Around Portobello | Notting Hill Carnival 2011

It's been a while, I know! Please don't be mad! I've been spending a lot of time over at my beauty blog Click & Make-Up, but I have loads of posts planned for this personal/lifestyle blog.  I traveled a bit over the summer and am going away in a couple of weeks, so I'll have loads of travel/destinations posts coming soon.

I spent most of the weekend at the Carnival.  I hadn't been in a couple of years as I was away on hols, but it was like coming home.  My mum took me religiously every year since I was a baby, and I live in the thick of things, so it's silly to be away really!  I was a bit worried things would kick off after all the rioting earlier in the month, but apart from one poor fella getting stabbed near Ladbroke Grove, things were pretty sedate.  It was all quiet round about me by 9pm - not even the boom boom of a house party.  Methinks Grove is getting a little too gentrified!

I had a great time and even better street food.  Here's my tally (over two days, okay?!):

Grape Soda x 2

Fried plantain chips

Fried plaintain whole

Pork skewer x2

Lamb patty

Jerk chicken, rice and peas

Lashings of Malibu and Lilt

No pics of the grub I'm afraid, I wolfed it down too fast! 

It's me and Levi Roots! I LOVE LOVE LOVE his Reggae Reggae sauce, you gotta try it! 

and round the really powsh areas, even the saplings got boarded up for protection! Pah!

Did you go to Carnival this year? Have you been before? Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

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Fashion | Primark Accessories Haulage

I'm obsessed with Primark accessories at the mo...can you tell?

This lovely brooch and earring sets were only a couple of squids each...a complete bargain.

Did I mention I bought four sets of feather earrings in one week? It's a mania.

I am IN LOVE with the last pair of these I bought which had little red and green flowers, they're unbelievable comfy and perfect for a city break where you are tramping for 16 hours a day but don't want to be rocking Nike Airs.  My joints are what they used to be.  These £4.  FOUR POUNDS! So so cheap.

All this for under a tenner.  Can't beat it with a stick.

Fashion | My Picks from Primark Autumn Winter 2011

I'm really not enamoured with the Primark A/W 2011 collection at all...I don't follow fashion trends that much but prefer to dress in whatever flatters me best - and if that happens to pop up in a season then it's all good.  

I don't like jumpsuits, granny length skirts and cardigans or colour blocking, 70s revival and especially despise mustard!  However if I had the model's body I would get the blue jumpsuit below.

Props to Primark for using a ginge :)

So of all the PR shots released, these are the only outfits I think are passable, but each to their own!  I only like the jacket from the bottom left and the skirt from the bottom right - not the whole get ups!

 

And here's a closer look...

I do really like the cut of this jacket, but wish it was navy with camel accents instead.

Again, I love the cut of this coat, but the orange piping...yeah...not so much.

On the model this jumpsuit is an azure blue, but I think it looks nicer as a deep navy.

This dress would be a lot better if the two little breast pockets were lost.  And if it was navy!

Again, I would prefer if the main part of the skirt was navy, with coral accents.

This is my favourite piece from the collection - bling and beige...lovely! Although I'm pretty sure it was in the press shots of one of their last collections...I hope not though as this is definitely something I'll be keeping an eye out for.

So there's my decidedly unfashionable take on the next Primark collection, but hey, I like what I like - navy and vintage/1950s/60s tailoring!

I don't have prices for the gear, but as can be expected it's all pretty affordable, although I do notice that Primark prices are creeping up.  I spotted a dress there the other day for £25...Eeeeep!

What do you think about the collection? Does it leave your cold or are you looking forward to it keeping you warm during A/W?!

Fashion | Cath Kidston Mini Summer Blossom Saddle Bag

Sorry sorry sorry! It's been ten years, but I will start posting more on this blog once my life calms down a bit. Anyway, just wanted to share with you my new love from the Cath Kidston sale...



Yes! Another satchel! But I can't get enough of these...sling them over your body and you're hands free to rummage through more summer sale items while at the same time rockin' some style!



£30 (down from £45) for a bit of oil cloth did make me wince, but I'm putting this baby to work as much as I can.

I absolutely adore the print, it's one of my faves from her line.





Thankfully you don't have to fiddle with the buckle to undo it - it's just a magnetic clasp. It's not the biggest of bags given that I like to roll with hella stuff, but I'm training myself to downsize, plus it's better for my back.

I'm also a huge fan of the travel card holder which I've had for a while. I can always spot it in my bag which is so handy and avoids much frustration. Happy days for only £5!



Did you get anything nice in the Cath Kidston summer sale?

Fashion | Primark Madness! I Like Big Hauls and I Cannot Lie!

You know the drill, you go in for some black opaque tights and come out with:

I don't think I've ever paid £18 for a pair of Primark shoes, but these feel lovely on despite the heel and see how it dips into a 'V' shape at the bottle of your ankle? It elongates the leg and banishes stumpiness!

They came in black too, which I would have gotten more use out of, but the wooden heel looked really cheap on them.

I love espiradrilles.  They give me some inches but don't hurt my fee to much.  The bow on these is a bit wonky, but for £6 I'm not too fussed.  Got me a cruise coming up so they are suitably nautical methinks.

These little babies were £4. FOUR QUID! They come up a bit small so I had to go for a size 7, but they do look dinky on.  Even my mum commented.  Perfect to team with a nice little sundress and go exploring in a European city.  These will do lovely for Venice in July.

I picked up the blue ones too as I have a lot of navy and blue summer dresses and they look cute with indigo jean capris.

I'm not entirely convinced on these as they aren't very comfortable, although I do love the turquoise detailing.  However they were £10 and I know I can find prettier out there if I look.  They're going back.

I recently joined the gym again so I needed some nice new flip flops to keep the veruca germs away.  I got these two for £2 - bargain! They're a bit tight to slip on handsfree, but once on they're nice and snug so I reckon I could do quite a bit of walking in these.  They're pretty cushioned too.

Now onto my favourite bits - the bling!

Guess what? I LOVE pearls! This pretty amazing little bracelet was only about £4 (I can't find my receipt!)

I'm on a kinda nautical kick at the moment as I have a couple of cruises coming up.  I know the captain will love my steering wheel and anchor charm bracelet (£1.50!).  Although I'm not sure whether to leave the cute fabric bow on or not when I wear it? Suggestions? 

The Little Mermaid in me had to have this seashell necklace and the miser in me more than approved as it again, was only £1.50.  I think I'll layer this with another necklace, perhaps my dainty Alex Monroe  butterfly. 

Yes, still with the nautical...for £1.50...

This necklace is a bit massive, but I'm hoping I can carry it off with a simple top/dress and a fierce tan.  This was £4.00. 

 

I'm swimming at the gym too and a noisy tesco bag just isn't cutting it anymore, so I picked up this cute bikini pouch to carry my wet cossie home in.  Not sure how waterproof it is yet, but at least it would work as a useful pouch to store valuables in at the beach.

So there you have it my lovelies.  It had been about 3 months since I'd stepped near a Primark, so I don't think I went too crazy.  

So what bits (if any) do you like from my haul? What would you return?

*Title courtesy of this fabulous lady

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