Bagging a Bargain - be alittle thrifty.

I know that you are all like me and you want to find a bargain. But did you ever get the feeling that some people are better at getting bargains than you are.    If so, than read through the few little tips that I have picked up recently which will hopefully help you bag that bargain.

Follow your favourite stores on twitter

These stores may tweet discounts codes or give you an insight as to when the sale may start either online or in store.  

Compare prices

Compare the prices of your most used products whether it is in store or online.   I especially do this when it comes to make up.  I  can save up to 5euro a pop on my regular make up product by comparing the prices in the store and online.

Seek out discounts special

Remember if you are a student you can get student discounts.  It doesn’t matter if you are a mature student – these discounts will still apply.  Teachers get discounts also and some companies can sign up for group schemes where discounts apply.   So get up and talk to your boss – you never know what discounts that you can get.

Know what you are looking for.

Just because something is discounted doesn’t mean that it is going to be a bargain.  You have to ask yourself some questions:

• Does it fit ? i.e do you have spend more money on getting the item altered?
• Do you have accessories to go with it?  Do you need to spend more money buying some more items to go with it?
• Do you have shoes to go with it? Do you need to buy shoes to go with the dress or outfit that you are thinking of buying.
• Do you already have something like this in your wardrobe.  Knowing what you already have in the wardrobe is half the battle.

If you any of the answers from the above cause you to spend more money than really it is not a  bargain is it.

Shop off season 

Some people may shudder when I say this.  But if you are looking for those classic items that will never go out of fashion i.e. good denims, plain t-shirt and winter coats – than shopping off season will work best for you. 

What tips do you have for a bagging a bargain?  Leave a comment below and let us all know. 

S

Beauty Flash Balm Review

This is a must have in your beauty case! Ok so it is not on the cheap and cheerful front which I normally love but it is an amazing product that does three jobs.

It is a makeup primer, face mask and a skin glower ( will explain this one ) 

I use this for special occasions or when I want to give my skin that little perk up when it is looking grey and dull. 

Make up primer

Put on your normal moisturiser and give it time to settle in to your skin as always.    Next – take a little ... yes a little beauty flash balm – rub it between your hands so that it warms alittle and then rub on to your face.  I normally add this to certain spots rather than all over.  My little danger zones as I call them are under my eyes and the side of my nose.  I then put my make up on straight over it.    It gives my skin a wonderful glow and sheen and makes it look wonderful and dewy.  I find using it makes my make up stay fresh all day long.

Face Mask

Using this product as a face mask will make your skin feel wonderful, clean and fresh.  Take double what you would as a primer.     And rub this on to your clean skin.  Leave this on your skin for approximately five or ten minutes.  Like a normal face mask, you will feel it tighten and dry on to your skin.  After your time is up – wash it off.  Ensure that you take all traces off it from your face.  You will notice a wonderful sheen and cleanliness to your face.  It also helps clean out your pores of all the daily gunk as any other face mask would.  I would only recommend using this as a mask once a month at the most.

Skin Glower

Yes this is a new technical term that I have just created!  You know those days when you don’t wear any make up but your skin still looks dull and meh! Well take some beauty flash balm and place it in those areas that need alittle more attention and brightening up. For me I dab a little under my eyes and on my cheeks and voila I look healthier already.

Have you used beauty flash balm before? What do you think of it?  Any other tips and tricks for it or other products that I should try – leave a note in the comments as I would love to hear from you.

S

Style Icons - What makes and who is one?

Who is your style Icon? Whose fashion do you most admire and aspire to look like?

Magazines always talk about one person or another being a style icon and when I pondered this thought myself and I discovered that I don’t really have one particular person that I would call as a style icon.

What is a style icon for me? 

A style icon for me is someone who has poise, grace and this uncanny ability to look good and be in the exact right clothes for that exact occasion. 

For me at the moment that person is Princess Catherine.  This girl cannot put a single foot wrong in my books when it comes to fashion.  Just take a look at some of her styles that she has been wearing.

Even down to her attendance at the Olympic events she has nailed it each time. 

I think that she encompasses everything I believe a style Icon should be.

Being a style icon is also to do with confidence and how you wear something.   Many women believe it is to with the money that you spend on what you are wearing.  But it isn’t.  Being an icon is about how you wear something – no matter what the cost of it is.

Coco Chanel said it best – Fashion Fades – but style remains.

In terms of other celebrities I have not come across anyone who has the perfect style that fits like Princess Catherine.  However, out there in blogger land there are plenty of ladies who have the style that fits every occasion and looks fantastic.   These girls mix and play with style that suits their body and mixes in the trends that are out there in the fashion world.    These are ladies that I draw inspiration from -  they have taught me how to dress for my body and more importantly not to worry or focus too much on what is in trend right now. Take a look at some of these styles and fantastic ladies.

Check out their blogs for more fantastic style.   Who is your style Icon and what fashion blogs do you recommend.  Leave a comment below.

S

Weight Watchers - I'm Struggling!

At any given stage with weight loss, people struggle and at the moment I am struggling. I am currently at home and not working which means I am constantly walking to the cupboard and taking either a biscuit or a bar a chocolate. Anything that has sugar in it. This is not good. 

It is boredom pure and simple. 

I am constantly thinking of ways to keep myself busy.  This blog being one of them. I am not sure if any one really reads this page – I know I am getting hits each day but if anyone is reading I ain’t too sure.   But this is taking my time up each day and keeping me busy so for me its all good and if anyone out there is listening, well thank you and please take some time to connect with me on twitter or email.

Outside of my blog I can tell you that I have the cleanest house in Ireland.  In fact if I take out the vacuum cleaner another time I may not have any carpet on the floor. 

I am still walking – my exercise of choice – but I am finding it hard to stay about from the biscuit cupboard.  It is soooo all in my mind.  Boredom and hunger are easily confused.

When in work, I noticed that I had my scheduled break times – I always knew when it was 1030am as my tummy told so from hunger.  I always knew when lunch time was approaching – again my tummy told me so.

But when you are at home – your brain has more time to think and is not distracted by my usual work load – so I think my body is taking my mental slow down as being near that break time it is so used to having.  Hence getting hungry.  Outside of the above I am not doing much. All my friends and family are working so I am spending most of the day on my own.  This in itself is quite depressing which is why I am trying to fill my day as much as possible. 

I was last at a weight watchers meeting three weeks ago – I was up on the scales and while I wasn’t thrilled at that I wasn’t depressed from it and I thought hey I can get that down.  It has now been three  weeks since I stood on the scale and I am terrified.  Absolutely terrified. Actually beyond terrified. It is scary to be scared of a scales and in all fairness I know from my three years in weight watchers a scales is not that terrifying.  

We must accept what the scales said whether it is up or down – and we must treat each day as a new day and each weigh in as a new start.  So tomorrow is weigh in day and I am terrified. But stay in touch with me and we will see how we will overcome whatever the scales may say tomorrow.  I will post updates on twitter.

 

They say that the best thing that you can do is to drink water.  I am not a big water drinker – worse so since I am out of work.   But I am trying – ok well I have just taken out one bottle of water – but it is a start right. Water is not only good for your complexion but it is also good to make you feel full and not eat as much.  So the water drinking starts today! No more avoidance.  I am going to deal with this little podgy belly and this small thing called a weighing scales head on – and you know what ... I am gonna beat it. 

Do you have any tips and tricks to help ease this bad streak that I am going through at the moment –connect me with me on twitter or via email.

S

- Fashion Win Versus Fashion Epic Fail

I have had some time this week and I have been looking through some of the celeb fashion.    Looking just at casual every day, out and about shopping looks there is a startling difference between what some people think works and what actual does.  Take a look below.

What do you think - add to the comments below. 

Fashion Epic Fail                                                                                   
  

 











 Fashion Win 

The classics and the basics every girl must have in their wardrobe

Every wardrobe needs some classic items in there that will take you season to season.  Let’s be honest, not everyone can afford to buy new clothes at every turn.     I also believe that your style doesn’t have change with every new fashion phase which seems to pop up on the runway or magazines.   Buying new fashion every few months ends up costly, when you buy an item think about cost per wear rather than is it on trend or not.    Having a wardrobe full of clothes does not necessarily mean that you have something to wear does it?  No, because a trend has passed and you will no longer wear an item of fear of making a fashion faux pas.  A fear my friend recently realised and ended up giving three bags of clothes to charity shops.

So lets me take you through some fashion classics and basics which also appear in my wardrobe.  In some cases I have paid a bit more for these items as only because I know that only do I get this season out of them I will also get next and hopefully the following.  Fashion doesn’t have to be on trend to fashionable – it needs to be timeless. 

Black dress

This is little number is a classic for a reason.  A black dress will take you through any event whether it is business or friends party.  The best thing about a black dress is that you can match in any accessories colour that you wish or that is currently in trend.

 

White t-shirt

Whether long sleeve or short sleeve this is a classic again for a reason.   Jeans and t-shirt can be stylish when worn with the right shoes, handbag and jewellery and it can also be a nice relax style as well. 

Black coat

A black coat is good for all occasions.  It is another wardrobe classic that will take you through any event and will look fabulous over so many items.    Again a black coat is something that you can match up the colours which are currently on trend and voila a classic is again in fashion.  The same can be done with a brown coat – placing orange and corals with this colour will add a pop of on-trend to your outfit.

 

Nice fitting classic word trousers.

Every wardrobe needs a good trouser.  A trouser which has a good fit and will take you through from day to night.  Whether it is black or brown – either classic colour will serve your wardrobe well. 

Fantastic Fit Denims.

Spend time and spend some money on a classic and comfortable pair of denims.   These are a classic item for any wardrobe and can take you from lunch with the girls to dinner with the man in your life. 

Shoes / Shoes / Shoes

We all need the comfortable work shoe but we also need a classic statement shoe.  That shoe that will pop any outfit that you have from your denims to your black dress.  Some examples below.

 

 Nude Classic shoe that will go with everything 

Classic Handbag

I love handbags – I have them in all shapes and sizes and colours.   But one thing I have realised is that a bigger handbag is more versatile for a reason.  It can take you from day to night and have every item you will need to get you through the day in there!  So for that reason I have two handbags shown below. 

 

For the night time and that special occasion it is safe to say that you will need a small classic clutch bag that will get you through.  But I would never spend too much money on those as you can easily stay on trend by getting the most up to date colours from places like Primark or A-wear at very reasonable prices.

Tank Tops

Get yourself two – one in black and one in white – perfect over a black / brown pants and over a denims as well.  Another classic look that will take you through work or lunch with the girls to an evening event. 

 

White Shirt

Another classic that goes from work to play.  Take time to pick the right one and you will see how fashionable these really can be.

I hope that you have some of these items already in your wardrobe and if not take some time the on your next shopping trip to pick up one or two items on my list.

What are you fashion classics and basics that you would never be without.  Share them in the comments section below.

S

My reasons for joining Weight Watchers.

Anyone that is even contemplating joining Weight Watchers has a defining moment when they say “enough is enough”.  For some it is standing in a changing room of a store and something doesn’t fit and you say “it’s ok – the fit on these clothes is really bad I just need a bigger size” and for others it is a photograph.

What was it for me? It was both. Let me examine and explain one at a time to you.  

“It’s ok – the fit on these clothes is really bad I just need a bigger size” (disclaimer – I am speaking about people here who are genuinely overweight to the point of obese)

I blame Stacey and Clinton on “what not to wear” for this in some way.  I include wonderful Gok Wan in this as well.   They all say it’s ok to get a bigger size so that a trousers or dress fits you.  Yes, I agree in some cases that is very true but when you know that you are overweight (and some people are on these shows) then you need to be told sternly with no punches “lose weight”.  

Sometimes TV show folk it is not ok to get a bigger size, you need to get off your ass and walk / run / swim to lose the weight for those trousers or dress to fit you better.  I know these TV shows help people on how to dress better but in some cases they would be better off telling people to lose weight as well. 

I kept saying to myself, it’s ok it is the clothes that are all sized wrong – but then when a size 16 starting being the norm and then that was not starting to fit – I said whhooooahhhhh ! Something isn’t right here – buts it’s ok I will wear black ... black is slimming right.... WRONG that’s where the next point of my epiphany comes in.

The photograph

It is such an innocent thing to do at the time – capture a wonderful moment in your life.  But then you get home on the high of your holiday and can’t wait to see your photos and then BOOM.  You see it! The photograph that you really can’t believe is you – it’s not is it?  Is that me? Ok so who else was there when those photographs were being taken – crap that is definitely me in that photograph.

That is exactly the conversation I had with myself almost three years ago on returning from a holiday with my best friends.  These girls always got dressed up so glam so before my holidays I knew I needed that something special.  So I bought a beautiful black dress.  Remember black is slimming isn’t it?  Emmm trust me when I say black may be slimming but it isn’t a miracle worker.

When I saw the photograph I thought OMG – and to this day I still call the day that I look inflated.  At the time the photograph was taken I thought I was fabulous and trust me the following photograph after that one of me on the dance floor after a few drinks – I really did think I was sexy and fabulous.  But looking back at the photograph I wasn’t it fabulous or sexy as I thought I was.  In fact I am/was embarrassed to look at the photograph.    But I still look at it – to remind me of that defining moment when I thought I was fabulous and sexy but really I wasn’t it.   When I look at I feel embarrassed and ashamed.

That photograph now stays with me at all times - but it has taken many forms and is in many places.  Firstly, the photo is on my dresser so that I see every single day the way I did look and how I looked during my weight loss and how I look at goal weight.  It is a great picture to look and remember what I have achieved also.

Secondly, the photo is on my phone – in the photos section not on the front screen.  So that when I get tempted or feel why the hell am I doing this – I look at it and I think yeah this is why.

Confidence – do you have it / do you actually need it?

You are sitting there saying to me that it is about confidence to get started to lose weight, and I agree confidence is required to walk in to a gym and start training, confidence is required to get your swimsuit on and get swimming – BUT ... and this is a big but (no pun intended) but you don’t need confidence to put on your tracksuit and walk.  Yes, walk – even if it is in the dark or early morning you just need to cop on to get off your ass.

That’s all it takes – cop on – just a little bit self acknowledgement and self awareness to know that now is the time to take action.

So whatever you reasons are for taking that brave step to walk through the door of weight watchers and admit you need help – just do it.    A wise women once said – “the only thing stopping me is me” and nothing truer has ever been said!

If you are brave enough – add you reasons in the comment section below on why you have joined or are joining weight watchers.

Just know one thing you are not alone – and you will realise that when you walk in that weigh in room – and do yourself one favour – stay for the meeting – you will meet some great people who are all there for the same reason as you ! 

S

Linky Love - Posts I have loved & adored this week

Take a look at some of the posts that I have really enjoyed this week.

Things I Love About Being A "Grown Up" by the Lady Named C

7 Life strategies I would tell my younger self by All Women stalk

Three day rule by A Thrify Mrs

Blogger Look of the week from Maytedoll

Celeb look of the week from Hollywood life

What are my beauty staples?

I am a self confessed beauty addict.  I will buy and try anything new – but in these times of recession that part of my life has stopped! I can’t afford to buy something new just to try it.  But looking at my cabinet full of lotions and potions do you know what I have discovered – that the majority of items in my cabinet are not the expensive lotion promising to do wonders for me – but they are over the counter supermarket bought items.

 

These are my trusted brands and no matter how much I have spent in the past on beauty bits and pieces these ones remain my go to guys.  

Nivea Daily Essentials facial wash   - this will cost approximately 4 / 5 euro depending on where you buy it but it is important to keep your eyes open as this tends to be on special in supermarkets and other chemists. 

It has a gel like texture which makes taking off make up quite easy and it leaves your skin feeling soft and clean.  It is not so great at taking off eyeliner and mascara and sometimes I end up needing to go back over again separately specifically on my eyes – but hey that’s not the end of the world.  The product doesn’t dry out my skin and leaves it feeling refreshingly clean.    

Nivea Visage Light day Moisturiser.     Price wise – as above, this is cheap and cheerful and watch out for special offers !

Firstly with moisturisers especially when you are going to apply make up afterwards  - don’t put loads on your face.  This is a non greasy moisturiser so just a small little piece will be enough to gently cover your face.  You don’t want to need to leave hours before you put on your make up while it dries do you?

Gently applying your moisturiser in upwards strokes is supposed to be good for your skin as it is moving the blood for your heart up to your face – or something crazy like that.    But needless to say I do it anyway – even if it is alittle cray cray !   

Astral All overMoisturiser

Remember above I said that I use two moisturisers, well this is my second one and my night one.  Baring in mind cost – this is another one which is fantastically priced – for approximately 7 euro I have a moisturiser that does everywhere!

This one is greasy, which is why I only use it as night so as to allow my face time to absorb it in without having to put make up on over it.    You don’t need to take loads of it and blob it on your skin but alittle for your face.  I also use this on my body, at night I take time to moisturise my legs and elbows as these are my spots which tend to dry out more often than not.

Another thing to note with this, I bring this one moisturiser on holidays with me.  I find that it is easier to pack one does all rather than bring mountains of lotions and potions.  Plus I find that the sun can dry out my skin so this one really does cover all bases for me.

 Vaseline 

come on I am not really telling you guys anything that you don’t already know.  How fantastic is this product. 

From moisturising  lips, giving sheen to your eyesbrows and checks and even on my feet in the night time I cannot tell you enough how great this product is.  Again, cheap as chips.

In the night time – before you go to bed – not every night, maybe once a week for Sunday pampering, rub some Vaseline on to your feet and put on some cosy socks and let the Vaseline work in and make your skin feel soft and supple.  Miracle product that works on the same premise as the more expensive Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream.  Why bother with expensive when you can have the same product at a fraction of the cost.

So all these products come in at under ten euro each – why on earth would anyone need an expensive product when these guys do exactly what they say on the tin. 

What products do you use?  Recommend some in the comments section below.

S