Moved back to my original blog!

Hiya everyone

Just to let you know that I am not using this blog anymore as I have gone back to my original blog which I have had for a few years.  The only reason I started this blog was because I had problems with the old one but these seemed to have been sorted.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog and leave me comments.

You can find my new blog here:  http://www.brunette-lady.blogspot.co.uk/

For some reason the link to the blog is not showing! Basically if you click after the here it should take you to the blog, its called The Brunette Diaries.  I am not sure why the link is not showing as when I edit the post its there!!!

I currently have 271 followers and I would love to reach 300 followers and as a thankyou I am going to hold a giveaway once I receive this magical number!

Take care and I look forward to seeing you on the other blog. 

Lisa-Jane

xx

My new itsy bitsy teeny weeny pink & ditsy floral bikini!

Hiya

Well we are off to Zante in just under 2 weeks and although I am worried about going as my father is still ill I know he would want me to go and enjoy myself.  I do feel incredibly guilty though! 

To be honest if I was here there would not be much I can do anyway....I feel very helpless.

Anyway last weekend I bought a new bikini for my holiday and I had 25% off so it was a bargain.

I love the frill part on the bust.  

and the frill along the bottoms

Mike and I went holiday shopping today and he treated me to some Cath Kidston things in the sale...lucky me :) and I also bought something in the Topshop sale.  I will post about these soon :) 

Oh also I just want to say I am going to try and start doing some outfit posts soon.

Take care

Lisa-Jane

xx

My New Dresses - Denim and Lace

Hello

Last weekend I was meant to be going to Bournemouth for a girlie weekend with a friend but because of everything with my dad I just did not feel like going.  Luckily when we booked the hotel we took out the cancellation policy so we managed to get our money back.  We are going to go away somewhere later in the year when I feel more up to it.

Instead my friend came to Bristol and we had lunch and had some retail therapy...I love retail therapy its the best medicine around! 

I managed to purchase two dresses:

In H&M I bought this pretty cream dress which is lace on the top half and then like a chiffon bottom.  This is really cute and its a nice length so can be worn with bare legs as its not too short.  It was only £14.99 plus I had a 25% off voucher from Grazia magazine so it was just over £11.00...bargain!

In New Look I also bought this denim shirt dress, I love this dress as its different to my usual dresses.  Its very fitted and versatile as it can be worn in summer or winter with tights.  

I love the heart design belt too.

I also bought a bikini for my holiday in just 2 weeks but I will put that in another post.

Take care

Lisa-Jane

xx

Xen Tan Moroccan Tan

Hiya

As you know I love to be tanned, in fact I don't do 'pale' its just not me as I feel clothes always look better with a tan and I feel more healthier.

I have tried various tans over the years but have really wanted to buy Xen Tan as I hear this is possibly the best tan ever,  but it has a large price tag.  I hate spending loads on tanning products in case they end up being rubbish as then its a waste of money.   I was browsing Xen Tan's website and saw that you can purchase a mini size bottle for just £3.99 to try before you spend out more on a large bottle.

I ordered the Moroccan Tan which is very dark for just £3.99 and free delivery, see here:

http://www.xen-tan.co.uk/products/see_all/xen-tan_moroccan_tan_deluxe_mini_30ml/

you can also by the following for £3.99 too:

http://www.xen-tan.co.uk/products/see_all/xen-tan_dark_lotion_deluxe_sample_30ml/

http://www.xen-tan.co.uk/products/see_all/xen-tan_dark_lotion_deluxe_sample_30ml1/

I have not tried it yet but I will definitely do a review when I do.

What do you think of Xen Tan Morocan Tan?

Lisa-Jane

xx

Primark at ASOS

Hello everyone :) 

I could not believe it but I was browsing the ASOS website the other day and noticed a Primark dress on there!!  I then realised that ASOS are now selling some Primark items.

Have a look here:

http://www.asos.com/Women/A-To-Z-Of-Brands/Primark/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=17457

Just a heads up in case anyone has ever tried to find things that are sold out in store then you may be able to find it here.

Also I read in a magazine that apparently the range has been selling well so they may be doubling the range. 

Lisa-Jane

xx

Forever 21 'Fabulous Finds' purchases

Hello everyone

Well I am back and feeling a bit better now, following on from my previous post about my father I just want to say thanks for your kind wishes.  He seems to be getting better, he is now fully awake so not in a coma like state anymore but we are not sure if he will be able to walk and he at the moment he cannot speak which he is finding very frustrating. They have given him a book with pictures and letters in but he is refusing to use it, I feel this is because he feels like he is a child again.  It does not help when one of the doctors talks to him like he is 5, like shouting at him!!  Luckily this is not a doctor who will see him regularly so we are all glad about that. My father has always been a very proud and a very masculine man so I think he is finding it really difficult that people are nursing him like a child, I can tell he hates it!  Its very sad to see but hopefully he will get better soon.

To cheer me up in the past week I made a sneaky Forever 21 order as there was a couple of things I really wanted.   I am addicted to this website and I particularly love the Fabulous Finds section.   Fabulous Finds has items at Primark prices but I think they are slightly better quality and fit.

I ordered this ditsy dress which was only £12.75,  love this dress I love the ditsy print and the colour. The style is very flattering and its cotton material which is so much nicer than polyester! 

 I love it so much that today I ordered the black and beige version too! Its one of those dresses that can be worn any season with the right accessories.

Also I ordered this cream and navy polka dot top,  I love polka dots and this is really stretchy and fitted and looks nice tucked into a pencil skirt or just worn with jeans.  This was only £5.50 but its now gone into the sale for £3.99.  They also have this in navy blue and pink.

What do you think of my buys?

Lisa-Jane

xx

Sadness, hope and lots of prayers!

Hello everyone

Once again sorry for the lack of posts but unfortunately I received

 terrible news last week.  My father went into hospital for an operation on his heart which all went fine but the next morning while he was having breakfast he suffered a Stroke. They had to heavily sedate him and put a breathing tube in him as he was not breathing for himself.

I rushed up to be by his bedside at the end of last week and it was the most heartbreaking thing I have ever seen.  Its been really awful I have been trying to look after my mum whilst worrying about my dad.  He seems to be improving every day, they have slowly reduced his sedation and he is starting to open his eyes now and look around and squeeze our hands.  It has been slow going but every day he seems to be responding more and more.  Today my mum asked him to nod if he could see me and he nodded and gripped my hand tightly, you cannot imagine how happy this made me as at one stage he was hardly responding to anything.  Its really made me appreciate the important things in life and not to worry about unimportant things that don't matter.

My uncle also came down from Scotland, he is a real character and he has tried to get us laughing and take our minds off whats happening.  He is very postitive so this has helped my mum buts its so worrying and upsetting for us all.

He seems to be getting stronger daily, we are just hoping and praying he recovers quickly.  They are meant to be taking out the breathing tube tomorrow but they need him to breathe on his own,  which he is doing more so each day.

Luckily he was in the hospital when the stroke happened so this may have saved a lot of time.

I will get back to posting once I feel up to it, maybe in a few days.  I have got lots of posts coming up very soon.

I appreciate your support and I will be back soon.

Take care

Lisa-Jane

xx

Please help me decide which dress?

Hiya

 

Not this weekend but the following weekend I am going to Bournemouth for a girly weekend with my bestie.  I have been weighing up which dress to wear on the Saturday night.  What do you think out of these:  

 

TFNC Nude Dress - this dress is lovely.  Its very flattering to my figure although my boobs look huge in it.  But it has sleeves which I prefer as I hate my arms

 

 

 

H&M Red/Pink Dress - this is such a pretty vibrant colourt and I love the lace back and sides.  Its also very flattering in a skater style.

 

 

 

 

New Look Cream Lace dress with Peter Pan collar -  the photo of this dress does not do it justice as its actually very fitted to the body and looks better on than off.

 

 

Maybe I should post some photos of me in the dresses as that may make it easier?  I may do that at the weekend but what do you think in the meantime??

 

 

Lisa-Jane

xx

REVIEW: Tan Atomicals - Get a Tan without looking like your Gran

Hiya

I have finally got around to doing a review of this.  If you are a regular follower of my blog you would have known I did a review of the Tan Atomicals Tan Mousse a while back. This is my second review of Tan Atomicals, this one is the instant tan with the slogan 'Get a tan without looking like your gran'.

 

 

Again I have to laugh at the slogan and the wording on the box and the bottle.

 

 

 

 

This is my arm after one application

 

 

 

This instant tan is really not a long term tan this is a product you would use if you were going on a night out or a special occasion and just wanted an instant colour than can be washed off easily.

Personally I do like this, its very messy so its best to apply with a tanning mitt.   I think its quite natural as you can see exactly where you put it but I would not use it as a long term everyday tan as it would just take too much time plus it would wash off in the rain..eek!

 

Would I buy this again??? I would if it was on offer as I think £6.99 for an instant tan is a bit steep. I still much prefer Sally Hanson Airbush Legs for an instant tan as its more waterproof so if it rains you won't look like streaky bacon and also I think Sally H gives a better more deeper colour.

 

 

Have you tried this?

 

Lisa-Jane

xx

  .

Shoe haul

Hello everyone

 

Well finally have some decent weather, its beautiful today so I could finally wear one of my many summer dresses.

 

I will do some outfit posts very soon.

 

Today I picked up my car, I have not driven for 18 months so it was rather scary to get back behind the wheel but I am sure it will become normal again after a while and I'll soon wonder how I ever lived without a car.

Last Saturday I popped into town and came back with 3 pairs of shoes...eek.

 

Firstly I got these wedges in New Look.  I have been after wedges for a while to wear on holiday with my bikini as they give you a bit of height so therefore making you appear slimmer and we all want that don't we!

Trouble is all the wedges I had seen are like 5 inches high and even though I am a shortie I would feel like a giant and ridiculous in them so when I saw these I was so happy. Not only are they a nice height they are all really comfy and I love tan as you can tell by my haul!! :) 

 

 

Also in New Look I got these camel ballet pumps.  I love my basic ballet pumps they can be worn with practically anything.  The colour of these are lovely too.

In primark I got these Peep toe cut out sandals.  Again these will be great with my dresses.  I love the design. I saw these a few weeks ago and they sold out quickly but luckily they got some more in stock...great for £8.

 

 

 

I love tan as it goes with everything and its so much more nicer than black or white.

 

Have a lovely weekend

 

Lisa-Jane

xx

I like you VERY much.

Hello

 

I am not really a catalogue girl, I have not used one for years since I ordered a few things from La Redoute and it all went back as the quality was rubbish. 

 

However I have seen the recent adverts for Very and always think to myself how lovely their items look plus they sell brands like Oasis, Lipsy etc

Once I looked at the website it was fatal and I have made a small order. 

 

 

Firstly I ordered:

 

Oasis Isabelle Lace Skater Dress - this is a stunning dress. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Ponte Skater Dress - I want this to wear to work I really hope it suits me!

 

 

South Summer Blue Petite Jeggings - I love jeggings and I love the colour of these as I have very light blue, dark blue, black and bright blue jeggings but nothing this colour.  I also love the fact that they have these in petite as I find most of my jeggings are a tad too long for me..I still wear them though :)

 

 

 

 

 

I can use the pay nothing for 12 months option but I am not going to as I would rather pay it off asap.  When I used catalogues before I usually ordered a few items paid them off and then ordered a few more and do the same, that way you don't get into debt.

 

Have you used Very before, what do you think of these items?

 

 

Lisa-Jane

xx

-

Fresh as a daisy

Hello

 

Hope your all having a nice bank holiday weekend.  I have been really lazy and actually spent most of today in bed on my laptop...!  Well I am making the most of it as its back to work tomorrow :( 

 

Anyway onto today's post and as you know I am like my florals especially anything with daisies..I mean how could anyone not like daisies they are really pretty and delicate,  so imagine my delight when I came across this daisy design bodycon dress.

 

 

I think there is not enough Daisy things in the shops , we need more daises :)

Oh also I purchased a denim skirt this week in New Look.  I actually hate denim skirts with a passion, something about them makes me think 'chav'! However I love this one as I love the solid indigo colour and its really flattering.

 

 

It has an elasticated waist (another thing I am not keen on in skirts) but it reminds me of 'jeggings' style but in a skirt!   I will wear this with pretty tops in summer and jumpers and thick tights in winter, so its a good all rounder.

 

I must give you an update of my diet and exercise plan too as I have 3 weeks till my girly weekend in Bournemouth and 6 weeks to my holiday in Zante.  I have been going to the gym twice a week but last week I upped that to 3 times a week as I am feeling fitter.

 

Take care

 

Lisa-Jane

xx

Back in the driving seat!

Hiya everyone

 

Sorry for the lack of posts but I have had a busy week and my parents have been staying with us again.  I shall be doing more regular posts from now on :)

 

Well I have finally made a big purchase and bought a car....!  I pick it up next weekend and I am so excited because I have not been on the road for like a year and a half which is when my old Ford Fiesta went to car heaven.  Since then as I worked in town I usually bussed it or got the train as parking in town is so expensive.  But lately since I started my new job in January (which incidentally is only a 5 minute drive from home and has free parking) I decided I wanted to get a car again.  To be honest I am not someone who will be driving very far in it.  We use Mike's car for further afield trips but I just wanted something to get me to work and back, go shopping, vist friends and go to restaurants/cinema etc.

 

 

stock photo 

 

  

I did not want to spend £1000's on a car thats not really going to be going very far.   I mean I could have gone to a car showroom and bought a brand new car but whats the point it would be a waste of money, therefore I have bought a secondhand Seat Arosa (similar to a VW Lupo) its only a 1.0 which is cheap on petrol too. Mike knows the guy I bought it from and he is pretty trustworthy plus he has been Mike's mechanic for years. 

 

I cannot wait to get back on the road.

 

 

Take care

Lisa -Jane

xx

Big Summer Haul

Hiya

Last week I went shopping wih my mum and bought some gorgeous items in (can you guess....yes you are correct.....NEW LOOK! ) I had a 25% discount voucher too so saved quite a bit :)

We had a fabulous day although I think I tired my poor mum out.

Firstly I purchased this gorgeous ditsy lace waist dress.  Love this dress its a little stunner. 

 

Pink Floral Ruffle Dress, very girly I wondered if its too girly even for a girly girl like me but it does look really nice on me.  My mum said it was made for me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Lace back cardigan - I love this cardigan so much, its beautiful and the colour is gorgeous.

 

 

 

I love the lace back

 

Pink Pointelle jumper - love the colour of this too as its very vibrant. The photo does not do it justice.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunglasses - these were only £2.99 but as I always tend to lose or break my sunglasses so I don't like to spend a lot on them.

 

 

 

Also in Primark I bought this lace trim cami

 

 

We also popped into Asda and I bought these shoes which were only a tenner.  They are really ideal for work as they are not too high and very comfy.

 

 

What do you think of my summer buys?

Have a nice weekend

 

Lisa-Jane

xx

Morrisons homeware buys

Hiya

 

Last Saturday we popped to Morrisons and I picked up these great homeware bargains.

 

The Cath Kidston style mugs were 98p each and I thought the coasters were ideal for the bedroom and only £1.00

 

 

and while I am talking about the bedroom you can see that Ollie loves the new room can't you! :)

 

 

 

Look out fot my large haul coming up soon.

 

Plus good news I have lost some weight.  I think its taking time as I am not that big so when you only have a small amount to lose its harder.  My clothes are looser though and I am beginning to feel more like the old me :)

 

Take care

 

Lisa-Jane

xx