Recent Purchases .

It's been a while since my last post, for which I apologise - it's been all systems go here recently.

Yesterday I went into town and bought some amazing things, including some items I've been lusting after for a while.

First stop for me was H&M. I was so impressed last time I went on their website, that I decided to pop in and see what I can find. In comparison to the other high-street shops, H&M is such good value - probably one of the cheapest stuff out there, for such lovely and classy stuff. Their evening dresses were absolutely divine. I ended up trying on a cute tan coloured cardigan with suede elbow patches, two crop-tops; one with a moth print, the other with a sunset desert design, and a really cute blue cropped blazer - with little white doves on it. In the end I came out with no clothes whatsoever - I didn't really love any of the items I tried on. I did buy a handy plastic hairband to keep my hair off my face on lazy days, and some stack rings - a bargain for £2.99, and they're so gorgeous!

Second stop was HMV, in which I nearly picked up well over £20 worth of stuff, but reasoned with myself, and ended up buying Singing in the Rain on DVD and a packet of sweets. I think it's finally dawned on me that a lot of the films I buy, I buy after watching them effortlessly online - which I could easily do again if I wanted to - it's not worth spending a fiver here and there, when I might never watch it again.

Third stop was River Island which was a BIG disappointment. Last time I went in there I was quite impressed at their pretty, intricate tunics and their shoes - I bought a pair of espadrilles-type leather-ette flat things that are amazingly comfy and look incredible with my Forever 21 green cords.

Forth stop was Topshop. I had a quick glance through the sales. Most of it had gone, really. Had a good look round the store - they have got simply the most gorgeous shirts, but I really hate the fact that you'll be spending little under £40 to pick one up. My housemate has quite a gorgeous collection of them now, lucky. I realised that I had seen similar shirts in other places and thus went on a but of a mission from then on...

Fifth stop was Debenhams for a brief browse in their perfumes - I wanted to sniff the new Chloe fragrance, Love by Chloe - it's quite lovely, but nothing special really - it was a nice surprise when I kept getting a whiff of it further on in my day.

Sixth stop was Miss Selfridge which I had high hopes for when I saw a sign saying '20% Off For All Students !!' - They have some lovely things, lots of the shirts similar to the ones in Topshop, and similar prices, but with the 20% off in the back of my mind, it made Miss Selfridge far more appealing..well...until I overheard a customer leaving saying how it was for NUS card-holders only. Which I don't have. Ridiculous. I left on the spot.

Seventh shop was Hollister which was a mistake. I've heard things about Hollister, but for some reason completely forgot them en route - it took me by surprise when I got in there. Hardly any lighting, loud music, and attractive staff. The clothes weren't even that good - lots of hoodies and t-shirts and stuff. Saw a nice shirt, but the £40 put me off immensely and I got the hell out of there toot-sweet.

Eighth shop (bored yet?) was New Look. My love. I knew that New Look were celebrating 20% off for students - without an NUS card. Perfect. I walked in and immediately swept up 8 items and went to the fitting rooms, I went a second time, with another few items to perfect my selections and ended up leaving with three awesome items.
- I got this sweet shirt which can just as easily be dressed up as down. I've actually wanted this shirt for a couple of months now, and yesterday just seemed the perfect time to get it.
- I got this gorgeous shirt, which has pearly buttons and lace panelling at the top, this picture is awful though, so here's another one of the lace detail;


And finally..
- I got this chunky-knit cardigan, another item I have been after since just after Christmas. It's so warm and lovely, I'm wearing it right now ! Haha.

The stuff I got yesterday should have come to just over £70, and I ended up getting it for just over £55! Plus, the girl at the counter informed me that yesterday was the last day of the 20%, and that I'd got these just in time ;) NICE ONE ! SCORE !

If there was one thing I was disappointed with it was the trousers - really wished I'd searched a bit harder to find some. I nearly got some in New Look - but noticed that the stitching was coming undone, so I put them back. I'd like some smart-ish trousers, an alternative to jeans. Something in a loose fabric, or even some heavier chinos - I just want something smart to look nice with my new shirts :).

Mum's coming up tomorrow - she has an exam in the morning and I'm meeting her afterwards for a look in the shops and some lunch. Really excited. Haven't seen her for weeks.

Til next time !

And I said Hey! What a wonderful kind of day...

Right, I really love the name Arthur now.
I don't even know how this happened, I just think it's really cute and smart and hansome and pretty much adorable. And you can have Art or Artie as a nickname and generally, Arthur just sounds so nice to say.

Arthur & Olive.

Oh dear, I've planted the grandparent seed. Out comes Mabel and Beatrix and John.

January .

Christmas is over, it saddens me deeply. However, it seemed to be over on Boxing Day for me this year as I had to work - which I really wasn't happy about. I didn't even get any extra money for doing so because it fell on a contracted day (Sunday), so I just got paid my normal hourly rate. A work friend of mine worked from Christmas Eve at 5pm to 5am Christmas morning on 22 pounds an hour !! He pretty much earned enough for his holidays this year. Jammy devil.

Another sad this is that immediately after electronically handing in my essay (which is technically due next Monday) I find a whopping great big MISTAKE on the VERY FIRST PAGE. URGHHHHH! Well it's not really a mistake, more just poor expression - but it makes out that I've not checked it, which I have, but I edited a sentence last minute and then didn't re-read it after I typed except to check for spelling - it doesn't even make sense. BUT! I have just remembered that you can re-enter your essay electronically if done before the due date. So I'll crack onto that in a moment. Phew! It makes me out to be a bit simple.

I feel rather upbeat today, mostly because MY HAIR IS GORGEOUS AND SHINY AND SOFT AND GENERALLY MARVELOUS. Sorry for the big headed moment then, but I've not been in love with my hair for years, if properly at all before. I'm definitely going to keep it at this length for a while. I dread it getting longer again - all stringy and lank (although it never looked it - it just felt it) - full of split ends and quite frankly dead for the last few centimetres. It doesn't take very long to sort out after washing either - I can blow dry and straighten in about 35 mins now. But normally I like to wait about half an hour imbetween blow drying and straightening because I like to let the frizz settle - or else it doesn't straighten as well.

I moved back to uni on Monday and it's really nice to be self-reliant again. Although I'm eating horrendously. I wake up every morning and say to myself 'I'm going to eat really healthily today' - One massive cheese sandwich, bag of crisps, 5 ginger nut biscuits and 6 mini chocolate shortcakes later... I'm regretting even letting myself have the sandwich. To be fair, I'm eating tonnes of fruit, which doesn't even it out, I know, but at least I know that I have some goodness in me! I'm going to cut up my carrots later into little sticks and only allow myself them and fruit as snacks and lunch accessories later.
HA - lunch accessories! The sandwich/soup/salad is the dress, the crisps/yogurt/cake is the shoes and the chocolate/sweets is the clutch bag. Tres chic! I doubt Rachel Zoe would approve.

I can hear cheering outside my window in the distance. It's getting darker and darker now. However, it's staying lighter longer, which is a good thing definitely.
Bring on February!