Wednesday 29 October 2014

Lunch Date, OOTD , Food and a Scarf

Tuesday 28th October

Yesterday I went on a girlie lunch date with one of my best friends. 

The weather in Cornwall is very hit and miss lately, unpredictable and generally a pain to dress for. There was certainly a chill in the air and I wanted to look like I'd made an effort, yet remain comfortable and casual.

Lunch Date Outfit Of The Day


All of the clothing items I'm wearing are from last season / year. There a certainly similar items avaliable in store if not exactly the same. Links Below :-)


Leather Jacket - Peacocks 



White Ballet Pumps - New Look 

Attention foodies !! And anyone else who may be interested, this is what I had for lunch.


Grilled Halloumi and falafel salad

We ate at The Lounge - Truro
You can check them out here ......http://www.thelounges.co.uk/truro-lounge/

As the weather get cooler and the nights draw in, I was in dire need of a new scarf, So I popped into my local New Look and picked one up, Available Online here

Im loving looking at everybody's winter buys, Let me know what you've been wearing.

Charlotte
xxx

Sunday 26 October 2014

Preparing for a cheaper Xmas

This topic is one that I've seen being talked about quite alot lately... I'm gonna assume its because now it's officially the run up to , dare I say it, Christmas , eeeeek.

It's better to try and plan in advance. I have a large family, 17 people to buy for is quite a few, never mind any other randoms that may suddenly appear requiring a present. It's a big stretch on Decembers pay check alone.

Here are my tips for a cheaper festive season....


1) Little ones tend to enjoy the opening of presents more than whatever the gift may be. A few more smaller cheaper items may be a better way to go.

2) Use loyalty cards, I'm a big fan of the nectar card personally. You can build up points quickly and easily shopping at hundreds of different stores online...lots of stores offer double or triple points.. get your Christmas presents then spend the points on the big food shop at your local sainsburys.

3) Make a pact, or do a secret Santa, ...of course I'll buy all the children something but the adults? I'd rather contribute some alcohol towards the day. We're all adults, no point wasting money on silly things that won't get used.

4) I love Christmas but I hate late night shopping. To me it's just wasted money. It's too busy to get into the stores, and you end up paying to go on rides and buying food from those quirky stalls that pop up. The atmospheres nice but I intend to skip the whole thing and save some cash,

5) Give the real tree a miss, they're pretty but also pretty expensive, £70-80, fake trees last year after year, less chance of the dog accidentally weeing on it and none of the 'will it fit?' Needles dropping everywhere drama.

6) It's party season, but unless you're going to be seeing the exact same people at each one you go to, you really don't need to buy a new outfit each time. Switch up the same dress with different accessories and wah la !! Everyone has a little black dress don't they?

7) Plan ahead, try not to leave everything until last minute, organisation is key, make lists of who to buy for, what your getting, food you need etc 

8) If the options there try and get some extra hours at work. Extra money never hurts, sell old clothes , mobile phones, DVDs.

9) Avoid taking out extra credit cards, loans ( especially payday loans ) they mean an extra bit for Christmas but you have to pay then back. A never ending cycle you don't want to start, getting yourself into debt isn't worth a few extra prezzies.

10) Stick to your budget

Remember, the real meaning of Christmas isn't presents, it's about being with family and loved ones.

Any tips for a cheaper festive season?

love Charlotte 

Monday 20 October 2014

Sickness in fashion


^ so this happened.....

I in no way want or mean for the following to come across as a brag or childish 'my pains worse than yours' kinda thing.

Just like millions around the world I have health issues...I'm not gonna make out as if I'm suffering or struggling worse than I am, but then again there are far less painful and stressful problems that I'd prefer to have.

It's strange that said conversation (as above) even occurred as it was only recently I discussed with a friend the popularity or over use of certain diagnosis'. 

Depression and Fibromyalgia are two illnesses that seem to be everywhere at the moment. Literally in the area I'm from people seem to catch it like the common cold.

A nurse told me that every other female she see's apparently suffers from fibro and while ( as a sufferer myself ) I appreciate it's a very misunderstood illness, by both medical staff and the public. I feel it seems to have become a kind of cop out diagnosis for when doctors don't have a clue or something people say they have when actually they haven't been formally diagnosed and Infact just have a bad back ache.


When I was in the process of being diagnosed I had the standard Tender point Test done repeatedly, ( a score of 11 or more out of 18 could indicate fibro ) bloodwork, X-rays, ultrasounds, all before receiving the final verdict. However I've noticed very few people who also suffer have had a tender point test, despite it being A) standard and B) one of the biggest indicators of the illness, along with pain being constant and persistent for 3 months or more.

Like I said at the beginning this isn't a my pain is worse than yours post. I just feel like the over use of a diagnosis kind of undermines the seriousness. I have no doubt that everyone saying they have fibro has pain. But does everyone saying they're in pain have fibro?

Similar to when I hear people throw around the words depressed and depression. 
"When I lost my phone I was so depressed" "When my ex and I ended I was depressed for days"
I don't doubt you were sad and upset, but depressed? 
Depression is a serious mental health issue, it ruins lives and affects every waking moment of this suffering. It's not something I like to hear down played or joked about.

I'd love to hear other people thoughts, 

Let me know 
Charlotte
XxXxX

P.S follow me on twitter @missclx



Sunday 12 October 2014

Hair Extensions - Review / Opinion

I've always been a little obsessed with my hair, continually changing it all colours of the rainbow since the age of 15, I'm only now beginning to appreciate it au natural.


I think I'm a pretty typical girl in that I always want what I don't have. When it's long I get the urge to cut it all off, yet when it's short I want it long enough to style and play with.

I had pretty long hair anyway at the point I started researching extensions, but health problems had caused it to thin in places and it was just looking a bit of a mess. A bit of a confidence downer if I'm honest.

I looked into the different methods, read reviews, pros & cons and of course the price. Hair extensions are EXPENSIVE !! The price was a big deal to me, I understand you get what you pay for, but I just couldn't afford or justify the £400 -£500 price tag some places were charging.

Then I came across Strawberry Blondes in Hayle ... You can link to their Facebook here.

Offering affordable taped in human hair extensions , it was finally looking like long hair wasn't going to bankrupt me. I'd heard lots of positive things about both the salon and the method of having extensions taped in.  I loved looking through their daily photos ( seriously check them out ). After having an initial consultation to discuss what I wanted and paying the required deposit I literally counted down the days. It may as well have been Christmas.

Entering the salon on the day, everybody was lovely and friendly. The girls honestly couldn't have been any nicer, after a quick wash of my hair the extensions went in super quick, I barely noticed we were done as we were constantly chatting away, plus there was wifi hehe

^^ finished look

The final price was £180 broken down into the £50 deposit paid at the consultation and £130 on the day.

I was talked through the best aftercare and given it all typed up so I didn't forget.

They'll need maintenance ie taking out and redone in 5-6 weeks and I believe that was only £50 including a wash and being dried / styled.

I've had them in approx 2 weeks and I already can't imagine life without them. I've had so many compliments, the hair looks natural, is of high quality and comfortable to wear.

I'd definitely recommend having extensions taped in. I had worn clip ins in the past but certainly prefer them taped in.

If you're in Cornwall ( or near enough to travel ) then I'd of course recommend going to Strawberry Blondes Hayle.

Do you wear extensions? Would love to hear from you

Love Charlotte

xxx

Saturday 4 October 2014

Frustration


Over the last month my health kind of took a turn for the worse. I've been in and out of the hospital and while I do try my best not to whinge and throw a pitty party, there have certainly been some of those moments. 

The majority of those moments have come from frustration. I'm fortunate enough to live in the UK where of course my healthcare is 'free' at the point of delivery. ( Thankyou NHS ). While the standard of care I receive is very high, it's the waiting around and miscommunication that occurs, that drives me up the wall. 

This current health issue started just over a month ago, while a month isn't that long and people are probably asking what I'm complaining about. For me it's been a month of being virtually housebound, being in and out, having tests, being poked and prodded and of course trying to cope with the pain.

This week I've had a big scan ( the video will be up soon ) and I'm now at home with a line in. Waiting...


I guess I should be used to it, I have various health issues including fibromyalgia. I'm one of those 'chroniclly ill' people and I have no doubt that those things complicate matters meaning things take longer.

It's hard to explain what it's like to be ill like such. My family are lovely and supportive and one way I've taken to describing how it feels is like this....

If a perfectly healthy person suddenly becomes ill, family and friends gather round at the hospital and at home to help, get well soon cards mount up on the mantel piece, it's a shock. If a 'spoonie' suddenly flares or developed something new, it's not like that. People have lives and jobs and just can't be there all the time. It's kinda lonely, almost like the novelty of you being sick has worn off...

Can anyone else relate to this?

Let me know 

lots of love 
Charlotte
xXx


Thursday 2 October 2014

Guest Blogger Steph - This Beautiful Daydream




Firstly,
I
 would
 like
 to say
 a massive
 thank‐you
 to
 Charlotte
 for
 allowing
 me
 to
 write
 a post
 on
 her 
gorgeous
 blog.



What’s
 in
 my
 handbag?!
 

Whenever
 I
 see a 
post 
on 
somebody’s 
blog
 with 
this 
heading, 
I 
can’t 
help 
but 
read
 it,
 but
 then
 it
 occurred
 to
 me,
 I’ve
 never
 actually
 done
 one
 myself!
 I’ve
 been
 compared
 to 
Mary 
Poppins 
SO
 many 
times 
for 
the 
amount 
of
 ‘stuff’ 
I 
carry 
around
 with
 me...
 If
 I’m
 bored,
 I’ve
 got
 my
 book...
 Need
 to
 write
 a
 note?
 
 Borrow
 my
 pen...
 Headache?
 Here’s
 a
 paracetamol...
 I’m
 also
 guilty
 of
 having
 loose
 change
 and
 crumpled
 up
 receipts
 at
 the
 bottom
 of
 my
 bag...
 Honestly,
 I
 don’t
 know
 how
 it
 happens!


So,
 putting 
aside 
all 
of 
those 
temporary 
bits 
and 
bobs,
 here 
are 
my 
essentials...








The
 Bag


I 
bought 
this 
bag 
in
 TK Maxx 
(my 
guilty‐pleasure 
shop) 
on 
sale 
for 
£22 
and 
fell 
in
 love 
with 
it
 instantly. 
I’ve 
had 
so 
many 
other,
cheaper 
bags 
in 
the 
past 
that 
I’ve
 just 
not 
been 
happy 
with
 for
 one 
reason 
or 
other
–
too
 many 
pockets, 
not 
enough
 pockets
–
and 
they 
all 
seem 
to 
have 
fallen
 apart! 
So 
I 
thought 
I
 should 
invest 
in 
a
 proper, 
sturdy, 
leather 
bag. 
I 
love 
that 
it 
literally 
goes 
with 
any 
outfit!




  • The 
Purse: 
This 
purse 
is 
from
 Accessorize
 and 
is 
the 
perfect
 size
 for
 me. 
There's a
 zipper
 compartment
 for 
coinage 
and
 plenty
 of
 space 
for
 cards 
and
 notes.
 My 
favourite
 colour
 at 
the
moment 
is
 plum/purple 
so 
this 
ticks 
all 
the
 boxes 
for 
me !
  • Deodorant: 
Working 
with 
so
 many 
people 
in
 such 
a 
close 
environment,
 I
 get
 really 
paranoid
 about
 the
 way 
I
 smell,
 so 
I 
always
 carry
 a
 deodorant
 with
 me.

  • Compact
Mirror:
 Again, 
this 
was
 from 
Accessorize. 
I 
picked 
it
 up 
in
 one 
of 
their
 sales 
a 
couple
 of
 years 
ago.
  • Door
keys: 
I’m
 always 
losing
 my
 door 
keys
–
much 
to 
my 
boyfriend’s 
frustration
 –
so 
now 
I
 have
to 
keep 
them 
in
 their 
own 
zipped
 compartment 
in
 my 
bag!

  • Torch:
 This 
was 
a
 random 
gift
 from
 my
 dad 
but 
honestly 
it 
was 
such 
a 
good 
idea.
 My 
friends 
all
 laugh 
at 
me 
for 
carrying 
it 
and
 using
 the 
torch
 to
 look 
inside 
my
 bag, 
but 
it’s 
dark 
in 
there!
  • The 
Sunglasses:
 These 
are 
Kenneth 
Cole 
Reactions 
and 
were 
another 
super‐ saving 
purchase
from 
TK 
Maxx! 
AND 
they’re 
purple,
woop
 woop!
  • The
 glasses:
 I 
love 
my
 Ray 
Bans
–
they 
should 
have
 cost 
£150, 
but
 I 
managed
 to
 find 
some
 online 
for 
£20
 and 
then 
had
 my
 own 
lenses
 put
 into 
them
–
a 
nifty
 money‐saving
 tip 
there!!
Black/brown 
on 
the
 outside, 
purple
 on 
the
 inside

  • Batiste:
 This 
little 
mini‐can
 was 
such
 a 
great 
find.
I
 got
 it 
from 
Asda 
and
 it 
is
 the
 perfect
 size 
to
 slip
 into
 your 
handbag.
  • A 
pen:
I 
love 
Winnie
 the
 Pooh ! 
  • Car 
Keys
 
  • Robinsons
Squash’d:
  My 
newest
 discovery!
 It’s
 quite 
expensive 
at 
£2 
for
 such 
a
 tiny
bottle, 
but
 it
 promises 
a 
decent 
20
 glasses
 and 
takes
 only 
the
 tiniest 
squeeze
 for
 a 
tasty
 drink. 
 I
 find 
it 
very 
hard 
to 
drink 
plain 
water 
so 
this 
is 
perfect
 for 
me.
 
  • Car 
Keys
 
  • USB
 cable:
 I
 couldn’t
 live 
without
 my
 phone 
so 
the 
battery
 takes 
a 
bit
 of
 a
 beating!

 
  • In
 car
 USB:
 This 
plugs 
into 
the 
cigarette
 lighter 
of
 my
 car 
(or
 my 
boyfriend’s
 car)
 so
 I
 can 
charge
 my 
phone
 on‐the‐go!
 
 


The 
Make 
Up

I
 usually
 put
 on 
my
 make 
up
 at 
home 
but
 for 
emergency
 situations 
I
 usually
 carry 
just 
the
essentials:

  • Lip
gloss: A
 cute 
little 
pot
 called 
‘Born
 Lippy’
 from 
The
 Body
 Shop 
–
and
 it’s 
raspberry 
flavoured.
 
  • Hand
cream :
since 
I
 work 
in 
the 
technology 
department
 in 
school, 
my
 hands 
get
 very
 dirty
 and
 constantly
 washing 
them 
can
 make
 my 
hands
 feel
 very
 dry.
This 
coconut 
hand
cream 
by
 The 
Body 
Shop 
is 
a 
gorgeous
 scent 
and 
texture.

 
  • Tweezers
–
just 
in 
case!
 
  • Pencil
 eyeliner:
 I’m 
in 
love
 with
 BWC 
(Beauty 
Without 
Cruelty)
 
  • cosmetics
 but 
they
 can 
be 
quite 
expensive! 
I
 invested 
in 
this 
eyeliner
 
  • because 
it
 is 
such
 good 
quality, 
doesn’t 
smudge 
and 
the
 colour 
is
 so 
deep.

 
  • Mascara: This 
one’s
 by
 Rimmel, 
it’s
 the 
Glam’Eyes 
Lash 
Flirt 
one
, in
 Kohl
 Black.

  • Foundation:
 My
 perfect
 shade
 of
 foundation 
is 
by 
Maybelline.
I’ve
 tried
 
  • other
 brands
 but
 I’ve 
never 
managed
 to 
find
 such 
a
 good 
colour
  match 
for
 my
 skin.

 
  • Work
 Keys:
 This
 huge
 bunch 
of
 keys
 weighs 
me 
down
 so 
I
 take 
them
 out 
of
 my
 bag 
at
 weekends!
 

So 
there 
you 
have 
it !
I
 hope 
you
 enjoyed 
that 
little 
insight
 into 
my 
bag
–
 apparently
 you
 can
 tell
 a 
lot
 about
 a 
person
 from 
what
 they 
keep 
in 
their 
bag.

 


Be sure to check out Steph on the links below :-) Go show her some love xx

 Links


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