1. How old are you in five years? 37, almost 38… oh christ :/
2. Who did you spend at least two hours with today? My two sons and my husband Matt. We made pizza and watched Star Wars ♥
3. How tall are you? 5 feet 6.5 inches
4. What is the last movie you saw? Star Wars obviously. Previous to that it was Overboard, a really old romantic comedy with a Randy Newman theme tune. Epic 80′s
5. Who called you last? Matt. I missed the call. I miss a lot of calls
6. Who did you call last? My Mum, asking her to babysit. She said yes #winning
7. What was the last text message you received? My Mum “You rang. Out doing lotto. What’s up?” She has only recently learned to text so this amazed me
8. Do you prefer calling or texting? I prefer to call, but short calls and to the point
9. Are your parents married or divorced? Divorced. About 16 years ago
10. When did you last see your mother? Last week. We walked the dogs together and drank lots of tea
11. What color eyes do you have? Hazel
12. When did you wake up today? 6.45am via alarm. I actually got up out of bed about 7.10…
13. What is your favorite Christmas song? Dominic the Italian Donkey. I wish it wasn’t but it is
14. What is your favorite place? Anywhere near the sea. Must be the Pisces in me
15. What place do you prefer the least? Cork. Ex-boyf. Bad experience
16. Where do you think you will find yourself in ten years? Traveling around Europe with my husband and possibly the teenagers (scary thought)
17. What scared you about the night as a child? The thought that I might not make it over to sleep before my parents started “doing it” next door. They may have divorced but they definitely fancied each other *cringe*
18. What made you really laugh last? Gosh too hard to pinpoint just one thing. I am BIG into laughing
19. How big is your bed? Double with a king size quilt. Matt and I are spooners so a bigger bed is unnecessary
20. Do you have desktop or laptop computer? Both but I use my MacBook Pro 15″ most of the time. It has a faulty hinge as I am VERY hard on my computers
21. Do you sleep with or without clothes on you? Mostly with. I don’t have a preference but I do live in the UK and it’s cold so clothing makes for a more comfortable Zzzzz
22. How many pillows do you have in bed? Four, two each
23. How many provinces have you lived in? Quite a few. I was fairly nomadic as a teen and in my twenties, hopefully settled now
24. Which cities have you lived in? Belfast, London & Reading
25. Do you prefer shoes, socks or bare feet? Socks or tights. Rarely barefoot as I cannot stand cold feet, actually feet turn me quite a bit so it helps if they are covered
26. Are you social? Less so since having children but in general yes
27. What is your favorite ice cream? Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough
28. What is your favorite dessert? Rhubarb Crumble
29. Do you like Chinese food? I do, favourite dish would be honey chilli chicken and noodles
30. Do you like coffee? Only in the past year, and now I’m addicted :S
31. What do you have for breakfast? Lots, full cooked/ egg and soldiers/ weetabix and soya/ yoghurt and fruit
32. Do you sleep on a particular side? Left hand side of the bed and on my back. I snore
33. Can you play poker? Yes and 21′s
34. Do you like to cuddle / snuggle? So much, I am extremely tactile with my husband and children. Which always surprises me as I’m not like that with my parents or friends
35. Are you a dependent person? I am. I like sharing my life with a significant other and although I can and have lived alone I think life is more fun as a pair
36. Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you? Jessica Biel. Apparently all the sexy ladies are born then
37. Do you have children? Yes 2 of my own and 2 step-children. I’m extremely blessed
38. Do you know any other languages than English? yes, I can converse in basic French
39. Have you ever driven an ambulance? No but I’ve been driven IN one
40. Do you prefer the ocean or a pool? Definitely the ocean. It’s hypnotic to me
41. What do you spend any money on? Boots, books and too much off eBay
42. Do you have precious jewellery? Lots and one of my new years resolutions is to wear it all more. One life people. NOT a dress rehearsal
43. What are your favorite shows on TV? I love Californication, Masterchef, Biggest Loser, Eastenders. I’m a big telly fan
44. Can you roll your tongue? I can. I can also curl it into a cauliflower shape #talented
45. Who is the funniest person you know? My brother. He has a very dry wicked sense of humour
46. Do you sleep with stuffed animals? Under no circumstances and I am suspicious of adults that do this
47. What is your ringtone? Standard ring ring. I’m always scundered for people with song ringtones
48. Do you still have clothes from when you were little? Personally no, but I think my Mum might have some stuff
49. What are you closest to you right now that is red? My MacBook Cover. It’s by Speck
50. Do you flirt much? Not that I’m aware of. In fact I’d hazard a guess I come across as quite cold & unfriendly until you know me
51. Can you change the oil on the car? No. I have no desire to either. That’s what mechanics are for
52. Have you received speeding ticket ever? Yes and 3 penalty points #badgirl
53. What was the last book you read? I got this – Jennifer Hudson. It made me dislike her. Dare I say that she doesn’t come across as the sharpest tool in the box when reading it…
54. Do you read a newspaper? The Daily Mail. It’s an atrocious rag but I love it
55. Subscribe to a magazine? No. In fact that’s one addiction I have well and truly kicked. I rarely buy magazines anymore
56. Are you dancing in the car? Not right this second but I am a car dancer and I do like to belt out a good show tune while picking up my penalty points…
57. Which radio station did you listen to you last? Radio 1. I remember because it was Fearne Cotton presenting and I like her accent
58. What was the last thing you scribbled down on paper? My signature. Cheque to the taxman. Bastard
59. When were you at church last? A looooong time ago. Actually is was a chapel for a friend’s wedding. They make me uncomfortable
60. Are you happy? In my heart, yes. In my head, not always xo

Inspired by Emma’s post. See her answers here

Now that we have moved and unpacked (most) boxes my mind can turn to making this house a home. Although detached our house is quite modest and therefore storage is limited. I’m constantly on the look out for nice boxes, shelving and space-savers.

This metal wall hanging is from NEXT and although this particular design is past season they currently do a shabby chic version for £12 here

I have a massive jewellery box for all my good pieces but I was really desperate to find something to house those “every-day” pieces. The ones that aren’t worth putting away but inevitably end up strewn across your dressing or beside table.

This fits the bill. It’s also useful for holding hairbands. The only negative is that it’s not designed to hold ALL of your jewellery. Definitely best suited to necklaces, but that suits me fine, as they are the ones that get tangled on me. I think it makes a really nice addition to the wall in our bedroom too, almost like art…

I also just HAD to show you this great TK Maxx find. I’m the type of person that finds one piece they like and builds the style of their room around it. THIS is my veranda inspiration. At the moment the veranda is dull and dusty, but come spring I hope to find even more weird and wonderful shaped Moroccan lanterns, large jeweled throws for the outside sofa and a huge brightly coloured rug and cushions ♥

Finally I would like to give a huge virtual hug to the lovely Georgia of On My Mind (formerly WelshBeautyBlog). Thanks to her general loveliness I have had a visit from the Fairy Hobmother of AppliancesOnline and will shortly be the proud owner of a crepe maker Woo Hoo!!

I know that the Fairy Hobmother has been granting quite a few wishes around the blogosphere lately, so watch out! Next time, it could be you! xo

Wearing my festive jumper/ sweater dress. It would be indecently short on me as a dress so I pair it with lace trimmed cycling shorts from Topshop, dotty Primark tights and sparkly Zara shoes (purchased on my Summer holiday).

Dinner was at my Mum’s house and as usual she outdid herself with the fabulous table decoration. My Mum and I are very similar, in that we are drawn to the more bright and childish Christmas ware. If it doesn’t feature a Santa/ Snowman or Ruldolph then it doesn’t say Christmas to us!

Noah (6) sharing his seat with two of his new friends, Bruno the Dog (Build-A-Bear) and Mosh & Chat Katsuma. Well done Santa

Dinner was particularly tasty. I rarely have seconds (unless it’s the Chinese Buffet… then I have seconds, thirds and fourths…) but I couldn’t get enough of the turkey this year. Scrummy!

My mother (60) and Izaak (10). Pray to goodness that I’ve inherited her ageing genes. I think she looks fab!

One looking at the lens… other looking at the display screen #fail but YAY for matching Christmas jumpers!!!

My brother even made dinner this year which was great. Fingers crossed 2012 is a good one for him cos 2011 has been pretty sucky tbh

ATTACK!!!!

…..until an impatient Izaak can track Santa again

All in all Christmas was everything I could have hoped for and more. Hope yours was enjoyable too xo

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

NOW on to the Sales. I really didn’t buy much this year. Well…. definitely a lot less than previous years but still probably too much *shrugs*

First up is this light from NEXT. I think this is my top sale bargain as it was just £20 and will look amazing in our dining room. WIN!

Then these mid heel leopard booties from M&S for £15. Ridiculously comfortable and I totally fell for the little ruching detail.

Also this colour block scarf from M&S reduced to £12 from I believe £29 (say whaaaaat?!). I live by the sea and you can NEVER have too many scarves, hats and gloves. Also my beloved multi-coloured one from Tesco is starting to look a bit shabby so this is a nice replacement.

That’s it for now, I’m waiting on a few online purchases arriving but nothing too mind-blowing.

What’s been your pick of the sales? xo

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Howdy folks!

Hope you’re all having a lovely Christmas build up. So far my week has been tops! Lot’s of yummy treats, family time and last night Love Actually & Pork Scratchings! (a must watch film at Christmas time). My heart is literally full to bursting with love and happiness and I am super dooper thankful for everyone and everything I have been blessed with in my life!

Of course, I realise that not everyone will be feeling this way coming up to the festive period and that it can in fact be a very bleak time of year for some. With that in mind I would urge you (if you have the means) to give a little to a charity.

CRISIS is one close to my heart and you can donate to their appeal here. Your simple donation will mean a lovely warm Christmas meal and chance for a shower/ shave/ haircut etc. Things that most of us take for granted.

 
 
 
If you are local you might also consider donating to Assisi Animal Sanctuary who do fantastic, tireless work rescuing our furry friends without any funding other than what you and I give. They operate a no-kill policy (last year rescuing 2,300 animals) and as you can imagine until each animal is rehomed the costs are significant. You can donate here or just head to Pets At Home in Bangor and buy something for the animals. The lovely staff there will sticker your purchase and everything gets delivered direct to Assisi in time for Christmas!

There are literally hundreds of worthy charities I could list but I’m sure you’re all well aware of who and what you can donate to. Stop thinking of doing it and actually DO IT!! xo

Dress – H&M £14.99

Boots – Topshop Ambush £75

Coat – TU Clothing @ Sainsbury’s Sale £17.50
Scarf – Florence & Fred @ Tesco £8
Lipstick – Studio Make-up Really Red

Necklace – Urban Outfitters Sale (donkeys ago)

Well how are we all doing? I’ve finally moved (again….) and although there are still a mountain of boxes to unpack I’m trying to be upbeat. Not sure whether it’s a subconscious thing but this past week I have found myself dressing head to toe in black which perfectly matched my mood, well… barr Saturday night when I wore a red dress to an Xmas do *inserts grainy phone pic*

What is a very conscious realisation though, is that wearing bright colours makes me feel sunnier. So this is my excuse for dressing like a real life rainbow today, and I think it’s working. That smile almost reaches the eyes… no?

Loving

• Wrapping up for Winter. Hats, scarves and mittens. I adore them all and feel happiest when bundled up in all of these things walking the dogs on a windy evening ♥
• Statement necklaces – Think big & mutiple layers. They dress up the simplest of outfits with minimal effort
• Primark Super Cosy Tights – Loved these last year and once again they get a massive thumbs up from me. Who couldn’t adore fleece lined tights?! ‘MAZIN!
• Sweet Potatoes – Let me count the ways I can cook thee… Delicious, nutritious and ready in a flash!
• Getting up early – Say whaaaat? No but seriously. Hear me out. It’s 13 miles drive to the boy’s school and I like to leave around 8am to get there in plenty of time. This means I now rise at 6.45am (previously I got up around 8 as boy’s school was 2 minutes drive up the road). I don’t know why but it’s invigorating getting up earlier. Everything is less manic and more organised. I need that in my life

Not Loving

• H&M returns and general customer service. I had to hold for over 15 minutes just to ask for a Royal Mail return label. This should be included as standard with Northern Ireland deliveries as unlike the mainland we cannot ring the Hermes courier direct to book returns. Not impressed
• Unpacking – nuff said
• My hair – I’m not sure whether the water is different in County Down but it’s not been behaving itself at all this past week. Soooooo tempted to hack it all off again but chanting “persevere, persevere, persevere” whenever the dark thoughts come

xo

Let’s just get stuck right in shall we?

I am up to my eyeballs in life stuff at the minute and my current daily uniform consists of paint splattered jeggings and an equally decorative jumper. Wouldn’t make for the most dynamic outfit shots….

So I’m a little stressy (but in the productive way) and free time is sparse. This hasn’t stopped me indulging in some retail therapy tho, helps relive the tension dontcha know

Oxblood Pleather Shorts from Topshop £30. Gorgeous colour, really Xmassy and easy to wear with thick opaque tights and ankle boots. What’s not to love? Well, if you buy online the sizing. It’s atrocious. I would suggest the Size 14 if you are normally a UK Size 10-12. Anything smaller would imo be indecent (think arse cheeks hanging out to say hello).

New Look Mittens £5 ish pounds. Everyone comments on these. Pure 70′s and ultra cosy. On the downside they (along with any mitten) are of course deeply impractical. It’s like having a pair of flippers and I struggle to lift anything when wearing them. Cute tho

Versace for H&M Leggings £24.99. I couldn’t resist. In fact if money was no option I’d have bought lots from this collection. Not everyone’s cup of tea, granted, but isn’t that the beauty of fashion and life. We all like different things? Quality wise these are not your average Primarni style leggings. Very heavy glossy material and ridiculous flattering. WIN

Charity Shop Purchase and I could not have been more delighted when I clocked this. I have been after a decent vanity case for an age. The modern equivalents just don’t cut it size or quality wise. My ultimate aim is to reduce my (still frankly embarrassingly large) make-up collection to the point where it all fits in this. Rome wasn’t built in a day tho…

One of the rare days where I did actually wear real clobber and a visit to the hairdressers. Namely Hedonist Hair on Botanic (apologies if you do decide to click the link. Their website hurts the head and eyes. Trust me).

You clicked didn’t you? Matt had bought me 2 cuts and a 50% off colour deal through Living Social and I must admit that because of the price my expectations were low. However I was pleasantly surprised, the salon is quirky but cool and the stylist I had (I believe her name was Cathy) was bubbly and friendly. She also listened to me (massive thumbs up). I told her I was growing it out and simply wanted a tidy and a bit of shape to the back while the layers grow down. Now at this point what normally happens is the stylist nods and proceeds to “thin out” my hair and generally undo all my hard growing out work. She didn’t. Refreshingly she did EXACTLY as I asked. SUCCESS!!

Now on to what has been taking up almost all my days and nights. Decorating. Yes painting, papering and sanding shit. I’m doing it all and YES, I too wish it were more exciting. We are moving house this time next week and I still have an absolute mountain of work to do BUT I really feel like I’ve broke the back of it today. So YAY!!

This afternoon I completed our bedroom (carpet is coming on Thursday). I kept it pretty neutral. Cream walls and a simple floral paper behind the bed. That way I can put any duvet/ curtains with it.

In natural light (on a dismally dull day) it gives off an almost silvery hue

Under lamplight it takes on a lovely warm buttermilk colour ♥

Finally… if you’ve made it this far give yourself a little round of applause and feast your eyes on my sneak peek….. what’s in the box???

Find out this weekend

xo

I feel like I should be pulling a rabbit out a hat in this jacket.

Leopard Blouse – Primark £10
Pleather Trousers – H&M £14.99
Red Blazer – River Island Sale £25
Bag – H&M £14.99
Boots – Topshop Ambush £75
Necklace – Topshop £16
Earring/ Cuff – Topshop
Necklace – Topshop
Lipstick – MAC Russian Red

I actually drafted this outfit post late last night and planned to write up some text/ waffle today. But I’ve just had to have my Dad’s cat put to sleep (he’s currently in Arizona but aware) and I totally under-estimated how upset I would be about an animal that wasn’t my own. So please forgive me for the lack of craic in this post.

I’ll be back on form in the next one. Pinky swear xo

Loving:

• MAC Patina Eyeshadow on the lid with MAC Print blended into the Outer V – A wee buns killer combo!
• Topshop Neon Rose Cream Blush – Cute and flattering on my dry skin
• Barry M Wink Eyeliner – It’s still love. Lazy lovely liner
• My H&M Gilet – Wearing it everywhere other than bed!

Not Loving:

• L’Oreal True Match Foundation – Let me count the ways I loathe thee. Horrible smell, consistency, colour AND it broke me out like crazy
• The cold – Brrrrr! Nuff said
• My bank balance – YIKES!

xo

Stats: Mini Cooper (2007), Pepper Pack, Full Leather Interior, Hands Free (frankly it’s a bit sexy!)

My new Mini and I went for a wee burn around the back roads today. Our soundtrack was Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (cheers Dad!) and the mood was mellow. In fact I think we fell a little bit in love….. xo

Black Jeans – Topshop Jamie £40
Black Cardigan – H&M Basic £9.99
Navy Faux Fur Gilet – H&M £29.99
Boots – M&S (Past Season)
Brooch – Topshop Sale
XO Necklace – Farah Designs £8.00

Safe to say that I’m not looking my freshest at the minute. Could be something to do with the fact I am constantly in pain after my recent car accident. I don’t mean ouch sharp pain either. I mean constant ache, hurts to hold the weight of my own head pain. And sleeping? Well that’s been intermittent. When I can get comfy it’s fabulous but I’m afraid those times are few and far between *grumble*

I’ve also had one of those gurny weeks. For anyone that isn’t familiar with a good gurn it’s basically where you cry your eyes out. A lot. My poor little Mini was wrote off by the insurance company as the suspension damage was too great to warrant repair. I loved my car. I’m aware many can’t relate to that (most people I know for instance). But I did, I loved that car like a pet and saying goodbye to it was really hard. I know… I know, there are people with REAL problems but I feel how I feel and that’s allowed.

It’s all the more sore as I had 3 days to find a new car before the courtesy car had to be returned. I didn’t feel ready really but needs must and a new car I now have. I’m sure in time I’ll grow to appreciate it just as much.

Definitely time for a little positive, right?

I totally heart this H&M Gilet. £29.99 normally but I had a code (sorry now expired) and picked it up for £14.99. It is thee cosiest happy-making piece of clothing ever. It even has pockets and we all know how much I love a good pocket! I love the colour too, tones of black, brown and navy. Refreshingly different to faux furs that do the rounds every Winter. You need this one in your life! xo

Leather Jacket – Michael Kors via TK Maxx
Lace Trim Vest (Just seen) – Only Hearts
Camel Stripe Cardy (Just seen) – Zara Basic (Past Season)
Bodycon Skirt – H&M £3.99
Footless Tights – Primark Super Cosy
Boots – Topshop Ambush £75
Scarf – Tesco £8

Today’s outfit is ALL about the scarf. The OH-SO-AMAZEBALLS scarf. Can you tell I love it?

I first spotted it in the promo pics dotted around my local Tesco branch. However every rummage in their accessories section proved fruitless. They never seemed to stock the scarf. Major suckage.

Thankfully it was in stock online (although the internet pictures are awful) and I avoided my pet peeve of postage charges by having it sent to my local branch. A very painless process which I can highly recommend! The scarf itself is soooo super cosy and extremely well timed as the temperature has taken a major nose dive here. It’s also only £8 and nowadays I feel that really is a bargain for something so cute.

So….. how was your weekend? Mine was good until about 10pm on Saturday night when a motorist FAILED TO SEE ME (SAY WAT?!) and ploughed into the side of my gorgeous Brum. Not a good experience. On the up side though, nobody was seriously hurt and they were properly insured.

I dropped Brum off to the garage this morning for repair. It’s going to take 6 days! Eek! Very glad I’m not on the receiving end of that bill!

xo

Pale Pink Lace Trimmed Tank – H&M £7.99

Black Basic Cardigan – H&M £9.99

Skinny Jeans – Topshop “Leigh” £38

Shoes – Topshop “Vectra” £28

Necklace – H&M £3.99

Pose – “Looking for dropped car keys” (very popular in the blogosphere right now…)

Will it EVER stop raining? Ugh.
I’m struggling. The weather has turned and the dark mornings and nights are creeping in. My gut instinct is to hibernate. Wake me up when global warming comes (j/k …don’t get your reusable bag in a twist)
The heavy rained soaked skies mean bad lighting in the house, I’ve been in brighter caves. My only option outside is this length of sheltered porch which just happens to face our neighbours. I’m sure they think I’m a loon but no I’m just one of those kerazy bloggers from the internets….

Bad weather also equals bad hair. Flat as a pancake…. Have I moaned enough yet? I think so, time for some positivity!

Dolly has arrived! If we’re Twitter buds (@dressjunkie) you’ll probably already know this.  She actually arrived just over a week ago. Was a bit of a surprise but a very welcome one

Teddy was wary at the start (see the video below, apologies in advance for my “babytalk”. It’s an illness where dogs and I are concerned) but the past few days he’s been sleeping beside her and generally loving her play and company. It’s very heartwarming to watch the friendship develop

Zzzz

WTF is that?!

I’m wearing slippers all the time and Vogue said it’s ok! Yup this was one trend I couldn’t WAIT to get on board with. If you’ve been thinking about buying a pair of these oh so trendy Topshop Vectra ones I can highly recommend. First pair of flats in an absolute age that haven’t given me blisters and were 100% comfy from the off. I’m a UK size 6.5-7 and went for the 7. Perfect fit, in fact “snug” so I would definitely size up if you’re a halfer

I’m unemployed again! Now on the face of it this probably seems like it should be a negative but trust me it’s not, I was covering a permanent employee’s maternity. I had my going away lunch yesterday (why does free food taste so damn good?) and it’s been a long time since I actually felt sad leaving a job. However I really did. I’ve made some excellent friends and I’m pretty sure they’ll remain friends for a long time to come. I also left on great terms with the boss. So much so that he offered me part time hours to stay on. Sadly they were all afternoons tho and it wouldn’t pay me to do them due to after-school childcare costs. C’est la vie! I won’t be looking for anything else this side of Christmas, I’ve a bit put away in the bank and I intend to do some of that hibernation I was talking about earlier, along with sewing projects, house decoration and AQE cheerleading. Oh and long rambling blog posts like this… It’s very exciting really!!

My brother is a lot better. He’s fighting an addiction and so I’m not naive, this might just be a passing ray of sunshine. But I believe in him, I love him and I have hope

Hope you’re all having a lovely weekend xo

Meggan and I took a road-trip to Lurgan this evening to pick out the newest addition to the Johnston household

Isn’t she a cutie?! She’s a Shih Tzu (Teddy is Bichon Frise x Shih Tzu) and as yet unnamed, so please feel free to post your suggestions below!

Edit: Granny came up trumps! Meet DOLLY everyone

We get to take her home in a fortnight and the timing couldn’t be more perfect as that’s when my current job finishes up. I can’t wait to get stuck into puppy training again and I just know that Teddy a.k.a dirty beard will ADORE having a playmate.

He’s currently working on his welcome….

xox

It’s been a bit of an emotionally draining week. My brother isn’t very well and there is a lot of weight of everyone’s (not least his) shoulders at the moment.

So I took a bit of time out yesterday morning and went to the hairdressers. Thinking about going lighter, how much lighter I’m not quite sure yet… but lighter and brighter.

I got some foils pulled through and an ickle trim. It’s a subtle change but I enjoyed being pampered for a few hours.

Best of all it only cost £34. I took a bit of a gamble and let one of Hair Traffic’s students at it, but I needn’t have worried. She was great and I’m pretty sure paying eighty odd quid elsewhere wouldn’t have got it done any better.

My comfy aztec style cardy is another Forever 21 purchase. It worked out at about £32 in our money, bit more than I’d have liked to pay but it is seriously cosy and thick, almost jacket like. In my mind that justifies the price (…..and why I also got it in the black and cream) and means it will get plenty of wear.

“What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul“

xo

Yesterday was pretty exciting (in my world anyway). Shopping was done and dreams were fulfilled… well of the watch variety at least….

Before I show you what I ended up with there is a very dull and uninteresting back story. Stay with me!

Below is the Michael Kors Rose Gold watch that I first purchased from House of Fraser back at the end of August. It wasn’t the exact one I was after but it was in stock and pretty darn gorgeous when on. Sadly once I got home and tried it on I noticed two quite deep scores on the watch bracelet. They weren’t superficial either and both were really straight. I folded and played about with the watch and that’s when I realised that the sharp edges on the sides of the face were scoring the bracelet everytime they came into contact. This wouldn’t have bothered me massively but the underneath was stainless steel, not rose, so this was mega noticeable. Bummer.

MK5314

So off I went, back to HoF were the sales staff were lovely and got me a brand new one. Same issue. Not just as noticeable but even they agreed. There is a definite design flaw on this model, so beware if you decide to purchase this one!

I got my refund and kept scouring the internet for the Rose Chronograph but it’s sold out everywhere and has been for months. One shop said he could get me it in time for Christmas. Christmas?! Gah.

So yesterday someone must have decided I deserved a bit of good luck. HoF were having one of their 20% off days and I decided to have a gander at what was on offer. I wasn’t even thinking about the watch and out of habit just had a little nose in the display…..

MK5128

And there it was. The elusive MK5128. The man must have thought I was a right looper as I declared rather loudly “I’ll take that one”. No try on, nothing LOL. The icing on the cake was the 20% off, it cost me just £159!

All those weeks ago (when I bought the original defective watch) I’d also purchased a rose gold bracelet from Folli Follie. This reminds me of my early teens. For some bizarre reason coffee bean pendants were all the rage. Maybe that was just at my school….

*Happy sigh* How nice do they look together!? I just adore chunky, heavy man size watches and I think the bracelet compliments it really well. A little rose gold necklace will complete the set.

Finally a Teddy update. He was at the vets again this week for an Xray and thankfully the pins in his leg are still in a brilliant position. So the future is bright! He was terribly sick after the anaesthetic though, and slept the day away. Bless him, he’s the best pet anyone could wish for!

The Fluffmeister!

xox

you overindulged at the weekend?

*raises both hands*

I love red wine. I love Indian food. Sadly my insides disagree.

Today I am STILL recovering after a fun Saturday night out. Bread and muchos water please!!

Outfit wise I had planned to wear a frock on Saturday night, but absolutely crazy weather put an end to that idea. I ended up heading out in straight leg jeans and a white blouse from Warehouse. Absolute bargain at £7.50! There is another 50% off their sale prices in store.

This was a bit out of my comfort zone, so I did spend a large proportion of the night pulling at it and feeling the need to smooth it down. However it was very comfortable and cool to wear so it’s definitely opened me up to the idea of a shirt and jeans as alternative going out attire.

Both necklaces are from River Island. I think my favourite high street jewellery comes from there. It’s always a bit different and the pieces I have already have lasted well, unlike Primark bits n pieces. I’d rather spend a few quid more and not worry about it falling off my neck halfway through a night

Shoes were another sale bargain from the fail that was Faith. £10 in the Debenhams outlet. I thought they were really cute but classy, and they even have a little cone kitten heel. I can see these getting a tonne of use!

Speaking of fashion I’m currently lemming a hacking jacket… you know the type. Fitted tweed with elbow patches? I’ve tried a few on in Zara but not been overly happy with the fit and at £79.99 I expect to be! Anyone seen anything similar? Link me up please

xo

What’s that you say? It’s Friday?
Holy crap.

I honestly don’t know where this week has gone. ……Sunday to Tuesday was spent in Dublin with Matt to celebrate our fantastical 2nd Wedding Anniversary, after that it’s all a bit vague. So vague I thought today was Thursday… which it clearly isn’t…

Ho hum

Friday it is! Perfect day for a little in and out

Loving

Lipsy Dress

This is the frock I wore for our Anniversary dinner. I bought it in the Topshop sale for £30. Really flattering wee number if you hold any weight around your middle/ hips like moi.

Sorry about the flash but the hotel room had “mood lighting” and this was the only way I could get the colours to show up.

The Farm Restaurant, Dublin

“Affordable, tasty and home sourced” With as much of the produce as possible being organic and free range.
I didn’t quite know what to expect, especially as we were going on a Sunday night but it really was a treat. The interior is modern but homely, with a very feminine feel. Little sparkly lampshades and floral wall mirrors.

The food was gorgeous, my steak was melt in the mouth good. Matt had the lamb and was similarly impressed. The dishes were uncomplicated and clean though. No overly fancy “jus” or seasoning. Just good Irish fare at a reasonable enough price. We’ll be back.

Tesco Pumps (not the petrol kind…)

I’m not a massive fan of flats due to the negative impact they inflict on my joints, but when I see a pair as nice as these for £10 I can’t resist. One pair of foot pillows later and they are comfortable as well as cute.

Treating myself

Ah you’re a long time dead. If I want something I tend to write it down on a desktop sticky. If I still want it a month or so down the line, I usually purchase. It’s a good system.

I’ve deleted 5 MAC lipsticks off one already this week. Turned out I really didn’t want any of them that much

One thing I have wanted for about 3 months though are the David Smallcomb cuff bracelets that Lorraine sells on her website. I went for 3 small silver and 3 small gold fill, and people they ARE small. I have really slim wrists (about the only part of me that is) and they fit me just perfect. If you regularly have to get 3-4 links taken out of any watch you buy then the small is for you, if not order the large.

I totally <3 them. Brilliant buy!

Clogs

I love the clog trend. I had a pair when I was younger and they were the easiest things to wear. 2010 clogs, not so much. Sky scraper heels and open toed numbers are all very well but lifestyle wise they just wouldn’t suit me.

I needed practical & comfortable and the hubby delivered. He treated me to them in Clarks of all places. Reduced to 40 euro. They have hardly been off my feet. Perfect heel height, spongy lining and look trendy to boot. I’m a happy camper!

This also requires an honourable mention, Compeed Anti-blister Stick. I could feel my clogs rubbing slightly on the side of my foot. One swipe of this (it’s like hard vaseline) and the issue was gone.
No more rubbing because the surfaces can’t get purchase on each other. Best invention evaaaar! I got mine at Superdrug. It was a few quid.

Mumford & Sons

How are they not Irish? To me they’re like a modern day Saw Doctors (sorry… I still love them too) and the whole album is a winner, real hairs on the arms stand up greatness. Get it and LOVE it!

Reading

I just love to read, but bad eyesight and a vain refusal to wear my glasses meant that lately I hadn’t done much of it. I had to finally admit defeat when I was struggling to read my computer screen and munching tension headache tablets like smarties.
So I stick my glasses on and lo and behold it’s like someone turned the world into focus. I’m such a twat.

Reading is no longer a tired squinting affair and I’m no longer considering shares with Nurofen.
I’ve just finished Skinny Bitch. It’s very clear that the authors have their own agenda in regards to animal rights however accepting the contents at face value this was an enjoyable read. Certainly not life altering though.

Not loving:

Spider Season
It can fuck right off. Creepy eight legged freaks that like to hang out in our bedroom. Ugh. Major hate.

John James
If you don’t watch the UK Big Brother my apologies. If you do I’ll take a high five on that. He’s a major twat. Please put JJ and Josie in some kind of one way space destined rocket.

Indecisive weather
Be sunny. Or don’t. Just PLEASE don’t do the sun and rain thing. It’s not big or clever, just friggin impossible to dress appropriately for.

LONG Delivery Times
11 week lead time on a sofa?! What are you doing exactly? Making the thing from scratch?….. Oh you are. Well anyway when I order from somewhere as main stream and lets face it cheap as DFS I expect that they have multiples of the same sofa lying atop each other in some big NI warehouse.

They don’t. It like really truly actually comes from Italy. My worlds on its head here
Floor down on August 10th… sofa arriving Halloween… #fail

Milk Men
Or maybe it’s just my Milk Man. He likes to deliver practically our whole weeks supply on one day. Not only is storing that a headache BUT clearly we aint paying for freshness here. Plus when I try to cancel him he ignores the “No more Milk please, just the final bill, thanks” notelet and leaves a further 2 pints of milk. I’m losing the will.

I WAS trying to be polite about canceling his services. However now I’m thinking a “Please bugger off” note is the only way to go.

And just for cuteness, the one and only Tedster doing what he does best. Winky flashing on our bed!

Over and out xo

I’ve got it all under control….

Oh yes, this week I’m in a “can do” mood. Terribly irritating for everyone around me but excellent for the Monica Geller that was in hibernation deep within.

This was the state of my shoe/ bag closet yesterday morning…

Shameful

I’d lost ALL control of storage. Too many shoes + not enough boxes= Shoe Chaos

Thankfully the postman delivered  these two life savers yesterday….

A fifty piece shoe rack and a “purse” or bag rack. Whatever floats your boat! I paid just over 70 of my own pounds including 4 of postage. However if you live in the mainland UK I believe the shipping is FREE. Win for you! (I’ll just sit over here and grumble about being an unrecognised part of the UK… grumble… grumble…)

I did a lot of research before settling on Tszuji. I did think it was slightly pricey until I started looking into getting something custom built. I soon realised that actually 70 odd quid was a bit of a bargain!

However reviews on the site were mediocre so again I wasn’t convinced that it wouldn’t just topple down under the weight of two pairs of platforms. This is part of the reason I opted for the chrome framed one rather than the many plastic ones they offer.

I was pleasantly surprised. Although the frame is basic it does screw tightly together “Ikea” stylie. It took me about 15 minutes from start to finish.

Voila! *Happy sigh*

The purse rack was more fiddly. It comes with a set bracket size (you can order bigger ones tho) which were unfortunately two narrow for my door width. I had to use the wall fixings supplied instead which I screwed to the closet doors.

I’m really happy with it, however bags with thicker handles may require use of two clips (each rack is supplied with 6). Also if you’re a designer bag freak and can’t bear the thought of your precious leather sitting against plastic hooks then this might not be for you. I’m not that bothered. I think most bags look better with a little wear…. and actual use…

Overall I’m delighted. It’s my little Aladdin’s Cave and I can’t wait to add to it. Next up is a search for the perfect costume jewellery organiser. I quite like this one at Swag Bag but £30 seems a little steep. Maybe I can make something like it myself….

xo

It’s a grey overcast day in Belfast, not cold… not hot… just a kinda meh temperature. The hardest kind to dress appropriately for.

I settled on a bandeau playsuit with a cardy over the top which meant that when I got too warm I could just whip it off and pop it in my bag. I had to do exactly that for the duration of my shopping in town. Cardigan FAIL.

Playsuit – Zara

Cardigan – Tesco

Flats – Primark

Bag – Mulberry

Vivienne Westwood Necklace and DIY Disc

Links Of London Charm Bracelet and mixed silver bangles from Miss Selfridge

Eye make-up was a simple lilac wash of shadow using NARS Night Rider, blended out with a smidgen of MAC Stars n Rockets. Lilac Liner from Gosh and L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara. Lilac tones bring out the green in my eyes like no other colour <3

Shopping was very uneventful. 3 hours later I was home with 1 bottle of brush cleanser. That’s the way it goes sometimes. At least my purse is smiling.

xo

I had the wantsies for a Sydney Evan Disc Necklace as worn by the lovely Lorraine Stanick but what I didn’t have the wantsies for was parting with $1020 to get it. Eeek!

I searched everywhere for a cheap dupe online, but I just couldn’t find one that was big enough/ sparkly enough/ dirt cheap enough.

So I set about fashioning my own.

I took one pair of drop disc earrings from the current Oasis Sale £4

These were good because they had a fixed eyelet already soldered to the top of them, meaning adding a chain would be wee buns (easy peasy)!
I just used a pair of pliers to detach the bar from the disc. Then took an old unused necklace and fed it through.

Voila!

I think it’s really classy, although I would like a finer open link chain but that’ll be easy enough to pick up for a few quid in Accessorize or the like. Most importantly it has satisfied my want. When I get bored of it I won’t feel guilty tossing it. Especially for £4.

My top is from Tesco, I think it was around £12. Just really loved the slogan and print

Not much planned for today, we have all 4 kids all weekend so that should be …….. fun?

I also have a tonne of housework to catch up on. Thankfully Noah has decided all things cleaning related are AMAZING!?! So I have a little helper today!

That's my boy!

Mr Mop

You could eat your dinner off it!

Have a good weekend whatever you get up to, and much love to all you kind and wonderful people. You know who you are

xo