Sale Success - New Look

I'm currently visiting one of my university friends up north and we went to nearby town of Redcar today for a bit of shopping. I'm a bit low on funds at the moment - although window shopping never hurt - but I made an exception for this dress. After not much luck in Peacocks' sale we went into New Look and I found this lovely dress reduced by £9. It's a very pale lemon colour, a great length on me and I love the ruffled neck detailing and the elasticated waist. It's great for a casual outfit or a formal one (I'm thinking of teaming it with tights for work one day).

Ruffle-neck dress, £3 (previously £12)

Jelly Pong Pong Jelly Flush

Jelly Pong Pong’s cheek stain Jelly Flush was not a product I was 100% certain on for myself. I received one as part of a Jelly Pong Pong goody bag at Clothes Show London and thought it might be good to give to someone else as a gift. You see, dear readers of mine, I don’t really need check stain as, thanks to my pale colouring, I blush extremely easy. However my curiosity got the better of me one morning (in my defence it looked pretty and it smells really nice) so I tentatively applied a bit on each cheek and blended it in.

I was so wrong to dismiss this product. It blends really well with my natural colour. The product itself is natural; it’s made of jelly and comes in a cute little push-up block, and smells wonderful. Plus it took my natural blush, which can sometimes be a bit extreme in cases of embarrassment or nervousness, and made it look beautiful (my red cheeks are usually the bane of my beauty regime as usual foundations don’t hide them and most blushers are too strong for my skin tone (yes even the really light ones) and just make me look ridiculous. I firmly intend on incorporating this into my beauty regime from now on.

Edit: this one is actually quite pricey (£18!) but so worth it. A beauty investment, we shall call it.

What's in a name?

Recently my nail varnish collection has been expanding and something that always amuses/amazes/confuses me is the name of the colours I buy. Some colours are perfectly obvious and simple. Midnight, for example, is a dark blue. Mushroom is the colour grey. However I recently bought a couple of new varnishes from Collection 2000 and was amazed by their names. I bought a green colour which was called ninja (I'm presuming a link to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and one called fruit salad (which did look a bit like the colour of the sweet by the same name).

Other colour names I've come across and liked are Barry M's ice cream collection for this summer. I've got the Berry Ice one (a beautiful lilac colour) and it's a beautiful nail paint, as Barry M's always are. Flamingo (a bright pink) and Peacock (a green/blue similar to a peacock's feather) from Boots' 17 Collection.

So I'm curious, what bizarre nail varnish names have you come across? Do you even care? Drop me a comment and let me know.

Cute as a Button

I had a bit of spare money today so during my lunchtime stroll in Hitchen I came across a little vintage boutique and, me being me, simply had to venture in. Called Jolly Brown, the shop was a beautiful treasure trove of unique jewellery which I was instantly drawn to in my human-magpie state.







Among the favourites were the dice jewellery (necklaces and bracelets) and the button jewellery, of which I caved in and bought a button bracelet for a bargainous £4.95! I've seen (and wanted) similar bracelets to my new purchase and they were at least £10 plus delivery online so I'm absolutely thrilled with this buy. Check it out below, isn't it adorable?

Work Uniform Get Out Clause

Bit of a lengthy title there, sorry about that lovelies! So a few nights ago I posted complaining/worried about my new job's uniform policy (very strict,none of my wardrobe meet it except a pair of shoes and some tops). Now, after two days there, I can reveal I have found a way to inject my style into my work wardrobe, which makes me very happy indeed!

First off we have make up. I usually keep it limited on the face make-up wise but I can use some bold colours on the eyes and keep the lips toned down. I've been using the No7 rainbow summer 2009 colour palette of eye shadows, 17 mirror shine lip stick and Boots Natural Collection mascara in brown/black. My Body Shop Yes lip balm has definitely come in handy this week as it's so dry in the office and I can't have chapped lips - they're way too horrible.

Given the early mornings I've also been using my benefit Eye Bright stick underneath my eye shadow. I wasn't sure about this product when I first got it as a freebie with an issue of Glamour magazine a few months ago but it is amazing! No way could I look even half awake at half 7 without this wonder of a product.

I've also extended attention to my nails, and this is an area I have to be a bit more careful with or risk getting in trouble. Policy states no bright colours so goodbye my summer brights and hello muted nudes and pastels. I've gone this week having a Rimmel fast dry varnish adorning my nails (possibly the Princess Pink shade,I can't remember the name) because it's light enough to be conservative but it also has sparkles in. And I do like my sparkles!

Secondly is jewellery. I have lots of this! And a lot of cute pieces. I've been wearing my This Charming Girl 'Long Distance Love' necklace the past few days as it's fairly discreet but still extremely cute and usually gets a comment/admiring glance or two.

In the name of staying co-ordinated I've also been wearing the gold ladybug bracelet my dad bought me when we visited Turkey a few summers back, my Primark flower ring and the earrings I received from Piers for our anniversary last year.

Finally, there's my shoes. Red leopard print ballet pumps from Asda. Purchased for about £8 during my first university year I hadn't really worn these much but they're perfect for work and add some colour to my uniform. Hurrah!

And that is how you stick to a work uniform policy while retaining your style.

Work Wear Woes

So on the good news front, I am starting a new job tomorrow. I've been back from uni for 6 weeks and have been scouring the shops to find any vaccancies. Now there have been job oppertunities and I've handed out many a CV and filled in many an application form. However up until last week each one was a dead end: I'd either get no response or I'd get turned down.

However there's some openings at my mum's office for temps so I registered with the agency who deal with the company, whizzed through their computer requirments (the company wanted 5000 letters/hour and I can apparantly do over 7000!) and got the job! I start tomorrow and I'm so nervous!

Now here's where the slightly more awkward part comes in. There's a dress code policy. And none of my clothes fit the bill with the exception of one skirt which just about squeezes in. All my other skirts and dresses are deemed too short (I went through my wardrobe with my mum) and I'm not allowed to wear leggings. So for now I've had to raid mum's wardrobe for a pair of work trousers that don't fit her and alternate between them and the skirt until I can get to some shops and buy more suitable workwear.

Apparantly the offices are really hot during the day so this shall be interesting. I think for practicality of finding my way around etc tomorrow I shall try the trousers and test how bearable wearing trousers are in hot weather and the hot office. I'm hoping I'll be by a window for some light relief.

So readers, any tips for finding some good office wear? Skirts and dresses have to end at least just above the knee and remember - no leggings! Is there anywhere good on the high street for fairly cheap but practical work wear?

Flutter-by Glitter Eyes

I was paroozing through Barry M's website as I do and I've just seen their glitter mascaras. I want one so much! Not only are they colourful (I do enjoy some colour) but they glitter. Glitter on your eye lashes! Any one of my friends could quite easily tell you that I simply adore anything shiny or glittery. I'd definitely be tempted to go for shade 5, which is purple and one of my favourite colours. Hello amazing beauty purchase. Now I just need some money in my beauty fund and a trip to my nearest Boots.