Retail Therapy: Motif jumpers

It may be 27 degrees outside but I can't wait for it to get cooler so I can wear an animal motif jumper!
Matched with a denim or cord A-line skirt, opaque tights and lace up brogues, these little beauties satisfy my desire to dress like a 5 year old again!

In conclusion: September

• Starting a blog is a bit like starting a new school or job. You don't know anyone and they don't know you. Some people will appear suspicious of you as you try to make friends and interact with them. They may ignore you, even if you're simply answering a question they posed on Twitter, like a book recommendation or a make-up suggestion. They may forget their manners and not even offer you a thank you.
You don't know "the rules" are you supposed to "plug" your blog or not? You don't understand the "etiquette" is it okay to butt into another persons conversation on Twitter? It's a definite learning curve!

Some people however, will make you feel so welcome it will restore your faith in human nature! Rosie,  Jennie,  Sofia,  Kate,  Amy,  Holly,  Arlene,  Nic  all gave me a very warm welcome and I very much appreciate it. It can be tough being the new girl!

(My sincere apologies if I have forgotten to mention you this time, I will be linking to you in the future I'm sure!)

• I dug out my Paloma Faith cd this month. I wish she'd hurry up and make another album! Also listening to Lissie non-stop and have been all year! And my perfect chill out is always Laura Marling.

• Stacking up some new books ready for the cool Autumn nights.

• Baking cupcakes for Mum and her friends afternoon tea.

• Walking Flossie in the park waiting for the leaves to change. They must be as confused as me with this unseasonably warm weather!?

• Enjoying writing again. I've not written much since uni a good many years ago! Feeling a little rusty at times but enjoying it none the less.

• Shopping at Tiffany in Selfridges in Manchester! More on that next month!

• Getting my "craft on", making soap (coconut, mango, cinnamon -not all in one soap!!?) Making charm bracelets and other jewellery (which I sell at fairs) and sewing bits and bobs!

Handmade soap

My sewing kit!

• I hope you've had a great September and *waves* Hello to any new readers. I really appreciate you all. xx

Words on Wednesday

Paper Acrobat

Chocolate!

How do you like it? Dark and rich? Smooth and milky? Sweet and white? Maybe you prefer it unadulterated pure and simple or advocate the addition of nuts, fruit, caramel, nougat or biscuit.

You might have more discerning taste and savour it laced with chilli or cardamon, then there are the soft centres and the hard centres.... the ways in which we like to enjoy chocolate are myriad!

Hotel Chocolate

My favourite way to indulge is with "Praline Puddles" from Hotel Chocolate. I think of them as "grown up chocolate buttons" They are larger than conventional buttons and lean toward the darker side of milk (50%) They are meltingly soft and the encased praline adds a richness of flavour that I really love. *sigh*

At £5 a bag they are not something you pick up with your petrol or a magazine but I can't pass a Hotel Chocolate store without purchasing some. Besides chocolate is good for you, it raises antioxidants in the blood protecting against disease, it stimulates the serotonin levels in the brain making us feel happy..... blah ..... blah ..... blah ..... whatever! Chocolate tastes GOOD and I love it!

So indulgent and priceless is chocolate that a Mayan slave could be bought for 100 cocoa beans. I can be bought for a lot less!

How much or what chocolate can you be bought for?!

             

Get it nailed!

I've often admired other peoples nail art, "oohing" and "aahing" at the prettiness of it all. I felt sure I could produce something equally as covetable, how hard can it be?

A nice base colour, a few dots and stripes here and there, maybe some summer strawberries or even cute ladybirds, hell, I could even do Christmas trees for the festive season! Er.....actually, no. I'm rubbish. Well, not completely rubbish. I can do my left hand. A bit. Okay, I'm rubbish.

I was really excited then, to find these Elegant Touch nail art stickers in Superdrug.

They're not bad. A few creases here and there, I'm not sure they'd stand up to close scrutiny, but they are easy enough to apply, just stick 'em on! The overhang is filed away with a nail file. I put a clear top coat on and they lasted about 4 days before looking shabby. To remove just peel them off gently and wipe away excess glue with nail polish remover.

However, it's that "hand-painted" look I really like and while mooching about looking for new blogs to read, I came across Charlene of Dainty Dresses.

This is the next best thing to being able to paint your own unique nail art, because Charlene hand paints full cover false nails and sells them from her little shop Dainty Nails. She even supplies the glue! 

Purple Aztec

Cupcake Cliche

A set of Dainty Nails like the ones pictured cost £5.00. Such a great price!

Charlene even offers a custom design service for £7.00. I think that would be fantastic if you had a special occasion to attend and wanted to match up your nails to your outfit.

Instant hand-painted nail art without the faff! What a great idea.

Animal Magnetism

Year on year animal prints prowl down the catwalks of the top fashion houses. Luxurious patterns inspired by some of natures most beautiful creatures, leopard, tiger, zebra and more recently giraffe. This season is no exception, from couture to high street there is an animal print lurking somewhere near you.

     

         Cavalli                                                                     Valentino

New Look

It could be a coat, boots or shoes, there are handbags and accessories galore sporting this style of print.

Even lips and nails can't escape the magnetism of the animal print.

Nail wraps

Although I like to indulge in the wearing of leopard, tiger and even zebra on occasion (not all at once I hasten to add, and of course only the fake variety) It is in my home where I really like to go wild. Once upon a time I lounged in the beauty that is an all white interior, the light, the space, not to mention the dirty finger marks around light switches. After a while though I felt I wanted to create a more, well, warm and cosy atmosphere, something with texture and pattern.

Tiger cube  made by mum!
Throws/cushion  years old
Lamp IKEA

Wallpaper. Not quite an animal print but a lovely metallic linear paper all the same!

Just to indulge myself (and you) here are some more images embracing the animal print theme. Grrrrrr! 

Moo chair  John Lewis

Paper Lamp shades

Leopard pattern carpet

Words on Wednesday

Source

Hair Growth shampoo & conditioner! Really?

Lee Stafford Hair Growth range

Being a sucker for "miracles" I picked up the above products in Boots recently. The famous 3 for 2 offer was on so I put Lee stafford Double Blow volumizing mousse in my basket too. 

Now I have to admit to being a bit cynical when it comes to the kind of products that promise things I'm not sure are possible. I mean, so far as I'm aware nothing can actually make hair grow faster, can it? Is it not just down to genes?

Well, I intend to find out! 

I don't particularly have a problem with growing my hair, I think it grows pretty fast, but like I said I'm a sucker and the promise of a few extra inches is too much to resist. So here goes.

Obviously, when conducting such important scientific research, one must use the most technologically sound equipment available. In my case a tape measure! Yep I measured my hair. I have a centre parting, no fringe, all one length, except for a few layers at the front (light brown if you're interested)! From the centre parting it measures 16 inches.

I'll wash/condition my hair with the products until they are empty, I will recycle the bottles (!) and then report back my very scientifically produced results using proven methods. Yeah, I'll measure my hair again.

Friday night's alright!

Inspired by Rosies date night I thought I'd share mine with you!

My husband and myself always try to spend some time together in the week or weekends away from the demands of every day life. Not easy! Sometimes it will just be staying in with a film and a takeaway, other times we like to go out for a change of atmosphere. Last night was a "lets go out for a bit" kind of night and we ended up at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. We grabbed a couple of coffees, switched our phones off and over indulged in some doughnut delight!

You can watch the doughnuts being made. Yum!

We had a lovely evening, we even got a free sample, a yummy warm doughnut straight off the conveyor.

Suitably stuffed we got our spare doughnuts put in a box to take home.

 

 

Chocolate Dreamcake for breakfast anyone?! 

Biscuit Cushions

How much do I love these Biscuit cushions from Nikki McWilliams. So much that I could eat them, that's how much!
I think these are just adorable. Go take a look at her shop it's yummy.

Giant biscuits! Hurray!

Yum!

Recent Purchases: Tan Stripes

Tan bag

If you've read previous posts, you'll know I love tan accessories. I needed an everyday bag that would hold the huge amount of junk I carry around with me and this one from Next is perfect. It has a longer 'across the body' strap which I've not shown in the photo as well as twin handles and lot's of pockets. It's very 

roomy.

Tan bag Next £35

    Snood scarf Topshop £16.99

   Tan boots River Island (sale) £20

Snood Scarf

This scarf is so soft and not too warm for the early Autumn days. It's made of lovely soft jersey material and can be hung around the neck singly or wrapped around several times. I've since seen online that this scarf also comes in black and tan! Aagh! I'm going to have to buy that one now too!

Tan boots
I bought these boots back when the sun was shining ( remember that single day sometime last month) in the River Island sale. It felt a bit weird buying winter boots while I was wearing my flip flops and shorts, but at £20 reduced from £75 they were a bargain....Last pair...My size....Tan! It was meant to be.


Amber earrings
Lastly, I bought these earrings in New Look. I can't find them online, I bought them in store. They should still have them as I only got them last week.

Earrings  New Look  £3.99

Bichon Frise

There have been various dogs in my life from pure-breeds to cross-breeds, I've had rescue dogs and plenty of waifs and strays in between. When I was small I brought a dog home that I'd found tied up outside our local shop. My Dad took it back to find the distraught owner outside, who'd only nipped in for some milk. (Funnily enough I've never tied any of my dogs up outside shops)

Anyway, I digress. My current "baby" is a 5 year old Bichon called Flossie who has lived with us since she was 8 weeks old.

Flossie was unimpressed with her crappy birthday present!

Apparently, Bichon Frise ( bee-shon free-say)!! translates as "curly lap dog". I'd say that's a pretty accurate description. Flossie is curly and likes to sit on my lap. Nuff said.

Lounging on the beach.

Historically, Bichons were found in the circus as performing dogs often wearing tutu's. Probably because they're so good at standing on their back legs and jumping about, which is what Flossie does when you say the word "biscuit". Sometimes we drop the word randomly into conversations for our own entertainment. Cruel? Maybe. Funny? Definitely.

One thing that has to be said about dogs in general is their unwavering loyalty. They don't care if you aren't wearing any make-up, or the latest designer clothes. They are always happy to see you. They instinctively know when you are sad and join in when you're happy. Flossie is always particularly impressed with my singing and sits down to listen whilst wagging her tail, even though I can't sing a note. That's got to be admired.