A Rainy Afternoon in Bath!

Another quick post for you today, I promise my longer, wordy posts will return soon. It is just, as I guess you too are finding, as Christmas draws closer, I get ever busier but I'm determined to stay in touch with you and the blogosphere now after drifting for so long.

Today was lovely, I spent an afternoon in Bath with me Mama getting a couple of last minute (with a week to go, have I really left it to the last minute?!) Christmas bits and taking a few quick Iphone snaps. We went today because somebody dumb (Me!) thought the gorgeous Christmas market was still on and with one week, left until the big day, I was ready to drench myself in Christmas spirit but alas there was no Christmas market, it finished a few days ago. 'Why so soon?', I whined all the way home. Sob.

Still there were lots of little Carol Singers and more then a Santa or two hanging around to keep my Christmas levels high and as for the goodies. . ! Well, let's just say a lot was added to my Christmas list! The shopping streets of Bath had a bit of a revamp recently and now, you can get almost anything in the charming city and it is so romantic walking through the old streets in the shadow of such beautiful architecture. Even though, it was a wet afternoon and I could have returned home drenched and miserable. I actually returned home drenched and elated. There is something about the magic of Bath which allows it to pull off warmly even the most dreariest and gloomiest of days in a mist of style and dreamy haze.

I hope you are all having a good week. Are you ready for Christmas? What special place captures your heart?

LOVE: Pink Primark ring!

So yesterday, I mentioned my new ring from Primark (and before that I mentioned 
my new coat from . . . Primark!)

I adddorre her and not just 'cos she was £2.50. I've never worn a long oval ring before (these have a special name that I can't remember, don't they?!), they never seem to fit between the base of my finger and knuckle right PLUS they just seem so big and masculine to me.

However, this beauty is pink. That dusty pink, similar to Essie, Fiji (this post) and the colour I want to own a coat in. This pink is lovely and softens the ring so much. Swoon! I think, I like wearing her a lot, I do.

Have you picked up any bargains from Primark recently? Do you buy cheap accessories or is it high end all the way for you?

Have a lovely evening. Blimey, this time next week, it will be Christmas Eve . . . eek!!!

Currently . . .

Listening to . . . Love Somebody, Maroon 5 I just can't resist anything that Adam Levine sings and yep, this one is so bloody catchy!

Eating . . . Muller Corners, the Milk Chocolate Digestive ones, to be specific.

Image from Google Search Result here.

Drinking . . . The White Chocolate Mocha from Cafe Nero (or so I was earlier and probably will be tomorrow...) #OBSESSED #DRUGOFCHOICE

Wearing . . . My Top Shop Baxter Jeans, My ASOS black flowing top over my H&M sparkly vest with my charm bracelet and gorgeous River Island watch and almost forgot my new favourite ring from Primark (cheap as chips. . . £2.50!!!) This top in black, remember 'The Girly Peplum' post here?!

Feeling . . . Happy, happy, happy. Over the last couple of days, I have got quite excited about Christmas and I feel that this year there needs to be an 'official' Christmas jumper! I quite like this one from Top Shop and it is petite so maybe wouldn't swamp me?!!

Picture from Top Shop here.

Wanting . . . Another new bag (A Rockie'll do!) or a good quality neutral eyeshadow palette. Any recommendations? Coastal Scents?! Naked 3?!

Needing . . . A nice new year and more immediately some blogspiration. Running out of things to write . . .

Thinking . . . How could I have forgotten about Boots 3 for 2 this year?!!! Really but what a lovely surprise when I got to the counter and saved myself a tenner : )))

Enjoying . . . Reading a quote from Katie Piper's book daily. Here are a couple of my faves . . .

So how are you currently and what are you in to right now? I hope that Monday has been ok for you all.

Clutter, go, go, GO!!!!

Every Christmas as a child, I believed I had to tidy my room or Santa wouldn't come *Cue sinister music* Da dah dummm . . .

I'm not sure where I got this notion from, my parents; family or friends but it has stuck with me all the same. Suddenly in December every year, I initiate this cleaning frenzy that would have you think I was popping a baby out tomorrow.

This year is no different except maybe worse. You see, I'm reading 'The Happiness Project' which suggests if I declutter and restore order to my abode then I'm going to be happier.

Well, duh. Obviously I will be happier because if I tidy up then Santa will come! I've been so good. Why wouldn't he?! *Looks innocent and flutters eyelashes like I've er. . . suddenly got something in my eye.*

Anyway, this is where I am at today, I have made piles, lots of piles, lots of toppling piles and now they need sorting which is why this post is so short. What Christmas prep or rituals do you go through every December? Have you read 'The Happiness Project'?

I hope you've all had a fantastic weekend and I will see you tomorrow.

Night night *Waves and almost knocks over one of the piles of clutter . . .*

'Tis the season to sparkle!!!

Ok, I like to think I'm getting in the spirit of Christmas and stuff and that is all this, is about. However, you Lovelies, probably know me better then that so I'll take a deep breath and try to be straight with you, my obsession with sparkle might be getting slightly out of hand! You've already seen my Sparkly Sleeved little number from Primark, well, there is more!!!

                                       

My Sparkly, Sparkly Bag.
This bag was originally from Russell and Bromley probably about four years ago. It has caught my eye -with all that twinkle, it was bound to- several times in the past and when I saw it on Ebay last week, I had a feeling it might finally become mine and it has. I absolutely adore this bag and despite eyeing it up for years, I'm not disappointed at all. It is a little smaller and more rectangular then I'd imagined it to be but that just makes it all the more adorable. It is gorgeous and I can't keep my eyes off it plus there is something extra special about having something that I have truly yearned for, for such a long time.

My New Look Sparkly Cropped Cardis.
As soon as I saw these, I dashed to the rack to meet them. They just look so soft (They are!) and touchable. The sparkle is inviting and bewitching and for a short ar*e like me who feels swamped by the trendiest and most sought after knitwear, these cardis are nice little alternatives to keep me warm and more importantly, in line with the season and all of the cosy knitwear looks that are so 'on trend' currently. Though, I'm pretty sure it is going to swamp me too, there is one jumper I really do want to try from New Look. Did you see Amelia's post? I love the look of that Smile jumper and I love the sentiment of it but the size options are limited online and my local store, doesn't have one. Sob! Anybody seen it around?

And finally kind of appropiate Christmas cards for me to send this year, don't you think?!

Do you think my sparkle love is excessive? What have you been buying lately? What seems to be defining your style right now?

Nail Polish: Fiji from Essie!

One of the things that annoys me most about my job is that our nails are meant to be natural and naked when we're working, boo! Unfortunately this means that even though I spend hours swooning over nail pictures and amazing nail art designs (which let's face it, I'll never master), I very rarely do much with my nails. My toe nails, of course, are almost always painted, usually a pale purple (Barry M!) or bright pink (Number 7 or Claire's Accessories) but with my finger nails, there seems little point in bothering when it all has to be scrubbed off early the next morning.
However, I did enjoy a love affair with one polish earlier this year and it has been on and off my talons ever since.

Let me introduce you to Fiji from Essie (though I wouldn't be at all surprised if you already know each other?!).

Fiji is not the easiest of nail polishes to apply. The first layer is very uneven and you wonder how an opaque look could possibly come together but it does. You can get the most beautiful final result with this pale pink nail polish after about three coats. It is so feminine and pretty that it gives your nails just enough emphasis to be noticed and admired but not enough to define you. Yes, I guess, Fiji doesn't exactly scream 'statement' but it just shows safe isn't always boring and there are so many ways that anybody can express their character and aspirations through their nails.

I'm hoping to find some time over Christmas to explore some of the other Essie polishes. Ballet Slippers looks right up my street but might just be a little too milky against my pale complexion. Maybe I should be looking at the Christmas releases or a red, what nail polishes do you rate? Which nail polishes do you plan to wear this Christmas? Happy weekend, everyone : ) !!!

Wanted 1/ Benefit, Bathina Body Oil Mist!

So I love lighting my candles and building my collections of fluffy throws and cosy cushions but the one thing I don't like about winter is stumbling out of that hot shower/bath in the morning or at night and having to slather horrible cold cream all over my body. As lush as some of the potions out there smell and as fab as they moisturise, even the thickest of body butters can be bloody freezing to apply.
So last weekend, I was lucky to give the Bathina 'take a picture . . . it lasts longer . . .' silky and glimmering Body Balm from Benefit a shot.

Image from Google image search here.

You apply it with a little velvet puff for a healthy glow, a glow I would have got from freshly moisturised skin if I could be bothered to slather on the cold stuff but the Bathina balm was a nice substitute. I didn't pick glimmer out as such on my skin but my skin looked well moisturised, healthy, soft and silky where the balm was applied and even if I say so my myself, I smelt lovely and that very nice Bathina scent lasted all day. Purely for the silky and well-fragranced skin that it gave me, Bathina Balm was about to go on my Christmas list but then I found out about the Oil version and now the Balm has been replaced.

You see my only concern with the balm was that although my skin felt and looked healthy even Benefit admit the product is not actually particularly moisturising and that it is a good idea to moisturise before hand. Eurgh, I was trying to get away from the cold cream thing.

Image from Google image search result, here.

Anyway, I may have found my escape in the Bathina 'soft to touch...hard to get' Silky and Seductive Body Oil Mist, a product that includes Sweet almond, Olive and Avocado oils as well as Vitamin E. Since Benefit claims this little concoction carries the Bathina fragrance (so beautiful) and instantly hydrates skin, I'm very tempted not only to put this oil on my Christmas Wish List but to add it to my Christmas Essentials list. Surely a super-fine oil mist is not going to be as cold and torturous as some lotion or butter and hydration this time of year is after all essential, isn't it?!!

What do you use to keep your body moisturised in the winter? Do you use Bathina or can you recommend any other Benefit products?

Both of the products mentioned are available on the Benefit website.