Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts

Saturday, 12 January 2013

Boxing Day...Another special day!

I don't know about anyone else, but in the past, Boxing Day used to be a day for just slobbing about, playing with new toys I'd got for Christmas, and trying to fit in any more food in the left over spaces that I could from the day before!

However, since being with Liam, Boxing Day has changed somewhat. I feel kinda bad as I haven't really been with my family on Boxing Day but as I spent Christmas Day at home this time, I didn't think they'd mind too much!

This year was a little different as Liam actually had to work for a couple of hours on Boxing Day morning in ASDA...However, as it was only for 3 hours, I thought I may as well have a look round the sales! And I did actually pick up quite a few things! 

My first stop just so happened to be ASDA, and as I went through Liam's till, I could tell he was like morreeeee clothes?! but he did say the eeyore jumper was cute..bonus!

I picked up this cosy jumper / cardigan for half price in the sale £18 reduced to £9. It gets so cold in the house in Manchester so this will be great!

Then I got this cute jumper reduced to only £3! (Sadly the fleece eeyore bottoms were only in a size 16-18 dammit!-Loved them!)

I also made a trip into Boots and River Island. I can't actually show anyone what I got from Boots as I made some fab purchases, some I know will be put towards birthday and / or christmas presents for people I am sure will be reading this!! ;)


In River Island I bought these two items - a gorgeous skater dress I'd seen full price a while back but couldn't justify the money as I am trying to save! However, at £15 I couldn't resist and may just dress it up and wear it for a wedding I have coming up! 
I also got this gorgeous skirt. I've seen loads of these around but not actually bought one myself. I love the colour and fit, and with a belt too it was such a bargain at just £10!! (I sound like a sales person right now!!-Either that or trying to convince myself I did well!)


I tried to make a trip into New Look to spend a voucher I'd been sent to review a couple of items, but seriously, it was awful in there so went back another day to purchase a few bits (post coming soon!)

After I'd spent enough in town, Liam and I went back to his Mum & Dad's house for Boxing Day dinner which consists of turkey, pork, mash or deep fried chips, and beans (with beetroot on the side) and it is lush!! I've had it now for the past 3 years and it has been amazing every year!

Like I said, this year was a little different, as after that we all went to Aston Villa to watch Spurs play!! I was very spoilt by his family this Christmas as they also treated me to a ticket to that andddd to the panto the next day! Although it was pouring with rain, we had great seats and Tottenham won 4-0 so that was a brilliant end to the day!

Me & Kel

Me & Liam

As you can see we were pretty close - if only I had my SLR camera!




The heart symbol that Gareth Bale does whenever he scores! 

After that, we went back to Liam's to watch the last of the Christmas TV. In the past, Liam's mum always found things on Boxing Day that she had forgotten to give people, so now they make it official by doing 'Boxing Day Presents.' They are only like 1 or 2 pound presents but it just makes it a little more special! These were my little bits from Liam, his sister, her boyfriend and Liam's parents...


As you can see I had a brilliant Christmas and Boxing Day and can't believe it's already over for another year!!


 

Friday, 11 January 2013

100 Day Spending Ban!


I've seen that a lot of bloggers I follow are doing this...I know I'm a bit late, but you can join at any time! As I seriously spend too much money on beauty products and clothes I thought this may help! I did a spending ban last summer and it worked really well as made me realise just how many things I do have and don't use!

As everyone has different weaknesses and goals, I thought I'd outline my rules below:

For 100 days, I will NOT be buying any of the following:
  • No beauty products
  • No CDs / DVDs / Books or Magazines
  • No clothes including shoes and accessories
  • I will be trying my best to take a packed lunch to uni every day to cut down costs that way too.

Exceptions:
  • I am only allowed to buy something like shampoo / conditioner if I have completely run out (which I very much doubt is going to happen as I have so many things!
  • I am allowed to buy any essential photography equipment as am doing a wedding in February and obviously that's essential I get it right! - Such as a new laptop which I already have most of the money saved for.
  • I can spend money on Valentines Day and any birthdays, however as Liam now has tickets to The Script and I have bought Dad's birthday present, I don't think there is anything else I have to buy!
  • I can spend gift vouchers sent by PR companies.



Why am I doing this?
Lots of bloggers have got different reasons for doing this, but mine is that I just need to save money. With being at uni and not getting any kind of a loan, I am finding it difficult juggling my wages with paying bills, tuition fees and then things I want rather than need. Hopefully I can save up money I would have spent to put towards a holiday in the summer to reward myself!
  
Can I join in? 
Yes! Loads of bloggers are doing it..there's going to be a weekly twitter chat using the hashtag #spendingban which will hopefully encourage all the participants to keep going and talk about how they're doing. Just leave your blog link below and I will add you to my list of people I know doing this if you're also taking part!

I will be doing a weekly update on this letting you all know how I am doing and at the end of each month I will try to do a monthly empties showing what I have managed to finish off and a review of each item.


So there you go! Wish me luck! 12th January - 22nd April



Gina xoxo
(Images from Google)
 

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Weekly Ins and Outs (Huge Catch up!)...

Hi everyone! So I've been pretty busy recently and not been doing my Weekly Ins and Outs so feel as though I've got loads to tell you! (I'll try not to make it too long but here goes...)

1. Rachel, Charlotte & I (blogger girlies) shopping at Meadowhall 2. Uni working on the mac 3.Uni working in the studio 4. Dressed up for halloween at work 5. Group of us dressed up for halloween night out 6. Onesie girls night 7. Cooked breakfast before didsbury dozen 8. Bunk beds on London trip with uni 9. Alex and I (One of my best friends nephews) 10. All the shopping Rachel Charlotte & I did! 11. Cornetto for pudding at home 12. Group pic on a night out in London with uni lot :)
 Ins:
As you can see I've been very busy...last month I met up with my blogger girls, Rachel & Charlotte- I would have done a 'what i've bought' haul post but most of it was christmas presents so I can't incase anyone sees! After Christmas I am thinking about doing a big post on new items I get between now & then. I am trying so hard to save at the moment, knowing tuition fees are leaving my bank account from January is not a good feeling! 

For halloween, we had to dress up at work - it was great fun apart from when I was on my own at 7am in the shop with all the builders and work men coming in! I went out in the evening with a group of friends at home which was lovely and saw one of my best friends boyfriends out who decided as (he was a little drunk) and I'm a student, he would buy my drinks..amazing!...However, think he may remind me I owe him a few when I next see him!

A couple of weeks back the girls from the Dodgeball society I go to decided we should have a girls get together and dress up in onesies. It was the comfiest night ever and had a great time watching the Inbetweeners movie, drinking wine and playing articulate.

As always, I had to include some food - again, with dodgeball (that is definitely my main social event now!) we did the didsbury dozen in manchester. For those of you who don't know, it's basically a pub crawl with a pint or double in each pub. We obviously needed a big breakfast to get us ready for the day!

A couple of weeks ago...before I was too stressed with my deadlines, I went to London with uni. It was great fun even if the beds we stayed in at our hostel looked like they came from the Victorian times! We had a good night out and it has brought us all a bit closer :)

Again, a few weeks back, my old housemate & coursemates sister and nephew came over from Northern Ireland for Alex's birthday. Although I didn't get to see zara (one of my best friends) it was lovely to see part of her family.  

Outs:
Uni work seems to be taking over my life - don't get me wrong..I love it but I have so much to do! I have one deadline on the 14th December and another two after christmas. I am really hoping to get my photography facebook page set up over christmas if I have any spare days...will be working whenever I'm not doing uni work as need the money!!


1. Dodgeball girls at Uni champs in Bedford 2. OOTD 3. Yummy chinese food in Camden London  4.Roast dinner whilst at home 5. My dodgeball shirt and nickname 6. Domino's pizza
Ins:
The weekend before last, Uni of Manchester Dodgeball travelled down to Bedford to play in the Uni Champs competition. (Ignore the fact I'm actually a Man met/college student not uni!) We had to leave at 6am in the morning (eugh!) and were shattered by the time we got back the next day but a great time was had by all. Everyone is so pleased with how many girls now play for our team - we managed to get 3 girls teams down there..considering when this society first started they had 2 girls a couple years back! As Liam is part of the committee for the society, he helps to pick out names and secret missions for the weekend. I alwaysss tell the boys in our house stories and they get bored and end up saying "great story gina" hence the name. As soon as I got it, I remember saying, "This was allll Liam's idea wasn't it?!" Grrr. (least it wasn't as bad as some names...)

Again, I have to include the food photos!..I go home every weekend to work and as I come back on a Sunday evening my mum cooks me a roast dinner..I really miss that on the weeks I don't go home..it's lush! Whilst in London on the uni trip, we went to Camden and tried loads of different foods. However, we all settled on a large tub of chinese food for £4 with a drink, you could have any mixture you wanted and it was scrummy! Lastly, whilst on the dodgeball trip on the first night before going out us girls had a nap then decided to get a domino's as one of my friends works at the one here in Manchester..50% off yes please!

Outs:
OOTD - winter has definitely hit recently and I am feeling it a lot more. I have had to break out the scarfs and although I love them as soon as Christmas has been I am soo looking forward to summer!

And back up to date...
1.Liam and his god-daughter at her christening party 2.Me and Lilly at her christening 3.My OOTD for the christening 4.My friend's week old baby and my god-daughter (!!) Amelia Jade 5.Amelia Jade 6.Mummy and daughter x

Ins:
This weekend just gone, Liam and I went home for his god-daughter's christening. She is such a little stunner and looked adorable in her outfit - Laura definitely gets my approval for the outfit! Lilly was quiet the whole day apart from when the vicar tried to draw a symbol of the cross on her chest...did not like that one bit! But was so well behaved and was shattered by the end of the day! You can see my OOTD on my instagram  by searching ginab1989. I will do a proper OOTD post soon for you all.

If you remember me saying, a few weeks ago I went home to do a baby bump photoshoot..well this is the baby out of the bump! She is the most beautiful little bundle with a full head of black hair. I went round to see her and the family with my best friend and her boyfriend. Whilst there, we were asked to be Amelia's godparents!!! I am officially a godmother of the gorgeous Amelia Jade and this makes me so proud :) It was only the other day I was saying to Liam I'd love to be a godmother to someone..so I must have done something right!  Over christmas when I set up my photography page you will be able to see more photos (fingers crossed!)

So there you have it...there's nothing bad going on in my life at the moment and even though I keep complaining about work, I'd be worried if I didn't have any..! After having such a brilliant weekend I don't think anything can get me down!

Hope you're all having a great week and I didn't bore you too much!

Gina xoxo   

P.S Don't forget to enter my 100 follower giveaway!

Friday, 2 November 2012

Who loves free money?!

It's the time of year again, yes, it's now November so I feel as though I can officially start talking about it.. Christmas!..Just over 7 weeks to go!

I don't know about you, but although I love getting in the Christmas spirit and shopping about, the hustle and bustle can sometimes annoy me, especially having to wait in huge queues! My answer is, online shopping! I did so much of it last year and it just made things that little bit easier.

I came across a website where when shopping you can claim some of that money back, and let's face it, who doesn't love free money eh?! And this is all you have to do...


1. Create an account
2. Think of a present you want to buy someone or yourself
3. Log on to topcashback.co.uk and type the website you want to buy from into their website search.
4. If they offer discounts / cashback / vouchers for that website, the details will appear on screen
5. Click on the website through topcashback to start earning rewards!
6. As soon as you buying anything from somewhere that offers cashback or vouchers you will see it processing in your account.  
7. Once cleared, you can take the money out of your account at ANY time, even if you only have 10p in there! 
8. If you want, perhaps edit your profile to put your name in..that way I can recognise who has used the link :) 

As soon as you have claimed £10 back, I will get a reward for referring you...and you can do the same with others! :) so please visit the website using my own link here

Some websites take longer than others for the money to come through but you can always keep track of it, and getting a little back is better than nothing right?! I've got about £20 from it so far, using websites such as play.com, New Look and even ebay! and to be fair I haven't bought that much. It's just great if you're already about to buy something then think hang on, I'll use the website! You can even get free money from using websites such as gocompare!

So, thanks to anyone who joins using my link and happy saving!  

Gina xoxo

 

Thursday, 30 August 2012

What I've bought - Summer Clothing Haul ❤

I've been meaning to post a couple times about clothes I've bought over summer. Instead of doing it over a few, I am going to combine everything into one!

On the shopping trip with Rachel and Charlotte, I wanted to get a few new summery clothes. We had a big shop in Primark in which we had 2 huge baskets between the 3 of us and still managed to fill them up.. oopsie!

I picked up this gorgeous yellow coloured see-through shirt as I hardly have anything this colour. I have already worn it a couple of times with a white vest top underneath and with white trousers but also with jeans on another occasion.
If we actually had any sun, I can imagine wearing it with a cute pair of denim shorts too. I love it as it is dressy enough to wear in the evening with some nice pieces of jewellery, jeans and heels but also as something casual in the daytime.

Yellow chiffon shirt - £5, Primark

Close up of the 3/4 length sleeves with buttons that can also be made into a full length sleeve

Most of my purchases were made in Primark as I had not been in a long while and hadn't actually bought much all summer so thought I deserved to spoil myself without breaking the bank.

I love the style of these tops out at the moment with the cute collars and again this can be dressed up or down. It has been worn out for a meal in the evening but also to the cinema in the daytime. The tie bits can be made into a bow or hung loose as shown in the photo.(Sorry about all the creases!)

£7 Primark
As summer is drawing to a close, I thought I'd better purchase a new pair of PJ bottoms. I practically live in mine in the evenings with a comfy hoody when it gets darker much earlier (sad face). I needed a new pair too as my last pair were shrunk in the wash.

£5 - Primark
Whilst wandering around, I spotted this cute jewellery organiser. I really wish I had bought more..maybe on my day off on Friday I may pop to my local Primark and see if they have any left. It was just £1 in the sale and can be hung on the inside of the wardrobe door - perfect for keeping your room clutter free, especially in the house in Manchester where I am sharing with Liam.

£1 - Primark

I spotted these bracelets for just £1. I love Primark's jewellery range as everything is great value. You don't expect it to be of a high standard as if it breaks or something happens to it, it doesn't exactly break the bank to buy the item again. However, I have bought bracelets from there in the past and they have lasted me well!

£1 - Primark
For any of you who know me at all, you will know that I am pretty obsessed with anything that has a heart on it. Obviously, once I saw this skinny heart belt I could not resist..especially in the sale! It has now become a staple item of mine.

£1 - Primark
I have borrowed the next photo from Charlotte. (Hope you don't mind!!) She picked up this gorgeous lace back vest top from Primark whilst we were all together. I fell in love with it and regretted not having picked up one for myself. However, I went back to my local Primark and purchased one in a deep maroon colour which I wore out recently for my mum's birthday. She kept commenting on about how much the colour suited me so am really glad I did! It is similar to my yellow shirt in that it is quite see through, so you could either be daring or wear it with a strappy top underneath. It is also long enough to wear with leggings, but short enough at the front to wear with shorts so it is perfect!
 

£7 - Primark

 Whilst waiting for Liam to finish work one day, I thought I'd pop in and take a look at the sales in Outfit. Outfit is a place that has all of the Arcadia group within it (Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Topshop, Topman, etc)..so not great for the bank balance. I held back though knowing I didn't need much. However I spotted this cute pair of pumps reduced down from £14.99
I actually wanted some different to the white I own and these are great as I can slip them on and off and don't have to tie them up.

£5 - Dorothy Perkins Sale

Towards the beginning of summer I went on a little shopping trip with my best friend Tasha. She was looking for a couple dresses to wear and I wanted some lazing about summery things. There wasn't much in the sales back then but I did spot this cute pair of shorts. They are perfect for sunbathing / lazing about in and are so soft, like the other Superdry trousers / joggers. At a bargain price, I didn't think I could go wrong!

£5 - Bank Sale
I also spotted this cute dress perfect for summer or an event such as a wedding. It was from TKMaxx but is a Paprika Fashion dress. I was surprised and pleased that the only size left was a size 10 (my size) and it had greatly been reduced down to £5! Obviously, it was fate and I had to have it! ;)

£5 - TKMaxx (Paprika)

Lastly, on the way back from Manchester on Tuesday, I very sweetly asked Liam if we could pop in to Cheshire Oaks as we were passing. I needed some new foundation and in the makeup store they often do my discontinued Clinique foundation at a bargain price. (They had got it, big smiles! but that will be in another post.) I didn't want to spend too much, but you can't go somewhere like that with that many shops and not buy a thing. We both wandered into the Superdry store and for once, both of us picked up a couple tops we liked. Although pretty plain, both mine and Liam's tops will be great just with jeans for the colder months. I wouldn't ever spend the full price on these tops..I may be a bit stingey but would rather spend it on makeup ha.

Superdry RRP £22.99 - Discounted to £13.79

Although this does look like a lot of clothes, I have been selling ones at the same time and this is for the whole of summer so I don't think a total of about £60 on clothes in just over 3 months is bad at all! 
Let's not go in to the amount spent on beauty products.......that's for another time!

Have you got any good clothes in the sale recently?

Gina xoxo