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I bought a wreath from Aldi. It was £7.99 and made with fresh spruce branches. It was basically too good to pass up as I knew I could do something with this.

However, I didn't want the red plastic berries, the fir cones, the glitter gold bits and the bright red ribbon. I also didn't want the cinnamon sticks on them.  So I stripped them all off

I just wanted to do something a little bit different. So based on what I had planned for my wreath, this is what you need :

1. Cutting pliers for cutting the florist wire.

2. Burlap wired ribbon

3. Faux (or real if you can get it) Eucalyptus Branch

4. Faux Green Viburnam  (or real if you can get it) Flower Spray

5. Florist Wire

After stripping off the extra decorations. I was basically left with a still excellent well fleshed out fir spruce wreath.

I cut the eucalyptus branch down into more manageable sizes so I could arrange them how I wanted. I chose to group the eucalyptus together on the right side (positioning about 4pm).

I cut the florist wire in to about 4 inch lengths. Each piece I bent in half so it resembled a hair pin. I used these to pin the eucalyptus to the wreath. Arrange and pin (press firmly to secure) till you are happy. 

I did the same with faux viburnam on the other side so they were diagonally opposite the eucalyptus. I stuck a bit of left over eucalyptus in with the virburnam to add a little foliage.

I then created a big bow with some burlap ribbon that I'd bought on a roll. 

This is wired. If you are hanging a wreath outside, I would recommend a wired ribbon as this will hold it's shape better. A regular ribbon will droop somewhat when it gets wet but a wired one will still be fine. I chose to pin my bow just beneath the virburnam as I said, I didn't want it too too uniform.

Don't forget to tie a loop on the back of your wreath to hang it!

Have fun!

• For £7.99, the Aldi wreath is not to be sniffed at. It's quite a good size and a well made lovely looking wreath anyway. You know what they say - you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

• This is a really really lazy way of "making" a wreath. You don't need to start totally from scratch with doing your oasis, soaking it, wrapping it, popping in your foliage etc etc

• But it's a really really good simple way if you're a novice and you don't want to over face yourself and just do the fun bits.

• I went for less is more. Or you could call it minimalist chic. Or you could say I'm plain lazy :)

• Some very dark berries (almost black) would have looked good on this - if I had any :(

• I could do with a few more sprigs of eucalyptus but I ran out and I just wanted to get this post done so you can crack on if you fancy a go at this.

• My hubs will hate it - he didn't like the other one I made here. "Needs a bit of red on it" he said.

Don't know about you but my feet are freezing at the moment. In previous years, I took it on the chin and womanned up and just nipped out of the door with my sockless feet and some fleecy liners installed in my trainers but this year - I'm feeling it. Maybe it's because I actually have to walk outside for more than five minutes. Last year, if I felt like it, I nipped out in the car, dropped the boys off on the school run but this year, we have a dog that needs walking. It's a right proper pain in the .....

So apart from investing in some Ugg Glen boots to take the chill off seeing as how they are fleece lined, I bought myself socks. I bought some glitter socks last year but this year, I bought some slightly more robust ones - ones which might actually keep your feet warm a little. You know, do that job, they are meant to do. So where did I go in my time of need? To Primark of course. And I came out with those socks up there. A pack of five for about £2.50. That will do me.

My favourite pair out of the lot? The zebra ones. Love the gold bits!

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And just because I'm nice, I spotted some funky ones for you guys whilst having a browse!

That's a catchy heading isn't it? But sometimes you have days where there are no witty headings to hand so you pop up anything that comes in to your head.

Anyway, can I show you my latest bargain? This lovely mohair funnel neck jumper from Matalan!

I was in Matalan looking for a hanging branch Christmas tree but alas, there was none on the shop floor. I should have ordered online when I had the chance but no, I thought I'd go and check them out instore so I could find the best made one. I'm picky like that. Because if you order online, you might  just get a really lopsided one but in store I can pick through the batch. Anyway they sold out.  #yousnoozeyoulose

So no tree, but one lovely funnel neck mohair jumper. Happy days.

And I know this has been pinned a gazillion times on Pinterest by a gazillion people but don't you just love it when you find that high street dupe for the grand sum of £18?

I do :)

Last Note :

• The jumper has a nice weight to it so it hangs well. This is a thickish (but not chunky) knit and holds it shape quite well. Stick a heattech underneath and you'll be real toasty.

• I bought a size small and I'm a UK 10. I did take a medium in as well but that proved unnecessary.

• The funnel neck is fab as I don't do roll necks well. Somehow roll necks serve to emphasise my hamster cheeks and bestow extra chins upon me. 

• So no hanging Christmas tree in Matalan and they seem to be sold out online but I found this one in John Lewis which I have just ordered. And a bargain to boot! I'm not getting caught out a second time!

I love me a bit of cashmere especially at this time of year. Actually I like cashmere all year round if I'm honest. I've said it before on the blog, I'm not picky, I don't mind if it's high end or supermarket cashmere - it all works for me as it's just not as prickly or itchy as other stuff - mainly lambswool. I thought I'd try something different from my usual grey and opted for a camel colour way. So I broke out of the grey zone but not too far. Now lemon yellow. That would be out of my comfort zone.

Baby steps, baby steps.

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Last Note :

• I sized up in the jumper from my usual size small to a medium as I wanted to wear this casually and a little slouchy. It also gives me some room for layering underneath.

• It's quite a robust cashmere (3 ply) and although not quite as soft as some, you do feel like you can just throw it on and not worry too much about it. This is an absolute must since the dog arrived. He likes to paw me and he's a clumsy mutt.

• I've actually not had it off my back since I received it. It's my kind of easy throw it on kind of thing.

• It's machine washable! Well I have to confess here, I stick all my cashmere in the washing machine regardless of the wash labels but it's nice to know that for once I'm actually allowed to!

* Cashmere Jumper  c/o Woolovers

I've started checking online to see what special offers will shortly be gracing the Aldi Aisles of Joy. And I spotted the Caviar Ilumination Serum Concentrate. I was only lamenting the other day that there was no serum to accompany the day and night Caviar creams (mentioned here) and the Aldi Powers Above must have heard me. Thank you.

Now can you do an eye cream please?

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Last Note :

• They can still be found on here and here

If there's one thing guaranteed, it's that Primark actually knock out one piece of knitwear each winter which I nab and then live in. Chances are you and half of the penny saving female population probably have the odd piece in your wardrobe. And 2016 is no different with me nabbing this one :

Not a lot else I can say about it. I think it's a lovely dress. If you were to look at it on the website, well I guess you wouldn't really look at it twice. I mean I've glanced at it briefly but it hasn't made me go "whoa there!".

But I was in store and it did catch my eye. It caught my eye because it was floral but it wasn't as frilly as the other infamous H&M dress currently making it's round the the IG stratosphere. It also wasn't as long and there was no high neck for me to contend with. What did I have to lose by trying it on? Errr £24.99.

So into the changing room I popped with it and surprisingly I just fell in love with it. It's flattering (come on, it's black) and it fitted where it needed to. The neck loop fastening at the back was easy enough to do. It fell in all the right places and it hid all the bad stuff I like to eat. It's a winner. Now let me say though, this dress is probably designed for the smaller vertically challenged people out there. Also this is actually a knee length dress but given my height, it hits me as a midi. One of it's plus points is that it falls from below the chest so there is nothing cutting me off at the waist. One of it's minus points is that it has an open back (either wear a fabulous bra or get daring and go without). And I think it's going to go rather well under that squeaky biker jacket of mine seen on the previous post!

It's the perfect dress up, dress down dress!

1. Topshop Petite Biker (regular here)

2. Zara Metallic Bag

3. Topshop Million Sock Boots

4. River Island Tie Up Shoes

5. H&M Earrings

6. H&M Knee Length Dress

7. H&M Cable Knit Jumper

8. Asos Snake Mix Bag

9. Next Pink Suede Lace Ups

10. Next Berry Signature Boots

• I'm a size UK 10 (chubby 10) and the dress I have on is a 10. It's exactly that - no more, no less.