Retro Gaming Haul: January - February

So this is my first Retro Gaming haul for the past 2 months, there isn't loads but some months it may only be a few things depending on my finds but i've collected quite a few buys for this one..

NES Advantage controller - official

Firstly is this controller. I never actually owned one of these growing up but it just reminded me of being in the arcade at the seaside when i was younger so it was a bit down to nostalgia that i picked this up. I found this on a  Retro Gaming Facebook page, it's in really good condition too and i picked it up for £12 (including postage) which i didn't think was too bad. It's taking a bit of getting used to and it's a little bit creaky but it's great for wrestling and battling games

Golf - NES Classics - Free

This is another game that i actually never had before but the guy i bought the controller (above) off asked if i wanted this with it for free which was a bonus so i just said yes because for free, you can't really argue! Compared to the up-to-date Tiger Woods games it obviously leaves a lot to be desired and actually getting hole-in-ones proves near to impossible but the bad graphics just add to the fun of playing the NES and it's a good laugh for a while. Although don't play it for over an hour as your patience does start to wear a little thin..

McDonaldland - £3.50 Ebay bargain

This was one of my all-time favourites as a child and i would spend hours playing the levels but i have never completed it! As a 5 year old child i don't think i had the patience but now it is definitely one of my gaming aims. It is perfect nostalgia of my local McDonald's when i was little where the walls were decorated with Ronald, Grimace and The Hamburgalar! He was my favourite the aim of this game being to eventually find him and get him to give back what he's stolen just seems pretty awesome in my head! I can't wait to start playing this again!

Paperboy - £9.99 Market Stall

This is a game that i remember frequently watching my dad and brother playing but not one that i remember playing much myself. The aim is really simple, look at the street line up, remember the houses sequence and throw the papers to the correct houses but it's not as simple as it sounds. It's great fun though and perfect when you just wanna have a quick relaxing bit of gaming if you've got some spare time on your hands. One of my local market's in West Bromwich has a stall run by a guy that sells games of all types! He also does repairs on all consoles and you can always find a gem or two! (Console King Repairs - you can find him here) If you're local then i'd definitely recommend a trip as he is really genuine. This is the only place that i could find Paperboy and there were only 2-3 overpriced listings on ebay so i think i got lucky with this one.

Lolo 2 - £7 Car Boot/Market

Car Boots can be very hit and miss with retro gaming but recently whilst scouring the internet and coming across a facebook page that sells retro games, i found that one of the sellers was going to start doing a stall at a local car boot/market around 15 minutes walk away. So i popped up there on his first day to see if i could grab anything good - i am so glad i went! Lolo 2 was definitely one of the more infuriating games i have played but it's really fun and it's one of those games that you really get stuck into. The aim is simple, to get to the exit on each level, but to get there you have to avoid enemies and clear a pathway by pushing things to get through but you really have to forward think as you can't pull them back. I'd been looking for it for a while so had to grab this and for £7 i thought it was a fair enough price, plus i didn't have to wait for internet delivery!

Shadow Warriors Ninja Gaiden - £10 Car Boot/Market

This game has definitely been my favourite buy and one i didn't think i'd get, not yet anyway. If you look on eBay this game is going for around £20+ and that's without the manual (which is in near perfect condition!). This is my favourite ever NES game to date and i can't wait to play it all the way through again. The game play is pretty simple and the bosses are actually incredibly easy but it all adds to the fun and it's quite a laid back, fighting-style game that is full of arcade nostalgia and let's face it, pretty bad graphics! But what can you expect from a game from 1991? This was definitely a gem of a find and when the guy on the stall said he had it i was expected to pay around £20 for it so when he said £10 i immediately showed him the money! I really think he probably missed a trick on this one but i certainly got lucky.

Pokemon Blue, GBC - £10 eBay

So lately i have al;so been getting back into retro Pokemon games. I haven't yet played the latest addition in the series (X & Y) but i am hoping to pick them up soon. I am a pokemon lover and as i already have yellow and red in the collection, the only one missing was Pokemon Blue along with it's exclusive pokemon to complete the set. I think the price  paid for this was definitely about right and it's in great condition so i can't wait to go on my own pokemon adventure once again!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my Retro Gaming Buys!

We'll see what i pick up this month..

Angie.x

Song of the Day: Hey Mario - Patent Pending

My Retro Love: Nintendo NES

When i was growing up i never had the latest games consoles but the one we did have was my big brother's console: the original Nintendo NES. It's grey and black, pretty square and looks really bulky despite being really light. It doesn't look anything special but to me: it's simply awesome!

Everyone should recognise the colours and the controller for it as you see it everywhere on men's tshirts and in emo/rocker stores and on websites.

The thing i love is that it's so simple, simple press a cart into the slot and press the 'ON' button. Nothing confusing, yes the graphics aren't brilliant but that's half the fun of still being caught in the 'game' world and half using your imagination.

Over the past few months i have collected almost all the games i had when growing up, even a quite rare one that i grabbed as a real bargain! The games tend to only cost between £5-£15 pounds mostly and you find them on retro gaming websites, car boot sales and on eBay but there are some rare ones that can still cost over £50!

I am hoping to do a monthly round-up (starting tomorrow) of my retro gaming buys for you and if i find any great new websites, contacts or pricing to keep those who are interested updated. Other than fashion, retro gaming is a big love of mine so this blog will now contain both of my passions.

I hope you continue to enjoy my blog.

Until tomorrow.

Angie.x

Harry Potter Studio Tour: Haul

So yesterday i finally got to experience my 21st birthday present (from back in November) with a trip to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Watford! I had an absolutely fab day as we got to be there when the Animal Actors special event was on. We got to meet Hedwig the owl, Trevor the toad, Mrs Norris the cat and a dog that was trained like Fang, Hagrid's dog and her puppy!! I wanted to take her home with me..

Anyway, after reading about watching some footage in the cinema, reading about the filming and seeing all the props and costumes, having pictures taken on the knight bus, drinking butterbeer, walking down Diagon Alley and seeing a scale model of the Hogwart's castle we headed for the gift shop!

I'm afraid to say i spent more than i would have usually but it was my birthday treat so the boyfriend told me to enjoy myself and buy what i wanted; although i restrained from buying a cuddly toy of Fawkes the phoenix!

1. Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans

I've always wanted to try some of the 'real' every flavour beans! These ones didn't come with a flavour key either so we had some fun eating some of these on the train on the way home! The soap and pepper ones aren't too bad actually! But there are some dodgy ones thrown in.. (Rotten Egg included!)

2. The Making of Harry Potter: The Official Guide book

I really wanted this as a momento of the visit that can be popped into my memory box for safe keeping. The hardback one was £5 more than the normal book but i think it was worth it as it should be more hard-wearing

3. The Tales of Beedle The Bard book - J K Rowling

I grabbed this as soon as i saw it! Simply because it has the Tale of the Three Brothers in and i llove the story in the film as it has a real lesson and a real impact. I think i'll enjoy reading the other stories too including 'Babbitty Rabbitty' that you hear Ron mention in the films

4. Slytherin House vest top

I'm usually a firm Gryiffindor girl but i must say that the Slytherin top just looked a lot nicer! It is really comfy if all else fails, I can wear it on my grumpy days! That way people will know to watch out.. maybe i'll talk to snakes too..

5. The Making of Harry Potter Tshirt in silver

I was going to get a Quidditch game tee but i thought it'd be more versatile to get a black one and as well as being self-explanatory it holds memories too, they had one with gold lettering too but it looked a bit too much for me so a bit unlike me.. i went for the safe option!

6. Butterbeer Replica Tumbler

The Butterbeer that we tasted was more amazing than i imagined! It's fizzy in taste and i can't put my finger on what it tasted like at all but the 'head' tastes of butterscotch which is pure deliciousness! It's just a fun little souvenir that i can use and feel like i belong in the wizarding world!

7. Warner Bros. London Clapper Board

I've been wanting a clapper board for what feels like forever so i snapped it up literally! It's made of wood and feels quite hardwearing. I am going to put it up on a shelf in my room but i will also be using it in my 'coming soon' youtube videos! Exciting!

8. Marauder's Map Giant Mug

I really wanted the actual Marauder's Map on parchment but although they looked brilliant, i know it might rip really easily and also it can't really move like in the films.. *sad face* but i thought getting a mug with the tagline on would be just as good and i can actually use this and it can have pride of place everyday when i drink my coffee. It's massive too so when i drink hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows i really 'Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good!'

Song of the Day - Harry Potter Theme Song

Hope you enjoyed my haul!

Underdressed Lingerie: boxed and beautiful

I was recently lucky enough to win a £50 voucher to spend at Underdressed Lingerie and it was such a hard choice picking only a few things!

The company has been running since 2007 and aim to provide lingerie with individual style and design and they work with a select group of independent designers. Their underwear is selected to be the best of both functional and sexy and comfort is paramount: to make women feel special everyday whilst wearing their products.

"We encompass all things feminine, sophisticated, confident, romantic, stylish and glamorous. We do not want to preach to women or just make a sale, we want women to appreciate what they already have and realize that glamour is not just reserved for the rich and famous"

How beautiful is the box?

The box is so cute and i feel the ribbon adds such a personal touch as someone has had the care to wrap it like a present just for you!

They even sent a personalised postcard!

I think these details really make the company stand out and the pastel coloured tissue paper adds a touch of elegance.

A box like this turning up would make a beautiful anniversary/birthday gift *hint hint boys*

I ended up choosing 5 products and they look and feel amazing quality!

Usually i would think that some of the prices are a little out of my price range but for a special treat or as an 'investment' as i'm sure that these will last then i would definitely recommend them! They have special offers on now too so i'd go and take a look..

Back to Basics: Wishlist

Song of the Day: McFly - Love is on the Radio

So this month i'm lusting after a load of new basic's for my wardrobe to piece everything together!

Asos have some amazing pieces at bargain prices in the ASOS own range like this black lace cami dress which would be perfect to dress down with a leather jacket and some tartan pumps.

Monki are another of my favourite online stores (They also have their range on ASOS too) but their online store is packed full of amazing stuff, especially whilst the sale's still on! My top picks are this Make Space Tee and this Jossan Singlet Vest as slogan pieces are a big love of mine. They're great to add a bit of cheekiness or attitude to an outfit.

Boohoo are another favourite of mine; my lust-worthy item this month is these Candice High Shine Disco Pants in Magenta!

Sammydress is a great place to grab some pieces at bottom prices as they are a wholesale site but the postage is per item so remember that before you add loads to your basket. But it's great for grabbing one or two bargains; this Wine Red Velvet Dress, Denim Studded Jacket, Leather Shorts and Fluffy Sweater are all on my list!

Angie.x

Valentine's Red: Simple Styling

AX Paris Pleated Red Dress - New Look

Platform Peep-Toe Heel - Peacocks SALE

Song of the Day: Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield

Just a basic Valentine's outfit that's simple but stunning.

The classic red dress and the black heel: what else do you really need?

This dress is one of my favourites and it's one that i actually picked up for my 21st back in November but annoyingly i can't find it on the website now. It's really flattering due to the structured top and skater style skirt which really flatters your thighs. The lace middle breaks up the block red perfectly and leaves you needing near to no accessories! A simple zip up the side and you're ready to roll!

These shoes were a birthday present for my 20th birthday and they don't look that high on these pictures but they are actually the highest heels i own! They took some getting used to but are now my favourite heels and are a gorgeous satin material that makes them look a lot more expensive than they were! I love the box detail to the front as it just makes them that little bit different and allow you to show a bit of toe and polish!

Who says dressing up can't be easy?

Angie.x

Bed Head Superstar: Shampoo & Conditioner

BED HEAD is one of those brands that i've always loved seeing in shop windows! Walking past the higher-end hair salons such as Toni & Guy and seeing all the bright coloured and funky shaped bottles in the windows. I always dreamed of having my bathroom full of them! (i know, strange dream!) But they looked so cool and lust-worthy..

Look how cool the bottles are!?

Plus they have an awesome tagline:

"You Must Have a Sense of Humor To Use Our Products"

So when i found these at a blog event at the end of last year i just had to have them! I got them for the bargain price of just £2 each and am wishing now that i had bought more as they RRP at £6.99 per 75ml bottle!

So i put them in a bag when i got home after the event so i could 'keep them safe' and i found them again the other week when we cleaned out the bedroom and i'm so glad i did as i think they are one of my favourite Shampoo and Conditioners Ever!

BED HEAD TIGI Superstar

'Sulfate-free shampoo keeps hair color safe and gives Superstar volume! Proteins and nutrient rich oils strengthen hair and add shine. It's a Glam Slam!'

'Condition your hair to Superstar volume! Lightweight formula hydrates and shines while maintaining fullness and body. It's a Glam Slam!'

I always try to be optimistic when using a new hair product but after so many products claim to give you 'thicker hair' i wasn't expecting amazing results, especially with me having fine hair.. but was i wrong!

After just one use of these and my hair looked visibly thicker and fuller and i loved that it wasn't lying flat to my head for once! Without the aid of hairspray or any other styling products i got the look i've been after for years. I promise i'm not exaggerating, i was so happy i don't think i stopped smiling all day.

I only have the 75ml bottles but although they look quite small i have had around 4 uses out of them already and there's still around half of the product left as you don't have to use masses of it.

I simply shampoo as i would usually then take around a 'cherry-sized' among of conditioner and smooth it through my hair from the top of my ears, downwards to the ends of my hair: simple and easy.

The products really do give 'Superstar Volume' and i would not hesitate to recommend these to anyone! The shampoo even smells a bit like milkshake - Bonus! 

I will definitely be investing in the larger sized bottles next time though as i feel they are better value for money, especially on Amazon!