Monday 23 May 2011

Missing in action..

Hiya! I've been a little bit quiet recently....
I was working for several days, then we had a stock check at work, then I got girl flu and I'm currently dying of a snuffly nose!
 And then tomorrow I am going to London for two weeks to help with a shop fit (fitting out and merchandising a shop from scratch that is new for the company.)
 So.....it's going to be quiet for a little while longer!
Two things to let you know about though - firstly, you can now subscribe to my blog by email - using the box at the top right of the screen (I don't know if it works though! Let me know..) and secondly, I found a really cool fashion app on the android market the other day called Trendtracker by Trendstop.com 
  It lets you watch videos of the fall season fashion shows and also view photos of the latest trends. Best of all, it's free! You can get info on it at www.trendstop.com
Well, have a stylish couple of weeks, I'll be back soon!

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Review of the Mulberry factory shop, Shepton Mallet

Dreams can come true!!
 Today was my year anniversary with my lovely boyfriend (hello lovely boyfriend) so we drove to Shepton Mallet in Somerset to visit the Mulberry factory shop. It's no secret that I'm slightly obsessed with Mulberry handbags so I guess it's also no surprise that I walked out with one! But before I show you that, I'll just let you know a little bit about the area.

 The shop is kinda in the middle of nowhere and I probably wouldn't have found it without the GPS. There are no signs to let you know that it is a Mulberry shop - it just says "Factory shop"! Next to it is a gift shop and cafe/restaurant where we had a lovely lunch and cup of tea.



 You get your tea in a real teapot with a strainer - very English!
Upstairs in the gift shop is a couple of rooms selling antique furniture (trendy old furniture that is overpriced) and an alternative therapies beauty salon. I found a toilet upstairs and when I opened the door I was surprised to find this lovely bathroom behind the door...



The wallpaper was amazing! Is it worrying that I took pictures?
There are also some gardens behind which you have to pay to get into but we didn't as the weather was a bit disappointing!

Parking is free and the Mulberry shop itself is bigger than I thought it would be. It's like a church hall inside with a good selection of bags and clothes. I thought the prices were quite reasonable.....it was about 40% off the handbags and maybe 50% to 70% off the clothes.
I felt pretty comfortable to look around and handle the bags. I didn't take any pictures inside as I thought that might be pushing my luck! (And none outside as the weather was rubbish!)

So, without further delay, here is my new Mulberry....



It's and Oak coloured Ledbury which to me looks like a small Bayswater. I also got the tassel keyring to go on the outside :)
I'm not telling you how much it cost but it was rrp £400. I am in love! Also, because it is Mulberry's 40th anniversary, I got some badges, stickers and postcards in the bottom of my shopping bag!


Not sure what to do with them yet :)
We spent the rest of the day in Street which was about 20 minutes away. We thought there were just some crummy shops on the high street but then we found the Clarks factory outlet shops and had to pay for longer on the parking meter! Luckily we didn't see anything that we had to buy as we were a bit broke by then! Lol.
I would however, recommend the Whistles store. They had some lovely dresses for £30.

Here is my outfit for the day: (I was having a fashion fail day and it took me long enough to pick this...)


Not my best photo. Let's focus on the Mulberry instead! All in all, a great day out!
Thank you lovely boyfriend :)

Monday 16 May 2011

T-I-DOUBLE GRRR-ERR!


Lol. Even when I'm at work for several days, I can still manage to nab a bargain! This lovely classic Tigger was only £1.50 from the charity shop a few doors down from us. I love that charity shop - they under price everything! It's where I got my leather bag for £2.
He is lovely and cuddly and smooshy. I'm such a child....!

Sunday 15 May 2011

Getting techy!

Hiya! Long time no see. How are you? Good.
I've been MIA for a few days as I'm in the middle of a seven day stint at work and all I feel like doing in the evenings is what I call "flumping." I guess this is also known as "slobbing out." I'm next off work on Wednesday when it will be my one year anniversary with my boyfriend! Ahhhhhhh. We are planning a trip to the Mulberry factory outlet in Shepton Mallet....Has anyone been?
You may have a noticed a few collage style posts that I have been putting up recently. I have been using an application called Polyvore  www.polyvore.com  It allows you to drag images from one side of the screen to the other to create collages and is especially useful for making lovely clothing collages!
It's super easy to use if you're non-techy like me. Give it a try!

Tuesday 10 May 2011

happy holidays

TopShop printed tee
$36 - topshop.com

3 1 Phillip Lim pleated short
$254 - boutique1.com

High heels
$160 - topshop.com

Mulberry handbag
475 GBP - matchesfashion.com

Fringed shawl
179 EUR - day.dk

DIY pearl trim vest top

I've been trying to do a little bit more crafting recently as I feel it's a better use of my time than sitting and watching tv! I've been reading www.guiltfreefashion.co.uk ofr ideas and thought it was super cool how she had used pearls on a mens' shirt collar.

I remembered that I had a cheap pearl necklace that I got in Primark and have never worn so I took the scissors to it! I had a red vest top that I rarely wear so that became the basis for my DIY.
Here's what you need:



I simply sewed on lots of these pearls around the neckline of the vest. It took about an hour. And here are the results:



I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I have also been making something for my friend who has given birth today but I can't show you yet as I haven't sent it and she reads my blog! (Maybe not at the moment though as I'm sure she is exhausted!)

I spent the day tidying up the house again as we had a viewing - fun! I made some fairy cakes to make the house smell yummy - they turned out real pretty....



In other news, I bought a new bikini the other day from H and M. It was only £8 and came as separates so you can buy different sizes. They have a really good collection of swimwear at the moment and I'm sure that if I was actually going on holiday this year then I would probably have bought a few more!
Here it is in all it's teal glory...


Now I just need some sunshine and a bikini body! Are you going anywhere on holiday this year?

Friday 6 May 2011

More charity shop bargains


I got these beautiful china jars in a local charity shop for £2 (tea) and £3 (biscuits.) I absolutely love them for their retro vibe!
I've got lots of bits and pieces now for when I move in with my boyfriend but I have to sell my house first which will be a bit sad. I'm missing my new chair which is still at my mum's house!!!
The weather was pretty good again the other day so I put on that lace dress again....


This time with bare legs and knee high socks under my boots. I also backcombed my hair but I just can't get it big enough!!!
I've just noticed in my next close up shot that my skin looks quite clear (which it isn't!) so my new foundation must be doing some good.


Positively glowing! I decided to play around with the camera outside as it was nice and sunny - and my cat Lulah wanted to get in on the action! She looks a bit grumpy but she's a sweety really. We sort of forced her to have a picture taken...



Not much else to comment on really....Tomorrow I going shopping with Hannah (of Banana Bakery fame) so I'll be attempting to not buy anything. Boring! It seems to me that the girls on the blogs I read have an endless stream of money to buy things online and go shopping with. I sadly don't have that luxury...which means you lovely people get to see the same things over and over again. Lucky you!

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Back at the Hannah Banana Bakery!

Hiya! Enjoying your Wednesday?? I thought that as my last post about the Hannah Banana Bakery was soooo popular, that I would post some of the photos of her work that should have been included. At the time I was having a fail with getting the pictures from her facebook page but I've since worked it out and hope she will be pleased by this surprise post and not sue me for stealing her pictures! Lol.
All her cakes are vegan and some are gluten free which according to my mum means that you are less likely to get indigestion! Winner!









Her designs are just gorgeous and her packaging is pure luxury! I really am so proud of her!
You can view her facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hannah-Banana-Bakery/113780655363042  (hope that works)  and occasionally you can buy from her here: www.iammagpie.co.uk

Hannah is a great example of how you can start up your own business in the middle of a recession and make it work!
Hopefully this post is enough of a bribe for her to make me some cake pops! I had one of my mum's that I ordered for Mothers' Day and it was seriously good. I dream about it.... X

Tuesday 3 May 2011

How did I not know about this?

I have just discovered something that I cannot believe I didn't know about! I was reading through some of my favourite blogs when I found an article about a vintage shop in Southampton called Hepwrights. It is up in Bedford Place which probably explains why I haven't noticed it. It's also only been there for about 6 months after relocating from somewhere else that I've never been to.

It looks pretty cool so I might try and persuade the boyfriend that we need to go into town yet again tomorrow on our day off!
By the way, you can find their blog at www.hepwrights.com
I'm always complaining that Southampton doesn't have any exciting or different shops so I guess I have been proved wrong.....

Monday 2 May 2011

Want to know more?

 One of my friends on a blog I read tagged me on this questionnaire. She's at : www.lemonxmelon.blogspot.com

What did you do ten years ago?
I would have been 19 and a half.....I think I was at uni in hertfordshire, probably suffering with depression and trying to do the best I could.

What did you do one year ago?
It is nearly my year anniversary with my boyfriend so I was probably flirting with him at work :)

Five snacks that you like?
Reese's pieces, gingerbread, sour sweets, microwave popcorn and doritos.

Five songs which you know the whole lyrics to?
Slide - Goo goo dolls

Fall for anything - The Script
The fresh prince of bel air theme tune
There are probably loads of other songs!

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire?
Pay off my mortgage, buy somewhere big and new to live, buy a few Mulberry handbags, put some in savings and buy some more cats!

Five bad habits?
Picking at my skin, eating too much, worrying to much about pointless things, watching too much tv and not achieving all the things I could.


Five things you like to do?

Blogging (!), shopping and finding a bargain, sewing toys and other things, visual merchandising and watching large amounts of television!

Five things you would never dress in or buy?
Dungarees, anything neon, anything 80s (except leggings), erm....brain freeze!

Five favourite toys?

Weird question....Jake, my teddy from Alton Towers. I have a lovely polar bear....

Five people you'd like to see take this quiz?

I don't really have any friends who have a blog! Maybe they should start one!