Holiday Wardrobe - Swimwear. Only because I have to.
Thursday, 12 July 2012
I am going on a holiday in August to sunnier climes where I will be needing swimwear. Aarrghhh. The old trusty brown & cream (previously white) spotty swimsuit has gone to the swimsuit graveyard in the bin as I discovered today it has a fuzzy bottom ... which means I have been going around with a fuzzy bottom since I don't know when.
So I'm on the hunt again for a swimsuit for the second time this year. The first time being when I said I was going to start taking George swimming regularly. That didn't happen so the swimsuit didn't happen. However, we've just sorted out a holiday abroad, first time since having George and now I desperately need swimwear as I can honestly say, hand on heart, "I have nothing to wear". So I finally went to order the Toast one and of course it was sold out in my size which served me right for not getting on with it. And so I have been hauling and squeezing myself into tiny bits of material looking for a new flattering swimsuit. It's a minefield out there. I feel the need to go slightly brighter and be a bit braver in my choices than I would normally as I will be abroad and I don't want to be a boring mama. However this is easier said than done. Buying a swimsuit for me is quite complex even though I have only 2 main criteria :
1. Ample bottom coverage - I don't like ones which are cut high and reveal far too much of it. Toned is not a word my bottom is familiar with. You don't get a bottom like mine by going to the gym.
2. Armpit muffin coverage - I don't know what the correct term is but I don't like the bits which sometimes get squished out at the top. It's the spare bits between boob and armpit. You know what I'm talking about.
I've tried on everything and even pushed myself out of my comfort zone... because you hear it all the time ... you don't know till you try and oh boy did I try! From the ones with the bits cut out at the sides ... I think they're called monokinis (so bad I was nearly in tears) to the "firm support" miracle suits - the ones with fantastic tummy sucking in abilities (so firm, I nearly fainted). They are named miracle swimsuits because it's a miracle if you can wrestle yourself into one. The even bigger miracle is if you can wrestle your way out of one. Houdini had it easier believe me. I can only describe it as putting on an item of clothing 4 sizes smaller than your usual size. I pity the poor soul who has one of these on when the call of nature comes a calling. Also, you can't breathe in them. Or maybe I'm just used to letting it all hang out metaphorically speaking. But I did find a swimsuit eventually in Monsoon. I also had George in tow - I know, the mind boggles as to why I would go swimwear shopping with George (desperate springs to mind), George who thinks its fun to whisk the changing room curtains open when you don't have much on and shout "Peekaboo!".
And not content with having found a swimsuit, I continued looking because you never know if there is going to be something better out there so I also tried on a bikini from Whistles. It wasn't bad and I did some star jumps to see if anything would fall out - amazing - nothing did. Everyone tells me it's going to be 30 degrees plus in Greece and I need a bikini - I'm just trying to get over the wobbly tummy mindset and just look at mine as being one more in a sea of many wobbly tummys. I had another snoop at the Toast website again and my swimsuit came back in stock. I was faster than Flash Gordon at ordering it but alas when it arrived, it was not to be. It fitted and it covered all the bits it needed but you know what ... I felt a bit frumpy. So that's going back too. And after all that wishful thinking and cooing over a bit of red spotty material as well!
And finally we get to the bikini. Yes - I bit the bullet and bought a bikini. I perused innumerable sites to find one which I thought would do the job and eventually whilst buying some pj's for the boys in Matalan (yes - Matalan) I found a little bikini set. Voila.
It cost a grand total of £11. If I decide I'm not that brave even when abroad, I haven't lost masses on these little bits of material. I just don't understand how people can charge £100+ for two tiny bits of clothing. Which barely cover you.
So that's swimwear done then. Oh yes and I have a 10 year old M&S sarong to add.
So I'm on the hunt again for a swimsuit for the second time this year. The first time being when I said I was going to start taking George swimming regularly. That didn't happen so the swimsuit didn't happen. However, we've just sorted out a holiday abroad, first time since having George and now I desperately need swimwear as I can honestly say, hand on heart, "I have nothing to wear". So I finally went to order the Toast one and of course it was sold out in my size which served me right for not getting on with it. And so I have been hauling and squeezing myself into tiny bits of material looking for a new flattering swimsuit. It's a minefield out there. I feel the need to go slightly brighter and be a bit braver in my choices than I would normally as I will be abroad and I don't want to be a boring mama. However this is easier said than done. Buying a swimsuit for me is quite complex even though I have only 2 main criteria :
1. Ample bottom coverage - I don't like ones which are cut high and reveal far too much of it. Toned is not a word my bottom is familiar with. You don't get a bottom like mine by going to the gym.
2. Armpit muffin coverage - I don't know what the correct term is but I don't like the bits which sometimes get squished out at the top. It's the spare bits between boob and armpit. You know what I'm talking about.
I've tried on everything and even pushed myself out of my comfort zone... because you hear it all the time ... you don't know till you try and oh boy did I try! From the ones with the bits cut out at the sides ... I think they're called monokinis (so bad I was nearly in tears) to the "firm support" miracle suits - the ones with fantastic tummy sucking in abilities (so firm, I nearly fainted). They are named miracle swimsuits because it's a miracle if you can wrestle yourself into one. The even bigger miracle is if you can wrestle your way out of one. Houdini had it easier believe me. I can only describe it as putting on an item of clothing 4 sizes smaller than your usual size. I pity the poor soul who has one of these on when the call of nature comes a calling. Also, you can't breathe in them. Or maybe I'm just used to letting it all hang out metaphorically speaking. But I did find a swimsuit eventually in Monsoon. I also had George in tow - I know, the mind boggles as to why I would go swimwear shopping with George (desperate springs to mind), George who thinks its fun to whisk the changing room curtains open when you don't have much on and shout "Peekaboo!".
Olivia Swimsuit - Sold Out Online
Fuschia & Orange Stitch Detailing
And not content with having found a swimsuit, I continued looking because you never know if there is going to be something better out there so I also tried on a bikini from Whistles. It wasn't bad and I did some star jumps to see if anything would fall out - amazing - nothing did. Everyone tells me it's going to be 30 degrees plus in Greece and I need a bikini - I'm just trying to get over the wobbly tummy mindset and just look at mine as being one more in a sea of many wobbly tummys. I had another snoop at the Toast website again and my swimsuit came back in stock. I was faster than Flash Gordon at ordering it but alas when it arrived, it was not to be. It fitted and it covered all the bits it needed but you know what ... I felt a bit frumpy. So that's going back too. And after all that wishful thinking and cooing over a bit of red spotty material as well!
And finally we get to the bikini. Yes - I bit the bullet and bought a bikini. I perused innumerable sites to find one which I thought would do the job and eventually whilst buying some pj's for the boys in Matalan (yes - Matalan) I found a little bikini set. Voila.
It's not black!!
So that's swimwear done then. Oh yes and I have a 10 year old M&S sarong to add.
An oldie but a goodie.
Now I've just got to stop eating the boys leftovers or I will get locked up for scaring the locals in that bikini!
Wishing & Hoping. Quick Update.
Monday, 9 July 2012
Okay, this is how it stands.
...... and I have a new wishlist that I've just started. I think I will carry the Jigsaw boots on to that list instead. Along with these .......
I know, I know ... I feel another caveat coming on to my shopping mantra of nothing over £200!
- Wilpshire Red Cardigan from Aubin & Wills. Officially sold out again. It came back into stock, I had it in my basket .... but I did not click the pay button because I do not wear red cardigans. How sensible was I? Gone!
- Plumo Shadow Bag. It came. I loved it. But it was too big. I sent it back. Gone.
- MHL Jumper from Net a Porter. I confess to ordering it. I disliked it on sight. The colour was yack. The hem was horrid. Gone.
- Sam Edelman Trina Sandals. I can't find them in my size. It was not meant to be. I've moved on. Gone.
- Jigsaw Poppy Boots. Still hanging on. Still wishing and hoping ......
...... and I have a new wishlist that I've just started. I think I will carry the Jigsaw boots on to that list instead. Along with these .......
I know, I know ... I feel another caveat coming on to my shopping mantra of nothing over £200!
The Lure of the New
Friday, 6 July 2012
Sales have never really done that much for me. I certainly don't ever plan a day at the sales - if I'm there I'm there, if I'm not, no skin off my nose as I'm usually more interested in the new anyway. After months of looking at the same old, same old, I'm ready for some new clothing morsels to whet my appetite. I also like to see clothes laid out nicely so I can see clearly what they look like, in their best light and looking their most desirable. Not piled up in clothes mountains and trailing on the floor. Funny that I can handle Primark though ... but only on a Tuesday morning first thing when it's quiet and it looks like there has been a restock and everything is nice and tidy. It all goes to pot by about 10.30am though but it's funny, even when it gets a little messy in there, I can handle it ... infact I just expect it. However, I couldn't face the Zara sale when it started the other Thursday even though I was in the vicinity. I went everywhere else instead looking at new stuff and tried on innumerable items of clothing which were not in the sale. The thrill and the lure of the new.
This week, I finally faced up to Zara as I expected the sales excitement would have abated after the weekend and waltzed through to look at .... the non sales new goodies. Why oh why do I do that? Because it's easy and all hung up nicely and presented for me to peruse at a glance. Grumps used to be amused at the fact that I could stop in a shop doorway, scan the shop floor like a laser beam in a mere second and make a decision there and then if I wanted to go in and browse. Time is precious in shopping land, didn't you know? Anyway, a grey top caught my eye previously and it did again this time so I thought it was time to try. I'm glad I did - it's one of those pieces which you can dress up or down. Would look good with a pair of cut off shorts in a festival kind of way, if you're young or if you have great legs or just some skinnies on a night out if you're my age and your legs are average.
It's a little out of my normal territory of plain tops but it's grey so even though it's embellished, I feel safe in this. It's going to be useful over the summer and for my jollies. I saw a nice jumper as well but reigned myself in as I was telling myself that it's supposed to be summer and I also had more pressing purchases to make such as a swimsuit. Oh yes, did I not mention, I was shopping for swimsuits again? Which was the reason why I was shopping in the first place.
Well that's another story. For another day. Have a good weekend everyone!
This week, I finally faced up to Zara as I expected the sales excitement would have abated after the weekend and waltzed through to look at .... the non sales new goodies. Why oh why do I do that? Because it's easy and all hung up nicely and presented for me to peruse at a glance. Grumps used to be amused at the fact that I could stop in a shop doorway, scan the shop floor like a laser beam in a mere second and make a decision there and then if I wanted to go in and browse. Time is precious in shopping land, didn't you know? Anyway, a grey top caught my eye previously and it did again this time so I thought it was time to try. I'm glad I did - it's one of those pieces which you can dress up or down. Would look good with a pair of cut off shorts in a festival kind of way, if you're young or if you have great legs or just some skinnies on a night out if you're my age and your legs are average.
I so want to be a rock chick!
It's a little out of my normal territory of plain tops but it's grey so even though it's embellished, I feel safe in this. It's going to be useful over the summer and for my jollies. I saw a nice jumper as well but reigned myself in as I was telling myself that it's supposed to be summer and I also had more pressing purchases to make such as a swimsuit. Oh yes, did I not mention, I was shopping for swimsuits again? Which was the reason why I was shopping in the first place.
Well that's another story. For another day. Have a good weekend everyone!
Wishing & Hoping Update. Plumo Shadow Bag.
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
Yes, I did something about the wishing and hoping and did some ordering and now the first purchase is here. The Plumo shadow bag.
However this bag which I have wanted since I first clapped eyes on it is possibly too big for me. It has great bum hiding potential but I have to admit I am having my doubts about the size and whether it is drowning me a little (or lot in this case).
I still love the shadow cloud pattern on the bag, I still love the colour too but there is no denying that I think a person a foot taller might look better carrying this one around. Strange, I remember vaguely looking at the measurements of the bag on the website when I ordered it ... but I guess I must have just chosen to blatantly ignore them.
Like the Zara tote I had previously considered, this has proven to be another "big as your torso" bag. See. I'm almost a bag with limbs.
I still really like it though. My friend saw it today and said it was lovely - that's put the mockers on sending it straight back then. I will need to think carefully about this - it's getting a reprieve for another week when I have to decide whether this is a keeper or it's a visit to the post office to do a returns on the way home from the school run.
Decisions, decisions again. Oh bog. Or should that be "Oh bag!"
Lovely leather detailing
Good bum coverage
Look the handles match the sandals!
Is it too big?
I still really like it though. My friend saw it today and said it was lovely - that's put the mockers on sending it straight back then. I will need to think carefully about this - it's getting a reprieve for another week when I have to decide whether this is a keeper or it's a visit to the post office to do a returns on the way home from the school run.
Decisions, decisions again. Oh bog. Or should that be "Oh bag!"
Fluoro & Moro
Saturday, 30 June 2012
First the fluoro. I was going to set myself the challenge of not wearing blue jeans for a week and it started well with the Mango dress and failed miserably the day after when I decided to wear the fluro stripe tee from Maison Scotch. The tee simply works great with jeans so I just wore jeans. Why make it difficult for yourself just to prove a point?
Anyway on to the Moro. I made the chicken, bay and garlic recipe today which was taken from ... you guessed it ... the Moro cookbook. It's not my cookbook - none of the cookbooks in this house are - they all belong to the Grumps who actually reads them page to page. And then points out what he would like for his dinner. He has learnt the rules though - all ingredients and instructions need to fit on 1 page. Any more and it's not happening. I still don't like cooking any more than the last time I blogged about not liking cooking but even I can follow this recipe and turn out a half decent meal.
Recipe as follows (taken from Moro the Cookbook by Sam & Sam Clark).
Serves 4
Ingredients:1 medium organic or free-range chicken, about 1.5kg, jointed into 8 pieces, skin on breast and wings, skin off legs and thighs
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic bulbs, cloves separated, skins on
6 bay leaves, preferably fresh
200ml white wine or fino sherry
100ml water
sea salt and black pepper
MethodSeason the chicken with salt and pepper.
Place a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan or frying pan with a lid over a medium heat and add the olive oil.
When the oil is hot, add the garlic cloves and fry gently until slightly golden.
Remove with a spoon and set aside. Now add the chicken, in batches, and fry for 3 minutes on either side until golden brown all over.
Return the garlic to the pan along with the bay and pour in the wine, shaking the pan as you do so to help the wine emulsify with the oil.
Simmer for 2 minutes to evaporate some alcohol, while turning the chicken in the sauce.
Stir in the water, cover with a lid and simmer for 4 minutes.
Take out any breast meat (if cooked), and put to one side.
Continue to cook the brown meat for another 10 minutes.
Add the breast back to the pot, season and add more water to the sauce if required.
Taste for seasoning.
I love the bit where it says the "wine emulsifys with the oil" and I quote it to whoever will listen whenever I cook it as I think it makes me sound all knowledgeable and stuff about cooking. Oh yes ... and serve with a dollop of buttery mash to make it super scrum.
And when I went in the M&S food hall for a flying visit, there were all these strawberries, raspberries, cream and meringues stacked at the bottom of the escalator where they knew I would pass by. I gathered the whole lot up and decided I would have decadent fruit for puds. Bear in mind, I had Eton Mess in mind when concocting the following.
Break up a meringue nest. Throw fruit on. Dollop of extra thick single cream (I don't like whipped cream), and a squirt of M&S's raspberry sauce. Deelish. And the bonus is, it's got fruit in it so it's healthy, I swear!
Enjoy.
Falmer Heritage Skinny Boyfriend Jeans (old)
I like the tee. I guess it would be considered trendy for a village school playground in Yorkshire. In London, I would simply disappear, engulfed by the sea of significantly trendier mums. I'm thankful actually - it would stress me to feel that I needed to make any more effort than I do already. There are many many days when no effort is made - believe me. And the necklaces were fun but they lasted an hour round my neck before they started to annoy me. It would be different if I was working in an office but when wiping down the worktops, they just get in the way and besides they kept catching my hair. You know when you get a hair caught in a necklace chain and then you yank it and pull out a hair by accident? Hurts like hell.
Maison Scotch Camera Necklace (came with top)
Dorothy Perkins Knot Necklace (old)
Susie Ho Bracelet
Another bracelet I made a few years back using leather and freshwater pearls.
And good old Converse for running after the kids in. I do like to do a good nosey at the other mums in the playground in the morning and though there are a handful of us who wear Converse, I'm the only one with this taupe shade. It's very sad that I know that.
Converse All Star Ox
Anyway on to the Moro. I made the chicken, bay and garlic recipe today which was taken from ... you guessed it ... the Moro cookbook. It's not my cookbook - none of the cookbooks in this house are - they all belong to the Grumps who actually reads them page to page. And then points out what he would like for his dinner. He has learnt the rules though - all ingredients and instructions need to fit on 1 page. Any more and it's not happening. I still don't like cooking any more than the last time I blogged about not liking cooking but even I can follow this recipe and turn out a half decent meal.
Pollo al ajillo
Chicken cooked with bay, garlic and white wine to you and me
Recipe as follows (taken from Moro the Cookbook by Sam & Sam Clark).
Serves 4
Ingredients:1 medium organic or free-range chicken, about 1.5kg, jointed into 8 pieces, skin on breast and wings, skin off legs and thighs
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic bulbs, cloves separated, skins on
6 bay leaves, preferably fresh
200ml white wine or fino sherry
100ml water
sea salt and black pepper
MethodSeason the chicken with salt and pepper.
Place a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan or frying pan with a lid over a medium heat and add the olive oil.
When the oil is hot, add the garlic cloves and fry gently until slightly golden.
Remove with a spoon and set aside. Now add the chicken, in batches, and fry for 3 minutes on either side until golden brown all over.
Return the garlic to the pan along with the bay and pour in the wine, shaking the pan as you do so to help the wine emulsify with the oil.
Simmer for 2 minutes to evaporate some alcohol, while turning the chicken in the sauce.
Stir in the water, cover with a lid and simmer for 4 minutes.
Take out any breast meat (if cooked), and put to one side.
Continue to cook the brown meat for another 10 minutes.
Add the breast back to the pot, season and add more water to the sauce if required.
Taste for seasoning.
I love the bit where it says the "wine emulsifys with the oil" and I quote it to whoever will listen whenever I cook it as I think it makes me sound all knowledgeable and stuff about cooking. Oh yes ... and serve with a dollop of buttery mash to make it super scrum.
And when I went in the M&S food hall for a flying visit, there were all these strawberries, raspberries, cream and meringues stacked at the bottom of the escalator where they knew I would pass by. I gathered the whole lot up and decided I would have decadent fruit for puds. Bear in mind, I had Eton Mess in mind when concocting the following.
Ben's Bang Tidy Version
My Not So Bang Tidy Version
Break up a meringue nest. Throw fruit on. Dollop of extra thick single cream (I don't like whipped cream), and a squirt of M&S's raspberry sauce. Deelish. And the bonus is, it's got fruit in it so it's healthy, I swear!
Enjoy.
Happiness is .....
Thursday, 28 June 2012
It's all mine!
... the kids have gone to bed
... the husband has gone out
... the house is quiet
... and that Krispy Kreme doughnut is yours and yours alone.
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