Day to Night

Friday was such a busy day for me but I was determined to keep in with my 21 day colour theme. My birth mam was coming down to stay at our house for the first time ever. The children didn't think twice to invite her for a sleepover and helpfully told her we have a spare room that my best friend from Belfast stays in when she visits....

Trousers - Matalan (sale), Vest - Matalan

Saturday morning was the time she would arrive, and given the state of the house after our flooded cupboards and 6 weeks of children being off school there was quite a bit of tidying up to do! I'd been invited out for my sister in law's birthday on Friday night, my eldest had her friend around for the afternoon and the hoover was attached to my hand all day. Does anyone else have to spend 2 days cleaning before guests or are you all domestic goddesses? I really need to organise myself better.

So the first pictures are very rare and probably never again will you see me without makeup, unless I have my sunglasses on ;o)
Roll on to Friday night.

Dress - Thrifted (unknown brand), Double ring - Primark, Bangles - Warehouse, Leather cuff - Primark

Time to let my hair down. Well I would have if I had any to let down. I'd planned to rummage amongst my summer frocks to try and get some final wear out of them but with one look out of the window to the clouds that had produced a crazy amount of rain all day long, autumn fashion was the way forward. I was secretly pleased, I always feel more glam in autumnal clothes.

Dress - Thrifted, Tights - Dorothy Perkins (sale), Boots - Dorothy Perkins

Loads of people commented on my dress, asking where I had got it from, "oh I can't remember, its been at the back of my wardrobe for agggggggges". Well OK, between you bloggers and I it was purchased in a charity shop 2 weeks ago! There are some people you can proudly tell about your thrifted purchases, but the crowd I was with on Friday night were not that type...
Sometimes it pays off to be different and stand out from the crowd. As I sat among the group of over done perma-tans it was my paleness that they were all cooing over and wishing they had skin like mine. One particular lady said "I would kill to have skin like yours" then started prattling on about how she ONLY has 6 minutes on a sunbed each day... A smile and nod and say nothing moment from me.

Here's my new toy! I've been after a DSLR for ages and could never afford one but my best friend was upgrading her camera and sold me a bargain. So far its never left the auto switch, I have no idea what I'm doing with it, and I cant even find the timer switch so my eldest is currently taking all of my blog photos. Shes enjoying being paparazzi though as the button has continuous shooting so its like a fashion show when she has it in her hands!

DSLR - Cheaper than usual off best friend, Double ring - Primark, Bangles - Warehouse, Leather cuff - Primark

Indigo!

Dress - New Look (sale), Necklace - Dorothy Perkins (sale)

I have 2 items in my wardrobe this colour and the dress that I chose to wear had been another item with the tags still attached from last year. I love the detail on the skirt part of this dress and as its a lot heavier due to the ruching I'm slightly more confident that it won't flip right up in the slightest breeze!

Something borrowed

So now my eldest is growing up at a super fast rate, it has its advantages. An extra wardrobe ;o)

Tshirt - Next (borrowed), Jeans - Next, Headband - Primark

She occasionally borrows a t-shirt or vest off me but now the roles have reversed. Desperately seeking something green (for my rainbow days...) I found the perfect top, managed to squeeze into it and think it might accidentally find a way into my wardrobe a bit more often lol.

Lurking at the back of the wardrobe...

So I've found a new way to investigate the items of my wardrobe and lure myself away from the usual items. I've been given a challenge (well it was a suggestion) as part of my Reiki course. Over the 21 days following my attunment each day represents a chakra clearing and to recognise this the teacher suggested carrying something in the colour, or wearing something in the colour of that chakra each day. Chakras are represented by the 7 colours of the rainbow. Ive tried keeping my blog posts in order but a few are mixed up. If I was more organised Id have liked to see the correct order.
Today is the throat chakra, colour blue/cyan. Well I hunted and hunted and finally found this top lurking at the back of my wardrobe. I bought it in the Next sale 3 years ago, in the teen section and have never worn it yet. Its beautiful and floaty, covered in tiny beads and a few sequins. I just removed the satin blue belt to update it slightly. During my shopping trip the lady on the till told me I looked striking and it was such an eye catching colour, made my day :o)

Top - Next (sale), Jeans - Next, Belt - New Look (came with trousers), Shoes - Barretts (thrifted)

Blog Faux Pas

Vest - M&S, Waistcoat - New Look, Maxi skirt - Primark, Floral headband - Primark, Bracelet - Dorothy Perkins.

That will teach me not to keep up to date with blog pictures and posts. I can honestly say I have not wore my denim waistcoat every single day!

So the sun began to shine once more today and I'm not totally convinced it will last, I decided to entice it with a bit of sunshine in my wardrobe. Amazing how chirpy yellow makes me feel, though I hope 'chirpie' does not compare me with a budgie too much!

I have a huge To Do list to battle though and a new camera sitting waiting for its first outing. So many techy functions to figure out and even my 'For Dummies' book is too techy for me. I think I'll just stick it onto auto for now. Well I'd best get the kids sorted and decide where to go for the day. How are you spending today?

Back to school....?

Well not quite school, but back in a learning environment again. I'd signed up for a Reiki course a couple of weeks ago and finally came the time to start learning. So armed with my book I set off to my 'Sensei's' home to begin my new journey into the world of Reiki. I was given this book, a large manual, a CD of relaxing music, cleansing spray and a large Amethyst crystal to help me with the work.
I don't have much to say on this as I'm very aware people fall into two categories, the interested who understand or would like to know more about it and the people who have no interest and basically think its a load of tosh. Each to their own, I'm not one to preach my views and I respect the views of others. Whether Reiki works I personally have to wait and see for myself, but I'll continue the practise and attend the groups and if all else fails I've met some new friends and interesting people along the way, which is always a bonus.

Dress - Topshop 'by Laura' (thrifted), Waistcoat - New Look, Leggings - Primark, Shoes - Primark, Cat - Lula!

New hair!

Dress - New Look, Shoes - Thrifted, Necklace - Grandma's original

Ok so its not technically new having had it cropped short for a few months now, but I decided to loose the assemetric sides and even it all out. Havent decided whether to keep it short or long, I'll just wait and see how I cope with it. Having waited 7 weeks since my last appointment its amazing how quick my hair actually grew and I spent the last 2 weeks mostly in hair scarfs or tied up in a million kirby grips.

Ive realised when Ive mentioned my drastic change in the past Ive never included a 'before' picture so Ill pop one on and show you the curls I said goodbye too.

I seem to look very strawberry blonde here, its just bad lighting, the colour hasn't changed much.

Getting things back on track

Well its been a little while since I last blogged and so much has happened! So please excuse a heavy picture post whilst I get up to date.

Dress - Asos, Waistcoat - Miss Selfridge, Head scarf - EBay

Started off by slipping into quite a dark place emotionally though I'm lucky to have such a fabulous best friend who could see it growing and booked herself on a flight from Belfast to here to basically give me a much needed kick up the ass and a hug too. She spent 4 days with us and luckily it fell at the same time as my eldest daughters birthday.

Dungarees - New Look, Vest - Primark, Headscarf - Primark

With my bestfriend Jaime.

The birthday was an 'eventful' day...

"Happy Birthday to you..."

Started off with 4 of us in the shower one after an other ready to go out for the day. Birthday gifts, cards, wrapping paper and grandparents filled the living room, unfortunately the 4 people's shower water also filled the toy cupboard, walk in shoe cupboard and the hallway downstairs! Frantic early morning call to Dad "the damp patch we had in the cupboard downstairs... well i think I know why...". Turned out the pipes were so old and badly joined together by the previous owners and a gradual slow leak suddenly took a turn for the worse when the pipe fell apart and the shower/sink ran right down our inner wall. Once Dad pulled the floor up and wall down, we also found an old central heating vent, filled 2ft deep with water! A neighbour told us many on the estate have had the same problem.

Meet our 'toy cupboard'

So a full house of people, a guest staying over, hyper kids wanting to go out for the day and shoes/coats/camping gear and more toys than Toys R Us filled our whole downstairs! My angel in disguise Daddy stayed to fix our leak whilst we went on to the fun fair at the seaside to enjoy my daughters birthday along with her best friend too.

Packed in many trips to National Trust places, trips to the park, cinema, cat sitting, put up with rainy days with bickering kids, even stumbled across a job vacancy for a Sunday (fingers crossed!) and booked my place on a training course in Reiki. Hardly any time to even think about what I wore let alone having time to photograph it. August life is moving swiftly but slowly looking up :o)

Dress - Topshop 'by Laura' (thrifted), Leggings - Primark, Jacket - New Look, Bag - Fiorelli

At one of many National Trust places

Butter wouldn't melt....

Ah, thats why I call her 'The Terror'

Busy times!

Hi everyone.
Had such a busy week. My best friend came to stay with us for 4 days, we've had a flood downstairs from the shower, and an emotional rollercoaster of a time too. Will be blogging again soon. Hope everyone is fine and well. xxx