Spring Has Sprung

The Grass Has 'Riz.....

I Wonder Where My Breton Is?

Well technically speaking it is still flipping freezing and this is not a breton, but the sun has shone nearly all week. 

I found my linen striped jumper I got last Spring and it has that feel good factor about it so, despite it's lack of wool content, it had to be worn today. 

I love pairing spots and stripes still ( last seen here).  This scarf will be a Spring favourite again I think.

 These jeans were a Zara bargain this week for £12.00 . I couldn't walk away from that, especially as my last beloved Zara jeans are way past their best. They are a lovely blue/grey colour and I have worn them constantly since I got them!

 The Boots were a steal at Next in the Autumn for under £30 . I have loved them all winter and will continue wearing them into the Spring. Suede wedges aka Rebecaa Minkoff.

My favourite nail colour of the moment. - Essie angora cardi. A lovely deep, dusky pink. Love it. Looks chipped here - it isn't !!

I came across our wedding photos in my big sort out this week. Boy do I look young AND wrinkle free in those pictures. 

15 years and 3 kids does some damage! 

Still.....

A close up - tired this week , but proud of those lines and wrinkles - they tell a lot of stories!

I may be brave in April and post a wedding photo on our wedding anniversary!! 

A few codes courtesy of Savoo to help top up your Spring wardrobe on a budget!



20% off all orders and free delivery and returns with Boden

25% and free delivery of all orders at Dorothy Perkins

Printable 25% pass off Dorothy Perkins

10% of all orders and free delivery with Asos with VALENTINE10

Linking up with Visible Monday 

Autumn.

Some Autumnal Staples.

Despite the warm spell of weather we are enjoying at the moment I know that Autumn is rapidly approaching and warmer clothes will be required , although to be honest I didn't quite manage to fully transition out of Spring into Summer wear this year anyway. I have gone through my wardrobe and had a jolly good old sort out. I actually have that slightly OCD tendancy that loves this type of task and set to it with relish. Making a 'will keep' pile, an 'e.bay' pile, a 'charity pile' and a 'that will have to be binned' pile. I then ironed and re folded/hung the keepers and put them away in colour co ordinated order. See - slightly obsessed. But, it does make things so much easier for speed and dressing in the mornings and clothes last longer if they are looked after well. I have already made over £100 towards my spend  from selling my cast offs on e.bay - one mans rubbish is another mans treasure as they say.

So having sorted through and tried to be realistic about the things I need ( not want, ok want a little bit) for Autumn, I made a few purchases, mostly online I must say. My tops were looking a little tired and I have worn my skinny jeans half to death so could do with some variations. I always add a few layering items at this time of year too - I am definitely someone who feels the cold, although with the half a stone I've gained eating like it's winter over the last few months ,I should be okay! Bother.So the decision at first is to focus on topping up on a few pairs of skinnies/jeans and tops and Ts for layering. Here are my selections and some that I have ordered already.

1. I was sucked in by the colours in this.....A grey 3/4 sleeve striped top from Primark. It is a bit rough, although is 80% cotton so may soften up with some fabric softener. I am already wishing I'd gone for the one in Gap. It was more expensive , but 25% off. Sigh. Will I ever learn. I am nervous this will shrink and lose it's shape, but for £7 it's worth a try.

2. I got a black and white striped long sleeve T from Primark for £3. It will only really last me a season I think, but you can't complain for £3 can you? Cotton and Elastane mix and a lot softer on the skin with a nice bit of stretch. Lovely long sleeves which is often a failing for me in Primark so I may go back and get some more colours! Shock Horror! My first Primark success????  I will use this type of top for layering under cardys and jackets with a scarf or two. (Picture was too eye catching with the stripes!)

 3. This gap long sleeve T. 100% Cotton. Gloriously soft to wear. Dark grey/light grey stripe. Love it ! £14.95, but worth every penny. A lot better quality than the Primark one and will last I'm sure. May go back for the blue....... 

4.Shark Fin Biker Skinny Sateen Jeans from Gap. Love. So comfy. I will wear and wear and wear these. Almost certainly will get more colours, either in this style or the ones with the zip at the bottom. Lovely quality. £44.95. There is a 15% off offer online and in stores for Gap at the moment if you sign up to their e.mail. Thats me in!

5.A part of my order arrived from H & M , although I was disappointed that the blouse was not going to arrive until the beginning of November! I am not sure I would have ordered an Autumn blouse if I'd known the delay! Anyway 3 items arrived - a pair of jeans - £7.50 before discount and 2 cardigans ( one taupe, one black) , £9.99 each before discount. I had a 10% off code and free postage on this order so got a really good deal. The clothes are really good quality for the price and again the sleeves on the cardys are lovely and long - always a must for me.

I can never enter the Autumn without a few new scarves and accesories and these are the first that caught my eye!
The Old Bag Company Scarf. £15. Whats not to love. Grey and white spots. Goes with the Old Bag. ( No! Not me - the 'Old Bag' I use for my swimming things!)

A pretty, on trend Owl necklace from Superdrug - a couple of pounds at most!

 A pair of Cat's eyes Sunnies from Missoni . I got these from Brandalley for around £40!

I am also seriously yearning after some J Brand skinny zip cargos this season at £182.44. Also in Vintage Evergreen : )  

Or the Fallon Military Skinnys would do at £165.44 

But if I had to, I'd settle for the Zoey Triple Zip Skinny Jeans at £147.13......sigh!
















Oh yes and finally ....

Can you guess what I got...........?

What are you yearning after for in your Autumn wardrobe this year?!

30 with 30 The Final Week!

The Final week has come for the 30 with 30 challenge so I am linking up with Lauren at From my Grey Desk for the last week! I must admit to having found this a really beneficial challenge on so many different levels.

 I have learnt some self restraint when out shopping - it is not always necessary to buy something new every time you enter a shop!

You can be creative with a smaller number of items from your wardrobe - it just takes a bit of thought.

Planning ahead with your outfits, saves time and money.

I have realised that some styles I thought suited me , actually don't .

I have realised that some styles I thought didn't suit me, actually do!

I have used the time to sort through my closet, revamp what I could wear and sell on /give away what I won't.

I have planned some items I need for the Autumn to avoid panic buying and wasting money - I have posted a few of my favourite items on a Pinterest board called My Autumn Wardrobe . I wont be buying everything on here of course!


So my final 3 outfits of the 30 with 30 challenge are:

Outfit 1:

Outfit Two:

Outfit three:

 These two pictures show the shirt I won from the people tree giveaway from The Small Fabric Of My Life . Love a white Shirt with a pair of dark blue jeans any day of the week! 

30 with 30 week 9

I am joining again this week with Lauren at From my Grey Desk for the Penultimate week of 30 with 30! I am beginning to yearn for some new items for my wardrobe now , but have got fairly used to going into town and resisting buying items here and there. Instead I have created a board on Pinterest called My Autumn Wardrobe and I am pinning possible items of clothing that I like and may purchase when I have finished with my 30 with 30 challenge - I am really quite enjoying this different approach - for now anyway!!! 

 I decided to try not to purchase anything during this challenge although I know this isn't a rule! I just felt it is so easy to have closet full of unworn items and yet to keep buying . I have also used this time to have a clear out of my closet and have started to list it all on e.bay to help fund my purchases for the Autumn and Winter.

So this for this weeks outfits I have tried to use some things I haven't used so much on my previous outfits and say when I might wear them.

 Outfit One: Working at home.

Outfit Two: Cooler Evenings

Outfit Three:  The School Run.

30 with 30 Week 8

Week 6 for me!

It took me a couple of days to check in with Lauren's blog after getting back from camping so imagine my delight to have been picked as favourite outfit of the week last week - thanks guys - very happy girl - cheered me up after a very wet week camping!

So only a day late then , I am linking up again with Lauren at From My Grey Desk for the 30 with 30 challenge week 8.

Ok, so this past week was a little of a challenge to say the least and I will not be at all ashamed to say that I did not stick to simply my 30 items whilst camping! See here . I added warm hoodies and some extra skinny jeans to get through the week. It was wet and cold again and although I had taken my floral Great Plains Skirt it did not get worn! 

 I stuck to my keds and I am very sheepish to admit , Crocs , to survive the wet conditions. Whatever people say about crocs ( and whilst not wanting to cause offence to anyone , I do not like them, but have succumbed to using them at home in the garden ) they are amazing for your feet when camping! It is the first year that I have not come home needing a rescue pedicure to mend my cracked heels!

Beautiful aren't they?

The most ideal thing to wear all week was this sort of outfit ( I have saved you from the horror of photographs during my week of camping and these were taken upon my return!)

Outfit 1

Skinny jeans
White top 
Grey Zara Cardy
Scarf ( I took 3 scarves away and wore all of them it was so cold!)

Keds

Outfit 2

Superdry capri pants

Coral top

Coral scarf

Next pumps

Outfit 3

Lemon Cardy

Blue spotty Scarf

Zara jeans

Keds

All of these outfits got covered with a thick grey hoodie when I got cold and a blue North Face Waterproof to keep out the rain. We had thunder, torrential rain and lightening! The priority really was keeping warm and dry!

I even resisted a day trip to Clarks village and a day of bargain shopping ! 2 weeks and counting.......!

30 with 30 Week 7

Week 5 for me.

It has, at last, been a lovely hot week so I have gone for summer outfits this week. I love this skirt when it is hot . It is a raw silk skirt and although lined is so lightweight it is delightfully cool.

Outfit One:

Spotty top - Zara

Grey skirt - Stills

Shoes - Clarks

Bag - Russell and Bromley

Outfit Two

Spotted sleeveless shirt -  Numph

Skirt - Stills

Shoes - Clarks

Outfit 3

Skirt - Jackpot

T.Shirt - Jackpot

Shoes - Fly

Necklace and Earrings - Divine

Sunnies - French Connection