Eyes, eyes baby

While on the Tradera shopping spree for the underwear below, I also found my finger trigger-happy, ouside of my control, getting some totally unnecessary but a so sweet for the soul makeup and scent items.


2 Dior Eyeshadows, and a Gucci Envy Perfume in bag size. Never opened, pure perfume (not Eau de Parfum). After it arrived (yesterday) I also noticed that the bottle itself is delicious, and comes delivered with a small suede bag to not scratch the shiny surface while it lodges in my handbag.
Glorious =)
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technorati tags: gucci, envy, dior, eyeshadow, shopping

Online shop-o-holic

Hey there folks.

I'm sorry, I still am shopping (too much, again) - but I keep forgetting to update this blog. Let's make a serious attempt to get it going again, shall we?

The past few days I have been unusually active at Tradera (the Swedish eBay) where you can spend money MUCH too easily, at things you don't really need...

But then, what girl can have too much lingerie? On this shopping-spree I've spread myself from beautiful classic to... well... naughty.

Or what do you think about this? (Don't keep reading if you're not 18 ;))

[Classic satin/brocade white corset. Matching panties included. Hook&eye closure along the side and adjustable with straps in the back.]

[Red/pink modern corset, with matching panties. Modern (and a bit boring) hook&eye closure in the back.]

[White&blue brocade corset with matching painties. Hook&eye closure along the front, adjustable by straps in the back.]

[2 piece. No explanation necessary... Not my typical buy but heh, I'm sure MrX will appreciate this...]

I'm a BIG fan of beautiful underwear and curious about your thoughts on the matter.
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technorati tags: sexy, underwear, lingerie, corset, shopping, online

Power shopping

Today I left work for my lunch break and had only one plan in mind - to exchange the battery on my watch which died during the weekend. It's a gorgeous thing. Actually a male mdel (see pic) but I'm woman enough to carry it off. The infamous MrX gave it to me, for Xmas, when we were still a couple.

Anyway, back to the shopping. On my way from NK where I got the battery changed, I unfortunately passed by several shops. One of them a large H&M, where I very rarely set my foot (being a brand-nerd and all). Still, when I stuck my nose in there were several items screaming my name - and I left the shop with a heavy bag and not THAT much of a lighter wallet. Got to love H&M's pricing!

It's all a matter of mix&match to me. Just like your entire home can, or should, not be furnished at IKEA, but a few pieces are just fine - H&M clothing can be worn as long as you're not going "full outfit".

In my bag I now have 2 dresses. 1 white daytime dress, long enough to be worn to work, one black lace evening dress, short enough to be considered a long top. Pictures will follow*. Also from H&M - 2 blouses that I didn't even try on - very womanly and body shaped and with hooks instead of buttons. A blessing if you, like me, are a woman with curves.

Is that not annoying, the way all shirts with buttons seem to either open up an ugly hole between the two buttons covering the bust - or hang like a tent hiding the waist. Ugh!

Walking to the deli where I was going to pick up the sallad that keeps my waist nice and thin I passed by a cosmetics shop, and of course had to stop by. I left the shop with a bottle of Trind Nail Repair - a product I only discovered recently but that has made all the difference to my hands. No longer do I have to go to the beauty parlor and spend zillions on adding acrylic to my poor nails to make them grow past my fingertips, Trind keeps them strong and un-flaky in their natural form. Almost magical, this thing!

Finally, I was ready for my food. But no... Only 100 meters yet to go and my eyes are drawn to a pair of jeans in a window that are JUST what I have been looking for, for ages. Italian, of course. And yes, they had them in my size - and yes, they fit beautifully. So I got them, of course**.

Now my AmEx is smoking and my arms are weary from hauling bags, but all in all I think I got a good load of shopping in on 45 minutes :)

{Disclaimer: This blog is not and have never been sponsored. I am not getting any return for recommending products, I recommend them only because they are good.}
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Nuts and bolts:
* I was unable to find any good pictures of the clothes on the web, so I'll use my new camera and share later :)
** See comment above.
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technorati tags: shopping, jeans, dresses, H&M, D-stag, Trind, Armani

Finally!

I've been putting it off forever, but I finally got around to buying a new (well, used, but almost new) camera. I used to have the G1-model (Canon PowerShot) and used it until it fell to pieces - so when I found an ad for a very resonably priced G5 I couldn't help myself - I bought it on the spot.


Well, almost, I haggled first - of course. So now I believe I may be updating this page more frequently, as what has stopped me on many occations before was my inability to get good pictures of my purchase.

SEK 2.000 - it's a steal!

And, anyone wanting a digital camera that can't help but take great pictures... really, the G-series is the way to go. Canon has outdone themselves with this one....
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technorati tags: canon, camera, shopping

And as a contrast...

Something that I will probably find a great deal more use for than the little Versace clutch below.
I ran into a nice little boutique with a 50% sale-sign in the window - a sure attraction for MsTake.

That's where I found this lovely shirt, see below. Although it looks normal and boring, it is not. Unlike every other shirt I have tried on in the last year it is actually shaped around my body without stretching over my boobs in the most unsightly fashion.

I am blesed with having both a waist and a chest, and finding something business-like which doesn't either force me to bandage them down like the flappers did in the 20's OR hang like a tent around my middle section is really a chore, so I was thrilled to find this shirt.

Also, I think the branded cuff links are a nice touch, no? =)
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technorati tags: esprit, shirt, business, shopping

Things a girl needs

So, today I went shopping for a purse. A classic purse, a functional purse. My old one is beginning to get annoying as a zipper has broken. The criteria for my new purse was as follows:

1. Black
2. Shoulder strap
3. Large enough for wallet/keys/phone but not so big I lose stuff in it (like with my current one where the only way to get to the phone in time when it rings is to find a convenient table and tip the bag upside down at the sound of the first ring)

This is what I came home with:

Well, it's not black, has chain-straps that just barely can get past my wrist and will fit my phone and my keys, but not my wallet. Two thirds out of three?

[Yes, the keys WILL fit, dangit!]

However, you HAVE to agree, it get's 10/10 for looks? =)
(AND - I doubt I'll lose my phone in it *grin*)

So what say ye?
Good buy - or bad?
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technorati tags: versace, purse, shopping,

clothes clothes clothes

You know, the annoying thing is that my camera software has been acting up on my computer of late - so all the gorgeous clothes I bought in London (yes, I did go wild) and the stuff I've bought since in Sweden (did a raid at Esprit on Monday, and today at Zara) goes undocumented.

It's just no fun to post without pictures...

Suffice to say. I bought clothes, lately. Ranging from sensible if fashionable and kind of hot tops to bge used mainly at work (Zara) to sparkly, glittery denim hotpants (London, what did YOU think??) and all the way inbetween with a mini-skirt, sparkly tops, wide and high wasted but very cool shorts, a super cool skirt wich hugs the butt and then flares, but only in the back.

Ah, I HAVE to get this camera working!!!!
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technorati tags: irritation, shopping, clothes, fashion, hotpants

cloaking it

In preparation for the fancy dress party I was going to last weekend, themed "The Beautiful and the Damned" I found the perfect cloak.
Unfortunately I didn't actually get to wear it, as I ended up staying home with my killer flu - so now I have to figure out some other brilliant time for this fabulous garment!

Super Sale

Today was one of those perfect sales, the kind you don't even know about. I was going to Hemtex (a Swedish interior decorating store with emphasis on textiles) to get a few small things and when I arrived the store had a 40% off everything sell-out!

Happy Happy, Joy Joy; to paraphrase Ren and Stimpy!

I ended up buying a bunch of stuff I didn't even know I needed, cool tablecloths, a couple of matching (black and red) vases, the thin kind you can only stick a single rose in, some cool looking saucers and plates to make the table with, matching my new vases and tablecloths (and my new furniture).

I'll make everything look nice and cool at home and then take a picture.
899 crowns later and a happy MsTake.

I love shopping for my house, I love my house.
Hell, it's spring, and tomorrow I'm going to London - I love everything and everyone!
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technorati tags: home, sale, shopping, vase, cool

More clothes

As promised, here's a pic of the J.Lindeberg ensemble. It so summery, so sweet and so a perfect fit for me. Not my usual kind of clothes but I'm sure they will serve me well though this summer.

Then, as I've already mentioned in the Swedish blog, I ended up falling right back into the shop yesterday. I realized I hadn't had time to go through the bargain basement last time. Unlike a few days ago, not everything I brought with me to try actually fit, so luckily I got out of there with less of a dent in my wallet.

Left to right, top to bottom:

• Blue miniskirt - more of the wide belt type, from Zara Woman
• Off-White top with print and strings from Stefanel
• Beige close fitting top from Versace (Jeans Couture)
• Light gold spaghetti string top (don't remember the brand, it just fit really well)
• A gold/bronze meshed scarf

All of the above put me back 460 SEK.

Did I mention I LOVE this place? =))
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technorati tags: J.Lindeberg, Armani, shopping, second-hand

Second Hand

I have a favorite second hand store.
It's love love between me and the store. I love it because it often has absolute bargains for me and the quality of the clothes is new or as good as new, it loves me because I spend such obscene amounts of money there =)

As I wrote about in my Swedish blog, I went shopping after my knee therapy on Tuesday. I was only panning to browse while waiting for my friend to show up, but that was not to be. I walked out of the shop just over 1500 Swedish crowns poorer (200 dollars, 100 pounds) but with a bag full of bargains, just look:

This is, from right to left,

1. Pinstriped suit pants from Zara Woman
2. Black suit pants from Gucci
3. Black suit/schoolgirl skirt vith white and red stripes (can't remember the brand)
4. Brown high sandals (4') with gold trimmings (can't remember the brand)
5. Black "flapper"-type dress, Italian brand that the store imports directly (so it's new)

Not pictured (because the photo turned out so badly) is a set consisting of skirt and halterneck top from J.Lindeberg, which suits me so well they could as well have been spray painted on my body. In light denim this is a GREAT summer outfit with a lot of frills =) I'll try to take another picture this afternoon.

Also not pictured - A pair of Gucci sunglasses. Out of style, it's the large café glasses with almost clear lenses. Not this seasons look, but certainly *my* look.

Aaaah, the shoes. they deserve a second picture, so gorgeous. SO ME!
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technorati tags: fashion, second-hand, J.Lindeberg, Zara, Gucci

Yeah yeah, catching up

Hmm , let's see.

Since I last wrote I've bought:
Assorted books, including the "Atkins for life" book that I pictured below. Also an almanac and the last book of the Valhalla series, "Saga of Valhalla" by Johanne Hildebrand. I don't know if it's been translated, but it's an EXCELLENT series.

I bought 2 plane tickets, one to Stockholm for last weekend and one to Iceland for this summer.

Some gorgeous make-up from Noeba. Some for me and some not for me.
A wonderful double-bubble as a birthday gift for a very special lady, and a single bubble of sparkling gold along with a golden eyeliner for yours truly (that would be ME!)

A gorgeous flowery series from I*Me*My consisting of a necklace, a pair of earrings and a nice big ring. Very nice, very "Pilgrimmy".

I'm sure there's been more, but as catching up goes, this will have to do. Yesterday I had a field-day at my local favourite second hand shop - but I'll cover that in a separate post.
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technorati tags: nouba, make-up, beauty, books

catch-up

It's been quiet a while, sorry!

So, have I stopped shopping?

Eeer, no. In fact, not at all.
What I have done is stopped writing about it. Bad move, then it doesn't prevent me from over spending! I'll do a catch-up post and then be good again, promise.
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technorati tags: shopping, pause

Fit to buy

This post will go from healthy-boring to bling, so bear with me and keep scrolling :)


First purchase of the day, yesterday, was an Atkins cookbook. Not the one above, but I couldn't find a picture of it. I know, I'm on GI, not Atkins - but GI (or LowCarb) is really just a rather lighter version - so I'm sure this will have some good tips for me, and hopefully a recipe or two.

Anyway, it was cheap, on the book sale, 79 :-

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So, I'm home. Still with a knee issue, still not able to do normal exercise.

Instead, I'm on a rehab program - doing exercises that will hopefully bring my knee back to full functionality in no time. So yesterday I went shopping for a balance board, and in TRUE Ms.Take style left the building with my more than that. Or, how about:
Well, the balance board, obviously. From Energetics. Great way to get my knee back in shape, or so the physiotherapist is telling me. Probably pretty good for core training as well. Mine doesn't look exactly like that, but you get the point.

Energetics Balance Board - 200:- I would say that's good value for money?

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In the shop, next to the balance boards, were the yoga mats. I've been thinking of getting one for quite some time. Especially since I'm going to start doing some light pilates at home, next to my rehab exercises. The only reasonable mat was bright pink. Not really my color, but very comfy to the touch.

Casall yoga mat: 200:- I think that's ok, but still a lot of money for a bit of foam...

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This is where I moved from well thought through, pre-planned purchases, to pure joyriding...

On my way to the counter, carrying my balance board and my yoga mat, I passed the "sales"-section. Bad mistake!! On the Casall rack they had a very "bling" workout set that was so incredibly Ms.Take! Dark gray with a sparkle, and seams in gold. Very luxurious materials.

Read more about this set here.

They had the pants and both types of tops (ballet and v-necked hoodie) in my size, and the discount was AMAZING. (see every item)

The pants have a waist that can be worn high or low, or folded down for a super-low feel and a contrasting silver gray lining. Gold stitching on the legs.

Price on the net: £49,95 - I paid 200:- (about£14,50) Bargain? Yes!


The ballet top will look better on me than on the model. Why? Because I have a bosom ;) Straps crossed in the back and gold stitching on all seams.

Price on the net: £39,95 - I paid 100:- (about£7,80) Bargain!

Finally the hoodie. Good for those swollen days when you don't want to expose the waistline too much. Also for moving exercises where the ballet top can... well, be found lacking. Something may escape. Hoodies are cool too.

Price on the net: £49,95 - I paid 200:-

So, all in all this set put me back 500:- I thought it was great value! Maybe not the smartest of moves, getting new training gear just as I'm
1) losing weight and
2) have difficulties training - but it's another case of pre-rewarding.

I'm surely going to be working out much more at home when I can look this stylish :) I liked them even BEFORE I read about that they are a limited edition. Once out of stock, no more will be made, and only very few has been made.

Why they were on the sales rack? Probably because they were so horribly overpriced to begin with =)

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These purchases all following my age-old principle:
"If it's word doing, it's worth OVER-doing!"

Gorgeous set, wasn't it? :)
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technorati tags: fashion, bling-bling, casall, balance, shopping

Heathrow Airport

This is a DANGEROUS place! Even Terminal 3, that I flew from yesterday, has a vast array of absolute must-have's. so I walked out of there with assorted goodies. Let's dive straight into it, shall we?

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The Thierry Mugler "Angel" perfume is a classic, once discovered for me by my then-husband. I haven't used it for years, since I associated it with him - but I was scent-shopping and the Lancome Attraction that I was actually after had been pulled from stock. So instead I got me a bottle of Angel, along with a Deodorant Spray.

My thought's on Angel: A wonderful, WONDERFUL scent. Very rich and full, yet elegant. Definitely too heavy for the younger crew - be 25 or so before you give this a shot. There's a slightly lighter version, labeled "Angel Innocent", if you want a more subtle scent or, indeed, are under 25 :)

A small, 10 ml, but refillable bottle - with 2 x 10 ml refills included. £37.90. Bargain or rip-off?
£18.95 for the deo-spray feels a bit like overkill, now when I think about it =)

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A dear friend of mine has a birthday coming up. I had seen this previously on the net and thought what a great gift it would be for him - but it wasn't until I was standing at the airport and they had it in stock that it was decided.

My thoughts on the champagne travel case: He's an ex-boyfriend but still-friend to me, and I thought this kit could be a great aid to his dating, don't you think? I think it's really stylish, and will keep the bottle safe in his boat.

Veuve Clicquot Travel Case - including a bottle of champagne and 2 glasses, £47 - definitely not a bargain :S

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This was on a bargain-shelf but turned out to not be marked down after all, which didn't prevent me from buying it anyway *lol*. I fell for the Too Faced line a while back, after ordering various make-up from an online store. I bought an eye-shadow from them and was (and still am) AMAZED at how full of pigments and nice it is. So, I ended up ordering a whole line of products from their home page and am very happy with almost all of them.

So, when saw this I thought I'd give the whole idea of lip-plumpers one, final go. It never seems to work for me, no matter how many happy testimonials a products have.

My thoughts on Too Faced Lip Injection: I'll let you know when I tried it, but I have SOME hopes since many of their other products are great.

At £18,50 for the set it's cheap compared to retail, but value for money will depend on effect.

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I never saw myself doing this, being such a brandiac, but I bought a scent from Victoria's Secret. From the "Mood" series. It smells delicious! A little bit like the Angel perfume, but with more... sexyness.

Obviously, a new scent is always something of a lottery, since I don't know what it will smell like after some time on my skin, but I have high hopes for this one.

My thoughts on Victoria's Secret Mood: Lovely, and relatively cheap. I love the old-fashioned pump.

AT £22,90 for 75 ml it was worth taking a chance, at least I thought so.

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The final item(s) of my airport shopping was scented candles, also from Victoria's Secret, with the same smell as the perfume. It really IS a very sexy smell, and I think it may do wonders on my bedside table. If I ever have anyone to bring there, that is :S

Scented candles has been big for quite some time, as a sensuous part of seduction, but the closest I've come to it are cinnamon scented heat candles (you know, the small, round type) from IKEA. Hardly the sophisticated tool of seduction.

My thoughts on the scented candles: I hope I get the chance to use them beftore they run out of smell, but it does tickle my senses. And they smell LOVELY!

This one was a bargain think, with a 2 for 1 offer and a price of £13,90

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And this concludes my Heathrow Shopping experience. Thank god I was only in T3. The huge shopping of T2 would have melted my credit card =)
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technorati tags: shopping, beauty, perfumes, champagne, tax-free

Food for thought

I'm not doing that much shopping right now.

Why? you ask...

Well firstly, having torn a ligament in my knee, walking around town is less fun than before and secondly, I kicked into the GI diet (also known as LowCarb) a couple of days ago so I spend much more than my usual time AND money in the food store, trying to find new ingredients that I am in fact allowed to eat.

I also spend much more time than normal in the kitchen.
YES! In the kitchen. I kid you not!


Above is my new blender, which I DID buy after a Caesar dressing mishap a few days back. Below is a bowl of vegetables that put me back 30 dollars - everything in there is ECO-food (grown traditionally without additives or poisons)


So unfortunately, I really doubt this lull in my "normal" shopping is saving me any money. Quite the contrary, as I seem to be spending around 40-50 dollars/day in the food shop. I mean really!

I was about to say that I'm spending money on no lasting value, but I don't think it would be correct - I'm investing in my health and my body, is what I'm doing. Now, if I can only start moving as well, maybe I'll even lose a few inches =)
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technorati tags: GI, diet, LowCarb, investing, blender, weight

Motivation

With my new book in hand I have today commenced ion the GI-diet. My goal is to lose no less than 5-6 inches around my pretty* but currently a tad over sized behind. What do you know, it was a good idea to buy it after all!

In good old Ms.Take Style I decided to motivate myself in a very tangible manner. So I went and bought some gorgeous underwear today. Since the panties are stretchy, I fit into them now as well, but they will start looking better and better as I shrink. And if they don't, I will reward myself by buying some NEW ones, so there!

[The upper one is a 3/4 cup (support and coverage, but risk of spillage. Spillage stays with in the lace though]
[The lower one is a 1/4-cup (that means support but no coverage;)). Velvet outside, lined with lace. Risqué - n'es pas?]

[I bought 2 pairs of the floral, in different sizes. To shink in :)
The lower pair looks absolutely insanely gorgeous on, and are also low-rise (despite the looks of the pic]

[Top 3 are the fun bunch, including fishnets, thick over-knee (shool-girl style) with buttons and black opaque moulain rouge - type stay-ups with red details]
[The bottom pile is just functional thick tights, to allow me to wear skirts in winter]

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Nuts:
* It really is pretty. I Have a great butt. J-LO, throw your self into the wall, as we say in Swedish =)
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technorati tags: lingerie, underwear, shopping, motivation, GI

GI

So, back in Sweden after my tour of the alps.

What I've bought lately has, sadly enough, mainly consisted of medicine and leg-support, after tearing a ligament in my knee while skiing (DOH!)

Yesterday, other slighly boring things like leggings. Also some cute lacy underwear, as well as champagne for my good friends who took care of my cats. All in all yesterdays shopping came to about SEK 1000, but mainly for a good cause!

Today I must have done the most unnecessary purchase ever!
On my way back to the office after visiting the doctors, I realized that I didn't have any cash in my wallet to pay for my sushi. So, did I go to an ATM, about 100 hobbling meters off, in the wrong direction? Noooooo....

I instead went for the much better option (in my opinion) of going in to the nearest store and buying something, just to be able to withdraw some cash from my visa card. So now I am the proud(?) owner of the book "Våra bästa GI Recept" (the link is in Swedish).

Well, I've had to cancel my gym-card because of my knee... I'd better start changing my diet if I don't want to go elephant style!
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technorati tags: GI, shopping, books, injury, spontaneous

Boring home shopping

So, it's been quiet.

I've spent the whole weekend as well as the beginning of this week in bed, and not for nice reasons. This has, of course, prevented me from doing any shopping, or updating this blog. Although the flu still has not released me from it's ugly grip I'm back at work, and back to the shops.

Hey, what else are lunch-hours for???

Today I've been boring. I tried a lot of nice stuff on, some sales are still ongoing, but only ended up buying boring, home related things.

Coming home with me today are:

• 1 set of leather care for my rather new (2 months) and super sexy leather sofa
• 4 table tablets, red, for my equally rather new and super sexy red and dark wood dining table
• 1 pair of coockingcooking tongs. Is that what they're called?

I didn't buy any of the cool winter boots I tried on (Replay/Diesel/Lacoste), nor the super-nice Roxy gold&white beanie. Partly because I only JUST bought a ski hat, and blogged about it here, and I managed to make myself understand I didn't need another.

Hey, what do you know, the blog is working!! :)
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technorati tags: roxy, replay, diesel, shopping

Short break

I've been, and still am, horribly sick.
No shopping for several days. I can feel the withdrawal-symptoms kicking in, righ about NOW!

Be back soon. Hopefully tomorrow.

Vanity Fair

Readers of my Swedish Blog know all about my obsession with this ski-suit. I ran into it by mistake while looking for that ski-mask I covered in the previous post.

It's CCL by Rossignol, a totally crazy French designer that makes the nicest things, and it's on massive sale. It's been marked down from SEK 7200 to SEK 4900 But it's still madly expensive. I'm struggling with my self on this one, I really really am.

I had almost lost the fight, with the aid of my lovely readers. And then I went for coffee with my ex, the one I went to Trysil with. I showed him this picture and he looked at me with surprise.

"Why do you want to buy that? You're SO hot in your white outfit"

And that's just about the only thing that could have stopped me. Since vanity is the very reason I was going after it.

Then he continues:
"Oooooor... you go in and offer 3.500 for it. Say that's what they'll get on the after-season sale anyway,a nd it's the best you can do."

Another good point....

Still, how often do you find a SEXY ski-outfit?
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technorati tags: Rossignol, desire, sexy, outfit