Wearing Teen Ranges

If you follow my Instagram you’ll probably of noticed I wear quite a lot of kids clothes.  This has started in the last few years or so.

Being 5’2″ in height, teen ranges often fit my height much better than any main range, and petite ranges are not as common as you would think.  After losing weight a few years ago I realised that my size 10/12 frame seemed to fit a lot of the older sizes of some kidswear ranges and to be honest I kind of like some of the clothes better!

So can you get away with wearing a kidswear piece of fashion when you are 40 plus?
I think you can!  You need to follow a few rules though and here are my 5…

1.  Can I pull this off?  Just as you’d look at a piece of main range fashion you need to ask yourself if the design is appropriate for you. Sadly for me now in my 40’s, certain super cute prints like Hello Kitty that I wore in my 20’s now look rather out of place, however each to their own and if you love it, then go for it!  I’m still rather partial to a fun print t-shirt though and find more ‘classic’ designs like Disney, smiley faces, retro logos etc all work really well – if you feel great in it then do it!

2.  Will it be too short?  Its great to not have to alter stuff but then again wearing a dress that is super short is probably not the best idea. Consider wearing it as a top or with leggings underneath instead.

3.  Will my boobs fit in it?  The amount of items I’ve had to pass on because of my D cup bust!  If you are busty you may have to look for items that are more stretchy instead.

4.  Not all ranges are created equal.  Make sure you try everything on.  An age 13/14yrs might fit in one store but be tiny in another, the same goes with length.  Most teen ranges go up to 15/16yrs so make sure you shop around.

5.  Stick to certain types of clothes.  Unless you are very petite, skinny jeans and other very fitted items are a no no.  Look for items where the design makes them boxy or more voluminous.  Also look out for shoes and boots which often go up to a size 5 or even 6.

And as a final plus, in the UK its all 20% cheaper due to being VAT free!  

And here are a selection of some of the teen ranges I’ve worn.

Tammy Girl cropped t-shirt – a boxy shape means a easy fit regardless of it being size 152-158 (12/13yrs) and I love that this is actually cropped on me whereas most adult cropped tops sit on my hips in the most totally unflattering way.



Love Australia UGG boots –
When I wanted a pair of Kensingtons I realised the kids size 5’s where over £100 less in price!  And the only difference?  They are a tiny bit shorter (as am I!) and have a zip, which I actually prefer.



Tammy Girl strapless maxi dress –  
I love maxi dresses but often they don’t love me – to buy a dress and not have to shorten it is a dream!  A stretchy strapless dress like this in size 164-170cm (14/15 yrs) fits perfectly.

915 for New Look shoes – as a size 5 most kids ranges have shoes in my size.  I hate high heels so its a great way to find dressy low heeled shoes and sandals.  I might not like high heels but I do love a party shoe!

M&S indigo jumpsuit – A great length, although it was a little tight on the bust at first.  Being cotton it had give in it so after a bit of wear (and slight stretching!) it was perfect. This one is age 13/14 years.

M&Co. Kylie necklace –  obviously this is one size but kids jewellery ranges have some nice little pieces and my nickname is Panda!

915 at New Look jumper – age 14/15 years.  This was an example of trying items on as some of the range came up very small.

Store Twenty One Christmas tops – Both in age 11-12 fitted me at a size 10-12!  The green top is a boys one so dont forget to have a look in the boys ranges too!

   

So, are you ready to have a browse in the kids section the next time you go shopping?

All these photos are from my Instagram – Follow it here for fashion, style, my life and loves and all the things I find beautiful.

Confetti.co.uk ‘Style it Like a Pro’ day

As you probably know I’m recently engaged and as a stylist the look of my wedding is a big deal – to be honest the look of EVERYTHING is important to me!

As well as blogging here I also write inspiration blogs on wedding styling and have styled a couple of real life weddings, so new wedding ranges and trends are always of interest.  

When I heard about www.confetti.co.uk‘s Style it like a Pro event I was really excited.  The chance to meet some other like-minded bloggers, see the new ranges and also see some styling ideas in practice.  
 
source

As a trained stylist I wasn’t expecting to learn anything new but it was a great refresher and definitely made me get excited about weddings!  Seeing all the products, being able to touch and feel them plus see the gorgeous looks set up in real life was great.  

So what were the Confetti.co.uk in-house stylist’s top tips for styling a wedding display?  

  • Firstly always consider three main things when styling – height, detail and texture
  • Once you have those in your display then think about colour and theme.  Three of their main trends were shown to us – Industrial, Vintage & Woodland.  The boho side of me defintely liked the rustic, fairytale look of Woodland the best but they were all lovely.
  • Look to use a small amount of alternative ideas, such as mixing themes or repurposing items e.g. cake toppers as ornaments or cupcake holders holding decorative accents or candles.
  • If you’re mixing things together then make sure you keep a constant.  If you mix themes for example keep the colour palette the same.
  • Finally, make it personal – this is your wedding, pick things you love and make it beautiful in your own way.

I had great fun Instgram’ing all the pretty stuff I spied… 
confetti.co.uk style it like a pro day wedding products via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog 

Even the refreshments were beautiful – imagine having these lovely things at your wedding reception…
confetti.co.uk style it like a pro day wedding products via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog  
confetti.co.uk style it like a pro day wedding products via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog 
confetti.co.uk style it like a pro day wedding products via Always a Blue Sky Girl blogconfetti.co.uk wedding style it like a pro blogger day via always a blue sky girl

Here are some of my favourite items from the day…

Industial look table centrepiece – I love the starkness of the galvanised metal and chalkboard area for information, plus the flowers add a pretty and fresh element.
confetti.co.uk style it like a pro day wedding products via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog  

Lace parasol – the intricate detail of this full sized parasol was so beautiful and perfect for shading the bride or her guests at a summer wedding.  There’s also a mini version that can be used as a display piece that is super cute.
confetti.co.uk style it like a pro day wedding products via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog  

Embracing bear cake toppers – These ceramic bears are actually designed to sit on top of the wedding cake but used as decorative pieces within the Woodland theme looked just adorable.
confetti.co.uk style it like a pro day wedding products via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog 

We were told that around 75% of the products are developed in-house for some unique style you wont find anywhere else.  Great for all of us who want to be unique…and lets be honest everyone wants that on their wedding day.  I definitely was impressed with the range and will be persuing the website soon for a few key pieces for myself…Hey, I am engaged!  Look out for them styled in further blogs.

***********************************************

Confetti.co.uk has teamed up with some of the leading UK wedding brands to provide one lucky couple with a stunning prize package in their Win Your Wedding competition.  The winner will receive the key components needed to have the wedding of their dreams, without the hefty price tag up to the value of a huge £40000!

Enter the competition today for your chance to win – I have!  Find it on the website here.  The winning couple will receive…*takes a deep breath*

  • Reception Venue courtesy of Big Chief Tipi
  • Wedding Photography courtesy of Jenny Martin Photography
  • Discounted Wedding Photography courtesy of Portobello Picture Co
  • Bridal Makeup courtesy of Made Up Makeup and Beauty
  • Caviar courtesy of Kings Fine Food
  • Bridal Lingerie courtesy of StephieAnn Design
  • Wedding Album courtesy of Illustries
  • Wedding Transportation courtesy of Transformer Cars
  • Flower Girl Dress courtesy of Poppy England
  • Bridal Dressing courtesy of Bridal Dressing by Angela
  • Wedding Stationery, Veil, Wedding Favours, Ceremony Accessories, Table and Venue Decor, Personalised Decor and Venue Styling courtesy of Confetti.co.uk
  • Thank You Flowers for the Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom
  • Bridal Shoes courtesy of Crystal Bridal Accessories
  • Bridesmaid Jewellery courtesy of Tigerlily Jewellery
  • Wedding Caricature Entertainment courtesy of The Wedding Artist
  • Fabric flower bouquet courtesy of Daphne Rosa
  • Photo Scarves x3 courtesy of My Story Gifts
  • Groom and Usher Suits courtesy of Stephen Bishop Suiting
  • Wedding celebration recipe book courtesy of Recipe Gift Book
  • Speech Writing Services courtesy of Great Speech Writing
  • Bridal Headwear courtesy of Cata Vassalo
  • Reception Entertainment courtesy of Warble Entertainment
  • Boudoir Photography Session courtesy of Divine Divas
  • Videography courtesy of Shoot it Yourself
  • Male Shaving Hamper x4 courtesy of Dalit Goods Co.
  • Spa break and beauty package for two courtesy of Ardencote Manor
  • Doodle Duvet and Pens Bundle courtesy of Eat Sleep Doodle
  • Photobooth courtesy of Picture Blast
  • Bridal Gown courtesy of Eternity Bridal
  • Wedding Dress Storage courtesy of Empty Box Company
  • Cyprus Honeymoon courtesy of Kanika Hotels
  • Bridesmaid Dresses courtesy of Alexia Designs
  • Bridal Coaching Hen Party courtesy of The Bridal Coach
  • Stag Party courtesy of StagWeb
  • Hen Party courtesy of GoHen
  • Silk Flowers courtesy of Petals Polly
  • Live Band courtesy of earcandy
  • Wedding Bands courtesy of Beaverbrooks
  • Wedding Coordination courtesy of Black Pearl Weddings
  • First Anniversary Short Break courtesy of SuperBreak
  • Mobile Bar courtesy of Mambo Mobile Bars
  • Table Top Love Letter Lights courtesy of The White Bulb
  • A Bespoke Wedding Memory Book courtesy of Memeoirs
  • Wedding Macaron Favours courtesy of Anyonita Nibbles

Now thats an impressive prize!

    Store Twenty One Summer buys

    I really like the homewares range in Store Twenty One. Its on trend, stylish and very competitvely priced.  I blogged about my Spring homeware buys from this hidden gem here and often pop in to see whats new. I have recently fallen in love with a new range they have called Candy Floss. Its really pretty, in sugary pastel colours with a lovely retro vibe reminiscent of Orla Kiely and I couldn’t resist treating myself to a few bits especially since they had a 20% off promotion!   
    Here is my top picks from the range – 
    Hanging tree photo frame – £8.00  Cut out key cabinet – £5.00
     Three part storage shelf – £10.00  Hanging Bird frames – £8.00 Cut out tree decoration – £3  Set of three frames on shelf – £10.00  
    I also fell in love with these retro storage boxes – I love a 1960’s inspired print!
    Set of cardboard retro storage boxes – £3.00 to £6.00.
      
     All images via www.storetwentyone.co.uk

    And these are the bits I’ve bought so far.  They will be going into our renovated utility room when its completed.  I love them! 

    All these items are in store now!  Look out for promotions and special offers across the summer. To find your nearest store click here.

    Visiting Copenhagen

    My partner and I have made a promise to ourselves to see a new city and do a new thing every year and this Easter was the turn of visiting a new place. 

    I’ve wanted to visit Denmark for a while.  Its one of the most stylish places from a design perspective, is a totally different experience from travelling in southern Europe, embraces English as a language and is said to be one of the happiest place to live.

    I instagram’ed A LOT while there so let me share with you what I saw, discovered and felt…

    The airport – yep, Denmark scores high in the design department, even the airport is stunning.


    Tourist attractions – theres so much to choose from but heres a few I loved…

    There are a lot of royal palaces to visit as various ones were built, burnt down or replaced since the 1700’s. The current royal family live in two modest palaces (similar to an English stately home size) protected by Bearskin wearing guards not unlike ours. 

    The Little Mermaid has to be THE thing to visit while in Copenhagen.  It can be reached on foot and is quite amazing to see in real life. Hans Christian Andersons legacy can be seen all around the city and gives it a magical air. I have to say I got quite emotional seeing it in real life.  There is also a ‘Big Mermaid’ to visit further up the shores edge where you can also do watersports and sail.

    Copenhagen is quite unique as it has a theme park right in the middle of the city. Tivoli Gardens was founded in 1843 and has become one of the cities biggest attractions. Hans Christian Andersen visited many times, as did Walt Disney who was said to of used it as inspiration for Disneyland.  Part of Tivoli Gardens’ secret is that there is something for everyone – the scenery is beautiful with exotic architecture, theres fantastic food and drink, it has historic buildings and of course the famous gardens. At night, thousands of coloured lights create a fairy tale atmosphere that is completely unlike anywhere I’ve ever been to. It is quite expensive if you want to go on all the rides and eat dinner but its definitely worth it.  I will never forget how magical it was.

      

    For a great view of the city visit the Rundetårn (The Round Tower) which is a 17th-century tower built as an astrological observatory. It is most well known for its corkscrew style path instead of stairs leading to the top, and for the great views over Copenhagen.  We liked the glass floor where you could look down and see how high you were plus we got to do one of our holiday traditions of kissing at the highest point we can find in the city!

      

      Food and drink – 

    Denmarks food is fresh, simple and tasty. Copenhagen is expensive to eat and drink so it was great to have a good breakfast at the hotel before we started our day. Hot breakfasts arent really a thing in Denmark so expect boiled eggs, breads, meats to make sandwiches, yoghurt and many types of pastries.  Open sandwiches with variations of salt beef, roast beef, fried eggs, beetroot, herring, liver paté and rye bread should definitely be tried for lunch.  And for dinner?  Well I loved their steaks…

      Nyhavn – 

    If you picture Copenhagen you will probably picture the postcard prettiness of Nyhavn (New Harbour).  Bright coloured buildings line the side of the canal with lots of beautiful boats moored there.  Its a great place to eat and drink or take one of the sightseeing boats round the city – we did both.  Absolute holiday perfection.

     
    Love Locks – 

    Last year we visited Barcelona and left a engraved padlock there and it has now become a holiday tradition to do so.  This years padlock is now happily amongst the others on the bridge at Bryggebroen where you will find hundreds of other peoples padlocks too. 

    If you don’t know the idea, also seen in many other big cities, it is that couples come and lock their padlocks (decorated with their names, dates and other messages) to the wires of the bridge, then throw the keys to the water below as a sign of unbreakable love. Pretty romantic, eh?  See our love lock below…

    Modern Architecture – 

    As well as the old, Copenhagen also has some amazing modern architecture.  It really takes your breath away as it is such a stylish place. My favourite was the ‘Black Diamond’ building (seen below with us reflected in it) built to reflect the water all around so ever shimmering like a gem and close second was the Opera House (seen after). 
    Shopping – 

    I did some shopping of course!  Strøget, the main shopping street in the city is Europe’s longest pedestrianised thoroughfare, running for well over 1,000 yards.  The selection of designer homewares is amazing with recognisable Danish brands everywhere plus lots of antique shops.  There’s also a real ‘healthy’ feel to shopping with the biggest selection of fitness clothing across different shops that I’ve ever seen including specific departments just for kids.  Clothing wise, H&M rules the high street and its not hard to see why.  Look out for further blogs on what I bought there!  My partner loves Lego and he was not dissapointed either.  Made in Denmark its presence is strong in department stores, toy shops and its own stores and it looks great.

      

    Bikes – 

    Continuing the healthy feel, there are so many people riding bikes.  It is a very ‘green’ city and you can hire bikes and park them pretty much anywhere.  This leads to a very laid back vibe, with the streets clean and quiet. 

    We found everything really easy in Copenhagen. You can fly there cheaply (our flights only cost us around £50 each return and that was during the Easter break), the people are very friendly, everyone speaks English and signs/announmcements are all in both languages. The weather in April was warm and not that different to the UK.  Its easy to get from the airport to the city centre (about 20 mins on the train) and the city can be navigated easily on foot or by metro/train.  It has definitely become one of my favourite places and I would highly recommend a visit.

    Its the perfect city break!  

    I am a runner, hear me roar!!!

    I am a runner.  I run 5k (3.5 miles ish) 3 times a week. Not a big deal?  Actually it is.

    Two years ago I couldnt run for 5 minutes. And 5 years ago I was more than 90lb heavier than I am now. So to me its a huge deal…and I’m very proud of myself.

    I run obsessively.  I rarely miss a run and run regardless of weather, illness or date (I even ran on Boxing Day). Me and my fiancé even do runs on our holidays – we’ve done runs in France, Spain & Denmark so far!!! It has changed my life…as well as my body – in the last year my weight hasn’t changed much but I’ve gone from a UK 12/14 to a size 10.  My anxiety (which I’ve suffered from for as long as I can remember) has pretty much disappeared and I feel for the first time, totally in control of my body and health.

    But today lets talk clothing – what to wear for running when you love your clothes.  Fashion is one thing but running gear needs to be fit for purpose, so I stick one one brand – Karrimor.  I buy it via Sports Direct where it is greatly reduced and in my opinion its just great – many runners swear by the brand.  Its tight fitting but great! 

    On my feet I wear Puma Descendent’s – I have 2 pairs I alternate, one older black and pink pair and a newer white and pink pair (more for summer) plus supportive/padded running socks.

    THE KIT:

    Fitted long sleeve running top – this is great as a base layer or as a top when its a bit colder. For summer, short sleeve versions are available (plus vests for the 3 days in the year its hot enough 😄).  Whats great about them? Bright colour and reflective stripes for visibility, mesh panels to help the body breathe and a tight fit that wont stretch or go out of shape. 

    karrimor running clothing via blueskygirlie at Always a Blue Sky Girl blog

    karrimor running clothing via blueskygirlie at Always a Blue Sky Girl blog  

    Running tights – yes they are a bit scary if you have a few lumps and bumps you want to hide, but my view is, if anyone dared to make a comment youre the one running and theyre the ones sitting on their lardy asses! They are strangely flattering actually and where they are tight they act like shapewear.  Whats great about them?  Zipped back pocket, reflective details, zips at ankles.

    karrimor running clothing via blueskygirlie at Always a Blue Sky Girl blog  

    Hat and headband –  whether is cold or hot these do the job.  A hat is imperative in the winter and I love the headband to cover my ears on windy days when my hair is tied back. Whats great about them?  Reversible hat (pink is great for visibilty), a tight fit that wont stretch or go out of shape. 

    karrimor running clothing via blueskygirlie at Always a Blue Sky Girl blog

    Underwear – you definitely can’t start running without a sports bra!  That and trainers are the two things you can’t do without. I personally find Berlei bras really good and use a non wired version that you can also wear as a crop top. High impact is definitely the way to go. Obviously depends on your bust size but as I’ve still got D cup boobs I need them contained! Pants wise I’m still working on finding the perfect solution LOL. Some runners adocate going commando but I’m not so sure.  My view currently is to wear seamless high waist pants that wont ride up or be too fussy – not sexy but hey, youre working out.  Plus your bum is going to look a lot sexier in the long run!!! 

    Vest & cropped leggings – in the summer I go lightweight as I can’t stand being too hot. Capri leggings or shorts are perfect and a vest replaces my normal runnung tops.

    Whats great about them?  Breathable panels, zipped back pocket.

      

     Trainers –  Puma Descendents.  Whats great about them?  Lightweight, supportive, breathable mesh toe section.

    Puma Descendent trainers via blueskygirlie at Always a Blue Sky Girl blog  

    Puma Descendent trainers via blueskygirlie at Always a Blue Sky Girl blog 

    Fitness clothes do not have to be expensive – my last pair of trainers cost less than £20 and the running pieces start from around £4 at Sports Direct.  A word of warning though, once you buy a few bits you just cant stop building up your running wardrobe!

    If I’ve inspired you to try running at all I’d recommend the c25k app which trains you from walking to doing a full 5k run (and beyond).  I was terrified but it really works. Give it a go, it might change your life!

    All clothing – Karrimor via Sports Direct

    Sports bra – Berlei 

    Trainers – Puma 

    Dita Von Teese – Starlift lingerie

    A couple of days ago Dita Von Teese ran two photos one after the other on her Instagram feed showing one of her new lingerie lines.   

    I just love the fact there are showing the range on two different body shapes without any fuss or fanfare.  Each look is slightly different but still strong, sexy and feminine and fits to the Dita Van Teese brand look.

    Her lingerie is just gorgeous and is quite clearly is designed for any girl who wants it.  Its not ‘plus size’, its not ‘main range’, its just the range.  

    I think wearing pretty/sexy/fun lingerie makes all woman feel good.  It definitely works for me. We are all different shapes and sizes and 99% of us do not have model bodies – if we did we’d be all be working as models.  Its lucky really, who would do all the other jobs?!?

    The sets look great regardless…and thats the point. Thanks Dita x

    Photos via Instagram

    My home style: The flat 2013

    Back in 2013 my flat was featured in the book ‘Style Your Modern Vintage Home’ by Kate Beavis which I was also the stylist on.  It is a fantastic book featuring peoples vintage inspired homes from the 1920’s look through to the 1980’s/90’s look and also includes advice on collecting vintage plus lots of styling tips in how to display your finds.  

    I thought today I would share it with you to give you a taste of my personal home and interiors style…

    All images courtesy of Simon Whitmore via F&W Media International Ltd.

    I love to mix vintage and modern together so my home fitted the books brief perfectly.  As an ex window dresser and now stylist and style blogger how things look are so important to me. Am I fussy?  Maybe!  

    I also wanted to show what could be done in a rented flat as so often interior books and magazines only show the most amazing, huge older houses – totally unrealistic for the majority of us.  Real life can still look fabulous. So take a look at the flat I lived in then…

    The lounge – a fun mix of pop art, flashes of red and orange and retro 60’s styling.   

    Table – original 1960’s Arkana, Artwork – John Lewis, M&S, Sofa – Harveys, Cushions – Matalan, Primark, Lamp – M&S, China Cats – Villeroy & Boch, Rug – vintage.

    The kitchen/diner – a rented flats modern kitchen styled to feel different & quirky with a dining area designed to maximise a small space.

       

    Table & chairs – original 1960’s Arkana, Artwork – vintage 1980’s, John Lewis, Fridge – Smeg, Glassware – vintage 1960’s, Kettle & Toaster – Breville, Clock – M&S, Accessories – Alessi, Matalan, Vintage

    The hall – Fun vibes with a practical need.

    Side table – original 1960’s Arkana, Lamp – Dwell, Clock – vintage 1990’s Swatch, Chair (just seen) – original 1960’s Arkana, Trimphone telephone & telephone book – vintage 1970’s

    And finally some of the styling details – 

            

    It was a great exerience having my home, as it looked in that moment in time, immortalised in a book! 

    I have since moved to a new house that needs work, so look out for blog posts showing my home styling there. A bigger space will be much more fun and now thst we are not renting anymore, we can change what we want!

    ‘Style your Vintage Modern Home’ by Kate Beavis is available from Amazon – here 

    All images courtesy of Simon Whitmore via F&W Media International Ltd.

    10 questions you ask yourself when you’re 40+ & wearing vintage.

    I’ve blogged a bit about my journey to embrace vintage (see here), but still have the odd wobble.  Once you are of an *ahem* certain age (OK, I’m 42), some fashion choices can get mixed up with just looking odd or people ‘not getting it’ and sometimes you find yourself standing in front of the mirror and asking some bizarre questions!

    1) The item looked ‘hipster’ in the vintage store but does it look more ‘crazy cat lady’ on me? featuring a 1980’s original sweatshirt

    2) Will people get this necklace is a in joke for my love of Instagram and not just a random strange charm? featuring a vintage brass camera necklace

     3) Can an original Ra-Ra dress work when its not 1985?  I did dream of being in Bucks Fizz… featuring a batwing 1980s ra-ra dress

    4) Being a hippy is still cool, especially in the summer, right? featuring a 1970s mint cheesecloth skirt

    5)  Is a patterned silk scarf too ‘air hostess’ tied at your neck – it is such a gorgeous print though…? featuring a 1960s psychedelic print scarf 

    6)  Is this batwing blouse more ‘Stand and Deliver’ than ‘Stand up and be counted’? featuring a 1980s Alexon high necked batwing blouse 

    7)  Did I buy the dress because I like it, or because the label made me feel nostalgic? featuring a 1970s C&A fit and flare dress  

    8) Does that original Disneyland vest now making me look like I’m auditioning for an middle-aged version of the Mickey Mouse Club? And is 90’s fashion even vintage, I wore it the first time around?!? featuring a 1990’s Disneyland souvenir vest 

    9)  Does having a coat with a OTT stand-up collar make you look like a super villian? featuring a vintage Cacharel tweed coat (thanks mum!) 

    And finally…

    10)  Is it ok you have no money but the contents of your jewellery drawers (yes, a mere jewellery box is too small) are worth thousands? featuring many years worth of vintage jewellery buys

    All items pictured are various vintage pieces I have picked upon my travels…

    So do you embrace vintage like me regardless of your age?

    All photos are via my Instagram, follow me for more here

    March birthday wish list

    It’s my birthday month.  Did I mention that? Oh I did?  A lot?  Yeah I do that… Heres my list of the things I am currently coveting, desperately searching for or if I’m lucky, receiving this March.  Did I mention its my birthday?

    

    As someone who has lost a lot of weight and now runs 5k 3 times a week, Karrimor clothing plays a big part in my life.  This bright zip up fleece will see me through chillier runs as is a total bargain reduced to just £8.99.

    

    I’m obsessive about my underwear matching and a pretty set always works (plus the other half appreciates it too!).  Debenhams has an adorable hearts lingerie set by Floozie at £32.50 for the set which I think is super cute and feminine. 

    I love GIRLS (the HBO show) and this £7.99 TK Maxx Red Nose Day journal with Hannahs amazingly arrogant and hilarious quote is just fantastic.  Plus you’re donating to a great charity at the same time.  Actually, thinking about it, maybe I am the voice of my generation….😂

    

    As a ‘Blue Sky Girl’ I HAD to have these Cath Kidston collaboration Gola trainers after I saw them at the Press Show.  At £65.00 they are more than I would usually spend but luckily I’m getting them from my partner for my birthday present.  And gosh I just adore them – expect to see them in many Instagrams. I love the entire ‘Clouds’ range and hopefully will get a few of the home bits too.

    

    I’m a dinky 5’2″ so this £7.99 New Look Petite t-shirt makes me smile.  Great to throw on with a pair of jeans and some trainers.

    

    The Jenny Mollen book ‘I like you just the way I am’ looks so funny. She is just wonderful!  Still not got it (it was on my Feb wish list LOL) and at £16.99 (thats the cover price so will be cheaper online) is money well spent IMO.

    

    This New Look sleeveless coat is something I want so badly but is currently out of stock online.  I will now start a desperate search around all the stores in the south east – you are killing me New Look!  Its £39.99 if you can find it

    

    Sia – 1000 forms of Fear CD.  I’m getting this as part of my birthday present from my sister and I can’t wait.  Her music is just perfection – Elastic Heart has been one of my favourite songs of 2015 so far.

    

    This eBay cat jumper is an aquired taste but I love it.  I do like a piece if clothing with a sense of humour – and it’s bargain at a tenner too. Meow!!! 

    

    I saw this Lavish Alice Cape blazer worn by another blogger and fell in love with it.  A real statement piece but something I think you’d wear forever.  £54.00 at ASOS and just so sophisticated. 

    

    So, birthday or no birthday, has any of that got you wanting to shop? Whats on your shopping list this March?  

    All images sourced via the website linked on the text.