Saturday, April 28, 2012

Brighten up your day: Pinata cookies


Where do you buys these? How do you make them? I want some of these pinata cookies, there just the cutest desert I have ever seen! They've made my day and I hope they brighten up yours too!

P.s: Image not property of thriftylilpixie. Image source: uberhumor.com.

xox
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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Bisous



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Monday, April 23, 2012

Love For Pink

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There's nothing more ridiculously girly than splashes of bright pink decorating your space or filling your wardrobe. I am prone to collecting anything bright pink, cute, Hello Kitty or pig related. Here's a few pink, tacky and ultra girly trinkets that decorate my space. It always brightens up my day to be surrounded by bright colourful things. Embrace the girlyness! How do you decorate your space?

-My favourite Hello Kitty mug and a random assortment of pink books-a cherry blossom painting I did a while ago-my heart themed stationary set I got as a lovely gift (you can get them at Tesco for anyone who'd like one-my dresser stuffed with pink-a cupcake piggy bank :)-fairy and dream catcher presents-yes that is a pig hat! I received it as a Christmas present and I keep it hanging on a microphone stand-piggy trinkets!

Hope everyone is having a nice start to the week despite the bleak weather, I have never seen so much hailstones in my life. Wrap up warm with cosy knits and blankets!

xox
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Friday, April 13, 2012

I Heart Handmedowns



Just a few days until my final thesis is done, scary! I thought I'd take a quick break to do a blogpost, and having recieved two lovely handmedowns this week I have to share them. Some people can be a bit funny about recieving handmedowns, but I think they're a brilliant way of recycling and recieving something new for free. If you have something good quality that you're tired of why not pass it along to someone who'll get a new enjoyment from them. It's just good clothes karma! My wardrobe is mainly made up of a mix of handmade, River Island, thrifted, Primark and handmedown pieces.




These newest additions include a pair of New Look wedges that are in very good shape but no longer fitted the owner after having a baby and a cute little leopard print purse (Primark). Both perfect for the summer with a floral dress or shorts and a simple tee. Lastly I've worn this mint dress (River Island) on the blog before and after borrowing it more than a few times, my mum gave it to me for good. Pretty things for free, makes my weekend!



Outfit details: Cardigan (Avoca), dress (River Island), boots (River Island)

Hope everyone had a nice weekend, I've been visting me cousins new pet miniature pig, Timmy, I am insanely jealous, someday I'll get one of my own!

P.s. Images property of thriftylilpixie

xox
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Sunday, April 8, 2012

Handmade Heaven



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Saturday, April 7, 2012

Dublin Zoo

Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend! I thought I'd share a few pics of what I've been getting up to in the past week since my last post. Apart from working away at my thesis i.e. my final college assignment, I've squeezed in some baking with friends, a day out in Dublin zoo and Phoenix park, watching the whole of series one of Games of Thrones and of course the first episode of the second series (I am addicted thanks to my boyfriend!) and spending time with my family for the long Easter weekend.










Visiting the zoo is one of my favourite things to do when the summer months arrive (bring your student card if you have one Dublin zoo is €15 for adults and €13.50 for students). My favourites are the penguins and the meerkats (I love the compare the meerkat insurance add SIMPLES!). They're opening a new area for lions this summer so I will be back!





Baking brownies with friends so delicious scoffed the lot with some mint icecream, relaxing with my current favourite reads: Glamour mag and A Game of Thrones, is anyone else reading these books, what do you think of the series? My little chocolate Easter bunny from my boyfriend, I can't bring myself to eat him he's just too cute, I've got some other chocolate eggs so he's safe for now anyway :)



My go to outfit at the moment: the ever reliable duffel coat (Dorothy Perkins), floral dress (Primark), fringed boots (River Island) and my new favourite bag. This FCUK bag was a gift I received for my birthday it came as part of a bath and shower set and was crammed full of moisturiser, shower gel, exfoliater and body spray. It's the perfect size for carrying everything I need and I love it's quilted texture.

Happy Easter everyone :)

P.s. All images property of thriftylilpixie
xox
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Sunday, April 1, 2012

How to be a thrifty college student


On a college subsidised holiday to Lanzarote last year, visiting a cactus garden

Coming to the end of a four year college degree I know how expensive college can be; fees, books, rent, food, clothes, travel, socialising etc. etc. College can eat up every cent you have, but there are many small everyday ways to save money that I have learnt from experience.

Education expenses

-First and foremost, study and attend lectures, if college is expensive that's nothing compared to how expensive it will be if you have to repeat the year.
-Buy used textbooks when you can and resell them when your finished with them, take full advantage of your library and try google books to see if you can read some for free. Amazon.co.uk is great for finding secondhand textbooks.
-Take advantage of whatever amenities your college of choice is offering free of charge such as the gym, swimming pool, medical centre, wifi or tennis courts. It's not often in life you get things for free so make the most of this while you can.
-Be aware of any grants, scholarships and awards that might help you with the financial burden.
-Keep a spending diary. This is useful for all aspects of your college life because you can pinpoint exactly where you money is going and where you can cut back.

Food:
-Make a shopping list before you start spending. Food can be expensive, breakfast, lunch, dinner, deserts, snacks it can really add up over time so you need to plan your meals and shopping carefully.
-Get club cards, reward points for shopping means that you can get money off vouchers when your spending adds up. Collecting coupons can also cut prices.
-Look for the reduced section. These chops are going out of date tomorrow so they've slashed the price, that's not a problem for you if you eat if for dinner today.
-Reduce meat in your meals. Meat usually makes up the majority of the price of your meal so have a meat free day. Vegetarian pasta bake is an incredibly cheap meal and is very filling and healthy.
-Freeze leftovers. So you've made said pasta bake, or Shepard's pie/soup/pasta sauce and there's some leftover. Keep icecream tubs and takeaway containers to freeze leftovers for dinner for another day.
-Grow your own. You don't need a garden or a large place to grow food, all you need is a window sill. I have grown lettuce, basil, parsley and peppers in plastic pots on a plate in my windowsill in college. It's rewarding, tastes great and means you don't have to buy expensive herbs or lettuce that will wilt in your fridge. Just remember to water them!
-Pack your own lunch. If you find it hard to have time in the mornings, you could make it the night before and leave it in your fridge.
-If your living with a group of people, shopping and cooking meals together can often prove much cheaper.

Clothes:
-Fortunately unlike school and many work places, in college you probably don't have any dress code so you can have fun with what you wear and are limited by where you shop.
-Shop in charity shops. These are full of hidden gems, don't be put off by sizing, super long lengths or a detail you don't like, these can be easily changed with a scissors and some basic sewing skills. Charity shops are also excellent places to buy cheap books, DVDs and CDs.
-Accept all hand me downs. A little customisation can do wonders so never turn your nose up at hand-me-downs. Even if it's the most out of shape top, if it has a nice pattern it can become a cute pillow cover.
-Experiment with layering. If you have a few basic go to pieces in your wardrobe like a nice tee, leggings, jeans and cardigan, adding colourful interesting layers and accessories from charity shops can give them a new lease of life.

Activities:

-Join clubs and societies. Make friends and enjoy the events they organise like free lectures, parties, quizzes and even subsidised holidays. Being an active member of college clubs is also great for your CV.
-Your student card can get you great discounts for the cinema, shopping and travel. If your travelling abroad they can also come in handy, for instance in Paris many galleries and sights give reduced or free admission to students.
-Want to catch up with family and friends far away forget about long expensive phone calls, skype them instead, you actually get to see them too!

Your Space:
-In college, your space can be small, cramped or dated looking but there's still alot you can do with them to give them a personal feel.
-Start with the walls. Posters, photos and paintings are a cheap, cheerful way to brighten up your room.
-Next lighting. Candles and fairy lights are not expensive and work wonders. Scented candles also make many a grotty college house smell homely.
-Add bright cushions, quilt covers and blankets. Primark does very affordable bright home accessories and you can add some pieces from charity shops like pretty china.
-A few plants really make a place look fresh and summery. Just take some clean bean or soup tins, cover them in fabric or wallpaper and pop a pretty flower plant inside.
-Renting with a group of friends is a good way to save money, remember to pay all bills on time and reduce costs by turning of lights, heating and keeping showers short.
-Heating your place is ridiculously expensive so do yourself a favour and buy a hot water bottle to keep yourself warm at night and cut back on heating.

Making Money:
-Get a part time job. If there's part time work in local hotels, pubs, shops available, why not work at the weekends to subsides your college expenses.
-Give grinds. If there's an area you excel in why not help others for a small charge. If you a maths genius or a skilled musician this could make you some money.
-Set up a savings account. Save a small amount every week and this will add up over time and you'll have some money when you really need it. I personally am a big fan of piggy banks for dropping your change or tips from work into when you come home.

College is an amazing experience but it's important to try and avoiding gathering unnecessary debt while there. Let me know any off your tips for saving money in college I'd love to hear them.

P.s. Images property of thriftylilpixie. Follow thriftylilpixie on Blogspot and Bloglovin.
xox
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