27/02/2014

paint animal shirt: topshop
jeans: topshop
alexa bag: c/o pauls boutique
name necklace c/o chelsea doll
watch: stolen from bf
lolita 60's sunglasses: topshop

oh dear, I couldn't resist wearing my new sunglasses when a whole ten whole minutes of sunshine arrived.. it lashed it down with rain an hour later.. that will teach me aha!

I've been looking forward to wearing this topshop shirt, I loved it's abstract print which reminded me of my old paintings from art school (plus I always heart a geeky button up shirt so it was purchased in record time.) my bag is the other item I've been itching to wear.. it's from pauls boutique who've just had a huge re brand.. (I remember wearing my badge covered bright green PB bag at school and thinking I was pretty much the coolest cat in town aha!) but now they're back with a slicker, on trend range that suits me perfectly now I'm older. this little suede alexa number is the sexiest thing to ever grace my hip and it comes in pure black leather too..purrrr.. their new arrivals are well worth a peek!

you can see a little bit of my new name necklace but I have another post with some better pictures of it coming up so you can see it properly.. I'm obsessed with personalised things so I'm really pleased with it!

in other news I've busy trying to get the last few bits done in the house so I can show you around the new pad! first stop is filling my two dozen empty picture frames with actual photos.. it's been so long since I've had normal 5x7 pictures developed that I'd forgotten that pictures weren't always square.. wow, instagram you've ruined me.

back soon

caroline x

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25/02/2014

duty dungarees: c/o this is a love song
fedora: topshop
daisy duck tee: primark
glitter socks: topshop
trainers: c/o superga

it's killing me that SS14 fashion has arrived and spring ..hasn't! case in point these SS14 duty dungarees from this is a love song, I've been dying to wear them and luckily the weather perked up long enough yesterday for me to head out and take these pics! 

I'll have to layer these bad boys with tights until it's warmer but I couldn't resist showing you them; I loved the swimming pool-esque print panel plus it has a big old zipper pocket for me to stash things in (always a winner) this bali based brand is launching in the UK in harrods next month and has an infectious beachy festival vibe.

I decided coordination wasn't on my agenda so my new daisy duck top made an appearance as well as my latest addiction.. topshop glitter socks (wow my inner child is out in full force this week)


the little rascals also sent me this gorgeous tank top to giveaway to one of you lovely people! this tropical tiger number is from their resort collection so if you want to get your hands on it just enter the rafflecopter draw below:

(just so you know this tank top is a size 8, sorry I don't have any bigger sizes this time round)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
good luck! 

caroline x

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23/02/2014

parental advisory tee: c/o asos
dungarees: primark
bowler hat: h&m (old)
skater skirt: c/o asos
all good things boots: c/o asos
lavender cambridge satchel: via asos
vintage denim jacket: c/o brag vintage

when the lovely peeps at asos asked if I'd like to style up the logo mania look from their SS14 trend guide I couldn't wait to get started.. EXCITING! I opted for this parental advisory slogan tee as the main piece to work with and had rather too much fun getting my 90's on with this fun over the top motif based trend! 

I went for a simple dungaree and tee combo for the first look with a bit more logo mania thrown in with the addition of my stars & stripes high tops. I thought I'd try something less 90's for look two which was just a simple skater skirt, satchel and cut out ankle boots and my third look is outright lazy (ie. what you'll find me wearing on a regular basis) oversized vintage denim jacket, wet look leggings and chunky boots (I'm a little in love with these white spice girl numbers.. zig a zig ah)

my other favourite way to wear this trend is totally christopher kane influenced.. a slogan sweatshirt paired with a full a-line midi skirt. I'm already digging out my vintage sweaters.. hallelujah! you can have a gander at all the ss14 trends here (art school is my personal fave) I'm look forward to hurting everyone's eye with clashing prints and pop art colours this summer.. forgive me in advance. 

I underestimated how cold it was going to be when I popped out to take these pictures.. if you look closely you may see hypothermia induced tears in my eyes.. sweet baby jesus they'll teach me for getting carried away with #ASOSSS14 enthusiasm.

what are you looking forward to this spring..? pastels and graffiti prints are top of my list (..and errr cadbury mini eggs)

caroline x
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22/02/2014


when it comes to skincare I always refer to caroline hirons.. the guru of all things face! 

now my skin is getting older I've stopped using budget skincare.. don't get me wrong in my early 20's the last thing I wanted to splurge on was expensive skincare but now my face is showing real signs of ageing I'd rather invest more money on 'operation age delay' (I'd spend the same amount on a pair of topshop jeans and lets face it they're not going to help fix those growing lines around my eyes)

when I read caroline's recommendations for cult favoutie alpha h liquid gold last year I took the plunge and invested in a bottle.. I wasn't disappointed. it wasn't an instant fix but there was a noticeable difference in the feel and tautness of my skin over the first week, over the last year I found my skin was clearer, I've had less breakouts and the overall look of my skin is healthier. it's been a regular staple in my skincare routine ever since so when I was asked to trial some of the other products in the alpha h range I was intrigued and a little excited..


I embarked on my 7 day alpha h trial and kicked off with the balancing cleanser, I have to say this may be my favourite by a country mile. 

I had been using a ren cleanser it wasn't a wow product but did the job well and I had no complaints, however the difference with this alpha h cleanser was almost immediate for me. it's really creamy and luxurious so it felt like a real treat on my skin- my face felt really nourished and it smells gorgeous! it's a non foaming lotion with a blend of soy bean oil, vitamin e and aloe vera and it's good at removing make up too (even my mascara) apply the cleanser to wet skin and remove with a warn face cloth for squeaky clean skin. 

(to get rid of stubborn eye make up add a little to a wet cotton pad and rub gently- I found a normal cleanse and rinse won't get it all) this has been a really nice addition to my routine and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. 


next in the 7 day trial was the liquid gold, this one is already in my routine so I knew what to expect! (if you're unfamiliar with liquid gold it's like a chemical exfoliant and acts as a night time resurfacing treatment)

this is the most fun part of my skincare regime because it's unlike any other product I use- I only recommend using this product no more than 3 times a week as it's quite an intensive treatment and it makes your face tingle! liquid gold targets signs of ageing, skin pigmentation, acne, open pores and scarring due to it's magic ingredient glycolic acid (which exfoliates dead skin cells and stimulates collagen production, yep it's an all round ass kicking hero) 

I think of this product as an overnight facial, apply it to cleansed skin with a cotton pad and leave it to work it's magic overnight (you can apply moisturiser/serum afterwards if you wish or just leave it 'uninterrupted' for a more powerful treatment) I've already bought this product before and will be repurchasing it again in the future. 


the last addition to the trio of anti ageing solutions is the absolute eye complex, this nice but is probably my least favourite of the three.

the formulation includes matrixyl 6 peptide and vitamin b3 which works to reduce puffiness and dark circles (simply apply the clear gel under the eyes and across the lid morning and evening) I have actually enjoyed using this eye gel, the reason it's my least favourite is only due to the fact that I don't suffer too badly with puffy eyes so it wouldn't be a product I'd usually reach for! 

I have to say it it feels lovey and refreshing to apply (especially if you leave it in the fridge!) and it has worked remarkable well as a primer for my under eye concealer/eyeshadow.

the time I saw the best results with this was after I'd indulged in a few glasses of wine! if you're a sociable kinda girl this could be a good investment for the mornings after the night before.. 

alpha h balancing cleaner, liquid gold and absolute eye complex*

I've really enjoyed using these products- I was already a full blown member of the liquid gold club but I was surprised by how much I loved the cleaner. I hadn't really looked at other products in their range so this 7 day trial was an eye opener for me; my skin feels polished and looks brighter after solidly using them for the last week... these aussies really do know their skincare.

you can get your mitts on the alpha h range here or tune into qvc on the 24th for special pricing on these sets.

have you tried any of the aplha h range.. are you a convert too?

caroline x
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21/02/2014

navy mesh embellished jumpsuit: c/o little mistress
belt: americal apparel
bag: the whitepepper
michael kors watch: c/o shadestation
double strap heels: new look

this gorgeous little jumpsuit from little mistress landed on my doorstep on valentines day.. perfect timing as I hadn't decided what to wear (phew) my bf was rather happy not to see me in jeans and converse for once.. I even wore heels which is a bit of a rarity for me!

I love a good playsuit/romper/all in one (anything that resembles a onesie in any form is a winner) this is slightly more dressy with it's mesh panelling so it's ideal for nights out. I often find playsuits come up small on me so I opted to size up .. I didn't need to but the extra room worked out well as after my 5 course valentines meal I had to be practically rolled out of the restaurant.. 

wow, romance isn't dead folks.

back soon

caroline x
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17/02/2014

so today I have a little DIY and a BIG competition for you!
I sure many of you would have heard of hillarys.. and the exciting news is they're holding a competition to celebrate all things craft and DIY with a £1000 cash prize for the winner.. and I'm one of the judges YIPPEE!

the competition is open to fellow bloggers using hillarys fabric as the basis for a crafty project! I decided to create my own example project using some of the bird parade fabric (I had to get involved in the DIY action!) to make some little hanging hearts to decorate my doors! 

I can't enter myself so my project doesn't count...darn) but I'll be judging yours which makes up for it!


so if you're feeling crafty (or just want to get your mitts on a £1000.. just picture that shopping spree.. hello new shoes) here's how you can enter:
  • pop over to the hillarys website competition page HERE, fill in your details, select which fabric you'd like and don't forget to say that you heard about the competition from burkatron!!! 
  • hillarys will send you out a big piece of fabric 1m x 1m (you don't need to pay for this!)
  • write a short blog post about your creation with some photos, a brief description of what you've made and state that it's your entry into the competition!
  • email the link to your post to dominic.bryce@hillarys.co.uk for the judging panel (including me) to see!
 
the competition is live now and the closing date to request your fabric is march 17th -but you have until march 31st to publish your blog post! so pop over fill in your details here (don't forget to mention burkatron in the referrals section!) pick out your fabric and make something fun! 

I'm really looking forward to judging the entries along with the ladies from live it love it make itnew craft society and craft blog uk go team DIY!!

I'd love one of you to nab the £1000 so even if you're not the most experienced crafter don't be put off, you can check out some of my easy DIY's here to inspire you! 

caroline x
ps.. you can tweet me your links too- I'd love to read them!

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*this post contains sponsored content, all opinions my own as always!

16/02/2014

fedora: topshop (old) similar here
bianca jagger lennon sweater: c/o wildfox
lavender satchel: cambridge satchel via asos
jeans: topshop
boots: c/o asos

so instead of opting for the excitement of fashion week this weekend I've been dog sitting, yes that right, I picked pups over LFW.

I have a crazy amount of deadlines ahead so I've combined the joys of dog walks (in gale force winds and rain) with a laptop induced hunchback and regular caffeine intervals. it's not all work though (hurrah) this gorgeous wildfox jumper dropped through my letterbox this week to much excitement (I'm a regular stalker of their instagram) and I couldn't wait to take her out! I love their LA beach babe aesthetic, plenty of slouchy knits and fun logos ..their distressed lennon jumpers have always been a favourite of mine and this one has a big heart on the front.. winner.

so I'm off to finish the last of the chocolates I gave the boy for valentines (you snooze you lose james!) I woke up to the sun beaming down here today.. I can't help but get a little excited for spring.. YIPPEE!

caroline x


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13/02/2014


I have a super duper easy DIY for you today.. and a little something extra too! 

you may remember my tote wash bag DIY from a few months ago using my cricut mini cutting machine? (have a peek here to see it in full) well the lovely cricut people have offered me a machine to give to one of you too! it's one of the best craft tools I've ever used and I'm sure that anyone creative would love to get their mitts on one so I said yes please!!

so back to my DIY, it's not one I'd planned specifically for valentines but it involves hearts so I guess it's in keeping! 


I recently discovered iron on heat transfer film and it's pretty cool stuff! it's perfect for using on cushions, bags and t-shirts (and on this occasion pillowcases!) I loaded a sheet onto my cricut cutting mat and used the cricut software on my laptop to select a heart template, once I'd adjusted the size I hit cut and my machine got to work! (if you're feeling nosey there's a clip of me cutting out these hearts here!)

I know you won't all have a cutting machine but don't worry you can cut out the heart shapes by hand too it will just take longer! 


peel off your hearts and place them onto your pillowcases, place a tea towel over them and get ironing! you'll need to apply lots of heat to secure the transfer in place, once it's fully adhered peel off the shiny protective film that covers the transfer (the film I've used had full instruction so make sure to check out the manufacturer recommendations)


that's it.. easy peasy pillowcases huzzah!! you can also cut out fabric hearts and stitch them on as an alternative.. either way it's a fun and easy update to bedlinen (I think this may be the first time I've posted a picture of my patchwork quilt? it took me years to finish as I kept forgetting about it.. do you like it?)


so if you'd like to win one of these little cutting machines just enter the rafflecopter draw below.. this mini will cut out the most intricate designs, it's perfect for card making, labels, paper crafts, home decor and all kinds of creative projects so I hope it's something you'll enjoy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'll announce the winner on the 24th.. good luck rascals!

caroline x
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11/02/2014


oh emm geee it feels like ages since I've done a post with all my favourite little things in! 

I've picked up some more things this week so I'll put up another post soon.. but here's a few bits + bobs that have tickled my fancy of late, scroll down to find out more:


my pal laura has opened up a new shop selling statement necklaces, I love throwing on something sparkly over a basic tee and jeans so this was right up my street! I also ought to point out that prices start at £5 so nip over and check them out here before those little rascals are all gone!! 

I love this salty face buffer! it's seriously refreshing and the only thing that wakes me up in the morning; I do have to be careful with it as I have a tendency to scrub for dear life (I think my face would rather like to keep its skin intact) overall though a zingy little winner.

nothing makes me more upset at mother nature than having a pastel pair of vans just crying to be worn, I've had these for a few months and I'm so scared of getting them muddy they're currently taunting me from my shoe rack.. roll on spring so I can get these bad boys out in the open..

cath kidston mirror compact
I actually got this at christmas and in my eagerness to tidy up filled it away and forgot all about it, it's now parked in my everyday handbag for checking I don't have eyeliner all down my face (that has actually  happened more than once..)

I adore this egg cup set by keith brymer jones, it was a gift from our friends and I could not love it more! I had a look at some of the other things from the range and can safely say I'll attempt to buy it all.. 

I picked this up in paperchase sale just because it was ummm on sale. well we all need another snow globe right? 

sometimes I buy random things in paperchase and that's all I have to say about these. if anyone is in need of childrens party bags you know where I am.

fujifilm instax mini 
I wanted one of these for ages and now I have one I'm yet to use it! I'm determined to start snapping on this when I'm next out and about.. if anyone know where I can get cheap films for this let me know! 

I nabbed this from the sale rack and haven't managed to wear it yet, it's not really a dress I'd wear often (I'm more intending to layer it up and wear it as a skirt) but I loved the detail on the neck and hem... I'm a sucker for a lace trim.

back soon!

caroline x
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