Outfit: It’s All In The Detail

Casual Friday and my outfit is made up of basics. But just because an item is basic, it doesn’t have to be boring. It’s all about the details.

Exhibit A: cord elbow patches on a cosy knitted sweater. I love cord!
Exhibit B: polka dots on blue jeans – what’s more fun than that?
Exhibit C: zip and studs on flat suede boots. A plain, neutral boot is suddenly lifted out of the ordinary.
Exhibit D: check scarf. I could have worn a plain one but went for this handmade (by me!) checked one instead to mix my patterns and add some more interest.

Last night was supermarket shop night, then I got busy in the kitchen with a slow cooker experiment. I’ve put some stuffed pork medallions on a bed of carrots, onions and apples and then put some jacket potatoes wrapped in foil on top of that. I’m crossing my fingers that it all cooks OK and I think it should, but I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Happy weekend y’all!

Blue wool sweater – Fredrik Andersson (TK Maxx)
Polka dot jeans – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Beige suede boots – Blonde & Blonde (c/o Bank)
Blue check scarf – handmade by me
Leopard print hoops – gifted
Wood heart necklace – Scope

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Outfit: Blue and Burgundy

I was going to wear my bright red jeans with this sweater today, but I thought that was more of a spring colour combination. Burgundy is just such a rich colour that it works so well in autumn and winter. I also wore the cowl neck/snood from yesterday’s dress. It was out on the spare bed and the cream seemed to really go with the burgundy and the blue.

Last night I went home and put a turkey and rice casserole in the slow cooker. It only needed two hours and the young man was going to be late home so it was the perfect time to try out the recipe. It was basically just turkey, rice and veg with some chicken stock poured over it. It was OK but it was a bit bland. I would definitely add something else in to give it some flavour if I made it again.

I also baked some brownies using the jar of dry ingredients our friends gave us for Christmas. All I had to do was add melted butter and beaten eggs and mix it. Possibly the easiest brownies I’ve ever made and they’re delicious!

Once my baking was done I sat down with my knitting and a couple of episodes of Gossip Girl on DVD.

Blue sweater – Long Tall Sally (sale)
Burgundy jeans – Dorothy Perkins Tall
Leopard print booties – Bocage (c/o Sarenza)
Cream scarf – free with dress
Cream bead necklace – New Look (sale)
Silver earrings – gifted

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Outfit: Cream Knit Dress with Purple

This dress replaced the grey Tall Girls one I had a couple of years ago for the title of ‘warmest item I own’. However, given that we are having a relatively mild winter so far (sorry USA, I know you are suffering in way below zero temperatures and feet of snow) it’s not really been chilly enough to wear it. However, I need to get some wear out of it whilst it’s still winter and I am usually cold anyway so I went for it today.

Such a plain, neutral knit lends itself to pairing with different colours so today I chose purple. Booties, tights and a scarf. The dress has its own matching snood which I like, but have yet to wear with the dress. Or at all. I’m thinking it will go well with a knitted sweater instead of a proper scarf.

Last night I went to step class at the gym. It was OK, but the music was a bit rubbish. I am thinking of changing gyms if the other one near my house still offers pay as you go classes.

Cream knit dress – Next Tall
Purple tights – New Look
Purple booties – Priceless Shoes
Purple scarf – New Look (sale)
Silver square hoops – Claire’s

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Outfit: Black and Red

I feel like I’ve lost my outfit choosing mojo this week. I think it’s to do with being under the weather, and the weather in general which is dark, cold and usually rainy. I need some sunshine. Even winter sunshine will do.

So today an all black combination with pops of red seemed like an easy idea. Black jeans are something I don’t often wear, but I find I can get away with them for work during the week as a smart/casual item. I went years without owning black jeans and purchased this pair off eBay last year or the year before.

Last night I decided not to spread my germs around the gym and went home and did a workout using Just Dance 3 on the Wii. I did 45 minutes and by the time I was done I could barely move my arms so it must have done something. It was far more enjoyable than pounding the treadmill or cross trainer too.

Black sweater – Long Tall Sally
Black jeans – Next Tall (eBay)
Red suede booties – Georgia Rose (c/o Sarenza)
Red beads – Claire’s
Silver square hoops – Claire’s

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Outfit: Saved From Yesterday - Knit Dress, Boots, Cardi

Yesterday morning I got up thinking that I was on Sunday school duty. When I checked my rota I had miscounted the weeks and found I am in fact on next week. So I changed out of my dress in jeans and a sweater and did some jobs around the house. I am still coughing so didn’t want to go and cough all the way through the church service.

I ended up having quiet day at home – the young man lit a fire and I spent the afternoon by it knitting and watching Gossip Girl. I made chicken a la N______ (named for a friend of ours) for tea which consists of roast chicken, homemade bread and a sauce made from chicken stock, blended roast veg and cream – all made into sandwiches. It was delicious!

So today I am in yesterday’s outfit. I chose it primarily because it was warm (the church hall I teach in can often be chilly) and because I could wear my huge blue scarf with it.

Blue cardi – Next Tall (eBay)
Grey wool dress – Kew 159 (John Lewis)
Grey tights – Next
Tan leather boots – Geox (c/o Sarenza)
Tan leather belt – River Island
Brown wood heart necklace – Scope
Leopard print hoop earrings – gifted
Blue and pink spot scarf – TK Maxx

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Sarenza Sale Picks

Are you in the mood for some new shoes? Well check out the sale at Sarenza! There are bargains galore to be had with up to 50% off selected styles.

Here are some of my picks from the sale:

Purple Vans, £26

Cute blue leather flats by Studio TMLS, £38

Nude leather heels by Dune, £40

Clarks wedge boots, £50

Have a great weekend everyone!

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Outfit: Black and Blue

I was not well today. My voice was really croaky, and I was coughing all day. But sadly today was the day I returned to work after the holidays. I dragged myself out of bed (late – why is it that when you haven’t been able to sleep due to a block nose, the minute your alarm goes off you can suddenly fall asleep no problem?) and into the office. Thick tights, boots and a cosy sweater were just the thing to stay warm, whilst dosing up on tea and Lemsip.

Yesterday some friends of ours came over for lunch. I made carrot and butternut squash soup. In the afternoon I headed to the mall for a mosey around the Debenhams sale as I had some gift vouchers from Christmas to spend. I got a stock pot (one that can go on the hob and in the oven) which I think will be really useful, and I also got a milk frother for making frothy hot chocolate. It heats the milk up too and frothed up even skimmed milk really well when I tried it last night.

In the evening we watched The Terminal (which is weird as we were watching Castaway with Tom Hanks the other night and I thought ‘what’s that movie where he’s stuck in an airport, I’ve not seen that for ages’ and then it was on TV) and then Home Alone 2 which I don’t think I’ve ever seen.

I’ve worn my hair in this style the past two days and I don’t intend to quit anytime soon. It is kind of a glammed-up version of the messy up-do I was favouring towards the end of last year. It make use of my Bump-It too, something that has been neglected for a while now.

Black sweater – Bench (eBay)
Blue and black lace skirt – Long Tall Sally (10% discount)
Black fleece lined tights – Primark
Black leather boots – Arturo Chiang (Century 21)
Black and silver scarf – c/o Mint Velvet
Leopard print hoop earrings – gifted

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Life Lately and New Year’s Eve Outfit

Happy 2014! It’s a bank holiday in the UK today so I’m just stopping by to wish you all a happy new year and to show you a few things I got for Christmas. Oh, and there’s what I wore yesterday too.

So, yesterday I went to see my sister for lunch. I played with my niece and some of her Christmas presents and my parents were round too so it was a nice little family gathering.

In the evening the young man and I went to his parents for tea and to play cards and see in the new year. As we weren’t going out partying I stayed bundled up in the cosy sweater and scarf that I’d had on earlier.

So, what did Santa bring you? Here are a few of the things he brought me:

Photo printed on canvas of Kettleness Bay, North Yorkshire

Light up make up mirror

Rubik’s Magic

Leopard print hoop earrings

Slow cooker recipe book

Finally, on Saturday this week I went to the local indoor market. I had some books I was done with to take to the book exchange where they will pay you for good quality second hand books. I made £5 so I took my money around the corner to the knitting shop and bought myself some yarn and some needles. I’ve been intending to take up knitting this winter and I would like to make myself a sweater eventually, but I’m making a scarf to start with so that I can practice basic knitting.

Black sweater – Bench (eBay)
Jeans – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Tan leather boots – Steve Madden (c/o Sarenza)
Blue and pink spot scarf – TK Maxx
Cream leather belt – gifted
Leopard print hoop earrings – gifted

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