Primark Haul April 2013!

Hello lovelies, 

Here are the things I bought at Primark on Sunday. As usual you will have to excuse my poor photographs! I've left out a few other things that were run of the mill tops and underwear, etc as you don't really want to see that. There were so many nice things that I wish I'd got more, defo going to need to go again soon because there's plenty more I want. The only disappointing thing was that they didn't have the £10 denim looking dress with the rose type flowers on it, but oh well it's still early in the season yet. 

Denim(ish) polka dot dress - £10

Black floral dress - £10

Denim shorts - £5

Cropped cardi - £5

Navy polka dot dress - £10

Stripey nautical skirt - £6

Tan buckle bag - was £4 now £2

Tan plaited skinny belt - was £1 now 50p

Floral duvet cover set - was £16 now £8

Can't wait for some warmer weather now so I can wear summer clothes! Leave me a link if you've posted a haul recently - I love them!

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

New Budget Buys Jan 2013

Hello Lovelies, 

Just some things I've been buying lately. All budget buys so nothing breath taking I'm afraid, but something to nosey at nonetheless! Something to look at has gotta be better than nothing.

I think I must be getting old as I really wasn't happy this year until I got a diary. Over the last few months of 2012 I got really into writing in my old one, just noting what I'd done that day so that I could keep track of things. This is the one I ended up with; nothing flashy, just an A5 day to page from Wilkinsons for £3. 

While in town I also used one of the vouchers I blogged about that came with the Soap & Glory Best Of All set. It gave you £3 off facial skincare. I decided to go for the Fab Pore Facial Peel which was already £8 down to £6 and with the £3 knocked off that only left £3 to pay.  If you have them then the first set go out on Jan 22nd - go and spend them ladies! I used it last night and was impressed - review coming soon.

Next up - something boring but essential. This one smells nice and is really gentle on my skin. It was super cheap too. I've found that if you use a print out advantage card voucher (in this case 25% off a deo) it will take it off the full price even if something's on offer. So instead of £3 something it was just 80pish. This works for other boring things like toothepaste too, which means more money to spend on pretty/fun things instead. 

I also needed to spend my £3 Body Shop card (the one from Glamour). I was in a real hurry in the shop and it was the last day so I opted for this fresh smelling watermelon and eucalyptus shower gel for £2.50. It sounds pretty good and is completely eco friendly. 

Last but not least, was this Palmers lip balm for £1 from Asda. My lips are really feeling the wintery weather and I like to have lip balms in my various bags and pockets whenever I need it. You can never have too many. 

...and that's it!

Lauren x 

The Christmas Post 2012

Hello lovelies, 

I haven't really taken the pictures I wanted, but I feel like I need to do a Christmas post today to get it out of the way by next year. I love Christmas but I feel a bit conflicted when you say goodbye to one year and hello to another with the decorations still up and Christmas hanging around, so likewise I didn't want to be blogging about Xmas when we're in 2013. 

L-R: Fingerless gloves, Revlon mirror, Next baubles, Lush Hello Gorgeous set, bamboo socks, balls again, what I'm reading, pressies. 

Here's a snapshot of what I got for Xmas. Like my birthday I mostly had money which I have many plans for already, but I also got the odd few bits above. 

Lauren x

Birthday Bits and Pieces 2012

Hello lovelies, 

Things have been a bit hectic around here and I just haven't got round to blogging this week. I have loads of posts in mind but my energy levels are at an all time low. As soon as I sit down in the evenings I tend to fall asleep and then don't get much further than checking my emails and Facebook. I'm trying to keep up with the blogs I follow, I love the fact that there are loads of Christmas posts around at the moment and lots of haulin' going on. 

Onto my birthday (thurs last week)..... I said I'd blog about what I got. I mostly just received money and vouchers which is great because I'd much rather be able to spend the money on something I want/need rather than have the elderly/male relations who gave them to me trying to choose something and getting it completely wrong. It keeps me happy and it keeps them happy! 

I also got a selection of little bits and bobs, some of which are below.

L-R: Pretty flowery cup, Hello Daughter card, my name in lights!, wax tin, snood, Paris box, hanging frame, tea lights.

 Cute little magnetic box with verbena soap. 

 Beautifully detialed cushion

The duvet cover half the blogosphere has!

I'm in the middle of redoing my bedroom at the moment; off white walls, white furniture, with french country/shabby chic style decor but without looking too fussy if you know what I mean. So far I've done the walls and made a start on painting the furniture but when I'm done these little things will add the finishing touches and go with the look of the room. I'll probably post on this when it happens!

There you go, nothing fancy, but all things I love and appreciate! 

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

Autumn/Winter Primark Haul 2012

Hello, 

So I said I would do a post about my last trip to Primark and I've finally got around to doing it. I'm rubbish at taking pics of clothes, they never really look good but you get an idea of what they are anyway. 

Stripey Blackcurrant Jumper - £8.00

This jumper is so snug. It's a teeny bit longer at the back than front and it has a small slit on the bottom of each side. It's very snug and goes with quite a lot. They had it in a few different colour ways but my mind's blank and the only other one I can remember is coffee and cream. 

Stripey Dip Hem Jumper - £10.00

This jumper drowns me quite a bit, but I couldn't care less. Plus it looks ok with leggings and nothign over them so it's great to throw on when you're in a hurry. 

Short Jumper - £6.00

This is quite  a short jumper, I'd almost describe it as being cropped. I picked this one up to wear with a black skater skirt because I needed something short but still warm. 

Skater Skirt - £6.00

I finally got my hands on a plain black skater. So happy about this!

Loose Fi Blazer - £7.00

I'm not sure, but think this was £15 originally so it was a real bargain. The only problem is that it's a size 14 which is a little big for me. I'm not really sure that I can get away with it, but it might be ok if I wear more underneath, or at least I hope so. 

Cotton Socks - £2.50

I needed more socks and liked the colour of these, not sure they'll last long though, it already feels as if my toes are going to go through them.

Cardigan - £8.00

Again, this is a shorter lengthed top which I thought would look good with a skater skirt or anything that sits more on your waist than normal. I've been meaning to get one like this for a while and I like the gold outline of the buttons on this one. 

There you go, that's what I bought. I'm probably going to be down there again in the next week as my mum wants to take something back and I'll go too. If I have any willpower I won't be buying much as I'm trying to save for Christmas, but we'll see. 

Lauren x 

Coral Nails and a mini haul

Ok, so by mini haul I actually meant tiny. I was out with my mum today and she wanted to pop into the M&S sale, and that's where I picked up these few little things. 

First up, some more PJs. I already have these in the same design but a different colour, the top's a bit snug, but the bottoms are so so comfy and as they were only £6 I thought I might as well get them. 

PJs £9.50 - £6.00

They also had a few bits and pieces from the beauty section reduced. I've seen this nail polish in there during the summer and thought how nice it was. It's got a subtle shimmer that seems to reflect the light. 

Shade 'Lilac' £3.50 - £2.00

I had a few other polishes in my hand too and was just deciding which ones to get when I saw this little set which made my mind up for me. 

'Cappuccino', 'Leaf' and 'Dark Coral' Minis Set. £6.00 - £3.00

And here are my nails that I did when I got home today, using the coral colour from the set. 

So that's my little haul, nothing that exciting but I'm quite happy with what I got for just £11!

Lauren x 

Primark Haul September 2012!

Hello lovely readers, 

Everyone loves a haul right? I went on a spontaneous visit to my local Primark yesterday in search of a few tops for winter. I came back with the exact opposite - bottoms! Here's what I bought. 

Shorts £5

First up, dark denim shorts. The Denim Co £5 shorts range is great. I bought the wine coloured ones last month and have practically lived in them since. These have a cute aztec pattern in the inside back and the button and studs have a sweet little flower detail. 

Reindeer Skirt £10

When I saw this skirt I loved the design (hello, snowflakes and reindeer!) but wasn't so sure about the shape until I tried it on. The waistband folds over so naturally it's quite chunky and the pattern makes me feel all cosy and wintery. They also had this in black. 

Skater Skirt £6

This was something I had my eye on after seeing it on other blogs and vlogs. I was after black but they didn't have it in my size. When I got home I found out that this wasn't the 10 it had said on the hanger, but actually a 6. I couldn't believe it but at least I'd tried it on so knew it fitted me. I was a bit annoyed with myself for not noticing as they had a 6 in black and I could have got it. Grrrr!

Fair Isle Skirt £8

Another skirt that's pattern grabbed me. They had it in a sort of oaty colour way too.

Long Cardigan £10

Ignore the colour of the middle pic, but you get an idea of the shape of this. It's quite a thin cardigan sort of like the ones that everybody seemed to have from New Look. Again, it's one of the tones of red that I keep going for this season. The baggy curved pockets make it that bit different and they're finished with two small studs. 

Cosmetics Bag £3

Finally, I picked up this little bag to use as a make up bag for things that I use everyday. I'm fed up with having to fish things out from a box that has everything in it. They had it in turquoise too but I thought the blue went really well with the gold studs and zip. 

***

Primark hauls are probably my favourite thing to read on other people's blogs so if you've done one recently comment and let me know! I know the quality can sometimes be a bit dodgy but the prices (though they've gone up recently) are still the best around and like most places you have to just use common sense when buying things there. I was really impressed by the new season stuff they've got in and could probably have spent much more if I had it to spend!

Lauren x

P.S If you want something to fit you, ALWAYS try it on. I didn't used to think it was that important but the things I got yesterday range four sizes from a 6 to 12!

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

Summer Shoes

Why is it that as soon as I buy anything summery the weather decides to do a U-turn? Typical! The week before last I was complaining about not having enough summer shoes and now that I've bought some I can't wear them - well I can but my feet would get a soaking.

Anyhow, I was looking for something that would be a bit more substantial than flip flops but still be quick to get on and off. That's when I found these in New Look. 

New Look £14.99  £11.24

They had an offer on for 25% off some of their summer footwear range and these happened to be in it. They've got a nice little wedge heel,  and are so so comfy.

Later in the week I went shopping again and wasn't meant to be buying anything but accidentally came home with these:

Primark £12.00

and these

Primark £5.00

I saw the wedges about 6 weeks ago and as with most things in Primark, you should snap them up when you see them, as the next time I went they didn't have my size. Luckily they finally got them back in :)

The minty colour shoes I couldn't resist because I love the colour and they looked so nice with my lilac pastel nail varnish. Like the New Look pair, they also have a zip at the back, which is really handy. 

So those are my summer shoes sorted. Now if only it would stop raining so I can wear them!

Lauren X

Primark Haul from May 2012

So, I've been to Primark again (it's like my church!). Here's what I came home with:

Dress, £5.00

Top, £6.00

Dress, £10.00

                                             

Dress, £6.00

Top, £7.00 £3.00

Top, £4.00 £2.00

Lauren X