Trimming My Stash - September 2015 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews

Up until last night, September's Trimming My Stash performance could have been described in one word, rubbish! but 24 hours is a long time in football, and in beauty as it happens, so instead this month's empties total looks a little bit more respectable then maybe it could have done.

MAC Shadestick - Cakeshop -1.5g
Alpha H - Liquid Gold With Glycolic Acid - 50ml
My Little Beauty Sailor Scrub - Salty Fresh - 75ml
Bumble And Bumble Bb Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Sulfate Free Shampoo - 60ml
Bumble And Bumble Bb Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Conditioner - 60ml
Total - 5 Items 

5 items doesn't exactly equal a vintage performance but it's way better than the 3 that it would have been this time yesterday. Nothing was exactly huge in size but still I finished a good variety of things even if the make up item is a tiny bit of a cheat and  I've also been good and not included the Agadir Argan Oil sachets that I finished a few weeks ago - bottles, jars, tubes and full sized sachets only :)

1. MAC Shadestick - Cakeshop - 1.5g

Released many moons ago as part of the Sugarsweet collection, Cakeshop was a beautiful, taupey, silvery, green, cream shadow in a stick. I know Shadesticks weren't that popular with a lot people, which is probably why they were discontinued, but I quite liked them. They were ideal for lazy people like me, just scribble a bit on your eyelid, blend out really quick and you're good to go. They also made quite a decent base for powder shadows because they weren't too wet or too creamy. I must admit I haven't shown this one a lot of love lately, so it was no surprised that when I went to use it today that last half an inch was dry and crumbly :( It's a shame because this was a really nice colour - ah well at least I have another Back 2 MAC item x You can see some pictures of my Shadestick collection including this shade here x

2. Alpha H Liquid Gold With Glycolic Acid - 50ml

I love, love, love the feeling of acids and exfoliating toners on my skin. I'm prone to quite uneven and bumpy skin, and I have quite large and visible pores so I find that they really with the texture and the feel of my skin. I've used quite a few now but I keep coming back to Liquid Gold. I personally don't feel much of a tingle when I use it anymore but I can still feel, and see the difference when I use it. Acids and liquid exfoliants are a huge part of my skincare routine now, and whilst Alpha H is a brand I'll keep coming back to (I already have another large bottle in my stash), I'm always keen to try new things and I'm currently waiting for some Pixi Glow Tonic from QVC, and I have a little bottle of Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting Lotion to use, so I'm well prepared for all skin texture emergencies.

3. My Little Beauty Sailor Scrub - Salty Fresh - 75ml

I'm a huge body scrub lover and I particularly love salt scrubs so I really pleased to get this own brand product in a recent My Little Box. This easy to massage, salt scrub, had a lovely fresh, but not overpowering, fresh, aquatic fragrance. It was a nice gritty scrub. that was strong enough to give you a decent scrub but it wasn't too scratchy or harsh. I really liked this and if it was more readily available I might consider a repurchase x

4. Bumble And Bumble Bb Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Sulfate Free Shampoo - 60ml
5. Bumble And Bumble Bb Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Conditioner - 60ml

I was sent both of these products to review and I recently posted a full review which you can see here. I'd love it if you'd have a read but in case you don't fancy all I'll say is that I was impressed enough with both of the products to make a little Space NK purchase x

So from 3 to 5 in 24 hours, sometimes you just have to focus and try and use a few things up. I'm really hoping, well I already know that October is bound to be better, I'm nearing the end of 3 skincare products, and a fragrance, so fingers crossed I'll end 2015 with a few decent months. Have you tried any of the products that I finished this month? Let me know your thoughts x

Isle Of Wolf Natural Perfumed Candle - Lavender Garden - A Review For My Pure*

The nights are really drawing in now, it getting darker earlier and there is definitely a nip in the air. Although I'm going to keep praying for an Indian summer, I think I'm more likely to need my scarf rather than my sandals!

I burn candles all year round, but there is something about burning a candle when it's dark and cold outside that makes you feel all warm, and cosy. Although I'm normally quite a hot person, I'm really feeling the cold at the moment so I decided to try and warm myself up. at least mentally, with a candle from one of the two brands available at My Pure, Isle Of Wolf.

Isle of Wolf are a family firm that are based in Latvia, on the edge of the Baltic Sea, who make candles in the traditional way. Their candles are made from pure plant waxes, they use lead free cotton wicks, and they're fragranced with only 100% pure essential oils. Their candles are also free from genetically modified ingredients and they are suitable for vegans.

Way back in February I reviewed my first candle from Isle Of Wolf and I have to say I was impressed. The Cinnamon Spice scent I reviewed then, was warm and comforting and whilst I want something comforting, this time I wanted something a bit more relaxing so I went for one of their many floral fragrances, Lavender Garden.

Lavender is one of those fragrances that people often love or hate, and it's easy to see why. When it's artificial and done badly, it's a powdery ,sickly excuse for a scent but when it's done properly, and with good essential oils, it will take you somewhere else, and that's exactly what this candle did.

From the moment that this beautiful ivory, gold, and lilac packaged candle arrived, the scent filled my home. You didn't even need to light it to experience the beautiful fresh, relaxing lavender scent. Yes the lavender dominates and this is most definitely a lavender candle but it also contains geranium, mint and fresh green notes to give it some more depth.

This candle is beautifully presented in a recycled, black glass votive, and it features an attached heat and scratch proof coaster which is a nice touch. This candle looks expensive and the black of the votive contrasts beautifully with the white, creamy wax candle inside.

Like the previous candle, that I tried from the brand, this candle had a clean, easy burn with very little sooting. The scent is strong enough to fill a room but again this one is probably best suited for more intimate fragrancing. For me this is a perfect bedroom candle, the scent is relaxing, and the stylish glass votive, and the quality of the ingredients gives it that sort of boutique, hotel feel.

Candles are available at every price point that you can think of, and whilst these candles from Isle Of Wolf, aren't the cheapest out there, what your getting is an environmentally sound, quality product, that has that a Pinterest worthy, glossy magazine look. These candles also burn for around 40 hours which is pretty impressive for the 190ml size. I've tried two candles from this brand now and I've been impressed with both of them so for me they are well worth the investment and I'll definitely be trying some more fragrances in the future. Isle Of Wold Natural Perfumed Candle in Lavender Garden retails at £20 from My Pure. Are you a fan of lavender? Let me know x

*Sample

A Small Shower Haul And A Mini Lush Shower Smoothie Review

It's been nearly four months now since my bathtub was replaced with a wet room, and despite the fact that I'm willing embracing this showering thing, I still miss my bath at times. Showering just doesn't feel as relaxing or as luxurious as wallowing in a bubble bath but I'm having to make the best of it so I decided to pick up a few products to make my showering experience a bit more special.

First up I placed a little Lush order, it was so strange making a Lush purchase without ordering a ballistic but they have plenty of shower products so it was pretty easy to find an alternative. There was no question what the first product would be - The Comforter Shower Cream. This is exactly what I thought it would be - moisturising, full of berry fruits, citrus and shimmer. The smell is amazing and it feels really nice and creamy on the skin.

The second thing that I've got I have to admit didn't wow me at all. I'd tried the Shower Jellies but I'd never tried the Shower Smoothie's before so I decided to try the yummy sounding Blueberry Roulade Shower Smoothie. These are basically solid bars of shower product - they are a softer than soap and the idea is that you massage them over the body, add water and they produce a foam.

Well where do we start, first of all the smell - From the description I expected something fruity and berry like, but this actually had a very strong, floral aroma that I wasn't particularly keen on - It's one of the perils of ordering online I guess that you can't smell something before you buy it! I decided to try it out never the less and I have to say I was even more disappointed - I found it really hard to produce any sort of foam with it and after I'd used it my skin felt really dry and tight :( I'm normally a huge fan of Lush so I'm really hoping that this is a one off. If you've tried any of the other Shower Smoothies I'd love to hear what you think and if you have any recommendations x

This haul has a bit of fruity theme and the next two items that I picked up were some budget buys from Superdrugs own brand.

I think shower foams are one of the best ways to make a shower, a more indulgent and luxurious experience. I love the Imperial Leather ones that I've reviewed and I saw these budget offerings from Superdrug I thought I'd give them a try. There are 4 varieties to choose from and they retail at £1.99 for 150ml can, but they are currently on special at 2 for £3, so I went to two scents Orange and Satsuma, and Strawberry and Raspberry. I'm going to do a full review of these in a week or so, so fingers crossed that they're nice x

The final shower product that I got is something that a lot of bloggers seem to have picked up - the Imperial Leather Mouthwatering Fruit Salad Shower Creme.

I can really see why this one is proving so popular, to me it doesn't smell exactly like the Fruit Salad sweets of my childhood but has a gorgeous sweet, yet tart, fruity scent. It's not the most moisturising product that I've used but the smell certainly make up for it. I'm also thinking of getting the Sherbet Lemon variety so let me know if you've tried it x I got mine from Boots where it's on offer at just £1 for 250ml compared to £1.80 in Superdrug, so get it while you can if your interested

I'm really trying to embrace this whole shower thing so if you have any shower product recommendations I'd love to hear them x

Sample Saturday - Agadir Argan Oil Daily Moisturizing Shampoo And Conditioner*

As much as I love finishing beauty products and racking up those empties, sometimes it can be a double edged sword. Last week I finished both a shampoo and a conditioner from a kit that I've been loving lately, and seeing those empty bottles made me feel a little bit sad :(  I've written a full review in a previous post but the products made me feel like I'd given my hair a serious moisture boost so obviously I went straight online and ordered some replacements.

Whilst I was waiting for them to come though, I still needed to wash my hair and give it the TLC that it so desperately needs, so I had a little look through my sample stash and found a bagful of sample sachets from a brand called Agadir Argan Oil.

Founded in 1964, Agadir Argan Oil is a professional haircare brand, that has Argan Oil at it's heart. Unlike some brands and some cheaper products on the market Agadir only use 100% pure and certified Moroccan Argan Oil in their products, and there products aren't tested on animals. Although there is a big buzz around Argan Oil at the moment in the beauty industry, it's been used in it's native Morocco on both the hair and the skin, for many, many years and with good reason. This precious oil is famed for both both it's moisturising and nourishing properties, and it can even help improve the elasticity and strength of the hair.

The Agadir Argan Oil range contains a large variety of both care, and styling products for all hair types, and needs and I was lucky enough to be sent sample sachets of most of the products in the line. I'm going to try and review them all for you in due course but my most pressing need was shampoo and conditioner, so that's what I tried first.


Agadir Argan Oil Daily Moisturizing Shampoo - 10ml

There are two shampoos in the Agadir range and this is probably the most, all round, everyday one. Suitable for all hair types, it's both sulfate and paraben free. It contains 100% pure Argan Oil, and it also contains Vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. It also includes a unique colour preserving formulation, and is designed to leave the hair smooth and conditioned.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the sachet was the smell, as you know I'm useless at describing scents but this was a warm heady, intoxicating blend of nuttiness, woodiness and tropical flowers that lingered on the hair, without being over powering.

With a light, liquidy almost gel texture, it's almost a pearlised peach in appearance. Despite being sulfate free it foamed very easily with the addition of a small amount of water, leaving a smooth, and creamy foam. It rinsed away easily, and the hair was left feeling clean, and nourished.

I have to say on first glance I wasn't expecting a lot from this shampoo, the gel like texture didn't give me any indication of just how moisturising it was. If you like a shampoo that leaves your hair squeaky clean this isn't for you, but if you want something that seems to moisturise and smooth, unruly or dry hair then I would definitely recommend that you give this a try. I used this alongside the conditioner but if you have normal, easy to deal with hair or if you wash your hair every day, then you might be able to skip the conditioner all together. Agadir Argan Oil Daily Moisturizing Shampoo comes in a 355ml bottle and retails at around £15.30 from selected salons, D&L Hair Products and FeelUnique.

Agadir Argan Oil Daily Moisturizing Conditioner - 10ml

Although some people could probably get away without using a conditioner, at the moment I can't and my hair needs all of the nourishment it can get so I used the accompanying conditioner after shampooing.

Like the shampoo this conditioner, contains 100% pure Argan Oil, and enriched with antioxidants and Vitamin E. It aims to strengthen and repair the hair, provide shine and to keep the frizz at bay. It's also designed to protect the hair against humidity and it also contains a sunscreen to protect the hair and scalp.

At first glance again this conditioner had the potential to disappoint, although it was white and creamy looking, it just wasn't as thick as I was expecting but appearances can be deceptive and again this product impressed me. It spread easily throughout the hair and after leaving it for a few minutes, it rinsed away easily, leaving the hair smooth, tangle free, and even a little bit fuller, with leaving it feeling heavy or weighed down. After I'd dried my hair, it felt smoother, looked shinier, and the frizz had all but disappeared, and with the same heady scent as the shampoo, my hair smelled fabulous. Agadir Argan Oil Daily Moisturizing Conditioner comes in a 355ml bottles and retails at around £15.30, again from specialist salons, D&L Hair Products, and FeelUnique.

Okay I know I've only managed a couple of uses out of each sachet but I have to say my first impressions are good.  You just need a small amount of product and after just one wash my hair looked shinier and felt healthier. I know it's hard to make a judgement on just two uses but I would definitely consider purchasing both of these products in the full sizes to see the differences that long term use could potentially make to my hair.

 I hope you've found this post useful I love trying out new brands and I hope that you enjoy reading about them too x I still have a quite a few Agadir Argan Oil samples to post so make sure your following for some more Sample Saturday reviews x Thanks for reading and if you have any questions please leave me a comment x

*Samples

A Little Nail Haul Featuring Models Own, Miss Beauty And Leighton Denny

Have you ever had one of those days where you just want to pull the duvet over your head and hide? Well, I'm having one of those weeks! Mummy Lou hasn't been well, one of the cats hasn't been well and I'm not feeling particularly great myself! It never rains but it pours at times but you just need to plod on through it. Needless to say this weeks blog planning has gone out of the window but I thought it was best to get a post up rather than leave you with nothing, so apologies for the lack of variety but it's another haul post x

Although I haven't posted a nails of the day post for a while, nail polish is one of my real loves . I don't always have the best of nails but just seeing that flash of colour can make me happy. As well as being one of my loves, I guess you could say that nail polish is a bit of an addiction for me. I have an IKEA Helmer full to the brim and I still can't resist buying more.

I never need an excuse to buy nail polish but give me a special offer and I'm there! On a recent trip to the Metro Centre, I just so happened to walk past the Models Own Bottle Shop - Models Own are noted for their special offers and the offer of the day was any 5 items for £20, well it would have been wrong not to indulge, so I made a little purchase.

After a lot of deliberation I ended up going for four colours. The first two polishes came from the Sweet Shop range. These are scented polished that are themed around traditional sweets. On the left you can see NP215 - Fizzy Cola, an almost brown, taupe which is shot through with sparkle, and on the right is NP213 - Rhubarb and Custard - a gorgeous, deep, raspberry red, again shot through with gold sparkle. Both of these polishes supposedly smell like the sweeties that they represent when they're dry, I haven't tried them yet but I'll let you know what I think when I do.

The next colours that I bought come from the Models Own Hyper Gel line. These slightly thicker polishes supposedly have that gel manicure finish and wear time without the use of a UV or an LED light. In these colours  I went for two very contrasting shades - one bright and one neutral. On the left you can see SG031 - Tropical Green, which is a really vibrant lime green and on the right is SG027- Paradise Pink, which is a white based, pale pink with a hint of lilac.

To complete the offer I also got something from their make up line which I'll show you in a future post, but when I got to the till, the assistant started telling me about the Hyper Gel Gel Effect Top Coat. This wasn't included in the offer but she said it made the Hyper Gel colours last even longer and it turned any other shade into a Gel Effect Polish. I'm lazy when it comes to top coat but I decided to give this one a go anyway.

I also got a little free gift with purchase at the till, which was a mini nail buffer. I have so many of these but I can never find one when I need one, so this one was gratefully received.

Next up a couple of budget purchases from the new Miss Beauty London range at Poundworld. I've only seen a couple of videos on this range and to be honest its launch largely passed me be but on a recent visit to Poundworld I decided to have a little look. I'm going to be honest and say I was pretty underwhelmed when it came to the make up, nothing really grabbed me so I decided to try a couple of their nail colours instead.

They seemed to have two main polish ranges, a gel line, and  normal polish line, so I decided to try one of each. On the left you can see the Miss Beauty London Gel colour in 10 Lavender Dream, which is a gorgeous creamy, vibrant lilac, and on the right you can see the Miss Beauty London Nail Colour in 374 Tiffany, which as the name suggests is that perfect mint green, turquoise blue.

Again I haven't tried these but I'll let you know what I think of them when I do, for just £1 each they were worth trying.

The final nail item I want to show you is a magazine freebie from this month's Bazaar magazine. They regularly do tie up's with Leighton Denny. and in this months issue you can claim a free full sized Leighton Denny Nail Lacquer.

There are several to choose from ranging from deep reds, to lilac but the colour I went for was another one of those Tiffany blue shades, Morning Dew. It's a lot warmer and lot more bluey than the Miss Beauty one so I think I can justify the £4 or so that the magazine costs. Bazaar is probably one of the priciest monthly magazines out there but since the polishes are usually £11 each, it isn't a bad price to pay to try a designer nail brand.

I'm currently waiting for my little stubby nails to grow up a bit and then regular nails of the day posts will resume. As well as featuring all of the polishes in this post, and some other polishes in my collection, I'm also going to be showing you the prettiest OPI kit, and a couple of colours, which I also have to give away, so if you like nails then stick around for more nails of the days and some reviews x

Small Clothing And Accessories Haul, And Lou On Personal Style

Hi Guys x I've had a few new followers lately so I'd just like to start off this post buying saying a big thank you x I really appreciate every single one of my followers and I really hope that you'll enjoy this little glimpse into my world x

A blog about a lot of things but if you like shopping and hauls, then this is the place to be x I love shopping and over the next few weeks I have several hauls coming for you including a high end beauty haul, a nail haul, and also a couple of more budget friendly beauty hauls but first of all I've got a little fashion and accessory haul to show you.

The first three items in this haul are all tops from QVC. I've spoken a little bit lately about my new found obsession with QVC's clothing and whilst some of you may sneer, I'm going to say it again, I'm a firm believer that you can find clothing gems anywhere. I'm never going to be the most fashionable or on trend person out there but I know what I like and I know what works for me, and something that's almost being a signature look for me is a bright, or a patterned top and a pair of jeggings, leggings or skinny jeans. It looks good, people remember me for it and if you pick the right items, you can feel comfortable and confident x

The first top comes from a Canadian company called Kim&Co. My mum is a fan of the brand and they're noted for their comfortable and easy care, stretchy dresses and separates. I actually already own a piece from the brand from many moons ago, a slinky ivory, cream dress covered in a pink, black and red ladybird print. I love it's quirkiness but since then I haven't seen much that I would personally buy - the range is generally a bit safe and bit too old fashioned for me but every now and then you do see something that makes you think again.

This top normally retails at £40 but it was on special offer on the day I ordered it. I love the floral design but it was the combination of navy blue and lime green that sold it to me. At first glance it looks like you're wearing two tops but it is actually just the one. It features a rose, print panel on the front and the back and the sleeves are in plain navy.

I talk more about the fabric content more in the video below but this super soft, slinky and stretchy, it is so, so comfortable and I love the tunic style length. Here I'm just wearing it with jeans and Converse but it's definitely something that you could dress up.  This top also comes in a black and a pink colour way and I have to say as tempted as I am to pick up that one up too, I think I'll wait and see if the price comes down x

The next two tops are from a QVC brand that I'm really loving at the moment, Wearable Art By Bob Mackie. I love his use of colours and prints x The first top that I got was this contrast sleeve, tile print tunic x

This was another one that was on special and although I originally wanted this top in the blue, it had sold out so I ended up getting it in the brown with the black sleeves. I love the Moroccan style print, that's featured on both the back and the front of the top and the browns, yellows and oranges are really autumnal and perfect for this season. I'm a huge fan of tan and brown accessories and I think that this will work really well with say a tan bag or brown boots.

The final QVC item that I got was another top from the Wearable Art By Bob Mackie range and this time, this one was from the clearance section. This 3/4 sleeve top, is all about the colour and the bright eye catching print

It features a stripe, and almost floral and leaf design in bright,but distressed neon shades of pale blue and green. All the designs and stripes are outlined in black which gives a real stand out look x I would have maybe have liked this to be a little bit longer but since it was less than £15 I can't really complain x

The only other clothing item in this haul came from H&M and it was a sale item, that again embraces my love for colour and print.

Although I remember wearing printed trousers when I was younger I was slow to embrace them this time round x I just didn't feel confident enough but all of a sudden the confidence just clicked and lately I've wanted all the patterned trousers that I could get my hands on. I've mainly been sticking to floral prints but these ones are a bit different - on an ivory, beige background these ones features a bright tropical leaf and flower design, scattered through with illustrations of leopards and tropical birds. These trousers aren't for the faint hearted and although I don't think I'll get any wear out of them this year, for £6 they will be a fab purchase for next summer.

Now accessories and first up something that you might have caught a sneaky peek of in my YSL -Style Is Eternal Vlog x

Although I didn't buy it at the time I thought that this sheep scarf was really cute, so I had a look on ebay and found an identical one at a slightly cheaper price. It comes in few shades and what you can't really see here is how big this actually is. This one was £4.49 from this seller x

I used to be very much a scarf person, and although I don't wear them anywhere near as often as I did I still love them and I can never resits adding a new print or pattern to my collection. As well as picking up a gorgeous blue and white floral one for Mummy Lou in the recent Next sale I also got this one for myself.

I can't really describe the print it looks almost like florals, plates or panels, but again I love the blues and the coral shades.

I think that this was about £5 or £6. I didn't buy a lot in the Next sale this time round just this scarf, some blue and white floral PJ's, some underwear and a few pieces of fashion jewellery including this necklace x

One of the fashion guests on QVC regular wear a similar necklace in either a silver or a gold tone and I loved it. This one isn't the same as either of hers but it's as close as I can find in style at the moment. I have a few mesh pieces from H&M  already and I think that this will work really nicely. I love the combination of both the gunmetal and the silver tone metals and I love the length.

The final item in this haul is another necklace from the Next sale and it's another long one. Unfortunately I've managed to delete the main picture from my camera but this necklace is from the brand Adorning Ava, and it's a long line, gold tone chain which features a diamond shaped filigree pendant with long lines of gold chain hanging from it. It definitely has an Asian feel to it and the super long length means that you could either wear it as a statement piece or even as a layering piece with some shorter chains.

So that was my small but very long winded clothing and accessories haul x I've made a little video to accompany this haul which you can see here x If you're on a mobile device don't worry you can find the video here x



Thanks for watching and reading, and if you have any questions please leave me a comment I love reading what you have to say x

New Season Primark Haul - Clothing And Primark Home

You know that old saying, you wait ages for a bus and then two come along at once? Well take away the bus and replace it with Primark visits and you're there. I always try to avoid going into town or into the Metro Centre when the kids are off school so it feels like I haven't into Primark for months and then what happens? I go twice in a fortnight!

Although I'm praying that summer isn't really over both the weather and the shops seem to suggest otherwise. The heating has been on for the past couple of nights and the stores are now full of hats, scarves, and woolly jumpers. Although I love summer and I love warm weather, fashion wise I think I much more of an autumn / winter person. I love scarves, cosy cardigans and fluffy jumpers, so I decided to accept the changing season and see what Primark had to offer.

Quite a lot as it happened, and something I would always say about Primark is if you see something you like, buy it! You can always return it later but the stock turnover seems to be so quick if you don't get it, you might miss out altogether. On my first trip I was trying to be restrained and whilst I saw a couple of things that I would like, I decided to hold off, unfortunately when I returned to the same store 6 days later, they'd gone :( A lesson learnt me thinks! One of the things that I was going to get was the grey version of this jumper.

I bought something similar in a sort of mint / turquoise shade last year and I love it. This one is in a deep, almost bottle green, teal knit. It feels like wool but it's actually made from synthetic fibres. Around the neckline there are fixed clear crystals and gunmetal beads that makes it look as though you are wearing a necklace. It features a little keyhole detail at the back of the neck which fastens with a tiny button. This isn't my cheapest Primark purchase ever at £14 but it's well worth the money and I'm sure you would pay at least double that anywhere else, and I'll definitely by trying to track the grey version down x

The next thing I got could be worn whatever the season, but I think the rusty, orange, red colour gives it an autumnal feel.

Made of a lightweight, crepe like fabric, this pull on, collarless shirt  features a v-neck, and a gold tone zip detail at surround the neckline and finishes half way down the front. It features turned up sleeves that secure with a self coloured tab, and gold tone buttons.

I love loose shirts like this and I will be probably be wearing it over skinny jeans and jeggings. This shirt was £10 and I believe it comes in several other colours.

When you think about it I guess the next two tops that I got aren't really that autumn / winter specific either but they seem to be embracing two trends that seem to be everywhere again this season, lace and Victoriana.

The first top that I got it basically a long sleeve, light ivory, lace tunic. I saw this and I just couldn't resist. With a rounded neck and a solid collar, it features a gorgeous lace detail panel down the front, and it features beautifully trimmed button cuffs, and again a keyhole detail at the back of the neck which fastens with 2 buttons.

This top was £14 and again it's something that you would pay a lot more for if you bought it elsewhere. The pictures in no way do it justice, the lace is soft and it isn't too scratchy and the details make this top look a lot more expensive than what it was.

Sticking with the girly and pretty theme, the next top that I got falls into that category too. Again a pull on top this one is in the almost loose poets shirt style.

Again in a pale ivory, this  top features a cute scalloped collar and neckline, and tie detailing. It's made of a sheer fabric with a tone on tone raised dot design.

This top was just £10 and again I think it's something that you could wear all year round, either over sun sensitive shoulders or with skinny jeans, and boots.

That's it for the clothing I did buy some indigo denim jeggings, some basic black leggings and some undies which I haven't featured here but you can see them, as well as everything else in this haul in the video below x



I also had a look at the jewellery when I was in store and for a change nothing much wowed me. I did spot a couple of necklaces on the Primark instagram page but they haven't appeared yet so I just got a couple of pairs of earrings.

These are described as "front - back earrings" - the first pair feature a big crystal stud with a gold tone circle. The crystal stud, which can be worn on it's own, goes in the ear as normal, and the gold circle hangs at the back of the ear. With the second pair the gold, ball stud goes into the hole as normal and the crystal, glitter ball almost seem to hang down from behind the ear. Apologies for the useless description but I hope you know what I mean - this type of earring is everywhere at the moment and you really need to see them in the ear. I might have described it better in the video so definitely have a watch x

At the till I picked up some of my face wipes but the rest of the haul is all about Primark Home. I'd gone initially in search of the led star light that quite a few bloggers seem to have but it's proving extremely elusive grr! I debated whether to get the arrow but I don't think it would really go in any of the places that I had planned so I'll just have to keep searching.

Primark Home has really upped it's game recently and despite the small home section in the Metro Centre store, there was a lot of stuff that I could have bought but I just two things including this duvet set.

You've probably see this one a hundred times already but I'm all for supporting my fellow bloggers and as you know I'm a mad cat lady so I had to get this Triangle Dream duvet set from Gabriella from @velvetgh0st exclusive collection for Primark.

I love the grey and pastel tones but the real draw was the cat face on the "Let's Sleep In" pillow :). It's a polyester / cotton mix and I got the double which was £16. My whole room is in disarray but I'll instagram a picture when it's on the bed.

The final thing that I got was this little mirrored wall hanging,which features the Audrey Hepburn quote "Happy Girls Are The Prettiest" Did she really say that? who knows? I know a lot of people hate all this inspirational quote stuff but each to there on, I like it - I need all the inspiration, help and positivity that I can get at times ;)

I'm pretty happy with the bits that I got but I can definitely see another Primark trip on the horizon. Their stock changes so often that it's one of those shops that you really need to go into a regular basis in order to get the good stuff. Whilst Metro Centre is normally my Primark of choice, I'm planning on heading into Newcastle next time to have a look at the full home section and I'm hoping to get some of the fab copper coat hangers that I've seen on instagram. If you've posted a Primark haul recently I've love to see it so link me up below x