My Primark A/W wants!

Now that I successfully completed my 1 month spending I will be heading over into Primark to make a few purchases from the new Autumn/Winter range.

I am loving the jumper dress trend we are seeing in a few stores recently, they look so cosy. I am in need of a new winter jacket too as well as new boots. Primarks range actually looks pretty good this season.

Have you made any Primark purchases recently?

Spending Ban: REFLECTION AND TIPS

Today has officially marked the end of my 30 day Spending Ban. A little surprised I lasted the whole 30 days to be quite honest; a proud moment! It went very well, I saved a lot of money and also came across new ways to save.

I thought in this post I would share a few important tips, hopefully it will be of use to some of you.

Work your wardrobe and shop your stash!

One of the biggest spends I was facing on a weekly basis was in fact clothes and makeup.

 I have accumulated boxes and drawers full of makeup in an attempt to keep up with trends. I haven’t purchased any makeup in the past 30 days; I found a lot I hadn’t even ever used. I think I will be carrying on with my makeup spend ban for a little while longer as I really need to use up what I have first. 

Because we are approaching Winter the spending ban on clothes was a little more difficult. I took out some of last years knits etc but I will definitely need to buy more. I am all for versatilely though so I will try and purchase ’trend’ items I can carry through to next year. I think basic pieces are vital if you are on a budget, not only will they be cheaper but you can also dress them up or down and chose to pair say a white top with a maxi skirt or even jeans.

Have a regular de clutter!

I think it’s really important to set aside time to sort things out, organise and de clutter. 

With unwanted makeup and clothes ask your friends or family if they want them but if you decide to sell them not only will you free up space in your wardrobe but you might also make a little money. 

Food!

Those £5+ lunches are always convenient, it saves us having to get up earlier in the morning to make something. But think of it this way, that counts up to at least £25 a week. You could almost buy 2 MAC lipsticks with that amount! Packed lunches are the way forward for work/school - it honestly doesn’t take that long to make a sandwich, coupled with a few snacks and a drink you have the perfect lunch at minimum cost.

Buffets usually work out cheaper when eating out and ‘meals’ save you a few pennies when ordering a takeaway.

Fruit and Veg!

At the start of Spring I actually planted a few vegetables in the hope that they would grow and they did! Supermarkets import fruit and veg now a days hence the inflated price tag. Not only does homegrown veg taste better it also saves a lot of money.

Samples!

There are a lot of free sample websites and the industry is booming as of right now. Free coffee sachets, makeup, shampoo samples and more. The little sample sizes are also ideal for when travelling.

Finally…

Ask yourself “Do I really need this?”

It really works! Try it.

My Aldo watch

  

I have been loving my ALDO watch this year, so versatile! At only £30 this watch is a steal, not only does the watch face look designer but it also features 4 other straps. 

Each season they come out with a new range but the watch straps are designed so they will take you through to the whole year!

Available to buy through ALDO

        

Barry M nail polishes

Navy

This deep navy colour includes a very slight shimmer. It’s perfect for the autumn and winter months.

Amethyst Glitter

This polish is so pretty, it has pink, gold, light blue and dark blue glitter in it, so pretty! Similar to a galaxy effect. I love wearing this on its own, 2 coats provides a great coverage.

Peach Melba

A shade I have used the most - perfect with a tan as it exentuates it even more! This is perfect for the summer.

Pink Flamingo

Pink is a pretty universal colour, a colour which is a must have for everyone as it suits almost every skin tone! This pink is a bright pink, a perfect pop of colour. I would best describe it as barbie pink.

Rose Quarts Glitter

I absolutely adore the colour Rose Gold so when I saw this shade in a nail polish form I knew I had to have it! The polish includes glitter as well as very small confetti like particles. It is great on top of other nail polishes, one one accent nail or worn on its own. 

The last shade I got free with a magazine a few months ago, can’t say I’ve worn it much! 

I love the consistency of Barry M polishes, the application is always smooth and easy and they last a good few days before chipping. They are priced very reasonably too, only £2.99 each but there are almost always 3 for 2 offers on!

Do you own any Barry M nail polishes? I’m looking to try out more so please let me know your favourites in the comments! 

That white tee

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Some might call this the ‘hipster tee post’ but hey! Some months back while the Celine tee was all the hype in the blogging world, I have been wearing my Celine tee all summer and have slowly transitioned it into Autumn by layering with hoodies and jackets. I’m all for comfy wear so I know I will definitely be making a few cheeky bargain purchases on eBay in the next few weeks. These t-shirts are so versatile - perfect on top of skirts, jeans and leggings! They are super cheap too!

Let me know which is your favourite?

The AUTUMN tag

I enjoy reading tags so when I came across 'The autumn tag' on Talias blog (created by MakeupPixi3) I knew I had to do it.

Autumn is my most favourite season, closely followed by Winter. Yes, I much prefer the colder months mainly because in Scotland we hardly ever get ‘Summer', we get extreme humidity. Like Talia I also suffer from headaches during the summer. But what’s not to like about Autumn? The cool weather, faux fur lined boots, ability to layer clothes, toasty food, hot drinks, sweet smelling candles, crunchy leaves. Bliss.

For Autumn what is your…

Favourite thing about it? Being able to layer up to keep cosy for sure!

Favourite drink? Hot Chocolate, Cadburys. I am eager to try warm Ribena it’s a good'un apparently.

Favourite scent/candle? I have recently started burning my Yankee Candle Christnas Cookie candle again which I purchased last year. I brought the biggest jar available because it was raved about so much, I am happy I made the purchase, it is such a calming sweet scent.

Best lipstick? Even though I own Berry shades I never have the courage to wear them. A combination I support a lot during the Autumn months is the Bourjois lip pencil in Facetieuse which is a muted brown shade, I pair this with my all time favourite Rimmel Nude Delight lipstick as the name suggest this is a nude peach shade.

Go to moisturiser? The Soap and Glory Righteous butter which smells like Pistachios may I add. This cream is so moisturising, perfect for dry skin.

Go to colours on the eyes? I love burnt orange smokey colours on the eyes. The shimmery browns in the Urban Decay Naked palette are also perfectly fitting. A wash of colour all over the lid is effortless - colours like Smog, Toasted and Hustle.

Favourite music/band or singer? I love chart music, but I enjoy listening to Ed Sheeran and The Script during the autumn months. On a side note Ed Sheeran needs to release another album soon?!

Favourite outfit to wear? Definitely something similar to the outfit in my last post; black skirt, comfy trainers, white tee, hoodie all tied together with a jacket.

Autumn treat? A new winter jacket is on the list and has been for a while.

Favourite place to be? At home in front of the fire, hot chocolate in hand, watching a cheesy movie!

I hope you enjoyed this post, I enjoyed writing it.

What’s your favourite thing about Autumn? If you decide to do this post please let me know, I am interested in reading more! 

That Casual Outfit

That Casual Outfit by aly-lily featuring River Island

Just put together a casual outfit suitable for when you are on the go, college/uni etc! Comfy yet warm for this weather we are currently seeing! Autumn is in full swing eh? I think Winter is just around the corner. The jacket and trainers keep this outfit casual but you could replace them with a blazer and wedges to dress it up! Let me know what you think?

My top picks for PINK glossy lips!

Who doesn’t love a pink lip? It’s a universal colour that suits a majority of people.

The great thing about colours is that they there are different shades and tones; light, dark etc. People sometimes say ‘x’  lip colour doesn’t suit them but if you experiment with a few tones and shades you will find one that matches your skin tone eventually.  I have picked my top 4 - I would class these as universal shades.

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker lip gloss - Punch Bowl

Accessorize Lip gloss tube - Pout

Eyeko - Shoreditch 

Stila lip glaze - Mulberry

Hope this post was of some use to you, let me know what your favourite go to lip shades are? 

Re-usable bags!

It’s September already?! Like a lot of you I always tend to be in a mad rush when I am out shopping- be it food shopping or even for clothes. When you are in a rush almost always you end up packing your items quickly and carelessly. Plastic bags end up tearing at the bottom just when you leave the store and you are left standing there utterly bemused with your shopping sprawled all over the floor. Sigh. If this sounds relatable read on...

Environmentally, plastic bags are not biodegradable. Convenient when in a rush yes but do we really want to carry on using such an item which takes over a 1000 years to break down? Re-usable shoppers are the way forward!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

For todays post I thought I would compile a collage of 5 of my favourite shoppers, these bags could potentially last you years and just think of how many plastic bags you will save? These shoppers are gorgeous, so trendy and at an absolute bargain! Re-usable shoppers are much stronger so they can hold more shopping and are much nicer to carry around too.

What are your thoughts on re-useable bags? Which one is your favourite?