What I bought this month: December 2015

Boots
As usual, linking up with Fran's Budgeting Bloggers :-)

As I've said before, I don't have a specific 'budget' for clothes shopping seeing as I'm still pretty new to the student lifestyle.  But what following these fab blogs has done is made me way more savvy about what I buy and when.  So when I was asked about what I might like for Christmas the decision was easy.  I asked for Metro Centre giftcards so that I could put them towards what I might have left to spend in the post Christmas sales.  Fran said in a post about how when she receives her student loan payment she shares it between several accounts and moves it about when needed to cover bills etc and without shame I have used that idea also.  So I have one 'current account' that all my bills and living expenses gets paid out of, but 4 savings accounts, labelled 'Bills' 'Fooood' 'Epiphany Term' and 'Noooo York'.  Bills and Fooood are pretty self explanatory, Epiphany Term is the name Durham gives to the next term starting in January and Noooo York is my next planned holiday destination. At some point in the New Year I am planning a full post on how to budget for everything as a student, but I don't want to digress here!  Since I set up these accounts I've had a few positive financial changes and thus I knew I could comfortably afford to spend up to £280 in the sales including my much appreciated gift cards!  I also still have my sealed 'Reva Fund' which will be getting a boost soon :-)

Anyone who is a fan (or not) of the Next sale will know that it is CHAOS.  Unfortunately they have a specific sale section on their website which means I can't link to individual items, and have struggled to get photos of some.  But for full disclosure I have listed everything I bought, including cosmetics.  I also bought some pieces from Primark which doesn't have online shopping at all (shocker I know) so there aren't any pics.  As I incorporate pieces into my wardrobe and outfit posts I will link to similar where possible so eventually all will be revealed :-)

I can only link to the jeans - boo to Next's sale website!
From Left: Mac Blush in Fleur Power; Mac Eyebrows in Lingering;
Clinique Clarifying Lotion (step 2 of 3); Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (step 3 of 3)


This is the first time since starting University that I have been on a proper shopping trip where multiple items were purchased, so I had to be careful.  Armed with the knowledge that I have little space to keep things and prior history of buying then discarding brand new clothes I had to have a few little chats with myself.  I had originally planned this trip for Boxing Day but having a stinking cold put paid to that and do you know what?  I am so glad!  Many shops close their fitting rooms on Boxing Day as it is so busy, which leads to impulse purchases and I just KNOW what I am like - I never return what doesn't fit/look right.  So whilst I might have missed out on one or two things, overall I am much happier that what I have bought not only goes with other items I already have but also fits!  And, although it was busy, it wasn't so busy that I got shopping rage.

The Rundown:

 Next Blue Kick Flare Pants (sale, no link available) £35 £16
Next White/Grey Striped work shirt (sale, no link available) £28 £14
Next Black double pocketed shirt (could be dressed up or down) (sale, no link available) £35 £17
Subtotal £98 £47

Dorothy Perkins Skinny Jeans £15 £10.50
Subtotal £15 £10.50
Running Total £113 £57.50

 Primark Casual Tee £3.00
Primark Cotton Tote £1.50
Primark Longline Casual Tee £6.00
Primark Vest Top £2.50
Primark Casual Joggers £9.00
Primark Ponytailer £1.00
Subtotal £23.00*
Running Total £136 £80.50

Mac Blush £18.50
Mac Eyebrow Pencil £14.00
Subtotal £32.00**
Running Total £168 £112.50

 Clinique Clarifying Lotion £16.50
Clinique Moisturiser £30.00
Subtotal £46.50**
Running Total £214.50 £159.00

*You will notice nothing from Primark is on 'sale'.  It's like a jumble sale in there at the best of times and there is no way I am hardcore enough to plunge into the sales racks!  Also the quality can be very poor (hence the low low price) so once things get even more tangled on the sales stands quite often things are damaged.

**The likelihood of getting MAC or Clinique on sale is very small.  I usually buy my makeup from a trusted 3rd party like Feel Unique but MAC isn't on there and Clinique is the same price as it is everywhere else, but at Boots I get Advantage Points.  Today I managed to link a couple of Advantage Points offers and add over £10 worth of points to my balance to use at a later date.  I may save these up and treat myself to perfume.  I have tried buying makeup on ebay but I got stung with fake stuff which gave me horrific spots, so never again!

If you're still awake - well done!

TTFN
LouLou x

One Eighteenth

Durham University
Today marks the last day of Michaelmas Term (Durham's name for the first term of the Academic year).  As there are three terms per year, and my course is six years, that makes me One Eighteenth of the way to becoming a Doctor.

Yep, scary or what?

It feels like I (and all my classmates of course) worked so hard to get here and now we're ticking off milestones.  After today we have a month off, which although seems like a luxury it really isn't.  As most of the class are mature students we all had lives and careers before this, and the responsibilities that go with such things.  So lots of us have to spend at least part of that month working to get a bit of money in for next term and onwards.  I am working Monday-Thursday next week and Tuesday-Thursday as extras the week afterwards, before going back to my usual saturdays.  Although that is only two weeks, I need to factor in a week of Summative exams (meaning they count towards our final results unlike any of the exams we have done so far) and so that time will be spent with my nose firmly in the books/flashcards/listening to myself recite key facts and working through worksheets and past papers.  

After Hell Exam Week we launch straight into block two.  I'm particularly excited as we get to start doing basic clinical skills and also Anatomy, Physiology and Disease.  Looking at the timetable it just feels so much more relevant to becoming Doctors next term.  Look out for tales of woe and bruises galore when we start practicing venepuncture on each other haha.

TTFN
LouLou x 

Its Chriiiissssmaaaassss!

Christmas
Sorry for my insane lack of updates recently.  A combination of having a huge amount of work due and also a lot of repeated outfits have left me underwhelmed about posting.  But that will (hopefully) change over the next couple of weeks.  I'm hoping to buy new work clothes and a few new things for uni in the Boxing Day sales next weekend and thus Weekend Workwear will be reborn.

Last Friday my uni group had our own little Christmas Party at TGI Fridays.  I wore a go-to LBD I've had for years and thus can't link to, but I've made some recommendations of my personal favourites on offer right now from the same shop (Dorothy Perkins) Over the top of the dress I wore a woolen wrap I got as a present a few years ago, but belted like in last months' Third Thursday Threads post so at least a new spin that way.  To add a bit of colour I wore my blue suede booties.

Dress (old, see below)
Wrap (gift)
Belt (similar)
Boots (similar)



One Two Three Four

Its my works Christmas Party on Saturday and we're off to Hotel Du Vin in Newcastle.  I can't quite believe its a whole year since we all went to Amsterdam!  How time flies when you're having fun.

#AConceptChristmas

TTFN
LouLou x

What I bought this Month: November 2015

Budget
Once again linking up with Fran and the other Budgeting Bloggers :-)


Not a very exciting budget post this month, but seeing as I've been shying away from spending its not a surprise really!


Not a very exciting month...
As I posted here, the scarf was a birthday present to myself - yay!  I've just checked online and its now sold out so I'm glad I got mine when I did!  This is the most similar I can find.  And the hoody was actually ordered in October, but didn't arrive til last week.  Although the picture doesn't show it, its actually navy blue and embroidered with my College crest - coming to a post sometime soon!  Because I live in a place where its freezing 9 months of the year and just plain cold the other 3 I know I'll get a lot of wear out of these.  There are so many Durham hoodies its difficult to stop myself buying them all as this one is sooo cozy!  These ones are the generic ones and are also lovely.

So, the rundown.

Scarf, mango £29.99
Hoody (not available online) £22.00

Total: £51.99

I already have money put aside to get spendy in the after Christmas sales, so hopefully next month will be a bit more exciting.  After that if anything is left I'll roll it over so I have a proper 'budget' each month rather than just listed what I've bought - it will make it so much more satisfying writing these posts!

TTFN

LouLou x

Weekend Workwear: Curly Sue

Weekend Workwear



Curly Hair Don't Care

So any of you who follow me on Twitter will know that disaster struck a few weeks ago and my Beloved GHD hair straighteners began to fail on me, occasionally shorting out and turning off.  It would have to happen now I don't have a flexible regular income wouldn't it?  I have had them for over five years though and have used them a LOT so I don't suppose I can complain.  They do still work but I have to be patient with them (not one of my stronger traits) and sooner rather than later they will break for good, so I am trying to avoid using them wherever possible.  Expect to see a lot of 'hair up' posts around here for a while!  When I get my student loan disbursement in January I will see what I have spare and maybe purchase a new pair.  I can't see any point in buying cheaper ones as they don't last and don't do as good a job - I worked out prior to having my GHD's in the same time period I had 4 pairs which in total cost way more.

Jumpsuit (Primark)
Long Cardigan (Primark)
Belt (Next, similar)
Shoes (Tu by Sainsburys)


I digress.  This week I worked at Concept's Tynemouth clinic which is a totally different style to Gosforth.  Custom wallpaper is replaced with Hession and Parquet with Distressed Railway sleepers, so naturally my style changes too.  My outfit is entirely from Primark (apart from the shoes & belt) and thus I can't link to it (when oh when will you begin selling online?)

Shoes (Tu by Sainsburys, 
not available online)

Although my hair naturally has a lot of curl to it, its a horrible frizzy curl, so I use a curling wand to achieve the look above.  It's not perfect, but practice makes perfect and maybe one day I will be happy with my efforts (and have it take less than an hour to do).

Change places! Angles


Both this jumpsuit and cardigan were both impulse purchases ages ago.  Primark is VERY hit and miss and if I'm honest a bit of a jumble sale at times!  Normally for this reason I don't buy actual outfits in Primark, except when I'm going on holiday.  They often do great sun dresses in the summer, but the quality is so bad they usually get binned before I return home haha.  I also buy vest tops from Primark, as they are only £1.50-£2.00 each and generally wash really well.
Getting there slowly


TTFN
LouLou x

Happy Birthday To Me - Third Thursday Threads Linkup

Budget

TTT Theme Blanket Scarves
Cliché as it may sound, I genuinely didn't feel as anxious about my birthday this year.  Normally I have a 'pity me' rant/freakout.  For my 30th I even ran away to Barcelona to avoid the subject!  I am now the grand old age of 32 and couldn't be happier!

Part of building a blog is to gain exposure.  I'm doing this through my Facebook page and also via selected linkups with more established bloggers.  Briana from Work Clothes I Suppose runs a linkup each month called 'Third Thursday Threads.  Ok. so its now the 4th Thursday but hey I've never done on time!  The aim is to have a theme that all of the linked up bloggers stick with and this month's was the Blanket Scarf.

I didn't actually have a blanket scarf and whilst buying one for the link would be totally counter productive to my student budget, I was browsing the Mango website the other week for Christmas presents and needed something to push me over the 'free delivery' quota.  With it co-incidentally being my birthday I decided to treat myself to this beauty

Scarf (exact)


Now as I said I've never had a blanket scarf before.  I didn't quite anticipate how big it was going to be :-/

Yes, I am holding it up.  My arms are stretched up 
above my head and a little bit of the scarf still 
overlapped - I am a shortarse though
The outfit before the scarf
Jeans (exact)
Top (smiliar)

Belted - I'd never thought 
about wearing a scarf this 
way but might do it again :-)

The downside of wearing 
this particular scarf belted is 
that it engulfed my arms :-(


It was too bulky to wear as a
conventional scarf too

All in all the photo descriptions make it sound like I should return the scarf, but it is so cozy warm and I love to wear it wrapped around me like a blanket whilst studying so it is staying living with me!!!

TTFN
LouLou x

Five Years

Dispensing Optician
My Timehop told me that yesterday it was 5 years since I graduated as a Dispensing Optician.  And today it gave me the photos from said ceremony so I thought I would share them for nostalgia :-)

I miss being blonde at times!

If you had asked on this day where I thought I would be in 5 years, no way would I have said where I am!  But that just goes to show plans don't always work out (in this case so much better than I could ever have imagined!)  I was attempting to complete the Contact Lens Certificate at the time so I suppose my answer would have been that I'd be a Contact Lens Optician.  But really, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter.  It doesn't matter what you think you will end up doing, or where you think you will be in the world.  What matters is that you live for now, follow your instincts and take risks in life and in love.  So I still need to get the love thing down but one step at a time.  I knew I wanted to retrain as a Doctor nearly 4 years ago and despite hurdles and heartache in the application process I am finally here and couldn't be happier.  But I knew I didn't want to be 40 or 50 and think 'I wish I had done this/that.  So take the risk, trust your instincts.  There will be times when you think 'what the f### am I doing' but others where you just feel so happy its not conceivable.

Soppy happy post over.  I'll leave you with other pics from Graduation.  The quality is pretty shocking as it was too dark and I had a rubbish camera, but they still capture the day in all its glory :-)

The ceremony was a Canterbury Cathedral - pretty magical!
With my Dad and Stepmum
With my Mum

With the President of ABDO - I have no idea
what she said to others graduating, but to
me she whispered that she loved my shoes!

TTFN
LouLou x

Weekend Workwear: Flowers

Budget
Good Morning!


Back to Gosforth today!  As it gets colder I find myself layering more, but its often difficult when working in a public facing environment.  This is today's effort.

Waterfall jacket (similar)
Top (old)
Trousers (exact)
I love waterfall jackets as they can be styled up or down so easily - always a fan of multi-functioning pieces!  This one is a couple of years old now, but I've linked to one that is a similar cut.


The Budget got a big boost this week thanks to some clever food budgeting

TTFN!
LouLou x

Weekend Workwear: Pussybow Wannabe

Biba


Good morning!
Today is my first day back in the Gosforth clinic.  Gosforth is where I started with Concept and is the Flagship practice.  I may be a little biased but it is BEAUTIFUL.  Parquet flooring, marble tables...  Anyway...

Blouse (old)
I've had this blouse for a couple of years now.  I adore the pussybow style but I really don't think it suits me due to my larger bust.  I am, however, on the lookout for a replacement for this as it is very clicked on the front now, although it doesn't show on the photo...

Shoes (similar)

I bought these shoes for my Dispensing Practicals over 5 years ago and they're still going strong.  They're one of the few pairs of heels I can stand to wear all day, although they are plain jane.

Bag (updated version)
Biba is a brand I've always loved.  It was originally around in the 1960's and 1970's.  Like every little girl, I had a pair of my Mum's old shoes to play dressup - mine were Biba.  When the brand relaunched in House of Fraser


Also, as promised, the Aspirational Budget Update...  Well,  as it was only mentioned yesterday its the same, but hopefully not for long!

TTFN!
LouLou x

Aspirational Wishlist

Balenciaga
You may wonder why living I'd publish a list of such expensive luxury items when I'm living on a restricted budget.  A number of years ago I made the decision to only buy what I have the cash for & cut up all 3 of my credit cards.  New applications constantly try to tempt me but so far I have resisted and I hope I will remain this way throughout University.  The downside of this is having to save for the finer things I so adore, which is especially hard. right now!

Right now I'm saving for the things on this list (one at a time obviously) and as such I'm going to document my progress as part of the 'Weekend Workwear' series.  I have a sealed moneybox that I use to save this money, and once its in there I pretty much forget about it.  When I arrived at Uni it had £53 in and now it has £64, not bad considering the budget I'm living on!  Just how I budget/save will be another post though, as its quite longwinded.  I do, however, think its a really big issue both for my generation and traditional students, so watch this space :-)
Watch
Perfume
Top
Nearly every watch I've had has gotten lost or damaged, then when I began working for St John Ambulance I couldn't wear one for IPC reasons, so now I'm not in that environment everyday I'm getting back into watches.  My Mum bought me a lovely Fossil watch for Christmas last year (this year's version) but I'd love one with a leather strap as a contrast and this one is just perfect.  I love Kate Spade - just so chic!  I saw (smelled?) this perfume whilst on holiday in September and immediately fell in love.  Whilst I used to buy myself perfume routinely, without a regular income (or one I can spend on frivolous things anyway) I've had to put it on the wishlist to save for.  *Sigh*  I love this top because it could be worn on a night out with skinny jeans or with a suit for work/clinic later in my training.  I'm not a big fan of button up shirts/blouses due to my large bust so this would work really nicely.
Mulberry Bag
Tory Burch Bag
Shoes
Purse
As a typical English girl I LOVE Mulberry.  However I have never been one to 'follow the trend'  Point in case: I've always wanted a Chanel Handbag (still many years away so no point posting here) but I don't want the classic 2.55 flap everyone raves over.  Rather I like the hardbodied tote bags, quite like the Tory Burch one above actually!  I digress...  I saw this bag in my local House of Fraser quite some time ago and instantly fell in love.  Whilst the Bayswater is and always will be a classic, I just love the slouchiness of the Tessie.  Plus its prrrreeeety. Of course I would need the matching purse.  Just because, haha.  Much as I would love to lie and say I live in heels a la Carrie Bradshaw, its just not true.  So when I saw these on Fran when I first started reading her blog I was hooked!  I wasn't initially keen on the elasticated backs but now they have been relaunched with conventional backs. *Swoon*

 I'm saving for the shoes first as black flats are a real need for me at the moment, so I will show my progress towards them each week!  Starting Point: £51 (34% to target 1)

 TTFN!
LouLou x

The Weeping Window

Armistice Day
The Weeping Window @ Woodhorn

We're now a year into the 'centenary' of World War One.  A strange statement perhaps, but fitting given that the war lasted four years.  For the centenary of the start of the war an exhibition at the Tower of London Moat.  The poppies then went on tour, arriving in September at Woodhorn Museum in Northumberland.  For me, the location of the poppies is rather poignant as my Grandfather was born in the middle of World War One (October 1916) and was a Miner.  Although Mining was a Reserved Occupation in World War Two, he tried his best to leave and join what was colloquially known as the 'War Effort' but was rejected and told to return to the pit as his work, along with thousands of others, was deemed essential.  I digress...

Close up of the poppies on the ground
The poppy became an international symbol associated with The Great War and later the Second World War as it was noticed that it was the first flower to return to the war torn fields of Northern France and on the graves of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers buried there. 

The best I could do to capture the whole exhibit

I visited The Weeping Window with my Mum on the last day of the exhibition, 1st November, but felt it was appropriate to post the photos today, Armistice Day or Remembrance Day.  Although Remembrance is officially honoured the sunday prior, the true definition is the 11th hour, of the 11th Day, of the 11th Month, and so here we are...

The best photo of the two of us on the day
Sunglasses
The 'blurb' by the exhibit

TTFN!
LouLou x

Happy Sunday!

Shopping
This weekend I visited my Mum when I finished work on Saturday, which led to staying over...

Not one to waste an opportunity for a day out though - we spent this one doing something very exciting - Food Shopping! (Yawn).  Mum did treat me to Sunday lunch at our favourite pub though.







































I have a bit of an ongoing love affair with Mango, but I rarely buy anything from them in the UK.  The range just isn't there!  I always make a beeline for it when I am in Spain though, and try to bring at least one item back.  It is almost always cheaper to buy things there too, regardless of the Euro exchange rate, as it is a Spanish company.  This top was from my holiday to Tenerife in 2013, although it is a style they rework every season so I am confident I will still have it in several years.

TTFN
LouLou x

'Toon' Night Out

Friends
Party Time!
I rarely go out in Newcastle.  I mean really rarely.  I think all of the drunken people I've cleaned up in my work with St John Ambulance over the past few years has just put me off going out and getting blotted, combined with extortionate bar and taxi prices to get home afterwards.  But when my friend Linsey said she would be home I made an exception.  Although I did cheat and take the car, but that was more of a 'skint student' move.  I managed to park for free and traded lifts for diet coke & dessert at the end of the night so it was win win :-)

 Linsey & her hubby Rob. although firmly from the North East, now live in New York (USA not Whitley Bay, haha) and I hadn't seen them for nearly 2 years so no way was I missing that catch up opportunity!

Dress (exact)
Cardigan (similar)
Petticoat* (exact) 

As it was the one 'big night out' they had time for when in the UK, we met at The Quayside Bar as its absolutely huge. although girls who like heels beware - the courtyard and the surrounding area is alllll cobbles.  Doesn't stop me of course, but I've had plenty of practice :-)

All in all it was a fab night.  I dragged my Mum and her friend along with me (both have met those present before) and as I wasn't drinking we ended up leaving at 10.30pm, but we rounded off the night nicely with dessert at Kaspa's so all was good.

Linsey & I

*In order to get my 50's dresses to swing like they do, I wear a petticoat underneath as seen in the photo.  They can be as expensive or cheap as you like, and come in a multitude of colours.  I feel like a white one would look better with this dress, but I haven't gotten around to ordering it yet, and in most circumstances you can't see the petticoat anyway...
I had to add this scarf later as it was soooo cold outside.  Its from H&M but isn't on the website which is a shame because it is so pretty & warm.  I buy a scarf/snood from H&M every winter but always end up losing them somehow & have to replace it the following winter.
Remember the biggest rule for a night on the 'Toon' - you must NEVER wear a coat!

TTFN
LouLou x