Healthy Aldi Shop

One of the reasons I've always been unwilling to commit to clean eating before is due to my perception of the amount of money it's going to cost. But that was before I discovered Aldi. 

When Nick and I moved in together back in January the purse strings were tight after we'd spent money on things like bookcases and blenders. We were skint and had heard Aldi was amazing pricewise. Needless to say we were apprehensive. Don't get me wrong I love a good deal and I'm always in value shops like B&M and Poundstretcher scouting out the cheapest branded items they have in stock. But with Aldi I was very dubious - a value shop that sold it's own brand and fresh produce. I was imagining Iceland or Netto but with half rotten vegetables. Oh how wrong I was! I don't normally like to be proved wrong but I'm happy to say Aldi won be over almost immediately!

For those who are thinking about clean eating but are worried about the cost I thought I'd give a few pointers as to what to expect from Aldi if you've never been before, as well as my 'typical' healthy food shop (complete with total amount spent!)

My Aldi 101:

♥ Prepare for lots of people. You will be fighting down the aisles with a lot of people. They're regularly rude and sometimes they have screaming children in tow. More often than not they're unaware that there are other people in the store trying to get round with a trolley. There are people of this ilk in any shop but because Aldi's are usually smaller than your average shop you notice them more. But just take a deep breath and get going because it's well worth it!

♥ Make a shopping list. I cannot emphasis how important this is! Especially when you're eating clean as it helps you not get distracted and ending up down the chocolate aisle. If you have a list you're prepared and you can waltz around that store like you own the place. Which means you can minimise the amount of time spent with the people above. Win win!

♥ Don't expect the world. There will be some things they don't have, or they will have but they won't be of the highest standard. For example, I would not buy sandwich fillers like ham or sliced chicken from there (not that they're clean anyway). I'm sure it's fine but it's not for me. In terms of clean foods, they do have a good selection of staples like nuts, frozen fruit, herbs, eggs, and regular fruit and vegetables. What they don't have is things like almond milk and quinoa. No surprise there.

♥ Have a look at the Foodie Market range. This is a health food range they have that mainly comprises of crisp breads and chewy bars (kind of like the Nakd bars). I've not tried the bars because the sugar content is pretty high but the crisp breads are good and come in a few different varieties (3 grain, oats and chia seeds and spelt and pumpkin seeds - I think!) They're £1.29 a pack and they're really handy for a quick bite. Nick has been having them with cottage cheese (bleurgh) as a quick snack after a bike ride and they seem to be going down well so if you're into that, give it a go!

♥ Take your own bags. I think most people do this already regardless of where they shop but it's essential at Aldi as they charge for any kind of bag (3p for a regular carrier, about 7p for a more durable, bigger bag and then I think it's around 12p for a proper bag for life). 

♥ Move and pack. The check out staff at Aldi scan your shopping so quick you blink and you miss it. Common practice is to load your trolley up with your shopping and then move over to the side of the shop to pack it into your bags. You can try and pack your bags as they're scanning but I can guarantee this will get you dirty looks from people in the queue behind you. I think this is the biggest Aldi faux pau you could ever make and will definitely out you as a noob!

And finally...

♥ Check out the flowers. They have great bunches of flowers for the fraction of the price you'd pay in a more 'upmarket' shop and they are really good quality too. And with all the money you're saving you've got an excuse to buy some!

My Aldi Shop:

(My key ingredients for the next week, minus the meat as we normally get this from the local butchers. However we have had meat from Aldi before and it's always been of high quality.)

Cauliflower x2 (89p) - for cauliflower pizza base... watch this space to see how that goes! 

Pack of 6 sweet potatoes (89p)

Baby Spinach (99p)

Bag of Kale (69p) - for smoothies :) 

Bag of 4 Red Onions (85p) 

Mixed Chillies (49p) 

Whole Cucumber (39p) 

Closed Cup Mushrooms (69p) 

Bag of 3 Courgettes (89p) 

Cherry Tomatoes (75p) 

Pack of 6 Kiwi Fruit (74p) 

Pack of 8 Bananas (68p) 

Pack of 3 Lemons (59p)

Pack of 3 Limes (69p)

Frozen Raspberries x2 (£1.49)

6 Organic Eggs (£1.49)

Chorizo Slices (£1.79) 

Jar of artichokes x2 (99p) - for a mushroom and artichoke bake which is delish 

Halloumi (£1.39) 

Goats Cheese (£1.49) 

Dried Basil (41p) 

Californian Raisins (£1.29) 

Walnuts (£1.89) 

Mini Crispbread x2 (£1.29) - I've not tried these yet but I'm looking forward to it!

Full size Crispbread in Oat and Chia (£1.29)

TOTAL - £29.39

Since I'm a massive geek, I had a browse through the Sainsburys website and worked out that a similar shop (minus the crisp breads as I couldn't find a comparable product) there would cost around £39! 

Do you have any tips for maintaining a clean diet without breaking the bank?

Until next time :)

Cheeky BooHoo order...

I may have just placed a sneaky BooHoo order.... 

I fell into the usual trap - I watched a couple of haul videos on YouTube earlier which just made me think 'aaaah clothes, aaaaaah internet shopping', and now here we are. I added over one hundred pounds worth of items to my BooHoo basket before taking a step back and putting my thinking cap on and realising this was a bad idea. Mainly because there's that thing coming up... what's it called??? Oh yeah, CHRISTMAS! Which means I need to be sensible with my monies. So I removed quite a large portion of my basket and stuck with these three:

1. Grace Deep Plunge Velvet Skort Playsuit - I'm thinking this will be perfect for a night out at the weekend. Plus I have some killer new boots which will look awesome with this. I would recommend the old trick of ordering two sizes of playsuits on BooHoo. When I've bought playsuits before I've fit sizes ranging between 8 - 12 on there so it's always good to order an extra just to see.

2. Ellie Pom Pom Trim 3/4 Sleeve Swing Dress - I just love paisley prints, which is my only justification for this. I could do without the pom poms but I suppose you can't win them all.  

3. Anne Embossed Velvet Smock Dress - And this one is sorting me for Christmas day! 

I know I've bought two items in berry red velvet which is normally something I would stop myself from doing, and when I was having my 'basket cleanse' I would've made myself choose just one. BUT in this case I really liked the red velvet and thought that since the playsuit is very much a 'going out' outfit which I would only wear for a proper night out (not just a meal / drinks), it would be ok to get a more casual dress in the same material that could either be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. 

As I said, I had much more in my basket that I got rid of, but two dresses worth an honourable mention are:

1. Penny Peacock Print Smock Dress - Really cute pattern here which I think could be quite versatile and wearable both in and out of work which is always good. The only reason it didn't make it into the final basket was simply that I only wanted one patterned dress (the embossed flowers on the velvet dress don't count!) and I preferred the paisley one above! 

2. Una Fox Print Pleat Front Skater Dress - You know how we talked about my cat collection? Well I also have a pretty significant fox collection too and I can't resist things with foxy patterns on like this adorable dress. However, I feel this would be one of those purchases where it's all fine and dandy and cute until I actually try to wear it. I feel like I would end up looking like a small child. Also, I've just bought a fox print scarf (so that will have to satisfy my fox print needs for the time being).

Until next time :)

The Cat Collection - #2

Welcome to the second instalment of my Cat Collection. 

This is the bag that I referred to in my post about Tuscany, which you can read here. As I said in that post, I bought this little dude from a leather market in Florence. It was love at first sight. I literally ran down the winding path to the stall and bought it immediately. Only after did I realise I could have haggled for it. But I just wanted it so much I didn't care and paid the full €18 for it. The guy who ran the stall probably thought I was a total market noob!

I have since seen a couple of 'cat face' bags in high street stores like this one from H&M. Although it's out of stock on their website, I'm sure it's still in some stores so go have a look if you like this one :) As well as the high street, I'm sure eBay has a lot too offer in the shape of cat bags so check that out too!

Until next time :)

The Cat Collection - #1

There's something you should know.... I am obsessed with cats. 

So far, I haven't let my obsession spill onto this blog. However, the time has come to slowly introduce this aspect of my life to the internet (although, having said that, it's all over my Facebook and Instagram). I have quite a few items of clothing, and accessories either in the shape of cats, or with cats on them so I thought that I would make a feature of them :)

Recently I ordered these shoes off eBay. Now, I know they are extreeeemly similar to a certain pair of designer shoes, which sadly I cannot afford. I don't like to think of these as "knock offs" (as they are not claiming to be the designer version), I would use the more conscious/pocket friendly term "dupe". 

Anyway, I bloody love these shoes and cannot wait to wear them! They are quite snug but I think that as I wear them more, they will get bigger. Also, from an initial feel and wear, they seem relatively good quality. I mean I doubt they'll last for years to come, but for the price, you can't complain. 

If you, like me, feel there is a cat shoe shaped hole in your life, you can buy these from this seller. This isn't the seller I bought mine from (they have disappeared off eBay - always ominous) but the link above is to a listing that is exactly the same! You may be able to find some from a UK seller, but may have to pay more. They did take quite some time to arrive from China, but I wasn't in any particular rush for them so it didn't matter to me.

Until next time :)

Amsterdam haul time!

(L-R - Pimkie black polka make up bag €7, Heineken glass €free!, Monki phone case €6, Six phone case €6, Flormar Matte nail varnishes €3, Hema lasting finish nail varnish €2.50, Van Gough mirror €2.95, Van Gough tray €7.95, Hema Kohl Eyeliner in black €3, Hema Longer Lasting lipstick €4)

(Monki kitty hat €7)

I wanted to show the world the things I bought in Amsterdam (a post about the tip will be up shortly) because I am a essentially, a haul junkie. 

I'd just like to point out, I bloody love shopping on the continent, it is awesome. The clothes shops are great, mainly because we don't have the majority of them over here and it is a refreshing change (although Amsterdam did have about a billion H&M's). And the beauty shops are amazing, they have entire shops dedicated to brands I have never heard of and everything is so reasonably priced! 

The above beauty products were both bought from shops that only stocked that make - why oh why can't they both come to the UK?! The amount of nail varnishes available in Flormar blew my mind, they had everything you could ever want, I could have stayed in there all day but was quite aware that I had already dragged a very patient Nick through numerous beauty shops so I refrained. But then I found Hema and had exactly the same experience! So cheap, so well merchandised, and such a selection. Aaah just thinking about these two shops makes me feel very happy (lame but true).

Six is probably my favourite shop I have discovered in Europe, it is accessory heaven on earth. I first went in Brugge in October and then when I found it in Amsterdam too I thought they must be a really big company (which they are) and was convinced they'd deliver to the UK, but alas, sadly they don't :( they don't even have an online shop! Come on Six, get with the times!!

The mirror and the tray were both bought from the Van Gough gallery, which we went to feeling we should try and be at least a little cultured, but I must admit it was pretty dull. I'm not really "into" art (and neither is Nick) so I'm not really sure why we spent €15 on going to an art gallery?! So anyway, I just bought things in the gift shop instead. These two are my favourite designs from his paintings, the mirror is in 'Butterflies and Poppies' (with a name like that, what's not to love?) and the tray is in 'Almond Blossom', which I actually really enjoy. 

The Monki buys were so good, that shop is just great. I know we have them in the UK but as far as I'm aware, there are none anywhere in the vicinity of where I live so I only go when I'm in London. I love cats and when I saw the phone case I totally had to have it! The top kitty reminds me so much of Buddy (mine and Nick's little fluff ball) that it made my heart hurt with cuteness and love so I couldn't leave it. Plus I am a sucker for phone cases. The hat I don't even think needs an explanation. It is quite possibly the best thing I have ever bought. Ever. So lets end this post on a picture of me wearing it in all its glory.

Until next time :)

Oh Boots, how I love thee! - Another mini haul

So remember when I started this blog and I was all like 'oh I'm going to blog at least once every week', well, it appears I lied. I have no real excuse other than when I get home from work and the gym (when I make it there), I tend to completely veg out and usually just watch a film with my boyfriend. And the past couple of weekends I have been pretty busy. But still, they're both pretty lame reasons, I guess this blog isn't yet a solid enough fixture in my life for me to remember to post!

Anyway, here I am, with another small haul type affair.

Today, I was meant to go shopping with my friend (we were destined for Primark) but I have hurt my toe quite badly and had to cancel because I can't walk more than two meters without being in pain :( so to appease my inner shopaholic, I nipped up to the local Boots (convinced myself I NEEDED tissues, but alas, I had some spare ones in my drawer all along) and accidentally bought these bad boys.

(L-R, B-F: Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 100 Ivory £8.99, Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation in 52 Vanilla £10.99, Bourjois Liner Feutre Ultra Black £6.99, Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer £6.99, Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer in Light £10, Soap and Glory Trick and Treatment £9, Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Bashful£8)

The Rimmel foundation is an absolute staple of mine and this is a repurchase. I recently bought the Dream Matte Mouse by Maybelline as I thought that with it being winter, the shimmer the WMU foundation gives sometimes looks a bit over the top. However, I wish I hadn't bothered as there is really only one way to describe the Dream Matte Mouse - major disappointment. It sounded so promising and I was uber excited but no, it is rubbish and clings to all the dry skin I have, and more. And is actually really hard to apply, maybe that's just me but every morning when I go to put it on I am faced with the same confusion as to whether to dap my brush in the pot, use my fingers or think of another intuitive way to apply foundation. It's all far too much to think about on a morning! So I really wish I'd had spent my hard earned dollar on another bottle of this beauty instead. The Rimmel primer came free when you spend over X amount (can't remember how much) on anything else Rimmel so I haven't got much to say on that, as I said in my last post, I am relatively new to the world of primer ( - but have used my Maybelline Baby Skin primer now, so far so good).

Now, I wouldn't normally buy another foundation as I am a bit tight and don't really wear much foundation as my skin is quite good (touch wood) but I had heard so many good things about the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (mainly from Estée), my feeling sorry for myself gene kicked in and I picked it up and chucked it in the basket. I am excited to try it and see if it really is as good as the hype. I went for the gel based formula purely because it was £1 more and if you spent over £10 you got a free eyeliner (easily swayed), and I needed a new black liner. I have tried a few of the "felt tip" style liners and have never been overly impressed but it was free so it doesn't matter too much if it ends up at the back of my make up drawer.

So after picking up the above, my eyes turned towards the Soap and Glory stand. I have recently rediscovered the Sexy Mother Pucker lip gloss I got free with the massively amazing gift set they always do at Christmas and I'm loving it! This coupled with the fact that I know the Kick Ass Concealer is pretty similar to a Virgin Vie product that I used to looooove, and also is a well known dupe for a Laura Mercier product, drew me in. All S&G make up was on 3 for 2 so I thought it would be rude not to (again I blame the feeling sorry for myself gene) and I picked up the Kick Ass Concealer, which I've seen get good reviews from beauty blogging world. I also got the Trick and Treatment concealer for under the eyes as I'm seriously always on the look out for a good under eye concealer to hide my hideous dark circles. I've not heard/seen much about this before but hopefully it'll be good'un. Finally, I got a pink Gloss Stick. I love these Chubby Stick dupes and have some from Bourjois and Revlon which I use all the time. I'm still loving the whole English Rose look so thought a nice baby pink colour would be a good addition to my collection.

My next post won't be a haul (or even a 'mini-haul'), I promise... although I have just placed a BooHoo order.

Until next time :)

Mini-Haul : Boots and The Body Shop

One thing you should probably know about me is that I am a bonafide shopaholic, so I practically always have enough new purchases in my possession to do a "haul".

I have tried, in vein, over the years to get my boyfriend to show an interest in my shopping, but, sadly it rarely works and I have to internalise the need to share my brand spanking new clothes/home accessories/beauty products. Sadly it is a burden I have to bare.

I must admit, I do harbour an intense love for hauls. I think the attraction is a mixture of living vicariously through other people who have money to spend (or not), and getting fashion ideas (read: copying) from people who are probably 100% more fashionable/cooler than me. I do enjoy fashion hauls way more than beauty ones like this, but alas, you can't win them all.

So, now I have this snazzy new blog, I am taking my first, tiny steps into the world of the "haul". History is being made!

I realise this is a long introduction to a relatively small collection of purchases but I am new to this and am still finding my feet. (Also, I am aware I need to learn how to use my camera properly...)

So on my lunch on Monday - after being insanely good with my money all month - I caved into my urge to buy pretty new things. I ran around my town like a mad woman. I had a Cath Kidston voucher, which is why I left the office in the first place - and I was hoping to find some clothing in the sale (the only time I can ever remotely consider buying CK clothes) and on the way I accidentally went to The Body Shop and Boots.

(L-R: Dreams Eau du Parfam £5, Passion Fruit Shower Gel £3, Papaya Shower Gel £3 and Vitamin E Face Mist £8)

The Body Shop had an insane sale on, and since I am a card holder, I got an extra few offers (I'm not 100% sure what the offers were but I loved them nonetheless!)

I always like to buy The Body Shop perfumes in the sale because they are always a real bargain and I enjoy the scents (I have a couple of others and highly recommend them). I find they're a good every day perfume for when you don't want to go out smelling like your either a. on a date or b. going on a night out with the girls. I know there are more subtle day time perfumes around but to be honest, I really resent paying £30+ for perfume to wear in the office around people that probably don't know or care about what perfume I'm wearing, so I like to save my more expensive perfumes for evenings out and use ones like this for every day wear.

I generally use cheap and cheerful shower gel (I'm aware there's a money saving theme here - what can I say, I'm Northern) but I do like to have a few nicer bottles as well so these ones are right up my street. I've just run out of Soap and Glory's 'A Foam Call' so I decided to pick these two up. They were both a bargain at £3 and they smell absolutely divine.

Finally, I got a Vitamin E Face Mist. Now this was on a total whim. I got to the till and gave my Body Shop card and the lady told me that as it was my fourth purchase I got a free £5 voucher. So in a bit of a mad discount loving panic, I picked this (which was £8, but I paid £3). I always use their Vitamin E Intense Moisturising Cream and love it, so I thought I'd give this one a go. Not sure how I'll get on with it, but I'll let you know.

(L-R : Maybelline Baby Skin Primer, £7.99 and Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch, £2.99)

Aaah Maybelline, aaah Baby Lips. Need I say more?!

There isn't too much I can say about these two as the general blogging world is head over heels for both. But here are my two cents.

I don't normally use primer but the I love the Baby Lips/Skin branding so much I thought I'd give it a whirl. I've dabbled with Benefits Porefessional before, and found it ok but nothing special. I didn't get a noticeably better look after using it so it fell to the wayside. I don't know if the same will happen here (maybe Primer just isn't for me) but I am looking forward to using it anyway. 

The Baby Lips are a sort of repurchase. I have the 'Cherry Me' and 'Peach Kiss' varieties already, and I very much enjoy them. I wanted to get 'Pink Punch' because currently I'm into the whole 'English Rose' look and I frequently go for a porcelain skin, rosy pink cheeks and baby pink lips look. However, sometimes it isn't always appropriate (nor can I be bothered) to put a full on lipstick on, so this will be absolutely perfect for those days. 

I did buy a couple of other things but they are not very interesting (a body puff and some face wipes...) I also did find something in the Cath Kidston sale and it is AMAZING but I think that may feature in an OOTD when I am brave enough to snap a picture of myself.

Until next time :)