Exploring The Royal Exchange, London

When was the last time you played tourist in your own home town? Over the past couple of months I have had the great opportunity to truly explore my surroundings in London. I've visited neighbourhoods, treasured shopping streets and cherished British events, all in an effort to experience and share the creme de la creme of London life. Today, I bring you a lunchtime look at, perhaps one of my favorite London locations, The Royal Exchange. 

I feel it's only appropriate to start with a little background here, as the Royal Exchange could fill an encyclopedia with its role in British history. The Royal Exchange begins its life in 1566, is officially opened by the Queen of England in 1571 and even sees a proclamation of a King on its hallowed steps in 1901. And that's just the Royal history. It's survived World Wars, has even lived through city traders shouting through the great hall and now finds itself reinvented as a place where the population of the city enjoys the luxurious side of its surroundings. Yes, the Royal Exchange has been beautifully transformed to house dozens of luxury shops, a handful of outstanding bars and, what has become, one of my favourite burgers in the city. There is so much to see and do here that I found it only appropriate to put together a guide for locals and tourists alike. One could, quite conceivably, spend every lunchtime at The Royal Exchange and find something new to experience daily. 

With all that in mind, here's my top eight experiences at The Royal Exchange in London. In no particular order, these are all moments that can be fit into a lunch hour or drawn out over a longer period of time, depending on your need for luxurious pampering. 

1. Coffee and Cocktails!

You know how I said I wasn't ranking in order of importance? Well, in my opinion, a great cocktail option should always come first on any city guide. Coffee connoisseurs and the cocktail crazed amongst us will equally love this announcement. The famed coffee house, The Grind, have recently opened at The Royal Exchange, and they are not only fueling the city with some powerful espressos, they're also offering a cocktail menu after noon. My advice? Go for the Espresso Martini. Not only is it simple sensational, it's also on offer for half price this week in the Exchange. Oh, and if you're an interiors addict, you will obsess over this insanely perfect interior design.

2. Get lost in fragrance, complete with a complimentary hand & arm massage

I've made no secret of the fact that I am a Jo Malone addict. I could spend all day in these shops across London. But, The Royal Exchange has opened my eyes to a 20 minute experience that has me wishing my offices were within walking distance of this location. For 20 minutes I sat upstairs, in a private room, with a Jo Malone fragrance expert who gave me a hand and arm massage that quite honestly transformed my entire outlook on the day. It also convinced me that I needed to invest in two Jo Malone fragrances. While the experience itself is completely free (and bookable by telephone), I doubt any soul will be able to exit without a fragrance purchase in hand. These ladies are experts at matching you with your dream scent and the massage is just the cherry on this sweet smelling cake. Get in there for a lunch break and I promise your afternoon will be completely transformed, no matter the circumstances that await you back at the office.

3. Nothing says lovin' like a little blue box!

This may be my American side coming through, but I must admit that a little blue box solves all problems. Truly, the Tiffany blue is a thing of legend. It's managed to get many a man out of the bad books and continues to act as a luxury layer for men and women alike, whether on the hunt for diamonds or a fine watch. Tiffany's at The Royal Exchange, located on the ground floor, offers a unique buying experience for anyone looking for either a quick purchase or a long term investment... can you say engagement ring? The salespeople here have seen it all and are prepared to help you with just about any situation you bring to the glass cabinets. In your lunch hour, mountains can pretty much be moved here to insure you leave a happy customer. After 20 minutes I was convinced I needed every piece of the T Collection and most certainly needed an East West watch. Mr. FFG is in trouble. 

4. A blissful burger with a view

I take burgers as seriously as most women take diamonds. It's just a thing. I can't help myself. So when I say that it's worth stopping into the Grand Cafe at The Royal Exchange to try the cheeseburger, you need to take this recommendation seriously. This is a mean bit of meat and it comes with one heck of a good view overlooking the main hall. Bite by bite you can organize your plan of attack on the luxury stores below. It's all about shopping with a focus, and you need energy to do that properly, right? If you are looking for great concentration, perhaps you should leave your cocktail experience to the later hours in the day with the Grand Cafe. Their Wimbledon concoctions are deliciously deadly.

6. Sample award winning chocolates

A word about Paul A. Young - if you are on a diet, stay clear. Truly, this is the place where diets go to commit suicide. One step inside and the scent alone will be Weight Watchers' worst nightmare. Of course Paul A. Young isn't your average chocolatier. Oh no. This man has won multiple awards for his inventions in chocolate. While his salted caramel is perhaps the most famous of his works of art, his more daring combinations are positively inspired. Who would have ever thought you could bite into a chocolate that is inspired by a Pimms cup? Or how about peanut butter and jelly? There's even something for Marmite enthusiasts. But, for the purpose of quick fixes, I'll say there are three things you can do in 20 minutes or less with Paul A. Young. First up, you can stock a box of goodies for a loved one, taking great advice from members of staff on what people the world over love in a box of chocolates. Second, you can grab one of the best ice creams in the city - that is if you love rich and wonderful chocolate. I doubt I'll hear anyone arguing that. Last, but certainly not least, you can enjoy a bubbling hot hot chocolate so rich it's like drinking an actual bar of chocolate. Willy Wonka, eat your heart out.

7. Show love for Lulu

"Put on your pearls, girls," and get thee to Lulu Guinness. Men - you can't go wrong with a Lulu Guinness purchase as a gift for the special lady in your life, and ladies, be careful when you enter this shop as your American Express will hurt by the end of the experience. Of course Lulu Guinness is perhaps most well known for her statement red lips, that come in the form of everything from a  clutch to a closure on a larger tote. There's also luggage on offer, great smaller accessories and a team of women on hand to make sure you don't leave the shop empty handed. This is a classic and well-loved British brand that deserves every bit of recognition it receives. Whether you are looking for a last minute red carpet accessory or a weekend bag for a quick getaway, Lulu Guinness is the perfect lunchtime fashion filler. 

8. Keeping it personal

I have always thought that the best gift to give anyone, to show true thought with the object in hand, is with an element of personalization. Somehow personalizing an item meant you took time and effort to purchase such a piece well in advance of the main event. Well, Smythson at The Royal Exchange have offered up that service for people who are more last minute in their approach to gifting. You can rush into Smythson, on your lunch hour, and pick out a leather wallet, notebook, passport holder and more, and have the items personalized there, on the spot. Your only tough spot might be in making a decision on what to buy as there is so much on offer. The Panama wall alone is quite daunting, albeit colorful. But, staff are on hand to help with any task you lay before them. I've yet to meet a living soul that didn't adore everything that Smythson has to offer - it's a win-win. 

Of course this is all just scratching the service. There's much more to discover at The Royal Exchange. View their entire store listing to see what else is on offer and get shopping!

Fashion Foie Gras worked in collaboration with The Royal Exchange.

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Style Update: She sells seashells

Ever have the moment when you spot a print and you know, no matter the cost, that the print in question needs to be a part of your life? You're looking at a prime example and a serious investment in a print that will reappear every summer, year after year, as one of my favorite pieces in my closet. 

This is the Marina Rinaldi Seashell print for Spring Summer 2016 and, well, it's the stuff dreams are made of. There are matching trousers that set the world right, but for today I thought i'd kick off with featuring the piece de resistance - the silk shirt dress or jacket, depending on how you'd like to wear it. Take my breath away fabulous, right? Now, off to the seaside.

Photos shot on location at The Metropolitan on Park Lane by Terence Webb.

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Zara Patch Bag

Zara Bag

ASOS Dress

Zara, girl we don't tend to get along all that well. I find your stuff over priced and sometimes too poor quality to justify the price tag but every now and again you show me how much of a babe you are and come up with something so undeniably perfect I could jump for joy.

This lil' Zara beaut of a crossbody bag has been gracing my shoulder for the better part of the last three months after I destroyed my eerily similar bag from Marks and Spark's while in New York due to my obsession with over stuffing things. I genuinely thought for a moment I was never going to find a bag like it again and then this one came along.

A little on the small side, but perfectly formed for days when I don't feel the need to tote around half my belonging with me. The little patches add a cute and quirky edge to a plain black bag and really make a statement without making too much of a statement y'know. My absolutely go-to for outfits that consist of the shame shade of black it really pops and adds a fun edge which I like to tell myself is one of my style signatures.

I've been harping on about doing a DIY version of this bag for the absolute longest time and I FINALLY have all the bits and bobs and the patches I want to make my own version of this patchwork bag! But for now this one hits the spot. Good Job Zara!

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The Absolutely Fabulous Diet Coke Red Carpet Experience

So here's the score. A couple of weeks ago I got an email from the ladies over at Diet Coke. They asked if I'd be interested in attending the Absolutely Fabulous World Premiere in London and if I'd like to make it extra fabulous by being dressed, head to toe, in pieces from Liberty London - the famous London Department Store. What do you think I said? You're right, I passed on the opportunity. AS IF! I was straight in there and it went a little something like this. 

First, I stopped by the Absolutely Fabulous Diet Coke windows outside Liberty, to pay homage to the ladies and brand, and found myself getting more excited than I would have thought possible. Ab Fab, me, Diet Coke in hand and a red carpet (rumoured to actually be gold) await. Pinch me, no really. These women were half the reason, for better or worse, that I pursued a career in PR, which lasted for over a decade. Wouldn't they have been proud? 

In I stepped, into the hallowed halls of this famed London department store. For those of you that have never been in Liberty, mark this as a must visit if you're new to town. Their edit is insane and stepping into the store truly is like stepping into a time machine. For all the times I've visited Liberty,  however, I've never before entered the personal shopping suites. That was all about to change. I spent the morning working with Diet Coke and the stylists at Liberty selecting the perfect outfit that would fit right in on the premiere carpet for Ab Fab.

I tried everything. This is for Absolutely Fabulous, after all, and these ladies would wear just about anything and everything. At first, I thought casual might be better. Wear something bright and attention grabbing - hence the tassels, the stripes and the bright red trousers. I was looking for quirky yet stylish. In the end, it came down to a dual between two rather fabulous dresses- one of sparkles and the other a complete colour pop. Can you guess which one won the game? Scroll below to see. In the end it was all about the accessories.

So then we have the big event itself. The crowd gathering in Leicester Square was immense; the carpet was indeed gold; and there was a large population of drag queens ahead of us in line that were stealing all the outfit attention. These ladies defined the words "absolutely fabulous." When we finally made our way onto the gold carpet, each and every one of the ladies from Diet Coke was bringing some serious style to the premiere show. Eat your hearts out, paps. 

We all made our way inside, having witnessed Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Kate Moss, Stella McCartney, Dawn French, Emma Bunton, Kylie Minogue and many more enter the cinema. On our seats we found limited edition Diet Coke bottles, naturally, decorated with the two famous ladies - FYI there are three limited edition bottles, one for each character and one of the two ladies together, available to buy at Liberty London, Boots, Selfridges and Ocado while stocks last. 

The lights went down, Joanna and Jennifer took to the stage to thank the audience for their support, and the movie began. I'll just say this, as I don't want to ruin anything. The Absolutely Fabulous Movie is exactly like watching a 90 minute episode of the show. Fans will absolutely love this and will see it again and again without tiring of the concept. Go see it and check out my coverage of everything from outfitting to red carpet jogging below, thanks to Diet Coke UK. 

Clothing provided by Diet Coke in collaboration with Liberty

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A Facial tool that doesn't suck

Foreo Luna Play* £29

No word of a lie, when this came through my post box I genuinely thought it was a vibrator. I didn’t get and press material with it or any context I just had this small little green thing sitting on my desk not sure what it was.  Then the rational part of my brain kicked in and my pal Kate's morning routine came to mind where she used this little device and it all slowly (and I mean v. slowly) clicked into place.

After the initial confusion I realised it was the little sister to the widely popular Foreo Luna the Foreo Luna Play.  Kinda does sound like a sex toy though right?

Not one for the hype train I sort of ignored the idea of a Foreo as I've never really got on with things like the Clarisonic and presumed it was a similar type deal. Oh boy was I wrong. This lil' beaut uses sonic technology (which sounds very fancy but it's just little vibrations) which in theory is supposed to make your cleanser more effective and remove impurities. No bristles or scratchy brush heads just these tiny little nodules that barely feel like anything on the skin.

I used this paired with my go-to cleanser the Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser to leave my skin feeling super smooth and buffed to perfection without buzzing off the top layer of skin leaving my skin a raw broken out mess - Im looking at you Clarisonic. Overtime I feel like it's improved my complexion tenfold, my cheeks are less congested and my skin is smoother than a babies bottom.

At £29 it's pretty affordable but the only downside is that it doesn't last forever. You get 100 uses out of it so it'll roughly last you two months depending on your useage (obvs if you use it day and night). It's non rechargeable and doesn't take replacement batteries which is a bit of a bummer.  However if you really like it you can always upgrade to the Luna Mini which is a bit of a price increase BUT it does recharge and lasts a lot longer. The Play is designed for travel/the girl on the go rather than long term use at home but it's also a nice way to try a super pricey tool for a lot less to get a feel for it.

Overall, I like it. I like it a lot. While it's not a game changer and its something that I don't feel is really needed it has worked wonders for me in ways that other facial tools have not. I always thought I was over skincare tools writing them off as unnecessary junk but I have to say this had impressed me.

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Style Update: Totally Taupe and a Pomeranian

You know people say nude is slimming? They're usually referring to shoes, but I took it all a bit too seriously when it came to this ensemble. In al honestly, I didn't mean to have this be a totally taupe moment, but hey ho, it ended up being one. The fact that my God-Puppy, Pepper (the most beautiful Pomeranian), matched as well was just a coincidence too perfect not to capture.

Shop the Look:

Photos by Terence Webb.

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Riding shotgun in the Ferrari 599xx at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2016

I'm terrified of so many things on this earth. Truly. Ask my parents and they will most likely tell you that never in a million years would they have imagined I'd end up living in a foreign country, working in a profession that has zero stability and, in fact, requires constant reinvention. What can I say? Over the past two decades I've made a concerted effort to kill all fear, all the while being petrified. This past week I was thrown another curveball. Last Monday I received an invitation to ride as a passenger in the supercar display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with Ferrari. Naturally, I got the email and responded with an instant "hell, yes, I'll be there."

Five minutes later the reality of the situation set in.

While I adore beautiful supercars and the power and speed that come with them, I much prefer to be the one behind the wheel controlling such a beast. I am, in short, the worst passenger in existence - always have been, always will be. Planes- can't stand them. I want to be the pilot. Helicopters - yeah, them too. Even when it comes to boats, if someone else is at the helm, I'll have a near panic attack. Only no one ever sees this. Naturally, it's all hidden away in a nice little Crocodile skin vanity case, deep within my soul. But it's there and the thought of sitting as a passenger, while a professional racing driver sweeps me around a track at 140 miles an hour in one of the world's most beloved Ferrari models (the 599xx), might as well have thrown that box clear across the room. The hinges were officially off.

No one knew. I was cool as a cucumber. We took a helicopter down to Goodwood in the early morning hours- no problems there, just beautiful views of green rolling hills- and arrived at the Ferrari supercar paddocks with time to spare. We were introduced to our cars. Hello, Ferrari 599xx, which I had to travel in as I was too tall to be comfortable in the other models on offer- won't hear me complaining.

From there we were fitted with our helmets and before I even had time to register a fear, I was buckled into my seat, the swish Ferrari red belts screaming "don't worry, you're in a luxury bubble here."  At this point I had more excitement than fear and absolutely no idea what to expect. Of course I knew the Hillclimb at Goodwood was one of most famous tracks in the world - renowned for showcasing the best the universe has to offer when it comes to fine automobiles. But, only a very few in this world get to see what it's like to drive this track, in a supercar, with thousands of people cheering, taking pictures and begging you to go faster or rev your engine just one more time before you move on. I had no idea what was in store.

We made our way to the starting line and my driver, a lovely chap named James, who I do so hope I meet again, informed me that he would not actually be driving me around the track. This man who has just assured me that all would be OK, that I would have a great time and that I would be in safe hands, was leaving me. WTF? Yes, queue the panic.

James stepped out of the vehicle at the start line and in slipped James Calado. Familiar with this chap? He's a big deal on the racing circuit and had just come from racing in Le Mans - another legendary event in which the drivers race for 24 hours. I kid you not, he got in the car and received instructions on how to drive it. I took out my iPhone and whatsapped everyone I loved - "I'm about to take off in the Ferrari. In case anything happens, I love you and I've lived a great life." True story.

The first "zero to some insane speed" off the starting line was where it all changed. With my helmet on and belts tightly fastened, we took off like a rocket ship. Fear flooded every inch of my skin and seconds letter was replaced by an incomprehensible exhilaration. I had spent a week worrying about 2 and a half minutes that I asked to do over again the moment I stepped out of the car. "Again, again," I cried. But, alas, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I can't help but think about the fact that I almost said no. I almost said no right up until the moment we took off. I nearly offered the ride to someone else.

There's a lesson here, that I do believe most Ferrari owners themselves have mastered a hundred times over- otherwise how would they be successful enough to own the beautiful toys they do? The lesson is this: recognise fear and then tell it, face to face, that you're coming for it and do it. Feel it and seal it, people.

Now, about that car ride. You know I got as much as I could on video. In full disclosure though, I didn't film the Hillclimb itself (but did capture the ride back) as I wanted to really experience this for myself. I was 100% selfish. I was also unsure if I would even have the ability to hold the camera as we sped along at insane speeds. Here's the result:

Note of thanks: Ferrari - you remain a legend in my mind. The fact that I had a chance to not only be a part of such an incredible day, but also to ride in a Ferrari 599xx, will forever seem like a dream I once had. This video is the only proof I have for myself that it happened at all.

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How the F do you make money from blogging?

If I had a pound for every time someone asked me how I made money from my blog then I would probably be retired by 30. Every time I tell someone I’m a blogger they always ask about money, always.

“BUT HOW DO YOU MAKE MONEY” 

They all cry like it’s a unknown fact there are many people now out there making a sole income from the internet!

I always feel like asking them how they make money just to prove a point on how rude it really is to ask someone how they make money. It used to really bother me, but I grew to just accept it as curiousness and lack of knowledge about a pretty secretive field. I can totally understand from the outside looking in that you would have no idea how tapping a few words out onto a computer could potentially make money let alone sustain you as a full time job. 

So this post is in part for them and for anyone who wants to know how to monetise their blog if they weren't quite sure what to do or where to go.

There are lots of options out there to start monetising your website or blog. I will point out that not all monetisation methods work on every single blog, and there is no "set way" to make money. 

None the less each monetisation avenue is worth exploring until you find the one that works best for you and your own content. 

Affilate Marketing

It’s probably (in my opinion) controversial but I think that beauty and fashion bloggers get most of their income from affiliate marketing. This is when you earn a percentage of the sale when a reader clicks through and buys something via your special snowflake affiliate links. 

If you post about personal style or homewear, then this is p. lucrative money-maker. There are many networks out there you could look into that provide affiliate marketing, so look around for the one that suits you best. 

Selling Ads Yourself

Im not actually sure if people still do this as it's been years since Ive done it. But hey. You may want to start selling ad space in your blog’s sidebar. 

Target these prices towards small businesses and other bloggers who want a bit of exposure. Direct ad sales are a great way for smaller bloggers to get income, as these ads don't rely heavily on CPM, as you can set a fix price for these.

It might be a little more time consuming managing your own ads, but they can help build strong relationships with smaller brands. This type of advertising works a lot better for smaller blogs looking for a revenue stream that doesn't rely on huge amounts of traffic.

Ad networks

Ad networks are often more beneficial for blogs that have good/high traffic, as you are paid based on how many people see the advert or per page view. But to be honest I wont be alone in saying ad revenue from ad networks is way down. Like really down.

Back in 2013 the main chunk of my income came from ads, albeit my traffic was much much higher at the time but the actual amount of money you earn per person visiting your site has gone way way down.  Part of it is that theres just more blogs out there so CPM is spread a little thinner and part of it is I think advertises tend to go down the sponsored post route for more effective targeting.

Its not just me who noticed this so many of my old sk00l blogger pals feel the same. There's very little money in online ads these days and I often take mine off my blog because I don't think the pennies are worth it

None the less I think having ads is down to personal preference. The downside is that you also have no control over your adverts. I’ve had terrible takeover ads all over my blog once about feminine hygiene products and chips. While both useful and delicious in their own ways - hardly the most chic ads for a fashion blog!

Sponsored Posts

Sponsored posts are when a brand approaches you about posting specifically about their product for a fee. Look at it like taking an advertorial out in a magazine.

Sponsored posts can come in many forms, they can be about promoting an event, product placement, paid-for reviews, pictures of places, etc. The downsides of sponsored posts are that your readers may grow to mistrust you if you start accepting posts on brands that dont fit your niche, personal style or can sense you don't believe in the product. 

Always, ALWAYS be honest and never take a sponsored post if you're not into the product or brand. Your brand is ALWAYS more important than money. This is something I think that people often forget, I personally don't believe a blogger/vlogger would do a sponsored post without thinking about what their audience will think about it, we really do care about our audience more than money compared to what some people think.

Sell something 

IDK if so many people do this anymore but starting up a shop off the back of your blog is a really simple way to get some extra income. If you're known for your DIY skills or your amazing thrifting, it might be worth opening up a shop to sell those bits onto others. You might even want to explore the possibility of writing your tips into an e-book and sell it! 

There are many merchandising options too for bloggers, so have a think about it as an alternative revenue stream if you arent quite at a level where you can draw money from sponsors or traditional adverts I think this is a good way to start. 

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