Novara - Milano - Novara

It's seriously windy here today. The curtain on our kitchen balcony keeps trying to free itself. I would tie it back, but then I would have to contend with the fierce midday sun (that being the point of the curtain to start with.. blocking out the sun). Anyway, lots, lots, LOTS has been going on.

I bought my annual train pass which cost a mere 570E!!! That's 47.5 a month - flippin bargainous!

We also bought a floor. Yep, a FLOOR. I don't know if you remember our hideous floor tiles in the living area? (if not, scroll down for a peek) Well, we went and bought some laminate to cover it all up. Yes, it's going to mean planing/sanding the bottom of the front and balcony doors down, and in all honesty, I think it's a hassle, but the floor is really nice! It's not your average beech or birch laminate that looks exactly like what it is... laminate. It's matte and greyish in tone, Rustic Pine I believe it's called. It cost a small fortune, but no more than a couple of huge rugs would have. Bring on the new flooring!

I went to work today to sign my official contract and met most of the other teachers in our school, they are all really lovely (2 Italian, 2 American 1 Scottish). Two of them worked there last year and the other three are new. It's all exciting and scary and I'm back tomorrow for training. Eep!

I still have a lot to do here in the house. We have a family friend (who is an artist out of work at the moment) coming to stay with us from Tuesday evening and he's going to paint our flat. Before he gets here, we need to remove all the nails in the walls and fill the holes (seriously, there are at least 50 nails in the walls here), we also need to dismantle all the empty boxes and put them in the cantina, and we need to tackle anything that hasn't been put away and some stuff that has been put away, so that it's as empty as possible for ease of painting. Hey, this time next week we should have colour :D

Also, this time next week is the first day of term and hopefully I will have overcome my nervousness by now!

Anyhoo, I must get on, I am off to Cameri in a bit to pack up the last of the stuff (which is all bits and bobs, sigh) and give the place a quick clean. And then to tackle the new sound. YAWN. It's never ending!

Itchy finger

Yep, I've been spending! I looked at my accounts and decided to spalsh out on what I consider my last kawaii stationery haul, of this year (at least). I've got my eye on a few boxes of Cavallini stickers, so I won't say it's my last stationery haul of the year, but I may ask for the stickers for my bday or xmas, so maybe it will be??

I also bought some vintage playing cards on etsy this morning.

The bf and I both LOVE vintage pin-up girls and had some ideas for wall art, but sadly what we want either doesn't exist or it's just VERY hard to find. Four of the playing cards are vintage pin up themed and I plan to put them in a frame to probably go in our living room. They're pretty fantastic. Unfortuantely the seller only had those four, but said she;s always on the look out for more, so I've put in a request for her to let me know if she gets any because I'd love to snap them up and make a collection. The other 6 cards have funky mexican style designs on them, which I'm planing to use in the kitchen.

My idea of the perfect kitchen is sleek and modern meets mexican kitsch. It's hard to describe, but imagine bright colours, yellows, reds, blues, oranges, greens and pinks, beautiful pieces on display, candles and/or fairy lights, but with our stainless steel modern appliances. It sounds pretty hideous to someone who can't see into my mind and sadly we're unlikely to achieve it in this kitchen BUT when we actually own a place, I'm going to go wild and do it exactly as I want it!

Our plans for our current kitchen are pretty basic at the moment and only stretch as far as yellow on the walls and some shelves we've picked (but not purchased) for above the sink.

But we'll get there. Eventually :)

Spoiler alert - For the boyfriend only ;)

There is a cool shop in Lyon called Pylones, it's got similar stock to Octopus in the UK. I've only been in a couple of times because it's often really crowded, but I went in on Monday and bagged a couple of cute bits...

One of those cool hook thingies so you can keep your bag
secure under the table at a cafe or restaurant... or on a
train too I guess. Well, anywhere with a table really.


These cute little book marks and peanut erasers which will be gifts.

And these awesome eggcups. I'm sure the bf will love them too.
I couldn't resist their cute design and bright colours :)

Yesterday I had to buy clothes for my work experience placement, I went a little overboard, but I love everything I got (haha, as if I wouldn't) It's all very casual, but I really love the little shoes I bought, so maybe I'll do an outfit shot in the near future to show them off ;)

Have you purchased anything funky lately? Or do you have your eye on something or maybe just an awesome shop you should tell me about? You know I need another excuse to spend money ;)

Monday exhaustion.

I spent an awful lot of time shopping today. I went to Brent Cross with my mum, mainly to get interview clothes and shoes, but also got a bunch of other stuff inluding a Lulu Guiness obsession!

We went into Fenwicks and I found and instantly wanted these three beauties...

Raspberry Pixelated Oversize Rose Large Pollyanna Clutch - £225.00

Red Patent Leather Large Lucille - £350.00

Union Jack Tapestry Large Jenny - £225.00

I've also spent the past couple of days listening to a playlist of Marina and the Diamonds and desperately want the album. Yum ♥

*sob*

Well, the horrid day came. I took my bf to Victoria station so he could get the train to the airport and I don't know when I'll next see him :'(

I had to cheer myself up and I nearly bought the softest pj's/lounging clothes ever from Primark, but I resisted. I did however buy some new nail varnish, which I've been wanting to do for a while.

Collection 2000, £1.79 each, but were on offer at 2 for £3

I quickly tried them out over my chipped red nails and the pictures weren't any better than the rushed job I did, so maybe I'll show you better pictures when I've taken the time to paint my nails nicely.

I also bought some postcards from paperchase to send to my beloved when he gets a more permanent address. It's going to be poo without him. I'm going to fill my time with learning and planning and lists. Yes, lists sound like a good way to keep busy, I'm going to get started!

Dressing up.

I love any excuse to dress up. Seeing as i'm not working a the moment I spend a lot of time in trackies, hawaiian shorts, or scruffy jeans and t-shirts. I've been out with friends and family a few times recently, but the weather is too unpredictable to really go all out on dressing up, mainly because I don't want to be too cold, nor do I want to have to lug around my winter coat in the sun.

Yesterday I threw caution to the wind and got dressed up to go to the V&A with my lovely bf to see the quilts exhibition. We've wanted to go for a while now, but it's been difficult with being out of the coutnry so much recently, but he's leaving for Italy on Tuesday so we made a last minute scramble out the door yesterday afternoon and trotted down to south kensington.

Tights and jacket from Primark, Dress from Peacocks, Necklace DIY

The quilts exhibition was really nice, but me and the bf both felt they could have had a little more variety. There weren't any vintage/antique American quilts and that would have been nice. I didn't take any pictures at the V&A, we went quicte late in the day and I only just managed to get in to the gift shop (it's full of wonderful and terribly expensive delights). I'm really glad I did, I ummed and ahhed about this rig, but decided to buy it in the end because it's so damn pretty. I've been wearing a lot more jewellery recently and I'm enjoying changing it everyday and this is perfect for all my sumery outfits.

It's absolutely huge, it's about 2cm tall and it's beautiful laquered wood. I'm totally digging it.

My week.

I had a pretty awesome time during the last seven days. The start of the week was fairly quiet, a nice bit of shopping and much letter writing on Monday, more letter writing and crafting onTuesday and Wednesday.

On Thursday I went into town with the bf and the brother in law. We went to covent garden, ate great mexican food at Cafe Pacifico, did a little shopping and went to the Natural History Museum. It is one of my favourite London museums, it's such a fantastic building, outside and in. I'll be sure to scan my pictures when I get them back (if they are any good!)

We spent alot of time in the earth rooms. My favourite areas used to be dinosaurs and mammals as a kid, but I could spend hours looking at and learning about minerals these days. Such amazing beauty and patterns. Fantastic.

Friday I slept late and then spent most of the day painting my nails and such in preparation for our Persian meal out. I wore my new shoes, of course ;)

Saturday was an early morning up and out, back into town to meet friends who came up from Brighton for the day. We walked 6.5 miles (10.5 km) walking through London and we went to the Tate Modern where I picked up a couple of really lovely notebooks and a PENCIL :D We sat in the sun and it was such a lovely warm day :) We then went straight to my sister's place. We'd made plans to go to the cinema, but had to drive there as the local one wasn't showing Clash of the Titans. Her mr. drives an Audi TT. My sister and I had to squish into the back of it. I'm a little claustrophobic and there was zero space back there, but it was a giggle. We stayd over at theirs and indulged in late night snacks and beer.

My sister has a really nice coffee machine and I love staying at hers because she makes a great latte in the morning. I had two on Sunday, sitting on the sun drenched balcony and it was lovely. She decided to have a bbq so we had to go buy one. We went to the garden centre where they sell myriad of amazing things and I picked up a couple of candles and this cute little ladybird pot thingy that I'm going to keep my rings in. The bbq was tasty, but I drank way too much. Beer, Pims, Champagne and Sangsters.

I'm pretty dehydrated today, but I got up to go to the shopping centre and get some paper and a couple of things for swaps. I stopped in peacocks and picked up a cute top and dress I'd seen last monday, and I also picked up this really cute sweater dress. I <3 it.

I'm totally a crazy cat lady (well, I have the potential to be one) so this sweater is going to stay a firm favourite of mine :D

So the past seven days were prety hectic in the end. I'm hoping for an equally busy and fun packed week this week too. My beloved man is leaving in a week so we want to do all those things we've wanted to do in town for a while but not gotten round to yet. I'll try and take more pictures this week :)

Shopping (again)

(From yesterday)

Well, I didn't go in Next because I knew that pretty dress would tempt me, but I had to return a dress from Primark and I wanted to see if they had that nice grey biker jacket in my size.

I went with my mum and we happened to have a look in Dorothy Perkins, another shop I never go in, for similar reasons as next. Trust me when I say that I wasn't looking for a bag. I have a beautiful handmade clutch that I have my eye on, but I wasn't looking for a handbag at all... however this one found me all by itself. My mum also really liked it and offered to buy it for me. I didn't refuse...

I also had a look at and tried on some shoes. Something I don't usually bother doing because it's a hassle, but the shop was empty and I was wearing easy on-off plimsoles. I tried a gorgeous dusky pink pair of peep toe courts that had pretty pink lacing on, but they were just that tad too high for me. Then I saw them... the shoes of my dreams. I tried them on, they were a little too big, but they didn't have a smaller size. I tried them both on, I felt so glamourous. I ummed and ahhed about them and decided to get them. They are just a dream.

On top of all that my mum paid for those too!! Thanks Mum!!!!!!! <3

They didn't have my size in the jacket, so I tried on a 12 and it fit ok, if I don't mind not being able to zip it up (which I don't incidentally) and I'm shrinking so I bagged it along with a second pair of black skinny jeans. For the shoes you see.

And amazing and cheap day of shopping, that made me smile no end. I also had some pretty, pretty post waiting for me when I got home, which only added to my smile.

(And yes, I'm wearing the shoes as I type!)

Spring has Sprung!

I have been mostly spending my time writing letters and postcards of late. I've somewhat neglected my love for clothes, but that is also because I am really skint and just can't afford anything. I've been hunting for a jacket to go with some of my dresses, I wanted a grey one, because black I can do with a cardi and because I love, love, love grey. I have yet to find the perfect jacket... and I'm holding out for the right one. The trouble is that everywhere has blazers and I don't want a blazer. The other trouble is that as the weather gets warmer I'm worried I'll run out of time for actually finding the right jacket. I guess I need to get my walking shoes on and do some shopping!

If I could have one more dress it would be...

From New Look and I know it's bad, but it's been reduced to £18 and I am soooooo tempted to buy it!

EDIT:

Ok, so I bought it. And some floral pumps... they were both on sale and I'm a shopaholic. Plus when the weather gets prettier I am going to spend all my time in dresses. YAY!

However now I'm desperately wanting these two pairs of delightful shoes from Rocket Dog to go with all my dresses.

Snippet £24.99, Rocket Dog



Snippy £24.99, Rocket Dog

Argh, so much wanting, so little money!

Awaiting spring...

I didn't really get excited about spring/summer nudes until I went to the shops yesterday. It was a mistake and completley unplanned. I was supposed to be going to the cinema but I left it too late and it was packed with school kids so I hit the shopping centre instead. I hadn't intended to purchase anything except office stuff from the £1 store (which I also did) but I walked through Primark and saw a couple of lovely sun dresses, one in apricot and the other in charcoal. I picked them up, held them against me in the mirror and put them back. While walking to the exit I saw a gorgeous nude faux suede blazer, I immediately picked my size and went back for the charcoal dress. I looked for ages for a grey blazer to go with the apricot dress but to no avail so I picked a white dress and black blazer and headed for the changing room where I fell in love with the nude blazer and the charcoal dress and promptly purchased them to wear to my niece's confirmation next weekend.

Today I actually managed to get up early enough for the first Alice in Wonderland show of the day and stupidly went back into Primark where I purchased the apricot dress and a cute navy and pink floral dress. I also got an adorable mint and black polka dot top (which I'm wearing), a much needed nude coloured bra and a couple of camisoles (I hate wearing a top or dress with nothing underneath). Oh and a cute cream bag with gold detail.

My innocent cinema and errand trip turned into a miniature spending spree!

I walked through New Look to use their escalator and saw a gorgeous mint and cream lace dress and almost ran through the shop before anything else caught my eye. Now all my new purchases are awaiting better weather so I can dress up like peaches and cream. I've fallen in love with the pastels and nudes of the season and spent ages yesterday trawling the net for the perfect shoes to accompany said colour scheme.

I found them...

I honestly think I may have a spending problem.

Tomorrow morning I'm getting up early to go back into town with my mum who wants to see if she can find anything nice for next week. I think I might persuade her to buy me the cream version of the polka dot top. It's only £3 after all...