Fashion // Cotton & florals OOTD *

I regularly find myself trying to find the perfect place to take OOTD's,and I fancied a change from my back garden,so I decided to head to my local woods which is full of beautiful wildflowers and is really peaceful.Also,I thought it would be a great opportunity to showcase this Black Cotton Shirt* that Pinpoint clothing kindly sent me to review.They are a new company based in the UK that offer affordable women's fashion for all tastes and occasions.

I picked a size 12/14 (XL) and found that it fit really comfortably,I've always had a problem with shirts being a little baggier on the waist,so I decided to add a skinny belt to cinch in my waist and give me a little more shape.I would really like to see a size guide on the site so that people can refer to that and hopefully pick the best size for them.I'm a big fan of cotton clothing because I find it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin and is perfect for keeping cool in the Summer,and this shirt is no exception.I love how breezy and soft it feels when I wear it,I definitely think it's going to be a Summer wardrobe staple even though it's black.As Wednesday Adams said "I'll stop wearing black when they make a darker colour".

It's a little sheer,but definitely not enough to notice really,if you were feeling self conscious,you could always wear a cami underneath, but just make sure to wear a black bra! I love the ridged texture to the front and the slouchy sleeves,it really perks up what would otherwise be a plain black shirt.I think this would be a perfect outfit to wear for a shopping trip or for a casual lunch as it could be easily dressed up or down.I paired it with some black jeans and my trusty Joe Brown floral pumps to add a bit of colour. It's.It's a really versatile piece though,and it would be a great addition to many outfits.

I have the habit of changing my clothes a couple of times throughout the day because I often get uncomfortable,but I'm still wearing this as I type,so that definitely says something! I'm really happy I came across Pinpoint clothing as the delivery was so quick and they were very helpful and friendly,nothing was too much trouble! This shirt retails at £18.99 and is currently available in sizes 12/14 (XL) and 16/18 (XXL) so if you're after clothes for Summer that don't break the bank I'd really recommend having a look.You can buy the shirt here.

Have you discovered any new companies  recently? I'd love to hear about them!

Fashion // Charity shop budget OOTD

As payday is nearing but the funds are still low,I thought I would pop into my local charity shop to see what I could find.I've been having a look at people's OOTD/N posts more recently,and I've been really inspired by all of the different body types and fashion styles out there.This Summer I'm really trying to challenge the thoughts about my body and wear things outside my comfort zone,so I was very excited to come across this lovely dress.It was a complete steal at only £6.75 and was originally from Peacocks.It looks like it's barely been worn!

I usually tend to stick to neutral colours and cover up my arms so this is definitely a big fashion step for me! I love the print and the vibrant mustard yellow colour,it has a bit of a 60's feel to it I think,but correct me if I'm wrong.It kind of reminds of the Missoni print that was popular then.This dress also gets a gold star for being amazingly comfortable,it's got just enough stretch in the waist to accommodate food babies and period bloat.

This bag is from Primark and it goes with absolutely everything and it has enough room to store all of my essentials and some not so essentials.It feels really luxurious and well made,despite only being £12.If you're looking for a high quality bag on a budget,I'd definitely head to Primark right now!

I've just styled this dress with some black tights and brogues but I'm really looking for some new ways to wear it.What would you pair it with? 

Fashion // Payday Wishlist

Payday is coming around so for me (and lots of other people,this post has been inspired by great reads I've seen.) I'm hoping to treat myself, but I often lose track of the things I'm really after, so I thought I'd create a wishlist where I can share all of my current fashion and beauty wishes.

001. Women's World Map Wristwatch :- £1.66 from Ebay

I don't often wear watches so I don't want to purchase one that breaks the bank,and this ticks all the boxes.I love travelling and it's definitely very eye catching! Until I can afford to go abroad I can have this beautiful watch.

002. Pink Floral Print Bra & Knickers :- £12.99 & £3.99 from New Look

There's just something about pretty matching underwear that makes me feel so much nicer and put together.I'm definitely into the girly/floral/lacy style of lingerie so this is perfect,and I love the 50's corset look of the bra.All for under £20 too so it's quite a bargain.

003. Jeffrey & Paula Print Tapered Leg Pyjama Trousers:- £35 from Simply Be

These are a tad on the expensive side,but seeing as I don't usually wear trousers I want to make sure I feel comfortable.I'm trying to challenge myself to wear clothes that I still feel are only for a certain body type (not mine) and these are beautiful! I think the cut of the leg is really flattering and I love how subtle the print is,I don't need trousers that say "hey look at my thighs".I'd style them with a simple white vest and my trusty brogues.

004. Coral 3/4 Sleeve Crotchet Collar Skater Dress:- £8 from New Look

The first thing that caught my eye was the beautiful vibrant colour. I love coral and I really think it helps brighten up my pale freckly skin.skin. I've seen great Peter Pan dress OOTD's and I've been inspired to buy one,I love how girly and sweet they are.It will definitely take my back to my schoolgirl days!

005.Max Factor Creme Puff Translucent Compact Powder :-£4.31 from Amazon

After a long day my T-zone tends to resemble an oil slick,so I like to add a dab of powder to keep things in check.I'm definitely a fan of tried and tested products and I've heard great things about this vintage classic. I've been looking for a translucent powder that doesn't cake or leave my skin irritated, and I've had a lot of success with Max Factor in the past so fingers crossed! It's a great budget buy too.


There's not too long to wait until I can go on a little shopping spree, although I definitely find it easier if I put some money in my savings first (priorities!)


What's on your wishlist this month?

Poundland bargains // Rimmel Glam'eyes Quad Eye shadow review

I love neutral eye colours because they're so versatile and easy to wear.A simple smokey eye is my go to evening make up,but I don't often wear eye shadows because of work, so I don't tend to spend too much! Poundland seem to have lots of Rimmel products on offer at the moment,so I quickly grabbed this Glam'Eyes Quad Eye shadow in Smokey Noir.I could only find this one,but I know that Rimmel do 9 other quads in various shades.

I love the simple fuss free packaging,and that you get four shades for the princely sum of £1!I don't use the applicator they give you as I find it doesn't really help with blending,but the colours go on smoothly and blend well with my Eco Tools brush.There's quite a lot of product in each pan and I have noticed that it does stay on my eyes for a long time,I'd say a good 5 hours so it's well worth it.

 I love that they have a little guide on the back,as I'm terrible at knowing what to put where.Also,it gives you tips on how to achieve subtle or more dramatic eye looks.I was very impressed that there wasn't a lot of fall out onto my face,it stayed put and gave my eyelids a really pretty and subtle colour.I like to use shade 2 for a simple day time look with some black liquid liner.

Shades 2 & 3 aren't very visible from the photo,but they looks lovely on the eye.All of the colours are really wearable and complement each other well.

Shade 1:-  A neutral medium grey perfect for a subtle smokey eye base.

Shade 2:- My favourite of the quad,it's a beautiful dove grey that's buildable for a stronger look

Shade 3 :- A pale shimmery white/grey which is a great highlighter.It doesn't look glittery either,so if you're after a matte finish this is the one.

Shade 4:- A deep black colour which is very pigmented and is wonderful for creating more dramatic looks.

I would really recommend this quad to people who want a fun but effective product that isn't going to cost the Earth.This would be a really good introduction to eye shadows or the smokey eye look because it's easy to use and goes through all of the steps with you.I keep them on for a long time and they don't cause any irritation either,so I imagine this would suit people with sensitive skin or contact lens wearers.I'm definitely going to keep my eyes open to see if Poundland are stocking any more.

What eyeshadows are you wearing at the moment? 

Poundland bargains // Maybelline Forever Strong Pro Polish Review

Another post in my Poundland bargains series and it's another nail varnish! What a surprise.This one really interests me as it claims to last up to 7 days,which is great for me because I hate getting even the tiniest chip.It makes a lot of claims with the name "forever strong pro" but I decided to try and out and opted for neutral shade "Porcelain beige".

I don't have enough neutral colours in my nail collection and I was after something I could wear to formal occasions or when I need a more subtle look.The Calcium and Iron has been added to help achieve a rich colour and shine.I Googled what silica does in polish and apparently it allows it to be more evenly distributed. 

I found that the brush was the perfect shape to get to the edge of the nails and the polish had quite a thick consistency.I needed to apply two coats to achieve a full block of colour,but it looks lovely with just one.

 I was worried that a nude polish might look quite orange and unflattering on my pale skin but I am very happy with the finish.Beige can sometimes be quite boring and drab,but this colour is really versatile.It's a lovely shade of milky coffee and it really helps my nails look more polished.It is a glossy polish but I applied topcoat to add extra shine.This will definitely become one of my favourites!

What are you wearing on your nails at the moment?

Poundland bargains // Jess Nail Polish Review

I've had a lot of success with nail polishes from Poundland recently, I love that they have a great selection of branded products like Revlon and Sally Hansen.I normally overlook brands I don't recognise but I saw a very inviting stand of Jess nail polishes that had every kind of colour and finish you could want! I've never seen this brand before, but I'm after some bold colours for Spring & Summer,so I picked up two of these polishes for £1 each (of course.)

The packaging is fuss free and clean which is a winner for me,and I like that they have names,polishes always seem a bit more luxurious to me when they have creative names.The beautiful emerald green is called "Brazen" and the vibrant purple is called "Madison".I was worried that they might have been hard to apply being a cheaper product,but I was very impressed.It only took two coats of polish to achieve a nice solid colour and the brush holds just the right amount of product.It also has a very quick drying time which is great for people in a rush.

Madison looks 1000 x nicer on the nails than in the bottle! It's so vibrant and has quite a glossy finish.I did add a little bit of a topcoat but it doesn't need it. 

I will be wearing this so much during the coming months.Brazen means "bold and without shame",so this polish definitely lives up to it's name.It also has a glossy finish too,which I think makes it look a bit more high end.

The next time you're in Poundland,I would definitely recommend having a look at the Jess nail stand.They're cheap and have so much variety to choose from that you could buy one for every day of the week!

Have you ever tried Jess polishes? What do you think?

Blog your heart out tag

I love these tags! This is the 2nd one I've done now,I received the Liebster Award which also had great questions.You can find my answers to that here.On on to this one though,I've loved reading people's answers,so I'm excited to get started!

To join in with the Blog Your Heart Out tag,you have to answer 5 questions and then tag 5 bloggers who will do the same.

1.Who/what encouraged you to start blogging?

I'd have to say my love of sharing things with people.If I like something (or hate it!) I love telling people about it,and sharing our opinions and experiences.I think it's a great way to learn new things,and even better ourselves as people.Also,I have read blogs for a long time! I love reading snippets of people's lives and I thought I could do that.

2.How did you choose what topics to blog about?

I decided to start a lifestyle blog as I wanted the flexibility to talk about the things that were interesting me at any particular time.My mind tends to go of on a tangent,and lifestyle blogging suits the way my mind works! Sometimes I get a bit of writer's block which can be frustrating,but I just chat to other bloggers and scribble in my notepad until an idea comes.

3.What is something most people don't know about you?

I pray in difficult situations even though I don't practice a religion.It gives me strength and a moment to focus and collect my thoughts.

4.What three words describe your style?

This is a hard one! I'd say comfortable,casual and evolving.I particularly like mixing feminine looks with more grungy type clothing to create different looks.

If we're taking about blogging,I'd like to think that I was quite an organised and I do like to work hard at it! I can waffle on,but I'll get there in the end.

5.What do you love to do when you are not blogging?

I love to travel,learn new things and do housework! Strange I know,but there is nothing nicer than a sparkling clean house.

The bloggers that I tag are;

Laura at Blonde Velvet Lover

Stefanie at Casually Awkward

Freya at Norse South

Jessica at JessicaCasillasx

Sarah at Beauty blunders and other wonders

I've had fun answering these questions and I've hope you've enjoyed reading them.I'd love to hear your comments.I'm looking forward to hearing their answers!

Car boot market haul

My local market is every Saturday,and it normally gets pretty busy.It sells all kind of knick knacks and it's very popular with the tourists.I don't normally look for too long,as they don't often sell clothes,but I saw that a few people were having car boot sales and I do love searching through and seeing what I can find! I managed to pick up quite a few things,so I think I did quite well.

I love the Aztec trend that appears when it gets warmer,and this cute top is a really subtle and simple way to wear it.It's slightly cropped,so I'm planning on wearing it tucked into a high waisted skirt.I love the little pocket detailing and it's a comfortable fit,so I'm hoping to get quite a lot of wear out of this in the summer.It was originally from Primark so I wasn't expecting to be too expensive,but I was very impressed as it only cost 50p.

I also bought this top for 50p because I mentioned it had a small hole in the back (nothing a needle and thread can't fix!) Also originally from Primark,I think this vest will come in handy when it starts getting warmer (hopefully.) I've been wanting to get this kind of top for a while,so I'm glad I waited.

I picked up this jumper instantly because I'm really into 80's/90' s style clothes at the moment.I wish my Mum had held on to some of her old clothes! This was slightly more expensive at £3,but it is in really good condition and from Topman,so I expected that.It's kind of ironic as I'm not particularly athletic,but I love the vibrant print which really brightens up an otherwise plain item.As it's a man's jumper,it has a very relaxed fit which is great for those lazy days where you still want to look good.I know buying a thick jumper in Spring/Summer is a bit strange,but you never know what the weather is going to do.Also,I do have a habit of stockpiling Winter clothes!

I have seen these in my beloved Primark,and I've always debated on whether or not I should buy it.I don't listen to Guns N' Rose but I really love the design of this vest.Although,Sweet Child O'Mine is a pretty good song! It's got a nice slouchy feel and would like nice with a skirt or leggings and some cute ankle boots.

I was thinking of imposing a spending ban,but seeing as I walked away from there with change from a £10,I don't think that's too bad.Recycling clothes is good for the environment too,so it's a win-win situation.

What's the best thing you've ever bought from a Car boot sale?

Jewellery picks // Necklaces

From left to right

Nebula necklace from this seller

Amethyst necklace from Topshop (sold out)

Luna moon necklace from Lisa Angel (sold out)

I'm all about necklaces at they moment! Throw them on and can really help make an outfit look more put together.I don't buy expensive jewellery because I like to change them often,but these are my top picks!

I have been wearing my Nebula necklace since it came to me,it is absolutely gorgeous. Etsy is a great place to buy things that are unique,and you know lots of effort has gone into making them.I'm obsessed with space,so this pretty nebula design is perfect for me.The detailing around the edge really sets it off too,and the chain feels sturdy.It's everything I could want from a necklace,and it was only £2.94 which I thought was fantastic value.

I've had this Topshop necklace for a while now,and I still love it as much as when I first bought it.I'm not sure if it's really Amethyst,but I love the rich,deep colour and the meaning of the stone.Apparently,it is used as a dream stone,and the Ancient Egyptians used them as protection against fear! It's really easy to style,and adds a lovely pop of colour. I don't think they're selling this particular necklace at the moment,but I know they have lots of similar ones like it.It was around £6 or £7 too,which I thought was reasonable for such a high quality necklace.

Continuing with the Space theme,isn't this little moon necklace so cute? I was after something to add a little bit of sparkle,but not be too in your face.I was browsing the January sales online,and came across this great site,Lisa Angel.It's full of cute gifts and pieces of jewellery,and this really stood out to me.The chain is quite long,so it's great to wear with casual clothes,for a beachy hipster kind of look.

I've only got into jewellery recently,but I'm glad i did! It's a great way to update a look without spending too much.

What are you favourite pieces of jewellery?

Follow me around Exeter!

Today has been a successful day.There was no rain,and Exeter was blissfully quiet.Not to say I don't like crowds,I just like being able to move without being run over by 3 prams and an elderly man.I don't normally go to Exeter,I've always gone to Plymouth,but I fancied a change.People are always telling me how swanky and pretty it is,and I haven't been in years.We got the Park & Ride,which I would recommend as a great way to save money (you park for free and then pay a small bus fare which goes right to the City Centre.)

By the time we got there it was about lunchtime,searching around we saw lots of restaurants like Strada,Carluccios and Ask Italian,but it can get pretty expensive in there.Instead,we decided to head down to Debenhams to their cafe (which is great because I can smell the perfumes on the way!)

I had a Chicken Kebab flatbread which was surprisingly nice.The only experience of kebabs are normally have are of the late night kind! It was also a really reasonable price (£4.99) so I had more money to go shopping! After a sit down admiring the views,I thought I'd go for a wander and take some photos.

If you love history,Exeter is a great place to visit.It has a lot of ruins and old architecture to admire.This used to be an almhouse (a house for the poor) which I believe was built in 1458.It got bombed in 1942 during the war,but It really made me think about what might have happened here.It looks so bleak and ravaged now,but I'm sure it was bustling at one point.

I couldn't leave Exeter without taking a photo of the Cathedral.The carvings are so ornate and beautiful,the size of it really makes you feel small! I thought about going inside but you have to pay £6 per adult which seems quite expensive.Nevertheless,it's a pretty place to visit.Lots of people sit on the green next to it and have picnics in the summer.

This chap caught my eye as I thought he had a look of springtime about him.The flowers add a beautiful pop of colour to an statue I wouldn't normally look at twice.Apparently he was called Richard Hooker,and he was an important priest and theologian in the 16th century,the more you know!

I did actually manage to pick up some bits and bobs,although Primark can always be a bit hit and miss.I didn't spend too much either,which is a bonus! I always go in wanting a specific thing,and then leave with 2 things,none of which I actually went in to get,never mind.I'm going to do a haul tomorrow and show you all of my lovely purchases.

Where do you go when you want to take pretty photos?

Forever Autumn OOTD

I must admit I'm not a Spring/Summer person.I hear everybody getting excited about wearing pastels and sunglasses but I can't quite get on board.I try to drag out my Autumn/Winter clothes for as long as possible.Today was sunny but pretty cold so I bought out one of my favourite outfits that I have worn to death.

Dress-£5 from Primark

Utility jacket-£4.50 from Devon Air Ambulance Charity Shop

Leggings-£7 from Peacocks

Boots (in a later picture)-£12 from Primark

Sorry for the awkward stance,I haven't got used to being photographed yet! Burgundy and khaki are two of my favourite colours and I love the contrast between them and my pale skin.It's a really comfortable outfit which definitely helps me feel nicer,there's nothing worse than having to adjust yourself all the time.

I had to be careful when this photo was being taken as it looked a bit like I was flashing someone! Luckily,there was no one around.I love these £5 dresses from Primark because they are great to dress up or down.They're really soft too,and the stitching seems quite well done.I like the flattering cut and I'm a sucker for floral prints on anything.

A quick close up of my jacket.I had been looking for a khaki jacket for a while,so I grabbed this quick when I saw it.It was originally from Dorothy Perkins and I love the huge pockets (I like to take the whole house with me.)I had to roll up the sleeves because of my T-Rex arms,but I like to think this adds to the overall look.

I love these boots! They've definitely been worth their money.They are really comfy,although I've noticed that the sole is starting to come away,that's what I get for buying a cheap pair I suppose! I love the military look of them and they are pretty versatile.Not very exciting,but I really recommend the leggings from Peacocks,they are quite thick and the seams are pretty sturdy.I think they will last a few washes.

It's a pretty simple outfit,but I think that they can be the best sometimes.I don't think fashion needs to be something you overthink! I love getting inspiration from other people though,I see ideas I would never have thought of.

What's your favourite outfit right now?

Etsy Wishlist

Every time I have a look on Etsy,I have to hold myself back from spending my life savings! There are so many unique things that you never knew you needed.It's a great place to go if you want to buy something that you know you won't see 50 times on the high street.Here are my top picks right now!

1.Disney's Frozen "Let it go" necklace (£12.95 from this seller.)

I watched Frozen a little later then everyone else but I'm so glad I did.I loved everything about it;the characters,the music and of course,the plot twist.My favourite song is "Let it go",the lyrics are so meaningful and this necklace is so pretty! I love the little snowflake and it's dainty enough that I could wear it everyday.It's actually quite affordable too.

2.Life doesn't have to be perfect poster (£8.63 from this seller.)

I love beautiful fonts and sentimental quotes so this is perfect for me! I tend to be quite a perfectionist,so this would be a lovely reminder for me to appreciate the small things.I'd love to put this in my bedroom in a pretty frame.

3.Disney Pixar Up phone case (£14.17 from this seller.)

Up is another film that made me emotional! It's so beautifully written and the love story is just so adorable, but it's definitely a tearjerker.I was so happy to find a pretty phone case that would cover my Sony Xperia (they all seem to be for iPhones).I love the simple design and I definitely think this would make my phone look a little different (I'm always picking up other peoples phones!).

4.Bacon Beeswax Lip balm (£1.57 from this seller.)
I love bacon and a love lip balms (I have a bit of a collection),so I was really excited to see this.I've bought a few lipsticks before that contain beeswax and cocoa butter,two ingredients that I  find are really great at keeping my lips soft and preventing chapped skin.It says that it contains real bacon grease,which doesn't sound very appealing,but that is what makes a bacon sandwich taste so good! I'd probably end up licking my lips too much.

5.Beyonce coffee mug (£11.10 from this seller.)
Beyonce seems to be everywhere these days,and I know some people think it's a bit too much,but I just can't dislike her.I'm a 90's child and I was a Destiny's child fan,she's got an awesome voice! I thought this was really cute and it would definitely bring a smile to my face on a bad day.It's a bit more than I'd normally pay for a mug but it's novel and fun.

6.Carpe Diem notebook (£4.18 from this seller.)
I'm always collecting notebooks.I love all of the amazing designs you can get,and they are a great place to scribble all of my thoughts."Carpe Diem" or "seize the day" is a great motto to live by,and this little notepad is a great size to put in my handbag.

I definitely think I will end up buying some of these,I've bought a couple of things from Etsy recently and they've been of really good quality.Also,I like the idea of supporting small businesses who make great products!

Have you used Etsy before? What things do you love?