Somehow we are already approaching my birthday which feels a bit crazy as I feel like it was Christmas two minutes ago! 2026 is absolutely flying by and to be honest we are now approaching my favourite time of the year. For me my birthday is always a signal that my favourite months are approaching, I much prefer the autumn & winter weather, cosy days and most importantly the football is back! This is the time of year when Liam starts asking me what I would like for my birthday and also when I start wondering what I would like to treat myself to for my birthday as this is just something I have just done since I started earning my own money. So here is what I have suggested to Liam this year and what I am considering picking up for myself...

Meal out with Liam

I am hoping for a nice meal out with Liam for my birthday. We don't tend to get out much just two of us since we got the dog so I would love to just have a few hours enjoying each others company with some nice food. I am hoping this can take place on my birthday day out as there are plenty of places in Leeds where this could take place.

Nice Card Holder

I don't want to be carrying  big bulky wallet around with me all the time as I don't always want to be using a bag all the time or having my pockets full. There are a few different ones I have had my eyes on lately all at different price points but I really do feel like this would be ideal especially when I go to the football as that is when I really want to have as little as possible in my pocket.

Ralph Lauren Cup

This item is a bit random however, a new cup is desperately needed for work as my Stitch one is getting annoying now due to it's shape and size. I have had my eye on this Ralph Lauren one for a while now so may be it is finally time to bite the bullet and pick this up for myself. It will just add a bit of luxury onto my desk too.

Left Handed Golf Driver

If I am getting back into heading to the driving range I would love a new club to add to my 1 left handed one I already own. The club I already have is a hybrid and don't get me wrong it is good I would just like a driver in the rotation. I am doing so much better with the left handed club so as occassions crop up, if I do really get into golfing it might be a case of building a bag perfect for me.

M&S Fragrance

It really isn't a birthday here without a fragrance and I have started with the hints for my favourite M&S fragrance, sea salt & neroli. I am making my current bottle last and would love to add a new bottle in for my birthday. This fragrance is so good for its price and I feel like it is one I am going to have in my rotation for as long as they sell it.

Zara Fragrance

It has been a while since I have had my favourite Zara fragrance in my rotation so I think when I go on my birthday shopping trip I will be picking up a bottle of this. I will be honest this is by far my favourite budget fragrance for autumn and winter so I might need a few bottles to keep me stocked up for the months ahead. Again this one is a budget fragrance which works as a great gift.

Ralph Lauren Cap

My grey Ralph Lauren cap has served me well for around 7 years now if not more so I think it is time to add another one into my rotation. I would love a black one that would work with outfits all year round as a cap is a good accessory in all seasons. This is a bit of an expensive item however, I know that I am going to get my wear out of it and I know it is going to last.

Hat for Autumn & Winter

I love a good hat and if I am spending most of my autumn & winter at the football I am going to need options to go with all outfit choices. A lot of my hats at the moment are random colours which don't go with much or are losing shape due to being cheap and low quality. A couple of good quality hats would be very welcome to help me combat the cold without ruining my outfits overall look.

Jacket

Again I am thinking practically when it comes to gifts and I would love a new jacket for those cold football games. I am currently in the process of getting rid of a lot of my jackets as they are either too big or just don't fit the style I am going for so I need to add some new ones in to fill the gaps I have identified. I would love a thinner material one that I can use for layering or a thicker one for when the cold games really do start to hit. All I know is I need something to actually keep me dry... something previous jackets have failed to do.

Top from Bound

I think it is safe to say I have fallen in love with the brand Bound. I am finding myself on their website a bit too often now however, so many pieces are jumping out to me. For my birthday my plan is to treat myself to one of the tops on their website. I am thinking something that I can wear day to day in the office or for days out. Something easy to dress up or down that isn't going to break the bank. It might take me a while to settle on which top to get but one is definitely going to be purchased.

M&S Gift Card

I am well and truly in my M&S era as some of the clothing they are bringing out at the moment is brilliant. I have asked Liam if I can have a gift card for here as I have had a few pieces on my radar for a while now and with our shopping trip I feel like I might be able to find them as we head to a bigger M&S store. This will stop me from ignoring the shop and buying items elsewhere as the money is on a card where I can only spend it in that specific store. This could see the wardrobe get a major upgrade.

 Nike P-6000's

My birthday is going to be the time where I finally bite the bullet and get the Nike P-6000's which I have wanted for so long now. I just haven't wanted to justify the cost of these however, I just can't stop thinking about adding a pair into my rotation so now is the time. These will definitely be a nice treat for myself and one that I will get my wear out of.

When actually typing out this list I have realised just how much things have changed, I am actually considering the use of items rather than just suggesting things for the sake of it or to follow trends. I am quite impressed with this as I am just so used to picking any random thing, I guess this is a bit of a sign of the growth I have been working towards. Let's see what I end up getting in my what I got for my birthday post after the big day... 

See you soon,

Lucy

Yesterday I posted all about the goals I was hoping to hit for the remainder of 2026 which got me thinking... I am going to be working super hard to achieve these goals in the next few months so why don't I add in an extra incentive... a reward when I tick off a goal. I think by setting a reward as something I have wanted for a long time it will help keep me focussed on the task at hand and push me to work extra hard. The plan is to make the rewards something I have wanted and what are going to help me continue on the right path rather than just having any old item thrown in for the sake of it. So here are the rewards I am looking at picking up as goals become completed, strap in as the 25 goals set yesterday each have their own reward...

Zwyt Bike

If I manage to add in more cardio to my weeks like I am planning I am definitely going to have warranted picking up a new bike for the home gym. The Zwyft bike is one I have had on my wish list for so long but it is quite expensive so I definitely need to make sure I am going to get my use out of it.

At Home Sauna

I have an ice bath but I have wanted to upgrade my recovery set up especially if I am working out more often recovery is going to be key. I don't want anything fancy for this I just want one of those little pop up ones that I can jump in after a session to relax and recover. This is one I definitely want to achieve as it is going to be super beneficial.

Spa Day

I am going to be going all in on achieving these goals so it might be nice to have a spa day booked for early 2027. A spa day would be the perfect way to relax after working hard to achieve a goal so I just need to pick which one to achieve to get this day booked in. It has been a while since I have been to a spa so I think it is long overdue.

Sports Massage

The sports massage I had a few years ago massively helped me get rid of any aches and pains so as I turn up the intensity of my workouts I think having a sports massage as a reward could be very worth while. This will definitely be used for hitting a fitness goal as it all ties in together but we shall see if this takes place by the end of the year or not.

Castore Haul

As I lose weight I am going to need to upgrade my workout clothing and I guess this will need upgrading as I declutter my wardrobe too. I am moving away from certain brands that just aren't lasting anymore and am replacing pieces with brands I know are good quality. The reward for a goal is going to be a Castore haul, the items may be on the pricey side of things but so far I have been really impressed with the items I have from them so I will be adding them into the new gym wardrobe first. There are other brands I have in mind but those are going to be 2027 rewards or just general treats (but a whole other post is coming about that soon). 

Fit Bit Air

My Garmin has been destroying my wrist and I am preferring to wear a normal watch so I don't really have a fitness tracker anymore. I was looking at the Whoop but the price has scared me off in all honesty. The Google Fit Bit Air looks just as good but a whole lot cheaper so I think I might use this as a reward, pick one up when I have accomplished something as I feel like I can justify getting it whilst my Garmin gets put on the back burner for a bit.

Meal out with Liam

Liam is really helping me to push to achieve my goals so I am hoping that I can tick off a goal and reward us both with a nice meal out. Granted this may effect the weight goal but one day shouldn't do too much damage and will be a nice way for us just to spend some time together with no distractions as life is going to be crazy as I work towards my goals.

A Piece of Jewellery

I want one of my rewards to be something nice that I can keep for a long period of time. I am thinking a nice piece of jewellery would be a nice little reward something I can look at and be reminded of the hard work I have been putting in. This piece isn't going to necessarily break the bank but I don't want to cheap out on it so I plan to shop around for the perfect piece.

Bound Haul

I think it is safe to say I have fallen love with the store Bound and that is why I am going to reward myself to a haul from them when I tick off a goal. I think I am going to use a fashion related goal for this one as the haul can be used to add some quality pieces into my wardrobe once it has been decluttered. I am not going to go overboard with the haul but I am going to try add some brilliant pieces into my new wardrobe. 

Pair of Loafers

If you read my footwear post recently you will know that I have a fair few pairs of loafers I am wanting to pick up and some are on the pricey side of things. I think a reward for hitting a goal though is going to have to be a pair of loafers that can help me elevate an outfit, maybe a Duke & Dexter pair that I have had my eye on which will help me justify the cost of them too.

Comme Des Garcon Converse

I have wanted these Converse for the longest time but just haven't picked them up for one reason or another. I think to finally make me bite the bullet and pick up a pair I am going to use them as a reward for hitting a goal I have set. These will be great for the new wardrobe build as they will go with so many different outfits I have in mind so will be a brilliant reward for working hard.

Manchester Shopping Trip

If I hit a goal by the end of 2026 my plan is to reward myself with a shopping trip to Manchester where I can work on building my new wardrobe in shops we don't really have around here. I think this could be a nice little content creating trip for the football side of things too as there are some great football related shops in the city. I really should start saving in hopes of achieving this.

Uniqlo Gift Card

Uniqlo has been a store I have wanted to try for a while now so I am planning on rewarding myself with a Uniqlo gift card ready for a Manchester shopping trip which I can use to add the basics into my new wardrobe. I have heard some great things about the products Uniqlo sell so I think it is time I tested them for myself. 

Fancy Notebook

I am a paper and pen kind of girl when it comes to making notes as I feel writing things down helps me visualise better. As I am locking in on content I am going to be making a whole lot more notes and I would love a fancy little notebook to write them in. This doesn't need to break the bank, just a nice little notebook to jot down my ideas that looks great on my desk.

Nice Pen

Someone once told me everyone needs a nice pen for signing documents at work and it has always stuck in my mind. Once I hit a goal from the work section of goals I am 100% going out and getting myself a nice pen to have on my desk ready for those days when big documents start to land. Something that will last and look great on the desk.

Heaven Mayhem Business Card Holder

From first laying my eyes on this business card holder I knew I wanted to pick it up but debated on if it was worth it or not. The plan is to tick off a work related goal and pick this up. This would be brilliant to have in my bag day to day and could even come in handy for football related content but we shall see which I end up using it for.

Brick

I have been doing a lot of research about the Brick device and believe it is something that I could certainly benefit from. I feel like I am the queen of procrastination so this would definitely help me get out of that cycle as I could block apps that distract me and I could begin focusing on what is important. I think this could certainly become one of the first rewards I pick up.

Louis Vuitton Card Holder

Ok as a football fan I feel like I need to own this card holder even at over £300. I think I am going to pick this up for one of the biggest goals I have set myself to really justify the cost and I am hoping that it is still in stock by the time I do hit my goal. I just absolutely love the thought of having this in my card holder rotation so let's see if it is possible to pick up.

Coach Backpack

The Coach backpack has been on my wish list for a while now however, the cost of it has been putting me off. This would be ideal for work and any content trips going forward though as it is a very good looking bag. I am determined to have hit a goal to be able to pick up one of these before the year ends or super early in 2027.

Porsche Mug

This one is a bit of a random reward but it might make sense to others one day. My dream is to own a Porsche one day and I even have a little model car on my desks to remind me of the goal and I just think a nice little Porsche mug to drink out of daily would be a bit of extra motivation to remind me of something I am working towards. This is definitely going to be purchased when I hit a work related goal as it all ties in.

Ralph Lauren Travel Mug

I am locking in on the football content which is going to mean a lot of time out in the cold watching games so I need to make sure I am prepared. One of my rewards for hitting a nice and simple goal I have set for myself is going to be purchasing a Ralph Lauren travel mug. This would be ideal for taking to games with me and even work. Put in a coffee or hot chocolate and head out of the door knowing I have a hot drink ready to warm me up when needed, this is just what I need.

Hand Warmer

My old USB hand warmer has just about had it and as I am going to be out in the cold a lot I am going to need to make some thing to keep warm whilst reporting on games. I know I can get one for a good price on Amazon I just need to make sure I am going to get to the games to warrant the buying of it. A small game related goal being ticked off will mean this is purchased.

New Camera

This is going to be a reward for hitting a content related goal. If I can lock in on creating content and achieve a content related goal I guess I will have shown myself that a camera is going to be worth it as it will help me take my content to the next level even after putting the hard work in from now until a goal is hit. This is going to be an expensive reward but is going to help in so many ways for content and for football bits.

New PC

My current PC runs like a potato and it is a key place for where I work on content so the fact it is so slow is a nightmare. I need something that can handle demand and which I can run my game library on so the plan is to hit another content related goal and finally reward myself with that PC upgrade I have been after. I am hoping I have plenty of time to save up for this one as it is going to be costly.

Tag Carrera Watch

Finally we have the big reward which I am going to save until last meaning I have to have achieved 24 more goals before finally getting this one. This is definitely going to be the most expensive reward of the list however, it is the perfect way for me to remember all the hard work I have put in to achieve everything I set out for the remainder of 2026. Who knows if this is going to be possible or not but you best believe I am going to work my hardest to get as close to this as possible before 2027 begins.

There you have it I have set myself 25 good sized goals to achieve before the end of 2026 and those are the 25 rewards I am going to be picking off if I manage to tick the goals off. I am really looking forward to pushing myself to see just how many I can complete beginning on the 10th of August 2026 running up until the 31st of December. Let's lock in and get this done.

See you soon

Lucy

How is it already August? 2026 is well and truly flashing by in the blink of an eye. There is not much of 2026 left however, my plan is to really lock in on the rest of the year to make it have the best possible ending to set me up for a great start to the goals I could possibly be setting for myself in 2027 (that post as always will be coming in January so make sure to follow along). Today's post is all about those goals I am going to be setting for the remainder of 2026 to really help me build some momentum as I have some big plans in mind for the future and all the goals in today's post would slowly help me form that bigger plan. 

At the moment I have some areas I am really focusing on and these are my fitness journey, my fashion journey, my football content journey, content creation, work and building my dream life filled with a little more luxury & going at a steady pace. All the goals in this post are broken down into these categories and have been set to help keep me focused and on track for a change. Each one that has been picked is more than achievable if I really put my mind to it and if achieved will set me up nicely for 2027. So here are my goals for the remainder of 2026...

Fitness

Hit 95Kg

I have got a long way to go this one but I am determined to lock in and really see a difference on the scales. If I managed to hit this number by the end of the year it will put me in a great position for working towards my end goal in 2027. I will be honest though I think if I really locked in I could lose a fair bit more and finish more towards the high 80's on the scale however, just to stop me being overwhelmed I will leave the number as 95Kg and this is the highest weight I will accept come the 31st of December.

Work out 3 times a week minimum

Going forward each week I am going to be working out no less than 3 times a week as I know pushing myself with at least 3 weights sessions is going to help me maintain muscle and also help me lose the weight. In these sessions it is going to be high intensity to really push myself. This will also help create discipline for other areas too which is certainly needed.

Add more cardio into my routine

At the moment cardio is at a minimum but that is certainly going to change as from now as the plan is to end all sessions with some cardio. I want this to be 30 minutes of running or on the bike as again this will help me with the scales but is also going to be super beneficial to my overall fitness which drastically needs improving. I would love to start attending park runs again at some point too.

Cut down on the processed foods

Nutritionally the food I eat at the moment is not the best, a lot of it is super processed but that is just due to us using it for convenience. I want to start eating a much cleaner diet going forward as this will help the weight loss and my health issues. Going forward I going to be opting for foods with minimal ingredients and getting fresh food where possible.

Cook from scratch more

This goal kind of goes hand in hand with the processed foods one but honestly I am terrible at cooking at leave it all to my other half Liam so the plan is for me to get better in the kitchen and cook food from scratch, right down to the sauces we put on the food. At least by doing this I know exactly what I am eating with nothing hidden.

Fashion

Find my style

I am still on the journey of finding my style and what works for me and what doesn't. This has become a whole process now and I am 100% determined that by the end of 2026 I will have nailed my personal style and know exactly what works for me and what doesn't when I am heading out shopping. This one is a really important one for me and I am looking forward to seeing how it progresses.

Fully declutter my clothing

I have honestly got clothing dotted all round, in my dressing room, in Liam's wardrobe and in storage under my bed so my aim is by the end of this year to have everything fully decluttered and organised. The plan is to really be ruthless during the declutter and not hold onto items for the sake of it. This just gives me a nice fresh slate when it comes to adding items that fit that style I am opting for.

Only buy what I need 

In an aim to be better with money and get my wardrobe under control a big goal for the remainder of the year is to only buy what I really need especially as I am losing weight. This is going to help me save up more money for those more expensive items I want to purchase and is also going to help me start curating that perfect wardrobe. The goal is simple no more buying for the sake of it when I am shopping and actually start thinking purchases through.

Create a wardrobe for all aspects of my life

My style I opt for is going to have to cater for all aspects of my life so for work, day to day and football that is why it is a bit hard to narrow down however, by the end of 2026 I want to have created the perfect wardrobe that works well for all these occasions. I want the wardrobe to feel cohesive and flow nicely for a change making getting dressed daily so much easier.

Create the perfect footwear rotation

It isn't just the wardrobe I want to get under control, by the end of the year I also want to have the perfect footwear rotation. I want footwear that is going to go with a variety of outfits not just one outfit and then gather dust. It is time to be intentional with the pairs I buy for a change, step away from trends and get what is going to work best for me.

Edge of the Area 

Hit 1,000 followers on Instagram

This is going to take a lot to achieve as growth has been super slow but it is time to really put the effort into Edge of the Area & take it to new levels. Hitting 1,000 followers by the end of the year will definitely put me in a good place going into 2027 where I can look to test new ideas going forward to reach even more of an audience. Plus 1,000 followers just sounds like a great number.

Post on Instagram daily

I guess this one will help me get to 1,000 followers but mainly I want to be posting daily to start building a community within the women's game. I think posting daily will help me get more creative to stop me running out of ideas and will also just help me get more disciplined in posting as I won't want to miss a day if I set myself the challenge. This is going to be key for growth though so let's see what can happen shall we.

Hit an all time high for the website views

I am going to go through all my views year by year since I started the site and I am going to challenge myself to lock in on the content to achieve my highest amount of views in 2026. This would be amazing seen as I am only relaunching it this month and gives me a real base for 2027 when I have a full year locked in on it.

Utilise Facebook more

I know I have a whole different audience I could reach on Facebook and I know that my content could do really well over there and I can have a bit of fun too so it is about time I started to utilise the site a whole lot more and try maybe do a few posts a day for the rest of the year to see how things go? I am sitting on 350 followers at the moment and would love to hit 500 before the end of the year.

Post at least 5 interviews

My interview series is finally coming back and I really want to push this side of things by chatting to people across all aspects of the game. The goal is to have posted 5 interviews before the end of 2026. I think this is definitely achievable so let's see how this one goes.

Content on Instagram 

Be more consitent

Lack of consistency is why I am not growing and it is starting to annoy me now as I am holding myself back in my opinion. I am determined to lock in now though and be a lot more consistent with better quality content going forward which honestly is much needed if I want to achieve the future goals I will be setting when it comes to content but more on that another day.

Hit 1,000 followers on Instagram

I really want the consistency to start paying off and I want to see me finally achieve the 1,000 follower mark. This has been in sight for so long however, I just haven't been able to achieve it due to the lack of consistency along with other reasons. I am hoping I can really knuckle down and hit that number by the end of the year though and have a good start point for 2027.

Find my direction of content

My content is all over the place at the moment so by the end of the year I want to have worked out what I want my account to be and what sort of things I should be posting. This is going to be key for growth, building a community and helping me reach my full potential so I am looking forward to sitting and plotting all this and finally taking some action.

Start building a personal brand

Personal brands are key on Instagram these days in my opinion and I think it is time I started working on mine to tie things together and really reach the heights I want especially when it comes to growth and community. I definitely need help on this one though so it may take a while but I am excited to see what I can make a start on before the year ends.

Start getting on the camera more

I know that by being on camera more my content is more likely to be pushed so it is time to get more confident and work on being on camera much more before the end of the year this is for both photo and video content and one aim for the end of the year is to actually talk on videos not just have a backing track.

Work 

Start building the new company subsidiary

There is a new branch of the business at work which is supply only & has been left to be mine & Liam's responsibility mainly. We have been a bit hit and miss with the start up of it so far so the plan for now is to go all in on getting the name out there bringing in a decent amount of business in before the end of 2026. It is going to be hard as this is all new to us but this is a key part of our future so we need to take it seriously.

Make 10 sales

As we are only just starting up and it may take time to get things moving fully due to stock issues etc I am keeping it simple and am aiming for 10 sales to have been made before the end of the year. I think if we can start targeting the right people this is definitely achievable but we just need to nail the marketing first.

 Open 4 new customer accounts

Customers for the new side of the business are going to need accounts and my goal is to open 4 of these before the year ends. This will mean enticing people in, setting up terms and just reaching out to see if there is anything they need. If I can achieve 4 accounts open they may recommend us to others which would be great and it would show things are starting to progress.

Take on more responsibility in main company

In the main company I am wanting to take on more responsibility to take the pressure off my mum & dad and also to learn the ropes as one day this is going to be left in my hands. I may as well take on the responsibility now and get used to new tasks rather than leaving it too late and not knowing what I am doing in the future.

Take control of 2 customer accounts fully

I am trying to bring it into play where customers have a first port of call to ensure things are done to a high standard. I am hoping we start implementing this by the end of the year and my goal is to have at least 2 customers who come to me direct for things dealing with. This just means things get done quicker for them and don't get mixed up or lost.

I am looking forward to seeing how many of these I can tick off before 2027 begins and my plan is that there is going to be plenty of content on here around the areas these goals focus on as I am now all about documenting the journey ready for me to look back on one day.

Now let's lock in and see what we get ticked off first...

See you soon, 

Lucy

I mentioned yesterday about me wanting to upgrade my wardrobe, well today it is all about footwear I am wanting to add into my rotation to help bring the outfits together. In the past I have just purchased base on hype & trend but going forward this is changing and I am going to aim to only buy pairs I am going to get my wear out of that are going to work with different items of my wardrobe without ruining my outfits like some footwear I own does currently.

My plan is the go through the footwear I have got and finally declutter what I no longer wear, this will help with a fresh slate and will give me space to add the new pairs without them getting ruined. I don't want to be wearing trainers daily anymore and I really don't want to be wearing beat up footwear that takes down my whole outfit. I am sick of following trends and I have found it is time to finally wear those pairs I want not just what everyone else is wearing. Trends over here are no more, it is time to really lean into what I want. So here are the pairs of footwear I am hoping to pick up to upgrade the rotation...

Converse x Comme Des Garcons Play

Now these have been out a while however, I have never got around to buying any due to the cost. I am finally going to bite the bullet now though and pick up not just one but a few pairs of these so I have options for all outfits. I am thinking of getting these in the hi-top version in black, white and grey and then potentially getting the lo version ones in white and black. These just add a little extra to the standard converse and will help outfits stand out that little bit more.

Converse 

I am also planning on adding 4 pairs of  classic Converse into my rotation over time as I feel you just can't beat the classics. The plan is 2 hi-top pairs and 2 lo pairs in both black and white to keep me covered for all outfits. Converse are simple to style and are great all year round so it is about time they become an essential in my rotation once more.

Vans Authentic's

Surprisingly I have never owned a pair of Vans Authentic's but it is about to change, granted these may not be the best for autumn & winter however, I would love to own a pair for spring & summer. Again keeping it simple with these I think just a standard black pair will do the trick and be super easy to style due to their simple silhouette. 

Adidas Samba's

A pair of the OG Samba's is also very high up on the wish list as I have come to realise that they are worth it for the price as you can easily dress them up or down. Again perfect for all year round and with jeans or trousers, I would just need to make sure I don't fall into the trap of wearing them every day. I definitely have plenty of outfits in mind for with these though so could they be one of the first purchases?

Nike P-6000's

Now I am going to be hopefully attending a lot of football matches for the 26/27 season so I want to make sure I have one pair of street wear style trainers that are going to be comfortable if I am walking around or if I just want to go for a more relaxed sort of style those days. I can't stop looking at the P-6000's they just look fantastic and would look great with some baggier jeans for the more relaxed fit, the only issue is there are a few too many colourway options out there. 

Common Project Achilles 

The Achilles are certainly more expensive than any other trainers I have ever bought however, I would absolutely love a pair of these in the all white as you always need an all white trainer in your rotation and this pair just keeps things looking smart rather than too casual which the Nike's I have had before usually would. I also love the suede version of these just to mix things up a bit too but do I risk it for the cost? The white pair are a definite want though for sure.

Axel Arigato Trainers 

Again these are on the pricy side of things however, these are just a bit more of a casual all white trainer which would help dress outfits up or down. I feel like you can never have too many pairs of white trainers so I guess it is time to start picking up those pairs I really want no matter what the cost is. I might actually use these as a reward for hitting a goal I have set myself to help me with the cost.

Ralph Lauren Heritage Courts

I have had a pair of these trainers in the past and honestly they were one of my favourite pairs as they were much smarter than the more sporty brands I had. These were so easy to style and lasted a very long time even though I wore them nearly every day until they eventually got worse for wear. These are certainly a pair I want to add back into my rotation going forward so let's see how that goes.

Birkenstock Boston

I got a pair of dupe Boston's from Sainsbury's of all places 2 years ago and it is safe to say I can now justify picking up a real pair. I got the dupes to see if I would actually get wear out of them and let's just say I have worn them to death, they are starting to fall apart. The plan is to have a pair of the Birkenstock's in my rotation by Spring 2027 as I just know they will go with the outfits I have in mind.

Dr Martens Shoes

I have been debating getting a pair of these shoes for a while now but have always put it off as I have let people around me talk me out of them. That isn't happening anymore though and the plan is to get a nice pair of their black shoes that again I can dress up or down. Again these may seem expensive however, I can wear them for work, days out and any events I have coming up and they will certainly work well for autumn and winter. I just need to try a pair on before making a final decision.

Dr Martens Lowell Moc Toe

Now these are 100% different to what I would usually wear but I am determined to add a pair to my rotation as I haven't stopped looking at them for months now. To be totally different I am also looking at getting these in the cherry colourway just for something to mix things up a bit with outfits. I feel like these could be a risk that could turn into a most worn pair but let me try a pair on and see I guess.

Dr Martens Loafers

I have the Adrian bar loafers however, I want to add a pair of the tassel loafers into my rotation too. These have been another pair that have been on my radar for a while now and it is finally time to pick them up. I love how simple these are and I know they would work really well with a lot of outfits I have in mind. With the gold bar ones I already have I feel they could be used for smarter fits whilst the tassel ones could be day to day.

Timberland Boat Shoes

These are another pair where I got a kind of dupe to see if I would get my wear out of them and let's just say I can now justify picking these up. I love my Next ones I currently have however, the goal is to pick up the Timberland ones and get plenty of wear out of them all year round. I just love the look of these and know that with the trousers I plan to wear they could become a staple pair.

Duke & Dexter Loafers

I am not sure what it is with Duke & Dexter loafers but I absolutely love them. They just seem so unique and playful so I think it is about time I add a pair into my rotation. I absolutely love the 'thank you, good night' pair they have which are simple with a small bit of detail and I would happily add these into my rotation however, I think if I get any pair it is going to have to be the cherry pair. These are just super out there to what I am used to but I think they could work really well for dressing up a little bit. For the cost though I might have to weigh up the options with these.

Aurelien Loafers

Now these are expensive compared to other pairs I have had however, I am determined to have these by summer 2027. I am totally in my loafer era and these would work so well for the warmer weather and the outfits I am planning on picking up for next summer when my wardrobe needs rebuilding. These are just perfect for those dressier outfits home or away and I know that they would last me a long time as I have heard great things about their quality.

Aurelien City Loafer

We are finishing off with another pair of loafers and this time it is a pair of city ones as the silhouette just adds an extra detail to the shoe which would ideally work all year round with numerous pieces of my wardrobe going forward. Again these are on the expensive side of things however, I know that as I rebuild my wardrobe they would come in super handy for tying outfits together, I am thinking of saving up and picking up a dark & lighter pair of these just to provide me with different options for different occassions.

Just like with the wardrobe this really isn't going to be an overnight thing and I will be taking my time to really think about the purchases going forward so I am only buying just what I need and I think a general rule is going to be each pair bought has to go with at least 3 outfits to make sure I am going to get my wear out of them. I guess I should get saving and get decluttering the shoes I already have to make space for the new pairs going forward. With autumn & winter coming up I guess I need to think practically for those first pick ups. Want to see what I end up buying? Keep an eye on here as I document the upgrades I am finally making.

See you soon 

Lucy

 

I have finally realised that my style doesn't really fit into one aesthetic and I am good with that. Sometimes I might want to put effort into an outfit and look a bit more put together where as other times I might want to opt for a more casual outfit with a bit of a streetwear vibe. I am planning on finally dressing for me going forward too and that means leaning into the tomboy/androgynous style I have always loved at long last and see what I can make work for me. For once I am going to stop letting other peoples opinions put me off wearing certain clothing and I am going to start buying what I like and wearing those items.

My wardrobe needs a massive overhaul going forward and the plan is to get that done ASAP so that I can start buying new clothing to fit the style I am aiming for and which will actually be suitable for when the weather begins to change which will be happening very soon here in the UK. Recently I have sat down and made note of the sort of items I want to add into my wardrobe over time and let's just say it is an extensive list which is going to need to be narrowed down over time however, here is a list of those items I am hoping to add into my wardrobe ASAP...

Rugby Shirts

I am seeing rugby shirts absolutely everywhere right now and I am loving it! I have always loved a good rugby style top so the plan is to have a shop around and maybe pick up some long and short sleeved versions for as the weather changes. I am hoping I can get a plain one, a striped one and even a graphic one but I guess we will see what fits best.

M&S Oversized T-Shirts

I got a white one of these a few months ago and it is the best white t-shirt I have ever had as it is nice and thick so you can't see through it. This was around £15 when I bought it which for the quality I think is fantastic so the plan is to get another fresh white one to add into rotation and then add a black one in and possible another colour too. These are just ideal for layering and are great basics.

Bound T-Shirts

I am obsessed with the company Bound and I have heard great things about the clothing they have to offer so my plan is to have a trip across to Manchester and see what I can pick up. I definitely want their Philadelphia Eagles t-shirt and a few more basics along with a striped option they have as I feel these could become a key part of my football matchday fits.

Exhibit-U Polo

This has been on my wish list for a while as I just love how simple it looks whilst also being more on the stylish side. This would again be an ideal piece for football matchdays that could be dressed up or down and help keep me warm as the weather starts to change. This is definitely on the more expensive side of things however, it looks like it would be worth it.

Exhibit-U Resort Shirt

Colt Mcr Mohair Polo

Now I am absolutely in love with this polo as it is just so different and to be honest since the first time I saw it online I have been planning different ways to style this item and let's just say I have a lot of ideas in mind. Again at £60 it is on the more expensive side of things especially as I am losing weight however, I think it would be perfect for work and day to day in the upcoming autumn and winter months.

Colt Mcr Social Club Flannel

If you have followed the site for a while you will know that I love a good flannel shirt for autumn fits and this one ticks all the boxes for me. I already have outfits in mind for how I would style this so I think an order needs to go in ASAP. This would even look great bigger when I have lost some weight so it will last longer than other items on this list & I would certainly get my wear out of it.

Whilst I am doing the wardrobe rebuild I need to remind myself I am on a weight loss journey too to ensure I am not spending a fortune on clothing that may only last me a few months as I really start to make progress on my weight loss at last. Lets see what I can pick up before the end of year and let's get back into some fashion & styling content shall we. 

There is no chance every item on this list is going to be purchased as I may try some bits on and just find they don't fit me right or suit that overall style so it is definitely going to be an interesting journey we go on to build this new wardrobe. I just need to remember the clothing is mainly for work or football so it needs to suit the situation.

See you soon

Lucy