A bit of hot weather and a serious bout of hayfever has left me rather grumpy and not in the mood for blogging these past couple of weeks but hey, I'm here now and I've pulled my finger out. What's been happening in my world?

Friday Five (1 of 5) Pen Pineapple Apple Pen

A while back, the boys came home from school chanting that horrid earwig. It fell out of favour but now that I've discovered those pj's up there, I can't get it out of my head again. For those wondering if they've seen something like this before, well yes you probably have. Desmond and Dempsey do the official posh pineapple pj's as sported by Alex from The Frugality ....

Anyway, my version are quite a bit cheaper and obviously not so luxe but they will do nicely till that time comes when I can splash out on pj's again .... when the boys have left home and can fend for themselves .... and by which time, I'm probably more likely to be found sporting a fetching winceyette nightie rather than deluxe pineapple pyjamas.

I actually bought this little embroidered top from Topshop when I ordered the little floral tea dress I featured a few weeks back. Then I returned it along with the dress. Then I ordered it again because I'm like that. It's also a good affordable alternative to this lovely Sezane one.

Friday Five (3 of 5) Easy Iron





Honestly, I never said this blog was all glamour and stuff but I have to say I whooped a little when I came across a can of this spray Easy Iron stuff. I'd run out of my previous can and hadn't seen it on the shelves of the supermarket of late but then I found it at Johnson's Dry Cleaners in Sainburys. I nabbed it. It's a silicone spray and basically it makes those really difficult and rather tough creased items a doddle to iron. You know, those cotton shirts you leave at the bottom of the pile for weeks because you can't face them and eventually when you get round to them, you spend the time cursing and spitting feathers because it's a mare to iron. Well it's brilliant on stuff like that. Don't confuse it with spray starch, this doesn't make the fabric stiff. Just makes your iron glide. I love it.

Friday Five (4 of 5)




I tried this on in store today and took a size 36 (UK10) in to the changing room. I didn't manage to take a changing room pic as my phone was about to conk out but it's nice. 100% cotton and quite whooshy but not outlandish big. It's actually labelled as a cotton tunic rather than a dress but between friends, I'd call it a dress. Well it's a dress on me.


Friday Five (5 of 5) It's not the end ... it's just the beginning.

The eldest had his last day in Primary School today (sob) and they all got to sign each other's shirts. It's the end of one part of his life but on Monday, begins the next chapter, High school. He gets a three week transition period in his new school so  that when they start in September, they are familiar with the setup and everything. I think it's good but crikey, doesn't time fly past at the speed of Concorde? On a slightly more humorous note, I have a friend who is a teacher who said that when some of the Yr 6's left at her school, they drew some rather dubious appendages and body parts on some of the school shirts. I think we got off lightly though I think someone pointed out what looked to be a little like a nipple and some boobies on one of the shirts. 🙈

I have not had much luck recently with anything I've ordered and believe me I have ordered a lot. And a lot has gone right back. ASOS must have groaned when I just renewed my Premier Service with them. Anyway, the dress above is not from ASOS but from Topshop and it's the one I mentioned in the previous post. It's a lovely dress in itself (100% cotton) but I personally feel all kinds of wrong in it. Like I should have worn it when I was at least in my 30s when Kate Moss did her Pansy dress for Topshop (this is the same design) and not now I'm in late 40s. I ordered two sizes and the 10 was neat on me and the sleeves were snug (curse those bingo wings). Something I should mention, if you are feeling a little bloated, your tummy will push the front out making you look 6 months gone. Or maybe that's just me. The 12 was much comfier but suddenly I felt old and matronly. But if you are slight of arm, got ten years on me, no belly and a classic 10 (I'm a big 10 at the moment), this is true to size and rather lovely. Oh and be quick, it's selling like hot cakes!

Friday Five (2 of 5) Bonus

Friday Five (3 of 5) Skirts





I'm on a skirt bender at the moment. I currently have that bright orange one up there in my possession which I bought after a little mosey around M&S with Joanna. It's the perfect length for a shorty who wants to do a long midi but not a proper maxi. The skirt has a nice weight to it and my only dilemma is I already have an orange skirt in my wardrobe. Do I need two despite them both being different styles and somewhat different shades of Jaffa? And I liked this white one too from Sainsburys with the pretty broderie at the bottom.




This one was extremely comfortable with the elastic waistband but what a shame it has no pockets. I'm wearing a size 8 in the picture - it's quite generous and I was going to pick it up on my way out of the supermarket and then forgot. Doh. And err last but not least, I bought this one which was a spur of the moment impulse buy. It doesn't go with much in my wardrobe and I dont know why I bought it apart from it was a bit like a moth to a colour block skirt kind of flame moment. Told you I was on a skirt bender.

Friday Five (4 of 5) To Friends




I've had a very non productive week at home this week but I have had a lovely time catching up with Instagram/bloggy pals. You've got to grab those opportunities when you can. Hi Joanna, Becky, Liz and Donna? Same time next year?


Friday Five (5 of 5) Carabiner



Carabiners are those funny little gadgets that climbers take with them up mountains that they use for attaching onto clothing and equipment to help them get up and down walls and rock faces. Well that's what they are in my hub's world. In my world, they are useful for fastening plastic bag handles together so your shopping doesn't fall out.

I have to say, hasn't the weather been lovely this week? Not too hot, not too cold - for once I'm happy.

Friday Five (1 of 5)  Alterations & Stuff

We were having a quiet Bank Holiday Monday this week and I thought it was the perfect time for me to finally get round to some of the alterations which I've been putting off as it meant dragging out the sewing machine. But I did it and I hacked down one pair of trousers in to culottes and shortened the sleeves on two of my Bretons (one of them above). I feel like I've achieved. I know it doesn't sound much but if you have to fold over your cuffs or spend all your time shrugging up your sleeves every time you wear something, believe me it's an achievement.

Friday Five (2 of 5) When It All Makes Sense

I bought this book How to Wear your Clothes a little while ago as it intrigued me. I was looking for one of those how to curate your wardrobe type books but for some reason this one called out to me instead. It's by a wardrobe mistress and what she's learnt from her years in the trade and I'm weird enough to read something like this just like the hubs is geeky enough to read business strategy books for fun. But that paragraph suddenly made sense to me about why I don't get on with wrap dresses - I've not got enough stack in my rack to make sure things sit in the right place. Lightbulb moment. Oh yes and safety pins are a godsend.

Friday Five (3 of 5) Dupe

Right. Two scenarios here. Scenario 1. Imagine me with this dress and a little straw basket, tan sandals and a little panama hat trotting down a sunny dusty street in Spain. Scenario 2. Imagine me with a pair of slippers on my feet. You can see my dilemma. Which scenario is calling out to you most?