BABY: Boxing Day Instore Sale Shopping #1

It's that time of year again - sale shopping time! I have tried to focus my sale shopping on festive pieces for Isabella next year, therefore picking most of them up 18-24 months. Looking at that size clothing is bizarre and hard to imagine what Isabella will be like when she's that big, but by shopping ahead it will save us money (while feeding my baby clothes shopping habit!) I picked up the following items in the first couple of sale shopping trips, which were more of a quick 'run into shop, grab what I like, pay, leave as quickly as possible'. No leisurely browsing happening here!

JANUARY SALES: Last couple of buys, including the 70% Boots Sale....

After many December and January weekends spent 'sale shopping' I think I've about finished. This year I've mostly got presents for other people in the sale, as we are trying to save for our wedding in August. Having said that I did get a couple of treats for myself!

Independent Cooking Shop in Stamford

^ I had been eyeing this Molecular Mixology Kit for ages now, as my brother's 18th birthday was approaching I really wanted to get it for him. He's training to be a chef, so he's into fine dining and I thought this set would be perfect for practicing spherefication and other complicated cooking techniques! It was reduced to £16.80. ^

^ When I spotted this cute little Rudolph 'thing' (I'm not really sure what it's for) I couldn't resist it. I struggle to find my Dad little presents for Christmas, that aren't food, so I thought this would be perfect. It balances on the side of your mug, I think it's meant to be for a teabag to go in but I'd use it to put biscuits in! It was reduced to £2. ^

New Look

^ This is clearly a joke set (or I really hope it is!), I'm planning on giving this to either my Dad or one of my brothers as a bit of a joke!  It was reduced to £2. ^

^ I really needed some new warmer nightwear, as our house is usually pretty cold, this stripy long sleeved top was reduced to only £3. ^

^ These are actually men's pyjama bottoms (reduced to £5) but I loved the print on them too much. Also, ladies pyjama trousers are always far too short for my longish legs - does anyone else have this problem? I really don't like trousers that are too short, so I often buy men's (or borrow Tom's!) ^

Boots

The Boots 70% sale started at 5am online on the 15th January 2014, there is always so much anticipation and excitement surrounding it but it's not always possible to get any good bargains. They sell out online very quickly, as well as in the shops. As I was working I couldn't visit a shop until the next day but I did get a couple of bargains online. 

^ Reduced to £2.40 ^

^ Reduced to £3 ^

^ Reduced to £3.60 ^

^ Reduced to £3.60 ^

^ Reduced to £3 ^

^ Reduced to £3 ^

^ Reduced to £2.25 ^

Have you made any last minute January Sale buys?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

JANUARY SALES: Marks and Spencer's, Fragrance Direct, Boots and NEXT Haul

I'm not one if those dedicated people that can face the sales when they first start. So this year I've done a lot online. It's just so much easier, especially when the postage isn't ridiculously priced! On Christmas Eve I made a Boots and Fragrance Direct order, on Boxing Day it was a Marks and Spencer's, New Look and LUSH order - so not too much! Then on the day after Boxing Day I braved the shops but actually found very little. This post includes the first set of deliveries I've received so far - from M&S, NEXT, Fragrance Direct and Boots...

 

Marks & Spencer's

 

^ I got a couple of home accessories from M&S, including this cute little garlic holder (£3 reduced from £5) that matches the M&S utensil holder we already have.^ 

 

^ I thought these two tea light holders (£2 each reduced from £5 each) would be idea for holding make up brushes, I really like the Moroccan style design and how crafty they look for a big brand.^ 
 

^ My make up brush collection is very small at the moment, I had to throw loads away as they were too old. So the sales have been a good opportunity to grab some bargains, this Limited Edition Eyeshadow brush (£1.75 reduced from £3) will be perfect for blending. ^ 

 

^ When I spotted these fish eye lens for camera phones (£2.25 each reduced from £5 each) I instantly thought it would be a fun little gift to give Tom. He doesn't have a digital camera, so all of his photos are taken with his camera. You simply attach this little gadget in front of the camera and you can take fish eye photo's!^ 

NEXT 

 

^ When I went sale shopping on the high street I made a visit to the much hyped NEXT sale. I wasn't really looking at the clothes, although I was hoping their Christmas jumpers for men would be in the sale. I'm not sure if we just got there too late but there was no sign of Christmas jumpers! I did get this cute keepsake box that says 'Born in 2013' for my Niece, it's a really good size and was reduced to £4 from £8.^

 

^ On the way to the till I spotted this gold sparkly make up bag (£4 reduced from £8) almost hidden under scarves and necklaces! I will probably use it as a clutch bag for nights out, it zips up so it's ideal as I always end up dropping my bag!^

^ This cute hanging glass quote was reduced to £3 from £8, bargain! I'll give it to Tom at some point throughout 2014.^
 

Fragrance Direct 

 

^ I couldn't believe the bargains that are on the fragrance direct website, they usually have good deals but their sales are even better! Firstly I got these Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish in Nebline and Speeding Light shades. These were only 60p each!^

 

^ Another amazing bargain was these NYC Appleicious Lip Balm in shades Appleicious Pink and Blushing Golden for 50p each!^ 

 

^ I've heard good things about the Bourjois Healthy Mix 16 Hr Foundation, so when I spotted it on fragrance direct for only £2.99 I couldn't refuse. I chose the shade vanilla, so hopefully it's the right shade!^ 

 

^ As I've mentioned before I've been experimenting with contouring and highlighting recently, I needed a really pale concealer to highlight with and this Technic Brilliant Touch Highlighter and Blemish Corrector (£1.99) was the palest I could find.^ 

 

^ Ages ago I painted my nails with daisy's on but couldn't for the life of me find a yellow nail varnish for the centre, so they had to be orange! This Manhattan M & Buffalo Nail Polish in shade 16 (50p) will be ideal for nail art.^ 

Boots

 

^ I wanted to get a lot of presents in the boots sale, as I like to have a good stock pile for throughout the year. This Dove Men Mini Traveller Tin (£2.50 reduced from £5) in will be ideal for my brother, as he's always travelling around the world with his current intern.^ 

 

^ So Snug Supersoft Socks in Cream and Red (£2.50 each reduced from £5 each) really are so soft! I was going to give these as presents but I might need to keep them now!^

 

^ Tom is so dramatic when he gets the smallest if sniffles, he knows it too so it's a bit of a joke. This Man Flu Surviver Mug (£3.25 reduced from £6.50) has his name written all over it!^

 

^ Baylis & Harding Beauticology Mini Trio (£2 reduced from £4) was mainly a purchase to make my order over £20 so I could get free in-store delivery. A little treat for myself!^

 

^ I got a couple of these Minute Challenge Game (£3 each reduced from £6 each) as they are fun gifts to give to family members and everyone loves a challenge!^

Have you bought much in the sales this year?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)