The Weekly Wish List #3

Again, this post almost didn’t happen this week- I don’t know where time is vanishing to but I wish it would slow down a bit.
However, despite being incredibly busy I’ve still found time to do a little bit of browsing and I am finally getting chance to pull it together in to a rather Autumnal feeling wish list.

Hoop earrings: Orelia | Dress: & Other Stories | Boots: & Other Stories | Puffer Jacket: Thunder Egg | Trousers: Miss Selfridge | Cord Jacket: Thunder Egg

There has been a distinct chill in the air this week, hence the two coats featuring in this post. I know I’d never have the balls to pull off the puffer jacket in real life but I am drawn to how happy and bright it would make even the greyest of mornings [although wet walks to work will be a thing of the past now I’ve bought a car!].
I’m obsessed with all things cord so I’m also seriously drawn to the cord jacket too- both from one of my favourite online haunts, Thunder Egg.

Another solid favourite online haunt lately has been & Other Stories, who fell off my radar for a bit until I heard they are opening a store in Bristol very soon. I fell completely in love with the brand last time I was in Spain and right now, if I were rich, I’d be buying one of almost everything in their current collection.

The hoop earrings and trousers are somewhat more random additions, but both managed to grab my attention on my regular browsing sessions. Miss Selfridge are currently having a 30% off weekend making the trousers a very tempting prospect, but having just bought my first car today I really need to reign my spending in!

What’s caught your eye this week?

The Weekly Wish List #2

Wow, only a week in to my new “regular feature” and I almost forget to write a post- fail! In my defence, this has been a crazy week- and I’m pleased to announce that after 14 long years I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST! First time in to this round of lessons [after a 5 year break] and with only 2 minors.

Needless to say I’ve been a little bit distracted this week, and whilst most of my online browsing has been for cars, and car related things I have still managed to find a few little gems that I would love to be buying.

Hello Kitty Converse | Star Print Dress | Floral Dress | Enamel Pin | Floral Skirt

It was obvious that the Hello Kitty Converse collection was going to win me over, and as well as the pair I’ve featured above I am also seriously tempted by these suede ones from Office. I’m having to fight myself hard not to make an impulse purchase; it wasn’t that long ago I bought my Hello Kitty Pumas and with the reality of a car to run AND a house move coming up I really need to resist.

I’m so happy to see florals everywhere again this season- my love for them is well documented and I think at some point the Monki dress might be added to my wardrobe. It’s definitely a more practical purchase than another pair of trainers, and thanks to a slightly more relaxed dress code at work, will also be perfect for the office. As would the star print shirt dress from Joanie Clothing, I’m really in to shirt dresses at the moment and this one attracted me the second I saw it.

Other items on the list this week are the Topshop floral skirt, which I shall resist because I’m sure everyone and their dog already own it. It doesn’t stop me coveting it hard though….

And finally we have this great enamel pin from La La Land – one of my favourite independent stores online. I have lost count of the times I mutter these words at work, and having it in pin form would save a lot of wasted energy.

What’s made it on to your wish list this week?

Savvy Tips When It Comes To Your Shopping*

When it comes to what we need to spend on a day to day basis we can often become distracted by some of the things we need to pay out for. We can get consumed by what appears to be a good deal, blinded by that must have item and trend, or simply feeling the urge to buy something new. There is everyday spending that you would consider essential, and there is the not so essential spending that we like to do for one reason or another. However, you can be a lot more savvy when it comes to any type of shopping and I wanted to share with you what you could consider doing.

(Photo by Alexandre Godreau on Unsplash)

Plan ahead

When it comes to shopping one of the best things that you can do is plan ahead; this applies to anything from those essential things like food right down to christmas presents. Planning ahead can help you understand what you might need to spend. You can do this with your food shopping, planning meals ahead of time and only buying what you need. You can also look at upcoming birthdays and shop around for the best deals on gifts. It may seem like you have to invest a bit of time in to the planning element, but it can be so worth it when you get the best deal on your shopping and have more spare cash for life’s little luxuries.

Be savvy with your finances

When it comes to your finances you may want to take the time to be savvy with them. This means investing your time into your current financial situation and making sure you haven’t spent more than is planned or necessary. A quick example can be things like debt- it can take up big chunk of your money each month, so placing some of your attention on the situation can have you paying it back in no time at all. From considering help from programs where reading up on National Debt Relief reviews could enlighten you, to considering consolidating and getting just one monthly payment to resolve your issues once and for all. If none of those options work out then focusing on paying off the one that costs you the most might be beneficial. Only paying out what is needed and, the lowest amount leaves you with more disposable income for other things.

Bring down the cost of everyday and essential spending

There are purchases in life that you have no choice but to make, but you can try and pay the least amount possible. Things like vouchers, discount codes and cashback sites are great way to reduce your total spend. This works on food shopping, meals out and online shopping essentially- but if you look hard enough you may also find savings to be made on all sorts of things.

Look out for bargains online

Finally, do you shop around? The truth is you possibly don’t. A lot of us buy things flippantly but if we were to take time to look at other providers, platforms like eBay, or seek out places where you may get it cheaper you could bag yourself a bargain. Don’t always go for the first option.

I hope that these tips help you when it comes to saving money on your shopping.

The Weekly Wish List

Blogging has unintentionally fallen by the wayside for me lately; balancing full time work plus driving lessons, social commitments and general lack of inspiration when it comes to content means I just haven’t made time for it in the way I once did. In a bid to kick-start my constant promises to myself that I will get back to writing content that I’ve enjoyed creating I’m starting up a new regular feature- the weekly wish list. It’s hardly groundbreaking stuff, I know, but I’m hoping it helps re-ignite my passion and inspiration for this site- and also allows me to justify my general obsession with online window shopping that little bit more.

So, here’s what has caught my eye this week…

French Fries Top | Flock You Nail Polish Duo | Karl Lagerfeld cat bag | Floral Wrap Dress | Pleat Sleeve Top | Leather Ankle Boots

As the heatwave of recent weeks has well and truly ended my thoughts have moved to Autumn fashion and right now I am loving both Joanie Clothing [as always] and Topshop. The latter came as quite a surprise to me as it’s rare these days that I find anything I want from there- I feel like maybe I’m getting a bit too old for most of their styles, but the pleat sleeve blouse and leather ankle boots have both made their way on to my list this week.

On a more frivolous front I am so taken with the Karl Lagerfeld bag, and found my finger twitching dangerously close to “add to basket” when I saw it. Thankfully, and somewhat regretfully I saw sense and didn’t go through with it- I’m not a small bag kind of girl in reality, and with a house move looming I need to keep hold of my pennies.

The nail polish duo I could just about justify though, I’ve always been a Nails Inc fan, and at £15 for the set it’s less than the price of one gel manicure, which I’ve fallen in to the habit of this year. The colours are exactly those I’ve been favouring and I’m suspecting that once pay day arrives this will be my monthly treat.

What’s caught your eye this week? I’m so excited to see all of the new season bits and pieces arrive in store- less so about the odd bits of Christmas stock that seem to have reared it’s head.

Hack Your Home to Cut Chore Time*

Photo by Fancycrave on Unsplash

Whether you are having a quick tidy up or a full on spring clean, housework can be one of the most annoying chores of all. You get it all done and within what seems no time at all it needs doing again. Here are some simple hacks to help make it a little easier, and they may help to make a less thankless task.

Rubbish Bins

Rubbish bins seem to fill really quickly- especially kitchen ones. Have you ever been in a rush and emptied it and forgot to replace the bin bag? The next person does not always realise there is no bag in there and you can end up with one very messy bin to clean. Leave a few spares bags in the bottom of the bin as then even if you are in a hurry it will take just a few seconds to replace the one you have take out.

Bins can get very smelly too, especially in summer; but a couple of slices of lemon wiped around the inside of the bin lid will help to combat this problem.

Floors

If a floor looks dirty and messy the whole room does. You need a simple way of keeping your floors looking good all of the time, the answer could be laminate flooring by Factory Direct Flooring as it takes very little effort to sweep and mop so that it comes up like new. The final coat that the manufacturers use ensures that it is stain and water resistant, and is not prone to scratches or dents. It is cheaper than most other flooring types and will last for many years; an added bonus is that it is very easy to install.

Bed Linen

When you decide to change the household bed linen from John Lewis, or whoever your favourite seller is, do you find that you spend ages trying to get the right sheets and pillowcases together so the bedding sets match? The easiest time to do this is when the laundry has dried before you put it away. Fold each sheet and place it inside a pillowcase it belongs with, and do the same with the quilt cover and other pillowcases. Then it is simple just to pick out the set for the bed you are about to change.

Oven Cleaning

There are not many people that look forward to the prospect of having to scrub an oven clean, but it is a job that has to be done at some point. You can stop it getting so messy be placing a sheet of tinfoil on the bottom of the oven, then any spillages will not stain the oven itself, and the foil is easily replaceable. When you are roasting anything put foil over the top of the meat until the last half hour or so; this reduces that amount of fat splashes that cause most of the gunk inside an oven.

If you really cannot face this task then there are people who specialise in cleaning ovens, but you have to be prepared to pay around £100 for the job to be done. It pays to keep on top of keeping your oven clean so you don’t end up with one messy and daunting task ahead.

Anything that can help to reduce the amount of housework you have to do is welcome, but sometimes you have no choice but to get stuck in and do it.