One of my friends suggested an alternative way to paint my nails (I think she saw it on daytime TV).

Anyway, you paint your nails, not worrying about any mistakes - it can be as scrappy as you like - and then wash up or take a bath. The water will wash anyway any nail polish that is on your skin leaving you with neat nails.

Or so they say.

I decided to give it a try with my new Matte polish in Violetta from Avon.

So, with my Wardrobe Challenge starting in just over a week I should probably stop adding to my lust list, but... I just can't help it.

Matalan Sky Print Dress
To die for. No?
Ana Marina Grey Stud Buckle Boots

Fearne Cotton Peter Pan Button Blouse from Very

Next Straw Boxy Bag

New Look Wedge Lace Up Boots



I am now deeply concerned about how I am going to curb my spending for the foreseeable future... there are just too many lovely, lovely things out there. Hummm, perhaps not actively going to look for lovely things may help?

It maybe some time before there is another Particular Pieces post.

Deep breaths...

'Wearing tights gives you thrush'.

This is the random comment that put me off wearing tights for years. It was made when I was in my mid teens, when my jeans and skirts that dragged the floor negated the need for any form of hosiery, but never-the-less what he said stuck (and it was without doubt a he).

Now, I know that this is ridiculous but remember it was said to me at an impressionable age, so please don't judge me too harshly. Some things stick and this, sadly, was one of them. Tights became an unattractive option to me and it wasn't something I ever really questioned. But now I realise that my wardrobe options are limited by this unecessary avoidance.

My hosiery collection consists of nothing more then a solitary pair of black opaque tights. I did try hold-ups once but spent the entire evening with my hand on my thigh to prevent one of them slipping into a pile at my ankle, which did little to change my opinion of hosiery. Anyway, I need to grow up. Tights are not the enemy. 

A timely post Wardrobe Watch For Tights Please, on one of my fav blogs The Online Stylist, got me thinking. Clever and stylish use of hosiery added a little extra something to her outfits... and so this post and the mission behind it was born.

I asked Tabio - the Japanese socks, tights, leggings and legwarmer specialists - to recommend one pair of tights that every woman should own, '110 denier tights' they replied. So, on the shopping list they go.

Self confessed tights fan Laura, aka Daisychaindream, told me that one pair simply isn't enough. So, I enlisted her help too. Her top picks? 'Oooh, Tabio 150 denier in any colour! New Look cable tights. Tesco f+f for plain black'.

This foray into hosiery can only help my current wardrobe challenge by opening up the option of skirts and dresses in these colder months. So, trusting the recommendations of others I ordered a pair of 110 denier's in black from Tabio and and these Argyle tights... in dark navy and red (well if I'm going to do this, then I'm going to DO this).

On my next trip to Tesco I popped three pairs of wool tights into my basket  - grey, brown and purple - bumping my collection of tights up to a whopping six pairs!

Watch this space, I will combat my hosiery fear one pair of tights at a time...

Collegue: What would you do without a credit card woman? 
Me: My life as I know it would come to an end.

I knew this day would come eventually.

OH and I have decided to buy a house together (this is the good news). So I have decided (and this is the bad news) that I need to curb my spending and make an effort to save money. I am the only one in the household to regularly indulge in retail therapy, OH just doesn't see the attraction. Odd.

I am used to buying something new on a regular basis and I'll be going cold turkey for a while. Just as when you decide to eat more healthily you start to think about nothing but chocolate, I now seem to see gorgeous items screaming 'buy me' every where I turn (actually that's not exactly a new development, it's just that now I have to ignore their cries). That said, I have a wardrobe full of clothes that I adore and yet rarely wear. My focus is obviously going to have to shift to rediscovering what I already have. In theory this sounds fine but last night I had a dream that I purchased accessories and shoes until I simply couldn't move under the weight of them. This may be harder than I first thought...


My Plan.

To soften the blow of my spending restrictions, I'm going to turn this into a project - a wardrobe challenge. I want to see how versatile my wardrobe actually is, as I have a tendency to buy things that catch my eye, regardless of whether it 'fits' my wardrobe. Then when I allow myself the reward of some retail therapy (and there will be some rewards) I'll have a better idea of what I need to fill any gaps in my wardrobe.

I'm going to select four different tops, one for Monday to Thursday and Fridays will be Frocking Friday... I stumbled across the idea on this blog and thought it would be perfect for my wardrobe challenge.. Over the course of a month I'll style each top differently every time it is worn, and wear a different dress each Friday.

The advantages of this are two fold. Firstly, being able to plan what I am wearing in advance so I don't waste a lot of time deciding what to wear each morning. Secondly, it'll force me to be more creative in the way I style each item.


The stripe top

The denim top

The vest top

The floral top

Of course (and this is where I wimp out before I have even begun) I couldn't possibly do this until after the January sales... I'll shall begin on Monday 31st January 2011. Promise.

Wish me luck!

I have tried to be good this sale season and limit my spending but with so many bargains to be had what is a girl to do?

I have deleted sale emails from many of my favourite retailers (sorry!) before reading them in order to resist temptation and I haven't yet ventured into my local town centre just in case my self control wanes.

That said, I still managed to bag myself some bargains...

Mac
Fashion Union was £35 now £20
Jewel Bracelet
Boden was £29 now £11.50
Matte Nail Polish
Avon was £6 now £3

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and saw in the new year in fabulous style!

I love this time of year. Despite the cold, grey weather I find it an exciting time, time to look forward and make plans.

I always make a few new year's resolution, most of which fall by the wayside by the time Valentine's Day arrives. So this year I've opted for a 'more' approach.

1. Read more books.
The pile demanding my attention is mostly comprised of Christmas gifts from 2009 such is my neglect!

2. Write more in my diary.
I adore reading old diaries but failed to fill in much of 2010. For the sixth year running I received a gorgeous Barbara Wiggins diary for Christmas. I expect the soft leather to be beautifully dog-eared by the end of 2011. I think this year will be one to remember and a joy to look back on!

3. Save more (notice how I didn't say spend less?)
I have a plan for this but more on that in a future post...

Finally, this is the most important one...

4. Allow myself more time.
Things got a little frantic at times last year and my health suffered as a result. I've come to realise that putting myself first once in a while means I have more to give back in every aspect of my life. This was a truly valuable lesson to learn. My me-time will be kicked off with the help of a £50 spa and wellness voucher from Wahanda won in a giveaway on A Little Bird Told Me (Thanks Jen!) back in December.


And so it is with a spring in my step that I say 'Cheerio' for today!