Outfit: 30x30 Day 28

Yep, Saturday night’s outfit will have to count as number 27. We ended up getting out on the bikes when the rain stopped yesterday afternoon (although it did start again and we got a bit wet). We cycled 9 miles and then called in on the young man’s parents. We ended up staying there for tea and then returned home in time to watch Top Gear. I am a bit achy today, but it saves me from having to go to the gym this evening.

Clearly my brain was elsewhere this weekend as I realised last night that I had actually saved pair of shoes #6 on Saturday. They were the silver flats I got for just £8 from Priceless Shoes. I had the same pair already in white from the show in 2009 and when I saw this pair in silver I got them to replace my worn out pair of silver flats that I already had. That’s all 6 of my 30x30 footwear saved now, so the next shoe challenge will be on Thursday when I can wear a different pair of shoes.

So, on to today. I left it up to you, readers, and you have spoken. By 10 votes to 4 you voted that I should add another dress to my 30 items to replace the one that has mysteriously gone walkabout. So here you go. The dress that has been drafted in at the last minute. It may get a further outing on Wednesday to earn its place in my 30 items, or this may be its only appearance. We’ll have to wait and see. Only 2 more outfits to go after today, and my enthusiasm for the challenge is wearing a bit thin now. I’ve really enjoyed doing it, but I am ready to wear something different, especially where my shoes are concerned. I think I made good choices though as it took until day 28 for me to be ready for a change. I’ll be doing a full review of the challenge once it’s over on Wednesday.

Black jacket – Long Tall Sally
Purple dress – Dorothy Perkins (eBay)
Black tights – M&S
Red shoes – NOW Discount Shoes (gifted)
Red belt – Dorothy Perkins
Red and cream bangles – gifted
Purple necklace – Scope
Purple bangles – Diamonds and Pearls
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £64

Outfit: 30x30 Day 27

This is actually what I wore last night. I was going to add it as another bonus, but it might have to count as outfit 27 as I am just in old jeans and a hoodie today for doing chores. I washed my car this morning and we were going to go out on bikes this afternoon, but as soon as I put a load of washing on the line it started to rain (of course it did, that happens pretty well every time I hang out washing). I had planned to go to Zumba again today but it was all booked up by ten past nine this morning when I phoned up. So it looks like I will be hanging out in what I have on now for the rest of the day.

Last night we went into the city to meet my sister and her husband for a meal at a buffet restaurant. There are all kinds of food there – pasta, pizza, Thai, Chinese, Indian and you can have whatever you want from the buffet. The food was lovely but the service was poor (I had to ask them to clean up some rice from the floor that I almost slipped over on, I had to complain about the state of the toilets, and at 9.40pm they informed us they needed our table for a party booked in at 9.30pm - they hadn't mentioned this when we booked or when we were seated on arrival - and plonked the bill down on the table) so I would have reservations about going there again. We went for another drink at a hotel bar where it was fairly quiet and got some sofas by the fire.

I wore pretty much what I wore on Thursday evening, but changed the boots for my leopard print ones as the heels are a little lower and I knew I would have further to walk last night. I also tied up my cardi to make it a shrug. The black frock coat is one of my most fabulous items. It’s from Dorothy Perkins Tall range and I often find the sleeves to not be long enough on their items, but this feels like it was made for me. It doesn’t get a lot of wear, but I love it when I do wear it.

Black cardi – New Look Tall
Teal top – Long Tall Sally
Jeans – Next Tall (clearance outlet)
Leopard print booties – Sarenza (gifted)
Green beads – I Am..... boutique
Black frock coat – Dorothy Perkins Tall
Black scarf – Mint Velvet (gifted)
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £87

Outfit: 30x30 Day 26 and Shoeper Challenge #6

I went to the mall this morning to get a gift for my friend, and some bits and pieces from Boots. Now we’re just having a quiet afternoon before heading into town to meet my sister and her husband for a meal out this evening.

Teal top – H&M
Jeans – South (Very.co.uk) (gifted)
Silver flats – Priceless Shoes
Turquoise print scarf – H&M
Silver hoops – gifted
Green beads – I Am..... boutique

Total Est. Cost £31

Outfit: 30x30 Day 25

Another Frocking Friday is here and I am quite excited as it was light when I set out at about 7.10am this morning! That’s the first time in a long time. I know it helps that it’s a nice day but it’s a sure sign that spring is edging ever closer.

I am meeting a friend for coffee at dinner time and I have the house to myself tonight as the young man is out at an association dinner, so I can indulge in some girly TV and catch up with Home and Away and Neighbours.

I have totally stolen the idea of an oversize scarf as a belt from Allie, which is fitting really, as it was her use of an oversize scarf that inspired me to buy this one in the first place.

Black and white stripe dress – River Island
Black tights – Silkies
Tan boots – Barratts
Turquoise print scarf (worn as a belt) – H&M
Turquoise necklace – Dorothy Perkins
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £90

Outfit: Bonus 30x30

I went to OK Karaoke last night to celebrate a couple of friends’ birthdays. There were six of us and we had an awesome time. If you’ve never been before (which I hadn’t) there’s no need to be anxious about it as each group can book a private booth so you’re only singing to your friends. I did a rather fab Natalie Maines with a rendition of the Dixie Chicks’ Goodbye Earl. The lyrics had the others in stitches as they’d not heard the song before. We had the booth booked 7-9pm so we went for a drink in All Bar One when we were done.

This is what I wore to go out and I’m listing it as a bonus outfit as the challenge states 30 days. I put this top into my 30 items for going out (although I had nothing planned when I started this challenge) and it’s just as well I did as we are out for a meal on Saturday night too so I’ll need it again then.

Thanks for all your votes so far on my dilemma from yesterday. The winning option keeps changing so I am going to make a decision based on the results this evening. If you’ve not yet voted, please do so!

Black cardi – New Look Tall
Teal top – Long Tall Sally
Jeans – Next Tall (clearance outlet)
Black boots – Arturo Chiang (Century 21)
Green beads – I Am..... boutique
Silver bling ring – River Island

Total Est. Cost £111

Outfit: 30x30 Day 24 and a Dilemma

I finally got around to wearing the red cardi I put in my 30 items. It’s funny, I thought I would get a lot more wear out of it than I have as I tend to wear it quite often anyway, but it’s taken until day 24 to get an airing.

On to the dilemma. One of my dresses has gone missing. The one I was yet to wear from my 30 items:

I discovered its absence last night as I was thinking of wearing it today but couldn’t find it when I went to get it out. I have my suspicions as to what has happened to it, but as it is unlikely to materialise anytime soon I am faced with a choice. Do I add another item in its place? If so, do I add another dress as a straight swap, or do I add something else (I’m thinking of a pair of boots)? Or do I stick with the 29 items I still have – after all, I’ve not worn the dress in 5/6ths of the challenge, do I really need it? I don't know, I kind of feel like I'm cheating if I add another piece, but as I (fortunately) hadn't worn the dress it would still only be 30 items.

Readers, I am going to let you decide! Please vote on the poll below and I will let you know the outcome tomorrow or Saturday.

What should I do about my missing dress?
	Swap in another dress
	Swap in another item - eg. boots
	Stick with the 29 items I already have
pollcode.com free polls

It is warm today. Warm enough that I have ditched my winter coat in favour of my leather jacket, and I'm wearing knee highs instead of socks.

Red cardi – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
White t – Dorothy Perkins Tall
Jeans – Next Tall (clearance outlet)
Red shoes – NOW Discount Shoes (gifted)
Leopard print scarf – Ethel Austin
Silver cross necklace – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted
Leopard print belt – Dorothy Perkins

Total Est. Cost £21

Spring Break Swimwear

If you are heading off somewhere hot for spring break this year – Florida perhaps, or Mexico – you will need some hot new swimwear for whilst you are there! There are currently sales on Roxy and La Blanca branded swimwear, and plenty of discount swimwear for women to be found online.

We all hate swimwear shopping – trying things on in harshly lit changing rooms, struggling with straps and fastening in a confined space – ladies, we all know there is nothing pleasurable about the experience. Shopping online means you can try everything on in the comfort of your own home, giving you ample opportunity to decide what will and won’t work for you. And with many web retailers now offering free delivery and returns, you will often find a better bargain online than in a store.

Outfit: 30x30 Day 23 and Shoeper Challenge #5

Phew! My all time favourite boots are safe in the Shoe Challenge. They are from Barratts and are not leather, although they look like they could be. They are the most comfy boots ever and they go with everything, hence why I love them. I have worn them at least once a week this autumn/winter and last winter/spring (I got them just before Christmas 2009), and they got a fair bit of wear last summer too.

This is another outfit from my pre-30x30 planning and I like how it turned out. I can’t believe it finishes a week today and I still have one dress, one cardi and one top I haven’t worn yet!

I went to Aquafit last night and it seemed more strenuous than last week, but it was still good fun. The young man had a friend round and they were chatting until late. This morning I turned my alarm off and promptly fell asleep again for another half hour. I don’t think I was terribly awake when I took my pictures as I managed to cut my arm off for the second time in 2 days, and I completely forgot to take a shot of my boots.

Beige knit dress – Bay Trading
Blue and white check shirt – H&M
Brown leggings – New Look
Tan boots – Barratts
Tan Obi belt – ASOS
Silver hoops – gifted
Blue bead necklace – gifted
Blue bead bracelet – gifted
Blue ring – Dorothy Perkins
Silver thumb ring – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £99

Stuff I’m...

...Loving

Bagels – still. I’m addicted!
Finding out what happened to Penn on Home & Away at last
That the weather is to be 12°C and sunny for the next couple of days – it’ll feel like spring!

...Not Loving

How slow my laptop is running
That it’s still not properly light when I get up in the morning

Outfit: 30x30 Day 22

I had a thoroughly lazy night last night – chatting with my sister on Facebook, watching TV, catching up with Home and Away online and reading Hello! magazine. It was lovely.

When I first signed up to the 30x30 and had picked my items, I made a list of a few outfits as I was so excited to get started. Up until last night I hadn’t looked at that list but I was lacking inspiration so I was glad I had had the foresight to do a bit of planning. Somehow I had managed not to wear any of the combinations I’d written down so I have a list of fresh options for the next few days.

I’m going to go to Aquafit at the gym again tonight. It’s a good class – it’s fun and you get a bit of a swim before it too.

Black sweater – Long Tall Sally
Denim skirt – J Jasper Conran (Debenhams)
Black leggings – New Look Tall
Black boots – Arturo Chiang (Century 21)
Silver and cream bead cluster necklace – New Look
Silver hoops – gifted
Silver bling ring – River Island
Cream bead bracelet (worn as ring) – Diamonds and Pearls

Total Est. Cost £159