OK, so my attempt at blogging everyday in May didn't go very well. I had no illusions that I'd manage a post-a-day but I did think I'd do a little better than nine.

Nine, pfft!

Still, it's more than I managed in March and April combined so I'm going chalk it up as a success anyway! I wanted to get back in the habit (not in a Whoopi Goldberg kinda way), and I think it's done just that.

So, thank you to Elizabeth for organising #BEDM. Perhaps if I take part again, I'll be more organised and plan more posts in advance, rather than looking at a topic in the morning and thinking "how the heck and I going to do that today?'

Life has shown me time and time again that if I don't plan, I just potter around for days / weeks / months and then I look back and can't remember doing anything in particular, I feel as if I've achieved nothing. For example, a resolution for 2014 was to do something cultural once a month, but I'm failing miserably. If I don't plan anything and the month whizzes by and it's over before I know it.

Somebody asked me recently where I saw myself in five years time but honestly I couldn't tell you what I'm doing next week.

Are you a planner or do you just make it up as you go along, like me?

Love

My final instalment of Flying Saucer's May Challenge, albeit rather late! A bit of a long one and lots of pics of me in it (sorry - overload! I tried to keep them to a minimum).

See the others here, here and here.

21st. Something that is your favourite brand
This begs the question what is my favourite brand? Avon has to be up there, or Essie - a new discovery for me - but for sheer longevity alone I'd have to say Olay (60 years old this year and still looking fabulous). I've used their moisturisers for as long as I can remember and recently Really Ree introduced me to Olay's Regenerist Wrinkle Relaxing Complex. It's utterly divine, I'm already on my second pot. Read Ree's review here.

22nd. A piece of clothing or jewellry that was a gift
My Pandora bracelets. All of these charms have been given to me, the cute little giraffe was a gift from my brother after I returned from Kenya with a huge giraffe obsession (if you ever get the chance to visit the Giraffe Centre in Kenya, take it!). My absolute favourite is the little house that OH gave me after we moved into our new home lat year.



23rd. Something from your favourite store
H&M is my go-to store especially for basics, but I also love their scarves. I have a bit of a 'thing' for scarves and the majority of my collection originates from here. This is my latest addition.



24th. The item that brings all the boys to the yard
Haha! I'm really not sure what that even means (showing my age?). OH likes this outfit - does this count?



25th. A totally YOU outfit.
Jeans, bag, big-ish necklace or arm party, slouchy top, scarf or ballet flats...



26th. What's in your bag
You can check this out on What's in My Handbag. Great site - loads of fun and a great way to find new beauty products too! If you'd like to join the site click here.



27th. Inspired by your style icon
I don't think my inspiration needs any introduction here...



28th. Something everyone has now
Stumped. Nobody owns the same thing as everyone else...

29th. Face of the day
This is the kit that I use to create my everyday face. The Benefit Porefessional is a magazine freebie but I'll definitely be purchasing a full size tube in the near future. The eyeshadow palette I have had for ages (I'm a little embarrassed to show it) but I love it, well one of the colours anyway! The Bodyshop compact is for brows - the first one I have found that doesn't make my brows look orange.



30th. Pretty hair
My hair has never felt prettier than on my friend's wedding day, I was her bridesmaid and I wore frangipani in my hair.



31st. The thing you're obsessed with at the moment!
This can change on a daily basis! When I was supposed to write this post I'm certain that it would have been something different but right now I'm in love with these. I found these via A Daisy Chain Dream - thanks Laura! (And just in case anyone is interested, I'm a 5.5 and my birthday is at the end of August).


Hope you have a great weekend
Love

I know we're now well into June now but I couldn't not finish Flying Saucer's May Challenge.

Being a Graphic Designer I live by deadlines and it irks me that I missed this one. I have never missed a deadline professionally and it's the meeting of these during the month of May that left me with little time for anything outside of work - like grocery shopping and housework. Blogging had to take a back seat for a while.

But, I've started, so I'll finish (eventually).

16th. A customised item
I dyed this dress not so long ago and have taken to wearing it with a brooch on the collar, this is about as customised as I get...



17th. Something you wear when it's sunny
Sunglasses - I simply can not function without them in the sun. And sun lotion. I do find it strange that whilst I have over 40 handbags and pairs of shoes but only one pair of sunglasses...



18th. Your brightest lipstick
Rockalily! I love my Rockalily lippies, sadly they are no longer available which, in my book, gives them 'precious' status. The colour they give is amazing and perfect for my pale complexion. This is Roulette Red, my first serious, grown up red.



19th. An article of clothing/jewellery that instantly makes you feel great.
Stripe top from Very, I have two of them. I think that I could make this top work for any occasion (there's a challenge!).



20th. Shoes you love but hardly wear
Most of my heels qualify here. But I have to say that my silver sandals, from Zara, are the ones that I wish I could wear more often. I just feel so damn glamorous when I'm wearing them!



Did you take part in this challenge? How did you get on?

Those of you who read the first of my May Challenge posts, you would have seen a glimpse of my bargain Coast dress, purchased back in October, for a ball I attended in mid May.

It was on eBay and when I saw it the bidding was due to end. I knew it was too much of a bargain to ignore. I waited until the last few seconds, made my bid and won. I love it when that happens!

The dress is second hand and so is the clutch bag, so I decided that this outfit should be my entry into Ceri's Ethical Outfit Competition. I was so pleased to find this dress, as a piece that won't get worn very often I was glad that I could find something second hand, rather than buy new, from both an ethical and a financial point of view.


The whole outfit was a bit of a bargain actually.
Coast dress (worn once) £20.00, eBay
Shoes £29.99, Zara
Oasis bag £15.00, (used once) eBay
Pilgrim ring £15.00 in the sale, Debenhams
The necklace and earrings I've had for ages, even my nail varnish - Dangerous Affair, Ciaté - was free on the front of a magazine.

That's a total of just £79.99 - £40 less than the original price of the dress alone. I love you eBay.

I'm pondering what to do with this dress now. I'd love to think that I will wear it time and time again as I'd hate something so pretty to just hang in the back of my wardrobe. A dress like this should be worn, but I doubt that I'll be presented with many occasions to wear it, however, I'm a little reluctant to part with it...

What is your best eBay win? Are you entering Ceri's competition?

Catching up with the May Challenge by Flying Saucer.

Day 10 - Cute tights
I've had this maxi skirt for ages and have been waiting for the sun to shine so I could wear it. Then it dawned on me - I can wear tights underneath (I've always been quick off the mark!). These are by Red or Dead, purchased whilst conquering my fear of hosiery.

Day 11 - Your spring essential
Body brush and cellulite cream. After months of being hidden under jeans and hosiery my legs always need a little (a lot of) TLC to get them shorts ready. The body brush I've had for ages but the cream is new to me, it was highly recommended in a magazine. I swear by body brushing and the cream isn't very expensive so I decided to give it a try. It does sink in quickly, which I love. I have a huge dislike for creams that linger on my skin and make getting into my skinny jeans difficult.



Day 12 - The outfit you've had the best times in
I've found this one really tough, all of the times that are up there as 'one of the best' I wore something entirely different. Can I come back to this one?

Day 13 - Your lazy day at home with style (in front of your housemates/bf/visitor)
Chances are that a lazy day will involve jeans. This is a typical outfit for me - jeans, casual shoes, scarf and a smattering of jewellery.



Day 14 - The item that was hardest to hunt down/buy.
Believe it or not I found a black bag pretty hard to find. It's because I am so particular. It took me ages to find one and then I found two on eBay and bought them both! Since then I have found out that one of them is a copy of a Fendi Spy bag (luckily it wasn't being sold as the real deal, I only paid £8.30), which makes me like it a little less, carrying around a fake makes me feel a little foolish. Is that silly?



Day 15 - Nail art/your favourite polish and your nail varnish collection
With a huge boost from Essie polishes being available to buy in Boots I now have over 30 shades in my collection. Essie Mint Candy Apple is my current favourite, I thought I'd hate it but once on I was smitten.



Hopefully I can catch up completely before the month is out!

Life has been a little hectic recently and I missed the start of this challenge by Flying Saucer (discovered via Sophie's blog).

Would it be cheating to do this in chunks, a little late, instead of a daily post? You know I love a challenge and it seems like ages since my last challenge ended.

Day 1 - Your Wardrobe.
I recently wrote about my wardrobe overhaul for The Modern Girls Guide. I'm glad to say that I've managed to keep it neat and tidy since then (which is pretty amazing for me as I have been know to use the floor instead of the hangers in the wardrobe)



Day 2 - You have the most…
Bags - 41 and counting. Some I have had for years, some I have been talked in to buying by evil (brilliant) friends, others were gifts and I can spend hours trawling eBay for new additions.





Day 3 - Something you're wearing for the first time.
This cream jumper and using this tiny ASOS bag, I normally carry my world around with me so using this was a challenge in itself! As I was just popping into town I got on okay. All I needed was my purse, phone, keys and a lippy. I don't think I could use this on a normal day.




Day 4 - My favourite print.
Hands down, without a doubt my leopard print ballet flats. I'm a bit of a patternphobe so prints are limited in my wardrobe.



Day 5 - Your best bargain.
It doesn't look much on the hanger, Coast maxi dress, £20 via eBay (RRP £120). I've had this hanging in my wardrobe since October last year waiting for the 18th May when I will wearing it to a charity ball (there will be an outfit post).




Day 6 - Something out of your comfort zone but you love it.
Another eBay purchase this aztec maxi dress is divine. Pretty adventurous for a patternphobe don't you think? That said I haven't actually worn it yet...




Day 7 - A special occasion outfit.
The most recent special occasion for me was my Mum's 60th Birthday. I wore this ASOS maxi dress with a wide belt. On the day my hair looked a lot better and the party was in a local restaurant, not in a field of oil seed rape, but I can't help being drawn to that gorgeous yellow. Sooner or later it was going to feature in an outfit shot… and this may not be the last.



Day 8 - Something you forget you have but love.
This ring. So pretty!



Day 9 - The item at the top of your wishlist.
Choosing just one is hard. If pushed and shoved I would have to say this dress from Wrap. Sadly this has sold out in the blue so this will remain a wish.



So, here we go. I'm still a little behind, I'll try to catch up next week...
Hope you had a great weekend!