November 2020

 Hi everyone,

Another lockdown, another post. Let's be real, I'm not putting on anything other than loungewear at the moment, but does that mean I'm about to say no to some gorgeous FemmeLuxe* pieces? Not a chance. Thank you FemmeLuxe for kindly gifting me these items.

This stunning black satin ruched mini dress would be fantastic for the standard holiday night out. However, I don't think we'll be having those this year. Instead I'll be wearing this on a zoom cocktail call with the girls. The best part though? Atleast I won't have to choose between freezing in style or wearing a coat and covering this dress. I can just sit in front of the heater.

Next up is this green cropped ribbed co-ord set. Not gunna lie, this is so comfy, and perfect for lounging around the flat in. Green also happens to be my favourite colour, FemmeLuxe do do this in multiple colours though, perfect for anyone's taste.

Here we have this amazing Blue mesh midaxi dress. The pattern on this dress is stunning and I love the high collar. As this is a mesh dress, it is see through, in this photo i've worn the black co-ord set below for a bit of modesty. I would love this as a top.

And finally is this black ribbed zip set. I will be wearing this to work when I'm back in the office next week. Obviously I'll be wearing a top underneath the zip top, can't be having an accidental nipslips in front of my managers. The skirt is lined, which thankfully means no visible undies. The top has a double ended zip, so it does zip so the bottom and the top, and you can put either up or down depending on the look youre going for.

I'm back in work next week, and it'll be good to actually interact (socially distanced of course) with real life people again (other than the colleagues at my local supermarket).

Today is Black Friday, so there's loads of deals out there for y'all to take advantage of. Will I be sale shopping this weekend? Probably not (I'm currently saving for a house so if I don't need it I ain't buying it), but I hope you get some goodies!

See you all around,

Rubi xxx

June 2020

 Hi guys,

We're half way through 2020 and wow, what a six months it has been. So far this year I have got my Masters results, started a new career, and the world's gone to shit.

Let's have 10 minutes of frivolousness before we have to get back to the real world.

FemmeLuxeFinery have kindly gifted me some new clothes to review, so let's jump in.

First I received this  Grey Knitted Loungewear Set*.

It's extremely comfortable, although it is actually a bit to warm for the moment, even with the weather getting cooler again (it's currently thundering outside). I'll definitely be packing the bottoms of this set away ready for Autumn.

Now that I'm back at work I have worn the top a few times, it's great to just throw on over an outfit when I'm sat in the office with the AC blasting.

Next up is this Black Mesh Crop Top*. I think this is so cute, we might not be able to go on nights out at the moment but when we are, I am ready!

I go to and fro with puffy sleeves, sometimes I hate them and think they're too much, but I quite like these ones. This is the kind of top I wanted to be able to wear when I went through my emo/goth/all the alternative phases when I was younger; I'm glad I have it in my life now.

I paired the top with these Black Cargo Slim Fit Trousers*. As someone who is 5'8" these are a little more cropped on me than on the model on the website, but with a pair of black boots they are fire. 

I'll probably end up wearing these to work more often than not. I've already worn them there once, with a plain black shirt, the top from the grey knit set above, and black boots. The pockets are great because I can actually put stuff in them.

Finally is this Wine Loungewear set*. Like the grey set it can get a little warm with the weather, but it'll be perfect for those cooler nights, when the thunderstorm hits (like tonight).

I hope you're all doing well, or at least as best you can in the current circumstances!

Rubi xxx

Goodbye 2019

Happy New Year! I hope you all had an amazing night! I spent most of it stuffing my face on my friends couch, and playing games.

top 9 from instagram

2019 was a funny old year.

It was the year that I moved out and started living on my own. Thankfully I've always been a saver, and budgeting is something I'm good at (I love watching budget videos on youtube), so I've not fallen down the debt rabbit whole (student loans don't count).

I also completed my Masters in 2019. I submitted my dissertation in November, so I don't have my final grade yet, but this summer I'll hopefully be graduating with an MSc! My final grade will be released in January and I cannot wait.

A new job is also on the horizons, which I am very excited about. i haven't had a start date yet, but hopefully it'll be in the next few weeks. I can't wait to see what else 2020 has in store for me.

 2009-2019: more makeup, more wrinkles

If I did a whole round-up for the decade we'd be here until 2021, but it was full of the good, the bad, and the ugly. I started 2010 as a fresh adult at 18 years old, and ended it as a seasoned pro. Politicians lie, council tax is expensive, and there's nothing like stroking a dog.

I hope you all had a great new day/year/decade! Here's to the next 10 years!

Rubi x

Get Your Dancing Shoes On

It's that time of year again, christmas party time. Which also means it's time to get a big glam, and get those party dresses out. Today I've got a few more looks from Femmeluxe.

 I love the colour of this bardot style midi dress*, it's a stunning emerald green (the last photo is most true to life). I love the silhouette this dress gives me, I'm not very curvy but this dress makes it look like I do. The only issue I have with it is that it was difficult for it to stay up, so I paired it with this silver glitzy crop top*. Not only does it help with a bit of modesty, but it keeps you a bit warmer on these cold nights (and days). I live right by a canal and it was frozen the other morning, I'm not made for this weather. I felt sorry for the swans, to be honest.
You can't really see in the photos, but the top has an open back and ties at the bottom, you can just about see the bow I tied at the front.
FemmeLuxe did have a dress that was made with a similar material to the top which I almost got, but I knew no matter how much I wanted a pretty glitter dress I'd get more use from the top. Also, it was one of those mini dress that would barely cover my backside because of my height.

This faux leather bodycon mini dress* is stunning, they also have it in a wine colour but black is classic. Again, to keep a bit warmer I've worn the silver top* underneath, but I was thinking it would look nice with a nice white blouse under it. Maybe a little too Maggie Gyllenhaal in Secretary for some people though.
When wearing this outfit out I do stick a pair of leggings on too at this time of year. I feel like I should have probably cropped my router out of that photo, too late now though.

Finally I put this split jumper* over the mini dress*. This look is a lot more casual, which, I find, makes it a lot easier to wear. Also, I do enjoy being warm over fashionable. I've been wearing this jumper none stop since I got it, over skirts, jeans, and dresses. It's also better quality that it looked in the website photos. The only thing is, when I put my massive coat on over it I do have to untie the knot otherwise I can't zip up my coat over it.

Are you going to any fun Christmas parties this year? I'll be out next weekend and I cannot wait.
Caio!

The items in this post have been gifted by FemmeLuxe

The most wonderful time

Christmas is my most favourite time of year. I love the decorations, the markets, and of course the actual day itself. Now that I have my own place I can finally decorate how I want (within reason, the Christmas budget only stretches so far), and when I want (meaning the beginning of November).

My decorations are a mix of old and new. I think I've spent around £20 of decorations this year, but I'm hoping they'll last for a while.

These Father Christmas nesting dolls have been with me since I was a child. I'm not sure if they belonged to my mum or grandma first, but I've loved them forever. Sadly one is missing, and as you can see one is a bit worn. I've learned not to keep these in direct sunlight I'm just glad only the one got damaged.

 I love rabbits; this bunny mug was a git last Christmas from my best friend. The fake flowers I bought in April (I think from the Range), and the acorn sprig (is that the right word?) was from Wilkos.

More bunnies! This as also form Wilkos, they have 3 for 2 on a variety of Xmas decs and I just fell in love with this one. They've got some really cute bits in this year, including a pair of otters that I bought for a friend, which I can't seem to find on their website.
The "let it snow" sign behind was something I bought years ago in poundworld.

 A lot of my decs don't really match, but I still love them all, either aesthetically or because they were gifts, so they all have a place.  I love snow-globes, almost as much as Sylars mum did, so I always have to try and resist them. This one was from Poundworld a few years ago, and I'm surprised nothings happened to it yet. The Starbucks cup & the Paperchase panda were both gifts from my best friend.

 I decided this year that I only need a small tree, maybe in a couple of years I'll get something bigger, but at the moment this little three footer from Asda will do. I also bought a set of baubles from Asda. You can see the tree a little better in my last post, although I have added some foliage from Wilkos since that post to fill it out a little. Because it's a mini tree I decided to use mini candy canes from Home Bargains, I love putting a candy cane in my brew to feel all Christmassy.

And there's my angel. This belonged to my Grandma, it was handmade by her godsons ex-wife and it has always been my favourite Chrismas decoration from my Grandparents house. It's a bit discoloured now, after being around for over 30 years, but it will always have pride of place in my home. The wreath was from B&M, I am a little worried that it might fall apart whenever i decide to move, but it's so pretty. I have it up in my living room, rather than on the door, so it'll hopefully be less likely to fall to pieces.

Have you decorated for Christmas? What's your favourite Christmas decoration?

Love

Rubi xxx

Hello... again

So, it's been a while. This past couple of years has just been hectic, 2019 most of all. At the end of next month I'll write a year in review post to catch you up on all the goings on, but for now some things are still in progress so I'm keeping shtum (schtum? who cares).

Anyway, I was contacted by the guys at Femme Luxe asking if I wanted to review some of their clothes, and I thought why not (weirdly enough I was in Manchester this week and went past a billboard ad for the company, it felt like a sign!). It can help get me back into the swing of things (I'd actually forgotten how much time it takes to take outfit photos, shoutout to my tripod). I chose 4 items and they're not too shabby.

grey jumper* - leggings - black jumper*

First I chose the black jumper dress* on the right. I love jumper dresses, they've been my go to in the colder months for about 15 years. Once I saw it was in multiple colours I had to get a grey one* as well. These jumper aren't particularly thick, but they're great for layering, and so comfy. The only odd thing about them is that on the website they're called "bodycon", but I wouldn't say these are tight enough to go by that name, and when I hold them up they seem to just drop down straight rather than cinch in at the waist.  Maybe on someone more curvaceous they would have that bodycon effect. I still like them, but it is something to keep in mind. They're also very short, at 5'8" I wouldn't be able to leave the flat with bare legs because you would see my derrière.

jumper* - trousers* - scarf (no link, £4 from Primark)

same jumper again* - dress*

The next item I picked out was these black trousers*. Now I will be honest, these trousers will show every lump and bump you have, so if that's not something you're comfortable with you might want to avoid them. They are really comfy though, and they go well with the previous jumper dress.

The final item I chose was the Taylor dress in black*, this dress is available in a variety of colours, but black's classic (it's hard to go wrong with a nice LBD). It's ruched, and quite tight, so I could either wear it as a midi dress, like it's intended, or hike it up and have it mini (much better for dancing tbh). Again, I've worn the jumper over it in the first image; This would actually be an ok dress to wear to work (depending on your dress code) if you were going out afterwards, you just need a jumper or something over the top and the skirt will just look like a pencil skirt. Femme Luxe have loads of gorgeous dresses, and it was difficult to choose just one dress, but I thought a nice mix of items would be better than 4 of the same thing (couldn't resist with the jumpers though). 

Similar to a lot of fast-fashion online retailer the quality of Femme Luxe products can be hit and miss. With the trousers they are quite a thin material, so depending on the light they might be see through.  However with this dress I was pleasantly surprised that it is double layered,  so while it might not keep you warm in the winter months but it does leave enough to the imagination.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go finish decorating for Christmas. It's actually my first Christmas living on my own, and i'm so tempted to go ham with decorations, but I'm going to restrain myself. Mostly because my bank balance won't allow me to go too overboard.

How are all you doing?  Enjoying the brisk winds of autumn? (honestly thought I was going to get blown away the other day).

Rubi xx

2019 Update

Hi guys!

Long time no blog, I'm currently in the process of updating my blog, so expect new posts soon!

Ciao for now

xoxo