Wedding

 Dress - Oasis 

Headband - Crown and Glory

Shoes - Topshop

Bag - New Look 

In the seven years I've been with my boyfriend Raymond, we've had never been invited to a wedding before, which is shocking considering he's one of those people that knows hundreds of people. Raymond has been friends with the groom since school so he was invited to the whole day and as he was asked to be the official wedding photographer, I only went to the reception rather than the whole day. I would've probably ended up on my own most of the day while he was busy as I only knew the groom and no one else attending. Shy girl problems. 

Anyway as I was only going to the reception I wanted to get a dress that I could wear again. Before even finding a dress I decided that a wedding is the perfect excuse to crack out the an item from my crown and glory collection. For a girl who likes a good excuse to dress up the search for the dress was took a very long time. I ended up taking a chance and ordering this Oasis dress, they seem to occasionally have selected items in size 18 (wish they would just go up to an 18 in every item), it did fit but just needed some shaper tights underneath to make things smoother. I used this as the perfect excuse to go buy new shoes and a bag, who wouldn't?! The best buy were the shoes originally £46 then reduced in the sale but they had black scuffs all over them, I knew they would come off so after asking at the till I got them for £13.50 in the end. We had a lovely time even if we didn't manage to do much dancing as we left before people had enough drinks to break out the move on the dance floor. 

Cherry Lips

Dress - Dorothy Perkins

Shoes - Asos 

Floral Crown - Crown and Glory

I've always loved vintage inspired cherry printed dresses with full skirts, sadly they are either very much out of my price range and truthfully I wouldn't really wear them unless I had a special occasion. To my annoyance I don't get many excuses to wear a fancy dresses. When I spotted this on the website I had it bookmarked immediately until DP dropped one of their promo codes that often appear in my inbox. It's casual enough to wear in daytime or dressed up with the heels. The neckline is flattering for us bigger busted ladies and this style is available in many colours and prints. Although it doesn't look like I have spent loads of time in the sun this summer with the factor 50 on of course, I still remain paler than pale on camera.
 

I added my Burgundy floral crown as I do love an opportunity to co-ordinate and my strawberry wedges from the Asos sale a few years ago to give me some height. The necklace was a present from the boyfriend. I didn't realise I had unconsciously went with a fruity theme! I want to add more fruit prints to my wardrobe as they are always colourful and fun.

What's your favourite fruit print? 

Archie Bronson Outfit - Cherry Lips 

 

Blue Blood Blues

Dress - Dorothy Perkins

Sandals - River Island

Sunglasses - Accessorize 

Flower slides - Crown & Glory 

These photos were taken on possibly the hottest day of the year so far after walking about for a few hours which probably isn't the greatest idea but then add in that being pale as a ghost I put on some factor 50, the transparent spray kind, and it wouldn't sink into my skin so became a shiny oily messy. My sister also used it and it didn't do this to her. As my hair was down it touched the oily mess and went all greasy and strange despite having washed it the night before. Never again! I bought the good old fashioned cream sun protection the next day.

The dress is technically a birthday present as I used a voucher. I love the thicker straps and longer length. I often wear leggings under my summer dresses to avoid passer-by getting an eyeful, with this dress I didn't feel the need to. I saw the sandal way back in January in the sale and I bought them (Yes, I'm one of those people!) knowing that come summer I as always I would struggle to fit sandals that weren't completely flat or sky high. Admittedly they aren't the most flattering on my legs, but they are comfortable and at the end of the day that's all you want in shoes!

While taking these photos my labradoodle Jake decided to have a pose as well so I thought I'd share them with you. If you want to see more of him follow me on Instagram where he appears regularly with my labrador Ben.

 

The Dead Weather - Blue Blood Blues 

But now that I'm older

 Top - Wallis 

Skirt - New Look 

Blazer - Vintage 

Shoes - Clarks 

This is what I wore on for my birthday on Monday. I really loved this outfit but it seemed difficult to photograph due to the stripes as if the top had moved a bit it made things look odd. The skirt was a mere fiver in new look recently and I'm sure I looked at these skirts when they were reduced to a tenner but never found my size in any of the colours. The top was a present and I really love the thinner stripes and the lace at the top and makes it more unusual from other striped tops.

 Necklace - Hannah Zakari 

Bow - Crown and Glory 

I have always loved lighting bolt shapes and back in my days of youth I wore two lighting bolt necklaces on rotation that were big and bright. I still have them but I wouldn't wear them anymore, so I have always been on the hunt for something abit more subtle. I found this necklace before christmas and I'm sure it was much more than I would pay for a necklace even by an independent maker which is why it never came home but on a recent trip to the Edinburgh store I found it again and it was a much lower price that I was happy to pay. I wanted to find ways to style my hair so I could wear all my lovely Crown and Glory goodies that I won. The one I'm wearing I did buy back in November. This was my first attempt at using a larger bun doughnut and much preferred the outcome despite obviously missing some bits with the kirby grips!

I woke up to a room filled with balloons! My boyfriend had sneaked into my house at 7am to blow them all up himself and refused any help from my mum. I do love birthday surprises! I had a lovely day. We went out for lunch, ate cake and watched Where The Wild Things Are. 

What's been your favourite birthday surprise that you've had? 

Arcade Fire - Wake Up

All Is Love

Dress - Asos 

Shoes - Brantano

Bag - H&M 

Floral Headband - Crown and Glory 

Necklace - vintage fair

 I love Valentine's Day because of all the heart shaped items that hit the shelves. I am obsessed! If something is heart shaped and cheap I'll most likely be taking it to the till. I came across so many heart shaped novelties this year and the other week I bought heart shaped champagne flutes, balloons, and sparklers. I used the sparklers in the cake I made for myself my boyfriend which had a big purple heart on it made out of sprinkles which we then ate off heart shaped plates with a heart print on them, bet you are starting to get the idea now! Along with cake we drank out of our champagne flutes. I had Vimto in mine and he had milk in his because obviously we are adults. He bought me this adorable bag which I have wanted for so long. Hope everyone enjoyed their valentine's day and got to spend it how you wanted :)

I had this dress bookmarked for a while so when it into sale I had to get it even though it didn't have a lot off it. I'm glad I did as I love the colour, shape and fit plus it has a collar so that ticks off all my dress boxes! These shoes are from last summer and the little silver heel is just enough to make them not completely flat but still have the same look. The headband is from Crown and Glory and when there was a sale on it was in the basket quicker than you could say...well anything really. I thought this would satisfy my flowery hair needs but now there's new styles being added and I want them in all the colours!

 

Karen O & The Kids - All Is Love

This Side Of Winter

 Dress - Red Herring 

Cardigan - M&S  

Bag + Necklace - Accessorize 

Bracelets - Oasis + Topshop

This new year was a bit different for me this year as instead of our yearly tradition of gathering at a friend's house, who had opted to getaway with family instead, we ended up going out. I found it odd not watching the celebrations in Edinburgh on the TV but also that the club we were in didn't make a big deal about it turning midnight to surprise to even the staff so it went by in some confusion to whether it had just happened or not. I had ordered an Asos lace dress to wear but it just far too big for me, I sized up as my size was sold out. This was my planned back up outfit. The dress was bought to wear for my boyfriend's graduation last year. I love the cardigan and has been my first choice when picking an outfit since I bought it. I've found myself loving many  M&S products this season. I am really loving their jeggings, skinny fit but kinder to those with shapely thighs not to mention comfortable! This is not a sponsored post if you were wondering, they just seem to be getting it right at the moment.

Floral Headband - Crown and Glory 

Shoes - Schuh 

I have been after a Crown and Glory headband for a very long time, spending hours looking on the site. I could never justify buying one when I didn't have somewhere special to wear it but I found myself hunting for similar ones on the high street that where never exactly what I wanted. When a special 25% off code was released I had to order this one along with a glitter bow. I am very happy with it. The quality is amazing and I know that Sophie who makes them all put a lot of hard work into it. I thought it would satisfy my need for Crown and Glory but I fear it may have been fuel for an addiction as I have this one currently one the way to me. I ended up switching the heels for flats cause of the rain and the bag for a one I could fit an umbrella in. I'm glad I did when it started raining during the 25 minute wait for a taxi home. 

 Happy New Year! How did you see in the bells? 

 A Plastic Rose - This Side Of Winter