t*rexes and tiaras

and it was all yellow..

2012-01-30T16:52:00.001Z

dress + tights: primark

cardi + blouse: h&m

belt: clothing at tesco

i have a night walk planned this evening with my guides, so took that into consideration as i was getting ready this morning; i piled on some layers, and have taken some more with me to add this evening..

i decided to start with the thermal tights - if you haven't yet invested in a pair of these from primark, i would totally recommend them; i've never known any other tights to be so warm! everything else was added to kind of go together..i even have my favourite pair of shorts on under the dress, for extra warmth..

not much other news really, still feeling ill with my cold and have had a fairly uneventful, but productive weekend in terms of spring cleaning and having a sort-out..

little princess in a terrible mess..

2012-01-29T09:18:00.000Z

coat: oasis (christmas gift)

brooch: vintage shop in liverpool's bluecoat building

dress: miso (republic)

brogues: henry holland via ebay

another outfit post from earlier in the week - i feel as though i've hardly posted any outfits for ages - i don't seem to have taken very many photos recently anyway!

one trend i wasn't all that convinced with was brogues..i'm usually a fan of a much more girly shoe, and since the whole point of brogues seems to be to give a nod to the mannish-footwear trend, you can imagine they've never been top of my 'need' list..but recently i've had to part with a couple of my most trusty pairs of flat shoes, having worn them out in fairly critical places, so that, plus the fact that this pair was going for a few pounds on ebay, made me think i'd bite the bullet and place a bid..i won them for £5.50 all in, and i think they've been worth that already..

having never had a pair of henry holland shoes before, i wasn't sure how they would fit, but i've had no problems with the comfort of these, and have worn them for two full days recently without any rubbing or anything - the mark of a good shoe in my book!

here i decided to pair them with a wool dress which i bought years ago from republic, drawn to the princess and the unicorn print, no doubt..i'd tried it on and decided it was probably too short to get away with wearing with heels, and have always been a fan of mixing pink and grey, so it was brogues to the rescue..

and the newest addition to my fab pink coat; this triceratops brooch was just £5 in a tiny vintage shop which myself, alex and helen popped into after our trip to the tate last week..i literally could not leave the shop without it..

just like the clouds, my eyes will do the same if you walk away..

2012-01-28T08:45:00.000Z

skirt + vest: primark

cardigan: h+m

tights + shoes: new look

as the rain looks to be pretty much set in for the weekend, i'm glad i haven't got much planned..i'm still feeling under the weather, and the spring cleanin bug has hit, so i have plenty to keep me occupied in clearing out wardrobes, cupboards and space under the bed..

i also have plenty of letters to write, and parcels to respond to - this was a lovely sight to greet me on my doormat the other day though; i do love to receive nice post, such a change from the boring bills and suchlike..

outfit from earlier in the week as i suspect most of my weekend will be spent in various sets of pjs..i love these heels and have worn them so much after tracking them down in new look..after all the wear, combined with some weight loss, they are a little too big for my feet now; does anyone have any insole suggestions, as i would like to keep wearing them if i can but noticed they had gotten a bit loose..

the skirt was a recent £3 primark sale-rail pick, which i am quite pleased with..it's colour lends itself rather nicely to the palette of my all-time favourite ever cardigan, a h&m beauty which on a cost-per-wear value must work out at one of the best items i've ever purchased!

anyone else set for a weekend of 'life laundry'?

friday favourites 009..

2012-01-27T15:38:00.000Z

teacup bracelet, £40

floral key necklace, £29

today's friday favourites post is a little different, inspired by the beautiful lookbook which landed on my doormat earlier in the week from hannah zakari, a website where you can find all kind of cute pieces at a price to suit your budget..

it was full of pretty pictures and some of the gorgeous pieces which are available on the site at the moment and i've picked out a few of my favourites here, but it was tough to choose these out of so many lovely and varied items..the lego necklaces excited me, and i would happily find a home for every single item in the 'french fancies' range (including the macaron ring below), and i think my ears are just crying out for a pair of the tiny tart earrings..cute, or what?!

as for the ones i have pictured, i would love to wear an actual section of a vintage teacup on my wrist - recycling at it's best if you ask me..i figure one of these will probably be winging it's way to me shortly after payday...

what is your favourite piece on the site?

macaron ring, £18

hello new shoes, bye bye them blues..

2012-01-26T17:39:00.000Z

Since i first heard about the sarenza ambassador competition, i've been trying to find the words to explain, but I really can't pinpoint when my love of shoes first made itself known..For as long as i can recall, i've always been a 'shoes person'; expensive, designer handbags have never been my cup of tea, I'd opt for a pretty pair of shoes every time! When I was little, I used to long for a pair of jelly sandals with the cute little heels and glitter, and would dress up in my mums heels pretending I was a princess..

Anyone who knows me knows this love is no secret - at the last count I had enough pairs of shoes to wear a different pair every day of the year, and the collection is still growing..Come to think of it, even those people who don't know me that well at all, refer to me as "the girl with the shoes"..I like to take this as a compliment, as I'm quite proud of my collection..As someone who has often struggled with self-confidence, I can confirm that there is nothing else like the feeling of confidence you get from walking into a room with a pair of heels on..Often people don't think that they could make such a difference, but they do!

Irregular Choice have always been one of my favourite brands, and come payday I can often be found scouring the web for more pairs from the perpetual wishlist of all of the styles I would love to own..This pair of Burlesque Beauty is top of my current list - the mix of patterns and colours grabs your attention, and yet they keep to a rather restrained palette of blues, which i think makes them perfectly acceptable office-wear..The corsage detail on the front, along with the floral print fabric make me think spring is on it's way, and of course the trademark printed sole is eye-wateringly beautiful..

I know they'll be an absolute dream to wear; Irregular Choice have gone for a tried-and-tested courtesan style which they've been using for years (much to my delight, I can wear a pair for hours with no bother at all, and they are such a flattering shape!). Add to that fact that they are currently on the Sarenza sale with 10% and the bargain-hunting section of my brain is trying to tell the rest of it to stop writing this post and click over to the 'add to basket' button..!

Yes, maybe I do have enough shoes to wear a different pair every day for a year, but isn't 2012 a leap year?!

brb

2012-01-25T09:55:00.001Z

i was trying to get a post done for today at least, but have woken to my cold being so much worse that it was yesterday..my head is spinning, so i'm hoping to go home before i'm sick (again)..i'll be back when i'm feeling a bit better and will hopefully catch up on my 'to read' list then..apologies..

run rabbit run..

2012-01-24T13:00:00.001Z

i have worn this top fairly recently, but when i received these topshop velvet sandals for christmas from my sister it was the first thing which sprung to my mind to wear them with..i picked this robot necklace up in the sale in topshop at the weekend, too..

rabbit print top, cardigan: h&m

pencil skirt: dorothy perkins

velvet sandals: topshop

robot necklace: topshop sale

don't tell me you love me, and act like you don't..

2012-01-22T14:27:00.000Z

casual days seem to be happening more and more frequently as a result of the recent weather - when i get up and it's a horrible cold morning; one of those where you know you are going to have to scrape the ice from the windscreen before you can see anything, i seem to feel more inclined to layer up some thick tights and a jumper, and (crazily enough) some shorts..i definitely find that i have worn more shorts over the autumn / winter than i would do in the summer, but i wonder if that'll change this summer, now that my love for them seems to have grown..

this poodle jumper was something i picked up in a vintage shop in london, but was always a little bit snug; probably not the most wise purchase at the time, but i felt a lot more comfortable in it when i wore it here..

jumper: vintage shop in seven dials // shorts: clothing at tesco // tights: new look

versatile blogger tag

2012-01-21T14:55:00.000Z

i was recently awarded this versatile blogger award from helen, who blogs at half the world away and is lovely, and also from the fabulous hazel from tales of a little hazzelnut , so thank you both for tagging me !

after thanking the people who sent it my way, the rules state i have to share seven facts about myself, so here goes..

i can't stand cucumber, or melon - if i eat either of them, they make me physically sick..
i love to be by the seaside, even if it's crappy weather there's something about it which makes me feel so relaxed..
i would love a tortoise - i've wanted one for as long as i can remember
i like writing and receiving letters, well anything nice through the post really, and have made many penpal friends through blogging - if anyone else would like to exchange post, get in touch! :)
my favourite colour is currently mustard, although it changes a lot..
i can speak french and spanish fairly well..
i can't go to sleep without the window open - even if it's -6 outside..

i know that i'm quite late to the parade with this one, so instead of tagging anyone specifically, i will leave it open to anyone who hasn't yet been tagged, and look forward to finding out more about you!

where the eagles fly, on a mountain high..

2012-01-20T10:40:00.002Z

striped oversized tee: primark

mustard heels: primark

pencil skirt: primark ( £1)

eagle ring: topshop sale

an almost entirely primark outfit today..not sure about the fit of the tshirt, i know it's meant to be over-sized, but there's something about this kind of fit which always makes me feel a bit elephantine..and i was worried that the faded stripes could end up looking a little bit casual, so i added a pencil skirt and heels to pick out some of the colours, and popped off to the office with my new little feathered friend gracing my finger..

any exciting weekend plans about..? i'm looking forward to a lovely couple of days in liverpool to take my mind off this week's stresses...

also, if you're feeling lucky, dee is holding a lovely giveaway over at her blog, pearls, lace and ruffles, so head on over and enter...

random act of kindness swap

2012-01-19T16:26:00.000Z

following a twitter conversation a few days ago, i've agreed to arrange a 'RAK' swap here at t*rexes and tiaras..if you'd like an idea of how it works, Leanne arranged one over on her blog a little while ago..basically everyone who signs up to take part will be paired up with another blogger, and send them a parcel of kindness..if you'd like to sign up, please either leave a comment, or, if you prefer, email me with the following details:

Full name:
Age:
Country of Residence:
Favourite colour:
Favourite make-up brand:
Hobbies:
Email address:
Blog URL:
Twitter name:

the closing date for signing up will be 29th january, and i'll pair you up by 31st jan and let you know who you're partners are..then you need to get in contact, check out their blogs and decide what you'll be sending, and get your parcels off to them by 14th feb please..

the spend limit for your parcels is £10, (this doesn't include the postage)..please let me know when you have sent your parcel, and when you have received it..

but rumour has it I'm the one you're leaving her for..

2012-01-18T16:38:00.001Z

dress: new look

top, belt. tights, socks: primark

well the tiredness doesn't seem to be getting any better, i had very little sleep last night as my back seems to be aching a lot at the moment and i was struggling to get comfortable, although i did manage to crack on with quite a few of the things on my to-do list..i seem to function much better with a list!

this was an outfit from my weekend, another nod towards my love of all things mustard - i can't seem to get enough of these socks, and then something reminded me of this top i picked up recently, which is a cobweb style knit..i thought i could layer it over this floral dress from new look, and added a new belt as i thought it needed cinching in a bit..

anyone else in a total spring cleaning mood already? i have my sights set on getting some of my stuff cleared out in readiness for a car boot sale in a couple of weeks' time..

the hardest part is letting go of your dreams..

2012-01-17T16:38:00.001Z

floral vest, turtle necklace + skirt: primark // cardigan: new look // leggings: h+m

another typical weekend outfit; a little more clashy and a little more crazy than during the week, although not really that different i guess..

apologies for the lack of wordiness, i seem to be ridiculously tired, courtesy of a couple of nights of next-to-no sleep, and a never-ending to-do list following a rather frustrating morning of heavy meeting content, but i hope to be back to my usual rambly self asap !

500th post giveaway winner

2012-01-16T16:41:00.001Z

thank you all for entering, (and for taking the time to read what i have to say on here)..
congratulations to... Alice from An Alien World and i will get your pirzes to you asap :)

everybody wants to be a cat..

2012-01-15T13:00:00.000Z

cat print blouse: primark

skirt: matalan

heels: office

i was talking to a friend a while ago, and she suggested i probably had enough animal print clothes to open up a wardrobe zoo, which amused me..this is the friend who i bought rollerskates for for christmas, so as you get an idea of our mental ages..

but here is one of the shirts she pointed out when we last went to the shops, which she suggested i should add to my wardrobe zoo! i rather like it.

my giveaway finishes in the morning, don't forget to enter..

saturday wait, and sunday always comes too late..

2012-01-14T09:57:00.000Z

shorts: red herring at debenhams

top: zara

cardigan, tights : new look

gosh, doesn't the weekend roll around quickly..well this one seems to have to me, anyway..maybe because i've been looking forward to it after a few annoying days at work..

i'm looking forward to a weekend of swimming, fabric-shopping and seeing friends, and have little else planned - i'm trying hard to cut my work worries down to week-days only this year!

this was my outfit from last saturday, i bought the top from zara years ago (one of my very few purchases ever from zara, i tend to find it hard to spot anything i like!) but have hardly ever worn it as i wasn't really all that confident with sheer fabrics, but i'm getting a bit better now..

these cord shorts were one of the few 'sales' purchases i have made this year; from the red herring section in debenhams as i had a voucher which ran out before new year..i wasn't sure whether to go for a size up, but decided not to and i'm not sure if i feel a bit fat in them..

hope everyone has lovely weekend activities planned..

nothing but a hound dog..

2012-01-13T14:43:00.002Z

cardigan: river island (jan 2011)

necklace: dorothy perkins

pencil skirt: primark sale (£1)

blouse and heels: matalan

even though it wasn't in the sale, i couldn't resist this blouse on my last trip to matalan..sheer, but not to sheer to need another layer underneath, and a cute little sausage dog print - what's not to love?!

i paired it with a pencil skirt i picked up from the sale rail in primark on my way to the till last time i was in there, which rung up at £1 - bargain! yes it's basic, but it fits and i thought it would do to pair with some of my more quirky prints..

also added the shoes i picked up from matalan at the same time as the blouse, and a river island sale purchase cardigan from last year, for a typical day at the office..

have you entered my giveaway yet? it runs 'til monday and you could win a penguin necklace just like this one..

there's a million other girls who do it just like you..

2012-01-12T16:15:00.002Z

dress: oasis

cardigan: laura ashley

heels: primark

i was told by my mum yesterday that this is a 'typical char' outfit..(i think she's been a bit concerned at the sheer quantity of shorts-outfits i've been coming out with recently, suprised she hasn't checked to see if i had a temperature!)..

i suppose she's right; floral dress, cardigan and some pretty shoes are the components of my fall-back outfit..i love all of these particular components and there's just something about an outfit you are happy with, which seems to make the day go a little better, or is that just me..?

also, you have until monday to enter my giveaway, if you haven't already..

well i'm just waiting for my chance to come..

2012-01-11T12:14:00.000Z

i quite like hat - in fact, i have something of a collection of them..they are something i always seem to be drawn to when shopping and yet, i don't often wear them..i'm not sure what it is about a hat which makes me so self-conscious; yes, they are an immediately-noticeable addition to your outfit, but no more so than, say, a pair of irregular choice heels, which i'd wear without a second thought..

so when i was thinking of what to put with this cute little h&m dress, i remembered my trusty blue bowler (also h&m, a long while ago) and figured i would brave it, pick out the blue in some of the bird print..and i did wear it to work..i may have taken it off and put it on the hat-stand for the majority of the day, but too and from the office it was on my head..that counts, right? ok, i must try harder..

pretty pretty please..

2012-01-10T12:08:00.002Z

during a clear-out at the weekend i dug out this dress, bought years ago from the primark sale rail for a measly £3, and remembered that last time i tried it on i couldn't cope with the way it fit (mainly how snug it was around the bum / thighs area)..so i thought i'd give it another chance, try it on, and if it was no good i'd list it up for sale..i kind of like it now, although it does have a frustrating habit of riding up a bit..

usually i'd wear it with flats due to the length, but i figured that with black tights, maybe i could get away with black shoes, and thought i'd give my latest primark pair an outing..i picked up this pair of black suede-feel platform mary janes for £16 which i was pleased with as i have fancied a plain black pair of heels ever since my glittery ones started falling apart..

and finally - a christmas gift i had failed to mention thus far - this beautiful pink dolly coat from oasis, which i beelined towards in the store when i first saw it, and my mum offered to buy me for christmas..i love the shape, and the buttons, and obviously the bright colour..the perfect shade of pink?

500th post giveaway

2012-01-09T11:23:00.003Z

good morning, and happy monday..i realised recently that i was coming up to my 500th post here, and thought what better way to chase away the january blues than to hold a little giveaway, as a thank you to all of the lovely folks who follow and read and have become friends through my little blog..

the prize:

blue sparkly scarf
'house rules' by jodi picoult (which i recently posted a review of here)
barry m coral nail paint
tiny manicure set
dorothy perkins penguin necklace (just like the one i wore in my ootd post here)
matryoshka notecard set
silver gel pen
tin of bath salts
black / white notebook

how to enter:

you must be a follower of the blog
leave a comment with a way to contact you - either email or twitter is fine
closing date for entries will be 11.30am monday 16th january 2012

good luck, and thank you for reading..here's to the next 500 posts!

i'll take these storms away, start a brand new story..

2012-01-08T11:59:00.000Z

penguin necklace: dorothy perkins (ended up with two of these at xmas!)

cardigan: tu // rabbit print peter pan top: h&m

tights, socks, pumps: primark // shorts: clothing at tesco

although i haven't done one myself (due to lack of organisation - note one of my resolutions this year will be to be more organised in my day-to-day life), i have been reading a lot of 'year in style' or 'outfit roundup' posts, which got me thinking about how my style choices have changed over the past year..

i think the main change is that i seem to have completely embraced shorts - i now have quite a collection, and they used to be a garment which i never would have considered! i can't recall what brought on the change to be honest, but this is one of my favourite pairs, and the cost:wear ratio must be close to zero on them now..this was my 'casual yet practical back to work outfit' as i knew i would be crawling around on the floor untangling fairy lights, putting down the xmas decorations and having a general spring clean..

not quite managed to get a picture of the socks in full view, but another thing i seem to have embraced more recently is socks..this time last year i had one pair of long socks, and three pairs of regular ones which served as gym attire..recently i must have a least doubled that, if not tripled the size of my collection, and i have been liking them over socks, with a pair of flat boots or shoes..i've not quite braved socks with heels yet as i get all self-conscious about my calves when i try it, but maybe someday...

don't get me wrong, i'm still a dresses and high heels girl at heart, and that will never fully change, but it's been nice to have a bit of a change..how has your style changed over the past year?

but that's just me, before we met..

2012-01-07T11:33:00.000Z

cosy knitted layers - what more does a relaxed weekend need in weather like we've been getting recently ? i wore this outfit last weekend to meet up with my favourite girls for lunch, and a late exchange of xmas presents on new year's eve..

this dress is an old favourite, and has had a lot of wear recently, and i figured it would go with the wooly h&m leggings i got for christmas from my mum., along with this pink cardigan (also h&m) which is so lovely and thick with a bit of a mohair-y feel to it..

i picked this pair of topshop socks (i think they're meant to be slipper-socks as they have the rubber dots underneath) up in the sale about a year ago, and they went nicely into my boots and kept me toasty-warm all day..i love layers!

p.s - one of my resolutions this year is to download more music - it's been embarrassingly long since i last updated my ipod with anything new, so i'm always looking for suggestions if you have any..

one day i know i'll feel home again..

2012-01-06T10:32:00.001Z

matalan purchases : papaya belted chinos, sausage dog print blouse, floral prom dress, velvet and glitter heels

dress: matalan // shoes: matalan // cardigan: tu clothing

heart tights - xmas present from the lovely eloise

i decided to pop into matalan after the gym on tuesday evening and see if they had anything exciting in their sale, and was very excited with what i came out with (not that two of them were in the sale, ahem, but still bargainous)..

i couldn't wait to wear the dress - i have had this style in different fabric and totally loved it, but after losing some weight they've had to be sold on, so i was very excited when i saw this print, and managed to nab one which fits perfectly..

and as for the shoes, they were a total bargain - £10, and velvet, and bows, and glitter - what more could you need ? forget dress-down friday, i'm inventing 'dress up friday' as i realised i hadn't worn any heels yet in 2012, and that just won't do...!

have you had any sale bargains recently..?

to make the floods seem still..

2012-01-05T15:08:00.002Z

knitted dress: 'tsega' (via local boutique)

boots: office (via ebay)

so it's that hilarious time of year again, where the river bursts it's banks where i live, and seems to send all of the people who live in my building into a blind panic and abandon their vehicles however they choose to, regardless of whether that contravenes the numerous notices or not..

anyway, rant over and i was kind of thinking of some flood-friendly footwear to go with this knitted dress..at the moment it seems to be cold enough in my office to wear knitted dresses, so i'm making the most of it - usually i get far too warm in wool! and i came across these red boots squirrelled away in the bottom of one of the wardrobes, and figured they would be ok for prancing through puddles..it's not quite bad enough for wellies yet!

p.s: secret santa update : as far as i can work out, everyone who took part in the bloggers' secret santa received their present - if that's not the case, pleeease let me know and i'll track your package down if i can.. but i'd like to say thank you very much to all 32 of you who signed up and took part :)

have yourself a merry little christmas..

2012-01-04T16:44:00.000Z

vintage cups and saucers, paperchase diary, cath kidston pjs, robot shower gel

river island squirrel suitcase, robot matryoshka dolls, colour in dinosaur, dino stationery set, dustpan and brush, h&m leggings

lots of pretty jewellery and chocolate coins - made me think of pirate treasure!

kurt geiger 'kiki' heels, topshop 'luxury' velvet sandals, JPG classique parfum, accessorize clutch bag, roboto notebook and hook, cake fridge magnets, mirror with my name on

paperchase letter set, notebook, honey (!), owl purse, new coffee mug, vintage bowls, nail polish, pin cushion and pretty charm and panda necklace

i know it's probably too far in the past now to have a festive title to my post, but hey ho..

according to some of the posts i've read over the past week or so, readers seem to be divided on whether to love or hate these types of posts, but i for one love to be nosey at everyone else's christmas presents, so here are some of the lovely things i was lucky enough to open on the day!

rabbit hearted girl..

2012-01-02T08:43:00.000Z

i was having a bit of a dilemma about what could wear the rabbit print waistcoat / jacket i picked up in the bullring at forever 21..i saw this mustard dress in primark, and although not usually the kind of shape i'd usually go for, i was drawn to the peter pan collar and the bow which ties at the neck, and i hoped it would go with this knit,..

as i ended up with a day off on friday, i threw them on for a morning of errands, swimming, and dropping off the last few presents, befotre racing home to meet my friend for a casual wander around the shops..i was amazed at how quiet the place was, considering it was the day before xmas eve..we were pretty relaxed as we had no actual presents left to buy, but she was off to france for xmas, and wanted to find soemthing to wear on christmas day..the only annoying part was that her grumpy friend (who doesn't like me, although i'm not sure quite why) was in a bit of a sulky mood, and then decided she wanted to go home halfway around the centre, as she had received a better offer..so we did take her home, and then continue with our quest around my home town instead, and managed to find what she was looking for, so that was a success of sorts..

other than trying to find the topshop heart shoes, which i saw, buot in my size, i have to admit i didn't really see anything that i will be hitting the sales to go back for..anyone else planning any sale shopping..?

cardigan: forever 21

dress and tights: 'primark

you would even say it glowed..

2012-01-01T08:18:00.000Z

given how disappointing i have found them in recent months, i thought it was only fair to point out how impressed i was with asos for a change - i ordered this 'stag print blazer' on the thursday before xmas, and it turned up using the regular free delivery option on xmas eve, so only two days! i don't find that their orders usually turn up that quickly, so hadn't been expecting to see it until after christmas..i figured this was a nice boxing day outfit though..

blazer: asos

shorts: red herring

tights and socks: primark

button-front vest: h&m

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas..

2011-12-31T07:50:00.000Z

this was my outfit for christmas day with the family..the dress came from a charity shop (and cost £5.99) several years ago, but i had never worn it, so i dragged it out on saturday evening and realised i would have to alter it a little to make it fit - i was still told all day that my dress was too big, in between the comments about how much weight i had lost and therefore how i must not be eating properly (my family are so annoying)

anyway, i think it's a vintage monsoon one, and i figured that the colours were fairly festive - when i started to get a bit cold i had to borrow a navy cardigan from my mum..all in all the day was much better than i had anticipate; certain people have a tendency to drink too much and become fairly vile, but that wasn't too prevelent on sunday, whcih i was thankful for, and other than the constant comments and attempts to get me to eat things, i had a nice day.. i was very lucky and received some lovely presents, which i will no doubt share here..

last christmas i wrapped it up and sent it..

2011-12-30T07:57:00.000Z

i have to admit that in the run -up to christmas i have been quite busy - especially in the last week what with pantomimes, carol services and shows to arrange trips to, as well as my more regular things like sewing lessons..

and yet the one thing which i never seemed to be able to tackle from the long list of 'to do' was actually getting around to the wrapping of the last of my presents..i had sent a lot of them, so all of those were wrapped a while ago, but the ones i would be taking with me on cmas eve just seemed to sit around in a pile, waiting to be wrapped..does anyone else find that they seem to put certain things off, or just not get round to something as they are filling their time with soemthing else? i just felt like i wasn't getting anything done on cmas eve, although i was expected at the parents' house so knew i would eventually have to do it..

i'm thinking that i need a 'be more organised' type of new year resolution though, or at least a way to avoid leaving things to the last minute, whcih i seem to do all too frequently..any suggestions?

london's calling..

2011-12-29T15:29:00.000Z

nothing wrong with a bit of pattern clashing, right?!

coat: white stuff // dress: dorothy perkins // cardi: h&m // tights: primark // headband: gift

i can't afford a bigger world but baby i'm reliable..

2011-12-28T15:41:00.000Z

i hope we are all ready for some more (of the same) shorts - i seem to be well and truly wearing these to their most full potential, but i do really like them ! i thought i'd give this pair of primark tights a try, and i received a lot of compliments on them, i think the colour goes rather well to pick out the colour in the shorts, so that's all good..

bird print shirt: new look // shorts: clothing at tesco // tights, shoes and cardigan: primark

tuesday titles 004..

2011-12-27T07:53:00.000Z

i know i am going to start sounding like a broken record, but i picked this book up in a charity shop a couple of weeks ago, and have read it in a day - i'm rather loving using my time off to do some proper, uninterrupted reading..

Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult..

this is one of picoult's earlier titles, and tells the tale of Paige, a gifted artist, who leaves home one night at sixteen after committing a terrible sin..
she finds herself a new life, and meets Nicholas - an ambitious student doctor, from a wealthy family background, working every hour sent in his attempt to make it as a cardiac surgeon..their marriage comes with some problems, as Nicholas'
parents disapprove of his choice so much that they cut off all his financial support, and Nicholas struggles to come to terms with their financial situation, and puts himself under pressure to afford the big house he is expected to live in as a cardiac surgeon..Paige struggles to fit in with the other surgeons' wives at functions and dinner parties, and then when she has the baby, finds herself struggling with the first few months of motherhood, so much so that she begins to consider ways to get herself out of the situation..

i like that the premise of this book is so relatable - it's a fairly common fact that 80% of new mothers suffer from some level of post-natal depression, and the cracks which seem to appear in Paige and Nicholas' marriage, as a result of the new baby, seem to fit in well with most people's experiences of a first child, no matter how prepared or well-adjusted they may think they are..although Paige's thoughts about her baby and some of her actions may seem shocking and extreme, i did read it wondering just how far removed from the 'real picture' this actually was..

if yuo're lost when you close your eyes i'll meet you there..

2011-12-26T16:04:00.000Z

owl mittens : dorothy perkins

necklace: charity shop // dress: local boutique

horse jumper: tesco clothing // beret: primark

coat: next (gift) // bag: river island

tights and socks: primark // boots: office

the recent chilly weather calls for lots of layers, right..? i almost had kittens in my excitement when i spotted this pair of owl mittens in dotty p's when i was in town with alex recently..i also bought a matching hat, and they didn't even cost me 'real money' as i had a purseful of vouchers to spend..

i wore this outfit to go out for coffee with the parents / little sis in the run-up to christmas; i just kept on adding layers until i was happy with it..i really love this dress, and layering socks over tights seems to be my new favourite !

as this goes live i will no doubt be trying to swim off the stupid amounts of food my family have tried to force-feed me over the past couple of days..

i'm dreaming of a white christmas..

2011-12-24T15:59:00.000Z

a quick outfit post from the other day..

dress: laura ashley

cardi: peacocks (ebay)

shoes: office

guides uniform added later for an event i had to attend..

happy christmas eve..

friday favourites 008..

2011-12-23T10:30:00.000Z

i guess with the big day so close, it seems only right to do another friday favourites post, this time with the things i would love to unwrap when christmas arrives..

1: topshop giggles court shoes, £58

2: oasis pink dolly coat, £45

1: i love these topshop shoes, but i don't think there is much chance of me finding them wrapped up for me, as they don't seem to have them in my size anywhere..i checked the store in the hope i could spend my recent vouchers on them, but no luck and they couldn't order them in for me..booo..but i'm keeping my hopes up for the january sales..

2: if you're not a girly girl, you may not appreciate this next choice - the barbie pink shade was what first caused me to beeline towards this lovely oasis coat and i know i have quite a lot of coats, but i don't have a pink one..yet...!

what's on your wishlist for christmas..?

presents under the tree..

2011-12-22T12:46:00.003Z

tights: primark

cardigan: tu clothing

dress: ebay

heels: charity shop

well i decided to try and be a little festive and crack open this pair of mustard tights which i picked up recently in primark..and how excited was i to find that they are 'microfibre' ones, so they're lined with fleece inside - my legs have never been so toasty, and what a bargain at £3.50..they may be a little brighter than i had originally realised, but it's almost christmas so i guess that's ok.. has anyone else stumbled upon these?!

i'm still blatantly nowhere near prepared for the big day, i feel pretty bad as i had meant to visit my best friends last weekend but didn't make it there due to being in so much pain with my stomach, so i haven't managed to get their presents to them before xmas (i'm really sorry if you read this, girls)..

i haven't really wrapped anything yet (other than the ones i have already sent / given, obv)..i need to get that done on saturday before heading over to the family in the evening..i also need to make my sister up some new pjs for the big night - she only requested them on tuesday!!

off to a sewing lesson this evening, which i am looking forward to, except i have to go on a 'button mission' at lunchtime, as i couldn't find five which matched in size / colour at home..

i turn my head, learned only to see some memory, but all i see is red..

2011-12-20T11:02:00.001Z

despite last night's carol service (which went much better than i'd anticipated!), and the fact that i'm off to see the panto this evening, i'm still not really feeling the christmas cheer that seems to have taken over the rest of the world..i'm hoping that this reindeer cardigan holds the key, and therefore will be wearing it out this week ! :)worn with vivien of holloway dress, and primark heels.

all of the other reindeer..

2011-12-19T16:13:00.000Z

coat: next (gift) // gloves: primark

bag - barely seen: river island

dress: primark // cardigan: forever 21

leggings: h&m // socks: primark // boots: river island (via ebay)

meet my favourite coat..a gift from someone i used to know, several years ago, but i still love the colour, the shape of it, and after finally getting it dry-cleaned last week (although not very well, as i noticed when i took it out of the plastic sleeve that the mud is still quite visible, but don't suppose i can do anything about it now as i didn't point it out at the time of picking up) it's made it back into my rotation of coats..

i had a horrible evening of pain on friday, and was quite glad when i woke up on saturday and actually felt up to getting up and getting dressed..i decided to mix a few of my recent purchases, starting with the f21 reindeer cardigan..i'd also decided i rather fancied trying out the new leggings i picked up from h&m on my wanderings into town with alex last week, and figured they'd go quite well with my mustard socks from primark when i was in bham..socks over tights / leggings is something which takes me back in my mind to being in school..especially frilly-edged socks!

i really like this pair of river island boots, but i am doing them some damage already (they were second hand from ebay) and also have almost completely worn out one of my most-worn pairs of pixie boots, so i am on the lookout for a pair of lace up boots like these, but in leopard print..i know i saw them somewhere a few months ago but can't seem to see what i have in mind on any of the sites i've looked on today..will keep looking..

i feel like it's a bit of a mish-mash, but i kinda like it..thoughts?

boots of spanish leather..

2011-12-18T16:52:00.000Z

told you i loved them - i have worn them several times since purchasing!

you're a throwback to forever..

2011-12-17T09:30:00.000Z

and the shorts obsession not only continues, but combines itself with something else i did not ever think i would fall victim to in the world of trends..leather..when leather shorts first hit the shopes i thought i could safely predict that i would be steering well clear - how wrong i was..in primark a couple of weeks back i was kind of drawn to the sale rail..bottle green, leather..hmmm..i got my mother's approval and everything..and after wearing them a couple of times, i think i'm sold.. does that ever happen to anyone else - step out of your comfort zone and into something you actually like!?

if i were a boy..

2011-12-16T11:45:00.002Z

i think that if i were a boy, i would be one of those annoying ones who wears shorts every day - even days like today where the news and weather forecasts seem to be warning of snow everywhere! the ones you tend to drive past and think "why are you wearing shorts, it's 2 degrees!!" and yet, i seem to be obsessed with them recently..

also in quite a good mood as my weekly weigh in went well, which was just what i needed after a complete and utter lack of 'swimthusiasm' and literally having to force myself through my 100 lengths, the couple of pounds lost really made me glad i'd made the effort..i can't remember the last time i was less than 10st, so i'm quite glad..

these shorts, and the top for that matter, are from the fabulous tesco clothing range - i've lost count of the number of times i've gone to do my food shopping, and come home with a new jumper instead..i've gone for a 'dress down friday' look as i think i have to put the xmas tree up later on - bah humbug!

if (unlike me) you are feeling in a festive mood, but need your party outfit sorting out, i've added a few dresses to my blog sale page in case you'd like to take a look..

look at the stars, look how they shine for you..

2011-12-15T15:49:00.000Z

skirt: dorothy perkins // shoes : charity shop

top : new look // cardigan : tu clothing

bit of a woeful look as i remind myself just how much more xmas wrapping i still have to do!

finally the hunt for a plain black pencil skirt is over! i've been looking for one for quite a while, but seemed to be between sizes with the ones i tried in matalan..as we were trying a few other things on, i decided i may as well give this one a go in dorothy perkins, and was glad i did..i spent some of the vouchers i cashed in from various survey sites, and combined with the in-store 'buy one item get the second half-prince' promotion that was running, i thought it was a good bargain..

i have been saving this top for a plain black skirt for a while, waiting to find one i liked, so thought it only fair that i wore them today, along with some black glitter heels which i picked up in a charity shop in a panic a few days before my graduation as i didn't own anything black and 'plain' to meet with the requirements of the service - they've done me well!

speaking of charity shop bargains, alex and i couldn't resist a little tour around the ones in town yesterday, and this is what i came home with - various books to read (£6.24 in total) (and no doubt feature in a future 'tuesday titles' post), a TURTLE print scarf (£6) (rather excited about that!) and a cute and colourful necklace (£2.99)..most excited about this duvet cover set, which i initially thought would make something lovely if hacked up and sewn back together, but given the size of it, i may even use it on my bed ! (£3) it's been quite a while since i had looked in the charity shops in town - i don't seem to have had the time to wander into town for a meander recently, so it was rather nice to take everything in at a nice, slow pace after we had crossed everything off the list..

have you had any good bargains recently?

in a sweater poorly knit, and an unsuspecting smile..

2011-12-14T12:14:00.000Z

these are the purchases i made when i was at the bullring a few weekends ago now for the brumblogmeet..i was clearly in a bit of a cardigan frenzy; i can't seem to get enough knitted goodness recently ! the green and the pale pink ones are from h&m, and the reindeer and rabbit print ones are from forever21, where i had to get a helpful assistant to get them down from the highest rails with a pole..

i was fairly restrained in primark, i avoided the kmitwear section, as i figured that four was enough for one day (!) and managed to find a few things which i loved - these gloves i have worn almost every day since purchasing them, i certainly seem more drawn to tweed prints this year than i ever have been in the past..and i could not resist the stripy heels! i also spent one of my vouchers on these topshop wolf earrings..

later on, we went to the pop up vintage fair in amongst checking out the stalls at the xmas market, and i picked out this dress, whcih i think after a little altering will be rather lovely for wearing in the spring.. anyone else made any exciting purchases recently.. ?

tuesday titles 003..

2011-12-13T16:46:00.000Z

'House Rules' by Jodi Picoult

as you'll have no doubt gathered from previous reviews, i'm a fan of Jodi Picoult..i've never picked up one of her titles and finished it with a sense of disappointment, and this book was not an exception..

as with any of her books, House Rules deals with issues which one would not necessarily come to expect from the 'women's fiction' section of your local library..the main character, Jacob, suffers from Asperger's Syndrome - a disorder which, before reading this i didn't know much about..{one thing you can't argue about Picoult is that she does seem to do her homework; by the time i reached the end of the novel, i felt as though i had devoured so much information about Asperger's Syndrome that reading the book would have been worth my while even if i hadn't enjoyed it}..the descriptions of the family characters' lives and how they have been / are constantly affected by Jacob are written in a way which makes them easy to relate to, even for someone who has not had any exposure to an 'Aspie' - i particularly admired the way in which Picoult wrote about how hard Jacob's father had found it to face up to having a disabled child..i guess i can't really say how accurate the information is, but i have read some reviews from people who have a day-to-day contact with the disorder, and have summised that the information presented on Asperger's is correct..

without giving too much of the plot away, Jacob is put into a trial situation; certainly not his usual routine, which is a big deal for someone with Asperger's and therefore difficult to cope with..in addition, the key traits of his disorder are the very traits which are making the police, and potentially the jury who are hearing the case, think that Jacob could be guilty of the crime he is accused of..

if i had to read any criticisms of the book, i would have hoped that the ending could have been a little longer..i hadn't quite figured out the twist at the end, but after the length and detail of the descriptions earlier in the book, i would have maybe expected a little more than the last few pages to throw the ideas into a completely new direction..

that said, i wasn't disappointed by the book, and would search out others by Jodi Picoult..

and now for something a little bit different to both what i would usually choose to read, and to what i would expect to enjoy..'Once more, with feeling' by Victoria Coren and Charlie Skelton

i'll start by saying this is not the kind of book you are likely to enjoy if you're a little bit prudish..althought i should point out that this is not a book of porn, rather a book about porn, as there is a distinction between the two, given that it's the story of a couple of journalists who have been reviewing erotic movies for extra cash, and then decide to go on a 'quest' to make 'the world's best porn movie', i doubt you'd expect it to be the type of book you'd want to be discussing with your granny..however, i will start by saying that i thought it was hilarious..the writing style took a few pages to get used to, the two authors, also the two main characters as they write about their journey, share the writing in the first person, so it may take a little getting used to in terms of determining which part is being written by whom..once i got used to the quirky narrative, i was able to sit back and enjoy the comedy..i guess as you'd expect from a comedian (skelton) the book is very funny..it follows the journey of Charlie and Vicky as they travel, first to Las Vegas (my only criticism at this point being that whilst amusing, this part didn't seem all that relevant to the plot), through LA, and then eventually making their way to Amsterdam to find their actors and let the filming commence..

as you may expect given the subject matter of the book, there is a lot of sex..from talk of HIV testing, to the descriptions of Charlie and Vicky being on-set whilst a porn movie is being filmed, and a lot of references to all kind sof toys and contraptions you probably wouldn't find in your local ann summers!

the book also touches upon, (again, perhaps obviously given the subject matter) briefly, the moral issues surrounding those working in the industry, although this certainly is not the backbone to the story in any way, and not the title to choose should you be looking for a well-measured argument on the issue..

i enjoyed this book for what it was - i would say that's a frolic along with the two writers on their journey to discover a little more about the porn industry..it was funny, and in some places so much so that it made me laugh aloud..but i wouldn't take it that seriously, as i would suspect that neither did either one of it's writers..

ain't that a shame..

2011-12-11T15:48:00.000Z

scruffy outfit photo from an evening taking my rangers to an event at attingham park, a local national trust property..because everyone needs a scruffy day once in a while..!

whos that I see walkin in these woods..

2011-12-10T15:39:00.000Z

terrible grainy iphone photos again from the camera-free times of the week..

i bought these lovely mustard coloured heels from primark recently (£12!) and decided i would wear them straightaway, so tried to match them to this top which i have had languishing in my my wardrobe for goodness knows how long..i really want a black pencil skirt, but can't find one i like enough yet, so will have to keep looking - so made do with this houndstooth one from matalan.. and as the first went down so well recently, another of my coats - this one was a total bargain from a vintage clothes shop i once stumbled upon in ludlow, which was closing down - it's so cosy, but i need to replace one of the hooks it closes with at the front (puts on the mental to-do list and knows it won't be done this side of xmas!)

you had my heart inside your hand..

2011-12-08T16:22:00.001Z

i'm not feeling very organised this week, i can hardly believe it's thurs already - i've managed to leave my camera at work most of the week, so that's the reason for the appalling quality iphone pics of tuesday's outfit, but i wanted to break the posting hiatus..

i've been majorly busy with the following:

making and sending xmas cards
and wrapping and sending presents (i think the queue of people in the post office were less than impressed when they saw this pile making it's way towards the counter on mon with me underneath..
planning a penguin themed weekend for my rangers
working to crazy deadlines
swimming, doing sit ups and 30day shred workouts - i am determined not to have another diet fail this week
trying to figure out how to make penguin 'cupcakes' (sorry alex)
watching the entire series of lost - so far i'm up to season 2 - i got the final two season boxsets last week and decided to start the whole lot again
ticking off the bloggers' secret santa list- if you haven't yet sent, the deadline is down as tomorrow...let me know if you're having problems :)

i have not been busy with the following:

finishing my #caanowrimo novel
doing the 30day declutter

(i failed on both of the above)

outfit above: dress: river island // cardi: primark // belt: primark // ring : tesco

what's everyone else been up to this week..?

easy come, easy go..

2011-12-04T14:55:00.000Z

tights: peacocks // belt: local boutique // lace body: primark

dress: matalan // cardigan : river island

ok so this is where i prove that i am not very easy to please..recently i did a whingey post about my weight-loss attempts, right here if you missed it and you like that kind of thing..

so why, when i was trying to put together an outfit to go to the shops with my little sis, was i so frustrated to find it so difficult to find anything to wear which actually fitted me?! i think i'm annoyed because the parts of my body which i am not / have never been overly happy with, don't seem to be the parts which are losing any of the weight..i'm not really sure how to change that - so far i think i've lost about 1.5 stone, which is ok, and mainly down to swimming a hundred lengths almost every day..i have also been doing a hundred sit ups / crunches every morning, and i'm trying to get myself back into the 30day shred, which i think works well, i just need to dedicate more time to!

so yes, it's going quite well, but at the same time, i was not all that happy when i discovered that some of my favourite 'go-to' dresses, were no longer suitable to just 'throw on and go'..i think i got around the fit of this one by adding a lace body underneath it, and cinching in the waist with a belt, but i still didn't feel all that comfortable with the overall result, so don't be suprised if it ends up making an appearance in the blog sale page soon..or on the alterations pile..

remember to remember..

2011-12-03T11:51:00.000Z

coat: warehouse // skirt: primark // boots: peacocks // beret: new look

this outfit has taken a while to post, i wore it to the remembrance sunday parade and don't think i have posted it yet - i like the photos because i never seem to post any photos of coats..i should do as i have quite a collection; i love a good winter coat!

good times for a change..

2011-12-02T14:38:00.001Z

really not sure i like these photos, but never mind..one thing i am pleased about is the fact that it's the end of the week..i'm ready for a weekend of sewing and crafting, and trying to get myself organised before christmas, or at least to make a list of the things still to do, as at the moment i just feel so disorganised..

i was out for a christmas meal last night, which i hadn't particularly been looking forward to, but it turned out to be quite fun, and a lot more bearable than anticipated..i know i sound like a total scrooge, but i'm not really one for celebrating festive season for the entire month! also my pudding was mince pie flavoured ice cream, whcih was a lovely treat, although has made me a little scared to do my weekly weigh-in..

tonight i'm off for a sewing lesson, which is the reason i've worn the dress which my 'sewing mentor' was helping me to make..i'm well onto the next project now, and need to brush up on my button-hole skills, which is this evening's aim..

i like this chunky cardi, it came from primark the other day after i tried on an almost identical one in new look which was more than twice the price - even the buttons are almost exactly the same, so i was quite pleased to find it..

anyone else have any exciting weekend plans ?

the sunlight hurts my eyes..

2011-12-01T16:35:00.001Z

a very quick outfit post today, i haven't yet decided if i will participate in 'dressember' but just in case...
dress: vivien of holloway // heels: primark (£12!!!) // cardigan and hair bow: h&m

off to swim after work, as i feel like i am lagging behind after feeling ill for so long, and then having a christmas menu meal with the district (guiding people)..i don't feel the least bit festive yet..

joy to the world..

2011-11-29T12:37:00.001Z

i'd like to point out to begin with that this is in no way a sponsored post, but in the same way as i would no doubt be regaling you with the bad service from a company should i have received it, i felt it only fair to share with you a story of the opposite kind..

a while back, i was reading a blog post (i've tried to find it but i can't remember whose it was, so if you see this and think it was you, please let me know and i'll add a link to it here..) featuring various quirky winter knitwear pieces; a modern take on the infamous 'christmas jumper' you dread each year from Great Aunt Joan..and i saw something amazing, which i knew my little sister would love - a jumper with a garden gnome on it..i popped it in my favourites as it was a week or so until payday, and then when i clicked on to the JoY website to buy it it was no longer in stock..

had this been last xmas, i probably would have been a little disappointed, and then tried to find her something else, after some sulking..but now that i am on twitter, i figured i would ask joy if they would get any more of the jumpers in stock..i almost immediately was contacted by them to tell me which stores had the item i wanted, and that one of the size i required had been put aside to be sent to the website department, in order that i could order it when it got there..i was told to expect a call when it was ready to go back online, so that i wouldn't miss it, and, do you know what, that's exactly what happened..i had a call last week from the lady in charge of the website, asking me when she should put it back online to make sure i didn't miss it..i ordered it there and then, and it was with me by monday - i can't find fault with their customer service or their delivery, or anything within the whole process..

i also really love some of the things on the website at the moment, and codulnt' resist adding this hat print shirt to my order, depsite the fact i may have similar shirts of similar colours already..i love it!

shirt: JoY // cardigan and necklace: river island // shorts: clothing at tesco // shoes: irregular choice

mistletoe and wine..

2011-11-28T11:36:00.001Z

on saturday i went to birmingham, hoping to track down some of the elusive things on the christmas present list, and also for the bloggers' meet up, arranged by the lovely emma from oh really..

i did a little shopping when i got to the bullring, and then met up with hayley and eloise..we all went to primark before heading to the starbucks where we were due to meet up with the rest of the girls..

after coffees and a bit of a chat for a while, we headed on out to the German Xmas Market, which was full of lovely lights and pretty things to look at, but oh so busy..

at sian's request, we stopped for sausages (well, rebecca had german wine), and then tried to find ourselves some more space to eat them, and ended up under the watchful eye of this creepy santa! annabel doesn't look too impressed with hers in the above photo..

then we headed to the mailbox to have tea at bar eat bar, where gem joined us, and michelle took lots of pictures (i've borrowed the above one from her!)

all in all a lovely day :)

even if i told you, i know you won't believe me..

2011-11-27T15:48:00.000Z

dress: tesco clothing

heels: primark

cardigan: tu at sainsburys

bracelet: topshop

another fabulous example of a tesco clothing item i have worn over and over again - this fab knife-pleat dress..i usually can't get enough of tesco's clothing offerings, and judging by the posts on the s/s12 collection, it seems as though next year will be no exception!

anger inside builds within my body.

2011-11-26T11:00:00.000Z

pink and greay tweed heels: irregular choice

clown print jumper: h+m (via ebay)

pencil skirt: new look

cardigan: h+m

an uninspired friday's office outfit..i woke up to find the cold which i thought i was rid of by wednesday this week, seems to be back with a vengeance..after a few false starts in terms of outfits, i finally dug out this skirt, which i had almost forgotten i had, and paired it with my h&m clown jumper..i was rather pleased, both with the fact that my weekly weigh-in told me i had lost another couple of lbs, and that both of these items feel like they fit a lot better than the last time i wore them..

the good thing about having a cold is that my overall body temperature seems to have gone down, so where i would usually be too warm wearing a sweater, i can manage it without any problems..every cloud and all that, huh?

i threw on some irregular choice heels with a pale pink feel to them, and this wardrobe-staple cardigan, and snuffled my way out of the door..hope nobody else is suffering with the winter sniffles :/

one day we'll run away..build a house made of straw and clay...

2011-11-25T13:45:00.001Z

i was recently contacted by Merry, who blogs here, at Patch of Puddles and also runs one of several of her websites, Craft Merrily, which stocks a huge range of craft supplies, hama beads and fimo..

i'm a great fan of fimo, and remember spending time making all kinds of creations with my sisters when we were younger..i use it to make badges for the guides when we go on pack holidays or camps and need patrol badges, and have recently had great success making sets of fimo cutlery with them..

on a more personal level, i also find it great to make charms and things to turn into jewellery, so when i was asked if i would like to pick something to review, i chose this bead roller and a refill kit of 10 coloured blocks of fimo to have a play with..it was very easy to use, you just take small chunks of warmed clay and roll the top piece back and forth over the bottom piece of the mould..i think i was expecting the moulds to be attached, as i found it took a bit of getting used to before i was sure i was keeping them level..but the result, as you can see, was a set of beads, of the same size and shape, which you can then use one of the pins to create a hole for threading them, once cooked..

the bead roller will create three different shapes of bead, and i can see it being a really useful tool in the future, so i'm very pleased to have been offered the opportunity to review it! if you would like any fimo inspiration, Merry has a lovely page of models and ideas here and if you're a fellow fimo-lover, don't forget to link me to what you have made! :)

put some new shoes on and suddenly everything's right..

2011-11-24T12:34:00.001Z

boots: irregular choice // dress, tights, beret : primark // cardi: h+m

the newest addition to the shoe-box palace..i could probably make a palace from all my shoeboxes..or a fort..hmmm..

anyway..these are AnnaBell's Trolley, from irregular choice, who were rather helpful and managed to track me down and transfer me a pair from one of their stores as the website had sold out of my size..they're a funny shape (part of what i like about them; the shape of the heel is so unusual)..

truth be told they are quite big around the top, i think the style makes them quite a wide opening, and there is a band of elastic inside them to hold your feet in place because of the wide-foot..i've found they took a little getting used to as the sides are quite solid, so a bit of an odd sensation having something against my ankles when i move my feet (i may be a bit weird, i have difficulty keeping my feet still, ie if i'm waiting in a queue for something or whatever, so probably most people wouldn't have this odd sensation..)

most of all i love the dollar print on them..i tried them on with various tights when they arrived the other day, and decided black was probably best to begin with, and then remembered this dress, which i figured would pick out the other colours..i've already had a lot of comments on them..what do you think - too mad?

the ice inside your soul..

2011-11-24T10:38:00.000Z

i have an iPhone, which i probably use, look at, touch, play with, etc on average about sixty thousand times a day..i text, call and tweet on it, although to be honest very little else; i have no music loaded on it as i have my trusty iPod which actually fits into my docking station, whereas my phone will only fit if i take the cover off..

the most annoying thing about my phone..? definitely it's battery life, without a shadow of a doubt..yes, i've done all the things which common sense would tell me to; i have the location services turned off, and don't have the email setting on automatic..i don't have any automatic updates set up on it or any of it's apps, and the brightness setting is always right down at it's lowest (well, unless someone else wants to actually read or look at something on there, at which point i have to momentarily turn it up to avoid complaints of 'how can you read things on that, i can't see anything?!')

so when i was asked if i would like to review this kensington mini battery pack for ipods / iphones, i thought it could be just what i needed..i charged it up with the USB cable when it arrived, and waited for my phone to be getting low on battery, then plugged it in..(i had a little trouble getting it to fit and then stay connected, as i have quite a chunky outer case on my phone)

the charger claims it'll allow you to 'enjoy an extended playtime of up to 30 hours of music; 6 hours of video; or 3 hours of talk'..i'm not sure if this would be the case, but as i've said, i don't have music on my phone, so can't comment on the music play-time until i get a chance to connect it to the ipod..when i plugged it in the phone did begin to charge, although the 100% light rather quickly went off and the 60% power light on the pack lit up in it's place..

it definitely is something i would advise packing in a bag ready-charged if you have a long journey to go on - the grey cap also clips onto the battery pack (as in the middlephoto) in a way that creates a stand for your phone when you have it plugged in, so that could be useful if you were on a journey and wished to watch a movie or something..?

if i remembered to keep it charged up and to take it with me, i think it's a good little gadget for those times when you have forgotten your charger, or can't get to a socket - i'm thinking it could be useful for future camping trips! i wouldn't rely on it very often as i'm not sure how much charge it would hold, but i suppose it's only supposed to be a little boost, so it does what you'd expect..

this battery pack is available from most retailers at a cost of approx. £20 as far as i can see.. i was sent this item in order to review it, and all my words and opinions are honest and my own..

ten million fireflies..

2011-11-23T12:14:00.001Z

pesky Owl-face^^

sheer mushroom blouse: primark

skirt: primark

heels: irregular choice

although i rather like all of the components of today's outfit, both together and separately, i still can't quite feel comfortable in it, as everything seems too big..

the skirt has a rather odd waistband, which i am not convinced is entirely flattering; it has a ruffled paperbag finish, which just seems to jut out at an odd angle, making me often want to fold it inside the top of the waist, which in turn makes my waist area look more bulky than usual..

the blouse is perhaps an oversized cut, but i think i would like it to be a bit more fitted on the shoulders..also it's quite long so i have had to tuck it in to this skirt..

the ring is named Owl-façé, and came from primark but is too big for even my index finger, so will have to have some tape around him to make him fit properly - he's already made one attempt at a suicidal bin-leap when i threw something away this morning..

and these shoes..one of my favourite ever pairs of my irregular choice collection..these have had so much wear over the several years i have owned them, i'm not sure how shoes get to be too big though?! i think they have just stretched with over-use..i just have to be careful walking in them..

i'm not sure whether to class this as an outfit fail or a success...?

tuesday titles 002

2011-11-22T12:02:00.000Z

The Winter Garden Mystery by Carola Dunn - a Daisy Dalrymple Mystery
i have to admit, i have not read any of the Daisy Dalrymple mysteries before, i'd not heard of them either if i'm being completely honest..but seeing the book in the library, i did break the golden rule and judge it by it's cover and picked it up as i liked the look of the hat Daisy was wearing on the cover..
having done a little research after reading the book, it seems this is the second in quite a hefty series, but this worked perfectly well as a stand-alone as well, which i always prefer when it comes to a series of books..obviosuly there are characters who will span a lot of the books, but enough background information was given that the reader could join the dots for themselves..
the main character is a likeable one, not as arrogant as readers may have come to expect from 'whodunnit' stars, which is refreshing, and the story was a relatively fast-paced, easy read, set in a 1920s country house, and with a few twists and turns to shy away from being predictable..
if all other Daisy Dalrymple mysteries are similarly written, i'll certainly keep an eye out for more next time i'm in the library as i was pleasantly suprised!

Sundowners by Lesley Lokko

i have written here about how much i have enjoyed other Lesley Lokko books, and this one was no exception..the book tells the story of the four main characters; spoilt, South-African diamond-heiress Rianne, dependable Gabby, flirtacious Charmaine, and down-to-earth Nathalie..

the book follows these four girls over three decades of their lives, and in particular i enjoyed the first section where they met at boarding school, partly because it had a typical 'boarding school story' feel to it, and i was a big fan of series ike Malory Towers etc when i was younger, and also partly because it was set in a town familiar to me, which i do think makes a difference in the readers' enjoyment - if a writer is describing a scene in a place you know, and are familiar with, you are more likely to find some kind of empathy with the setting, right?!

whilst you may be thinking oh, a story about four girls, it'll be typical chick-lit, i think that Lokko writes in a style which moves away from the ubiquitous 'chick lit' label, and into a more gritty, realistic view of the world..each girl encounters difficult situations, which i think made me as a reader like them more, in particular Charmaine, whose feelings in the latter part of the book i found it quite easy to relate to..

whilst i don't wish to give anything away about the plot, or the directions in which the lives of the main characters go, there is the link with South Africa and other African countries, which you would expect from Lokko's writing - there is some political reflection of events (which may or may not be partially true; i don't know enough about early 90s world politics to be able to comment) but some well-known political names come up which, again, work to make the story seem more grounded..

the plot was full of twists and turns, and moves nice and fast through the course of the book, which i liked, as it made it easy to read the book in just a couple of sittings..i'd definitely recommend it!

and they were all yellow..

2011-11-21T15:00:00.001Z

poodle blazer: h+m // daisy print skirt: new look

studded boots: matalan // vest: primark

i realise that with this post and yesterday's, my recent outfits are looking predominantly yellow..i didn't even repeat any of the items, so i guess i have a lot of similar outfit pieces..

i love this mustard blazer; the colour, the fit, the quirky poodle print (of course)..it was one of the many things which i had to rely on Super-Alex to track down for me on her travels, as i saw it online (as usual) and then couldn't find it in any stores near me (of course)..i remember going to ask in our local H&M and receiving a rather funny look and a comment of "i'm sure i would have remembered something like that! when i tried to describe it"

i also recall the day when i was away at a huge guide camp, for a week and by about halfway through, the stress was getting to me - some of the leaders we went with can be particularly trying - so i had escaped with another, and we were getting more and more stressed trying to locate a supermarket and then get back with what we needed in time to prepare dinner..as we were doing an illegal U-turn in the middle of a road and in front of a bemused police car, i remember the ping of a text from alex to say she'd found me my poodle blazer, and my day's stresses seemed to disappear!

so, as after all that fuss, i have only worn it a couple of times, i decided that it had hung around on the rail of my bed for long enough and deserved an outing..this new look skirt was hanging near to it on the rail (i use the rails of my bed for extra hanger storage, as the wardrobes are all full!) so i thought i would put them together..i added these boots because i thought i would have to be walking into town at lunchtime to go and buy our ghost-tour tickets for our rangers trip next week, but i managed to get them paid for over the phone and luckily mum picked them up on her trip into town earlier on ! but it's been a chilly day and i have been glad of them..i'm still feeling rotten with my cold, and my twitchy eye seems to be back as well, so i think i would plump for comfort over stylishly high heels today anyway..

some things were perfectly clear..

2011-11-20T15:50:00.000Z

tights : new look // shoes: irregular choice // dress: primark // cardigan: tu

i love these irregular choice rocko heels, and recenly i love coloured tights more than i have in the past, so why not put them together..here's how that turned out..these are the grey tights i would love to replace as they are quite ruined, but i can't find a suitable match..they seem to be the perfect shade of grey..

let it shine..

2011-11-19T10:30:00.000Z

skirt: matalan // cardigan: new look // squirrel tshirt: tesco clothing // shoes: gift

i felt like a bit of a frump in this outfit in practice, although it had worked in my head when i'd thought of it..does anyone else ever feel like an outfit is going to work, and then when they actually put it together, find out it's a fail? i love all of the pieces individually, just not entirely convinced they work when mashed together in this way..

don't know just what to do with myself..

2011-11-18T15:00:00.001Z

i wasn't sure whether this would really count, but it's my attempt at work-appropriate polka dots for children in need..not that i have done anything sponsored or anything, although we have done things in guides and i've sponsored my sis and her friends for what they're doing at school, and made a donation so i have done soemthing..

a bit matchy matchy again, but i think the shoes and the dress go nicely together rather than being ridiculously OTT as i was worrying..the caridgan is my recent one from peacocks again..

having to decide what to do with my weekend; i can either stay at home, where there will be likely power shortages for the majority of the weekend, or go to wales, where i won't get anything productive done in the way of sewing..but at least there will be power to boil the kettle..

the fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear..

2011-11-17T16:54:00.001Z

a very quick outfit post this morning, after thinking i was making heaps of progress the day seems to have whizzed past! i tried this pencil skirt on in matalan last time i was there, and have been meaning to go back and pick up the right size..i think i like it ( i love the pattern, and seem to be totally drawn to pencil skirts at the moment!) but i wish it would not keep rucking up, as you can see in the pictures, as i feel like it just makes me look bigger around my least favourite section :/

i love the top, it's a thin knit one from h&M which i have in a grey colour as well.. and i tried the hat on the other day (also from matalan) and couldn't resist it..i teamed these with my trusty tape measure pinstripe heels from irregular choice which i love <3

if we can make the plans can we just not find the time?

2011-11-16T12:41:00.001Z

as i was making my way down the stairs carrying the following this morning :

1 overnight containing a change of clothes and pjs (as i am house-sitting this evening)
1 box of 30 tree cuttings, sent to me for some reason by the woodland trust last week (even though i have nowhere to plant them)
a bag of rubbish from my kitchen bin
a box of mr men tissues for my desk
a bunch of bananas (a bit over-ripe, to be turned into banana loaf this evening)
my usual handbag
my swimming bag, containing costume, towel, gym card etc

i saw one the ladies from another flat in my building, who very kindly held the doors for me and asked if i teach, and then commented that i always seem so busy, and whenever she sees me i'm in a rush with armfuls of stuff!

i do feel a bit as though i haven't stopped this week, although i suppose it's a good thing as it's all part of the 'post-breakup-busyness-plan'..there's a big part of me that thinks it would be nice to have an actual day off, though, just to loaf around and do nothing..although whenever i try to do that i get annoyed at myself for time-wasting..i have so many craft and sewing project ideas hwich i would like to make the time to do, and i have to make some christmas cards pretty soon, and sort out buying and wrapping all of the things i'll need to get in the post before the dreaded day!

anyway, despite the sniffly nose and regular sneezing, i'm rather pleased today - this dress was one i found in a vintage shop in london almost three yrs ago, on my last visit there..i was so excited to have foudn something that (just about, with some breathe-in-and-squeez-in action) fitted my not-very-vintage frame, that i snapped it up and took it home with a smug look in the direction of the man in the shop who had advised me kindly to be aware that all of the garments were rather smaller sizes than modern ones..! (i always feel like a whale when vintage shopping!)

however, i dug it out of the wardrobe this morning determined to give it a try, as i know that i have lost 4inches from my waist in the past few months..and i have to say it fits the best i've ever known it, so that put a smile on my face, despite the rudolph-esque nose!

i've added to it a pair of past-it grey tights (they have had an awful hole / ladder in the back for almost a year, but i can't find any others in the shops which are the right shade to replace them, and they wash fine so they stay, and new look cardi and shoes..

my day will be spent (other than work), picking up little sis, going swimming, going home for tea, at my rangers meeting, then back home to bake banana loaf, and various other things so that she can take them into school for their children in need bake sale tomorrow..

talkin' bout the young style..

2011-11-15T16:50:00.001Z

i'm feeling a bit fuzzy-headed with a cold today, which i think is reflected in my clashtastic outfit..i'm not convinced any of these actually go together, but i like them all and couldn't decide what else to wear, so thought sod it..this ge cutie skirt is probably my favourite of my (quite large) collection..i really love the print, and the fact that it the colours in the polka dots lend themselves to a lot of different colours and tops..i also really love this new look blouse, although i'm not convinced at how well they go together..thank you all ofr your comments on yesterday's post, i was a bit worried after posting it that it didn't sound right, and that it would all end up sounding a bit stupid and petty, but they are things which are concerning me, and it was ncie in a way to feel like i'm not the only person in that boat..

and everything's cool as long as i'm getting thinner..

2011-11-14T11:13:00.001Z

stocking : tights uk // shoes : primark

tiger bangle : topshop

so this morning i've woken up to my cold from the weekend not being any better, and after the majority of the weekend was spent with the power off at my flat, and a heightened level of misery, i think it's all adding up to put me in a bit of a whingey mood!

here are a couple of things which have been playing on my mind to start off the week..i'm hoping that once i have got them into words, i will no longer be full of rage!

first of all, this post by a thrifty mrs yesterday evening, totally hit home with me..i have to admit i haven't been in the best of moods, emotionally, for the last few weeks..this breakup has hit me hard, and i am struggling with things sometimes..now, i know this is nobody's fault but my own, and i have to work through it myself..i'm not expecting anyone to fix things for me, so please don't misunderstand..

a few months ago, a friend of mine went through a similar situation..i did what i thought any friend would do in that situation, i rallied round, took food and dvds round to hers for nights in, took her away for the weekend whilst he moved out, and was at the end of my phone for her whenever she needed anything, checked in with her every day even if just a little text..which is making me wonder what's so different about my situation..when i told her about my breakup, the only thing she said is that she didn't want to give me any advice on the situation..

after spending hours talking about her situation, anytime i mention how i feel to her, she's not receptive..i still pop round, but that topic seems to be off-limits, and i quite often get the feeling that i've outstayed my welcome, when really i would just like a chance to get some of the painful thoughts off my chest..but instead, i end up crying to myself on my sofa, because i don't want to be a burden on anyone else and make them listen to my sadness..

i don't know if my worries are justified, but i often wonder if it's me who is the common denominator in my friendship woes..i always feel as though i'm making the effort..it always seems to be me who texts everyone to arrnage something, or sends a message to ask if someone's ok as i haven't heard from them in a while..i have one friend who cancels every plan we ever make, like clockwork, about 30mins before we are scheduled to meet, something comes up or she chnages her mind, and cancels..i've even tried a text that morning, checking she is still on for later, and she'll say yes but will still cancel..i wonder every time if i should give up on her, just stop making plans, and every time i give her another chance, and wonder if things will be different..

which, i must admit, sounds a lot like a certain relationship, too..so maybe this is all down to me..maybe i'm too forgiving, too weak, and let myself be walked over, taken advantage of, and then forgive and forget too readily..? sometimes i'll think i have made plans which we have all agreed on, with some of my friends, get all the way there and then be told that they are actually busy, and hadn't thought to mention it..why do i think nothing of dropping everything to go and see a friend if something has happened, regardless of where they are or what it is, and yet, when i need someone to talk to, i scroll through my phone-book and can't find anyone i know would be there for me..

my second topic of whinge..whilst i haven't really blogged about it lately, i don't think my lack of confidence and contentment when it comes to the way i look (ie my size and shape) has ever been a very well-hidden secret..i don't honestly remember ever looking in a mirror and being happy with the 'me' part of my reflection, and however i dress it up in clothes and shoes, i can't get past what is underneath all that..

i've always been quite scared of the scales, or of joining a 'slimming club'..when i have mentioned my plans to lose weight to friends they get laughed off with comments like "you don't have to lose any weight", which can be quite frustrating..aren't we, as a society, always trying to promote better body confidence (a la Gok) and make people feel more happy about their body? if so, why not be supportive in the way in which i can make myself happier about mine? why is it apparently only socially acceptable to encourage diet-plans in the clinically obese?!

as i haven't weighed in on the wii fit for a while (about 3months ago was the last recorded weigh-in) and the breakup sadness has clearly taken it's toll in the past month, i did a starting point weigh in recently and had managed to lose 10lbs since the last time i had used the fit-board, i was quite happy about where i was starting..i have been trying to make sure i swim every day, and watching what i eat, cutting out anything which is unnecesarily calorific - ie. would i rather be thin one day or have a chocolate eclair because it's someone's birthday and they brought them in..

i have also been trying to get back into the 30 day shred, and have been doing 100 sit ups every morning before getting ready for work..after a week i did another wii fit session and weighed in recording a loss of 3lbs, and various inches lost, much to the delight of the supportive folks on twitter who are keeping me sane on the journey..i'm pleased that i'm making some progress, and getting on track with something which i know will make me a lot more confident in myself..

what is not helping, is the people around my every day life who are becoming what can only be described as my 'diet saboteurs'..i'm constantly getting comments and jibes from people i see regularly, asking me if i have started starving myself, which is not helpful, as well as ridiculous..if i'm out in a cafe with my family, they don't seem to accept the fact that i don't want or need a 'cupcake' at 11am, when i have had a decent breakfast that morning and am not hungry! on telling them that, the correct and polite response would surely be 'ok, just a coffee then', rather than ordering me one anyway and then getting pissed off when i don't want to eat it..

i think i just got out of the wrong side of bed today..i'm off to swim my troubles away!

whiskers on kittens..

2011-11-13T15:34:00.000Z

these are a few of my favourite things, thrown together hastily for an outfit post..

shock me like an electric eel..

2011-11-12T07:00:00.000Z

dress : tesco clothing // heels : new look // shrug : local boutique

a little matchy-matchy? maybe. i wanted to wear this heart print shrug which has been in my wardrobe for far too long with it's tags attached, and as it had been sharing a hanger with this f+f dress from tesco (years ago) i figured why stand in the way of them being together?!

and i love these new look platform heels, so why not let them join the purple party as well?!

i'm looking forward to a weekend of swimming, relaxing and hopefully getting some long-overdue dressmaking in..i also have to make a beanbag for a friends' little one..can't be that hard, right?! oh and then my sunday will be taken up with remembrance parade - it's the only church service i make it to each year, as even now i'm not quite sure what my feelings are on religion / what i believe..remembrance day has become something of a tradition, though..

anyone else have any nice weekend plans? this is about as relaxed as it gets here..and i've been told that there's the likelihood we will be without electricity for some part of the weekend, as they are doing something to the mains in the building..

and who’s gonna be there when i’ve lost control i’m heading to crashland..

2011-11-11T12:50:00.001Z

the top photos are what i *wish* i had worn today..i dug this skirt out of a pile of ones i haven't worn for ages and ages (along with my beloved collection of Get Cutie skirts which i had tidied away and almost forgotten about)..i decided to team this top with it (i guess it's a mushroom colour?)

and this pair of taupe heels which were from ASOS years and years ago..these shoes are a mystery to me - i have no idea why i bought them, they are not the kind of thing i would usually go for, at all..i think this every time i wear them, and every time i do i consider getting rid of them, but i don't, because they are confortable, and a nice neutral colour for when i'm having a shoe dilemma like this morning - i could think of two pairs i'd like to wear but neither were at my house, so i was having a bit of a strop!

then when digging through one of the drawers for a cardigan to go with what i had so far, i pulled out this feather cape / collar thing, still with it's tags on (apparently from primark at a cost of £10 and i can't for the life of me remember purchasing it!) and decided it'd be the perfect finishing touch..

and then i remembered i work in an office of not exactly what you could call fashion-forward-fellas, and i'd probably get it laughed at..so i changed the cape for this boretastic black cardi instead..

skirt : vintage motel // heels : ASOS // top : h&m // cardigan : tu at sainsburys
cape (above) : primark // necklace : white stuff

review : sainsbury's cuppa cake

2011-11-10T16:58:00.001Z

Sainsbury's Cuppa Cake packet mix

all the required equipment

egg whisked in mug, packet opened

add 1tbsp water to the mix

mix water in

all mixed together, microwave for 1min30

the end result

recently those lovely folks at sainsburys sent me a parcel containing this - a brand new product - the 'Cuppa Cake'..basically a packet mix to make a cake-in-a-mug, by combining one sachet, an egg and a tbsp of water..simple!

the whole concept of making a mug of cake had, i have to admit, passed me by until very recently, when some bloggers i read mentioned them (see Lucy's attempt here!)

so i decided to give it a go yesterday evening, and got out everything i needed - there are some very easy-to-follow instructions on the back of the pretty, starry box..i even checked the capacity of the mug i was using to make sure it was big enough for the cake to cook in properly (the box says approx. 300ml and i didn't want any over-spill!)

i whisked up my egg in the mug with the fork, and opened one of the sachets (there are two in a box)..at this point i was a little worried that the whole sachet wouldn't fit in, but it was fine, there just looked to be a LOT of powder for the amount of egg, and i added a tablespoon of water..

it mixed in nicely to a liquidy consistency, and when i was sure there was no more powdery bits, i put it into the microwave and cooked it for the time on the box..

when i got it out, i was a little alarmed to see how much the cake had risen, although the consistency looked about right..once i let it stand for a little while, it wasn't quite so high ouver the top of the cup, and i set about prodding it with my fork a little, to make sure it seemed cooked all the way through and to the bottom, which it did..

so all that was left to do was the taste test..i can't say it was the best cake i've ever tasted, and i can see why it says that it's best to eat it whilst hot, as i can imagine the somewhat rubbery texture will not improve with time..one nice thing to note was that the chunks of chocolate in the mixture do stay nice and gooey as a hidden suprise..

overall, not the most light and fluffy sponge, but for a quick (3mins total!) pudding, it'll easily serve two people like the box recommends..i think that if you put a spoonful of ice-cream with it it'd make a nice easy end to a meal..at 99p for a box (which contains 2 sachets which serve 2 each) i think it's one for the shopping list, even if just to keep in the store cupboard for the next time you need a quick and easy chocolate / cake fix! Item code: 7497194

*i was sent this packet for free to review, and all views are (as always) honest and accurate, and my own*

strawberry fields..

2011-11-09T17:05:00.000Z

lickety split, a quick outfit post (worn monday)..featuring a new look jumper i have had for ages and ages and don't think has ever been worn, which i decided would go with the colour of this bargain £2 skirt from tesco clothing sale a year or more ago! some irregular choice heels and outfit complete! :)

you'll be trying to hitch a ride with me, when it finally hits you..

2011-11-08T15:35:00.000Z

silky scarlet seamer stockings : tightsfashion.co.uk

cardigan : peacocks

shoes : irregular choice

dress : new look (sale)

a few weeks ago, i followed a tweeted link to this article on the daily mail website, and was intrigued byt he views of the guy wiriting it..i'd like to know your thoughts on the age-old debate..forget the chicken or the egg, i'd rather know this..tights or stockings? which do you prefer? do you think stockings say sophistication? or that they are tacky in comparison to tights?

i have to admit, i probably wear tights more often than stockings, but i would definitely say i prefer stockings to tights..whilst i tend to go for tights as my everyday, matches everything choice, this tends to be because on the whole, they are a lot cheaper (i have a tendency to ladder them with no difficulty at all, and therefore try to stock up on primark multipacks whenever i get the chance, which are my everyday wears, and i don't feel too awful about throwing out after a wear or two if they work out at less than 50p per pair)..i do find that if i want to dress up to a special occasion, or feel a bit more confident, i'd go for stockings..i don't find them uncomfortable at all; i think the key to that is to make sure you have a suspender belt in the correct size, and wear it comfortably on your waist rather than further down on the hips and risk that unattractive cheese-wire effect..i personally don't agree with the writer of the Mail's article that stockings are absurd or that men find them out of date !

i decided last week to use some of the money i've been saving up in my paypal account to add to my hosiery collection, and popped along to http://www.tightsfashion.co.uk/ to find something new and exciting..i bought these Silky Scarlet Seamer stockings, which i have to say i am very impressed with..i have been searching for some seamed stockings for a long while, and having looked in all of the high-street and usual places i could think of, i didn't think i would be able to find what i had in mind - i could find plenty of 'barely black with a black seam' but i wanted nude with black seams..these are perfect, and seem to be a fabulous quality for the very reasonable price i paid..they are a nice 15d, thick enough to make a difference and to be tough enough to cope with everyday wear (i've found that anything thinner is at risk of tearing when putting them on, although perhaps i ought to be less ham-fisted!) and yet still have a gentle, silky feel to them, without being of that dreadful shiny finish which i try to avoid..at £3.95, these are a new favourite for me, and i would definitely recommend them..

i also bought a pair of these, which i can't wait to wear..overall i have to say i was very impressed with the service received from tightsfashion, i placed my order last week, late one afternoon, and before i left the office i had received a dispatch notification, which i had not been expecting until at least the next day ! i was pleased to find that they turned up the next day, and that they kept me informed on the progress of my order at every possible step, which i consider great practice from a business..i have also found that tightsfashion are really helpful, and respond promptly and helpfully to queries through twitter (you can follow them here) - whilst the site is not particularly tricky to navigate, i had a couple of queries on what size i would need in particular items, which they were able to help me with almost immediately over twitter..i really think a lot of businesses ought to pay more attention to their potential customers on twitter - i struggle to understand why some brands even have it when they do not respond, but i had no such problems here!

i must point out that this review was entirely my decision; i was not asked to review the stockings for anyone and i paid for them with my own money; i just like to pass on a good shopping experience where i can..

what are your thoughts on 'the great debate' - stockings or tights???

just to keep us warm, light a match to leave me be..

2011-11-07T16:23:00.001Z

a whole weekend round-up as i feel like i am falling behind with my photos ! i have got such a backlog of outfits to post, as well as a whole notebook full of post-ideas, i've been having a lot of blog inspiration recently, which i am putting down to the fact that it's all coming out of potential novel-writing time, and since i started trying ot write this novel i have found that my procrastination skills have improved no end!

outfit one - i wore the new shorts again, i can't get enough of them, and really like them with these tights..i wasn't sure about the top with the rest, total pattern-clashing, but i couldn't find anything better, and wanted to get out of the house, little sis and i went for a massive walk into the next town, down the beach and round the shops, and then back to our village, a good 4 or 5 miles in all, which was nice and relaxing, with a suprisingly mild weather day..

outfit two - i managed to pick up this cardigan on our travels, as peacocks had a 30% off knitwear promotion - i love the wool, so soft and fluffy, and also the lovely rich autumn colour..i couldn't wait to wear this either, and figuered it would match this pair of socks quite well, and a floral dress which i believe is from tesco clothing (again, i know!!) i went paddling in the sea (although unlike little sis i kept my wellies firmly on my feet for this!) and then headed home in the evening to catch the fireworks in my town, which are on the showground right next to where i live, so i was able to get a fabulous view from the warmth of my kitchen worktop! i really love fireworks !

gonna marry the night..

2011-11-07T15:43:00.001Z

just a quick outfit post from earlier in the week; this dress is an old favourite, mainly due to the fact it doesn't need to be ironed..i usually add these heels to it, they seeem to be the ones from my irreglar choice collection which match it the most..

also, i need some inspiration, what should i do with this fabric..?

here i am, a rabbit hearted girl..

2011-11-06T12:25:00.000Z

rabbit ring : miss selfridge

shoes : irregular choice

jumper, skirt : primark

i'm not overly keen on this outfit..both the skirt and the jumper are items which linger in the wardrobe room and haven't had much wear in the past really..i wore them for that reason really, to see if i liked them, or if maybe they should make their way into my blog sale..

i love the shoes; they don't get enough wear either, although i'm not sure how well they go with the rest of the outfit..

it's you, it's you, it's all for you..

2011-11-05T11:59:00.000Z

polo shirt : girlguiding uniform (:-/) // cardigan : primark

floral shorts: laura ashley (sale)

wellies : miss seflridge (sale) // tights : peacocks

another pair of shorts following yesterday's declaration of my new love for them.. i bought these from the laura ashley sale in stratford-upon-avon earlier in the year (in july, in fact!) and i can't believe i hadn't worn them until now..i actually thought i had imagined them for a little while..i saw them once in one of the stores i frequently pop into, and then after that i couldn't find them anywhere- on the website (which i don't think has everything in the bigger stores on it), nor in any of the other stores i went into, so i was more than a little excited when i saw these in the sale section of the little stratford store, in my size, and with more than 50% off their original price tag..i snapped them up!

this outfit is from last weekend, as i was off to a guides sleepover (hence the uniform top)..we stayed in an old school building, which is now owned by the county and available for hire by all girlguiding units.. the girls all had a fab weekend, and it was a good opportunity to take my mind off being upset about the things i had been earlier in the week.. i added purple thick tights as i knew it can be chilly there, and i figured they would go with the pattern on the shorts, and a silver cardi which i seem to believe goes with everything regardless.. oh and wellies, for the night-time walk around the canal and mere..stylish, i know (not)..

rollin' in the deep..

2011-11-04T10:47:00.000Z

orange jumper, tweed shorts, bobble hat : clothing at tesco
leopard print satin pencil skirt, underwear, frog ring, hold ups : matalan

bird print shirts : new look

shorts: clothing at tesco // tights : primark

cardigan, hair bow : h&m

i have never made a secret of the fact that i love tesco's clothing. i popped in on my way home from the gym, first to matalan, and then to tesco, and came home with the things in the top photo, and several others on my wishlist..

i decided i would wear these shorts straight away and envisioned them with a blouse of some kind, i'm not sure this is the right one, as it's quite long and oversized and therefore needs to be tucked in, which makes it look a bit bunched up at the waist? i wonder if it would be better with black tights and shoes, but i know i will be trying them with various different tops and tights..

the shorts fit really nicely, and i think they have a tailored look about them which makes me comfortable wearing them a little more smartly dressed for work..i've brought the orange jumper along as well, so that i can throw that on over the blouse for this evening's fireworks..i really seem to have been bitten by the shorts bug recently, i've bought quite a few pairs this year, whcih is unusual for me - i used to think they were for summer holidays to spain only, but now i'm rather liking thick tights, shorts and comfy knitwear, and anything with a 'tweedy heritage' feel seems to be grabbing my attention!

i also couldn't resist the cute bobble hat, although it does mean another hat i need to get around to wearing in my ever-growing collection..

what are your thoughts on shorts for winter? perfect for fireworks night if you wrap up in plenty of knitted layers?

also, please remember that today is the last day for secret santa - sign up details can be found by clicking the link in the sidebar, and for those who have already signed up, you'll get an email by monday..

get cape. wear cape. fly.

2011-11-03T15:50:00.002Z

i'm aware that this title is a band name rather than my usual lyric, but i couldn't think of anything more apt..(and they're a great band- go listen!)

anyway, since this cape arrived, i have wanted to wear it and have tried it on with every outfit i've put togther this week so far.. i finally decided that, yes, it would maybe feasibly go with my dress today..i made this dress much earlier in the year, tried it on before i sewed it all together, and then discovered it was miles too big, so i have been trying to subtly alter it..i still feel like it's too big at the top, though, so perhaps it needs more attention still and i had to find a waist-cinching belt as otherwise it still looks waay too big :( perhaps i should start again..

i decided that it would go well with these irregular choice courtesans, and dug out this necklace, which was a present from my mum for xmas last year in my stocking..

i also decided that perhaps the cape was too OTT (even for me - you'd think work would be used to it by now..!) so changed to a cardigan of almost the same colour for the day, and will wear the cape this evening instead..i sort of want to wear it everyday and go walking in the woods..

dress: handmade by me

cape: river island (sale)

cardigan: river island (sale)

shoes: irregular choice

necklace: And Mary, via local boutique

you're going to catch a cold, from the ice inside your soul..

2011-11-02T10:53:00.000Z

clearly this is an outfit from a few weeks ago now, remember when it was sunny and warm enough to have bare arms?!

ah well, there are things to get excited about in november too, i love fireworks, and sparklers, and am planning a firework themed night with rangers this evening..well, we couldn't stretch to pricey firework displays but we will have sparklers - both real ones outside with plenty of layers on, and also edible ones, which i plan to make with chocolate fingers, dipped into hot water to melt the chocolate on the end, and then dipped into a bowl of sugar strands to make the 'sparkler' end.. as it's something one of the rainbow leaders i was talking to recently told me about, and she said her unit (rainbows are aged 5-7) loved to do, i'm pretty sure it's a safe bet that my rangers (aged 14-17) will love also; it's suprising the way there seems to be such an overlap in the things the two age groups like to do!

i have other fireworks plans for the weekend as well..one with the other ranger unit i am a member of, and also potentially at the weekend as well, once i have decided what to do with my weekend..so that's all quite exciting..

this dress is an oasis one, bought in the sale section at debenhams when i was in llandudno earlier in the summer with my mum and little sis - i love the style and quality of the oasis 'vintage belle' ranges, and they churn out a new pattern and print or three each year but ultimately keep the styles and shapes the same, which works for me, as i like them, so i do tend to keep my eye on the sale rails for them..this was down to £20 and i think it is definitely worth that - it's fully lined in beautiful green satin and has it's adjustable and/or removeable straps which i think is a nice touch..very pleased!

as for the shoes, i know i have recently posted here about the same pair but in another colour - i have got all three types of these as i really loved the style and print and i kept my eye out for them over the years, and managed to find them all at fairly bargain prices from ebay..i have a list of the irregular choice styles which i would like, although it can be a fruitless search for a long time, mainly as they're all old styles now and don't come up for sale very often..

don't come back for me, just who do you think you are..

2011-11-01T12:30:00.000Z

well it's not exactly news that the last week or so has not been my best. my stomach seems to be in constant pain, i'm a bit annoyed to be honest, at the fact that instead of sending me off for further tests and a potentially more permanent solution should the pain return, they've just packed me off with another course of tablets to take 'as needed'. ie. be in pain, then take them..gaaah.

and the less said about the break-up the better..i had a terrible evening on friday, and didn't much feel like writing any blog posts for the weekend, but so far this week is getting off to a much more positive start..and it's a new month, so i'm going to be selfish and say this month i will focus on me..

i'd like to thank a few people for their constant support and advice, twitter lovelies simonne and steph never seem to get annoyed with my whingey tweets and are always full of sensible suggestions, so if you are on twitter and you don't follow them, you should do!

and some of the wonderful blogging buddies i have 'met' along the way - thank you to charlene, ingrid, hazel, tasha, sophie, and nicci, for all of the post i have come home to last week which has put a smile on my face, and to chloe for keeping me sane over the weekend, and also for her inspirational post here which has made me realise i need to start doing things for me!

obviously whilst on the mentions, thank you to alex for always putting up with my constant barrage of texts, tweets and emails (usually whinge-related!) and please go over to her blog now and congratulate her for completing our #caanowrimo challenge in october - by the end of the month she has written 50,000 words on her novel - expect to see it in a bookshop near you soon..

as for my attempt at novel-writing, it's not gone well..i have to admit that i haven't *quite* made it to half of the expected word count, which i can put down to a few factors (the main one being that i am a champion procrastinator - my flat has never been so tidy!)..but i have decided that i am going to extend my deadline, and keep writing it to the end of november, giving me a target of 50K over the two months, which even i should be able to manage..i just need to get my act together!

and finally onto today's outfit..this matalan dress has made me pleased this morning, as i can fasten a smaller hole on the belt than the last time i wore it..i was having a dilemma about what to wear these tights with, as they have been in my tights box for ages and i really like them..sadly i have been sat at my desk all morning, and still they have managed to get a hole in them - how on earth has that happened?! i'm stressing about them as i am off swimming after work, and then have to go somewhere after, and i'm not convinced they'll make it through the changing-room process in one piece..i added some heels, as i wore flats yesterday and over the weekend and i felt the need for some height..and a primark bangle and cardigan to finish it all off..it feels nice to write!

dress: matalan // tights, cardigan, shoes, bangle: primark

also, if you would still like to sign up for the bloggers' secret santa, you have until friday and are more than welcome to - click the button on the top of my sidebar to find out how to do it :)

if you could only see, the beast you made of me..

2011-10-31T12:48:00.001Z

just a speedy post today, which i hope will be all correctly spelled, but if not put it down to the fact that i am not used to wearing false nails. aren't these ones amazing though - charlene sent them to me last week and i love them! as i didn't have chance to make the halloween costume i had planned, i went with the haunted house print t-shirt dress i found on the topshop website about four years ago - i feel like a bit of a cheat as i wore it for the last halloween party i went to also, but i suppose it doesn't get worn at any other time really so it's not too bad..i added flat boots as it's quite short and i get a bit scaredy when it comes to short hems and heels, and avoid them. has anyone else got any halloween plans - i'm having a costume party at guides this evening, so am off to buy mini donuts to string up and apples to bob for..

i bought a new pair of shoes..i got a new attitude..

2011-10-28T13:24:00.000+01:00

i think this pair of shoes was the first pair of irregular choice i ever bought..i have worn them more times than i care to remember, and they have paid for themselves tens of times over i'm sure, as they came from ebay when i first made an account! here i've worn them with a simple primark dress, and added my new favourite skeleton necklace from river island, for an effortless office outfit..

thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening..

2011-10-27T15:22:00.000+01:00

nail polish : no7 'me me me'

carousel earrings : topshop (years ago!)

leopard print cardi : primark

dress : vera moda

'near miss' heels : office

i love these heels..if i had designed them, maybe i would have given them the same shape of heel but higher, but they are comfy, quirky enough but not so much that i couldn't wear them to a meeting, and they have lightning bolts on them..and glitter!
they're called 'near miss' and i think they are aptly named - i first saw them in a magazine years ago (during a uni seminar, most likely!) and HAD to have them..i knew they would be from office, so i called up the head office and asked when they would be available to order, and was told, and ordered them when they came out..then i received a letter to say that they were being recalled due to a defect, and i was gutted..i took them back into the store after receiving the letter, and asked if they would be fixing the shoes as i'd rather have them fixed then get a refund for them..i was told that they weren't sure if they would be fixed, and that the line was to be discontinued, although they didn't tell me what the problem was..so i kept them..and they haven't injured me, fallen apart, or caused me to choke on small parts, yet anyway..

has anyone else ever had a product recalled?

come fly with me..

2011-10-26T17:01:00.000+01:00

shoes : irregular choice

dress: primark // cardigan: matalan

i can't decide if i like this outfit or not, i was toying with the idea of matching the dress to some mustard heels instead, but then i remembered that's what i always wear with this dress..and i fancied a change..
enter irregular choice kitten heels with nursery rhyme print! and polka dots! and forks and spoons! and bows! what more could one ask for on their feet? and they're comfortable, which is a good thing as i have a fairly busy evening ahead..
i'm off to give blood (which i hate!) and then after that walking to the theatre as my friend is in a dance show..provided i make it there without fainting or anything :(

in other news, i came home to the most lovely of parcels yesterday from darling charlene! she has a lovely blog here, and also sells her amazing nail art designs on her website here!! i'm a little bit in love with these cuties, and can't wait til the weekend when i can try them out in time for halloween..although i have to admit i have never tried false nails before, so i would be grateful of any tips...

tuesday titles 001..

2011-10-25T08:30:00.000+01:00

i'm not sure what it is recently but each time i have read a new book, i've made a few little review-style notes about it, what i thought, whether i would recommend it etc..so i thought i would do what some of the other bloggers i read sometimes do, and put together a new post feature for my thoughts on the things i have read..welcome to 'tuesday titles'..

To the Moon and Back - Jill Mansell
i bought this with a voucher i'd been given for e-books from one of my friends, which i had loaded onto my account but not got around to actually spending any of, as i tend to go for the free downloads.. however, i knew there was a new jill mansell book out, and i have always been a fan of her work, so i figured it was a safe bet, and downloaded it onto the kindle a couple of weeks ago..i finished it in two sittings, and found it very easy to devour, which i would say is standard for jill's books - i read my first one by chance after picking it up at a jumble sale about ten years ago and have been hooked ever since! to the moon and back tells the story of ellie, who is in the process of making a fresh start with her life and meets roo, who has a secret which she needs to sort out..i like the way that whilst all of the jill mansell books i have read have been full of likeable characters, and are easy to read, she doesn't seem to fall into that trap that so many other female authors tend to of being formulaic and therefore predictable..the book had just the right amount of twists and turns, and everything tied in rather nicely without becoming predictable..i'd thoroughly recommend this to anyone..also i would recommend that you follow her on twitter, too as she seems to be really lovely, which always helps :)

The Lover's Dictionary - David Levithan
i picked this up by chance from the 'just returned' shelf in the library a while ago, and it's quirky format appealed to me, although i didn't know what to expect. the lover's dictionary is described by the author as a novel in a unique format, as it is set out like a dictionary..each page is a new entry, alphabetically ordered as you would expect from a dictionary, with all of the words containing a short (between a paragraph and a couple of pages) entry which makes up a jigsaw piece of the story..i must say, that although i felt it was an interesting concept, i didn't find that it read very well..it reminded me of one of those books from when you were younger where you would start at page one and then choose which page to go to next (i can't be the only person who remembers these?!) as it just didn't seem to run together at all..i don't think it helped me that the narrator was one half of the nameless couple, only ever referred to as 'you' and 'i', which i presume was a decision by the writer to make the characters seem more relateable, ie they could be any couple, even the reader themselves? the fact that the ending was left so ambiguous was another reason that i felt it didn't work for me, but it's an interesting concept, and isn't a long book, so may be worth a try if you come across it in the local library..

The Carrie Diaries : Summer and the City - Candace Bushnell
ok, so obviously i have seen sex and the city. i've watched the movies, and although i was never a huuuuge fan - i watched most of the boxset when my sister got it for xmas one year - although i have to admit i have never read the book..when i saw this in the library, a prequel to the 'sex and the city' book which the whole series was based on, i figured it would be worth a read, and imagined it to be quite amusing..perhaps i was getting the writing of candace bushnell confused with the screen-writers' talent on the series, as i don't think there was anything particularly amusing throughout the book..it follows the story of carrie bradshaw as a naive college student who moves to new york and follows her somewhat unrealistic first few months in the city she has always dreamed of being a part of..i do wonder sometimes if i am overly critical of books whose characters' lives are just so incredibly unrealistic..does anyone really decide to move to new york to become one of the members of the upper class society not knowing anyone, or having any job or similar background theirselves? i know that carrie, which i'm sure to the vast majority of readers will conjure up an unstoppable image of SJP, is the city princess who we all wish to be, but i think i just found the premise frustratingly unreaslistic and difficult to relate to..i sort of found it hard to like carrie; she came across as not just naive, but a bit of a free-loader, in the way she turned up on samantha's door-step on a few occasions when things weren't working out and expected to be able to stay, despite the fact that she only hardly knew the woman..i also found the conincidental aspects of her meetings with miranda a little hard to believe, but i guess that's the point of fiction..i understand that there's an earlier title in the carrie diaries also, but this worked alright as a stand-alone book, and a bit of froth if you like that kind of thing - probably a must-read for fans of the characters from the series..

t*rexes and tiaras

and it was all yellow..

little princess in a terrible mess..

just like the clouds, my eyes will do the same if you walk away..

friday favourites 009..

hello new shoes, bye bye them blues..

brb

run rabbit run..

don't tell me you love me, and act like you don't..

**versatile blogger tag**

where the eagles fly, on a mountain high..

**random act of kindness swap**

but rumour has it I'm the one you're leaving her for..

the hardest part is letting go of your dreams..

**500th post giveaway winner**

everybody wants to be a cat..

saturday wait, and sunday always comes too late..

nothing but a hound dog..

there's a million other girls who do it just like you..

well i'm just waiting for my chance to come..

pretty pretty please..

**500th post giveaway**

i'll take these storms away, start a brand new story..

but that's just me, before we met..

one day i know i'll feel home again..

to make the floods seem still..

have yourself a merry little christmas..

rabbit hearted girl..

you would even say it glowed..

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas..

last christmas i wrapped it up and sent it..

london's calling..

i can't afford a bigger world but baby i'm reliable..

tuesday titles 004..

if yuo're lost when you close your eyes i'll meet you there..

i'm dreaming of a white christmas..

friday favourites 008..

presents under the tree..

i turn my head, learned only to see some memory, but all i see is red..

all of the other reindeer..

boots of spanish leather..

you're a throwback to forever..

if i were a boy..

look at the stars, look how they shine for you..

in a sweater poorly knit, and an unsuspecting smile..

tuesday titles 003..

ain't that a shame..

whos that I see walkin in these woods..

you had my heart inside your hand..

easy come, easy go..

remember to remember..

good times for a change..

the sunlight hurts my eyes..

joy to the world..

mistletoe and wine..

even if i told you, i know you won't believe me..

anger inside builds within my body.

one day we'll run away..build a house made of straw and clay...

put some new shoes on and suddenly everything's right..

the ice inside your soul..

ten million fireflies..

tuesday titles 002

and they were all yellow..

some things were perfectly clear..

let it shine..

don't know just what to do with myself..

the fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear..

if we can make the plans can we just not find the time?

talkin' bout the young style..

and everything's cool as long as i'm getting thinner..

whiskers on kittens..

shock me like an electric eel..

and who’s gonna be there when i’ve lost control i’m heading to crashland..

review : sainsbury's cuppa cake

strawberry fields..

you'll be trying to hitch a ride with me, when it finally hits you..

just to keep us warm, light a match to leave me be..

gonna marry the night..

here i am, a rabbit hearted girl..

it's you, it's you, it's all for you..

versatile blogger tag

random act of kindness swap

500th post giveaway winner

500th post giveaway