Monthly Archives: January 2016

Dress Down Friday

08th January 2016
I spent a lot of time between Christmas and New Year chilling out in the comfiest clothes possible. For the first time in years I actually had almost an entire week off work between the two big days and fully embraced the casual approach to fashion, chilling out and eating an awful lot of Quality Streets. Of course it’s now back to business as usual but I did manage to grab one last outfit post in my parents’ back garden before the big move happens (tomorrow, eek!)

Dress: Neon Rose (old) | Tights: Primark | Boots c/o Lunar Shoes

This dress is a firm favourite of mine for chilling out in as it ticks all the right boxes- comfortably jersey fabric, a flared skirt and the all important tartan which keeps it feeling a little bit festive. You’ll have to forgive the slightly grumpy expression as I had just returned from the dentist having had a root canal done; not exactly a great thing at any time of year, but right on top of Christmas was just brutal!
How have you found the transition back to work? I’m lucky enough to love my job so never do find it a chore to go back. That said, the week has taken on a bit of a manic edge having used every evening to be packing up my belongings…all I can say is I NEED to lose my hoarding tendencies!

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Posted in life, life stuff, outfits

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The Christmas Purrfect Box

06th January 2016
The team at Purrfect Box were kind enough to play Santa to my feline friend this Christmas and sent us the Christmas box to review. It arrived a week or so before the big day and we’ve had a lot of fun playing with it since then so although this review is somewhat tardy you can be rest-assured everything is well tested!

The Purrfect Box is a monthly subscription which costs £19.90 a month, or £15.90 per month if you take out a years subscription. The contents of the box are guaranteed to be worth at least £30 with 4-6 premium products inside so it’s a pretty sweet deal, especially as each box is catered to your feline’s needs and preferences. Let me know if you decide to treat your feline friend to a box; I’ll be picking up a few on a one off basis throughout the year, I can’t afford it on a monthly basis but as an every so often treat I think it’s wonderful especially as I’m moving out of the parental home very soon and won’t be seeing Mae on a daily basis anymore *sob*.

Pretty much every product in this box was a hit with Mae, the only exception being the Simon’s Cat bowl which was too deep for her stumpy little neck. It’s such a great bowl though, I LOVE Simon’s Cat and it now has a new home with Ben’s beast of a cat, Tobias.

Particular favourites were the food sachets from Iams which didn’t make it as far as being Christmas dinner and the festive chew toy which gets carted around the house all the time. The catnip stocking was a brilliant addition and this was given to Mae on Christmas Eve in attempts to chill her out a bit (it failed, but was very much enjoyed!).

I think we’ve found a new favourite treat for Mae in the mini-nuggets by Trixie, she goes mad for these although we’re yet to get the hang of the training lark!

As you can see it was a box filled with festive cheer and if I could only ever treat Mae to one Purrfect Box a year it would absolutely be the Christmas one again.

Have you given Purrfect Box a try before? I’d love to hear your thoughts… and did you buy presents for your pets?

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Posted in brands I love, Mae, review

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New Year Hair Army with #BootsBeautyBox*

04th January 2016
I have mentioned many a time on the blog that I am more than a little bit clueless when it comes to styling my hair. The biggest decision I tend to make when it comes to style is whether to spend time trying to tame it with straighteners or let it dry naturally and embrace the madness. It’s not that I’m not bothered about how my hair looks, far from it in fact! I’ve just never found the right array of hair styling products that help me achieve a look that lasts more than five minutes.
Boots.com obviously knew of my troubles as before Christmas they sent over their #BootsBeautyBox which was packed full of their favourite styling products to help me look half decent over the festive period.

Inside the box of tricks included lots of new to me products such as the Bastiste Stylist Oompy My Locks XXL volume spray for creating and caring for a big “do”. There was also a bottle of L’oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil , TRESemme Make Waves Creation Hairspray, Umberto Giannini Curl Friends scrunching jelly, Toni and Guy Creative Style Spray Wax and finally (what a box eh?) L’Oreal Elnett Precious Oil Hairspray.

I did let Mum pick out and keep a couple of products from the box. She is a bit of a volume fiend and has been delighted with both the Batiste XXL volume spray and the Elnett Precious Oil Hairspray- a nourishing upgrade to her long time favourite.

With what was left I decided to create a quick and easy tousled look for Christmas Day. I used a good spritz of the creature style spray wax all over before using my straightener to create loose waves. I set the style with the Tresemme make waves spray and was pleased to see my style last through from present opening, a post dinner nap all the way through to eventually calling it a day.

Obviously this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these product’s potential so do let me know how you’d use each one and if you’ve given any of them a go before…I’ll post results of any further experimentation on here and my social media (assuming I have any degree of success that is.)

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Posted in beauty, hair, review

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Sales Shopping: The Casual Edit*

02nd January 2016
I’m trying really hard to avoid the sales this year, with a move on the very near horizon (yep, kept that one quiet) I need every penny I can get. The high street are doing nothing to help me right now, they’ve been slashing prices since before Christmas and I’ve manage to amass quite a vast wish list of things I’d like to make mine. Today I bring you the casual edit, because this soon post-Christmas I’m still in the slobbing out frame of mind.

Topshop: Jumper | Asos: Jeans and Coat | Mastershoe: Both Dr Martens

Is there anything on this list that I can hand on heart say I need? No, no there isn’t. I have coats galore, boots coming out of my ears and it seems more than a little bit pointless buying cropped jeans or yet another sweater just because they are reduced. Does this stop me from lusting and having to talk myself out of a purchase yet again? Not in the slightest!

Are you shopping the sales this year? What’s on your wish list?

Posted in shopping, wish list

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Fresh Starts

01st January 2016

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It’s been a while since I really touched on my personal life on the blog and I think it would be fair to say that 2015 was a real test for me both physically and mentally.
When things aren’t going so well I tend to retreat in on myself and speak about it less- if I don’t verbalise it (or in this case type it) then quite simply it isn’t happening.Now, as we slide in to a brand new year I finally feel as though I am ready to address things and begin to move forwards again.
One way or another this is going to be a big year for me, kicking off with moving out of my parental home to a flat with Ben and there are many more goals I have that I wan’t to achieve over the next 365 days.

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I have never been one to set resolutions for the new year, not ones that are concrete and set in stone as I feel that essentially I am setting myself up to fail. I can’t afford to fail this time though, there is too much at stake. At 28 years of age I am simply too old to retreat back in to anorexia every time the going gets tough. Therefore, with the usual fear and trepidation my number one goal for the year is to get my weight, and more importantly my health back on track so I can well and truly move away from the illness’ grasp and FINALLY live a life free of it.

Another aim for the coming year is to learn to think a little less. I will be the first to admit to being an over-thinker. Even the simplest of things like which shoes to wear or what to put on my toast in the morning can be a mammoth task when my anxiety levels are high. I’m currently using the book “Fear the Fear and do it Anyway” to help break this cycle and if anyone would be interesting in a follow up as to how I get on I’d be happy to share.

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On a less heavy note there are other things I want to do and achieve in 2016 as well. Socialise more (because blogging events are meant to be fun, not a huge source of anxiety) and re-connect with my friends. Get outdoors more and enjoy my local area. Finally get driving under my belt, spend quality time with my family and most importantly just live for each day as it comes.

Blogging may be a bit sporadic over the next few weeks as I prepare to move, get moved and get internet sorted. I suppose I’ll also be grappling with that urge to jump on the first post-Christmas diet that gets advertised. There’s something quite ironic about trying to put weight on in January, right? Especially when there is still an evil resident in your head telling you that there is no need and trying to make you delete this entire post.

I’d like to take the blog down more of a lifestyle route this year, moving away from being only my personal style. I’d welcome comments and suggestions on what kind of content you’d be interested in reading, as the people who keep coming back here to see what I have to say your feedback is invaluable.

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Posted in life, life stuff

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