OOTD: Valentine's Day Sequins

Valentines Day Inspiration On The Rock On Holly Blog



How is it February already!? (nearly)


I was hoping that January would be a month of relaxation and "catching up on things" after the hectic Christmas period... However, this month has already been one of craziness and newness; with a house move, a new car, a new collection being designed at work and a beautiful little new baby being born into our family! (My cousin Sally gave birth to the stunning Baby Liberty on Wednesday so we're high on celebration mode at the moment!) 2016 has really started with a BANG!

But! Enough about January! The aim of this post is to get you Valentine's ready for next weekend... Yes, love is in the air once again :-) Now G'ham and I aren't very big on Valentine's Day. I don't know why, I think we've always just wanted to avoid turning it into a day when we felt we had to buy each other something. Instead, we like to gift handmade type things, or give cute cards or organise something nice that involves a bit of quality time!

This year we're heading up to Scotland and will be heading to the Botanical Gardens for some drinks and celebrations. I thought this stunning dress from Frock and Frill would be perfect for a dressy, Valentine's Date Night...

Frock And Frill Dress On The Rock On Holly Blog

Outfit: Dress c/o Frock and Frill, Sunglasses - ASOS, Jacket - Silk Fred

Lipstick: The Blake Lively Red by L'Oreal

Frock And Frill Dress On The Rock On Holly Blog

The detail on the Sia maxi dress is just stunning. The dress is really well made and the embellishment is even more lovely in real life! Another fave of mine on the site is the Rosemarie skater dress - which would also be lovely for Valentines...

Frock And Frill Dress On The Rock On Holly Blog
Frock And Frill Dress On The Rock On Holly Blog
Frock And Frill Dress On The Rock On Holly Blog

Now, this dress is quite long on me - but I am only a petite 5 ft 3. With heels it's much better, but I think the next time that I wear this, I will probably use a skinny belt around the middle to pull the waist in and lift the dress up. I have the size 8 on here and it does fit well without the mesh being too tight.

Frock And Frill Dress On The Rock On Holly Blog
Frock And Frill Dress On The Rock On Holly Blog

What are your plans for Valentine's Day this year?! <3


Bucket List Ideas


So when I mentioned in one of my recent posts that Iceland has always been on my Bucket List of places to go to, I wasn't saying it as a figure of speech. It is literally on my Bucket List. The boy and I started to put this together officially last Autumn. We were a bit late off the mark with this as most people like to get this stuff out of the way before they are 30. However, that milestone has been and gone... So instead, we're doing 30 at 30. Thirty awesome, classic, wishlist things to do whilst in our 30th year.

Now the thing to remember when you are compiling your list, is that they don't all have to be "out of this world experiences. When we first started putting ideas together, there were a lot of holidays on there. We had to be realistic too!


Here are some of our top picks:

- See the Northern Lights (check!)
- Have a picnic in a random location
- Go horse riding on the beach
- Watch the sun rise... And set
- Get a tattoo (maybe!)
- Travel Canada in a camper van 
- Write a book
- Go blackberry picking on bikes
- Watch a classic movie marathon


- Make a wish on a shooting star
- Drive a fast car
- Go wine tasting (and actually learn stuff)
- Sleep under the stars 
- Become Mr and Mrs Dawson! <3


Do you have a Bucket List? If you have any other suggestions for ours, comment below! 


OOTD: The Parka Jacket

USC Khaki Firetrap Polly Parka on Rock On Holly Fashion Blog

In my opinion, a khaki parka is a must-have item for any Winter wardrobe. Especially if you're from Manchester.
Yes, once reserved for the likes of Oasis and their "Mad Fer It" crew, the parka is actually a long standing, fashionable yet practical item. This one from USC doesn't disappoint!

Originally £120, the Polly Parka is a total bargain for any fashionista looking to add some urban style to their wardrobe. I fully admit that I have a coat obsession, but despite the embarrassingly large collection of coats in my wardrobe, I have worn this particular jacket loads this Winter!! Like I said, it's totally practical and perfect for throwing on over a casual outfit. The leather sleeves and fur hood add a touch of style to this simple look. Best bit? It's super warm as there's a fur lining on the inside of the jacket just on your back... Ooooh!

 I teamed my jacket with my trusty Topshop Mom jeans (again!!) and this cosy Boohoo jumper that I picked up for my trip to Iceland (I got size Medium). To add a splash of colour, I couldn't resist adding this Miss Pom Pom matching hat and scarf!! I can't tell you how much I'm loving this right now!! I picked both up from a tiny boutique in Winchester called Consortium, but I'd definitely recommend checking out their site for some other fun colours and styles.

USC Khaki Firetrap Polly Parka on Rock On Holly Fashion Blog

Outfit: Khaki Parka Jacket c/o Firetrap at USC, Camille Waffle Jumper c/o Boohoo, Mom Jeans - Topshop,

Accessories: Fringed Leather ankle boots - River Island (similar), Penny Backpack c/o Nica Handbags, Sunglasses - ASOS, Scarf and Hat set - Miss Pom Pom


Is a parka a wardrobe staple for you too?! Let me know what you think of this look below...


Travel Tips for Iceland - Part 2

Iceland Travel Tips on the Rock On Holly Blog

Following on from my last Iceland Travel blog, I wanted to give a bit more detailed info on where to stay and what to eat in Reykjavic... There is so much that we did and such amazing things that we saw, it's impossible to squeeze into one blog!

Hotel Recommendation:

We stayed at the lovely Centerhotel Thingholt which was just perfect! (see pics below). The location was brilliant as we were just off one of the main streets and the hotels decor was beautifully modern - I loved the cowhide rugs and chairs! One of the main benefits of this hotel was the underfloor heating. Our room also had the most amazing free standing bath - which is just one of my life's absolute luxuries in my opinion!

We did eat at the Isafold restaurant attached to the hotel one evening and the food was amazing. We had a 5 course meal which was a great way to sample some traditional Icelandic food. I have to say that this really was one of the best meals that we had :) The restaurant itself wasn't particularly busy but we did get very good service. (AKA got quite drunk).

Iceland Travel Tips on the Rock On Holly BlogIceland Travel Tips on the Rock On Holly Blog

Restaurant Recommendation


The food in Reykjavic was pretty expensive in general. A typical main course could set you back £30 and that's without anything else! We had some lovely food at an Italian called Primo on the night that we got engaged (Yey!) Afterwards, we walked down to the docks and actually got to see the Northern Lights in all their glory (no tour required!)

One of my fave meals was at a really chilled out place called the Laundromat Cafe. This place was SO cool. Again, within walking distance from our hotel and something that wouldn't look out of place in Manchester's Northern Quarter. Graham had total food envy over my steak sandwich... YUM.

Alcohol

If you do like a drink, you'll notice that when you land in the airport at Reykjavic, there is a Duty Free in the baggage collection area. We noticed that a lot of people were stocking up on wine and spirits, so us being the alcoholic Brits that we are (!) decided to do the same! 

Alcohol is also more expensive in Iceland. If you're staying at an Air Bnb or self catering accommodation, then you will definitely save a few pennies by buying your alcohol at Duty Free. Another tip! We actually ended up taking a bottle if wine into the Hotel restaurant with us (simply as we had bought too much.... woops!) we were charged a small "corkage" fee for doing this, but even so, it worked out cheaper than buying a bottle of wine in the restaurant would have cost. Plus they were happy to serve it and store in an ice bucket as normal.

Iceland Travel Tips on the Rock On Holly Blog
Iceland Travel Tips on the Rock On Holly Blog

Above: Waffles and hot chocolate the Pearl!

Iceland Travel Tips on the Rock On Holly Blog

Travel Tip: Do your research before you go! This is totally hypocritcal for me to say as I literally collapsed on the plane after working non-stop and was like, "ok, where are we going?"

Luckily for me, G-Ham had done a LOT of research and had found some cool spots to go visit that might have been a bit less obvious than the normal tourist hot spots... The crater above was only landmarked by a tiny roadsign that then led out to these epic views.

Iceland Blue Lagoon on the Rock On Holly Blog

The Blue Lagoon

Obviously we couldn't visit this part of Iceland without going to see the amazing Blue Lagoon. This was such an incredible experience. The place is really incredible and well organised. We got drinks included with our tickets but if you decide not to do this, you can pay using the wristband that you get given.

Tip: If you want to take photos in the lagoon you will need either a waterproof camera or a zip pouch to keep your phone safe. Super-organised G-ham had brought a pouch with him, but you can buy them at the lagoon bar.

Travel Tip

We went to the Blue Lagoon on our last day so rather than drive back up to Rekjavic to then drive back down to Keflavic airport the next day, G-Ham booked us into a little hotel in Keflavic. The Hotel Berg was super cosy and the staff were really friendly. They recommended going for food at the restaurant on the dock opposite. The food here was amazing, amazing, amazing. I think I had the best fish curry ever in my life. The place is pretty casual and the staff were pretty miserable, but we would fly back to Iceland just for that fish.... Mmm!

Hope this helps, if you have any questions, do comment below :-)


What To Wear: In Iceland

What To Wear in Iceland

So my last post featured a few tips on what to do and see in Iceland... As I mentioned, the place is so so amazing, there's no way of cramming all the info into 1 post! (Plus I have enough pics to fill about 3 Facebook albums...) So, I've decided to split this into 3 posts: What to See, What to Wear, Where to Stay & What to Eat! Yep, that's 4 topics, but I didn't take nearly enough food photos, so I'm cramming the last 2 together!!

This outfit here is a good example of what I typically wore out and about in Iceland. Yes, you could go all out in Ski gear, but this is a town and not an actual ski resort, I decided to go for similar clothing to what I wore when I went to Canada last year.

Tip 1. The key here is layers!!! It may not look like it here, but I was wearing a vest, long sleeved top, this jumper and then for outerwear I would generally wear my gilet with my gorge Urban Outfitters jacket over the top. This allowed me to look fairly smart from day to night as I only took the one coat.

Tip 2. Jeans are not generally the warmest of Winter gear, but these ASOS jeans are seriously comfy and I knew we'd be doing a lot of travelling.They're also baggy enough to allow me to slip a pair of fleecey leggings or tights underneath. The ones I got were microfleece from Primark and they were more than adequate!

Tip 3. You will need a hat!! At times, I even wore my headband here with my hat over the top! Equally essential are decent gloves. My Ugg gloves have never failed me yet!! I would highly recommend these - and now is a great time to buy as the Sales are still on.
What To Wear in Iceland

Outfit: Alexis Side Split Jumper from Boohoo, Kimmie Jeans from ASOS,

Accesories: Classic Bow Gloves from UGG, Furtrapper Hat - ASOS, Penny Backpack* - Nica Handbags, Teddy Fleece Boots - Timberland, Headband - River Island

What To Wear in Iceland
What To Wear in Iceland

Tip 4: If it snows like it did when we were there, then you will need shoes or boots with good grip. I borrowed these Timberland boots off my super stylish mum! And they were perfect!! Comfy, warm and sturdy, with plenty of room to get a thick pair of socks underneath.


Plus there's some gorgeous styles currently on their website!

What To Wear in Iceland
What To Wear in Iceland
What To Wear in Iceland

Tip 5: If you feel the cold, then make sure you pack some polo neck tops or a snood to keep drafts off the back of your neck!

What To Wear in Iceland

Hope this helps! If you have any questions, do comment below :-)


Travel Tips For Iceland - Part 1

Rock On Holly in Iceland

Iceland - only 2 hours away from Manchester and yet one of the most unique and picturesque places I have ever been to. My boyfriend whisked me off to Reykjavic just before Christmas to celebrate my birthday. Iceland has always been on my Bucket List of places I wanted to visit, and with direct flights from Manchester, it couldn't have been easier!

I was completely spoilt by Graham... He booked everything, organised a whole itinerary of sight seeing and hired a car to get us from place to place. He should really be the one writing this post, but I would like to share with you some of the highlights of our trip and some top tips to take away with you!


Day 1: We went to a hot spa right on the beach! It was hidden away and only visited by locals. We made a dash into the freezing cold sea and then thawed off in the warm waters. If you can find this place, it was a cool way to start the day!

Tip: Afterwards we went up to the top of a nearby place called The Pearl, to check out the amazing views over the city. This is definitely worth a visit as it is free to enter and easy to access if you have a car.

Rock On Holly in Iceland
Rock On Holly in Iceland
Rock On Holly in Iceland

Reykjavic had the most beautiful scenery. The landscape was stark and snow covered. The mountains rise up out of the mist over the town below. It was completely like something out of The Lord Of The Rings!

After a hot choccy and waffle at the Pearl (Mmm!) we drove over to one of the most beautiful spots right on the coast - the Lighthouse. This was stunning and it was at this spot, looking out to sea that my boyfriend got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!! <3

The moment was perfect and we did seem to lose track of time. As we headed back across the beach to our car, we found that the tide had come in and almost cut us off from the main land!! EEK! We had to clamber across the rocks to safety!




My top tip here?! Check for Warning signs near beaches and don't get cut off at high tide!

Rock On Holly in Iceland
Rock On Holly in Iceland
Rock On Holly in Iceland
Rock On Holly in Iceland

Day 2: We got up early and headed out to do some sight seeing!

Tip: If you feel up to it, definitely hire a car! We did this and it meant we could come and go at our own leisure and weren't bound by a tour group. We got to see way more than we would have on a one-stop bus ride. The roads were fairly straight forward to get around but we did rent a sat nav at the airport just to stay safe!

We drove out to see the biggest Geyser near Reykjavic - but there were plenty of stopping points along the way where there were amazing views. We also visited the famous waterfull, Gulfoss - but we didn't stay long simply because it was absolutely FREEEEEZING! (My next post will be wardrobe recommendations in Iceland!)

Rock On Holly in Iceland

Tip: Hike up the mountain at the Geyser for incredible views over the area.

Rock On Holly in Iceland
Rock On Holly in Iceland

Tip: The days are short in Reykjavic in Winter, the sun rose at around 11am and started to set at around 4pm. It did seem to be a long slow sunset, but we always made sure that we didn't leave it too late to get out and see some sights.

We were also lucky enough to see the Northern Lights right over Reykjavic itself - without going on a tour!

If you're interested on going to Iceland, check out my next post for tips on what to take with you!