I always seem have a (not so) little shopping list lurking at the back of my mind.

Some things stay on the list, never to be purchased, eventually slipping from view. Others have a very short life on the list and make it into my shopping basket as soon as payday comes around.

New Look Nude Pointed Heeled Court Shoe  |  via ASOS  |  £14.99
I tried a pair of these for a wedding last year but ended up wearing something I already owned. These would be a good staple and I already know they fit and are comfortable.

Chance of making it into my shopping basket: 80% probability before the summer

ASOS JANINE Embellished Summer Shoes  |  ASOS  |  £28.00
I had a similar pair last year that I loved (and ruined playing chicken with the sea).

Chance of making it into my shopping basket: 100% by the time the sun shines (probably before)

Nike Roshe Run Black Trainers  |  ASOS  |  £70.00
Expensive yes, but no matter how hard I look I can't find a nicer looking pair of black trainers. It's all about the look of them as they wouldn't be worn for sport.

Chance of making it into my shopping basket: 30% (dithering)

I discovered a new beauty blog - Jasmine Talks Beauty - that has led me wanting a number of new products

Kiko Super Colour Mascara in Plum  |  £5.90
I can't help but wonder what a difference a hint of colour to the lashes would make...

Chance of making it into my shopping basket: very high!

Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask |  Feel Unique |  £22.99
This just sounds all kinds of perfect, and just what my skin needs - some hydration and TLC.

Chance of making it into my shopping basket: very likey indeed

The Body Shop Deep Sleep Comforting Milk Bath Float  | £14
And this - for all the pampering.

Chance of making it into my shopping basket: depends on if it somes back in stock...

Super Facialist Probiotic Micellar Cleansing Water  |  Boots  |  £6.99
I can't remember where I heard about this but it's definitely piqued my interest. I use a micellar water everyday for cleansing, but the person telling me about this said 'it feels as if it does something more than other micellars'.

Chance of making it into my shopping basket: definitely think this is worth a try!

Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara |  Boots  |  £6.99
Having seen this on a YouTube advert I was intrigued by the small brush. I've never got on with large mascara wands and this has a small wand, and promises volume, length, definition, lift and intense colour.

Chance of making it into my shopping basket: high

And lastly, thanks to a Lisa Eldridge make up tutorial I have now been introduced to the Rosie Huntington-Whiteley make up range - Rosie for Autograph. And it's so pretty. I want all of it.

Chance of making it into my shopping basket: not sure, it's all so lovely but I really don't need any of it... but isn't it pretty?

What's on your wish list?

Since January 1st I've been wearing items from my newly created capsule wardrobe. It's an idea I'd been pondering for a while, and as I tend to pull the same clothes from my crowded wardrobe time and time again anyway, I realised it probably wouldn't be too difficult to do.

It's a capsule wardrobe, originally created by Un-Fancy, that you update each season, it started at 37 items but the theory has evolved to allow you to settle on your own number. Any items not included in this number are then stored away.

At the start of each season you swap out items for others you already own and if you want to you can add a few new ones, but then you don't shop during the season. At all. Not even a little bit.

However I've picked 32 items so far and have left another 5 'open' so I can add things if I need to (or do a little shopping if it takes my fancy, I know what happens when I try to enforce a spending ban).

I've allowed myself this wiggle room as this is my first attempt, and I'm not sure I've got the balance quite right.

I have 16 tops, 4 bottoms, 2 dresses, 4 jackets / coats, and 6 items of footwear.


Accessories, going out clothes, and sportswear aren't included, as the idea is to have a workable, wearable, day-to-day wardrobe.

So far, it's been fine. I'm all about jeans and jumpers at this time of year anyway, and I've found I'm actually wearing a larger proportion of my clothes than before.

It's not too dissimilar from my 4-4-4 Challenge, which I really enjoyed, but I wonder if I'll be bored with everything by the end of the season? Time will tell ...

Have you ever tried a capsule wardrobe?

So, putting myself on a total spending ban doesn't work.

I try, I fail, I try again. Again I fail. The story never changes.

However I have found something that does work for me.

At the end of 2014 I promised myself that I wouldn't buy any scarves or PJs for a whole year. I had more than enough already and even though I threw away some PJs that had seen better days, and donated several of my scarves, I still ended 2015 with ample amounts of both.

I did buy myself a pair of Christmas PJs at the very end of 2015, but this was to keep up my tradition of wearing new PJs on Christmas Eve. And they were glorious! I think they're my favourite PJs ever.

That aside, I decided to continue this for 2016, possibly even forgoing Christmas PJs this year too.

In doing this I came to realise that I simply didn't look at either item online or in shops, it's like they no longer showed up on my radar which I found very interesting.

Now all I have to do is identify the other things I think I have plenty of and strike them from my shopping list.

Blusher is certainly one of them. Lipsticks too. As for clothing items, I think I've got knitwear covered, and summer trousers. Although I think these last two will be more difficult than scarves and PJs, but it's worth a try.

This didn't stop me spending last year but, who knows, maybe this along with my capsule wardrobe - more on that in another post - will make me think twice about what I have (and need) before making a purchase?

Do you find it easy to control your spending? And if you do, how?!

Last year I was introduced to needle felting and was immediately hooked. I've put it to one side for the sake of my patchwork quilt for now, but I am itching to pick it up again.

I attended a course in October last year, where I made pumpkins, and ate cake. And then of course once I  returned home, I made some more.
Being almost Christmas I turned my attention to snowmen and Father Christmas.


And aliens.


And then Cacti.


And with much inspiration lurking on my Pinterest board I'm sure to be making more!

I issued a spending ban. But I caved. I doubt anyone will be surprised. I wasn't.


I was in a charity shop, back in November (in my defense I was making a donation), when I tripped and fell into the changing room with some knitwear.


And then I was pondering what to wear over the festive period. You might recall a red dress I picked up at a clothes swap? I wanted to wear it but I needed a shrug or cardigan of some description to wear with it, so this teeny tiny eBay purchase occurred.


And whilst that was going on, this dress happened (Monsoon, £8.50, excellent condition - how could I not?).


And this jacket.


But that's it I promise.

Except for some long sleeve t-shirts to wear under jumpers, but only after I discovered three of mine had holes in them. But that really is it.

Apart from a Next jumper that I bought in lieu of a novelty Christmas jumper. It's super, super soft, and has really long sleeves. It's so cosy and I was starting to feel poorly and, heck, I just wanted it! What's more because I bought it instead of a Christmas Jumper, I can wear it all year round and I've worn it a lot already. So, it's totally justified, right?

Do spending bans ever work?

Not to be confused with phrases such as running for my life or begging for my life, this is far less dramatic. I'm talking about creating a wardrobe to match my lifestyle.

Since leaving an office environment (nearly three years ago now!), and since we now have a less hectic social life, I came to realise that my wardrobe was full of items that no longer fit. And I don't mean fit me, I mean my life.

Recently I took a good look at the clothes I wear most often, and then had a pretty hefty sort out and donated several bags of clothes I no longer wear.

I rarely wear dresses or skirts, and yet I had so many hanging in my wardrobe. At this time of year my daily outfit consists of jeans and a jumper. I like a good pair of leather boots and a chunky scarf, a warm coat and mittens. And layers, definitely layers.

Heels and frocks just don't fit with my life of working from home in a cold farmhouse, furry cats, muddy driveways, and cosy nights in. Never-the-less I've kept my absolute favourite dresses and skirts, because I don't think I'll ever lose the urge to don a dress or strut around in fabulous shoes. I've simply made a promise to wear the remaining items at the merest hint of an appropriate occasion.


I'm going out tonight, and declared it the perfect opportunity to wear my thrifted Monsoon skirt and my not-worn-nearly-enough Louche cat jumper. I love the combination of a dressy skirt with a slightly geeky jumper.

Do you shop for the life you lead?

I mentioned in my previous post that receiving things with my name on makes me happy. And what better way to follow that than to share my new make up bag, a Christmas gift from my husband.

It's roomy and stylish, and IT'S GOT MY NAME ON IT!!

It's made by Tillyanna and sold via Not On The High Street. I had to have a little looky-see at the full range. I know that loads of sellers offer to personalise items these days, but it's as if this range was made for me!


This cushion (I do love a cushion) needs no explanation, but I'd have to get one for Socks too!

And this cushion uses the same font that I used on our wedding invitations. I'm thinking it would make a lovely anniversary gift, but I'll have to wait, the first is paper, followed by cotton for our second.


It also comes as a tote bag #justsayin'

I took part in the 12 Days of Christmas Swap this year organised by Jo at Through the Keyhole. The idea was to send 12 gifts, one to be opened each day of the 12 days of Christmas.

I was partnered with Alcea Rosea and this is what I received.

A box full of beautifully wrapped and numbered gifts, I was very good and resisted the temptation to open them all the day they arrived!

My first gift was a notebook with a cat on the front. Two of my favourite things right there! Some scissors which have been getting lots of use as I sew my patchwork quilt. A handmade decoration that was immediately hung on my tree. And two scented pouches with cute kittens on.


Another beautiful tree decoration, I think this is called tatting, but I'm not sure, perhaps it's lacing? It's beautiful either way. A large bell that I put on the tree near the bottom so the cats could play with it. Some chocolate (so good!), and another scented item that now resides in my sock drawer.

Some soap that I've yet to start using, it just looks so pretty tied up and wrapped in lovely material. I'm intrigued to see if there is enough material for me to use it to make a flower for my quilt. Some tweezers that I've used when crafting (sometimes I find I need to glue together tiny items and these are perfect!). I also received a chocolate lovers recipe book, of which this chocolate fudge cake will be my first bake. And lastly some chocolate with my name on. I love things with my name on, when I was a child my name never appeared on anything. My best friend was called Karen and she was always showing me her latest pencil case with her name, or a cute mug. The only time I was ever given something with my name on was when Karen returned from a holiday in Wales with a blue mug and my name printed in white. I was delighted!! To receive something with my name on as an adult really pleases me.

I forgot to photograph the gifts I sent to Alcea Rosea, other than this one of them all wrapped up!


Many thanks to Jo for organising a fun swap, and huge thanks also to Alcea Rosea for such lovely and thoughtful gifts.

Did you join in any swaps this year?

I feel like I've found some amazing beauty products this year. Most of my purchases can be attributed to reading blog reviews, or from watching beauty You Tubers, either way I'm happy to have found these products, and to have added them to my beauty cabinet.

In no particular order, my first favourite is a mask found via Lisa Eldridge's skincare routine video. It's the Dr Brandt Pores No More Vaccum Cleaner mask, an exfoliating mask for blocked pores. I have seen a great improvement in my skin since using this, it's clearer than its been in a very long time. Used twice a week the 30g tube doesn't last very long, but the results I get are more than worth it.


Another products found via Lisa Eldridge is the Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. I use this as a night time treatment. It's a rich formula that melts into the skin and seriously hydrates the skin around the eyes. It feels comforting to use and helps to fortify the delicate eye area.


This one will come as no surprise, it's the The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter I'm on my third pot of this and I love it. You can read my initial thoughts here and a little more about it at the end of a post here. But to sum up, it makes my skin feel really clean, it's easy to use, gentle and effective.


Keeping with The Body Shop products, I found a little tube of heaven in the form of the Vitamin E Eyes Cube. I use this in addition to my eye cream. It feels cool and refreshing and helps to revive tired eyes throughout the day. It's been especially nice recently as I've had a cold, followed by a cough, followed by sinusitis - this has been really soothing when my eyes have felt tired, puffy and dry. I use this a lot more than I thought I would.


This too is an obvious one, I've talked about how much I like this before. The The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Make-Up Remover is a great product, I'm on my 3rd (maybe 4th) bottle. I only ever use waterproof mascara and this removes it with ease, and without irritation. Since I started using this I haven't used any other eye make up remover, and normally I'm keen to try a new products once I've emptied something.


The Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum was recommended over on Sparkly Vodka, I bagged a tube and have been using it ever since. It's super affordable but really works at hydrating skin. I've used some higher end serums but this is every bit as good, and one I reach for every morning to use under my moisturiser.


My absolute hero product of 2015 has to be the Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Peel. I love this! My skin in prone to looking dull but using this every night has made a real difference. It also helps to prevent blemishes, but if they do appear it helps to clear them quickly. I'm already at the end of my second tube and I've only been using this since mid October. It's really affordable but even if it was 10 times the price it would still be worth every penny.

I've tried lots of new products this year that I've liked but these are the ones I keep going back to. I'm a firm believer that every product you use should be of some benefit to your skin, and that you should know why you're using it. Once I started to ask myself why I was using something I was able to identify the gaps in my routine, and stop using products I didn't need. My skin feels more hydrated and smoother than it has done for some time.

What are your beauty heroes - old or new?

Prompted by reading a similar post by Harriet last year, I decided to ask myself 10 questions about the year, to note down and keep in my draft folder, to revisit and answer each year.

I used some questions from Harriet's post and added a few of my own. I think it'll be interesting to look back over these in years to come to see how my answers change.

1. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

2014 - More exercise and cooking from scratch more often

2015 - Spending more time with my husband

2. When have I felt the most alive?

2014 - A long weekend in Cornwall for a friend's wedding - it was so good to get away with lovely people and enjoy good food, good company, and the beautiful outdoors.

2015 - Our wedding day. The day was full of so many lovely moments.

3. What countries did I visit?

2014 - None. I'm working on getting Andy out of the country. He now has a passport so I'm slowly getting there...

2015 - Zurich and Paris with Andy (mission accomplished!), and Morocco

4. What event from the year will remain etched upon my memory, and why?

2014 - Christmas Day, when Andy proposed and the next few days that followed, telling our family and friends, making tentative plans and shopping for my engagement ring.

2015 - Shopping for and finding my wedding dress with my Mum, our wedding day, and sleeping under the stars in the Sahara

5. Best beauty buy of the year?

2014 - Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant and Laura Mercier radiance primer

2015 - Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Peel, The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Velvet Stick, and Sanctuary Spa Deep Cleanse Facial Blemish Serum

6. What did I try for the first time this year?

2014 - Patchwork and making sloe gin

2015 - Needle felting and scuba diving

7. What song will always remind me of the year?

2014 - Happy by Pharrell Williams and She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy by Kenny Chesney

2015 - Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran, All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor, Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding, Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, When I Need You by Leo Sayer, Hold My Hand by Jess Glynne, Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) by Mark Ronson (all unashamedly wedding related).

8. What did I do to celebrate my birthday?

2014 - I had an early breakfast with Andy. Spent some of the day working, and had a visit from my Mum.

2015 - My birthday fell on the same day as A Photo An Hour. I had an early breakfast with Andy (it's tradition) and then spent the day with Mum and her husband, mostly eating, before Andy came home and we watched Paddington.

But my birthday was celebrated over a few weekends. I also went to Go Ape with my best friend, where we faffed around in the treetops like loons. And I also had a family BBQ with garden games and the most delicious sausages from our local butcher.

9. What did I learn this year?

2014 - A meal plan is great for saving time.

2015 - You have to create opportunities for yourself, and make positive steps towards the changes you wish to see in your life

10. My hope for 2016?

2014 - A happy year with less procrastination, more time spent with friends and family, and a trip abroad.

2015 - Lots of home improvements, and more time with Andy, family, and friends.

What questions would you ask yourself?

I'm not going to make any resolutions for 2016.

I already make seasonal lists and I have a Birthday Wish list too. I love a list like the next list obsessive but even I think another one would be too much.

So here's a little update on my Wish List for Year 40.

Create calm
The house is in chaos after Christmas but I feel I've made a good start on de-cluttering. The calm aspect of it still eludes me but I haven't finished the tidying process yet, but progress is being made.

Improve my surroundings
Since my birthday I've done very little to tick anything off my home improvements list, which is why I've added a list of specific things I want to achieve to my winter list.

These are the things I have done
- Hung new brackets for hanging baskets
- Planted shrubs in two beds in the back garden
- Changed lampshade in downstairs loo
- Altered and hung bedroom curtains

Feel stronger and healthier
Pilates and Clubbercise each week are definitely helping. I'd like to find something else to do too.

Eat healthier
"I want to cook from scratch far more than I do now. First step is to find recipes to make our favourite staple dishes instead of cooking out of jars." This was also a resolution for 2015, I tried lots of new recipes but not of our staples. To start, recipes for lasagna and spag-bol need to be investigated, so that I can tweak and perfect them, and reach for ingredients instead of a jar. 

Make memories
My favourite memory of year 40 so far is my Sahara trip. Sleeping under the stars, running up sandunes in bare feet, and experiencing a sandstorm with a super group of people are moments that will stay with me forever.

These memories don't need to be huge, the quick trip that Andy and I took to buy Christmas decorations this year was super lovely too.

I'm beginning to think that 'Make memories' was a silly thing to list. I guess what I really meant was to learn to appreciate the good stuff. We make memories everyday - nice or otherwise - the trick is to keep hold of the good ones. I started a memory jar at the beginning of 2015 but, ironically, I forgot to add anything after my January enthusiasm wore off.

So I'm going to tweak this 'wish' to make an effort to document all the good bits photographically. I take loads of photos but I often find that I forget to take pics when I'm with others, just one snapshot is enough to capture a moment.

Overall I'm happy with progress so far, it's been good to evaluate and has given me renewed enthusiasm.

Are you making resolutions this year?

I spent a lot on clothes in 2015, so much in fact that when I worked out the exact figure, I issued an immediate spending ban. I've added some lovely items to my wardrobe and despite wishing I hadn't spent quite so much, I think I've bought some absolute corkers.

My favourites

My 'Next Day Dress', £69, and the dress I wore for my Mum's wedding, £85.

My day after dress has already been worn again, on our honeymoon, and I am going to wear it to a ball this year. Ordinarily I would buy something new but I want to wear the dress again so much that it's eclipsed my urge to shop!

The dress I purchased for my Mum's wedding has also been worn again, to a friend's wedding reception and for afternoon tea with Sophie. I'm also hoping to wear it again for a family wedding in July.

These where my two most expensive items overall. But finding something you love doesn't mean you have to spend a lot, charity shops can offer some pretty amazing items, which is where I found some of my other favourites


Mango shirt, a few quid.

Monsoon rara skirt, less than a fiver.

White summer dress, about £7.50

Jumpers, I bought 4 jumpers for less than the cost of one from the high street.


And clothes swaps can offer up some gems too - I've worn the Louche dress a few times already, and the red dress on Christmas Day. All they cost me was the donation of clothes I no longer wore (the patterned dress went to a charity shop in the end).


Most expensive pre-loved item
Irregular Choice Frog shoes £34.99, they're in almost perfect condition and still yet to be worn by me. I've admired these shoes on Alex and Char for ages and so when I saw a pair on eBay at a price I was happy with I hit Buy It Now.


Most worn item?
Jeans. I didn't buy this particular pair until June but they still managed to be my most worn item. My love of jeans will never wane.


Any unworn of 2015 purchases?
Bird Dress (needs altering), Kew shorts (purchased after the summer), Frog ICs (earmarked for a special event), and an oversize white dress (relatively new).


2015 resolutions
I banned myself from buying any scarves or pyjamas in 2015, although when I made this resolution I'd forgotten about my tradition of having new PJs for Christmas Eve - so I bought a pair.

As for scarves I resisted and didn't buy a single one, my only scarf addition came in the form of a Christmas present from Sophie. Thank you lovely!


Still not worn
I have one item in my wardrobe, purchased in 2014, that remains unworn - a Monsoon pencil skirt. I won it on eBay for £5.19 and I love it. I just need to find the right items to wear with it, and then actually wear. Isn't it pretty?


I can't let a post about things I wore in 2015 go by without giving my wedding dress a mention. It is truly the most amazing thing I've ever worn. I did quite a bit of gushing about it over on To Dream of Dresses.

The thing I learnt this year is that buying clothes you really love means you'll wear them, even if it sometimes means spending a little more than you normally would (although I say again - finding something you love doesn't mean you have to spend a lot).

For the coming year I'd like to stick with my ban on scarves and PJs (I might forgo new Christmas Eve PJs come December. Maybe. I make no promises).

I'd like to spend considerably less than last year, and I'd like to focus on buying things that enable me to wear the items I already have a lot more - the monsoon skirt for example.

But more than that I'd like to try living with a capsule wardrobe that changes every season. More on that in a future post...

I hope you've enjoyed a look back into my 2015 wardrobe. What were your favourite items of your wardrobe year? Did you find any charity shops gems?