Fashion Bargains

Over the summer I volunteered in one of my local charity shops. I did it as I needed something to put on my CV and thought that it would be good to do as there is so much you can write about. I did two days a week and most of the time I enjoyed it. One of the great things about working in a charity shop is the discount you get. I love charity shop shopping anyway so it was great bonus. I never really understood why they give discount in a charity shop because obviously the money goes to charity and its not exactly expensive anyway but I wasn't complaining I got 20% off anything I bought. 

The first two things I bought were a dress and a play suit. I got them for £3.99 each with my discount  which was really good because neither of them look like they had been worn before. They both have River Island labels in them and I got them for a bargains as I bet these were both around £20 when they were originally bought.

The top is from a different charity shop near where I live and I got this for £2! It was actually in the sale and had been priced before at about £4.50. It has a Marks and Spencers label in and also looks like it hasn't been worn. I really love the lace detail on the cap sleeves.

The jumper is from the charity shop I volunteered in and again I got it for £3.99 with my discount. It still had the tag on which obviously showed it hadn't been worn before. I can't remember what it said on the tag but its feels good quality and the knit is thick so it will be perfect for winter.

This bag I got from the same charity shop as the top above. It was only £4! I really love brown bags as they go with any outfit. The shape and size also caught my eye because I like quite big bags and I really love the embossed pattern on it. I looked inside and found that it has a Primark label. Although I have bought bags from Primark before and haven't lasted long for £4 it doesn't matter as its so cheap and the inside it looked like it hadn't been used as there was no marks on the lining so it was a bargain.

I was very happy with my little haul form charity shops over the summer and for £17.97 altogether I have saved so much!

What I got in My September Birchbox - Happy Days!

This month's Birchbox theme was 'Happy Days'. It celebrates capturing moments and making new ones and I think this is the best Birchbox I have received so far. One of the best bits is the box itself as not only is it some really nice colours both the bottom and top are also frames. The inside of the box is coloured and patterned and there is a space for a 6x4 photo so it creates a 3D frame. I love having photos up and these were perfect for my new uni room.

(How the box is supposed to be used this month)

The other products I got in my box this month were:

Agave Healing Oil

Benefit It's Potent  Eye Cream

Korres Citrus Shower Gel

ModelCo Power Lash Mascara

Beauty Blender and Blender Cleanser Solid

Urban Fruit - Mango

Birchbox Happy Days Photo Clip

I also got a card with some discounts from the Photobox website.

I am really enjoying my box this month and so far I would say my favourite thing would me the ModelCo Power Lash Mascara. It really lifts lashes and gives volume. I actually picked it as a few weeks before the box was delivered there was a chance to pick a ModelCo product, it was between that and two different colours of lip gloss. I also really like the Agave Healing Oil. It makes my hair feel really soft and so much better. Overall I am really impressed with what I got and like every month I really can't wait to see what I get in my next box!

To find out more about Birchbox or subscribe click here

Nails of the Week - Shellac

This weeks nails I actually didn't do myself I had them done professionally for a change. I love having somebody else do them for me as I am always painting nails for family and friends and no one ever does mine so I decided to treat myself to having shellac put on them. If you don't know shellac is a gel based polish set under UV light which lasts for around 2-3 weeks. I have had them done with shellac a few times for special occasions and holiday and I love it as it means you don't have to worry about painting your nails for a while. I paid £18 for mine but it depends where you go as some places I know charge around £25 - £30 which I think is ridiculous! So anyway here are the photos of my nails...

This is a CND shellac in a colour called Masquerade. I really love the colour, its a great colour for autumn and I really love how they shine!

(Also this is my 50th post can't believe I have done that many in about 3 months. I tried to do around 3 a week but as I am going back to university tomorrow this will go down when I start to get busy with work)

MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Review

If you are a student and you haven't heard of Save The Student you really need to go and like their Facebook page and look on the website because that is where I got my sample of  MAC's Prep + Prime Skin Base! They do so many beauty sample offers for students which is great when you are like me and want to try as many beauty products as possible and obviously things for free are always good.

I haven't really tried primers before so I was quite excited to see if it really did make make up last much longer. I read on the Mac website than it is ' An ultra-fluid lotion formulated with special - effect silicones that calms and soothes the skin, blots away excess oil and evens out skin redness. Also improves the lay down and application of foundation or powder'. The consistency of the product is like a normal face moisturiser and sinks into the skin really quick and makes the skin feel soft. I would say it does help when blending foundation or a CC or BB cream and it definitely makes make up last longer. Also I don't find that my skin gets as oily during the day too. The full sized product retails for £21 for 30ml and I will definitely think about purchasing this as I feel you don't need much and the amount would last quite a while.

 (link here to take you to the product on the Mac website)

My New Haircut

I haven't done a post about hair since I started this blog so this is just a quick post to show off my new haircut I had done yesterday and a bit about my hair over the last few years.

For quite a while I had short hair with either no fringe or a side fringe, I started out having a bob that was cut a bit shorter at the back and sloped longer at the front and I think I had that from about 11 to 15 years old . I then grew it a bit longer when I was 16, just about to my shoulders, mainly because I wanted a bit more length for prom. I had more or less that length for a while up until just after I turned 18 and I then got a full fringe. I have had a full fringe for about a year and a half now and just before I started uni last year I decided I wanted to grow my hair out a bit for a change. My hair grows quite fast and I usually get it cut every 8 weeks. I let it grow until it was mid length about 2  inches past my shoulders which was quite long for me. I used to have long hair when I was about 6 that went about 4-5 inches past my shoulders but I don't think I would ever go back to that as I just don't suit that any more. But yesterday when I went to the hairdressers I got about 3-4 inches cut off into a layered bob where the longest lengths just about hit my shoulders. I wanted a bit of a change and I knew that I always liked having shorter hair as its easier to wash and style.

2010 

Prom 2011

Summer 2012

My 18th February 2013

Summer 2013

September 2013

November 2013

May 2014

June 2014

July 2014

July 2014

And finally...

September 2014

My new short hairstyle which I love!

Clothing Wish List: 1

If you read my blog last week you would know I posted my monthly beauty wish list (click here) and so I thought I could do a clothes wish list every month as well. I spend some time every week looking at clothing on line (which is a really bad habit but I can't resist looking at the clothing that is new in) and recently I have found some really nice things that I would love to buy for the upcoming season and today I thought I would share them... 

1. Navy Check Boyfriend Blazer - £29.99 - from New Look - I love this so much! I went shopping a few weeks ago and tried this on and I now really want it. I will definitely be buying this when I get back to university as I think this will be perfect for when the weather is changing and I just need a light blazer/jacket.

2. Dogtooth Cigarette Trousers -£42  from Topshop - I saw these on a haul video by Lily Melrose and I really like them. They are probably not something I would usually wear but I like the print and I think they would look good with either a plain jumper or shirt.

3. Red Long Sleeve Layered Shirt - £17.99 - from New Look - I actually saw this when I was looking for the blazer on line and it was paired with it on the photo of the model with blazer on. I really like the colour and I would also wear it with the blazer above.

4. Kelly Brook Monochrome Polka Dot Trim Strapless Bra - £16.99 - from New Look - I am always looking at underwear on the New Look website. There is always some really nice bras especially the Kelly Brook range. I own one from the range already that I got in the sale which fits really well. I like this bra because of the pretty detail and the fact it can be worn as a strapless bra.

5. Cream Pug Print Pyjamas Set - £14.99 - from New Look - Not sure if I mentioned in another post but anyone that know me knows that I LOVE PUGS! When my friend said she had seen these in store I had to see them so I searched the website and now I really want them to add to my collection of pug related things.

Nails of the Week

This weeks nails are really simple but also look really pretty. I just used a french manicure polish as the base and then added a chunky glitter polish top coat to my thumbs and ring fingers. I painted the glitter so that there was more at the base of my nail and pieces just dotted around nearer the top for a gradient effect.

Products used:

Boots Natural Collection in French Manicure - £1.99

No7 Silver glitter top coat - (I have a mini one that came in a set) Full size are around £6.00