I audibly gasped when I clocked these in my local TK Maxx, for I am a sucker for a good bit of ruching. Just look at those buttery folds of leather *le sigh*

They are by All Saints, a brand that I never quite got until recently. I used to think why?! would anyone want to dress like a zombie cowboy/girl and pay £££ for the privilege.

I’ll be honest I still don’t get most of their dresses/ shirts etc for that very reason but what I do get is their leather appeal. They do leather so well. Like no one else on the high street. So soft, instantly worn in, uber flattering ♥

These little babies ooze sex appeal to me. A flash of toe, a glimpse of heel. I know my man will be a fan.

It’s still slightly too cool to perhaps be wearing these outside yet, but it won’t be long. Another month or so and I have a feeling these will be surgically attached to my feet. In the meantime I need to get my tootsies ready for the public. As is always the case in Winter I tend to neglect everything from the knees down.

So let the foot scrubs, filing and pedicures commence with gusto!

I thought I’d pop in a few pics of today’s outfit while I’m here. No full length I’m afraid as I can’t find the doo daa (technical term) that connects my camera to the tripod.

First tho, make-up. My foundation is Jemma Kidd Light As Air, a recent purchase from here. I opted for shade Light and it’s quite a good match. Slightly too dark (and I mean slightly) but will be perfect once I catch a spot of Spring sun. For reference I wear no 52 in Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum.

I’ve wore it 3 days in a row so far and these are my very early opinions. It’s a little too matt for my liking. It accentuates my dry t-zone. It oxidises throughout the day. Now that all sounds a bit negative. The pro’s. It smells nice, perhaps not important to some but I rate this as important. It applies like a dream, hardly any blending required, so nice and quick and easy. A little goes a long way, in terms of coverage. It lasts all day.

At this stage I wouldn’t repurchase due to the drying aspect but it may fare better as the weather improves and in turn my skin with it. I’ll keep you posted!

Lipstick is Revlon Pink Pout, probably the most drying lipstick I own but I just adore the pinky mauve colour. If anyone knows a more moisturising dupe please leave a comment xo

Lace trim vest – M&S. Technically this is underwear but I thought it went well with my Chanelesque cardigan which is from Miss Selfridge (sale). I was going to accessorise with a single strand of pearls but I have vowed to stop saving my “good” jewellery for special occasions. What if that day never comes?

I will therefore be doing the school run sporting my Vivienne Westwood Bas Relief Pearl and Crystal Choker. Mine is the gold version and originally purchased from Hervia. I’m not sure they sell it anymore though and their site appears to be under maintenance. If you do ever get the chance to own it, grab it. It makes even the most mundane outfit look put together xo

Did your heart skip a beat?

Mine certainly did when I set eyes on these frankly DELICIOUS New Look sparklies.

Then it promptly plummeted to my feet as I realised (with a large degree of overly dramatic) horror that they only had a size 6 left and it was too small. %&$£!!

I looked for them online with ZERO success.

Then I went to a different branch and……

they had 5 pairs of size 7… *whistles tunelessly*

To me they just SCREAM Christmas Party, which is where I intend to debut them. I’m gonna go the whole hog and pair them with a festive red frock, HELL, I might even wear some novelty earrings and a Santa Hat (I definitely won’t do either of these things). I’m all the more delighted because they were just £24.99! An amazing price considering places like DUNE are selling similar styles for £90 *faints*

Get them in store while you can, oh and I believe they also come in black and purple if that’s your thing!

xo

It’s a grey overcast day in Belfast, not cold… not hot… just a kinda meh temperature. The hardest kind to dress appropriately for.

I settled on a bandeau playsuit with a cardy over the top which meant that when I got too warm I could just whip it off and pop it in my bag. I had to do exactly that for the duration of my shopping in town. Cardigan FAIL.

Playsuit – Zara

Cardigan – Tesco

Flats – Primark

Bag – Mulberry

Vivienne Westwood Necklace and DIY Disc

Links Of London Charm Bracelet and mixed silver bangles from Miss Selfridge

Eye make-up was a simple lilac wash of shadow using NARS Night Rider, blended out with a smidgen of MAC Stars n Rockets. Lilac Liner from Gosh and L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara. Lilac tones bring out the green in my eyes like no other colour <3

Shopping was very uneventful. 3 hours later I was home with 1 bottle of brush cleanser. That’s the way it goes sometimes. At least my purse is smiling.

xo

The other half is away in Cork on business and the kids were having some Granny time…. which meant I found myself well and truly fancy free today.

It seemed positively criminal not to head into Belfast, after all shopping sans kids is a rare occurence, and one to make the most of!!

This is what I picked up…..

Minus Flash

Under Flash

The new Sleek Safari Eyeshadow Palette. I’m not a fan of their Original or Jewel Palettes. However I’m always willing to be proved wrong, and so I’ve succumbed to the Safari mania and I’ll let you know what I think soon.

An inexpensive blush (think it was about £2.50) from Collection 2000 called “Bashful”. I purchased this as the warm tone appealed and perhaps unbelievably (considering my make-up obsession) its not like anything I already own.

Revlon Crystal Nail File £4.99. I received a lot of comments on both my Nail Tidy posts that suggest glass nail files are the business. I honestly couldn’t find a glass one anywhere, but I’m assuming this will do the job…. probably

Large Silver & Turquoise Ring from Miss Selfridge. Sale price £2.00 I thought it was super summery and I love statement rings. It’s very comfy on too.

Bee Necklace from Accessorize. I just adore this, I had been looking at a very expensive bee one on Accessories online, but this is a more than acceptable substitute. It was marked as £4.00, however when the girl scanned it into the till it turned out to be £1.20!!!!

Horse Studs from Urban Outfitters, sale price £4.99. Just another addition to my animal fashion addiction. They also had lions & pumas if thats your bag

Adorable multi strand necklace, again from Urban Outfitters reduced from £34 to £9.99. I have to be honest and say its very unlikely I’d have paid the original price tag, however this is a stunning piece, I feel the need to build an outfit around it and an event to wear it to.

I just love the mix of gold and pearl, and the stunning art deco style clasps. It also hangs at that very flattering collar bone length, not quite a choker, but very very glamourous.

Thats pretty much it barr a Goats Cheese & Chilli Jam Sandwich from Deeee Lites (who took over 12 minutes to complete my order……bah!), it was a taste sensation though and only £2.00 so I’ll give them a by ball…. this time

xoxo

I know I do, and thankfully they were everywhere when I went into Belfast yesterday. Recession or no damn recession people were out in their droves and spending seemed to be the order of the day! It would have been rude not to join in…..

Heres a few of the highlights of my shopping trip

A gorgeous floral pashmina from M&S £14.99 A spring/ summer staple. I have several scarves but was holding out for a pretty blue toned one. This was love at first sight.

Staple summer sandals. I can’t be doing with completely flat sandals, they just aren’t comfortable on my arches, so this mini wedge talks my kind of language. M&S £15

A few accessories, actually truth be told this was all I was shopping for initially… oops

The long necklace on the left is from H&M £3.99, middle and right are both from Miss Selfridge and were bargains reduced to £3 & £2 a piece. The floral one looks quite over the top and gaudy but its actually very pretty on. I think it’ll be gorgeous on a warm summers evening with a plain white skinny vest.

A cute biker jacket from Dorothy Perkins which had an additional 20% off sale stock. I’ve been after one of these for a while to throw on over casual dresses when out for a night, but I didn’t want to pay big money. The wait paid off….DP’s £12

Bargains reached fever pitch in Victoria Square, the House of Fraser shoe sale was AMAZING! I spent a whole hour just trying on fabulous shoes. In the end I opted for these classic Carvela black patent killer stilettos. Original price was £95 but after two reductions I got them for a stellar £29

Last stop on Sunday was Topshop. Now I love Topshop but I do think that their clothing is mostly over-priced. I tend to get the bulk of my Topshop bits n bobs during their sale and yesterday was no exception.

This jersey long line vest is very me. It clings in all the right places and skims and flatters in all the wrong ones I’ll be wearing this over leggings now and as a dress with sandals as it gets warmer. I love multi-functional pieces like this and I’m stocking up on my navy tops which replace black for me in the brighter days £10

This next item makes me smile big style. I am totally in love with it. I’m calling it my “Kirstie Allsopp” number! It’s my new spring/ summer coat and I imagine she would share my love of it.
I like fitted coats but truth be told these full circle style numbers suit me best. I feel like Audrey Hepburn in it, it nips me in at the waist (Size 12 Yay!!!!) and yet sits out like a flirty dress over my hips. I adore it. It was £75 (I’d have bought it at that price) but as luck would have it, reduced to £35

Final topshop purchase and definitely not in keeping or to be worn with the above coat is a soft grey hobo sac.
This is a gorgeous casual slouchy bag that will see me from now well into Autumn. I’ll wear it with jeans and flip flops and keys will go missing for days in the bottom of it, but I won’t care!

So thats it for yesterdays shopping spree. I think I did well and have some great new season staples now for my wardrobe. I’m sure Gok would approve!

A little additional purchase today was a Max C dress from Tempest, I’m intending to wear this out tomorrow night when I go to see Girls Aloud in concert. Can’t wait!!! It was reduced from £45 to £22.50. My husband has pointed out that it is a little “red, white & blue” which is quite funny in Northern Ireland (perhaps not elsewhere), I’m thinking it’ll be grand, and sure at least I have my outfit sorted for the 12th

What bargains has everyone else been getting in the sales?? xox

Some of you were asking on Twitter what I got while out on Tuesday doing birthday shopping, I’m always a bit reluctant to do the whole “haul” thing as I don’t want anyone to think I’m boasting, but I know myself how much I love seeing what other people buy.
Please bear in mind though that birthday money was used to purchase everything, I only have a Saturday job and would never normally spend this much on cosmetics etc. It’s so much easier to spend other peoples money

So with all my excuses for my extravagance out of the way… voila!

Clothing, two empire style tops (perfect for hiding tummy and accentuating the boobies), the bow one (<3 bows) is from H & M and the coral one is from Dunnes, I have the coral top also in blue and grey, I’m that type of person, like it? Buy it in all available colours. Just call me Elton…

A pearl and gold effect bow necklace from Miss Selfridge & cute silver bow diamante earrings from Peacocks

A Hello Kitty make-up bag from Claire’s, this is my third? If I see one I just have to buy it, its an illness

The Laura Ashley storage drawer set from WH Smith, this is to hide all my pigments, palettes and Cream Colour Bases in, thanks to Bubblegarm who alerted me to the fact it was reduced

MAC brushes, namely the 136, 187 & 227 and also a refill of Wedge eyeshadow and I picked up Brulé which I have yet to try out. Matt nearly had a coronary when he heard the brush prices, however good brushes really are an investment if you look after them, especially in my line of work

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink, yet to try but always hearing its better than one of my favourites, Fluidline, so going to test that theory out

Chanel Bronze Universel, again bought due to the hype surrounding the product at the moment and the fact that I am STILL searching for my holy grail in regards to bronzer

A refill of my fave solid cleanser Lush Baby Face and a small bottle of the Tea Tree Toner Water which my friend Kelly recommended

Lashes, lashes and lashes…. check out the Miss Eyelure range, I’ve been using these in college and they are foolproof if you’re not so good with the falsies, pre-glued and take 2 secs to apply, super sticky and stay put all night. The little corner ones are amazing and sooo flirty.

Two Faced Shadow Insurance, just to try something different, I’m an UDPP gal when it comes to eyeshadow bases, but I’m always willing to be proved wrong

And finally some Maybelline Volum’ Express Mascara that was recommended by Anne Marie (I think) and a Rimmel brow pencil, cheap and cheerful!

Let me know if you have any experience with the products I picked up, suggestions on use etc

xoxox

I thought that each Saturday after work I would tell you about the three items I have reached for the most during the previous week. Why three? No more silly a reason than it is my lucky number

1. MAC Lipglass in Soft & Slow – This was part of the Neo Sci-Fi Collection and therefore limited edition (although it has appeared in other collections such as Smoke Signals). It is the easiest shade to wear, anyone would suit this beautiful rose pink with a slight shimmer. I wore it on my wedding day August past and only recently re-discovered it in an out of favour handbag. I have been wearing it tonnes again and if you can get your hands on it you really should buy it as its amazing!
2. NARS Blush in Torrid – This is a lush coral colour, very pigmented and gives off an amazing lustrious shimmer. It is bold and bright, and too often gets over looked for more “mainstream” NARS shades like Deep Throat and Orgasm. Although I love Deep Throat too, NARS has so much more to offer than just the few celebrated. Get down to your nearest counter and check the rest out!
   
3. Miss Selfridge Dove Earrings in Gold Finish – I bought these about a month ago and I am always complimented when I wear them (which is a lot!!), you can dress them up or just wear them with jeans, they are fun and wholly feminine.
   

What have you been reaching for this week? xox