Day 25 of Only Once August and I wore a dress purchased from ASOS Marketplace in July.

When I put it on I had no idea what the finished outfit would be. Thanks to an unexpected change in the weather the first item I added was a pair a black footless tights. I pondered black ballet pumps and discounted them on account of the rain that was tip-tapping on my window at that precise moment.

I decided on a pair of boots that have been put into, and subsequently rescued from, the charity bag on several occasions (in all honesty they have been rescued more times than they have been worn!).

The baby doll style and floral pattern of the dress felt a little girlish so the boots toughen things up a bit. I'd already decided on minimal make up - no eyeshadow, no blush - as a 'full face' also felt too girly. It was for this reason that I kept my hair down and unfussy too.

I considered jewellery, put some on, took it off again, tried something else. In the end I settled on a beaded bracelet and two leather Pandora bracelets, one with charms.

My bag, although pink, was big and slouchy enough not to look twee and picked out a colour in the pattern of the dress, breaking up the density of the black.

Some days I know what I am going to wear, right down to the last detail, before I even get out of bed. But this outfit took a while.

Do you have days like this?
How do you go about putting an outfit together?

After all the umming and ahhing I decided that I liked the finished result, although I felt it lacked one thing - a classic leather strap watch. I indulged in some online browsing - just browsing though, my spending ban was still in place. And here is what I found...



This isn't the first time that I've felt the need for a watch such as this, which is a pretty good indication that it would be a good investment buy.


Love

Follow me.

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I have been really crap at keeping up to date with these posts! This time around (which is actually a few weeks ago now...) I used some long forgotten items.

Revlon Powder Blush in Berry Rich. I chose this because it was a muted soft pink with only a teeny tiny bit of shimmer. I really like it but it doesn't last all day, some reapplication would be necessary, but I don't carry cosmetics around with me for touch ups. I used to but found that I didn't use it much so I made my bag a little lighter and left the lot at home. This isn't to say that, since then, there haven't been occasions when I was in dire need of some cosmetic help and cursed my decision to leave my make up bag at home!

L'Oreal Trio Eyeshadow for blue eyes. Lovely colours and good staying power (especially when using Elfs eyelid primer). This is great for both a natural sweep of colour or for creating a daytime smokey eye.

Dior Diorshow New Look Mascara. I.love.this. It has a tiny brush but has the power to transform my pathetic lashes. Seriously, go get yourself a tube.

Inka eyeliner in graphite. I got this is a Glossybox, it's organic but a little to shimmery and pale for my liking. It's grey with a hint of silver, which is pretty but I prefer something darker.

Elf eyelid primer in Champagne. This is my second favourite elf eyelid primer after the sheer one. I wear this alone for a shimmery look. It's subtle enough for the daytime and stays put. Can't fault it.

What make up products do you love?

Love

Day 23 & 24

I have to say that work, and the requirement for practical clothes, has turned my challenge into something rather boring. My plan was to wear the dresses and skirts that are ordinarily only worn a few times a year. But as you can see jeans and t-shirts have been the order of the day. That said I haven't worn anything twice yet (apart from a slight slip up on day 10).

However, I have extended the long weekend and will not be going back to work until Thursday so I can flounce around in pretty things to my hearts content until then.

I hope you all have a fabulous bank holiday weekend. What do you have planned?

Love

Day 16 A complete 'rarely worn' outfit today, white linen trousers, t shirt (the same t shirt in a, slightly, different colour was worn on day 11), bag from Stylist Pick (LOVE this), clogs from Next almost 2 years ago.



Day 17 Today was inspired by Alex, who spent a week joining in the challenge, go see her boxer pic - I love it! I knew I had a long day at work ahead (8.15am - 23.00pm as it turned out), I was helping in the print room. After yesterday's heeled, white lined trousered impracticality, I needed something for work of a manual nature (it involved bubble wrap so I was happy to get involved). The hoodie isn't worn a lot but I do like it, the trainers are my only purchase from a trip to New York. Can I say it again? ...from a trip to New York. One day I'll go back and visit Central park in the sun, the Guggenheim, Tiffany's (again) and possibly indulge in a little more shopping than last time. I'd love to have a mosey around a flea market and trawl a few charity shops.



Day 18 Saturday and a hot one! I think that I look a little bit like a Zoom lolly in this maxi skirt. It's a recent charity shop find and this is only it's second wearing. The necklace is at least two years old, a bit of a favourite but not something that goes with everything...



Day 19 I had to mend this before I could wear it, it has a tiered skirt and every time I step on the hem - a common problem I find with maxi dresses - I tear one or a number of the seams. The shrug is from eBay, purchased in April, this will be it's third time out (I feel like the lottery announcer - Number 48, second time out this month, the bonus ball on Wednesday). The necklace was one of my first purchases from ASOS Marketplace, it's really cute but I can't get it to sit straight...



Day 20 Back to work. I felt that I had no choice but to opt for jeans and a t shirt today, I knew I would be working between the studio and the print room so it had to be practical and easy to move in. Neither get worn on a regular basis, I had begun to wonder if this is because I have too many clothes but I do tend to stick to the same few items and wear them over and over so this can't possibly be the case. Phew!



Day 21 I love this shot of Tinker, something has obviously just caught her attention. If I had to caption this it'd be "WTF?". This shirt dress is another item that doesn't get worn as much as it should.



Day 22 Another day working in the print room so a totally uninspired outfit... roll on the weekend!

Only nine days of Only Once August to go. I hoping for more sun as I have some skirts that need wearing...

Love

My August challenge has made me think about not just the clothes I have languishing in the back of my wardrobe but all the things I have that I rarely use. Take my make up drawer for example - it's full of stuff and yet I use the same items day in, day out.

So, taking a leaf out of Lauren's book I decided to do a weekly make up, shake up to mix things up a bit. Although so far I haven't been organised enough to post weeky. Oops.


Firstly, I have to say that there are some items that I just could not do without - eyelash curlers, obviously. Elf Eyelid Primer (introduced to me by Lauren), Avon Supermagnify mascara, the only thing that works on my lower lashes. Benefit Erase Paste, a recent find but one I instantly fell in love with! And Body Shop Brow and Liner Kit, I searched high and low for a decent eyebrow kit and this is by far the best and the only one that doesn't leave me with orange brows. These will remain in my make up bag no. matter. what.


Week One
Elf Brightening Eye Colour in Brownstone, great colours, my favourite being the maroon colour which I used as an eyeliner quite a lot. I hate the eyeshadow applicators that come with it. They're hard and scratchy. Yuck.

Boots No7 Lash Adapt mascara, I'm on my second tube of this. It's fab, I was absolutely certain that I'd reviewed this, I haven't but I meant to! I have fine, stubborn lashes but this stuff works a treat and the claim that you can apply several coats to build up fullness and length is true, although seven layers (so they say) is pushing it for me.

Eyeko Skinny eyeliner in black, I received this in a Glossybox some time ago. I really like the formula and it stays put but it didn't fit in my make up bag (it was too long) so it got thrown in the drawer. However, my larger make up bag and I are now loving it.

Becca Beach Tint for cheeks and lips in watermelon, another Glossybox item. It smells divine. I only use it on my cheeks for a pinch of colour, it tastes a little odd and doesn't really last as a lip colour. I don't normally bother with blush but this is really nice.

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker XL Extreme Plump XL Lip Plumping Gloss I've had this for ages, it's nearing the end. It's great stuff, lasts for ages, gives a fuller lip (don't expect miracles though it's plumping not totally transformative), it leaves lips soft and tastes yummy. I'd happily purchase this again, as soon as I've used up all the other lip glosses in my possession, which could take a while. I don't use lip gloss on a daily basis so I don't know why I have so many.

Love

Only Once August - half way through the month and all is well, I've managed to stick to my spending ban. Hurrah!


Day 9 This shirt has been around for a while but I haven't worn it recently. I felt the need for something easy to wear today, I knew it was going to be a long day so I wanted to be comfortable. I scrunch dried my hair to try to counteract the humidity, I desperately need a hair cut! I think Socks steals the show here, he's just so damn cute! And, yes, I did send ages rubbing his tummy :)



Day 10 I felt so girlie all day today, I wore flowers and pink and put my hair in, what my Mum always called, a hiccup - half up, half down. The skirt is a rarely worn item but I realised I've worn the cardy already this month, I wore it for as long as it took my to take the photos on Day 4 and then I got too hot and took it off. I can get away with that can't I? I'd genuinely forgotten that I'd worn it.



Day 11 I had a don't-know-what-to-wear day today. I tried on so many things only to take them off again. I had a busy day planned so I decided to go classic jeans and tee combo - when in doubt I revert to tried and tested outfits. The jeans have to be the most worn item in my wardrobe (the hole in the thigh was made when I stuck my jeans to my leg with superglue - not on purpose obviously) but the tee was purchased last year in readiness for this Summer, I think it's the third time I've worn it (which says something about the summer we've had!). The bag is a pre-loved purchase from eBay, sadly it's on its last legs as the strap is slowly stretching and will eventually snap. I don't think it's repairable but I will try.



Day 12 This green cardy was an impulse buy last year but one I keep coming back to every so often - here and here). The skirt was purchased along side the orange one worn on Day 2, only worn a few times. I was off to see a clairvoyant show so I felt a little arm party was in order - yep I was channeling a stereotypical fortune teller look. It was fascinating. I've had a few one-to-one sessions with a clairvoyant medium and this evening prompted me to book another session. It's soon - I'll keep you posted!



Day 13 Not my finest look but I got up late so I didn't have the luxury of time. The stripe top I wear a lot but the trousers are only one their fourth wear. Day 13 - a bad omen for a so-so outfit?



Day 14 I totally forgot about Everybody, Everywear today, the theme was monochromatic, but think I managed to wing it with this outfit. The dress was a January purchase, I've worn it once or twice since then, it's nice, simple. I think it's one of those things that gets over looked simply because I have a lot of clothes.



Day 15 Another red, white and blue day! This top hasn't been worn much and I don't think it'll be worn again after today. The seams have twisted and the hem is now uneven, so unless anyone knows of any neat tricks to straighten seams, it's heading for the charity bag. Shame, I love the colour and it's great for layering.

As well as shopping my wardrobe I have also been using makeup that I don't normally use (you know the stuff that gets put in a drawer and forgotten), it helps shift the focus from my spending ban. More on that in another post.

Hope your week is going well so far. Only two days until the weekend! Do you have nay exciting plans?

Love

I have to be honest, I forgot about EBEW this month even though I'd voted and put it in my diary! A tweet prompt from Sophie (Thanks lovely) didn't even cement it into my mind... honestly my memory is dreadful!

My Dad is just as bad, he has to write notes for everything. I went to his house one day and he had a note on his kitchen table saying 'Hazel - Tart!', nice right? He'd written it to remind himself that his sister had baked me a blackberry tart. I did chuckle.

Anyway, EBEW this month in monochromatic and just by chance I'm almost totally black today (maybe I remembered subconsciously?). Okay, okay, so there's a little red, white and blue in there - can I get away with it by saying I'm feeling post Olympic patriotism?


I'm also sporting the bronze award pin that I received last night for giving my tenth blood donation. Feels pretty good. Do you give blood? You get free cups of tea and biscuits and people are lovely to you and keep saying how brilliant you are for donating and it doesn't hurt. Okay, maybe it does a little bit but only a teeny tiny bit.



There will be another Only Once August update tomorrow, I'm almost half way through now and not one unnecessary purchase has been made, I'm loving this challenge!

Love

The Two Birds have me stumped with this weeks Inspiration Monday, so instead I thought I'd show you how I've been wearing my DIY neon necklace. I'm so pleased with it!


How would you wear a necklace like this?

Day two of Only Once August...
I've only worn this top once before because it's a recent purchase, it's the skirt that's been in my wardrobe for a while. I must have purchased it within the last year but I have no recollection of when. It's probably the side split that keeps me from wearing it - who wants to have a thigh high split when its windy and raining? Today was the first time out for the bag too - it was a bargain in the White Stuff sale - £32 reduced to £19. I bought it as a beach bag but as I have no plan to visit a beach anytime soon (more's the pity) I decided to use it day-to-day.



Day three's top is a rarely worn rather than a never worn and until recently this was the closest thing in my wardrobe had to pattern. I love this top, I really don't know why I don't wear it more...



Day four - a two outfit day. I helped out on a stand at a local music festival raising money for a charity I'm involved in. Please excuse the hair across my face, I thought Tink looked too cute not to use this picture.


In the evening I went to a friend's Birthday party. I opted for a little evening sparkle with some sequins, I've definitely not worn this so far this year. I took along a few party essentials - a gift, cardigan (for when the evening turned cold - my Mum would be so proud) and a bottle of Amaretto. What more could I need? I had the worst luck taking these photos so I decided to use the out takes, I hope they give you a laugh, here I am flicking my hair, trying - and failing - to stop my hair getting stuck to my lipgloss and talking to the boy cat, Socks.



Day five - a lazy day in my favourite shorts. In between the rain I pottered in the garden with Tink. It was all about comfort and I have to admit the shades helped with my delicate head (see previous day and bottle of Amaretto).



Day six - Monday was Two Birds Monday Inspiration. Lack of planning meant I had to wear a different dress to the one I really wanted. Will this teach me a lesson? Probably not.



Day seven - wearing the dress that I really wanted to wear yesterday. I figured out why it I hung it up wrinkled - it's a pig to iron and creased within minutes of putting it on. I love it though and it's huge pockets, the belt really shows them off and gives me somewhere to tuck the end of the belt in too!



Day eight - it has become apparent that my rarely worn items seem to be dresses. I do find it so easy just to pull on a pair of jeans in the morning. I bought this dress last year in the sale - just £7.00. I'm also using my gorgeous Custard Designs bag, it doesn't get used nearly as much as it should! And whilst I love my bird cage umbrella, I do wish it got a lot less use. Drizzle is the worst!

Are you taking part in Only Once August? How are you getting on?

Love

I'm really pleased that my Only Once August challenge didn't stop me taking part in Two Birds Inspiration Monday this week. I tried a belt with this tunic dress but it just didn't work and I wanted to forgo the footless tights but the weather just isn't good enough for bare legs.

I have a dress, in a similar colour, that would be a better match for Katie's dress but it desperately needed ironing and I had no time before heading out to work this morning. Note to self - plan your outfit the night before and stop the last minute morning rush!

I'll post an Only Once August update on Wednesday.

See all the other interpretations here.

Love

You may have heard me say before that I don't have much luck in charity shops. Last year, despite numerous visits to loads of shops I only found one item - a long thick woolly cardigan. But this year I've had more success, in the last month alone I found these three lovely pieces.

The t-shirt turned out to be a child's size and the tunic is three sizes larger than I normally wear, it just goes to show that size really is just a number and it's worth having a sneaky peek at everything, you never know what you might find...

Love