One step forward, two steps back...

Hey guys,

I know I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but I'm sorry for the lack of posts here recently. My back pain has taken another turn for the worse and has been keeping me hostage in my pyjamas all week.

I began my first session of hydrotherapy yesterday (on three hours sleep). I'll admit I'd been a little nervous at the thought of being dressed in just a swimsuit in public as it'd been five years since I'd last been swimming, but I really needn't of worried. It was a small group and everybody was absorbed with their own pain. A conversation with the other lady patient in the pool did briefly have me questioning my appearance and self-worth when she confided that she had been 'large, even larger than you'. Larger than me? Was that meant to be a compliment, or was she confirming that all people see when they look at me is a large girl? I don't even think she meant to be nasty (and she was roughly my size!), but it did take me aback that she felt comfortable talking to somebody like that. She also implied pain levels were down to weight, not the fact she'd been in a motorbike accident or anything... I just kept quiet and bit my tongue, and put my energy in to the stretches.

Although the hydrotherapy experience wasn't as bad as I was expecting, the aftermath was a whole lot worse. I arrived home in a bit of a state, and attempted to put a post together before crawling in to bed, but I didn't have the energy. I ended up falling asleep while catching up on my Tumblr dash at 1am- the first time I've fallen asleep before dawn all year! I slept on and off for thirteen hours with the added comfort of a new memory foam mattress topper- (makes such a difference I swear!) but today I'm still feeling a bit delicate.

 As for outfits? I  haven't really got anything new to share with you exactly, but this is the first time I've worn these pieces together. It was the outfit I changed in to once home from hydrotherapy.

This fish print dress from AX Paris is one of my favourite dresses. It's just so unusual! It has capped sleeves, goes in at the waist, and then exaggerates the hip area with lots of draped material and big slouched pockets over the hips and upper thighs. Normally I'm not a fan of garments that add bulk, but as the shape is in proportion I like how it looks on my figure. I sized up for comfort, but I really needn't of. The pattern looks like little fish crackers, and being a fish enthusiast I couldn't resist! I also have the dress in yellow with a bird print.  (Please excuse my uneven face- it's a combination of freckles and a dislike to pool chemicals!)

You've seen me wearing the dress before, but this time I dressed it with a navy cardigan and purple leggings (although I wasn't happy with my legs in the photos so I cropped them out). I also have a navy bow bag on my shoulder in the top pic.

Just keep swimming...

I would wear the dress with my lovely blue shoulder-bag if I was out and about for the day, as I think the soft faux leather and colour work nicely with the fabric of the dress. I bought this bag from Accessorize a year or two ago and used to use it for work quite a lot.

It has a dark floral lining.

I dug out one of my Abilu Creations charm bracelets which I bought from the stall in Camden a few years back, but she also has a website now. The jewellery is all handmade and designed to have a vintage rock feel. Many of the charms used in her designs are also vintage, which I'm sure I was told the little Pepsi can charm is, and each piece is finished with a signature guitar plectrum. I was won over by the quirky, retro look the moment I laid eyes on the stall. I bought this bracelet along with a necklace on my first visit, and a seaside themed bracelet on another shopping trip. I specifically chose this bracelet as I loved the pepsi can!

Along with the bracelet, I accessorized with my owl brooch (I love owls!), my anchor ring, and my little purple rose earrings. A random mix, but I liked it! I've had the brooch and earrings for a couple of years now.



 I was also wearing these two nail colours (red on the fingers, purple on the toes), which I picked up on the ASOS website for just £2.00 each on the weekend. The bright red Barry M nail polish is my all time favourite, and I just had to order a new bottle when I realised how gloopy the one I owned had become. I've been wearing this colour regularly all through my twenties and I love the colour more and more as time goes on. It's become my signature nail colour. I haven't used Rimmel nail polish since my teens, but I was impressed by how well it managed. It went on easily, dried smoothly, and only took two coats to get an even colour- not bad for a couple of hundred pennies!

Dress: AX Paris

Cardigan: New Look

Leggings: New Look

Bag: Accessorize

Bracelet: Abilu Creations

Brooch: Accessorize

Earrings: 99% sure they're Accessorize

Nail Polish: Barry M and Rimmel via ASOS

I promise to try harder to post regularly again. I really will.  I have actually been around catching up on other blogs and working on improving my own. It's still a work in progress, but hopefully when I'm done Polka Spots and Freckle Dots will be nicer to look at, more organised, and easier to navigate. Let me know what you think so far, and if there's anything you'd like to see more of from me here in the future. I do have a few ideas for future posts, but I'm open to opinions and suggestions!

Night guys,

Bright Eyes

A year ago, I wouldn't have thought anything of spending fifty quid on something I wanted just after pay day. It's not that I had a high income, as I didn't, but I was quite the impulsive and frivolous shopper. I was one of those girls who spent the majority of her disposable income during the first week or two of the month, and spent the last two weeks scraping by. I know I'm not the only one...

Today, fifty quid is a big chunk of my income, but I don't feel like I go without because I've learnt to spend wisely. I buy the things I love most online using discount codes and promotions where possible or sell old things on ebay to buy new ones. My wardrobe is now filled with beautiful clothes I wear regularly which were bought on a budget.

I spent a couple of days last week deciding between a forest-green shirt from H&M, or some Lush make up. I really wanted to buy both, but I couldn't afford to, so chose the make up.

 Lush brought out a new make up range called Emotional Brilliance in July, which I was immediately very excited about as I adored their late Sister make up company Bnevertoobusytobebeautiful which folded a few years ago. I probably owned at least three quarters of the range. Now Lush have introduced a small make up collection of cream eyeliners and shadows, lipsticks, mascara, and bases, which I personally think are very similar to the make up B used to sell which makes me very, very happy!

I ordered the parcel on Saturday and it arrived yesterday.



I ordered three eye liners, and a toner tab. They were very well packed in biodegradable materials.



The hardest part for me was deciding what colours to choose this time, as I like them all. I eventually chose to buy a vibrant lime green (Healthy), a two-toned peacock blue (Motivation), and a bright purple (Feeling Secure), which are all eyeliners. Although the idea with Emotional Brilliance is to wear the colours we're first drawn to on their colour wheels as the colours we're drawn to on different days tell us what moods we're feeling. Healthy was actually one of mine (how ironic!), but I feel most people will just buy the colours they like at the end of the day. I was drawn to a bright orange lipstick on the colour wheel, but I don't think I'd ever wear an orange lip.

I also treated myself to this toner tab called A Token to the Forest Gods as it was only £1. I haven't used the toner tabs before, but this one has a lovely citrus scent, and the reviews for it on their website were very positive. The idea is to pop one in a bowl of hot water, and let the steam cleanse the face (the face of course, lowered above the bowl with a towel over the head to trap in the moisture).

Everything in the box...

Lush also provided a free copy of their catalogue, The Lush Times, which is great as I spilt a drink over the last one before I had a chance to read it.  There are also some applicator brushes in the 'Fighting Animal Testing' bag.

The bottles are a really good size, but still small and light enough to take on the go. They're about the size of a nail polish. They're each meant to have a eye liner brush in the lid, but for some reason Motivation was the only one fitted with one. I was a little peeved, but luckily I have an eye liner brush as I really couldn't be bothered to return them. The brush is easy to work with, but quite short, so I think a longer brush would be needed to reach the bottom anyway.

The colours are all very brightly pigmented. It doesn't take much product to get a vibrant result- which is usually a look I prefer, but they're also blendable for softer looks and don't dry straight away. They can also be used as eyeshadows and worn together. Each of the colours is absolutely stunning and just like the old B shades I used to love. I can't decide which I like most!



I'm not sure if you can see the pink and yellow marks on my hand, but those are stains left behind from the purple and green liners after removing them with a cleansing wipe. They did later come off with soap and water, though.

To give you an idea of size...

My current Lush eyeshadow collection. I bought the bronze-gold 'Happiness' eyeshadow a week or two ago.

I haven't done a full image for my closed lids as my eyebrows need sorting and my make up wasn't that neat, but I tried out Healthy over the lids and Motivation as a liner on top of it yesterday. I'm also wearing Benefit's They're Real! Mascara on my lashes here.

And this is the result...

The liners were very soft and nourishing to my skin, went on easily, and didn't budge during the six hours or so I kept my make up on. I'm very impressed with the products, and will be buying more from the range in the near future. I've read quite a lot of reviews with people not happy with the £14.50 price, and yes they are expensive, but they're fantastic quality and the pots give you a lot for your money. They're perfect for a bit of pay day indulging! They're also great vibrant colours, vegan, and not tested on animals! What more could you ask for? I never begrudge spending a little more on make up that hasn't brought harm to defenceless animals.

Lush have definitely provided me with a new obsession and as always, I'm a very happy Lush shopper!

Have you bought anything from Lush's new make up range yet? Are you planning to buy in the future?

Rain clouds come to play again...

Evening guys,

I'm back!

Some of you may have noticed the lack of outfit posts from me over the last ten days or so, and for that I apologise. I've been struggling with some of the worst back pain I've had all year, and my teeth have been joining in, too. (Little violins are serenading me as I type...) So, I've been curled up all week in my PJs looking like a miserable scruff in no shape for posing. Thankfully I had some Wish Lists and Challenge posts lined up in my drafts to fill the void, but I've really wanted to share my new skirt with you all.

I bought the skirt last week in the sale with belated birthday money from my Sister. I did order the Hummingbird print dress I'd been admiring for ages, too, but I sent it straight back as it looked awful on me and the collar felt cheap and nasty. The skirt, however, is a dream...

 Vintage episodes of Home and Away on my very old TV!

The hummingbird print skirt had been on my wish list for quite some time, so it didn't take long for me to buy it when I saw it in the Dorothy Perkins sale last week. I've been making it my mission to hunt down perfect skirts and this is definitely one of them. It's super soft, lined, falls to a good length on me- just below my knees, and has a stretchy waist band. I could have sized down as it's generously cut, but luckily the waist band behaves itself. I also love the way it moulds to my shape without clinging. The fabric and print is beautiful- I wish I'd bought the polka dot version as well now.

I didn't realise until after uploading these photos that my skirt was sitting a bit low...

I never really know what to pair with skirts. I have no trouble teaming tops with jeans or trousers, but for some reason dressing skirts is a little harder for me. Probably as my top collection is currently very sparse. I decided to team it with this polka dot top which has a cute crochet collar. It's actually a bubble hem top, which I've had for a few years. I haven't worn it much as it's a little big on me- especially on top, but I still think it's cute.

Polka Spots and Freckle Dots... and cute collar details.

I wore the skirt and top with His Royal Highness, The Frog Prince. Isn't he beautiful? I think everyone needs a purple rhinestone Frog Prince in their lives!

And I also wore my Maggie Angus howling wolf necklace. May I point out that that's not a scratch on his nose, just a stray strand of acrylic from the edging. He's mirrored so what you can see is my ceiling fan.

The skirt has beautiful hummingbird couples all over the fabric.

Skirt: Dorothy Perkins

Top: New Look

Ring: ASOS

Necklace: Maggie Angus

Nail Polish: Barry M Racing Green

This is how I wore it on the weekend, with a navy lace vest (which has a scalloped hem), and a black cropped cardigan. I think I like it better this way.

I've done very little spending this past week. I had to choose between buying the forest green H&M shirt, or some Lush make up. And the Lush make up won. Brightly coloured make up is one of my favourite vices, especially coming from a company that used to have the best make up Sister company in the land. I spent more than half of my remaining bank balance on three eye shadows and a toner tab, which came today, but more on that in my next post...

I'm also working on airbrushing my blog at the moment. I've lots of little ideas and plans in my head to make this blog a little more personal and pretty. The layout and fonts will be staying the same now, but I'll probably add more images and tabs to the gadget bar. If there's anything you'd like to see more of on my blog, leave me a message and let me know!

Night guys,

Some more of my favourite things...

Hey guys,

I've got some more of my personal fashion favourites to share with you today. You've seen plenty of my favourites from across the web, and today my best picks are from River Island, AX Paris, and Domino Dollhouse.

River Island

These River Island tops have such pretty detail. I love the embroidery, the scalloped hems, the embellished necklines, the polka dots, and the colours of the fabric. I adore the colour of the forest green polka dot top, and really love the scalloped top above it. Perfect for wearing all year round with endless outfit possibilities.

River Island always have such fabulous accessories. I've long been a fan of their satchels, and think adding a fourth to my collection in the form of the one above couldn't hurt! The Russian doll accessories are adorable, and if I couldn't add them to my collection, they'd make perfect Christmas presents for one of my Sisters who loves Russian Dolls. And how awesome are the bowler hat earrings, and disguise rings?! The little knit hat looks so cosy for Winter, too.

Domino Dollhouse

I've never shopped with Domino Dollhouse, but I keep admiring the range. I've seen this beautiful maxi dress on so many bloggers, and each time I fall in love with it more and more. It's so pretty and unusual. I've also been admiring the amazing petticoats for months and would love one to wear under full-skirted dresses for a fifties look. I do admit it's a little frivolous on my budget, though- but one day I want to own one. The only problem would be deciding which colour to buy first! The bicycle ring is also nothing short of amazing, and I love the polka dot hair bands!

AX Paris

AX Paris has had some beautiful designs this S/S, and I think it's definitely one to watch. I really love seeing all the different printed dresses, and especially love the pink cat print skater dress. It's currently in the sale, and I'm tempted to buy it. The other pieces above also stand out to me. The skirt looks so floaty and fairy-like, and the mint bag is rather cute.

Which one is your favourite?

Do you shop at AX Paris, Domino Dollhouse or River Island?

ASOS Wish List

ASOS is one of my favourite places to shop from. There are always so many gorgeous things to choose from, and even better they offer free delivery; which is such an appealing trait on a limited budget.

I love logging on to ASOS and browsing through pages and pages of clothes, bags, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories. It's rare that I don't find at least a few things I want to buy.

At the moment I have my eye on quite a lot!

I'm not usually one to wear a lot of black or white, but I seem to be drawn to several pieces in these colours right now.

I'm in love with the raccoon print shirt! Cute animals on clothes are so hard to resist, and this shirt is no exception. Shirts are a garment my wardrobe is lacking; but they're so versatile and would look cute with jeans, skirts, trousers, and under dresses.

I love the pink piping to the black midi dress, and that it has longer sleeves. I still adore the printed black midi, but it's still a little on the expensive side for me.

I also really love the v-neck sweater dresses, and plan on buying one or two for Autumn/Winter. It's so difficult to find v-neck Winter dresses- they so often have a scoop neck which I hate wearing as the neckline broadens my shoulders and leaves me feeling frumpy. So, finding a v neck sweater dress, which also falls to the knee, and also has good length sleeves is nothing short of a miracle. I can't decide which colour I love more.

This dog print shirt is also high on my wish list. The print is adorable; I love the shape of the sleeves; and I love the bow to the neckline.

How cute is this floral prom dress? The print is nothing short of amazing. The coral polka dot midi is also easy on the eye.

Novelty knits are also having a moment on my heart right now. I particularly love the hedgehog print sweater, and the lip print one beside it. They'd certainly brighten up any A/W outfit.

 The 'I'm With The Boyband' sweater just made me think of my Boyzone girls... perfect for tour time! Haha.

I know these aren't the most stylish of knits, but I can't help thinking how cosy the over sized cardigan would be on a frosty Winters day over a pair of jeans or jeggings.

Anybody who knows me knows that I'm obsessed with bags and ASOS's current selection is no exception. Bird print, anchors, cats, and a hedgehog... amazing! I'm in bag heaven!

I'm not a fan of trainers, but I do love my Converse and have always wanted a pair of Vans. They're great for those comfortable, dressed down days and speak to the edgier part of my personality. I love these polka dot and star print designs which are everywhere at the moment, and I can't help loving the floral flatforms. Are flatforms as comfortable as they look?

And I couldn't browse ASOS without having a peek at their accessories. There are so many to choose from, and they have so many pieces which won't break the bank. Moustaches, and animals seem to currently be catching my eye. I'm head over heels in love with the tortoise belt- I mean, seriously, tortoises! On a belt! It's probably the best belt I've ever seen! I'd quite like to have the floral spiked bracelet, too.

Are you lusting after any of these pieces? Do you own any of them?

What's on your ASOS wishlist?