Like everyone right now I have been spending more and more time on YouTube and Netflix trying to keep myself entertained so over the last three weeks I have found some real gems hiding on the apps. After I boycotted Netflix for a few days when I realised that they had removed Royle Family (still not over that!), I started looking through the new shows added to the website and started to like them again when I noticed a few of my favourites.
In case you are in need of a new show to watch take a look below. Yes I know I basially mainly watch british shows and that is why there are sooooooo many!
The Obvious Choices
1. Gavin and Stacey
2. Tiger King
3. Friends
British TV Shows
4. Friday Night Dinner
5. The Stranger
6. Inside n9
7. Miranda
8. The Vicar of Dibley
9. Dinner Ladies
10. The Job Lot
11. Ab Fab
12. After Life
13. Doctor Who
14. Luther
15. Fresh Meat
16. Call the Midwife
17. Bad Move
18. Sex Education
19. Johnathan Creek
20. Poldark
21. Top Gear
22. White Gold
23. The IT Crown
24. Only Fools and Horses
25. Cuckoo
26. Sherlock
27. Bottom
28. Black Mirror
29. Big School
30. Benidorn
American TV Shows
31. You
32. Big Band Theory
33. Glee
34. Gossip Girl
35. American Horror Stories
36. Queer Eye
37. Vampire Diaries
38. Shadow Hunters
39. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Documentaries
40. Don't F*ck With Cats
41. The Keepers
42. Jail Birds
43. Reggie Yates - Extreme
44. Blue Planet
45. Girls Incarcerated
Others
46. 100 Humans
47. Michael McIntyres Comedy Roadshow
48. Tiny House Nation
49. The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes
50. Next in Fashion
For a more in depth look into some of the tv shows take a look at some of my previous Netflix roundup posts. Sorry if some of the shows are no longer available on the site!
Working from home is a completely new concept to me so the first two weeks felt very strange and unnatural. Now I am ending my 3rd week of working from home I thought I collate the items I have found worked great at being comfy to work in but also made me feel smart and most importantly - productive. I know some people only want to live in comfy clothing right now and if you can work in that then great, but I tried the whole loungewear look for two weeks and didn't like it all.
My working from home style is comfy but looks smart and makes me feel productive whatever I am doing.
Black Culottes
I swear by these trousers for most of the spring and summer as they are so comfy and let air in in all the right places but they also look smart. Pair these with a silk shirt and you will feel so productive and professional but, also feel comfy no matter whether you are working on the sofa or the desk. If you want to be even more comfy pair these with a graphic tee and layer a cosy jumper and you are sorted. The best thing about culottes is that they don't crease at all so you can slob in them all day and still look put together!
Shirts
I am a big fan of any type of shirt and have a large collection in my wardrobe for everyday use so I find shirts really comfortable to wear. I always think it doesn't matter what bottoms you are wearing if you have a nice shirt on. No one is going to see your bottoms on video call anyway!
Plain Denim Shorts
This is obviously weather appropriate but a good pair of denim shorts with a nice top can do you the world of good when you need a little pick me up. This is my working in the garden uniform where I want to feel comfy and breezy in the nice weather but I need to look smart for a video call. You can never go wrong with black or blue denim shorts and a nice white shirt.
Cream Oversized Cardi
Because I know the weather can't make up its mind and we might need something to get a little cosy. I find my cream cardi from Newlook is great to throw over everything in my wardrobe and the cream is great with my spring colour palette.
Patterned Trousers
I love a good pair of patterned trousers and you can get some really comfy styles which feel like leggings but look much smarted. I have a pair of black and white trousers from Newlook which i have already been living in as they are so comfy. I like to pair them with a graphic tee shirt and whole outfit looks funky and smart.
Smock Dresses
Who doesn't love a smock dress? I have quite a few in my wardrobe and this means I can style them for winter with black tights and jumpers and pair them with sandals for the spring/summer time. A patterned smock dress is great to look smart in but also great for air ventilation while working. Tip - Try and wear dresses which don't crease easily!
Smart Shorts
I have only recently invested in some smart style shorts which I like to pair with a plain cami top or a shirt in the warmer weather. I have a green and oatmeal colour shorts which are super comfy to wear and make me feel a little bit more presentable.
I have been taking photos of my working from home outfits this week so keep an eye out for the blog post which will be coming soon, where I will be wearing basically everything in this edit.
My working from home style is comfy but looks smart and makes me feel productive whatever I am doing.
Black Culottes
I swear by these trousers for most of the spring and summer as they are so comfy and let air in in all the right places but they also look smart. Pair these with a silk shirt and you will feel so productive and professional but, also feel comfy no matter whether you are working on the sofa or the desk. If you want to be even more comfy pair these with a graphic tee and layer a cosy jumper and you are sorted. The best thing about culottes is that they don't crease at all so you can slob in them all day and still look put together!
Shirts
I am a big fan of any type of shirt and have a large collection in my wardrobe for everyday use so I find shirts really comfortable to wear. I always think it doesn't matter what bottoms you are wearing if you have a nice shirt on. No one is going to see your bottoms on video call anyway!
Plain Denim Shorts
This is obviously weather appropriate but a good pair of denim shorts with a nice top can do you the world of good when you need a little pick me up. This is my working in the garden uniform where I want to feel comfy and breezy in the nice weather but I need to look smart for a video call. You can never go wrong with black or blue denim shorts and a nice white shirt.
Cream Oversized Cardi
Because I know the weather can't make up its mind and we might need something to get a little cosy. I find my cream cardi from Newlook is great to throw over everything in my wardrobe and the cream is great with my spring colour palette.
Patterned Trousers
I love a good pair of patterned trousers and you can get some really comfy styles which feel like leggings but look much smarted. I have a pair of black and white trousers from Newlook which i have already been living in as they are so comfy. I like to pair them with a graphic tee shirt and whole outfit looks funky and smart.
Smock Dresses
Who doesn't love a smock dress? I have quite a few in my wardrobe and this means I can style them for winter with black tights and jumpers and pair them with sandals for the spring/summer time. A patterned smock dress is great to look smart in but also great for air ventilation while working. Tip - Try and wear dresses which don't crease easily!
Smart Shorts
I have only recently invested in some smart style shorts which I like to pair with a plain cami top or a shirt in the warmer weather. I have a green and oatmeal colour shorts which are super comfy to wear and make me feel a little bit more presentable.
I have been taking photos of my working from home outfits this week so keep an eye out for the blog post which will be coming soon, where I will be wearing basically everything in this edit.
What a very strange week. It is safe to say that we all have a new norm now whether we like it or not. I have never been in a position to work from home before so this past week and a bit has been a shock to the system. I am nearly two weeks in and I still don't have a routine that I stick to. I have read a lot of posts about how to stay motivated at home and what works for other people, so its time for me to give my 5 pence.
First of all - working space.
I have tried everywhere from working from my bed to working at my dining room table and I honestly don't particularly like either. I change up where I am working everyday to keep it feeling a bit fresh and so I don't spend too much time in one room. I have changed my spare room into a office with a table and printer and I actually hated it so that went out of the window. I have found so far that I am no more productive at any one space so for now I am going to carry on moving round the house till I find a space that works.
Second - working at home uniform.
I have spent the last 2 weeks living in jogging bottoms and comfort clothing and I have felt rubbish every day. One day I got full dressed, curled my hair and did my makeup and I felt great! I did so much and felt amazing then taking my makeup off and getting into my pjs. So from then on I have continued getting ready as if I am going into the office. It might be a waste of makeup but I like destining my work and home clothing.
Third - productivity.
I know for some people it is a sin to watch tv while working from home but personally, I need some background noise. I like to put on something I have watched before like Friends or Gavin and Stacey just so I feel like I am working in a office with other people. I can only work in silence for so long before I start to go crazy and distracted.
Lastly - keeping a work/ life balance.
It is incredibly difficult right now to keep a good work life balance and trying to keep sane in the same four walls. I find that getting up at the same time I would for work and keeping the same morning and evening routine has helped me keep my work life and my home life slightly separate. I don't work straight from 9-5 while I am at home mainly because I cant keep my concentration for long at my own office let alone when I am working at home. I try to break up the day but putting a load of washing on and making a nice lunch so that the day doesn't feel long and I also feel extra productive by doing things around the house.
Let me know how you are finding working from home and remember the most important rule - do whatever works for you! Don't worry what other people are wearing, watching or writing, you do as much as you can. You got this!
I know what you are thinking, eww. I thought that too when I was researching them. I liked the idea of the period pants but I wasn't too keen on the concept and the price tag. Although I wanted to try them out, I was in no real rush.
Then one day i found on social media a advert for some Period Knickers from Sainsbury for just £10. Since some period knickers on the market are around the £30 mark, this made me want to give these pants ago. If they did turn out to work, they would save me so much money and hassle in the long run.
I picked up two different designs (and quite a few were already sold out), the Black Love Luna Period Midi Knickers and the Black Love Luna Period Bikini Knickers. Both I purchased in a size 8-10 which is normal for me so I would suggest staying true to size, the last thing you want is a baggy knicker full of blood. They both feel like I am wearing bikini bottoms instead of knickers which was strange at first but I go used to them. They are extremely comfortable to wear all day and luckily don't cut in to my skin at all. They are also made from stretchy material as well so they double as hold-in pants while you are bloated which is amazing.
Both knickers claim to hold up to 15ml of blood which equates to 2-3 tampons worth. I can confirm that after a full day of wearing them, I did not have any leaking problems or felt like the pants where too full to continue. I tend to have light periods in general (which I am grateful for) so these pants work great for me. I tend to only bleed for 3 out of the 7 days I am on my break from the pill so between the two pants, I was covered.
I thought I might have some leakage during the night as I am a bit of a stirrer while I sleep but I had no problem at all with these knickers. I rotated the two pairs during my 3 day bleed and so would change them every morning and evening. After I had change, I would soak the pants in warm water and washing liquid to release most of the blood before I washed and dried them ready for the next day. Although this felt a bit like a faff at first, I fell into the routine and I do think one more pair of pants would help my routine out. One problem I thought I might incur while trying them is that they may smell during the day or I might be able to feel the blood throughout the day but surprising, I hardly felt anything as the knickers dried very quickly and I never smelt blood once while wearing them.
A little round of the main things I found with the knickers:
PROS
Fast drying
Reusable
Comfortable
Looks great underneath clothing
No odour
Saves money in the long run on products
Works as shape wear underneath clothing
No leaking
Easy to wash and keep fresh
CONS
Time consuming upkeep
Need to invest in enough knickers to cover days on period
Can be expensive if you try other brands
Can not guarantee they will work for heavy periods
As you can see the pros outweigh the cons for me but it is all done to personal preference. Some people don't mind using a tampon or pad whereas I can't use tampons and pads tend to irritate me after a while. So these knickers make my life so much easier. I defiantly will be purchasing at least one more pair to make my wash rotation a bit simpler and if you have any questions about the knickers, leave them below and I will answer them for you. Anything that makes that time of the month a little easier to great for everyone!
I think one thing we are all a little scared of at this current point in time is keeping busy. If you are used to working a 9-5 job and then enjoying yourself at the weekend, sitting at home can be a drastic change.
I thought I would make a list of everything you can do at home to keep yourself busy
- Complete a puzzle
- Watch Netflix
- Go on a massive cleaning spree
- Get your green fingers gardening
- Go round each room and organise the clutter
- Organise your kitchen cupboards
- Go through your wardrobe and make new outfits
- organise your wardrobe
- Declutter your wardrobe
- Read a book - or several
- Write a blog post
- Read blog posts
- Watch YouTube
- Make a YouTube
- Finally do that DIY
- Clear out your garage
- Do some painting
- Reorganise your book shelfs
- Meal prep for dinner
- Batch cook
- Try out new hair styles
- Do a daily workout video on youtube
- Plan a video call with your family and friends
- Drink all the wine in the house...
- Copy makeup looks from Youtube
Obviously you can only do some of these things if you have a puzzle or paint already in the house.
Please leave some more ideas down in the comments for others to read.
When I can finally get my hands on some mince meat and chicken, I am going to batch cook till my heart is content!
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What a year it has been so far. So many of us claimed 2020 was going to be our year and to be honest - I wish I could start the year again.
With everything that is going on I wanted to get my feelings out and off load to keep my sanity.
So how am I feeling? Pretty rubbish, I'm not going to lie. I have been positive up to this point to keep life normal but this week has really hit me hard. It is just the uncertainty of what will happen. I don't mind being at home, I have 6 more Poldark books to read so that will keep me going for a while. What I worry about is all the endless talk on social media 'my friend lives here and ...' 'Apparently there is a case in the town'.
I have chosen to mute everything to do with what is going on from my timeline but it still pecks through, making me all together avoid twitter. I am focusing my energy on Instagram where I find people are trying to entertain and distract their followers, rather that scare them.
There are a few things I am doing to keep myself sane and I thought I was just pop them here, in case any of them help you.
- Mute all social media which encourages gossip and false information.
- Only look for information from the NHS website and the PMs daily updates
- Keep my normal routine as much as I can
- Plan my meals so that I don't waste food and I might be able to discover new receipts
- Make a list of things I want to get done in case of lockdown - gardening, blog post ideas, DIY, books to read, new meals
- Make plans for the future - we might not know when this is all going to end but we can make plans, with no future date, to have something to look forward to
- Use the whole of your space - keep your living room for relaxing, bedroom for sleeping and any other room for anything else so you are not stuck in one room for 12 weeks
- Keep in touch - whether that's a text, call or a video chat
- Make use of the garden - hopefully spring has finally arrived so if you have a garden, this is the perfect opportunity to use the space and enjoy it.
- Recreate outfits from Pinterest - Pinterest is full of information, use it!
I might be posting a lot of here for the foreseeable future so that I can keep myself busy.
Please all remember to stay safe and most importantly, we are all in this together (I cant say that now without thinking about the cast dancing...)
I haven't posted a skincare post since the beginning of December so I think it is about time I updated you on some of the new / repurchased items I have added recently. I ended up getting a few bits over Christmas from my family and decided to repurchase a few bits over January which I was in need of. I have reduced my skincare collection a lot over the years so I now don't feel the need to purchase items unless I really need them.
First up is a trio set from Sukin which I asked my Mum for Christmas as I was in need of some simple products which would work on my skin without adding any nasties to my skincare routine. I have loved all three of these products before and over Christmas they came as a set of three, which sadly isn't sold anymore, and luckily the three products in the set are my three favourite. Included in the set are three products from their signature range Sukin Facial Moisturiser £7.95, Sukin Foaming Facial Cleanser £7.95 and Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner £7.95. I have mentioned this brand a few times on my blog and when there is a 3for2 deal on at Boots you can get the three bottle set for under £16.
Next up I have a two cleansing products which have both been repurchased in the last two months and are firm favourites in my collection. Firstly is the Pixi Glow Tonic £18 which I will admit, took me a long while to catch on. I may be late to the party but I am a big fan now. I find my skin looks to glowy and clear and after I have used them in the morning and my makeup applies easier afterwards. Then in the evenings I like to use the Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Pads currently priced at £2.98 on offer! which I like to use as a second cleanse to remove my makeup. When I feel like I have a build up underneath my skin, I like to work these pads over the area and do feel like they reduce spots and bumps.
A new mask that I have been trying lately is the Bodyshop Tea Tree Clearing Face Mask £11 which my sister bought me for Christmas. I tend to stick to the same face masks out of ease and comfort but it has been nice trying this mask out. I find it really soothing and relaxing so it perfect for a relaxing evening in the bath. I used to use quite a few tea tree products when I was younger so the smell is very nostalgic.
My last two new products are some moisturisers which are both up their in my top 10. First is the Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream £23 which the name suggests is refreshing and awakening first thing in the morning. I use this nearly every morning and evening and since I am closer to the 30 year mark, this is something I am focusing more on.
My last new product is a surprise find while I was food shopping in Aldi. The Lacura Facial Cream is exactly how I would expect the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream to feel like on the skin but it is a fraction of the price. Sadly this product is no longer available which makes me so sad as it was less than £5 and is up their with my Clinique and Origins moisturiser favourites. If you do find this product in your local Aldi I would 100% recommend you try this product out.
I don't know about anyone else but I am so ready for Spring! I always thought I was a winter girl at heart but really, I think I just love Christmas. Then when Christmas is over, I am so over the weather. We have a long way to go before we can get your legs and arms out (as we speak I have the worst cold) so I have been pinning lots of wintery outfits to give me some inspiration. Here are a few outfit ideas I am loving from Pinterest.
Patterned trousers and a big jumper
I love this look especially with my favourite colour.... Black! It is so easy to wear and it is suitable for work and play (and by play I mean not leaving the house because it is so cold). I do have some black and white check trousers already which I have got a lot of wear out of this season already.
Patterned skirt and roll neck
Do you think I like patterned bottoms during winter? When it is really cold outside but I am bored of wearing a jumper and jeans, my patterned skirt and tights come out and I feel a little bit more fashionable. There are so many ideas on Pinterest, I have saved so many on the last few months!
Big baggy jumpers with black skinny jeans
Who still wears skinny jeans I hear you say? I still love them especially in a black because you can wear them with anything. All of my current jumpers are either cropped or hip length so I haven't been able to recreate this look but I love it as it is so easy to style. I do think a long black jumper will get a lot of wear out of my wardrobe for winter, but getting the right length is hard when you are short.
A cream jumper with blue jeans
This sounds like quite a standard outfit and nothing to write home about but some photos I have seen on Pinterest make this look amazing. The colours compliment each other and if you have the right jeans, it can look really flattering and effortless.
All black with a pop of colour
I tend to steer away from bright colours as my wardrobe is mainly white, black, cream and grey as the base notes but I keep finding myself looking at bold coloured jumpers. A red jumper is my number one guilty pleasure at the moment with an all black outfit.
All photos will be pinned in my Autumn/Winter board so please go over and show the original photo and owner some love!
Patterned trousers and a big jumper
I love this look especially with my favourite colour.... Black! It is so easy to wear and it is suitable for work and play (and by play I mean not leaving the house because it is so cold). I do have some black and white check trousers already which I have got a lot of wear out of this season already.
Patterned skirt and roll neck
Do you think I like patterned bottoms during winter? When it is really cold outside but I am bored of wearing a jumper and jeans, my patterned skirt and tights come out and I feel a little bit more fashionable. There are so many ideas on Pinterest, I have saved so many on the last few months!
Big baggy jumpers with black skinny jeans
Who still wears skinny jeans I hear you say? I still love them especially in a black because you can wear them with anything. All of my current jumpers are either cropped or hip length so I haven't been able to recreate this look but I love it as it is so easy to style. I do think a long black jumper will get a lot of wear out of my wardrobe for winter, but getting the right length is hard when you are short.
A cream jumper with blue jeans
This sounds like quite a standard outfit and nothing to write home about but some photos I have seen on Pinterest make this look amazing. The colours compliment each other and if you have the right jeans, it can look really flattering and effortless.
All black with a pop of colour
I tend to steer away from bright colours as my wardrobe is mainly white, black, cream and grey as the base notes but I keep finding myself looking at bold coloured jumpers. A red jumper is my number one guilty pleasure at the moment with an all black outfit.
As many of you will know by now I have been attempting to create my perfect capsule wardrobe since last year and I am slowly getting there. My wardrobe has reduced in size dramatically and my way of thinking when it comes to shopping has completely shifted 180.
Instead of going out and buying loads of items which I don't need just because they are slightly reduced, I now look at what I already have in my wardrobe, make outfits out these items and then make a list of items which I think are missing from my wardrobe. If you haven't tried it I would highly recommend it. If you have and it didn't float your boat, fair play at least you gave it a go! For those of you who haven't, here are a few reasons why I think people should shop their wardrobe.
1. To love your clothing more
When I used to have a very large wardrobe, most of the clothing didn't get worn. I already back then would stick to my favourite items and ignore the items I know I couldn't make work or didn't have anything to go with. That clothing isn't getting any love. When you have a wardrobe filled with clothing that you love, it makes you excited to pick an outfit and excited to wear that item again. If you have a wardrobe full of clothing that you never wear, what was the point in buying it?
2. To encourage you to think of new outfit ideas
Having a reduced wardrobe does mean you have to play around to create different outfits on a day to day basis, which is why it is great to have a colour theme to your wardrobe so that you know, every item will go with every other item. You might get bored wearing a jumper and jeans ever day so play around with layers and textures. I spend a few hours a day on Pinterest finding new outfits and saving my favourites. If you need any ideas have a look!
3. To reduce your waste
This is a big issue that came to a head over the last few years and fast fashion is a big problem. I do still shop on some stores classed as 'fast fashion' but I am more conscious now to the problem which also helped me reduce my buying. I now only buy items with I will literally wear to death. No wear once and forget out it moto that some people have. Times have changed and with my reduced wardrobe I find that I don't need to throw out any clothing as it is all pieces I will like for a long time and which will last me till they have lots of holes in. I also take my clothing to charities and collections so if you are thinking about reducing your wardrobe and trying a capsule wardrobe remember from school, reduce reuse and recycle!
4. To minimise the space your wardrobe takes up and reduce the time it takes to get ready!
This is a big one for me because I hate taking ages to get ready so having a smaller selection of clothes to choose from makes finding outfits easier and faster. The idea is to pick a top and bottom out of your wardrobe and they should match if you have your colour theme down to a tee. Also have a smaller wardrobe will mean your will have more room in your wardrobe and more room for activities!!
5. To save money
You will see in a later post that saving money is on the top of my to do list this year so listen up good. Before I started my capsule wardrobe I was going out shopping most weekends and at least picking up one new thing. Since starting my capsule wardrobe I have spent about 20% of the amount I used to spend on clothes. You are allow to buy clothing when you have a capsule wardrobe, you just remove an item so that your wardrobe doesn't get cluttered and you don't allow yourself to impulse buy. I have saved so much money on clothing and I am so proud of myself. You do end up spending more money on one single item of clothing in the long run because you are investing in that piece of clothing, but you don't have to run before you can walk. You can start a capsule wardrobe with the clothing in your wardrobe right now.
What was your reason for starting your capsule wardrobe?
I love dressing up for a date night with Cal and although he wouldn't care if I went out in my pjs (don't worry I wouldn't!), I still love to plan my outfits and feel dressed up for the occasion. So I thought I would show you some of the outfits I have made from the items I already have in my wardrobe. Some of the outfits will be a bit fancy in case you are going for a fancy meal for a special occasion but some of the outfits are also cosy and casual.
My first few outfits are a little bit fancy for when you are going out to a nice restaurant. First up is a black velvet playsuit (similar) which I picked up from Newlook a few months ago for only £8, what a bargain! I haven't found a time to wear it yet so my mission is to wear it on a date night with Cal this year. It feels like you are wearing a onesie so it is the most comfortable outfit I now own and if you wanted to make it bit more casual, you could throw a big jumper on top to make them look like felt bottoms.
My next outfit is another fancy one which includes items that everyone has in their wardrobe! If you don't already own a leather skirt (similar), you are missing out! Although I don't wear it for a lot of the year I do find certain times of the year when I become obsessed with it again and it is always handy to have for a night out. For a date night I would pair this with one of my H&M shirts and some little black boots and my outfit is sorted. If you wanted to tone down the outfit as well I normally just swop the shirt for a ribbed roll neck and make the skirt the focus of the outfit.
An outfit which no one will be surprised about involves my favourite little leggings. These leather look leggings from Femme Luxe are so easy to wear and look great with practically everything. For date night I would wear these with my cream H&M shirt and my Newlook Patterned boots to make it seem like my legs were never ending (which they definitely are). Again if you wanted to dress the outfit down because you are only going out to a pub, you could swop the shirt for a jumper or whack the jumper on top so that you have the collar poking out.
Moving on to some outfits which aren't too fancy but you wouldn't call them casual as well, the first two options are my black and white dresses from Shein. Since I purchased these in the last few months I have worn both non stop. I have worn then to new years eve and a Christmas party as well as to work with some flats. They are so versatile and instead of wearing them with black tights, I have started wearing them with skin colour tights and they completely change the outfit. For new years eve I wore one of the dresses with skin coloured tights, some chunky black boots and a red bag and felt great.
Next up I have another outfit which involves my H&M shirts but they literally can be worn with anything to anywhere. I like to pair the shirts with my Billabong Mini Skirt and wear a black and gold black over the top, it is a very smartish preppy look which I actually love to wear. I can change up the shirt to make 4 different outfits and although the skirt is tight and short, the bagginess of the shirt makes me comfortable and covered up. TIP I wouldn't wear this skirt with skin coloured tights unless you want everyone to see what you have eaten for the last week!
My last outfit of the post is probably my favourite because it is comfy, cosy and looks like I have made a lot of effort. It features the shirts again... I'm sorry I cant help it! Once you see it hopefully you will let me off for using them again. My last outfit is my Primark black mom jeans (similar) with the cream shirt tucked in, adding the black and gold belt and my Primark loafers to make the look really preppy and put together. You really can't go wrong with mom jeans and the black ones are so flattering.
I hope you liked the outfits and have found some inspiration for your own wardrobe. Let me know which outfits you loved!
It can be quite daunting thinking about all the items you want to invest money in for the long run and then totalling up how much it would cost to invest in them items... I find that investment pieces can be something that you gradually add to your collection when and wear you can, and there is nothing wrong with buying non-investment pieces in the mean time.
Following on from that thought, I wanted to do a round up of items, clothing and non clothing, which I like to spend money on and save money on. I don't have loads of money to spend on myself, I have a mortgage and would like to have children in the near future so spending vast amounts of money on myself just isn't a priority. I hope this helps people who are trying to figure out what they want to spend their hard money on but don't know where to start.
Where I like to spend
Following on from that thought, I wanted to do a round up of items, clothing and non clothing, which I like to spend money on and save money on. I don't have loads of money to spend on myself, I have a mortgage and would like to have children in the near future so spending vast amounts of money on myself just isn't a priority. I hope this helps people who are trying to figure out what they want to spend their hard money on but don't know where to start.
Where I like to spend
- Skincare
- Moisturiser - Apart from the Sukin Facial Moisturiser which I am a big fan of, I mainly only use Clinique or Origins moisturiser and the main reason for this is simply - my skin like them much better. I have tried a few drugstore moisturisers but 9/10 times my skin does not agree with them so naturally, I am going to listen to my skin.
- Eye Cream - Since I started wearing eye cream a few years back (not as soon as I should have mind you) I have always stuck to the Clinique All About The Eyes Cream and I have never found anything to rival it. I tried to find a pot of eye cream from Boots when I ran out and all I could find was tube eye creams. What is up with that?
- Outerwear
- Outerwear is generally a higher price point because of what it is made of and the amount of material used but I do like to spend a little extra on my outerwear to make sure it lasts me for many many years. You end up wearing your outerwear 10x more than any other item in your wardrobe and it completely covers your outfit so it needs to be something that works with everything and stands the time. I also like to spend a little more on a outerwear piece because i have a select collection of coats and jacket rather than having a large collection to choose from.
- Footwear
- Footwear is around the same thinking as my outerwear collection, i have a few key pieces of footwear that I rotate depending on the season so i like to invest in shoes that will last me more than one season. I still have some shoes from Primark and Newlook which have lasted me a long while but I do like to go into TKMax and see what more brands I can get my hands on.
- Jewellery - excluding earrings
- I used to love the 'costume' jewellery that I used to buy in Clair's Accessories when I was younger but now I have ground up I much prefer the more simple diligent pieces. I find to buy a piece of jewellery that will last years without the chain breaking, you do need to invest a little into the piece.
- Handbags
- Again this is very similar to my thinking process about footwear and outerwear, a good hand bag can last you so many years and work for any occasion. I am someone who bangs and bashes their handbag around all days so i need one which is going to last more than a few months before breaking.
- Kitchen Equipment
- Strange one maybe to put in but a very important one for people deciding to move out! When im talking about kitchen equipment I'm talking washing machine, slow cooker, dish washer - all of the equipment which can cost a lot to replace at the wrong time. When i need to buy something for the kitchen i do like to go by certain brands which i know last a long time and have great customer service. My favourites if you wanted to know are Russel Hobbs and Samsung.
Where I like to save
- Home Decor
- As much as i love looking in the white company... it just isn't going to happen. The price some brands charge for home decor is crazy considering Home Bargains and Primark do some amazing items which are similar and more than half the price! I feel like only a few years ago it wasn't seen as cool to buy home bits from shops like Home Bargains and then in the space of a year or two, everyone is raving about their products and I can see why.
- Makeup
- If you have been around for a long time than you will know that i have always been a drugstore makeup girl right from the beginning and nothing has really changed. Although i like to spend a bit more on my skincare, I find most makeup works on a good base and I do have my favourites. Rimmel, Revolution and Kiko are to name a few which i have stuck with for many years. I have a few higher end products in my collection but the majority of it is from Boots.
- Earings
- I couldn't count for you the number of earrings I have upstairs, the number would carry on for a long while and along the years I have picked up big packs of multiple design earrings from Newlook and Primark and I have never had a problem with them. If you have sensitive ears than maybe ignore this point but i would rather spend £10 on a pack of 50 earrings them £50 on one pair.
- Jersey Basics
- This might make people gasp in horror but I buy all my basics from Newlook and H&M because you can't go wrong with them. Most of my wardrobe is made up of basics from H&M and Newlook and i have had some for years.
- Jeans
- I know a lot of people like to invest in their jeans and have the one perfect pair but I still have some jeans that I bought from Newlook about 7 years ago and they still look perfect. I find that as long as you wash them right, you shouldn't really have a problem. Always remember to go for a smaller size so when they naturally give, they aren't too big!
- Nails
- If you have never tried the fake nails from Primark what have you been doing all your life? A full set of acrylics can set you back £30 ish and to have them removed cost an extra £10 for the removal? Primark sell amazing stick on nails for just £1. When i tell people this they do look at me like OMG you must be that stingy but once i show them my hands with the fake nails on, they can't believe how good they look. Honestly if you have never tried them give them a go, it will only cost you a £1! The glue you get with them is also amazing!
- Cleaning Supplies
- Another random one but the amount some people spend on cleaning supplies is ridiculous. I buy all my cleaning supplies from Aldi or Home Bargains if certain things are on offer. I find with cleaning products... it all does the same thing!
- Food Shop
- Ever since I moved into my own home I have shopped with Aldi and I love the food they make. I have converted so many people to Aldi and it is amazing the amount of money you can save on a big shop. Yes it has some set backs like the packing is really annoying but I tend to open all my bags in the trolley and throw them into the bags - rebel I know! Again i feel like it is now cool to shop at Aldi thanks to people on YouTube recording their 'weekly Aldi food shop'.
Who loves autumn clothing? Yes me too!
I have a few items which I have been wearing non stop this autumn and I thought I would share with you these items in case you are missing them in your wardrobe. I will try and list all the items for you but for any which are too old to link, I will similar items for you!
Petite Longline Camel Coat
I recently picked up this coat in October/November when Newlook were having a sale on their petite range and I picked up the Camel and Black version to add to my jacket collection for autumn winter and I have worn both non stop since they arrived. The camel version has to be my favourite of the two because the colour is super flattering and my go to outfit at the minute is some black trousers with a black roll neck and the camel coat on top. Simple but classic!
Black High Waisted Leather Look Leggings
I can't tell you how many times I have worn this leggings in the last few months, I have even started wearing them to work because they are so comfy and easy to style with anything. I love to pair them with a long black jumper and the camel Newlook coat on top and I look really styled but with minimal effort required. It is now a running joke with my family whenever I wear them now one of them will say 'she's in them leggings again...'
Every H&M shirt I own
Sorry I could not pick just one of the H&M shirts for this list because I love all them equally. They look amazing and hang really well of your body and even after a number of wears and washes, they still look brand new. At the minute while the weather has dropped I am putting a big baggy jumper over these shirts so that the collar is poking out and I love the preppy look of it.
Black Studded Velvet Leggings (similar)
I picked up these velvet studded leggings last year in M&S and I absolutely love them! In all honesty their quality is shocking and half of the studs have fallen off but I actually like the look of the random stud now. Most of the studs have fallen off over my bottom and on the inside of my legs so it actually looks like this is meant to be the design. Aside from the flaw in design, I love how comfy the leggings are and they can make a plain outfit so much more interesting than if I was wearing just some black skinny jeans. They are also really insulated for the colder months which is a bonus.
Grey Fine Jumper
I have an array of jumpers in my wardrobe and everyone gets a lot of love but I have to say one H&m grey jumper does get a little bit more daylight then the rest. I picked this up in summer actually when H&M were clearing their autumn stock from the previous year. I had the best day because I walked into the store and the place was covered with knitwear on every rail, all new stock for the current season, and then I walked to the back of the store and there was 5 rails of sale jumpers! I think I picked 3 or 4 jumpers up for £25 and then I got a discount for being a member so it was the best day! Anyway back to the post, If I am ever in doubt of what to wear one day, I slip this jumper on with any bottom and I am good to go. I have never been much of fan of the colour grey but actually it is the most popular colour in my knitwear collection so it must actually be a favourite!
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