Quick Friday Five. Got to keep my hand in. 

Friday Five (1 of 5) Oysho

I love a little browse round the Oysho website. They do lovely pyjamas (I have a navy pinstripe flannel pair which are lush in the cold months) and I seem to have racked up a few of their dresses too  over time which I hadn't realised till now. I just had a nosey to see what was coming in for spring/summer and they are doing lovely stuff for energetic people who do things like yoga and running (not me) and pretty stuff for people who want to lounge looking all serene and stuff (me). Oh and there's a couple of nice dresses which caught my eye too. And guess what, Oysho are on to the fact that us ladies like our pockets in our dresses! Here's just a few of my favourite picks.

Friday Five (2 of 5) Flip Flops

I have some little brown Havaiana flip flops. I've had them for years and decided that I wanted to wear them this summer so I got them out and tried them on and thought "They've shrunk!". Well actually, they were always just on the cusp as Havaianas do weird sizing. They do a size 35-36 which is a 3-4 UK size so I compared them to another pair of regular UK size 4 flip flops and the Havaianas definitely are much smaller. So I ordered the next size up 37-38 and they are way bigger. - too big if truth be told. Havaianas - why the weird sizing?

Friday Five (3 of 5) Italian Sausage Ragu

Italian Sausage Ragu (Anna's pic, not mine)

If you're in M&S Foodhall, pick up a couple of pack of their Italian Sausages because they are fab in this easy peasy AnnasFamilyKitchen recipe. It's easy peasy and I'm all about the easy peasy.

Friday Five (4 of 5) Loves Me A Pretty Blouse

Zara Blouse

It's white'ish, it's pretty. It's got a bit of embroidery, it's light and airy and it's also very me. If you like what you like, you like what you like and I like a pretty white blouse for the summer months. I don't buy much from Zara to be honest but it's a hard habit to break so I still look and then I end up with another pretty blouse. Ho Hum.

Friday Five (5 of 5) Upcycling

Upcycling!

The hubs took delivery of a load of Allstars Cricket kit for the local cricket club and was sorting it out when he asked did we have anything we could separate all the different types of balls in to. Why yes indeed - all my handbag bags! There's a reason why I keep everything for years and years! Eventually everything will have a use and purpose!

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So I bought this dress in January .....

... with the express intention of turning it into a skirt. There was no way I was wearing it with that cutout back! 

The idea was I was going to chop off the body of the dress and with the spare fabric, fashion myself some pockets and maybe make a few hair scrunchies with what was left. Go me!

So I started making some changes to it in February, made some more changes not long after and took some pictures of the finished item in March with the express intention of blogging the process and guess what - it's now April. End of April even - I took my time doing this one didn't I? Time is not of the essence where I am concerned. 

So if we backtrack to February, I chopped off the top ....

Then I unpicked the part of the waistband where I had cut - removed the excess fabric, reduced the width of the elastic as it was making the waistband pucker and sewed up the waistband again (below pic) by hand. 

Then I decided I couldn't live with the bad check alignment on the back seam so unpicked it all and realigned it and sewed it back up. I figured that I could make a slight adjustment to the hem to accommodate anything that was a bit out of sorts. Before and after pics below.

Some of us are blessed with height. I was not one of those. And not only was I not blessed with height, I was even blessed with shorter legs than I should have had - fully operational mind you, so I can't complain but yup, I was a little short changed on the leg length. So long of body, short of leg but they gave me extra in the butt area though. How very kind.

Which leads me on to the fact that my lovely Myza pyjamas which I got last year were a little long for me. "Does it really matter seeing as how no one is going to see you in them?" asked the hubs. "Why yes it does!" because as I explained to him, the fact that you can't see my feet in the pants is not really the look I was going for. So I finally pulled my finger out and got the sewing machine out and set it up. It took two mins and three months. That's all.

So what was putting me off? The fact that they had that fancy piped hem detailing, that's what. But in my own way, I like a bit of a challenge and I had already kind of worked out what needed doing. And in case any of you have nothing better to do with your time and you have any blouse cuffs and trouser hems which are similar, well here's what I did.

Measure and mark out the length you want your trousers to be. I've used a pen but in this instance, no one will see that pen mark ever again so it doesn't matter too much. Normal people use tailors chalk.

Back in the room, back in the room. And we're back to a Friday Five. What's been happening around my parts then?

Friday Five (1 of 5) Baggu

I've always loved a tote bag and never more so than currently whilst we've been in lockdown. They're just brilliant for taking on a supermarket shop and you just stuff them with all the other bags you need for your actual shopping. Thing is, I've always used them as an accessory rather than something just useful - go through my Instagram feed and you will find many a tote bag dotted here and there. I have them in different colours to lend a little something to lift an outfit usually. And I have way too many but I can never say no them. I have a few of the regular Baggu shoppers but not had an actual Baggu duck bag as yet. I'm quite liking the green one up there - it feels quite fresh and statement and besides which I don't think I have a green tote bag. I'm also liking the Olsen Twin vibes for the summer - loose shirts and big bags - I think I'll be running with that look for this summer but with a Baggu bag.

Friday Five (2 of 5) Over to the Dark Side

We've had our garden table and chairs for probably about twelve years? And we started painting them about four years ago as they were in definite need of some TLC. I originally had some Valspar garden paint mixed up at B&Q in a shade called Mountain Ridge which was a greyish green. It's lovely and every time I'm on Instagram stories giving my table a bit of a touch up, you can guarantee there will be some enquiries about what colour it is. But four years on, I'm ready for a change and I've decided to go over to the dark side to compliment the garden sofa set we've got ourselves this year. Anyway to cut a long story short, after to-ing and fro-ing and trying lots of different colours, I worked out in order to get the colour you want - you need to go several shades darker than you originally intended as it always looks different outside in natural light. We have used Farrow & Ball's Moles Breath inside and that looks a lovely deep grey shade inside but outside - it becomes that pale grey on the left of the table. So I took a deep breath and said to the lady in the store, I'll take the Little Green Lamp Black which is a very deep grey almost black. Fingers crossed it doesn't look like an undercoat when I finish. 

Friday Five (3 of 5) Little Spoils

In Yorkshire, there are some stores called the Yorkshire Trading Company. I love 'em. They have all sorts in them - you want clothes pegs, they have them, you want freezer bags, they have them, you want haberdashery stuff, they have it, you want a plug for your kitchen sink, they have it, ping pong balls - they have them! They have stuff you don't even know you want till you see it. That's my little haul up there. 

I have a few heavy garden pots so I snapped up the Move It Triangle Dolly when I saw it. Pop a full plant pot on it and roll it along to where you want it! And I treated myself to some new secateurs. How good they are, I don't know but they've got to be better than the really bad ones I've got to do my Laurel hedges with. And heel grips! I need those for a pair of suede espadrilles which are just a little loose around the back and I figured it was time to finally get those sorted out. And then I spotted the Artist paintbrushes! At £1.50 they're not that good but I'm not painting masterpieces, I'm using them to get into the tiny bits when I'm painting between the slats on the garden table I'm planning to paint. And last but not least, I couldn't leave those ironing board fasteners - very useful when you've got a slightly too big ironing board cover which needs tightening up. I don't know how I managed this long without any of that lot up there!

Friday Five (4 of 5) The Marlow Murder Club

I thought I was going to love the The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman but I found it a bit of a slog actually. I can't quite put my finger on it but on paper, it was everything I liked - a cosy murder story  i.e. not too gory with a few little twists and turns. Took me over a month to read it. The hubs used to ask me how far I'd got with it on a daily basis and I was only ever two pages further and I always found something else to do. However ... The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood - I read that in two days. Started before I went to bed one night and finished it the early hours of the next. Loved it and love the characters in it especially Judith Potts - bonkers and brill. Can't wait for the new book coming out when it does! 

Friday Five (5 of 5) Blunnies

It was my birthday on Wednesday and I finally got my Blundstones. Hubs had ordered them a few weeks ago and they've been sat in his office taunting me since they arrived as I've been itching to get them on and break them in on my dog walks with Mags. I went with the chisel toe 1306 style in rustic brown which is what I said I originally wanted, a few Friday Fives back. I went for my usual size and they come up a little roomy but not hugely which means I've been able to put some sheepskin inners in them for a little extra comfort and bounce. I wouldn't have gone down a size I know that. I think some ladies may also struggle a little with the narrowish ankle even though they are elasticated but I think they will give a little with wear over time. Having talked to Lou who had ordered two Blundstone styles to decide between, it turns out that the chisel toed are a little more feminine and longer on the foot but the tread on the sole on the regular round toed boot is more pronouced and maybe better if you're more of a trekker than me.

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Have a good weekend you all!

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I blipped last week. No Friday Five. My bad. Forgive me?

Friday Five (1 of 5) Elegant Lounging

I've always loved the Desmond & Dempsey pyjamas but couldn't quite bring myself to splash out on a pair. I've put these ones in my basket many a time but just never checked out. 

Cotton PJ Sets from Myza

And then I came across the Myza website whilst idly browsing one evening last year. And now I am the proud owner of those aqua leopard ones on the bottom row. They're lovely and not dissimilar to the D&D ones I wanted but just in a totally different colourway. They're well made and a nice mid weight cotton and I'd totally buy another set but I've banned myself from buying any more pjs, I seem to have built up quite a collection recently. Whilst everyone has been building up their sweatshirt jogger co-ord combinations during lockdown, I've chosen to lounge in nice pj's instead. Makes me feel a little bit more put together even if I'm in dire need of a haircut.

Friday Five (2 of 5) My Cooking Saviour

If you've followed for some time, you'll know I'm a bit of a reluctant cook. I like my recipes simple - preferably, pictures, ingredients and instructions all fitting on one page please! And lockdown seems to be an eternal cookfest - you've probably all been there. And I've been  looking for some nice simple things to feed the family and but my absolute saviour has been Annasfamilykitchen on Instagram. I like the straightforward instructions and the nice normal ingredients - nothing too out there like black onion seeds and mace blades required which you need a pinch of and you will not use for another three years. That's a proper mum cook there. I like her. A lot. 

Friday Five (3 of 5) Mary Janes

Am I too old for Mary Janes. Am I? Asking for a friend. Honestly, every week, there is something on my Friday Five about my latest shoe fad. I've done the Vejas, Blundstones and the New Balance and now ... I'm all about the little velvet Mary Janes which my family would ROFL* at the very thought. Yep - we're talking about those little Kung Fu shoes which suddenly seem to have infiltrated my IG feed and consciousness. Now they're cheap as chips really if you were going to get a bog standard black cotton pair but the ones currently doing the rounds are the velvet ones. I'm a sucker for velvet. There's an olive green velvet pair which keeps popping up and peeking my interest. I did go and check them out and thankfully they're sold out so we can lay that to rest for now. The brown is quite nice though. And the teal. And the yellow ....

Just such a pretty but relaxed look. I've always liked a ballet pump but the Mary Jane style just rings the changes. Sometimes I wear the same look from year to year,  I just change the accessories to bring things up to date.

Friday Five (4 of 5) Mondays Mondays

I know most people hate Mondays but I don't mind them - I'm one of the lucky few. I've got a little routine going where I pack some eBay parcels on a Monday morning and me and Mags (doggo) take a walk to the village shop where the mobile post office turns up, we post the parcels and we pick up a loaf of bread for lunch and we mosey on home. Some days we pick up a cauliflower or a cabbage but what I didn't realise was that cauliflowers are quite a bit more than cabbages. Did you?

Friday Five (5 of 5) Kung Hei Fat Choy

"Don't look on Amazon orders today will you?" the hubs said. "I've bought something I don't want you to see". 

It arrived yesterday. This is what he bought.

A whacking big New Year Poster! 

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

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Last Note :

• The Myza pyjamas are a little long in the leg for shorty me but nothing that I can't sort out, just incase anyone was wondering if they were suitable for people taller than 5ft 1 and a bit. They are.

• Some of the Myza designs are not yet in stock - they take pre-orders and sometimes they have a discount code for early orders. Worth keeping an eye out if you're interested and like nice pyjamas.

• *ROFL Roll on floor laughing.

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It's been a bit of a slow week this week at SoSo Towers. Just taking life slow. It's precious.

Friday Five (1 of 5) Blue Hues

Currently loving the blue hues on the Mango site. Have I told you how much I love blue? I love blue .... a lot.

Friday Five (2 of 5) Woolly Balls

I bought some dryer balls last year for the tumble dryer and used them quite successfully on a down coat of mine. For some reason, I didn't like the idea of tumbling proper tennis balls around as I have visions of them exploding with the heat although I've never heard reports of such mishaps to date. Well, the dryer balls were okay (my coat came out okay) but they are quite hard and really noisy banging around in the drum and I thought they might be a little aggressive on some clothing and besides which they all seem to have gone AWOL. Anyway, going through Home Bargains this week (next to the Lidl so I couldn't resist a nosey in), I found these woolly balls which do the same job. How good they are, I don't know but they've got to be kinder than those plastic ones I used to have. Anyone used them? If they're rubbish, I know Maggie would love them.

Friday Five (3 of 5) Easy Peasy Squeezy Squeezy

I had a bit of an accident this week with a rather full bottle of cooking oil. It was a new bottle and the plastic was a bit flimsy and so when I held it, I inadvertently squeezed the sides and I created my own little oil geyser. Cue silent cursing (boys were in the same room) and copious amounts of kitchen roll to mop up the oily mess. The next day whilst idly browsing instagram stories, I spotted someone's kitchen shelves which were organised to the hilt and she had a little tray of squeezy bottles for her sauces. Lightbulb moment and frantic googling for squeezy sauce bottles commenced.

I did find some on that famous place that begins with A that no one wants to give their money too as the big boss man has already made too many billions to comprehend but as I'm not going out anywhere at the moment to look for squeezy sauce bottles, I ordered myself a little set. Please don't judge me, however ... you can get them cheaper from Ikea as and when it opens again and I'm sure there are a lot of other places which have them if you have the patience and tenacity to seek them out. You might not even want any but they are quite useful for squirting oil accurately where you want it and they make you feel a little "Mastercheffy".

Friday Five (4 of 5) Suckered

Ding! 20% off at COS if you're signed up as a subscriber. Well I'm signed up as a subscriber and it is one of my favourite places to browse. I don't fit in a lot of their stuff admittedly (and thankfully) and a lot of their shapes are just a little too exaggerated on someone of my proportions but there is the odd nice little piece which I pick up from season to season. The blue top and the balloon joggers caught my eye. When I see stuff like that, I like to put them in a collage with stuff that I have similar in my wardrobe to see how it's all going to work together. Some people have a massive trying on fest, I knock up collages. It's like the 2021 version of paper dolls.

The CoS Windbreaker top, I just love the sporty shape of it and teamed with dark denim which I already have, I think it cuts quite a sharp silhouette.

The little bags - I'm forever looking at either great big huge totes or teeny weeny small bum bags, the latter of which I love for housing gloves, phone and poo bags on my daily dog walks.

And I'm liking the new shape 327 New Balance which is quite different from their previous styles. I missed out on the the 327 Staud collaboration with New Balance (I still search in vain) but that pair up there is a nice alternative - clean and crisp.

I have to say, I've been pretty impressed with the padded coats from Reserved. I have the longer version of that cropped green one up there and when my friend saw me in it, she said "Where's that from?" so I take that as I chose a nice looking coat. The proportions of mine are good for a smaller person and it doesn't overwhelm but I'm pretty sure the cropped version would work similarly. I just like having my bum covered.

And the balloon joggers. I have resisted joggers all through lockdown. But these could be the ones to turn me.

Friday Five (5 of 5) Cuppa Tea Time

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Last Note :

• I also find sellotaping a bit of kitchen roll round the sides of an oil bottle helps to catch drips and stops you having to handle a greasy oil bottle. It works though it's not pretty.

• Weekly weigh in. This is like going to Slimming World but I don't have to pay for not having reached my target yet. Down a lb.