Curvy Girl's OOTD- Office Drinks

Aloha Bloggerinos,

Well we are fully in the grips of summer. I knooooowww everyone lluurrvveess the summer, but I find it a bit of a struggle to be honest. Don't get me wrong, I love the sunshine, the flowers, the BBQ's and paddling pools, but I must say, I don't take well to the heat. I get very red and then once I'm red, there's no going back. I'm not a sweaty person so I think that's why I can't keep a nice temperature. I get all hot and bothered and grumpy and if a wasp comes by then that's the end of it for me!!

Slight anti-summer (I'm a hoot to go on holiday with hahaha!), the other night I was invited out for a few drinkeronies with my work chums and so here is my outfit. FYI, It was in the evening so I didn't get the dreaded red-face and was merry and bright! Woop!

As you know, I am a curvy size 16-18 (closer to 18 if I'm honest) and 5"7. Curvy, voluptuous, big boned, bonny, buxom, call it what you like, I am a little bit fat. However, I really think that if you dress your shape properly and have a bit of self belief, you can still look lovely. No, I don't look good in a playsuit, but floaty summer dress? Throw it my way!!

So this is what I wore:

Dress: New Look

Cardi: New Look

Sunglasses: Primark

Sandals: Old Trusty Primark!

Mattmoo doesn't wait for me to do a nice face before he snaps. Grr!

Cheesy pose, scrunched up face. Good times.

And to quench your pretties thirst, here are the accessories:

(Please excuse my roots, appointment this week!)

Hair Flowers: Monsoon Children's Section

Glitter Headband: Primark

Bangles: Topshop

Gold Zippy Clutch: H&M

Earrings: Topshop

So that's it Bloggerinos. Is it a yay or a nay?

Toodlepip!

xx

Luxury Louise Time

Aloha Bloggerinos,

The perfect quiet night in:

Aahhhh.

Toodlepip!

xx

Lou's Reviews- Soap & Glory Sexy MotherPucker Trio Pack

Aloha Bloggerinos!

If you have been reading my bloggypops for a while, you will know that I do enjoy a bit of Soap & Glory now and again. However, with six million wedding things to pay for, I tend to wait for Boots to do a special offer before I treat myself.

Well lo and behold Boots had one such offer on last week (1/3 off) so I snapped up a little treat. I just had a looksie on the boots site and I'm afraid the offer is no longer. I bought this pack for around the £11 mark, but it is back up to £17.50 today. I figured that being as each single one is usually £8, £11 for three was an absolute steal!

Having tried Mother Pucker in Peachy Keen and XL Plump, I thought I would take advantage of the trio pack of colours that haven't graced my lips yet. Woop. So here we have it:

As always with S&G, the packaging is fabulously fun and eye catching. I like the envelopey/flappy feature- a good way to display info dontchya think?

The colours in this pack are (from left to right) Half Naked, Baby Doll and Plum Juice.

My favourite of course is Baby Doll but I do like the others too. They are very sheer so look great on bare lips for a subtle look, or you could have a layer over lipstick for a glamorous effect. I don't really think these glosses have a scent which I am pleased about because I am quite sensitive to smells and things like vanilla or lavender can leave me with headaches.

The texture is also very enjoyable, sheenyshiny but not tackysticky.

As with my Peachy Keen, they make my lips feel fizzy-tingly and all plump. It's not for everyone but I quite enjoy the sensation and would recommend you give it a whirl.

So all in all a good buy I believe and a welcome addition to my lipgloss stash.

Have you tried any of this range? What did you think?

Toodlepip!

xx

Lou's Reviews: Pearl Island Jewellery

Aloha Bloggerinos,

Earlier this week I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from the lovely people at Pearl Island Jewellery asking if I would like to review some of their products. Ummmm pretty accessories? Yes Please!! Naturally I bit their hand off for the opportunity and I was promptly sent some lovely pieces.

I will get round to doing a youtube video as well but at the moment I shall just stick to the bloggersphere (ie I look hot and red and gross- can someone turn the sun down please?).

All the pieces I was sent are things I would definitely wear and the kind of things you might find in Accessorize (aka Heaven!!).

So, some snaps of my little gems:

This Eiffel Tower necklace is my favourite. When i looked on the website, I thought it would be the Royal Carriage, but like the wind, I changed my mind. This is what I would call a mid-long length necklace (it sits on my cleavage-oh la la). The website says 24 inches if that means anything to you?

This necklace is perfect for adding a hint of summer frivolity to an outfit but not going mental, just right.

rrp: £5

Pretty pretty pretty. Likey Likey Likey!

These pearls are definitely like the things I make and wear. I love the little gold beads, to give the set a bit more glamour and modernise a ladylike favourite.

I have worn these quite a few times already and one thing that really stood out was the elastic the pearls are strung on. I often find with these sorts of bracelets that the elastic is really super thin and snaps easily. This elastic feels quite sturdy so that is a brucey bonus indeed.

rrp: £5

This is another mid-long necklace and is the Royal Carriage design. I love the whimsy of it and think it isn't something you would see all to often. I find it a bit reminiscent of Cinderella which give me a warm fuzzy.

On a less positive note, I wore this to the office on Thursday and by 5pm I had lost the bow and the pearl which I was a bit bummed about. I don't think I was particularly rough with it but I suppose I did fiddle with it when I was reading things etc, so I would advise you to be delicate with it.

rrp: £7

Look how detailed it is :)

I have had a good nosey at the website and now have my beady little eyes on the camera ring and gold key necklace. What do you have your eyes on?

Toodlepip!

xx

Blog Shopping- Shabby Chic Pin Cushions

Aloha Bloggerinos,

Beauty posts coming soon I pinkie promise! Until then though, here is a crafty one :)

I have taken the plunge and decided that when my contract finishes with my office in August, I am going to go all out and meet with boutiques, gifty knickknack stores and craft shops and see if they would like to stock my handmade goodies. They usually sell well at craft fayres so I have high hopes. 

Until then (urgh roll on August!!), I am giving you a sneak peak into new ranges and if you would like to have one of your own, you can! Hurrah Huzzah!

Since I am going gaga over my sewing machine at the moment, I have made a few shabby chic girlie pin cushions, for all you other budding seamstresses out there. 

All three of the little pin cushions are unique and one of a kind. They are made me uber soft fabric, vintage ribbon and buttons (good old Granny) and lovingly filled with teddybear stuffing. Mmmmm. 

Each cushion is £4.20, payable by paypal. Just leave a comment with which you would like and your paypal address and I shall invoice you. P+P £1 UK and £2 everywhere else.

Last time I put my crafty things on my blog, they sold out super fast and I felt bad when I had no more to give you so be quick if these are to be yours :)

So here the little cuties are:

Little Bow Pin Cushion (front and back)

Wrist Bow Pin Cushion (front and back)

Parcel Pin Cushion (front and even fronter-ha! The back looks exactly the same but without ends of ribbon)

Do let me know what you think of my shabby chic lovelies.

Toodlepip!

xx

500 Follower Giveaway!!!

Aloha Bloggerinos!

Wowee wowee wowee, I have over 500 followers! How did this happen?! I feel honoured and privileged to have so many of you lovely Bloggerinos hit that follow button and leave such lovely comments- thank you thank you THANK YOU!

So the time has come for the big 500 Follower Giveaway.

Here is the super duper panty pooper prize!

This prize consists of:

URBAN DECAY Eyeshadow Palette with mine Primer Potion. This is brand new and I just took it out the box to show you, it's now back inside and snug as a bug. I have the same one and use it every day so thought you would like it too!

PRIMARK Nail Varnish set- oh la la

BENEFIT It Stick (yeeess, from Glamour!)

COLLECTION 2000 Lipgloss

All prizes are brand new fresh as a daisy.

TO ENTER:

- One Entry- Be a follower and leave a comment

- Two Entries- Be a follower and post my giveaway on your sidebar/post about it

- Three Entries- Be a follower, post the giveaway and tell me how you found my blog.

- An extra entry will go to the 516 of you lovely Bloggerinos who already follow (please let me know, I shall trust you. Please don't lie, karma will bite you in the botbot.)

I shall keep this open a whole calendar month and anounce the winner on July 23rd.

Good luck Bloggerinos!

Toodlepip!

xx

Am I seeing things??

Aloha Bloggerinos,

No, I haven't turned into a nature nut (although I do like flowers, the countryside, pretty lakes and whatnot), but I HAD to take this picture! As soon as I saw this flower I thought "MAC Stars 'n' Rockets" and "BELLA SUGAR COSMETICS Princessy".

Excuse me, but is it normal to stop seeing the world in colours and seeing it in eyeshadow shade?!

Uh oh.

Toodlepip!

xx

An English Summer

Aloha Bloggerinos,

As you will see from my last post, I recently went on a lovely picnic to Castle Ashby, in Northamptonshire. It's a lovely big National Trust type place with amazing houses that I WILL live in one day when I make my squillions from my craft fayres, pretty gardens and ornate lakes.

I thought you might enjoy some snaps of a true English Summer. Ahhh

Matt about to through Issobelle in. (To clarify- not really!! Don't go calling the authorities on us!)

Me at some sort of steps-into-the-water affair.

That's the gang. It looks like me all sat in some sort of marsh but I can assure you we didn't! It was a nice little picnic bench area.

The Belle thought this was a magic fairy garden. I think Mattmoo did too.

I'm definitely more of an indoors girl but this, was luurrvvllyy.

Toodlepip!

xx

Curvy Girl's OOTD- Family Picnic

Aloha Bloggerinos,

Last weekend was our Annual Family Picnic at Castle Ashby and I thought I would give you a peek at what I wore. It was sunny but not hot (which I was secretly pleased about because hot+me=big red blobgirl) so I had a kind of layered effect going on. Ooooh I love a good layer or two!

Now, these pictures were taken after a whole day of fun and frolicks so I'm not looking too polished but I'm sure you won't mind the natural look. It was pretty bloomin' windy I tell ya!

I am wearing:

Light gold pumps- Primark

Lace trim leggings- New Look

Green tunic dress- H&M

Navy heart cardi- Oasis

Gold envelope bag- Peacocks

As usual, I did the old 'cover your fatty bits and draw attention to your slim parts' trick. I won't go into it again because I fear you might be bored of hearing it from my other OOTD's!

All the items I'm wearing have been bought in the last few months (except the bag), so if you fancy them, you could still hot foot it to town and buy it :)

A couple of close ups:

How much do you love this ring? It was from a shop called Mickey in Liverpool (sadly it has closed now I think). My chum Ceri bought it for an obscene amount and I 'borrowed' it. I shall never give it back! Mwahahahaha!!

Why do my tootsies look so small? I'm a size 7 for heavens sake!

I felt that this outfit was casual but also quite practical for an outdoorsy day. Do you likey likey?

Toodlepip!

xx

Simple Sewing

Aloha Bloggerinos,

Can I pick your brains? I have been machine sewing now for some time but am self taught and frankly, a bit rubbish at it.

(image from weheartit.com. I want this room!)

Do any of you lovely Bloggerinos know any free and simple sewing patterns I could use (that I could print off the web) that you think would be good? I want to make bags, bibs, pencil cases, makeup backs and that kind of caper.

Let me know!

Toodlepip!

xx

Blogs I Luurrrvvveee

Aloha Bloggerinos,

As much as I love writing my own blog, I also love reading all of yours. I have a certain few that I get really excited about when I see they have posted something and I thought I would share them with you.

I go through phases of being really into a blog and currently it is Saidos da Concha's, who I am working my way through bit by bit, it's so inspiring!

Darling Hearts

Saidos da Concha

Sunshines and Carousels

abbzzw

B U B B L E G A R M

Obsessed

I highly recommend checking these blogs out- you will be reading for days!!

 

Toodlepip!

 

xx

Message in a Bottle

Aloha Bloggerinos,

A few days ago I popped a post up with some crafty bits for sale, but took it down because I thought it wasn't your bag baby.

Since then, I have had a few enquiries, so I will pop a quick look back up.

These little glass bottles are perfect for love notes, kind words and secrets to be hidden anywhere your whimsy takes you.

Each little glass bottle has dried rose petals, heart sparkles, ye oldey worldy paper and a cute cork.

These are £3 and paypal payable, just comment with your paypal address and I shall invoice you.

£1 p+p for the UK and £3 everywhere else.

Enjoy!

 

Toodlepip!

xx

Home Corners: The Hallway

Aloha Bloggerinos,

Crikey Mikey it's been a busy week! Sorry I have been a bit lacking and just done short posts, I have been rushed off my feet, which I most unusual (I like to take life at a leisurely pace you see).

I gave you a little vote the other day and lots of you seemed peachy keen on having a Home Corners post, so that you shall have! I hope to do more of these too.

I decided to start with my hallway because that is the first thing you would see if you came to visit me, so it's like you are on a little virtual visit now :)

If you were to walk down my stairs, this would be your view (minus the Mindycat maybe!). The chair was brown up until about 2 months ago, when I could stand it no longer, sanded, wiped, painted and reupholstered (yes, I reupholstered that bad boy) and made it a lot more contemporary.

The picture frame closest to you is a pressed flower arrangement that I did with my Mum before she died, when I was about 6. I painted the frame to match the chair so that I ties in nicely.

The mirror is from ye olden times (only the 1950's actually) and belonged to my Gran, who has also sadly died. Gee wizz I sound morbid don't I?! I'm not, just that this little corner has a lot of Mummy/Granny things in it.

A little close up for you.

I love the simplicity of this chair, with a tiny bit of detail to make it individual. I made that little scented heart myself and thought it would look pretty there. If you would like one, let me know and I can whip one up for you for £3.20.

So on the little shelf I have a glass of peacock feathers (have I mentioned my peacock obsession? naaahh), a paperweight my Dad bought me years ago that I enjoy the colours of, a picture of good old gran and a little green glass dish with mula. I like to think Gran is guarding that little tray of coins. I don't know who from but I enjoy that she has a shelf role. Yes, a role on the shelf. Weird I know.

Here's the other side of the hall with a much longer shelf. The little shelf only has a phone on so not much to snap there! Pretty picture from Daddio, purple tealight holder, new IKEA vase with freshly cut flowers from the garden and mahoosive candle.

Do you like the sign we have? Ahhhhh.

The best flowers are the free ones you get from the garden.

Hmm can I just say, I despise the wallpaper. The old biddy who we bought the house off had EVERYTHING in a different wall texture. We've got most of it off but the hall needs work. Slowly slowly catchy monkey.

This is the hall from the stairs with both sides in. Those hearts on the door are on the other side and they say "welcome to our home". I shall show you some time :)

Halls are such an important part of a home but often not appreciated. I love mine so much. It gets all the evening light and I regularly change it about.

In spirit of my "homey" mood today, I went with a friend to Home Sense in Northampton- Penny Blossom- THANK YOU for introducing me to such a treasure trove. If I don't buy those silver drawers in the entrance, I may die. Fact.

Hope you liked my first Home Corners post! Where next?

Toodlepip!

xx

Nifty Nail Contest Winner!

Aloha Bloggerinos,

A big thank you to all of you who entered my Nifty Nail Contest a couple of weeks ago! I hope you enjoyed my cosmeticcy twist on the traditional How-Many-Sweets-In-A-Jar game.

Well, to put you out of your misery, the answer waaaaassss 29!

Only 2 people commented with the correct answer, so with the toss of a coin, the winnnnnnneeeeerrr iiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

NICOLETTA

Congratulations Nicoletta! Waaahhhooooo! Drop me an email with your address on and I shall get those goodies right out to you.

Have a good day, keep your eye's peeled for some Lou's Reviews and Home Corner posts soon.

Toodlepip!

xx 

Variety Is The Spice Of Life

Aloha Bloggerinos,

The sun has got his hat on, hip hip hip horray! I'm feeling very inspired this week, hence all the 'life' posts but promise I will be back with a few more 'Lou's Reviews' soon. I have a couple more mascaras in my collection I want to talk about and I think it's about time to unveil my rather vast glitter eyeliner collection too!

(Random I know, but thank you Marks and Spencers. Your shelves of plenty help me through the working day!)

As I have quite a few posts lined up, I thought I would let my lovely Bloggerinos (all 502 of you! Yippeeee, wowee, yeehaaa!!) decide which you would like to see first.

Your options arree:

1. A 'Lou's Reviews'

2. A recent furniture transformation (remember the dressing table? like that)

3. A corner of my home (Basically, I wanted to do a little house tour for you all now the house is a bit more ship-shape. Matt got wind of it and said that non-lovely people might see our valuables and come and rob us!!! What?!?! The most valuable thing we have is our new bed! Are any of you planning on robbing my bed?! hahahah. So to compromise, I will be showing you corners at a time....which will slowly build up to a house tour. Shhhh don't tell Matt)

4. A crafty blog sale

5. A book blog sale (I have far too many, soon they will be on ebay but you might like to have first grabs?)

6. Wedding Chat/Snaps

7. Blogs im currently in love with

8. Other- let me know

Wowee quite a few options there but a gal needs a choice!

(Did you Mum ever say- "If the wind changes your face will stay like that!". Mine did but just for you, I risked it)

Love you lots Bloggerinos and looking forward to seeing what you want.

Toodlepip!

xx