(OOTD) A sneaky summer OOTD...

Good Evening!

So after spending the last 4 hours scraping the word count of my assignment down to the accepted level, I have decided to reward myself with writing a blog post. Just a quick one though, a little summer OOTD, while this weather lasts, it's supposed to be 12 degrees celcius again by Friday :(

 Top- Peacocks, in sale ages ago!

Skirt- Select, £8 in sale (I had just washed up, sorry about the patches haha!)

Sunglasses- New Look sale, £1

Hair Flower- gift

Shoes- H&M, £9.99

Cord and Gold Bracelet- New Look sale, £2

Beaded Bracelet- TopShop sale, £3

Peace Rosary- Matalan sale, £2.50

 So there we have it, a sunny outfit for an absolutely boiling day!

I have been sat on my balcony for the last few days writing my assignments on a sea of pillows, under an umbrella fashioned as a parasol, but I have still felt like I have been melting! 

I have enjoyed it though, the sunny weather is a nice change from the gloom of the usual UK weather!

But sadly, it's coming back, so until next time, enjoy the sunshine while it lasts!

(OOTD) Ok, I am banned from town....starting from...NOW!

Good Evening!

I am serious now, this is it, no more shopping, nada, nope, no-sir-ee! I did order something on line yesterday... but that is it! If I didn't need my cards to buy food etc I would cut them up!

So since my major splurge on Monday, there were minor splurges on Tuesday...and Wednesday! Luckily I was at work today and am tomorrow and Saturday so no fear of spendage whilst there!

Anyway, I should let you know the damage, once again, in my defence, it's all bargain-tastic!

So on Tuesday I happened to pop into Tesco, I didn't even have to go upstairs to the clothing section, they had very helpfully put the sale section right through the front door!

These little beauties were all £7 each! The jumper on the left is uber soft and cuddly, I can't wait to wear it. I even think it will look cute in summer with denim shorts. I have a thing for coral so I couldn't resist the other jumper either, and I thought the cardigan is smart and practical. 

I also ended up in the make-up section. I have been needing another make-up pencil sharpener for a while and just picked this up while I remembered. The other purchase was a slight impulse. I Since getting into Youtube I have come to appreciate how much 'doing your eyebrows' can make a difference to your face. So I thought I would try out this kit. It was £5 and comes with a brush and a setting gel, so I thought it was quite reasonable. I haven't had chance to play with this yet, but I hope to review it soon.

On a more practical note, I bought socks!

I also spied these candles from Air Wick. I had not seen Air Wick candles before, but I was pretty sure they would have a good scent. I also liked the packaging. They smell beautiful and at 2 for £5.00 I had to get both, and treat my sister to some as well! The Vintage English Tea Rose one doesn't smell anything like rose in my opinion, but it does smell lovely, part of me wants to say it smells like mens shower gel. If you get the chance to smell these do, and let me know your thoughts. The Summer Fruit Punch one smells divine, like mangoes and tropical juice, it's lovely. I love candles, but could never see myself spending lots and lots on them. Believe me, I would love to try a Neom candle, but I can't justify £37, or whatever it is, so Air Wick will have to do!

Anyway, that's my little lot from Tesco. On Wednesday I 'popped' into town to find some slippers. I made the mistake of going 'the other way' into town than my usual route, to go to New Look to look for said slippers. Alas, no slippers, but they did have these!

So I have been after a black cardigan for a while, and with it being 20% off for students at the moment I decided to invest, so this was £10 instead of £13. It's a lovely fabric and nice and light so will be great all year round. I just had to have this lightweight parka that was in the sale for £16. This jacket feels lovely, but looks like a 'proper' coat. I think it will be fab on summer evenings. And I just couldn't resist this cute flower headband for £3, I mean, who could?

Then I wandered into PoundLand, not PoundWorld this time. I don't get to PoundLand as often, as it is further away. So amongst some practical bits and pieces (including a bright pink lunch box!), I snapped up...

These cute tealight holders are in the summer collection, and I thought they were so pretty for £1 each, you could even use them as make-up brush holders or something. And as you may know already, I am a huge fan of lavender, so this lavender and rose candle had to come home with me.

So after looking in several shops for slippers I ended up in Shoe Zone and funnily enough, I found some slippers, in fact, I found two pairs!

Well with the weather being so erratic I didn't know which style of slipper to buy, so naturally, I bought both. But I didn't know you get student discount in Shoe Zone, and in Stead and Simpson I think, so I got both pairs for just over £10, which I think is a bargain :)

And then, I just popped into H&M to get a long vest to go under the new sheer dress from TopShop, and I got that... BUT they also had the shorts I had lusted over on Monday in my size, so you guessed it, they had to come home too!

Vest- £3.99

Uber Amazing Sparkly Shorts- £25.99 (You have no idea how excited these make me!)

And, to top it all off, a few great things have happened in the last couple of days. I won two prizes! One on a charity raffle with York Does Vintage, and I won Sarah Jane's blog giveaway which is so exciting, I can't wait for that parcel to come through the post! Speaking of post, look what turned up today...

The Flatforms that I have been waiting so long for have finally arrived. They are slightly big on the heel so I am going to get some heel grips, because I think the size down would crush my toesies. I need to spray these and then wait for some drier weather to give them a spin, but I can't wait!

So that is everything. Apart from my prize I am expecting one more thing through the post then no more for a while. I am serious this time, no more!

Anyway, to finish things off, here's an OOTD, (been at work today, hence the layers):

Jacket- Zara, £29.99

Long-Sleeved High Neck Top- Primark, £3

Striped T-Shirt- H&M, £3.99

Kristen Jeans- TopShop sale, £20

Peace Rosary- TopShop sale, £3.50

So until tomorrow :)

(TFF) Variated Nails Attempt

So it's time for another Top Five Friday! And this time I have kept it to five you'll be pleased to know. Let's get started...

This week I have decided to look at hair accessories. I have a drawer full of the things but there are some that I do reach to more. Please bare in mind that the top five here represent the top five general styles I chose to wear, and it's likely that I have similar things in several colours!

So my number 5 has got to be my wire wrap around headband from Browns. I got it for £1.50 in the sale. I love leopard print so as soon as I saw it I had to have it! I find it really easy to wear now my hair is a bit longer. I also really like the fact that when it is twisted the ends look like a bow, as shown below.

Now I think I must have been a hippy in a previous life; I have always had a love for feathers, beads and bright colours. I just a had to have this feather and plaited cord head band from Primark when I saw it last summer. I think it was something ridiculously cheap like £1.50, I can't wait for some more sunshine to start wearing it again!

Remember I said I love leopard print?! I have had this bow for ages, and I will wear it time and time again. If I am wearing something quite neutral and plain, I can add a bit of something with this bow. I love bows! I have several of them, not just for hair accessories, in other jewellery styles too. I think this was from Primark too, and was around £1. This just had to be in my top five, you can wear it casually or with a more dressy outfit, I just love it!

Flowers! I love flowers, especially statement ones. I have quite a few but this one is my favourite. It was an xmas present this xmas just gone. I love the blue, (it's actually more turquoise in real life), and the gems in the middle just add some sparkle, everything I want in an accessory. 

But my number one accessory has to be this little hair slide. I love hair slides, I have lots, they just add a little something to an outfit. I love this one the most because I think the flower and the colour is beautiful. The fact it's pale means it will go with most things and just adds a touch of something different. Like I said, I am pretty sure I was a hippy at some point, so wearing flowers and things in my hair just comes naturally to me!

So that's the top five done for today. After seeing Sprinkle of Glitter's tutorial on variated nails, I thought I would have a go, but decided to use two colours instead.

I used e.l.f smokey brown underneath, and topped with a natural collection pale silvery blue (I would go check the name, but the bf just brought tea and home baked cookies over from the kitchen, so I am nom-ing :) ). Some of them have ended up looking pretty bad, the centre nail in this picture is definitely the best. It is starting to chip already though, which is not great, but I guess that's due to the amount of polish on the nail. Anyway, I thought I would share my attempt with you!

One last thing, during the writing of this post I had a phone call from Harrods, to tell me I was unsuccessful in my interview. I am fine about it, I am so proud to have even gotten that far, and the experience it has provided me with is so valuable. It has also made me realise that I am not really cut out to be a manager, I am much better working as part of a team, as I care too much what people think to be having to tell people off etc. 

So my plan now is to stick up in Yorkshire, and look for something in high-end sales here. I think London would have eaten me alive anyway! I will wait a while before I brave taking the plunge and moving there.

Anyway, one door closes, another opens, there is a job out there for me, I just have to find it!

Top Five Fridays (Well I say 5, but, it turned into 12...)

So, not feeling too great at the moment, I think I am getting a little nervous for my upcoming interview! I am sure by Sunday I will be raring to go! So wish me luck!

So today is Friday, and therefore it's time for a top five: Necklaces. But, as I was trying to pick my list grew from five, to twelve, I just couldn't pick!

So there is kind of a general order, but some are in my favourites for sentimental value, rather than their fashion value, so I am going to start with these ones:

So I am classing the first two necklaces as 'one' because I always wear them together. The heart pendant was from my boyfriend for my 18th, the Australian Opal from my parents, and the other necklace, which says 'Friends are kisses sent to us by Angels' was from one of my best friends for my 21st. I love these necklaces dearly, they are so precious to me.

This necklace was a Xmas present from my brother when I was in Australia in 2008, he had it made for me. It's on quite a long chain which I love. As you can see, it says my name on a grain of rice within the pendant, and also contains a pink flower. It's so special to me, he let me pick the shape of the pendant and the colour of the flower, and this is one of those things that will stay with me forever.

Now to the first of the necklaces that my mum has made me. She likes to make glass jewellery and I was admiring this on her when I went home before Xmas. She then gave me this one and made herself another. I can't wait for next Xmas to wear it again!

This necklace has featured in my blog before; my Vivienne Westwood necklace from Rosie. I love this necklace so much! It's quite big and makes such a statement. I love the style of Vivienne Westwood jewellery and was thrilled to open this for my birthday last year :)

This necklace came from Camden Market a couple of years ago for around £3, the reason that this is so special is the pattern that the cube is in. My boyfriend can solve a Rubick's Cube really fast (26 seconds at one point!!) and he made this pattern just for me. If you can see it has an 'L' in, (yellow), and therefore it is precious :)

Now the second of the necklaces made by my mum. She hated this pice of glass. She didn't like the bubble and some of the fire paper had melted to the side and made it a little bit rough. She classed it as a reject; I wanted it. So she put it on this cord for me. I love it because you can wear it over bright colours and it just looks really awesome!

Moving onto a necklace that is both fashionable and sentimental. This was my Xmas present from my best friend Sam. This necklace is from Tatty Devine, I have still not looked at their website because I am scared I will want things. I love this little owl, I think its so cute and I like the fact that it's wood. I also love the little guitar pick in the chain, I think its a nice way to incorporate the logo onto the piece. This necklace is so easy to wear as it's lovely neutral colours, so thank you so much Sam :)

I have had this necklace for ages, but I still love this little Russian Doll. I got it in America in 2006 and I just love it so much, it's so cute and I have not seen one quite like it in the UK. I think it was around $5.

I bought this necklace from New Look last summer, and I have had so many comments on it. I bought it in the sale on the first day it came in the store. I was attracted to the mish mash of birds, leaves, coins, pearls and jewels that make up this lovely piece. You can't see very well on the picture but the jewels are a sort of petrol navy that catch the light brilliantly. I just love this necklace!  

This next necklace is simple and so pretty. It is all clear faceted beads linked with brushed gold hoops. I like the style of Rosary beads, but, not being religious, I didn't really want to wear some, so I was please to see this alternative in New Look, I think it was pretty cheap. It's another piece that is easy to wear with any colour or style.

My favourites collection wouldn't be complete without a Panda. I got this little guy Xmas 2010, I love the fact that his arms and head move, and that he has got little black crystals all over the dark sections. He is so cute!

 So the last necklace is a little more shiny, but is ideal for any top and any jewellery combo, owing to the fact it has gold, sliver, pearl and gunmetal strands of plastic beads. I really love how easy this necklace is to wear with almost anything, it just adds a bit of sparkle! I think it was from Internacionale or Select a couple of summers ago.

So there we have it, there's nothing really in here that is 'on trend' as such, but more things that I find useful and that are important to me. I hope you find my collection interesting. I do have a LOT more necklaces, and I do tend to buy them quite often. I just feel that this little collection are my absolute all time favourites....ever!

Anyway, best get some sleep, work all day tomorrow, then to London on Sunday!!!

(OOTD) Top Five Friday's

Hello!

So I got my two day stint of work out of the way, believe me it's harder than it looks working from home, almost too difficult not to get distracted, (or in my case fall asleep, so tired!). But I am done, my presentation is prepped, and I am looking forward to a lie in tomorrow!

So I'll start with today's OOTD:

Gilet- New Look, last Autumn

Paris Top: Peacocks, couple of years ago I think

Long Sleeved top- Primark I think, £3ish

(I have a vest on as well for warmth!)

Leggings- £3 Primark, last week.

Simple but warm!

So now to another feature I plan to make regular on the blog; Top Five Fridays. I love looking at Top Fives / Top 10s so I thought I would do my own once a week. So on Rosie's advice I am starting with my Top Five Rings. I don't have a collection as amazing as her's but it is growing...

So out of this little lot I have picked my favourite five.

Number Five is my long feather ring. It came from Browns in York in September and was around £2 in their jewellery sale. Since then Browns have stopped selling their jewellery, but it was from a concession that is also used by Dorothy Perkins and New Look. I love how it makes such a statement across the hand, and I like the sparkly!

Number Four is this lovely little owl that I got in Superdrug in their half price sale after Xmas. I think it was around £2. I love his little bow tie, big black eyes and jewel-y belly!

Number Three is another from Browns. This should have been £5 but I got it for £2.50 because it was damaged, (nothing a bit of super glue can't handle). I love the peacock design and the shiny jewels around the edge, I think it looks kind of like a quirky cameo. 

Number Two is one of my newest acquisitions, this really cute sailing boat ring. I blogged about it in my Manchester Haul, it was £2.50 from Primark. I love the combination of stripes, jewels, and bright colours and I thing this will get worn lots this year!

And Number One HAS to be my Panda ring from Irregular Choice. This was an Xmas present so I am not sure how much it was (I think around £8). I love how sparkly it is and I LOVE Panda's, I think I have an obsession, (think jumpers, bracelets, earrings, rings and teddies...)! 

Speaking of Panda's I am going to go and continue watching the Panda documentary on BBC2 now, and "sqee" at all the Panda's! They are so fluffy and cute it's unreal! 

Anyway, enough for now! Go watch the Panda's!