Following giving up beauty purchases for Lent, it is only natural and expected that a haul was soon to happen… and it’s happened! The majority of the purchases were from Boots, with a couple of items from TK Maxx.
Following giving up beauty purchases for Lent, it is only natural and expected that a haul was soon to happen… and it’s happened! The majority of the purchases were from Boots, with a couple of items from TK Maxx.
Hey Sweeties,
So it seemed only the other week I posted a haul on here… oh wait, I did (here)! But as the seasons begin to change so is my style and consequently my wardrobe so while I am still on a beauty purchasing ban during Lent, my attention and spending has turned to fashion…naturally.
Until recently, I had never purchased from Missguided.com but their constant Tweets advertising an additional 40% off sale items eventually got the better of me and I logged on and began browsing. I liked much of what I saw, not all of it was really stuff I would or could wear by which I mean, not my style/suitable for work, and I don’t really have a social life requiring little dresses. There’s also no point buying clothes for the sake of it, they ideally need to fill a gap in my wardrobe so when I stumbled upon the Asma Chunky Knit Check Cardigan in Monochrome, I was sold!
I was so pleased when it arrived that it fitted (this is in a size 12) and looked great (always hard to tell when the models are size 8!) and I love the overall style, particularly the leather patches on the shoulder. This will be a piece that can transition easily from winter to summer and with the 40% discount this went from being £22 to I think £13 -bargain!
One of the places I think people don’t quite appreciate for fashion are supermarkets, admittedly I am one too but actually the likes of Sainsbury’s (Tu), Tesco (F&F) and in this instance Asda (George), create perfectly affordable, wearable and quality clothing and accessories.
I have been after a stripey dress for ages and when in Asda recently I took the opportunity to browse the sale rails and stumbled upon one that almost fitted (on sight) my exact requirements but unfortunately it was too big and there weren’t any others available. So once more the internet came to my rescue and I was fortunately able to find it on George online.
This isn’t the exact style of stripey dress I have been after but for a simple, basic everday/weekend dress this fits the bill and for £4, I can’t really complain!
While browsing, I also came across this grey, roll neck dress which wasn’t in the sale but at £12, it still hardly breaks the bank.
I haven’t really got anything like this as although I don’t wear tight, figure hugging clothes, I do generally buy and wear clothing with more of a structured fit to them. Saying that, I do really love this much for the same reasons as my other George purchase as it’s simple, very wearable and good quality.
Can you guys recommend me any other online sites similar to Missguided and Asos? I love hitting the high street but I can never buy anything too distinctive to one place i.e. to Primark, Miss Selfridge as I like to not follow the masses (as they say) so I can only buy basic items that don’t instantly scream where they are from. Being also in my later twenties, I find -particularly recently- a lot of high street fashion to be very young, for instance crops tops aren’t really suitable to my age range (although that doesn’t stop some!). On my Twitter and Instagram I always here of online sites but to be honest I never know where to start really so any tips and prods in the right direction will be much appreciated 😉
Until next time x
Hey Sweeties,
So as promised, here is part 2 of my recent haul, part one (beauty) can be read here. Essentially I went to two places –New Look and Primark but the New Look was situated within a local Outfit store so it’s amazing really I only came out with three items and all from the same brand (and in a sale)!
I am definitely in the midst of a wardrobe overhaul and in doing so I am re figuring out my own personal style and exploring some different looks, but more on this another time.
Anyway, here is what I have recently purchased…
New Look heeled sandals, £7
Primark pumps, £5
New Look top, £5
New Look Skirt, £7
I love these sandals, I saw them on the website the night before but not in my size so I desperately hoped a size 6 would still available in store and to my luck there was! I’ll be honest though, although actually very comfortable, they aren’t the greatest for walking in and a night of dancing is a definite no… but I still love them. The detail is really in the gold buckle around the ankle but the beauty of these sandals is in their simplicity and that they can be worn with pretty much anything.
The top (seen above) was an instant hit and a total bargain for £5! It’s a very light, polyester, loose fitting vest type top that asides from being ideal for when the weather (eventually) gets warmer, can transition smoothly from day to night, work to weekend, smart to casual; A top for all occassions!
Similar to the top, the skirt doesn’t only inject some summer colour into the mix, it is another item that can transition across numerous occassions. From the image above, all three items work well together and definitely an outfit for any summer socials whether that be for work or with friends.
As for the pumps, I am always needing to refresh and replace my flats so Primark for me is the place to go and never lets me down!
Until next time x
PS. Lent update: going well, still avoiding any beauty purchasing!
Hey Sweeties,
So I have made a few little cheeky purchases lately, mostly beauty but a bit of fashion too and I know how much we all love these kind of posts and videos (not on here necessarily, I mean in the blogosphere more broadly!). My last haul was in January which I filmed -possibly not very successfully- so I thought I would keep this one strictly to text and photographs. Also, rather than have a super long post involving everything, I figured it would make more sense to split this haul into two posts.
So let’s begin: Beauty…
From left – right:
Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean 3-in-one Deep Purifying Cleanser
I have a review of this cleanser going up on the blog next week which explains in more depth why this landed in my basket as I have yet to try anything from Soap & Glory. Without giving anymore away, you’ll have to wait until next week!
Rimmel Brow This Way in dark brown
My brows are a bit unruly at the moment which I am sure I have made no secret of, but while they could do with some professional maintenance, they aren’t so bad they need it yet I don’t think and with a good application of pencil, I am doing alright at disguising this. I have been meaning to get a brow gel for a while and I have been seeking out a cheaper alternative to Benefit’s Gimme Brow. In a recent haul post from another Blogger, Rimmel’s Brow This Way was mentioned and the review wasn’t bad so I thought I would give this one a shot. I’ll let you know how I get on! Anyone else tried this?
Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in 03 warm medium
This is a repurchase and I don’t think I need to explain why! It’s quite simply one of -if not the best- high street/drugstore concealer on the market.
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 05 Ole Flamingo
I love these lipsticks from Bourjois, so much so that I just had to add this one to my collection which now stands at four, the other three being; Happy Nude Year, Nude-ist and Frambourjois. I have spoken about them on here before but not all together as they have each been purchased at different times, so I may do a post involving them all, if for no other reason than for a single referal point going forward.
Autograph Pure Luxe Multi-Blusher
I have had a voucher for M&S for a while but it has taken me ages to find anything I like in store and it was only the other day while mooching in Windsor that I stumbled upon their beauty section. This blusher caught my eye for it’s pretty flower embossing and a quick swatch suggested it was definitely worth a punt. However, had I not had a voucher, I might not have been so keen to spend £12.50 of my own cash on it without being sure it was worth it. So we’ll see, I’ll let you know in due course!
Rimmel Lasting Finish 25hr Foundation in 100 Ivory
Again, a re-purchase. My existing review of this product can be found here.
Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser
Something else I have been waiting to try for a while as although I have no doubt it’s not the best out there, I’ve not actually heard a bad review. I think this usually retails for around £7-8.00 but while in Asda last week they were doing a deal on their Maybelline products which meant I snapped this up for a cool £5! Currently I switch between sample sized tubes of Benefit’s Porefessional Primer and Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer.
Primer is one of those products that are hit and miss across the beauty world with as many people insisting a primer forms part of their base, whereas others never touch the stuff. For me, I have just got into the habit of wearing primer and I do think it makes a difference. However, I struggle to justify spending a lot of money on primer so I have high hopes for Maybelline’s doing the job for the long term.
Sleek blush By 3 palette in Pink Lemonade
One drugstore brand to never underestimate or easily dismiss is Sleek, their products are not only very affordable, they are also good quality and well pigmented. Not that I really need any more blushers (said no woman ever) but this palette caught my eye and it involves two powder and one cream blush. Very pretty! I can’t wait to share a more in depth review of this palette in a future post with you guys!
The second part of my haul (fashion purchases) will be posted in a week or two, so stay tuned Sweeties!
Until next time x
Hey Sweeties,
How are we already on day 20 of Blogmas?! This month is just zooming by but I find this also with my birthday month (August) -anyone else find this?
Today’s post I had initially scheduled to post my 2014 favourites but with work and Christmas preparation getting in the way I just haven’t had the time to get my thoughts together for this, but I will aim to get this up within the next couple of days!
Today I had a spontaneous couple of hours with my Mum which was great and we spent the time having a little mooch around Windsor which is a place I love for this kind of thing. Being so near to Christmas it certainly wasn’t a shopping trip but I did pick up a couple of things…
First was this set of four Christmas dinner plates which were actually in an Oxfam shop and for a very reasonable £1.49 each. Some people do revolt at the thought of charity (thrift) shops but you know what? I have shopped in these places all my life and the bargains I have picked up completely make it worth while. I mainly pick up books but from time to time I will find other things… such as these plates! Mum actually very kindly treated me to them and I will either use them to plate up Christmas lunch or I’ll use them as serving dishes for vegetables. I love the holly design around the edge and I am excited that these will now become part of my Christmas traditions.
Asides from my growing collection of Yankee Candle tea lights I am getting with the advent calendar each day, and a special Christmas candle I am saving for Christmas day, I am without any candles at the moment. Some may ask what the big deal is but a house in winter without candles burning in the evening for me is unthinkable! So while in TK MAXX I picked up this Gingerbread scented candle which as you can imagine will fill the house with wafts cinnamon.
To be honest this is the first seasonal candle I have bought as I prefer fresh, subtle fragrances and I find many of the Christmas scents can be too overpowering and/or too sweet but this one seems that perfect balance of being scented and subtle. For £5.99 I thought it was worth a go!
How are you guys getting on with getting ready for Christmas? Anyone cooking lunch for the first time? (*puts up hand*). On Friday (yesterday) I finished work for 2014 and am excited to now have two weeks off to relax, see friends and family, watch Christmas films and eat some yummy treats!
Tomorrow I have one of my best friends visiting and at the moment I am not too sure what we’ll be doing. I have no doubt we’ll end up in Windsor again but I fancy a nice lunch somewhere and some girl talk! I’ll keep you posted…
Until tomorrow x