Stella & Dot

Since it was my birthday, of course I had to treat myself.  This came in the form of an impulse buy at last months Girls Day Out at Glasgow's SECC.

US brand Stella & Dot had a stall at the event, showcasing their jewellery of which, I am now a massive fan.  I didn't know of Stella & Dot until the show but they sell well designed, beautiful accessories and jewellery at really reasonable prices.  Obviously a little pricier than the likes of Topshop but pricing is consistent with it's quality in my opinion.

My gift to myself was the gold renegade cluster bracelet as seen on Katy Perry ... so there you go ;)  At £45 it was pricey enough to feel like a treat but not too expensive that I couldn't justify the cost.  I adore this bracelet with it's mix of spikes and diamante and it has certainly fuelled my desire for more Stella & Dot creations.  I literally have a massive 'want' list!

Is anyone else a fan of Stella & Dot?  What do you recommend from their range? I think I am going to go for some chunky statement necklaces next :) 

x

New Things!

It's really hard keeping up with blogging these days despite having lots to blog about so thought I would start off what I hope with be a roll of posts by sharing some new bits and bobs .... kind of like a haul post.  A little bit of old school blogging if you will.

Let's start off with some fabulous buys from H&M and New Look.  I spotted this gorgeous neon coral & tan clutch as soon as I walked through the doors of H&M this week and didn't think twice about picking it up and securing the purchase almost instantly.  It reminds me of all those gorgeous clutches that are snapped in the hands of the most stylish of fashion editors at LFW.  It was a real steal though at just £12.99.  The 2 metal collars are just loooove!  I have seen lots of similar ones on other blogs and had been dying to get my hands on some myself, I think they will look brilliant worn with shirts or to add a collar to t-shirts. I think they were around £6 or £7 each.  Finally the shoes are from New Look and have a gorgeous ikat pattern across the shoe and heel.  With a pretty big platform these should probably come with a healthy warning but I can't wait to wear them :)

 It was my birthday last week and lucky old me (old being the appropriate term these days) was spoiled rotten.  An odd request of mine was a Dymo label maker.  Since moving house and creating new spaces in our home like a utility room, I have been desperate to make sure we stay organised ...  so labelling is the way forward! Seriously, who knew label making could be so much fun ... this dymo is really bringing out the geek in me!

I also received lots of beautiful perfumes with the most popular in terms of compliments being Stella McCartney Lily.  This was a gift from my mother in law ... I didn't even realise Stella had a new scent out as she is usually a firm favourite of mine.  Lily is a lovely scent, stronger than the usually McCartney offerings and it really reminds me of something I used to wear years ago but I can't quite place it.  One thing is for sure everyone else seems to love it, I even got a compliment on it in Morrison's car park! :)

Obviously I couldn't exclude new things for the home since it has been my main focus of attention for so long.  I had been eyeing up this print online for a long time, debating whether to buy or not but when I found it already framed and in the bargain section of TK Maxx, I knew it was a sign ;) I have still to decide where it should live in the house though. 

I have been obsessing over Laura Olivia designs recently and I am dying to make some purchases for my new bedroom which we have now started to decorate.  Laura Olivia is quite pricey though so it might be a while before I can invest in her gorgeous, bright, feminine designs so in the meantime, my husband and I set about creating our own piece of art for the new room.  We picked up these mirrored frames for mucho cheapness at B&M bargains .... we then took a trip to B&Q where we took quite lengthy samples of wallpaper to use in the frames .... and voila, a unique and personal piece of art for the home. 

Safe to say I am now positively skint .... a spending ban may be on the cards! eek!

What have you been spending on lately?
x

The H&M Blazer and a new kind of Ombre

I have always felt a little too chunky to carry off the boyfriend blazer trend but a shopping trip to H&M a few weeks ago had me changing my mind.

I guess it's not a boyfriend blazer in the traditional sense but it is far less structured and fitted than my normal choice of blazer.  It hangs quite lose over the body with relaxed rolled up sleeves and loose roomy pockets.  For £19.99 (*i think*) it was too much of a snip to miss out on.  

Because it's a creamy off-white, I do feel I need to be tanned up to carry it off well but it's such a versatile jacket that can be worn with anything - proof of this is the fact I haven't had it off my back since I bought it.  

Case in point ... 

Super casual, t-shirt (Marc Jacobs), Scarf (Warehouse), jeans (unseen), trainers (unseen)

Smart Casual for a spot of shopping.  Vest (H&M), Necklace (Topshop), Wax look trousers (H&M), Snake Print bag (Mango), Studded pumps (unseen) 

Dressed up with a sequin cape for a quick makeover to take me into the evening.  Cape (Topshop), Vest (H&M), dark blue jeans (Primark), stilettos (unseen)

I also decided to bring back the ombre this week but a much more subtle version courtesy of the wonderful Stacie, whose blog you can read here.  It gives a much more sunkissed appearance than my first foray into Ombre but I will probably take it a few shades lighter on my next visit to see Stacie.  

A more natural red/auburn dye with bleached ombre weaved into the ends 

I am absolutely loving the new hair and have been wearing it in a middle parting more often just for a change.  My hair has also grown so long, at last there is so much I can do with it! :) 

What item of clothing are you obsessing over at the moment? 

x

Supermarket Beauty

I notoriously hate supermarkets.  I avoid having to visit them at all costs and on the rare occasion I do have to go I usually strop about, whining like a 3 year old!

However, there are 2 supermarkets that I never turn down a visit to - Aldi and Lidl.  I just love them, I think the smaller layout and potential for finding a bargain attracts me.  Lidl mayonnaise is hands down the best I've tasted and I love finding oddly named products from home and away ... Disco Biscuits, anyone?! ;)

It's no secret that their beauty aisles also hold some hidden gems for bargain prices and on my most recent visits I picked up some bargain nail care that I thought you would all love to know about!

First up, from Lidl ... is the fabulous Cien nail polish remover.  Blue in colour and quite a pungent scent, don't let this put you off.  It comes with the perfect dispenser for pushing your cotton pad on with just the right amount being dispensed. It also removes nail polish quickly and effortlessly even glitter polish! It really is one of the best removers I have used in a long time! From memory I think this product only cost around the £3 - brilliant value.

My second purchase is from Aldi's Lacura Beauty range.  I was in between nail polishes and spotted this easy DIY French Manicure Set.  It comes with a white nail tip pen and clear top coat.  All you do is swipe the pen along the top of your nail, allow to dry and apply topcoat. Voila! (see my shoddy attempt below).

Only problem I had was difficulty getting my right hand to look neat as I am not too nifty with a pen in my lefty!  I'm sure it was £3.59 and so far the pen still hasn't dried out which is always a bonus with this type of product.

I'll definitely be spending more time in the beauty aisles the next time I go to Aldi and Lidl and it may even encourage me to start braving bigger supermarkets.  What fabulous bargain beauty products have you found in the supermarket?

x

The Glam Guide E-Mag

Just a quick post to let you know I recently contributed to an E-mag, created by Stephanie at The Glam Guide.

There are lots of other blogger contributors too, discussing spring fashion, nail trends etc

It's £1.99 to download and 10% of that goes to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

You can access at the following link

http://www.theglamguide.com/e-magazine/

In it, I talk about Spring trends for make up and how I created this look

Hope you enjoy x

Scottish Ballet: Streetcar Named Desire

This week Scottish Ballet unveiled the world premiere tour of their production of Streetcar Named Desire.

Originally a play written 65 years ago this year by Tennessee Williams (and later brought to moviescreens starring Marlon Brando and Vivian Leigh), Scottish Ballet presented their vibrant new take on Streetcar Named Desire, collaborating with theatre and film director Nancy Meckler and international choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa to create a powerful infusion of drama and dance.

I almost have no words for how incredible and how much of a must see this performance is.  It tells a tragic tale of Southern Belle, Blanche DuBois tackling her plight and fall into despair, anguish and ultimately mental illness.  We are given a glimpse of her wounded past which continues to haunt her and lead her to a situation of distress and suffering which is only heightened when she goes to stay with her sister, Stella and her brutish husband, Stanley.

The opening scene is still what sticks with me the most, Blanche underneath a naked lightbulb, delicately fluttering with moth like movements toward the light.  The light was to represent desire, which attracts but can also burn but there was just something about the movements of Eve Mutso's Blanche that was haunting, sensitive and instantly gave an insight into the mental fragility of the character.

The performance is provocative, deep and highly sexed to say the least - whether it was the cruel but needy physical passion between Stella and Stanley (played by Tama Barry) to the debauched and reckless secret life of Blanche.  Blanche's demise eventually comes when Stanley, who has set out to destroy her in a bid to have Stella to himself, engages in a dramatic, shocking and emotional performance depicting her rape.  In a strong and visually shocking performance, it takes the audience to that dark place of helplessness and all of a sudden you are lost in raw emotion for all characters involved.

For as dark as the performance could be at times, there was still plenty of buzz, beauty and effervescence in abundance on stage.  The score by Peter Salem did a wonderful job of representing a jazzy New Orleans and even at times got a little 'dancey' (as my  husband described it ... as in disco dancey!).  As ever the fashions of the 40's/50's on stage left me salivating for more.  The Scottish Ballet wardrobe must be a fabulous place to be!



Seriously, watch the trailer, you will not be disappointed and you will want to see more!

Out of all of the Scottish Ballet productions I have seen to date, this really has to be my favourite.  It was just all manners of mesmerising and wonderful!

I honestly cannot recommend it enough.  If you are interested in going to see it, the venues and dates are as follows:

Theatre Royal, Glasgow
11 - 14 April 2012
Tickets from £10
Box Office 0844 871 7647*

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
18 - 21 April 2012
Tickets from £16.50
Box Office 0131 529 6000*

Sadler's Wells, London
26 - 28 April 2012
Tickets from £12
Box Office 0844 412 4300*

His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen
2 - 5 May 2012
Tickets from £13.50
Box Office 01224 641122*

Eden Court, Inverness
9 - 12 May 2012
Tickets from £17
Box Office 01463 234 234*

Grand Opera House, Belfast
16 - 19 May 2012
Tickets from £9.25
Box Office 028 9024 1919*

Sun Therapy

Having just bought our first proper house together, the Mister and I had resigned ourselves to the fact that we may have to forego a holiday this year, something we pretty much live for.  However, enough is enough and we have already started looking around for some cheap holiday deals.

Last week we had glorious weather that stunned us all (especially up here in Glasgow), the sun was beating down most days and there were sunburn marks all round, ouch! This week however, we have had rain, hail, sleet and snow and it has just reaffirmed to me how much I need a holiday.

Despite all our money being invested in the house, it's renovations and now the hard slog of decorating ... I hope I can find a cheap holiday deal that will have me jetting off for a bit of sun, relaxation and snoozy, lazy days.

My first thought is of Spain.  My husband used to live there and we absolutely love the laid back, colourful culture.  For a chilled out week away I would love to go back to Barcelona.  Eating delicious tapas and drinking a refreshing cerveza, watching the world go by ... bliss!

Ultimately I think I would quite like  return to Ibiza this year.  Perfect for the party girl (and party boy) in me and my husband but likewise caters to our need for some serious chillaxing!  Ideal for me to dance about in the sun with neon nails and feathers in my hair :)

Sitting wrapped up on the couch just now, I am taking comfort in the hope of finding myself a cheap deal so I can look forward to a cheeky wee sunny holiday :)

Do you have holidays booked? Where are you off to this year? Go on, make me jel! ;)

x