My First Ever OOTD!

Hello lovelies, 

I've been wanting to do an OOTD for ages but for various reasons (lack of space, tripod, light, etc) I'm only just dipping my feet in the water now. 

As this is my first OOTD I think I should just explain a little about my style (if you could call it that!)...I'm the first to admit that I'm not an avid follower of fashion. Yes, I like to buy the occasional on trend item, but I'm not at all someone who buys tons of new clothes every five minutes - I don't have the money. This brings me to my next point, if you're a regular reader you'll have noticed how little I spend on things, clothes included. It's not that I don't want to spend (sometimes I feel like Rebecca Bloomwood in Primark clothing) just that in my current jobless state I have other priorities!

 So anyway, this is what I wore yesterday.  I was volunteering in the charity shop during the morning and then went to town in the afternoon and then on over to a friend's house for a while. I've got into the lazy habit of just throwing on jeans and a jumper but yesterday I wanted to wear my new shoes and decided they would go best with a skirt and tights. The weather's been quite mild down here for the last couple weeks so I got away with wearing just one set of sleeves (the cardigan) with a thin top underneath that tucks in to my skater skirts nicely without looking all bumpy.

Shoes from George at Asda and everything else from Primark (told you I'm cheap!)

...and to acknowledge that it was V-day I wore this love ring from Accessorize. 

So there you have it, my first OOTD!

Lauren x

New Shoes: Lace Up Wedge Shoe Boots

Hello lovelies, 

Sorry I've been a bit MIA this week. I've had a few things on and whenever I get around to taking photos it's always dark. I really can't wait for spring to roll around when we'll get more light and better weather. I always think I love winter, when all the knitwear comes in the shops and nights get dark early and you can stay in all cosy. Then after about a month I realise that I can live without the dry skin, colds, threat of the country shutting down because of an inch of snow, etc. 

Yes, I know I need to cut off that loose thread!

Anyway, I won't moan on any longer. I want to show you these little pretties that I bought in Asda yesterday.    The other day I showed you a dress I got for a steal at £1 from there and it seems that they have now got even more sale stuff in. I know it's not really a place you would think of as 'oh wow, I must go clothes shopping there', but actually I think they do really well with their clothing ranges and they're certainly better than what's available at the other supermarkets (in my opinion!).

So what I got was these shoe boots that were £9 half price from £18. They're quite versatile so hopefully I'll get a lot of use out of them. I think with tights they'll pretty much go with anything; shorts, skirts, dresses. They also give me a bit of extra height but the wedge keeps them comfy!

What do you think of supermarket clothing ranges? 

Lauren x

New Buys On A Budget

Hello lovelies, 

I've been very good but boring lately and haven't really bought much at all other than things that are necessities. I made my way to Primark this week and still didn't really manage to spend any money (go me!). Even though I hadn't been since before Christmas, there didn't seem to be anything different. I suppose this is a bit of a weird time of year where they're trying to shift the old to make way for the new. I have however picked up a few bargains this week:

Since I fell in love with S&G I've spent a considerable amount of time perusing the range in Boots. The other day (after having sniffed the sugar crush buttercream for the gazillionth time, boy is it good) I spotted this on the bottom shelf, with a reduced label marked £1.38. Now I fell out with dry oil sprays after using the Avon one and getting a huge oily patch on my duvet from letting my leg touch the bed.  However, I'm sure I can make an exception for S&G and since I live in shorts during the summer this should be pretty good :)

My skin is becoming the bain of my life, it's never great but has really been playing up lately. I've had breakouts left, right and center, and an oily t-zone combined with dry skin. Sounds a bit weird to have dry skin when it's oily, but believe me, it's possible! After trying several different moisturiser samples (and getting on with none) I decided to cut the crap and go with something stripped back and oil free. This had great reviews on the Boots website and was only £2.79. 

While in Primark the only thing I bought was this tank and shorts PJ set for a fiver. I didn't want to leave with nothing and if you spend as much time in your dressing gown as I do then you can never have too many PJs. 

Next up is this bag from  Matalan. We had a leaflet through the door saying it was going to be on offer from £12 down to £5 this week so I'd been waiting to go in and get one. It comes in black, tan, a pale pink and  grey and I really had trouble deciding which to go for because they were all nice. In the end I thought that this would go with the most things, but I think I'll probably go back and get another colour because I like it so much. 

Last but not least is this cowboy shirt dress that I picked up in Asda. It was only £1! so I really couldn't say no and although it doesn't look much here (these pics wouldn't do anything justice) the design is really flattering on me because it draws attention to my waist and gives me a bit more of a shape rather than looking straight up and down like a 12yr old boy. It's quite wimpy material but it feels really nice, has cute piping and looks good with leggings and boots. 

Lauren x

Beauty Buys On A Budget (non make-up)

I've been a bit strapped for cash lately and am really trying not to spend because I haven't bought any Christmas pressies yet and that's a priority. It's my birthday next month too so I'm holding off buying things I want and hoping I'll receive them! So I've been super cautious when it comes to spending. 

Left to right, I bought:

Skin Therapy pore strips, £1 for 6, Wilkinsons. I've not used these before but really like the face wipes that are the same make.

Timotei grape and rose shower gel, 50p, Wilkinsons. I grabbed this because it was so cheap and smelt nice.

George nail varnish in 'Jackpot'. It was £1half price so I couldn't resist.

Johnson's baby shampoo, 69p, Lidl. Another thing that was on offer. I'd been after some brush cleaner for my real techniques set but heard that baby shampoo also does the job.

George nail varnish in 'Midnight Black', £1. Just another thing I was in need of as I don't have a black in my collection.

Boots conditioning nail polish remover, £1.30. I wanted one that didn't smell awful and this one's good. It has aprictot kernel oil in it and I can smell it on my hands afterwards.

So that's my boring little inexpensive beauty buys from last week. I'm being extremely good. 

Lauren x

Purchase On A Whim: Biker Jacket

Yesterday, whilst shopping in Asda I had a cheeky look at the clothes as usual. I came across quite a few nice things, but then I hit upon a biker style jacket which I couldn't quite resist buying. This is a bit of a flying post as I'm off out in a minute and won't be back until sunday, so for the moment you'll have to put up with some stock images, but I promise I have some proper picture posts coming soon. 

Anyhoo, when I got home I had a quick look around just to see what other biker jackets were around and these are the ones that caught my eye. 

1. Be Beau @ Matalan £35

2. George @ Asda £28 (Mine!)

3. Dorothy Perkins £55

4. New Look £59.99

5. H&M £29.99

What do you think of these style of jackets?

Lauren x 

My New Quilted Coat!

You know how it is when you see something you like, think about buying it, find out they haven't got your size and immediately realise just how much you wanted it? You suddenly have to have it and it's not there. Your minds working overtime thinking how you can get it; order online, try another store, check the dressing room rail. This is what happened to me when I saw this coat in Asda on Saturday. 

Pics taken from the George website

They had these perched right in the front of the store so you couldn't miss them as you walked in, advertising the fact that they're only £15 until the 20th when they go up to £19. Having lusted after a quilted jacket for the last month or so, I made a bee-line for them, only to find they didn't have my size. Lucky for me there was an odd one in the aisles with the rest of the clothes. 

Sorry, not the best pics I'v ever taken!

I wasn't sure it would be very flattering at first but it's actually a really nice fit. It has side fastenings which you tighten/loosen with buckles, these define your waist while the back has two parallel lines that give it a bit more of a structured shape from behind. The fit is a little on the tight side but I assume this is the nature of a quilted item, and this means it's super warm which is what I want in a winter jacket. They also did it in red, black, and possibly a green shade but I can't really remember and the navy was my favourite by far. 

What do you think?

Lauren x 

Sunday Summary 09/09/2012

Hello lovely readers, 

So far I haven't really done any personal posts, as in all honesty my life isn't really very exciting, but I've decided to start doing a 'Sunday Summary' every week. It's where I'll post all the random bits and pieces that don't deserve a whole post of their own, but which I wanted to mention.

First up is a big thank you to every single one of you who read my blog regularly and have chosen to follow my ramblings. This week I have hit the fifty follower mark and I'm chuffed to bits that so many of you are listening :)

Secondly, I went on a very unsuccessful shopping trip on saturday, which is just as well as I have quite a few expenses coming up soon *yawn*. I did however pick up a few essentials. 

The brushes were another Ebay bargain which I'll do a post about in the week. I'm hoping to get a lot of use out of these. I picked up the nail varnish as I've been after a Union Jack blue for a while. This one's called 'Boom' and it goes really well with the owl top I blogged about here. 

Apart from this, I had a pretty uneventful week doing the usual stuff I do like walking Jasper and taking my nan food shopping. See, I told you my life was exciting! 

If that's not enough about me (which I'm sure it is!) you can follow me on Twitter @pink4flamingos. 

Lauren x

New Nail Art Dotting Tools!

Hello everyone,    

Recently I've really got into doing my nails, as you will see if you come here often. I want to experiment a bit more with nail art so last week I ordered and received these dotting tools from Ebay. They set me back a very reasonable £1.36 including p&p!

                       I played about with them on paper first before painting my nails today like this:

The colours I used are:

George's lilac 'Be Mine'

George's pink 'No Excuses' 

Nails Inc's 'Basil Street'

It took a bit of patience but I like the overal effect. I saw some Twister nails like these that were fab, but I don't have enough of the right colours so that will have to be a future idea. Anyway, let me know what you think of them!

Lauren x

Gold and Teal nails

Hi everyone, 

Yet again I'm sharing some nails with you. Lately I've been really good at keeping my nails painted and pretty looking, whereas I used to paint them once in a blue moon, I now change them 2 or 3 times a week. When I take the polish off they look naked and pale in comparison.

Here I used Avon's Arabian Glow polish in 'Teal Infusion' with George at Asda's 'Warrior' (Which I showed you the other day here). I did all my fingers in the teal which I would describe as more of a bright turquoise, then I drew a simple design on my thumbs.

These colours are perfect partners.

Lauren x

Quickie Nail Post

Hello lovely readers!

Just a quick post tonight to say something rather than nothing. I thought I'd share what I've got on my nails at the moment. This is another George nail polish, it's called Warrior.

Warrior, £1.75 at Asda

I wear this loads as it's so versatile and goes with almost anything I'm wearing, it also looks really good with a tan. As it's metallic it looks different depending on the light, sometimes gold, other times when the light's hitting it it's more on the silver side. Oh, and if you're seeing a hint of pink it's the reflection from my dressing gown, sorry!

On another note, thank you for all the comments you've been leaving me, I love to hear from anyone who's reading :) 

Also, well done if you got your results yesterday - regardless of grades getting through your A- Levels is still a huge achievement and you now have your lives ahead of you!

Lauren x

A New Buy: George Owl Jumper

Yesterday,while in Asda I had a quick look at the clothes and spotted this jumper. 

I'm a sucker for most things with an animal print and this was no exception. I couldn't believe it was only £10! I think it's quite quirky looking and really really cute. The owl is felt so it's got a bit of texture going on and the colours are really autumnal. They didn't have anything smaller than a 16 but it looked quite small cut so I slung it on over what I was wearing and it just looks like a fashionably oversized jumper. It's cosy too!

What do you think? I read here that owl prints are going to be big this year because Burberry have used them in their new collection. 

Lauren x

Pastel Polka Dot Nails

I felt like doing myself some pretty pastel nails today and decided to go for lilac with blue polka dots. I used George at Asda in 'Be mine' and Barry M in 'Blue Moon'. 

Excuse my messy nail painting. I like the overall effect, obviously they're not perfect but I think the irregular shaped dots look quite good and the colours are great together. Perfect for a sunny day :)

Lauren x

George Summer Sale 2012

Just a quickie...

I popped into my local town today and noticed George @ Asda has a sale on. I picked up a cheeky couple pairs of flip flops for £1.50 each. Can't say fairer than that :)

They had some nice G21 stuff and quite a lot of different shoes in the sale. Worth checking out if you have an Asda nearby.

Lauren x