I Have the Golden Touch

Into the Fray - OOTD

2012-01-28T15:04:00.001Z

Shirt - Primark

Skirt (with belt) - H&M

I know these photos are not the best but I lost the charger for my DSLR and had to use my little camera instead. After a hunt around the pit that is my spare room I found it in the back of a drawer though so yay!

I got this shirt a few weeks ago but this is the first time I've worn it. I love the print but the quality is terrible, even considering it's from Primark. The collar dosen't sit right and it's fraying round the bottom already. I suppose that should teach me - I've been trying to train myself to go for quality over quantity when I'm shopping but sometimes it's hard to resist a 'bargain' when you see one.

Brand New Skin - OOTD

2012-01-22T18:21:00.000Z

It's a brand new year and I'm hoping to make a fresh start with my blog. I know I said in my last post (in September - eek) that I would be back with regular posts but real life kind of got in my way. I've been itching to get back to blogging properly though and I've got a huge list of things I want to share with you guys, but I'm going to start off with my first outfit post of 2012...

Jeans: H&M

Cardigan: eBay

Top: Primark

Boots: Topshop

I love, love my new cardigan, it's super cosy and fluffy, the print is perfect and it was pretty cheap too considering it's angora blend. I got mine here.

Now I'm off to eat some pizza and enjoy the last few hours of the weekend. How are you spending your Sunday?

Here I Go Again

2011-09-07T18:24:00.001+01:00

Ooooops, I have accidentally neglected my poor little blog over summer.

I'm going to blame BT for my absence - we moved to a new city a few months ago and getting the internet set up has been such a nightmare. They cancelled my order for no apparent reason then took ages to send out the hub and connect everything up.

Anyway, I'm back online now and I've got lots of things to share so expect regular posting to resume from now on!

For now, though, I will share a few snaps Tom took of me while we were holidaying in the Lake District back in July...

Return from Prague

2011-05-08T18:57:00.000+01:00

I do apologise for the fortnight-long disappearing act, but I have a good excuse I promise! Tom's mum took us for a little last minute trip to Prague and since we got back I've been working non-stop to make up for the days I missed.

I was a complete moron and forgot to take my camera, so the pictures above were taken using my iPhone4. I have to say, they turned out a lot better than I expected! Tom's mum did take plenty of photos though so if you guys would like to see some more pictures of my adventures in Prague (including some very flattering snaps of me pretending to be a tulip!) then I will try to get them from her.

Have any of you visited Prague before? What did you think?

I thought it was a beautiful city with some truly breathtaking architecture. The view of the city from the castle was amazing and there were so many little nooks and crannys to discover among the cobbled streets. I'd certainly go back, although I think I'd prefer it in the Autumn (and hopefully then it wouldn't be so jam-packed full of tourists on walking tours) however I fear all those cobbles would be treacherous in icy conditions!

Now I'm going to spend the rest of my lazy Sunday catching up on all of my favourite blogs and replying to all of your lovely comments. I hope everyone else is enjoying their Sunday.

Monster Brownies

2011-04-21T21:57:00.000+01:00

I made these yummy brownies the other day, using a recipe from Jamie's Monster Bake Sale, which was a mini recipe book sold to raise money for Comic Relief. They were so good, I felt compelled to share the recipe with you all!

Y ou will need:

125g Unsalted butter

100g good-quality dark chocolate (I actually added 200g to make them extra gooey and tasty)

4 Large eggs

300g Caster sugar

100g Self-raising flour, sifted

Pinch of Salt

125g Walnuts

Oven preheated to 190°c/375°F/Gas 5

17x25cm baking tin greased and lined (I used round cake tins instead because that was all I had)

Melt the chocolate and butter by placing in a bowl over a pan of boiled water.

Mix the eggs, sugar, flour and salt together then stir in the melted chocolate and the walnuts.

Spoon the mixture in to the tin then bake for about 15-20 minutes. You want the brownies to be crusty on top but still gooey in the middle.

Let them cool down a little before you slice them up.

They are great eaten on their own but I like them with a dollop of cream. Gluttonous? Yup, but so, so good!

Some Random Ramblings...

2011-04-15T14:38:00.001+01:00

Dress - Trollied Dolly

Shoes & Glasses - Primark

Nails - Barry M Bright Purple & 17 Mint Choc Chip

I know that all the paint is rubbing off the beads on my bracelet, but I love it so much I'm going to wear it till it properly falls apart! It used to be little white and blue flowers painted on the beads.

I actually took these photos yesterday, just before I caught the train down to my parents house. It's so nice to be back home, especially since my mum has baked some of her awesome shortbread.

I'm home because I had an optician appointment this morning as I've been having problems with my contact lenses and my eyes have been really sore. Turns out I'm allergic to silicone, so it's a good job I wasn't planning a Boob Job anytime soon...

Anyway, I tried out Gem's Tips for polka dot nails but my nail art skills are pretty rubbish! I used a sewing pin to do mine but since I was watching TV as I was doing it I kept getting distracted, oops. Also, the quality of the 17 nail varnish (it's a Lasting Fix one) is really terrible. It was gooey and hard to get a nice smooth coat, and then it starting chipping literally an hour after I applied it! I know it cost less than £3 but still, I would have expected better from Boots.

Has anyone else tried this line of nail varnish? What did you think?

Never Let Me Go

2011-04-13T14:31:00.000+01:00

Top & Skirt - ASOS

Shoes - Primark

Cardigan - Per Una

I finally decided what to buy with my ASOS Groupon vouchers, and went for this cute denim skirt and the coral blouse. I also added a lovely little bracelet by Orelia to my basket at the last minute because I just couldn't resist it!

The sun was out in full force yesterday so after taking these pictures I spent the afternoon sitting in the garden reading my book. It was lovely!

I'm off work all week so I originally planned to do lots of baking and sewing (and blogging too) but unfortunatly my week has not been going to plan so far!

I spent most of Monday in A&E with my little sister after she hurt her foot. Someone dropped a brick on her by accident and it looked so painful - she could hardly walk and couldn't fit her shoe on because it was so swollen.

Then, this morning I woke up feeling awful. I've been hit by a horrible cold and have had no motivation to do anything today, except sit in my PJ's drinking tea and finally watching Never Let Me Go which, quite frankly, just made me feel even worse!

Who else has watched it? What did you think?

Heart Shaped Glasses

2011-04-10T23:19:00.000+01:00

Dress - Primark

Cardigan - H&M

Shoes & Glasses - Topshop

It was so lovely and sunny when I wore this on Friday and I was so pleased to get my legs out haha! I know heart-shaped glasses aren't really the accessory du jour anymore, but Tom bought these leopard print ones for me 3 years ago and I still love them.

We had two BBQs at our house this weekend. The first was on Friday to celebrate Tom's birthday and my memories of it are slightly hazy, probably thanks to the copious glasses of Pimms I managed to get through before some drunkard smashed the jug!

We had a slightly more civilised affair on Saturday (there was even some marshmallow toasting) but I think it's safe to say that I've filled my quota for grilled meats and plastic cheese this month...

What did you get up to over the weekend?

Time for Florals

2011-04-06T11:41:00.000+01:00

Dress - Motel

Cardigan - Primark

Shoes - Topshop

The sun is beginning to shine so I thought it was definitely time to break out the florals! I'm so excited that prints are 'in' this season, not that I tend to follow trends really but I do love a good patterned dress. This baby is from Motel and I actually bought it in December but didn't really feel I could wear it until now.

Unfortunately it's not sunny enough for bare legs yet, but I've already stocked up on Holiday Skin body lotion in preparation for the warmer weather. I'm getting so sick and tired of wearing tights, I can't wait for summer to finally arrive so that I can prance about in floaty dresses and plimsolls.

I feel like this blog is maybe getting a tad boring, as all I ever seem to do is outfit posts, and they are pretty sporadic at that. I'm trying to think of a few new 'features' to make I Have the Golden Touch more interesting so if you have any ideas, or if there's anything in particular you'd like me to post about then please don't hesitate to drop me a comment or even tweet me!

PS. I've nearly reached 100 followers! I can't quite believe that so many people want to read all my silly ramblings, but I'm very grateful that you all do! I think I might organise some kind of giveaway ~~when~~ if I reach 100 just to say thank you to all you lovelies!

Wild Horses

2011-03-27T18:06:00.000+01:00

Dress - H&M

Tights - Topshop

Shoes - Primark

Headband - My sister's

I wish I had taken a close up of this dress so that you guys could see the super cute horse print. I got this dress from H&M years ago but it's still a staple piece in my wardrobe and it's perfect for wearing to work because it's so comfy. I don't think I'll be wearing these shoes to work again though because they really aren't very comfortable! I really love the style though so when payday rolls around again I think I might invest in some better quality loafers.

Did any of you guys take advantage of the ASOS Groupon voucher? I know it's kind of old news now but I still haven't been able to decide what to buy! I've actually got 3 because I managed to convince Tom to get one too and I was originally going to use them to buy this dress in 2 colours (becuase I can't decide between them) but it's been reduced in price so not valid for the discount, so now I'm a bit lost because there isn't anything else I want as much.

If you purchased a voucher, what did you buy with it?

Return from Paradise

2011-03-20T17:52:00.000Z

I'm back from Malawi. I actually got home last week but I've been super busy getting back into my working schedule etc so I haven't really had time for blogging.

I don't really have many photos from my trip because, to be honest, I was a bit too busy having fun! But anyway, here are a few snaps of some of the places we stayed...

We spent 5 amazing nights at Mayoka Village in our own little chalet on the hillside overlooking Lake Malawi. If you ever go to Malawi I'd definitely recommend visiting Mayoka. This is going to sound like an advert for the place but seriously, it's amazing. I think our chalet was about $25 a night, which is pretty cheap when you think about it, but they also had dorm rooms and a camping area for a lot cheaper. We spent our days swimming in the gorgeous water and our evenings chilling at the bar, where they had a different dinnertime special every night and super tasty cocktails. All the staff were so friendly and there was such a nice atmosphere.

I took the pictures above when Tom and I took the boat out for the afternoon - Tom did all the rowing, obviously, but we didn't get very far. The current was so strong that we spent half an hour totally stationary despite the fact that poor Tom was rowing like a madman...

We traveled down to a place called Cape Maclear, where we stayed in a hut on the beach and the water was literally a few feet from our door. We spent a couple of nights there and it was so beautiful at night because all the fishermen go out in the dark with lights on the back of their canoes so it looks like the lake is full of stars.

Now I'm going to spend the rest of today catching up on all of your blogs so wish me luck, as the number of unread posts in my Google reader is rather intimidating!

What's In My Bag?

2011-02-15T23:34:00.000Z

A lot of my favorite bloggers have done a 'What's in My Bag' post and, being terribly nosy, I've loved finding out what they deem essential enough to carry around with them everyday. I thought you all might be interested to find out what I like to keep in my bag...

My current everday bag is this old tatty one from New Look. It's not my favorite but it does the job and it's the perfect size for all the crap I seem to lug around with me on a daily basis. I added the Marc Jacobs scarf to jazz it up a bit and if you look closely you will see that the ends are all ratty because I am constantly getting it caught in the zip, oops!

What's Inside:

Ipod and Iphone

It may seem a little silly to have both, especially since I only listen to the same twenty or so songs on repeat for a few weeks, until I get sick of them, but I always prefer listening to music on my ipod rather than my phone. The ipod cover is from Gelaskins, it's like a protective vinyl sticker and I used to have a matching one on my old iphone (sad maybe, but that's how I roll).

I got an iphone 4 last week when my iphone 3 finally failed me. The cover is just a cheapo one from eBay and I jazzed it up with some stickers from my mum (yes, I am still a My Little Pony fan at the age of 22 and I'm not ashamed. I've got a collection of ponies dotted about my bedroom and for my 21st my mum actually bought me some old school My Little Pony episodes on DVD. I made my boyfriend watch them with me!)

Keys, Mirror, Shopping Bag

That sweet little strawberry is actually a fold away shopping bag. I got it in my stocking at Christmas and I must say it's been very useful. I always try to take my own bags to the supermarket (I like to think I'm doing my bit for the environment, plus you get extra nectar points at Sainsbury's if you re-use!) so this is so handy for quick trips on the way home from work. Plus it's super sweet.

The cat keyring is actually a teeny-tiny coin purse and the ladybug has light up eyes to help you find your keyhole in the dark! My mum loves silly little quirky things like these and she's always buying them for me.

Purse, Notebook, Pens

Self-explanatory really. The purse is from Firetrap ages ago and the little silver logo fell off within about 5 minutes but apart from that it's holding up nicely. The notebook is filled with lists of books I need to read, movies I need to watch and things I need to look up on wikipedia.

Hat & Gloves

Both christmas presents, the gloves from my mum (I think they're Accessorize)and the hat, which is from Fat Face, was from my boyfriend's mum. I don't wear the hat very often because I don't think it suits me very well, but I keep it in my bag just in case it rains, because my coat doesn't have a hood and I hate carrying an umbrella but I don't want to get 'rain hair'.

Water bottle, Tissues, Gum, Snacks

The bottle actually belongs to Tom and he has a matching lunchbox and cycling jacket. I've become addicted to Graze boxes - they are always so tasty and also the little boxes are perfect to keep in your bag in case of a snacking emergency. I think the ones in the pic are Lost and Funky Gibbon. If you've never tried Graze before then you totally should, especially since you can get your first box free with this code 8P5832X.

Hairband, Eye Drops, Spare Mascara, Rose & Co Rose Petal Salve, Frizz Ease Secret Agent

I've got super wavy hair and although I can tame it with my GHDs any hint of humidity or rain sends it haywire, but a dollop of Secret Agent cream always saves the day. I'd really reccomend it if you have frizz prone hair.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater & Cosmo

I'm a bit of a YA fiction geek, especially when it involves anything supernatural, and in between reading 'proper' books I like a little light relief filled with lovesick teenagers. I loved Shiver, which is about a girl called Grace and her boyfriend Sam, who turns in to a wolf during the winter months. It may sound like another Twilight cliche but it's so much better (and free from grammatical errors and spelling mistakes). I got the sequel, Linger, for Christmas and since I started reading it the other day I've found it so hard to put down - I have to take it to work so that I can steal a few chapters when it's quiet. If you're a YA fantasy fangirl like me then you really need to read this series!

What's in your bag?

Raspberry Ripple

2011-02-08T23:37:00.000Z

Dress - Tesco

Cardigan - Deer Friend

Shoes - Primark

I'm so awkward in front of the camera - I always end up either looking at the floor or pulling a ridiculous face, as you can see above!

I got this dress from Tesco last summer - Tom and I were on a bit of a road trip to visit friends and when we stopped for petrol he sent me into Tesco to buy some supplies. I spied this dress for a cheeky £10 and knew I had to have it! I actually hid it in my handbag so that Tom wouldn't find out (he dosen't think I need any more clothes), but I'm terrible at keeping secrets and 'fessed up eventually.

Looking at these pictures now, I wish I had worn a belt to break up the florals but thanks to Gok Wan I'm always cautious about wearing waist belts because I see so many girls wearing them with everything and anything. Does anyone else think that or am I just being ridiculous?

It's less than two weeks until I jet off to Malawi to meet Tom and I'm so excited. I got my first round of vaccines today, which wasn't terribly nice. I don't mind needles too much but my arms do feel quite heavy and sore now, so I've cheered myself up this evening by watching Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and eating some yummy white chocolate and raspberry cupcakes.

What have you been up to today?

Golden Afternoon

2011-02-05T21:19:00.000Z

Dress, Tights & Shoes - Topshop

Cardigan - H&M

It was rather nice and sunny this afternoon, for a change, and so I was brave enough to venture outside to take my pictures.

Now that I'm looking at the photos, I really wish I had worn different shoes but I guess it's a bit late now...

I'm going through one of those 'My wardrobe may be full but I still have nothing to wear' phases at the moment, and this is actually the third outfit I tried on today, after spending many moments pondering in front of my wardrobe. I just feel so bored and uninspired, does anybody else ever feel like that?

In other news, I recently discovered that I was featured on the Clothing at Tesco Blog! I came across it after looking at my google analytics page and I was so surprised, but also flattered, that they featured my little blog. So, thanks a lot Tesco.

What Have I Been Doing Lately?

2011-01-30T21:37:00.000Z

Listening To:

This is my current playlist on we7. I'm a huge fan of Aerosmith and Bon Jovi, please don't judge me for it!

Eating:

I'm totally addicted to Rachel's Organic Coconut Yoghurt with berries, it's so creamy and lovely. I've just polished off a huge 3 course Sunday dinner but I'm totally considering heading to the fridge right now for a coconut fix...

Drinking:

My parents were in London recently and they brought me back some Green Jasmine Tea from Fortnum & Mason and I've been trying to limit myself to one pot a day so as to preserve the tin. This has proved to be very difficult.

Reading:

I got the train home to my parents' house yesterday and went on a bit of a magazine binge while waiting at the station. I only ever buy Cosmo if I'm getting the train or going on a long journey somewhere, it's like a travelling treat. And I still can't believe I paid £7 for Elle Collections!

Coveting:

I'm supposed to be on a clothes shopping ban as I'm meant to be saving up for my trip to Malawi, but I'm going to need something to wear when I get there, right? I think this ASOS dress will be perfect.

Following:

My favorite blog this week has been The Flower Girl. Becky-May's floaty floral dresses and bohemian accessories are totally making me wish for summer sunshine all the more. If you haven't already then check out her blog here. She posts lot's of gorgeous outfits alongside updates about the store she is in the process of opening.

What have you been doing lately?

Morning Glory

2011-01-28T17:06:00.000Z

Dress - Topshop

Cardigan - F&F at Tesco

Tights - Topshop

Shoes - Primark

I didn't get dressed until 3pm today! I went out last night with my good friend Charlii and I think we may have had one too many tequilas... So I was feeling a little worse for wear this morning and have spent most of the day in my PJs eating porridge and drinking tea. Now that I've had a nice hot shower and put on a pretty dress I feel so much better.

I went to see Morning Glory at the cinema yesterday and I really enjoyed it. I thought Harrison Ford was absolutely perfect and Rachel Mcadams was so endearing as work-obsessed Becky.

If you haven't seen the trailer, it's about a young, career driver executive producer trying to save a failing daytime TV show. She hires Harrison Ford's character as a co-host and he is the most grumpy and incorrigible old man you could imagine and does his best to make her job even more difficult.

I haven't laughed so much at a movie in a long time and I think everybody needs to go see it!

Have any of you seen Morning Glory? What did you think?

Old New Shoes

2011-01-25T20:43:00.000Z

Dress - Motel

Cardigan - Primark

Shoes - eBay

Tights - Tabio

I bought these shoes last summer but this is the first time I've ever worn them! I don't wear heels very often because I often feel self-conscious about my height (I'm 5'10" and already taller than most of my friends without heels) although my mum always tells me I should embrace my height and show off my long legs haha.

I treated myself to this dress in the Motel sale just after Christmas and I love it, I think I will need to add some more leopard print to my wardrobe soon. It's super short though so I only feel safe when I pair it with super thick tights or leggings.

I baked these cupcakes at work yesterday and I just thought they were so cute I had to snap a quick picture with my iphone. What do you think?

One of my good friends opened his own shop in September last year and I've been working for him for the last few months. It's near the university campus and we sell things like paninis and crepes but I've been experimenting with some home baked goods. These cupcakes went down a storm - a woman came in today and bought four, then came back later for another one!

Trollied

2011-01-21T23:28:00.000Z

Dress - Trollied Dolly

Cardiagn - H&M

Tights - Topshop

Shoes - New Look

Gah I know these photos are terrible quality but my usual photographer is on another continent and he also took the good camera with him. I suppose that's more than fair enough - there are much more exciting things to photograph in Malawi rather than just me in yet another dress.

I got this dress for Christmas from my lovely mummy, isn't it cute? I was really chuffed with this dress - it's good quality, flattering (I hope!) and I love the vintage style and pretty pattern. I will definitely be purchasing more Trollied Dolly dresses in the future. You should browse the website - they've got lot's of lovely things.

I recently bit the bullet and set up a twitter account because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about! I haven't actually tweeted anything yet but I've already got one follower (the lovely Laura) but you can follow me here if you like. And who knows, maybe I will pluck up the courage to write my first tweet soon...

Golden Girl

2011-01-19T19:14:00.000Z

Oooh it's been a while, hasn't it? My boyfriend flew to Malawi right at the beginning of January to spend two months working in a hospital there, and I've been working non-stop since so that I can save up enough pennies to go and visit him there. I'm totally knackered - I worked 56 hours last week! But I know it will be worth it when I'm sipping an ice cold G&T on the shores of Lake Malawi.

Dress - H&M

Cardigan - F&F at Tesco

Boots - Kate Kanzier

Tights - Tabio

Scarf - Gift

I'm such a sucker for anything that sparkles. When I first saw this dress in H&M I was instantly attracted to the understated glitz - I know it's meant to be a party dress but I feel I can get away with it during the day by pairing it with a cosy cashmere cardie and my trusty Kate Kanzier boots, what do you think?

I got an email yesterday from the lovely people over at Kate Kanzier yesterday informing me that I was featured on their website. They have a new section called Show Me Your Style and I'm so flattered to be there next to so many stylish girls. Go take a look!

White Collar

2010-12-15T23:31:00.000Z

Dress - River Island via eBay

Cardigan - Topshop

Boots - Kate Kanzier

I love this little dress so much, I think the collar is adorable. I first laid eyes on it last year when I saw a shop assistant in my local Topshop wearing it, and I just assumed it was from there. It wasn't in store so I went home and looked online but still couldn't find it (I still don't know why I didn't just ask the girl who I saw wearing it). I kept searching, even looking on eBay, but to no avail.

Then, last month, I was browsing eBay and looking for something completely different when I stumbled across my dress! (Which, it turns out, is actually from River Island.) I knew I had to have it - I just love when things like that happen, it makes the dress even more special in my eyes.

Love List

2010-12-07T21:44:00.000Z

Just a little list of things which have made me smile recently...

Innocent Smoothies Feeling the Cold

Awww, isn’t this little woolly hat adorable? In Sainsbury’s they had shelves and shelves of smoothies all dressed up for the cold and they looked so cute I just couldn’t resist getting one. Isn’t its strawberry hat just the sweetest thing? I wish I had my own strawberry hat!

New Earrings

My boyfriend gave me these as a gift last week and I've been wearing them ever since.

New Shoes

I picked up these nice fleece-lined boots from Topshop at the weekend. After spying them online I originally intended to buy the lighter coloured version but when I came face to face with them in store I much preferred these darker ones. The fleece lining makes them nice and snug, plus they actually have a semi-decent sole which has proved pretty useful for navigating the super icy streets of Aberdeen.

Glittery Nails

I’ve wanted this red glitter polish for ages now and when I popped into Boots last week to treat myself I couldn’t help but take advantage of the 3 for 2 offer on Barry M. I haven’t been able to use any of these on my fingernails yet, as my work has a strict no nail varnish policy, but I did give myself a little glitter pedicure instead. I won’t expose you to any pictures of my skanky feet but it does make me feel nice and festive whenever I take my socks off and catch a glimpse of my sparking toes!

Tea

Lots and lots of tea. There’s nothing better than a nice cup of tea out of your favorite mug when it’s blowing a blizzard outside!

Icicles

I think this is maybe the first time I’ve seen proper icicles in real life. There were loads of them lined up along the roof of our outhouse and I thought they were so pretty. They’ve all melted now but at one point they were massive.

Crunching in the Snow
I hate to be cold but I do also love the snow. There’s nothing like pulling on a pair of boots (and lots of socks) and then jumping around in freshly fallen snow. I absolutely love the crunching sound it makes.

And things that didn’t make me smile...

Canceled Trains
I was supposed to go and spend the weekend with my boyfriend and I was planning to catch the train super early on Friday morning so that I could spend as much time as possible with him. I arrived at the station at 7.30am only to find out that every train from aberdeen was cancelled. I was so upset and going back home in the freezing cold, before the sun was even up, just made the start of my weekend feel so bleak. Fingers crossed the trains are back on by this Friday!

What's made you smile recently?

Castle By the Sea

2010-11-23T23:03:00.000Z

Coat - Topshop

Cardi - Primark

Dress - Motel

Scarf - H&M

Boots - Kate Kanzier

Photos by Tom

My other half is currently on a uni placement down on the south-west coast of Scotland and I took a few days off work last week so that I could go spend some time with him.

We visited a little seaside town and took a wander up to Dunskey Castle which is the ruin you can see in the background of the photos, looking out from the clifftop on to the Irish Sea.

Isn't it pretty?

In Love with Fashion

2010-10-05T22:59:00.000+01:00

Whoa, it's true what they say - the longer you stay away, the harder it is to come back! I've been such a terrible blogger lately but I promise to do better.

Dress - Love, Cardigan - Primark, Socks - Topshop, Shoes - New Look

Taking outfit photos feels a bit alien to me now since I haven't done it in so long so please excuse my awkward posing!

Have you guys heard of the brand Love? I first discovered it about two years ago when I bought a dress from the Oxford Circus branch of Topshop. I tried my best to find out if they had a website but alas typing 'topshop' and 'love' into Google brings up a lot of useless links! However I finally found their site last week, via Look magazine of all places, and fell in Love (sorry) with this military style pinafore dress.

If you haven't already then you should definitley check out the Love website - they have loads of wishlist-worthy frocks. Here are a few of my faves:

PS. They have free delivery in the UK and Ireland and students can get 20% off on the 5th and 6th October. If that's not an excuse for some online retail therapy then I don't know what is!

Return from Paris

2010-09-06T00:13:00.000+01:00

Oh dear, I haven't posted in almost two months! I've been a busy little bee, what with starting a new job, moving house and spending some time exploring the Scottish countryside.

I also found some time to take a little trip to Paris with my other half...

In Jardin du Luxembourg

I wish I had some pretty shutters and window boxes for my own home

Posing outside Notre Dame

La Maison Rose was such a pretty little cafe. I think my perfect home would look like this!

Tom doing his best Blue Steel...

Exploring Montmartre

Sacré Cœur at night

What Have I Been Doing Lately?

2010-07-09T00:22:00.000+01:00

I've been MIA this week, mainly due to illness but I've also been visitng family and friends. I'm off again tomorrow to spend the weekend in St Andrews but before I go I thought I'd update you on the things I've been doing lately.

Drinking pints of Pimms in the sunshine

Swapping my woolly winter tights for ankle socks

After dinner walks at sunset

Visintg Edinburgh and staying on the Royal Mile

Celebrating an old friend's graduation with plenty of Champagne

And chilling out in the garden with a flaming chimnea and a G&T

As you can see I've been spending lot's of time outside, just like I promised in my last post!

What have you been doing lately?

The Great Outdoors

2010-07-01T21:24:00.000+01:00

I can't believe it's July already! I'm so worried that my summer will be over before it's really begun, so I've made a pact with myself to embrace this season as much as possible. I want as many picnics by the river, days spent by the seaside, weekend trips to country cottages and barbecues with Pimms and burnt sausages as possible.

The theme of my July shall be the Great Outdoors, and I plan to spend as much time outside as I can.

What are your plans for summer?

And since I've mentioned picnics, I just have to show you these adorable sandwich wrappers from Chez Sucre Chez.

I think they'd make the perfect addition to any picnic basket!

Funk Rock

2010-06-28T21:54:00.000+01:00

It's so hot here in Aberdeen, I can't quite believe it. If the weather is going to continue like this then I will to have to update my wardrobe with some more weather appropriate garments.

That's where Funk Rock comes in. Have you heard of them before? I was rather ignorant of their existence until I spotted a cute little cardi in Cult and fell in love. Unfortunately it wasn't in my size so I did a bit of internet research and came across the website.

I couldn't find the cardigan I was after but instead I found lots of super sweet dresses which would be perfect for summer.

When it's warm outside getting dressed seems to become such a hassle but each of these dresses would be easy to just thrown on, and they are all so cute they don't really need much in the way of accessorizing.

Don't you agree?

Funk Rock also stock other labels, like Irregular Choice, Red or Dead and Motel. I've been a fan of the kooky Irregular Choice shoes for quite a while now, but have yet to get my hands on a pair (they are slightly out of my student budget) although I never knew they also made bags, like this one:

How cute is the polka dot bow?

And if dresses and bags aren't your thing then how about some kitsch homewares? I've fallen for these dinky 'Plant in a Can' kits.

I know a couple of these will look adorable on the windowsill of my new kitchen when I move next month.

It's payday for me tomorrow and I have a funny feeling a large proportion of my paycheck will be winging it's way to Funk Rock very soon.

(PS - They currently have a sale on, and offer free shipping for orders over £25!)

Debut

2010-06-27T17:34:00.000+01:00

Dress- Dorothy Perkins, Shoes- New Look, Bag-Urban Outfitters

I can't believe I've never posted any pictures of this dress before. It's one of my 'go to' dresses, the perfect type of dress for those days when I just can't be bothered deciding what to wear since it dosen't really need any accessories and it works well for both day and night.

This was my debut use of the bag I bought in the Urban Outfitters sale, but unfortunate I think this shall be it's first and only outing. Not long after these pictures were taken the strap broke! I was very upset because I did think it was rather perfect.

I'm moving house soon and in order to make the process easier I'm having a bit of a clear out. I've put a few bits up on ebay here, including some cute dresses from H&M and Topshop and I'll be adding more soon so stay tuned!

In the Trenches

2010-06-25T16:45:00.000+01:00

I love this coat so much. I actually wear it pretty much every day but never include it in my outfit shots. However when I saw the In The Trenches competition over at Weardrobe I thought it was a sign that I should give my beloved coat some well deserved blog time.

If you like my outfit you can vote for it here :)

Thanks for all the advice on the Urban Outfitters haul. I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who gets terribly sucked in by sales! I ended up going for the satchel because I needed a new smaller bag and I knew it would go with most of my wardrobe and last me quite a while. I also went for the belt because it was cheap and cheerful and I just couldn't resist. The shipping was super fast and they were delivered bright and early this morning so I'll make sure and showcase them here in the next few days!

Help!

2010-06-23T10:03:00.000+01:00

I have once again been tempted by the sale at Urban Outfitters. They casually dropped an email in my inbox this morning and I thought "There's no harm in just looking".

But I never just look.

Sales are always the worst - I see the reduced prices and no matter how much the discount is I always tell myself 'It's such a bargain!' and then before I know it I've filled up my basket with half the store.

I'm supposed to be saving my pennies for a summer holiday with my beloved, but I've been such a good girl lately I'm sure I deserve a treat. While browsing the UO sale I filled my basket with these little treats, and now my problem is deciding what to buy, and what to leave behind.

L-R Top: 1, 2, 3, Bottom: 4, 5, 6

Can you help me decide?

That Thing

2010-06-20T22:11:00.000+01:00

I think I may need to add some brooches to my jewelry collection. There are countless occasions when I dissect my outfit in the mirror thinking it just needs one more thing and today I realised that a brooch could be that thing. Do I sound crazy?

I'm not actually wearing a brooch today, it's a hair clip from Topshop and I just realised that it's missing a few gems. Oh dear, time to go brooch shopping!

PS. I recently stumbled across the blog Gem Fatale and Gem is hosting an awesome giveaway to celebrate 300 followers, so you should definitley check it out. Unless, of course, you already have!

Is It Because I'm Ginger?

2010-06-18T23:58:00.000+01:00

I'm just going to admit it. Even though it has caused me to be the butt of many a joke, I love being a redhead. Maybe it sounds silly, but I know I just wouldn't be me if I had any other hair colour.

So on that note I'm going to dedicate this post to all things ginger.

Source:Redhead

And last, but by no means least, is my favorite redhead of all:

Red Velvet

2010-06-15T18:56:00.000+01:00

Dress - Pussycat, Socks - Topshop, Shoes - Office, Headband - What Katy Did Next

I do apologise for my recent slacking. I've got no excuse really, other than my boyfriend has been busy studying for his medical finals which means I am sans photographer. I've been dying to wear this socks and dress combo for about a week now and becasuse I like it so much, I really wanted to have some sort of photographic evidence! So this is my attempt at a decent outfit shot using the tripod in the kitchen (I'm too scared to take pictures outside on my own!). Not the best, but I think you get the gist.

Oh, and these socks are amazing! So comfy, and the don't fall down - pulling up socks (and tights) is just the bane of my life. But these are so great, I'm even considering going back to buy another pair... or three.

I made some more cupcakes over the weekend using a recipe from Eat Me. They are supposed to be Red Velvet, but there is nothing red about them! I think the problem may have been that the cocoa I used was too dark, but even so I'm not sure I will bake these again, or at least not with this recipe. I've never tried a Red Velvet cupcake before so it may be that I just made a mistake, but they had a strange texture and were denser than normal cupcakes. If anybody knows of a better Red Velvet recipe then please do point me in the right direction, as I'd love to know what they're really supposed to be like.

110

2010-06-10T17:42:00.000+01:00

Dress - Reko, Cardigan - Thrifted, Necklace - Topshop, Shoes - New Look, Tights - Tabio

I think I may need to add some more to my Tabio hosiery collection. Seriously, their 110 Denier tights are virtually indestructible. I've had these particular navy blue ones for about 3 years and they are still perfect - not stretched out of shape or all bubbly (I hope you know what I mean when I describe tights as bubbly!), and even if you do manage to snag them (it's very difficult but I must say I have managed it) they don't ladder like normal tights and it's possible to sew the hole!

For someone as clumsy as me, Tabio tights are such a good investment. I'm sorry if I now sound like a walking advertisement for Tabio - they aren't paying me to say this (unfortunately!) but I just think everybody should own at least one pair of 110 Deniers from Tabio.

I had a telephone interview this morning for a job within a well-known British bank and I'm glad to be able to tell you I passed. However this means I have to attend a face to face interview next week and I'm super nervous because I know it will involve some role play. Have any of you experienced a role play style job interview? I'd be so grateful for any advice because I'm terrible at these sort of things. I can be chronically shy at times and I'm not a particularly good conversationalist!

PS. You can now follow my blog with bloglovin here!

Splurge on a Rainy Day

2010-06-09T11:15:00.000+01:00

The weather was positively awful yesterday - grey and drizzly and horrible. I despise the rain more than you can imagine, especially this horrid misty rain which seems to serve no purpose other than frizzing up my hair.

To make myself feel slightly better about the fact that the sun has disappeared, I went on a teeny tiny shopping splurge yesterday. Would you like to see what I bought?

I'm not an avid fan of New Look, however I do very much appreciate their little 'Bazaar' type arrangement, as the independent lines they stock can sometimes hide quirky little treasures. This floral dress is by Pussycat London and I fell in love as soon as I saw it. I adore the floral print and the ruffle round the neckline - it's the perfect summer dress.

I openly admit to a penchant for anything remotely nautical inspired, especially in either blue and white or red and white, and even more so if it has stripes. so it's no surprise then that I chose this particular dress, by Little Mistress. The netted skirt keeps it from looking too generic and I think it will work both as casual daywear and as cocktail hour attire.

I don't normally buy jewellery, usually preferring to wear things that have some meaning or were given to me as gifts. However, I can never resist a good bargain and the jewellery sales at Topshop and Miss Selfridge drew me in.

Plus, isn't the teapot and tea cup necklace just adorable?

What have you been buying recently?

Good Things Come in Threes

2010-06-06T21:13:00.000+01:00

I must apologise for my general slacking in the blogging department this week. I'm back home visiting my family and I always become especially lazy as soon as I'm back in my childhood bedroom. I've spent thw past few days doing not very much at all and have been taking advantage of my mother's BT Vision to catch up on episodes on The City and Privileged.

Now, I must apologise that it's a day late, but without further ado I present you with my top 3 blogging discoveries this week...

K is for Kani

I actually only stumbled across Kani's blog yesterday but I'm already in love with her quirky looks and super cute hair accessories.

Elsa Billgren

Niotillfem was one of the very first blogs I discovered and it still remains one of my favourites. But it wasn't until this week that I discovered this equally enchanting blog belonging to one of Sandra's friends, Elsa. I may not be able to read Swedish but I can certainly appreciate some pretty pictures!

Pia Jane Bijkerk

Sifting through Pia's beautiful blog just makes me yearn for a home of my own I can fill

with beautiful things. I'm suddenly overcome with the urge to make some bunting from ribbons and wrapping paper scraps.

Ruby

2010-06-05T19:51:00.000+01:00

I've seen quite a few bloggers posting looks from Ruby's new Spring/Summer collection, but I'm still fawning over their looks for Autumn/Winter.

The gorgeous dresses and white socks just seem like the perfect attire for a mild Scottish summer.

Saying that, however, the Spring/Summer collection does contain it's fair share of flawless outfits.

French Toast

2010-06-02T20:06:00.000+01:00

It was my birthday on Sunday and my lovely grandparents sent me some money to 'choose myself something nice', and that something nice happened to be this skirt from Topshop. I think it's super cute, especially with the pockets and little white buttons.

I've already got a few outfits planned inside my head which feature this skirt, so I'm sure you will see it again soon!

Eat Me by Cookie Girl was also a birthday gift, courtesy of my mum. She is a true Domestic Goddess and I think she is subtly trying to train me to follow in her footsteps, starting with cupcakes.

The first recipe I tried out was for French Toast Cupcakes, which are made with cinnamon and maple syrup to give them a 'French Toast Taste', and I must admit I think they came out quite well. However, my icing skills do require a little more fine-tuning if my cakes are ever going to look as beautiful as Helen's.

Here is the recipe for French Toast Cupcakes, in case you fancy making your own:

Ingredients

170g Plain Flour

1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

110g unsalted butter

225g granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp maple syrup

50ml milk

Preheat the oven to 180°c/Gas 4.

Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in to a bowl.

Melt the butter and let it cool a little.

Whisk the sugar, eggs and butter together then mix the vanilla, maple syrup and milk in another bowl.

Stir the flour into the sugar etc then add the milk etc and mix well.

Divide between paper cupcake cases and bake for 20 minutes.

For the Icing

110g unsalted butter

110g cream cheese (I used Philadelphia)

450g icing sugar, sifted

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix the butter and sugar then begin adding the icing sugar, a little at a time, then add the cinnamon last.

(The recipe recommends adding brown food colouring to the icing but I just added a sprinkle of cocoa powder instead.)

Good Things Come in Threes

2010-05-29T19:22:00.000+01:00

Some new inspiration for this week:

COSMICaroline

I love Caroline's whimsical style and the beautiful descriptions of her daily adventures.

Clothes, Cameras and Coffee

A blog filled with beautiful photographs and lovely vintage dresses.

EverythingStyle.com

I can't really describe the amazing photography in words, you really need to check it out yourself!

Dress to Impress

2010-05-28T22:56:00.000+01:00

Dress - George, Shoes & Tights - Topshop, Belt - H&M

I bought this dress from George at Asda about three years ago, not realising that I would still be wearing it today.

It's funny which things stick with me, and which things I let go. Those items which I lust over, thinking "My life won't be complete until I own this dress/bag/skirt/pair of shoes" are usually the ones which are discarded and left at the bottom of the washing pile after only a few months. And they usually come from Topshop.

Now, I am about to sound incredibly shallow and silly, but in two weeks I'm going to Glasgow to visit one of my oldest friends. He is graduating from Glasgow School of Art this year and he wants me to go and see his Degree Show. I'm really excited because I know his, and all his classmates, work will be amazing - a feast for my eyes. However, I'm also super duper nervous because I have no idea what to wear.

I feel like I need to dress to impress, and I'm terrible at doing that!

I will try to come up with a few looks this week and post them so that you, dear readers, may cast your opinions, but any suggestions on suitable Degree Show attire would be greatly appreciated.

Love for Laura

2010-05-26T21:25:00.000+01:00

Dress - Laura Lees for Topshop, Cardigan - Topshop, Tights - Urban Outfitters, Shoes - Faith

My best friend bought me this Laura Lees dress for my 19th birthday because her name is Laura and she thought that was cute.

It's been hiding in my wardrobe all winter but I thought it was high time for its summer debut.

What do you think of my hair? These are my natural curls tamed with some lots of Frizz Ease.

I always feel a bit unruly when I leave my hair to its own devices, but I'm conscious of over-using my hairdryer and GHDs and, sometimes, I really just can't be bothered to spend the best part of an hour doing my hair.

I used to really detest my curls when I was younger. When hair straighteners (and the poker-straight hairstyles on Footballers' Wives) first became popular I used to get so frustrated with my frizz because I just couldn't get it even nearly straight. I almost got my hair chemically straightened at one point, but I'm so glad I never went that far because I actually like my curls now.

Dorothy

2010-05-25T20:35:00.000+01:00

Dress - Topshop, Cardigan - Deer Friend, Shoes - New Look, Socks - Gap, Necklace - Gift

These are the comfiest socks ever - they are so soft and wooly. Last winter I spent a fortune on multiple pairs because they were the only things that could keep my poor little toes warm. I also have a special Christmas pair covered in candy canes.

I feel a little bit like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz in this outfit, with my red shoes and blue dress - all that's missing is a puppy and some pigtails.

I refer to this dress as my Milkmaid Dress, but please don't ask me why. Does anyone else name their dresses? I only christen the ones I get particularly attached to, and I only ever name dresses, not shoes or skirts or anything else. I bet some (or all) of you reading this think I'm crazy, but some people name things like their car or their bicycle, so why should naming dresses be any different?

Oh, and my necklace came from Croatia, courtesy of my boyfriend (I had to get that in somewhere, otherwise he'd get upset).

Sock Love

2010-05-24T10:45:00.000+01:00

Dress - thrifted, Shoes - Primark, Socks - H&M (Gift), Bag - Miss Selfridge (Gift)

I'm so in love with these socks. One of my good friends gave them to me as an early birthday present, along with the bag. She works at H&M and is in charge of the accessories there, so she always manages to pick out the perfect quirky treasures for me.

Since she gave me these cute socks, I've been craving all different kinds - from ankle length to thigh high. I know that my summer wardrobe won't be complete until I have a vast collection of soft cotton socks in neutral colours and the perfect pair of summer sandals.

P.S. I'd just like to say thanks to everyone who takes the time to read my blog and leave me lovely comments. I really appreciate it!

Good Things Come in Threes

2010-05-22T17:45:00.000+01:00

There are so many different blogs that I love - I get so much more inspiration from bloggers than I do from the likes of celebrities or magazines etc. And one of the things I love most about the fashion blogger community is that there are always new blogs to discover. Whenever I stumble across a new blog, either via sites like weardrobe or chictopia or just through other blogs, I always spend ages looking through the archives. It's almost like an addiction. I'm always looking for a fresh hit of new inspiration!

So, on that note, I've decided to start posting my favourite new discoveries each week. Enjoy!

Daily Fashion Boost

I love how Sam from Daily Fashion Boost can give clothes from highstreet stores like Topshop and Zara her own unique twist with cute and quirky accessories. I'm so jealous of her jewellery collection and she has a hoard of shoes to die for.

Fyndigt by Frida

Frida is another gorgeous Sweedish blonde with great style - I love her laidback look and her hair is beautiful. I'm now desperate for a pair of chunky sandals I can wear with long with socks.

Under These Colours

Reading Dana's blog just makes me yearn for summer days spent exploring the forest on a vintage bicycle, wearing breezy vintage florals.

Padlock

2010-05-20T21:42:00.000+01:00

Dress - H&M, Shoes - Topshop, Cardigan - Primark, Headband - Forever 21

I love this dress, it's so simple and summery and, if I may say so myself, I think it flatters my figure quite well (please don't hesitate to correct me if I'm wrong about that last one!). One of my best friends gave it to me for my birthday last year (it's my birthday in just over a week - eek) and when I was in H&M the other day I noticed that they have it back in stock in lots of different colours. I'm a little tempted to buy it in blue or purple, but I shall need to make some money first!

In other news, my flat was burgled a few days ago! Luckily for me the thief bypassed my room and only made off with my flatmate's Playstation 3 and laptop (I say only because just two items were taken, but they were probably the two most expensive things in the flat). However, it's pretty scary considering my other flatmate was actually in his room while the burglary was happening.

The same sort of thing happened to my best friend a few years ago. Someone flicked the lock on her front door with a credit card and made off with her laptop and her bag while she was asleep.

Oh dear, sorry if I've scared you now. Hopefully tomorrow I will have something more upbeat to talk about...

The Fear

2010-05-19T21:59:00.000+01:00

Dress - eBay, Scarf - Topshop, Shoes - New Look

These photos are just testament to the fact that I really need a haircut! My split ends are horrifyingly bad but I just can't face going to the hairdresser because I really hate having someone else do my hair. I'm the same with make-up - I'd be a terrible model because the thought of sitting in front of a mirror while somebody else wields a mascara wand around my eyes actually terrifies me.

Is anyone else scared of hairdressers and make-up artists, or am I just a bit weird?

Think Pink

2010-05-17T21:22:00.000+01:00

Dress - Little Miss Sew, Cardigan, Tights & Shoes - Topshop, Belt & Flower Clip - H&M

Pink and black is not usually a colour combo I would put together myself, but this cute little dress mixes them perfectly. I love the contrast of the black buttons and black underskirt against the bright pink.

My boyfriend actually bought me this dress for Christmas two years ago- unlike most guys I know he has pretty good taste in clothes and always manages to pick me perfect dresses. I suppose he probably has a very good idea of what colours and styles will suit me best!

Americana

2010-05-16T18:52:00.000+01:00

Dress - eBay, Jacket - 2nd hand Levis, Tights - H&M, Shoes - Topshop

I'm feeling a little Americana in this outfit today, with the red, white and blue colour scheme (excluding the shoes, of course), my Levis jacket and my little vintage pistol pin.

I'm not entirely sure what compelled me to buy this pin, but I do love wearing it with this old, faded denim jacket.

I've had a bit of a crazy weekend involving lots of rose wine and junk food, so tonight I'm taking it easy and staying in to watch TV with my other half.

Happy Sunday!

My New Dress

2010-05-15T18:44:00.000+01:00

I've been a bit naughty today. I'm supposed to be saving money but I went out for lunch (I had a club sandwich and it was delicious) and then I took a wander into Topshop...

... and came home with this cute floral dress, which I think is perfect for summer.

I can't wait for a chance to wear it, and I've been dreaming up some different outfits revolving round my new dress:

Topshop Dress, Miss Selfridge Hat, Delia's Cardigan, Modcloth Wedges, Alex Monroe Necklace, Urban Outfitters Bag

Topshop Dress, Converse Shoes, Topshop Bag, American Apparel Socks, Blue Banana Earrings

P.S. I'm having a wardrobe Spring Clean and I have put some things up for sale on eBay. You can take a look here.

I will be putting up loads of other things over the next few weeks, but I will keep you updated!

Headgear

2010-05-13T22:04:00.000+01:00

Pics from stylesightings

Lately, since I won my headband from What Katy Did Next, I've been dreaming of all sorts of headgear. These pictures from stylesightings just added fuel to the fire. From printed scarfs to pretty bows to embellished hairbands to good old Alice bands, I want some headgear for every day of the week.

From Left to Right: Miss Selfridge, Hannaanderson.com, Oscar de la Renta, franceluxe.com, Topshop, Colette, Liberty, Miss Selfridge, Verabradley.com

Of course, you can't do a post about headgear without mentioning the headband Queen, Blair Waldorf:

Making Maki

2010-05-12T21:51:00.000+01:00

Shirt - My Boyfriend's, Skirt - M&S, Belt - H&M, Shoes & Sunglasses - Topshop, Bag - Miss Selfridge

Photos by Tom

Today I went out to lunch with two friends, one of whom gave me this adorable bag as an early birthday present. I was thinking about buying myself a cute woven bag for summer and couldn't have picked a better one!

We went for sushi and after we had stuffed our faces (it's so easy to just grab what you fancy from the conveyor belt, and those plates always manage to pile up far too quickly!) the manager came to chat to us and invited us to have a go at making our own sushi. We tried our hand at avocado maki, then prawn and chive maki and of course we got to eat it afterwards.

Those are mine on the right!

The Edge of Summer

2010-05-10T22:43:00.000+01:00

There may have been an onslaught of hailstones today here in Aberdeen, but that hasn't stopped me thinking about my summer wardrobe. Of course, I'm not expecting the weather to get any better, which is maybe why I've been so inspired by the wardrobes of Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley in The Edge of Love. Rainy days by the seaside with soggy ice cream cones and fish&chips wrapped in last weeks newspaper call for wellies, long socks, hats to attempt to sheild curls from the elements and chunky knitted layers that are easy to strip off when (if) the sun peeks through the clouds.

Gifted

2010-05-07T19:20:00.000+01:00

Dress - New Look, Shoes - Faith, Necklace & Glasses - Gift

Photos by Tom

Almost everything I'm wearing today was a gift. The shoes and tights were from my mum at Christmas, my flatmate gave me the unicorn necklace for my 21st birthday (it's my 22nd at the end of this month - eek), and my little brother gave me the glasses. The dress could almost count as a gift too since it was super cheap in the New Look sale last summer. I originally bought it only to wear to T in the Park because I assumed it would just get ruined and at £5 I really wasn't too fussed. However, it withstood festival wear and tear and I grew quite fond of it.

Are any of you going to any festivals this summer? I don't have a ticket to any yet but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a surprise from the festival fairy, ha!

Purple Ponies

2010-05-06T19:58:00.000+01:00

There's a lot of Miu Miu inspired animal prints around at the moment, mostly in the form of this cute dress from Zara:

I was more than a little tempted to purchase it myself while browsing the racks in Zara over the weekend, but my current lack of finances meant I sadly had to leave it behind. However I remembered that I already had a cute animal print dress lurking at the back of my wardrobe. Instead of the cats and swallows featured in the Miu Miu collection I have some purple ponies...

Dress - h&m, Shoes - New Look, Headband - What Katy Did Next

Crimson Glow

2010-05-05T14:30:00.000+01:00

It's a dull, grey and drizzly day today and the weather seems to have affected both my mood and my wardrobe. This dress reminds me a little of the 90s grunge look and I feel like maybe I should be wearing an oversized flannel shirt and watching My So-Called Life.

When I was at home last weekend I unearthed a box full of forgotten jewellery and this cuff was one of the things inside. I can't remember where I got it from and today may even be the first time I've actually worn it. I've not quite decided yet if I really like it, or if I should have left it in the box to stay forgotten...

What do you think?

Bag Lady

2010-05-04T23:02:00.000+01:00

I'm not much of a bag girl, but right now I feel like my life shall not be complete until I have my own 'watch-bag'.

It's very functional, no?

Image from the Power of Beauty

Something Old, Something New

2010-04-28T22:03:00.000+01:00

As some of you may know, I was lucky enough to win a competition held by Kirsty of Belle Fantaisie. My prize? A super sweet headband from What Katy Did Next.

It arrived on my doorstep earlier this week and almost didn't want to open it and ruin the adorable packaging!

Isn't it lovely?

I wore it for the first time today.

Dress - F21, Cardigan - Primark, Socks & Belt - H&M, Shoes - New Look

When I was at home last weekend I found this bag under some piles of clutter in my bedroom. I vaguley remember buying it when I was on holiday in Greece about 4 years ago and I think today is the first time I've ever actually used it! And the dress I have 'adpoted' from my sister's wardrobe. She bought it when we were in Florida 3 years ago, and has never worn it...

Aviemore

2010-04-27T22:38:00.000+01:00

I spent my weekend back home at my parents', being very lazy, eating lots of chocolate, watching Pride & Prejudice (I made it through the entire TV series and the movie) and catching up with old friends.

I spent most of my time in my PJs so I have no outfit pictures for you. Instead, I've finally managed to upload some pictures of my weekend in Aviemore.

The weather was quite tempramental; gloriously sunny one moment then terribly grey and windy the next. And here's a treat - my boyfriend, Tom, has his debut on this blog:

The Strathspey Railway runs through Aviemore and this pulled into the station while we were waiting on our train home. Tom has a bit of a penchant for steam trains (his name is Thomas, after all) and quickly snapped a few pictures. Unfortunately we did not get to journey home aboard this, but we are planning a trip on the Jacobite Steam Train which travels the same route as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies.

Feeling the Burn

2010-04-22T22:45:00.000+01:00

H&M Top & Skirt, Topshop leggings, Thrifted boots, Primark cardigan

I spent all of yesterday campaigning for my friend and I'm feeling the burn today, hence my terribly washed-out expression in the first photo. We spent all afternoon on campus, handing out stickers and chatting to people wearing only our bright pink campaign t-shirts in the freezing cold. Then we continued into town armed with marker pens and you wouldn't believe how many drunk guys offered up their faces for the cause and let us write 'Vote Ciara' across their foreheads. (If you can see in the second picture, I've got 'Vote Ciara' scrawled across my arm and no amount of scrubbing in the shower this morning could get it to budge!) It all paid off though, as they've just announced the results and she won by a landslide, so well done Ciara!

Gingerbread Jewellery

2010-04-22T00:01:00.000+01:00

I am a complete and utter sucker for anything cute and kitsch, especially when it's jewellery. And if it's Disney or Barbie themed then even better. When I stumbled accross Gingerbread Jewellery on etsy the other day I think I hit the kitsch jewellery jackpot.

If I wasn't so skint I know I would be snapping up those carousel earrings and the Alice Cameo. For now, I shall just have to make do with drooling over the pictures...

Spring Snow

2010-04-20T23:30:00.000+01:00

Cardiagn - Internacionale, Skirt - Primark, Top - Paul&Joe, Tights - Accessorize, Shoes - Faith

I'm just back from Aviemore - it was beautiful, our Chalet was lovely and I shall post pictures very soon! It was surprisingly sunny over the weekend but then this morning when I arrived back in Aberdeen I was met with snow! I can't wait for some proper summer sunshine.

Tomorrow I'm spending the whole day on campus campaigning for a friend who is running for the role of President of Charities for the University of Aberdeen. Her competition is tough so I'm going to have to try my best to drum up some votes - any tips?

I just hope it stops snowing...

Tequila and eBay

2010-04-16T01:15:00.000+01:00

Dress - ebay, Jacket - Levis, Shoes - New Look, Tights - H&M

I got this dress last summer from eBay. Supposedly it's from Topshop but I don't believe that one bit! Nothing annoys me more than dishonest eBay sellers but for some reason I just couldn't pass by this dress. It's not particularly amazing but it was cheap and it's simple and easy to wear.

I know you can't really see it well but my pendant is an elephant. I bought it in H&M years ago and although it is slightly discoloured now I do love it.

Tonight I attended a pub quiz in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust (my team lost spectacularly) and had planned to be home and in bed by midnight. However my plan was thwarted by tequila and I probably should go to sleep now....

Fire Escape

2010-04-14T16:20:00.000+01:00

H&M Tights & skirt, Primark shoes, dad's belt

It was so nice and sunny this afternoon that I had to venture outside for some pictures. I'm usually to shy to take pictures out here because there is a dentist downstairs from the flat and you can see the fire escape from the car park and I'd be so embarrassed if anyone saw me! Anyhow, the sun beckoned...

I've been wearing these shoes constantly because, as I said before, I hate when shoes look (and feel) new so I'm still trying to break them in.

And I left my hair naturally curly today, to give it a break from the straighteners. One of my greatest fears is losing my hair, so I'm always wary of heat damage. That may make me seem vain, but I feel like my hair is quite a substantial part of my identity and I wouldn't be me without it! I would never dye my hair and I hardly ever cut it either because I'm so scared to change it. Does anyone else feel so attached to their hair???

P.S. I just found out that my lovely, amazing boyfriend has booked us a little chalet in Aviemore for the weekend! I'm so excited - I love little last minute trips like this.

Here's where we are staying:

I do love travelling abroad and visiting exotic locations, but sometimes it's nice just to explore your own homeland. Scotland may not have the best weather, but it really is very beautiful.

Just a Quickie...

2010-04-13T23:33:00.000+01:00

... to say I'm still alive. I've been away celebrating my boyfriend's birthday and have been sans camera or internet for most of the week. I'm off to bed now but regular posting shall commence tomorrow!

However I can't resist showing you some super quick snaps of my new dress from Reko!

Goodnight!

Cheap Thrills

2010-04-07T14:09:00.000+01:00

Dress - Topshop, Socks - H&M, Shoes - Primark

I'm finally back from Inverness - what started out as a 2 day visit somehow turned into a week, but it was lovely all the same.

I haven't shopped in Primark for years but my boyfriend was desperate for a pair of super cheap sunglasses at the weekend, and his hunt took us to Primark. I just couldn't resist these shoes, especially since they were only £13. I may have also bought a dress, but I'll show you that another day...

The online fashion market, pret-a-portobello, is having a 48 hour flash sale where everything is £25 or under. If you haven't done so already, you should go check it out. They've got some adorable jewellery and cute accessories and they also stock brands like Dahlia and Trollied Dolly. I'm keeping my eye on these for now:

The Playsuit Beckons

2010-04-01T14:26:00.000+01:00

I never could have imagined saying this, but I think I need to get myself a playsuit. They seemed to be all over the place last summer but I shunned them in favour of floaty dresses. I'm not quite sure what it was that dissuaded me from purchasing a playsuit last year - perhaps it had something to do with the little voice inside my head telling me they were unflattering or just a trend with no longevity. But it seems the playsuit is here to stay and I'm desperate for one of my own. It will be a perfect summer staple - the ease of a complete outfit and the femininity of a cute summer dress without any of those awkward 'gust of wind knicker-flashing' moments that I seem so susceptible to!

Last week I saw a girl in a nightclub wearing the most beautiful silky blue polka-dot playsuit and I think that was the turing point for me. I was about to go and ask her where she got it from, but missed the moment and had to go home without that priceless piece of information. I scoured the internet for hours the next day, to no avail. Alas, I shall just have to make do with one of these instead:

Dahlia

Topshop

Miss Selfridge

H! by Henry Holland

Now all that is left for me to do is wait on that paycheque coming through!

In other news, I am stranded. I arrived in Inverness on Tuesday night, planning to stay only two days as I am actually supposed to be at work right now. Unfortunately my train was cancelled this morning due to extreme weather conditions near Aberdeen (which seems absurd to me as the sun is shining beautifully here in Inverness) and it looks like I shall be stuck here for the next few days.

When I say 'stuck' I mean it in the best possible way, since it means more time with my boyfriend and some free time off work. The only downside is that I brought the grand total of two outfits with me.

What a great excuse to go shopping...

Going North

2010-03-30T16:05:00.000+01:00

Dress - H&M, Shirt - Topshop, Leggings - American Apparel, Boots - Thrifted

These are the best boots ever - ridiculously comfy and perfectly worn in. I hate new shoes, I much prefer them scuffed and dirty! Whenever I buy new shoes I always wear them round the house for at least a few days before they get to see the outside world, so that they won't look brand new. Then I will wear them till they literally fall apart on my feet.

Is that weird?

My boyfriend is always complaining about how disgusting my shoes are!

This afternoon I'm heading off up to Inverness to spend a few days with my boyfriend. The train takes almost 3 hours but I secretly really enjoy long train journeys, especially when I'm travelling alone. It's so relaxing, because you can't go anywhere or do anything so you're perfectly free to just sit and enjoy your own company. I always read trashy magazines and sometimes just listen to my ipod and watch the world go by out the window.

This song by Missy Higgins is my favourite for listening to while on the train.

Special FX

2010-03-29T22:21:00.000+01:00

Cardigan - H&M, Tights & Shoes - Topshop, Belt - my dad's

Ooops, I didn't take my photos till quite late today so the light wasn't that great my pictures suffered. My solution? Special effects...

I love these pink tights - I feel like I shied away from bright tights over winter, opting instead for more muted colours in thick woolly fabrics. Now that it is safe to venture outside with my legs clad in something slightly more sheer I may invest in these:

Both Topshop

However, if my budget could stretch far enough I'd definitely get myself a pair of these:

Bebaroque via ASOS

How was your weekend?

I spent mine in Dundee, mostly eating and drinking.

Pockets and Paint

2010-03-25T23:46:00.000Z

Top & Tights - H&M, Skirt - Topshop, Shoes - Faith, Jewellery - vintage & gifts

Not a greatly exciting outfit, but I do love these tights - they make my legs look like I've had a fight with some glowsticks. I got them from H&M a few years ago and I'm surprised they are still ladder-free.

And how perfect are the pockets on this top? I do appreciate a good pocket!

Aberdeen has been completely overrun by fog today. I went over to a friend's for dinner (chicken pasta alfredo - it was so yummy!) and walking home was slightly scary. It was so dark and eerie, and it's terribly unsettling when you are unable to see anything over an inch in front of you.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Dundee for a few days to attend a birthday party, among other things. Hopefully I will have some more interesting photos for you then!

Smooth Moves

2010-03-23T17:41:00.000Z

Skirt - M&S via eBay, Top - BooHoo.com, Cardigan - Topshop, Shoes - Faith, Belt - My dad's

I really like the corset style and floral pattern of this top but unfortunately the wires on the cups keep popping out and stabbing me in the chest! I guess that's what you get for buying into 'fast' fashion though.

Tonight I'm going to a friend's for dinner and hopefully some Wii. Has anyone ever played Smooth Moves on the Wii? It's seriously addictive!

P.S. I recently joined Chictopia so you can visit my blog here and add me as a friend if you like!

First Monday of Spring

2010-03-22T17:46:00.000Z

Skirt, Scarf, Cardigan - H&M, Top (dress) - Topshop, Belt - Stolen from my dad, Tights - Accessorize, Shoes - Office, Necklace - Vintage

My boyfriend came home for the weekend and we spent our time enjoying lunch dates, watching movies with wine and takeaway, dancing in nightclubs, staying up till sunrise and sleeping till lunchtime. He caught the train back up to Inverness at 6am this morning so I've spent my day missing him, reading magazine and clearing out my wardrobe. I'm putting quite a few things on eBay this week, including lots of dresses, so I will keep you guys updated.

I made some banana, chocolate and fudge muffins the other day and since they were so tasty (if I do say so myself) I thought I'd share the recipe.

Ingredients

3 Ripe Bananas
125ml vegetable oil
2 eggs
250g plain flour
100g caster sugar
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1tsp baking soda
100g small fudge pieces
100g chocolate chips

First mash the banans then leave them on the side to go nice and gooey. Then beat the eggs and oil together. Sieve the flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder, then add the sugar. Mix in the eggs and oil, then the bananas. Fold in the fudge and chocolate, then spoon into a muffin tin lined with muffin cases. (I used cupcake cases instead so I got mini-muffins).

For the Topping

75g brown sugar
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp soft butter
Chopped Nuts (optional)

Mix all the ingredients together with your fingers till the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, then sprinkle over the top of the muffins before cooking. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes at 200°C/gas mark 6, until the muffins are nice and golden brown.

Something Blue

2010-03-18T17:52:00.000Z

Top - H&M, Skirt - Topshop via eBay, Shoes - Faith, Necklace - Gift

I got this skirt today in the post and so, as is always the case, I felt I needed to wear it right away. It's originally from Topshop but I bought it from eBay. I'm always compelled to search ebay for Topshop items, but it also makes me feel a bit guilty. I really hate seeing items I covet from the online store selling out and then appearing on eBay at ridiculously inflated 'buy it now' prices. However, this little blue skirt was significantly reduced in price and I do love it.

Tonight I'm going out for curry with my flatmate, then I'm going to finally watch An Education.

What are your plans?

Going Green

2010-03-17T17:34:00.000Z

St Patrick's day is technically an Irish holiday but it has also been adopted by students as an excuse to get drunk on Guinness and green-coloured cocktails. There's a few Paddy's Day themed pub crawls and parties on tonight so I'm currently trying to make the very difficult decision of which one (if any) to attend. But whatever I do decide, one thing is certain - some form of green clothing (or perhaps body paint) will be required.

Dress - H&M, Cardigan & Tights- Topshop, Shoes - New Look, Belt - Thrifted, Jewellery - Gifts

2010-03-16T18:52:00.000Z

I do apologise for the recent lack of posts - I've been so busy lately and since my boyfriend's away on his placement all my days off have been dedicated to visiting him. But I have had my hours at work reduced ever so slightly, so that means more time for blogging!

If you are a regular reader then you may remember this post I did a while back about the coat I coveted from Topshop, but couldn't get my hands on. Well, guess what - I was visiting my boyfriend in Inverness and while on our way to get some lunch we walked past Topshop and there it was, hanging right by the door. I snapped it up straight away and have worn it every day since.

Pretty Gritty

2010-02-25T19:15:00.000Z

(I do apologise for the poor quality images - I ran out of daylight!)

Dress-New Look, Boots-Office, Tshirt-Topshop

I tried out a side braid today but I fear my hair is just a bit too thick to achieve the 'pretty gritty' look I desired, as seen at Alexander Wang.

Tonight I'm going for Tea and Wii - a dinner party followed by a Wii Olympics tournament to burn off some calories. What are your plans?

Masquerade

2010-02-24T15:37:00.000Z

Dress-Thrifted, Headband-Primark, Bag-Vintage, Shoes&Tights-Topshop

(I just noticed the smudge on my foot - oops!)

I've come over all Blair Waldorf today! I've been feeling so blue lately, with working non-stop, trying to find a new flat, missing my boyfriend (he's away on a uni placement) and the awful weather we've been having this week but playing dress up has been one of the few things that has cheered me up a bit.

I bought these shoes about three years ago in the Topshop winter sale and they've lain unworn at the back of my wardrobe ever since. I found them while cleaning the other day, along with a blue suede pair I bought at the same time, and have been making a conscious effort to re-introduce them to the outside world.

Over the past week I've been to not one, but two balls! The first was a Charity Masquerade Ball last Wednesday. I was only invited the day before, as someone else couldn't make it at the last minute, so I didn't have time to buy a new dress. I had to make do with a green Topshop prom dress and a borrowed feather mask (which I wore for about three minutes before the feathers became unbearably tickly).

(Pictures 'borrowed' from my friend's facebook!)

I was slightly more prepared for the second ball, but I will tell you more about that when I post the pictures from it!

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-14T20:00:00.000Z

National Geographic

A lot of people may say it's a completely pointless day created by greetings card companies, but in my opinion what could be better than a day dedicated to celebrating your love for someone special?