Zara Treats | Messenger Bag & Apple Juice Perfume

So, I hopped into Zara the other day, as you do, and came out with a couple of treats for myself.  I'd tell you it wasn't planned but that would be a complete lie - I'd been daydreaming about the pastel blue Messenger Bag ever since I saw it on the lovely Julie's blog a couple of weeks or so ago.  I have a bit of a thing for anything blue - I wear it on my nails all the time and my favourite blazer is a bright cobalt colour - just anything blue I'm instantly drawn to when it comes to beauty or fashion related stuff.  Therefore, I had to have this bag. Purchase fully justified.  It's quite small but it will fit in all the essentials for a shopping trip or evening out. If I'm ever feeling particularly ruthless with what clutter I'm taking with me I may get away with it for uni on the odd occasion.  Either way - I needed it in my life.  The colour is just stunning and it will add a lovely, subtle pop of colour to any plain outfit - I love the gold chain against the pale shade and its minimal appearance on the whole. Yes, I'm in love. It's love. I could sit and gaze at it's beautiful gold detailing all day *swoon*

I also picked up some Apple Juice. No, not of the beverage kind ;)..ffs. Zara have an array of perfumes and every time I walk on by I always catch a whiff of the gorgeous scents.  There has always been this particular fragrance that has caught my attention but I'd never been able to find out which one it is (spraying perfumes on every inch of your limbs results in a bit of a muddle). However - I finally cracked it and worked out which one it was! Apple Juice is the perfect fragrance for this time of year as it's light and fresh without being too soft. I wouldn't even say it smells incredibly like apples - just a nice, fruity scent with sweet top-notes that aren't so sweet they become sickly (there's a tiny hint of apple-y goodness in there).  If you've ever tried the DKNY 'apple' perfumes then you'll love this one! It's a great deal cheaper at just £9.99 and smells just like any high-end perfume would smell.  Even though it's a lighter scent I think I'll be wearing this well into the Autumn or maybe even all year round - its just my cup of tea for a lovely daytime scent. I highly recommend you give it a sniff if you're a fellow perfume-addict like me and like a clean, fresh scent now and again.   Zara, you have impressed me with your absolutely smashing perfume selection...

Apart from treating myself, I've been interning at a design agency the past couple of weeks.  It's safe to say I'm feeling slightly worn out tonight so I'm just spending my evening having a little browse on the t'interwebs. I'm currently bidding on a Topshop dress on eBay that I really want in my wardrobe... However, it seems someone else is also equally determined to get their grubby mitts on it... Grrr! Keep your fingers crossed for me ;)

Have ever tried Zara perfumes? What's your favourite one? I'm tempted to get another...

Big Clothing Haul | River Island, ASOS, Topshop, Primark & More

Hiddely-ho ladies! I do hope you've all had lovely weeks - you may have noticed I've gone a little bit 'off schedule' with my blog recently (I usually post on the same 3 days each week).. I do hope you can forgive my higgeldy-piggledy-ness (hows that for a mouthful?) the past couple of weeks or so but I'm currently doing my Final Major Project at uni and it's taking up a great deal of my spare time. I shall be sure to post some photos and a link to my 'graphic design-y' blog when I'm all done and dusted for those of you who might fancy a nosey! Anyway.. excuses and explanations aside, I thought I'd kick off this week with a clothing haul - because, lets face it, who doesn't love a good nose through people's shopping bags?! I know I do...

I was online shopping on Topshop recently because I needed a simple little black cami (i haven't photographed it but I picked up this one) and before I went to the checkout i spotted this little 'bunny ear' styled scrunchie. I thought it was so cute and I always shove my hair up in ponytails and buns when I'm around the house so this will add a touch of girlie-ness to my hair when I want to wear it up.

I've been after some more jewellery for a while to wear with t-shirts and high necked tops - this little pack from H&M was a bargain (around the £10 mark) and there's something there for every occasion and outfit. H&M do some fabulous jewellery - and I can't wait to head back and grab a few more pieces from there.

I'm in love with this little red number! I have no idea where I'm going to wear it yet - I think it's quite a versatile piece and it can work for day or night. I might wear it to uni soon with a little black cami underneath and some patterned tights. The colour is just so pretty - such a vibrant red.. (think Mac's 'Lady Danger' lipstick in clothing-form!) and I shall be adorning this for a night out in the near future I'm sure!

I picked up the lace dress a few weeks ago now - they were out of stock of my size everywhere but I was determined to get it. Luckily, one came available on ASOS and I put it in my shopping basket sharpish! I haven't worn it yet but as soon as the sun comes out I'll be wearing this everywhere - I'm just completely and utterly in love with it.  The v-neck bodysuit is also from ASOS, and I've bought this to wear on a night out in the next week or so with my disco pants and killer heels! The shoulder pads add some statement detail and make it perfect for a night out on the tiles - i'm always wearing dresses out in the evening and I very much fancied a change!

H&M had a cracking sale on! So i picked up a couple of blazers - this hot pink one being my favourite! I've wanted a fuchsia blazer for ages now and I was superly-duperly chuffed to grab this one in the sale for just £7! I get so much wear out of blazers - they just add a bit of 'professional chic' to any outfit.  The shift dress is such a staple item in my wardrobe and I also have it in black (if you like something you must buy it in every single colour after all!) It's one of those items that will take you from 'office to bar' in the blink of an eye and at £19.99 it didn't break the bank either.

The bird jumper from New Look just had to be mine... I have no excuse or justification for buying it really..apart from the fact it has bird print all over it and therefore it would have been criminal if i'd not took home to the safety of my wardrobe where nobody else could get their little mitts on it...  I saw the 'eyelash cardigan' on LLMLRS's YouTube and knew I had to have it. It looks amazing with leather trousers and a plain top and just adds a bit of texture to an outfit. It's really snuggly and warm and will take me through to Spring. It was also reduced to £25 in the sale - fandabbydoozy if i don't say so myself!

And last but not least, no shopping trip is complete without a shuffle around Primark! I picked up the selection of jumpers a while back now as they were only £6 each and I get so much wear out of things like this - they're perfect for wearing with disco pants or leggings, or with jeans on my 'slobby days'. The peplum top is my favourite buy - seeing it on the hanger just doesn't do it justice though and I must make a point of doing an Outfit post with this pretty soonish! It's so figure-hugging and flattering and looks lovely with my Topshop Leigh jeans (and was a complete bargain at just £7!)

What have you been buying lately? Anything here take your fancy?!

January Sales Buys | Clothing, Accessories & Jewellery

| Jewellery |

Maroon Stones - £4 £2 Primark / Triangles £4 £2 Primark / Stud/Spike Bracelet £3 Primark / Gold & Black £4 Primark / Blue Gems £8 £3 New Look/

| Accessories |

Belts - £2.50 each Primark /  Bobble Hat - £4.99 New Look / Leopard Beret -£16 £7 Topshop /

| Photos 3 & 4 |

Floral Cami £15 (sale price) - Topshop / Studded Body £6 Primark / Bird Collar Shirt - £10 Primark

| Photos 5, 6, & 7 |

Blue mini - £8 (sale price) Topshop / Dalmatian Shorts - £39 £12 Motel Vintage at Topshop / Jack Wills V Neck £39 £15 - Jack Wills / Aztec Jumper - £24 New Look /

|Photos 8, 9 & 10|
Studded Hotpants - £40 £15 Topshop / Bird Slouch Tee - £18 Topshop / #Awkward Tee - £7.99 New Look / Geek Tee - £18 Topshop / St Tropez Gradual Tan Medium/Dark - £20 £10 - Boots /

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I must admit, every year, the thought of shopping in the January Sales fills me full of pure dread. There's nothing I'd rather not do after Christmas than battle the crowds in the hope of finding bargains I don't really want. I think working in retail around this time of year puts you off going shopping! However, this year, I decided to take to the shops shortly after the New Year & over the past couple of weeks I've picked up a few things..

I'm so excited to have finally found a slouchy bobble hat that looks decent on me! A while back, I owned a lovely little black bobble hat and I was completely in love with it. Until I lost it on a rather snowy winters evening, have no idea where it tottled off to.. and as a result spent a good while sulking that I would never find one the same ever again (so much so I refused to wear any other hat until I'd replaced THAT one). Ohh how good things come to those who wait because a year or so later, I've found my perfect replacement in New Look for under a fiver. Spiffing.

I'm addicted to casual t-shirts at the moment, which totally goes against my usual dressy/girly style but I love wearing them with jeans when I'm having a lazy day or when one simply can't be bothered to put together an outfit in the morning. I don't usually go in Jack Wills - as much as I love their stuff I often feel as if its full of 11 year old 'Mummy, buy me a horse' types...(ahahaa you know the one's, fellow Wills shoppers..i'm sure they ruin your shopping experience too). This was reduced to a rather purse friendly £15 down from £30-ish so I was quite chuffed with that as I get a lot of wear out of slouchy tees like this..

And of course, the Primark shirt had to be mine - simply because of the birds on the collar! How CUTE?! and I also adore the little dalmatian print shorts from 'Motel Vintage' in Toppyshoppy - they were around £12 down for £40 which is just bargainous in my eyes and it would have been criminal if I hadn't took them straight to the tills... I also stocked up on another GEEK tee - I have the bright blue and love it to shreds! (& the #awkward tee is for wearing to bed..i love a good hashtag, me...)

What have you been buying in the sales?
Please forgive if i have priced things wrongly here.. I've been collecting stuff for ages..

♥