Day Out To Buxton

Hello again!

Well I don't know about you but I just love impromptu days out, where you just decide to get out and see where the wind takes you. I had one of these days recently and the wind happened to take us to lovely Buxton. Its a gorgeous drive out there with rolling hills and winding roads. I thought I'd share some of the highlights of the day...

First off a walk through the Pavilion Gardens.

The Pavilion looked very grand with its pretty bunting swishing in the wind!

Then on for a look at the old band stand.

                       

The tulip adorned railings are a lovely feature!

After a little mooch around the Pavilion where I purchased some delightful retro style postcards...

It was time for a little basketball!

                     

Always time for a quick snap!

                     

After some lovely fresh air it was time to head on into the town, passing the Buxton well made me wish I'd brought my empty water bottles.

Then it was on to the Cavendish Arcade, I hadn't been here for a while but remember how pretty the shops used to be inside. I was not disappointed!

I just love the tiled walls.

And this spa bath looked very interesting!

Back to the pretty shops and they were full of lots my favorite things.

I very nearly came away with these fab and ever so comfy shoes, maybe I'll have to go back ;) 

I did come away with a couple of other little treats though.

I then remembered how Buxton was great for shabby chic/vintage stores and took myself off for a little wander. I found this lovely little place and every corner was filled with vintage loveliness! 

Next I found myself in the most amazing charity shop!

The changing room.

I was very tempted with this vintage fabric bag, it was only about £3 and I just loved the faded floral print, but I ended up putting it back for someone else to enjoy.

Soon it was time to head back and I walked via one of my favourite buildings in Buxton the Buxton Opera House

I noticed quite a bit of building work going on around Buxton Crescent and stopped to have a read about what was being built.

A new spa hotel, very nice!

So homeward bound it was after our little day out...don't think it will be too long till we're back again! Here are the little treats I did come away with!

I couldn't resist these two items from the New Look sales, I love swallows and so the shirt was a must! The sandals are just the comfiest and a lovely tan colour.

I very often come away with things for the home and this cute rag rug and jug were definitely keepers. I think the jug looks lovely just as it is and it was only £7 from one of the interior shops.

The rag rug adds a great pop of colour to any space!

And last but not least the cute vintage style postcards - I just love these!

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Aldi Haul

Hello, back again so soon... I really must keep up this new blogging pace!

As we all know I love a good bargain so I have to admit I am an avid Aldi shopper and when it comes to their special buys I'm always on the look out for new products. The middle isle in Aldi is often very kind to me especially so when there have been products reduced even further!

You may or may not have heard about the No1, No2 and No3 candles that Aldi sold around Mother's Day time. They were known as the Jo Malone dupe's and being at only £3.99 you can see why they were so popular. Well I tried, tried and tried again to get one but no luck, they had sold out everywhere! It just wasn't meant to be. I had heard recently that they were coming back as a permanent line so I thought now is my chance! Nope, yet again I still couldn't find these infamous candles anywhere.

On the off chance shopping late one evening I thought I'd ask if my local store may be getting them (casually of course so as not to appear too desperate) and was given the response "The candles are over there luv". Over there!! Over there!! They'd been in the store all this time and I'd not seen them whilst shopping. Well no wonder really, there I was looking frantically amongst the middle isle stuff and they were actually with the bin bags and bleach (never on my shopping list) on the other side of the shop. I wasn't so casual when it came to walking over, I practically skipped! 

Loads left! 

However tempting it was to lift the boxes of candles and just chuck 'em in the trolley, that would be quite greedy so I was quite restrained and just picked a set of 3 and a couple of extras as gifts. Hopefully being a permanent line they'll now be in store more often. I had heard mixed reviews about this new stock and that some people were left wondering where the fragrance was so I was eager to try them out and see for myself.

They really do look very Jo Malone-y and are much bigger than I thought they would be. The fragrances are No1 (Lime, Basil and Mandarin) No2 (a new fragrance Blackberry Bay) and No3 (Pomegranate Noir) So far I have only lit No3 and it's just lovely, the scent for me is definitely there!

Whilst I was on the search for my Jo Malone dupes I happened to find these candles from Aldi and were fab bargains, they certainly appeased  my candle needs before finally finding the much coveted ones.

The Scentcerity Sweet Pea candle smells divine!!

Another product that has literally been flying off the shelves is their Exfoliating Mud Mask at £5.99. Now this mud mask has been likened to a similar GlamGlow product priced at £39! I'm yet to try out the Aldi one but I've heard many good reports, so hopefully it won't be too long until I too have that smooth youthful feeling that everyone is talking about!  

I'm actually getting to be quite a fan of beauty products, indeed always on the look out for the next lotion or potion that may help to improve my skin and perhaps take a year or two off - or hopefully in my case a decade! Often creams that claim to be the next best thing in giving you that much wanted youthful skin can sometimes really break the bank...ok, it has to be said cheaper than botox but that's not the point as not an avenue that I really want to go down... I couldn't resist this little Aldi haul recently when I saw them, such bargains, but will they do the trick?

I picked up:

Lacura Lavender Midnight Power cream for rejuvenated and smooth skin.

Lacura Lavender Midnight Power Eye Care for a rejuvenated and bright eye area.

Lacura Vitacell Serum Concentrate for skin youthfulness that may be restored.

Lacura Vitacell Eye Cream for a reduction in fine lines and dark circles.

Lacura My Expert Miracle Skin Perfecting Day Cream for a smooth skin feel. 

I purchased the above on different visits, the Vitacell serum and eye cream and My Expert cream had been further reduced so I would have still got change from £20 for all five products. Considering many of these products have been likened to other high end creams costing sometimes £100's of pounds, I think under £20 for all of them rather good in comparison!

I can't wait to try out the Vitacell range, and I'm told the Caviar range is also good so I guess I shall keep my out for that next time. Whilst the sun has been out I was in need of a new sun hat and loved this £3.99 one - a fab bargain!

So after my various hauls I think a sit down is in order, with a special drink of course, and what better than a little Rosé. This £5.99 Aldi one has been ranked as one of the best in the world!!  

Chin, chin!

X

Waves, Step's Back In!

Well, hello lovelies!! I'm so sorry, I certainly seem to have be been AWOL for quite a while there haven't I!? Lets call it a blogging break, holiday, hiatus....oh ok, I'll admit it, the blogging mojo upped and went, closed the door behind and I thought it was never to return. Well as life has it, the mojo has decided to re-appear and I seem to have found my love of blogging all over again and look forward to posting little snippets from my life, and of course my many bargain shopping hauls!! I think we should start with some pretty pictures to get the ball back 'o rolling don't you?

I recently found some quote postcards in the sales for 20p and so I bought many different ones, I enjoy placing them around the home to help motivate and inspire me when I walk in to one of the rooms. 

And of course I'm still loving all things pink and floral! Whilst they were in season, I made frequent Aldi trips every week to stock up on my peony bargains. 

Now the peonies seem out of season, it's back to my trusty roses!

I really don't think the pink will ever leave me!

 When I thought the time had come after many months, no possibly years of pondering over whether to get a pair of the Saltwater sandals, it HAD to be the fuchsia hot pink for my colour of choice. I always thought this particular style of sandal would make me look about 6 years old wearing them, but after hearing so many reviews on how comfy they are I just had to go for it. They are indeed so, so comfy. Having narrow feet, they are possibly a little wider on me than my usual shoe/sandal, but after a few wears (including a paddle or two in the sea) are moulding to my feet much better.  

I'm always still up for a bargain, and having a sweet tooth, I couldn't leave this delicious birthday cake behind for only £2.50!! It was scrumptious and so pretty to look at. It was no-ones birthday in our house, but it certainly felt like it eating it! 

My love of up-cycling is increasing as the days are getting warmer/longer and I have plenty of painting time. A lovely friend has been updating her kitchen dinner into the kitchen of (my) dreams and she has so kindly given me her unwanted farmhouse kitchen table and solid wood chairs for me to makeover. I can't wait to get going and although I've only got as far as giving the chairs a quick rub down and clean, have had a good think about the makeover and I can't wait to get cracking! I was hoping to try out the Aldi chalk paint, but think its a quick seller so haven't managed to get some yet. I do like my Annie Sloan paint but my purse certainly doesn't ;) I shall be re-doing all the seat pads, and fancy something very pretty so shall be digging out my fave Cath Kidston fabrics.

Talking of Aldi, I've managed to find some great bargains from there recently, that middle isle is like an Aladdin's cave of delights sometimes. I'll share my finds  with you on my next post! 

So I've quietly crept back in, and its just been my 9th blog-anniversary, think I'll have to sort out a little giveaway for you guys!! Until then, I'll leave you with a little pic of Master Poppins taken by  the very talented Whitrigg Photography He who was about 2 years old when I started this blog, and now.......he's off to secondary school. How did that happen, time is just flying by...

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