Topshop sale: My shopping picks!

The Topshop mid-season sale started yesterday, andI got straight in there to see what I could find! I actually got really lucky because alot of the stuff had been wrongly priced on the tills (according to the guy serving me this happens on the first day of every sale) and so I got a top for £5 (today it's £25) a top for £10 (today it's £20) and a pair of black leggings for £7. Leggings never normally go in the sale and I wear them every single day so I was chuffed with my bargain there!

Here is a quick outfit shot of the top I got for £5. I'm wearing it simply with the black leggings and a long line black vest teamed with my ASOS wedges. With hingsight the top makes me look broader than I am, and really needs a belt!

There are still loads of bargains to be had from the Topshop sale: if it wasn't the week before payday I would be going crazy! Here are my picks of the top five bargains from the sale that are currently available on the website:

Moths and bugs print blouse, was £35 now £15 (I loved this and tried it on but it cut too high on my bust)
Mesh tunic, was £28 now £12. (This has massive layering potential and is something you could do so much with whatever the season)
Horse sweater, was £28 now £12 (They didn't have this in my size or I would've snapped it straight up!)
Danielle Scutt dress, was £50 now £25
Shoes, were £22 now £3. Yup you read that right, now £3: and they're 100% leather. How much of a bargain is that???
Belt was £25 now £12. If nude tones don't really suit you this would be the perfect way to jump on the massive nude trend without having to go overboard. Plus it's really cute!

I know I normally do my sales reviews from the shop but it was madness yesterday and I didn't even queue for a changing room - just threw the tops on over my dresses on the shop floor! Now all the summer sales are starting to get into full swing I will do some more proper reviews over the coming weeks: it's a good excuse to hit the shops!

Love, Tor xx

PS -Tadaa! Above is the inadvertant unveiling of my new hair colour - i've had lowlights put in to take away some of the harshness of the blonde. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, but I do think it suits my complexion more. It is weird to be darker whilst everyone else is going lighter for summer though!

Painting my nails: D.I.Wah

Inspired by Gem Fatale's post on how to paint your own leopard print nails, and missing my vibrant WAH creations (but lacking the scratch to have them done properly) I decided to give it a go myself. Rather than going for Gems vibrant blue and red versions though, I went for a more "natural" print using nude, hot pink, and brown. Here are the results:

Given that i'm naturally cackhanded, I don't think I did too bad a job, however you can see wobbles and they obviously don't look as good as they did when I had them done professionally. These ones were free though: there's pros and cons to everything! You can use any three colours to create your own leopard print, although obviously the base colour has to be lighter than the two you put on top.

I used: Bourjois so laque in beige glamour for the base, No 7 long wear nail varnish in hot pink for the spots and Barry M in chocolate for the very top detail.

If you'd like to have a go at releasing your inner animal then you can follow Gem's tutorial here. Hopefully you'll have steadier hands than me! And if you'd rather trust the professionals then WAH have opened a concession in Topshop Oxford Circus, meaning having your nails done won't need to interfere with your shopping!

Love, Tor xx

"Green" Weddings

We know your wedding day is important... that all your life you've dreamed of the huge, beaded, taffeta dress, orchids, ornate invitations, caviar, and the works.  But, did you ever stop to think about where all the stuff goes afterwards?  Usually, it's the trash can, or closet, if you're lucky.



The typical wedding produces an obscene amount of waste and is usually not very eco-friendly.  To put it into perspective, let's consider paper products! You've got the save the dates, then the invitations to all the different events like the showers, parties, rehearsal dinner, etc., then the thank you cards for those events, then the actual invitations and all their parts and, of course, you can't forget the envelopes for all of these things -- sounds a little excessive, right?  And that doesn't even include the programs, menus, tables cards, etc!  And let's not even talk about flowers!  



Okay, okay, so now you're probably thinking having an eco-friendly wedding is impossible since, obviously, silk flowers are tacky, email/facebook/twitter invites are inappropriate, and your guests do actually need to eat.  But, never fear, this post is meant to inspire you to have your dream wedding, and still be green!  Take a look at some green elements you can include in your wedding...even the smallest step is a step in the right direction.

Before we even talk wedding, we should talk engagement.  Get off to the right start with this engagement ring that is made using Canadian, conflict-free diamonds and recycled/reclaimed gold and platinum.  This "Amelia" ring is from the Earthwise collection by Leber Jewelers.

These Eco-Friendly Wedding Invitations are a great way to reduce your carbon footprint!  Bella Figura produces seriously gorgeous invitations on 100% Cotton Paper so no trees are harmed in the making.  In addition to that, their shop is wind powered, they are a carbon neutral company, and they donate a percentage of their proceeds to environmental charities.

This  "green" wedding gown is absolutely stunning and is made using using natural, sustainable, and "peaceful" materials.  Puridee designs fabulous gowns made with "Ahimsa" and "Tussah" silk, which is either collected in the wild or made in an organic environment that allows the silkworm to go through a natural life cycle and emerge as a moth.  Be extra green by donating your dress to a wonderful charity so that it may bring someone else the happiness it brought you!

Our favorite pick for an eco-friendly wedding favor is this adorable, biodegradable seed pot by favorcreative.  Not only can your guests enjoy this over and over as they grow their herbs, but the boxes are made of recycled material and all you have to do to have them double as table cards is add a little seed paper tag.  Or, write directly on the box if you really want to save on paper.

When it comes to wedding flowers, the trick is to think local, in-season, and double duty! We suggest checking out your local Whole Foods if you're looking for a cost effective, eco-friendly option. Their abundant floral department will surprise you and you're sure to rest easy knowing you are supporting local farmers!  As for double duty, get the best bang for your buck and waste less by re-using your ceremony decorations as part of your reception decor.  And, for the ultra green centerpiece, recycle old mason jars, scour flea markets for unique containers, or re purpose some used tea tins as vases -- the options are endless and they are sure to strike up conversation amongst your guests.

And, what would a wedding be without dessert!?  Now, we are not vegans..not even close.. but considering the impact that the dairy and factory farming industry has on the earth, you could be eco-friendly by choosing to go vegan for your wedding cake, your guests will never know the difference!  Here is a picture of one of the fantastic looking vegan cupcakes by KTsKitchen.  Though she is based out of Ohio, we're sure that if you look around you'll be able to find someone selling vegan baked goods in your area. 

Love the earth!

XOXO

Jen & Saira