Dash for the Sun with Warehouse

Something magical happens at this time of year. The doom and gloom of the colder months is forgotten and the late arrival of Spring is forgiven. Sunny, blue sky teamed with green grass and bare limbs never fails to put a smile on my face and I challenge you to find anyone who doesn't feel the same.

Warehouse are celebrating the arrival of the Summer Season with a treat for all their customers. Spend £50 or more in store on Saturday 25th May and you'll be gifted with a goodie bag worth £50 containing all you need to "Dash for the Sun". Warehouse have teamed up with top brands like Dermalogica and Label M among others to make sure you're all Summer ready and looking hot in your brand new Warehouse clothes.

There will also be events happening in Argyll Street, White City, Trinity Leeds and the Trafford Centre on Saturday. If you live near any of these places I suggest you get along as so far things are looking good weather wise for the weekend and I can think of no better way to celebrate! To find out more and get involved you can visit the Warehouse official website, follow them on twitter (look out for hashtag #dashforthesun) and give them a like on Facebook

Let me know if you get involved, I'd love to see what goodies you get and what you buy...I don't think I'll be near a store this weekend but if I am I'll be caving in and treating myself.

 xxx 

 *sponsored*

AW13 from M&S

per una Dress £89, M&S Collection Jumper £75, Necklace £25 / £29.50, Belt £19.50

 M&S Collection Coat £85, M&S Collection Skirt £35, M&S Collection Top £29.50, Bag £59

 Limited Edition Coat £89, Limited Edition Top £35, Limited Edition Skirt £35, Scarf £19.50, Bracelet £19.50

M&S Collection Coat £79, M&S Collection Jacket £55, M&S Collection Jumper £15, M&S Collection Skirt £39.50, Bag £35, Sunglasses £9.50, Boot £69

 Limited Edition Coat £79, Limited Edition Top £29.50, Limited Edition Jean £35, Scarf £19.50

I know it seems terribly early to be looking ahead to the colder months but when pictures of Marks and Spencer's AW range started cropping up following their press day I was besotted and had to share.

Above are five of the key trends/looks for the AW collection featuring heritage fabrics all manufactured in the UK.

This also marks the start of a three year partnership with the British Fashion Council.

I've included price details under the images.

I'd love to hear what you think,

perhaps the end of  Summer won't be so sad this year.

xxx

Daisy Chain Dreaming: Butterfly Collection from Guess

So, it was only a matter of days ago that I last featured Guess jewellery on the blog, but I've since been sent over details of the latest launch- the Butterfly Collection and I couldn't resist sharing having fallen head over heels for it- especially that cuff!

The Butterfly Collection perfectly matches the GUESS Girl’s free-spirited nature and highlights her expressive femininity. This collection takes the GUESS Girl’s spirited look to new heights with coloured enamel, intricate opalescent pavé detailing and artfully engraved metal. The hinged movement adds an enchanting surprise, ensuring that the GUESS Girl is nothing but unique.

 

Prices from £55 - £90

I know my blog seems to mainly be wish lists at the moment but can you blame me with so many gorgeous things about? That and the fact I'm living in my work uniform at the moment, and when I'm not I am either utterly un-inspired by my wardrobe or busy. I'm hoping to get my Summer clothes out over the Bank Holiday so maybe that'll kick start something...wearing jumpers in May really doesn't motivate one to post outfit photos!

Anyway,

back to the jewellery...which piece do you most want to fly your way?

xxx

may days

Dress: New Look

Tights: c/o Stockings HQ

Boots: Yull

Such a shame to still be wearing sleeves this late in May, I am not impressed with 2013's attempt at Spring/Summer so far. Still, at least the fact it's not bare legs weather (for me anyway) yet means I can still embrace tights which I'm really getting back in to. Stockings HQ is a new find for me and somewhere I will frequently be haunting to stock up my collection which is somewhat diminished from what it once was.

I hope the week is getting off to a good start for everyone. The weekend already feels like a distant memory but we have a long one ahead which I fully intend to embrace and I have fingers and toes crossed that the sun shines like it eventually did last weekend, perfect for chilling with Boy and celebrating Ellie's birthday.

Sorry my blog posts are a bit lacking lately, I think once I've caught up on posts I'm going to take a week or so break to refresh and think up some new content...I'm boring myself so I can't imagine how anyone else feels.

Still, maybe I can make it up to you with my Warehouse One of a Kind Denim giveaway?

xxx

Sarenza Sunday- Struck Down

Sarenza is becoming seriously bad for me, so many new arrivals (pretty much daily) and quirky designers I've not heard of before.

Take for example the above shoe by Minna Parikka (the Ira shoe). So unique and striking, but they cost £296.00 so I am left lusting and shoe-less.

Still,

there is something quite satisfying about window shopping and dreaming so these will be pinned, saved, shared wherever I can share them and maybe one day they will be mine.

Damn you Sarenza, damn you once again for making me covet yet more shoes.

Fabulous Flamingo Filofax (and inside my bag)

How gorgeous is this Flamingo design Filofax?

The Flamingo is the winning design from the Filofax ‘Cover Story’ graduate design competition.

The eye-catching and elegant design, created by Rebecca Mountain, inspired by the poise, colour and grace of flamingos, beat off a tidal-wave of talent from other design graduates.  Rebecca has recently been enjoying a paid work-placement with Filofax so that she could see her print being brought to life on the popular cotton twill canvas personal organisers which will be sold around the world.

The Flamingo is available in two colourways – blue and sage – as well as in two sizes – Pocket (£28) and Personal (£35). A pen loop keeps your pen secure, while a practical elastic closure will keep your Flamingo organiser safely closed when you’re on the move.    

Filofax is supporting fresh design talent again this year with a new ‘Cover Story’ graduate design competition.  Details will be announced shortly on the Filofax website.

I was lucky enough to be sent one of the stunning organisers- I have used a Filofax for years and my tired old one welcome getting a break.

I love how the colour theme of this new design goes perfectly with my Brit-Stitch satchel and I thought I'd use this post to hop on the "what's in my bag" bandwagon,

although as you can see, my bag is not nearly as organised as most and only contains the usual wallet, keys, phone, lipbalm, sweets, glasses/sunnies and tissues combo (with about twenty pens thrown in for luck). One of these days I'll be super organised and carry round perfectly pretty notebooks and all manner of other gorgeous things but for now my chaos works for me and well, I don't think I'm a tidy person by nature.

What's in your bag? What do you think of the new Filofax designs?

xxx 

Giveaway: Custom Denim from Warehouse

Denim is big news right now and I am super excited to be able to share this very special giveaway with you lovely lot.

Warehouse have chosen 5 pieces of their Spring/Summer denim collection to customise and make in to a very limited edition piece- only one of each is to be made and those pieces aren't available to buy, only to win via selected blogs.

I've been chosen to host one of these giveaways and the piece I have up for grabs is the Denim Western Yoke Shirt which has been customised to look like...

The shirt is a size 14 although you don't need to be a size 14 to wear it as it's one of those really versatile pieces.

To enter there are just a few simple rules...

- Leave a comment on this post saying how you'd style the shirt (if you are a blogger and win the giveaway I'd love to see a post of you wearing your prize)

- For an extra two entries you can like Warehouse on Facebook and/or follow them on Twitter (one entry for each, just mention it in a comment)

- The giveaway will run for one week closing on Thursday 23rd May at 8pm UK time. The giveaway is open to UK readers only (sorry) and the prize will be sent to the winner directly.

Good Luck! This really is a special prize and I will be eternally jealous of the winner!

xxx

on yer bike

Blouse: Urban Outfitters

Skirt: Zara

Converse via Sarenza

I don't think I've ever spent £35 on a top before but there was something about this one from Urban Outfitters that had me parting with my cash. I bought it whilst in Cardiff as part of my Birthday weekend so it was a justified treat and one I will get plenty of wear from. I find tops a struggle but this ticks all the right boxes: good length, quirky print and falls beautifully. 

This is actually an old outfit, one I wore before the bank holiday weekend when the weather was nice (who would have thought it eh?) The contrast compared to this weekend is quite striking; the need for layers and a thick coat was not amusing in the slightest. Thankfully it didn't put the boy and I off adventures to Ikea, I even braved a football game on TV and survived.

I'm feeling more settled this week, back in to the normal working routine and patterns. What can I say? I'm a creature of habit and not afraid to admit it.

On a personal note, I had an anonymous comment asking how *I* was doing the other day. Quite simply I'm doing really, really well. Having fun, living life and feeling happier and healthier than ever. It's slow progress but more change is afoot and I'm ready to embrace it.

Anyway,

this is quite the wordy post, sorry...how are YOU doing?

xxx

daisy chain dreaming: wish collection from GUESS jewellery

I always have and always will love friendship bracelets- so easy to wear and fun to layer up together (or with chunkier pieces). There is something so endearing about them and this new collection from GUESS jewellery has given me major lust.

The new Wish Bracelet Collection from GUESS Jewellery provides the essential feminine  accessory for this Spring/Summer. Representing all the attributes the GUESS Girl holds dear; 
Love, Peace, Happiness, Luck and  Friendship, the collection offers a variety of fun and  meaningful motifs.  

Perfect for layering and creating your own GUESS Girl look, the collection can be tailored to  suit each individuals style. With intricate design and details, the Wish Bracelet Collection is 
perfect to team with oversize frills, pink buttermilk shades or contrast against the black hues 
seen on the SS13 runways.

With a choice of gold, rhodium or rose gold finishes, the intricate Swarovski embellishment on 
coloured adjustable cord bracelets enables every GUESS Girl to be charmed with a pretty, 
sweet and endearing feminine expression this Spring/Summer.

The bracelets are available now- you'll find them in places like House of Fraser and Debenhams as well as GUESS stores and many jewellery shops priced at £25

Which one have you got your eye on? My personal favourite is the purple one pictured above.

xxx

sarenza shoe of the week: prettily practical

This week my Sarenza pick is more on the classic side than usual. Among the many new arrivals from one of my favourite brands on the site, Georgia Rose were these Jessey CFT in ante negro + ante arena. I love the t-bar style, nude and black suede combo and subtle gold detailing on these and although they are on the pricey side for flats at £103 I can a) attest to the quality of the brand and b) see these as a bit of an investment that will work with many, many outfit combinations. If this colour way isn't your thing there are three others to pick from as well as a gorgeous range of heels that have just landed too.

You might hate me for saying this later, but go forth and browse!

xxx