Top - Primark

Skirt - Matalan

Shoes - New Look

I'm a little sad to admit that summer is finally over and autumn is well on it's way, but I'm not quite ready to say goodbye yet so I thought I'd share what will probably be my final outfit of the summer.  Deep down I'm praying for a few more warmer days and those last few rays of sunshine as I have a playsuit that I bought in the Asos sale that I haven't even had chance to wear yet.  There's a few warmer days forecast for next week, so I have my fingers crossed, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

I just love how girly the summer makes me feel, being able to swish around in pretty dresses and skirts like this one.  I've actually had this skirt a few years now but I still love it and only ever tend to wear it in summer.  However, as I'm cutting down on my shopping and wardrobe, this year I'm determined to find a way to transition it into my winter wardrobe and get more wear out of it.  For summer though, as it's high waisted, I like to pair it with a nice little crop top and heeled sandals or some pretty little flats.  I actually got these lovely silver flats from New Look in the sale for £7!  I just love the beautiful beading on them and the vintage feel they have to them.  They really complete the "ladylike" look of this women's skirt.

Are you sad to say goodbye to summer or are you happy to be getting all your cosy knits out?

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Dress - Matalan

Shoes - George

I've sat down at my laptop several times this week to write a post but either ended up in tears or drawing a blank.  If you read my last post you will have seen that I've been having a tough time recently with family and it with the heaviest of hearts I sadly have to say that my Nan passed away after a long battle with dementia.  It is one of the hardest diseases to have to watch a loved one suffer from and affects people in ways I never knew, it is not just a case of simply losing your memory.  As I have watched her deteriorate since Christmas I thought it was something I had prepared myself for but it still hit me like a ton of bricks and I suddenly feel unable to function. The love I have for my Nan is in describable, we were a typical close knit Irish family and she was the matriarch, nicknamed "the Godmother" by the rest of the family.  We all loved to be in her company and she just radiated kindness, generosity and love.  Typically the Irish nan she was, the first thing she'd always do is feed you and my fondest memories are the endless mornings we'd sit in her kitchen eating toast and chatting away.  I'm not a big toast lover but my Nan used to make the most incredible toast and I have no idea what her secret was, but damn I am going to miss that toast! 

This is something I've been umm-ing and aah-ing about sharing on the blog but I know this will affect me greatly and for a while yet.  However I am trying to find the balance between allowing myself to grieve, continuing to battle my anxiety and trying to continue with everyday activities.  So when I put makeup on for the first time this week and made myself look semi presentable I decided to take some outfit photos.  I was a little reluctant to post them but I wanted to share the me when I am trying to put on a brave face.  My unwashed hair normally ends up in braids or space buns and I wear a bold lip for a little boost.  This is also the first time I think I have worn my glasses in a blog post too, when I first got them I was very self conscious of wearing them and just didn't feel right.  However over the last few weeks I have become more comfortable wearing them and they have even become a sort of shield for me on my anxious days.  I don't know how to explain it but when I'm having a tough day I put them on and although I can see clearer I feel like I have an extra barrier between me and the outside world.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend, and be sure to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you and cherish every single moment you spend with them.

Dress - Boohoo

Hat - Matalan

Boots - New Look

It's been a while since my last post but I have been working hard on my anxiety and depression, and am happy to report that I have made a bit of progress.  I am finally starting to feel like I'm actually getting somewhere, but it's been hard work and my lack of internet for for the past week has meant the blog has had to take a bit of a backseat over the last couple of weeks.  However I did find these pictures of this outfit I wore back in September and completely forgot to post, so thought I'd share them with you.  This dress is from my first ever order from Boohoo, I have always put off ordering from there as I had never ordered from there before and as their clothes are fairly cheap I was a bit worried about the quality and how the clothes would fit.  When this dress arrived though, along with a couple of other bits I ordered, I was really impressed with the quality and the fit.  As you can see it is slightly long on me (every maxi dress should have a petite version for us shorties, haha!) which was fine during the drier weather but now the wet winter weather is here I think I am going to have to get it shortened.  It will be a great dress for layering during the winter months but definitely not one I want dragging in muddy puddles!

Speaking of winter months is it just me or has the temperature suddenly dropped?!! It seems to have gone from being unseasonably warm to absolutely freezing.  I hate the cold weather but am a tad excited to be able to start wearing my new winter coat (which I'm sure will be on here soon).  The cold weather is also the perfect excuse to cosy up with a hot chocolate though, and with the lack of internet I have been catching up on some TV shows, mainly The Walking Dead and Game Of Thrones.  I watched the first episode of the new season of The Walking Dead last night and OH MY GOD, I am still traumatised!!  Not the best bedtime viewing, haha!

What TV shows are you loving at the moment?

Top - Matalan
Skirt - Matalan
Cardigan - Asos
Hat - Ebay
Boots - Primark

Gipsy Bum, Tum and Thigh Shaper Tights, £9.99 - UK Tights*

I recently got these shaper tights from UK Tights and they were perfect for wearing with my new blue checked Matalan skirt.  The skirt is quite fitted so these tights were perfect for holding me in and hiding any lumps and bumps.  These tights are really thick, which is great for keeping my legs warm in this cold weather, and they feel super soft on my legs.  They are great quality, especially for the price.  As the packaging suggests these tights are made to tone your tum and thighs and lift your bum.  Now compared to normal tights I noticed a huge difference in the bum area, they were really lifting, leaving me with a nice pert bum.  As for toning the tum and thighs, I have to admit I didn't really notice much difference on my thighs but they were a lot tighter across the stomach area than normal tights, but not so tight it's uncomfortable, just enough to hold everything in.  These will definitely be my go to tights from now on when wearing a form fitting skirt or dress.

Dress - Primark

Shoes - New Look

Hat - Matalan

I'm so happy that the sun seems to be making a reappearance and giving me the opportunity to wear my summer dresses again before they are replaced with big thick knits and chunky boots.  Now, whilst I will admit that I am looking forward to being able to lounge around in big cosy jumpers and shop for boots and a new winter coat, I want to make the most of the sunshine and my summer wardrobe seeing as we get so little of it here in rainy England.

None of this outfit is particularly new, in fact I think I got the dress and shoes at the end of last summer and the hat about 3 summers ago.  This is why I love this outfit, as I can see it being an outfit I wear summer after summer until it has been worn to death.  In total this outfit cost me £21, so when you think of the cost per wear it is an absolute steal.  I love these little tea dresses from Primark, they are a bargain at £8, and are light and comfy making them perfect for hot summer days and I love how the print on this one gives it a vintage feel, and vintage is not something that is going out of fashion quick.  This winter I'm planning on having a huge wardrobe clearout and am going to try to make a conscious effort to fill it with timeless pieces that will last, and not make impulse buys that I will wear once or twice then leave hanging on the rail for the rest of the season.  To be honest I'm not sure how well I'll do with this, as when it comes to clothes I am a terrible hoarder, but this year I'm determined to be ruthless.  When your rail starts to collapse because it can't take the strain, it's time to get rid!

Top - New Look

Skirt - Matalan

Shoes - New Look via Asos

Necklace - Primark

You may remember seeing a couple of these items in my haul post and seeing as the sun was shining I thought I'd do a little outfit post at the weekend.  As you can see Riley wanted in on the photo action ( I had to crop his little nose out of the majority of the pictures), but seeing as he hasn't been on the blog in a while and just because he is so god damn cute I thought I'd include a couple with him in.

As it was the Wimbledon final at the weekend, and tennis being the only sport I remotely watch or follow I thought I'd wear a little Wimbledon inspired outfit.  I don't feel I quite have the tan to pull off an all white look that is quintessentially Wimbledon, so I thought the next best thing would be yellow and white.  I love this combination, it is so bright and summery.

I have so much love for this midi skirt, it fits so nicely and I feel so comfortable and girly in it.  The other bonus of a midi is I don't have to worry about showing off my knickers to passers by every time there is a gust of wind, which is very often the case with shorter skirts and dresses.  If I had the choice between a midi or a mini skirt I think I'd choose a midi every time.

What about you?  Are you a mini or a midi lover?

I've done hardly any shopping for summer over the last couple of months but for some reason over the last week, I have gone a bit shopping crazy.  So I thought I'd share with you just some of the things I have bought, as I'm sure there'll be more to come.  I must learn to have more self control.

Light Pink Block Heel Strappy Shoes, £35 - River Island

Now I'm not normally a huge fan of River Island but they have some lovely stuff this summer and one of the first things that caught my eye was these shoes.  Very surprising as they are way out of my comfort zone being pink, but pastel pink is growing on me this summer (they are a bit lighter than they look in this picture) and I just thought they looked really cute and summery.

Full Organza Midi Skirt, £18 - Matalan

One of the things I've had at the top of my wish list for this summer is a full midi skirt.  I just think they look so pretty and feminine and you can't help but feel super girly swishing around in one.  So when I saw this one for just £18 I had to snap it up.  Such a bargain for the quality compared to most I've seen for £30-£40.

Rucksack, £12 - George

Bra, £8, Pants, £4 - George

I'd been after a nice rucksack for a while but didn't want one too expensive as I mainly want it for when I go out for the day and take the dog with me as it would just make it much easier to carry his water, treats etc. in as well as my things rather than having to take two bags.  I love the little daisy print on this one and think it was a bargain for £12.

As for the underwear I think that's pretty self explanatory... it's mint green (my favourite) and it's pretty.

Crochet Collar Blouse, £12 - George

Yellow Bow Back Vest, £9.99 - Cameo Rose at New Look

I love little chiffon vests like this in the summer, they're so light and easy to wear and I love the little details, like pretty collars and little bows, that make a simple top so much prettier.  I mainly bought these though as I think they'd look really pretty tucked into the white midi skirt I bought from Matalan.

Dark Red V Neck Cami, £9.99 - New Look

Floral Print Drop Hem Cami, £14.99 - New Look

I also really wanted some little cami tops for the summer and these are perfect.  They are so light and loose, which is just what you need in hot weather, and they just hang really nicely.  Although the straps seem to be really long on the floral one but nothing a couple of stitches won't fix.

Mint Green V Neck Box Pleat Dress, £19.99 - New Look

Last but not least is my favourite purchase, a lovely mint green dress.  I'm sure I've mentioned on here several times that mint green is one of my favourite colours, so when I saw this dress there was no question, I had to have it.  It is made from a thick-ish waffle textured material which makes it look more structured and fit really nicely.  The nipped in waist and V neck just make it look really flattering.

What have you been buying this summer?