nice things

♥ this cardigan. It's comfy, slouchy, pink and sparkly. I got it from Primark a few months ago, and I adore it. I feel super-cosy in it, and it's my failsafe go-to option whenever I can't be bothered getting dressed properly (which happens more often than I like to admit, with me being off work currently), paired with leggings and a plain vest top. 

♥ sloe gin. I made a huge batch of this for the first time last year, to give to people as Christmas gifts. I totally forgot to take any pictures before the bottles were packed off to their various recipients, but I am pleased to report it tasted utterly yummy; I made so much there was plenty left over for me too! I followed this recipe; it's quite simple even though you have to make it ages in advance, and it tasted lovely served nice and cold with some tonic. If I can get hold of some sloe berries this autumn I will probably make some again, though I might add more fruit to the above recipe as I feel it could have done with a bit more fruitiness.

♥ my new red hair. Okay, it's not so new, it's 11 days old now, but this is a big deal to me guys. Five or six years ago, I would have scoffed at the thought of me dying my hair any colour; it was all about 'loving your natural beauty and hair colour' etc etc. Somewhere along the line, though, my feelings changed and I got off my high horse (I've probably found other high horses to climb on since then though), deciding that in the great scheme of things dyeing one's hair was hardly in the plain disturbing realms of labiaplasty. I still tred cautiously though, and played it safe with blonde highlights. Until my break-up/super-life-makeover happened, and then of course dyeing my hair bright pink seemed like a logical step to take. Fortunately I have a permanent sensible voice in the back of my head that I nearly always listen to, so I didn't go down the bright pink route (but only because I didn't want to faff around with bleach....) - but instead, here I am with red hair! I love it so much, I actually wish I'd taken the plunge sooner.

♥ my new tattoo. I am aware I dedicated a whole post to it already, but seriously, it's so awesome one post alone can't describe the scale of how fantastic it is and how much I love it. No really. It's amazing. In the interests of avoiding complete and total repetitiveness, I have at least shared a newer picture of it. The colours have faded slightly and it looks and feels more 'part of me' than it did at first. It's starting to look a bit scaly at the top, and I reckon in the next day or two it will start scabbing over. Lovely....

a nice way to spend a bank holiday + what i wore

Even though every day feels like a bank holiday for me, I've been off work for a month now.

I went to an antiques and collectibles fair in Halifax today. I've never been to one before but I would like to start collecting a few bits and pieces at some point - especially when I eventually have my own place. I loved it; I adore car boot sales, so this was basically an upgraded version, and indoors as well so no freezing my socks off/getting drenched. I was expecting a lot more high-end stuff but there was plenty of random tat, just the way I like it!

Here are some photos of a few things I was drooling over.

pretty jewellery

 

 cute typewriter

vintage sewing magazines

I didn't have much of a budget today, having bought a new laptop as a Christmas present to myself I am having to be strict with myself until the end of the month. However, as I said above there was a surprising amount of affordable items, so I was able to buy a couple of things. I of course homed in on the bargain £1 boxes of jewellery like the bargain-hunter I am!

'pearl' ring, £1

bangle, £1

bangle no. 2, also £1

my favourite purchase of the day, this ladybird purse! It has a little zip on the other side of it, but I'm not going to use it; it's too delicately beaded for that. A bargain at a mere £2, and I shall add it to my growing collection of ladybird-related objects.

dress: George at Asda // belt: Primark // right shoe (!): H! by Henry Holland

wish my spots would go away!

The dress has such a pretty print, I love it; easily the nicest thing I've seen in Asda in a long time. I dyed my hair red yesterday; I've had blonde highlights for many years and before that I was my natural colour (medium brown), so it was a big change for me! Unfortunately my hair is so long and thick there wasn't quite enough dye to evenly do all of my hair (or maybe my mum did a rubbish job for me - I got her to do it seeing as I'd never dyed my hair before, perhaps it serves me right!) so the ends at the back of my head are more brown than red. But it's only semi-permanent so it won't be too long before I can re-dye it. And, as shown above, I can still wear my beloved red lipstick (something I was a bit worried about)!