Hearts, florals etc.

It's been a little while since I've done one of these kind of posts, not to mention a first for actually having Topshop to thank for it as I seem to have unintentionally only bought things from Topshop recently - they do have a sale on after all.

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First up, are these two pretty dresses, I was sad about having to return the white one as it was such a bargain at just £10, but it was just too big. I adore the floral one though, covered in daffodils, lovely for summer, and such a flattering length - it was also only £10, marked down from £40 in the sale.



I also got this cute necklace, which actually wasn't in the sale for just £4, which I thought was really reasonable for Topshop. I know it's just costume jewellery but I think it so sweet and sits so nicely when wearing it.


It's actually been well over two years since I last ordered something online from Topshop, I think it's the high P&P that puts me off, but I might take more time to scout out bargains in the sale now.
Last of my Topshop purchases, was that heart dress ♥, in the sale marked down from £40 to £20. I've seen this beaut everywhere and I knew I wanted it. Now I have it I know I never would have paid £40 for it as the material doesn't really deserve such a high price-tag, there isn't even an underskirt/slip. I'm already thinking of occasions this will come up trumps for as although I own a lot of dresses I don't have any like this. I actually sent the one I'm wearing in the photos back as it was a little big, luckily the size down was still in stock, and funnily enough arrived yesterday. I opted for the 'tall' version as I know Topshop tends to cater to those leggier than myself, and I knew I wanted it a slightly longer length anyway.




Last, but not least, and kind of unrelated, I wanted to show you the neat, vintage National Geographics magazines I picked up from Newbury YMCA last weekend. I know my sister will appreciate a flick through them as she's currently subscribed but I got them for the pretty advertisements. There are so many more left at the shop, I might have another look, there were a lot of neat camera ads to look at.


Have you picked up any sales bargains lately? They seem to be relentless, not to mention everywhere, quite the treat for a thrifty lady such as myself.

What I Wore: Cover both your ears..

Jacket: H! by Henry Holland (a few years ago)
Dress: New Look
Necklace: Anna Lou of London for Topshop
Belt: eBay
Sandals: Primark

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This was a really fun outfit to put together and wear, I just wish it had been a smidge warmer. I spent a lot of time in Moon's Dad's car yesterday but in between the sun when we left and the rain when we returned there was a bite in the air. I soldiered on though, even wearing this out in the evening when I headed out to the cinema with Long and Moon to see The Dark Knight Rises (which was incredible). I feel I've grown a little more confidence to step away from leggings and tights recently, which is such a nice feeling as I've never really felt this at ease before.


I've actually had this necklace for ages, although I'll admit that it fits well with the theme of patriotism that has run throughout 2012, I have it mainly as someone who finds it hard to resist cute animals hanging from jewellery (or printed on clothes).


I really love this dress, even if it's one of those one's where I have to worry about what kind of bra to wear as it tends to get a bit 'booby' in some cases. It even broke on it's first wearing, but I fixed it and love to come back to it as I adore the print and the cut.



Base colour: 'Country Bumpkin', Topshop
Design: 'Shelton Street', Nails Inc. & eBay nail art pens.
I'm really sad as I've yet to invest in a new topcoat, so this manicure chipped really quickly. It's one of my favourites I've done in a while too, I used the ombré cheat of a sponge to get my glitter tips. I've thrown a lot of polish out so my collection is a lot more manageable and I justified picking up a bottle of 'Country Bumpkin' and 'Gypsy Night' Topshop polishes when I was in Reading the other day. The Topshop polishes are great, they go on so well with most of them only needing two coats, they're well worth it considering other polishes in the same price range. I'm in love with this burnt orange colour, I think it will be amazing for Autumn, without wishing the year away though, of course.

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Creampuff Lace.

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I had an interview today, so it was a nice excuse to make a little bit of effort. I hope the weather starts to be a bit easier to predict soon as I headed out in a coat and was sweltering by the time I made it into town.


This dress is always one I go to for most things and is easy to dress up or down. It only cost around £8 a few years ago but it's lasted quite well considering it's Primark.

Dress: Primark (ages ago)
Necklace: Vintage
Vest: New Look
Tights: Marks & Spencer
Shoes: Red Herring at Debenhams


I wanted to mention the 'lip cream' I'm wearing today. Collection 2000's Cream Puff in Cotton Candy, I like this product so much I've also bought it in a nude shade. Generally I'm not a big fan of lip glosses as I can find them to be a bit sticky, even with more expensive brands, but I've found a winner with this one. At just £2.99 it doesn't break the bank either and it goes on so smoothly, leaving my lips feeling velvety soft and not slimey. It also has a matt-finish which I'm attracted to, as well as a light vanilla scent.

As I have quite thin lips, I don't like to wear stuff on my lips that often but I love this product and it's nice to have a bit of colour, without my lips drying out like they often do with lipsticks. I cannot recommend this highly enough, and actually picked it up after seeing it on a couple of other beauty blogs. It's definitely a good in-between for lipgloss and lipsticks, especially if you're not a big fan of sticky lipglosses like me.



Have you tried it out yet? What did you think?

Never enough time for a duvet day.

...says the girl who only rolled out of bed at quarter to 12 this morning. I do genuinely feel a lack of relaxation in my life though, hopefully I will have some friendlier hours this week and I can spend less time thinking about being in bed. I'm only making this a quick one to share some snaps from Saturday, when it was a bit nicer than it is now, who would have thought these were taken just three days ago and that it's supposed to be June! As a British person, it's definitely instilled in me to complain about the weather but I have found that I do it a ridiculous amount on here, so I'll just say that the weather was adequate on Saturday and leave it at that.



Doll has been behaving particularly strangely over the last few days. I wonder if it's her hormones settling down, but she was sat watching us eat, how a dog perhaps would, and even ate a plain piece of bread. She's been super affectionate too, which I love, but love less at 5am.
Aside from being super tired all the time, I've got to pop out and pick myself up a new phone later as I lost mine between the car and the flat on Friday night and some lamo has picked it up and rather than be decent and bring it back has decided to keep it. I'm also having steak tonight, and catching up on some much needed tidying and the latest episode of Girls (my creys that it's the season finale next week!). For what was left of this morning - and for most of this afternoon - I've been preparing for an interview I have on Thursday and taking some poorly designed online assessments for the one recruitment agency in Newbury that I'm not signed up with.

Saturday was a nice day because Moon was finally able to get some well-deserved rest after a stressful couple of weeks and a fun night out seeing The Maccabees the night before. He made me breakfast, then we did some gardening before heading up the town. I know it doesn't sound that interesting but we've barely had any time to do anything like that in between having people to visit and rushing off elsewhere, so although I was working in the evening, it was pretty great to spend part of the weekend by ourselves.

My 99p Store tomato plants are thriving and Saturday was the day to pot them up outside. I haven't checked on them just yet and I hope they're alright, but I'm pretty pleased that I've been able to make something grow, and grow so well too!



We picked up this strawberry plant while it was still just flowering and potted it up at home. I'm so excited that some actual strawberries are coming through. I hope they're tasty.


We're also growing beans, raddishes, globe carrots and purple spring onions, but none of them are quite through yet. By the looks of things we also might have a slug/snail problem which needs to be sorted pronto.



So this is our garden, it was much better with trees but I quite like it.



We've been taking Dolly out on a lead, I don't want to let her out properly until she's all grown back from her operation and generally I'm just a bit weary of letting her out unsupervised anyway. She seems to have taken to the lead well though, even if it does frustrate her a bit when she's trying to hunt birds.. and flies.


Cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Dress: Yumi
Tights: Primark
Shoes: Converse
I hate these tights, they never stay in the right place but I like the colour too much to get rid of them.


I came back from town with flowers and this dress from Peacocks. The Peacocks in Newbury has just opened up again after being closed down for ages, the selection isn't great and I only popped in to look for tights, which they didn't even have. This dress is awesome though, it's a lovely length and fit, I was a bit stressed out that it was so crinkled though, despite being brand new, not something I'm used to when buying something new from a shop. I know I have enough animal-print things, but the colour and everything else about it, not to mention the friendly £18 price tag were too much to resist.


I hope to plant this out when the weather's nicer again. I got it half-price in Wilkinsons, it will be so nice for the bees.



I picked up these from a market stall and they're still going strong. Daisies are one of my favourite flowers ♥




The last thing I bought on Saturday was a frame for our Pie & Vinyl print, which after much (unnecessary) stressin', Moon framed and hung on the wall. I think the brown makes a welcome change from all the black frames we have around the house and goes so well with the print, I love it, it was definitely worth the extra money.



Anyway, it's time for lunch before being over-sold to by Phone Shop people...