Recent Primark Purchases

Hello and welcome back to my blog! Today's post is about a recent visit to Primark.


The intentions of this trip were to do some holiday/summer shopping, however, I ended up getting general, everyday clothing for typical British weather.
I love Primark. As a bargain lover and cheapskate, I appreciate a shop that provides low budget clothing.

Blue striped shirt and dark, navy jeans

Firstly, I shall mention the shirt. The fabric is really nice and soft, so I'm looking forward to wearing this. I would team it with some dark navy jeans like the ones in the pictures above, or some black trousers for a smarter look. I like that the collar isn't too structured as I feel it gives the shirt a softer appearance. The roll up sleeve option also makes this shirt very wearable for both smart and casual occasions. I love this style of clothing, where the block white colour makes the cuffs really stand out. Secondly are the jeans. I really like Primark jeans as they always fit me well. I opt for the skinny fit style, but they do loads of others. I have now got a few pairs of jeans, many of which are in this high-waisted style. I think the two items in the picture complement each other and the high-waist jeans would create a nice silhouette with the shirt tucked in. 

Dark pink pinafore

Next I bought a pinafore (£10), my second from Primark. I like pinafores because I think they're really versatile, add a quirky edge to a normal dress style and I find them super comfy, which is high priority for my clothing choices. The material is suedette I believe, which makes this item also nice and soft. It's a great fit for me and is paired nicely with either a block colour top underneath or, my other go-to is my stripey knit, cropped, short sleeved top, also from Primark. I think an Autumn inspired outfit would look great with this- think white knitted bobble hat, brown boots and big scarf.

Grey NYPD t-shirt

My final item of clothing I'm going to show, is this NYPD top. A classic slogan t-shirt makes it easily pair-able with some high-waisted jeans or a high waisted skirt....As you can tell, I do like my high waisted clothing. Again, this is made out of a lovely, soft material and fits really nicely. It's not super tight or clingy, but allows for the shape of your body to be seen, if that makes any sense. It was only £6 so I thought it would be a worthy investment and addition to my wardrobe. 

I bought some other bits and pieces, including; a new make-up bag in a nautical theme, some blue slip-on pumps, a 4 pack of ordinary black socks and a foldable, reusable shopping bag for a great price of £1. Hopefully, I will be able to grab some last minute holiday bits, although to be honest, I think I need a whole wardrobe revamp!  

I hope you enjoyed this post, comment down below your favourite item or anywhere you'd recommend for me to go and shop for some wardrobe inspiration. 

                             
                             

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October Favourites

This year is flying by! I've recently gone back to University and the workload has doubled I'm sure! So to cheer me up and to give you readers some Autumn inspiration, here are my 'October Favourites'.


1. Pumpkins
Pumpkins herald October. When I see or hear the word pumpkin, I think Halloween. I always thought that pumpkins were carved to keep bad spirits from your home? But I love them in the house in October because they look super cool and it's a great excuse for candles to be lit! They make your home festive and cosy and you can carve all sorts of designs on them. One thing I'm hoping to try this year is pumpkin flavoured food or drink- I need to get cultured.

2. Black Dress
I love this black dress. I think it's very Gothic and therefore goes with the time of year. The fabric is very soft and I also use this dress for Halloween parties. The dress was a steal from H&M. I'd searched everywhere for a black gothic dress and found none, or none that had a good price. I don't remember the price of this, but it must have been reasonable because I'm such a cheapskate

3. Toffee Apple
I'm hoping to try and make some of my own this year as I think it'd be pretty fun to do. This is basically a sugar loaded apple and when I say sugar loaded, I mean...sugar loaded, so I wouldn't recommend having too many of these. My top tip is to look at the apple underneath, because you don't want to crunch into the toffee outing and have a squished, horrible apple underneath. Also, check if the topping has solidified, sometimes, depending on where the apples have been stored, the sugar coating goes runny and comes off when you un-do the wrapper.

I also thought I'd add that there are also toffee apple flavoured ciders. I've actually tried this and it was quite nice, but I wouldn't have too many as they get sickly. 

4. Jewellery Stand
This is my make-shift jewellery stand inspired by a friend and it really does the trick. I love hanging it on my shelf because the lights I have around the shelf set of my necklaces. It's a really good way to stop necklaces knotting, is a good way to store them and they look quite effective.

5. Overall Dress
This dress was £13 from Primark. Some other family members weren't too sure about this dress because they said it looked like what builders wear, but they're not exactly wrong are they. This corduroy dress is so soft and looks great over the top of a long sleeved jumper and thick tights, so I think this will be my go to outfit over the Autumn months.

6. Thick tights
Primark again! I think they do some really good tights, especially the shaper ones and for a good price! However, I'm talking specifically about the knitted selection that they have. The top of the tights can feel a little odd, almost as if you are wearing a pair of really tight shorts or a nappy, so you have to get used to that feeling. But they're really warm- I hate being cold so they're a must have for me.

7. Lights/Candles
Now that dark nights are here, I find it really comforting to have candles on or maybe just some fairy lights dotted about. There are some really cool designs out there and there are even some for the Halloween season

Thank you for reading my latest blog post.

If you have any favourites please comment so I can see them!

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Get Ready With Me- Casual Meal

Hello! So I'm back with another post and for this week I thought I'd do something a bit more beauty related. I thought it'd be a nice idea to show you a get ready with me, so that you can see a bit of my style, how I do my make-up and maybe take some inspiration from it. 

So I started the day/night before by having a nice relaxing shower using my Soap and Glory shower puff and some Baylis & Harding 'skin spa' steam cream wash in the scent 'cherry blossom, oriental lily and lotus flower'. The shower gel smells amazing and lathers up really well when combined the with soap and glory puffs, which is the best one I've ever used. It's quite large and padded so it doesn't separate, which means I can give my body a good exfoliation without any hassle. I then went on to give my hair a good wash with the Alberto Balsam 'Tea Tree Tingle' shampoo. This is super affordable and although it might not be the most expensive product, it still leaves my hair feeling soft, looking shiny and smelling really nicely. Then to finish off I used Aussie's '3 minute miracle' conditioner. I don't usually use this conditioner but it's sometimes a nice treat and really helps to 'restore manageability and shine'- so it does, just what it says on the tin (bottle)! Also it has a bubblegum scent to it which is really nice and sweet.

Then to get ready I brush my teeth just using regular Colgate toothpaste, the one in the picture is the cavity protection one but I like to have a change and use the whitening one from time to time. I don't know if it's just me, but I like to brush my teeth before going out. It makes my breath smell fresh, makes my teeth feel clean and maybe it's a little OCD thing, but I just don't feel ready without doing this step.

I get my skin ready using my cheap and cheerful cleanser and toner from Boots. I say cheap and cheerful because they were both only £1.50 each and I don't think for that price, that they're too bad actually! So I cleanse my skin with the cleanser and a cotton pad to make sure my skin is clean and clear from any excess oils or dirt. Then I tone to close my pores- I love this step as it feels nice and refreshing.

Then I prime my face with No17's Photo Flawless Primer that I got in a set for my birthday. I feel like this creates a barrier between my skin and my make-up and makes my concealer and powder stay on longer because of it. It's got a gel like consistency and glides onto my skin; I then rub it around my face and around my eyes.

Now that my skin is ready I start with my concealer. I switch up my concealer and sometimes use Rimmel Wake Me Up or this one I'm featuring here which is the Collections 'Cover up stick' in 'Natural Beige'. I think this helps to make my dark eye circles lighter and less noticeable. The product itself isn't very dewy like the Rimmel Wake Me Up and is more like a creamy powder so would suit someone who likes more of a matte finish.

After this I take my powder brush and using the Rimmel Natural Bronzer, contour my cheeks a little but then also powder the rest of my face just to give me a nice finish and a healthy tanned glow. I'm not very tanned so this step helps me to not looked washed out. This bronzer is amazing, it has a brilliant shade and leaves your skin glowing without adding visible glitter pigments into the product. Also it has an SPF 15 and is waterproof so overall a brilliant make up addition.

I got this No17 make up collection box, which contains loads of beauty bits like lip glosses, highlights and a bronzer. I think these boxes are great gift ideas because they contain a variety of colours and products, so you can make different looks from them by just using this one box. For this look I am using a baked eye shadow powder. Unfortunately it doesn't give a specific name for this colour but as you can see from the image, it's a shimmery gold with a brown undertone. However, it's often up to personal preference, so get a gold eye shadow that you love and one that suits your skin and you can still recreate this look.

I spread this colour all over my lid and then move onto step two, which is to add the 'natural' eye shadow from the outer corner and blend inwards.

I then finish off the look with a few coats of mascara on the top lashes only. My top tip for getting rid of clumps is by using two mascara's, because the different applicators can separate the clumps left by the other mascara.

So now that my make-up is done, I move onto my hair, or vice versa, depending on how I'm feeling. I take Tresemme's Heat Defence spray with protection up to 230oC (purple box around writing). Heat defence is essential when using heat products on your hair. I have naturally curly hair and like to let it air dry, which is what I did the night before. This meant that all I had to do was to add a few extra curls with my GHD's to complete the look. These are just the original GHD's but I love them and they're my holy grail of heat product. I use these to curl my hair by getting a section of hair that looks a bit straighter than the rest, putting the straighteners at the top of the hair and pulling down whilst turning the straighteners. Once I'm at the end of the hair, I then roll it on itself, wrapping the hair around the straighteners and holding for about five seconds, before slowly releasing the straighteners holding them up vertically and lowering down.

This is what my hair and make up looked like completed

My outfit is a baby pink knitted jumper from New Look which was around £19, my paisley patterned black jeans were from TU at Sainsburys! And my jacket is a black leather Dorothy Perkins jacket that has a detachable fur collar that I got a few years ago. My necklace is an Amethyst crystal that I got from a crystal shop in Tintangel, Cornwall.

So that's it! Look complete! I had a lovely night and had a lovely meal for my Nanna's birthday! Hope you liked this blog and the look I created as my style is very simple and natural. 

Please comment, like and follow and I'll see you soon for another post! 

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Primark Haul

Hello again!

So it's time for another Primark haul! I'm going to keep this one pretty short as I only picked up a few things (being a non-working student sucks). I'm hoping to do more of these in the future, as I'd like to try out some different Primarks' and might also add some other clothing shops in as well. But enough rambling, here is what I bought...

First of all is the 'my stretch scoop neck top'. 

It is very stretchy and very soft which makes this just really nice to chill out in. However I do think that these tops can look good for evenings and going out if you pair them with some nice pumps, a leather jacket and a plain skirt. Although the top is quite thin, I don't think it affects the quality of it and think that because of that design factor, it makes it a good transitional piece between Summer and Autumn, but also for winter because you'd just have to layer up. My only issue is don't be fooled by the stretchy material because I ended up getting a size bigger which now means that the top is too big for me! However, I will be going back to exchange it as I think it's a nice enough top to do so and for £4.50, why not?

Next is another striped top.

I have been watching so many haul videos as I always mention and it seems that Primark has definitely gone big for stripes this season! This vest one I picked up is a thin knit style, making it again great as a layering piece or to just wear on its own when the weather is good. I got this in white and black but if I remember rightly, it is available in some other colours. It has a high neck, was £6 and I really like it. (Looks bigger than it is in the picture, it's about hip length)

Lastly on the clothing side of things is this plum blouse

 I was unsure about this but I have two other Primark blouses that I love. My favourite one which I already have is in a similar style but is black, so I thought that having a plum one would mix it up a bit. The neck tie is removable but I'm going to see how I feel when I wear it because I think I could style it both ways without the tie and a statement necklace or with the tie for a smart work look. It has a very nice feel and texture to it, the overlap in the middle hides the buttons which I think is nice and it was £10

Finally I bought some clips.

I wear clips all the time because I love having long hair but when I want to put it out of my face, grips don't always hold it in place. Quite a steal at only a £1 so I thought I'd try them out and might give my opinion in a later blog of whether they worked well for my thick hair. There are 12 in a pack which is good because I know they're likely to brake or get lost and you get 6 bigger ones and 6 smaller ones so I thought I'd just give them a go.

This blog post was short but sweet, I only spent £21 all together on those items so I'm very happy with that but keep your eyes peeled in the future for some more hauls as I love shopping!

Thank you for reading and I'll be posting again soon! 

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Birthday Haul (Belated)

Hello! So my birthday was at the start of July however I thought why not write a blog about some of the things I was given/ bought.

 I would just like to put out a disclaimer that this is not to brag, but to use this time to thank my family and friends. I also think it's really helpful to see what is out there when buying presents for other people or maybe just to buy for yourself whatever the occasion! I watched so many birthday haul videos on Youtube at least a month before my birthday so I know I can't be the only person who enjoys hauls and shopping videos.

Also, I won't be showing everything I was given and the items I am showing have no correlation to them being my 'favourites' as I loved everything I was given. The things I am showing are the things that I have out at the moment


Firstly,

I got this really cute lady bird windmill. I am a student and sometimes studying gets tough! And even if you aren't a student, sometimes things can get on top of you and it's just nice to have quirky little things to cheer you up sometimes. I have this on my shelf at the moment where I can see it and it has been a good 'pick me up' with all this rainy weather recently!  

Secondly, 

I got a set of three different lip balms with all sweet fragrances. At the moment I have opened the Sherbet one and I really love it! The product isn't very runny/creamy and is more of a gel...Hopefully I've described that enough for you to understand. You have to swirl your finger in the tub more than once which is great because you don't get too much of the product on your finger and don't have to wipe it off on your clothes or whatever you have handy! You also don't look like a child has been finger painting on you because 1) the product is clear and 2) you don't get too much on your finger as I have already mentioned! I've also found that this adds a nice shine to your lips and leaves them soft. I know people have different skin, but I find that many lip balms actually make my lips more cracked because of them being too water based....Or at least that's the only assumption I can make to why reputable brands don't work on me!  

Next is this set from Sanctuary Spa in the fragrance 'White Lily & Damask Rose'. I LOVE this scent. It's floral, which I like and find that unlike other products with rose in, these don't sting. Not sure if this makes sense, but I often get a pain in my nose with strongly rose scented things. The body lotion is nice and nourishing and I'm not fussy about my shower gel smells because if they smell nice, then I'll automatically like them. I also like the packaging which might be an odd thing to notice, but I just think they're really appealing to look at...I know, random right?

L'Occitane Eau De Toilette and matching hand cream. These smell amazing. I really like to keep some of my little eau de toilettes for special occasions and so miniatures are great to pop in your going out bag. All L'Occitane products I've had have been really good for my skin and I haven't reacted badly to them because they're very gentle and I know this is the same for other people who I know who've tried them who suffer from eczema. Some of their hand creams can be oily but these tend to be the more intense hydrating creams. This cream however soaked in really quickly which is ideal when going out as you don't want to have greasy hands!

I was given this watch and think it's great since it is wearable everyday. This is great for me since I'm trying to make more of an effort to wear more of my jewellery. The watch face has a brown/orange tone and the band as you can see is silver, which is great for me because I am definitely more of a silver lover than a gold lover (this doesn't mean I don't like gold but I just find it easier to wear silver). I like that the band is thin and I think it just looks smart (smart doesn't have to be boring). 

And last but not least is this fragrance from Sarah Jessica Parker 'Lovely'. I have been wearing this for years now because I am just so happy with it, so why change something that isn't broken! This doesn't mean I don't mix it up sometimes, but I always stock up and try to have a bottle of this in my room, whether I wear it or not. The bottle is rounded, clear with a rose gold tint so you can see how much spray you are getting or have left. The smell is floral, sweet but not over powering or sickly so I'd definitely recommend having a tester of that if you ever see it.

 Thanks again to everyone who made my birthday so special! 

Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed it and there shall be another blog coming soon!

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June Favourites/ Recent Favourites

So yes, this is a favourites blog as the title suggests but I might not be doing one for every month hence the 'recent favourites' addition in the title. I don't often buy new things because I like to save up and splurge! I am also one of those people that like things over and over again, so it'd be really boring  if every month, my favourites were just the same as the previous months. However without any further ado.....FAVOURITES

Favourite Number One

Sandals! The weather has been all over the place in the UK, we've had thunder storms and grey skies or sunshine and blue skies, but whilst the weather has been nice, I've really enjoyed wearing my new sandals from Primark (of course). I am foot shy- by which I mean, I don't like people looking directly at my feet and although I'm sure nobody is standing staring at them, I still prefer closed toe shoes. However, in the summer months, I enjoy having this style of shoe, which has cut outs which allows me to show a little foot but keeps the majority of them covered. These are also one of my favourite type of shoe as I think ankle straps are so elegant and add a little extra something to a shoe, as well as support. I thought I'd go with a white pair because I liked them the most but if I remember correctly there was a black and a brown pair. Not sure on the price but I think they were around £8

 Favourite Number Two 

A nail polish- No7 Stay Perfect in Cheeky Chops

This product describes itself as 'Pigment rich colour, quick drying, ultra gloss finish'. I actually got this as a present but recently found it hiding in a drawer. I love the colour as it comes out a nice coral colour, very fast drying and although I do agree that it has a good pigment, I do need to apply two coats for an even finish. However, with that said, I have still been loving this item.

Favourite Number Three

A notepad. I use this to make lists and I have been making lists about EVERYTHING. I love the size of it, as it's big enough to be substantial enough to feel important, but not too big that it's A4. I also really like the fabric cover, with the cool patterned design that makes me want to write in it! I've liked making lists recently because my memory is rubbish so I like to have what I need to know written down to remind me......also.....to be able to tick off things on a 'to do list' is a very good feeling.

Favourite Number Four

 Nike trainers- Grey. These are hi-tops so they're a bit different from normal style shoes but I still really like them. I do have one issue with them, which is the flimsy, sponge tongue that is not sewn up and so I am worried about the sponge inside ripping. That being said, I love how they look, I love the Nike design and they fit really nicely!

Favourite Number Five

Sunglasses

Tortoiseshell styled sunglasses from...yet again...Primark. I love these glasses because I like the style and I like the colour. That's all I can really say about them, since they're just your regular glasses but they fit my head well and don't give me bug eyes! 

Favourite Number Six

Frosted Cranberry Glitter Body Wash by Baylis & Harding

This smells lovely, lathers up really well and has glitter in it! The glitter isn't a horrible addition because it isn't tacky and found that this left a shimmer/glow which was really nice, especially paired with tanned skin. As you can see, I enjoyed it that much that it has all gone!

That's it for my favourites so far, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

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Primark + New Look Jacket Haul

Hello again! 

So whilst getting ready for summer I noticed that I needed some essentials, so if you enjoy reading about clothing then keep reading!

I'll start off with the one item that I got from New Look

I've been needing a jacket for a while, just one that is light enough for summer, but big enough to keep me warm against those chilly breezes. I got one from New Look for £19.99. I have a thing about the colour blue, as you will begin to notice in my other purchases. It's a navy blazer with one button, which I think will look great with anything, like black jeans or a light top.

Now onto the Primark purchases!

Vest tops £1.80

I feel the cold......Sometimes it's nice to have a little extra clothing on under a t-shirt and no-one has to know!

Workout socks x3 for £2

I am on the search for some trainers and figured that it'd be nice to have some white sports socks to wear with them. I also like to wear these around the house as they are nice and light weight and can sometimes get me motivated to do a workout!

Jeggings £7

I love Primark and I especially love their prices. I already have two pairs of these jeggings so I thought a third pair wouldn't hurt! They start to shrink after a time, but the quality in the fabric still feels great. Another bonus is that they fit me really well!

3 pairs of tights for £3.90

Well what can I say, these were a bargain and are defiantly an essential. Tights allow you to still wear your shorts, skirts and dresses even if the weather isn't boiling hot! Sometimes in the evening (talking more about UK temperatures) the weather cools off quite a lot. Also, after summer these will still be used so I thought that I couldn't let these pass.

Off the shoulder top £3

I've been loving the off the shoulder trend, but I'm not THAT fashion conscious and didn't think they'd suit me. However I saw this light navy/blue top and liked that it was a bit more casual and I liked the jersey material. I have quite boney shoulders so I was quite nervous to try this, but I've later found out that this trend can be for everyone, every size!

Flip flops £1

I've already said this word once, but  when I think of Primark I think BARGAIN
A pair of flip flops for £1......I can take these with me to wear around the pool, and then take them camping with me when I have a shower, I can wear these on days out.....So practical, inexpensive and I do love a bit of blue!

I hope you've enjoyed the read- I know these are all basic buys but they might inspire you to go out and grab some, or maybe remind you that you needed to pick up some of those last minute holiday buys!

Thanks for reading

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