Wednesday Wish List

Hey guys,

How's your week going so far? I hope you're all having a good one.

I've been full of cold for the last couple of days, so I've been curled up under my duvet watching movies, and working on some Christmas crafts. Looking at the laptop screen is hurting my eyes, so I'm only managing to come online in small doses, and this blog is getting more neglected by the day. I've got plenty of posts to finish and blog, which I'll bring you really soon, including a beauty advent calendar round up, a trip to the zoo, a Fall Out Boy gig, Lush eyeshadows, a Hobbycraft haul, and a post of my favourite creative books, if you'd like to see them.

For now, I've got a new Wednesday Wish List for you, which is full of Lindy Bop clothes for the second week running (sorry, not sorry), and also some fantastic novelty bags.

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I'm sure you can now understand why so many Lindy Bop clothes made it in to my wish list post for a second week running. Just look at all these gorgeous clothes! Their latest drop includes dozens of amazing new dresses and tops, and I'm in love with almost all of them. Every piece is to die for. I'm particularly obsessed with the four heart print Matilda swing shirt dresses (numbers 1, 5, 9, and 12), which I would add to my wardrobe in a heart beat if I could. The heart print makes a fun alternative to the classic polka dot, and they have personality without being too in your face. I think the red and the green are my favourites, but I'll be adding them all to my Christmas list along with so many others; let's hope I'm on the nice list!

If you're looking for a great Christmas dress, all of the red and green dresses above would be perfect for the festive season. You could wear most of them dressed down for the day time, and dressed up for the Christmas party.

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As you can see, I'm also coveting plenty of novelty bags this week. Nothing new there, then! There are so many brilliant designs out there at the moment, and the trend shows no sign of dying down. I seem to find another to love in almost every (fashion) shop I visit. This week I'm mad about the glittery purple crescent moon clutch from The White Pepper, the scallop shell bags from Skinnydip, the penguin from TU at Sainsburys (did you know they have an online shop now??), and the gift box bag from Monki.

If you'd like to see more of the clothes and accessories I've been coveting lately, you'll find heaps more pieces pinned to my style boards on Pinterest. The following links will lead you to the boards:

Bags and Purses

Christmas Clothes and Accessories

Fashion Accessories

Gloves, Scarves, and Hats

Hair Accessories

Jewellery

Lingerie

Shoes, Glorious Shoes

Sleepwear

Style Wish List

What's on your wish list this week?

Haul of Randomness

It's been a while since my last haul post, so I think it's time for a new one. I do love a good haul! I love reading them on other blogs even more. (I guess that's because I'm just plain nosey!) Instead of doing a fashion and beauty haul, I'm going to share some of the random bits and bobs I've been buying lately. So, I give you my haul of randomness...

I've been looking forward to showing you these awesome brooches for ages because I know some of you would love them as much as I do. Aren't they amazing? I bought them about a month ago from a little shop in Cheltenham's Regent Arcade called the Cheltenham Collective, which sells homeware, accessories, and art from local artists and small businesses. I wandered in for a browse with the sister, and got a little over-excited when I discovered a basket full of these quirky brooches. I had to buy these five immediately, although I would've happily bought one of each design if money grew on trees. They were all amazing. I think my favourite is the bespectacled French bulldog, closely followed by the deer, but I'm smitten with all of them. They're hand crafted from acrylic and wood, and I'm impressed with how well made and sturdy they are; the quality is fantastic! The best part is they were only £6.50 each, (except for the deer which was only £5), which is very reasonable, and far more affordable than the similar Erstwilder brooches every fashion blogger seems to be wearing or coveting right now. I'm hoping to pick up some more designs if they're still available next time I'm in Cheltenham, and I want to find out who made them because the packaging doesn't reveal a thing. I was hoping there would be info to lead me to an online shop, but even after a few Google and Etsy searches I got nothing. If I do find out, I'll let you know, but if you're in Cheltenham, you should still be able to find them in the Cheltenham Collective opposite The Body Shop in the arcade. It's well worth a visit!

I also picked up a couple of small votive Yankee Candles in Sweet Strawberry and Pain Au Raisin to make those cold, dark Autumn evenings a bit cosier. And yes, they both smell as good as they sound! The scents are pretty spot on, too. 

I bought this lovely box of Nordic Nights sticky notes from Paperchase last month, which will come in handy for jotting down blog ideas, journaling, and writing notes. I have a real weakness for pretty stationery, and Paperchase is one of my favourite places to find it. At the moment, I'm loving the entire Nordic Nights collection, which features lots of cute woodland critters, brown paper packaging, and a good dose of colour.

One of my favourite purchases of late is this metal Alice in Wonderland sign, which I found on Truffle Shuffle here. Alice in Wonderland has been my favourite Disney film since I was little, so I just had to have it. It's not often that I come across Wonderland things from the Disney cartoon, so finding it made my day. Yeah... I don't get out much! 

I also came across this vintage (reproduction) movie poster (here) on Amazon the day I found the metal sign. I wasn't sure if the quality would be any good, but I decided to chance it, and just ordered it in A4 to be safe. I think that was for the best, as the saturation of the picture isn't quite right, but you win some, you lose some. I don't think I'll ever get it framed and hung up on the wall, but I still think it's kinda awesome.

And the final thing in my haul of randomness? This lovely cross stitch kit from Riverdrift House. I've never seen such a pretty, colourful 'Home Sweet Home' sampler before; they're usually so ugly and frumpy. I love its modern spin on a classic craft that people have been making for generations; centuries, even. I won't be embarrassed to hang it on my wall when it's done. I'm working on a Christmas sampler from the same company (this one), so I probably won't start it until the new year, but I'm looking forward to getting started- if only to play with all of those colourful threads!

Have you bought anything exciting lately?

Wednesday Wish List: Lindy Bop

This week's wish list is dedicated entirely to Lindy Bop, since I've fallen in love with so many of their new pieces over the last few days. Nothing new there, then!

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Just look at all those beautiful clothes and collars! I'm loving all the different styles, cuts, patterns, fabrics, and colours in their latest drop.

My favourites are the 'Lamour red polka dot swing dress' (#1), which would be the perfect Christmas dress, being red and white, and all . I'm very tempted to snap one up, and put it aside to wear on Christmas Day at home with my family. I'm also smitten with the 'Emmy black and red swing dress' (#3), which looks absolutely gorgeous. I love the bold red and white polka dot skirt, navy chiffon top, and white peter pan collar, and how together it makes an effortless put-together outfit. 

You can find more of the Lindy Bop clothes I'm coveting on my Style Wish List board on Pinterest, along with dozens of other clothes that have caught my eye this week.

What's on your wish list this week?

Wednesday Wish List

Hey guys,

Here are some of the pieces on my wish list this week.

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1. I love this floral cobalt blue fit and flare dress from the new Dorothy Perkins plus size collection.

2. A quirky red robin brooch from Tatty Devine.

3. This floral hair crown from Rock 'n' Rose is beautiful. And, sadly, also expensive.

4. The perfect pair of flats to wear on Halloween.

5. This cobalt blue day dress from Lindy Bop is absolutely stunning.

6. How cute is this highland cow necklace from Bonnie Bling UK?!

7. These ghost pyjamas from ASOS Curve are adorable.

8. I love this skeleton bodycon dress from ASOS Curve, although I'd probably wear it as a top over leggings or skinny jeans.

9. This velvet cat-eared bag is too cute for words. 

10. A cosy-looking star elbow-patched cardigan from ASOS Curve.

11. These dinosaur slippers are awesome!

12. This glittery cross body bag from Lulu Guinness would be perfect for party season.

13. I like this black elbow-patch cardi even more than the burgundy.

14. I need this highland cow brooch in my life.

15. And also this adorable polar bear one from Tatty Devine.

16. This debutante dress from ASOS Curve is stunning.

17. A pair of purple wide-fit ballet pumps that I'd throw on with everything.

18. I love this star necklace from Tatty D.

19. I want this holly brooch, from Etsy shop Jackdaw, so I can wear it to death this Christmas!

20. Everyone needs a pair of pink pirate-print PJs in their life.

21. I would wear these awesome Jack o' lantern earrings proudly on Halloween.

22. These polar bear earrings are the cutest earrings I've probably ever seen.

23. I'm in love with this A-line shift dress from Alice & You. I swear I've seen photos of my Mum wearing something similar in the seventies.

24. I need this Skinnydip scrabble-tile xmas novelty bag in my life!

25. Unicorn slippers!

26. And last but not least, a festive polar bear necklace from Tatty Devine that needs to come live with me!

What's on your wish list this week? Which of these do you like best?

Wednesday Wish List: Skinny Dip Novelty Bags

If you haven't guessed from the title, this week I've been coveting arm-fulls of novelty bags from cult brand Skinnydip! 

Nothing new there... 

I've fallen in love with dozens of their designs, and I just had to share some of my favourites with you today, because the bags are just that awesome.

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See, I told you they were awesome!

I don't know about you, but my heart is going all aflutter for all of these weird and wonderful creations. The designs are brilliant! If money grew on trees, I'd happily buy each and every one of them- especially the fish, flamingo, planets, rockets, and zap gun. Sadly it doesn't, so that dream is destined to go unfulfilled, but it doesn't hurt to dream.

I've got a fairly big collection of novelty bags now, but none quite like any of these. I think Skinnydip make some of the best affordable novelty bags and accessories around, and I can't wait to see what they think of next. My fingers are crossed for a couple of Christmas designs this year! I bet their take on a Christmas pud or cracker would be amazing!

Are you a fan of the novelty bag trend? If you collect them, what's the best design in your collection?

You might also like:

My novelty bag collection.
My novelty Christmas bags.
My Matalan fruity clutch bags.
My New Look novelty clutch bags.

Fashion and Beauty Favourites | August and September 2015

I can't believe I'm putting my August and September favourites together today. How is it already October?? I've got no idea where the last couple of months have gone, and something tells me the next two are going to go really fast, too. It'll be Christmas before we know it, which is insane!

Before I start looking ahead, I'd better look back and share some of my fashion and beauty favourites from August and September. I usually share other things I've been loving in these favourite posts, like books and crafty things, but this month I'm going to blog about them separately, because I fancy a change.

I didn't buy many clothes during the Summer because I spent 99% of it living in my pyjamas, not feeling up to dressing like a proper human being. but I did treat myself to a gorgeous blue and red lip print swing dress from Lady Vintage in August. I had coveted the dress for months, and when I saw it on sale for about £25, I just couldn't resist. It's an absolute beauty! The print is gorgeous, the fabric is fantastic quality, and it fits like a glove. It's sadly no longer available to buy, but the dress comes in loads of other patterns, and there are a couple of other dresses in this fabric that are still available on sale.

In August, I also added a new novelty bag to my ever-growing collection- a studded cat-ears cross body bag by Yoki Fashion. I'd wanted a cat ears bag for years, so when I found this one on sale for £15, I had to snap it up. I love the studded ears and the fact it has a polka dot lining; my only bug-bear is that it's a little shorter than I'd like. The bag is no longer available in black, but a pink version is available here for just £12, down from £30!

I've been loving all the new season Cath Kidston things and made a few cheeky purchases over the last couple of months. I adore my new resin sausage dog and squirrel brooches. Aren't they adorable? They remind me of the Erstwilder designs, but they're far more purse friendly at just £6 each. I also picked up the resin rose bracelet in a gorgeous raspberry colour. I already had the bracelet in red and cream, but I couldn't resist buying it in another colour because I wear them to death. And they're just so pretty!

Another new addition to my CK collection is a pink and blue Provence rose print camera case. I've been searching high and low for a new camera case since I got my camera for Christmas last year; finding one to fit it has been a nightmare. It's taken me nine months, but I've finally found the one! It's a brand new design for AW, and a little wider than their old ones. so it even fits chunky little compact cameras like my little Canon. Now I can actually take the camera out of the house without worrying about breaking it. Yay!

My current beauty favourites have to be my new Inglot eyeshadows. I added a four pan palette and four shadows to my existing collection of twenty-two back in August, and I'm completely smitten with them. The shades are all so beautiful, and I've had so much fun wearing them, and combining them with some of my other Inglot shadows to create lots of different looks. What I love about these eyeshadows is that they're highly pigmented, blendable, and long-lasting, and very reasonably priced, too. The single eyeshadows are just £5.00, the rainbow trios are £6.50, and the palettes, which are sold separately, start from around £5.00. The four-pan is £7.00. Since each shadow and palette is sold separately, you have the freedom to create your own perfect palettes with the shades you love best, which is a brilliant concept. There are dozens if not hundreds of colours to choose from, and something for every taste. I'm going to dedicate a whole post to my Inglot eyeshadow palettes very soon, so if you'd like to know more about them and see swatches, keep an eye on Polka Spots over the next couple of weeks.

So, those were my fashion and beauty favourites from August and September. What were yours? Tell me in the comments below!