I'M ALIVE.

Hi all! Well, this is just a short post to let everyone know that I'm well and truly alive. My liver on the other hand is just about functioning and would most definitely need to continue doing so; value vodka is not, and will NEVER be your friend.

On a lighter and less worrying note, winter has arrived. Oh, and how FABULOUS are the Winter '09/10 collections? Drool worthy is most definitely an understatement, which is oh so ironic now that I'm a poor student with no job. Oh, what's that you say, an overdraft? Hm, yes I think so. My wishlist seems to keep growing and growing and nothing is being crossed off, then again one could argue that the purchase of a Matthew Williamson fur coat isn't entirely justifiable. However, one could also argue that one must keep warm in these chilly months; I'm not partial to frostbite, then again I am living in Wales and not Norway. Gah, logic strikes again.

So, two recent and very justifiable (and cute) purchases include:

An excellent purchase given it practically rains non-stop in Wales, jumping in puddles has never been so much fun.

I love my Barbour jacket, it's so country chic and best of all; it's practical. Rain, wind or shine and I'm dry. Don your riding jodhpurs and riding boots and you'll have the country chic look mastered.

Much love to everyone, I'm looking forward to getting back to my blogging ways. I look forward to hearing from all you lovelies again. Much love..

S.B. x

I'm a calorie slut.

There, I said it. I'm a calorie slut. Seriously, I always eat things these days and never bat an at lid when I think about the calorie content. I was doing so well on my diet. Well, okay I sort of cracked half way through week two, but come on, it was banoffee!

I was out shopping yesterday and bought a few lovely goods (hoorray). Pictures to follow in due course, naturally! So, I ate in pizza express, yum. Which of course is fine, the Italians are skinny, so I figure if I eat Italian food I'll be alright, you know. That's the plan anyway. I however hate how I always seem to stop for a Starbucks, even if it's just a little too warm. I'll get a nice Caramel Macchiato, and if it's hot I'll get a frappuccino. Crap. Do you know how many calories there are in those things? Answer; far too many for a girl trying to fit into her trousers! Blegh.

Check out the Starbucks nutritional guide, although it should come with some sort of health warning as it could scare the hell out of you when you read what you're actually consuming! A grande Hazelnut Mocha works out at 334 calories (BOO!) and my favourite Caramel Macchiato (grande, of course, there's never enough in a tall) works out at 269 calories. I mean, I know I'm a calorie slut, but there's being a slut, and then there's being a fully certified whore!

So, you're probably wondering why I care so much. Well, this is why. The Net-a-Porter sale (for us non-US residents) ended yesterday, so the suspense was building and I felt as if I had to buy something. So, I remembered the Alexander Wang trousers that I've been eyeing up for quite some time now. Lo and behold, they had them in my size. I was in straight in there and out like a hitman, and now they're mine..

Now, I probably won't be able to breathe or function in them, but hey if they look good! I'm excited, oh, and I've been after J Brand skinny jeans for SO long now but they either don't stock them in my size, or the right colour, OR fit that I'm after. Boo. Browns recently sold out of my size, please re-stock, please!

Anyway, pictures of my other recent purchases shall be uploaded later. Now, off to work to earn myself some money. You know what? I fancy myself a little Starbucks. I know I know, but come on, it's cold outside..

Spot the difference

So here I am, browsing the internet after a well deserved shopping trip. Now that I come to think of it, every shopping trip is well deserved, anyway, I digress. So, I'm on ASOS, having a little peak at this and that, when I see THIS sequin shirt..

Honestly, how similar is it to the shirt I posted the other day? (the sequin black shirt that was too large for me). Well, it's practically the same, bar the fact that the Armani shirt is pink and retails at £475, with a sale price of £238! Whereas the shirt I found is a fraction of the price (around £100, see below).

If you like the above black shirt, and are interested in it, then send me a comment or email and we could arrange some sort of deal. If you're into your 80's clothing, then definitely send me an email (or again, a comment) as I've a box of 80's clothing. I mean, we're talking full on 80's i.e. NEON colours, huge shoulder pads etc. An individualistic take on the Topshop trends, so if you're interested, the clothes are there. 

It's amazing what you find when you're not looking! Got mothers/friends that hoard their clothes from years ago? Have a rummage around their wardrobes (with permission obvs, don't get done for trespassing/burglary ha), you never know, you could find something that's bang on trend.

S.B. x

Books glorious books!

Follow my blog with bloglovin

I'm a self confessed book addict. Much like clothes, only perhaps worse, shock horror; WORSE. I must be kept away from all stores that stock books, honestly, or I will splurge (no word of a lie, ha). I'll have a quick glance over the blurb, check the style of writing and if it's readable (and is in English, pft) then I'll more than likely snap it up.

I mean, honestly Tescos' did you really have to go and put a book isle in my local store? No, no, you really didn't. So, I pop in the other night with the intent of buying rabbit food aka lettuce (so blah), and some pimento olives (dangerously good), but end up leaving with an array of books (five to be exact). I lost one of them, it may be in my car, or failing that I saw my cat lying on a book of some description the other day. So, scrap that, make it four books. Oh, and I spent £45 in Waterstones the other day, 'my goodness, on what' I hear you say..um lets see, BOOKS.

I'm  a real sucker for those books with the cute packaging, you know, sort of coffee table books. 'Things I wish my mother told me'. I feel as if I'm actually learning something, so those are often the ones that I overbuy on (as I say whilst browsing Amazon as I type..).

I LOVE India Knight, the Times columnist that has launched several insightful books (with ridiculously enticing packaging...). Yeah you geddit', I love the packaging of books! No one wants an ugly book on their coffee table, right?

It's so cute, and more to the point, Knight dispenses excellent advice i.e. 'how to look expensive', a list of websites with fashion deals and even a section on money. Although I did have a quick glance over this section, I'm sure it's great, and by a quick glance I mean I skipped it. All that talk about credit cards etc is tempting more so than off putting, and the last thing I need right now is debt, trust me..

Next up, we have 'The Goddess Guide' by the much loved Gisele Scanlon. This book is a favourite of mine, I always look to it when I've spilt something over a certain fabric and want to know how to remove the stain. Or what the certain cut of that dress is, or how to flatter your figure, etc. It's so informative, yet so chic. An absolute winner, oh, and did I mention the packaging is cute?!

I've learnt so many wonderful little facts from this book, the layout is easy and it's perfect for those on the go. The book is set out in an article per day style, making it easy to read, and very enjoyable. The book covers lots of areas, from the art of truffle making to where the symbols on the Westminster lamp-posts REALLY came from. Again, an absolute winner.

Then there's chick lit, check out some of my favourites;

- I heart New York by Lindsey Kelk

- One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell

- Who's That Girl by Alexandra Potter

- Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones

- Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger

- Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Wesberger

- Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

- Rumour Has it by Jill Mansell

S.B. x

Back to basics.

When it comes to fashion, why do so many people skip the basics and jump headfirst into the trends? It's like buying a pair of glasses, and forgetting about the most important part; the lenses. 

I'm a firm believer that the basics of ANY outfit should be conquered first. I believe each and every lady should own a good quality vest in a variety of colours.

C&C California is definitely one of my favourite brands that offers chic basics at reasonable prices. Their collection is practical, washes well and honestly is a real winner. Classic cut vest tops should be the first stop for any aspiring fashionista, they're amazing. Check 'em out!

I love this top, it's so chic and well, basic. Wear it with your favourite jeans, a blazer and heels. Or, with highwaisted trousers. Buy a long vest top, and wear it as a dress with your favourite oversized sunglasses. OR, you can never go wrong with a white vest top, a show stopper necklace, super skinny jeans, heels, an oversized bag and of course equally as oversized sunglasses. 

Ps. How ridiculously drunk does the girl in the photo not look? Sorry C&C, but that's one dodgy looking model you have there. She looks like she's doing the classic facebook pose on one VERY eventful night out, ha.

If you don't fancy C&C California, try Zara. I've bought vest tops from there in the past for £6 a pop, they're fab, wash well and come in lovely pastel colours. What's not to love? Throw a silk scarf around your neck, and you're good to go. Hermès twilly anyone? Silk scarves are SO underrated. They can take something so plain and basic to another level, try a cashmere scarf in winter to add an instant pop of colour to an outfit.

Talk about the bare necessities ladies!

S.B. x

Hé, cheveux intéressants

 Love J'adore? Ha, get it, 'do you love I love'. Okay, no, never mind. Anyway, for all the other Dior fanatics out there, Dior have released a J'adore hair mist. Which is a pretty good idea, you know, one of those impulse purchases. I stood with a 'wooow' face last night when the makeup artist at my Dior counter told me, I guess she knows I'm a sucker for anything that's Dior and smells good/looks nice. 

It costs roughly £24, comes in the cute J'adore packaging and is made to smell the same as J'adore (obvss), minus the alcohol factor. 

OH, and Dior have released a higher concentrated version of J'adore. I spritzed a few squirts of it last night, aka, covered myself in it and boy is it strong. It smells lovely, comes in the same J'adore bottle and the liquid itself looks darker than the original perfume. So, if you're like me and enjoy a perfume that's strong, so much so that it smells as if you've been bathing in it, then yeah you'll love this one!

P.s. Check out your Dior counter, there may very well be a sale on as Dior have changed the packaging of certain items i.e. nail polishes, lipsticks, lipglosses so you could grab a nice bargain!

Mm, this well and truly is my new favourite scent. Prices start at £24 (good price, eh?), and it honestly smells fab. Thank god for the SA that gave me about 6 testers of it, that should keep me going until I buy it tonight, ha.

S.B. x

My goodies? Not ma' goodies..

Well, today at work I was up in the attic having a clear out. I was actually looking for props for a window display and came across this box. Naturally, I had a nosy, and ended up finding some goodies! This was one of the boxes in which I found some of the stuff (which dates back to the 80's, ha. oldschool or what?)..

I found the above lil number in the box, it was nice on but was huge. Very retro. I saw a blazer-come-shirt very similar to this in Topshop a few weeks ago..

The above blazer-come-shirt was lovely on. I know it's retro, in fact, vintage ha. It unfortunately was too large to pull off even as oversized, it's cool though. Sequins are everywhere, so it would've been nice to have nabbed it as a vintage piece..oh well.

The above two nail varnishes are my favourite colours are the moment. Chanel nail varnishes are by far the best I've ever used, better than OPI and Nails Inc etc..give Chanel a go if you haven't already!

I LOVE the shirt in the above picture, I found it in the clearance outlet at work. It's fab, feels gorgeous and honestly is so versatile. I was told this shirt was very popular with the 70 year old ladies, ha, I lovveee it. Kinda cool, huh? Oh, and oversized shirts are SO in (see Donna Karen). Love it!

This blazer was SUCH a find. I was having a maul around, saw this blazer hanging on a rail, had a peak and saw it was my size. So, I tried it on and fell in love. The blazer honestly is in pristine condition, and the stitching detailing is fab, even the lining. It nips me in at the back and makes me look like I've a great waist; excellentteee.

I'm wearing my Louis Vuitton clutch with the outfit, it's practically vintage (at least 20-30 years old), it however has been heavily loved so it's falling apart a little. Boooo.

I bought this dress from Topshop and it arrived this morning, so no, it's far from vintage haha. It fits amazingly, I was worried it would cling in all the wrong places, but it does the exact opposite which is surprising as it's quite a clingy material. I loovvve the Balmain inspired shoulders, they aren't overly exaggerated here, but it's obvious in real life. The dress will look fab with my astraqueen CL booties. All hail Christophe Decarnin!

Ohh, I offered to organise the selling of a lot of hats. Basically, in work, we have around 80 hats boxed (at least). As an upmarket store we used to sell hats to ladies for events. The clientele however no longer exists where we're situated, so we've a lot of overstock. So, I offered to sort the hats out from the attic, to take pictures and to email companies that would possibly be interested in buying them in bulk. I've somehow ended up having to do the same with sample wedding dresses i.e. Stewart Parvin, etc. I'm excited, it'll be fun organising them, AND I get a percentage of the sales price for which they'll all go for. HOOORRAAAYY!

Chanel 2.55 anyone? Oh, and a bottle of Moet too s'il vous plait!

S.B. x