To look forward to...

I'm so impatient for things to happen at the moment, although from tomorrow my wait will be over! Nice things will keep hitting me in the face like snowballs!!

Things I'm looking forward to:

1. Receiving my goodies from winning a giveaway at A Little Bird Told Me - I'll show you what I got when they turn up!

2. Receiving a set of nail varnish from Missguided after entering a competition on their Facebook page - I can't believe I've won 2 competitions lately! I am usually very unlucky.

3. Reading LOADS of books in my time off - I somehow have escaped the postage mess and received 5 books to take away with me.

They're all by the same author, Emily Barr. I hope that they'll all be good and that it won't be too much reading so many of the same authors books at once. I did a review here of one of her others that I read recently.

4. Having a Murder Mystery party for New Years! Unfortunately the game we ordered IS stuck somewhere, and we might have to get another one, so that the show can go on! It's going to be 40's themed, and I'm thinking of wearing my latest ebay buy (below), cinched in with a white belt and some white shoes, with a (fake) pearl necklace and earring set. I've been watching Youtube tutorials of how to do 'Victory Rolls' in my hair - I'll show you a picture afterwards and you can see if I manage it!

5. And lastly...what was it? I'm sure there was something else...Oh yes - Christmas! I cannot bloody wait to get all the gifts I've asked for. I don't know if everyone else does this, but in my family we don't do suprises, we just tell each other the things we want - so no bad present choices, just lovely things that you've been coveting but now don't have to spend your money on! Sewing machine, it's only 3 sleeps until we can make beautiful things together...

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Danni x

What is it?

What a lovely weekend! Well, Friday was a bit of a washout, the boy was stuck in traffic for four hours (usually an hour and a half journey), poor thing, so we just got a chinese and read our books.

And then a party we were meant to go to in London on Saturday was cancelled because of the weather, which was annoying, but gave me a chance to do some charity shopping! And it was SO worth it!

I've already shown you my lovely vintage fake fur coat, in a light creamy "fur", and I thought nothing could surpass its amazingness. I was wrong. I got a chocolate coloured one! I sprinted over to it as soon as I walked into the shop, and panicked a bit when I couldn't find the tag but was told it was only £14.99, phew! Here she is:

I wish I'd taken a picture of me wearing it all glammed up with my red lippy when I went to the pub on Saturday (which was a snowy, drunken, bag-losing, very fun night!). I just need to find another button for it as it's missing one, and the elastic to hook the other one is snapped so I can't actually do it up!

The other thing I bought was this:

Doesn't it look cute? Now, before anyone asks, I will tell you that I have absolutely no idea what it is. The front opens as one, they aren't individual drawers, and it has a slide-out tray inside. It's too small to be a drinks cabinet, and I'm at a loss as to what else it could be! It's been sitting in one of my local charity shops for about 3 weeks and I decided that morning that if it was still there when I went back I would buy it. Obviously it was there, and down to £5!

Here's another picture of it while it's open. I'm thinking of keeping all of my make up and hair stuff inside it.

 What I really want to do is give it a makeover, something like what Alice at An Alien World did to her bookshelf - but I'm worried that I'll ruin it. Well I won't be doing it until the new year anyway so I'll think about it then.

Yesterday I had a lovely day playing with our friends baby Bella and being cooked lunch, and then home to be cooked dinner by the boy - Jamie's 30 minute recipe for chicken pie only taking an hour! Yummy.

Danni x

My Swish!

I had an unusual Sunday yesterday, in that I left the house to do something other than go to Tesco's...

I went to a clothes swapping event called My Swish (not quite sure why it has such a weird name!) that was held in nearby Lewes. 10% of the proceeds go to 10:10 - carbon cutting 10% at a time, and they're promoting recycling clothes as opposed to buying new things - which I'm all for! You had to pay £5 to get in, which got you a free goodie bag 'with Dermalogica goodies'. Hmm - two very small sachets like the kind you get stuck in a magazine, and a bunch of flyers! Anyway.

I took along 13 items - you could take between two and fifteen, of 'cheap' 'middle' and 'designer' quality. Needless to say most of mine were in the cheap section! I redeemed my clothes for 160 points. Then we all had a browse for half an hour, stalking around each other like rival tigers, standing near the best items...before we were told that we had to go back behind the door before the Swish began. And blimey, when it began, it was like something out of a film; women pushing each other out of the way, running with arms outstretched to the item they wanted (that was me and another woman - she managed to snatch the shoes I wanted a millisecond before I got there!), although to be honest once everyone had one item it was a lot more sedate, and you could browse a bit more. And then you had your clothes totted up to check they matched your points, and that was it! I was very pleased with the stuff I got, and I feel very good for having purged the stuff I was never going to wear again but hadn't taken to the charity shop from my wardrobe.

So here's what I ended up with:

A cute little top - no label - fits lovely like!

A jacket and skirt set - so cute - doesn't look much in the picture but it's a green tweedy type set from Oasis. The jacket has one sparkly button. The skirt is a size too small but hopefully after another bootcamp I can get in it! I'd wear them seperately anyway - it might be a bit much together in my casual workplace!

Oh how I love this. It was one of the last things on the rack - a size 24 dogstooth skirt. Too big for me, so I pulled it up, belted it with the matching belt and now I've got a cute new work dress! I wasn't sure if that would work when I grabbed it so I was very glad to get it home and find that it did.

A real leather bag, and a new knitted white hat with a flower on, that I was particularly pleased with, having lost my knitted white hat with a flower on last week! I have good hat karma.

 I also got a sequin hooded Miss Selfridge top, and a red and white print halter dress.

Oh and lastly...

Aren't they beautiful?! I walked in the door of the event and there were some local sellers there, with a lady selling these handmade shoes at £10 - down from £60! They're not quite as yellow as they look in the picture. They seem comfy, and I can't wait for my spring weddings (I've got 3 in March/April!) to come around so I can wear these. I'll put the website up later when I find the card she gave me - apparently she does personalised shoes with your name on - I'm intrigued!

Danni x

Sorry about the gap between posts. I always sulk a bit when blogs aren't updated loads (not seriously, just cos I love reading them!) and there I go and not post for a week. I have bought lots of lovely newold things lately, but just haven't had the time to take good pictures of them.

But I will share with you the two goodies that turned up today from ebay (FINALLY I might add - I'm not sure whether to contact the seller about the item that's the most overdue, because it could just be down to the weather. Maybe I'll email just to ask if she definitely sent it.)

Item number 1: A red apple brooch

It's even more beautiful than it looks in the picture. I wanted a brooch because I've got a hole in a knitted cardigan that can't be fixed (read: I don't know how to fix it) so I thought I'd cover it up!

Item number 2: FUZZY FELT!!!!

Do you like my picture? I'm so excited about this, I've wanted Fuzzy Felt for years - so I thought I'd give a nostalgic gift to myself!

I will hopefully take lovely pictures of my other new things tonight. Still a bit tricksy with only having a mobile phone camera, so I can't take decent photos of myself wearing things.

A little catch up as well - Bootcamp is going well, I'm halfway through my third week - the end is in sight! We had to miss a session on Friday last week due to snow, so she worked us extra hard on Monday. I still hate jogging. Hate hate hate. But it is all working. I've lost 5lbs so far! Yay!

Danni x

Wintery Forest

I thought I'd share with you the outfit I'm wearing today, because I love it. Unfortunately it's in bits, because I do not have a) a good camera, b) anywhere to put my mobile phone so it takes a picture of my whole self, and c) someone at home at 8am when I'm ready for work and want a picture taking.

Here's an unusual dress I got for half price from Dorothy Perkins:

Then there's this ring which I got from an independent shop called Life in Cornwall:

It looks very wintery, but do flowers grow in winter? Oh never mind, I won't ruin this blog post with silly things like facts!

And lastly, some very lovely Ice Queen-esque earrings which a friend bought me a few years ago.

I think I fit right in with this freezing weather, which I love, it means I can wear my fake fur coat without getting heatstroke, snuggle into big cardis and scarves at work, and stare out of the window hoping for snow! I'm very jealous of the parts of the country that have it. Fingers crossed for Brighton next!

Danni x

Bootcamp baby!

Well. This morning was so far removed from my normal routine as to be obscene. Firstly I got up at 6am - I haven't seen that time of day for a long time, not unless I've stayed up partying all night!! Then, at 6.55am, I was in a park on the other side of town, about to start my first exercise bootcamp...

Recently I signed up to Living Social (had a look and I can't work out if it's only Brighton-based) which basically emails me every few days with a deal on an event or a meal with a massive discount. This time it was £35 instead of £100 for a month-long bootcamp. Having spent the last month or so whinging about putting on weight, while not actually doing anything about it, this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

And I have to say, once I was up it was fine, and the class wasn't too hard - but apparently she was only assessing us, so it's going to get a lot worse! It's 3 days a week, and they email you healthy eating plans and tips throughout the month to help you out. I'll keep you updated on how it works out. Tonight my "homework" is to measure myself - uh oh, you can't deny the truth of the tape measure!

Danni

I got some lovely new charity shop bargains at the weekend. I love that there's a street about 5 minutes away that isn't very long, and still manages to have 8 charity shops on it! You do have to rummage to find the good stuff, and I'm always cross with myself for not getting up early and getting the best bargains. Maybe this week...

The first item I got in a charity shop at the other end of town. I was walking to the bus stop, and saw a charity shop still open at 6pm! It was like an oasis, I wasn't sure if it was real or not...I wish charity shops would stay open later so I could do midweek shopping too. But as it's usually volunteers who work there I don't blame them.

For £9.99 I got a Kushi dress - I don't know where this make comes from but this is my third Kushi dress, and they are always gorgeous, well made, and inexpensive. Pretty rare really!

For £4.99 each I got these two:

I'm going to make the black dress shorter, when I get my sewing machine for Christmas (I can't wait!!! So many projects planned!)

And lastly I bought this for £1.49, which is very Christmassy and unusual:

A good haul I think! Roll on this Saturday...


Danni x

Friday Randomness

Yay it's Friday - oh man, more drinking?? I feel like I haven't stopped drinking for the last three weeks! I've had to turn down invites to keep Saturday free for charity shopping then doing nothing all evening - I can't wait!

I thought I'd show you the other half's new purchase. But first, to explain. I like to read in bed. He likes to sleep in bed. He doesn't like the light on. I need the light on to read. Solved! With the help of a very flattering eye-mask...

Freaky, no?

I'm not looking forward to rolling over half asleep and screaming in terror with that "looking" at me!

I saw this on Upstyler's facebook page, and couldn't stop laughing, it's great. Upstyler is one of my favourite websites, with a magazine, blog and a shop selling great second-hand items. Enjoy!




Danni x

What are Wellies?

How do you define a welly? Hmm, that's the weirdest thing I've written in a while! I went to Cornwall at the weekend, and after I tried and failed to find some nice black boots I bought some other boots in a sulk. I think I should call them wellies. They're definitely not galoshes (galoshes go over your normal shoes - thanks Wikipedia) so maybe rain boots is the best definition. Anyway they're very cute, £13 from TKMaxx. They don't have any brand name on them, which I quite like, and they have handles! I think more boots should have handles.

I haven't worn them yet, as I'm worried that they won't actually be waterproof, in which case they will simply be called a mistake.

Here they are:

Danni

Playsuit in the Pub

As promised, here's a picture of me wearing the playsuit I bought on Monday in the pub yesterday:

What do you think? I found it so flattering, but it's not good for when you need the loo, loads of buttons up the front and difficult to get your arms out of!

And now for my guilty confession...

Myself and the other half managed to get VERY drunk last night. So drunk that when I pointed out a chair that I really liked, we decided to steal it. So he walked out of the pub with his coat over the chair, and then sprinted down the street and round the corner to our flat, while I casually followed behind to make sure no-one was calling the police (and to get some chips). When I went into my lounge this morning I saw it, and felt very bad (not just because of my hangover). While I would NOT recommend this as a way of getting furniture, I have to say that I still do really like the chair. Here's a picture of my stolen goods:

Apologies to the pub - which I obviously won't name in case anyone decides I should be punished and tells them - I'll have to go in there and spend lots of money to make up for it...

Danni x

PS - A Thrifty Mrs is doing a chocolate giveaway on her blog, and although I have to say I hope you don't win as I'll be very jealous, here's the link for it!

Rip-off Retro

I went to the Brighton branch of Beyond Retro yesterday (there's one in London too), and as much as it's a very cool place to browse in, I don't like the fact that it's so expensive. I think it's almost rude to price things so high just because of the fashion for vintage at the moment, when if you buy the same things from a car boot/charity shop they are massively cheaper.

So generally I will stick to the car boots and charity shops, but having said all that, I did come away with a couple of lovely things. One was a very flattering playsuit, I'm guessing 80's but not sure. I'll put a picture up soon as I think I'll be wearing it tonight, I hate having things without giving them an outing straight away!

On my way out of the changing room I saw an amazing wooden bag. I ummed and ahhed because it was £16.99, and I don't spend £16.99 on anything! I knew that if I didn't buy it I'd think about it loads and regret it, but I also didn't want to encourage BR's terrible pricing...

Reader, I bought it. Here's a pic:

Looking at the pictures now it seems so small for all those pennies! But I know I'll love it. It's also going to go out tonight. I'm sure we'll have a lovely time.

Danni x

Old age accessories

Last week, I bought what I think is my best accessory purchase of the year.


A chain for my glassses.

Those of you that dont wear glasses won't know the frustration of going into another room, needing to look at something far away (or up close if you're long sighted) and realising that you've left your glasses in the other room. Again. Even though you'd been wearing them for AGES and had just taken them off for a minute.

And now for just £1 from H&M, my problem is solved! Not only do I have my glasses on me at all times, but I am also rocking an old lady/librarian look which I think works really well with my new dark hair! What do you think? (Excuse the very posed picture!)

Danni

Glove love

I got my vintage gloves! £4.60 from ebay. They're very comfy, the only bad thing is that I'd forgotten the issue of having to take my rings off when I put gloves on; I wear 6 rings so it is a bit annoying. Especially as I live in fear of losing one of my rings.

Does anyone else wear loads of rings? It seems to be fairly unusal these days, people are always commenting on how many rings I wear. I love them though, and seeing as I aquire them at a rate of about one every 6 months, my fingers will be full up soon!

My lovely glove(s):

Danni

Can't...stop...spending...

I can't stop buying things! I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm sure many people are in this position too, but I have to stop, I'm running out of space/money/reasons.

Here are my two favourite new things:

Black hat from Velvet (£15)

'Simulation Mink' coat (great description!) from Snoopers Paradise in Brighton (£22)

Both bought on a Sunday that I thought would be a lot cheaper than it turned out!

So no more buying anything this month. Unless it's a great bargain. Or I really need it. Or I really want it.
I've decided to buy some of my Christmas presents when I get paid at the beginning of November. I know, shoot me now, I said the C-word! But it has to be faced up to sometime, and since I've been adding to a bookmark folder called 'possible presents' all year, full of lovely things, it's not going to be too much of an ordeal (hopefully).

I also managed to steal some great stuff from clearing out my Dad's house ahead of him moving; a wooden bread bin, a very weird/wonderful black goldfish vase, a great giant wicker hamper/basket for storage and a truly beautiful watch on a chain. I know those kind of watches are coming back into fashion at the moment, but I love having one that is genuinely old, beautiful, and has sentimental value - my Dad bought it for his Mum's birthday about 40 years ago. It only keeps the time for about half an hour, so I'm going to try and get it fixed, but I'll be wearing it either way!

Edit: Took some pics this morning to show off the watch:

Danni

Autumn changes

Well, 2 days before a long-awaited holiday wasn't the best time to start a blog! But at least it means I actually have some interesting stuff to share. I went to Turkey for a week, first holiday abroad with the boyfriend, and it was amazing!

I've added this gorgeous dress to my wardrobe (new dresses are almost literally a weekly occurance, but it's from another country so slightly more interesting!):

And on my first day back I bought these gorgeous shoes from a charity shop for £5.99:

You can't tell, but those are knee high socks, I've always wanted to rock that look, and I love it!

My other change is that I have gone from quite a blonde blonde, to a very dark brunette! It's only been 2 days so far and I'm still getting used to it, I really feel like a spy in a cheesy movie that's tried to (badly) disguise her identity by having a drastic dye job! I do like it a lot, but I'm wondering if a) I'll be treated any differently and b) if I'll act any differently - i.e. will I be less 'dumb blonde'? (I do know the answer is no, not at all, I am always the 'dumb' part whatever my hair colour!!)

And lastly, it is properly Autmn now; even though it's gloriously sunny here in Brighton you can feel a slight cold edge, but this is my favourite kind of weather so I'm happy! I'm currently searching ebay for some vintage gloves...I'll put a picture up when I find them.

So...my first blog post! I don't really know anything about 'how to blog' (not that there is an exact art!) but having been inspired by Alex at Odd Socks and Pretty Frocks, Jen at A Little Bird Told Me and Vix at Vintage Vixen I thought I should give it a go, even though this blog will probably just end up as the ramblings of an online shopping addict!

I'll do the picture thing soon...I need to get my camera working first...

In the meantime here is my newest purchase and my newest lust item: (as soon as I buy something, I want something else, I'm sure you know how it is!)

Isn't she gorgeous? It's from MaxC, my new favourite website. The only bad thing is that it said it came with a long strap, but didn't, and when I emailed them they said they'd put the wrong info up. So I'll have to make my own to save my shoulders from heavy bag pain!

 These pink brogues are what I want to buy next, after seeing them on A Little Bird Told Me. Unfortunately I'm completely out of money, and what with going on holiday soon (Turkey a week today, WOOOOOO!) they'll have to wait - or go on sale, fingers crossed!

Danni