3rd Blogoversary!

My blog is 3 years old today. I am so proud of the way it has grown over the past year, and my readership is steadily increasing. Thank you to all my lovely readers who keep coming back and thank you to those who comment regularly. It always makes my day to see blog comments in my inbox. I love being part of the blogosphere and have made many online friends because of it. I hope you all continue to enjoy reading and here’s to another year!

Outfit: Sunny Friday

Some sunshine at last! If the BBC were to be believed yesterday, the high for today was supposed to be a paltry 14˚C. They have since revised that estimate to 18˚C but even so, I could see my breath outside at 7am – definitely scarf weather.

I had an outfit for today all planned out, but when I wore it for choir practice last night I wasn’t feeling it so I switched things up a bit (a lot) and ended up with this. I am excited that it’s Friday! The young man is out with the lads tonight so my little sister is coming over for pizza, chick flicks & Singstar.

Black cardi – New Look Tall
Black Betty Boop t – Dorothy Perkins
Jeans – River Island
Black & cream shoes – Next (charity shop)
Cream leather studded belt – gifted
Red beads – eBay
Red glitter bangles – Primark
Silver bangles – Scope
Silver thumb ring – Claire’s
Cream scarf - gifted

Total Est. Cost £96

Outfit: Blue & Black Thursday

Can you guess what the forecast is for today? Did you guess rain? That’s it, I’m calling time of death for the summer.

I love this dress. It’s light weight but because it’s black it is seasonless. It can be layered up in the winter and layered up in the ‘summer’ too. The blue really pops against the black and I love to find new ways to wear it.

Black & blue dress – Dorothy Perkins Tall
Blue top – Dunnes
Blue boots – Priceless Shoes
Blue chunky bangle – Diamonds & Pearls
Blue & turquoise bangles – Oxfam
Blue ring – Dorothy Perkins
Whitby Jet cross – gifted

Total Est. Cost £58

Outfit: Cavery Meal

We recently helped the young man’s aunt & uncle sell their static caravan on eBay and last night they took us out for a meal to say thank you. We went to the local cavery pub and had a lovely roast meal, followed by hot desserts with plenty of custard.

I had plenty of time to get ready and take pictures, so I spent some time messing about with my camera’s settings for different lighting conditions etc. That’s why there are so many pictures in the collage!

Oh and the rain came, hence the boots.

Pink faux wrap top – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Teal cami – Long Tall Sally
Jeans – River Island
Teal boots – Faith
Teal & silver bangles – Accessorize
Whitby Jet cross – gifted

Total Est. Cost £100

Review: Andrex Shea Butter Lingerie

You know you’ve made it in the blogging world when you are offered a lingerie sample! Andrex have launched a new type of toilet paper (and let’s face it, we all need toilet paper) that is scented and enriched with Shea Butter to make it soft and luxurious. To celebrate the launch, Andrex have collaborated with Ayton Gasson (who specialise in vintage style lingerie) to create a limited edition pair of silk panties - modelled above by ex-Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon. They come packaged in their own silk pouch and having received a pair myself, I can tell you that they are lovely. You can buy the underwear for £10 per pair (Ayton Gasson’s range usually retails for around £79), £5 of which will be donated to the Look Good Feel Better charity which supports women undergoing cancer treatment.

To buy the lingerie, click here.

Outfit: New Dress!

This dress arrived from eBay (BNWT) a week or so ago. But it smelt smokey so I had to wash it, then the weather last week was so dire I never got to wearing it. I think it was about £5.

Boots today because seriously, have you seen the weather forecast for this afternoon? We will all be drowned by 3pm!

We had a quiet night in last night as the young man has gone down with the cold too (never let it be said that I don't give him anything). Being a man he is sure it's swine flu (mixed with man flu) so thinks he's much worse than I am.

The young man’s aunt & uncle are taking us out for a meal this evening so hopefully the rain will have eased off a bit by then.

Leopard print cardi – Primark (eBay)
Green dress – Vila (eBay)
White tank – Topshop
Tan boots – Faith
Brown bangles – Dorothy Perkins
Silver bangles – Scope

Total Est. Cost £75

Outfit: Teal & Purple

The sun is out at the moment but it’s anyone’s guess how long that will last. I am still full of cold. I contemplated staying home today, but when I woke up this morning I felt OK. I have some Lemsip Max Strength with me in case I need it. I took one last night before I went to Body Combat and it perked me up no end.

Grey cardi – New Look Tall
Teal print dress (shortened) – Florence + Fred at Tesco (charity shop)
Teal tights – New Look
Purple tank – New Look Tall
Grey shoes – Next (charity shop)
Silve & cream bead cluster necklace – New Look

Total Est. Cost £28

Beauty Tip

If you have a cold and your nose is sore from blowing it so much, use lip balm to soften the skin. Lip balm won’t sting like moisturiser does. Apply lip balm before you go to bed and in the morning the skin around your nose will be lovely and soft.

This Week I Will Be Mostly…

…wearing scarves unless the weather improves
…reading ‘Twenties Girl’ by Sophie Kinsella
…watching season 2 of The Flying Doctors
…listening to Reba McIntyre
…eating maltesers
…shopping for nothing

Outfit: Monday Under the Weather

It is still dull and overcast today, and somehow I have managed to come down with a cold. In July. Most unfair. I hadn’t checked the forecast last night when I planned this outfit, but I figured rain was a safe bet. It’s not actually raining yet, but I’m sure it will before the day is out.

Black cardi – New Look Tall
Brown print dress – eBay
Black tank – New Look Tall
Black tights – Silkies
Brown cowboy boots – New Look
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Brown bangles – Dorothy Perkins
Silver bangles – Scope

Total Est. Cost £78

Outfit: Sunday Night

My cousin & his wife are moving to Cyprus for 2 years and last night they held a farewell meal in a pub to the north of the city. There were 12 adults and one baby and everyone had an enjoyable time.

Blue cardi – Ethel Austin
Blue tank – Topshop
White jeans – River Island
Blue shoes – Office
Leopard print scarf – Diamonds & Pearls

Total Est. Cost £50

Outfit: Sunday

We slept late then went & did the Tesco shopping. After lunch, we were contemplating what to do when the young man’s parents showed up, en route to the local cricket club for a drink. They invited us to join them so we whiled away a rainy Sunday afternoon in the bar there.

Black top – Tall Girls (eBay)
Jeans – Gap
Leopard print scarf – Diamonds & Pearls
Leopard print flats – Priceless Shoes (eBay)

Total Est. Cost £38

Outfit: Casual Saturday

We’ve not much planned today. The young man is painting the front door. I have done some washing, cleaned the bathroom and taken a shower so far. I think it will be a chilled out afternoon & evening too.

This blue top was free with a magazine last month (I forget which one now). It’s by Paul & Joe Sister but as with all magazine freebies, the quality is poor. However, as it’s my colour I figured I’d get a bit of wear out of it. I don’t know how much washing it will stand up to. It’s a one size fits all job and I think I am about the largest you could be to get it on and I’m only a 12-14 on top. So one size fits up to about a 12 then.

I think this is the debut appearance of these jeans on here too. I got them a couple of weeks back for £10.50 on eBay.

I’m giving these flip flops a second chance today. They gave me blisters on the tops of my feet the first time I wore them, but it was very hot, I didn’t use Compeed Anti-Blister, and I walked quite a way in them. It’s much less hot today and I’m not planning on walking far so I think they’ll be OK.

Grey cardi – New Look Tall
Blue tank – Paul & Joe Sister (free with a magazine)
Jeans – River Island (eBay)
Silver flip flips – Next
Blue chunky bangle – Diamonds & Pearls
Blue & turquoise bangles – Oxfam
Black leather belt – shop in Crete

Total Est. Cost £47.50

Outfit: Friday

I’m finishing the week as I started it – in black, white & red. It’s Friday so that means bacon sarnies this morning. I’m meeting a friend for a coffee at dinnertime in the local pub. It’s always great to get out of the office for an hour.

Oh, and the week wouldn’t be complete if I hadn’t added a scarf to go out in this morning.

Fall? Is that you knocking on the door already with your chilly mornings? Please go away, it’s only July.

Black & white stripe cardi – Topshop Tall (eBay)
Red cami – New Look
Jeans – River Island
Red shoes – Next
Cream belt – gifted
Whitby Jet cross – handmade & gifted by the talented Young Man
Red glitter bangles – Primark
Red & cream bangles – gifted
Cream pashmina – gifted

Total Est. Cost £72