For the past four years I've kept a record of all the clothes and accessories I've purchased throughout the year and set myself goals for the coming year. You can read about the results here - 2012 / 2013 / 2014.
Ordinarily I'd post this in early January but I've just looked at my total for 2015 and put myself on an immediate spending ban until 2016.
Needless-to-say my total is already more than last year.
Oops.
I was really pleased to see my lowest spend last year, coming in at £745.65. I wanted to reduce it further this year but I've already spent £1207.87.
Oops.
My only saving grace here is that in 2012 I spent £1751.00.
So my final purchase of 2015 was a pair of Christmas PJs. As soon as I saw them I knew they were the ones. At £40 these are the most expensive PJs I've ever owned but thanks to a ban on buying any sleepwear this year I've still spent less on PJs overall (and hopefully at this price they'll last a good long while). Roll on Christmas Eve!
I purchased 74 items in total (less than any other year), 41% of which were pre-loved. I was surprised to find that 25% of items purchased I now no longer have. I didn't think it would be that high, 80% of these discarded items were pre-loved.
So what did I buy and why?
I lost two pairs of jeans to rips this year and replaced them at a cost of £80.00, I did look in charity shops, I always keep a look out for jeans but so far I haven't found a single pair.
My two most expensive items are dresses, my day after dress (£69), and the dress I wore for my Mum's wedding (£85), that was worn again to have afternoon tea with Sophie, and to a friend's wedding reception. They came in at £154.00. Both of which have been worn since then and will be worn again. But I wouldn't have bought them without the occasion to wear them in the first place.
I don't normally spend that much on a single item but as both dresses were for a special occasion, I gave myself permission to splurge. I love both of these dresses and think that they will be worn a lot (I'm constantly looking for excuses to wear them).
I've bought three more white dresses (here and here, with the third yet to make a blog appearance) that total £83.00, if I hadn't developed a bit of a thing for them I wouldn't have spent this.
But I can attribute most of my spending to the fact that I've been drawn to a different style of clothes. Dresses have caught my eye (white ones in particular!) and pretty summer tops too, instead of my normal t-shirts and jeans. A change in taste is always going to mean multiple purchases.
Of course I didn't need all of these clothes but the fact I am wearing them, and enjoying wearing them, makes me feel better about the overall spend.
It seems I'm still buying things in charity shops that I never wear. Either they don't fit (why didn't I try them on?!), or I don't like them once I've got them home. The overall total of these discarded items is low, but it's still a waste.
I don't think I'll ever fall out of love with charity shopping, I just need to be more sensible about it. What I do keep gets a lot of use. I satisfied my need for thick jumpers this year by searching the charity shop rails, and this saved me a small fortune!
I'm not saying that spending money on clothes is bad, I'm not saying having a lot of clothes is bad. I'd just like to wear my clothes more, use and enjoy what I have and save a bit of money in the process - and I was doing so well until this year!
There's nothing wrong with buying something new and giving old clothes to charity but I've recently donated 8 bin bags of perfectly good clothes to my favourite charity shop, which is wasteful (although good for the charity shop).
So for 2016, what are my wardrobe goals?
Out of curiousity I totted up how much I've spent, on clothes and accessories, in total since 2012... £4892.52.
That stopped me in my tracks.
Imagine the things I could've spent that money on? The adventures I could've had? If nothing else this figure makes me determined to reduce my spending on clothes.
Now that I can see the items in my drawers and wardrobe (thanks to the KonMari tidying method, I'll do a full book review soon), I hope to be more aware of what I have as the seasons change. I want to wear more of what I already own. All the clothes that remain are clothes that I like, so there's no excuse.
I'd like to try a new experiment soon too. I happened upon Un-fancy - a minimalist fashion blog and I'm so intrigued by the idea. It's about a capsule wardrobe that you update each season, it started at 37 items but the theory has evolved to allow you to settle on your own number. Any items not included in this number are then stored away.
At the start of each season you swap out items for others you already own and if you want to you can add a few new ones, but then you don't shop during the season. At all. Not even a little bit.
I've been trying different wardrobe challenges since I started this blog five years ago, and this one sounds right up my street. It's not too dissimilar to my 4-4-4 Challenge, which I really enjoyed.
I love clothes, and creating outfits but the volume of items I have often overwhelms me, even my newly thinned out wardrobe still feels cramped, I still get 'I have nothing to wear' days, so maybe this is a good way to pare it down even further, while building a workable, wearable capsule wardrobe.
Do you know how much you spend on clothes in a year?
Ordinarily I'd post this in early January but I've just looked at my total for 2015 and put myself on an immediate spending ban until 2016.
Needless-to-say my total is already more than last year.
Oops.
I was really pleased to see my lowest spend last year, coming in at £745.65. I wanted to reduce it further this year but I've already spent £1207.87.
Oops.
My only saving grace here is that in 2012 I spent £1751.00.
So my final purchase of 2015 was a pair of Christmas PJs. As soon as I saw them I knew they were the ones. At £40 these are the most expensive PJs I've ever owned but thanks to a ban on buying any sleepwear this year I've still spent less on PJs overall (and hopefully at this price they'll last a good long while). Roll on Christmas Eve!
I purchased 74 items in total (less than any other year), 41% of which were pre-loved. I was surprised to find that 25% of items purchased I now no longer have. I didn't think it would be that high, 80% of these discarded items were pre-loved.
So what did I buy and why?
I lost two pairs of jeans to rips this year and replaced them at a cost of £80.00, I did look in charity shops, I always keep a look out for jeans but so far I haven't found a single pair.
My two most expensive items are dresses, my day after dress (£69), and the dress I wore for my Mum's wedding (£85), that was worn again to have afternoon tea with Sophie, and to a friend's wedding reception. They came in at £154.00. Both of which have been worn since then and will be worn again. But I wouldn't have bought them without the occasion to wear them in the first place.
I don't normally spend that much on a single item but as both dresses were for a special occasion, I gave myself permission to splurge. I love both of these dresses and think that they will be worn a lot (I'm constantly looking for excuses to wear them).
I've bought three more white dresses (here and here, with the third yet to make a blog appearance) that total £83.00, if I hadn't developed a bit of a thing for them I wouldn't have spent this.
But I can attribute most of my spending to the fact that I've been drawn to a different style of clothes. Dresses have caught my eye (white ones in particular!) and pretty summer tops too, instead of my normal t-shirts and jeans. A change in taste is always going to mean multiple purchases.
Of course I didn't need all of these clothes but the fact I am wearing them, and enjoying wearing them, makes me feel better about the overall spend.
It seems I'm still buying things in charity shops that I never wear. Either they don't fit (why didn't I try them on?!), or I don't like them once I've got them home. The overall total of these discarded items is low, but it's still a waste.
I don't think I'll ever fall out of love with charity shopping, I just need to be more sensible about it. What I do keep gets a lot of use. I satisfied my need for thick jumpers this year by searching the charity shop rails, and this saved me a small fortune!
I'm not saying that spending money on clothes is bad, I'm not saying having a lot of clothes is bad. I'd just like to wear my clothes more, use and enjoy what I have and save a bit of money in the process - and I was doing so well until this year!
There's nothing wrong with buying something new and giving old clothes to charity but I've recently donated 8 bin bags of perfectly good clothes to my favourite charity shop, which is wasteful (although good for the charity shop).
So for 2016, what are my wardrobe goals?
Out of curiousity I totted up how much I've spent, on clothes and accessories, in total since 2012... £4892.52.
That stopped me in my tracks.
Imagine the things I could've spent that money on? The adventures I could've had? If nothing else this figure makes me determined to reduce my spending on clothes.
Now that I can see the items in my drawers and wardrobe (thanks to the KonMari tidying method, I'll do a full book review soon), I hope to be more aware of what I have as the seasons change. I want to wear more of what I already own. All the clothes that remain are clothes that I like, so there's no excuse.
I'd like to try a new experiment soon too. I happened upon Un-fancy - a minimalist fashion blog and I'm so intrigued by the idea. It's about a capsule wardrobe that you update each season, it started at 37 items but the theory has evolved to allow you to settle on your own number. Any items not included in this number are then stored away.
At the start of each season you swap out items for others you already own and if you want to you can add a few new ones, but then you don't shop during the season. At all. Not even a little bit.
I've been trying different wardrobe challenges since I started this blog five years ago, and this one sounds right up my street. It's not too dissimilar to my 4-4-4 Challenge, which I really enjoyed.
I love clothes, and creating outfits but the volume of items I have often overwhelms me, even my newly thinned out wardrobe still feels cramped, I still get 'I have nothing to wear' days, so maybe this is a good way to pare it down even further, while building a workable, wearable capsule wardrobe.
Do you know how much you spend on clothes in a year?
Back in August I thought that it was exciting when A Photo An Hour fell on my 40th birthday, but when I saw the date for October, I was super excited. The 17th was the day I would wake up in the Sahara Desert.
07:15
After going to bed during a sand storm (yep, a bona fide skin stinging sand storm!!), we woke to a slightly calmer, but still breezy day.
08:03
Breakfast served on a sand dune. This is an omelette with vegetables and cheese - it was by far the tastiest omelette I've ever consumed. Given that all food was prepared in tents (or on the floor by the side of a road), on small gas rings the standard of the food was amazing!
09:23
We went for a wander while the drivers packed up the 4x4's. To say that the Sahara is breath taking is a serious understatement.
10:50 We set off in convoy for a two hour journey, firstly to ride some camels, and then to go deeper in to the desert.
11:10
Of course I made friends with every little feline I came across. This little chap just rolled onto his belly and demanded fuss. If I hadn't met him you'd have got a photo of a grumpy faced camel.
12:28
I'm sitting on a camel here. I attempted a selfie with my camel, I named her Treacle, but she was having none of it and tried to eat my scarf. Moody old sandbag.
13:24
Lunch! This amazing salad was accompanied by fish - tuna and mackrel - veg and rice. And mint tea, lots of mint tea. It's safe to say that I ate healthier on this trip than I do at home.
14:58
A bit of off road driving en route to our camp for the night, which of course involved a little racing between the drivers.
15:45
Ships of the desert.
16:10
A short pit stop to stretch our legs. It was starting to feel really remote. The wind was still blowing - you can see the sand being blown off the dunes. The terrain was varied, sometimes covered in pebbles or rocks, sometimes nothing but sand, with sparse vegetation in places - always changing but always looking unmistakably like the desert.
17:22
We arrive at our camp for the night. We immediately jump out and run up the dunes like over excited children. The view is amazing, it was exactly how you would imagine it to be - orange dunes for as far as the eye could see with a bright, clear blue sky.
18:38
With our tents put up and supper being prepared, I sat here for ages just breathing and watching. This is the view I've been day dreaming about for years.
19:10
I was worried about traveling with a group of people I'd never met before but the guys on this tour where lovely. Each and every one of them. They each helped to make the experience truly memorable, I feel like I've made a whole group of new friends.
20:03
Waiting for supper in a candlelit tent, sipping mint tea and sharing stories. I haven't laughed as much as I did in a long time.
21:37
The moon came out, the bonfire was lit. Shortly after I tucked myself up in my sleeping bag and slept under the stars. The night sky was beautiful. It's the one thing that I couldn't photograph successfully. It was covered with billions of stars, I saw shooting stars for the first time my life and had to fight my need for sleep to just gaze at the sky. Sure enough sleep took over, but I was awake at 05:45 the next morning and the stars were still shining. As everyone else slept, I dragged my sleeping bag up onto a sand dune and watched the sky some more, over the next few hours the sky got lighter, the stars disappeared, and the sun appeared over the horizon. I was one happy camper.
Thanks to Jane and Louisa for organising Photo An Hour again this month.
After going to bed during a sand storm (yep, a bona fide skin stinging sand storm!!), we woke to a slightly calmer, but still breezy day.
Breakfast served on a sand dune. This is an omelette with vegetables and cheese - it was by far the tastiest omelette I've ever consumed. Given that all food was prepared in tents (or on the floor by the side of a road), on small gas rings the standard of the food was amazing!
We went for a wander while the drivers packed up the 4x4's. To say that the Sahara is breath taking is a serious understatement.
Of course I made friends with every little feline I came across. This little chap just rolled onto his belly and demanded fuss. If I hadn't met him you'd have got a photo of a grumpy faced camel.
I'm sitting on a camel here. I attempted a selfie with my camel, I named her Treacle, but she was having none of it and tried to eat my scarf. Moody old sandbag.
Lunch! This amazing salad was accompanied by fish - tuna and mackrel - veg and rice. And mint tea, lots of mint tea. It's safe to say that I ate healthier on this trip than I do at home.
A bit of off road driving en route to our camp for the night, which of course involved a little racing between the drivers.
Ships of the desert.
A short pit stop to stretch our legs. It was starting to feel really remote. The wind was still blowing - you can see the sand being blown off the dunes. The terrain was varied, sometimes covered in pebbles or rocks, sometimes nothing but sand, with sparse vegetation in places - always changing but always looking unmistakably like the desert.
We arrive at our camp for the night. We immediately jump out and run up the dunes like over excited children. The view is amazing, it was exactly how you would imagine it to be - orange dunes for as far as the eye could see with a bright, clear blue sky.
With our tents put up and supper being prepared, I sat here for ages just breathing and watching. This is the view I've been day dreaming about for years.
I was worried about traveling with a group of people I'd never met before but the guys on this tour where lovely. Each and every one of them. They each helped to make the experience truly memorable, I feel like I've made a whole group of new friends.
Waiting for supper in a candlelit tent, sipping mint tea and sharing stories. I haven't laughed as much as I did in a long time.
The moon came out, the bonfire was lit. Shortly after I tucked myself up in my sleeping bag and slept under the stars. The night sky was beautiful. It's the one thing that I couldn't photograph successfully. It was covered with billions of stars, I saw shooting stars for the first time my life and had to fight my need for sleep to just gaze at the sky. Sure enough sleep took over, but I was awake at 05:45 the next morning and the stars were still shining. As everyone else slept, I dragged my sleeping bag up onto a sand dune and watched the sky some more, over the next few hours the sky got lighter, the stars disappeared, and the sun appeared over the horizon. I was one happy camper.
Thanks to Jane and Louisa for organising Photo An Hour again this month.
I singed up to be a Fabletics VIP back in February when I needed some new running gear for outdoor exercise in the colder months (I ran in the snow!).
Now, I do not believe that you have to have sports gear to exercise. Nope, no way. As long as it's comfortable and you move in it and it keeps you cool / warm, depending on what activity you're doing, then anything goes.
But I joined Fabletics because my normal wardrobe offered nothing in the way of sportswear. I don't wear leggings (only footless tights), I don't wear joggers and t shirts are limited. So I joined, lured by the £22 introductory offer.
I was pleased with the items I received, above left, (although I chose a more expensive outfit, so paid more than the £22 advertised, but I did get it half price). None of it got much use though, I just couldn't get into my running groove.
The idea of Fabletics is that each month you can chose an outfit from £44, you can skip the month, as many times as you like, as long as you do so by the 5th of the month.
I've skipped most months since February. I missed the deadline one month and so I ordered leggings and a top, above right, that both went unworn until recently.
I decided to cancel my subscription as I wasn't really make the most of it. The only way you can do this is by telephone. This really irritates me, I can subscribe online, why the hell can't I cancel online?!
I was about to find out exactly why.
I telephoned them. I told the guy I wanted to cancel my subscription. He wasn't having any of it. He was persistent, polite but very persistent, I couldn't be bothered to argue. I agreed to stay, thinking that I'd call back another day when I was feeling feisty.
Anyway, by staying they upped my points but 500, you get points for each purchase you make and each review you leave. When you get to 1,000 points you can chose a free outfit (to a certain value). I'm well aware that this isn't a free outfit, it's all built into the price but as I'm edging ever closer to 1,000 points I am looking forward to getting my 'free' outfit, I'm such a sucker.
Recently I've started going to an exercise class on a Monday night and a Pilates class on a Friday evening. So my workout gear has been getting some use at last. I'm even contemplating going out running again.
The items are all really good quality, the styling is nice. I have no complaints about that. The outfits available fall into different price brackets, the cheapest being £44. For this you normally get two items. And these are bog standard items, no pretty patterned leggings or cute tops. Just plain t shirts and leggings. The prices go up from here - £52, £62 and above, for which you get three, sometimes four items, but it's in these price brackets that you'll find the nicer items.
You can order items separately to make up your own outfits if you don't like the outfits they've put together, as long as your order totals more than £44, if it's less you're charged £44 anyway and difference is credited to your account.
Would I recommend joining Fabletics? If you like good quality, nicely designed gym gear that you don't mind paying a lot for, then yes. Just don't expect it to be easy to leave when you want to. I obviously didn't ever get up the energy to call back and try to cancel my subscription after my first (failed) attempt.
Would I've gone back to Fabletics for more sportswear if I'd successfully cancelled my VIP membership? Probably not, I'd have most likely gone elsewhere. And this is exactly what these subscriptions depend on.
I'm thinking that I'll get a few more things, I need some more tops for Pilates as I prefer loose fitting tops for this and maybe some yoga trousers, and then I'll tackle the persistent telephonist once again.
Wish me luck!
Where do you shop for your sportswear?
Now, I do not believe that you have to have sports gear to exercise. Nope, no way. As long as it's comfortable and you move in it and it keeps you cool / warm, depending on what activity you're doing, then anything goes.
But I joined Fabletics because my normal wardrobe offered nothing in the way of sportswear. I don't wear leggings (only footless tights), I don't wear joggers and t shirts are limited. So I joined, lured by the £22 introductory offer.
I was pleased with the items I received, above left, (although I chose a more expensive outfit, so paid more than the £22 advertised, but I did get it half price). None of it got much use though, I just couldn't get into my running groove.
The idea of Fabletics is that each month you can chose an outfit from £44, you can skip the month, as many times as you like, as long as you do so by the 5th of the month.
I've skipped most months since February. I missed the deadline one month and so I ordered leggings and a top, above right, that both went unworn until recently.
I decided to cancel my subscription as I wasn't really make the most of it. The only way you can do this is by telephone. This really irritates me, I can subscribe online, why the hell can't I cancel online?!
I was about to find out exactly why.
I telephoned them. I told the guy I wanted to cancel my subscription. He wasn't having any of it. He was persistent, polite but very persistent, I couldn't be bothered to argue. I agreed to stay, thinking that I'd call back another day when I was feeling feisty.
Anyway, by staying they upped my points but 500, you get points for each purchase you make and each review you leave. When you get to 1,000 points you can chose a free outfit (to a certain value). I'm well aware that this isn't a free outfit, it's all built into the price but as I'm edging ever closer to 1,000 points I am looking forward to getting my 'free' outfit, I'm such a sucker.
Recently I've started going to an exercise class on a Monday night and a Pilates class on a Friday evening. So my workout gear has been getting some use at last. I'm even contemplating going out running again.
The items are all really good quality, the styling is nice. I have no complaints about that. The outfits available fall into different price brackets, the cheapest being £44. For this you normally get two items. And these are bog standard items, no pretty patterned leggings or cute tops. Just plain t shirts and leggings. The prices go up from here - £52, £62 and above, for which you get three, sometimes four items, but it's in these price brackets that you'll find the nicer items.
You can order items separately to make up your own outfits if you don't like the outfits they've put together, as long as your order totals more than £44, if it's less you're charged £44 anyway and difference is credited to your account.
Would I recommend joining Fabletics? If you like good quality, nicely designed gym gear that you don't mind paying a lot for, then yes. Just don't expect it to be easy to leave when you want to. I obviously didn't ever get up the energy to call back and try to cancel my subscription after my first (failed) attempt.
Would I've gone back to Fabletics for more sportswear if I'd successfully cancelled my VIP membership? Probably not, I'd have most likely gone elsewhere. And this is exactly what these subscriptions depend on.
I'm thinking that I'll get a few more things, I need some more tops for Pilates as I prefer loose fitting tops for this and maybe some yoga trousers, and then I'll tackle the persistent telephonist once again.
Wish me luck!
Where do you shop for your sportswear?
I wanted a hydrating serum. My skin felt in need of a bit of a boost and my current serums are more about radiance, than hydration.
After a bit of research on Boots I ordered the Soap & Glory Bright Beautiful 6-in-1 Energising Radiance Serum. It seemed pretty reasonable at £13.00. It's a nice formula, my skin drinks it up. It has a shimmer in, which looks a bit too sparkly until I apply my normal tinted moisturiser, and then I'm just left with a nice glow.
A few days later I read about the Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum on Sparkly Vodka's September Favourites post. I happened to be going into town and so I picked one up, at £2.69, and with a rave review ringing in my ears, I'd be mad not to.
Whilst there I spotted the Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Peel and popped this in my basket as well. It's normally £5.99 but it was on offer so I paid just £2.95
The Simply Pure serum is my favourite of the two serums. It's a nice light formula that melts into my skin. I'll do a proper review when I've been using it a while longer, you can check out Caroline's review on Sparkly Vodka, if you want to know more. It's definitely worth trying.
The Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Peel sounds a little scary but it's actually lovely. It claims to refine and improve the texture of skin's surface, adding radiance and improving uneven skin tone. I've been using it for just a few days and I can see a difference in my skin already. It's a light gel formula that smells slightly masculine - in a nice way. The smell reminds me of something but I can't put my finger on what it is. Anyway it's given my dull skin a real boost, I'm so glad I popped this into my shopping basket.
What's your best ever beauty buy?
It's becoming very apparent that my love for white dresses isn't going to be waning anytime soon.
I mentioned that I'd ordered a victoriana style white dress recently, and when I popped that into my basket I might've also added this lace maxi dress as well.
Turns out the neckline on the victoriana dress didn't suit me, not even a little bit. But as I stepped into the maxi dress, well that was a different story. It was love at first wear. It's my new favourite thing.
It reminds me of a dress I wanted when I was 11, I'd seen it in Tammy Girl and pestered my Mum for weeks to try it on. By the time we went into the shop the only one they had left was too small for me. It was so similar, drop waist, pleated skirt, a band of embellishment down the front. Perhaps this is what drew me to it when I saw it on ASOS?
After trying it on I hung it up and wondered when I'd wear it, would I have to wait for the first mild day of spring 2016?
It seemed daft to spend £45 on a dress and then wait months to wear it, so I put in on again and went about making it weather appropriate. Whilst the sun was shining, it was on the cool side, with a bit of a chilly breeze.
I pulled on a pair of footless tights, added a cardy and found this skinny scarf. Which isn't actually a scarf but a belt from a skirt that I gave away months and months ago. I'd been admiring these skinny scarves that I've seen popping up here and there, I rather fancied one. But I'd promised myself that I wouldn't buy any new scarves this year. Problem solved! No one needs to know my new scarf is actually a belt, 'k?
I finished the outfit with ankle boots and my lovely Custards Designs pink bag, I felt pleased that I'd taken the opportunity to wear my dress, and I've set myself a little challenge to make in work for any season...
I can't wait for the first hot day of summer, when I can pop it on with just a pair of sandals and some sunglasses and be good to go. That's how this dress should be worn, but with so few days out of the year when that will be possible I want to make the most of it.
How would you style this dress?
I mentioned that I'd ordered a victoriana style white dress recently, and when I popped that into my basket I might've also added this lace maxi dress as well.
Turns out the neckline on the victoriana dress didn't suit me, not even a little bit. But as I stepped into the maxi dress, well that was a different story. It was love at first wear. It's my new favourite thing.
It reminds me of a dress I wanted when I was 11, I'd seen it in Tammy Girl and pestered my Mum for weeks to try it on. By the time we went into the shop the only one they had left was too small for me. It was so similar, drop waist, pleated skirt, a band of embellishment down the front. Perhaps this is what drew me to it when I saw it on ASOS?
After trying it on I hung it up and wondered when I'd wear it, would I have to wait for the first mild day of spring 2016?
It seemed daft to spend £45 on a dress and then wait months to wear it, so I put in on again and went about making it weather appropriate. Whilst the sun was shining, it was on the cool side, with a bit of a chilly breeze.
I pulled on a pair of footless tights, added a cardy and found this skinny scarf. Which isn't actually a scarf but a belt from a skirt that I gave away months and months ago. I'd been admiring these skinny scarves that I've seen popping up here and there, I rather fancied one. But I'd promised myself that I wouldn't buy any new scarves this year. Problem solved! No one needs to know my new scarf is actually a belt, 'k?
I finished the outfit with ankle boots and my lovely Custards Designs pink bag, I felt pleased that I'd taken the opportunity to wear my dress, and I've set myself a little challenge to make in work for any season...
I can't wait for the first hot day of summer, when I can pop it on with just a pair of sandals and some sunglasses and be good to go. That's how this dress should be worn, but with so few days out of the year when that will be possible I want to make the most of it.
How would you style this dress?
So this is the final day of my 40 days of blogging. I hoped you've enjoyed it? I'm chuffed that I've completed it, I'm feeling like the cats whisker's (and that's where the relevance of the image ends - any excuse for a cat pic).
Will I continue posting daily? Take a break? I haven't decided yet. What I do know is that I still have loads of posts in drafts.
By blogging everyday for 40 days my intention was to publish everything in my drafts folder, but ideas keep coming, new drafts kept appearing. Some of the posts I had intended to publish, are still languishing at the bottom of the list, partially finished.
I like my posts to build on a subject, if I mention something I like to follow it up, I refer and link back to old relevant posts, I document progress. I (think) that I cover lots of subjects, that weave in and out of one another.
This is definitely a more recent thing, my early posts were random, about pretty things and fashion trends, but I've been making a conscious effort to evaluate life - the things I do, the things I want to do, the items I buy. To be more aware of the decisions I make, to examine my motives and ask why?
My seasonal lists are about making things a priority - finding time to do things for fun, just because. Because if I don't make the time and the conscious effort to do these things time gets swallowed by the everyday. I saw a quote online about 'it's not a matter of having time, it's a matter of priorities'. If you make something a priority, you'll find the time to do it. Completing 40 days of blogging is proof of this.
My Year 40 List is about changing my life for the better, building and working towards the life I want to lead. My first follow up post on this was an eye opener for me and gave me a greater understanding of my life and where I want to be.
My empties posts are about working my way through my product stash and examining the products I like and don't like, instead of using up something and discarding it without thought. If I buy a new product and I don't like it, it gets discarded rather than put back in the drawer. I'm slowly building my beauty cabinet - a place for the products that I love and that work for me.
My monthly (although I've recently decided to make them bi-monthly) Favourite Three posts are about appreciating what I already own. Digging around in my wardrobe to find things that have been pushed to the back and forgotten. Although this might not be so easy since my discarding session. For the first time since we moved in all my clothes fit into my wardrobe with space to spare. I can't tell you how good that feels (more on this soon).
Of course there will be posts that cover a random subject, crisps for example. But all will be written with honesty and I'll enjoy writing them. I've never published a post I didn't enjoy putting together, if I don't enjoy it, it doesn't get published, it gets deleted.
After five years of blogging I still enjoy it. And that's the reason I continue.
(Day 40 of blogging everyday for 40 days)
I've just finished knitting my coin purse and need to attached it to the frame and add a lining. I had to frog my first attempt (thanks for all of you who informed of the origin of the term, it makes perfect sense now), it was too big. I had it sewn onto the frame, the lining in, and the button embellishment attached but it didn't feel right. It was more bag than purse so I decided to start again. You can find the pattern here.
One day I might show you a finished project!
I'm reading Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's Learned
by Lena Dunham. It's interesting to read a book aimed at a much younger audience but it's funny to cringe and smile at all of the things I identify with and recall from my younger years (thank goodness those years are behind me now). This is a handy book for the younger generation, and it's written well. She has a nice writing style and a tone of voice that's funny, self depreciating and likable. I'm about half way though. I enjoy a Q&A post and I've seen this one about reading habits on a few blogs now, Eileen and Janet to name a few, and thought it would be apt for today's post. I find the habits of others fascinating, so if you want to give it a go, let me know in the comments below.
Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
Mostly I read in bed. You might occasionally find me on the sofa, under a blanket with a book and a cat. Other than that I read sitting outside in the sunshine, sometimes with a cat.
Where do you like to read?
Other than in bed, or in my garden? On a beach or beside a pool.
Bookmark or random piece of paper?
Both. I have a ribbon bookmark made by my Mum but I also use random scraps of paper or if someone gives me a book as a gift and it comes with a gift tag I use that.
Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter?
I can just stop reading. I get to the point most night when I'm falling asleep with a book in my hand. I close it, drop it on the floor and I'm asleep within minutes. The next night I have to re-read the last few pages I read as I remember little of it.
Do you eat or drink while reading?
I often read with a cup of tea, I don't generally eat though. I might nibble on a bar of chocolate.
E-reader or real book?
Real book, I've never read anything on an e-reader. I get that they are good for taking lots of books traveling or are good for commuting but I work from home, and also I read slowly so I find one book on a week's holiday is plenty.
Music or TV while reading?
Nope. I prefer silence. I get distracted by noise.
One book at a time or several at once?
One at a time, but I can read a novel and a reference book at the same time but I prefer to stick to one story at a time.
Reading at home or everywhere?
Generally just at home or when traveling a long distance.
Reading aloud or silently in your head?
In my head. I can't skim read though, I have to read every single word, which is why I read so slowly.
Fiction or non-fiction?
A mixture. Novels are the norm but I do like a biography once in a while.
Do you read ahead or skip pages?
No, I don't see the point. Why spoil it?
Break the spine or keep it like new?
Break the spine. I like a book to look like it's been read.
Do you write in your books?
I have done, but generally just my name and a date. I buy a lot of second hand books and I like to find a name or something written inside. I like to feel that a book has been read and enjoyed over and over. I think it gives the book life, I see books sitting on shelves unread, or read just once and I think they have a sad quality.
Favourite book?
This is an impossible question! One book that has remained on my shelf through numerous clear outs is Yarn Harlot
by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. It's charming and very apt for Yarn Along!What are you knitting and reading?
(Day 39 of blogging everyday for 40 days. Only one more day!)
My white dress obsession is set to continue into Autumn, I thought that it might wane once the nice weather began to disappear, but nope! I can still be found wasting spending time on ASOS browsing the dresses. Thanks to Janet I am now an ASOS Premier customer so I get free next day delivery, so this has become my go-to place to shop online.
I might've just added this River Island Victoriana Lace Dress to my basket.
And I probably would've added this Fashion Union Crochet Dress too if they'd had anything but a size 6.
I can see the victoriana dress worn with black opaque tights and boots, topped with a long chunky knit cardigan (I will not use the term coatigan, it's not a word), and a leather tote bag, possibly a pink one? But in the warmer months I can pop on a pair of light brown ankle boots or sandals and go merrily on my way. Is it wrong to want it to be summer again when it's still not entirely over yet?
Just a quick cheaty post today, work is manic but I didn't want to fail on my 40 day challenge so close to the end! I'll be back tomorrow and the day after, hopefully with better / longer / more interesting / all of the above posts.
(Day 38 of blogging everyday for 40 days).
I might've just added this River Island Victoriana Lace Dress to my basket.
And I probably would've added this Fashion Union Crochet Dress too if they'd had anything but a size 6.
I can see the victoriana dress worn with black opaque tights and boots, topped with a long chunky knit cardigan (I will not use the term coatigan, it's not a word), and a leather tote bag, possibly a pink one? But in the warmer months I can pop on a pair of light brown ankle boots or sandals and go merrily on my way. Is it wrong to want it to be summer again when it's still not entirely over yet?
Just a quick cheaty post today, work is manic but I didn't want to fail on my 40 day challenge so close to the end! I'll be back tomorrow and the day after, hopefully with better / longer / more interesting / all of the above posts.
(Day 38 of blogging everyday for 40 days).
And means I can wear this skirt...
A simple £15.00 purchase means I can now wear three items that I previously couldn't. That's what I call a bargain.
(Day 37 of blogging everyday for 40 days)
Andy and I have been married for six months (and a day) today, granted it's not a full year and not generally celebrated and in some ways it still feels like only yesterday, but I've been feeling super nostalgic and more than a little soppy about it.
The day after our wedding my new sister-in-law arranged a family lunch for us in a local village hall.
It was lovely to get everyone together again and spend some time with them, we didn't get to spend much time with anyone the day before so it was nice to have some time to chat and catch up.
Andy and I were both really emotional, after such an amazing wedding day, which was long and tiring but all the fun, we were both feeling more than a little overwhelmed.
When we arrived at the hall the first thing we saw were three photographs of us from the day before in frames, surrounded by our wedding flowers. It was so sweet and so thoughtful. I became very teary and needed a moment to compose myself before greeting everyone.
The hall was decked out in miles of bunting made by my new sister and mother-in-law, flowers were everywhere and everyone looked so happy. There was a mountain of food and yet more champagne, and more cheesecake than I've ever seen in one place.
At 3pm Andy looked at me and said 'we've been married for 24 hours' and I lost it, tears of happiness flowed and there was nothing I could do to stop them. We giggled our way out of it. Which is what we (OK, it was mostly me) spent the rest of the day doing. Crying, giggling, crying, giggling...
Our bridesmaid wore her dress again and I have to say I was a tiny bit jealous that I couldn't wear mine. I knew that I'd feel all kinds of ordinary if I didn't wear something special. I picked out this off-white True Decadance dress from ASOS and my love affair with white dresses began. I flounced and swished my way though the day feeling every bit as close to a bride as I could get.
I later fell asleep wearing it on the sofa, I woke up and ate wedding cake in it, read our wedding cards and opened gifts with Andy, sipping champagne. And you know what, I don't think it would've felt the same if I'd been wearing jeans. For me the dress added a little extra something to the day.
I felt ridiculously happy, and amazing, and special, and loved. And whilst I can't put my wedding dress back on to relive the day, I can put this dress on and remember all those amazing feelings.
And when I put it on again, to go to supper on the last night of our honeymoon, I had the most excellent realisation. I can wear a coloured petticoat underneath to make it even swishier!
(Day 36 of blogging everyday for 40 days)
The day after our wedding my new sister-in-law arranged a family lunch for us in a local village hall.
It was lovely to get everyone together again and spend some time with them, we didn't get to spend much time with anyone the day before so it was nice to have some time to chat and catch up.
Andy and I were both really emotional, after such an amazing wedding day, which was long and tiring but all the fun, we were both feeling more than a little overwhelmed.
When we arrived at the hall the first thing we saw were three photographs of us from the day before in frames, surrounded by our wedding flowers. It was so sweet and so thoughtful. I became very teary and needed a moment to compose myself before greeting everyone.
The hall was decked out in miles of bunting made by my new sister and mother-in-law, flowers were everywhere and everyone looked so happy. There was a mountain of food and yet more champagne, and more cheesecake than I've ever seen in one place.
At 3pm Andy looked at me and said 'we've been married for 24 hours' and I lost it, tears of happiness flowed and there was nothing I could do to stop them. We giggled our way out of it. Which is what we (OK, it was mostly me) spent the rest of the day doing. Crying, giggling, crying, giggling...
Our bridesmaid wore her dress again and I have to say I was a tiny bit jealous that I couldn't wear mine. I knew that I'd feel all kinds of ordinary if I didn't wear something special. I picked out this off-white True Decadance dress from ASOS and my love affair with white dresses began. I flounced and swished my way though the day feeling every bit as close to a bride as I could get.
I later fell asleep wearing it on the sofa, I woke up and ate wedding cake in it, read our wedding cards and opened gifts with Andy, sipping champagne. And you know what, I don't think it would've felt the same if I'd been wearing jeans. For me the dress added a little extra something to the day.
I felt ridiculously happy, and amazing, and special, and loved. And whilst I can't put my wedding dress back on to relive the day, I can put this dress on and remember all those amazing feelings.
And when I put it on again, to go to supper on the last night of our honeymoon, I had the most excellent realisation. I can wear a coloured petticoat underneath to make it even swishier!
(Day 36 of blogging everyday for 40 days)
