And the WINNER is…

A massive thank you to everyone who took the time to enter the sweetie giveaway.

I was amazed at the response... didn't anyone ever tell you not to take sweets from strangers? Tee hee. Well the winner has been drawn, rather technically...


Out of a hat, by an independent adjudicator (aka my daughter Daisy).

AND THE WINNER IS...


Congratulations to Emily, who won the great big sweetie giveaway!

Please email me your address asap Emily so I can post out your prize!

Thank you again for all the entries, I shall have more giveaways coming soon, so check back now and again.

In the meantime, I shall be laying low for a while, off on my holiday in a few days, so I haven't gone away for long, just for a bit! I have done some huge sale shopping so look forward to sharing those bits with you when I return.

Ta ta for now x

From the mailbag...

I love receiving mail, and where I can I will try to help, here is a recent plea for help...

Dear Ms Shopaholic,

I read with interest, your post below about how you cunningly customised a hat. I just wanted to ask, how on earth did you do this?

From hatloverbutnotacustomiser


Dear hatloverbutnotacustomiser,

I know, I am pretty a-maz-ing, but it really is easier than it looks.

I love DIY blogs about how to make your own clothes or customise them, but truth is, I can't sew. I can't even thread a needle, so I'm all for the really major simple ones.

I recently read a post that explained how to make a ra ra skirt from scratch, whilst doing a handstand AND making your husband Spinach and Lamb Risotto (that sounds gross).

So, here goes, how to customise a hat:

Take 1 hat… and a scarf...


Tie the scarf around the base of the hat:


And ta da… done. (I know, unreal).

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

I do hope this has helped you ms hat person... you no longer need to make do, customise at your will. x

Love Ms Shopaholic

Ok, I'll admit, this is a rubbish customise, has anyone got any tips for a real simple customise that doesn't involve a sewing machine or any brain cells?

ps. don't forget! the great sweetie giveaway ends at 9pm GMT Monday so get your entries in! I'm excited.

Airport chic… you decide…

Today I am getting a little over excited, so much so, I nearly peed my pants.

You see very soon, I will be jetting off on my holidays! yipeeeeee, sun, sea and sand in um... windy Lanzarote.

My mind is starting to wander to the packing. Eugh. I hate packing. I can't pack too early as I tend to get a bit OCD'ish about it and I'll unpack and pack so many times just to check I really did include enough pairs of knickers, even though I know full well I have.

Anyhow, I need your help pretty please, cos you are all so brilliant and know stuff, what should I wear to the airport? Option A or option B (click to enlarge the image). I will wear the most voted for outfit. (I'll even take a picture of me in it, running on the luggage belt - actually no I won't, it is soooooo annoying when that breaks down, I think I'd be booed when I board the plane and boy do I hate being booed boarding planes).

Both options would have a denim jacket accompaniment. Well, it will be like 2° in the UK when we leave and 38° in Lanzarote when we land.

*Or feel free to show me an Option C, and I'll see if I can match it from my wardrobe.

Just Hangin'...

Today I bought a new hat from New Look. A straw trilby.

It will soon be full on festival time here in the UK. And my MUST HAVE for any festival… is a hat. I usually take a couple, because after just 1 day of camping, believe me, I need a hat to cover my bad hair.

This one came with a cute white and blue ribbon around it, but I have cunningly customised it which I guess I can do with any outfit, just by tieing it with a complimentary scarf. Sorted.

Hats are are not only brilliant for bad hair days, but they are also good for bad face days. I went for dinner in Sainsburys Cafe the other evening (I know, classy), then strutted around Sainsburys doing a small grocery shop complete with a 'tomato ketchup moustache*'.

Not one single person mentioned it (including my own two children), and I must have spoken to several people and smiled politely at several more. I'd like to think I'd have mentioned it, even if just discreetly.

Motto for the day: "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle..."

Would you tell a stranger if they had a tomato kepchup moustache?

Total spent today: £7

*Tomato Ketchup Moustaches are not a fashion accessory. Please do not get them confused with comedy fake moustaches which are occasionally very funny indeed.

What a 'Sweet' giveaway...

Today it is time for my first giveaway!

I have a very sweet tooth, and I particularly like sweeties. The sort I used to buy when I was knee high to a grasshopper – retro sweets. It has cost me a fortune in dentistry, but I think it's well worth it!

So for my very first giveaway, I'm giving you all the chance to win this Sweet Experience! And a few visits to the dentist to look forward to. With the Summer Holidays in full swing, maybe you'd like to give them to your kidrens, or keep them all for yourself, piggy pants!

Here go the rules:
1. For one entry, please comment on this post.
2. For a second entry, please become a member.
3. For a third entry, post a link on your blog and let me know about it in the comments.
4. For a fourth entry, …there is no fourth entry, three will do greedypants!
5. Anonymous entries cannot be accepted. Sorry 'bout that, but the nature of anonymity means that I won't know who on earth you are.
5. I will post overseas but exact contents of the sweet basket may change slightly due to weight restrictions.
6. The winner will be picked randomly (out of a hat literally) on Monday 27th July at 9pm UK time and announced on Monday 27th July. Posting of prize will happen approx one week after that date.
7. If you are super lucky and blimmin' well win, I will need you to email me within 7 days of winning with your postal address, otherwise, the next picked runner up will win the goodies. If it all goes horribly wrong, I shall just eat them. Nuff said.

English Eccentric…

Today I bought a polka dot jacket from H&M in their mega SALE.

I felt a little bit eccentric* today. Happy eccentric. So I put on a polka dot jacket and more polka dot in my scarf, a tiny bit mental, but happy mental. Nothing particularly matched today but sometimes I like days like that.

I still feel slightly unwell, but am getting on with it. Everyone in the world seems to think I have Swine Flu. I know I don't as I'm certainly not bedridden, but my nose did go a peculiar colour this evening for no apparent reason (is that a symptom?).

I hate taking my picture, I cannot relax. I wish I were a child again, they are always so totally relaxed in front of a camera. Here is my 2 year old Joseph. He wanted 'his turn'. Cute.


Total spent today: £10 (jacket from H&M)

*The eccentric's habits are incomprehensible not because they are illogical or the result of madness, but because they stem from a mind so original that it cannot be conformed to societal norms. Or they are simply just eccentric.

The morning after the night before...

Today I bought a grey tshirt with a print of a zebra wearing a $ sign necklace. Chavtastic chic from H&M.

I've been wearing leggings again recently, especially on lazy, chillin days like today.

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with leggings. I wore them to death whilst pregnant, so much so that I set light to them in a burning ritual shortly after giving birth. I remember thinking 'thank god, no more leggings' – but then low and behold they are everywhere again, and I've found a new type of love for them.

Today, I could really only manage leggings and a tshirt. It is after all, the morning after the night before. Last night I went to Newmarket Races with 3 girly friends, we did a bit of betting on the horses and then watched The Pussycat Dolls, intermingled with several drinks and pretending that we were The Pussycat Dolls (one can dream!) and several more drinks.

The Pussycat Dolls* were great, The lead singer Nicole (I can call her that now, I've seen her in real life, we're as good as best buddies now) is pretty amazing... she looks fabulous and can sing and strut her stuff like no one else I know.

I'd gone dressed in posh party frock and high heels. Totally unsuitable. It rained non-stop and was all outdoors on grass. My heels were sunk so far into the ground, I gave up moving around and stayed in one position like a weeble. At least there was no chance of falling over, I was fixed to the ground. I did sneak in my flats to change into when it was time for some dancing later.

This morning, I had a headache.

Total spent today: £5

*The Pussycat Dolls started life as a Burlesque troupe. Nicole loves Formula 1 British boy Lewis Hamilton. Nicole and Lewis sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. They are boyfriend/girlfriend.

Purple and red combo…

Today I bought this purple dress. I now own the same dress in 3 diferent colours, yellow, purple and pink.

I originally bought the yellow version at full price (£18 - my eggcellent dress) at the start of summer. I have warn it so much, you know when you just get a dress that fits well and feels comfortable, well this is that dress for me. So when it appeared in the New Look sale for £8, I picked up another two.

I've seen a lot of bloggers trying out the purple and red combo recently. I can't say I've really tried it before but thought this dress was worthy to give it a go. I think I like.

Have you ever bought the same item in multiple colours? Did you get bored of the style quickly?

Total spent today: £8

Mods and Rockers

Today I designed and printed my daughters 13th birthday invites… in 1 hour.

We have decided to theme the party 'mods and rockers', really just so we can feed our desire to dress up funny.

As well as the standard disco, we also have an up and coming band playing 'Thee Vicars', they look quite modish but sound more punk/rockish, they have been touring Europe recently, and also appeared at Radio One's Big Weekend. (Daisy's dad is the manager). 

Daisy is inviting over 100 party goers! Wowza, I shall be in the nearby bar me thinks :-)

So, what I need to ask is, what would you go as? A Mod or a Rocker? Which is cooler?

Total spent today: Nil points (a lovely, kind, local printer printed these for nothing)

And I would just like to thank…

Today I'm ill. So didn't shop. Not even online. But… I did receive my very first awardio!!! And that made me feel a little bit betterer.

Once I'd stopped jumping around a bit, (hey, it's my first award, give me a break) I set about picking up my 'MeMe Award' from the lady who makes me laugh out loud, That Girl at Forty Not Out. I heart her massively.

The small print of the award does state that I now have to list 7 things that you may not know about me, and then pass on the award willy nilly to 7 other banging blogger peeps. So here goes:

1. I have a scar right in the middle of my forehead. Not a pretty little 'only visible when you lift your fringe type' but a huge ugly one, (about an inch long now, used to be my whole forehead width), smack bang in the middle. The only good thing about my scar is that it doesn't photograph well, in fact you probably haven't even noticed it in my pics so far, if you met me in real life you wouldn't miss it. There are several urban myths floating around town as to how I did my scar, mainly made up by my big bro.

2. I have a stalker-like obsession with coffee shops. I go on special trips to coffee shops. Mainly to drink coffee in secret. I am currently on a ban from caffeined coffee at home, because it makes me talk really really really quickly I don't even come up for air not even just a little bit I just keep going and going and going making up impossibly long sentences that rarely make any sense and people look at me wide eyed like I'm about to burst like that girl off of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. And… breathe. (What? I've been to a coffee shop alright?).

3. I used to wish my name was Donna. When I was little I used to play on my own in the garden having imaginary conversations with myself in which I would call myself Donna, loudly, so my neighbours could here and believe my name was Donna, not Gemma (which it is). It was a rubbish game, because my neighbours both sides were aged 70+ and probably couldn't hear any way, and secondly couldn't care less if my name were Donna, Gemma or VeraVanDuckworth.

4. I luuuurve music festivals. Even though I'm getting a bit old for the old camping and wellies malarkie, I still love music festivals. Last year, I saw Amy Winehouse, Kings of Leon, Muse, The Verve, Stereophonics, Girls Aloud, The Prodigy, Kaiser Chiefs and loads more, all in one weekend. We are off again in August and headlining this year are Oasis and The Killers.

5. I have a major crush on Robert De Niro. Don't know why, he is one of those 'odd' crushes, and a bit of a golden oldie, but we've all got one of those surely? And it's better than Axl Rose off of Guns n Roses, he was my old weirdy crush but I've gone off him now.

6. A few years ago I had my five minutes of fame. I was a football mascot for a local team that had done really well in some national cup thingy. I was in lots of local papers and even did a 'live' radio interview. I was useless, they asked me questions about football which was pointless. I know it was a big game but surely they could have asked me about shoes or shopping?

7. I can never think of 7 things to write about myself. It's always been the same ever since I was little, 6 I can do, easy peasy lemon squeezy, but try a 7th, nope, never gonna happen.

And so, to pass this award on to 7 other bloggerer's:

1. Kari at 'in Kari's Wardrobe'
2. Sharon at Sharon Rose-Style, Thrifting, Fashion and Me
3. Struggler at Struggling to be Stylish
4. Daisy at Daisy Chain Dreams
5. Janetteria
6. The Sydney Girl
7. Winnie at Diamond Canopy

Total spent today: zilchio. not a penny. ill, remember?

The $20 (£12.25) outfit challenge…

Today I bought a really cheap navy vest top AND pulled a really, really, dorky pose.

Once I was dressed this morning, I noticed that this outfit was actually a contender for Kasmira's $20 dollar outfit challenge although I'm a bit lagging behind as that was months ago.

Navy vest top £1.75 Tesco, Skirt gift from my mum, Sash came with skirt, purple shoes £5 Priceless, Necklace £4 Sainsburys, Bracelet gift from my nan, earings £1.50 Sainsburys, total outfit cost: £12.25 ($19.95).

I had such a happy day in my £12.25 outfit, until I had a shock outside our front door.

It took me forever to count them, but, 1,465,234 ants* had formed ready to invade the house. Before I could stop her, my daughter went on the attack and gave them all a blast of her new body spray. It worked, there are now only 500,426 left.

But I'm left with a vision of Mr Ant, (one of the survivors) staggering back to his nest, Mrs Ant is not happy, "I can smell women's perfume, where the HELL have you been?"

So, has anyone else got an amazing $20 dollar outfit to show? Please email me your best pics (my email is to the left, up a bit…, up a bit… there you go).

Or any tips for getting rid of ants?. Blimmin' pesky things.

Total spent today: £1.75

*Ant societies have division of labour, communication between individuals, and an ability to solve complex problems.^[8] These parallels with human societies have long been an inspiration and subject of study… well, the only complex problem I can see them working on is how to get in to my house and eat my cakes!

If it's good enough for Beyonce…

Today I bought these funky, fun gladiator sandals*.

As seen on Beyonce Knowles.


I don't think Beyonce is as shrewd a shopper as me though ;-), she probably paid a fortune from some posh designer... I found these in Matalan for £12!

Unfortunately, they only had them in diddy sizes (UK size 4) so I couldn't cram my flipper feet into them, they have been passed on to my 'only too pleased to take them off my hands' daughter.

If anyone does want to get their hands on a pair and can't get to Matalan, they are also available at www.desireclothing.co.uk for £20.

Total spent today: £12

*Gladiator sandals are a roman/Greek inspired look which was originally a fashion trend in the late 1960s and early 1970.

The best kind of SALES...

Today I bought some bargain jewellery.

It seemed that everybody and their mother were having sales today, everywhere I looked was SALE signs, half price this, half price that... for some strange reason I took my other half shopping, which was 1. difficult and 2. meant that I had to exercise some restraint when all the dresses were screaming "buy me, buy me!".

The best sales I enjoy are half price jewellery sales. Costume jewellery sells pretty cheaply in our shops anyhow, so when they cut to half price, it is virtually too good to be true.

This bracelet above was £2.50, hand painted beads, it is pretty gorgeous.


These earrings were £1.50! it really is the time to stock up!


And this necklace was £4. And yes, there is a tiger on my tummy.

I bought all of these in our local supermarket, Sainsburys. I love that you can go do the groceries and sneak in some lovely bits too! (I'm not sure why this is underlined, it is not intentional!)

Total spent today: £8

*It's a wonder I've managed to type anything today, I have applied extra long fake nails! I went to a fancy do yesterday and they will not come off just yet… it is making life a misery.

I need to STOP falling over...

Today I bought these zebra print flats.

I don't own many pairs of flats, mainly because I'm quite short and I am just a heel type of gal.

But lately there has been a problem… I seem to have lost my centre of gravity. I can't stop falling over!

My most recent tumble was last tuesday on my son's 2nd birthday, on our way into the Sea Life Centre. My other half had walked ahead with our son, and when he turned around to see where I'd got to, there I was dusting myself off on the floor looking up at him.

"What ARE you doing?" he asked
"Oh, just thought I saw something on the floor" I mumbled, hoping he'd accept that explanation as part of my normal weird behaviour.

Phew, got away with it I thought, (he had mentioned earlier that the 4 inch heels were maybe not suitable for the day) and I really didn't want to hear 'told you so'. I thought I'd got away with it until I turned around and saw a queue of school children just behind me... they were not actually laughing just looking a little horrified, I silently gestured towards my shoes and shrugged.

So with these gorgeous flats, surely even I can't fall over. Although I wouldn't hold your breath!

Oh, and in the interest of the flat/heel debate, I also am considering (just considering!) these zebra print heels too, £12 in the Sale at New Look, well it would be rude not to!
Total spent today: Flats £7 from New Look (in the SALE!)

*The name "zebra" comes from the Old Portuguese word zevra which means "wild ass". The pronunciation is /ˈzɛbrə/ ZEB-rə internationally, or /ˈziːbrə/ ZEE-brə in North America.

French & Vintage... Bonjour!

Today I found this vintage, french, wooden medicine box.

Okay, so it is not vintage and I seriously doubt it was made in France, but… it is a medicine box and it was made out of wood! and I can pretend about the rest.

Ater the accident prone week my family have been having, well, mainly me, (honestly I shouldn't be aloud out on my own). I felt the need to go all Florence Nightingale* and stock up on a proper medicine cabinet to deal with the scrapes and ailments of daily life.

In it I have put the following items:

Lemsip Cold and Flu, Rennie, Tissues(?), Headache tablets, Plasters, Benilyn Cough Medicine, Calpol, Vapour Rub and Strepsils Throat sweets.

I'm not certain this is going to be enough to open a mini home-hospital, in fact it may only just cover a headache and a cut finger... but I'm just not that medicinal. I do however keep talking in a really terrible French accent, and I am finding myself a bit overly eager for the next family cut or headache – which really is just sadistic!

What would you include in your 'la pharmacie'? Any suggestions welcome.

Total spent today: £14.95 from you guessed it, Candle and Blue

*During the Crimean campaign, Florence Nightingale gained the nickname "The Lady with the Lamp", deriving from a phrase in a report in The Times: She is a ‘ministering angel’ without any exaggeration in these hospitals, and as her slender form glides quietly along each corridor, every poor fellow's face softens with gratitude at the sight of her. When all the medical officers have retired for the night and silence and darkness have settled down upon those miles of prostrate sick, she may be observed alone, with a little lamp in her hand, making her solitary rounds.

Oh, Eggcellent!

Today I bought this little white summer blazer.

I've been racking my brains trying to think what I remind myself of in this outfit, and it has finally come to me, unfortunately it wasn't a stylish celeb or anything remotely cool (unless you're partial to an omelette).

Today I have decided I look like an egg*; my dress is the yolk, my blazer the white. Eggcellent!

This blazer is a perfect addition to my wardrobe. I wear tons of skirts and dresses so this will just smarten them up enough for work AND keep the chill off on cooler days. 

It was from New Look, Arc Shopping Centre, Bury St Edmunds. New Look have a mammoth sale on at the moment, both online and instore. I love these early season sales, all their summer clothes are half price or less, some real bargains to be had! but still plenty of summer left to enjoy them. 

Best of all it covers my shoulder which appears to have a mystery injury from a recent night out. I always rate a good night out by how many unexplained bruises I find when I wake up in the morning. This night out must have been a REALLY good one, because this bruise is pretty mega and is totally unexplained – I haven't a clue.

Total spent today: £10

*Other eggciting egg stuff: Egg Chair: an iconic chair designed by Arne Jacobsen, Augustus Egg, a Victorian artist, Egg Car, a defunct Swiss car make, Egg Magazine, a Japanese magazine, Overuse of the word Egg in everyday words, usually in the run up to Easter in advertising campaigns and also can found in this blog post, really cheesy!

Who knew thrifting would be so sociable?

Today I went all thrifty (the bank manager's idea not sure why?) and found this skirt in a charity shop in Bury St Edmunds.

One thing I love about shopping in our local charity shops is the random conversations you find yourself getting into. It's a very sociable thing to do evidently. Now, not wishing to totally stereotype, but, most of our local shops are manned by lovely elderly ladies, and boy do they love a good chat!

This skirt for example started an interesting discussion (which I was not entirely comfortable with, and is far too long to go into here), but resulted in the elderly lady knocking ME down on price... um, a strange haggle indeed, I was quite happy to pay full price but she wouldn't let me, there was a tiny fault on the zip you see.

One of my top tips for thrifting* is 'do not rely on the sizes they mark them up as'. Just because you are say a size 10, don't just look at the size 10 rack! This was marked up as several sizes larger than I would usually wear, although really it is a little snug on my waist! There was no actual size label in the garment, so they had basically guessed!

You may notice this look isn't as summery as previous posts, well, that is because the typical British Summer is being typically British, 30° one day / 10° the next – I have decided it is impossible to have a 'Capsule Summer Wardrobe' in England.

Total spent today: £4 (should have been £5 and I feel bad about it so may just donate that other £1 anyway)

*Why do you thrift?

1. Because thrifting is a Green practice involving the reuse, recycle, or re-style of a product and allows that product a longer life in its use thus diverting the product from a landfill.

2. Because more often than not, thrifting supports charity.

3. Because by definition of the noun, thrift, thrifting is a frugal practice that can bring significant savings to the thrifter.

4. Because thrifting diverts mass market spending into a market of one-of-a-kinds and originals.

5. Because socially speaking, thrifting is a lesson in the treasures a culture tosses and the junk people keep

6. Because I just want to alright? now please stop going on about it...

This is a little bit spooky!

Today I haven't been shopping, it hasn't been a normal day.

My son was 2 today so we have had a lovely day taking him out to see some sharks, turtles, fish, and penguins at Sea Life, Gt Yarmouth. (TOP TIP, you must book your tickets online before you go, by booking online you get £5 off each ticket, children under 3 are FREE).

However, after our excitement and happiness today, I have just watched the Michael Jackson* Memorial. His daughter Paris saying her piece was just so emotional, and then taking the coffin out to 'Man in the Mirror', one of my favourite songs ever, just about took the biscuit, I was a blubbering wreck.

So imagine my shock when in my fragile state of mind, I came across this clip from a Larry King show clip on youtube.



What do you think? MJ ghost or complete hoax?

Total spent today: £15 (two adult tickets to Sea Life) (I won't give you the real total, including birthday presents, it sounds ridiculous!!!!)

*Wikipedia reckons The Thriller Album has sold between 47–108m copies worldwide, which sounds a bit vague! you'd think someone would know!!!

Monday night is… Movie Night!

Today I bought a very long overdue DVD.

I must be the only living female, possibly in the world, that hasn't watched Sex and the City The Movie.

The even stranger thing is that I don't actually know what happens! (so please no spoilers at least until tomorrow!) I have managed to live life since its release without even catching a snippet of the ending, mainly due to the fact that if anyone starts talking about it I put my fingers in my ears and sing loudly and annoyingly.

When I saw this in Tesco tonight on special offer, I thought maybe it was finally time to catch up with everyone else, before the sequel comes out!.

Total spent today: £4

*Slip on your Manolos, Sex and the City 2 is heading to the big screen now that all four key stars have signed on the dotted line.

To the MAX!

Today I bought a maxi dress.

I've never tried a maxi* length before, mainly because I am fairly short and I thought it would make me look even shorter. But today I found this one HALF PRICE in H&M and decided to give it a go.

I'm still not sure it totally suited me, but I did feel very comfortable at our BBQ today, so much so, I had a boogie in the back garden!. Now I'm just off to find my feet. x

Total spent today: £15 (was £29)

*In Zoe Manzi’s Daily Mail article, "Maxi dresses – the must-haves this summer "(05/14/07), she advises shorter women to “avoid being drowned by your maxi by making sure your dress is well cut and in proportion with your petite frame. Keep things fitted up top and avoid an overly voluminous skirt.”

Watch out. Low flying dinosaurs!

Today I was resigned to the fact that I couldn't leave the house, so had to make do with online shopping and bought this dragonfly door knocker that I had been coveting for some time.

Any true shopaholic will agree that Saturday is by far the best shopping day, but today I was not able to get my fix. Instead I offered to babysit (?).

As well as my usual two, I had my neice and nephew and a straggler from a sleepover the night before (sorry Becky, we love you really, you are just a straggler for the purposes of this story).

A total of 5 children, 3 of which were under 4. I am pooped.

Anyhow, as an expert online shopper I was still able to purchase this gorgeous dragonfly door knocker from candle and blue, St Johns Street, Bury St Edmunds – whilst changing a nappy AND dodging low flying dinosaurs... I'm a multi-tasker.

I'm just waiting for the 'rolled-eyes' look from my other half when it arrives. I think he actually prefers me to buy clothes, household items usually mean some form of input from him and possibly the use of a drill.

Total spent today: £8.95 (plus P&P)

*Fossil records show that dragonflies are some of the most ancient creatures on earth, with an ancestory that spans more than 300 million years. Dragonflies have almost 360 degree vision (which I could have done with today!).

180!!!!

Today I bought a rather nice top for 99p!!!!!!.

So, my goal today was to go from day to night in the same top. I was really, really happy with this total bargain from ebay. And it arrived in record time – around 19 hours from purchase.

For work, I teamed it with a beige skirt, and then to rock it up a bit this evening I introduced skinny jeans.

I was straight off out after work with some friends to watch the hubby play darts, whilst us girls sat watching with a beer. (Yes, tonight I was a darts WAG*!)

Total spent today: 99p (1.75 p&p)

*Darts wives are not notorious for their love of fashion. Unlike WAGS in the premier football league, think Victoria Beckham and Cheryl Cole, Darts WAGS are a totally different breed. Check us out here.

Crochet is not just for the elderly...

Today I bought some shiny shorts.

I don't wear shorts well. But, I was determined to do so. Skirts are great but you can't safely run around, do cartwheels or jump up and down like a maniac without showing your knickers.

So my goal was to find a pair of shorts* that I could do all of the above in, whilst retaining my modesty!

I found these in super duper, I love it, River Island, Arc Shopping Centre, Bury St Edmunds.

Total spent today: £16.99

*shorts were worn as outerwear only by young boys until they reached a certain height or maturity. When boys got older, typically around puberty, they would receive their first pair of long trousers. This produced the perception that shorts were only for young boys. Because of this, men would not wear shorts to avoid looking immature. Women tended not to wear shorts in most cultures, due to social mores... oooh.

kitschy, kitschy, kitschy…

Today I treated myself to 2 things! A turquoise summer dress and a cute strawberry necklace.

I tend to wear a lot of dresses during the summer so was pleased to find this one at New Look, in the Arc Shopping Centre, Bury St Edmunds. Not only was it in one of my favourite colours, but it was also in the sale! A bargain at £7 (was £20). 

I'm still in flip flops which is quite unlike me, but after running 5k on Sunday in the Race for Life, my legs just aren't up to heels yet! I'm even finding dipping the clutch in the car quite excruciating!

The other purchase was a strawberry necklace from a store on ebay. It is so kitsch* and cute, I love it! And the Swarovski Crystals embedded all over just add to it's kitschiness if you ask me! The best thing about this necklace is the price: 99p! plus p&p. TOTAL BARGAIN!

Total spent today: £7.99 (plus P&P on the necklace)

*kitsch (loosely) denotes art that is aesthetically pretentious to the degree of being in poor taste and industrially-produced art-items that are considered trite and crass.