When to save and when to splurge

Eeek, I haven’t fallen off the savings wagon, but it sure has taken a hit. I needed some more foundation, which is very important to me and bought my normal stuff. It’s a bit more expensive, but it works for my skin, lasts for ages-meaning it probably only costs 3p a day. However, instead of being organised and checking out the costs online compared with any deals I could get on the high street I left it too late and had to rush out in my lunch hour. After getting my makeover (you know the one where you leave thinking your best friends with the consultant), I bought a larger amount than needed and a couple of extra bits like primer and bronzer as well.


I am thoroughly disappointed with myself and will obviously have to take this spendy lunch out of next month’s allowance. This is something I take out of the bank and put into my purse so that I don’t keep putting things on the card.
One way we have been good is by getting our broadband package changed. TH needs this for his work, so it really is something we can’t cut out on, so we had better get the best deal we can on it. I found a site called broadbandmart.co.uk which I’ve been using to compare deals. I’m much better at sorting out information this way as I sometimes think when you phone they go out of their way to bamboozle you! I always put TH on the phone and he normally sorts out any problems-so my contribution to this is looking up the site to find out what I can get cheaper or free to begin with. We’ve used sites like this in the past to compare deals that new customers would get compared to us as loyal ones in case we like the look of something better. It doesn’t hurt to ask, and if you sound like you know that you’re talking about it can’t be a bad thing.

I think that seeing as we do need bt total broadband we might as well get the best price! We used the site to see that the ‘good deal’ we thought we were on wasn’t actually as good as it could be and we’ve already got 2 months free as a result. That was down to our complaining and not actually the site, but still-if I can get information to get a better deal I’m going to take the opportunity! I also took the opportunity to use a link which shows what broadband deals you get in your area, unfortunately we are just that little bit too rural to switch provider, but at least I wasn’t lethargic about finding a cheaper broadband deal.

I could have done so much better today and not splurged, but I do feel a bit proud over our saving of £178 a year! I mean, would you walk past that on the street? That’s going straight into the saving jar….and the make up? It’ll be used ever so sparingly for the next year.

Still in Time for the Pretty

I have always been obsessed with the light and fluffy, the jolly, silly, and nonesensicle. I love Home Making because I love making things pretty and happy and cosy looking. I am less interested in the dusting and sweeping although I will at a push if I am attired in some pretty CK aprons and floral gloves… I love decorating for the seasons, Holidays. events in general and times when a party is called for.
I love getting dressed up and I love make up. When I was younger whenever we went on holiday my Mother would have to take a hold of my purse as I would want to spend all that I had in duty free. I love to ooh and ah over the sparkley and girly. I love to pull out a pretty compact and swish a pretty lipstick.

I think that we all need something frivilous now and again. Right now we are saving like mad for a deposit for a house. We are keeping every penny a prisinor and I will certainly we on the lookout for money saving tips. However I also have lots and lots of varnishes and pretty things in the cupboards that I can still wear or use. So in this year and a half of NO FUN, I am able to still sneak a little fun out of life.

I hope to keep this blog up to date with my penny saving ways-although I could never be extreme at all, I think it will be good old fashioned money saving. It will be soup once a week and ‘do I really need that?’ way before it is turning off all lights and heating. Most of all, this blog will still be a place for the silly, the decorative, the bubbly and bright.

Wish me luck, in two years time we’ll be in our own home (just gotta keep saying that)!

My Beauty Cupboard

When you spend your weekends in the garden more than in a club you tend to appreciate some types of make up more than others. Primers are like a best friend to me and anything waterproof will most certainly be a good buy in my book. Anything that holds its place during a long day is a plus, but most importantly perhaps is a POP of colour that I need. I need it for brightening up my appearance first thing in the morning, I need it when I’m flagging after lunch and I want it when I’m in the house at home with TH.


Enter Benetint, my absolute favourite of all the Benefit products. My love for Benefit has been ongoing since I first earned my own money. I have long hair and can’t wear gloss, so a lip stain is the best for me.

It means that I can just keep reapplying it throughout the day and with the cute little nail brush style applicator I don’t need to look in the mirror. It is something that I keep in my bag at all times and couldn’t live without now. One of the best things about it is that is smells of roses so not only does the packaging make me feel like a glamour queen the scent does too.

Bare Minimum

Being a girl on the go means that you will find me any weekday morning applying make up on the train into work. Oh how I wish to look like Kate Winslet in The Holiday. Oh how I wish my skin was so soft and beautiful (not to mention the overwhelming lure of the adorable cottage), however I am up and out of the door with only a short stop for tea in a mug in the garden while watching Daisy Dog.


I do however, have quite oily and break out prone skin and really must apply a good quality cream as well as a primer, and a foundation to cover up the most obvious blemishes. I maybe know better than most that cleansing, toning and moisturising is the way to go and can honestly say that even from a young age I have always done this. That means that I love mineral foundation as it is the best for your skin. I love the ease it goes on with and the cover it gives.
I think I am now starting to care more about the things that I put on my body. I went through the stage when I decided I didn’t want chemicals inside me and I endeavoured to eat more organic food and really take an interest in local produce. I don’t really drink anyway, but I drink much less caffeine drinks than before, and luckily none of my friends smoke so I’ve never had to care about that much either. I don’t mean that nobody else can do these things-it’s just that all of a sudden it seems to matter much more to me. So for now at least….all hail my mineral foundation! And even more importantly, let’s hear it for five more minutes in bed!

The Treats You Buy After Pay Day!

I have very dry hands, it doesn’t really help that when I get nervous I seem to scratch at my poor thumbs making them even more scraggly and rough looking. I work with paper a lot and that takes all of the softness and sweetness away from your skin, which really is a pest as I have always worked with paper or material which tends to do the same. I have tried all sorts of creams and potions and when I was younger would wear mitts to bed loaded with nappy rash cream in a bid to have baby soft hands.
My work drawer is filled with lotions and most surfaces at home get covered in containers of hand cream until I pile them into my bag or decant them back into bathroom cabinets. I have fought this battle too long and spent too much money on a variety of products. I think I have finally learned what any sensible person could have told me a long time ago:

If you find something that works, stick with it.

If you know it is expensive and it works, save up and use it.

This is what I am now going to do. I have spent lots of money on many different things when I really could have stuck with one thing all along. It is a total false sense of austerity. I now use a sugar scrub especially designed for your hands as well as l’occitane shea butter hand cream. I apply it throughout the day and I think my hands are getting better for it. I also have changed out all the soaps in the house for l’occitane ones and even carry soap for work as we have some industrial strength one in the toilets at present. I’m not a beauty blogger-nor do I think I could ever be one (I’m a wee bit too lazy for that), but I am evangelical about things that work just right.

Thank you Santa

Thank you Santa.  I knew you loved me!

I'm a sucker for products and love anything by Philosophy as well.  I love sparkles and prettiness.  I'm a girly girl.  Yup, i have to walk the dog through the muddy foot-paths, but if i could I'd do it all in a long dress (six inches deep in mud!!)

Lots of little treats! 

Sparkly glosses to sweep over my lips-must moisturise first!

Ooh i can't wait to have a pamper day!

Birthday Presents

Because The Husband was away for my actual Birthday you may remember that i had two birthdays

It didn't mean i got two lots of presents....but at least it means they were spaced out!

No Birthday of mine could be complete without a candle..could it?  I haven't had this one before but it smells lovely.  I adore sweet, sweet scents and this one was worth waiting for.  Im awful at keeping canldes for Autumn and Winter, but this one won't wait!

My main present was this perfume...i am utterly addicted to Amazing Grace by Philosophy and luckily got this perfume!

I got some nail polish, bottles of wine, westie related things and lots of vouchers!  I love getting vouchers as not only do you get to say thank you for being so kind when you receive them, but you also get to tell the person what lovely thing you bought with their kind gift

Can you keep a secret?

Can you keep a secret?  Can you be told something, but stay quiet as a mouse?

Can i tell you something?

This is my favourite conditioner every...my favourite scent, the best perfume, the best memories, the best everything.

This is Amazing Grace by Philosophy.  The conditioner normally retails for £20, now i love Aussie repair conditioner, its amazing and if you've got long thin hair its the best in my book.  But this conditioner is EVEN BETTER if you'll believe me!  Well, now it comes to the secret part.  In TK MAXX they had this conditioner....already we can see where this is going, that place is a treasure trove of lovelies.

But this time i saw this conditioner!! YIKES, i said!! And it was only £12.99!!! BARGAIN!! 

So i bought 8 bottles!!

That is going to last me until this time next year!! (but don't tell The Husband)

x