... So Far

Lots of photos today and (hopefully) lots of home inspiration for you! I've left my blog rather neglected the past week but now you've seen just how much shopping and organising myself I've been doing you should understand. I move into my halls on Saturday and will have an ensuite room, share my flat with 7 others and cooking wise be self catered. Perhaps I should be at the stage where I'm getting excited but really there's nothing but nerves at the moment so if anyone's got any tips to combat them it'd be much appreciated. Obviously as a student, none of these things break the bank with the majority being either from Asda, Tesco or Dunelm Mill. I'm going to list links and prices of the more interesting and my favourite items but if you want to know about anything else, just leave me your question in the comments. If not, simply tell me what your favourite item is I've picked up and whether you're now after any of these. I think my personal favourite has to be the 'Unnecessary Item Fund' coin tin (£2.50 here) simply because I know that's what I'll use it for! 

Anyway, I hope this gives you some ideas and I'll be back to more regular posting as soon as I can.

Lara xo

Items

Cupcake Themed:
Apron - £4 here
Tea Towels - £4 set of 3 (can't find online) 
                     £2 individual towel here
Oven Mitt - £4 here
All Asda

Purple Shower Scrunchi with Pink Platypus (!?!) - 49p here - Dunelm Mill

White with Blue Hearts:

4 pack bowls - £8 here
4 pack side plates - £8 here
Set of 4 Mugs - £5 here
All Asda

'Receipts for Money I Used to Have' Tin - £6.91 here
'Unnecessary Item Fund' Tin - £2.50 here

Fall into Autumn | Spy Love Buy

Transitional Shoes

All images from www.spylovebuy.com

While it may not quite be time yet to drag out the winter fur lined boots (as much as I love them and would happily live in them all year round), it definitely is about time to put away the sandals for another year. 

Spylovebuy.com is an online store offering the latest in footwear including shoes, boots, heels and wellies. They also handily have a fashion blog on their site to provide tips, tricks and fashion news, including information on their most popular items and how to wear them. There's currently free 2-3 day UK delivery for orders over £15 (which is never hard to spend on shoes!) or just £1.99 for orders under this. Their international shipping rates are 3-7 working days for European countries at £7.99 an item or 5-14 working days for the rest of the world at £9.99 an item.

I've recently been browsing the site for shoes that would be perfect for transitioning into the colder months; shoes that can be worn with socks so your feet don't get too chilly but also that don't look overly heavy and clumpy for the milder autumn days.

These lace up platform ankle boots (£24.95) are a dressier version of the basic black canvas sneaker. The heel is chunky enough and low enough that they'd be comfy for everyday wear, but combined with the low curved top would help elongate the leg meaning for short legged girls these would look great with either trousers or skirts. 

Despite being a higher topped ankle boot, the pointed shape of these Western/Chelsea style shoes (£32.95) make them appear more delicate. The brogue detailing and tan colour hint at the warmer weather but the light fur lining makes them practical for chillier temperatures.

The cut-outs in these black biker ankle boots (£26.95) makes them perfect for either wearing with bare feet when it's warmer and then later in the season pairing with some cute socks whose design can peek through the sides. They're casual boots but would add a hint of edge to any look.

 

Out of all these shoes, these cut-out sandals (£24.95) err most on the summery side, but this would make them great for coming out the other side of winter as well, worn with pastel socks with a frilly trim. Whilst being counted as a flat shoes, they do have a very slight raised heel which I often find makes shoes comfier to walk in. 

Finally, these block heel cut-out ankle boots (£24.95) are a subtle but interesting design that would go with anything. They are the perfect everyday shoe for A/W with the feminine shape making them suitable for both causal and more formal wear. 

I absolutely love ankles boots and autumn shoes as gone are the hard-to-get-your-feet-in strappy designs or shoes that almost fall off your feet with every step. It's just a shame that with the new season often comes a lot of rain! 

Let me know which of these is your favourite pair. Now I just need to resist buying them all . . . 

Lara xo

Quirky Home Inspiration

Wishlist

With the prospect of leaving home looming, even if for only 10 week terms at a time, I've recently become obsessed with browsing homeware sites. Forever in my quest of looking for things a bit different, here's some quick inspiration of unique items that I've added to my ever growing wishlist.

1.

Complimentary Sloth Art Print / La La Land / £10

Who doesn't want a sloth above their bed telling them they look great every morning? End of. 

(however, if I did have endless money I would not only buy this but almost everything on their entire website - if quirky arty stuff is your thing, this is the site for you)

2.

Sitting Ballet Dancer / Next / £16

Whilst on first sight not a particularly quirky item, anyone who has tried looking for ballet themed decor that's not designed for a kid's room will realise it can be quite rare. This is classy and elegant but would definitely add a bit of character.

3.

Salt and Pepper Lovers / Prezzy Box / £4.95

I saw something a little like this in a little craft shop whilst in Swanage and never thought I'd find anything like it again, but panic over, google didn't fail me. The design really does make a usually very boring and basic item become interesting and unique.

4.

Storage Basket / H&M / £7.99

Admittedly this is from the kid's room section but who doesn't love something both cute and practical. It's fairly spacious too being 19cm tall and 22cm wide. It really is the ears and embroidered nose that do it for me though.

5.

The Bright Side Tin / Really Good Shop / £6

'Tin of Denial' and 'Money That I Used to Have' are, I'm sure, very relatable phrases for lots of people. It also is again very useful and has the potential to stop us simply hoarding receipts in our handbags. This would make a very witty gift for someone moving away to uni.

So which of these is your favourite? Also feed my addiction and let me know of any sites you know that are full of quirky things. Until then, back to my browsing I go!

Lara xo

Summer Fashion Inspiration

Little Miss Bradshaw

All photos from www.littlemissbradshaw.com

I love finding places that offer something a little more unique than standard high street retailers, therefore when I found Little Miss Bradshaw on Instagram, straightaway I went to the website to see what was available. In the 'About Us' section of the site she describes how she always hunted for clothes to represent a unique personality or could never quite find perfect statement pieces, so that was what she setup her online boutique with the intention of fulfilling, and I really think she's done just that. There's such a wide and great selection of pieces which all have a little added interest to them and are different then what you'd find in the typical stores without being overly outrageous. Her are some of my favourite items which are definitely tempting me at the moment!

All Dressed in White ($63 = £37.47)

I surprisingly don't actually own a maxi dress; I find they can look overdone and over complicated, plus I'd had to take the length up a fair bit anyway. However, this is so pretty and elegant making it perfect for a variety of occasions and the crotchet detailing gives it a real summer vibe.

Rio Grande Crop Top ($49.99 = £29.75)

Although the Aztec print is quite common and on trend at the moment, I think the shape of this crop top and the positioning of the pattern makes it look more unique. The colouring also makes it very versatile when trying to pair with a bottom half.

A Daisy Girl ($49.99 = £29.75)

Obviously the print is just adorable on these shorts and completely ideal for summer, but what I like most is that they look so much comfier than what you'd find on the high street; they're not quite as tight and therefore a bit more flattering if you're not blessed with modelesque pins.

A White Affair ($62.00 = £36.88) and Bold and Beautiful Dress ($68.99 = £41.05)

I think the white dress has such an interesting hemline yet the pattern is subtle enough to still make it quite understated. Similarly the red dress may be bold but it's design makes it casual enough for everyday wear. It would be perfect either as a beach cover up or a Summer daytime date.

A Dainty Ruffle Crop Top ($46.00 = £27.36)

This is definitely dainty as the name says and a staple kind of piece that will go with anything. Unlike lots of other similar crop tops, whilst it is flowy at the front it's tight and elasticated at the back giving it a bit more shape. It avoids the issue I sometimes find that when a crop top's generally baggy it can hang off me unflatteringly.

There were so many other items I could've picked out so be sure to have a good browse of the website as I think there's something for everyone. 

Follow Little Miss Bradshaw on Instagram here.

Follow me on Instagram here.

Which of these pieces is your favourite?

Lara xo