January Sale Clothing Haul

OK, so I can only but apologise for the shoddy photographs and non-existent uniformity that is about to ensue but I'm a little out of practise these days! All of these things have been purchased over the last month from Primark, H&M and New Look, and mostly sourced from my visit to Liverpool. Isn't Liverpool just fantastic for shopping?? I had been to Liverpool prior to my latest visit however I decided I actually really loved the place this time round and could even imagine myself living there. I don't think it gets the praise and recognition that it deserves as a city but I am a fan.

Without further ado here are my bargains...

H&M

  I was a bit unsure about these shorts when I saw them as we are all aware of how hit and miss H&M's sizing can be... but they fit me and I had a voucher to spend so these were in fact not a £7 bargain but free! Can't get much better than that. Plus they're black and flocked velvet baroque print. Perfect! New Look   I very nearly didn't even see this dress seeing as it was in an entirely different store! I didn't realise there was more than 1 New Look in Liverpool but it ended up being a happy accident when I stumbled into the store. I thought this dress was going to be too good to be true - a gorgeous deep wine red (my favourite) with lace and ruched goodness and even pearl beading detail! Oh  be still my beating heart. This dress is basically my ideal of perfection and is virtually me down to a T. So as I prepared myself for the worst of it not fitting it ended up doing just the opposite and fitting beautifully. I am so happy with it. £15 well spent in my opinion.   I'd had my beady eye firmly set on this Cameo Rose dress since their online sale began but didn't want to commit to buying it online, especially since they had a no store collections policy around then so I just waited it out. Luckily I found it in my size and it fits well and has a gorgeous sweetheart neckline. My only gripe is the boob area is so padded that it's better not to wear a bra but I don't think it gives a great deal of support. But you've already seen from the shorts that I couldn't leave this be, what with being flocked velvet. Yum! It was £10 and I hope I'm able to get some good wear out of it.   I nearly said no to this top but being deep red and lacey (there's definitely a theme here isn't there?) I couldn't put it back down. It was £4 so not too bad at all and it will go with tonnes of stuff. Primark   Words cannot even describe how happy I am with this blazer. It was randomly dumped in front of a load of other things and I thought someone must have plonked it down from elsewhere but no it was reduced from £23 to £7! However it was a bloody size 8. I tried it on anyway, even though I am a definite 10, and it was a bit of a squeeze but it actually looks gorgeous on. I might not have full motion of my arms but it isn't like I'm going to be doing full body workouts wearing it. It's stunning. So hard to photograph though! It's basically a purple tweedy, structured kind of fabric.   Pencil skirts don't really suit my figure but I'm determined to hang up my greens and get a proper job this year and this skirt with it's beautiful floral print was just looking at me. I'm a sucker for florals too. Especially when they're grey and black. £3 down from £8!   The infamous £5 cotton skater dresses! They fit well and this one had gone down to £2. Sorted. I also got a green one with black polka dots but seem to have forgotten to take a photograph of that one. I actually have a skirt similar to this one that someone gifted me for Christmas last year from River Island but I couldn't resist this one. I'd had my eye on it for absolutely ages when it was £8 but they'd sold out of my size and I didn't really want to size up. However when I saw it in the slightly bigger size down to £3 I was hardly going to sniff at that was I? It fits fine as well so it looks like it was fate. What do you think of my bargains? Did you manage to get any good sales bargains? Please link me to them I'm very nosy ;)

Shabby Chic Cheap

So recently I've been getting some more home ware bits and pieces.
  This heart wreath was bought from B&M about a month ago for £1.99. It's actually attached to a curtain rail that is also from B&M but I haven't taken a proper photo of it as I still need to put the ends on. The bathroom caddy is also a B&M goody. It was £16.99 I believe and was kindly bought for me by my Mum. We've been needing more bathroom storage for a while and this does the job well.
  I got a couple of mason jars from my recent trip to IKEA for £1.39 each. I've used one for buttons, the other one will probably end up with the same use though I might just hang on to it for something special. The pot on the right is actually a plant pot! I've seen this on various different blogs and thought it was so cute. I don't have much to do with flowers or gardening however so for now it is housing various craft bits on my shelf.
  I purchased 2 of these lampshades from Asda on Sunday reduced down to only £4 each! I love the pattern and they go with the red painted walls of our rented house so much better than the crappy cream ones we had. Those crappy cream ones are the sort that have a cut out pattern to create a pattern on the ceiling but otherwise restrict much light from brightening the room so these are 1000 x better. The kitchen roll holder is actually a bog roll holder but it basically holds the same purpose and I was fed up of having no where to put the kitchen roll, so this is a cute alternative; £3.99 from B&M.
I just thought I'd take a picture of our kitchen door with the prize Cath Kidston oven gloves that probably won't get used as we already have 2 others. Plus I'd hate for them to get ruined! Also a selfie of my outfit today featuring the china print top I've blogged about in a previous outfit post. Sorry if my pearly pins offend you :p

We're Heading Northe, Heading Home

*I will apologise in advance that the better quality pictures are at the bottom of this post*

On Tuesday I headed up north to see my family in County Durham. After a 2 and a half hour drive I took a break from the driving and my Mum whisked us up to the Metro Centre for a lovely day out.

Dress: Dorothy Perkins (£20) , Ombre Cardi: Primark (£5 in sale), Boots: Barratts (years old)
Contrary to my miserable facial expression I was in a good mood; just squinting like hell because it was such a bright sunny day!
We started off in IKEA. I do love me some IKEA <3 We spent about £25 between us, with only £1.50 of that being my Mum's... I'll do a better post on what we got as hilariously I went to see my Mum with one overnight bag and subsequently came back with a car load. Spoilt isn't the word!

Mystery bits and bobs, courtesy of a blurry Twitter pic.

We also visited literally every shop in the Metro Centre and I couldn't believe some of the gorgeous bits that Topshop and Miss Selfridge had in their sale sections! 

 

Stunning dress in Topshop for only £15! So flattering too!

These beauties were from Miss Selfridge (L - £20 R - £10!)

I'm a bit miffed that I didn't purchase any of these lovelies but I think I had spent enough that day! I did however get a few bits from Primark and dress from H&M.

 

It must be said, I seem to be very drawn to blue dresses! This dress was £13 and I couldn't resist because it's firstly a lovely flock print, my favourite(!) and secondly it's a skater style, the most super flattering for me. The bra was reduced down to £3 and is very lovely quality. Primark seem to have upped the quality of some of their underwear and it feels somewhat of a luxury to wear! I couldn't resist the little bird, he was only £1.50 :)

I absolutely love this one from H&M. I try to stray away from black clothing due to my skin condition but I couldn't help myself with this. It was only £14.99 and it feels so soft with a flow-y chiffon material at the bottom and lace at the top with a see-through back. Lovely jubbly!

Hope you like this post! Have you ever been to the Metro Centre or bought bits from IKEA recently?

Tweet Tweet

I've been after the bird print tea dress that came out in H&M a couple of years ago for absolutely ages now. At the time I believe it retailed for £29.99 which I'm too cheap to fork out for so decided to wait until it went into the sale or at least on eBay. Well that didn't happen because that person from Glee wore it and BOOM everyone wanted my dress :( I've been periodically stalking it on eBay but it's always gone for ridiculous prices or been in the wrong size. Well finally it's mine. Nabbed for £6 something including P&P and it's sooo pretty!

Not the most flattering of angles (thanks boyfriend) but it shows the dress in it's beautiful glory. Also do note the safety pin, despite the nice fit, it has button fastenings all the way down the front which means that there was a little gap. Not brilliant when with your boyfriend's family but I'd forgotten to bring a camisole top with me and so I had to basically make do and mend :p
It has the mostly lovely puffed sleeves and I like the shape of the hem, not that you can see it here, but it kind of dips and curls. I felt that as the dress is such a statement piece it didn't need to be outdone with any accessories, so I didn't. Though if I was going out on a night I'd probably wear a cute necklace too. It's also a lovely length to go without tights.
  Dress: H&M via eBay, Cardigan: Primark, Boots: Barratts, Tights: Primark, Bag: Nica

It's All In The Details

I've been feeling a little bit experimental recently. Usually my style consists of wearing some form of dress, most notably of the patterned tea dress variety, with black tights and a long cardigan. I love the comfort and ease of this, but lately I've been adding a little more colour.

Tights: Primark, Dress: Primark, Cardigan: Primark, Leather jacket: Bershka, Brooch: Gift I love this gem of a dress. It was only £7 and is of a lovely lightweight fabric which will be perfect for summer days. Akin to this, it is slightly longer at the back, shorter at the front but being the perfect length to parade my milk bottle legs. I've had the cardigan for ages and ages just sitting in my wardrobe feeling somewhat unloved. I have no idea why it isn't a staple. For one, it actually fits nicely and secondly how gorgeous are the details?! Beautiful little gold rose buttons atop a bias binded edging to give more structure and support. It's so soft and very well made. It is however too cold to get the legs out and I'm not sure the world is ready to be blinded by my paleness just yet so I added my marl grey tights. Lovely.

Porcelain Lady

So I'm not really a jeans kind of girl but for some reason today I felt like wearing them. 

  Top: Primark, Jeans: Primark, Cardi: £5 from cheap shop in Liverpool, Shoes: New Look, Belt: Borrowed from Boyfriend
The jeans are too big for me as you can tell but I quite like the way I've executed this outfit despite it being very much out of my comfort zone. I've actually never ever tucked a top into jeans before with a belt on display so this is a rather momentous occasion! I've always struggled with the monumental task of finding a good fitting pair of jeans so that is mainly the reason I steer away from them. However saying this, I think I will purchase some high waisted black jeans in the future as I can imagine they would look so much better to disguise my hugely long torso and perhaps elongate my stumpy little legs.  Let me know what you think :)  feedback into what works/ doesn't is always appreciated!

On The First Day Of Spring...

...I decided to do an outfit post! I needed to leave the house anyway to pick up a prescription so thought it would be the perfect opportunity to do one.


 
Dress: Boohoo.com, Cardigan: Primark, Tights: Primark Slippers: Asda
The first day of spring was also the day I decided to go out the house without a coat feeling mildly comfortable though since having drafted this post, the weather has obviously decided to turn yet again and the feelings of true spring won't be happening for ages yet! Boo!
But yesterday was a good day.... I made my first Etsy sale to a stranger :D absolutely over the moon! It's given me the kick up the arse that I needed to create some more goodies. So I've even completed the cover that I used as a DIY in my post from last week, which you can now see over in my Etsy shop.

I hope she likes it!

Happy days :)

Primark & Dunelm Mill Haul

My camera wasn't working properly to take detailed pictures of yesterdays shopping haul and then my laptop refused to save any recorded videos so I had to do it directly on Youtube. This is only the second video I've ever made so please be kind :)





I got purchases from Primark including a lovely marl grey cardigan, a nice floral/birdy printed top reminiscent of  delftware pottery, a feather print top and the notorious super cosy tights. I also visited the new and improved Dunelm Mill shop here in Lincoln where I purchased some fabric paint and a fabric pen. The paint is the cheapest I've been able to find it anywhere. The only peeve I have with the new store is that their craft section seems to be much more condensed, much to my dismay, but still an improved store nonetheless!

So yeah, please give it a like if you would be so kind :D

If for some reason you can't see the embedded version you can view it here

xxx

Fragile Like A Rose On The Snow

Hello! How are we? I thought I'd do an outfit post seeing as my last one was more than a month ago! Time flies when you're having fun and that... or more the fact I haven't worn a noteworthy outfit/ had a good skin day in that amount of time! I'm also showing off my new hair cut. I had to have it done because my medication made me lose a vast amount of hair, and although it's still coming out at a fast rate it's much less noticeable. 
          

Coat: Jane Norman, T-shirt: Primark, Leggings: Dorothy Perkins, Shoes: New Look, Bag: Nicca via Asos

Bits&Bobs

My Mum came to see me this weekend so I decided to take her to Nottingham seeing as she's never been, for a shopping trip. When I go shopping my boyfriend despises going into the cheap shops so it's always good to go with my Mum as we like grabbing ourselves a good bargain!

I took advantage of the 99p Store and Poundland as our Poundlands' (yes Lincoln has just about 2 of everything!) don't seem to stock as much good stuff as the ones in other cities. I nabbed myself these bargains:

A pack of 60 paper doilies of varying sizes, pot pouri, fake flowers, a 2 pack of fancy scissors. The first three are from 99p Store, the latter from Poundland. I also bought a roll of adhesive window shield to put on the front door. £1 is a serious bargain for that stuff as the cheapest I've seen it prior to this is £5 in Wilkinsons or from Ebay/Amazon. 

We also went to Primark. We managed to get to the train station just as the train had pulled off, and seeing as transport in Lincoln is dire, decided to go into Lincoln centre Primark to grab some gloves for my cold handies as I'd forgotten to pick them up when we left the house. Of course we then visited the larger one in Nottingham too. 

  Blue bra £3, Knickers £1, Socks (mens) £1 (The bra is actually a mega gorgeous blue, phone camera is rubbish!) These were too cute not to get!!! Heart was only £1.50 and is a really good size. Fox cushion was only £6!! They're also doing the owls too. I know Primark like to rip off other brands but I don't even care. £6 is an amazing deal and they're both of good quality too.                     This dress is stunning!! A lovely damask print, cotton feeling skater dress. It's only a size 8 sadly so I hope to God it fits!! We went on a real mission to find more of these, even roping in 3 shop assistants to help but this was the only one after scouring high and low. They reckon it's new stock though... Also the cardi is a lovely blue/grey colour. Both me and my Mum fell in love with it so both had to have it! Was reduced to £7 down from £14 in the Lincoln store but still full price in Nottingham.
What do you think of my purchases?x

Wish List : Want List

I should really treat myself today seeing as I only went and bagged myself a conditional offer for my MA at Durham University! :D so happy!! Looks like I'll be getting my uber northern accent back, much to the boyfriends dislike XD

1) Leggings are £12.99 from New Look, vair pretty!
2) Grey dress is another £12.99er from New Look. I need more basics and it's lovely.
3) Red dress is another one from New Look at £28.99 which is a bit steep for a cheapskate such as me, but it was too nice to not include.
4) Black dress with lace collar is an Asda special at only £16. Sadly they've run out of size 10s online but it has been given a solid 5 stars so it must be good!
5) This tapestry skirt is part of Primark's S/S13 stock. I believe it will be £12 :)


So, so happy that I'll be able to move my life forward :D

Falling Snow

I hate snow. Grumble.

But aside from that, I've had one of the best weekends I've had in a long while. It was much needed and thanks to brilliant company was very relaxing and generally lovely. On Sunday the boyfriend had a race in Sheffield, or rather, Rother Valley Country Park, so we decided to make the most of it and stay over in a hotel. On the Saturday, after stupid road diversions in Lincoln, we spent the day with friends in Meadowhall until 10pm when it closed. I bought quite a bit which you can refer to in my 'vlog' at the bottom of this post.

I brought a present for one of my friends who suffers from a chronic illness. I just wanted to make her happy, so I put together a little kit for her, for when it gets her down. It consisted of heart shaped hand warmers, which I stupidly didn't take a picture of but are basically this:

A mug which I tried the Sharpie DIY on, with a quote which was quite fitting after all she's been through. I then put some of her favourite sweets inside it :) Alongside this, I bought a little chest from the Lincoln Christmas Market which I filled with mini spoons that I got from an Ebay seller. For anyone who doesn't know the Spoon Theory go and have a read here. It's so helpful in explaining chronic illnesses to others, and will hopefully help you to see the joke :p


The next day I drove the boyfriend to his race. It was so cold that I opted to stay in the car and instead was distracted by taking photos of birds in trees because I have something of an obsession XD And last but not least, here is my shopping haul video. I hope you like, and please leave feedback :)