weekly haul #1...holiday special

The past few weeks have been so depressing as I haven't been able to leave the house much.  Especially when the weather has been so lovely, it's such a shame not to be able to go out to enjoy the beautiful sunshine.  I joined the gym a few days ago as I love the feel-good rush you get after a work-out, plus I'm determined to get myself into shape for my bikini.  Lying on the couch doubled over in pain results in me comfort eating, which then results in me gaining weight around the mid-riff.  I don't like this, at all!  So the gym will be my second home now for the next 4 weeks.

Yesterday I went on a shopping trip to the Metro Centre (my friends know just how to cheer me up!), so it was a perfect opportunity to get in some goodies to update my summer wardrobe in preparation for our Moroccan holiday.  Of course, being skint students, the first shop we headed to was...PRIMARK!  Where else?  My boyfriend refuses to enter, but you can't go wrong in Primark for bargain holiday clothes.  I am very happy with my lovely purchases...

ABOVE: Suitcase £20 Primark

First on my list was a cute suitcase, as I am taking stand against my Dad insisting I use one of his boring ugly black monstrosities.  I was delighted to pick up this little beauty for £20.  Finally, a suitcase I don't have to tie a coloured shopping bag to in order to recognise it on the endless stream of cases on the airport luggage belt!

ABOVE:  Leather sandals £6 reduced from £12 Primark, 

lime bandeau top £2.50 Primark, Aztec print shorts £3 Primark

I was in desperate need of holiday wardrobe essentials (shorts, sandals, vests).  Primark is my #1 destination for said items; if I had bought the Topshop equivalent of the above outfit it would have cost at least £50.  But for £11.50, I picked up a lime green bandeau, real leather sandals (FOR £6, AMAZING!) at half price and some funky Aztec print shorts.  For some reason I'm scared of wearing bright colours, so I've been gradually adding   bolder pieces to my wardrobe to try and wean me off my usual choices of navy and black.  

ABOVE: Aztec print bralet £6 Primark, pink jelly sandals £4 Primark

I was absolutely ecstatic when I nabbed this Aztec print bralet at an unbelievably cheap price of £6.  I have been after something like this for ages.  I don't think I'm confident enough yet to wear this with shorts as I'd have too much belly on show, but I think it will look fab with my high-waisted maxi skirt.  And of course, how could I resist a pair of jelly sandals when they were only £4?  They are my guilty pleasure - I used to love them as a child!  The 90's children amongst you will remember the silver and pink glittery ones we used to lust after...

On the subject of jelly sandals, another pair I couldn't resist were from River Island - they currently have 40% off selected items and these were included!  I nabbed them for £10 instead of £18.  I think I have all bases covered now when it comes to sandals - leather, metallic, blingtastic, girly... I promise I won't buy another pair. 

ABOVE: Beaded jelly sandals £10 reduced from £18 River Island

As my friends know, I am absolutely addicted to perfume.  Perfume is my thing - I must have at least 30 bottles, a mixture of yet to-be-opened, empty and half full, littering my dressing table.  I was on the hunt for a summery, fresh hand-bag sized spray I could pop in my beach bag, and I found a perfect mini version of CK One Shock (20ml bottle) from Boots.  I used my Boots £5 off fragrance voucher and nabbed this for £7 instead of £12.  Get yours quick!

ABOVE: CK One Shock 20ml £7 instead of £12 with Boots £5 off fragrance voucher 

And finally, the last thing on my list was a couple of new lipsticks.  I intended to buy another nude lipstick (shade #3) from the Kate Moss for Rimmel range.  I absolutely adore it, and it's the only lipstick I've ever used fully.  I was chuffed to see new shades had been added to the range, and couldn't help but investing in the newest nude shade (#26) which is slightly lighter and more sheer than #3, as well as the light coral pink shade (#16).  I find nudes and pinks work best on me (and most other girls) when they are a lovely sunkissed colour!  I will review these at a later date.

ABOVE: Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick (shades #16 + #26) on promotion for £3.99 instead of the usual price of £5.49 Boots

So, what have you all been buying for your summer holidays?

I can't wait for some sunshine!

Love, kisses + ponytails

xo

CJG for Topshop

I'm sure a lot of you here already know that on Thursday, Chloe Green (daughter of THE Sir Philip Green a.k.a THE OWNER OF ARCADIA) launched her debut shoe collection for Topshop, following in the perfectly manicured footsteps of Kate Moss.

With prices ranging from £115-£175 (ouch!), the range isn't exactly purse friendly - well, it is if you're prepared to live on a diet of white rice, pasta and beans until your next student loan comes in.  But, a girl can dream.  

Here's the statement Topshop issued alongside the collection...

"Inspired by her love of illustrated butterflies, hearts and charms as well as darker roses, skulls and animal motifs, innocence is set against a mystical backdrop in Chloe Green's debut shoe collection.  With each shoe named after a special person in her life and featuring her signature green sole, Chloe hopes you'll enjoy wearing her shoes as much as she loved designing them."

Considering the prices are so eye-wateringly steep, I must admit there's not many of the designs which really induce serious shoe lust.  If I was to shell out a small fortune on a pair of heels I would a. have to fall deeply, madly in love with them at first sight, and b. would have to make sure they were versatile enough to dress up or dress down as not to be worn once.  


However, I do have favourites ("LYDIA" £165 and "BELLA BEA" £150).  Shame that they're the most expensive too!  They're girly, have a wedge heel (SO COMFORTABLE!) and the colours are really light and summery.  


I can just imagine myself now wearing them; with my broderie anglaise sun-dress, or with a vest and denim cut-offs, or even with my floral playsuit...  The list goes on and on, but unless I inherit a small fortune and a country manor house from an Aunt I never knew existed, or win the lottery, the likelihood of me owning a pair of these beauties are  slim to none.

What do you think of the collection?  

Love/hate?  Maybe you've bought a pair? (DAMN YOU!)

Love, kisses and ponytails

xo