Yay, coming home (blogging) again!

So . . . it has being a lonnggggg while but well, you know me, I always end up back here eventually.

Yes, I could give you lots of excuses as to my latest hiatus - I sure believe that I've got lots of genuine ones, 2013 has been the craziest year ever and that is official - and maybe I will share some of it with you another time but for now, thank you if you are reading this. Thank you to those that have hung around *massive grin* and thank you to you newbies, I know it is going to be nice meeting you! : )

Since it is kind of like a new start/chapter and we're talking happy times and beautiful things etc, this might be the time to share with you the latest addition to my wish list.

This little 'Stay Positive' troll bead is absolutely gorgeous and I love the whole meaning of it. Beads and charms are my new 'thing' at the moment. Until a fortnight or so ago, I never really got the whole charm bracelet thing but now I'm frantically trying to put together a bracelet which not only tells my story so far but brings in to my future, all the things I aspire to and for.

Whichever way you turn this troll bead, 'you will always have a plus sign smiling up at you', a reminder that there is always a bright side or a light at the end of the tunnel. I love the notion of this and I'm not sure yet exactly how (since it costs £312) but this beautiful charm WILL sit on my wrist one day, a constant reminder that no matter what is happening, everything can eventually be ok again. In fact, even better! While I'm waiting for my little bead and the bank account to cooperate, I'd love to hear if anybody knows of a nice dupe or anything similar around.

I hope 2013 has been the best year for you all yet and though I've shirked the blogging. I may not have missed as much as you might think, I've still been following a few of you lovelies. 

Yep, there are some absolutely amazing blogs out there but tell me, has 2013 been as good to you as you deserve? Oh and the shopaholic in me is screaming to know what your best purchase (beauty, fashion, bead, charm or otherwise) has been? What possessions mean the most to you?

Lust: The Modalu Pippa Purse!

Ever since I brought my beautiful Bow Bag last year, I have been longing to find a purse beautiful enough to be homed inside the Miu Miu handbag I adore so much. Frustratingly, I have not really found any purse that appears deserving of such a place. Well, I hadn't until last week when I was wondering around a local outlet village and encountered the beautiful Pippa Purse from Modalu. Now of course, I know all about the Pippa Handbag. Woah, that was some hype a year or so ago however a Pippa Purse was news to me but look, she is absolutely beautiful. Swoon!

Image from Google Image Search here (I cropped the white background a little!)

This image does not even do the gorgeous purse I saw with my own eyes justice. In real life, the leather was so soft and in Toffee, the perfect shade. I've often thought leather in tan and camel hues a bit blah and boring but this buttery brown leather is so easy on the eye and just dark enough to be practical. There is also something self-assured about this shade, one that doesn't try too hard. This is a grown up purse with an air of luxury about it.

It is certainly quite big with plenty of room for my cash (like I have a lot. Not!); cards; receipts and such-like. Now I do like a bit of hardware about me but even I'm almost done with studded overkill (unless it is done right, heellloooo Alexander Wang Rockie). There is just enough gold hardware on this purse to balance out the soft leather and the Modalu metal logo is just big enough to catch the eye without shouting, 'Branded good, branded good'. No, instead the one thing it shouts loud and clear to me right now is 'Buy me, buy me'.  Ok, ok Pippa Purse, it looks like I might have convinced myself to come back and get you next pay day. Oh dear, yet again I'm mentally spending my next pay packet before it is even here.

So can you see why I like the Pippa purse so much? Have you ever lusted after a purse? What purse are you carrying right now? Happy weekend!

PS The Modalu website is here!
 

Jewel Candy!

So these are a few of my recent new purchases.

Yep, it seems that I'm going through a bit of a jewellery phase at the moment.

I've been here before and quite often what I impulsively buy, is worn once or twice before inevitably breaking or been relegated to the bottom of my jewellery box, forgotten and unloved. Awh :(

It takes a lot for me to fall for a piece of jewellery, the Sideways Cross and the Blue ring I've talked of before are the only jewels I reach for regularly. Still, I long to create a jewellery collection of my own that I love, especially after watching the recent Elizabeth Taylor documentary and it may just be that I finally came up trumps during my recent jewellery frenzy as I think, though cheap as chips. I will be wearing at least four out of five of my new pieces again and again over the coming months.

My favourite has to be this Interlocking Hearts necklace from Top Shop. It is so simple and cute (Oh and I think, this one would be quite difficult to break, not really many bits to fall off. Phew) .  The pendant is just wire yet there is no denying how feminine this piece is. I love the way the two hearts are joined together and the fact that although both so alike, as hearts, their individual wire work differs a little. One is twisted. I want to say it reminds of the whole Yin Yang vibe but maybe I'm just a bit of a romantic. This is the first necklace that I have reached for instead of the Sideways Cross (shock horror!). I really rate it and although it only cost four pounds (!), I think that I would pay double for this beauty if I had to.

Like the Sideways Cross, the next couple of purchases I'm going to talk about were influenced by recent blog trends, an Evil Eye bracelet and a Hamsa one. Again, both of these pieces are very pretty and they sparkle . . . a lot!

I expect that the Evil Eye from River Island is actually a very simple manifestation of the whole Evil Eye trend and the foreign originals but it is enough for me. It is so tiny and all silver apart from the 'eye' (the blue diamante in the middle) and it is amazing how often my eye is drawn to it and in fact, just how many people have noticed this small addition to my wrist. See, I'm sure somebody told me once that size isn't everything!!!

As for the Hamsa, this was a purchase from Ebay. The Hamsa is another mythical pendant that is supposed to protect the wearer and bring them certain good fortunes (Yes, please!) The fact that this is gold with silver stones makes it an excellent piece to pull silver and gold pieces together. It works the wrist well in line with my Evil Eye.

I was very impressed with how quickly my economy delivery arrived from this seller and the cute little red organza bag it came in. However, you may notice that there are a few stones missing on my bracelet. Now I can not be sure that they were not there when my bracelet arrived. I was too excited to inspect it properly when it first arrived! It may well just be my excited state and careless treatment dislodged the stones.

Whatever!

I'm not too bothered by the missing stones as this pretty little bracelet was less then eight pounds and the missing stones add some originality and an asymmetrical dimension to the piece. Interestingly, a true Hamsa is not meant to be symmetrical as that does not reflect true hands and you know what, there is no doubt that as my Hamsa is now not 'perfect', it is in fact that little more bespoke and more mine!

Finally, we have the Top Shop Peace necklace, the one that has not quite won my heart yet. For some reason the mix of silver (dirty grey) and gold (towards bronze) this time grates with me and I think, the pendant almost looks like it needs a good scrub. I'm also not as fond of the longer chain length but who knows, given time or the right look to work with, this little piece could find a place in my heart too.

What jewellery are you currently wearing? I may need to keep stocking up if this awful hay fever continues, my eyes look awful (Let me say it again, thank goodness, for the Valentinos!) and I need as many distractions from them as possible. Oh and remember I said that I had five new purchases?! Well, the last one I'm saving for a post of its own!!!

Happy Wednesday everyone!:)

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