My name is Kirsty and I’m a shopaholic…though I have no intention of stopping. I don’t know about you but online shopping has helped to keep me sane over the past year, I bloody love it! I haven’t been buying nearly as much clothing, shoes and make-up seeing as I haven’t had anywhere to go but I seem to have replaced this with literally anything else I can think of.
First of all, there were a few items that I missed out of my Jan/ Feb post so I’m going to add them here because they are too nice not to mention. From a lovely little business called My Fancy Feathers, I chose a navy Fedora hat with partridge feathers around the band…I knew it was going to be nice but when I actually saw it for the first time in real life I was pretty blown away. The colour is a really deep, rich blue and the partridge feathers are absolutely stunning, I cannot wait until I can start wearing it (once the Scottish weather is calm enough to not blow it straight off my head). I also chose a partridge feather hairband (Would you guess I’m quite partial to a partridge feather) and then decided to go wild and added a pair of guinea fowl earrings. Both are really pretty and are just that little bit different to my usual styles. If you’re after something with a country feel, this is the shop for you (I can also confirm that the lovely lady behind the scenes is extremely helpful and gave me lots of options and advice when I was being super annoying and unable to decide what to get)!
Now, onto March/ April…One of my first purchases in March was a 6 month supply of Hairburst hair vitamins as I’ve been feeling that since lockdown started, my hair isn’t looking or feeling it’s best due to lack of hair cuts and also being pulled back in a ponytail every. single. day! There was a buy one get one free offer on over the whole website so I decided to go for it and bought two of the 3 month packs. These capsules claim to maintain healthy hair growth, improve thinning hair, prevent breakage and encourage growth (all of the above please). I haven’t been using them long enough to know if they make any real difference but at least I am starting with a pretty decent stash that will set me on my way to luscious locks.
One of my favourite brands is Ivy & Rigg who are based in Northumberland so fairly local to me. Here are a few reasons why you should shop here – for every item sold, £1 is donated to wildlife conservation and one tree is planted in Madagascar, and the packaging is 100% recyclable. I already have the Bamburgh recycled quarter zip in charcoal but decided I needed another and added the navy version to my stash. These sweatshirts are super comfortable and cosy and can be thrown on with anything! Now I just need the marl grey and I’ll have the complete collection! I also threw in a t-shirt that was in the sale and an absolute steal at £6…I’m sure it will come in handy in the warmer months. Unfortunately it is now out of stock (but not surprising) but there are lots of other options still on the website.
You can also get £10 off Ivy & Rigg with this code http://i.refs.cc/qnB9V0g7?smile_ref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjo2Njk3NzQzMTN9
Another of my favourite brands and one I have mentioned a few times in previous posts is Beaumont & Bear and they introduced their new Cliff Road Quarter Zip jumpers which I immediately pre-ordered in Navy. There is also a pink version which I depserately wish I had ordered at the same time as needless to say, both sold out in no time and haven’t been in stock since (however, if I remember rightly, there should be more stock arriving in May)! I love this jumper, it is ridiculously soft and cosy and just the right amount of oversizedness (I know that’s not a word but *shrugs shoulders*). You can get 10% B&B with the code KIRSTYJ10.
Sticking with clothing, and something that I have purchased a lot of over lockdown is leggings and I got two pairs from NGS Fieldsports. I decided on a pair of the olive and the mulberry Countryside leggings…I wasn’t sure what to expect as I usually spend a lot more on leggings but I was very pleasantly surprised, they are very comfortable, stretchy and they passed the squat test which many others have failed.
I raved about Chelsea Peers pyjamas in my Jan/ Feb post and I have since acquired another pair. I had been searching for the red satin giraffe print set for months and months but they were constantly out of stock but I FINALLY got my hands on them and Oh My God they are amazing! The colours are so dreamy and I just wish I could wear them all day every day. No word of a lie when I say I’m on the site at least once a week to see if there any new designs…I am literally obsessed with this brand! Chelsea Peers also just released their Desert Safari collection – I was desperate for the Orange Leopard Short Set and thought I was on the ball…alas I wasn’t quick enough and they sold out in my size. Devastated doesn’t come close 😦
You can get £5 off your purchase with the code http://i.refs.cc/RybHX3lo?smile_ref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjo4MzY5Mzg1OTh9
I bought one pair of shoes in April and they are not my usual 6 inch heels. Seeing as I’m not planning on joining back up to the gym and have started outdoor running again, I thought it was time I finally replaced my trusty Adidas trainers which are quite literally falling apart. I had been debating between road and trail trainers as I run on the road but also around the farm tracks and discovered there is such a thing as hybrid road/ trail shoes (who knew?) I’m a cheapskate when it comes to things that are necessary rather than fashionable and I found a pair of New Balance Trail Running Shoes for less than £30 from M&M Direct (there’s a blast from the past). I’ve only just tried them on but they feel comfy enough and much more supportive than the wreckage they are replacing. One thing I will say is they aren’t very pretty…I am very vocal about my dislike for ugly shoes but needs must in this case.
I did buy one make-up item as I decided to purchase a travel sized version of the Urban Decay Lash Freak mascara. I can’t say I’ve tried it yet as I have a little collection of mascaras that I still need to get through but I got it on offer and have heard good things so maybe, just maybe, this could be the one!
Not intent on just treating myself, I wanted to treat the pooch too and seeing as I had a voucher for Pampeano, I purchased the leather dog collar in the shade “Petalo”, which is different shades of pink and a bit of navy. I can’t say the dog was overly impressed and immediately tried to get it off but she looks bloody adorable so that’s all that matters. There are lots of different colour options and I don’t care to admit how long it took me to decide on one (as well as trying to stop myself from adding a belt for myself), and you can also find matching leads (I also managed to stop myself adding this to my basket).
I also had a couple of presents to purchase in March and April (SO MANY BABIES)! I went to my go-to Biscuiteers for a few of these…they have beautiful biscuits for any occasion and lots of letterbox options so you don’t have to worry about the recipient being in to receive them. I tend to get my new parent friends gifts for them rather than the baby as I feel they are often bombarded with baby clothes and toys but nothing for themselves, so these New Baby Biscuits are perfect! I also had a gin loving friend celebrating a second lockdown birthday so these Gin and Tonic biscuits seemed very fitting. Although, still nobody has bought me any which I am a little bit miffed about!
For 15% off your first Biscuiteers order, you can use this code https://biscuiteers.mention-me.com/m/ol/kl9rt-kirsty-arnott
Another of my close friends had a baby (quite a few months ago but I’m never very organised) and I knew how much she had missed food like cheese, pate and also a little tipple! I scoured the internet for cheese boxes but couldn’t find anything very good within my price range. However, I eventually came across The Fine Cheese Company where I managed to find a fabulous range of different cheeses. There are so many options and different varieties of cheese as well as charcuterie, deli, sweet treats, hampers and a cheese subscription (Ok, I need a cheese subscription in my life)! Obviously I couldn’t resist adding a couple of cheeses for myself including the Graceburn soft cheese marinated in herb infused oil which I have been wanting to try for so long! It didn’t disappoint and is now up there with my favourites! I’ll definitely be putting another order in soon.
Just when I thought I’d finished my shopping for the month, Holland and Barrett ran their penny sale and included the Hair Burst hair vitamins that I’d bought in March…so obviously I had to stock up. The offer only included the individual bottles but that still meant a two month supply for £20, plus there was a further 20% off orders so, to nab free delivery, I also bought four boxes of Twinings teabags as I needed some more herbal tea and I took this opportunity to order some flavours I haven’t tried before.
I was also extremely lucky to win a couple of incredible competitions over March and April. The first prize I won was a pair of velvet boot shapers from Very Velvet Boutique (Instagram @lauve.silk) and when I posted a photo to my Insta I had a lot of questions asking what on earth they were. These are quite literally the most opulent boot shapers I have ever owned and they look absolutely amazing. There are loads of colours to choose from and I took forever and a day to make a decision but I finally settled on a dusky pink shade with metallic tassles (I can’t decide what colour describes them…almost rose gold but not quite?!) These are now in my Reginas but I am definitely going to get another pair for my Amiras…if only I can decide on a colour! They were also lovely enough to throw in a gorgeous silk scrunchie and this time I literally couldn’t decide on a colour so they surprised me with a natural/ grey shade. The packaging was also almost too beautiful to open, wrapped in a leopard print paper and tied up with ribbons.
The second competition I won an amazing little black bag from Will Hodges. This is a fairly new brand on the block but if you’re looking for high quality leather products then definitely go and take a look. I received the gorgeous Tara black leather bag which is the perfect size when you want something a bit larger than a clutch (which I always do) but don’t want to carry a full sized handbag. The brand makes items to order and also offers a bespoke service so you can get something that is truly personal to you. As part of this competition I also received the Finches Dory Silk Twilly which I will be adding to the bag handle for that little extra touch.
So that’s my shopping history for the past couple of months, a bit of a random selection and a hella lot of hair vitamins! I have a couple of birthdays coming up in May (including the Pup’s) so will have some more shopping to do soon and it would be a shame not to treat myself at the same time! Feel free to let me know what you think about my purchases and any recommendations are always well received!
Until next time,
Kirsty x
lifewithkirstyjane.com 