Santorini 03.08.16

If you have read my post all about Barcelona, then you may have been expecting this one. This post is all about the rest of my Summer 2016 holiday, which was of course in Santorini. The day after getting back from Barcelona, we had the privilege of jetting off to the beautiful island as part of a wedding. We had the most amazing time in the most beautiful place, and being a part of the wedding made it all the more special. We visited Santorini for one week, with the wedding falling about half-way through. We did quite a lot whilst there considering it was a relaxing holiday, most of which had kindly been arranged by the Bride & Groom. I am going to share with you what I got up to whilst in Santorini, providing recommendations along the way. As it is such a picturesque place I want to include lots of imagery for you. I must apologise in advance if this post leaves you feeling like you want to book a holiday to Santorini immediately... If that is the case, you won't regret it!

The Hotel

We stayed in the beautiful town of Fira, which is the most popular and busy area on the island. Our hotel was called 'Theoxenia', which was tucked away above some shops down the lovely pebbled streets. It boasted an amazing view of the volcano from the roof terrace where we found ourselves most evenings and for breakfast in the morning. It is a boutique hotel that fitted in perfectly with the environment, I would usually go for a more modern hotel, however this one seemed just right for where we were. We could not have faulted it with its amazing location, lovely breakfast and incredible service.

Whilst staying at the Theoxenia we had full access to their sister hotel 'Aressana', which was stunning and definitely a more modern hotel. We were therefore able to use the pool here, as our small boutique hotel could not accommodate one. But this was no problem as we got to spend our days in the most beautiful hotel and it was only a two minute walk from where we were actually staying.

Food & Drink 

We were introduced to the lovely Vlounge bar on our first night as it was more or less opposite our hotel. At first we went there for convenience just for a few cocktails, little did we know it would become our favourite and we would spend pretty much every evening there! The bar boasts amazing views (of course), and the most amazing cocktails. It's the perfect place to spend an evening.

One night we ate at a restaurant called Volcano Blue, which was a classic Greek/Mediterranean restaurant. The restaurant had been hired out just for the wedding party which was lovely, so we got the pleasure of watching the sunset from the upstairs seating area. The food was lovely, if you want that classic Greek experience then you will get that here.

This is PK Cocktail Bar, a lovely place to sit and take in the view. We actually visited this bar in the daytime, as it is such a small area it always tended to look particularly busy in the evenings. However, you can book online (click on the name) which I would recommend doing. I loved that the menu was quite different here, not just your typical cocktails.

One night we visited a restaurant called Sphinx. It was a really lovely restaurant (which was reflected in the prices), but I have to admit we did have a lovely meal there. Potentially the best steak I've ever had! It was a lovely meal setting, with the most fabulous view (obviously). Honestly I'm not sure there's anywhere on the island that you wouldn't see an amazing sunset. It was definitely a more posh restaurant, so it's a good one to dress up for. It was the perfect place to go for dinner with the bride the night before the wedding.

Activities

To be honest we spent most of our days lounging around the pool and just generally relaxing. We would often go for a walk around the lovely cobbled streets of Fira, taking a look in the shops and grabbing some lunch. But other than that we kept it pretty chilled. The one particularly exciting thing we did do and absolutely loved, was Quad Biking. I could not recommend doing this any more! It was so much fun, we went out in a group of six and rode around the island visiting some black beaches, little villages and anywhere that really took our fancy. It was an amazing way to really see the island and how beautiful it truly is. We rented our quad bikes from a shop a couple doors down from our hotel for the whole day. I can't remember the name of the company but there are plenty around the area. If you visit Santorini this is something you have to do!

The Wedding

The wedding took place at the most incredible location, a beautiful hotel called Rocabella in the Imerovigli area. The setting and whole day was absolutely perfect. The views from here were breathtaking and we got to experience such an amazing sunset. If I was to ever go back to Santorini, this is definitely somewhere I would love to stay.

A few more photos...

 
We had a lovely time in Santorini, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quiet, relaxing holiday. However, there are still some exciting things to do there. The one place on the island we didn't get the chance to visit was Oia, as it is right on the other side. It looked like a beautiful area and is definitely one for anyone who loves taking a good photo! If I were to go back to Santorini, I would love to stay there. The only tip I can really give you is to watch out for the days that lots of cruise ships are docking, as this means there are thousands of people around Fira. So maybe save your days of walking around the cobbled streets and exploring the shops for when the cruise ships aren't around.

I hope you enjoyed hearing about my trip. If you haven't read my post on Barcelona and would like to, you can find it under the travel section.

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Bardot Obsessed

It is impossible for anyone that knows me to have not realised by now that I have a ridiculous obsession with bardot tops. I just can't seem to stop buying them! I find on a lot of people one of the most flattering areas to show off is your décolletage, particularly the collar bones. Which is why I love this style of top so much, as I find it really accentuates these areas.

I have built up such a large collection of these tops in my wardrobe, I always try to buy different styles but I just can't help but gravitate back to the off the shoulder. Just a couple weeks ago I told myself that I simply cannot buy any more... and then I stepped into Zara and the obsession began again. So, it only seemed fitting that I do a blog post on my most recent bardot purchases that I can't stop wearing. Links to all the items are clickable on the headings.

Top 1

I'm still trying my hardest to incorporate more colour into my wardrobe, and this top made it very easy for me (please excuse the Pimms). The orange shade I found rather flattering, especially in the sunshine! And I love the broderie effect material which gives it a little extra detail. 

Top 2

Another recent purchase is this beautiful white bardot, which features some cute little trumpet sleeves and an almost scalloped hem. I love how fresh this top looks, I feel like it uplifts any outfit I wear it with. And honestly I'm not sure there's much that wouldn't go with it. The detailing is so intricate, considering the price. I also greatly appreciate that the top has a lining, as I have previously bought bardot tops that end up looking see-through, and it is a nightmare to wear a vest top underneath! I would recommend sizing down in this top.

Top 3

Lastly we have my most recent purchase... this is the Zara number that reignited my off the shoulder addiction! This is definitely a more dramatic top, with the ruching on the sleeves. One thing I particularly love about this bardot top is that the sleeves don't actually sit on your shoulders as they usually would. The sleeves are attached underneath the armpit, meaning when you lift up your arms it doesn't pull your top up with you (genius!). I'm not sure if you can tell by the photos, but this top has a very thin pinstripe running through it. If you're after a top full of detail, this is the one!

I have to mention my sunglasses as they saw me through last Summer and I absolutely love them. They were from TopShop last year (something similar here), they were such a bargain and I think they look like good quality, expensive ones. Also, love a mirrored sunglass in pictures!

Hope you enjoyed seeing my new bardot purchases, I certainly love them and know I'll get plenty of wear out of them!

Jeans - here

Shoes - here

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The Makeup Products I Can't Leave The House Without...

I am most definitely one of those people that always has everything you could possibly need on them. It's safe to say, I don't travel lightly. Even on a daily basis I like to keep my bag full of all my necessities, most of which people probably wouldn't consider a necessity! One thing I will never leave the house without is my makeup bag, containing my favourite products that I use to top up my face throughout the day. I am 100% not a morning person, so most of the products I bring with me are helpful in making me look a lot less tired than I am. Below are five of my most used products that I would recommend to anyone...

Maybelline Concealer

So, I guess we'll start with the base. I find this concealer particularly amazing under the eyes. I use it every single day, it's pretty lightweight and very creamy but I don't find it makes my makeup transfer. I don't always need to re-touch it as I find it lasts well, however if I have had a late night/early morning I do sometimes just pop a bit extra on later in the day. Originally I thought I would hate the sponge applicator, but it's actually really handy and distributes a good amount of product. However, it definitely gets grubby very quickly! I've had this current one for around 2-3 months, and considering I use it every day, it lasts pretty well. I use the shade Light to keep everything looking bright.

NYX Powder

Since Boots in Winchester have started stocking NYX (happy days!), I've found myself trying out quite a lot of their products. And I have to say, so far my favourites have been from the powder department. I don't have really oily skin, but I do get oily in my T-zone. So, I always like to set my makeup with powder and usually apply it a couple more times throughout the day to keep my shine at bay. This powder is really good, but I do actually prefer the NYX Professional Makeup Studio Finishing Powder in translucent, as I find this tends to last a bit longer on my skin. Both great powders that work well for me, and are a very reasonable price. I use the shade Banana in this powder.

Nars Bronzer

I bought this bronzer a while back after hearing lots of good things about it. It is a really good shade to carry you through the seasons, however does become a little light for me in the Summer. I wouldn't use this as a contouring bronzer, it's just good for a general bronze. It's a lovely, natural shade and never leaves me patchy. For some reason I always find cheaper bronzers start to go patchy on me if I wear them for a long period of time. So for me it's always worth spending a bit more on a bronzer, and this one does everything I need it to do! I use the shade Laguna, however it does come in darker shades.

KIKO Eyeliner

Now let's talk about KIKO, one of my favourite makeup brands that is just so unbelievably cheap! I've tried a lot of their products and so far don't believe I have come across one I haven't liked. This eyeliner is the perfect shade for using in the inner corner of your eyes. I apply it every day to brighten and lift my eyes, and make me appear much more awake than I am. It's the perfect product to reapply in the day if you find you're looking a bit sleepy. This eyeliner is in the shade 800, I cannot find it online but you may be able to ask for it in store. There are similar shades here.

KIKO Lipstick

This lipstick is also from KIKO. I have used this exact shade and formula for a few years now, and I just can't seem to stray from it. I'm always trying to experiment with different lipstick shades, but every day I seem to just drift back to this one. It is my perfect nude. It is a darker nude, slightly more brown with rose undertones and a very subtle shimmer. This is in the shade 404, don't be fooled by the website, it looks very different on there. I am completely obsessed with this lipstick, and still cannot believe it is only £3.95! It is very much a creamy formula, which I love because my lips get dry very easily (matte lipsticks are a no-go for me). Even though it is creamy, I find it lasts really well. It of course wears off, but always leaves a nice stain to the lips. Everyone needs to get their hands on this lipstick!

So, those are all my makeup staples that I always have to have on me. It may seem a bit excessive to some people, but I always like to be prepared! All of them are great products that I believe would suit most people, but if I had to recommend one for sure it would have to be my KIKO lipstick.

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