Primark Haul of tropical prints

I didn't want to spend to much so Primark seemed the sensible choice and luckly for me it's full of bright tropical prints at the moment. This post is also a great example of how crazy Primark sizing can be. I'm a 16 ish, sometimes an 18 and every so often a 14 however in primark I can be anything from a 10 to a 20!

I love these, I plan to wear them for an interview I have this weekend. - Yes I have an interview, yes I want the job so so much. Wish me luck.




I bought this to wear with the halterneck dress and any other summer items that expose my bra/brastraps. I'm impressed that primark do such a range of sizes in bikini tops beceasue I now that I wouldnt be able to get a bikni top in many other high street shops that seem to only do up to a C cup.

All of this cost about £40 which I dont think is bad for the amount I got!
I know have a facebook page for my blog, please like it! Also you can use the page to ask me question and view ootd outtakes, detail shots and nail art!

FOTD: before and after

I was going to call this post something along the lines of “every day makeup look” but I thought that it was silly for two reasons

One: I don’t wear makeup every day. I wear makeup on the days that I go further than the end of my road but if I’m just doing work at home or going to my grandmas I don’t bother.

Two: What I consider my “usual” makeup would be most people’s “going out” makeup. I know I wear a lot!

My no make up morning face

and after I have applied everything

Over the past couple of months I’ve got my whole make up routine including eyelashes down to a 15 min job. I also think I’ve struck lucky with the combination of products I’m using and my makeup is really lasting all day which is something that I used to struggle with especially with eye makeup.

Like I said I used a huge amount of products, if you want to know any specifics leave me a comment and I will let you know.

Delilah Dust Giveaway [closed]

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend in the sunshine. Yesterday I had a writing work shop followed by a picnic on the beach then a night out for one of my best friends birthdays. Today I've been on a huge bike ride along the prom and burnt my arms. Anyway on to the giveaway...

Delilah Dust is an online jewellery store run by a lovely lady called Antonia. You can check out her shop on Etsy for lots of beautiful unique, delicate jewellery. UK Shipping is free with no minimum spend!

I love the Raw Cut Pyrite necklace.

The shop is owner by Antonia, it is her birthday this week and to celebrate, she is giving away a silver skull bracelet.

I love this braclet and think it would look great stacked with others this summer.

If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning this gorgeous bracelet all you have to do is follow my blog and leave a comment letting me know what your favourite item from the Delilah Dust Etsy shop is, simple yes?

For extra entries you can :

Like the Delilah Dust Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/delilahdust

Follow Delilah Dust on Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/DelilahDust

This giveaway is UK only.

PRETTY PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY so it’s easier to count!

The giveaway closes next Saturday at 10pm the winner will be chosen at random. I'll contact the winner to find out their address and pass this on to Antonia, who will dispatch the bracelet directly.

OOTD: Manchester

Firstly I posted this yesterday from my phone and then it vanished! So 2nd time lucky.

I spent 2 days this week in and around Manchester with my boyfriend. (On a side note I might do a personal post on my boyfriend, I like things like that because I’m nosey but would any of you be interested?)

We went to an amazing garden centre for lunch (sandwiches and a giant desert.)  The garden centre in question was in the middle of nowhere and full of amazing things such as, old fun fair stalls, giant bird cages, tropical huts and a giant pond with baby ducks in it! My highlight was spotting a huge My little Pony illumination which the garden centre has bought from Blackpool!

Amazing yes?

Before I left we went in to manchester to go to the cinema. AMC cinema in manchester only charge £4 before 12 and the do orange 2for1 aswell so thats 2 tickets for £4. Bargain.

Shorts - Levis from Vintage Manchester / Jacket - River Island / Polo - Fred Perry / Belt - Peacocks

I looked so washed out and grumpy in these photos I thought I'd leave out a picture of my face! I did however have a great day which I finished with a writing workshop back home in Blackpool.

Do you like personal posts? What do you think of my double denim look?

100 Day Challenge week 14

By the end of this week the challenge is over! Friday the 25th at 12pm I will have done a 100 days with out shopping with only a few minor blips.
I've come to realise that the challenge has in no way put me off shopping nor has it made me any less inclined to spend every penny I have on clothes and jewellery. BUT the challenge has taught me that a few things.

I’ve learnt that:

I can do without when I have to. I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion that I’m a determined sort of girl and I love the feeling of setting out to do something and not giving up. The feeling of not giving up is the reason why I’ve done this, it’s the reason I got through my first year of university and it’s possibly my best quality.

Sometimes I think I really want something yet a week later I can’t even remember what it was!

I already have a huge wardrobe and a silly amount of make up.

Sometimes it pays to wait because for instance I wanted some Black studded creepers at the beginning of the challenge and had my eye on some ones for £50 but yesterday my boyfriend spotted some for less than half price that are 100times nicer than the ones I wanted which leads me on to a confirmation of something I already knew..

I have an amazing boyfriend who is super brilliant. He spots things that he thinks I’ll like He actually saw a show and used the sentence “that is you in a shoe” (studded leopard print loafers) and he really takes an interest in my clothes. He is more than generous and I’m lucky to have him.  Also my mum spoils me rotten!

Finally shopping is and always will be my favourite activity. Even without spending I enjoy looking and swatching cosmetics and trying things on clothes. I am content window shopping alone for hours. I would rather go shopping than do almost anything else and this is unlikely to change. Very few things can match the excitement of shopping.

I’ve missed:
Luxurious baths, Magazines (even though my mum buys most of them anyway), new cosmetics, impulse eBay buys, charity shop shopping, buying sale items, online shopping, buying make up just because it’s a ‘new’ product, acting on impulse.

The challenged will be over in 2 days and I plan to:

Indulge in some of the things I’ve missed.

Keep in mind the things I’ve learnt and wait before buying larger items on impulse, consider if I really want the item and look for cheaper alternatives.

Resist paying for things on my credit card.

Do a blog sale.

A huge thank you to all the comments over the past 98 days that have kept me motivated and an extra huge thank you to

Islay Char Helen Jess Sophie Hazel Kezzie Neen Stephanie Mel Laura Amy and Devyn, who have all taken part in the challenge at some point.

I'll leave you once again withe a notd.

The famous GOSH holo, yes it chips within a day but it looks so stunning in the sunshine I think it's worth it!

What do you think of the challenge? Do you think you could do it? What should I be buying now it's over? What are you lusting over? Do you like holo polish?

OOTD: Velvet and Dr Martens

This was a primark dress that I bought to wear over christmas 2010. It's sat at the back of my wardrobe only coming out on one or two occasions since. I sort of think that its a shame to save things for best!

Dress- Primark / Shoes - DrMartens
I'm also wearing my new Mac lipstick in Shygirl and eyeshadow in Nylon that I won as part of the Starry Eyed Beauty 2nd birthday giveaway - Thank you Christine, I love them.

Do you save clothes for best?

Travel Pamper Pack Montagne Jeunesse

Last week I received the montagne jeunesse travel pack to review. The pack is part of their beauty travel range and is made of 5 products.

This Travel Pamper Pack contains:

1 x Passion Peel Off Masque
1 x Skin Smoother
2 x Body Wash
1 x Foot Cooler
1 x Intensive Spa Hair Masque

Firstly I was impressed with the little folder-like pack that the products came in, if I was going away for the weekend it would defiantly save room in my bag.

I decided to try out everything except the mask in one super night of pampering. I’m saving the mask for another day, if you are interested in the masks I’ve reviewed them HERE.

The body wash – Smells like orange juice and lathered well. The scent was nice and fresh without being too strong.

Skin Smoother – I loved this. It’s quite a course body scrub, smells fruity and would be perfect for exfoliating before applying tan or a regular moisturiser. I used this on my legs and my knees felt so much softer.

Hair Masque – This was a nice product and did leave my hair feeling soft but one sachet wasn’t quite enough for my hair, however my hair is quite thick so on thinner or shorter hair it would be fine.

Foot cooler – I did this with my mum. (Note my big pale feet and her small brown feet!) We both loved this, so much so my mum had me checking online to see if we could buy some more. (It turns out this isn’t available on its own at the moment but might be by the end of the summer!) When you first apply the lotion to your feet it’s cold and tingly but as you rub it in it turns to a powder. It’s pretty magic.  It leaves your feet feeling really fresh.

The Travel Pamper Pack is now available on the Montagne Jeunesse website. All their products are suitable for vegetarians and they always look to use natural ingredients

What do you like to do for a pamper night?

OOTD: Mayoral event

Last week I was invited to attend an event at the mayor’s parlour in the town hall. What does one wear to such an occasion? Well that decision was made for me when my friend suggested I throw caution to the wind and get out some leopard print. In my mind leopard print suits all occasions.

The event it’s self was really fun! The building was amazingly posh and a very talented singer performed one of my all time favourite songs. The event was in the morning and I had planned to get breakfast afterwards but I didn’t anticipate the FREE RED WINE. Two glasses when straight to my head.  I had a writing work shop straight afterwards and it was painfully obvious I was tipsy.

Afterwards I met my OH and we went to Nandos for lunch. Extra hot halloumi and mushroom pita with a side of ratatouille and frozen yoghurt desert sobered me up for a walk along the front.

I didn't take any photos untill I'd got back home, my hair was much nicer before the red wine and the walk along the prom.

Top, Skirt, Belt and Sunglasses - Primark!
Fun fact - This whole outfit would have come to about £20 or less.

Recently I have been contacted by the gorgeous company GlamorousUk who are going to be sending me some items to review so I’m super excited about that. They are also offering free shipping for the whole of May and 20% off by entering ‘Glamorous20’ at the checkout. I can't wait for my items to arrive!

100 Day Challenge week 13

It is now the end of week 13 and the start of my final week of the challenge.

I thought it might be nice to share with you a few items that have been on my wish list for a few weeks.Obviously my wish list is full of dream things like ‘new super fast lovely laptop’ and ‘tiny laptop so I can write on trains’ along with ‘holiday.’

Then there are the more expensive things that I would have to save for like ‘getting my hair done professionally’ and ‘new clip in hair extensions.’

Then the things I want to do like ‘charity shop shopping spree,’ ‘eBay bargain spree’ and ‘high street spree.’

And finally the smaller things, the things I would have just bought on impulse or to cheer myself up some of these things have been on the list for a few weeks and then lost their allure and been taken off. Here are some of the things that have stuck.

Cat nail Art transfers and synthetic feather hair extensions

'The Humorist' by Russell Kane

Some new music for my I-pod

Another MUA pallet and Maybelline Eye Tattoo

This Tshirt which is now sold out - so sad it has Blackpool Tower on it!

A summer hat – I’ve spied on in primark mens section

This Maxi dress

Something to make my bath pink and some RnB hair stuff from Lush

Accepted and Harriet the spy on DVD

What do you think of my wishlist? I thought I'd leave you with a bit of cosmic nail art.

Gradient/ ombre nails

I’ve been wanting to try out this type of nail art for a while but I didn’t know how to achieve the look so I was really pleased when I saw THIS POST by Gem pop up on my dashboard. She has found a great tutorial on the American Teen Vogue web site that shows you how to do it.

The tutorial and Gam both used pretty pastel shades but I wated to go for something brighter. I used a bright pink models own polish and a bright orange collection polish mixed with an old cheap clear.

It was quite simple to do and I think with some practice I could get much better at it. I can see me doing this alot more over summer.

What do you think? Which colour combinations should I try? I'm thinking black to silver, yellow to gold?

OOTD: leather look

Skirt from new look £34.99 down to £11 then with 10% discount because the zip is it tiny bit broken and wont fasten right the top. (which is fine for my because if it did it wouldn’t be half as comfortable!)

Top is also from New but from the inspire range. It’s super old and not in stock any more but I’m sure they do something similar. I know it’s just a plain black t-shirt buts it’s the perfect length and I love the neckline, I must wear it at least once a week.

Do you have any old basics that your wear time and time again?

Free Benefit - Bad Lash, Porefessional and That Gal

Just a post to let you all know that the next issue of Glamour come with either a free Benefit product. From the looks of the advert I would guess that The products will be a large sample size. I subscribe to Glamour so I won’t get to chose which one I get but I’m hoping for Porefessional or That Gal. If you want to try more than one it might be worth buying more than one magazine for the sample then passing the magazine on.

Now back to my essay.

Books books books

The Rules:
1. Post these rules
2. Post a photo of your favourite book cover
3. Answer the questions below
4. Tag a few people to answer them too
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them
6. Make sure you tell the person who tagged you that you've taken part!
I tag any one who loves books! Please let me know if you do it so I can have a nosey.

I stole this tag off Lauren form Bell Du Brighton -  check out her blog she's lovely.

What are you reading right now?
Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that?
I hope to read the humorist By Russell Kane

What magazines do you have in your bathroom/lounge right now?

Grazia, Company, Cosmo and Glamour.

What’s the worst book you've ever read?
This is going to be a very unpopular answer but it is between Harry Potter, Northern Lights and Cloud Atlas. All popular books that I hated.

What book seems really popular but you actually hated?

As above.

What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone?
One Pill Makes you Smaller by Lisa Dierbeck.

What are your 3 favourite poems?

My favourite poems are those that I have seen performed and my favourite poet that I have seen live is Dizrelli, I have tons of his stuff on my I pod and he is a lovely guy. As a child I loved Roald Dahls Revolting Rhymes and if you haven’t read them you should. No matter how old you are they will put a smile on your face.

Where do you usually get your books?

Amazon, eBay or Waterstones.

Where do you usually read your books?
In bed or whilst travelling.

When you were little, did you have any particular reading habits?I’ve always hated books that have fantasy elements so as a child I was drawn to authors like Jacqueline Wilson, whose book are full of inspiring, amazing characters and not a wizard, dragon or talking monkey in sight! I will never grow too old for her books. I fell out of love with books between the ages of 11 and 16, I’m not a fast reader and being forced to read Harry potter in year 7 put me off reading entirely. I only started reading again when I discovered the likes of Melvin Burgess. Since then I’ve fallen back in love with reading writing and English and now I’m studying Creative writing for my MA.


Have you ever “faked” reading a book?

I have done a degree in English literature, what do you think?

Have you ever bought a book just because you liked the cover?
All the time.

What was your favourite book when you were a child?
Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson or Girls in Love also by Jacqueline Wilson

What book changed your life?
Change my life is a little dramatic but The House Of Leaves By Mark z. Danielewski changed a lot of my interests and opened me up to innovative writing. It is also a massive book and after getting through I and making sense of it I felt such a sense of achievement.

What is your favourite passage from a book?
“This is how much you love me,” she said, her voice flat and unemotional. “isn’t it?”
― One pill Makes You Smaller – Lisa Dierbeck

It might not seem like a ground breaking moment but it is.

What are your top five favourite authors?
Jenn Ashworth, Lisa Dierbeck, Melvin Burgess, Kevin Brooks, Mike Gayle

What book has no one heard about but should read?
Murder most fab - Julian Clary

Read it on holiday and it made me laugh out loud.


What 3 books are you an “evangelist” for?
The Exquisite corpse, Poppy Z Brite.
A Kind of Intimacy, Jenn Ashworth
Junk, Melvin Brugees

What are your favourite book by a first-time author?
Again One Pill Makes You Smaller.


What is your favourite classic book?
Lolita, I’m enjoying it so far. Is it a classic?


5 other notable mentions?
Playing With Grown ups – Sophie Dahl
All that glitters – Pearl Lowe
The Anatomy of Evil - Michael H Stone
The End of Erveything– Megan Abott
Black Rabbit summer – Kevin Brooks



Do you have any books I should add to my 'to read' list? Are you a Harry Potter lover and now dislike me a little?


Also it's the cosmo blog awards time of year if your feeling lovely you could vote for me in the best lifestyle blog category.
You can vote HERE

100 Day Challenge week 12 / Mini Haul

The end is insight and I couldn’t be more excited! I’ve started pairing down my wish list and again I’m finding out that some things I wanted really badly 8 weeks ago have lost their attraction now! New week I will post up my final wish list for you to have a nosey at. I’m hoping to get it down to about 10 items, at its peak it was about 60!

I find it funny/ worrying to think that before the challenge I was picking up items like nail varnish and jewellery, charity shop finds and bits of ebay without even thinking about it. I don’t want to fall back in to doing that again. (Not until I can afford to sped frivolously anyway!)

Saying that at the end of the challenge I will be treating myself to a few bits and my boyfriend said he will be treating me too. I’m thinking a few ebay bargains a charity shop spree and  maybe an item or two off the wish list but what I don’t want to do it sneak of to Blackpool/Manchester and destroy my credit card in a giant splurge!

On bank holiday Monday I planned to go in o work in the morning then get on with one of my assignments in the evening but when my shift was cancelled and my mother proposed a trip in to town who was I to say no.

We went with the intentions of getting a birthday presents for my cousin and finding my mum some summer clothes. We managed to do both of those things, my mum bought me some things and I treated her to a cup of coffee and a cake. A lovely day was had by all.

Primark Socks/Tights - My mum always buys my socks and tights when shes in primark, it's almost like a tradition now! Also the socks where in the sale at 50p and come in lots of colours.

Primark Skirt and sunglasses - She bought me the skirt and sunglasses in secret because she had seen me looking at them and in her words " I got them you becasue I like them and I dont normally like the monstrous stuff you like!" Haha - what a charmer. By monstrous she is refering to my 2nd hand shirt and bowtie collection.

New Look  Tie DyeLeggings - I may have hinted that I wanted these before I knew she had bought me the other things. I saw them in the sale for 3 pound the last pair but then I was the label said 14-15yrs and mother made a bet that If I could fit in them she would get them for me....have you ever seen sausage meat being forced in to the skin?! The wiast band in alright really its my thighs that might hulk out and split the seams at any moment but it's a risk i'm willing to take!

This is the 2nd time my mum has treated me during the challenge and my boyfriend has bought me quite a few things aswell. This would have been so much harder with out them, I'm a very lucky girl.

How's every one else doing this week? What do you think of the things my mum bought me?

OOTD: Perfect day

Sunday was a perfect day with my boyfriend. I’ve so much work to be doing but we decided to ignore that for a day and went on a huge walk, had a picnic by the sea and a cheeky Mr Whippy.  We stopped by BnM to pick up some food shopping which consisted purely of sweets, chocolate and cereal. My lovely man bought me a skirt from Newlook which was reduced from £35 to £9 which will feature in another ootd soon. We left in the morning and only made it home at tea time.

Not at all glam but I seem to be a little addicted to bold leggings.

Leggings - Newlook / Jacket & Bag - River island / Top - Asos / Trainners - ZooYork

It was lovely and warm and the sea looked really nice. After walking through woodland my hay fever was making my eyes run like mad but it was totally worth the huge walk just for the ice creams!

Again hay fever eyes, NO NAIL POLISH which is extreamly rare, and a combination of wiping my eyes and the the sunshine means you can see my freckles coming out!

Now its back to assignments for the rest of the month, I will be so glad when I only have my final portfolio to work on!

Bright leopard print nail art

I did these nails last week but I've only just uploaded the pictures. I find leopard print nails quick and easy to do but I get bored of the same colours so I thought I'd try a bright leopard print. I used Barry M Yellow, Models Own pink and a Models own nail art pen. The pen is running out and my black eBay nail art pen ran out a few weeks ago so I can't wait until the 100 day challenge is over so I can get a new one.

What colour combinations do you think would look good on a leopard print design?

 Ps. Its the cosmo blog awards time of year if your feeling lovely you could vote for me in the best lifestyle blog category.
You can vote HERE

OOTD: Oven ready

“You look ready to go in the oven.”

“Are you off to Oz today then?”

“Hello King Arthur.”

I’m somewhat surprised that no one went for a spaceman pun.

Obviously there witty remarks were in reference to my silver leggings. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts blogging has given me a sort of ‘fuck it, I will wear what I please’ attitude in regards to clothing and these leggings are the proof.

With a long body and short “footballers” legs I don’t think any stylist would advise squeezing myself in to shiny lycra which is most defiantly a size too small for my thighs and it is something I wouldn’t have dared wear not so long ago but – MY LEGS, MY CHIOCE yes!?

I must start getting dress before my mum leaves for work so that I can get outfit photos taken properly.

Leggings – Gift from Mama Blackpool / Top – New look inspire / Necklace – Topshop

I felt totally out of my comfort zone and really self conscious in the morning but you know what, for every joke comment I received I got a compliment and as the day wore on the more confident I felt. I think it most defiantly pays off to step out of your comfort zone every now and then. What do you think?

Did you notice my nails? I plan to post about them over the weekend.

OOTD: DIY shirt

Necklace- Topshop/ Shirt - DIY dip-dye-shirt

Playsuit - Riverisland/ Hat - eBay

A little snippet of an outfit I wore the other day. I’d woken up really late so I just grabbed the nearest clothes and I didn’t have time to wash my hair so I had to wear a hat however I’m pretty pleased as I really like the outfit.

So far today I’ve been frantically essay planning for a meeting with my tutor this afternoon. Just time for a fish finger butty them I’ll be on the train to Manchester. I’m wearing SILVER LEGGINGS courtesy of my mother and the bargainous Poulton Market. I mentioned on twitter how blogging has given me more confidence to wear what I want no matter how questionable my choices may seem. For instance silver leggings mean I look like a joint of meat ready for roasting but I like them. Are they flattering? No. Do I care? No.

Has blogging had an effect on the way you dress?

100 Day Challenge week 11: confession

I have a confession to make. I cheated. Without even thinking about it. I was on the way to Uni and I went in the newsagents to get some chewing gum and I noticed Grazia was £1. I plonked it on the counter, bought it, walked out of the shop and realised what I had done!  I was really annoyed and in my frustration bought a new note pad from oxfam which was outrageously expensive.
So that my confession.

I’m calling it a blip. It could have been so much worse.

It was so silly because I was having a very "I dont need to shop week." Both my amazing mother and fantastic boyfriend have bought me items over the weekend. ( It's like a family tradition to go charity shop shoping every saturday!) And I've been so busy with work that I've not been near any high street shops. And due to recent weightloss and confidence gain i'm actually redesovering tons of things in my wardrobe - hello silver leggings and fitted dresses!

Something else I’ve noticed is I’m getting more and more extravagant with my necessities. For example food/drink is a necessity yes, fair enough right. Well I seem to have got in to the habit of drinking expensive cordial. I know this is hardly a wild extravagance but I would have never have spent my money on cordial when I could have been spending it in River Island. Half of me know's I should be trying to cut back even further but the other half of me, the half I’m choosing to listen to is screaming – This challenge is making me so miserable, if I get an ounce of joy from strawberry and kiwi sugar free cordial I’m bloody well having it.

So what do you think of my slip up? I’m not doing too badly I’m I?