My eBay Collections

 

As a blogger, I am always trying to find affordable, trendy fashion items to feature on my blog, but sometimes keeping up with the latest trends can be rather difficult and can also tug on the purse strings. That is why I love eBay. Imagining the Internet without ebay is like bread without butter or ice-cream cones without the ice cream, it is a website that many including me have grown accustomed to and cannot live without. If it wasn't for eBay, I wouldn't have been able to afford my favourite Samantha French Connection dress and I bought my first IMac back in 2011 from eBay as I couldn't afford one full price and using that Mac really helped advance my blog with the software I was able to use. It is amazing how many opportunities one website can evoke

If you like affordable fashion, you are sure to like eBay and if you have an addiction to Pinterest like me, you will love eBay's new feature. eBay have recently launched a new feature called 'ebay Collections.'eBay Collections enables you to create a Pinterest style mood board for all the items you would like to buy and later on, you have ability to shop for your products. The possibilities for the collections are endless. Maybe you are looking to do a birthday wish list collection? or you are looking to create a mood board of clothing you would like to take on holiday? With eBay's new feature, it is easy to add items and create virtual shopping lists based on your moods. All you need to do is browse eBay as you usually would and click the 'add to collection' button. You can then name them all and choose your themes. If you are a social bunny and like sharing your collections, there are social media buttons in the corner so you can share them all with your friends. Perfect for giving birthday present hints or even creating a wedding day wish list.

To launch the eBay Collections, eBay teamed up with many well-known bloggers and asked them to create their own mood boards. When I was approached to be a part of this campaign, I felt really privileged. I have been using the website for such a long and never in dreams did I think I would have this type of amazing opportunity. eBay asked all the bloggers to create collections that told a story or have a theme running through them. Each blogger has been 12 - 15 mood boards between them in which you can browse and shop for items - you can even share the collections with your friends. My collection boards are based on the things I love - for example 50s fashion or things that I like to dream about, like the Rapunzel hair. I always loved that fairytale growing up and I would love to have Rapunzel hair. The collection is series of hairpieces, hair tools and products that would enable my hair to hopefully look more vibrant and gain the length of my dreams. Some of my mood boards are a little bit quirky and reflect my childhood or films that I like - the Bond Girls mood board is tailored around my secret obsession of being a James Bond girl - hey, every girl can dream and 'Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend' symbolises my love for everything luxurious.

For anyone looking for an easy way to keep on track of their shopping in a fun and exciting way, I really do recommend the new eBay Collections - make sure you check out mine.

*This is a sponsored post by Ebay.

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Oops...I shopped.

Hi, my name is Jessica and I'm a shopaholic.I confess that having spent several days saying I was going on a spending ban, I'm guilty of shopping til I drop. In my defence, everything I bought was an absolute bargain and all was done in the name of my blog. Gosh, who am I kidding? I broke my shopping ban and I don't feel guilty one bit.  The first item I've recently bought are my new hair extensions in the above photo. My hair has been looking so dead lately and I really need a haircut. I wanted a temporary fix for those days where my hair is looking drab and I've become obsessed with half wigs. This half wig was bought from Ebay for £18.99 - cheaper than a haircut and they look fabulous.

My second purchase was getting my nails done. I've recently got a new job and wanted my nails to look really nice. It's been years since I last got my nails done, because my previous job had me handling a lot of chemicals and they used to peel off within a few days. I went to a salon in my local town and the Jeleration nails applied. They look so sparkly and feel ten times better than before I went in.

If you have read my Twitter feed lately, you will have seen me ranting about fur coats. I've never found a fur coat that suits me. I don't know why, but I always feel like they make me look podgy and a little bit old fashioned. I came across this coat whilst in Dorothy Perkins the other day and fell in love with it.I admit, the sizing could be better. This coat is a size 6, but still feels big on me, but during the winter I suppose it's great to have a coat that is quite roomy. The jacket was supposed to be £59.00, however there's a 20% sale on at the moment and I got another 20% off with student discount. That came to an almighty 40% off and the total sale of £35.40. I couldn't believe my luck.

The last two items I bought are from Miss Selfridge. My local branch currently has a sale on and at the moment, you can buy any sale item and get one free. I've been looking for a small bag to take to work and university on days where I don't have to carry a lot around. The bag was £20 and I got the playsuit free. What's more interesting is that I was allowed student discount on top of the sale and I managed to get the bag and playsuit for £18 instead. The previous retail price of these items were £42 each, meaning I got a massive £66 saving...I think my spending was justified.

Have you been shopping lately?

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Confessions of a Shopaholic

A few weeks ago it was my 22nd birthday and I never really got round to announcing it or showing my brand new treats. It was very difficult time due to the loss of a family member, but I dealt with it the best way I know how...shopping.  I'm an impulsive shopper and always have been. My shopping habits are generally triggered by emotion and I'm ready to argue with anyone my belief that shopping is a real addiction. Do you ever get anxious if you haven't shopped in a long time? Have an overwhelming desire to have something new in your life on a regular basis? If you're answering yes, you're very much like me. I just can't help it, I love to shop. When I buy something I feel happy, until six months later when I have literally no wardrobe space from impulsive buys and my bedroom is literally cramped. The time I generally spend shopping is when I'm stressed. I love to stroll around and distance myself from life and pretend that I live in a different universe where money is limitless and the sky is literally the limit. Okay...maybe I have a problem. 

I never really do the whole 'haul thing', because I don't like to brag about what I've bought a lot of the time. I'm one of those people who sees someone showing off their brand new Mulberry Alexa and then sulks for days because I can't really afford one. Marriage and university life comes first, Louis Vuitton, YSL and Mulberry will come when I've made all my younger sacrifices. I want to be able to get my first full time job and properly be proud of my new handbag - when it comes to expensive things, I like to feel like I've earned it. 

One expensive item that I feel like I've really deserved lately is my sparkly new Macbook Pro.  My last laptop was literally falling apart. I used an old mouse from a windows 98 computer to work it, my laptop switched off every time it came unplugged because the battery stopped working and it weighed far too much carry around on a regular basis. I was kindly given a bursary by my university and decided to treat myself to my new Macbook when I went to London.  When I returned home, I quickly ordered this barbie pink case from Ebay to protect it from scratches. I get so many looks due to this case whilst I'm at university. I really think people assume I'm like Elle from Legally Blonde without the blonde hair. 

My next purchase was this gorgeous yellow Zara dress. I love colour in my wardrobe, because it makes me feel so confident. This dress compliments my brunette hair and looks great for springtime. It can easily be dressed up for a night out or dressed down for a girly day out shopping. I try to make my wardrobe as timeless as possible to save money and I think this is a great investment.

These shoes were brought from River Island a few weeks ago. I had an urge to buy wedges as soon as the sun came out and I love this nautical, french design. I think they're so cute and they're amazingly comfy. At £25 (with student discount) I'm glad I snapped them up.

From shoes to dresses. I seriously cannot go in New Look lately without browsing endlessly at their amazing line of floral dresses.  These two beauties are my recent purchases my New Look and I'm really impressed with the quality for such a low price. I love buying all my basics and staple daywear from New Look, I feel like I can never go wrong.

To complete all my outfits, I surrendered to buying this adorable Marc B bag. I love the Marc B range as they're always affordable, reliable and very sturdy handbags. It has got to the point where my mother has stolen my other Marc B bags as she agrees with me - you just can't beat them for durability.

Finally, my last big recent purchase is a well deserved week trip to Ibiza. I haven't been abroad since I was 13 - nearly 10 years. My parents bought me a passport for my birthday and I couldn't wait to book a holiday. Me and my partner are going to Ibiza for a week in July and I'm mega excited.  It's going to be my first ever adult holiday and even better, I get to go with my handsome fiance. Life is feeling quite a bit better now.

I think my next treat will be these beautiful Prada sunglasses so I can enjoy the weather properly.

http://www.smartbuyglasses.co.uk/designer-eyeglasses/Prada/Prada-PR09PV-1AB1O1-162683.html

Have you bought anything nice recently?

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