Back in November Pearl alerted me to the fact that as of March 1st 2012 Google are cancelling Google Friend Connect on every platform other than blogger (you can read more on IFB here). Google are 'encouraging' us to move over to Google+, to create a page and place a Google+ badge on our blogs. 

I'm enjoying this challenge, it has made me think about how I wear items rather than just sticking to the same outfits all the time. I'd recommend trying it with any new additions to your wardrobe. See Part 1 and Part 2... only one more instalment to go after this.


Zara Jeans

On Sunday I signed up to Frugal February, the brain child of Gemma over at Big Girls Browse, the idea is to stop all non essential shopping for the month of February.

I was a little late to the party, so I have decided to tag on the days missed at the beginning to the end. So, I'll finish on March 5th.

This will give me ample time to complete my current project - Shopping My Wardrobe - and allow me to make a big dent on The Mend Pile before I embark on my big challenge of 2012, not to mention saving me a few pennies along the way.


Have you / would you signed up?

I have a feeling this is going to be harder than I first thought.

The Mend Pile, aka the pile of clothes that need mending or altering that gathers dust in my bedroom, has begun to taunt me. Which is why I made 'fix the mend pile' one of my resolutions and I have made a start, albeit a small one, by fixing a broken belt loop and sewing some buttons back onto a jacket.


My first alteration project is a Matalan dress, purchased back in March/April 2011. I haven't worn it yet, I love the material and pattern but something wasn't quite right...


It fits nicely but the length wasn't very flattering. It's a bold shape and pattern and didn't seem to match the knee length style. So, I decided to lop six inches off the bottom. The picture on the far right was with the skirt just tucked up, but you can see the difference it made.


Tink inspected my handy work thoroughly.

I'll show you the end result, properly styled and accessorised, in an outfit post soon...

Do you think I made the right decision?

I used to have a bit of a (huge) crush on Chris Packham. This was back in his Really Wild Show days, when he used to bleach his hair. Even seeing him recently on Autumn Watch I thought 'Yeah, he's still got a certain something'. And then I watched him on Room 101 last night.

Crush over.

Firstly, he wanted to banish Chris Moyles. Okay, listen up Packham, if you don't like his (hugely popular) breakfast show, don't listen.

Next up, homosapiens. Why? Because we have ruined the earth. The earth was, according to Chris, ticking along nicely in harmony and along we came, inventing technology and medicine and messed the whole thing up. I bet he takes a paracetamol when he has a headache.

Lastly, children's art. It seems the pictures drawn by people's children displayed in their own homes irritate Mr Packham. He admitted to being at a friend's house (proving he has at least one) and removing a picture from the fridge, tearing it up and putting it in the bin. WTF? I bet know one calls him 'Uncle Chris'.

He may be a nature loving man, passionate about our environment but he also seems to be a bit of a tit. For the first time in my life, if I was given the choice between snogging him or Terry Nutkin, it would be be Terry I tell to pucker up.

The whole thing reminds me of a poem by Wendy Cope

Two Cure For Love
1. Don't see him. Don't phone or write a letter.
2. The easy way: get to know him better

Master liquid eyeliner once and for all
I have tried. Applying the liner to the upper lid is a cinch but it's the flick that is testing my patience! The first time I tried my right eye looked awesome, then I had numerous attempts at trying to match it on the other side. The result was seven blackened cotton buds, a sore eye and a frayed temper... I'm going to watch more YouTube tutorials (I imagine there are hundreds that I haven't watched yet). I have discovered that 'practising' 10 minutes before your taxi arrives it not a good idea!

Finish the jumper I started knitting in March 2010
I've got my knit on a few times this month but I am going to have to unpick it all. I won't bore you with it but I am more determined than ever to get this thing finished!

Fix the 'mend pile'
I have mended a belt loop and sewn on some missing buttons, so it's a start albeit a small one.

Write at least one line in my diary everyday
This is going well. I have made a promise to myself to note down the silly things, the little things that made me smile or raised a laugh during my day, who wants to remember the negative?

Use the spa vouchers OH gave me for our second anniversary
I have used one voucher and have another appointment booked. A hot stone massage is hardly a chore now is it? This is a resolution that I could happily make a habit of.

Negotiate with work to be based at home
I don't think that this will be possible… but I haven't given up on this just yet. I have a few things that need to be put into place before tackling this one.

How are your resolutions going?