I’m homesick. I know, its taken a while!

To be fair, I’ve been like this for quite some time. It was strange not going to Mums grave at Christmas/her anniversary (instead I was snowed in at Alexs. Poor boy. I am not the best person to be around on that day!)

When I went up for my sisters wedding, I had about an hour or two which was just enough time to go to Sainos (and be really freaked out because it had finally reached the 21st century with self checkouts), nip home to grab some stuff and go into town to meet Gemma and Rachael.

This was a nice enough dose of Chester at the time, but since I’ve got some time off work coming up (for various reasons that I wont go into here because it gets me quite angry!) I thought I’d head up.

Things will be a bit quiet for the next few days, because I’ll be in Chester from Thursday afternoon till Friday afternoon (and trying to book in time to see so many of my friends – I realise that sentence makes me sound a bit of a twat, but its true!) then this weekend is filling up fast with go karting on Saturday (I do not like this idea very much, its too close to driving for me!) then bowling, Tillos and other fat making stuff on Sunday, which fyi is mah birfdayz. (In case I hadn’t mentioned it enough. I think I have.)

I’m tired already just thinking about it

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A few years later, the GLC became popular, so I went on the website and found the familiar images and recognised the music.

Sadly they disappeared from the radio stations, but recently, a parody of the Alicia Keys song popped up on YouTube talking about Newport. It’s pretty good, but this comeback by the GLC is even better (well, I like it)

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Vyvyan Basterd

Or these dresses:

Both things I love. (I was a massive Young Ones fan back in t’day when I were a lass…erm, when I was in Year 5 I think! Also, it was filmed in Bristol. The University Challenge episode has a great scene running around Temple Meads 30 years ago as Ace of Spaces plays. Brilliant. Even better, you can watch it for free on SeeSaw.)

But when it comes to shoes, Vivienne can only mean these beautiful shoes from Vivienne Westwood. And, with the British weather as crap as it is (I bet its raining or just stopped raining as you read this), they’re almost practical being made of plastic. Honestly, I need to buy at least a pair of ankle boots. It would just be silly of me not to wouldn’t it?

I love these Bow Detail Ankle Boots (£90) because they do look like they would be practical, but with a funky twist (how cute is that bow?) The thick grip sole is a necessity, because I’m quite clumsy at the best of times, but add in some rain or snow, and I’m usually on my bottom as soon as I step outside.

The Button Detail Ankle Boots(£90) are similar to the bow ones, but with big gold shiny buttons on the side. I’m not as in love with these as I am the bow detail ones, purely for the fact that I don’t really like yellow gold. (This is important, you should totally be making notes here)

These Three Strap 2 Tone Flats (£88) are a bit less of an outdoorsy sort of shoe (does that make sense? I guess I mean its a bit more of a summery sort shoe. What sort of weather do you wear your flats in?) but still being made of the plastic material, they’re quite practical in case of sudden downpours (because in this country, that happens quite a bit sadly)

Maybe then, the Ultra Girl Lace Bow Front Flats(£70) are even less practical with a pretty lace bow at the front (is that made of plastic or fabric? I can’t tell!) but its such a cute style that I can’t resist.

Vivienne Westwood said that “The most amazing thing about this partnership was to be able to create modern products of a very high quality, but at affordable prices,” which I think is a fair enough comment. OK, so I wish the prices were a little lower, because I’m a cheapskate (and a poor girl!) but if you think about it, these are probably shoes you could wear every day, and not have to switch from your wellies to your office shoes. Using girl logic, that makes them totally cheap and insanely practical. And of course, being a girl is all about being practical.

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Now I am old and wrinkly *sob*, theres not really much opportunity for me to dress up. (Get your minds out of the gutter) But if someone wants to have a party soon, I’d like to dress up as Gaga.

Lady Gaga American Flag Costume ($50)

Lady Gaga Blonde/Yellow Two Tone Wig ($15)

Lady Gaga Soda Can Wig ($15)

Lady Gaga Poker Face Video Swimsuit ($45)

Lady Gaga Silver Sequin Dress Costume ($50)

Lady Gaga Bow Clip ($9)

OK, so they’re not as amazing as the homemade costumes that people do for Gaga’s concerts, but they’re still bloody ace. Someone have a houseparty that I can dress up for please?

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I hate vintage shopping.

I’m not really a fan of most kinds of clothes shopping to be honest, with snotty shop assistants implying you can’t afford a £10 top so why the hell are you cluttering up their shop with your unsightly presence (Is that just me then? Oh.) or the depressing situation with sizing (how am I a 12 in some shops, and a 16 in others?!) but vintage shopping just sends the fear into me. I feel so out of place when I go in to browse, I end up walking out again most of the time.

Another problem with vintage shopping is that a show can sometimes appear to be more of a jumble sale at the village hall than a collection of carefully chosen items (there’s a vintage shop on Park Street in Bristol that is just rails and rails of STUFF. Not ideal if you’re even a little claustrophobic!)

Which is why I was happy to find GiGi Vintage. Cute items, nicely styled, and prices that aren’t too crazy – so they’re closer to Topshop than Primark, but unlike either of those two shops, these pieces have lasted longer – when was the last time that you bought something from a high street store thats lasted more than 5 years?!

Here’s a few of my favourite things, but go on the site, theres so much more!

“It’s All Navy” is a cute high waisted skirt which at the time of me looking was reduced down from £22 to £8. Bargain!

The “Leather Spinster” high waisted leather skirt (£45) is cute, although I can probably see someone else wearing this than me!

You usually can’t go wrong with a Laura Ashley dress (£38), especially with floral and bows all over!

I Know You ‘Sea’ Me“(£35) is a gorgeous mini dress which I’m so tempted by.

Anthing nautical is going to catch my eye which is why I liked the “Stripe It Rich” (£30)

I’m not really a playsuit kind of person, but the “Denim Diva” (£40) is quite tempting!

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So, this website, Present&Correct, was a bit of a bad one for me to go on to.

Just look at that front page! I want everything on there. But I’ve tried to narrow it down to a few things, so here are my picks from Present & Correct.

I love the Homework Pencil Case because its made of thin leather (so would hold up reasonably well in a bag) and is really cute. Maybe I’m just drawn to it by the neatness of the photo. Look at it!

The Book Band & Pen Holder is originally from Japan, and they are designed to keep all of your books together nice and neat. Its the sort of thing that I always wanted as a kid who read too many American teen books. Sweet Valley High has many things to answer for.

This is one of those things that when you think about it, is a bloody sensible idea. Something that you think “Well, why didn’t I think of that?”. The 5 Hole Pencil Sharpener is something that I think I should buy – not for my desk, but for my make up box!

I’m not sure why a box of rubbers (um, erasers for you Americans and people with filthy minds) appeals to me. Maybe its the way its been photographed. Honestly, take a picture of something in a really lovely way, and I’ll probably want to buy it. The P&Correctional Facility is a handprinted box of 6 new & vintage erasers from all over the world. Except this would be pretty useless for me because I would be too afraid to use them!

What do you buy the person who has everything (or nothing) when they start a new job? How about one of these Office in a Jars? Unfortunatly it doesn’t come with all the other bits that you’ll need to survive office life. Such as a baseball bat.

So simple. So effective. So boring (some might say. Shut up. I like this sort of thing.) The Pocket Clip Pencil has a clip carved into it, so you can attach it to your notebook, or wherever. I love things like this!

Must get off this website now, otherwise this little “feature” of mine will need to be renamed “What has gotten me further into debt this week?”

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When I saw it was a Betterware catelogue, I may have squealed with glee. Who knew that to get quality crap delivered to your door for a low low price, you just needed to move to the suburbs?
I’ve mentioned before about my love of these sort of things, and have even blogged about the JML love over at Sarahs site, EssBeeVee. When the catelogue dropped through my door though, I knew I had to take some pictures of the amazing items available. (This was before I got my amazing scanner, otherwise you would have had beautiful versions of the products. Sigh. Next time.)

Stop looking like a massive slut in the office, and get these odd little bibs to attach to your bustenhalter! Er, no thanks. I’d rather just give everyone a good eyeful. Also, if the lady in the picture didn’t have the modesty panel, then she’s just a skank, that top is cut below the bra line!

Trying to cut down on the portions? Or are you a massive loner and have no friends? Buy this tiny frying pan and accept that you’ll be found half eaten by Alsatians. (Having said that, I just want one of these because its small and cute. Such a girl.)

The more you look through these catelogues though, the more you end up going “God, that is a bloody good idea. Why didn’t I think of that before?” Long handled spoons, to get the last bit out of the jar. Brilliant (although a tiny spatula would work even better and would be small and cute, therefore guarenteeing I would buy it)

Mini funnel. See above. (Although the suggested uses are crap. My uses for it would be to fill up the hipflasks. Yes, plural.)

Hide your keys to the house in a really fake looking rock that you’d probably put near the house. Yeah, not the best idea. (Hint to robbers: look for the plastic looking rock. To test if its real, throw it at a window! If its real, then you wont need the keys to get in.)

It looks like Cath Kidston threw up in this bathroom after a particlary dodgy curry. Ew.

So for some reason, I found myself recently in the Costa in Shepton Mallet reading a magazine that came free with The People. And one of their crap tips (man, I LOVE me a good crap tip) was if shoes were rubbing your toes, then wrap your toes in bubble wrap and it would be super comfy. This is the deluxe version of that tip obviously.

Betterware does have a website but…I don’t know. Its just one of those things to me that need the catalogue. Theres something so satisfying about catalogues that you just can’t get from viewing it on a computer, or reading a catalogue on an iPad or Kindle.

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Thanks to the 15% off code thats floating about, I bought this cape in black this week for my winter coat. Its beautiful, hooded, and nice and swingy. The slight downside is that I did the usual go-up-a-dress-size for your coat, and it seems to be bloody massive! Its also available in a khaki-ish colour:

It’s normally £70 from ASOS, but with the 15% off, it was about £60. Winner.

(side note: I remember when ASOS first started, as As Seen On Screen. It had a lot of Sarah Michelle Geller/Buffy inspired items. Since I wanted to be like Buffy when I was 15/16 (shut it, you did too), this was obviously my favourite site.)

This Ultimate Military Cape (£95) from Topshop is nice, but not £95 of nice. (Shocking, Topshop overcharging for something? How unusual) Compared to the military cape from ASOS (I love how military is back in again, I love it), its not as detailed, and theres no hood.

I love the idea of little capes like this feather cape to wear over a t-shirt or vest. I was wearing my little furry cape (capelet?) with my pjamas before I’d seen this. It was nice enough at £40, but at £12, I couldn’t click the buy button quick enough (which was a bit silly really, I bought it the day before ASOS sent that code out. Fail)

In Primark’s A/W 2010 collection (which can be seen at on InStyle’s website), theres a navy military cape, which is only £25, but ugh, look at that tie around the middle. Its like a bloody dressing gown now!

Of course, I love this cape from Emilio Pucci

But at £1550, its just slightly out of my price range. Sigh.

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Don’t Stop Believing was one of my favourite old rock songs. One of my main memories with the song is driving back from the hospital when Mum was ill with my sister and Dad in the Jeep, I popped a CD I had burnt into the CD player and skipped to this song. My sister and I started singing, and Dad looked puzzled about where we knew the song from.

Sadly, Glee has spoilt it. The Glee kids did a reasonable cover version of it, and thats it, now we must listen to those same four chords playing over and over.

I wish I could take the midnight train going een-eeee-wheeeeeeeere to get away from this bloody song, but its never going to work. So this is my plea. Radio stations, advertisers, TV stations, anyone that has the ability to choose songs for something: STOP PLAYING THIS SONG.

Although I bet the Journey blokes are full of Glee (you see what I did there?) from the royalties.

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This is probably a good example of why:

This is what happens the day after I paint my nails. Every. Single. Time.

They just get destroyed! I’ve tried so many brands. I’ve tried the base coats, top coats, anything I can get my hands on in the little Boots near my work.

The only time that nail varnish has stayed on my fingernails for more than 2 days without chipping was when we went to House of Fraser and had manicures from Nails Inc.

Am I doomed to a life of having to have manicures all the time? Wouldn’t that be a shame. Damn and blast.

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So when I heard about “The Carrie Diaries“, it made me thing that maybe I’d be able to enjoy and possibly relate to Miss Bradshaw. OK, so its based in the 80′s, but I was a huge fan of the various “Sweet Valley” series back in the day and I quite enjoyed the flashback episode of Gossip Girlback to Serenas mums teenage years (although the amount of actors from Veronica Marsconfused me a little. Did Kristen Bell get them all minor roles? Whatev. I still love Dick, even more so when he is a Billy Idol wannabe). I wanted to like this book.

But, no. I just couldn’t get into it at all. This was my second time of reading it, and I find it just as hard relating to 17 year old Carrie in Connecticut, as I do to late 30′s Carrie in New York.

Perhaps you have to be a die hard SatC fan to enjoy this book. Personally, I think thats a real shame though. There was potential in the book to attract a new, younger audience into the franchise – and isn’t that every persons aim who is selling something? New customers?

It could have been so much more, it could even have become a series of books – why try and cram a whole year into one book? To copy Sweet Valley High would have been a bit much (how many times did the twins get in life threatening danger? Still love it though) but something more along the lines of the Georgia Nicholson series (if you’ve not read that series, do. Its so funny, even though it’s, again, a YA series)

The Carrie Diaries felt rushed through with cramming the year into one book, and certain parts of the book felt as if they had been added in at the last minute to sort of fore shadow the TV series.

If this book had been thought about a bit more, then it could have been brilliant. Sadly, this is a book that is going to stay on my bookshelf most of the time, not one to read and re-read

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This goldcrane necklace is so pretty. The paper crane is apparently a symbol of peace, and comes on a gold plated chain. (£19)

I’m not really a fan of gold jewellery if I’m honest, so the Stirling Bird necklace is much more likely to be seen around my neck. Its only £22 as well, which is pretty reasonable I think!

This 18k matte gold Chair Necklace is keeping in with this years Alice in Wonderland theme. (£12)

This is my absolute favourite though. I love typography (such a nerd!) and this is subtle enough to be worn everyday. (I have necklaces that I can’t really wear everyday, because it would mean having to explain what it meant to people!) The Ampersand Necklace is gold plated, and costs £13.50.

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I like to make a wishlist each year (here’s last years) as a gentle prod to my family towards the sort of things I would like. Its normally ignored. This year though will be different! Mostly because I’m going to spam the crap out of anyone who might buy me things.

Anyway. These are a few of the things I would totally love, kiss kiss kiss.

This is a Bayswater in Plum Glossy Buffalo Leather. I’ve wanted one of these for a loooooong time, its just a perfect bag for work really. But then I looked around on the Mulberry website and saw this

Oh ALEXA. Its in “sparkle tweed” which sounds lovely, and I love the satchelly style. Lets not mention the prices though, hmm? (*cough* £695 for the Baywater, £795 for the Alexa. Sigh.)

The Diana Mini is such a cute little camera. Even better, it takes 35mm film which can still be bought in the supermarket. See, its almost practical.

Fish pedicure! I’m not sure why I like the idea of lots of flesh eating fishies going om nom nom at my toes, but oooh it sounds fun. And ticklish. My feet are in a dreadful state so the fishies may die of overeating. But still. NOM NOM NOM.

PONIES OMG OMG OMG. Enough said.

Well, I’d never say no to some gin (although smelling like gin and tonic? Maybe not.

Oh, and of course, theres always my Amazon wishlist.

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Sarah (thats her up there) has a blog that I’ve been reading for quite a while, and she is one of the few people who tweets as much as me. (Honestly, I kinda feel sorry for you if you follow both of us!). She was lovely enough to answer my questions when she was in the middle of moving house.

For those people who might not read your blog or follow you on Twitter, tell us the basics about you.
I’m officially in my late twenties now which bothers me quite a bit as last time I looked I was still 18. I am quite short and own more dresses than anyone I know. I’m stupidly addicted to Twitter and tweet way too much. I hate ‘I’ve Gotta Feeling’ by the Black-Eyed Peas more than any other song in existence. I am madly in love with my shiny camera and take photographs constantly. Also, I’m quite nice.

Whats the most exciting thing you’re looking forward to this summer?
Now Glastonbury’s over it’s got to be the Ben & Jerry’s Summer Sundae Festival because it’s a whole day of eating ice cream. Wow. And after that, IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!! And then when that’s over, I pretty much start looking forward to Christmas.

What bands/songs/albums will be the soundtrack to your summer?
Foals – Total Life Forever, Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History, Miiike Snow and Yeasayer – Odd Blood. Also probably some Lady GaGa and Girls Aloud because cheese is awesome.

Where is the strangest place you’ve been on holiday?
Um… um… nowhere, really! But once when I was little we went on holiday to Holland and we went on a giant posh ferry and the ferry had a swimming pool! INSIDE! And when you swam in it the boat rocked about and it was like being in a pool with a wave machine. Which was probably really dangerous, actually. But AWESOME.

What song (old or new) instantly makes you think of summer?
My old one is A Little Respect by Erasure because it reminds me of the best party EVER. My new one is Green Grass by I Am Arrows which is so summery and amazing, I LOVE it and the internet thinks it’s already out but can I find it on iTunes? Noooo.

Whats the most embarrassing thing thats happened to you on a holiday.
A few years ago I was in Benidorm with a big group of friends – girls and guys – and hopped up out of the pool onto the steps to sort out my goggles (yep, I’m not cool, but I wear contacts and chlorine tortures my eyes). A second later, my BFF squeaked ‘Sarah!’ and I looked down… and my bikini top was not at ALL where it was supposed to be. Flashing a pool full of my friends (and a bunch of strangers) – pretty embarrassing!

Whats the best iced lolly: FAB, Magnum, Mini Milk or other?
Those new Magnums with the gold chocolate are pretty damn incredible. Failing that, Solero or Mini Milk for magical low-calorie-ness!

Did you look forward to the end of summer as a kid or did you dread going back to school?
Bleurgh, no, I hated school. People were mean. Summer forever!!

What five things are essential for the perfect summers day?
PIMMS!!!! Also sunglasses, a pretty sun-dress and a big, boozy BBQ. And probably suncream. Or a boat.

Anything else to add?
Yes. As I am typing these answers, it is raining. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT. Sort it out, summer.

Thanks Sarah! Follow her blog SBV at essbeevee.blogspot.com

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As you’ve probably already seen, Topshop have recently had a lovely redesign. It’s the sort of design that I love – sleek, minimal and lots of space everywhere. It just seems a lot easier to find a product that you like the look of.

The new product pages are quite nice too – although they haven’t gotten rid of the annoying scroll over zoom which doesn’t work that well on iPhones – but thats not much of an issue since Topshop have brought out their own iPhone app (I’d love more shops to do this!)

Unfortunately, a new redesign means I must look at things and NEED TO BUY THEM NOW. The old design was looking pretty tired – I remember 3+ years ago it looked the same (as I used to spend every lunch looking at it – Facebook has only just appeared really and was closed to most people, and Twitter was just starting as well). On the Topshop Facebook page, you can have a look at the AW10 lookbook. I’m not really a fan of Topshop, but I was drawn in by the capes:

I’ve been looking for a cape for a few years now, a nice navy blue or dark grey wool one would suit me quite happily. Thanks.

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