Book Haul: So many books

Over the past few weeks I've picked up so many new books. I know that I have some sort of addiction but I'm learning to come to terms with it. haha. I would say that I'm ashamed of buying all these, but to be honest I'm not. There are still a few more books that I want. haha, but I'm going to wait a while before I pick them up. 

On Sunday, Michael and I got up very early to attend a local car boot sale and I must say that we had a lovely morning. We mainly went to pick up a few cheap books. Obviously. I love that you can pick up an unread book for 30p! Where else could you pick up a book for that price? There's only one problem, you start to become a little tight. You find yourself asking how much a book costs and if it's £1.50 or more you end up putting it back! Insane! 

I absolutely love point horror books and I always have, so coming across some made my day. I'm always on the hunt for these as they don't actually sell them anymore and the only place I can get hold of them are ebay and now it seems, car boots.
I have been drawn to 'The Winter Ghosts' for months now but have never actually picked it up so to get it for only 50p was a complete an utter bargain.
And finally I love Marian Keyes (see here) so it comes as no surprise that I picked up this. All the way around I was hoping that I didn't already own this one, but luck was on my side and I didn't.

As you can tell I had a good run. I manage to pick up all these for less than £3. It was also nice just wandering around without a care in the world. We also ate ice cream at 9:30 in the morning. Crazy!

Speaking of car boot sales, I picked these up from my Mums. A while back my Mum was having her very own car boot and I picked up these from her boxes before she left. She's always raving about how good Torey Hayden's books are so I thought that I'd give them a go. And I'm sure you've noticed Alan Titchmarsh's books in there as well... what can I say? My mum forced these upon me, and you never know... they might be good. 

These are a few other bargains that I picked up from various places. It will probably take me over a year to read all these but I'm so excited. I've also got a few more in the post that I won on ebay. I always get a bit bummed out when someone outbids me at the last minute, the sneaky buggers, but I won a few so I'm rather happy. 'Sister' was an ebay buy and it's in amazing condition. The five smaller books in the middle are from Asda, and all for the bargain price of £1 each! I've read one of Lisa Unger's books already and I really liked it, so I'm quite excited to read her others. And finally the Lindsey Kelk books on the end were an absolute steal from Sainsburys. Like many supermarkets Sainsburys have the 2 for £7 offer on most books, these actually came as a double pack and were still in the deal. So instead of 2 books I got 3 for £7. Ah-mazing!

I think I'm going to have to go on a book spending ban soon or my house will turn into a library. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. haha.

This is the current book that I'm reading. I'm rather enjoying it, so expect to see a book review on here very soon. 

What book are you currently reading?

Speak Soon, 

Katie 

x

The last Sunday being 'Single'

Today we needed to pick up a few more wedding supplies, Mike's shirt and my shoes to be precise. Obviously we ended up picking up a few more items along the way, and took a few pictures to add to my lovely blog. 

A quick outfit of the day.

Dress - Primark £5!!! Great if you can find your size

Shoes - Primark

Leggings - Primark

Belt - Primark

Cardigan - Matalan

Bag - Next 

I should have just typed everything from Primark, bar a few. haha.

Then we headed to Meadowhall, which is our closet large shopping centre, and I needed my wedding shoes so a large selection of shops was a must. 

I don't know if anyone else does this, but I like need to take a picture of where I park just incase I forget.

We managed to pick up everything we needed, so expect to see a haul post very soon, as naughty Katie also picked up a few summer dresses and shorts. 

On the way home we took the scenic route (I stumbled upon the word scenic then as I own a Renault Scenic so could not comprehend the word in two different forms.haha) and ended up stopping to take a walk along the canal. Not something we normally do, but it was a beautiful and unexpected change. 

No surprise that pictures were taken along the way so I'll let you enjoy a select few. It was a beautiful day, with fantastic natural lighting, so even though I wasn't using my high quality camera the pictures turned out perfect. 

Once home for some reason both Mike and I were motivated to clean, and three hours later we're sat relaxing in our lovely 'clean' home. I love Sunday's and will be so sad if we have to start working them. If I could offer someone who is just leaving school and looking at getting a job a little bit of advice... don't work in retail or pharmacy. You will never get nice working hours, and when you do, some big boss who works 9-5pm will change that for you. I only feel sorry for people who have families who work in retail, they really do get the poop end of the stick, at least with Mike and I we could stay up all night to see each other, whereas with children you just can't do that.

Enough of the moaning now. I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Even if it wasn't the best one for you, pick out one great thing, I guarantee you there will be one. 

Speak Soon,

ever the optimist, 

Katie

x

My Online Shopping List

For the past few weeks or so I've been meaning to pick up a few of my essentials. Every time I even go anywhere near Boots my mind goes absolutely blank and I cannot remember anything I need to buy, instead my brain is filled with a 'want cloud'. I always leave empty handed or with pretty things but lack the essential items I need to use along side them. So I came up with my online shopping list. 

My theory was that if I take the time to gather all the items I need, take a picture of them, edit the said picture, then post about them in their own blog post, then surely this would trigger my memory in a much greater way than trying to remember them all by myself. So here goes...

My Online Shopping List

These are all the products I have repurchased over and over again. My essentials.

Garnier Pure Toner, Garnier Fresh Essentials eye makeup remover, Boots Cotton Double Faced Oval Pads, BaBylliss Kirby grips.

♥ I have had a soft spot for Garnier facial products for many years now. This Garnier Fresh Essentials eye make-up remover was probably the first eye make-up remover I ever bought. And no matter which new product I'm recommended, without fail I always return to this one. It's also amazing for when I'm suffering with my allergies, and my eyes are the main culprit. To apply cotton pads soaked in this is the most soothing and refreshing treat for my eyes I could ever wish for. 

♥ This Garnier Pure Toner is also a new favourite. It''s only the second bottle I've ever bought, but believe me it's the best. It really does help with my spots, and best of all it doesn't break me out. It's probably not for everyone, but for me my face only ever feels really clean if it's slightly tight. I guess that's what you want when you live with oily skin. 

♥ These Boots Cotton Ovals are my absolute favourite. I must buy at least 3 packs at a time and usually they are on some sort of offer. I love that they do (or don't as the case my be) what they say on the tin - they really don't shead. 

♥ Babylliss Kirby Grips are my all time favourite. I always struggle when it comes to these. I go through so many as I seem to sprain them all the time. But these are very strong, sturdy, and stay in you hair. Pretty much exactly what you want from a hair grip. They also come in a handy container.

Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-in-Conditioner, Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush

♥ I use this leave in conditioner by Aussie every time I get out of the shower. I love it. It makes brushing long hair an absolute doddle, and smells divine. 

♥ And Finally Batiste Dry Shampoo. This product needs no introduction. So many people rave about this product, and I am amongst them. Blush is by far my favourite scent though. 

Fingers crossed this little trick works. 

What are your essential items? I'd love to know! 

Speak Soon, 

Katie

x

These boots are made for walking

I've been on the look out recently for a new pair of boots. Since the end of winter, beginning of spring I came to realise that I had no practical shoes. I either own, ballet pumps, trainers, converse or wellies. If it rains I'm stuffed. Unless I have the wellies on, but most of the time I want something a little smaller. In fact the last time I wore them was when we had the major downpour of snow.

So the hunt began. 

I've noticed that there has been a recent fashion, where most of the boots made, have no zips. I struggle with this as I can't for the life of me get them on. And if I do manage to get one on, I get cramp in my other thigh as I proceed to fight with the other boot. No matter how much of a good offer these boots seem at the time, I can't buy something I can't get on my feet. I wish I had a high instep, or at least some sort of excuse as to why I can't get these boots on, but really I'm just pants at putting on shoes! 

I also have rather large calves so knee high boots are a big no, no. One day I may find my perfect knee high boot, I'm just hoping they come with a zip. Haha. 

Anyway, last week I was browsing on the New Look website, and came across their shoe section. As usual they have some sort of sale, so I thought I'd take a look. 

And there they were, my new boots...

Now these don't have a zip.

But I can get them on my feet! 

And I love them. 

I noticed on the picture on the website that at the back they had a slit, and I was hoping this would make it easier to put the boot on. I was right, and now I have the most gorgeous new boots that fit. 

They are pretty comfy, but I've only worn them in the house so far. I'll test them out properly soon.

But so far I'm very happy. I love the colour and the buckle detail. And I seem to have unintentionally saved the best bit till last... the price. £12.50.

The delivery was quite reasonable at £3.95, and it only took three days from placing the order to receiving my item in the post. The only fault I have with the actual delivery is that they left it outside our door in full view of the street, but I guess that's not New Look's fault, it's their courier service. 

Does anyone else have this problem?

We always find ours either outside our front door, on the window ledge, or in or around the bin.

I'm pretty happy with my boots and I won't need a new pair for quite some time now. I know from all the recent posts it may seem like I shop all the time, but in reality I don't. I've just been very lucky recently being able to find things that I actually like. I also like to wear things to death. I generally won't bin anything unless it's falling apart. So this is just a warning that there won't be many new clothes posts for sometime now, I'm all spent out. But be sure to expect more wedding posts. With less than 8 weeks until the big day I've got plenty to do... and blog about. 

Katie 

x

Power Adapter Failure

Today the worst thing that could possibly happen... happened. Our power adapter gave up the ghost. Now it had been on it's last legs for quite some time now, but we had always kept that hope that it would survive a few more years. But the worst did happen, and this morning with a dead macbook, and a broken charged we had no other option but to bite the bullet and buy a new one. Now to some this would seem anything but tragic, but wait for it we had to fork out £50 for it!

Loving the background, lets all give thanks to the British Passport. Haha.

As you can see, there was no doubt that this was going to die, but what bugs me is that this is less than a year old, and what gets me even more is that they have re-designed the end.

This is our shiny new one, and if you take a look at the connector, they have completely changed it. In other words, they must have known that there was a major wear and tear issue with their product or they wouldn't have needed the re-design. Because, 

'why change sommet if it aint broke?' 

*spoken in a broad Yorkshire accent*

Rant over, the fact of the matter is that we left it until it got this bad, had we have taken it back when we first noticed the problem, we could have received a free replacement. I would say lesson learned, but I can't honestly say that. Haha. I also love Apple products so I'm not going to moan about them any more. Plus to be honest the universal power adapter we had to buy a few years back when out Sony one died cost £70, so really you could say (with gritted teeth) that £50 is a bargain. 

 Katie 

x

P.S How could I have possibly gone anymore than a few hours without blogging, or reading blogs?

Haha, I love that the only person who's happy about the clocks going back, is the guy on T.V. He's looses an hour at work, we loose an hour in bed! 

Super Skinny Jeans. Yeay? or Nay?

After a long day at a work, much needed retail therapy was deserved. It's been a tough week, which I won't get into, but believe me when I say, I needed these bits.

Now I was never interested in the whole jeggings phase. To be honest I think it was purely the elasticated waist band that put me off. Then on Thursday night I noticed this blogpost by the lovely Jennie. I couldn't believe it. She had only gone and found herself the perfect pair of jeggings.... only they're not jeggings. They are super skinny jeans. So they have the proper 'jeans' waist band. Whoop whoop. Off to Asda I had to go...

Believe me these were tricky to take, thanks Ikea. 

... a few hours later I returned home to try them on. And I think I like them. I especially enjoy the bum shot. Haha. I have a huge problem with my thighs, topped of by awful knees, but I don't think I mind how these look. In fact I would say I like them. And for only £12.50 not to bad at all.

I think I've found a keeper. 

Time to take the tags?

Let me know before it's too late.

Katie

x 

It feels like a Summers Day... in March???

Monday - the last day of my week off work, and Mike's first day of his week off. I hate it when this  happens, but we decided to make the most of it. Off to Meadowhall we headed. As you may or may not be aware our car is rather poorly at the moment so we decided to go on the train. For £5 each it's not that bad, it would probably cost a similar amount in petrol anyway. The downside was that we had to walk to the train station, which is about 2 miles away. The upside is that the weather was amazing.

Look I had to take my coat off!! 

And I'm Miss Squinty-Mc-Squint.

I really need some new sunglasses, but since finding out that I need glasses in December I've not got around to getting any.

We had such a lovely day out. It was nice travelling on the train, despite the fact that we missed the first one and had to wait 45 minutes for the next. It was relaxing. We were able to talk about utter crap, people watch, and not concentrate on driving. For some reason when we drive we're always in a rush. I have no idea why, as you'd think not being set by train/bus times you'd have a more relaxed attitude. 

Still. The time that we picked was rather late. Luckily Meadowhall opens until 9pm, so we got there for 5pm. There's a much more relaxed atmosphere at that time. Most people have headed home after a long day out, so you missed that mid day rush. Plus I got to have my last lay-in before I go back to work. Bonus all round. Whoop! 

I planned on taking so many pictures, I even took my DSLR along with me, but I forgot until I got there that Meadowhall is not very pretty. Haha. So instead I pictured all our purchases, so you get to enjoy that. (I'm also becoming much better friends with my Nikon since finding the patience to learn the basic manual settings. Phew!)

Here's the job lot. I'm so happy with everything I picked up. I also bought a pair of Denim shorts from Primark that aren't pictured here, but they need returning as they don't fit. No surprise there then. Will I ever learn? 

Lets start with the clothes...

The grey Trilby was £6.99 from New Look. I saw this over a month ago, and regretted picking it up ever since. It was one of those, "I promise to wear it all the time Michael" moments. Haha. 

Here's the link for you lovely people.

I love these shoestring vests form New Look. At £1.99 they are a steal. They are so soft, and perfect for under my work uniform. I bought five, one for every day.

The others were from Primark. 

The shirt is super soft. I fell in love as soon as I saw it. It's made from the flannel material, and it's such a flattering length. I didn't think £8 was too bad either.

The scarf was an impulse buy, but boy am I glad for impulses. I love it. £3. And it's square. 

Is it just me or are these hard to come across? 

While we're in Primark I may as well show the jewellery I picked up.

As you can tell by the picture, the earrings were only £1.50. I only really bought them for the swallows, but I guess I'd wear some of the others as well. These are a bargain for me, as I have and ear stretch in my left ear, so I only wear one earring at a time. 

The bracelet was £2... I think. I have no idea what I've done with the packaging. (I'm sure I'll find it hanging out of Jake's mouth sometime soon)

We then headed to River Island. Now I don't shop for clothes here, as to be honest it's way out of my price range. Lovely to window shop, but that's as far as it goes with me... unfortunately. Now this next purchase means so much to me. 

Perfect eau de toilette 

Mike bought this for me in a set for Christmas. Our first Christmas together. 

We had only started going out that December, and he didn't have a job. 

He spent his last £20 on me for Christmas. 

It still warms my heart to this day. 

When he bought it the sales assistant informed him that they were discontinuing it. I was gutted. 

Now I don't know if they ever did discontinue it or not, but when I noticed they had it in stock I had to have it. It's only £4.99, smells incredible, and brings back so many memories. 

And for Boots

As you'll know by my previous 'day' post I was given some 'Love to Shop' Vouchers to spend on items I need for my wedding from my Nanna. She asked me to pick up the Shockwaves serum, which happened to be 2 for £4. At £3.36 I even got my Nanna a bargain, not that it matters as she told me to use the vouchers. If you want to know how well it works, ask my Nanna. Haha. Though she has gone through two tubes already so it must be good. I'm even tempted. 

The other items are for my wedding. 

I love this cream blush from MaxFactor. I orginally found this in the last free gift bags and have worn it every day since. As it's a cream blush I set it with the No7 Blusher in 12, Coral Flush. It lasts all day, and looks as pretty at the end of the day as it does when you first put it on. I picked it up in the shade 14 Soft Pink and it's £6.99.  

I won't be touching this until my wedding day. (Unless I run out of my tester)

And my Mascara. I don't usually go for waterproof, but come on it's for my wedding day. I chose the False Lash Effect in Black (waterproof.) 

I will try this out before the big day, but that's it. I've heard good things about it so I'm not worried. 

I've gone to the trouble of linking all these for you, your challenge is to find them if you want to check these items out. Hehe

If you spend £15 or more you also get a free gift worth over £25. I love these things. The eyeshadow I got in the previous one, I use every day! 

If you can, I would say pick one up, I couldn't recommend them enough. Even the make-up bag is pretty. I'll let you know how well these work. 

Oh and I had a swatch of All That Glitter Eyeshadow from Mac on my hand, and the free MaxFactor eyeshadow is a pretty good dupe. Don't quote me on it though, but I thought that they looked pretty similar. 

It's a given that if we ever go shopping we always have to pop into HMV for Mike. We've got to let the fella have a bit of fun after all I put him through. I may have done well today, but normally I'm the worst shopper... ever! 

Worst thing is, he didn't get anything, this CD was for me. Good thing is, is that we both love this band, so it's a shared CD. Yeay! Check them out... I insist! 

We had 45 minutes left before our train arrived, so we headed to WHSmiths to pick up something to read on the way home, but of course we ended up picking up a few more items. 

Firstly I spotted the container. I thought it would be perfect for my make-up brushes.

I already have something for them, but seen as I keep my make-up downstairs in the living room, I thought that this would look prettier on the coffee table. This was only £1.99.

Then Mike liked the letter separator thingy-mi-jig. 

We are so messy when it comes to post, before we know it we have letters scattered all over the kitchen side. This is now our attempt to prevent this. This ended up working out at only £2.49.

Both were reduced!

And now let me introduce you to my new bookmark... 

readers, this is George, 

George, these are my readers.

and there you were thinking I'd named him. Though to be honest if I had, George would have been the name I'd have chosen. I love him! 

Giraffes mean a lot to Mike and I, they have been are our little inside joke since just before our engagement. One day I might go into it for you, if you're nice. 

awww look, he's already settled in. 

Finally I picked up a few foundation samples for my wedding (bet your sick of hearing that now), which I'm going to try out over the next few weeks and let you know what I choose. 

Look at me and my super pale skin. My skin even confused the make-up artist. 

Dark hair + Freckles = Very Pale Skin???

We caught the train from Sheffield at 8:45pm and made back for about 10:30pm. It was slightly creepy walking home from the train station in the dark, but I always feel safe with Mike. I seem to forget how much the dark scares me. Another case of watching far too many Zombie movies. Though it didn't take up half as long on the way back. Haha. 

Sorry for such a long blog post, I just had so much to say. In fact I'm not quite sure why I'm apologising seen as I did choose my blog address to be babblingkatie, so really you did get a little warning. Hehe.

Anyway I'll speak to you all soon. 

Katie

x

P.S Here are the few bits we picked up for Michael incase any of you are interested. 

The clothes were from Primark. The hoodie ended up only being £5. He lives in these things. And the T-shirt was only £7. I'm sure I'll get in trouble one of these days for wearing this. The saying really is true in our house, 'What's yours is mine, and what's mine is mine.'

The comic was his train reading material of choice. I've always been attracted to the geeks, and this only make me fancy him a bit more.