London Zoo made us ill...

Contrary to popular belief, this skirt wasn't from the kids range but funnily enough is much smaller than the kids one I bought yesterday. This one though was just £3 from Matalan, Bury St Edmunds.

The picture probably doesn't show it well, but it has a purple and black houndstooth pattern.

My 'la pharmacie' box has been getting some good usage. Both kids have been poorly all week. Worryingly they took ill monday, the day after our family trip to London Zoo.

I can't understand why. I became completely OCD'ish about the hand sanitizer they had everywhere at the zoo. Making them form an orderly queue at each sanitizer stop (and there were quite a few!). My son even started drinking the stuff. At one stop he wanted to do his own, so stood beneath, looking up, mouth wide open to concentrate... and... SPLOSH, straight into his mouth. Eugh!






ps. Only a couple of days left to enter my second sweetie giveaway, don't miss out!!...

It's child's play...

I'll let you into a little secret. I was drawn to the pattern and colours of this skirt on a sale rack in Sainsburys, Bury St Edmunds the other day... and was quickly let down when I realised it was a kids skirt... age 12-13.

I tried to force it on my daughter, she didn't want it, not cool enough or summink.

On further investigation, hmmm, it had an elasticated waistband. Could I possibly squeeze into it with the aid of the elastic, or at least letting the elastic out a bit? You betcha! "Sold to the lady who looks a tiny bit silly buying kids clothes for herself."

It still needed a little work, the length was very appropriate for a child, very decent you might say. So I whacked off a couple of inches (being the hussey that I am), hemmed it up (with hemming tape, I might be a hussey, but I'm no seamstress) and voila! A pretty skirt for a bargain £4. Sorted.

If you look closely enough, you can just see the hemming tape show through, so my plan is to just move quickly whenever I wear this, that way, no one will ever notice my shocking work.






ps. Don't forget to enter my second sweetie giveaway, you gotta be innit to winnit...

No7 Protect and Perfect bargains...

At the end of last week, I started to run out of most of my make up AND skin care products. Why does that always happen? All at once. At least it allowed me a bit of a shopping spree at Boots, Bury St Edmunds.

I've become addicted to Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Range. It is one of the best skincare ranges that I've ever tried. I use the eye cream, the day cream and the beauty serum.

These 3 bought together can set you back a bit as they retail around £20 per item, and really should be used in conjunction with each other to keep those wrinkles at bay.

I was thrilled to discover that Boots were doing a 3 for 2 offer on the range, but not only that, the assistant also gave me a £5 off voucher! I ended up getting all 3 for £34 which should have been £60. Yay!!! (The extra £5 off voucher only runs for a few more days, so hurry if you want to stock up!).

With the £25 I saved, I hot footed it round to New Look and bought that Rock and Roll jumper dress that has been 'on my radar' for some time now! I was a very happy shopper.

So, what skincare products do you swear by?






ps. Don't forget to enter my second sweetie giveaway, you gotta be innit to winnit...

Thrifty Thursday!

I was in such a rush this morning to get the kids to their respective carers for the day that I didn't have time to get ready! Horrific! No make up, nothing.

I chucked on a trackie and trainers and off we skiddadled.

En route, my toddler asked "going running mummy?"

"Yes darling!" I lied, whilst my teenager sniggered.

Boy, has that little fella got some things to learn about mummy!

Once back home I had a little more time to get 'officially' ready for work. The sun was shining for a change, so I decided to eek out some wear in a summer dress. I thought the colours could lend themselves to an autumnal look.

The brown courdroy blazer was the only 'new' purchase, £3, thrifted from a charity shop in Bury St Edmunds. Coolio.

I also had a little play with a new foundation. 'Minerals' from L'Oreal. It's a powder foundation that claims flawless coverage. And the result... Yea, I quite liked it. (how's that for a product review?).

I didn't really have time to give it a fair try, just a bit of dabbing on the face and back of the hand mainly. 10,000 years BC (before children) I would have spent hours playing with this, perfecting using it, but those days are long gone... Now I just make do with a tidemarked face and lying to my two year old son about my keep fit regime (or lack of it!).

ps. Don't forget to enter my second sweetie giveaway, you gotta be innit to winnit...

Budget stylie hot picks from New Look...

Uh oh... I've been looking at the New Look website.... Darn it, I want so much, I've picked out just a few of my fave bargains – warning to BF: some of which may become mine.

Sequin ankle boots £25. Rock and Roll Jumper Dress £20. 69 Print Top £12. Chunky Beret £6. Funnell Neck Dolly Coat £30. Skinny Jeans £20. Sequin Jacket £35. Gem Frill Bag £12. Metallic Frill Belt £6. Ribbed Leather Gloves £12. All available from New Look.

My daughter is demonstrating at her high school open evening tonight. She is making scones for Home Ec! (which is amusing if only you knew how bad a cook I was). It's funny, she got picked to demonstrate due to her scones scoring a '9 1/2 out of 10' during lesson time. (woop woop Daisy!) But... what God giveth, he also taketh away, she also received a dentention for the very same lesson (for forgetting one ingredient). I can't figure it out! If I was Daisy, I would have bargained... "Sure, I'll demonstrate baking, but swipe the detention... pleeeeease Miss?"

On the other hand, I've been teaching my 2 year old son to finish singing his nursery rhymes with a dramatic finish... 'Up an octive' and 'Jazz Hands'. It's working, he's now doing it all the time, my work here is done. Only prob is, I did suddenly remember that he goes to toddler group several mornings a week with his childminding group. Just imagine the 'big finish and jazz hands to Old Macdonald Had A Farm' - he will never live it down. I'm picturing him now growing up, he will be a clone of Justin off of Ugly Betty... mwah ha ha.






ps. Don't forget to enter my second sweetie giveaway, you gotta be innit to winnit...

Hallelujah!

I found two new eye shadows in the boot of my car today!

At first I thought it must be God, cutting out the middle man (aka the shopping bit). In fact when I opened the car boot, a small gospel choir formed in my head and belted out a short sharp burst of "Hallelujah!" and... yep, my boot was glowing*.

Imagine that, you just wish for something and it appears in the boot of your car. A miracle!

But during later investigations, the mysterious eye shadows were claimed, by my mum, who'd lost them on one of our recent shopping excursions. Hmmph.

I started today with all good intentions of wearing a clean cut outfit, simple black and white... and red... and er yellow shoes (ok... several colours). But as the day wore on, and I got colder and colder, I eventually started layering up. I ended the day looking like a bag lady who'd been on a trolley dash round the local church jumble sale. (Naturally, I haven't pictured that look, although it can probably be found in a 'What NOT to wear' type feature somewhere online).

Oh, the skirt was from River Island, it was £10 in the sale. Yeehah!

ps. Don't forget to enter my second sweetie giveaway, you gotta be innit to winnit...

*Actually, there really was a glow of light... but that's just the interior boot light. No actual real miracles here today unfortunately. But, if God is reading... (what?... you never know), I don't really need 2 new eyeshadows, but if you know anything about heating in a Honda CRV please don't hesitate to have a tinker.

Faux fur, frills and purple shoes...

I woke up today feeling below par. Could of been the couple of shandies I had last night, but as I explained to BF and my colleagues was more likely that I was actually really ill (and it was Monday).

After serveral bouts from the voices in my head, 'staying in bed' put up a good defence, in the end I decided not to be a total wimp and just get up and get on with it.

When I got dressed I put on this new skirt which I found in a charity shop in Bury St Edmunds. It was £2.50. The length felt a tiny bit 'mumsy'. Yes, I am a mum, but I don't really qualify as 'mumsy' however much I wish I did. Having said that, looking at the pic, actually I think it is okay. It may live to see another day this skirt.

I wore the coat nearly all day. Was way too cold today. Not helped by the fact my heating has stopped working in the car. I like my car, but not when it does things like this. It's not content with having just had all new tyres at £100 a piece! Ungrateful I say.

The windows were misting up badly without the aid of some warmth, so as cold as it was, I had to whack the air conditioning on full blast just to see where I was going. My poor car nearly did get a quick kick today had it not been for a) not wanting to damage my purple shoes and b) the fact I suddenly realised I have heated seats... that softened the blow. Sure, I risked frostbite in my hands and face, but my butt was as warm as toast.






ps. Don't forget to enter my second sweetie giveaway, you gotta be innit to winnit...

pps. Horror! my son gave me two round "I've been a good girl" stickers this morning, and popped one on each boobie. It's now 8.30pm and I've just taken them off. Exactly how many people have seen me with these today is uncertain AND slightly worrying.

DIY Sunday...

My mum got me this bag organiser recently, I could have sworn she said it was from Lakeland, but looking on their site, I cannot find it anywhere. Maybe they are just available in the shop.

It has to be one of the single most useful things in my chaotic life. Endless hours of searching for keys or a ringing phone in my bottomless bags are a thing of the past. I can swop handbags every day, and literally just lift this out and pop it in the next bag.

In a dramatic reconstruction, I've mocked up what could go in here. To save anyone's blushes, I haven't necessarily put in the real things that I carry around. Normally there would be serveral pairs of pants... not for me... for my potty training son, and occasionally some for the BF, well you never know when you might need them.

As I haven't been able to find a link to this if anyone was interested in bagging their own, I have a special treat for you:

Make your own! Yep, you heard it hear first. There are several tutorials available on tinternet, but this is one of my faves here... because it comes with... a downloadable pdf! mama mia! Not exactly the same... mine has handles, but lovely nonetheless.

Happy crafty Sunday everybody peeps!






ps. gosh, don't forget to enter my second sweetie giveaway, you gotta be innit to winnit...

What a 'Sweet' giveaway II...

As I mentioned the last time I did this giveaway, I'm lovin' the sweeties. So in return for all your lovely comments and kind words... and just for reading my dribble each day, it's back. 'What a 'Sweet' giveaway II'.

Now, I know you're not supposed to accept sweets from strangers (hey, it's the oldest rule in the book kids), but on this occasion we can throw away the rule book. I'm strange AND I'm giving away sweets, a big old hamper of em. (Yep, the same ones as in that mouth ulcer inducing pic up top).

Here go the rules:
1. For one entry, please comment on this post.
2. For a second entry, please become a follower (if you are already a follower just comment to remind me about that would be good, yep)
3. For a third entry, post a link on your blog or stealeth my likkle image in my side bar and pop it in yours and let me know about it in the comments - a link would be good, but I'll probs find ya anyways.
4. For a fourth entry, tweet about this giveaway (chirpy chirpy) - oh, and comment.
5. For a fifth entry, …there is no fifth entry, four is plenty greedypants!
6. Anonymous entries cannot be accepted. Sorry 'bout that, but the nature of anonymity means that I won't know who on earth you are.
7. I will post overseas, so anyone can enter, but exact contents of the sweet basket may change slightly due to weight restrictions.
8. The winner will be picked randomly (I picked from a hat last time, but was a bit of a palava so will use a randomiser number picker and document it) on Sat 31st October at 9pm UK time and announced on Monday 2nd November. Posting of prize will happen approx one week after that date.
9. 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.

I've got a new friend...

This top is new. It was a remarkable £1.97 from Primark, Ipswich. It also belongs to my daughter. Never thought I'd see the day when I was pilfering from my teenage daughters wardrobe, but hey ho.

I put it with a white skirt, grey tights, a long heart shaped pendant and hot pink shoes (also wore my purple coat and I was really loving the colour combo).

We have slipped into a pattern on Friday evenings. I finish work, go collect the relevant children (when I say relevant, I rarely collect just my own two children, Friday night is sleepover central in my house). Go collect Martha (aka my mum, her name isn't Martha but for some reason I call her that). And then we all trot down to Bury St Edmunds Tesco Supermarket for dinner in their café. (Oh the glamour of Dinner in Tesco!).

Every Friday at the same time, an older gentleman also eats there, alone. Now this will sound really really mean, but at first sight I wondered if he might be a tramp?. Terrible I know, but do you know what I mean, when you get an impression of somebody that may well be very wrong?.

Well, he's not a tramp. (At least I don't think he is) And as the weeks have gone on, we've progressed from a polite 'hello' to a few words conversation. Occasionally I bump into him out of situ, in a pub for example. My friends are often bewildered as to how I know this man. My daughter always pokes me and says "There's your new friend".

I can't really claim that he is my new bessie mate, I don't even know his name, but if next Friday I go to Tesco and he isn't there, I will be concerned and wonder if he is okay.

I do have some very random conversations with very random people, it is true. And I guess it is because I invite these conversations. It's very good for the soul!





ps. Just spotted a weird thing. In the photo up top... my reflection in the glass behind, my bazookas are either on fire or emitting a strange glow...

Coat Love...

I've noticed a bit of 'Coat Love' going on in the blogosphere lately. Not to be last on trend, here is my most recent coat purchase.

A bargain £25 (full price) from, you guessed it... Matalan, Bury St Edmunds. Honestly, I should be the patron saint of Matalan.

Although the pic lies a little, it is bright shocking purple. I've not styled it up here, but I've been wearing it with hot pink or red scarves.

I love this style of coat, by far my favourite, it goes equally well with skirts as it does trousers, but can smarten up an outfit quicker than you can say... "ooh, don't you look smart".

They have it in other colours... I'm tempted by the turquoise version...


Have you seen Clarks new range of desert boots?

To celebrate the 60th Birthday of the Desert Boot – Clarks have produced six unique boots to represent ‘life through the decades’:

Harris Tweed for the 1950’s
Liberty print for the swinging 60’s
Purple Suede for the 70’s
Denim Blue for the 80’s
Red/White/Blue England flag for the 90’s and
Vintage Sand for the 00’s

Which decade would you pick? I'm digging the 70's purple little beauties...

In conjunction with this they have also launched a unique 3D animation online called ‘Your Original Life’ that allows you to create your life through the decades. Users can upload pictures, music, backgrounds, colours and themes that they can then keep for themselves or upload to the web to share with friends. The animation has been called a ‘visualisor’ and is the first of its kind.

Want to try it out? Go to www.originallife.me-digital.co.uk it is completely free of charge. I've had a quick look and it is pretty darn cool... check it out. You'll be one of the first to try it, as it only went live today!

Bright red corsage...

I saw Jane wearing a gorgeous corsage the other day, and ever since have been inspired to wear the one I bought a couple of days ago from Sainsburys, Bury St Edmunds, for just a couple of pounds (less than a Starbucks but gives me a similar sorta buzzzzzzzz).

I didn't realise how distracting it would be for other people mind you. I've noticed eyes being drawn to it all day and some even double taking. Probably thinking 'why on earth is that lady wearing a humongous red flower on her jacket?'


One person did ask me if it squirted water. Squirted water? what? did he think I was a clown, circa 1984?

Although personally I think that would be one nifty accessory... pretty AND a hilarious gag all in one! (although not as hilarious as I remember it being in 1984).





pssst... top secret: I'm not allowed to talk about how much my shoes are hurting me today, mostly because they are new and my BF did not welcome more unnecessary shoes into the home with open arms, let alone ones with 4 1/2 inch heels, so I had to soldier on and act like they were as comfy as slippers, (he was sure he caught me wincing a couple of times), but... publicly, I can tell you that they FLIPPIN WELL HURT LIKE CRAZY!

Handbrake turns for girls...

Crikey, it's been a busy day.

I've just finished work and it's 10pm (of the night time variety). Today has been manic so sorry no chance for a shopping post today, just something irrelevant. Well… it is irrelevant Tuesday after all.

On my way to my first meeting this morning, tad on the late side, I was bombing down the motorway (ah, just been pulled up on that, apparently it's not a motorway as it only has two lanes, but I'm a girl and anything bigger than one lane is a motorway in my book).

Doing a teensy weensy bit over the speed limit. 'Honestly officer it was only a teensy bit over'... when suddenly I got overtaken, by... a learner driver.

Seriously? He must have been doing 90mph. I saw the white knuckles of the instructor on the dashboard as he whizzed past. That's surely not allowed?

As I turned off the 'ahem' motorway, I pulled up behind another learner driver, who continued at the more accepted speed of 10mph... ALL THE WAY INTO TOWN! I was late.

So for that crazy learner driver and anyone else who has never tried it, here is some handy tips on how to pull off the coolest handbrake turn, like the ones in them there films and that...

The perfect handbrake turn for girls:
1. You are best doing a hand brake turn in wet conditions.
2. A hand brake turn can be done in any car with a good hand brake that can lock you rear wheels tightly.
3. You need to drive at around 15mph with your left hand on the hand brake and your right at the 12 o’clock position.
4. Then simultaneously turn the steering to the right, depress the clutch and pull really hard on the hand brake to lock the rear wheels. As you do this the rear end of the car will skid out to the way you steer if you pull the handbrake hard enough.
5. Once your car has turned, pointing to where you want to go release the hand brake, re-engage the clutch and drive away.

Important Note:
This sort of manoeuvre should not be attempted in Sainsburys carpark trying to secure the last toddler/mum space. It's not big and it's not clever. (Well it is a little bit clever).
But actually, should probably not be tried, like... ever.





ps. No offence intended to learner drivers by the way, I love them. I used to be one.

Just another manic monday...

Well, I went back to Matalan at the weekend, after my last embarrassment.

Manager man wasn't there, or he might have been, perhaps he was just hiding from me. I figured it's like when you fall off a bike, you just gotta get back on.

Just to be safe I took my mum and 3 others. Safety in numbers.

Good job I went back mind you, the sale was in full swing, I went a bit mental. Starting with this Autumnish dress. The colours are just perfect for Autumn. It was half price at £9. And the blue beaded necklace was £3.

I later looked on their website and realised... Doh, I am a complete hussey! This is advertised as a tunic to be worn with jeans. Never mind, I like it as a dress and you'd have to be a 6ft goddess to wear it as a tunic anyhow.

Dancing with the Store Manager...

Total humiliation in Matalan today.

They started a half price sale yesterday so I went in today for a browse. It couldn't have been a worse shop to embarrass myself in, my favourite bargain store of all places, I heart it, but it will never be the same now.

Here's how the story unfolded...

Strolling down an aisle, I almost bump into the store manager. He catches my eye with recognition, "Ah... hello madam, how are you today". Doh, embarrassment number 1, the store manager recognises me. (as I suspected, I do shop there too often).

Worse, he looks down, I'm holding a pair of tights and a frilly bra. Eek.

Worse still, we sidestep to move past each other, but, arrrgh... we sidestep the same way.

Worse still, we do it again.... and again... AND AGAIN, oh man, you can see where this is heading.

Even worser, not content with my already embarrassing situation, my mouth starts to operate before brain has had chance to communicate: "Shall we dance?" I say. CRINGE!

Please somebody shoot me!!!! I could of possibly got over the whole 'dancing with the store manager thing' if only I'd just left it there. Instead, I had to make it even worse, by making him feel even more awkward than he already did, he nervously giggles and moves away.

Why oh why can I not just go into a shop, and make a simple transaction?. It's not too much to ask is it?

BTW, random outfit post up top. Nothing to say about it to be honest.

Oh, and btw too, (I'm done with ps's) thank you all for your lovely comments yesterday, it meant a lot. And sozza that I made some of you cry, going all sentimental on ya! :-(

A Tribute...

I must admit, I have been 'umming' and 'arhhing' about whether to include this post. I wondered if it was too personal for my blog and whether my family would mind.

But it's such an important thing to me, I didn't think it appropriate for a whimsical outfit post today. So forgive my self indulgence. Consider it my therapy!

3 years ago today, we lost my dad. He passed away aged 55.

It completely devastated our whole family as you can imagine. My dad could make me laugh until I cried, daily. He was the 'hub' of our family. I would call him up for advice on everything, from a car problem to work issues, he always had the answer.

He was very poorly, but never complained. In his last few weeks he did not sleep well. I know this because I would go into work in the morning and my first email of the day was always from dad. Usually sent at silly o'clock in the night. It would always make me smile. I printed out all those emails and put them in a private box which I read now and again.

But something strange happened. A week or two after dad's funeral, I discovered I was a few weeks pregnant, with a little boy. I went 2 weeks overdue and was invited in to discuss induction. They gave me 3 dates, one of which was 07.07.07. Whilst in itself this seemed a nice lucky birthdate (and certainly one I can remember!), more importantly it was also 9 months to the day that dad died. And out popped Joseph Paul.

Joseph gave me a new focus in life and he (along with the rest of my family, extended family and friends) helped me start to come to terms with our loss. Naturally it doesn't go away, but having a focus helps a tiny bit.

Rest in peace Dad, I hope you are proud of me and everyone else in our family, we all miss you more than ever, but you're always, always in our thoughts.

It's raining, pouring, the old man is snoring...

Scared the window cleaner this morning. And he scared me. In fact we both squealed (but I'm a girl, so my squeal was allowed, he on the other hand should be a teeny weeny bit embarrassed, grown man squealing like a girl indeed).

Being a window cleaner, he should really know better than creeping up unannounced and cleaning your upstairs bedroom windows at the crack of dawn, he's just asking for some surprise moments.

He's just lucky I didn't swing open the windows in a "Oh what a beautiful morning!" styley (I've never actually done that but I can imagine can't I?), then he'd have something to squeal about and probably a couple of broken bones too.


It started to rain when he left (typical) and continued for most of the day, so what else is a girl to do? Pop on a totally unsuitable dress, pearls, and gold 'cinderella' shoes and go 'Singing in the Rain'... That's what.






ps. I'm off to the cinema again tonight, not to watch Fame again, (It crossed my mind, but I decided that would be too geektastic twice in two weeks, and there is only so much air leaping I can do). I'm watching 'The Invention of Lying' tonight. I have discovered that Tuesday nights at Cineworld is 'Bargain Tuesday' night, all tickets are £4.70 as opposed to £7.20. Nice one!

pps. Oh, and much excitement today, been invited to a party... Black Tie and Ballgowns!!!! OMG... Is that 'the shops' I hear a-calling me?

ppps. I've realised I've slipped a couple of song titles into this post, if you can comment using a song title, not only will you be amazingly cleverer than a clever person, but I will love you forever and ever and may even come over to your place (well your blog, I'm not a crazy, bunny boiler, stalker type really) and give you a great big smackaroonie... mwah!

pppps. Don't you just hate it when people OD on the ps's - I know. Annoying. So I'm going now before I think of another one.

Meet The Flintstones!...

Today I bought this bag from Primark (well I say bought... read on).

I keep humming The Flintstones theme toon when I look at it, which makes me smile, which in turn means it's a good buy.

I did have an attack of the 'little person in my head' talking to me when I put it in my basket.

Little head person: "You really do NOT need any more bags Missy"

Me: "I know, but come on, it's only £8, and it's making me smile" (hopefully I didn't say that out loud in the shop, but I can't be sure)

I can picture using it with a gorgeous cream and chocolate coloured trouser suit, I don't have one of those so will need to go shopping to 'accessorise' my new bag – with an outfit!

Anyway, turns out, the gods did want me to have this bag. Got back and realised the assistant didn't actually ring it through, so in effect I was a thief and it was free! (she didn't ring through a top my mum bought either, so mum is a thief too).

But alas, moral dilemma: should I take this back and own up? I'm thinking... Nope.

Capsule Wardrobe Challenge – Day 4 and 5

Day 4 consisted of: Flowery dress, black blazer, black boots, black belt and green scarf. I wasn't sure about the rock boots with girly dress, but I really liked the look (even if my legs look extremely short at this angle).


Day 5 consisted of: Flowery dress (hoiked up to look more like a tunic top), skinny jeans, red shoes, red belt, blue cardigan and silver necklace.
I haven't shown the red bag that I've been using this week (pictured above), or the red coat which is pictured below.


I found the challenge easier than I first thought I would. I quite liked the idea each morning that I only had 10 main items to choose from, it certainly saved time in the morning.

Some mornings though were not so easy, occasionally I was itching to wear something else but knew I couldn't or I'd be reaching for more accessories.

My most worn item was my flowery dress. I knew it would be. I rarely wear black and for some reason chose several black items at the start of the week, probably for safety, another time I'd try the challenge but would ban black items!!

Thanks to Jane for the challenge, I really enjoyed the week and it has changed my view on how many clothes I actually need in my wardrobe.