Christmas shopping made easy?

If like me, you like to get a head start on your Christmas shopping...and try to stick to a budget, this may be of interest to you.

I've been waiting (well hoping and praying...) for the announcement that once again, Selfridges are offering up to 20% off instore and online for one weekend only.  It has been my lifeline for the past few years, helping me to get a ton of presents sorted, and saving me a bit of money in the process.  So imagine my glee when I found out it was happening again.  And that weekend? The one coming right up!

So this weekend, you can get up to 20% off all fashion and accessories and 10% off all beauty.  Pretty amazing no?  And all you need is this voucher, right here.

Don't say I never give you anything!

This can be used in all Selfridges stores, but if you need to get your fix online these are the codes you need...

SELF20 - 20%* off fashion, accessories and homewares
SELF10 - 10%* beauty, fragrance and wines

Go forth and shop! And if some presents for you accidently drop into your shopping bags, don't worry, I won't tell :)
 
(T&C here)

Buy It Now - Statement Sequins



Patterned sequin dress, £175, Topshop



Black sequin wrap dress, £90, Warehouse

Honeycomb sequin dress, £125, Miss Selfridge

Black sequin tee, £45, Oasis

Gold sequin tee, £24.99, H&M



Animal print sequin blazer, £40, River Island




Knitted sequin jacket, £55, Topshop



Erodes sequin skirt, £165, All Saints

Black and gold sequin front skirt, £14.99, H&M

Patterned sequin shorts, £60, Topshop



Gold sequin shorts, £55, Warehouse

20% off Uggs at Selfridges? Go on then....

Now I know, I know, this may not be the most 'fashion' post but I can't help it.  I bloody love UGGs.

I bought my first pair about 7 years ago and they are well and truly my winter staple.  In fact as soon as the temperature dips below about 16C I am yanking on that sheepskin and keeping my feet toasty warm!

So I was rather pleased to learn that Selfridges currently have 20% off all UGG boots online - from the classics to the more 'fashion' styles, and considering the price keeps creeping up every year (what's with that eh?) it looks like the perfect time to get your new pair ready for winter.

Click here to see what's on offer...

I've got my eye on the Maylin Cuff boots (how warm!!!) but I also rather fancy a pair of slippers...




Maylin oversized cuff boots, £204


What about you?  Are you an UGG fan or are they your fashion nemesis?

Let me know if you take advantage of this offer...and be quick, it ends Sunday!

Gok for Tu...collection 2.

You may remember I posted about the original Gok for Tu collection at Sainsburys a couple of weeks ago...well now I have the date for the launch of the second collection.

The first collection brought Sainsburys its best ever clothing sales on the first day of release, and from the looks of the first photo released, this may just repeat this success.

The theme of the collection has a  real 'day to night' feel with sequins and satin, and the navy and black separates are interspersed with pops of bubblegum pink.  Following this theme, the wrap dress, which was the best selling product from collection one, has been reproduced in navy and pink.  I love the look of the gold sequin cami and the black satin tuxedo jacket so here's hoping the rest of the collection is just as strong....

The collection is out on 17th November - will you be adding a few pieces to your Sainsburys basket?

Wish List Wednesday

It may be the time of year (hello fireworks and early Christmas lights!) but there's a lot of sparkle on my mind right now...



'Rainbow Connection', OPI



I am a big fan of OPI polishes, particularly the duo-chromes and glitters...pretty much the best you can get.  This crazy multi-coloured glitter polish is from the new Muppets collection and really really must be mine!

Black embellished shoulder dress, £55, Warehouse

Simple yet with enough sequins to make an impact - this dress is the perfect addition to a winter party wardrobe.

Lurex sweater, £44, Topshop

Perfect layer for the daytime, or ideal to dress up with some skinnies and a pair of killer heels - I love this sweater.



Glitter enamel earrings, £10, ASOS


Love these earrings - the statement shape is bold without being girly and the glitter enamel makes them the ideal partner for the LBDs I'll (hopefully) be donning around Christmas.  They'd look fab with jeans and a t-shirt too, no?

Paris in the autumn...

...fabulous place.  Good friends, good food, good times.

 

 

Creme brulee...for lips?

If like me you have a bit of a sweet tooth, even when it comes to your beauty products (hello Mac lipstick and your amazing vanilla scent) this may just excite you...


Selfridges have exclusively launched a special edition of the famed Vaseline Lip Therapy in none other than a creme brulee flavour...yum.  

To go alongside the launch, Vaseline has set up a pop up stand in the London and Manchester stores where you can try out the new flavour balm and get snapped in a photo booth.  Oh and apparently there are some male models too....not a bad deal for something almost everyone sees as an essential eh?

You can buy the new lip therapy here...just try not to lick it all off!

It's a rocky rocky road...

Continuing from my last baking post....what I did with the rest (well most) of the chocolate sent to me by Sainsburys.

It's getting to the time of year when I start thinking about my Christmas baking plans - every year I make a hamper of homemade goodies for my in-laws and distribute treats amongst my friends - well, what's Christmas without a little indulgence?

Rocky roads are one of those great treats to pop into a hamper (cellophane bags are a Godsend for foodie gifts) - and are pretty much failsafe...as well as totally healthy *cough*

So here is my recipe for rocky road....take it as you will, add what you like and take out what you don't - except for the basics, of course...

Rocky Road 

You will need...

350g dark chocolate (I used a mixture of dark and dark fruit & nut)
125g butter
3 tbsp golden syrup
200g rich tea biscuits
100g marshmallows
Handful sultanas
Chopped glace cherries (to your taste)

Place biscuits in a sealed food bag and smash with rolling pin

Melt the chocolate, butter and golden syrup over a gentle heat. Put aside half of the chocolate mix.

Add the biscuits, marshmallows, sultanas and cherries to the rest of the chocolate, mix well.

Spread the mix out in a deep baking dish (I used a silicone brownie tray) and even out

Pour the rest of the chocolate mix on top, transfer to the fridge and leave to cool for at least 2 hours (preferably overnight) - before dusting generously with icing sugar and cutting into generous chunks.

Finally....enjoy.  And try not to get chocolate everywhere :)

Wish List Wednesday

This week I am very much about bold knits and velvet dresses...can you tell?



Mustard cable knit, £46, Warehouse




Star print sequin detail sweater, £46, Topshop




Slouchy spot jumper, £39, Miss Selfridge

 

Velvet sheer sleeve dress, £50, Oasis




Burgundy velvet halter dress, £95, Topshop


What's on your wishlist this week?

When life gives you chocolate...

...you bake!

When I was sent a box of chocolate bars by Sainsburys last week, my first thoughts were -

1. Wipe the drool off my mouth
2. What can I bake?

Normally I would instantly turn to my beloved chocolate fudge cake recipe (find it here) but I decided to listen to the boyfriend and see what he wanted.  The verdict? Cookies.

So here you go - my favourite chocolate chip (well chunk) cookie recipe - failsafe and delicious!

You will need:

Oh, and...

125g butter
100g golden caster sugar
75g soft brown sugar (mix this with demerara if you like a bit of crunch)
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
150g plain flour
½ tsp baking powder
100g chocolate (milk, plain or white - or a mixture) - chopped into chunks

Heat your oven to 190C and get a couple of baking sheets ready - I like to make these nice and big, and the recipe produces about 12 cookies.

Melt the butter over a low heat and add to the sugar.  Mix until smooth.

Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.

Sift in the flour and baking powder and mix well.

Add the chocolate, mix well and drop onto the baking sheets in large blobs (I tend to do a dessert spoon full).  Make sure they are spread fairly far apart.

Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.  Transfer to a cooling tray and enjoy whilst warm....and try not to eat them all at once!

Next up? I'm thinking rocky road...yes yes? Let me know if you have any baking requests :)

Oh, and if you have a failsafe chocolate recipe, please share!!

Wish List Wednesday - Gay Paree

Next Friday I am off to Paris for a long weekend - excited much?!

I haven't been there for absolute years and I cannot wait to stroll around the Parisian streets, gorge myself on patisserie and swoon over the designer stores.  Oh and maybe fit in a sneaky trip to Disneyland too...well it would be rude not to right?

I'm on a strict budget so rather than a pre-trip shop I will be raiding the wardrobe, but this is what I would love to be wearing next weekend...



Sequin poodle sweater, £290, Marcus Lupfer at Glassworks Studios

Black pleated leather skirt, £95, Topshop

Cream jewel neckline dress, £60, Topshop

Black quilted leather jacket, £150, Warehouse

Black strap detail boots, £65, River Island

 

Croc embossed leather clutch, £60, ASOS



Black studded gloves, £25.99, Zara


   
Oh that's a lot of black! What's on your wishlist this week? Do you have any Paris tips for me? Let me know!