What BeeBee Wants: The ShoeZone Want List

It's that time of year again. The weather is turning and my office are heading into a month long casual clothing frenzy. 

Here in rural East Yorkshire we have been getting off quite lightly weather wise this year. I'm obviously not including the floods that got my home town media coverage and it's own floodwatch account on Facebook! 

I've only broken my coat out for work this week. The last week in November! It has been crazy warm, even in the office (again not something I'm used to as until recently I sat in sub-zero like conditions).

So, as a person with giant man-sized feet I have few outlets for reasonably priced seasonal fashion shoes. I don't always want to pay over the odds for a party shoe I know I'll only wear a handful (footful?) of times. 

And as you all know I also have a habit of getting bored, very quickly, with most things. So here are a few of my favourite titbits from Shoe Zone. All available in Size 9!!!!

I have my eye on these as a walking to the office in comfort-type boot. In the last few years boots that have been inspired by the Ugg/Emu trend have been massive, however the soles haven't been upto much. Leading to wet feet and a lean on! This firm soul with grips look like they could over come the leaf mulch on the paths quiet nicely and not shy away from a puddle or two. 

I love a good canvas shoe. However, I don't always want to wear high tops. This will match perfectly with my black jeans and Xmas jumpers/t-shirts I have for the office and other casual events next month. 

These are my go to style for a party shoe. At 5'11" I don't need the extra added height, and when you spend most of the night on the dance floor why not do it in comfort! I would pair this with either a green dress or a spangly bag for the party season. 

Autumn Nail Colours

As the leaves are changing so are the colours of my wardrobe and make up.

First I'm going to look at my nail varnishes.

This one is Wine and Dine from Avon's Gel Finish range.

A dark chianti-kind of colour. 

I have two coats on here and it goes on smoothly. Do make sure that you leave plenty of time for each coat to dry. I have had some smudging issues with this colour in particular for some reason.

As with all the Gel colours I have tried so far from Avon, it lasts well and has a good high shine finish. 

Another favourite is Very Berry, a rich raspberry/plum colour. Another one that I tend to have issues not spreading all over my fingers. That says more about the applicator than the actual product if I'm honest. 

Again it is prudent to leave a good gap between coats for this colour. Something about the plummy colours seem to need that extra layer to make is opaque and get that expensive and luxurious result. 

Now for a slightly brighter shade. Candy Apple. This one reminds me of Hull Fair. Going with Mum to walk around the rides, visiting the coconut shy and getting cinder toffee, toffee apples and the famous Brandy Snaps. Hull Fair is about the Waltzers and the food to my family. 

This is a rather iridescent colour, after the richer opaque colours, but the pop it gives you makes up for that. Wear it with a classic pin up look and you won't go far wrong.

My last favourite from the Avon Gel Finish range is the molten chocolate Mudslide. 

I have issues trying to put into words how much I love this colour. It is looks almost as if I have Galaxy Counters for finger nails. Good enough to eat. Probably not a good idea though. 

From my non Avon collection I have Tanya Burr's Midnight Sparkles. 

I loved the look of this when I ordered it from Superdrug online. It hasn't quite lived up to the promise. 

Again it's a dark plummy purple, more towards the blue side, with a light shimmer of blue, purple and red flecks. When I say light, I mean light. With a name like Midnight Sparkles I expected, well more sparkle. 

If I do away with that, it is a really nice colour. I've not had any issue with it chipping, it did however fade a little on the tips of my fingers. Probably down to the sheer amount of typing that I do, that and I am not precious about my hands. They go from cold to hot water, cook, clean, tinker about in my car, I don't give my nail varnishes an easy time of it. 

Midnight sparkles is another one that need more than one coat to make the most of it. 

Free For All Friday: 10 Things I Love About October

Hecky thump, and glittery ones at that.

How quick did September run away with us? The Brothers Thing have settled themselves into their new classes and have their new routine almost down.

Thing 1 has decided that he's too grown up for such things as sleep, and Thing 2 is testing his boundaries. The sweet joy that is parenting. Got to love it.

Today I'm listing my favourite things about October:

1. Christmas Cake making: My family's tradition is to make our Christmas cake during the week that Hull Fair is on. Then we feed it with enough alcohol to sink a small battleship. My liquor of choice for this is Cherry Brandy.

2. Darker evenings: There is definitely something about darker nights that I prefer. Even if I'm in the office until late. It is almost as if I don't think I'm missing out on life by snuggling under a blanket or sitting in front of a monitor.

3. My allergies start to subside: I'm one of those lucky people whose allergies start in February and pretty much go straight through until November. Damp and mould spore they get everywhere. However those few months when the trees don't have leaves, the ground is wet enough for the debris to not get warm and musty and set off a wondering sneezing fit.

4. The new series from America start to hit our Blighty shores: I'm extra excited about the return of Agents of SHIELD, Sleepy Hallow, American Horror Story: Freak Show and Arrow. Then there is the launch of Forever, The Flash and Gotham. (Are you seeing a bit of a link here?)

5. The scent of Autumn: The air in October is almost magical. September sparked the change but October consolidates it. Once the coal fires and the log burners get lit the air just warms up with a scent all of it's own.

source

6. Conker hunting: This is one I do with the Brothers Thing, or at least I did last year. Mainly on the school run as their school is surrounded by horse chestnut trees. I'm hoping that we can get down to somewhere this weekend and see what we can find.

7. Baked apples: A simple pleasure. I'm even happy if they're made in the microwave. Core the apple pour in some dried mixed fruit, a blob of butter, a pinch of sugar and cinnamon and bung it in the oven or the microwave. Or even easier fill the apple cavity with jarred mincemeat. Must be served with pouring cream for the full effect though.

source

8. Porridge for breakfast: Oh my glittery goodness. October just screams porridge for me. From the bog standard to the slightly outlandish. I love it all. I do have recipes for Lamington Porridge and Carrot Cake porridge over on BeeBee's Recipes too.

9. Pumpkin Spice Lattes: This is one of my all time favourite drinks from Starbucks. I say Starbucks rather than stay brand neutral as I've never had this at any other store. I love this drink so much I even make my own from scratch. (this is my recipe for when I'm at home http://beebeesrecipes.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/spiced-pumpkin-latte.html)

10. Cinnamon: October just screams of cinnamon. On my porridge, in my coffee, even some of my favourite candles are cinnamon scented. I just love the stuff. It is also good for circulation (mine is very poor) and for warding off coughs and colds - and I need all the help I can get with that one.

What are your favourite things about October?

Free For All Friday: September

Things I love about September.

Let me list the ways...

I'll keep it short, I will try and keep it brief.

There is something rather exciting about September.

1. The change in seasons. There is something about watching the season slowly change from Summer to Autumn.

2. The shops fill up with cosy looking clothes, new books and stationery.
I have a feeling this is all leftover from the new school year buzz I used to get.
There is something about perusing a shop's back to school section, and not for the kids.

3. Having a huge mug of something creamy when the weather is dingy outside.

4. Cuddling up during the darker nights and being able to read a good book.

5. Baking puddings that need a sauce.

6. Making soups to warm you to the bones in the office or on a rainy weekend.

7. Jumpers!!!

8. Putting the thick duvet back on my bed.

9. I start to get my craft on. Thinking about the 'C' word.

10. It's my birthday!!! I think that is more than reason enough.

This is a response blog to Louise @ Sprinkle of Glitter's Hello September post.