What's in My Handbag

I recently bought a new handbag from +Very.co.uk the Carvela Evelin bucket bag which I managed to get on sale for £53.00.

I chose this particular bag as it is neither too big, nor too small.  It is the perfect size for those of us who carry along a lot of things, but do not want a suitcase size handbag to drag around.  With its sizing at H21 W28 D16 (cm) this is a bag that you can take to the office or on a night out with the girls (or indeed to both) as it works well for either.

When it comes to changing handbags however, there is one thing that we all dread.  Clearing out the old handbag.  Old receipts, bills we have forgotten about, ten half empty chewing gum packets, makeup that has fallen to the bottom; it is all there.

I now start afresh, with good intentions and a vow that this bag will be different.  I will not treat you so badly.  So with that in mind, here is what is in my new handbag!

London Retro sunglasses and case
Umbrella (From M&S)
Happy Jackson earphones case



We all have these:
Purse from Fossil (but found in a charity shop!)
Pen, phone charger & small face powder brush
Phone



Mini brush
Hairband & compact mirror
Vaseline to keep my lips soft in summer
Notebook
Business card holder which holds work business cards and my blog card



Finally:
Mini makeup bag containing:
Two red lipsticks, one dark one light
One dark pink lipstick
MUA mascara & eyeliner for emergency touch ups
Rimmel Stay Matte Face Powder

I am not kidding myself to the fact that within a week that makeup bag will also include another five lipsticks and chewing gum pills will no doubt again multiple; but I am hopefully of maintaining some kind of order with my new lovely.

What do you carry round in your handbag?

Manchester Blogger Meet Up

I am a rubbish blogger.  I cannot believe how long it took me to write this blog post.  

Some time ago now I went on a blogger meet up in Manchester with some fantastic plus size blogger babes.  We decided to have a little shopping trip in the +Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre which had been arranged by the lovely Steph of Seeing Spots which was followed by a brilliant cocktail making class at +Tiger Tiger Manchester which had been sorted by the brilliant Debz of The Not So Secret Diary of a Wannabe Princess

I will share a few photographs that I took during the cocktail class, please bear in mind that they were cocktail fueled photographs!

The beautiful Naomi

Concentration for making cocktails is key with Gemma of Pink Gemma

Dude, Where's My Cocktail?

Why are our glasses empty?  I don't know, I'm blindfolded!

I must confess that I was very nervous to go to the meet up, not only because the only person I had met in the flesh before was Steph, but also because I was meeting some bloggers that I had admired from reading their blogs and was a little "blogger star struck".  Not least Naomi of DiamondsnPearls with her radiant smile, Em from Terrible Tumbles who I thought was just fabulous (and was in the flesh too) and the beautiful Nicola of Chunky Cat Cuddler who makes gorgeous jewellery and is so so lovely.

We decided to stay for a "few" drinks later on given the 50% off offer, how could we not, which resulted in my weaving my way back to Deansgate ready for a bus ride home, trying not to fall asleep or look like a drunken mess.

I had a brilliant time and I think we definately need to do it again.  Spring Fling anyone?

Shopping in Skipton

Some things are inevitable.  One of them is that it is impossible to go "window shopping" with your mother.  Do not try, it is folly.

On Saturday I went with my mum to Skipton for a wander around the shops and some lunch.  My intention was to wander but not purchase as I wanted to save my money for Christmas.  I got out of the car and I think within 3 minutes I had made my first purchase.  Oops.

Here's my outfit for the day, still channelling the red, white and blue look.

An actual pose!

Typically when I buy jewellery I prefer to buy British made and ideally something that supports local traders.   When I saw this lovely for the bargain price of £7, it had to be mine.  I'm not usually a statement necklace type of gal but my mum convinced me to buy it.  

I bought a few other bits and pieces, nothing exciting but my final purchase was my favourite.  We went into the local town hall which was having a craft fair in it's tiny hall.  

Now all of my life I have had a quirk when it comes to perfume bottles.  I tend to chose the perfume bottle first and the actual scent second, but I have been looking for the perfect perfume bottle forever.  The kind where you decant your perfume in and dab on like they used to do in the old movies.  

Here's the first in what I suspect will turn into a collection.  It's 1920's style, classic, clean lines and I love it.

Hello darling

Now on top of my wish list this Christmas, although I suspect given the price I may be buying it myself in the New Year is the perfume Oh Lola by Marc Jacobs which not only has a beautiful and distinctive scent, also had a lovely bottle.

Do you have something you want to collect?