Minxy milk maid

Husband: "Where did she come from?"

Me: "She's a fairy, she arrived last night."

Husband: "She looks like a hussy."

Oh.

Minxy milk maid - £1 from British Heart Foundation, Western Road

How to bag a beauty bargain

Now in my late twenties, lotions and potions promising to slow down the signs of ageing and quality every-day cosmetics are becoming increasingly attractive. I'm more likely to be drawn to £30 tubs of creams than a pot if £5 sparkly green eyeshadow, which is unfortunate, seeing as my budget is still very much in the £5 sparkly green eyeshadow bracket. But, a bargain-hunter/cheap-skate till the end, I've discovered a few ways of kitting out my bathroom, and my face, with expensive skincare products without shelling out full-price. And you'll be pleased to know that none of them involve shoplifting.


In-store events
Last week in Brighton's L'Occitane branch, I indulged in cupcakes, sipped from a champagne glass, enjoyed a mini facial and walked away with a goodie bag bursting with £45 worth of products, and all for just £10. Thus is the joy of in-store promotional events. I'd read about this one in Stylist magazine, and booked my place immediately. The goodie bag was full of luxury shower gels, face creams and moisturisers that will keep me going for a good couple of months. Check magazines and skincare retailer's websites for events near you.

Magazine freebies
With the women's magazine market so saturated, free gifts are a great way to tempt you to buy a particular title, and they seem to be getting better. Steer clear of the cheap t-shirts and canvas bags and focus on the cosmetic giveaways. Glamour has offered free Benefit, Nails Inc and Clinique gifts in the past year - all pricey products. Get a subscription to a magazine and the savings can work out to be even greater. You may even get an extra freebie for signing up.


Vouchers and offers
Boots is the Don when it comes to skincare savings. It's forever giving out £5-off vouchers that can be used to bag yourself some bargain beauty treats. And the brands in-store also give away excellent gifts - No7 and Clinique especially. Sometimes a sample serum tube can last for months. Also look out for Boot's two-for-one offers and make the most of the Boots advantage card - I used a double points voucher when I bought all of my wedding makeup and quickly amassed a tidy sum with which to treat myself in the future. Supermarkets can also be good places to look for offers on branded skincare.

Charity shops & car boot sales
Charity shops and car boot sale pitches are full of unwanted gifts, and these often include skincare sets, barely-used perfumes, hair products and plenty of other lotions and potions. Go rummaging just after Christmas to bag the best finds. Or hold your own gift and clothes swap after the holidays - you may be after just the thing your friend received with a fake smile and quickly hid in a drawer.

Oh, and one more top tip - check out ASOS.com for branded beauty products and perfumes in the sale, particularly post-Christmas.

Do you have any other money-saving secrets? Do share...

Second image by Flickr user SunShineCity.

How much is that doggy in the window?

Ask in Spiral charity shop to find out. I'm sure these not-so-furry fellows won't struggle to find a new home.

Autumn in spring

While I don't want to wish the spring and summer away, today's outfit was an autumnal treat.


New Tatty Devine 'fallen leaves' necklace, snapped up in the Bank Holiday Sale for £15, rust-coloured silk pussy bow blouse from Hove Oxfam (£8), trusty black Topshop skinny jeans from the old Duke Street Traid (£8) and gold Faith brogues (£5) from a Loved, Worn & Reborn fair. Total cost - £36.

Sideboard salvage

Look what we found out on the street - a 'shabby chic' kitchen sideboard that didn't cost a penny. Thank you, god of bins.

Living it up in Uppingham

One of my bestest friends got married in her old boarding school in Uppingham, an affluent market town in Rutland, this weekend. It was a perfect day, full of happiness, love and chatter.

Being a summer wedding in a grand location, it was the ideal excuse for everyone to dress up, and I chose to debut my £10 eBay bargain buy - the Mad Men dress - matching it with the handbag I wore to my own wedding, picked up for £5 at Vintage @ Goodwood, and my much loved Swedish Hasbeen x H&M sandals.


As we had some time to spare before the big event on Saturday morning, we pottered around the shops and came across a rather splendid, albeit somewhat overpriced, vintage boutique called Legacy.

I tried on another Joan Harris-esque pencil dress, complete with this season's 'on-trend' scalloped collar detail, and as it fit so perfectly, and I was on a bit of a pre-wedding high, ended up walking out £50 down - expensive, but special.