Share my journey!

Hello, and thanks for bearing with me as I update you on my last moments in the UK. I'm always sad to say goodbye to my home and my family, especially after spending so long there this time. I'm still missing home right now. Sniff sniff.

Something that lessened the sadness was the panic of fitting a million new beads and crafty bits into my (very generous) luggage allowance of three suitcases! My parents are horrified at how much I compulsively bought! But I couldn't resist as these things are hard to come by in NZ! (That was my justification anyway!)

I managed it (just about!) and had to leave a few things behind (for next time)...

Me and my three suitcases and three pieces of cabin baggage - and the hat I had to wear cos I couldn't pack it! hahaha!

Bye UK!! :(

The journey was eased by a wee upgrade to business class to Hong Kong - so sipping bubbly wine whilst waiting to take off was quite nice :)

Hong Kong - 13 hours in and a quick stop to refuel, strectch my legs and brush my teeth!!

And then eventually I was back at home with tonnes of this to unpack!!

And I have to figure out where to store all of these beads and crafty bits. (This about half of what I brought back!!!!) Yes I am mad. Bead-mad.

Have you ever been away on an extended vacation? How did you find settling back in? :)

Keeping Cosy at the Celtic!

Hello all! 

The bf and I enjoyed our day at the Celtic Manor - a posh golf/leisure resort 5 mins from my parents' house. The Ryder Cup was held there in 2011 and many celebs stay there when they are in the area.

Anyway, as I was feeling under the weather I chucked on this very shapeless (but cosy!!) jumper for our afternoon there. I didn't get any pics of my evening outfit which is extremely lame!! Boo! Nevermind.

Jumper, Primark.

My new Christmas leather boots, from my lovely Mummy :)

I added a touch of OPI glitter to my nails!

Ring, H&M (current season)

Earrings, Primark

My new nude lippy from Mac - I forget which shade sorry!

Cheeky 'don't ask' candles!! Hahaha.

Bday boy with some of his pressies :)

A selection of the desserts! YUM!

I'm still under the weather but have been on a dress-hunting mission! I needed two dresses for the two beach weddings in Mauritius next week and today think I finally got them sorted!Now for the accessories! ;)

How is your week? :)

A 24 jaunt in London!

Hey folks! So as I mentioned, on Monday my sister Beth and I went to London for one night! We just wanted a little trip there for a poke around and to see some of the festivities. We didn't buy much (we weren't there for shopping) but I did discover Liberty's of London and LOVED the mock-Tudor mansion that the store is housed in.

Here are a few snaps of our mini-trip:

Buckingham Palace

Beth and my friend Craig who I met when we both studied in Las Palmas many moons ago!

Me and Craig

Covent Garden

A festive mulled wine in Covent Garden

New in!

Hi all! I came home from work yesterday and was OVERJOYED to find a surprise parcel awaiting me! One of my best friends had sent me a little gift from the UK...

How cute is this box?

And the label!

 

OMG this is amaaaazing!!! I love it! She knows me so well!

 

It's really funny because another friend sent me this necklace from the UK last month....well I think it's obvious I love a nice cup of tea eh!? Not as much as I love my wonderful friends!! :)

This week there's a huge import sale on in town. I made sure I ran out of work at 10am yesterday to get there on its first morning! I scrabbled around for cash to pay the parking meter (I never have cash!) and could only park for 20mins so made a mad dash around the sale. This is my haul...

My favourite perfume - G of the Sea. Couldn't get it for hide nor hair the last few months so I ordered two bottles to my address in the UK for my trip home. Now I have two more here!! And I also bought Harajuku Lovers in 'Baby'. They were $60 instead of $100.

I bought three OPI colours - two potentially as gifts for my sisters when I go home (the gold one is MINE though!).
They were just $12 each.

Mascaras....(they can be SO expensive here so I bulk bought!)

Another mascara and some black eyeliners....

And a couple of other bits and bobs.

 Now I just need to find somewhere to store them all!

I also totally splurged on a nightie and pair of trousers on Sunday. Australian designer Peter Alexander does THE most amazing sleepwear. The store always smells amazing too because they light these gorgeous candles -  I've come close to buying a $60 candle on a few occasions!! Help!

I paid $60 for a cotton nightie. Am I mad? Probably. But I do love birds.

And coughed up $60 bucks for these trousers. Also a sign of madness.

But with packaging like this, how can a girl resist?!

 

Do you have any favourite beauty products you bulk buy?

Guest blogger: Cait from Sailing to Nowhere

So, as promised, I am today handing What Sadie Did over to the lovely Cait from Sailing to Nowhere! I am VERY pleased to have Cait as the first EVER guest blogger, and think she did a fabulous job. I'm guest blogging over at Sailing to Nowhere today too, so while you're checking Cait's blog out, have a little look at my post :)

 Here's Cait:

 1.Tell us a little bit about yourself...

Hi, I'm Cait from Sailing to Nowhere, I am 22 and from the UK. I graduated from university last year and since then I have been working behind a bar. I enjoy the work and it pays the bills (for my ever expanding wardrobe, yes, it is an addiction) while I decide what I want to do with my life.

2. What do you hope to achieve in the next six months?

I hope to still be passionate about blogging and to have started earning some money with my writing, I hope to have established myself as a freelance writer and hopefully have 'the novel' in full swing!

3. How long have you been blogging? What do you love about it?

I have only been blogging for a couple of months but I really love it! Now that I have more free time to devote to blogging it seemed like the right time to start. I love that it has encouraged me to look at my wardrobe differently and it has allowed me to connect with such a great community of bloggers :)

Cath Kidston Dress

4. What is your favourite item in your wardrobe and why?

This dress from Cath Kidston is my favourite item, I have had it for years and I still love it, it is so comfy to wear and the colours are great for any season. I always feel so 1940s when I wear it. 

5. What was your biggest fashion faux pas?

There have been so many! I think we all make our fair share of mistakes especially growing up, I know for a fact that as a kid I wore some terrible clothes in the name of fashion. One particular example is a leopard print strappy top and matching trousers I used to wear during my Spice Girls phase.

6. What did you wear today? Tell us about your outfit.

Today I wore this Kate Moss Topshop dress I got on eBay with a belted cardigan, knee socks and loafers. The dress is lovely but a bit low to wear on its own so I have had to put a vest underneath. I'm not sure about the knee socks but my feet were a bit cold. The outfit is super comfy but still pretty. I wore it to pop to Sainsburys to do the weekly food shop this afternoon and later I will we wearing it to go to the pub for a bit of dinner with the boyfriend.

Dress, Kate Moss for Topshop

Thanks Cait! 

If you'd like to find out more about Cait I suggest you get over pretty sharply to her blog and discover all of her fashion and lifestyle musings ;)

Tomorrow I have another What Sadie Did first! Can you feel the excitement? Can you??  

Royal Wedding Dress Up!

Hello my little lovelies! Today is the day some people have been anticipating for weeks - the Royal Wedding. As a Brit, I'm actually not too fussed about the wedding. I think it's lovely that Wills is marrying Kate, and can just imagine how exciting it is to be involved with such a wedding. But I'm not involved and so there ends my interest!

Even in NZ we are celebrating the wedding. We DON'T get the day off work (booo hiss) (and I discovered we don't get May Day off either - booo hiss), but we were sent an email in work yesterday inviting us to dress in a royal wedding theme and to have a little tea party this afternoon. We're 11 hours ahead of the UK so they're all tucked up in bed right now and the wedding footage actually commences at 6.30pm this evening.

I spent a little while rifling through my wardrobe last night for a frock suitable for fun as well as sitting in work all day, but gave up. In the end, I went with my new faux fur, some real pearls and a splash of red lippy. I thought I would rock snooty, aristocratic chic my way! ;)

Fur collar, Asos; Jacket, Valley Girl; Vest, H&M; Trousers, TK Maxx; Headband, Diva; Pearl bracelet, Christmas gift 2009 from the boyfriend <3.

I pretty much always wear nude lipstick and forgot how much fun it is wearing red!This is an old No. 7 lipstick in shade Moulin Rouge. I used to work part-time in Boots and could guarantee that each shift a customer would compliment me when I wore this shade! :D

Accessories! Antique pearl and ruby ring; Boots, Asos; Fur collar, Asos; Cameo, thrifted; Ring, as before; Pearl and elephant necklace, vintage.

Tonight I'm going to a friend's ex-pat party for scones, crumpets and I'm going to take cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches! Fun!

What are your thoughts and plans for the Royal Wedding??