Christmas Favourites in a Nutshell

Sooo its finally been christmas! I had a lovely time, i hope you all had a fabulous christmas! Heres a little post to show you a glimpse of my christmas, and just a few of my favourite presents that i recieved!

Christmas morning-
My doggy waiting by the Christmas Tree filled with presents :)

Christmas Fairy Cakes-
I baked these on Christmas Eve ready to nibble on on Christmas Day- yummy!

Beautiful Vintage Looking Book-Ends & Trinket Boxes-
These were a present from a lovely friend of mine.. They are gorgeous and go perfectly in my room!

Topshop Makeup-
WOW, Who doesnt love some Topshop goodies?!
Some lovely lipstick and blusher which were stocking fillers, and then
the duo on the left in the beautiful packaging are Lip balms, and were a present from my lovely Hayley over at At the Casbah ...

Topshop makeup from above-
Lipstick- TEASE
Blush- PRIME TIME

Dolce & Gabbana-
My favourite perfume! Ahhh smells so so lovely.

Remington Peal-
So long are the days of GHD's for me... they have ruined my hair & so i asked for some new straighteners for christmas, and these are what i got! I also got a curler too match :) 

More Topshop goodies!-
I adore these cute little bracelets and i cannot wait to wear them! They were both presents, the one on the right from my lovely friend Hayley as mentioned above at The Casbah

Presents for my doggy!-
These are just a few treats i picked up for my baby from Pets At Home

Table set for Christmas Dinner-
For the second year now seen as Dad is no longer here, it was up to me to cook Christmas dinner. I set the table ready for a yummy meal :)

Monopoly-
Christmas wouldnt be christmas without some board games.. and this year i chose Monopoly! Such a fab game to get into the spirit with the family

Ipod & MacBook Pro-
We all need music over Christmas, so i have used them quite a lot!

ZARA Basics- Handbag-
I ADORE this handbag. I went on a trip to Manchester after boxing day, and i picked this up in ZARA ... £16.99! Such a lovely beige colour! So many pretty things at ZARA i want them all!

Dalmatian Faux Fur Coat-
This is my new love- i picked this up from a little shop in Manchester but i dont know what it was called and the bag & receipt has no name on it :(

No7 Makeup-
Whilst in Manchester i got myself kitted up with some new makeup.. The lovely girls at the No7 counter helped to match these up to my skin, and i love them! I will do a post on them for you soon!

Topshop Mug- £8
To finish the christmas period- a good cup of tea in my favourite mug was all i needed!

There we have it- my christmas in a glimpse... Im very thankful for all my presents...

Have a good new year everyone, hope you all have a fab time!

xxxxx

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Hello lovely bloggers. Its been such a long time since i have been on here its unreal. I lost my connection with the blogging world from starting my new career, but i have had quite a few messages asking me where i am, if I'm coming back, when will i blog again... so here i am.

Thank you to my followers who have stayed with me and not clicked that dreadful 'unfollow' button... it means a lot that you stuck around :)

Ive been so busy lately, but I've just about got myself back on track again with things in my life- therefore i feel i can now commit to my hobby again rather than letting it take a back seat whilst i got all the boring things in life sorted out.

In terms of what I've been up to while I've been away.. well its been work work and more work, but i love my new job so much. Its such a pleasure to work with young children and help them, and theres so many smiles that come from seeing them succeed. Oh and I'm still very much blonde for those of you who are thinking 'i wonder what colour her hair is now'. 

                             Dress is from VERY as seen on tv, please ignore mums messy room!

It was my birthday a couple of weeks ago, i turned 24! I had lots of lovely presents... and i got myself a new car! I hated parting with mine for sentimental reasons but it was time to give it up and get a new one, so now i have a shiny new C1 and i love her! :)

So its that time... its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Who's excited?? I am! Although i do feel as i get older I'm starting to not care as much about presents... its more how i spend Christmas time, and who with. I put our Christmas tree up the other night, even though it will always be a tough thing for me to do from loosing my dad as that was his speciality and he loved Christmas, but i put it up for him as life does indeed carry on. 

Ive done most of my Christmas shopping and got the bits that i have brought wrapped up, but i feel theres still so much more to buy! I dont have any plans at all at the minute for Christmas festivities, but im not going to worry because usually those last minute plans turn out to be the best!

Anyway i hope you are all well, il be back tomorrow with a blog post... not too sure what my first post back will be on, but i have a few new bits and bobs i could do a haul on...

Until next time 

xxxxxxx

On a new journey....

Once again i come with an apology! Ive been away from blogging for a few weeks because I've just been too busy. I started my new job- I'm almost 6 weeks in and loving it. Its been so so hectic trying to come to terms with new routines etc, getting to know new people, and most of all coming to terms that I'm now working in a school where i have always wanted to work! 

 Anyway with a new job comes new money, £££££. I can now treat myself to all those little things that may of been off limits in my previous employment! I have been shopping this weekend, so I'm thinking of doing a little haul of that for my next post. 

 The only other change in my life is my hair, again! I have gone back to the blonde side, yep I'm a blondie AGAIN! I just can't get used to not being blonde- its me! 

 Speak soon lovely's xxxxx

Jumped on board the Kindle bandwagon!

So my lovely's my Friday night has consisted of a trip to Tesco! I originally went for the normal bread & milk run.. & ended up coming out with a Kindle!!

I've wanted a kindle for a while but never actually went the whole way & splashed out for one, but tonight I thought what the hell I'm going to do it!

I've had a grey one, it was £89.. I was going to have the new Kindle Touch but I thought I'd stick with this one for now. My first book that I've brought on it is.... You guessed it, Fifty Shades. Freed! I've got all 3 books at home & I'm half way through the last one, but I decided to buy it anyway and finish reading it on the Kindle!

From what I've seen so far they are so clever! I love it already! I also love how lightweight they are! It fits perfectly on my handbag, so no more carrying around heavy books! At first I was against getting one as I like the idea of sitting down with a good book- the old fashioned way... But in terms of reality they are so much easier & no more flicking pages or taking up room with books that have been read building up!

I've been onto eBay and got myself a lovely little purple cover for it for )3.99- bargain!

How do you like to read; the old fashioned way or have you too the leap into the modern era? Xxx

Newbies at The Secret Closet!!

New Items Added- 'Inside The Secret Closet'- EBAY!!

WHY NOT CHECK THEM OUT? :)

xxxxx

From cupcakes to makeup!

So this is just a tiny post to share with you all my new idea for makeup storage! I get so bored of make up bags and they leave hardly any room in drawers... Plus If your anything like me i hardly use half of my makeup, so this is perfect for me to put my essentials in & they're now right in reach without faffing about. I've seen lots of people using what I'm about to show as either jewellery holders or makeup storage.

I was browsing on Homebase the other day, and come across this gorgeous fruitcake stand.. I then looked at the price & it was £7.49- half price in the sale! It defo was a must have! It has 3 tiers and is cream wired with a love heart pattern as the wires bend round. I think I'm going to spray paint mine white to match the rest of my bits and bobs in my room... But it's such a cute vintage looking piece!

Here's a few pictures so you can see how I'm going to use mine :)

(sorry for the crap picture above.. this is me searching Homebase on my iPhone, & for some reason my photo editor wouldn't let me crop it, perhaps its because its from the Homebase site :) )

How do you store your makeup?

Xxxx

Gone to the dark side!!

Okay my lovely's so my last post was to inform you that I was changing my hair colour, this post is to let you know I've been brave and I've done it! I've gone back to the dark side!!

I used 'Natural Dark Auburn, 112- Nice & Easy' ... My hair has turned out a little darker than expected but I think that's because I left it on too long to make sure it went brown from being so blonde!

I do really like it, it's a big change! I feel it gives me a little more colouring in my face!
Here's a few pictures below...

^^ Before & after!

 let me know what you think? :) xxx

Changes in my life...

Hello my fellow bloggers, it's been a while, a long while. I apologise for my absence, I've just not been myself recently and felt really out of it so my blog took the fall for it but I'm feeling better in myself now so I'm going to think of some new blog posts for you all.

This little post is just to let you all know about a change that's going to be happening... I'm going to change my hair! I've been blonde for so many years of my life, I went brown then black then back to blonde, but I've just had enough of my hair looking yellow, and having to keep on dying it because of having dark roots... It's such a nightmare; especially trying to get it all the same colour without it going golden/gingerish. So from being fed up with it I have decided to go a nice auburn colour! I think I'm going to do this monday.. You've obviously seen pictures of me with my blonde hair, but il do a before and after post once it's done, but the colour I've chosen is below! I'm quite excited but mega scared too! I just feel like I need a big change ready for my new job in just over a week, and seen as I think summer has officially gone, I love the thought of having darker hair for the winter :)

Hope your all well! Bye bye till the next time :) xxxx

Dipped Hem Heaven!

Gone are the days of the boring plain and simple style of the skirt... Hello dipped hem! I have a new found love for these skirts & i cannot stop buying them. This goes the same for the dresses that are now out in this style... sooo cute! Heres a few that i recently purhcased...

1. PRIMARK, £8.00

Yes this little number is just £8.00 from good old Primark! I love this skirt because its so casual but you can really dress it up if you were going to the pub by just adding a pair of heels. Its quite floaty and cool. I love the black waistband detail which just gives it that little adding touch. Its just above the knee length at the front, and comes half way down the back of your legs. This looks lovely with or without tights/leggings.. matched with a paid of ankle boots.

 

 2. RIVER ISLAND, £25.00

When i saw this skirt i completely fell in love. The pictures don't do it justice at all... the aztec pattern is just so nice, and the colours are so summery! It comes with a tan coloured belt with gold detail at the front. Its quite short at the front which is fab for summer or for on holiday with a nice bikini, but its also subtle enough to wear for a more formal purpose as it becomes really long at the back almost reaching your ankles. I think this skirt is my favourite so far!

 3. RIVER ISLAND, £5.00!

No-one can resist a bargin huh? This was just £5.00... yes FIVE POUNDS! Its not so much an dipped hem skirt, as its the same length at the front and back, but it does go shorter on the sides creating almost a triangle effect. Its a lovely chiffon material, and comes with a brown belt... for £5.00 i couldn't say no! The pattern is quite vintage looking... team this with a brown bullet and jobs a good en!

                                     

How dipped is your wardrobe?

xxxxxx

Newbies @ The Secret Closet!

NEW ITEMS ADDED AT INSIDE THE SECRET CLOSET - EBAY!! 

Why not take a look? :)
xxxxx

Go to a safe place and say whats on your mind...

Okay so here at The Secret Closet i have acquired a new writing area for myself! Today i have been to the wonderful Ikea... oh how i love this place. Its full of amazing things that i just want to buy and have in my own house when i move out! Seen as i am starting my new job as a Teachers Assistant in a few weeks, i thought perhaps using my MacBook on my dressing table amongst my mirror and brushes probably wasn't the best idea when coming to planning activities etc. So hence this thought i got myself down to Ikea and picked up a cute 'Carrie Bradshaw' looking laptop desk. I couldn't wait to get it home and do a little DIY to assemble it! Half an hour later I'm done and trying to work out where to put it as my room isn't as simple as just four walls. I decided to pop it under my window next to my bed... this could be a bad idea as instead of sleeping i may find myself under temptation and on here more!

Heres a sneaky picture... 

Since taking this picture and uploading it i have moved it round a little but only by moving the plant pot & books to the left and the MacBook to the right. I feel inspired already now i have my own little corner :)

I know its only a small laptop table, but its big enough to get a notebook etc on with it, and it was such a bargin at £35.99! They also do this desk in black, or you can have black with a white draw (the draw just slides out from under the top surface), or if you choose a white desk you can have a white, beech or green draw! I will probably get myself a new little swivel chair to go with it next time I'm at Ikea as my dressing table stool doesn't really help when sitting for hours on it!

I also just want to mention quickly that i have started to put a few items of clothing on my eBay account... theres only two items on at the minute as two have sold, but i shall be adding a few more soon... heres the link to my ebay page. 

Where do you write your blog posts?

Natalie

xxxxxxx

Zebra Tips!

Because i've not blogged in so long, i thought id be nice & do two posts in one day!

Last night i was sat watching some tele and decided to paint my nails as I'm off work this week on a paid holiday... I've stopped painting my nails whilst I'm working as theres just no point because as soon as i do them and go in they get chipped and ruined! I was undecided on what colour to do them, and i thought to myself what can i do thats different... and this is what i came up with!

Okay so i know they aren't that good... BUT i did rush them and I'm not that good of a nail painter as my hands shake a lot... but i just love them! I just used Barry M nail paint, white for the tips and black for the pattern. Instead of drawing perfect black lines i did them a bit messy to make a better effect.

This is just one example of what you can do to your nails instead of painting them just one bold colour... i may try leopard print next, who knows!

How do you paint your nails?

Natalie

xxxxxx

We live on the edge of life...

Okay, so its been a month since i last posted on my blog and i can only apologise. Ive been so out of it just recently and been working my butt off literally 6 days a week, so I've just had no time at all... bad Natalie i know! To update you all from my last post about having some exciting news... I HAVE A NEW JOB, wahoooo! As of September i shall be 'Miss Salt'... the teaching assistant! I am thrilled to bits to finally be on the first step of my career ladder! This also means i will obviously have weekends to myself therefore more blogging time :) Anyway enough of the chit chat... i thought id do this haul post for you all... These are a few things that i have brought recently on shopping trips, enjoy!

This is my favourite recent buy! A Peter Pan collared Playsuit! I recently went on a weekend break away to Burnley, & found this in Internationale for just £15.00 in the sale! I fell in love with it straight away, the collar has little pearl gems stuck on it, and it comes with a silver belt. The shorts are navy blue which look lovely in contrast with the white top. I wore this on a night out whilst over there... and paired it with some white heeled shoes.

My next recent buy is also Peter Pan collared... i think I'm a little obsessed with this at the minute...

These little beauties are from Primark, £6.00 each! I love love the details on these... the gold points at the end of the collar give it that finishing touch! They come in all different colours; white, black, peach, burgundy, purple... etc. The look fab dressed with skinny jeans for a casual look, and throw on a pair of black heels for an evening to the pub?

Next stop, Dorothy Perkins... Gold Sequin pocketed vest top! Now this really was a bargin! Originally £22.00 reduced to £7.00!

The top is a satan/silky material... and it is longer at the back than the front. The sequins make this little top... I would probably pair it with a pair of black skinny's and heels... but its also nice for any christmas outings paired with a skirt and a gold clutch bag!

Now these next two buys are for an upcoming wedding that I'm going to next month. Its obviously a day & night event, and i wanted two different looks; one for the ceremony that is subtle, and one for the party at the evening thats a bit more glamourous. I haven't totally decided whether these are going to be my set in stone choice for outfits yet, but i love them just as much...

1) This first dress is a possibility for the ceremony of the wedding. This was an absolute bargin at just £5.00! This was from a little shop in our town called Glance... I have mentioned this shop before in previous posts. I think it is avaiable in white black and navy too. It is a chiffon material, and i think paired with some gold heels and maybe a gold fascinator in my hair it could just do the job.

2) This second dress is totally me, and what I'm thinking of wearing to the reception party of the wedding. It is a copy of the dress that is currently a best seller in Topshop, except this one has the back cut out which i think makes it more fab! This little beauty cost £21.99 from Pilot. It is avaiable in white or coral, but i preferred the white as with a nice tan i think it'll look lovely! I will pair this with gold heels i think.

(Please ignore my hair on the above photo... this is me without my extensions!)

So, they are my most recent buys! At the minute I'm at that stage where I'm seeing so many nice clothes and i just want them all! But I'm planning to go on holiday at the end of August so i need to save my money now for this! It just shows you don't have to pay a lot of money though to buy suitable clothes for events.... Have a look around before you buy the first thing you see... you could drop on some bargins!

Have you been shopping recently? Whats caught your eye?

Natalie

xxxxxx