Outfit: Shoeper Challenge 2012 #15 and a New Car!

I got a new car yesterday! I’m very excited about it! Long time readers of this blog will know I’ve had no end of problems in the past year or so with my car so I traded it in and am now the proud owner of a shiny new one (well, it’s 3 years old, but it’s new to me!). It is diesel rather than petrol which only caused a slight problem yesterday. I picked it up and it had below a quarter of a tank so I thought I’d better fill up. However, due to the numpties in the UK currently who are panic buying fuel (if you’ve not been following the UK news there might be a strike by tanker drivers at some point, but they’ve not even decided to go ahead yet, never mind decided when it will be, but people are stupid and have been panic buying anyway) all the garages near me had run out of diesel by 9pm last night. I went to get some today, and had to queue up for about 20 minutes.

So yes, that’s partially why last night was so busy. I went home, went to pick up my new car, went to Asda for contact lens solution (their petrol station was closed at 5pm as they were out of fuel), went to pick up the young man from the train station, dropped him off at home, went to church choir. By the time I got home about 9.15pm I was starving as I’d only had a bagel and two crumpets for my tea. I had a bowl of cereal and then headed to bed and watched the final part of Mary Portas’s series about British made knickers.

Tonight I need to do the Tesco shop (in my shiny new car!) and do a few bits around the house. Then I’m looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend.

Pair of shoes #15 is safe in the challenge. These are another pair that came courtesy of Sarenza (seriously, I think half my collection is from the Brand Ambassador programme now). They are a gorgeous soft ponyskin on the outside, with real leather on the lining and soles. The heels are there but low enough to be manageable, and I like the black patent detailing on the backs.

Green and navy stripe top – H&M
Navy tank (under) - River Island
Jeans – New Look
Leopard print shoes – Atelier Mercadal (c/o Sarenza)
Cream leather belt – gifted
Green beads – I Am..... boutique
Silver hoops – gifted
Silver cuff – M&S (free on 3 for 2 offer)

Total Est. Cost £39

Thursday Latelies (in Text Form)

Here's what I've been enjoying this week!

• The discovery that WW bagels and wraps are included under the definition of ‘calorie controlled bread’ on the filling and healthy list! – I love bagels but haven’t had one since before I started doing WW as the regular kind are 6 points a pop. I bought some WW ones this week and they were OK. Not quite as nice as the New York Bagel Company ones I used to buy, but for a no point substitute I’ll take them.

• Impromptu nights out – last night’s fish and chips was arranged on the spur of the moment on Tuesday evening and suddenly I had something to look forward to all day on Wednesday.

• Getting some early wear out of my spring/summer wardrobe – hands up UK if you’re enjoying the warm weather this week. Thought so! It’s been glorious here all week and we’re set for another day of it tomorrow as far as I can tell. Even then when it’s set to cool down there’s no sign of any rain.

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge 2012 #14 and Pattern Mixing Galore

Two lots of stripes, spots and stars in the same outfit? Don’t mind if I do! The good weather is set to continue today so out came another summer skirt and some good weather shoes (don’t want to wear predominantly white shoes in the rain). The mornings are still chilly though so the jacket and scarf were needed first thing.

Today looks set to be a busy one – I have some errands to run, need to pick up the young man from the train station later on, and then it’s choir practice at church tonight. I’d skip that, but we have a concert next week so I need to go to the practice really.

These are another c/o Sarenza pair of shoes. They’re by Georgia Rose who kindly makes her shoes in larger sizes. This style came in a whole host of colours but I do love me a red shoe, so picked the red and white version. I like the low heel as it’s different to many of the other shoes I own and they are a lovely quality of leather inside and out.

Navy and white stripe jacket – Next Tall
Navy and white stripe top – H&M
Red and white spot skirt – New Look Tall
Red and white shoes – Georgia Rose (c/o Sarenza)
Silver beads – George at Asda
Silver and diamante necklace – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted
Blue/black ring – charity shop
Navy scarf – Dorothy Perkins

Total Est. Cost £83

Shoeper Challenge 2012 #13

I didn’t manage to get outfit pictures last night (I’m sure you can imagine though, as I just switched out my skirt for super long bootcut jeans and changed my shoes). I did make sure to snap a picture of my shoes though because that’s the rules: no suds, no save no picture, no save.

These wedges were bought at Next last summer (or was it the summer before? I forget) and they are awesome. Super comfy and super high, just the way a shoe should be!

We went for fish and chips at a restaurant near my sister’s house last night. I went straight round to my sister’s last night after work and we sat in the garden, enjoying the sunshine.

Outfit: Brown, Black, Tan

Sometimes I get a song stuck in my head for no reason that I can fathom. Since about 9 o’clock last night I’ve had Let ‘Er Rip by the Dixie Chicks going around and around. I was singing it as I was preparing the packed lunches for today; I was singing it in the shower. And I woke up this morning to find it still stuck in my head. Often I’ll spend all day singing the last song I heard on the radio that morning but I’ve not listened to the Wide Open Spaces album since Sunday night. I like the Dixie Chicks and all, but it’s starting to drive me a little crazy! I need to listen to something else.

So last night I went to step class at the gym and then we called in on the young man’s parents to see their new washing machine (I know, we like to live life on the edge!). We got home and had an early-ish night watching Gypsy Weddings. I think it was the last one of the series – gutted!

Today I am meeting my sister after work, then the young man is coming over when he finishes work and we’re all going for fish and chips.

Bare legs for the first time today – we’re forecast highs of 21°C again. Yes, they really are that white; I’m not sure I can be bothered faffing with fake tan this year. No shoe save today but I brought my favourite summer shoes – my tan wedges – to wear later so I’ll try to remember to snap a picture and save those this afternoon.

Brown shrug – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Leopard tank – River Island
Tan and black skirt – Long Tall Sally
Black and tan shoes – LK Bennett (c/o Sarenza)
Brown and silver scarf – mall market stall
Wooden heart necklace – Scope
Wooden bangles – gifted
Silver and diamante necklace – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £66

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge 2012 #12 and Spring Trousers

These trousers are actually a slightly sandier colour than they look here, must be the flash. That’s the trouble with Daylight Savings – it’s dark on a morning again when I get up. The forecast is for highs of 21°C this afternoon so again, I layered up with a jacket (navy) and a scarf (leopard) this morning.

I had intended baking with the oat bran last night but when I consulted the recipe again it turned out I need natural yoghurt too, which I didn’t have, so I’ll get some of that today. Instead I washed my car and got all the ironing done, and then we watched a dramatic reconstruction of the sinking of the Titanic.

These shoes were bought on eBay and are my favourite brand: LK Bennett. They were a snip of the retail price – gotta love eBay for a bargain!

Tonight is step class at the gym.

Navy cardi – Next Tall
Navy top – H&M
Beige trousers – Topshop Tall
Leopard print peep toes – LK Bennett (eBay)
Leopard print scarf – H&M
Wooden cross necklace – Scope
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £89

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge 2012 #11 and Dressing for Warm and Cold Weather

After the fabulously warm and sunny weekend, the good weather looks set to continue most of this week. However, it was frosty this morning meaning some layering was required over my outfit which was planned for the warmer temperatures later on. I added my black jacket and black pashmina and was just about warm enough for scraping my car and driving to work. The sun is out so it should warm up nicely by dinnertime.

Today I need to buy some oat bran and chickpeas as I have a couple of WW-friendly dessert recipes I want to try out that should be practically points free on Filling and Healthy. I’ll let you know how I get on.

I also need to wash my car and do all that ironing of my summer clothes that I mentioned in my previous post. I have on one of the items that did get ironed yesterday, today. I got this skirt for all of about £2.99 in a charity shop a couple of months back. I am like a magpie for anything with stripes or spots in thrift shops so this jumped out immediately. It’s a size 10 so I wasn’t sure it would fit but for £2.99 I took a punt and it fits! I thought red and white stripes were more interesting than a plain white or black top.

The shoes are fairly old and came to me courtesy of NOW Discount Shoes. They are a fab colour though and fit really well. I’ve just had them re-heeled so intend to get plenty more wear out of them. They come in handy on days I follow my motto: if in doubt, wear red shoes.

Red and white stripe top – Kew 158 (John Lewis)
Black and white spot skirt – New Look (charity shop)
Red shoes – c/o NOW Discount Shoes
Silver hoops – gifted
Silver and diamante necklace – gifted

Total Est. Cost £42

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge 2012 #10 and a Sunny Sunday

I don’t have pictures from Saturday, but I wore pretty much the same thing as I did on Sunday. Saturday was a busy day. I went into the village in the morning for an appointment at the beauty salon. I vacced and then after lunch the young man and I went to Huddersfield to look at cars. My poor old car is on its last legs (wheels?) and I need to replace it. I test drove one and looked at another. When we got back I dropped the young man off then went to Tesco. After tea I did lots of ironing (Saturday was a gloriously sunny day and I did lots of washing, which then all needed to be ironed).

Sunday morning dawned just as bright and sunny. I cleaned the bathroom, got out my spring/summer clothes, went to test drive another car and then made lunch. In the afternoon we went for a short ride on our bikes (we spent more time sitting in the sun at the pub than we did cycling) and it was nice to get out on them again.

When we got home the young man washed his car and a friend who was out on his motorbike called round. I made Yorkshire puddings, sausages and chips with gravy for tea, then made scones for dessert.

I have another pile of ironing to tackle this week – all the cotton skirts and dresses have got very creased after a winter in storage bags so they’re all to iron now. I did manage to do a couple of pieces yesterday, one of which I’m wearing today. I just hope the good weather lasts now so I can get some wear out of them!

After all the car-related activities over the weekend I now know what type I want so it’s a matter of looking around and finding one that’s a good price with a fairly low mileage.

So, on to the Shoeper Challenge. These silver flats were chosen whilst I was in Australia last November, and purchased with a Sarenza voucher as soon as I got home. The last pair of silver flats I had cost £8 from Priceless and had been worn to death over the past two or three summers so were ready for replacing. I binned them before we left Australia, knowing I would get a replacement pair when I got home. I find silver flats very useful as a neutral shoe, and this pair is fabulous quality. They have a fairly solid sole (unlike most ballet pumps) and are leather in and out. They are supremely comfortable and should get a lot of wear this year.

Red and white stripe top – H&M
Jeans – New Look
Silver shoes – JB Martin (c/o Sarenza)
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Red and silver earrings – Claire’s
Leopard print belt – Dorothy Perkins

Total Est. Cost £40