Colour Me Happy
Thursday, 26 February 2015
Next Coat (very very old), Gap sweatshirt, MiH Paris Jeans, Zatchels Bag, Adidas Stan Smiths
Yup - that's me in a fuchsia pink coat. And I put in three pictures there to make sure that you knew it was me in a fuchsia pink coat.
I grabbed a navy coat to put on the other day but I wasn't feeling it. I looked out of the window, the sun was shining and I had had a good night's sleep after spending the last week hacking my guts up every night and not sleeping. But a visit to the chemist for cough medicine and lozenges and the whole world is looking a lot less sickly. And to reflect my happy mood - I put a happy coat on. A fuchsia pink happy coat.
I've been perusing a few blogs now that I'm back in the land of wifi and the thing that hit me .... a bit of colour goes a long way. Yup, I'm a classic blue, black, grey kind of girl but hey it's okay to freak out every now and then and just wear what you like. And that day, fuchsia pink spoke volumes to me.
And a little more inspiration below from some lovely ladies in their colourful coats ....
Aww ... doesn't the world feel much better and brighter now?
Back in the Land of Wifi
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Hi!
Hi. Did you miss me? I missed you guys. And I tell you what ... I really missed my wi-fi. Last week was half term and we disappeared to Wales to stay in a cottage with a pool table, a hot tub, a jacuzzi and no wi-fi. I would have happily given up the pool table, the hot tub and the jacuzzi and just had the wi-fi instead ;o) You don't realise your dependency on staying in touch with the outside world until it's not there. As it was, I had a couple of opportunities to grab 5 mins here and there in the odd cafe and to catch up with what people were up to. I just needed to reassure myself that I wasn't missing out on anything. I wasn't but I just needed wi-fi to know it.
Anyway, this meant that instead of a half term with the boys being glued to tech for entertainment, they had to do regular stuff like going to a zoo, learn to play pool, going for steam train rides ....
Ben on a train looking for wi-fi.
and walks on the beach
Playing "Hunt the wi-fi"
No wi-fi here!
nor here!
or here!
I found the most wonderful interiors shop which was housed in an old chapel which was a visual delight for the eyes and made me want to redecorate my whole house from scratch.
And we let the boys have ice cream despite it being 5 degrees.
Yum!
which was really our way to soften the blow that there was no wi-fi where we were staying .... at ALL. For a week.
Nooooo! No wifi for a week?!?!?!
Anyway, we are now back in the land of wi-fi and life is as it was originally. I get to wear something other than the below staples - it's hard to pack 7 days winter wear in a case the size of a carry on!
I told you I was a fair-weather fashionista! Boring but warm.
I think I might crack out something a little more colourful tomorrow!
I Wish, I Wish, I Wish ...
Friday, 13 February 2015
...... for a Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton Bag. There's not many designer bags that I like or covet but I have a real soft spot for this one. Maybe it's something to do with (1) how practical it is - I can stuff a ton of rubbish in there! (2) it's plain simple design - I like the lack of whistle and bell embellishments and (3) hey look! a long strap for wearing across the body so I have my hands free for rifling through the clothes rails on the shop floor ;o)
However the price is rather prohibitive. So instead I wish, I wish, I wish ....
...... for a Mango discount code!
Please, please, please! Any time soon would be great. Thank you!
Disclaimers Revisited - An Update
Thursday, 12 February 2015
Right, last October I wrote a post about bringing my wardrobe up to date (here). Remember the disclaimers I added to the end about certain potential additions/non additions to the wardrobe? Shall I remind you?
- Faux Fur. They don't really suit me or I've just not found the one. (Disclaimer - I have the right to retract that statement should you see me in a faux fur jacket/coat).
- Culottes. I don't know how to wear them when it gets really cold but I'm not sure they are really me. I know knee high boots are one way round how to wear them and can look fab but realistically speaking - I don't have the energy to go there. (Disclaimer - I have the right to retract that statement should you see me in a pair of culottes).
- Pleather/leather jeggings/pants. I've not found a flattering pair yet. (Disclaimer - I have the right to retract that statement should you see me in a pair of pleather/leather jeggings/pants).
- Pointy Boots. The ones I like are too expensive. So I'll leave that one alone. (Disclaimer - I have the right to retract that statement should you see me in a pair of pointy boots because I caved).
- Statement Coat. Not bothered. (Disclaimer - I have the right to retract that statement when it turns up)
So let's see what happened shall we?
- Faux Fur.
Disclaimer retracted. Okay, I said I was going to make do with my faux fur snood and my pom pom keyring but then the black Matalan fur coat came along and my whole furry world was complete and whole. Basically I just needed to find a fur coat that wasn't going to wear me and scream fashion victim and Sasquatch in the same breath and it took a little bit of doing and a few games of seek and ye shall find. But I found.
Matalan Fur Coat
- Culottes.
Disclaimer retraction not required. Ah ... I kept my sensible head on with this one. I actually had a pair of culottes in my possession and they didn't look bad, they looked pretty good actually. They were the M&S ones which Fran and Joanna had and I bagged myself a pair in the short fitting. They looked the bees knees when worn with a black polo neck and tan leather knee high boots that I had. But ... I couldn't be bothered to keep them as I knew I would only wear that one look and to be honest, I didn't even think I would even get myself out of the door in them. So I returned them. Pat on the back for me. But ... I have a secret hankering for some denim ones for the summer. Yes sirreee!
- Pleather/leather jeggings/pants.
Disclaimer retracted. Oh how I tried! Oh how I cried! I tried a goodly amount of pairs on. I tried all the skinny versions on that I could find in various stores and I can honestly say, they were not a good look for me. Wrinkly knees at the front and unsightly ripples down the back. You know when people say you should never look (around the) back? I should never have looked back! I also thought the looser peg styles might work and I got so far as to bringing a pair home and prancing about a little in them and realised that (1) they felt funny on and (2) I didn't feel comfortable or confident wearing them. So they went back too. And then I found the ones which had ponte jersey on the back. And that's when it hit me - this was what I needed as the jersey just helped to hug in the right places and I could still bend my knees and I was comfy ... like wearing a pair of jersey leggings which is what they are literally but with a bit of pleather at the front. And they were only £5.
H&M Pleather Leggings
- Pointy Boots.
Disclaimer retraction not required. I'm living in my Stans when the weather is dry. And I'm doing that by sticking some fleecy insoles in them to take the edge of the cold. My other shoes are virtually redundant. I am also trying my best to wear the ankle boots that I have but mainly I am defaulting to warm comfy footwear aka Uggs. There was basically no justification for another pair of boots (I can't believe I just typed that!). And of course I will kick myself next winter when pointy boots are still a-go a-go. But I held fast and I may not be the most fashionable but I found I didn't really need them after all. How good am I? Besides we're nearly in March ... and the toes will be out soon.
- Statement Coat.
Disclaimer retraction not required. I have no statement coat. I have an understatement coat though. No pink, no orange, no baby blue, no red. Just an understated khaki swamp coloured coat. Because that's the kind of gal I am :)
Topshop Slouchy Coat
Summary - Only 2 out of a potential 5 disclaimers exercised. Not bad, not bad at all.
Kiehls Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
My hands are shocking at the moment. I guess it's partly to do with the horrible cold weather but I also know it's because I'm really rubbish at putting on the old hand cream. I put it on then I find I have to wash my hands two minutes later and then I've washed the stuff off. Seems a bit pointless if you ask me. So I don't put it on. But it doesn't mean I don't need the stuff ... I do! Especially as I have a little bit of painful cracked skin on my thumb and if you've been there ... you know it really hurts. You can't put any pressure on it and you can't fasten the top button of your jeans or open toothpaste caps without it potentially cracking more and well you know, it hurts. And yes I'm a baby.
So I bought the Kiehls Ultimate Strength Hand Salve today. I've heard good things about it and I read the 5 star reviews on their website and so I decided to go in to the Leeds store to check it out, I also liked the sales lady who was on the right side of attentive but not over zealous. She let me try some on and left me to wander around the shop and browse and eventually I made my way back to the till to buy my tube of the hand salve.
So I'm typing this now after having had the cream on for a good 5 hours. They were grey and dry and chapped before the cream and even after a couple of hand washes and no reapplication, they are looking and feeling so much better. A good application before bed time and I think I will start tomorrow off on a good and less painful note.
So has anybody used this before and what's your verdict?
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Last Note :
- I also love the smell - it's a little bit herbal (not sweet which I dislike) but not overpowering. Like it's doing you good. So much better than a heavy perfumed smell which pretends it's doing something and it's not.
- I love stores where you get freebies without having to ask for them. Just makes the day that little bit sweeter!
Yup - there is a sachet of "Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream" there. I'm not getting any younger!
Rolled Up Hems
Thursday, 5 February 2015
A short and sweet post.
I bought an off white shrunken fit sweatshirt from Gap in the summer sale last year. The sleeves were too long and they never seemed to shrug up properly so I decided to get the scissors out and give the sleeves the old chop. Kristina from Uniformly Dressed obviously studies my clothing pics as she asked me how I did the sleeves on this post here as she said they looked very neat. Well this is what I did .....
I decided on the length of the sleeves that I wanted and did a straight cut across.
And then I turned the edge up a fraction ....
.... and again so the raw edge was tucked neatly away.
And then I gave it a light press.
And that's what I did.
The reason for me doing it this way rather than leaving the edge raw and to curl up naturally is the fabric sometimes frays and you get loose threads after the garment has been in the wash. Great on jean hems, not so hot on sweatshirt sleeves.
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Last Note :
- The technique I use for shortening the sleeves, I also use for shortening overlong wider legged jogging bottoms.
- After a once through the washing machine, the hems will take on a more natural roll shape.
It's All In the Eyes
Monday, 2 February 2015
I don't really do beauty reviews on stuff. I know where my forte is and it's not in reviewing beauty products. But I will tell you what I am up to at the moment. And at the moment, I'm playing around with stuff for the eyes.
A year ago, I read a review from Kate Shapland in the Saturday Telegraph about the Mavala Double Lash Treatment. and it sounded like it was worth a shot. I basically have very short eyelashes You know how people have long spidery lashes? I have money spidery eyelashes - they are that short. I knew there was the Rapid Lash treatment but that is about four times the price of this little bottle from Mavala and I have to admit, I can be a bit tight around some beauty stuff (I spent years living off Clinique and Lancome Bonus Time). Was I expecting miracles? No, not really but I was however quite pleased with the fact that they did appear to be a little longer and fuller after about a month's use. I started the treatment round about March last year and stopped it when hay fever season hit and then just got lazy. But not so long ago, I decided to pick up the Mavala wand and start again. All you have to do is brush some on your lashes each night before bed and that's it. So yes, I think it works - or it works enough for me and it doesn't break the bank at about £11 a bottle. I don't suddenly have tarantula leg length lashes but hey I think I've upgraded to household very small spider leg length territory.
I love a cat flick done well on the eyes. I can't do one for toffee and believe me I have watched a serious number of Youtube tutorials on them and I am none the better for it. I still have wonky cat flicks on each eye when I try. And most nights before I go to bed and I am doing the night time routine, I spend two minutes having a little practice. Only a tiny kitten sized flick mind you because a full length one would just push me over the edge. I think I am almost there ... I've only been practising for three months. There are some things I am just not good at and make up is one of them. And I know some people swear by using a pot of liner stuff and a little fine brush but I thought I'd start with a little eye pen to make it easier for me. When I think I have mastered this little cat flick stuff, I will upgrade the pen - any recommendations anyone?
This is the holy grail of eyelash curlers for us oriental gals. I have practically gauged my eyes out trying to clamp my non existent lashes into an assortment of different eyelash curlers over the years to no avail. They just don't fit the shape of my eye socket. So I took a chance and asked for a pair of the Shu Uemura ones for Christmas. And you know what? They work! It's just a shame my lashes aren't that long (but longer than they were) to really reap the benefits of the curlers. So yep, if you've struggled with eyelash curlers previously - these might be worth a shot for you. I bought mine from Amazon complete with a silicone refill pad (aka that rubbery bit).
So ... not a review as such but just a few notes of what I've been playing with in my bathroom. I can tell you now, I don't think Vivianna is too worried about me nabbing her beauty blog crown.
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