Twenty-Fourteen Gratitude Jar

We’re nearly half way through the first month of the New Year so it’s about time I got this post up. 

We’ve all heard it, “New Year, new me” which is well and good, but why wait till the new year? New year resolutions don’t really work for me. I feel like when I make them I set myself up to feel like I’ve failed when I fail to stick by them. Rather I have a list of goals/dreams for the year. Things I would like to achieve before the year comes to an end. I try to make them as realistic as possible but eh, I can dream right!

I have never been one to wish away a year but I can say 2013 has been the year where I have learnt so much (both the easy and the hard way). I learnt so much about myself, life, relationships and most importantly I finally began to understand the love God has for me.

Towards the end of 2012 I came across a post on tumblr about a gratitude jar. Throughout the year you write down the things you are grateful for and pop it into the jar. At the end of the year you go through all that you have written. 

So I began this at the start of 2013. At the end of the year I sat down and went through the bits of paper one by one. It brought back memories of points in the year where I was upset but I forced myself to sit down and write down one of the reasons I should be grateful. What I loved about doing this is that it allowed me to count some of my (many) blessings. It was a way of showing me that no matter how difficult a time I am going through is, I will always have things to be grateful for.

I’m doing this again this year. You guys should try it out!

So here’s to 2014, fulfilling some dreams and a fuller gratitude jar haha! I hope you’re all having a great start to the year.

Mwah xxxxx

How long has it been?

It has been a year since my last post. Ohhh the shame! I’m surprised I still have followers. The past year was my last year at uni so I was really busy...excuses excuses right! But I’m back now and hopefully I can put some consistency into my blog.

I thought I would ease myself back in with a post about some of my ‘new ins’. I don’t shop as much as I use to anymore because I’m trying out the whole quality over quantity thing. Lets see how long this lasts for.

Jacquard Pattern Top- Zara

I love everything about this top which was down from about £40 to £18 in the Zara sale. I kept on eyeing it every time I saw it in store but I finally gave in and bought it online. Can’t wait to rock it come autumn. 

 Lace crop top- Primark

White skinny belt- ASOS

Chunky chain- Topshop

Nail polish in ‘Spilled milk’ and ‘Beach shack’- Topshop

 The topshop nail polishes are really doing it for me right now. This is the best white I have come across so far but it needs more than 2 layers for me. Same with the yellow. These are my two summer time colours.

 Box bag- ASOS Marketplace

I love me some structure in my bags. This was from ASOS marketplace and I bought the only one so I have no links unfortunately.

Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf- John Lewis

Chunky chain- Topshop

Bobbi Brown retouching powder- John Lewis

Paper bag clutch- Zara

Embossed leather clutch- Marks and Spencer

I’m really trying to build up my black bag collection. You can never really have too much black can you. I like the whole idea of the Zara paper bag clutch, down to the brown lining on the inside. I was so shocked when I spotted this clutch in M&S. It’s from the M&S and Marcel Wanders collaboration and it’s my new baby!

Well that’s it for my recent purchases. I’ve tried to leave the links of the items where possible. I hope you guys are all well and enjoying the sunshine that we have. I can’t wait till autumn though. Am I the only one looking forward to wearing the A/W 13 collections? I’m definitely an autumn baby!

Mwah xxxx

Home Again

Cardigan- H&M

Denim shirt- ASOS

Belt- Primark

Tights- Topshop

Loafers- River Island

Rings- ASOS

I’ve had his denim shirt for a few years now and I can count the number of times I’ve worn in on one hand. It has a loose fit so when paired with a belt it looks so much more flattering. I reckon this will be my favourite rediscovered piece of clothing this summer (when the sun decides to make a longer lasting appearance). 

I’ve been back home from uni for a while now so I’ve just been working and going on the occasional shopping trip. Enjoying life without exams and stress...I love it!!

I hope you are all well. And a big thank you to my new subscribers. 

Mwah xoxo

Revision break = time to shop!

I have a habit of online shopping when revising and kinda during my exam period (tut tut, I know). It’s my way of taking a break from revision or maybe just another excuse to shop. So here are a few things I picked up. 

1) Tribal earrings- ASOS

2) Ally Bangle- NFD

3) Cross bracelet- ASOS

 4) Lace top- ASOS

5) Cardigan- NFD

6) Dr Martens Kensington Carrie Cut Out Shoes- ASOS

1) I’m not usually a fan of bright colours but I love these earrings. I think it’s the tribal effect that drew me to them. Knowing me I’ll probably wear them with an all black outfit.

2) I discovered this website (Never Fully Dressed) some time ago and I kept ohh-ing and ahh-ing over their items until I finally took the plunge and bought a couple of things. This bangle is plain and simple and I love the small heart charm.

3) I think I have a problem. I have an obsession with crosses. I can’t even count how many pieces of jewellery that I have bought that has some sought of cross on it. But I couldn’t resist this bracelet from ASOS. Ahh well one more to add to the growing collection.

4) You can’t tell but this top is basically just lace, it has no underlining so I will have to wear something underneath. I think I’ll wear it with a bandeau when it gets really hot.

5) Again, another obsession but you can never have too many cardigans not when you live in England anyway. 

6) Theses are going to be my summer babies. It has summer written all over them and for doc martens they are not chunky at all.

What are you’re key summer pieces?

Ciao bella xoxo

(p.s. I’ve linked all the items to the websites)

Just Call Me Casual

T-shirt- Topshop

Bodycon dress- H&M

Cardigan- Next

Brogues- Primark

Scarf- Tie Rack

Bag- Longchamp

This is what I wore to my well deserved payday shopping trip a few days ago. I like to dress casual when going out shopping so I can throw off whatever I have on when trying on clothes in the fitting rooms. It means I spend less time fixing myself up after trying on numerous outfits. 

I bought these brogues about 8 or 9 months ago and I thought I would only get a few wears out of it. But I have been proven wrong! I guess I underestimated primark. 

I don’t know if it’s just me but I always feel the need to have a scarf round my neck, even though I know that the wind will try and swipe it many times throughout the course of the day (Arghh I hate the scarf and wind battle). I just have to have one on or at least one in my bag. I bought this scarf from tie rack a few months back. It’s 100% silk and I got it for £12 (woop woop for sales). I like how it adds style to my all so casual outfit. 

Hope you guys are all well & having a great bank holiday weekend :)

Ciao Bella xx

P.S. I would like to welcome all my new subscribers. Mwah xoxo

(Sunset outside my house...it looks so pretty)

Loving this: Tooled Satchel

Tooled Satchel- River Island

This has to be my favourite bags at the moment. I bought this from River Island a couple of months ago but started using it more recently. For £70 it was not cheap but I had a voucher so I basically got it for half price. Asos have this same bag (Click Here) on sale for £42 so I feel like a sucker! Ah well, I love it. (Trust me it looks a lot better in person, the picture Asos has up does it no justice whatsoever!! You can also save 20%. Just enter the promo code extra20 at checkout) 

Downside: I’m not a fan of the dark fabric in the strap or the River Island logo that they seem to love to put on all their bags but oh well. It’s a structured bag plus it’s made from leather so I can say it was worth it. 

An outfit post with this bag is soon to come.

Hope you guys are all well xx

xxx

What’s Playing?

I heard this song a few days ago and fell in love with it.

Hope you’re all well and having a yummy week. Thanks for following ;)

Ciao Bella xx