The Week in Instagrams

Afternoon tea
Sisters in matching sweaters
Good hair day

Charity shop haul
Still snowy on Thursday afternoon
Back by my radiator at work

Sensible boots
Easter Sunday outfit of the day
Curly hair

Happy Easter!

Shoegal Flashback

What I was wearing this time last year! We were still in the grip of summer so it was short sleeves and bare feet. Things are a little different this year...

New Shoes! (Part 1)

Last week I received a big box in the mail containing the latest goodies I had purchased with the gift voucher sent to me by the lovely people at Sarenza for being part of their Brand Ambassador scheme. Want to know what was in it? Read on!

Last month I got some wedge trainers by Esprit and I love them so much I went straight to the wedges section of the Sarenza site to see what other styles they have. I chose these lovely silver wedge trainers from Khrio and if the snow ever melts (I’m writing this on Monday when there was still feet of snow in some places) I will be excited to wear them.

Outfit: Cosy Thursday

It’s still cold, we’re still getting snow showers, yadda yadda whatever. I decided to go cosy and casual today as it’s kind of Friday (tomorrow is a bank holiday). I have all of next week off work and I’m looking forward to the break so much. Even if it’s just to sleep in and watch lots of Gossip Girl and Lost! I’ve scheduled some posts for you and I’ll pop in when I can with outfit posts.

Last night I made it to the gym and as there were no classes on that I fancied I just went on the treadmill (hill walking) and the cross trainer. I gave the arms bike a miss as my shoulder was hurting. I hope that we will be able to get out for some walks over the Easter break if the weather improves a bit.

Beige dress – Bay Trading
Black top – Long Tall Sally
Black leggings – New Look Tall
Black socks – Long Tall Sally
Tan boots – Steve Madden (c/o Sarenza)
Teal and black scarf – Camden market
Teal belt – Claire’s
Silver hoops – gifted
Teal beads – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £62

Outfit: Wedges Beat Heels

In my ongoing battle of footwear versus the weather, I traded my navy heels for my navy wedges today. The flat sole of a wedge seems more practical in this winter that refuses to die. I drove to work in yet another snowstorm this morning. I have so many spring outfits planned but it’s still too cold and snowy to wear them. Yeah, I know, #firstworldproblems, but still.

Yesterday my car went for its annual service and MOT. I went to my sister’s to wait for it to be ready and ended up staying there until quarter to six. That meant I was much later home than usual, tea was late and I missed step class. I am planning to go to the gym tonight to make up for it.

Today was my penultimate working day for the week, and I have all of next week off work. I am really looking forward to the break, even if the winter weather continues into April.

Navy and cream stripe jacket – Next Tall
Navy, green and cream stripe top – Long Tall Sally
Navy cords – Long Tall Sally
Navy patent wedges – LK Bennett (c/o Sarenza)
Green beads – I Am.... boutique
Green spot scarf – TK Maxx

Total Est. Cost £148

Outfit: Snowy Tuesday

It’s snowing. Again. Today’s boots were absolutely my first choice – having spent all of yesterday cold I picked out the warmest thing in my wardrobe (these boots) and went from there. I was back in my own office today though, with my beloved radiator, so I was much warmer.

The strangest thing is happening in the UK right now. PJ and Duncan (AKA Ant and Dec) are back in the charts with their early 90s ‘classic’ Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble. They are set to be top five, if not number one. They performed the song on their TV show on Saturday evening as part of a 90s medley featuring some of the bands taking part in the Big Reunion, and the whole country has gone mad for it. I’ve heard it on the radio twice in the last 24 hours.

Last night I went to the gym and did some time on the cross trainer, treadmill and the ‘arms bike’ which I have just found out is called ‘Top’. I like ‘arms bike’ better. Then I went home and took a shower, thought about doing the ironing, made the lunches and sat on the couch and watched two episodes of Lost. The ironing can wait until tonight. Or possibly tomorrow.

Tan sweater – New Look Tall
White thermal top – M&S mens
Brown denim skirt – John Rocha (charity shop)
Teal tights – H&M
Tan boots – Ukala by EMU Australia (c/o Sarenza)
Faux fur boot toppers – gifted
Silver and diamante necklace – gifted
Wood heart necklace – Scope
Silver earrings – gifted
Turquoise scarf – H&M

Total Est. Cost £46

Outfit: Still Snowy

This wouldn’t have been my first choice of footwear with this outfit, but I didn’t know how much snow would still be around in the car park at work so I thought flat boots were probably the best bet. I could have worn wellies but with no snow on the road at home and probably not that much at work they were a bit overkill.

There’s still plenty of snow around. I passed some huge drifts on my drive to work this morning. One of the roads I came down is closed in the opposite direction as it’s impassable with snow. It looks as though it’s going to stay freezing cold all week and possibly into next week too. Kind of a depressing thought as it’s April on Sunday. This time last year it was summer.

Red and white stripe top – Kew 159 (John Lewis)
Red sweater (under) – Long Tall Sally
Grey wool skirt – Gap
Grey rib tights – H&M
Grey boots – Mustang (c/o Sarenza)
Turquoise spot scarf – Becksondergaard (TK Maxx)
Silver earrings – gifted

Total Est. Cost £111

Weekend Recap

It kept on snowing all day and all night on Friday.  Saturday morning we woke up and the snow was around a foot deep.  I don't remember seeing snow that deep since I was in high school, the winter of 1990-91.  We had some breakfast and spent the morning pottering about the house and then after lunch we walked up to the young man's parents' house.  It's only about half a mile away but it was hard going walking into the biting wind and the snow that was still coming down.  We had a cup of tea with them and then came back home.  I watched a couple of episodes of Gossip Girl whilst the young man worked on his computer, then we had tea and watched some episodes of Lost.

There's no picture of my footwear because I wore my Hunter wellies to go out in the snow.

Cream sweater - Topshop Tall

Purple top - Long Tall Sally

Jeans - Vila (I Am..... Boutique)

Cream leather belt - gifted

Lilac pashmina - Diamonds and Pearls

Purple hearts necklace - gifted

Total Est. Cost £96

Sunday morning we slept late and then the young man went out to help the other men in the street shovelling the snow off the road and the drives.  I took a walk to the village for baking supplies and then got busy in the kitchen.  I made pumpkin brownies, date slice and scones and we had afternoon tea by the fire.

I watched a couple more episodes of Gossip Girl and then we spent the evening watching Lost.

Black sweater - Bench (eBay)

Red sweater - Long Tall Sally

Jeans - Vila (I Am..... boutique)

Red beads - Claire's

Silver earrings - gifted

Wonder Woman belt - River Island

Total Est. Cost £127

The Week in Instagrams

l-r:

Accu weather tells me the risk of my hair frizzing

Topshop Peel Off Nails

New scarf

Date slice

Comfy socks and shoes

Tea cosy

Hunter wellies in the snow

Deep snow

Bundled up

Outfit: Snow Day!

Well spring started two days ago (allegedly) and look at the weather!

That was mid-morning and it was still snowing! The forecast is for it to keep snowing until lunchtime tomorrow. Gah. Needless to say I worked from home today so wasn’t actually wearing the trainers, but nevermind.

Last night I did the Aldi shop, went to Tesco for a few bits and then came home, unpacked the shopping, made the lunches for today and watched the Big Reunion. I think it’s the last episode next week as they seem to be about ready to stage the gig.

Cream and grey stripe sweater – H&M
Grey polo neck – River Island
Jeans – River Island
Grey socks – Totes (Debenhams)
Burgundy wedge trainers – Esprit (c/o Sarenza)
Cream and black spot scarf – Dorothy Perkins
Cream and silver beads – New Look
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £95

Outfit: Grey and Burgundy

We have sunshine again today although it’s cold again. I will be making the most of the sun though as it is forecast to snow again tomorrow. And Saturday. And possibly Sunday. So that will be fun.

Last night when I got in from work I made some date slices. They are a sort of flapjack-shortbread with a layer of dates in the middle. You boil the dates in some water first and they go all gooey and toffee-like. Delish!

I was planning to catch up with last week’s episode of The Big Reunion but the internet had other ideas and cut out about 15 minutes in to it. So I made more tea and read US Glamour until my friend S phoned. We had a good catch up, then I went for a shower and dried my hair using my spin curl dryer. I don’t know why I don’t use it more often – I think I have it in my head that it takes ages, but it really doesn’t take that long.

I have lots of layers under this dress and am trying to use the cold weather to make the most of items that will (hopefully) soon be packed away for the spring/summer, such as this knit dress and these fleecy tights.

Grey knit dress – New Look Tall (eBay)
Grey polo neck – River Island
Burgundy fleecy tights – Primark
Grey boots – Ethel Austin
Snakeskin belt – local boutique
Silver hoops – gifted
Grey leopard print scarf – c/o Moodys

Total Est. Cost £37

Outfit: Stripes, Stripes and Spots!

It was snowing again when I got up this morning. Awesome. I think I am pretty much past caring now. I put on my spring-like (but warm) outfit that I had laid out and just got on with it.

Last night we went for a meal at our local pub with the young man’s parents, as a belated Mothers’ Day treat. The food was fabulous (it always is) and we went back to their house afterwards for a cup of tea.

Navy and cream stripe jacket – Next Tall
Navy and cream stripe top – Forever 21
Denim skirt – Jasper Conran (Debenhams)
Navy fleecy tights – Primark
Navy boots – Priceless Shoes
Green/pink/blue yellow spotted scarf – TK Maxx
Silver earrings – gifted

Total Est. Cost £123