Pretty Little Finds

Day 63 of lockdown isolation. Withdrawal symptoms are truly kicking in. I find myself tucking into unecessary treats more then often, reading anything I can find, even the back of a crisp packet, all to kick the habit...the habit of spending. I keep looking at beautiful things on Ebay, Depop, facebook market but I simply can not justify spending money right now. Hence the indulging on snacks. Despite the things I'm looking at are of course second hand treasures and therefore sticking to my 'year of nothing new', I still can't justify spending the money. I've always been good with money. In the sense of never spending any more than I know I have. But when it comes to saving money, I am a bit slower at that. Once money is in my savings however, I never touch it. It's just getting it in there to start with. I am much better now of course. When you give yourself goals and aims, it helps a lot. I guess what started my 'Year of nothing new' began when close ...

Day 52 of Isolation Lockdown. I am three books in. Theres so much time on my hands, despite all the chores and odd jobs that need doing around the house/farm, I am still making the time to read. One thing I know that I cannot have enough of is books. I can't stand reading off a screen, not when it comes to reading a novel especially. I like a chunky book in hand, pages to turn, the smell books have. One day libraries will be gone, everything will only be accessible online. This needs to change. Because if it doesn't, I think we'll regret it and the earth will pay the price. We can't pretend to see whats happening out there right now, during this difficult time. Dolphins have been seen swimming through the canals of Venice, ducks in the Trevi Fountain in Rome, the Himalayas has come into view for the first time in 30 years in Northern India due to the lockdown leading to a drop in air pollution. SO, our actions very much do have an impact on the world we live in and Moth...

Hello! Look what I found...my old blog! I disappeared for a long while (7-8 years) but I made my way back. I lost myself and spent all this time finding who I am, what I want to do and where I want to be. I lost motivation along the way and have been distracted by other things too. However, 7 weeks into this history we are now living of this Covid-19 pandemic, a virus causing us to self isolate and lockdown the world, brings me time to self reflect, catch up and simply feel settled, also lucky to be alive, healthy and safe. Although the world isn't going to be the same after this, when things "go back to normal" I feel that maybe everyone will come out of this more grateful, compassionate, considerate...well, hopefully most people anyway. I am now a Holistic Beauty Therapist and have been for 5 years now. I love my job, I love that I have finally found something I am passionate about, good at and can't wait to get up in the morning for. Sadly, I feel this situat...

 Every girls nightmare is finding an outfit, making sure its enough or not too much, that its suitable and yet stands out. Having not been to a wedding since I was about 8, I really wasn't sure what sort of outfit was right for a wedding from ceremony to reception. My partner and I were invited to a wedding-someone Ross works with. I was struggling to find anything and had my heart set on a jumpsuit. Soon I was told that it wasn't going to be a fancy wedding, that nobody was really going to dress up and that it was more casual. This just made it worse, what on earth is nice and yet casual enough for a wedding!? You can just imagine the chaotic scene can't you? Picture this...me pulling item after item, with one hand then the other, taking only seconds viewing each before casting them off over my shoulder eliminating them from my options, leaving me surrounded by a pile of useless-and may as well be, rags! Of course I scowered the charity shops in hopes of a bargain find, I...

My fellow followers, readers, friends. I have been so unorganised and lacked the motivation to write that I have left an open wound, a gap, not just to my blog but to myself. So much has happened and changed and so many bargains have been found since New Years, there is just simply, too much to tell. After Christmas and New Years, still working at Reiss, the team entered into a competition through the company to put forward our idea, of how we convey passion, focus drive and our thoughts of how we perseve their slogan 'I am Reiss'. At first it was a subtle joke of making a music video and writing our own rap which soon turned into creating a music video to Pharell Williams 'Happy' where we just danced on the shop floor but also included the full Reiss service to a customer (who also joined in on the dancing) The idea we all had was the scene in 500 days of summer, where Joseph Gordon-Levitt dances through the city and more and more of the public join in. Our minds were...

One of the best things about festive or special occasions, is choosing your outfit, although at the same time, it can be the most difficult and frustrating choice a girl could make. We may have previously decided what bag we're using or the colour of our nail varnish, so have to revolve our whole outfit around that. But we also couldn't possibly wear anything similar to anyone else. In the eyes' of a man... we're crazy. Being the bargain hunter I am and having only charity shops and car boots as my sanctum, it is just that little bit harder to find ''that specific something''. I know men always say, 'you don't need another new dress, just wear what you wore before'. Which seems sensible but how horrifying for us to repulse their idea of being seen in a dress you last wore to a big occasion that everyone saw you in. Like we're not a celebrity or something... but they don't need to point out the obvious. Every girl wants to walk into a...

One of the best parts of the build up to Christmas, is the crafting, baking and making involved. In my previous post I stated that handmade gifts, when half hearted, aren't always perfectly delivered as shown in the glossy magazines. However, I discovered a unique and fun way to hand over my family and friends gifts without having to go out and buy boxes or bags to finish off the somewhat passable wrapping. Without having to go out purchasing fabric, or even salvaging for cut offs in charity shops, I used lots of material my Nona had given to me and recycled old fabrics, already saving myself the pennies. I decided to make Christmas Stockings which I could use as gift bags and also it was an extra little present, something they could keep and use for decoration next year or even to replace their own Christmas Stocking.  All I had to do, was;  1: Draw around my own stocking as a template on the fabric of choice creating 2 sides. Then 2 pieces of plain fabric for the inne...

Christmas, a crazy, busy time of year when people become automatically altered to a higher speed level, Towns and Cities become covered in twinkly lights, the unnatural habitat of trees becoming an indoor feature decorated in sparkly items, tinsel, lights and topped with a fairy or a golden star... in our families case, both. A fairy hanging off the tip of the star, nothing being done half hearted. However, this year, being let go from my company back in October, I found it hard to get together money for my Christmas shopping. Having normally done all my shopping by November at the latest, I certainly wasn't prepared for this. I had to think of something spectacular to achieve this year for my Christmas shopping. Home made items are always a great idea, but depending on the quality, most things never look as the image itself in the magazine, they aren't always appreciated, nay, worth the time. A case of Super Scrimping was in the line up. Being a great bargain hunter, in chari...

So, it has been a while since my last blog. Unfortunatley, a lot of situations have occured leaving me with lack of motivation on multiple occasions. A run of bad luck as I like to call it. Desite all the negative issues, it hasn't stopped me from carrying on and making the most of my time. I have been to Paris, Rome, Venice all in one year and what a positive upturn to the year it has been so far. In Paris, my boyfriend and I stayed at a friends appartment which was great, it saved us loads. We spent 4 days wondering around like tourists, camera strapped around the neck and a phrase book in hand. The best thing about Paris, I find, is sitting in a cafe, drinking a coffee and watching the world around you fall into place. People going about their everyday chores whilst your sat enjoying the freedom of time. My bargain of Paris was not so much displayed to me in a vintage shop or a flea market, despite having manically searched google for all the best places. However, after a wond...

 When you attach yourself to items, you can find yourself in tears when a favored piece of clothing or pair of shoes gets ruined. Quite a few years ago when I was still in Secondary school, I went out shopping with the Mother and she bought me a gorgeous, vintage looking Flamingo print cardigan. It was only from Red Herring at Debenhams, but it had such a 1940-50's charm about it. Lucky for me it was in the sale and for less then half price too. It only cost £9. It was Lambswool mixed with cashmere, a cream colour with sky blue/green flamingo print detailing, 3/4 length sleeves with gorgeous stone buttons down the front. It became my favorite cardigan, perfect in the spring or to layer up with in the winter. Unfortunately, being a big tea drinker, I spilt some down the front. I can't quite remember why I didn't get it washed straight away, but the cardigan was forgotten about until the next winter when I pulled it out from under a pile of clothing in the bottom of my wardro...

The best thing about festivals are the countless amount of stalls, selling things from clothes to jewellery, to feather hair extensions and the best Pork with apple sauce on a spit roast. Besides going and listening to the bands that are performing, I do often find myself hovering around the clothes stalls. One year at Lounge on the Farm, a local festival to Canterbury, The British Heart Foundation held a stall which was over flowing with vintage items. Amongst the rails and piles of clothes, shoes and bags, I found a gorgeous high waisted skirt with button detail and two front pockets. I thought it would look great for nights out or even for on holidays. Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to wash it and wear it the next day at the festival with a t-shirt, knee high socks and my wellies for the casual look. It only cost me £2. Another great place for vintage stalls, was Bath in Summerset. My wonderful boyfriend, for our 3 year anniversary, arranged a weekend away. It was a ...

There are some things of which you just can not buy. Items with sentimental value. Special pieces given to you or passed down to you by close relatives, the relatives with the big personalties that forever stay in your mind or the ones that are simply always there and stay dear to you. I have always loved watches, almost a fascination. However, when I told a Great Aunty of mine I was in search of a little vintage, round faced watched with a simple brown leather strap, the next time I saw her she produced to me the exact watch I had been looking for. It was her own from many years ago and with me in mind, she kindly set it aside ready to pass onto me. I have worn it ever since. This is the watch on the far right of the photograph. It is real gold and works from movement, so in the morning I have to remember to set the time back 5 minutes which does make me chuckle. It is an 'Eterna Matic Golden Heart', which is my Great Aunty Nene all over, a golden heart full of character. Th...

A fresh start, a new year. After the build up to Christmas and allowing the festive season to slowly fade behind me, progress and ideas for my blog bloomed in my mind and in sketch books. My new years resolution is not something to give up neither to accomplish a self achievement of confidence, I am perfectly happy with the way I am. However a little exercise to simply be healthy is on the list along with my main resolution of saving a certain amount this year to help towards my own place. Well, a place for my boyfriend and I to move in together, nothing would make me happier and I already have an over flowing 'bottom draw' from copper bottom Prestige pans to decorative items, mainly a lot of vintage. It is an exciting thought, to have a space and simply make it your own. Last weekend, Ross and I decided to go to the local carboot fair to see how many people would be selling so soon after Christmas. We arrived to a nearly empty car park but there was still potential for bargai...

Having become a bargain hunter, I have accumulated quite a lot of items over a period of time, from clothes to jewellery, to the more potential buys' of house hold furnishings and textiles. The potential being that I do not own my own place as of yet, I just have the confidence to progress my bottom draw for when the time does arrive. My bottom draw now taking over the garage, shed and under the stairs in numerous amounts of large boxes, taking a step back, I realise I am quite prepared. However, there is no more room for clothes in my wardrobe and sacrifices must be made. My boyfriend had planned to do the last carboot sale of this year, as the one nearest him is in the Park&Ride which opens up on Sundays in December for Christmas shoppers. So I thought I would help out and sell all my unwanted items along with his Pick-up full too. Clearing out my wardrobe was tough but I was ruthless and told myself to be serious. There were so many items I had kept just because I liked t...

When it comes to fashion, the years and trends begin to repeat themselves. Although the styles are very defined and the decades can be identified, future generations will assume plastic vibrant hoops or Poodle net skirts were of their era. The past 5 years have been a fusion of all the different trends from the 40's to the 80's in style, colour and patterns. I recently visited friends in Southampton who live a short walk from the town centre. Finding myself amongst the shops each day, I was having withdrawal symptoms from hunting down the local charity and vintage shops. Finding few and nothing particularly to my fancy, I was disappointed. However, walking back to the house, we past a lovely little tea room, The Art house Gallery Cafe. It appeared to have been an old sweet shop with the ascending windows from the door that you walked between before entering the shop. Only, instead of sweets displayed in jars to entice you in, there were tables and chairs in the windows to add ...

I was reading a magazine not long ago and there was an article about throwing a Hot Pink Tea Party in aid of breast cancer awareness. For every photograph sent into the magazine of the readers tea parties, Avon will donate £1 to Breast Cancer Awareness. I instantly felt inspired and considering I had recently lost an Aunty to breast cancer, I wanted to do something for her that she would be proud of. Not only did I throw a tea party, but I also created activities for my guests to help raise money for the charity too. I had a jar full of sweets of which they had to guess the amount, it was 100 sweets, but when counting them in, I ate three! I also had a clothes rail of clothes I no longer wanted and clothes donated by a few other people. A good friend of mine is a make up artist for Dior and offered her services for a donation to do mini make overs. My mother used to be a beautician and did mini manicures for donations too. I also had a raffle with lots of donated prizes and a quiz a...

Every girl loves a good dress up, even those girls who deem themselves to be Tom-Boys. Secretly deep down, we all like pampering and tottering around in heels we wish we could genuinely walk in. No girl can deny that. I love to wear heels, but Im never honestly comfortable in them and never wear them anywhere apart from out dancing with my friends. I can never understand those girls who wear 4 inch heels out shopping, what kind of heels must they wear out dancing!? When I do wear heels on a slightly more casual occasion, I like to dress it down a fraction with the outfit. Despite my once boisterous character, I like to be unique with a quiet twist as to not stand too far out from the crowd for the wrong reasons. In this photo, I am wearing a white cotton top, originally from Topshop, found and bought from a carboot (once again in Canterbury), for just 20 pence. I love the length of the back being longer than the front, It adds a quirkiness to the outfit creating my unique twist. I...

Saturday morning, I was eagerly awake by 9am with a cup of tea in hand waiting for my parents to get up and get ready as they were going to a carboot at a local farm which was raising money for a charity. I of course was itching to go with them, in hopes of my next bargain find. Knowing this carboot was at a farm and regarding the recent weather hasn't exactly been great, the consideration of wearing my wellies did not cross my mind. We approached the entrance and I noticed the amount of people in their wellies who obviously had put two and two together. Struggling in the mud and trying to balance myself with my hands up in the air like I was conducting a grand orchestra, I managed my way across to the stalls. I picked up some lovely deep green, metallic nail varnish, a classic 80's white and grey shirt with stripes on one side and polka dots on the other and a CD, Britney Spears greatest hits all for 50p. Because secretly we all love Britney.  However, my greatest find was a ...

The great thing about shopping with your partner, are the many little surprises' they may produce. Once I was in Hythe browsing in a wonderful jewelry shop that also sells vintage accessories, clothing, china and furniture. It is one of my favourite shops in the high street. Its the perfect place to get a birthday present for someone special. I had previously seen a gorgeous little brass trinket box in there but never wanted to buy it for myself. I was hoping for it to be a gift after hinting to my mum once when we were last there together. Anyway, I showed the trinket box to Ross who, as an engineer was immediately interested in the design and material of the box. On the bottom was an engraving 'Margaret Rose', of which the shop owner thought may have been the name of the woman who the trinket box originally belonged too. I researched it later when I got home and discovered that Margaret Rose is the designer and that it is roughly of the 1940's/1950's. After stat...

It was beyond my imagination that I would ever own a Chloe Paddington handbag, they are just so expensive and not even a birthday present or Farther Christmas would circum to my wishes. However, I kept looking on ebay for any bargain finds, but of course I was not alone in this Chloe handbag hunt.  I was in Hythe, a very small and not so popular high street which seems to be ever so slowly fading away. I was there for an interview of which went very well and as I was feeling confident, I decided to walk slowly back to my car, past all the shops so I could window shop. There, hanging up on a hook on the door frame of a junk shop, from the other side of the street, I saw the quality of leather and the large padlock and raced straight over to it. I lifted it off the hook, felt the weight immediately and saw the Chloe printed on the bag. Before even thinking, I had forced my way to the back of the shop and asked how much the shop owner wanted for it. To my astounding shock, and co...