BEAUTIFUL BARGAINS

Here are some of my most recent bargains. This month I am attempting to not spend on clothes at all. This has (as you can see) somewhat failed. I just physically cannot resist a bargain. Also I had 25 pounds worth of Topshop vouchers left over from my birthday, so with all that in mind, it's ok. 

Topshop//95 pounds, reduced to 20.

I have been in love with these ever since a friend and style icon I worked with in UO Sheffield purchased them. I went into Topshop this week to return a faulty item. I didn't have a receipt so had to exchange. Found these, and a dress (featured below) and therefore paid nothing!

Topshop//55 pounds reduced to 20

I used one of my vouchers on these, and therefore only paid 10. Still considering taking them back as they make me over 6ft. But they're so beautiful, I kind of want to keep them, just to look at.

Sparkle & Fade at Urban Outfitters//38 pounds reduced to 10 (7.50 with my employee discount)

I've had my eye on this top for a while, an oversized white top, as if my wardrobe isn't full of them already.

Cheap Monday at Urban Outfitters//50 pounds reduced to 15 (11.25 with my employee discount)

Just found this skirt in the stock room today and fell in love with it!

Topshop//32 pounds reduced to 7

This is the dress I made an exchange with alongside the shoes.

Urban Renewal at Urban Outfitters//30 pounds reduced to 10 (7.50 with employee discount)

A perfect little going out bag. Also found this one in the stock room (my new treasure chest!)

Urban Outfitters// 50 pounds reduced to 5 (3.75 with employee discount)

This lomography camera was on a mannequin for ages, when it was taken off I checked the price and found it was reduced right down to 5 pounds. Massively happy with this one!

So the grand total of all of these beauties should have come to 350. I paid 39.50. It pays to bargain hunt! Again I apologise for my lack of pound signs. My Australian laptop doesn't have one!

PUB SCRABBLE

Tom met me after I finished work last week, we needed to kill some time before going out for dinner. So we went to a beautiful pub in Guildford, sat outside, played scrabble and drank wine. We used every tile, even the pub staff said it looked intense. It was, and I won. I beat a doctor at scrabble, happy days.

OH, SO BRITISH

I am currently caught between two cities. Having recently moved back down south to Surrey, I left my love in Sheffield, and therefore find myself back there on a regular basis. Fortunately both places have my heart.

 Guildford is fabulously British, from it's cobbled high street to old English pubs and even an 11th century castle. It is everything you could wish for when dreaming of a picturesque English town. Sheffield, on the other hand, is industrial. It's fame coming from steelworks and so being named 'the steel city'. Despite this, Sheffield boasts a culture like non other. Every corner of the city is filled with independent cafes, restaurants, boutiques and flower shops, each bringing something unique to the city. The city is alive and there is a constant buzz, unlike Guildford, whose residents prefer a somewhat more relaxed take on life.

Below are some photos expressing the best of both cities, some of my favourite places to eat, drink and find inspiration.

This coffee shop is one of my favourites. On my pay day lunch I get a halloumi and aubergine sandwich, which is unbelievably good! Also the tea is delightful, a treat for even the snobbiest of tea drinkers.

Being in the heart of Surrey there's a lot of green-ness around, even though Guildford is technically a City, there are so many beautiful spots, often covered in flowers. Below is the castle grounds, where I like to go on my lunch breaks.

The restaurant featured below is my all time favourite. An interior filled with stunning decor and a menu filled with irresistible food. 

I am English, I love tea.

My favourite coffee shop in Sheffield happens to also offer free refills on tea. Could be why it's one of my favourite places to go. The walls are covered in old pages from books, scrabble boards, old postcards, it is such a good place to go to just drink lots of tea and relax.

The boutiques and charity shops are never short of perfect things to decorate your home or yourself with. In one part of town there is a whole row of antique shops, full to the brim with treasures. And not surprisingly there is also a beautiful coffee shop right next door.

I hope you enjoyed my insight into my little bit of this beautiful country!

MOONRISE KINGDOM

This week I discovered Moonrise Kingdom for the first time. SUCH  a beautiful film. I absolutely loved everything about it. I hadn't even heard of it before and therefore really didn't know what to expect, but from the moment it started until the end I couldn't take my eyes off the TV. From the costumes to the music to the filming, it is stunning. Plus I love Bruce Willis, and in this film he is such a babe. Bonus. 

25

July 20th was my 25th birthday. I took the week off work and went to Sheffield to celebrate with Tom. The 19th was his graduation so we had a lot to celebrate! Trip to Hathersage outdoor swimming pool, picnic,  Booth family BBQ, shots at midnight, photobooth, Loch Fyne, tramlines, drinks with friends, shopping, movies, the apprentice final and cafes made my birthday one of the best ones yet!

SUNDAY

Today I made the most of having a Sunday off work. I went for lunch with two of my oldest and best friends, Elle and Christina. We went to the Hand and Spear in Weybridge, such a beautiful pub. Then we went out onto the roadside to watch the professionals fly past us in the Prudential Ride London race. After I met up with two friends from college for ice cream. I love not working on Sundays!