Hooray Hooray, It's a Holi ... Holi ... Day!
Sunday, 4 September 2016
Well, you know how people do these lovely packing posts with pics of their holiday wardrobes all nicely laid out? An itsy bitsy bikini here, a pair of rinky dink shorts there? Mine was nothing like that. I did a staycation. I went to Wales a couple of weeks ago for a staycation which is no bad thing but one thing is obvious. No itsy bitsy bikinis and rinky dink shorts required.
Let's just say, I may not have looked that exciting fashion wise but I am what I am and at least I was comfortable and prepared. I took wellies and a walking jacket. I took trainers and I took jumpers and cardigans. I took things for layering but I also took things which I didn't get to wear. And I shared my suitcase with the hubs. #aarghghgh
So what did I wear?
Day 1. Forecast - Wet.
It bucketed down. In fact it major bucketed it down. Anyway, that's me at the Menai Bridge seafood festival. Oh boy was I glad I packed my wellies and my walking jacket. I've had over 10 years of service from that walking jacket and it accompanies me on nearly every little trip I make in the UK. Underneath, I had a Zoe Karssen sweatshirt which I picked up a few weeks back.
It bucketed down. In fact it major bucketed it down. Anyway, that's me at the Menai Bridge seafood festival. Oh boy was I glad I packed my wellies and my walking jacket. I've had over 10 years of service from that walking jacket and it accompanies me on nearly every little trip I make in the UK. Underneath, I had a Zoe Karssen sweatshirt which I picked up a few weeks back.
Sprayway Walking Jacket (old)
Jack Wills Jeans (old)
Puma Rucksack (George's)
Zoe Karssen Sweatshirt (seen below. Grey version available here)
I popped my head in to A Space Like This and met Mandy the owner who gave me the loveliest greeting as she recognised me from the blog and IG. She was so lovely, she even took her shoes off to have her photo taken with me so she wouldn't tower over me and hugged me though I was wet through. Did I say she was lovely? I did. But I'll say it again. She's lovely! :)
The loveliest friendliest Welsh lady I have ever met :)
Lovely things.
Mandy is currently doing up her home and you can follow her via her IG here to see what she's getting up to if you like a bit of interiors inspo. And can I say, this lady likes her fashion too!
Day 2. Forecast. Dry in the Morning. Rain in the Afternoon
I chanced it with my favourite Topshop cotton parka today and we got lucky with the weather in that it didn't rain when we popped to Port Meirion. I'm wearing old favourites here because sometimes you've just got to be comfortable.
Topshop Parka (old but similar here)
Zara Blouse (old but similar here)
Uniqlo Grey Cashmere Cardigan (old but similar here)
Jack Wills Jeans (old)
It did rain later however when we had to do the half hour walk back to the car from the pub. #shouldhaveknownitwouldntlast
Gotta laugh!
Or else you'll cry!
Day 3. Forecast. Rain in the Morning. Possible Sun in the Afternoon
Can I just say, the pic below was taken in the afternoon and not in the morning when I was walking around in torrential rain on Llandudno pier. You'd never have guessed though would you? It was so bad, I even went to buy plastic ponchos for my boys. Yes really.
That's me nursing a big cup of Earl Grey to get me through the trauma of all the rain. Because a cuppa makes everything better right? And yes I feel the cold more than most and yes I'm wearing cashmere in August but sometimes the mornings are a little chillier and even when I've been abroad before to warmer climes, I always take a piece of cashmere with me. The Wrap London cashmere jumper is a new addition to the wardrobe and a perfect throw on piece. Styled like a sweatshirt in my favourite grey, it's a winner and slots beautifully in to my ever so casual wardrobe. You will probably see me in this lots.
Sprayway Jacket (old)
Zara Jeans (old)
Billy the Dog (not available for purchase)
Day 4. Sunshine!
Guess what? There was da da dah! Sunshine! All day! This was the day my boys trekked up Snowdon with their dad and friends and I stayed down below. Yes I am a total wuss when it comes to walking up hills. I can pound pavements (with a few clothes shops thrown in) till the cows come home but give me a hill - no can do! But I did start with the intention of walking up Snowdon hence the fact I had to borrow some trainer socks from my boys.
Uniqlo Grey Cashmere Cardigan (old but similar here)
H&M Blue shirt (old but similar here)
Primark Jeans (in store)
H&M Sunglasses (old)
And I want to give a shout out to my eldest boy for getting to the top of Snowdon with his dad. And that's no easy feat because I know the hubs will have set off at a cracking pace and Ben will have had to keep up (infact I've cried before up mountains and enquired about Mountain Rescue when I've been walking with the hubs which is probably why I no longer do it).
He was so chuffed! And he's got the hat to prove it.
And my other little man got halfway. Which is halfway more than his mum. That's him down below at Pete's Eats which is a must after a stonking walk.
Scissors, paper, rock.
And to spice it up a bit, we're going to start adding dynamite in too.
Day 5. Sunshine Glorious Sunshine
Today was like "the future's so bright, you gotta wear shades". So I did. And the Cecilie Copenhagen top is perfect for a day like this - just enough coverage if you're anything like me and you don't actually want to tan as I go a mucky colour. Not golden. Just mucky.
Primark Jeans (instore)
Adidas Stan Smith
H&M Sunglasses
And it blazed it down to the point I even managed to get tan marks on my feet after going crabbing with the boys. Two hours on Beau Maris pier and I've got the Arizona Birkenstock tan lines to prove it!
Tan Lines. Big sigh.
Day 6. Cloudy but Warm.
Good day for a little mini hike. I didn't realise that there was a little bit of hiking/effort required so my grey cashmere cardigan was on and off today depending on how much effort I put in. I seemed to do a lot of sitting on things today.
Found a rock. Sat on it.
Found a bench. Sat on it.
Uniqlo Grey Cashmere Cardigan (old but similar here)
Primark Star Print Camisole (instore)
Zara Jeans (old)
And I've bought a few of these little £4 camisoles from Primark this summer. I'm not a great one for anything which hugs the spare tyre these days so these are perfect as they are light and skim the body, easy to pack and don't really crease. So you can take a gazillion of these on holiday with you with them hardly taking up any room. The ones I've picked out have also been pretty well made and give any of the more expensive ones a run for their money. All for £4.
Can I just say, Aber Falls is a lovely place for a mini walk with the kids. The gradient is also manageable rather than torturous. Can you tell I am such a wussy walker?
Day 7. Overcast but warmish.
And on the last day, there was no rain, a bit of sunshine but generally a little overcast. Someone get me a job as a weather girl.
Anyway, found a wall and leant against it.
Found another rock and sat on that.
Uniqlo Grey Tee
Zara Jeans
Monsoon Jacket (not available)
That cute little Monsoon jacket was something I picked up by chance. I was rather inspired by Gemma on the MotherShoppers blog with her little Zara jacket and was delighted to find the Monsoon one just in passing. It's proving to be a useful little throw on number now that I'm back home.
So that was that - my holiday wardrobe day by day. Not wildly exciting but hey that's me and I am comfort led more than anything. Maybe in my youth I might have tried a little harder but these days, I just want a good pair of trainers which take me from A to B and don't hurt me.
Amen.
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Summary
So what can I can say about my holiday wardrobe after all that.
- I lived in wellies, Stans and Birks. These three pairs saw me through everything for the kind of holiday I was having.
- The rain coat is king.
- Light layers are always good. I packed light tops, camisoles and a grey tee which were interchangeable.
- For warmth, I relied on a cashmere cardigan and cashmere jumper. Both grey.
- I took my cross body Village England Cranleigh bag as this was a good size and seemed to work with most of the wardrobe. I also packed some of my clothes in a few canvas tote bags so I could use these if I wanted a bigger bag or fancied a change.
- I didn't wear my espadrilles and lighter sandals which I packed - I was out all day and there was too much walking and I needed more support on cobbly sandy gravelly surfaces.
- I didn't wear the denim dress I took with me. Jeans were just easier for me.
- Talking of jeans. I lived in the Primark black jeans and the Zara blue jeans as they were stretchy and I ate a lot.
- I took one dressier top which I was too lazy to change in to - sometimes that's just how I roll.
- Hubs said I overpacked. I say I pitched it just right with options :P
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Last Note :
- Special shout out to George's Godmother who was on holiday with us who helped me with a lot of my pics. Thank you Aggie! Where's our next holiday?
* Maya Cashmere Jumper c/o Wrap London
Easy Peasy Pudding
Monday, 29 August 2016
I ate a lot last week. I actually ate a bit too much but I guess that's what you do on your jollies. So obviously feeling like a poisoned pup, I started looking at slightly healthier options. And I found a really easy peasy recipe for quick banana and raspberry ice cream in one of the Saturday supplements. In my words :
You need : 3 bananas and a good handful of frozen raspberries.
- Chop the bananas into pieces and pop them in the freezer for 45 minutes so they are hard but not frozen.
- Take the frozen banana and frozen raspberries and pop them in to a food processor.
- Whiz to the consistency of ice cream.
Done :)
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Last Note :
- It's basically a frozen smoothie ;)
- My boys gave it a big thumbs up and asked for more.
- It's healthy. Apart from the Hobnob.
Practical to the End
Thursday, 18 August 2016
"Let's go to the pub and just have a catch up before we all go on our jollies!" was the message from a fellow school mum.
And so not the usual going out gear one would expect, but this, I thought was perfectly acceptable for a night out at the local for a pub quiz.
Whistles Dress (old) but this is a good alternative
Uniqlo cashmere cardigan (old) but this H&M one looks nice too.
Converse
This is me putting on my practical head which was, it might be cold if we end up sitting outside so I need a cardigan and I'll probably be stumbling back home in the late hours so I will need to wear flats. And I need a handsfree bag incase I need to fight off any dangerous souls. Got to cover all my bases! Anyway, the green dress is my old Whistles one which has made an appearance on my blog a few times before but it's a good summer dress and it earns it's keep. The hubs said "nice dress" to me before I went out. "It's see through".
The little bag is new on the scene and I couldn't resist it because of the sporty webbing strap. It's quite a useful size - not too small with two compartments and actually fits my mahoosive purse in which is a miracle in itself. Best bit. £14.99 :))
Anyway, we didn't win the pub quiz but we did manage to get a packet of free pork scratchings for a correct answer on a quick fire round!
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Last Note :
- H&M also have this one with a similar styled strap which I think would be great coming up to winter and if you fancy a more urban vibe to it.
When Your Wishes Come True .....
Thursday, 11 August 2016
..... and that Gap discount code for full priced items comes through ... so this can wing it's way to me!
And as seen on the model :
And you know how I was saying how I haven't really looked in Gap recently - well it gave me a chance to peruse the site and there are actually a few little goodies to be nabbed on there.
I may have slipped in a pair of these in the order (time will tell whether these work out in real life or not for me). I like the look of the Topshop ones but the colours are not for me. Navy on blue denim however are always a winner in my books. I'm not going too far out of my comfort zone with these. I felt I was pushing the boat out when I did patchwork jeans but they have been a surprising hit with me and they always seem to get a lot of love when I wear them. Not bad for a DIY job. Anyway, I'm picturing these embroidered jeans with grey cashmere coming in to autumn - it pays to think ahead. I have to say, I spotted these on a lady (Sarah) on a Facebook site and thought immediately "those are the ones!".
And I didn't go too overboard with the ordering but I hear there's a heatwave coming and this playsuit (they call it a romper but I prefer playsuit) looked good as it has the all important arm coverage for me, a drawstring waist (not elasticated) and it's black. Non offensive easy to wear black. And it's £11.99.
The thing is, even if there is a discount code, or a sale, you still need to bear in mind if it's going to work in your wardrobe and whether you will actually wear something. So I have had to pass up on this beauty :
... which I keep seeing looking fabulous on Michelle and I know will be coming out year after year after year :
..... purely on the grounds that I don't like getting my arms out. And I would always have to wear it with a cardi. #sadface
And that gap code? It's EMAILGAP I'm not sure if it works if you're not on the mailing list but if not, get yourself signed up!
The Random Shopping Post
Thursday, 4 August 2016
Today I had kill some time shopping whilst waiting for the car to be serviced and this is what floated my boat. Do take note of the title of this post - it is random.
First stop Zara.
I was quite happy to see this in store as I had spotted it online and thought it was worth checking out. This is new season stock and it is very pretty in real life but not particularly long in the body and that's coming from me, short thing that I am. This is a cotton viscose mix and I'm wearing a size medium for reference and I am a size 10. This is best worn with higher waisted jeans but would look cute with a denim mini or shorts too
Then I popped in to Monsoon because I had spotted Frances's jacket was in the Monsoon sale and it's now half price! Sold out online but there were plenty in store when I went in.
Monsoon Aliki Jacket sold out on Monsoon site but available here
This is a very lightweight jacket - almost like a blouse really so it's perfect for balmy summer evenings with a cami underneath. I may have brought this home with me :) as it's such a flattering cut. Some things you put on and you feel good immediately. This is one of those things.
I had a nosey in Gap too. I don't often venture in to Gap these days and I'm not sure why. I like basic things, they do basic things and yet somehow it doesn't seem to float my boat. But then I spotted this little number.
This is lovely. They didn't have it in store the other day in my size when I first spotted it but they did today. However, the other day, they had a 30% off full price items and today they didn't. Sod's Law. I think I'm going to hang on for another code unless anyone knows of one now to put me out of misery so I can bag this right now. Yes it's lovely and it's also very soft and comfortable. I'm wearing a size small here in the regular size and they also do it in a petite for the small ladies online. Oh yes, one thing to note - it doesn't strangle me around the neck which is my usual criticism of these blouses. #bonus
I nipped in to M&S too. Sometimes they have some little gems. Today they had this little gem!
I'm always looking at shirts and blouses with ruffles but I'm always looking for blouses and shirts which are not too ruffley. I don't want to look like Andy Pandy basically. The ruffle detail is just right for me on this one and it looks and even feels comfortable fastened up to the neck. Worn undone at the neck - it looks just as good. It's your prerogative. Oh yes, they also do this in lightweight tencel version here and I'm actually finding it difficult to decide between the two. One thing to mention, this is one of those M&S shirts which has those no peep buttons for those busty gals out there who need a little help in that department. I'm wearing a size 10 here and it's true to size.
Oh and I popped in to New Look too (the car service was supposed to take about three hours) and spotted the cutest kitsch clutch bags.
A little bit out there but I like them. I like them a lot actually. Sometimes you can't take fashion too seriously. If you could find a way to add some gold embroidery to the black one, you could turn it into a Charlotte Olympia kitty :)
And to finish off ... I thought I'd try a dress. Yes, a dress! I've seen these "cold shoulder" dresses around and they come in a variety of guises. This is a good take on some of the popular ones found in Topshop which I love but don't fit me at all.
Primark Floral Cold Shoulder Dress
The one I've got on is from Primark. And it's £13. Yup. Not my usual thing but strangely appealing for some reason. Maybe it's the £13 price tag. Well, I brought it home with me and I can decide on that later. It's a midi length and has an elasticated waist with a tie belt. It seems to sit okay and doesn't need much readjustment which is always a winner. We shall hang it up for a few days and decide later ....
So I did say it was random but I did have a few hours to kill whilst I was waiting for the car. Turns out when I went to pick it up, the service button had been incorrectly set and activated and the car didn't need to be serviced for another 10,000 miles. So see you again in 10,000 miles when I might do another random shopping post :)
Sods Law
Tuesday, 2 August 2016
You buy an off the shoulder dress and what happens? The sun disappears. #sodslaw
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Last Note :
- The dress is quite comfortable around the shoulder area and stays in place reasonably well.
- It's true to size and has pockets. #good
- It doesn't seem to crease too much despite it being 100% viscose. #verygood
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