RUSSELL & BROMLEY LITTLE BROWN BOOTS

There's a story behind these Russell & Bromley boots. It started months and months ago and I've only finally got my grubby little mitts on them.

My boyfriend's mum has these exact boots, I loved them and asked her about them but she just said they were really old. I was a bit disappointed they weren't recent purchases but decided to start looking for an inspired pair along the same line. I was scouring eBay (as I do an awful lot, I'm a massive fan) and suddenly up popped a pair of similar looking boots. No, wait, not similar... identical. And in my size. Fate?

I stalked those boots like a crazy lady and bid on them until the very last ten seconds. But I didn't win them, I was outbid by pennies. I'd decided it wasn't meant to be and I needed to move on. Last week I was checking my eBay messages and noticed one unread one - a second chance offer on these boots, but I'd left it too long and missed my opportunity! I messaged the seller on the off chance she still had the boots. And she did. Delighted. Finally mine. The heel is a good 1-2 inches so look flat but give me those much needed extra inches and they look so good with my black Topshop Leigh jeans.

I've no idea of the name or how old a style they are but they're Russell & Bromley and worth an awful lot more than the £45 I paid for them. They were in perfect condition, looked completely unworn. This is the very reason that I adore eBay, it's my favourite 'shop' of them all.

BLOGS OR MAGAZINES?

This is probably a bit of a weird post coming from me. You see, I don't normally write very much, do I? I don't talk about controversial fashion topics or discuss the pros and cons of every foundation I've ever tried. That isn't to say I don't love reading those things, I just don't like writing them because I rarely have that much time to dedicate to my writing. However, I picked up the latest Cosmopolitan magazine (March issue, how hot is Christina Hendricks? Love her) at the supermarket on Sunday as I fancied a glossy to peruse, and it got me thinking.

I'm sure lots of you reading are big glossy magazine fans. I used to buy a lot when I was younger as they were deemed the easiest, fastest and most enjoyable way to consume the latest styles/beauty/celeb gossip/man advice. The older I get, the fewer magazines I seem to buy. I love buying Elle, Vogue and Harper's, but they're pricey for limited editorial content and an awful lot of (beautifully shot) adverts. That's not to say I don't buy these anymore, but I seem to buy them more and more to flick through the pictures on a Sunday afternoon than to read every detail of over the period of a week.

Now that I'm older, and probably a bit more tech-savvy, I like to consume my girl info on the internet, primarily through blogs. You girls know what's going on, almost like you're one step ahead of the magazines. In fact, there are many brands that have their own blogs now and find it an easy way to engage with more readers. Blogs are quick, they can be written in minutes to reflect the very latest news and updates - if you're ever in doubt, just google what is is you're looking for - 'why isn't my Shellac drying?', 'how should I wear riding boots with a dress?' - your answer will appear primarily in the form of blog posts written by girls the world over who want to share.

It's not only blogs nowadays too - Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, Lookbook - there are loads of places that I now find my inspiration rather than in magazines. What do you think? Where do you find your inspiration?

MULBERRY AW12 - THE DEL REY

Mulberry have announced their new celebrity-inspired handbag which will be hitting the shelves as part of the new AW12 collection - the Del Rey. Of course, this is inspired by the beautiful Lana Del Rey. In this illustration it looks a little too Bayswater at the front but when you see photographs, it really is quite different. A little boxy for me - I like my bags slouchy or at least soft boxy - but it is very cute, no surprise there then.

What do you think?

Images lovingly borrowed from The Mulberry Blog

REVIEW: COWSHED HORNY COW TRAVEL CANDLES

I've said before I'm an enormous fan of Cowshed. The quality of their products just can't be argued with - I've tried a bath and body oil, a shower gel, a lip balm, a moisturiser and now these little Cowshed Horny Cow travel candles. I picked these purely because I'd smelt them burning before and knew how amazing the scent was - a dupe for Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir, my favourite.

They're absolutely gorgeous little candle. Such quality. The only thing I would say is that four travel candles retail for £22 and as I like to burn all four at once, they're not lasting very well. Next time I'm going to go for the big, single candle for £30 as I feel it'll last longer.

Each Cowshed scent is supposed to have a certain benefit. Horny Cow is supposedly the seductive scent which will 'evoke your sensuality and passion', I wouldn't say that they have that effect (sorry mum!) but they're certainly very nice and lovely to have burning on an evening whether that be in the bedroom or the lounge. I'm a big fan and this just makes me want to try more from this brand.

WHAT'S IN MY MULBERRY POUCH?

Tweezerman Tweezers, £20 | Carex Aloe Vera Hand Gel, 70p | Annick Goutal Mandragore Perfume, £63 | Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer, £4.19 | Lierac Coherence LIR Infrared Lifting Cream, £56.55 | Korres Guava Lip Butter, £6 | Cupcake tissues | Figs & Rouge Sweet Geranium Balm, £5 | Superdrug Paracetamol Capsules, 99p | Sainsbury's Max Strength Cold & Flu Capsules, £1.85.

Okay, I know this seems like a bit of a weird post but bear with me. Basically, this little thing has changed my life. Slight exaggeration perhaps, but I used to just throw all my odd bits and bobs in my handbag or in the inside pocket of a handbag (if I had one, my little Ledbury doesn't have one) and spend what must be hours over the course of a year searching for lost things in the bottom of my bag.

So when I received this little pouch for Christmas, I put it to use straight away but not as a purse or a make-up bag, but as a 'pouch'. I feel like I need a better word for it. In here, I keep all those bits and pieces which aren't necessarily make-up but are girly essentials, the things you wouldn't want to be without.

What essentials can't you bear to leave at home? I know I need to add some blister plasters to my pouch!

SPONSORED VIDEO: MERINO NO FINER FEELING

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time you'll know I'm a fan of quality - I'd rather fork out for something that'll last me a long time than spend all my pennies on Primark. Yes, it means shopping can be more expensive but in the long term I'm convinced it works out better value.

Merino have launched a campaign - No Finer Feeling - which focuses on just this message. We as consumers and fashion lovers, should be considering what our clothes are made of and where they've come from - and I couldn't agree more. In this age, we're all about fast fashion and the young, like myself, don't always value the benefits of wool and Merino in particular. There is a reason why designers use Merino - it screams quality.

Why go for Merino? It's a natural, biodegradable - and therefore environmentally friendly - and renewable fibre which will make you feel a little bit more special - because of that quality feel - when you wear it. I have a Merino scarf that I absolutely adore for this reason, I feel a little extra ladylike when I wear it!

Sponsored post

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: BEAUTY

I've seen a lot of this tag on YouTube but I'm test driving it in a blogging format as it is one I liked the look of. Here goes.

GREED
What are your cheapest and most expensive beauty products?
Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer, £4.19. Armani Privé Rose D'Arabie Perfume, £175.
The concealer isn't the cheapest product I own but I think it's the best value as it's amazing. I can't find anywhere online to buy the Armani perfume but they sell it in Harvey Nichols for definite.

WRATH
What do you have a love/hate relationship with? What has been hardest to find?
Xen-Tan Deep Bronze Luxe, £21.50. CND Shellac, approximately £16.
My love/hate relationship is not with Xen-Tan but with fake tan generally. I love being bronzed but I loathe the effort that comes with it, including stained white bed sheets and sticky feeling skin. Xen-Tan is 100% my favourite fake tan when I do force myself to use one. The hardest beauty product to find is definitely my CND Shellac as I don't trust eBay and have to rely on lovely people to buy it for me.

GLUTTONY
What is your most delicious beauty product?
Illamasqua Encounter Lipstick, £15.50.
I wish I had an edible product to put in here right now but I don't.. so I've gone for a product which looks delicious and that I really love to wear. Makes you feel really feminine and delicious yourself when wearing it.

SLOTH
What beauty product do you neglect because of laziness?
Botanics Skin Brightening Toner, £4.07.
Alarmingly easy one for me to answer. I never use toner. Oops.

PRIDE
What beauty product gives you more confidence?
Revlon Photoready, £12.99. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs, £10.29.
I specifically like both of these products but I think my answer is generally anything which perfects my skin. Foundation and instant tan go a long way when getting ready for a night out.

LUST
What attributes do you find attractive in the opposite sex? Silly question so I've replaced it with: What product are you currently lusting over?
Laura Mercier Lingerie Palette.

ENVY
What item would you most like to receive as a gift?
Aside from the above, obviously, I would like to receive an HD Brows treatment. Completely intrigued.

I ask all of you the questions above!

WORKING GIRL OOTD: LIPSY & RIVER ISLAND

Wearing: Lipsy Trouser with Faux Leather Detail, £38 | Lipsy Lace Bow Blouse, £38 | River Island Black Court Shoes, £25 | Denham Penguin Jacket, £gift.

Having never owned anything from Lipsy in my entire life, last week I suddenly acquired two new Lipsy pieces. The first I bought from ASOS as I was desperately seeking a pair of skinny trousers that were work appropriate (non-denim). I ordered the 8 and have been failing to diet my way into them. I have to say I kinda love them but they're not work appropriate.

In the same week, Lipsy sent me this super bright pink blouse*. It's so cute. Yes it's very bright but I love the bow and button fastening at the back and pink is one of the very few colours I'll happily wear.

The shoes were a bargainous £25 from River Island but I got the size 3 and they need some serious breaking in. Ouch.

Please excuse the lack of make-up - BB cream and no eye make-up. Really should make more effort.

*PR sample