Remember last week, I said I wanted pink jeans? Well I spotted the perfect looking pair from Mango and waited all week for them to arrive. They came today and I bobbed them on straight away and then I took them off and put them back in the bag. This can mean one of two things - I loved them straight away and I didn't need to play with them any more as I was totally sure of them. The alternative is that I looked a bugaloo in them. Guess which category they fell in to? Yup - the second. And that lovely green dress up there is from Faithfull the Brand (they do some lovely stuff) and I coughed up a considerable sum for it as I thought it could be a potential birthday present. Let's just say, I just don't get on with wrap dresses and this one was no exception. Why do I do this to myself? Anyway, what I was trying to say was, they're both going back. 

If you have an Amazon Alexa and you also have a sensor bin, you can pretend to your friends (who don't know you have a sensor bin) that Alexa can now control devices around the home. Stand casually next to the bin and say to Alexa, "Alexa, open the bin". Wave your hand over the bin and the lid opens. Your friends will go "Wow, that's amazing - I didn't know you could get Alexa to do that kind of stuff these days!". Chuckle to yourself for a while before you let them in on the joke. Honest, we've done it to our friends and we pranked them.

Friday Five (3 of 5) In the Navy

Look the new stock is just flooding in right now and I'm just all over it. I ordered two tops this week from Zara. Let's cut to the chase, they are both nice but not perfect on me. The peasanty one is quite low and I would be forever adjusting and the tassels on the sleeves would have to be removed. The sleeves on the spotty top is too long and needs shortening to bracelet length. I've tucked them to where I would have have them chopped to. They are both nice though but are they worth the extra work? They would be really easy to wear with jeans in the summer. What am I talking about? I wear everything with jeans full stop.

At the beginning of each season, I usually bag myself a little gem from Primark. I haven't seen much this time round but I did find those little bow slides up there. And they were da da dahhhh £6. So cute with a white tee and jeans. There I go again - jeans, jeans, jeans! Oh if you like my little circle bag, I've just spotted a bargainous one at the bottom of this post.

I'm very behind. Last year Michelle pointed out the above Rouge Saskia wedge sandals to me. This year I'm all over them. I spotted a similar styled pair in M&S when I was dashing through and hastily tried them on and parked them in my fashion memory bank besides which I'm rationing myself to one pair of shoes per month. I'm thinking of how my summer look is working out this year and I have a feeling, this is how I want it to look ... and those shoes look good in it.

Cats Eye Sunglasses seem like they're having a moment again but they seem to slot in with this look beautifully without looking too try hard. That little round bag is just in at Topshop and less than half the price of my original round bag. And the Los Angeles t-shirt - the rust colour is spot on. I love it. 

.... did you buy anything? I have to hold my hand up here and say yes. Shall I share? Hopefully these are a few things which will stand me in good stead - there's nothing  fancy here - you've been warned. If there was going to be anything fancy or trendy, I would have just bought it at the beginning of the season ... when it was in. I think what I bought is pretty timeless? Or considered? Or boring? Up to you.

So what did I nab?

The Topshop blouse I've already mentioned in a previous Friday Five. I've tried it on with different jean/shoe/bag combinations that I already have and basically it's a goer when the warmer weather comes. I just love the small ditsy print and the eau de nil shade.

The jeans. These are the MiH Cult jeans which seemed to their jean of the season for autumn/winter and they've continued them it into spring/summer at full price. I however nabbed mine on Collen & Clare for a fraction of the price and they also have Levis on currently at a fab price. Honestly if you're buying Boden and Hush jeans (not that cheap), you could venture into designer denim for a similar sale price. Just a little trawl on the t'internet will reap you rewards. Anyway, I'm a size 10 and I bought their size 28 and I would say they are true to size albeit a little long but I know a hem hack (here) so I can shorten them without losing their little stepped hem. For once, these jeans actually give me a waist. It's rather novel and I quite like it!

Ahh - the leather jacket. I finally have one! There I was browsing through John Lewis when I went past the All Saints concession and there was a rail of leather jackets marked with up to 50% off. So I had a nosey. They were all one style except one jacket. That one jacket turned out to be the Bales jacket and I was drawn in by the collar detail and the butter soft leather. I've tried a lot of leather jackets on in my quest to find the one and some leathers are so hard and unyielding that I know I will never feel comfortable wearing them. This one just felt nice. When I got it home, I told the hubs it was my birthday present from him. He replied "Didn't I do well?".

The Pieces leather bag. That's another item I've mentioned previously. I'm still really rather pleased with it.

Oh and last but not least, a pair of Stan Smiths which I found in the Next sale for half price. I've already been stalking these with the burgundy trim for the last few months and I knew I could wait it out. I'm really glad I did.


So - what did you buy? Anything good? Do tell.

• This is only stuff I bought in the sales. Not any new season.

• I also have the Hush ... skirt which I have yet to decide on. I kind of love it but is it versatile enough for me?

• Apologies, I did try to see if I could find the Bales jacket at the price that I bought it at but they are now sold out in House of Fraser and John Lewis where they were half price.

I meant to do a Friday Five last week but I was very very busy doing #fridayfeet with Bean from Smalltownthreads. But this week, I'm free! (said in a John Inman kind of voice).

Friday Five (1 of 5) Hiut Jeans

You know that Meghan Markle lady who just got engaged to Prince Harry? Of course you do. Well because I live in a bubble and only listen to the news at 7am in the morning and 10 o'clock at night and only catch snippets, I missed out on the fact that she's been sporting a pair of Hiut denim jeans. Never heard of them? Me neither till Wednesday when I asked Jules what jean brands she was in to when we were having a little natter about jeans. So obviously, once home, I googled Hiut Denim and found out about the Meghan bit but the bit I was more interested in is that they are a small Welsh company and they only do four styles of jeans for women and one of those styles is in a raw denim. This is something I investigated in the past (see here) but failed miserably with as raw denim is not an easy ride. I signed myself up for the newsletter so I can mull them over for now as I know I simply can't afford or justify them right now. Ho hum. Oh and by the way just incase you're wondering, Megan has the skinny fit Dina pair here. 

Friday Five (2 of 5) Saucy.

Panda Brand Oyster Sauce

Lee Kum Kee Seasoned Soy Sauce for Seafood

Flying Goose Sriracha Mayonaise

Right for a woman who doesn't like cooking, I have one secret ingredient in my cupboard which makes my cooking taste better. It's oyster sauce. Don't retch. It doesn't actually taste like oysters or else I wouldn't be using it. It just adds a little oomph to your cooking when you think something lacks a bit of depth or you just need an extra dimension to the flavour. I even add it to my spaghetti bolognese which the hubs found hilarious at first but sometimes he does say "it needs a bit of oyster sauce does that!" when he's tasting. One of the simplest ways to use it is to steam some broccoli and then toss it with a half a tablespoon of the sauce and it's an instant side accompaniment to a meal and stops broccoli being so basic. I serve it like this to my boys with plain rice and pan fried salmon. Oh and the other two bottles in that pic? Get yourself on to Sriracha mayonnaise - it's great on chips! Or use it on some chicken strips in a wrap with some salady bits. Bee-yozz-a. Last but not least, the soy sauce I use is a subtler one than the more mainstream well known ones. It is not as "salty" and has a tiny sweetness to it which makes it nicer on rice and seafood. Just thought you might like to know. I tend to buy all three from the Chinese supermarket but I think I've spotted them in some of the larger Tesco superstores as well now. 

Friday Five (3 of 5) New Look Blouse.

Have a good weekend y'all. x