New in: Bucket shopper bag

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When I first saw the 'bucket' style shopper bag from Zara, I loved it. I loved the hardware, shape and texture of the leather. When I saw it in the store, I realised how big it was. I have a lot of big bags, but I always tend to loose everything in them. I've tried storing them in separate compartments and I still managed to have to spend a good ten minutes every morning looking for my office keys or pass. After buying a small bag from Matalan the other week I realised I need a bag in between over sized and medium, and this one I found on EBay was perfect. It's not too big or small. As I'm tall I find that small everyday bags look a strange on me, so this is just right.
It only cost me £21 including postage, and came pretty quick too.

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Things I have been loving recently: iPhone case

  I thought I'd show you some things I am loving at the moment. Firstly, is my iPhone 4s case. I got this off Ebay the other day and it arrived yesterday. Its made my iPhone feel much safer in my hands. I'm actuall suprised it has been over 9 months and I haven't dropped it. And I am really clumsy. Oh, but I have dropped it on my face. Texting layed in bed.

I have been loving a lot of lip shades recently perticulary the three above. A maybelline lipstick in a really glossy baby pink (review soon), Revlon balm stain in rendezvous and my favoruite MAC hue. The revlon stain suprised me as it is such a vibrant orange but when applied to the lips it comes out in the perfect peach as it adapts to your natural lip colour. Looks the best with some tan.

I got a tester a few weeks back with my Elle subscription of St tropez Everyday body moisturiser with Gradual tan. My favourite gradual tan is the Johnson's one and as I haven't tried St Tropez before I wasn't sure about it, but so far I really like it - even more every time I apply it. I just have to make sure I don't go overboard as it is for medium/dark skin tones. I am pale.

Last is my purse. You may have seen in a previous post/on instagram I got a purse from Topshop. But, I also posted about my bag/or something in my bag setting every shop alarm off. I emptied my bag many of times and just had my purse and phone in it and nothing worked. Even with swapped things about. I've had to end up getting a new purse and handbag so I don't feel like a theft going shopping. But, the purse cost me all of £3 in the Newlook sale. I don't normally go for snake print but I liked the size of it and the gold zip is a yellow toned gold so really stands out and looks more expensive than it was.

I'm off for a walk now, haven't been feeling very well this week. But, the shop is moving forward and it is becoming closer and closer till the keys are going to be in mine and my mums hands. Fingers crossed I get them next week. I think I will do some posts on the progress of the shop, like before decorating and after if anyone is interested?

Thank you for the feedback on my post last weekend of the preview stock. I would appreciate it if anyone would like my facebook page for my shop Gifts and Pieces here. It's finally becoming real that I will be self-employed, well still having a full time job.

Hope everyone has had a lovely week. Thinking I am going to have a big DIY weekend and back to coding my website ready for the launch in a couple of weeks.

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Review: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm stain

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm stain in Cherish - £5.99

Last week, I made a trip to Boots to go and get myself one of these Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip stains (such a long name).
I was a bit overwhelmed when I got to the stand as all the packaging looked as if the shades were very similar but I as soon as I swatched them once, twice, some three times up my arm I realised what a variety there was. I went safe with this one and brought a baby pink. I knew that pink lip shades suit my pale skin.
When you apply them they go on so glossy and then wear off to a stain which really is a stain. They last so long on the lips.
The only negative I have is the smell of them. It reminds me of some what between mint, tea tree and something else I just cant tell but within a couple of minutes of applying the smell fades away.
They are of course comparable to the Clinique Chubby sticks, which I haven't had chance to try out yet. Although, I don't think I will if Revlon bring over some more shades from the US. The packaging is really easy to use, as you don't have to mess around sharpening it, they just simply twist up.
I also went back to boots the next day and brought one in the shade Rendezvous which is a peach. Another thing I like with these lip products is that you can apply a gloss over the top.

Anyone else got any other shades? Think I also go safe with my choices.

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DIY: Neon necklace

Neon necklaces are so on trend right now. After trawling Ebay for one of the Zara or H&M necklaces I gave up, not wanting to pay a ridiculous price and thought about updating something I already owned. I had no look there either. I needed something with some kind of diamantes on it and after looking for a while I realised I don't have any necklaces with them on.

I was looking through the jewellery in Newlook today, and found the above necklace in the sale for just £2. I knew this would look perfect in neon colours so purchased it and then painting the diamante gems with neon nail varnish. Another thing I don't really have is neon nail varnish. As you may see, both polishes are from Miss Guided and  I had recently received the neon pink one with a magazine and received the orange one with a magazine last year. Think they were from either Cosmo or Glamour.

I laid some card out and started painting the gems, which was really easy and took about 30 seconds. I also applied a clear top coat to keep the shine and make the polish last longer but I am really pleased with the results.

What do you think?

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My shop: Gifts & pieces preview

*Sorry for the confusion but I didn't mean to post these photos with no text earlier today. I shut my mac book and some how clicked publish. 

I've not long been in from an appointment with our solicitors but thought I would upload some photos of some stock we are planning to have in our shop. This is a selection, and was the only stuff I was able to hunt out of piles of brown boxes. My mum's house is full of them, they are starting to merge in with the furniture if I'm honest. I thought we would have been in the shop by now, but the land lords solicitors is dragging it out, so we are playing a waiting game.

A lot of you have been asking if I will be selling the products online, and  I will as soon as everything is in the shop and are settled, so probably will be on the website in a couple of weeks. I'm currently designing the website in between everything else. I will let you know when it is live.

So far I am really pleased with everything we have sourced to sell. We are also hiring out shelving for local crafters/jewellery designers to sell jewellery.  That was my mums idea. Which we have had a lot of interest in as I would have loved to do that with my jewellery.

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ASOS £100 Blogger challenge

Essie Nail Polish in Pink-a-boo £6.50

Rimmel London Kate Lipstick in Shade #016 £5.49

ASOS Metal handle gold over clutch in white £14

ASOS Finsbury Toe thong Flat Sandal in silver £10

ASOS Wrapped Coil Ring £6

ASOS Scales Torque Necklace £8

ASOS Spike Anklet £6

ASOS Full Mini Skirt £25

River Island 3d Flower Lace top £17.50 

 

I've seen a few bloggers do the £100 Asos Challenge which Discount Coder is running and thought I might as well have a go myself. I basically trawl through the ASOS website every day anyway. I was originally going to go for a evening outfit but with the floods and storms we've had in England recently I wanted to put something together for when the weather gets better again (if it does). Thought I'd style something which could be worn on a warm evening.

I have some mint jeans and a blazer and browsing ASOS the other week I saw this skirt. I like wearing full skirts instead of fitted ones and i love the pleat detail on it. Really makes it look classy but fun with the colour. For the top I went looking for something lace. I'm always a lover of lace. You can dress lace up or down and I think with the white top it could complement a bronzed tan (or fake!). I was pretty surprised with how much I have just pretended buying so thought I could really accessorise the outfit.

Firstly, I went looking for a necklace. I wanted something to make a contrast from the soft outfit so far. I thought this choker necklace complemented it perfectly. I then found the spike anklet. I really want some anklets. I can remember wearing them when I was younger, but the spikes really make it something different.

I saw a silver theme going along after the necklace and anklet so thought I should find a cluster of rings or something chunky. I found this ring which I really want. Very simple but chunky. With the jewellery only coming to £20 , I thought I better get some shoes. Although there are some pretty sandal heels on ASOS at the moment, I wanted something fuss free so went for some simple flat silver gladiator sandals.

For the clutch, I didn't want one with any silver on as all the jewellery was silver and I love mixing metals. The white made it a perfect summer bag. Looks very subtle.

Finally, I had some money left over so went for a pink shade of Essie and one of my favourite high street brand of lipsticks Rimmel.

Overall I love the outfit I put together, and if i'm not lucky enough to win the competition I will happily buy the pieces. That's if this English weather changes. I actually surprised myself at how much the outfit came to. I thought I would struggle staying under the £100 mark.

If anyone else has done the challenge, please leave your link so I can have a nosey.

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Outfit wishlist: Ariel dress, Virgos Lounge

 

ARIEL DRESS - VIRGOS LOUNGE

LEATHER SQUARE BUCKLE CLUTCH - ASOS

I've had this dress bookmarked for a couple of months now, ever since seeing it on TOWIES Lydia Bright. I've never had an occasion to wear it though, but it's my boyfriends 21st at the end of August and this would be perfect. Another reason I never brought this dress was because I wear a lot of dresses with black tights due to my pure hatred of my legs. With my healthier eating and exercising I can already see a difference as I'm toning up. Hopefully I will be able to bare legs in this and have this cute clutch from ASOS to go with it. I love the colour and it complements the dress perfectly.

The dress is on pre-order with deliveries going out at the end of the month.

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Fitness, trainers & 30 day shred

I never thought I actually do a blog post on some trainers but here I am. Here are my new trainers! I can't remember the last time I had some trainers. Well not including ones I had when I use to do cheerleading, the last pair I had was middle of secondary school. I didn't do sport in the last few years as school due to either a broken nose, broken thumb or injured back. I did want the green or pink of these trainers but because I have such big feet they didn't have any in my size so was left with the blue.

So, I want to get fit in the hope it will help my back get stronger and better. So far I have been doing the 30 day shred for a week. I didn't do it last night but I don't think it is good to do it every day as it is a killer on the muscles and you obviously need to rest. I think I have done pretty well since Day 1 of it. I didn't get these trainers untill the weekend so my poor knees and ankles and throbbing due to the impact on the floor and exercise mat. My mistake. I have also been continuing going for long walks at night after my dinner. So I really want to get into shape and drop a few dress sizes. Don't get me wrong I don't want to get skinny, I want to get fit and I am already feeling the benefits. One thing I need to cut out though it sugary drinks. I haven't snacked on anything bad for a couple of weeks now but I drink Pepsi Max and energy drinks. Not loads but enough. Think that is the next thing to cut out. I am trying to do it in stages. At the moment I haven't changed any of my meals, but I will be. Hopefully going to have lots of chicken and steamed veg which is my favourite. I don't like any other meat.

Tomorrow I am picking up a Cross trainer. Think that is the best way to not put more pressure on my back as I would love to go running but can't. 

Another thing I'm trying to do is measuring myself instead of weighing myself. Think it will keep me motivated more when I can see inches coming off me instead of scales going up and down. Doing the 30 Day shred I am aware it won't suddenly make me lose weight. It has a lot of strengh exercises which I need to do to lose weight but it will be adding muscles. Really recommend it to anyone who wants to get fit.

I weighed myself last night and I think (if my scales were right) I have lost 4/5 pounds. So pretty pleased.

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