Outfit: Friday!

At last, it’s Friday! I feel as though I haven’t stopped all week. Today’s outfit is nothing exciting, but it is functional, comfortable, and fits in with my weekend plans (which I will divulge on Monday). I put my bright blue faux leather jacter over this. It is not nearly warm enough for the jacket really, but I am tired of it not being warm enough out and decided to wear it anyway. I am not planning to be outdoors for more than about 5 minutes at a time so I should be fine.

Black cardi – New Look Tall
Black sweater – Long Tall Sally
Jeans – Topshop Tall
Tan boots – Barratts
Turquoise leather belt – H&M
Cream pashmina – gifted

Total Est. Cost £103

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The Search For a New Foundation

Up until this month, I was happily using Clinique’s Superbalanced Compact Foundation. Sadly, this product has been discontinued and so started the search for a new foundation. I was looking for another compact one, preferably with an SPF. I tried the new No7 compact but found this made my forehead very greasy. I tried Max Factor’s compact but this has no SPF and the coverage was too light. Even with the application of concealer in addition, blemishes were still visible. I am currently trying out Estee Lauder’s Resiliance Lift Extreme compact foundation and so far, I like everything but the price tag! I will review it properly in due course. In the meantime, if anyone can recommend another compact foundation, please do so.

Outfit: Remix #3

I said I had a bunch of ideas for remixing this dress, didn’t I? Well here is outfit number 3 build around it. I thought leopard print would go great with it and added my favourite boots. I’ll have to try leopard print shoes another time. I feel remix #4 coming on for next week! There is also some subtle pattern mixing going on here with the scarf and the cardi.

Leopard print cardi – Primark (eBay)
Grey dress – Long Tall Sally
Grey tights – Levante (MyTights)
Tan boots – Barratts
Tan Obi belt – ASOS
Silver earrings – gifted
Silver necklace – gifted
Brown & silver scarf – mall market stall

Total Est Cost: £103

Skechers Shape Ups Update

You may remember a while back that Fitness Footwear sent me a pair of Skechers Shape Ups. I have been wearing them weekly to the gym, but also for general walking around. I think they are the most comfortable trainers I have ever owned and I am so pleased that I was lucky enough to be offered a pair to test out.

Skechers Shape Ups promise to improve your posture, tone your muscles, improve circulation and reduce cellulite. So, how well do they measure up to what they promise to do?

When I walk in the shape ups I definitely stand taller and walk with a better posture due to the rounded angled shape of the soles. I can also feel my legs and core muscles working harder to maintain balance when wearing the shoes as I am used to either a flat sole or heels, not something with a curved sole. My legs are certainly more toned than they used to be. Overall I would say they measure up very well to what the label promises and would be happy to recommend these shoes to my friends and blog readers.

I would definitely recommend these Skechers Shape Ups to anyone who enjoys walking as a form of exercise as they are a good way of putting in that extra bit of effort without you really noticing. If you are a fan of Fit Flops these shoes are a great winter alternative – after all, a flip flop style shoe is not much use when it is cold and raining outside.

I have thoroughly enjoyed testing out the Skechers Shape Ups and will continue to wear them through the coming spring and summer months.

Skechers Shape Ups are available from Fitness Footwear in men’s and women’s sizes. A variety of styles and colours are available, from the traditional trainer style to the new Mary Jane style and faux fur lined suede boots. They are priced from £79.95.

Outfit: Grey Wednesday

I was going to go all out slouchy today – slouchy boots, a boyfriend cardi – but spotted this jacket and decided to wear that instead. I love the shape of this cute little jacket and can see myself getting a lot of use out of it as an outer layer come the warmer weather.

Last night a couple of friends came over to help build the new wardrobes. We have all 3 frames completed, with doors on, and a shoe rack and shelf inside so far. I fed the friends tea as a way of saying thank you.

Tonight is drama group rehearsal (if it doesn’t snow) and tomorrow night I am out watching some friends in a musical production at the town hall over where my sister lives.

Grey jacket – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Grey sweater – Long Tall Sally
Jeans – Topshop Tall
Grey OTK boots – Priceless Shoes

Total Est. Cost £80

Outfit: Dress Remix

I have on the same dress as yesterday. It’s so versatile I could probably do a whole week’s worth of outfits based around it. This one just came to me yesterday and I though why not wear it today?

We have friends coming over for tea this evening and to help us to build the new wardrobes. Ikea is great but everything is flat packed!

Black sweater – Long Tall Sally
Grey dress – Long Tall Sally
Black tights – Marks & Spencer
Red boots – Shoe Express (eBay)
Red belt – mall market stall

Total Est. Cost £77

Review: No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick

Last weekend I had two No7 vouchers that needed spending before Sunday. I went to Boots on Saturday and decided to treat myself to two new lipsticks to replace two that had broken off. I was looking for a dark read and a pink shade. I ended up with two from the Moisture Drench collection (Red Carpet and Petal) as those were the shades closest to what I was looking for. The only No7 lipstick I had used before was in Morello Cherry in the Luscious range and this is, disappointingly, long since discontinued.

I have been using the new shades on and off this week and I am pleased with them both. I have not noticed that they are particularly moisturising, but they do have great staying power. I can apply the red one in the morning and it will last through two cups of tea, a glass of water, two biscuits and a banana. I am too lazy to blot and apply multiple coats so for just one coat this is impressive. They also have SPF15, something I am always pleased to find in my beauty products.

I would definitely buy from this lipstick range again, especially when I have a £5. The full price of the lipsticks is £9.50 each and they are available in Boots.

This Week I Will Be Mostly…

…wearing snow boots if the weather forecast proves correct
…reading the March issue of UK Elle
…watching nothing – I don’t think I’ll have time for TV
…listening to Rose Garden by Lynn Anderson
…eating mini eggs
…shopping for wardrobes

Outfit: Shades of Purple

Sorry for the lack of posts over the weekend. It all got a bit busy.
Friday night the young man and I headed to Ikea to look at wardrobes for the spare room. Saturday morning we headed into the local town – him for a haircut and me to get a few bits from Tesco. I made leek & potato soup for dinner and then we had a chilled afternoon. A friend gave me a 1 000 piece jigsaw a few weeks back so I spent the afternoon working on that. It is a picture of brightly coloured shoes and it is hard! Consequently I gave myself a sore shoulder spending all afternoon bent over it on the floor. (Note to self: put it on the kitchen table next time!) Saturday evening we headed out to meet some friends. We ate out and went for drinks at a nearby bar, then headed home to play on Just Dance on the Wii.

Sunday we enlisted the help of a friend and went back to Ikea to purchase the wardrobes – I had figured out what combination of internal fixtures I wanted by then. They didn’t have everything in stock so the young man is going to go back this week to get the other bits. Then we headed to the local pub to meet another friend and rounded off the weekend with a Chinese takeout.

This week looks set to be just as busy – I am out almost every night and we’re away next weekend.

This morning I took pictures as usual, but then my camera managed to re-format its memory card in my bag and I lost them all. I retook a few shots in the bathroom mirror so apologies and normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

Lilac cardi – Pilot Outlet
Grey dress – Long Tall Sally
Grey tights – Primark
Purple booties – Priceless Shoes
Purple belt – Ethel Austin
Purple necklace – Scope
Silver earrings – gifted
Diamante hair clip – Babyliss (Boots)

Total Est. Cost £59.50

Snow Boots

I hear that there’s more snow forecast for next week so it might be prudent to invest in some snow boots in preparation. If the wintery weather does return I will be wearing my trusty EMU boots again so that I don’t slip and so that my feet stay toasty and warm.

Outfit: Friday!

Can you tell I’m excited it’s Friday? I can’t wait for a lie in tomorrow morning.

Last night I was running around after work: I went straight to Tesco to do the shopping. By the time I got it home and unpacked, I had about 5 minutes to get changed and set off to walk up to the young man’s parents’ house for tea.

I have some errands to run at dinnertime today, hence the flat boots. Plus it’s raining and miserable out today so boots were definitely the way to go.

Blue sweater – Long Tall Sally
Blue cami - Marks & Spencer
Blue jacket – H&M
Blue scarf – gifted
Jeans – River Island
Brown cowboy boots – New Look
Turquoise belt - H&M
White gold cross – gifted
Silver earrings – gifted

Total Est. Cost £115

Outfit: Snowy Thursday

Sometimes taking pictures of what you’re wearing has its uses. This morning for example. If I hadn’t have taken my usual pictures I would never have known that raising my hands above my head caused my slip to show. But in the taking of my pictures, I discovered this before I left the house and was able to change my slip for a shorter one.

Last night I was fully intending to wear what I had worn all day to go out for tea and then on to drama group rehearsal. As I arrived home though, it started to snow. Heavily. I decided flat boots would be a better idea so went for my bright blue ones. However, but the time I was to leave the snow had settled and I was sliding around all over the place so I ran back inside and put on my EMU boots instead, and added a black cardi rather than the blue jacket. This turned out to be a wise move. The snow continued all evening and the church we rehearse in is on a very steep hill. People’s cars were wheel spinning and slipping on the roads. Once again I was very grateful to have a 4 wheel drive and I got home no problem.

We have had no further snow overnight but the pavements and side roads are still covered this morning. I wore my EMU boots again to drive into work and changed to the red ones when I got in.

Grey sweater dress – Tall Girls
Grey thermal top – Tesco
Black leggings – New Look Tall
Red boots – Shoe Express (eBay)
Silver earrings – gifted

Total Est. Cost £52

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Outfit: Blue Wednesday

It is white over again here. Yes, after a brief respite, the snow has returned! Granted, it’s only a dusting this time but I wasn’t taking any chances with the possibility of ice on my street this morning and put my Merrell boots on to scrape the car. There are further snow showers forecast for today

I am happy in what I am wearing today. I’m out for tea at the local pub to celebrate a birthday with the drama group and then it’s off to rehearsal. I’ll probably keep the same outfit on for this evening.

Blue jacket – H&M
Black sweater – Long Tall Sally
Jeans – Topshop Tall
Blue boots – Priceless Shoes
Blue scarf – gifted
Merrell boots – Fitness Footwear (gifted)

Total Est. Cost £80

Outfit: Groundhog Day

It’s still too early to say whether or not the Groundhog will see his shadow in Punxsutawny, Pennsylvania, but over here in my part of the UK there it would be difficult to see a shadow as it is raining. So perhaps we are in line for an early spring? With all the snow we’ve had this year I feel like winter should be about done anyway. Here’s hoping!

Black & white layers today, with a touch of tan & leopard print in the accessories.

Black dress – George at ASDA
White top – Long Tall Sally
Black shrug – New Look
Tan boots – Barratts
Tan Obi belt – ASOS
Leopard print scarf – Diamonds & Pearls
Whitby Jet cross – gifted

Total Est. Cost £112

This Week I Will Be Mostly…

…wearing thermals and layers – it’s turned cold again
…reading trashy magazines
…watching Gossip Girl
…listening to “Weird” Al Yankovic
…eating mini eggs
…shopping for nothing

Outfit: Palindromic Monday

No pictures from yesterday but you didn’t miss much: just the old favourite of a black polo neck, jeans & black heeled boots, paired with my turquoise scarf. We went over to my old church for the morning service, then had a Sunday roast dinner at one of the pubs in the town with my sister, her husband & a friend. It was lovely & sunny again so after dinner we had a walk in the park by the river.

Today is 01-02-2010 – a palindromic date. And also Monday. I am fast falling out with Monday mornings. It’s tough getting up early after the weekend, especially since it is still dark out. And this morning was so cold. Then there are temporary traffic lights causing havoc with the traffic near my office. I had to park several streets away and walk in today to avoid sitting in traffic for a further 20 minutes. Gah. I think I would like to start today over, please.

Black waistcoat – Next Tall
Purple top – Long Tall Sally
Black trousers – Long Tall Sally
Purple booties – Priceless Shoes
Turquoise flower – Claire’s
Turquoise flower ring – Dorothy Perkins
Turquoise earrings – gifted
Turquoise scarf - eBay
Diamante hair clip - Babyliss (Boots)

Total Est. Cost £87.50