We wish you a Merry Christmas...

Whilst we were having dinner tonight, there was a knock at the door.

"Is that singing" my other half said. And by jove it was, as we discovered when all 4 of us went to open the door (which is probably slightly weird if you are the 'knocker' – 4 people answering the door may seem a bit OTT).

Blimmin' carol singers! I'd heard that carol singers existed, but often wondered if they were just an urban myth.

They sent the 'cute' little ones to the front, all wide-eyed and bushy tailed. (well without the tails, although we do live in a small village, and I've seen stranger sights), I think Joe thought his entire toddler group had turned up on his doorstep just to sing to him, he did look puzzled.
All the accompanying adults stood further back (in the darkness so their faces could be concealed). Mystery Carol Singers.

One child explained they were collecting for charity. So being the festive season and all that... I sent them packing without a penny! Interrupting my dinner indeedy, that'll teach 'em.

What? well if I'd given them a donation, I wouldn't have been able to purchase this winter floral top from Matalan, £8.

In other good news... Only 10 sleeps to go!!!!!

Total spent today: £8.

ps. To avoid any complaints, just to confirm, I am of course only joking... I let them sing a couple of songs first... and then I sent them packing!

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!!...

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! :-(

Love letters...

Today I've been to my old favourite shop… Matalan.

My bargain of the day wasn't my blue dress (airport chic contender, see below) (ebay £6).
It wasn't even my cardigan (ebay £2).

It wasn't even these cute peeptoe white wedges with a bow (matalan £6):


It was though, these dangly earrings (matalan 75p!):


I love matalan. I've penned a little note to tell them how much:

Dear Matalan,

I heart you massively. I love you more than I loved that elderly man who walked into the cinema on Sunday to watch 'The Proposal', wearing his jumper tied around his waist, but the wrong way round so it looked like an apron (I didn't know that was still an acceptable fashion?).

I know some of my friends and family don't agree with you. They don't understand you Matalan. They take one look at the crumply, jumble sale type outer, but they don't take the time to delve into you and find out what you're all about.

I've neglected you for a week I know. But I drove past you on my way back from the airport and blew you a kiss, you were never far from my thoughts I promise.

I'm back now, and we can start up where we left off, I'll visit you at least 3 times a week, how does that sound?.

And thank you for your surprise 75% off sale today. You always know how to put a smile on my face.

Yours always
Shopaholic
xxx

So what do you think? A teeny weeny bit creepy and weird? Uh huh, I know.