Bicester Village Haul - Michael Kors Purse

You probably don’t know this, but I love Bicester Village. I’m there at least 4 or 5 times a year and have picked up some fantastic buys from the Oxfordshire village over the years.

On my most recent visit on New Year’s Day of all days I only managed to get 1 quality purchase from Michael Kors.

Michael Kors Jet Set Continental Purse Wallet - Bicester Village 

I already have a Michael Kors watch (standard), and love the chic, stylish, classic jetsetting look of the designers’ collections. I would love to add a Jet Set tote to my collection, but for now I’ll satisfy my Michael Kors cravings with this gorgeous tan leather wallet.  This Jet Set Continental Wallet retails at £105. Bicester Village price? £89. This is a style which I regularly see in Bicester Village and if you're after this wallet, I'd say it's well worth a trip there.

It’s a real classic and the soft tan leather should age beautifully and never go out of fashion.

Usually I'd come away with a lot more than this but I went at a strange time and stock was low. I've heard that March/April is a good time to go as sale stock from main stores hits the village then

It is quite big but I hate folding my notes!

How about you? Which wallet do you use?

Monday Manicure: OPI Every Month is Oktoberfest

Forget ruby slippers and check out these ruby fingers! Don’t ask me what the name means but this 15ml Nail Lacquer from OPI is called Every Month is Oktoberfest and is a gorgeous rich crimson metallic shade. With elements of red and black and glitter, the result is mesmerising.

As I blogged about HERE, this was a fabulous Christmas present from a friend who clearly knows me well!

I don’t have enough OPI polishes for sure but I was really impressed with this one for smooth application, drying quickly and lasting around 3 days before it started to wear at the tip. Happy Oktoberfest!

Boux Avenue Store Opening – Merry Hill Centre

As you may remember, I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening of the Boux Avenue store in Bullring Birmingham back in March. Well when Theo Paphitis came back to the Midlands to open his fifteenth Boux Avenue store in the Merry Hill centre, Dudley, I got to go again!

Image c/o Emily Jayne here 

With a glass of something sparkling in hand, myself and Emily Jayne took a guided tour around the store.

Black and lace

Black and red

As always, the sparkling new store was choc full of underwear, nightwear, slippers, gifts and more. The shops always look gorgeous and the staff are friendly, welcoming and very helpful.

Snuggly PJ's

I love these cat slippers!  

Snuggly slippers

I took a few photos to give you a virtual guided tour. My favourite pieces are of course the underwear sets and the gifts! Have you seen the notebooks and enamelled keyrings? Great gifts if I ever did see one!

Sparkly gifts

Tempting toiletries

Girly gifts

Hedgehog PJ's

Boux Avenue is a great place to shop for anyone with a larger cup as they go up to a 40H. As someone who has never needed the help of chicken fillets, this makes them a godsend!

And here’s one for the boys (although I thoroughly doubt that any men read this blog?!). The gorgeous Boux Avenue girls handing out sweets at the launch.

Are you guys fans of Boux Avenue?

P.S - Big thanks to Laura at Fluorescent, sorry this is so late!!

Christmas presents – What Santa got me for Christmas 2012

So this is super late, but hey, let me explain. I’ve finally managed to squeeze in some time for blogging after the madness of Christmas. Work was so busy that I only had time to take pictures in readiness for writing and posting later. But never fear, I can finally share with you the pictures of what I was lucky enough to receive for Christmas.

First up, my fellow beauty addict friend got me a personalised Glossybox! This was in fact a pink Glossybox filled with minis from L’Occitane, a brand that I’ve been meaning to try out more and did in fact ask for.  Inside the box I got a Verbena Shower Gel, Pivoine Flora Shower Gel, Essential Water and Cooling Hand Cream Gel as well as a red Yves Rocher lipstick which actually did come from a previous Glossybox. This was such a thoughtful present and I love things like this! I’ve used the Essential Water so far and really liked it as a toner.

Next, more beauty from a male friend who I was super impressed with! When asked what I wanted, I basically directed him to the Harvey Nichols beauty hall.  He did so well! This Korres Lip Butter has been on my Amazon wishlist for a while and the rose colour is exactly what I would have picked myself. It hasn’t left my handbag since I got it, and I really use it as a light lipstick as the colour is so pigmented it’s more like Benefit Benetint lipbalm. This nail polish is OPI, another brand that I’ve been meaning to try out more.  The shade, every month is Oktoberfest, is part of their special edition Germany Collection from Autumn Winter 2012 and is in my opinion the standout shade. A deep rich metallic red, I was so impressed by the consistency of this and it went on really easily. I’ll do a NOTD for you guys later.

This No7 Art Deco Palette was a Secret Santa gift from work. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet but the colours are a great mix of smoky browns, greys and blacks in this gorgeous handbag sized palette!

I’ve been going on about how much I wanted these UGG Scuffette II slippers for ages now, everyone is so sick of me talking about them! But, I finally have them! I got them in grey/black because I wear a lot of black, and they are ridiculously comfortable, much more so than cheaper imitations. So in short, get some!

I got a cupcake gift bag full of cupcake making bits and pieces as everyone knows how much I love baking! Inside are some cakes, sprinkles and a professional tin so next time I make cupcakes I can get really creative!

A few pieces from the family, I asked for the Benefit High Flyin Glosses set, Nivea minis and Harvey Nichols fudge (I love fudge!). The gloss set is perfect for me because I never finish any of my products and I get to try out all the shades, which are Coralista, Dallas, Bella Bamba, Hoola, Sugarbomb and Dandelion.

More family presents, a half bottle of Harvey Nichols champagne (which I got to enjoy at THIS event), Dior Addict Eau Fraiche perfume, Tweezerman Slant Tweezers (mine have gone blunt and I wanted to have a pair ready for when I send them to the USA to be sharpened), and finally, the Real Techniques Core Collection brushes. I can’t wait to use these!!

And finally, I got a bottle of Soap & Glory Clean On Me from my friend in Secret Santa (that's me sorted for shower gel for months!) as well as some gift vouchers which I’m going to spend on a NARS makeover and put towards some blusher/bronzer, as I always hear such good things about their products.

That’s it! I’m so lucky to have received such lovely gifts this year, beauty themed now more than ever as my friends get to know about the blog. What did you get for Christmas? Show me your links guys!!

Huge jewellery haul plus dresses and pumps

I love jewellery and like most girls, I can never have enough! So when I saw all this gorgeous jewellery on sale I couldn’t resist. I bought so much that it wouldn't even fit in one picture.

First up is this little lot from Miss Selfridge, a gold Hamsa hand ring for £2, duckie necklace and set of 3 rings with matching earrings for just £3!

Next is this haul from Dorothy Perkins. I got to complete the Hamsa hand set with the bracelet and earrings, pick up these peace hope and love string bracelets, Eiffel tower necklace, bow earrings, rabbit ring and another set of 3 matching rings and earrings.

But a girl can’t survive on jewellery alone! I also got this stunning black dress from Oasis. It looks really expensive and is so well cut to skim right out from the waist. I’ve been wearing this loads for work. To go with it I got a few pairs of shoes from Primark and George, boring but some tights from Primark (love my 60 deniers!), and here’s the last piece of jewellery which is three pairs of studs for £4 from Oasis.

I got another dress from Primark in my signature skater/1950’s style but this time, it’s boucle, grey and sparkly. I wore this quite a lot over Christmas!!

Finally it’s a Christmas jumper! Check out this lovely cream ski jumper from Primark, love it!

Have you been wearing your Christmas jumper?