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

Outfit: Slouchy Thursday

I’m not even pretending I’m not wearing jeans today. It’s slouchy comfort all the way. Boyfit jeans, a boyfriend cardi, and heels to make it all more feminine.

Oh, and guess what? I’m wearing my favourite scarf. Again.

Last night some of the drama group had tea at the local Wetherspoon’s pub in celebration of a birthday, and then there was the last singing rehearsal before the summer break. I now have a month off from everything except church choir (we have a concert in August to rehearse for).

Grey cardi – New Look Tall
White ‘Tall?’ tank – Café Press
Boyfit jeans – River Island
Pink shoes – Nine West (Debenhams)
Silver diamante shoe necklace – Claire’s
Leopard print scarf – Diamonds & Pearls
Cream leather belt – gifted

Total Est. Cost £92

Outfit: Brown & Black

I should have put on Monday that I would be mostly wearing jeans this week. I am attempting to wear jeans everyday this week to see whether I can get away with it. So far so good. The black cords yesterday were from the Topshop Moto jeans range, and today’s cords are jeans in all but the fabric.

I was cold all morning yesterday so that’s why I’ve put on a proper cardi and a scarf today. The temperatures are holding up when the sun is out but when it pours with rain it can get distinctly chilly. And guess what? It’s raining again.

If you are unsure about mixing black & brown, adding in a leopard print accessory is the perfect way to do it. The print incorporates both black and brown and make it clear that you intended to mix the two colours.

Black cardi – New Look Tall
Black & silver ‘High Maintenance’ t – Tall Girls
Brown cords – Tall Girls
Silver flats – Priceless Shoes
Leopard print scarf – Diamonds & Pearls
Whitby Jet cross – gifted

Total Est. Cost £51

Outfit: More Black & White

I thought I would stick with the black & white theme today and get some wear out of my white show shoes. I don’t like this as much as yesterday’s outfit though so expect to see more of the leopard print scarf this week.

I have to do the Tesco shopping after work today, and the young man’s parents are calling round this evening I think. I feel tired already and it’s only Tuesday.

Black shrug – New Look
Black & white top – New Look Tall (eBay)
Black cords – Topshop Tall
White Mary Janes – Priceless Shoes
Red scarf – made to match my bridesmaid’s dress for my sister’s wedding
Red bangles – Primark
Red & cream bangles – gifted

Total Est. Cost £51

This Week I Will Be Mostly…

…wearing my new scarf
…reading ‘Twenties Girl’ by Sophie Kinsella
…watching DVDs on the DVD player – the young man took it apart and cleaned the lens so (fingers crossed) it seems to be OK again.
…listening to the Eagles
…eating lasagna
…shopping for nothing

Outfit: New Jeans, New Scarf

These are the jeans I accidentally bought in the River Island sale on Saturday. They were just £12 and are the exact same style as the ones I had on yesterday that I love. The scarf I got yesterday in town. I bought the same one for my friend’s birthday last week and as I was wrapping it up I thought how nice it was and that I wanted one! Getting up for work is marginally more exciting when you have something new to wear.

I love that simple accessories can add interest to a basic black & white outfit. Add a bit of colour or some leopard print and you can completely transform the outfit.

Last night the young man & I headed up to a friend’s house for tea. They made beef stew with dumplings which was delicious, and we had cheesecake for dessert. We walked there and back so we left just after 9pm and were home for an early night.

Tonight I have my gym class and then a quiet evening in.

Black top – Long Tall Sally
White jeans – River Island
Red shoes – Next
Red belt – Next
Leopard print scarf – Diamonds & Pearls

Total Est. Cost £55

Outfit: Rainy Sunday

It’s pouring with rain today on and off. I’m heading into town to meet my sister for a coffee so boots were the only sane way to go. It’s not that cold out but I’ve added a cord jacket in case it’s chilly during the rain showers.

Brown cord jacket – Topshop Tall (charity shop)
Blue & red t – Topshop Tall (eBay)
Jeans – River Island
Turquoise belt – H&M
Brown cowboy boots – New Look
Blue chunky bangle – Diamonds & Pearls
Blue & turquoise bangles – Oxfam

Total Est. Cost £93

Outfit: Saturday Night

We went to a friend’s wedding reception last night. Two of our other friends were there too so it was a good night – drinking, dancing to the band, messing about taking photos outside, and eating cake and chocolate finger biscuits.

Black sequin dress – New Look Tall (eBay)
Silver shoes – New Look (eBay)
Black & purple fascinator – Diamonds & Pearls
Purple bracelet – Esme-Grace (gifted)
Silver bangle – 21st birthday present
Earrings – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £26

Outfit: Saturday

I spent the morning running errands – buying a card for the wedding party we’re going to this evening, buying & building a shoe rack to organise the pile of boots in the bottom of my wardrobe, buying bread. I may have accidentally bought some off-white jeans in the River Island sale too. This afternoon I’ve sorted out my boots, cleaned the bathroom, hung out the washing.

The young man’s mum called and has invited us round for a buffet tea before we go out this evening.

Since the weather has been so dire this week my boots were calling and I couldn’t resist wearing a pair this morning. It’s actually not turned out a bad day so now I’m in flip flops.

Navy & cream stripe top – New Look Tall (eBay)
Red cami – New Look
Jeans – Gap
Navy faux suede boots – Priceless Shoes
Red beads – eBay
Cream earrings – gifted

Total Est. Cost £35

Outfit: Friday Layering

First up, an apology for the lighting in the pictures. It was so dark outside this morning that I had to put the light on, resulting in the strange yellow colour of the photos.

There are several elements from recent outfits that I have drawn on to create today’s. I loved the off the shoulder look of my striped top last Friday but to avoid wearing the same thing this week I picked out my only other top in this style instead. I loved the look of boyfit jeans with heels on Wednesday so I’ve done that again today. And I missed wearing scarves so went for one today as it’s so dark and rainy and not overly warm. That’s why the cardi is in there too – for when the air conditioning goes (unnecessarily) on in the office and I am freezing.

Finally, I’ll share that this was what I wore for choir practice last night (minus the cardi) and carried over to today because of laziness, and due to the fact that I liked it.

Grey cardi – New Look Tall
Blue off the shoulder top – Dunnes
Blue cami – Topshop
Jeans – River Island
Blue patent shoes – New Look
Blue glitter belt – H&M
Brown & silver scarf – mall market stall
Blue chunky bangle – Diamonds & Pearls
Blue & turquoise bangles – Oxfam
Blue necklace & ring – Dorothy Perkins

Total Est. Cost £96

Review: Sketchers Shape-Ups

I am not usually a trainer-wearing girl but when I was offered the chance to try out some Sketchers Shape Ups trainers, how could I refuse? With the promise that they will tone up your legs whilst you walk in them, they are set to be huge this summer. Sketchers Shape Ups UK availability is at Fitness Footwear where they are retailing for £89.95 and as always, UK delivery is free.

The trainers come in a variety of styles and colours. I chose the blue & silver ones (I replaced the white laces with the spare blues set included in the box to make them a little less white). There is an instruction leaflet and DVD included with your purchase to show you exactly how to walk in them for the best results. Skechers Shape Ups have undergone a clinical case study to become officially certified fitness shoes with rapid results. Click here to view the study.

So if, like me, you are too lazy for the gym these could be for you. I tried my pair out last week and they are so comfortable. I walked up to the local retail park with the young man. It is a fairly steady uphill climb all the way and I could definitely feel it in my legs when we got home. I am looking forward to wearing these shoes each time I walk somewhere and they might even convert me into a trainer wearing girl after all.

Outfit: Pattern Mixing

I thought I’d try a subtle bit of pattern mixing today. The leopard print shoes are just a small enough detail to mix with the print of the dress.

I have a couple of errands to run at dinnertime and after work, then it’s choir practice at church this evening.

Brown print dress – eBay
Brown footless tights – New Look
Leopard print flats – Priceless Shoes (eBay)
Silver bangles – Scope
Brown bangles – Dorothy Perkins
Brown necklace – Scope

Total Est. Cost £24

Outfit: New Cardi (eBay Bargain)

This cardi arrived from eBay yesterday so of course I had to wear it today. It cost £5.50 and is a Topshop Tall one. It was listed as black & white and initially that what colour I thought it was, but put next to a white top, it could actually be black & cream – I’m still trying to decide! Either way, I am very pleased with it.

My legs are a bit achy today – a combination of Body Combat on Monday evening and walking many miles around the Yorkshire Showground yesterday. I am also a little sunburned.

Tonight is a drama group rehearsal. On Monday night we popped up to Currys & purchased a new TV (Samsung 32” widescreen LCD). The young man got it all set up but we’ve hardly had chance to watch it at all. I am hoping to have an hour or so this afternoon to play about with it and figure out all the controls.

Black & white/cream cardi – Topshop Tall (eBay)
White t – New Look Tall
Jeans – River Island
Red shoes – Next
Red heart necklace – Claire’s
Red glitter bangles – Primark
Red belt – Next
Red & cream bangles – gifted

Total Est. Cost £81

Outfit: Great Yorkshire Show

On the spur of the moment on Monday, the young man & I decided we would take yesterday off work and go to the Great Yorkshire Show. (Actually, we had talked last week about going, but of course I had completely forgotten about it.) The forecast was for it to cloud over by lunchtime and then rain in the afternoon, but in the event it stayed dry and mostly sunny all day, which meant I got a bit sunburned. We had a lovely day – we must have walked miles as the showground is huge. We watched sheep shearing, wood carving, show jumping and looked at the many, many displays of craft, produce and animals. We stopped off for a pub meal on the way home.

This is almost what I wore – I had blue suede trainers on most of the day and then switched to my DP pewter sandals to go to the pub.

Blue cardi – Ethel Austin
White tank – Topshop
Jeans – River Island
Pewter sandals – Dorothy Perkins
Blue belt – H&M
Blue chunky bangle – Diamonds & Pearls
Blue & Turquoise bangles – Oxfam
Blue necklace – Dorothy Perkins

Total Est. Cost £78

This Week I Will Be Mostly…

…wearing summer outfits hopefully, if the hot weather returns
…reading ‘Shopaholic and Baby’ by Sophie Kinsella
…watching DVDs on the PS2 as the DVD player is very choosy about which discs it will play
…listening to myself singing on Singstar!
…eating more salad
…shopping for a new TV

Outfit: Easy Monday

I didn’t have a lot of time to plan an outfit with getting back so late last night. I needed something easy to grab from the wardrobe last night and which would be quick and easy to put on this morning as I knew I had to make the lunches & iron the young man’s shirt before breakfast. Dresses are so handy for this and as I hadn’t checked the forecast, leggings were the way to go. I have to run to the Post Office at dinnertime so flats fit in perfectly with this plan. Then I have the ASDA shopping to do on the way home before running out to go to my body combat class at the gym. Needless to say, I have no plans for the evening beyond that!

Teal print dress – Florence + Fred at Tesco (charity shop)
Grey leggings – Miss Selfridge
Grey tank – Cherokee at Tesco
Purple flats – Matalan
Silver cross – gifted
Purple bracelet – Esme-Grace (gifted)

Total Est. Cost £25

Outfit: Choir Trip Out

I went to church yesterday morning. After the service the choir and some of the congregation boarded a coach for a trip out to Settle in the Yorkshire Dales. We stopped off for a picnic lunch at Skipton, then continued on to Settle. People split off into small groups to wander around the town. My group made for the nearest tea shop (the Settle Down Café) for afternoon tea. Then we took a walk along the river. We walked all the way to Giggleswick (not hard as it’s only just over the river from Settle) and the sun came out making for a lovely afternoon. The reason we had gone to Settle was for the choir to sing at the evening service at the Methodist church so just after 5pm we headed to the church for a rehearsal and then the service.

My friends C, L & I are the youngest members of the choir (at 25, 25 & 30) and L’s mum popped into the sweet shop and bought us all sweetie necklaces to wear.

The church members in Settle laid on a supper for us in the church hall afterwards which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Back on the coach for the journey home and songsheets were handed around so we could while away the journey singing at the tops of our voices. It was just like being on a school trip again. It was going up to 11 by the time I got home so I could have done without the early start this morning. I had great time yesterday though and we are already planning a trip to the coast for next year.

I am pleased to report that the emergency shoes purchased on Saturday morning are very comfortable and did not rub at all yesterday (I wore them all day including the walking in the afternoon). And I didn’t even apply Compeed Anti-Blister.

Blue cardi – Ethel Austin
Blue tank – Topshop
Jeans – River Island
Pewter sandals – Dorothy Perkins
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Blue chunky bangle – Diamonds & Pearls
Blue & turquoise bangles – Oxfam

Total Est. Cost £72

Emergency Shoe Purchase

I had a shoe malfunction this morning. As I was walking down into town with my sister from where we’d parked, the toe strap on my beloved jewelled sandals snapped! There was nothing I could do to keep it on my foot, so I had to walk with one bare foot across the road into the shopping centre, and into Dorothy Perkins (the nearest store with shoes) to make an emergency replacement purchase. I ended up with these pewter sandals which are similar but not nearly so bling.

Outfit: Saturday Shopping

I headed into the city today to meet my sister and a friend for some lunch and shopping. I wanted to wear another slash neck top, as I loved the look yesterday. Sadly my only other top that shape is cropped, and I couldn’t find a cami long enough to go underneath. So it was back to doing the 80s rolled up jacket sleeve thing instead.

I bought a secondhand Playstation 2 in town and the Singstar game so we spent the evening playing on that, along with the Guitar Hero game for the Wii that my friend bought today.

Black jacket – Long Tall Sally
Black ‘High Maintenace’ t – Tall Girls
Jeans – New Look
Silver sandals – Dorothy Perkins (eBay)
Silver bead cluster necklace – New Look
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Silver bangles – Scope
Red glitter bangles – Primark
Red & cream bangles – gifted
Sunglasses – free with Tatler magazine

Total Est. Cost £97

Outfit: Nautical Modifications

Although I like this top, I wasn’t wearing it very much and I decided that was because the neckline was too high. So last night I took a pair of scissors to it and am very happy with the result. I think I will wear it much more now.

The young man and I are looking for a new TV so we’re going to take a walk up to Currys this evening to see whether we can bag a bargain.

Blue & cream stripe top – New Look Tall (eBay)
Red cami (straps just showing) – New Look
Jeans – Next (charity shop)
Red wedges – New Look
Red & cream bangles – gifted
Red beads – eBay

Total Est. Cost £22

Outfit: Clashing Reds

I have always thought that mixing slightly different shades of red next to each other would be a recipe for disaster. Turns out? It actually works quite well. I usually put this skirt with white or black so I thought adding more red to it would make a change.

I’m going for a hair cut this afternoon. My fringe is getting a bit unruly again so it’s just as well.

White cardi – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Red cami – New Look
Red & white skirt – New Look Tall
Red shoes – Next
Red beads – eBay
Red bangles – Primark
Silver bangles – Scope

Total Est. Cost £41

Outfit: Girls’ Night Out

I headed over to Harrogate last night to meet up with the girls from my old choir. We went for a lovely meal – good food and good company. It was great to catch up with them all.

I would not usually advocate black tights in the middle of the summer. However, it was threatening to rain and as we know, instant tan on your legs is useless in a torrential downpour. It was also pretty chilly yesterday (for July) and I didn’t have any nude tights that fit properly so black seemed like the sensible (and only) option.

Black cardi – New Look Tall
Purple dress – Dorothy Perkins (eBay)
Black tights – Silkies
Black & cream shoes – Next (charity shop)
Black Obi belt – ASOS
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Purple bracelet – Esme-Grace (gifted)
Purple bangles – Diamonds & Pearls
Silver bangles – Scope

Total Est. Cost £49

Wanted: Topshop Over The Knee Boots

I saw these boots in this week’s Look magazine and I love them! They are £120 though so I will either have to save up for them or hope they get reduced in a sale at some point. Or hope that somewhere makes a cheaper version of them. They are also available in black leather and black nubuck.

Outfit: Purple & Black

I am going out for a meal this evening with the girls from my old choir. I am going to my parents’ house from work to shower and change so today’s outfit needed to tie in with what I’ve planned to wear tonight. Just so I can keep the same accessories on and not carry too much excess baggage with me. Jeans seemed like the easy option for today. I don’t think it’s supposed to rain but it’s not going to be overly warm either. And I brought black tights for this evening as rain is forecast.

Black waistcoat – Next Tall
Check shirt – Dorothy Perkins Tall
Jeans – River Island
Purple flats – Matalan
Purple glitter bangles – Diamonds & Pearls
Purple bracelet – Esme-Grace (gifted)
Silver bangles – Scope
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Earrings – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £93

Outfit: Nude Cami

Some white t shirts can be a bit on the thin side and can be a little too revealing to wear to the office. My little sister came up with a genius solution to this problem – a nude cami. It is the same principle as wearing a nude bra under a white top; a white bra shows through. The same applies if you wear a white cami under a white t shirt – the cami can be seen. A nude one works perfectly.

In other news, but still on the subject of bras: I went to the gym last night and did a body combat class. I quite enjoyed it and I think I will definitely go back. The first track the instructor played was a dance mix of Chesney Hawkes’s ‘I Am The One And Only’ so I knew I was on to a good thing there. I felt a bit uncoordinated and it was kind of like the first week of floor (dance) rehearsals for the show - the producer is walking you through the moves but you are not really grasping them! I'm sure I'll get better with practice. However, I do need to get a sports bra so that is one item on my shopping list for Saturday.

It was raining this morning when I got up so I switched the leather shoes I was planning to wear for these non-leather ones. I was thinking of wearing a waistcoat today but with the rain have come cooler temperatures so I think the cardi was the better option.

Grey cardi – New Look Tall
White t – New Look Tall
Denim skirt – self made out of Topshop jeans
Blue footless tights – Dorothy Perkins
Blue patent shoes – New Look
Blue necklace & ring – Dorothy Perkins
Blue ribbon - haberdashery
Blue bangle – Diamonds & Pearls
Blue & turquoise bangles – Oxfam

Total Est. Cost £35

This Week I Will Be Mostly…

…wearing more summer dresses and skirts
…reading ‘Shopaholic and Sister’ by Sophie Kinsella
…watching Flying Doctors on DVD
…listening to ‘Story of a Heart’ by the Benny Andersson band. It’s the closest thing to new ABBA material we will ever get and one song even has lyrics by Bjorn Ulvaeus.
…eating salad
…shopping for (well, bidding on) jeans and a dress on eBay

Outfit: Unexpected Sunshine

I checked out the weather forecast yesterday and it was supposed to be raining today. Hence the leggings. Happily it isn’t raining. I don’t think it’s supposed to get as hot today as it has been recently so I’m sure the leggings will be fine.

Pink print dress – eBay
White cami – Topshop
Grey leggings – Miss Selfridge
Pink shoes – Faith
Pink bangles – gifted
Pink/grey/purple bangles – gifted
Silver bangles – Scope
Whitby Jet cross – gifted

Total Est. Cost £44

Outfit: Lazy Sunday

We slept late this morning and then I did the Tesco shopping. This afternoon we are just in the garden enjoying the sun, and hopefully it will stay dry so we can have a BBQ at teatime.

These are fast becoming my favourite flat sandals/flip flops.

White cardi – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
White ‘Tall?’ giraffe print cami – Café Press
Jeans – New Look
Silver jewelled sandals – Dorothy Perkins (eBay)
Silver bangles – Scope
Turquoise bangle – Dorothy Perkins
Turquoise leather belt - H&M
Necklace – gifted

Total Est. Cost £48

Outfit: Wedding Reception

Here’s what I wore for my friend’s wedding reception last night. The pictures are not great because as I was getting ready it got darker & darker outside. I was hoping it wouldn’t rain as I had instant tanned my legs and I didn’t want the colour to run! In the end there were just a few spots of rain so it was OK. The reception was a good night and I saw many people I hadn’t seen since middle school.

Purple dress – Red Herring (eBay)
Black shoes – New Look (charity shop)
Fascinator – Diamonds & Pearls
Silver bangles – Scope
Necklace – gifted

Total Est. Cost £19

Outift: Saturday Lunch

We went out for lunch today to celebrate the birthday of one of the young man’s friends. We sat outside on terrace overlooking the river and it was lovely. I was right to take my shrug though as the breeze was a little on the cool side at times.

The sandals are an eBay bargain that arrived yesterday. They cost me a whole £2.70 and the uppers are leather so I am pretty pleased with them.

This evening we are going to my friend’s wedding reception.

Cream shrug – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Teal cami – Long Tall Sally
Jeans – Gap
Silver jewelled sandals – Dorothy Perkins (eBay)
Turquoise bangle – Dorothy Perkins
Teal bangles – Accessorize
Silver bangles – Scope
Teal necklace – Scope
Sunglasses – free with Tatler

Total Est. Cost £41

Review: Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan

Having been so impress with the Boots Golden Shimmer Instant Tan a few weeks back, imagine my disappointment to find that Boots are no longer producing it. Boots: you should rectify that immediately!

Instead I bought the Rimmel version to see what it was like. I went for the medium matte colour – it is available in light & medium matte and light & medium shimmer. It is pretty similar to the Boots one; however, on the first try I used the same amount as I had of the Boots one and ended up with pretty deeply tanned legs. The colour is very natural so it wasn’t too much of a problem, but if you want a lighter colour for a fair skin like mine either don’t use so much or buy the lighter shade.

The Rimmel product felt a bit stickier on my hands on application, but it rubbed in fine and gave a good, even coverage. It has a slightly soapy smell to it, but again, this is far favourable to the biscuity smell of regular fake tans. My skin feels just as soft with this as it did with the Boots one.

I would definitely buy this again, but I also have a Boots 17 version queued up ready to try out so perhaps I’ll change my tune once I’ve given that one a go.

Rimmel Sun Shimmer, £4.88 at Boots.

Outfit: 80s Vibe Friday

I loved the 80s style look of rolling up my jacket sleeves so much last week that I wanted to do it again. I managed to get grease from my car door on my black jacket on Wednesday night so that one is now at the dry cleaners. I’ve always thought that it was such a shame for this brown jacket to have a fabulous purple lining that no one could see. Well now they can! I love that blazers can be worn in a whole new way this season and the lining of the jacket has become something around which to build an outfit.

Brown pinstripe jacket – Long Tall Sally
Purple tank – New Look Tall
Jeans – New Look
Pink shoes – Nine West (Debenhams)
Purple glitter bangles – Diamonds & Pearls
Purple & pink bangles – gifted
Silver bangles – Scope
Silver necklace – gifted
Silver & cream bead cluster necklace – New Look

Total Est. Cost £72

Review: Exceptionnel de Chanel Mascara

I have been trying out a sample size of Exceptionnel de Chanel mascara recently. I’ve never used Chanel cosmetics before so this was their chance to impress me and perhaps lure me away from my beloved Clinque. Sadly (or not, as my wallet breathes a sigh or relief), I was not impressed. Now, I can totally see what they were trying to do here – the brush is part brush, part eyelash comb which, in theory, sounds like a good idea. Why carry around both items when you can have a two in one, right? The problem is that the eyelash comb bits aren’t really long enough to do their job, and they just get in the way of the poor brush parts which are trying to do their job and apply the mascara. So all you end up with is a big old mess of mascara all around your eyes.

9/10 for effort Chanel. 4/10 for the product.

Outfit: Hot Thursday

The heatwave in the UK continues apace. Not that I’m complaining – it’s great to be getting a proper summer after the last 2 years of rain. Once the lads come in and put on the A/C I’m sure I’ll need my shrug. As it was 17˚C when I left the house this morning I was OK in just my tank.

I have an eye examination this afternoon, then it will be home to enjoy the heat in the back garden.

Brown shrug – Ann Taylor Loft
Blue tank – Dorothy Perkins Tall
Brown print skirt – Long Tall Sally
Beige & cream shoes – Evans
Blue ring & necklace – Dorothy Perkins
Silver bangles – Scope
Brown bangles – Dorothy Perkins
Earrings – Ethel Austin
Sunglasses – Boots

Total Est. Cost £73

Outfit: Wednesday Evening

Lookit! Big pictures!

Some of the drama group headed to the local Wetherspoon’s for tea to celebrate a birthday, and then we had a rehearsal. I added the jacket in case the air con in the pub was cold, or the church hall was cold. But it was so scorchio outside that not even I was chilly. In fact, I was hanging out of the bathroom window at around 10.30 last night, just trying to get some air.r

Black jacket – Long Tall Sally
White ‘Yes, I’m very tall’ t – Café Press
Jeans – New Look
Red wedges – New Look (charity shop)
Red bangles – Primark
Red & cream bangles – gifted
Silver bangles – Scope
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Red beads – Ethel Austin
White sunglasses – ASOS

Total Est. Cost £93

Apologies...

...I have been playing around with various things today so apologies if anything seemed off when you visited earlier. I think I'm done now!

Review: Bra Clip Cleavage Racer Back Strap Creator

I was tired of my bra straps always showing under my tank tops so I decided to investigate clips to hold make them into a racer back bra and hold them out of the way of the edge of my tank tops. Amazon came swiftly to the rescue with the clips pictured above. Supplied by Girlyshop they are only 99p each and are just the job. They come in black or clear (I bought 2 clear ones – I know I’m bound to lose one at some point. They are easy to use (once you master putting your bra on over your head, like a top) and stay in place all day, no problem. Buy them here.

Bigger Pictures

I have finally figured out how to make my pictures bigger, with the help of the lovely Kyla of Blue Collar Catwalk. So from tomorrow expect to see bigger and better pictures - I am excited to start posting them!

Outfit: New Look Wednesday

I don’t usually wear pieces all from the same shop, nor did I plan to do so today, but as I was thinking through what to wear last night, I realised that the entire outfit would be from New Look. Not that it matters, and I’m happy with the look. The cardi & tank were bought this year, the skirt is from last summer, and I got the wedges in a charity shop two years ago so who knows how old they are? They are certainly more than two or three years old as they don’t have the ‘Your Feet Look Gorgeous’ slogan in them that New Look shoes have been carrying for the past few years.

Black cardi – New Look
Black tank – New Look Tall
Red & white skirt – New Look Tall
Red wedges – New Look (charity shop)
Red & cream bangles – gifted
Red glitter bangles – Primark
Silver bangles – Scope
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Red beads – Ethel Austin
White sunglasses - ASOS

Total Est. Cost £40