The thing I have fallen in love with this week: Hello Spring!

March 12, 2016 | blueskygirlie

Over the last few days it feels like we’ve finally left winter and slowly moved into Spring. Ok, its not totally here, but the suns been shining, there’s flowers blooming everywhere and Easter and all its sweet treats is on the way.

I need some inspiration – I need bright. I need cheerful. I need cute!!!

In todays ‘The thing I’ve fallen in love with this week’ blog I share the things that are making me smile so far this March. I couldn’t pick one thing so I’ve gone for a few (I do love doing a flat lay!). Bright, fun and sweet is the name of the game…

Clouds zipped purse – Cath Kidston
Vintage coral necklace – Etsy
Purse and brooch – New Look
Nail polish – Superdrug
Hello Fashion Monthly – subscribe here
Pineapple dish – Debenhams
Vintage Mother of Pearl necklace – Etsy
Pineapple vase – Store TwentyOne
Scarf – Echo
Love Sick book by Jessie Cave – Amazon
Vintage glass dish – Etsy
Mike and Ike American candy – B&M stores
Mason Jar cup – Poundworld
Face pot stand and beaker – Tiger Stores
Twizzlers American candy – B&M stores
Clouds Gola trainers – Cath Kidston
Hand Food hand cream & Butter Me Up body butter – Soap & Glory

Bright colours and cute designs lift my spirits. I love the Cath Kidston cloud design (well I am the blue sky girl!) and my new Echo scarf is perfect for Spring styling. The yellow Pineapple vase from Store TwentyOne was a bargain must have and ‘Love Sick’ by Jessie Cave is a book of her doodles on love and relationships and it is very funny and VERY relatable…

Regular followers of my blog know I love Hello Fashion Monthly (a bargain at £1.50 each month) and I couldn’t live without Soap & Glory products – I can’t shower, scrub or cleanse with anything else! If you like a jelly bean (as I do), it doesn’t get better than American brand Mike and Ike and when I saw that Pineapple dish in Debenhams I just had to have it…

I feel more cheerful already! So, what are you loving for Spring?

For more flat lay product inspiration follow me on Instagram – here.

Head in the clouds…

August 5, 2015August 5, 2015 | blueskygirlie

It all started with some tea towels…

I picked out a set of Cath Kidston ‘clouds’ print tea towels for mothers day this year. I adore a blue sky/white cloud motif in general and I just loved them. My business is Blue Sky Visual, my blog is called Always a blue sky girl, my Instagram/Twitter/ Pinterest name is BlueSkyGirlie. Why? Because ‘blue sky thinking’ people always strive for the most creative and ambitious solution and see everything from a highly creative perspective and I would like to think thats the kind of creative person I am! And if not, thats what I aspire to be.

Then I saw the trainers…

A collaboration between Gola and Cath Kidston that were just my style. I bought them with my birthday money and have worn them so much. Just looking down at your feet makes you feel happy and I blogged about them here.

I loved wearing them to Copenhagen on our last trip…seemed something so right about cloud prints and being up in the sky in a plane…and by then I’d bought a zip up purse too.

I decided with the Cath Kidson summer sale on another item had to be mine. I wanted a bag – nothing too formal or big, just something that would be great for shopping and wearing with jeans etc.

I went for something a bit different and tweaked it to what I needed…maybe I used some of that blue sky thinking!?! This is officially a craft bag (I guess for knitting/ sewing stuff etc) and was reduced from £35 to just £15. Its a soft fabric bag with large pockets on both sides and a tie to the top. To make it a bit more robust and tote-like I carefully opened up the small part of the inside lining and cut a hard base out of cardboad, inserted it in and re-sewed the lining. I’m thrilled with the outcome!

And here it is with its new friends! I do like a bit of co-ordination…

Find the bag online here or check out your nearest Cath Kidston store. Do you love the range as much as I do? Don’t tell my boyfriend, but I’m debating getting the lamp next…

Cath Kidston + Gola = Trainer Perfection

March 14, 2015August 5, 2015 | blueskygirlie

This Spring, iconic British retailer Cath Kidston launched a collaboration with retro British sports brand Gola creating a range of fun trainers, in the classic Gola ‘Harrier’ style re-imagined in four gorgeous Cath Kidston prints. Four different versions were created – something for every girls taste, even if (like me) they weren’t a dedicated Cath Kidston shopper before.

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There are four statement prints to choose from – ‘Mini Clouds’ which brings a quirky, dreamy, retro style, ‘Mini Patchwork’ – this is a cute, fun, vintage look and finally ‘Paradise Fields’ giving a fresh, feminine, floral look in indigo or chalk colour ways.

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I think the Gola design merges beautifully with the Cath Kidston print and red embroidered logo. Originally launched in the sixties, the Gola ‘Harrier’ design remains a firm favourite within the range to this day. The result is a super comfy trainer due to its wide fit, suede trims and soft textile lining but also something that looks that bit different.

If you’re a fan of Cath Kidston you can buy matching pieces to complete your look. There is so much to choose from. I can feel my bank account diminishing as we speak! Come on, who could resist a pair of matching cute socks for only £6.00? Or a matching bag? Or even a full print dress, scarf or skirt? Be brave – Spring is a time to embrace brighter colours and great prints.

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As it was my birthday recently I asked for a pair of the cloud design trainers for my birthday present. I had seen them in the press and instantly fallen in love with them. The design is one of my favourite motifs – I just love the image of blue skies and clouds. It makes me feel happy but I also love the idea of blue sky thinking – to be the most creative you can be and to not be held back by current thinking. I want to be that type of person. My blog is called ‘Always a Blue Sky Girl’, my business is called Blue Sky Visual Merchandising and BlueSkyGirlie is my Instagram/Twitter name. Yep, its definitely a thing for me!

At £65.00 they are not cheap, but well worth the investment in my opinion. The quality is fantastic, the fit is great and I just can’t stop looking at my feet and smiling!!! You get an extra pair of grey laces but I opted for the bright yellow ones that were already laced into them – the extra pop of bright yellow alongside the yellow Gola stripes really adds to the quirky look.

What a way to make a statement with your feet! I’m currently wearing mine with skinny jeans, cotton tees, blazers and slouchy jumpers. I think they’d also look cute with a dress for a fun look. Whatever way you want to wear them let the shoes do the talking.

The range will be sold exclusively through Cath Kidston online and its stores and concessions in the UK and worldwide. I guarantee these are going to sell fast and you’ll see them on the feet of celebrities and top fashion bloggers.

All I have to do is work out which pair I want next…

March birthday wish list

March 10, 2015April 4, 2015 | blueskygirlie

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.