Day 27 and 28 - Now you see me...

Day 27 - Shorts
I like these, they're perfect for work. The white shirt makes them even more worky (I know there is no such word but there should be). Socks was determined to get into this outfit post - either that or he wanted me to stop taking photographs and feed him...

Day 28 - Rain forecast
The perfect excuse to dig out my, so far unused, birdcage umbrella. I had one as a little girl and loved that I could hide beneath it from the rain. The dress is from Dorothy Perkins, not worn often but I fall in love with it all over again every time I do. But can I just mention footless tights, the unsung heroes of my Wearing It All challenge, without these I wouldn't have been able to continue. They have saved me from numerous days of cold, blue, goosebumped (again not a word but it should be) legs.



I will be bringing you up to date with my WIA challenge over the next few days. It's been hectic week at work and my internet connection at home has been painfully slow (too slow for someone with such a short attention span). I have been sticking to it, I promise.

Love

WIA Day 26 and Inspiration Sun(mon)day

WIA Day 26 - The second of four skirts...

I wore this skirt for two weddings in 2008 but not once since then. I removed the netting, which made no difference to the look of it but it did fee lighter to wear (and a little less scratchy). I'm not normally a tucked in person but the combination of neutral stripes with orange was just too tempting. I will be finding other ways to wear this skirt, it's lovely to wear.

 

Skirt - Warehouse  |  t-shirt - H&M  |  shoes - New Look

Day 27 - Inspiration Sun(Mon)day

I have a rule that my thighs will not be seen at work unless clad in at least 80 denier so Inspiration Monday became Inspiration Sunday for me, which, thankfully, turned out to be a lovely sunny evening.

I am under no illusion that I look even remotely like Olivia Palermo but it was fun to pretend for a while...

Short sleeved cardigan - Dorothy Perkins  |  shorts - H&M  |  shoes - Primark  |  Bag - Very.co.uk  |  necklace - Accessorize

Love

WIA Day 25 and Benefit They're Real Mascara Review

'They're Real! lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts and separates'

Last week I arrived home to find the newest addition to the Benefit family - They're Real - beyond belief mascara - waiting for me.

Having watched a YouTube video praising it, I knew I had to try it. I placed my order and waited patiently (I wasn't so excited that I'd pay for next day delivery!).

The wand has a spiked end which is meant to be used for getting into those tricky corners and for adding extra curl and separation. To apply you're meant to 'hold the wand vertically and wiggle side to side, base to tip' and then to 'turn wand vertically and stroke upward to curl and separate. Define outer lashes with tip to create a doe-eyed look'.

You can see from the photographs below that it gave my eyes good definition. The top pic shows one eye sans mascara - proof that my lashes really are quite pathetic in their natural state! I agree that the result doesn't give me the most dramatic of lashes but considering the short, fine, impossible excuse for lashes I have to work with I think the result is pretty good.

I used my faithful Avon SuperMagnify Mascara for my lower lashes as the brush is slim with short bristles - I'm yet to find anything more perfect, it doesn't clump or smudge and adds just the right amount of product.

Now, They're Real isn't cheap. It's £18.50 a pop but the lady in the YouTube video tells me that it has a shelf life of six months rather than the normal three - not that I can find this documented anywhere. I might have to investigate and ask at the Benefit counter in my local Debenhams.

If this is a little steep then I can recommend LOreal Lash Architect Mascara 4D which is slightly less at £10.99 and gives good results.

My Day 15 WIA outfit meant that I cheated (just a little) by wearing footless tights (which aren't counted in the challenge) and a long shirt (I just wasn't in the mood for a dress or a skirt y'know?) and I dug out this clutch bag that I bought ages ago but have never used. I'm keeping this outfit, I don't know if it was the lashes, the weather, the fact that it was a Friday but I felt fabulous!

What is guaranteed to make you feel fab?

Hope you've had a great weekend

My Hero, eBay

Once again I've been spending (a lot of, probably too much) time on eBay. I had another last minute bargain win on a statement necklace. I can't wait to style it...

... but most importantly I found a chair!

I posted about this chair last week. It was out of stock on the website so I contacted BHS to see when it would be back in only to discover that it has been discontinued. I was gutted. Not to be deterred, I had a lookey-see on eBay and BINGO! Not only is it £25 cheaper, delivery is £9.95 instead of £30. I'm one chuffed lady *does a little happy jig*

I also found a wicker cutlery holder a few pounds cheaper than one I'd seen else where. My new kitchen has no drawers - not a one (very odd) - so this will be perfect!

Of course I now have a watch list* as long as my arm but, heck, with bargains like these I'd be a fool not to.

Long may eBay reign!

Love

*ahem, is it odd that I set my phone to alert me when an auction is about to end?

WIA Day 22, 23 and 24

Hello!

Day 22 and I'm running out of 'long bottoms'.

To be exact I have 8 bottoms (skirts and shorts - nothing long!), 25 tops and 14 dresses remaining in my WIA challenge. It looks like I'm going to have to brave the weather, crack out the fake tan and bare my little ole leggies.

I love this DP maxi skirt (a keeper, without question) but, would you believe, I have little to team it with? A plain black t-shirt had to do. I decided to forgo my current penchant for an arm party and decided to layer on the necklaces instead (a neck party?). The key is from None Such Things - a blog/shop that I love, the teardrop pendant is H&M and the silver charm necklace from Accessorize (with a few items added by me).

can you see who's in the window?

Day 23. My last pair of jeans - eek!

A quick swing first thing in the morning puts you in a jolly mood. This may have to be added to my morning routine.

Next jeans  /  Primark sweater  /  scarf  H&M - all good wardrobe staples - keep.

Day 24. The first of four skirts 

 Next sweater  /  La Redoute skirt  /  scarf and leggings  H&M  /  Matalan sandals. Keep.

A few days ago I was asked how I was finding the Wearing It All challenge. So far it has been rather fun. I think I should have been a little more organised and planned my daily outfits, instead of deciding every morning, as I think I'm going to end up with some really odd combinations towards the end…

Most of the things added to my 'no' pile weren't even worn, I just knew they weren't going to make it. I'm very glad I decided to keep the check shirt, I wore it on Monday for Two Birds Inspiration Monday and have received some very complimentary, erm, compliments.

Do you have an item that will never leave your wardrobe no. matter. what?

Love

A Joy to Behold - Brian Atwood Cohen Borchie Studded Shoe Boots

source

Rachel Bilson rocked these beauties at the Teen Choice Awards teaming them with a white Chloe dress.

I adore RB. I adore these boots. I adore Brian Atwood. That is all. 


Love

 

Inspiration Monday - Karolina Kurkova

Day 21 of WIA and I'm joining Inspiration Monday over at Two Birds. WIA days 19 and 20 were spent in decorating clothes or pyjamas so no outfit pics.

The inspiration this week it's Karolina Kurkova. I have to admit I have no idea who she is.

*Googles it*

She's a former Victoria's Secret model.

Just in case you're wondering, I'm the one on the right ;op

Happy Monday!

WIA Day 17 and 18

Day 17 and Tink makes her first WIA appearance (Socks is just out of shot and looking disgruntled).

I'm keeping this dress with a promise to wear it more often. I'm amazed that I have so many dresses (approx 20) when I so rarely wear them.

Dress - ASOS  /  leggings - H&M  /  ballet pumps - Primark

Just to go off topic for a moment... this carpet is a particular favourite of mine, the house is full of 'interesting' floor coverings but this one is special. It covers the hall, stairs and landing and looks, erm, 'interesting' with the lilac walls, jade curtains (downstairs) and pale pink curtains (upstairs). The joys of moving house! I've taken hundreds of photographs around the house so that when we're finished we can look back a see how much we have achieved.

Day 18 (and I'm starting to feel like the Big Brother voice-over guy).  A simple maxi dress today (also a keeper) with nothing but ballet pumps and a small arm party... (underwear is a given - right?). How many times can you get away with using brackets in one paragraph (is every sentence too much)?

Dress - Very.co.uk  /  ballet pumps - New Look  /  studded wristband - Debenhams  /  bracelets - Accessorize

I know I shouldn't really be browsing until my challenge has finished but... I'm currently lusting after this top from Wallis. Gorgeous.

What's currently on your lust-list?

Hope you had a fabulous weekend!
Love

This Week...

Hoping and wishing...
That this Seville Chair from BHS will be back in stock soon and not sold out for good. It will look superb with my dressing table which belonged to OH's Great Grandmother.

Stamping...
When I saw this address stamp on Not On The High Street I knew I'd have to get one for our new home. We plan to be here for many years and now it's set in rubber (it doesn't have the same ring to it as stone, does it?).

Source

Pinning...
I knew it was inevitable. I've been pinched. I can (and often do) spend hours looking at beautiful imagery and now I can to collect all my favourite images in one place - pinterest. It's a genius idea. I ❤ it.

Thrifting...
I am always admire the great items other people find. I don't seem to have much luck, never-the-less I spent a couple of hours thrifting on Monday. I found a lovely dress for £4.00. Sadly, it doesn't fit (see my luck?) I am considering getting it altered, it really is lovely. 

Lusting after...
Tote bag, Sophie Gray at BHS and metal and glass necklace from Wallis (via a mention in Easy Living and Red magazine respectively) both a joy to behold.

Sadly, I can't find either online or instore. Yet.


Arranging flowers...
From my garden, I felt so twee but I was reminded, rather painfully, that real roses have thorns!

Saddened...
By the recent rioting. It's so mindless, so utterly without reason that I struggle to comprehend it. I hope that just a few of those involved go home and wonder what the hell happened and I hope there are those that feel deeply, deeply ashamed.

The rallying around, the support and kindness shown to others by strangers in the aftermath is a comfort. For every looter there are people willing to extend a hand of friendship and to help repair the damage. That is the real Britain and it makes me proud.

Everybody, Everywear : Mix and Match

Wearing It All Day 16
Mixing prints for Everybody, Everywear? That's a no-brainer for me -  stripes and florals.

 

With the exception of one dress florals, for me, come in the form of scarves. Stripey tops are plentiful.

Today I'm wearing my favourite jeans, yes - the ones that I stuck to my leg with super glue. This may be the last time I can wear them as the glue cracked in the washing machine and snapped the denim. I love distressed jeans but rips? They're not for me.

Day 15
Maxi skirt, vest top (both are going in the no pile - they never get worn) and grey cardigan (keep).
Later I changed into a black dress and popped this cardigan over the top. I went to a funeral. It didn't seem right to take a photograph.

Day 14
An outfit perfectly suited to pulling up floor tiles don't you think?
Stripe t-shirt (keep - stripes stay until the literally fall apart) and cargo pants. I'm not sure about these, they don't get worn a lot but are handy for 'stuff'. That said if the traces of floor glue don't come out in the wash they'll be going into the charity bag.

Day 13
The cardigan and vest top will both be going. The vest top is too low (the scarf saved my blushes on a number of occasions today). I don't like layering t-shirts that aren't fitted as I find they cling to each other and I bought this top for the fluidity of the fabric. I did try wearing a boob tube underneath but it was useless and just kept slipping but at least I had a nice warm tummy.

Later in the evening I had friends over for dinner so I changed into this red maxi dress. I've had it for over a year and this is the first time I have worn it. It's about four inches too long but I love it (and enjoyed wearing it) so it is staying, even if it doesn't get worn for another year.

What did you get up to this weekend? 
❤

Wearing It All... Day 11 and 12

Have you ever had one of those days that starts bad and just doesn't improve? That was my day yesterday. It started with my girl cat, Tink, getting stuck behind the washing machine, I couldn't free her and got myself into a complete state of panic and frustration. OH had to come to the rescue (my hero) but from that point the day just didn't get any better.

I had the attention span of a four year old, I started so many chores and things on my to-do list but didn't finish one single thing, I went to bed feeling like I had achieved exactly nothing. I didn't even manage my daily Wearing It All post #fail!

So, a day late, here it is...

Despite the rain, I wore a white maxi skirt (Dorothy Perkins), a plain navy t-shirt (Warehouse) and the H&M necklace that I waited so long for. I have removed a few of the beads near the top and much prefer it that way (it also jangles a lot less) but I'm still not sure about it. I love the colour and the design but I don't like the gold chain and findings. I think I'll change the chain for a length of turquoise ribbon and I'd consider rebuilding it with different colour findings if I knew where to buy them. It's the bits that hold the large flat beads that I don't know where to find. If you know, let me know :-)

Today is a better day, it's Friday for on thing and there are no cats stuck anywhere, it's not raining and I have a nice weekend planned. Friends over for supper on Saturday and family over on Sunday with a little bit of shopping sprinkled in.

It seems I'm working on a theme this week… blue and white. The trousers (New Look) are really long so I'm wearing huge wedges (very.co.uk). They are superbly comfortable but I really dislike the current trend of having little zips up the back of shoes. Is it just me or do you dislike them too?

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

July Scavenger Hunt

How has this month gone so quickly?! It's been a busy month, I moved house and have been knee deep in decorating ever since. Once again I left this until the last minute and have just managed, bby the skin of my teeth, to get the post live and linked up to Postcards from the P.P.

 

red, white and blue

flip flops

ice cream

strawberries

a flag

fields

celebration

sea shells

stars

stripes

a kite
(okay, so cheated on this a little (a lot) by taking a picture of Google images, which I'm not sure is entirely allowed)

 

something that makes you happy (but not a person or animal!)

Note to self: In August I must try harder