Collaborative / Partnered Post - 4 Trendy Gift Ideas for the Fashion Lover

My name is Louise and I have a confession to make - We're only 3 days into September, and today I bought my first Christmas present. It's never too early to get organised, and to start thinking about presents, be that for Christmas, or for any birthday or for any other occasion.

Getting a gift for your loved one can be challenging if you don’t plan ahead or know what they like; It's all too easy to just go down the generic toiletry set or gift card, instead of getting them something they would really appreciate. Thankfully, if your friend or loved one is a fashion lover, it can make things a little bit easier, and there are lots of things at all price points that you can buy to add a little of interest to their existing wardrobe, whilst at the same time showing them much you care about them.

Whilst it's scarily true that around one-third of women would rather buy something new once they've worn it once or twice, if you gift a friend or a family member a piece of jewellery, an accessory or an item of clothing no matter what the price point, then they'll more than likely hang on to it, because it came from you and it will remind them of your relationship, and the good times that you've shared.
So if you’re thinking already thinking about gifts from Christmas, birthday's or any other occasion, then here are a few classic, and on trend suggestions to fit all budgets, and most relationships.

1. A Personalised Necklace

When it comes to buying a gift for someone who loves fashion, then a necklace is usually a pretty good choice. You don't need a size, just a vague idea of what type of jewellery your recipient likes. Whilst they go in and out of fashion, one great way to show the fashion enthusiast in your life that you’re thinking about them is by gifting them a personalised necklace.When it comes to fashion There is nobody more stylish than the character of Carrie from Sex In The City, and something she was famous for was her name necklace. You can get name necklaces in all sorts of materials from precious metals, to wood and acrylic at prices to suit all budgets and if you're lucky enough to have a common name, you can sometimes buy them straight off the peg. A classic buy something you can wear all of the time, and people will never have an excuse for not remembering your name!

If you're buying a present for a child, or if you don't like the idea of sharing your name with everyone that you meet, then you could go for an initial pendant. I obsessed with anything with my initial on and I have it on everything from cushions to lightening, wall art and coasters, as well as numerous initial jewellery pieces including earrings and necklaces. Again they come at all different price points, it super easy to buy cheaper pieces, and again you can get initial pendants in all different types of material and styles.

Pick something in a style that they like and it could be something that could literally wear every day, not matter what the occasion, and it’ll also remind them that they’re extra special, and who doesn't want to think that x

2. Fashion Rings

Now this one requires just a little bit more thought, as for the majority of rings you do need to have an idea of a size, but if you know that, and again roughly what your recipient likes, the world is your oyster. From dainty fashion rings, to statement cocktail rings, precious metal, and gemstones, there are rings to suit all tastes, this versatile gift comes in so many different colours and styles, hopefully making it easy for you to choose one that reflects your loved one’s personality. If you want to go beyond fashion rings, and you want a more investment type piece for that special person in your life then you can try a gold Irish Claddagh ring. These traditional rings are a great way to symbolise the friendship, love, or bond you share, with their signature heart surrounded by two hearts, and they can aren't just for women either. They’re also ideal for special occasions or to just express how you feel about your loved one x

3. Slouchy Beanies

Looking out of the window at dull and grey skies today, it hard to believe that we're supposedly going to be having a heatwave next week. Whether we like it or not though autumn is on its way, and whilst I love summer and warmth, there is something about autumn that I love, I love the freshness of the air, and I love digging out my cosy jumpers, scarves, and hats.

I really wish I looked better in hats but I'm just not one of those effortlessly cool people that can wear anything on their heads and still look amazing. As much as I've persevered with berets and the likes, I'm probably a beanie girl. Beanies are a great gift for fashion enthusiasts because they serve several purposes. Aside from adding a casual touch to your overall look, beanies also help keep you warm during the cold weather and are also great for protecting or covering your hair if you’re not having the best hair day.
Like most of the items on the list beanies come at loads of different price points, and you can get them in a huge variety of colours, knits and style, ranging from super soft cashmere, to man made fibres, and do you know what's good about that, You can build your own little collection of multi coloured hats, and beanies, so that you can coordinate them with loads of different outfits.

Admittedly a beanie the most exciting of gift but it's useful and get the style and colour right, and your friend or relative, could be wearing it every day for the next few months, which is a super nice feeling for any present giver.

4. Jeans

Now the last thing on this little list is another one where your going to need to know your recipient pretty well but get this gift right and they'll love you forever!

Aside from joggers and leggings, jeans are a great must-have for any wardrobe. They've gone in and out of style but in the end the classics will always win out. I don't need to tell you how to style a pair of jeans but they are the perfect partner for so many different fashion pieces, including jackets, crop tops, and like what I'm wearing in the picture, a plain t-shirt, or even with what I'm wearing today - a lightweight jumper. Jeans come in various colours and styles, whether baggy, skinny, mom, straight legged, or boot flare, so you can choose the perfect pair depending on your fashion lover’s preferences. It’s best to be sure of their size beforehand, and if in doubt ask them, it's so hard to find the perfect pair of jeans, and if they've already found them, then you know what to do, buy them a pair that you know they love, in the right size, and you know that they'll wear them forever and a day, and if you want to be really generous you could also team them up with a nice belt.

I know a couple of these items are only for people who you know very well, but there are so many different fashion and accessory pieces out there that make fabulous gifts for the fashion lover in your life, my own personal favourites are jewellery of any type, both light and heavyweight scarves, cute socks, gloves, and hair accessories. Whatever you choose - think about what your buying and the person you're buying it for, don't buy for buying sake. try and buy them something you know they'll love, not everything has to be expensive to be cherished, and if in doubt ask them! Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Let me know in the comments x

*Collaborative / Partnered Post

Collaborative / Partnered Post - My Jewellery Obsession And 4 Things That You Need To Know Before Selling Your Gold Jewellery*

Ever since I was a little girl I've loved jewellery, one of my most treasured memories of my grandma, is emptying out her jewellery drawers and playing jewellery shops with all of her necklaces, bracelets and brooches. I remember being bought the odd thing as a child, but as soon I was old enough, I couldn't get enough of the stuff, and I asked for it as presents, and when I could I bought my own - I don't care whether it's new or vintage, costume jewellery or the real thing, I am a real jewellery obsessive, as you can probably tell from these pictures of just some of my collection.

I am always loathed to get rid of things, but tastes change (clown necklaces anyone?), things get broken, and every now and then sense kicks in and I try and make my collection a little bit more manageable. I'm not one for throwing things away so I usually pass my unwanted pieces on to friends or family, or I take them to the charity shop. You can't give away everything though, so what do you do with those more special but still unwanted pieces, or even necklaces that are tangled or earrings that are broken, well if they're made of gold or any other precious metal, then you can of course sell them.

Selling gold jewellery for cash is still something that's extremely popular with a lot of individuals, especially during the tough economic climate in the UK. This is because gold is still something which is both sort after and valuable, and even though the prices have gone down a bit lately, there is still good money to be made selling your unwanted gold jewellery. I must admit I've actually sold quite a few pieces in the past, as I say tastes change, things break, and sometimes it's better to have the money in your hand rather than sitting unloved in drawer somewhere.

Anything involving money can be a bit of a minefield though, it's better to be safe then sorry, and it's important to think about it long and hard before you make any decisions, so if this is something that you're considering, then there are four important things to consider before you hand over your unwanted gold jewellery for cash.

Selling your gold online can be more profitable...

There are lots of different places whereby you can sell your gold jewellery, such as jewellers, cash for gold stores, kiosks in shopping centres, pawnbrokers and of course via online companies. Although it might seem like the most scary and complicated one, the last option may be the best one because internet stores tend to give you a higher valuation for your gold. The reason for this is because the online world is more competitive. You can easily compare quotes via the internet so companies need to stand out and give you the best price out there.

You can sell gold which is broken or tangled...

A lot of people deter from trying to sell their gold for cash because it is broken or their jewellery is all tangled. People think that this means the company in question will not accept their gold and thus it is worth nothing or very little. However, this could not be further from the truth. The worth of your gold is calculated based on the weight of it and how many carats it is. So, if you have got an old tangled gold necklace and it is broken, you can trade this in so you can buy new jewellery, whether you’ve been brave and recently got a nipple piercing, or a helix piercing or you simply want to add to a new and more on trend piece to your collection.

You should never have to pay for a valuation of your gold...

A lot of people, including some people that I know have unfortunately ended being up tricked by companies who charge them to see how much their gold in worth, either that or they take a valuation fee off the final offer. You shouldn't have to pay money in order to learn how much you can sell your gold for. After all, this defeats the object of selling your pieces in the first place, okay you want to get rid of something but at the same time you also want to make a bit of extra cash. You need to ask for a free quotation; moreover you need to ensure that there are no obligations involved. Make sure that you don't have to go ahead with the transaction just because a company gives you an estimate.

You can receive your cash quickly...

More and more people are turning to selling their gold for cash because of its quick payment solution. This is a much more attractive option in comparison to payday loans and credit card spending. Nevertheless, some people do not realise just how quickly you can receive cash for your gold. It is not a drawn out process like auction websites and alike. Instead you get an instant valuation and once the gold is received , from most buyers you will get your money within 24 hours. This is great because it means that cash for gold can solve problems such as unexpected costs and expensive bills. Just make sure that this is the case and you're dealing with a reputable company who won't leave you hanging and waiting for your money.

As I say even though the price of gold has fallen compared to say a few years ago, it's still something worth considering if you have some unwanted or broken pieces just lying in the drawer and you could do with some extra cash for some home improvements, a holiday or even just to buy some new pieces of jewellery. The key thing is to be careful, make sure you know what you have, and shop around, in my experience the valuations varied dramatically, so get a few different quotes, it might take a bit of time but it will be worth it in the long run. Hopefully this post has given you something to think about, just consider some of the things that I've mentioned, do your research and pick a reputable company and you should be quids in, and you could be ready to add some new pieces to your jewellery collection - I can honestly say that I probably don't need any more jewellery but I don't think that's going to stop me buying more x Are you a jewellery obsessive like me? Let me know in the comments x

*Collaborative / Partnered Post

A Late March 2019 Primark Haul - Clothes, Accessories And Beauty

Like most bloggers I don't know where I would be without my loyal readers and followers, I know it sound slightly cheesy but I love you all and I really do appreciate every like, comment, share and view that I receive, it's what keeps me going. Now I've been lucky enough to receive a few nice messages and DM's over the years, and I recently received a DM on Instagram asking me if I'd been to Primark recently because they hadn't seen any haul posts or videos. Proper hauls have been pretty thin on the ground so far this year, and this message made me realise that a Primark trip was well overdue, so a couple of weeks ago now, after a few false starts, me and Mummy Lou eventually took a little trip to Intu Metrocentre*, and headed to Primark.

Now since I hadn't been to Primark since the week before Christmas lots of things had changed, and the boots and winter woollies, had been replaced with shorts, bikinis and flip flops! Despite seeing a few people in shorts recently, I'm not quite ready for summer just yet, but I did end up buying a few pieces that are probably better suited to barmy spring days rather than the snow that's forecast for next week!

When it comes to dressing my bottom half, I do think that I'm stuck in a bit of a rut, jeans, leggings and jeggings are my go to's, and whilst I did pick up a pair of my wardrobe staple, black, cotton leggings for only £2.50, I'm fancying making a few changes style wise this year, and wearing a couple of long forgotten bits in my wardrobe, and picking up a few new, and different things.

Since I'm all about comfort the most obvious bottom half solution is / are joggers! At their heart, they're slouchy, and comfortable but depending on how you style them, they can actually look pretty stylish. Primark was full of joggers, and harem style pants, in all sorts of different designs, fabrics, and colours, and I ended up buying two, quite different pairs

The first pair, which were £7, I guess were the safe option. When in doubt go for a plain colour, and you can't get a safer option than a pair of black trousers. These are just a basic pull on, straight legged pant, with an elasticated, tie detail waist. The fabric is quite thin on these so their definitely more of a spring / summer piece, but they really wearable and black trousers go with pretty much anything.

The second pair that I got though, were a bit more of a gamble, but when I was a bit more daring in my fashion choices I used to love striped trousers - A good vertical striped pant can make you look taller and thinner, which is always a good thing in my book.

These are more like a traditional cuffed jogger, the fabric is slightly thicker, and has a stretchy jersey type feel. Again they are in the pull on style, and they have a waist tie, that is tipped with metal accents. They have a slight harem shape and are a bit wider at the waist and hips, and they narrow down to a cuffed hem.

They are in a lovely navy blue shade, and as you can see they have white vertical, solid and broken vertical stripes. They were £6 and whilst they obviously aren't as versatile as the black pair, they are so soft and comfortable that I know I'll get a lot of use out of them. The most obvious choice is to team them up with a white top but I'm definitely going to have a play with shapes and colours - I'm loving different shades of yellow at the moment and I can just imagine these pants teamed up with a yellow cami in the summer.

Whilst I still feel that I need an overhaul in the bottom area of my wardrobe, it's probably fair to say that I'm pretty well off for tops, and if anything I probably have too many as it is, but I do love a bit of tie dye, and I'm really that there is so much of it around at the moment.

I've already bought a couple of long sleeve tie dye, ombre style tops from Simply Be, and I couldn't resists picking this one up because it's so different for any of the other tie dye garments that I already own.

This boyfriend style t-shirt which was just £6 is just so fresh, and spring like with it's pale, sky blue and white horizontal stripe tie dye design. I actually sized down in this because it was so slouchy and I wanted it to be a little bit more fitted. I know Primark can sometimes be a bit hit and miss quality wise but this has a real quality feel, the fabric is nice and soft, and it has a nice thickness to it, and I can't wait to wear it when the sun comes out, and it actually feels as warm as what it looks like through the window :)

Next up something that I don't think that I've ever shown you on the blog, my knickers! Now I love fancy undies as much as the next person, and I recently added a few pairs of sexier pants from Victoria's Secret (shock horror I found something in there that fits my curves!!!) to my underwear drawer, but lets be honest my fellow females, sexy undies are perfect for making you feel amazing and obviously for those special occasions but sometimes you just want a nice and comfy pair of pants. Like so many others I used to swear by Marks and Spencer for my everyday pants but in the last year or so I've being buying multi packs like this from Primark and to be honest I haven't noticed to much difference in terms of quality or wear. One thing that I despise though is baggy undies so I always tend to buy a smaller size than what I actually am, there is nothing worse than washing your pants a few times and the elastic giving up - go a bit smaller and they end up fitting perfectly. Even if you are an expensive underwear wearer, then these pants are perfect for everyday use and for that time of the month - this pack of 5 cost me just £3.50.

So that's it for clothes next up jewellery and shoes! Ever since I was tiny I've always had a thing for shoes, and do you know who I blame Mummy Lou! Some of my earliest and fondest memories are the trips that me and my mam used to make to the massive Tommy Balls shoe factory outlet in Blackburn, I have a vivid memory of sitting under a shoe rang whilst my mam filled up her basket. She always complains when I buy more shoes but it's pretty obvious to me who is to blame for my shoe addiction.

Long gone were the boots of winter, instead Primark was full of summer sandals, flip flips and pumps. They had some lovely sandals but with summer still being a little way off I ended up buying something that I can wear now, and that will take me well into the warmer months, and hopefully beyond.

I love flat and comfy, skate type shoes, and lace ups, and I virtually live in one of my numerous pairs of Converse. These are more Vans like in appearance actually but I love the style and I since I'm loving mustard's at the moment, these were a must have. These were also £6

Over the last few months or so I've been trying to shop my stash a bit when it comes to jewellery. I've rediscovered so fab things that I'd forgotten about including some amazing, retro looking mustard beads, but you know me I can never resist a bargain, so it goes without saying that I ended up with a couple of new jewellery pieces. 

These fab earrings were reduced to just £1. I love, love, love green malachite, and whilst I'm not convinced that the stones in these earrings are real, it's really vibrant and works so well with the grey and white marble like stones, and the brown and red tone, wooden and stone beads.

When it comes to jewellery I don't know why but I often levitate towards brown and neutral toned pieces, I guess it's because they are so versatile and they go with so many pieces in my wardrobe. This particular necklace with a gold tone snake style chain is just perfect. Despite the chunkiness of the beads it's quite simple and unassuming, and I think that it would equally well worm casually with a t-shirt and jeans, as it would with a smart shirt and a blazer.

Finally beauty, and I always say it, Primark's beauty range just keeps getting better and better. Their own range now, is entirely cruelty free, and they had loads of fab new things in, including a Hello Kitty range, and some gorgeous new highlighters, but I stayed strong and I picked up a few staples including two bottles of their fab cuticle oil for just a £1 each, and some of their tea tea based face wipes that are just £1 for 2 packs of 25.

One of the things that I was surprised to see was the Alex Steinherr skincare range, I know that when it first came out it was only available in selected stores, but it looks as though it's rolling out into more stores which has to be a good thing. I wasn't that desperate for anything new skincare wise, so I only bought one thing, but if you have any recommendations, then please let me know so I can maybe pick up a few more things on my next visit. The one thing that I did get on this trip though, was the Alex Steinherr Pore Balance Blemish Rescue Stickers.

I'd tried something similar in the past from both Sarah Chapman , and from one of the more acne focused drugstore brands, maybe Oxy, Biore or Clearasil and I loved the concept. No mess and no fuss!

Basically you get 22 clear plastic circular stickers that are infused with both tea tree and salicylic acid, which are designed to help calm the redness and irritation of a spot. They are vegan, not tested on animals and fragrance free.

All you do after cleansing is apply one of the patches to each spot, and leave it on overnight or between 8 and 12 hours, before peeling it off. Obviously these would work out quite expensive if you had a lot of spots but if you like me you just get the odd one or two, angry hormonal ones at that time of the month then these are ideal.

I've only tried one up to now but it made a big difference, it stayed stuck to my chin all night and it seemed to bring the spot to a head so it looked less angry, and it seemed to fade more quickly. These were £3 for 22 stickers and I'm definitely going to be using these next time my skin decides to misbehave.

So that was my first Primark haul of 2019, I am aiming to buy less and wear more in 2019 so I don't think Primark trips are going to be too frequent this year but we'll see - it's impossible to go in without buying anything, and who knows what else this year has to offer. I have a nice repositioned mirror which is ideal for outfit selfies, and Mummy Lou is has been practising her photography skills, so I'm hoping to try and get a few more outfit posts and pictures up on both the blog and my Instagram this year, so make sure you're following on all fronts to see some of these bits and more on something other than a coat hanger x In the meantime if you have any questions on any of the items that I've bought then please let me know x

*I Have Worked With Intu Metrocentre Within The Last 12 Months

A Small September Primark Haul - Knitwear and Jewellery

As I mentioned in my previous Primark haul post isn't it always the way, you don't go somewhere for months, and then some how you ended up pretty much living there. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration but 3 trips to Primark in 3 weeks is pretty good by my standards! On my last visit a week or so ago, the store was in full on Autumn / Winter mode with loads of woollies, checks and tartans and a decidedly autumnal colour palette of rich browns, reds and mustard's!

I love mustard so so much, the foodstuff I can take or leave but come this time of year I love a nice splash of old gold, or mustard yellow in my wardrobe. I've got shirts, shoes, boots, bags and cardigans but having a look through my jumper drawers I couldn't seem to find any mustard jumpers, well ones that fitted anyways, so for just £5 this one made it's way into my basket

On my last trip Primark had a whole rack full of super soft cosy jumpers, in several different styles for just £5. My mam had already picked up a couple of basic crew sweaters but I loved the slightly boyfriend feel of of this mustard yellow one. It has small side slits, a rounded v neck, and a ribbed detail panel down the front. I got this in the new 2 XL size, which Primark describe as a 22/24 because I wanted it to be nice and sloppy. I'm planning on wearing this with a white or black t-shirt or vest underneath, skinny jeans, and either mustard or black ankle boots or black knee highs for a cozy autumn and winter look x

Now if you did have a read of my August Primark haul then you might recognise both the shape and style of these next two sweaters.

Whilst these two jumpers share both the same back zip details, and the boxy, oversized shape that the red tartan top has, these ones are made from much more of a knit type fabric, compared to the thicker slightly more sweatshirt feel of the version in my previous Primark haul This navy blue marl one in particular feels like a proper lightweight jumper. This one is a little on the thin side so you probably would need to wear something underneath but as they several thinner layers are sometimes better than one thick layer of clothing.

I do love a bit of animal print so I couldn't resist picking this version as well. For a long time animal print was seen as a bit tacky but nowadays it's as acceptable as stripes, and it's almost seen as a classic, must have print. I think the odd hint works way better than wearing it from head to foot and this jumper is the perfect way to wear the print in the slightly colder months.

This one is just a touch thicker than the blue marl version but I would probably still wear a t-shirt or a camisole under it for a little bit of extra warmth. Again I think it would work really well with skinny jeans or even leggings, or skinny black trousers. I think all of these tops are going to be a real autumn and winter go to for me. They are the ultimate in layering tops and I think they would work right the way through the colder months and well into spring. There were a few different patterns and colours to choose from so you could pick up a few and your autumn and winter wardrobe would be pretty much done. They are only £5 each so you really could afford to go for one in every colour.

I must admit I do love knitwear; As much I love the sun and the warmth of summer, there is something about snuggling up in a cosy cardigan or jumper that I can't resist. I think I'm probably in a minority but fashion wise I'm definitely an Autumn and Winter girl, I love knitwear, boots, and scarves, this is my season, and whilst I don't really need any more jumpers or cardigans I can't guarantee that a few more won't slip into my wardrobe before Spring comes around again. I'm currently craving a bottle green, chunky cardigan after one mysteriously appeared in one my dreams earlier this week, but alas I can't find one outside of my fantasies so if you know where I can find one then hit me up and make my dreams come true x

Something that I think goes perfectly with  chunky knitwear, long line cardigans and plain jumpers, is a statement necklace, I have more than I can probably remember but I'm always up for adding new ones and on my last trip to Primark I picked up this tassel details necklace which was reduced from £3 to just £1, well it would have been wrong not to!

With a thin, long line, gold tone chain, this necklace is all about the pendant - it's big and bold, with a greenish, dark stone, a golden half disc, and a teal, blue green fabric tassel. They also had the matching earrings but since I have quite small ears they were probably just a little bit too big and showy for me, but if you can carry off a real statement look then I would definitely pick up the set.

So that's your lot it wasn't a very big haul but I think I picked up a few really useful and wearable pieces, as per usual I've made a video to accompany this haul which you can watch below or via this link x



Let me know if you have any comments or questions, and don't forget to check out my Instagram for more hauls on my stories including a recent NEXT sale haul, and some new nails polishes x

A Very Late December 2017 Primark Haul - Clothes, Beauty, Disney And More

Okay it's catch up time, and it's haul time. I know from the feedback that I'm getting from your giveaway entries that you love a haul, and a lot of you love nothing more than a Primark haul so in the interests of giving you what you want that exactly what I've got for you today, a late and all be it quite small, Primark haul.

It seems like a lifetime ago since I was last in Primark, and in a lot of ways it was, this stupid virus seems to have sucked the life out of me, but thinking back to happier times, I did manage to go to Primark twice in December and whilst I didn't by a lot I did buy a few bits that you might still be able to get your hands on.

This blouse was actually new in, and even though we probably still have a few more months of winter left to go, there are Easter Eggs in the shops and Primark is full of spring and summer florals. Way back in September of 2016 I bought a long line sleeveless blouse from Primark (you can see it here) and I fell in love with the floral and bird design, and whilst the print on the blouse isn't identical it's pretty similar.

Featuring an oriental style floral, and crane print, this navy blue blouse is quite sheer, so I probably will need to wear a navy vest underneath it but again I love the print and given my love of shirts and florals it was a must have. It was only £7.

Next up a couple of staples, and over the last couple of months of so I've become slightly addicted to Primark's stripy t-shirts and when I was last in store I spotted some new colours. The first one is in the Long Sleeve Stretch Crew style and I got it in a white and blue marl for £4

and I also got one of the Short Sleeve Stretch Crew T's in a navy blue and white Breton style stripe for £3.

I've got quite a few of these t-shirts now and they've became a real wardrobe staple for me. They are nice and stretchy, and they are a good length and they are perfect for layering. I'm sure the price has gone up slightly but they are still great value for money.

Something else that was great value for money was this pair of boots. After I wore my previous pair of black chunky ankle boots out I was looking for a replacement, and these boots from the As Seen In Glamour range fit the bill perfectly.

With a working side zip fastening, these boots have a faux zip on the front, and faux pearl and stud detailing down the front. These boots have a nice chunky sole and good grips so they'll be perfect for the colder days that are still to come. Even better still I got these boots for only £6! They had been £16 and they were just been moved to the sale rack when I went in - perfect timing and a great bargain!

Sticking with the winter wear theme I couldn't resist picking up yet another woolly hat. I'm definitely not a hat person but I have a bit of a thing for cosy winter hats. I have several animal ones and I'm pretty partial to a bobble hat. I got a lovely mustard one from Quiz a few months ago and this black with a huge multi coloured faux fur pompom on the top called to me, and since it was only £3 I popped it into my basket

That's it for clothes, shoes and accessories but I did get a couple of jewellery pieces including another long line disc / circle necklace.

This one features both silver tone and gold tone pendants so it fits right in with the mixed metal trend. It features a combination of plain and crystal studded bars, circles and discs and it was only £2.50.

As much I love longer length and chunky necklaces, I'm also a big fan of more delicate pieces, and this one from Primark's Disney range was right up my street.

On a much shorter chain it's basically a Mickey Mouse head inlaid with a coloured stone representing a birthstone. I'm a May baby so mine is a deep green emerald, and as much as I would love this to be a real emerald, for just £3 I think this is probably just glass or crystal. It's really sweet and I've got to say I'm loving all of Primark's Disney collaborations, and I'm particularly loving their Beauty And The Beast range.

Beauty And The Beast is definitely one of my favourite Disney films and I've been loving all of the Mrs Potts and Chip pieces. The proper teapot still remains elusive but I did manage to pick up this Chip Trinket Dish on my most recent visit.

It basically a mini ceramic Chip mug which is attached to a ceramic saucer. It's perfect for keeping your rings and earrings safe, and you could even pop your change into it. This was £5 and like the other pieces in the range it's really nicely made.

I know I've said this about a dozen times over the last year or so, but when it comes to beauty, Primark are really upping their game, and every time I go in they have something new to look at. Before Christmas I noticed that they were stocking a new range called Holler And Glow, which from what I gather is a skin and body care range that is exclusive to Primark. They seem to do a lot of sheet masks but I went for one of their foot masks.

I'm slightly addicted to these slightly gross, slightly amazing foot peeling masks, and this Holler And Glos Purrfect Pedi Sock Mask which was £4 is definitely one of the cutest that I've used. I tried it out on Boxing Day and I'll let you know what I think in my upcoming December empties post x

Next up a make up item, and I'm going to be honest and say that I'm pretty disappointed with this. I'm not sure what I was expecting in all honesty but this just didn't wow me.

I think it was the silver glitter, outer packaging that drew me in, and the beautiful pink ombre of the powder.

Take it out of the box though and your left with quite basic clear, plastic packaging without a sparkle in sight.

I don't know what I expected this to be, maybe a beautiful pink ombre, shimmery highlighter and blush, but what I got was something completely different. just a matte very pale white / pink powder.

I know there is currently a trend for matte highlighters and illuminating finishing powders so maybe that is what this is. The pigmentation is fine and it feels nice and soft to the touch it just isn't what I thought it would be. That's why we need testers I guess, still it was only £3 and I'm sure I will find a way to use it.

My final purchases were both cleansing wipe based; On my first visit I went into a mild panic because I couldn't find my favourite tea tree wipes ANYWHERE! so I ended buying some of the PS Micellar Facial Cleansing Wipes For All Skin Types instead, and whilst I wasn't expecting a lot, over the last week or so these wipes have been a god send. They are very gentle on the skin and they were quite soothing on my irritated and flu ravaged skin. I eventually did manage to get my hands on some of the PS Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes For Oily & Blemish Prone Skin but I wouldn't hesitate to buy the micellar wipes again for emergencies. All of Primark's own brand wipes retail at just £1 for 2 packs of 25 wipes which is great value for money - I don't use them on my face that often but I wouldn't be without them now for everything from wiping sticky fingers to cleaning up make up swatches, they really are a must have for me.

So that was my late December Primark haul and the way I'm feeling at the moment it might be a little while before I get back into Primark so I will live through your Primark hauls for now, so if you've been to Primark recently and you've either written a blog post or uploaded a video to You Tube I'd love to see what you've bought so link me up x



In the meantime don't forget to watch the accompanying You Tube video which you can either watch above or via this link, and don't forget to leave me a comment and let me know if you have any questions on any of the items that I bought x