If like me, you go to bed with your feet hanging out for fear of smudging your freshly done pedi, you need a bottle of this stuff. Seche Vite Top Coat. This stuff works. Nice sized brush, super quick drying times, lovely shine! I know - I've tested it!
As a long time user of Sally Hansen's Insta-dri top coat, this one beats it on super quick drying time. Hard in seconds.
Sounds a bit rude that doesn't it :o?
I went out for lunch a few weeks back with Claire. Claire's a lovely reader who has been in touch with me and whilst conversing, we found out that we don't actually live that far from each other. It turns out she's actually a soft southerner who's moved up "north" and lives in what we deem a "posh" part of Yorkshire. So I call her Miss Posh Flat Cap and Whippets. You don't mind do you Claire?
Zara jacket, Mulberry Araline bag, KG Margot Sandals, Jack Wills Jeans, Splendid Tee
So a lunch meet meant another outing for the white Zara jacket. I've worn it twice now. Cost per wear so far - not good but ask me in five years and it will be down to pennies. Or a tenner a wear at least. Everything on here has been seen before. But I just wanted to bring your attention to the tassels on my bag.
The joy of perfect tassels.
I love these tassels. They give me joy ... and something to fiddle with. They are so neat and tidy and precise - they satisfy that strange weirdo perfectionist part of my brain. I bought the bag almost purely for the tassels and I have judged all bag tassels by these tassels since - seriously I am that anal and sad about such things. And given that the bag is around 8 years old, the bag and it's tassels are holding up well. I think that's enough about tassels.
Anyway, I had a lovely girly day with Claire where we had a good old chatter and she said I wasn't actually that quiet. And do you know why? Because there is no one else there to do the talking for me. Put me in a group and I am the quiet one with nothing interesting to say so I sit there quietly and take it all in. Put me in a 1-2-1 scenario - I have to do some work. Told you I was lazy.
Anyway, we had lunch, we shopped and we had drinks. Well just the one. A nice G&T in the Victoria Quarter. We would have had more but Claire needed to get home for an evening do. But next time, we can start earlier on the G&T's right? Lovely to meet you Claire!
Bombay Sapphire please!
You can't beat a white shirt ... with a big stick (Avril's favourite saying).
Picture Credit : Thewhitewhiteshirt.tumblr.com
So she's just a teeny bit cool. An iddy biddy bit.
I think she has a point. Here's mine.
Whistles Freya Shirt (no longer online)
It's taken me a long time to get on board with this white shirt thing. White shirts are one of those things which appear on those lists along with a trench, little black dress, grey cashmere jumper etc etc - you know - the list of perennial classics. I knew I wanted one but I was in no hurry because I would have said they are actually quite challenging to wear outside of the work place. If you want a sort of formal white shirt/blouse for work, there are plenty to be found. But a good white casual shirt for a SAHM - they're a bit slim on the ground.
I thought I found "the one" last year in Zara. A relaxed fit and made in a kind of ramie type fabric which I thought would soften with a wash and wear - a bit like a linen shirt after you've worn it for a couple of hours and your body heat has relaxed the fibres and then it takes on that funny acceptable crumpledness. The fit was almost there ... almost. A couple of weeks later, I did what I always do when I'm not sure about something - I returned it. I contemplated the perfect white oxford shirt from Gap too. I love my blue version but I didn't get on with the white - it looked too officey. So that was a no go too. And any other ones I came across were either too detailed/stiff/formal/frilly or just not right.
But roll on a year and guess what - I think I found the one. Okay, I know I found the one. I found the white Freya shirt from Whistles. It was one of those items which you flick past on the rail and you run your hand across it and you think "ooh Andrex puppy soft" and smile. Then you pull it out and you realise it's that cotton voile which you like so much. Then you take it to the changing room and you try it on and it all comes together and you just like what you see.
Anyway, I walked out of the shop without the shirt mainly because it wasn't the cheapest shirt on the high street and I needed to do my research. A Gap linen shirt was a potential but when I went back in to Whistles to try on the Freya shirt again, I just knew it was "the one". The shoulders just fitted, the cotton was so soft and the length was good. Yes it's rather sheer - but hey it's the summer - it will keep me cool (any excuse) and the pockets help with the modesty factor if sheer bothers you.
And the thing about this shirt is that I can style it .....
- Tomboy style in chinos. I swear I must have been a bloke in a former life.
Maison Scotch Chinos, Converse, Susie Ho Denim Crystal Bracelet
- APC style in button up heaven and white leather sandals. Just have a look on their website and you'll get the measure of their clothes. This is me doing the APC look on the cheap.
Zatchels Bag, H&M Low (not very) Skinny Jeans, White Primark sandals.
- Chilled out/weekend style. Err ... I wear these chambray drawstring pants for gardening normally but they're good for hols too. And the shirt works as a good cover up.
H&M Vest, New Look Drawstring Chambray Pants, Tesco Silver Flip Flops (all old)
- Classic white shirt & jeans style. Any old pair of blue denim jeans will do and a pair of sandals or flip flops. Or pop on a pair of heels to switch it up if you want/can be bothered/that way inclined.
Susie Ho Simple Pearl Necklace, Zara sandals (old)
- Blogger(ish) style. Whack a necklace and a posh bag on. Reminds me ... I need to return the bag to my sis.
Primark necklace, Topshop Jamie jeans, H&M shoes, Chanel Bag
- Trying to be cool mum in a skirt style. I'm making it up now as I go along. This little denim skirt is my holiday abroad denim skirt - it doesn't normally come out in the UK - I deem it a little too short (for me) over here.
French Connection denim skirt, River Island espadrilles, APC bag. Susie Ho necklace
- Raiders of the Lost Ark style. Told you I was making this up. Stick on the old faithful Namesake boots and an old Russell & Bromley messenger ..... and a hat.
Office Namesake boots, Susie Ho pearl wrap necklace/bracelet, Primark hat
Russell & Bromley bag, Jack Wills jeans
Okay, leave the hat and time to quit. Anyway, I think I've more than demonstrated the versatility of my white shirt. I'm quite tired from the dressing up shenanigans and the Grumps has shook his head once too many times at me prancing about on the landing over the weekend. Will love you and leave you to contemplate your own white shirts. Do you have one? Where's it from? What's it like? How do you wear it? It's different things to different people as seen here.
------------------------------
Last Note :
- The Whistles sale has started. I checked on the first day and my shirt wasn't reduced. Yippee! Means it was a good pick.
- It's also sold out online which is no help to you. But there might be some lurking in the stores still.
- I bought it in the size 8 rather than a 10 and there's still room. Luvverly jubberly.
Navy blue jersey biker jacket.
Ooops! How did that get in there? It wasn't on the list! Happens to you too? I thought so.
There's a lot of these jersey bikers flying around at the moment and being discussed on various blogs - the perfect alternative for those nesh people who want a cover up but not a cardigan for fear of being labelled an old fogey. This one's quite thin - a no no for some people but a yes yes in mine because it's so easy to slip on and forget about. None of this tweaking and adjusting business. Too thick and the sleeves you just shrugged up come tumbling down again and won't stay put. Too padded and it feels like an out the door jacket and you can't move comfortably. This one? This one fits the bill for me especially at £12. Just put it on and forget about it. Just like an old favourite cardi. Goes with that little H&M dress of mine too. Bonus.
H&M dress (old)
So tell me ... who puts a sneaky purchase in their weekly supermarket shop then?
Well it is for me. I am rubbish at dressing up for going out.
Some people love it and have dresses stashed away ready and waiting and whoop with joy at the thought of getting all dolled up (yes I'm talking about you Claire H). And there are people like me who have dresses stashed away ready and waiting and dread the very idea of having to don heels, a bit of lippy and looking like I tried. I'm a lazy moo and .... I don't know how to dress for going out. Anymore.
It's not always been that way. When I was younger, I loved buying a dress for any occasion. A new dress for someone's wedding - yippee! A new dress for a Christmas party - whoop whoop! A new dress for going to the supermarket. Oh go on, you twisted my arm. I was joking about the supermarket okay? Anyway, what I'm trying to say is I've changed .....
..... and so have the going out dress codes. Yes you can wear a dress but these days I know most people are happy with a pair of jeans, heels and a pretty top. But pretty tops are different for different people. Some people need some sequins, some people need a bit of lace, some people need it to be shiny shiny. Me - I just need it to be a slightly better version of what I was wearing during the day. The other week, I went for a curry. A posh curry, mind you. The day was dreary and wet and what was going to be an outing for a new ivory Zara top was switched for a navy silk shirt. Dark days = dark clothes. Teamed with a pair of old grey jeggings, some sandals and a necklace. The necklace was jsut to make sure that people knew I'd pushed the boat out - a bit. I last wore it here but as a wrap bracelet.
New Look Grey Jeggings (old)
Jigsaw Silk Shirt (old)
Not very dressy in some people's books but dressy enough in mine. The necklace is one of my own in the grey pearl colour way and besides it goes with my sandals. My M&S sandals with the perspex clear heel. They keep disappearing off the website and then they pop up again with a few sizes available. I kept checking and checking and just by chance because the wind was blowing in the right direction, the stars were aligned, the shopping gods were smiling on me, a size 4.5 became available. Click. Mine! I even did navy polish on the toes to complete the whole look. Okay - it was coincidence.
Now the reason why I did this post was I was over at Quiet Houses where Kate had just posted her very similar outfit for going out and it reminded me of my own. But her point in her blog was about what do you consider when dressing up to go out especially now that it's summer. Do you dress down a little because of the extra daylight, do you temper your makeup and so on?
My question is - what kind of dresser are you when you go out? I'm curious because I read a number of blogs and eventually you have an awareness and a perception of what that person wears - during daylight hours ... but how do they dress for going out? Also, I know a few fellow bloggers have been nominated for Britmums awards (well done to Avril from Schoolgate Style, Kat from Does My Bum Look 40 and Marlene from Chocolate, Cookies and Candies) and the questions are already being asked ... what's everyone wearing? I can't wait to find out what they are going to wear but at the same time, thank goodness I don't have to think about that one!
------------------------------
Last Note :
- I'm sat on Ben's computer chair as I was trying to take pictures of my feet without falling over in high heels. Just incase you're wondering.
- And I did try a Christine Keeler shot but .... best not go there. Fully clothed. Of course.
Picture Credit : www.vam.ac.uk
....... you might come across me having a pizza. Because I can't have a normal pizza delivered to my door like a normal person - I have to go down to the woods and have it done in a wood fired oven in the middle of the woods. Like you do. And it's probably the nearest we are ever going to get to getting our own wood fired oven (sorry Grumps - I cannot justify building such an expensive home for hedgehogs).
For my little excursion, this called for a little evening warmth so on came my old faithful little Jack Wills jacket.
Jack Wills Jacket (old), Jack Wills Top (old), H&M Boyfriend Jeans)
I have to say, my little jacket serves me well for those summer evenings when the temperatures start to cool off. Oh and a little white broderie Jack Wills camisole. Teeny bopperish? Yeah - what the heck - it's the weekend - let your hair down, dress like a teenager, neck some cider - you have my permission.
Anyway, we popped down to The Plantation - a wildlife habitat conservation area. They open at the weekends in the evenings for pizza and you can take the kiddiwinkles down and let them run round like loonies and even go pond dipping if you like.
But what we came for was PIZZA!
Deelish!
And it's been many years since I had a 7Up. but I asked for a soft drink and a 7Up was what I got.
Just add salt ... or not.
This might be a Chinese thing but when I was young, my family would put a sprinkle of salt in a 7Up. Don't ask me why - they just did. I think it was meant to make you feel better when you felt ill but I can not honestly vouch for that. What I can vouch for is - it makes your 7Up fizz ... and then makes it taste a bit salty :o(
And that's me being at one with nature by keeping my feet off the floor (away from any wee beasties that may lurk beneath). I am a city girl through and through.
Thought the Primark fox bag would like a visit to the woods.
Oh and another Chinese thing. The last couple of times when I went back to Hong Kong, whenever I pointed a camera in the direction of anyone, the first thing they did was this :
Peace man!
I don't know why. But it's strangely catching because I find myself doing it every now and then and I know it's not good.
So if anyone has any answers for me regarding peace signs and salty 7Up - I would be most grateful.
And if you haven't, I hope you had a good weekend anyway.
------------------------------
Last Note
Sorry. I've been a bit tardy on the blog front. The weather is nice, I've been out, the weekend has been full on .... that's life. Hope you don't mind too much.
I spotted this today on the H&M website. 100% cotton lace. I repeat. 100% cotton lace. A lovely Guipure lace at that. And affordable at £39.99. Divine. Gorgeous. Yum Scrum. Hubba hubba. Can you say hubba hubba about a dress?
Because even tomboys have girly days.
Anyway, I just thought I'd share. I was always taught it was good to share.
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Hi there!
Mum to Ben & George, married to the Grumps, living in suburbia, somewhere in the north of England.
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