Costco Haul

Hello lovelies, 

I am back again this time with a mini little haul which has a bargain side to it! Last weekend I ventured to Costco with the old parents as they have a membership card! I wasn't overly excited about the place until I found the cake section which I was basically just in heaven. Being on Slimming World at the moment meant that I was only able to look and not buy but hey it was all very delicious looking and I really did  have to peel myself away from the Red Velvet cupcakes which were more like a whole family sized cake each they were no where near any cup size I had seen!! 

Anyway I digress, at this point the only thing I have put in the (giant american sized) trolley were a pair of capri work out leggings which were a fab but at around £14. However it all changed when I discovered the health and beauty section!!! The prices I am quoting are without VAT so basically add 20% to the amount and that is what I actually paid.... still all bargains in my eyes!!

 I have used this toothpaste for years now I think form when it launched to be honest and I love it. It does make your teeth whiter and its not too minty which is good because I have never liked mint very much. These are normally around £3.50 each in Boots/Superdrug/Supermarket where ever you shop. Sometimes you can get them on offer which is when I tend to stock up but I think I am pretty set now! This pack of 4 cost me..... £6.38 I think it was. There was extra discount on them so they were super cheap which is fab!!

I have used Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream for as long as I can remember I suffer with very bad Eczema and this can help me take the edge of it when I sleep as I can cover the areas that need moisture with it and just let it sink in. My skin is so dry I can actually use this under my make up in the morning.... yeah tell me about it!! Crappy skin huh!! So it was my mum that found this and I luckily had phone reception in Costco so I was able to google prices of things to check them and the 50ml of 8 Hour is £25 online and this set was £24 for the two!!!! 

This is the lotion I have started using after I  have Phototherapy at the Hospital (for my eczema and acne) the basically have a selection of moisturisers for you to help yourself to after the treatment as it can be very drying. This is the only one not available on the NHS but it is available in Boots stores at £8.99 FOR 236ml and I don't think I have seen them in any of my local boots. These are 591ml and for the two it cost me around £12 if I remember correctly. They also had the cleanser which I would be interested to try and this lotion is very light but does a great job at moisturising. My skin as been alot happier since I got it. 

This was a two pack which I split with my mum as I was in need of a new mascara and thought I would share the pack with her the two pack was around £14 which is reasonable for a high end mascara. I haven't started using it yet but I like trying new mascaras so fingers crossed I like it! 

Overall I really enjoyed our little Costco trip I did have to resist buying the 64oz jar of Jelly Belly beans though...That was really tough :( 

Have you been to a Costco? Find any bargains?? 

xoxo

Sewing Social

Hello lovely people who read my blog (if that is in fact anyone because I do assume I am talking to thin air) 

It has been a while since we last spoke, mainly because my blog hasn't found it's feet yet. I never really know what to blog about and what anyone would want to read. Anyway I'm gonna keep trying and moving forward... 

I recently took part in #sewingsocial on Twitter and LOVED IT basically its a twitter conversation where you chat about the subject of choice and answer questions whilst engaging with other like minded by people using the hastag. This was hosted by Tilly from The great sewing bee and It was brilliant. This was the first one of these I had done and it was so much fun that the hour flew by. I asked the crowd if anyone had any sewing blogs to send me their links and OMG did I get some fab blogs. I think I must have been sent about 12 blogs and I made sure to favourite each one so I could go back and read them all later, which I did. It was so nice to see lovely little blogs where people were just showing you things they had made and that they were proud of doing so. With a throw away culture nowadays its sad to see the obsession with "hauls" on YT and blogs all the time because everyone wants new things. Why not upcycle and recycle something you already have!! Or swap barter and hunt in charity shops for something you can make your own. So stemming from this I am now obsessed with Sewing/upcycle/craft blogs! And I think this may have a big impact on where my blog goes from now on.

So following of from that sewing social I discovered HUNDREDS of free patterns and tutorials online for sewing things. I decided to start simple and try making some bits and bobs. This was also fuelled by the fact we got a new sewing machine Bernina 1008 and boy is she a beauty!! So let me show you what little things I have created this month!  

So the first thing I made on Bernie (most original name for a Bernina ever!!) was this make up bag for a friends birthday present. It is made in a Macaroon 100% cotton fabric which was £4.95/mtr from Fabric Land. Its a very lovely fabric I love the pattern and I am obsessed with thicker cotton fabrics which this is. 

 

I hope you like the "view" from my window luckily mother is very green fingered so we have a gorgeous little garden! 

Oh and she loved the bag just in case you wondered :)

The second bag I just made for the sake of it. Not a clue what to do with it yet or whom to give it to but hey it was fun. It is the same method as the first bag you just don't pinch in the corners to make it boxy. Very simple indeed and there are loads of tutorials on how to make these style bags. 

This fabric was from C&H Fabrics and was £9.99/mtr and once again is a 100% heavier cotton. They also do this in a cream version which I spotted today, so I am holding off until their 25% off sales they do a few times a year. 

I also lined both of the bags with Calico which is in a cream colour and has light grey flecks in it. This is a very study fabric and means that you can use light weigh cottons for the outer fabric and bulk them out with this as a lining. I personally love it. You could use an oilcoth fabric on the inside to ensure the bag is protected from spills and mishaps but I haven't picked any up yet. 

The most time consuming part of making these two lovely bags was hand sewing in the lining. I chose a ladder stitch to do this and it makes the hand sewing undetectable by eye which I love. I personally prefer to hand sew the lining in as it means you can position it perfectly and it really finishes off the piece. There are tutorials how to sew the lining in by machine but I find the seams get rather bulky! But this is personal choice really and depends if you've got the time to sit there and stitch away by hand.

What do you think of my sewing efforts so far?! and what have you been making??

xoxo