OOTD

Clearly this little photo shoot in my living room was done in the summer when all the lighting had disappeared, however it was still on the verge of autumn so please let me off lol. I suggest adding a knit jumper (white, baby blue, grey) and to the bottom half of the outfit tights/ long socks of your choice.

Jacket - Mango    Shirt dress  - (Similar - Pretty Little Thing)        Shoes - Mango      Earrings - Urban Outfitters 

Top 3 Places to live in London

 

Kensington & Chelsea

Number one on my list, more recently especially in the past year I have spent quality time here and must say it is by far London’s biggest gems. Not only is it very near all the best shops it is also very quiet and you can go on beautiful strolls and have a nice bite to eat and something to drink at the local pub. I must recommend The Cross Keys their chips are delish and if you own a dog they are allowed inside the pub!  The picture I took (inserted above) was taken out of inspiration on a walk, before I even planned to write about property on this blog. That’s how beautiful this place is.

Its not only prestige in its surroundings but also with its property prices. The cost of a studio could potentially get you at least a one bed flat in another part of London! However, if you share a property for example rent a two bed with a friend/partner it works out a lot cheaper! If you have children, according to Ofsted the Kensington and Chelsea borough is flooded with high performing schools.

 

Rent prices typically start from £1,100 for a studio, £1,300  for a 1bedroom for a 2bedroom starting at £1,450

To buy:  Studio - £325,000    1Bedroom - £525,000  2Bedroom - £650,000

 

Things to do: Shopping, nightlife, Cafe’s, nearest station: Sloane Square  

Schools: Primary - Marlborough Primary School, Christ Church of England Primary School,

                Secondary - Chelsea Academy, Ashbourne Independent School

           

 

 

[Credits:Andrews Design History]

 

Richmond

Sitting at number two located in Middlesex (Greater London), Richmond is a suburban master piece. Not only has it handpicked great shops and cute cafe’s it is an attractive place for young people, families and the elderly.

 If you’re looking for beautiful furniture and home furnishings, India jane will be the most beautiful shop you walk into, literally a dream. And no this is not an ad I am just talking from experience.

A lot of greenery and a beautiful riverside to have some lunches, what more could you ask for?

Rent prices typically start from £975.00 for a studio, £1,100 for a 1bedroom, £1,300 for a 2bedroom starting at £1,300

To buy: Studio - £325,000    1Bedroom - £380,000   2Bedroom - £400,000

 

Things to do: Shopping, nature walks, restaurants, nightlife , Richmond station (30mins from central London)

Schools: Primary -  Barnes primary school, Bishop Perrin Church of England Primary School.

Secondary - Hampton School, The Lady Eleanor Holles School, St Pauls School

 

       [Credits : Greene&co]

 

Camden

Camden…. The area that’s alive, whether it’s the day or night there is never nothing to do in Camden. I would call it the North West London version of Brick lane I could imagine (never been to BL). If you want to get your hands on some cool unique pieces Camden Market is the place to be also if you love music there are often good gigs to attend in the evening and clubs.

 

Its gothic charm is also reflected on the properties with countless early Victorian houses. Camden also has quite a few ex-council flats which tend to be cheaper than any type of property in the area although it is still quite pricey.

 

Rent prices typically start from, £900 for a studio, £1,200 for a 1bedroom and 2bedroom is normally £1,400 upwards

To buy: Studio - £350,000    1Bedroom - £370,000   2Bedroom - £400,000

 

Things to do: Shopping and (Camden Market), nightlife, restaurants stations and how close to central

Schools: Primary – Holy Trinity and Saint Silas Cof E Primary School, Primrose Hill School

Secondary- South Hampstead high School, University College School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reintroduction

Hey Guys,

I know its been toooooo long! I am back and I have made some changes…..

I am rebranding my ‘blog name’ to my actual name on my birth certificate lol. I did not want to use my ‘birth’ name as it is rather common and I wanted to stand out, however I do like it and it will stop confusing you all when I say, ‘no my name is Elisha’! Destina Vera is no more and from now on please refer to me as Elisha Christina. 

Also, I have decided to introduce the topic ‘property’ into my blog posts I enjoy speaking about the investment side of things and home decor. I look forward to sharing my advice and ideas!

I have missed you all and this blog life! I hope life’s been treating you good! We will speak very soon…

Top 3 New Year’s resolution tips!

First I would like to say, I hope you are all enjoying the start to your New Year! One overused term in 2015 was ‘GOALS’! Many of you reading this have made New Year’s resolutions and at this moment may be struggling to keep it or you’re slowly giving up. I know the feeling! I thought it would be handy to give you some tips on how to stick to your resolutions. I personally like to give myself goals not just for the New Year but in general, the tips revealed have been used by me and have been successful.

 

1. Write it down!

Whether it’s in a notebook or in the ‘notes’ section on your phone, writing it down can help keep a note in your brain and you can always look back at what you have written to remind yourself of your decision. Make sure your specific in what you write and perhaps break it down with ways you will achieve this goal.

 

2. Set small tasks which lead up to the ultimate goal!

Sometimes the pressure you have put on your self can be too much and so taking small steps is easier for you. We don’t change overnight! Putting too much pressure on yourself can make you more likely to quit depending on how much you can handle. An example of making things easier is, if you  have  decided to eat less chocolate perhaps you have six a week, make your first goal for the month to have perhaps four a week and continue decreasing the amount you eat a week.

 

3. Announce your goal!

This can be announced to friends, social media, family members. This can be a good reinforcement for you to prove that you’re not all talk but action too. Don’t be disheartened if all falls through they are likely to forget anyway lol. However, on the flip side they may remind you over and over again and this can help you achieve what you set to do.

 

Don’t forget we are all different and so what may work for someone may not work for you so do not be discouraged! Prayer is also a good way of finding help, spiritual guidance can be the way forward if that’s what you believe in. If you have any questions don’t forget I don’t bite contact me on any of my social media platforms.

 

Destina Vera xxx

 

 

Vernez App Review

Hey guys,

Today I want to speak to you about this mobile app I’ve been loving recently! It’s called Vernez it is a fashion magazine app, you can create different fashion edits/boards with many ranges of clothing, shoes and accessories from high street stores such as Topshop, Mango, New Look and high end stores such as Ted Baker, Michael Kors, and Prada. What I like is that there are a range of stores to choose from and also when looking for items there are many different selections available such as the  brand, material, colour and category, which really narrows things down when trying to find that perfect outfit. You can follow the items and put them in your wardrobe which can be later used when making your fashion board. People can follow you and you can follow others! Also I love giving names to outfits and sometimes they are the most ridiculous names but Its something I enjoy hehe and I can do that all overrrrr the app. This app is not only  fun but you can also use it to branch out on ideas if you own a blog or you just want to look great for an event/ meeting etc. 

Here are my first attempts at some edits. Shop the look on the Vernez app! I’m not wearing the exact items but the edit consists of similar clothes. I have put the proper edits on my instagram and of course on the app  as I could not put up any screeenshots on this post as they came out too blurry and I'm a grandma when it comes to technology, so I apologise. I will fix up soon guys I promise! On a good note, check out these edits and let me know  which is your favourite piece!

 

Classy Casual

 Rough Vintage Stone

If you’re loving the sound of this download Vernez on the app store, you need an invitation code to access the app.

My exclusive invitation code is destinavera it is valid for 60 days!

And follow me on @destinavera and you can follow Vernez on twitter and instagram on @vernezuk

Destina Vera xxx

Top 10 Affordable Christmas Gift Ideas for Him

Its Christmas time!!! Well, its that time of the year again, I must say it came around very quickly. I thought I would do a Christmas list for men as some of us ladies get stuck! I put a list of 10 gifts that I think a man would like and that's coming from having brought similar gifts like these in the past. These presents could either be for your partner, dad, brother, cousin, grandfather, uncle, etc!

Currently ASOS is having a 30% gift sale so some of the items are on sale for a limited time only. Yaaaassss! These presents are affordable some more than others, all depending on your budget. You can either buy these exact items or use this list for inspiration!

1. Wallet and Cardholder Gift Set - ASOS - Ted Baker - £35 
2. 007 Seven Eau de Toilette 30ml Gift Set - BOOTS - £18.66
3. Black Textured Holdall - DEBENHAMS - Burton - £35
4. Sneaker Guide Book - ASOS - £11.50
5. Leather Belt - DEBENHAMS - Jeff Banks - £28.00
6. IPhone Case - NEW LOOK - £8.00
7. Beanie Hat - TOPMAN - £12.00
8. Suede Gloves - ZARA - £25.99
9. Bush Splash Proof Speaker - ARGOS - £14.99
10. Socks (2pairs) - MARKS AND SPENCER - £10




Don't forget GIFT VOUCHERS for the store they love are also another great gift, again something I have done in the past and I continue to use this idea! No matter what you buy your loved ones I'm sure they will appreciate it! If you have any questions or need more ideas contact me on any of my social media platforms or comment below!

Destina Vera xxx

 

My Current Hair Favourites

Hey guys this is just an overview of the products I have been loving recently. I try to get products that have good/decent ingredients to ensure the health of my hair. I have dry, curly hair and so I try to get products that have a lot of moisture to avoid BAD HAIR DAYS!!

OGX: Renewing Argan oil of Morocco

I like using this product on my natural hair. The love I have for this product is real, my hair is Afro curly and it makes my hair feel like silk! It's not pricey you can buy this in your local boots. You could also use it as a leave in conditioner as long as you spray your hair with water first. I reckon this would be good on any type of curly hair, just use the amount to fit the thickness of your hair. I personally part my hair into 4 sections and then part each section in half, then use a dime size in each part.








African Pride: Shea butter miracle curl styling custard

This product provides the best way to smooth my hair and still have a few moisturising qualities that stop it from being very drying and leaving my hair completely crunchy, but still having a good hold. It lasts very long as you don't need to put too much. It is a clear weightless mixture. I use this on my leave out when I am wearing hair extensions as it really smooths my frizz and it also smells lovely! I have also used this on all my natural hair  and it really defined my curls and stopped me looking like my hair was flying! However, when it is really hot this product tends to make your hair crunchy and in a way fry your hair, so if you live in a hot climate I would not suggest using this unless you literally use a dime size on Afro hair, or if you have curly hair that's not too thick, half a dime size.




Happy Hair Days: Argan oil shampoo

This shampoo is beyond my favourite! I was using the conditioner which I loved! However, when I thought I brought it,  I got home and realised it was shampoo, silly me! It was a great mistake as I am very pleased with this shampoo, it's not extremely drying and it has moisturising qualites due to the Moroccan oil infused in the product. I would also recommend the conditioner. The shampoo and conditioner is only £4 each in Sainsbury's!

Eco styler gel : Clear- Maximum hold 10

I have tried a few different Eco styler gels and this is by far my favourite! This does not give me white flakes as it blends in well with leave in conditioner I think it's due to the fact that it's clear gel. It gives good hold and it is very affordable, also unlike most gels it is alcohol free. Definitely a must have in your curly hair routine as it ensures that your curls are more defined, and stay defined for longer.







I hope this helps! If you have any further questions,  don't be afraid to message me on any of my social media accounts, I don't bite!

Destina V xXx