So much for January being the month I got my blogging mojo back and created content I was happy with/proud of. Actually, those days of blogging feel long gone and I do wonder how much longer this piece of the big wide web will continue for. Maybe as wedding plans progress, new journeys begin, and this current slump I’m in starts to lift I may feel differently. Probably even once this month is done, the first month of the year always kicks my ass no matter how much I tell myself it won’t. At least I’ve had window shopping to keep me sane, and as a consequence, another wish list post has formed.
I’ve not been feeling very body confident lately, bought on by a final push to weight restoration I find myself drawn to looser fitting items. I also find myself drawn to the polka dot trend that seems to be everywhere, so this Polka Dot Dress from New Look is probably going to make the transition from wish list to purchase very soon.
Bob and I are obsessed with Sabrina on Netflix and are eagerly awaiting chance to sit down and start season 3. I am also eagerly awaiting stock of this Sabrina inspired palette arriving on the Boots website; from one of my favourite high street makeup brands, NYX, this is just crying out for me to spend the last of my Christmas money on.
It seems that I want ALL of the dresses right now. New season is hitting the shops and I’m all about the bold prints and clashing patterns. This dress from Oasis is gonna have to stay on the wish list for now at £52, but I just love it and I think it would make a really versatile addition to the wardrobe.
I already own far too many pairs of trainers for someone who works a 9-5 office job and does no sport. I’m having to repeat this to myself over and over since seeing these adidas trainers on the Office website…be still my beating heart, be still.
Another dress that’s caught my eye is this belted denim dress from & other stories. Another piece well out of my price range but very much on my radar as the perfect trans-seasonal piece.
I think the & other stories denim dress would look fabulous with these ankle boots from Zara. My ankle boot obsession is getting out of hand- I’ve purchased three pairs since December (sadly meaning I cannot justify these)…is anyone else powerless to resist their charms?
What’s caught your eye recently? Any ideas for what you might like to see on the blog in the coming year?
I don’t know when I got so sporadic with blogging…as last year drew to a close I told myself 2020 would be the year I got back on track, and yet here we are, 13 days in and I’ve barely posted a thing, oops! Let’s just call that an adjustment period to a new decade and crack on with things from now.
And what better way to crack on than with a wish list? Something I’m always creating and yet never seeming to get around to posting, by the time I do, things are out of stock or I’ve gone off something. I’m currently on a mission for a dress to wear for a wedding in March, and whilst I’m yet to find something that fits the bill, I have found a whole host of other things that tickle my fancy.
Jumper; & other stories. I have such a vast jumper collection that I truly can’t justify any more, but this one is a beaut! Dress; AngelEye– I went on to the site to look for a dress to wear to the wedding but fell in love with this day dress instead.
Jumper; Joanie Clothing. See above comment r.e. jumpers, but this one literally is the dream and I am sorely tempted.
Trench coat; Monki. Another thing I do not need is yet another coat, but this Monki one is a classic and I am smitten.
Skirt; Oasis. This is unlike anything I’d normally go for, mostly because it’s too fitted for me to feel comfortable in, but I love this skirt and dream of teaming it with some body confidence and fluffy jumpers.
Dr Martens; Office Shoes …what’s not to love?Dress; Very. I love a high neckline, and a midi dress so this is pretty much my dream. I love V by Very for affordable fashion.
What’s on your wish list right now? I’m trying hard to shop more in charity shops, less fast fashion etc…and whilst I occasionally find some gems (Donna Ida jeans for £3.99 anyone?!) I can’t resit the lure of the high street.
“The Other Bar is an experiment in Radical Equality, designed to take a bite out of poverty through the simple act of buying a chocolate bar.”
Experimental chocolate? My curiosity was sky high the second I saw a message from The Other Bar in my instagram messages. Now, the chocolate itself isn’t experimental (more on that later) but the concept and ethos of this brand certainly is…
Backed by the UNDP and FairChain Foundation, when you buy a bar of chocolate from The Other Bar you’ll find a QR code token, scan that and you’ve just helped a farmer buy a cocoa tree. Each token is worth a quarter of a tree, so four tokens/bars of chocolate and you’ve bought a whole tree- what better excuse to buy and eat chocolate?
One tree can produce £19 worth of cocoa for a farmer, and unlike many brands where the farmer only gets 3% of the value of the cocoa, The Other Bar ensures farmers are paid prices that meet real income needs.
“We believe in a living income and a sustainable future for cocoa farmers. That’s why we give you the choice to spend your token on a cocoa tree.The Other Bar is produced in Ecuador at an independently-owned factory. By making the chocolate at source, we can increase the experiment’s impact. Higher wages for farmers, more trees for the planet, more jobs, training, skills and opportunities for people. That’s radical equality in action.You don’t have to take our word for it, spend your token and see exactly how much the farmer was paid for the cocoa in your bar, and the exact GPS location of the cocoa tree that your token buys.”
Sounds good so far right? But how does the chocolate taste?
In a word…AMAZING! This is truly excellent chocolate, it really is. I’m not a massive fan of milk chocolate these days but this was delicious and the bar barely touched the sides (although I did have to share). The dark chocolate was all mine, and whilst I was able to ration this a bit more sensibly (each pack contains two 50g bars) it still didn’t last long!
As an added bonus, each tree planted absorbs and stores carbon dioxide, helping combat climate change.
Each 100g bar costs £2.99 from the website, and you can also buy a pack of four for just over £12.
You can keep an eye on these guys over on their instagram page– give them a follow and get involved!
Halloween and bonfire night have passed, which, according to just about everywhere now means it’s Christmas! I’m usually one of those people who is super organised and has most of their shopping done by now, but this year I am a bit stuck and therefore WAY behind myself. Am I panicking? Perhaps a little…but I’m sure it’ll all work out in the end.
I was recently sent a couple of gifts from Sous Chef which is one of my all time favourite foodie sites to browse, so to say I was over the moon would be a slight understatement. Actually, since these items arrived I’ve had further browsing sessions on the site and I do feel that half my Christmas shopping problems have been solved. Anyway…
Anyone that knows Bob and I will be familiar with our chilli obsession; we curved our enthusiasm somewhat after a vegan chilli disaster last year (never before has a dinner gone entirely in the bin, it was literally glowing from the heat it contained) but are gently easing ourselves back in, so this Mexican Chilli Selection (£13.95) was very well received and is just one of many fantastic chilli options on the Sous Chef website.
The second item we were sent was this beautiful Ramen set (£39.50) which could not have been better timed as we had literally just a few days before decided we wanted to experiment more with ramen and noodle dishes in general.
This is such a beautiful set (there are several options available) and makes such an ideal gift for a foodie couple. It comes with a booklet full of recipes, and whilst we haven’t made anything yet you’d better watch this space (well, instagram) for what is to come.
Both items arrived impressively packaged and ready to give as gifts. Whilst these items were gifted to me by Sous Chef I honestly cannot recommend this website enough, I’ve been a fan girl for years. You’ll find everything you need for foodie friends and family, from stocking fillers and delicious treats to much grander gifts for super special occasions.
Ever since the books launched I’ve had a soft spot for Harry Potter and his wizarding pals. Fifteen year old me named my black and ginger guinea pigs “Harry” and “Ron”, and whilst now, 17 years later I’m a bit more restrained in my love of these characters, it’s still very much there.
Gift brand Paladone have an amazing range of Harry Potted themed merchandise and very kindly allowed me to pick out a few pieces for myself. With Christmas rapidly approaching (I hate to say it, but it’s true) I thought this would be the opportune moment to start introducing some gift guide type posts.
I love this little travel card holder, and whilst I don’t have need of travel cards I’ve been using this to keep my most used bank cards handy on my lunch break when I don’t want to take my whole bag out with me. This is the perfect little stocking filler for any Harry Potter fan.
This travel mug is a lovely, grown up gift for Harry Potter fans and super useful. I collect travel mugs like I collect normal mugs- you can never have too many in my eyes. I love the burgundy colour and the proud Hogwarts crest.
Sorry for the terrible photo, I really need to get a light box or something for photos as our house doesn’t lend itself to good lighting. You can still see how awesome this mug is though- designed like the travel mug with the Hogwarts crest, this is a great gift idea for grown up, and not so grown up Harry Potter fans and ideal for a restorative brew.
Paladone is a new to me absolute treasure trove for gifts and inspiration- make sure you’re following them on instagram too for all of their greatest releases.
