful party table

debenhams flowers in yellow spotty vase

carrie and lucy blogging best friends

5 Whole Years!

Wowza, have I really been blogging for 5 years? That’s the longest relationship I’ve ever been in and baby, we’re still going strong! Starting back in the summer before university, I’ve been sharing my shiny thoughts throughout my degree, move to London (home and back again), new friendships and new job all whilst improving my photography and discovering the most amazing places and experiences. Hopefully I’ve been able to help add a dose of colour, smiles and shinyness to your screens along the way!

The best part of all this though has been the most AMAZING friends I’ve made through the power of the internet. To thank my besties Carrie, Kristabel and Olivia for being such Blogging babes, I threw them a little party and luckily for you, you can join in too by winning one of 5 shiny gifts – my way of thanking you for reading!

win shiny gifts

Bloggiversary Presents!

I’m giving away 5 gifts to celebrate 5 years of Shiny Thoughts! So what’s inside? Each winner will receive a Burt’s Bees skincare tin, some little beauty bits and bobs from NVcolour and a couple of pieces of fab fun festival jewellery from ASOS. There’s also a super shiny gold mug set from Howkapow (I really want these for myself!), cute lightening bolt silver mirror earrings from Sugar and Vice, Company magazine X Anna Lou bracelet and matching bold print scarf from Anna Lou, make up bag from Betty Walter, fine loose leaf tea by Teapigs, fun party decorations from Rigby & Mac and a couple of Coco Cafe drinks thrown in so you can create your own shiny party!

To be in for the chance of winning one, just share this post on Twitter, Facebook or your blog (don’t forget to ‘at’ me @shinythoughts!) and then simply leave a comment below letting me know what you’ve liked most about ShinyThoughts over the last 5 years!

howkapow gold cups

mirror sunglasses

teapigs loose leaf tea

asos sunglasses and crystal headband

betty walter retro hand cream

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colourful party paper cups

rigby & mac party confetti decorations

Giveaway Details

There are 5 individual gifts, each fairly even in their prizes. Giveaway is open to all ShinyThoughts readers who have shared this post on one of their social channels, linking @shinythoughts in their post and then commenting on this post. The winners will be contacted via the social account they used to share this post and a prize will be sent to them. The giveaaway will close and the winners will be announced next Sunday 6th July. Just tweet me for any questions!

Good luck!

Thank you so much to all my favourite brands for giving away such awesome prizes! Thanks to Debenhams Flowers for the bouquet and for offering you all £8 off a Summer bouquet with free choccies and delivery with code BLOG8 – Winning already!

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Welcome, I'm Lucy! Happy reading and don't forget to smile!

Coucou! Je parle francais aussi!