Bank Holiday Weekend OOTD #2: The Orange Blazer

On Sunday, the Bank Holiday weekend celebrations continued...yeaaaaboi!

And even though I'm unemployed and the Monday was in effect just another day in the life of Nish (at the mo anyways), of course I still celebrated the occasion with my friends. It would be rude not to! 

We went to Battersea car boot sale in the day where I picked up a few bargains- Rocketdog boots for a fiver, a Topshop dress for £3 and an American Apparel skirt for £3. Winning.

Afterwards, we planned to head to The Ship in Wandsworth (the best riverside pub in London) but it was refusing entry due to the 18 degree heat and hoards of people desperate to get their tan and drink on! (yes, you heard me correctly, it was 18 degrees...in London!!!). 

So we ventured down Northcote Road and settled for seats outside an Indian restaurant as absolutely all of the pubs and bars with outside space were packed with a capital P....it was like every single person in the South West had just turned from vampire to human and this was their first day experiencing sun. Olaf would've loved it (if you haven't seen Frozen, ignore this reference...but do go and watch it immediately after reading the rest of this post as it is a-m-a-z-i-n-g!)

At the Indian, we ordered chicken/lamb wraps and chips. So well cultured. And of course a bottle of vino! 

Later we ended up at The Windmill, a lovely pub in Clapham South, and I am now in love with the cute beer garden with heaters to keep you warm until close! Definitely a new local! (You can call a pub 45 mins away by public transport a 'local' if you live in London right?!) 

Annnnd then partied away at Vodka Revs on the High Street...clearly can't get enough of Battersea and Clapham these days. Post-drinks back at mine ended in an empty bottle of my parents wine, the birds rising before our bedtime had even begun, 2 hours sleep and a verrrry hungover Nish and Laura. 

Anyways, enough of that. This outfit was great as it took me from day to night. My orange patterned blazer from River Island is one of my favourite statement pieces for spring: 

I Am Wearing

Orange Blazer - River Island 

White Top - Topshop 

Leopard Shorts - Motel 

Cut Out Boots - Missguided 

Bag - Zara 

Necklace - Primark 

Frilly Navy Socks - Topshop

These are some snaps I found from much later on in the night: 

Note to self: never apply makeup when heavily intoxicated. Especially when it's a silvery sparkly eyeshadow stick. It's like handing a kid a crayon next to an old, worse for wear wall. It only makes it doubly unfavourable.

XOXO

Outfit Of The Day: Pub To Club

Hollaaaa

Yesterday I went to the pub with my girls and gay to watch The Grand National. We really used this monumental sporting event as an excuse to get merry in the pub, and it was great fun! Made better by the fact that no horses died this year- yayyyyyy!! Me and Rosie were flinching/screaming at every fence in anticipation of another horrible fall. Poor horsies! 

I came second this year and ma bezzie Laura won 100 pounds!!!! Wooo! Although there was me cheering on for her like an idiot, thinking both my horses were out of the race, when actually I was in second with Balthazaar King! (and I didn't do it each way whereas Laura did so the ideal outcome would've really been for me to win and her to come second so we could both splash the cash. But life goes on!)

It just goes to show it really is a game of luck. My dad,  the 'Mr Know It All' of horse racing (or so he likes to think) didn't win anything and my brother, another horse whizz, did win some dollar, but this was probably because he had about six different bets going!

After the race, we had some more drinks, chowed down a Nando's and then went on a bit of a pub/bar crawl up Northcote Road in Clapham. Of course, we ended up in a club - Artesian Wells - which, despite being £10 entry, was a really fun and was a refreshing change from the standard Clapham High Street. I definitely recommend for all you South-West Landaners innit.

Anyways, I went shopping recently (there's a surprise) and put together an outfit with some of my purchases. I didn't realise we would be ending up in a club, but I think you can just about get away with it for an evening look, minus the jacket and sunnies!

Boyfriend jeans are so comfy and can be dressed up or down. I love. 

I also love my new jacket from New Look. It's nice and light, but definitely appropriate for the  unpredictable nature of British springtime!

I Am Wearing

Crop Top - Missguided

Boyfriend Jeans - Topshop

Jacket - New Look

Boots - Missguided

Socks - Topshop

Sunglasses - Topshop

Bag - Asos

Watch - Michael Kors 

Gold Leopard Bracelet - Christmas Present from Joely

Rings - H&M

Necklace - Chiswick Car Boot Sale

Nail Varnish - Rimmel 60 Seconds in 'Mind The Gap, Victoria'

Lipstick - Mac's 'Ravishing' and Maybelline's Colour Sensational Shine Gloss in 'Cashmere Rose'

Sunday smooches all round!

XOXO

A Lesson in Adulthood: Fleeing the Nest & Budgeting

Today marks the start of a new & improved Nish for two reasons. 

1. My sister & I have decided to give up all foods containing artificial sugars for one month. Yes than includes all forms of chocolate...how will I survive? Every cheat-eat means giving the other £10, so I'm either going to end up a poor unhealthy failure, or a healthier, richer version of myself...I know which one I'd rather!

I must say, we aren't doing this because we want to lose weight but because we want to feel and be healthier people. We've finally realised that all the sugary, junk foods which we regularly consume leave us feeling lethargic, sluggish and low on energy, or in other words, like a modern day Henry VIII. They also do my skin no favours. So day one, give it your best shot! I love a good challenge.

The best thing about this whole no sugar thing is that at the end of the month (Saturday 8th March to be precise) we're going to treat ourselves in the form of shopping & spending! New clothes for a new me. Shop Shop Shop, shop till we drop. And I haven't been on a big shopping trip in months, so to say I'm excited is an understatement. 

2. This improvement is way more exciting!

On this ordinary cold and wet Friday in London, I made the extraordinary (for me, anyway) decision that I am going to move out! Yes that's right...come March 4th, I will officially be a proud resident of SW12 ("South West London gal", always and forever). 

It's all happened so fast. My best friend Elisabeth Saggers, less formally known as Beth, Bethy, Betty, Sags and my personal fave...titties, is embarking on a similar adventure and leaving her extravagant country pad and travelling lifestyle behind in favour of an exciting life in London. And I'm fleeing the nest and leaving the comfort of my lovely (rent free) family home and my mama's home cooked meals in favour of a beautiful house in Clapham (Cathles Road to be precise, for all my stalkers out there!)

The opportunity only came about yesterday; Beth was looking for a place and her friend from Bristol just so happens to have two double bedrooms available to rent from March, in a five bedroom spanked out house with a garden in the heart of my favourite place. It seems too good to be true...I work in Clapham , I play in Clapham, I gym in Clapham. It only makes sense that I sleep there too, right? 

Anyways, out of several hopefuls, we are lucky enough to have been chosen to fill the bare beds with our crazy selves. Woop woop! 

As positive as all of this is, I am also sceptical. How the hell am I going to be able to afford to live? I can barely get by as it is, let alone with half of my monthly salary going straight towards rent and bills. 

Sitting down with a pretty notepad, a pink pen and my number-riddled head has only served to heighten my concerns, as after taking into account rent, house bills, phone bill, gym membership cost, food budget, makeup / toiletries budget and travel expenses, I was left with a less than impressive fiver for my two arguably most important loves: 

1. Socialising ie. getting drunk, going out, seeing friends 

2. Shopping ie. buying copious amounts of clothes, shoes, jewellery! 

I'm not going to let this put me off though. Instead I've written a list of ways in which I can save: 

1. FOOD: Shop in Tesco's, not Waitrose. Fuel my caffeine addiction with Kenco's finest instant coffee rather than Starbucks, Costa and all other over-priced coffee houses. Bring in home made lunch to work. And the obvious one...just eat less. 

2. EXERCISE: Join the Fitness First in Balham, which is £30 cheaper than the Clapham Junction one I am currently members of. 

3. SOCIAL: 

Getting crunk: Predrink. A lot. House parties as opposed to going out. 

Meals: "Voucher codes" is the one. 

Cinema: 241 Orange Wednesdays, always. 

Alternatively, meet a lovely boy who will pay for all of the above...

JUST KIDDING!

4. TRAVEL: Walk everywhere. Like I said, my life is pretty much based in Clapham anyway so it's not like I'll need to be paying for transport to Timbuktu and back! 

So for anyone thinking about moving out but worried about the costs, just remember, if I can do it, you definitely can. Life's all about making sacrifices, and it's going to be a challenge, but as I said before, I do love a good challenge. 

As for the pre-planned shopping trip on 8th March, that'll be my last for a very long time. Pinky promise!  

Bring it onnnnn. 

XOXO