Twinset & Other Pearls

Twinset

Yep - it's back! The twinset! Lots of all important questions spinning around my head - What colour knit do I wear? Do I wear with pearls? Do I fasten the cardi? Do I drape the cardi casually over my shoulders? Can I wear with jeans?

Before I make another fashion faux pas, I think I need to research this new trend a little more...

Several searches later it's all clearer. Yep - I'm fashionably clueless. The new twin set trending is matching tops and bottoms. Nice. How do I crow bar this trend into my wardrobe and manage to look as chic as Victoria Beckham?

Love this take on matching top & bottom on VB

So, I've spent plenty of time scouring the internet in search of a suitable affordable version and surprisingly the only resemblance is this twinset from TopShop. At £160 for the set, I think it's pretty pricey, but unless you want to show off your midriff Taylor Swift style, the options seem pretty limited. Note to retailers: I didn't show off my midriff pre-kids, so it's certainly never going to happen post-kids.....

Striped Tee & Wide Leg Trousers
£160 - Boutique at TopShop

Has anyone out there managed to nail the twinset look? If you have, show and tell! Is the twinset here to stay? There needs to be more wearable versions out there for it get my vote I'm afraid....

Pizza Oven

We've debated the pros and cons of spending a crazy amount of money on an outdoor pizza oven for many years. This year Hubby spotted the perfect version in Costco for an undisclosed sum of money.

Given that most couples enjoy a child-free city break for a special wedding anniversary, we've justified our spend by not indulging in such frivolities for our 15th anniversary - who would want three days and nights reliving their pre-kids days anyway? (OK Me - but I'll settle on some home made pizzas for now ;o)

First attempt was a minor disaster, but second attempt was spot on - I think I could get used to this!

Fully assembled and fired up

Blazing with first pizza cooking

Didn't quite go to plan
- little bit charred, let's quickly move on....

Perfect crispy base - spot on!
 Think we've got the hang of this now!

Envy

A good friend and her Hubby have just finished their garden after several weeks of hard graft constructing decking, making and painting planters and generally making their garden look picture perfect. They held a BBQ today, and I have to say their efforts are pretty fabulous!

Corner sofa from Next, cushions from
TK Maxx and Homesense

Hand-made table & bench - clever clogs!

I wore this Hush Clovelly Beach dress for the first time - it looked pretty and was perfect for the garden party - until the heavens opened and we spent the rest of the afternoon looking out from under a gazebo - curse you British weather...you spoil all our fun.

Clovelly Beach Dress
Hush £55

P.S

Speaking of Hush - Great news! Their Summer Sale starts Tuesday 0.01am! Crazy time, but I'm happy to roll with it....Do I stay up and be amongst the first to shop, or take my chances and shop as I wake Tuesday morning? Clearly, I'll need to put some thought into this matter Monday evening...

Mr & Mrs

Hitched

In 1998 we decided we needed to do something memorable in the year 2000....the best we could come up with was to get married in our 10th year together, so we popped off to Mauritius (as you do minus kids with a job in travel ;o) and got engaged!

Two years later we returned to marry. Fuss free, a ceremony in the gardens overlooking a picture perfect beach - just the two of us. Hubby played golf in the morning, I chilled by the pool - left my lounger at 3pm and we were married by 4.15pm. Quick change of clothes and we were treated to the best table in the restaurant overlooking the Indian Ocean - it was a truly perfect day and a truly perfect holiday. We planted a palm tree in the gardens - maybe we'll return one day and see how it's grown....

That's 15 years ago - 3rd July 2000. I'm not big on declaring my love and happiness to everyone and anyone who will listen, just to the person who needs to know. And he does. Here's how we looked back in the day - less muffin top for me and fewer grey hairs for Hubby!

The new Mr & Mrs
3rd July 2000

Dress by Anna Christina

Tray

Since vintage became trendy, I've always had my eyes peeled for a printer's tray. I'd checked Ebay many times, but wasn't sure what I was really looking for - some looked too battered, others looked too new, many were over priced!

I spotted THE perfect printers tray in a cool London corner cafe/shop. At £50 I thought it was a good deal, so bought it there and then. Once home I wondered if I had wasted my money - I always have grand craft ideas, but the fact of the matter is I have very little patience and I have very little talent  - I'm far better at sourcing from a genuine crafter and paying up for whatever I fancy - usually works out cheaper in the long run and much less fraught!

I spent the next couple of weeks ordering wallpaper samples online - some were free, some cost a few pounds. I cleaned up the tray, cut out the little shapes and used some of the kid's glue to stick into place.

Now home to our collection of Sonny Angels, beach finds and small artwork sent home from school. OK - I'm pretty proud of the results.

Printer's Tray
Home to our collection of treasured tat!

Peastyle

I love discovering stylish, cool, beautiful, individual shops - usually on holiday when I have the time to wonder round - strangely I also get that thrill when I discover a new, cool, stylish website. Peastyle.co.uk ticks all the above adjectives and then some.

Not just homewares they also have a lovely affordable range of silver and gold plated jewellery, and a great selection of one off furniture, also pretty affordable. My wish list is basket and jewellery - not that I need either, just want both ;o)

Seagrass Basket
From £19.50 Pea Style

Chevron Necklace
£8.95 Pea Style

Open Circle Ring
£8.95 Pea Style

The M&S Edit

I really considered my M&S days to be way behind me. Having once worked across the road from their huge Manchester store, I was a regular - panic buying in my lunch hour, queuing up at their returns desk the next day and generally drifting somewhere between mock tops in Per Una and wide legged polyester pants in their Classic Collection. My journey through M&S in recent years has been for one purpose - to get to Selfridges on the other side of the store, breezing past 1998 on my way.

However, I think I may have written M&S off earlier than I should have. Since joining Insta and reading online blogs, I've often raised an eyebrow in surprise when a blogger has showcased a particular cropped denim, a certain brown suede skirt (I could kick myself - I owned a replica of this from Coast in 2002 which ended up at the charity shop in 2006) or a beautiful classic silk blue shirt.

Let's face it - there are a handful of brilliant bloggers out there - and if they wear it, we want it (obviously forgetting they would look awesome dressed in a bin bag). I do believe this is why M&S seem to be enjoying a little revival.

So, I've decided to get in on the M&S action. How hard can it be to cherry pick some designs that will raise an eyebrow on Insta....?

Pleats

I love the look of chiffon pleats - there seem to be lots around this season. I'm thinking floaty, classic, Chanel chic and uber cool with a pair of Stan Smith by day or pointy stiletto's by night. It's down to two:

Pleated Knee Lenth A-Line Skirt
£35 M&S

Also available in Nude
(Forget the shoes - I think they kill it!)

Kimono

I'm usually very late to a trend party, but think if I get in quick, I might just make the Kimono party whilst it's still in full swing. Some kimono's are off the scale with fussy detail - flowers, sequins, fringe - who the heck can pull all that off? That's why I love this design - simple, good colours and a nice length - bad news for me is that it's plus size only. However, if this works for you, I'd bag one quick!

Plus Paisley Print Kimono Top
M&S - A bargain at £22.50

Patch

I've seen a few 'patch' denim jeans from various high end brands - so wonder if these cut the mustard?

Lulu Kennedy for Indigo Patch
Boyfriend Jeans - M&S £45

Pretty

Insta is awash with pretty blouses right now so it's only right to feature one in my M&S edit. I love the detail of this pretty applique top, and it gets the thumbs up for being soft white rather than stark white.

Pretty Applique Top
M&S - £35

Poppy

I love the jumpsuit trend - I think this is a good cross between a full on jumpsuit and on-trend culottes. Simple and elegant. If this was in black it would work well for a night out and I'd grab one now, but not sure about this poppy red?

Petite Culotte Jumpsuit
M&S - £49.50

Not a bad haul eh? I've tested Hubby out on the chiffon skirt. 'Frumpy' was his come back. Not a good start to my M&S return.....

Do you successfully shop at M&S? Have you got the knack of finding a future must-have? Surely I'm not alone in walking the wobbly line between retro M&S chic and just plain old frumpy? I'd love to hear your thoughts on our great British institution.....

Life's A Beach

My perfect day consists of a basket of food, comfy chair, parasol (I need my shade) and a good sea view. I won't lie and claim any beach will do. Given the choice I would clearly prefer the perfect shores of Florida, but a close second is Coldingham Bay in St Abbs, Scotland. We go there every Summer - it really is the perfect British beach....cafe, toilets (always a relief), golden sands, surfing, rocks for crabbing, the cutest beach huts and nothing else.

A floaty kaftan would look out of place in Scotland - usual attire is denim shorts and a woolly jumper, but elsewhere in the World I like to up my game. This is an area of my wardrobe that needs some attention. Here's my plan of action....

Kaftan

I bought a black kaftan from Hush earlier this year - very nice, very chic, but I think my next kaftan will be bolder and brighter. This week another new catalogue dropped through my letterbox - Aspiga. I've never come across their name before, so excited to hear about a new brand. Many of their supplies are sourced from small workforces in India and Kenya - supporting local communities and not mass produced. I love their Geo and Ocean Stripes Kaftans - they look perfectly styled with a bit of gold jewellery. Their range is well worth a look - I'm also tempted by the flattering claims of their twist swimsuits, the glamour of their beaded clutch bags and their stylish and very affordable Kikoy and Hammam towels.

Geo Kaftan - Aspiga £48
(Strangely couldn't find online....sold out?)

Me in Moontide Bandeau Swimsuit
£72 Aspiga (OK - just kidding!)

Pink Stripe Kikoy Towel/Picnic Rug
£20 Aspiga

Basket

There is only one beach basket on my wish list. This monogramed long handled basket from Rae Feather is beautiful, understated chic, perfect for carrying my beach essentials. An investment at £150, but I think a good investment that will service NS well for many years to come. It's just a matter of time and a few hints to set the scene.

Monogram Basket
£150 Rae Feather

Picnic

A crucial part of British beach life. I love a good wicker picnic basket - but carrying food plus enough sporting equipment to host my own Olympic Games - a wicker basket is just more weight that can't be distributed between me, Hubby and 2 lazy kids. This year I vow to ditch the Ikea laundry bag, and will WOW Scotland with a new bright, funky picnic range from one of my trusty favourites - Anorak.

Kissing Rabbits Lightweight Cooler Bag
Anorak £38

Kissings Rabbits Picnic Blanket
Anorak £36

Melamine Picnic Range
Anorak from £4.50
(Horse mad Daughter will love!)

Bring on Summer x

Who Made Your Pants?

Pants

I'm really not sure where I stumbled across the brilliant brand "Who Made Your Pants', but I credit them with revolutionising my once shameful knicker drawer! Run by the brilliant Becky and her small team (which includes volunteers) from a small factory in Southampton. All profits are ploughed back into the business and even better Becky provides work for women who've had a hard time - beats giving your knicker allowance to M&S any day.

My favourite style are Aimee - stretch lace shorts with no VPL! They are unbelievably comfy and highly flattering. Twelve months ago I signed up for a year of pants - £21.50 per month (there are also cheaper options) which gets you a pair of pants delivered every month! I like the idea of this as it means someone else makes a choice for me, so I've received pants that I wouldn't necessarily have chosen, but actually end up loving.

Chelsea Pants
£21.50 Who Made Your Pants

The pants come beautifully wrapped in tissue and a cute brown box - there's always a label attached to the pants with the name of who made your pants! What a treat to come home to such a fabulous package - all made from recycled fabric, all hassle free and supporting a brilliant enterprise.

One of my fondest memories of my Nana is that she always wore red bloomers, and used to joke that she wanted to look her best in case she ever got run over. I think she would be happy to know that thanks to Becky and her team, if I ever get run over, I wouldn't let the side down ;o)

Feathers

As you know, I'm a lover of all things flamingo - admittedly the manufactured kind... I think I did a little gasp when I spotted this brilliant pink flamingo necklace on my Insta feed! I've bought from Tatty Devine before - some of their designs are way too flamboyant for me, but I'm a fan of their smaller designs. They're quirky and well made, and just on the right side of unusual for my taste.

Flamingo Pendant - £25
Tatty Devine

I literally viewed, clicked and committed to this lovely piece in one smooth motion - soooo looking forward to it joining my flock....

Hose

I love finding new, unique online stores, which is one of the reasons I love Insta so much - lots of cool finds in one place! Today's discovery is as quirky as it gets - bags and accessories made from reclaimed, decommissioned genuine British fire-hose! The brains behind this operation are Elvis & Kresse - hats off for their genius creations and determination to recycle and banish landfill.

Bowling Bag - £195
Elvis & Kresse

With bags, belts, wallets, amazing cufflinks, keyrings - for both men and women. I love this bowling bag made from London Fire Brigade fire-hose. Just imagine.....a life-saving story behind every piece...

What A Tart!

Wore

I bought the Ascot dress from Hush a good few weeks ago and have been looking forward to wearing it when the weather warms up.....It was a stroke of luck that after a miserable day, the weather turned last Saturday night just in time for a girls night out!

Ascot Dress - Hush on offer £75
(Normally £95)

This dress comes up really big - I'm wearing a 10 which is unheard of since I was.... well age 10. Not sure if this is a marketing trick to fool us ladies into thinking we can squeeze into a smaller size, but it did the trick with me - I felt fantastic in this dress. I chose not to wear a bra (the girls were shocked by my frivolity) and have to say this worked better with the crochet back - no unsightly back cleavage for me, and because it was quite close fitting at the front, it seemed to hold everything in place quite well. Teamed with glitter Palmairas sandals, Skagen bag and bracelet - even though I say so myself, it was a pretty pleasing result.

On a roll now......

Three glasses of Prosecco later, I'm just tucking into THE most amazing chocolate and salted caramel tart - without all my faculties it was proving very difficult to cut. The tart had been chilled within an inch of it's life, the caramel had hardened and the chocolate top seemed to come away from the base. I never give up on food, so wrestled on.....Clearly I should have quit while I was still ahead, for seconds later the base of the tart slid across my plate and landed face down on my lap (yes - the part not covered by a napkin). There were gasps around the table, followed by my fake casual claims that it 'wasn't a problem' and I'm sure someone else lied 'I can't even see it'.

Back home and a quick change into PJ's confirmed the dress is hand wash. I did as instructed and hung the dress up to assess the damage....couldn't tell at this stage - should I stay up and watch it dry??

Fast forward to the next day and I'm happy to report all that's left is a very minor mark, and given the generous folds of this dress, my tart disaster is barely noticeable. If anyone out there can invent a stylish adult bib - really, I'm in!!

So I easily rate this dress 10/10 - easy to wear, very stylish, little bit edgy with the crochet panels, and most importantly washes like a dream. Well done Hush.

We had a lovely family BBQ later on Sunday with Hubby in charge of the grill. He generally breezes through life without any of my toddler antics. The tables turned this Fathers Day though - two dirty big splodges of burger grease down his brand new Abercrombie & Fitch shorts.....don't worry love, I know a girl who can work wonders with a stain and a bottle of Persil ;o)

P.S

Sunday marked the last of a 3 week footy tournament in our local park. Here's my youngest showing off his silverware.... *Beams with Pride*

My Little Pony

Courtship

I love leopard print, so how is it that I don't own any? Clearly I have found (another) gap in my wardrobe that MUST be filled! I'm a flats by day, heels by night person, so given that I don't wear heels all that much, I like them to earn their space in my wardrobe. I've been considering this pair of Pony Tan Leopard heels from Boden for a few weeks now. I'm not blessed with the narrowest of feet (my Mum will confirm this as our shoe battles in my growing years is often referred to...) so this cut out style is perfect for me.

 Tan Leopard Pony Court
 Boden £88 (with Preview Code)

I'm not a big Boden fan (love the kids range though), but I think their shoe collection is pretty good. I'm thinking these will go well with a black jumpsuit (not bought - yet!), look fabulous with jeans, and at a pinch work with some silk sporty elasticated cuff navy trousers (would save me having to buy another pair to match them?). I'm convinced they would be pretty hard working. I've talked myself into a purchase!!

As luck would have it a 20% off the Boden Preview AW15 pinged into my inbox this morning (code 6G7B). It's all change this year - they take payment when the order is received, not when despatched which I think is a little cheeky for an item you may not receive for a couple of months. However their website promises these will be in stock July, so I'm willing to forgive and forget for the sake of my little (leopard) pony beauties.

Hippy

I had a lovely day trip to London on Thursday, and had time for a little tour of Topshop on Oxford Street - I love Topshop, but I'm sorry to report I didn't enjoy the experience one bit - it was overcrowded (the sale has just started), and I just found myself wondering round in circles like someones lost Grandma. This just reaffirms why I love internet shopping so much - at my own pace with a brew to hand ;o)

Moto Raw Hem Denim Culottes
Topshop £38

I didn't see these on my day release trip, but I now keep refreshing the screen in a step closer to the confirmation page...... Downside is I'm worried they may look too long on me, widen my already wide hips and generally be a big mistake!! My heady debate rambles on.

Tasselled

I've got a few birthdays on the horizon, so I'm on the look out for something fancy for these special ladies.... I think I've found the answer in these fabulous Anouska Woods festival tassel bracelets. I think they're a great price at £12 (some are cheaper too!), and perfect for layering this summer. I'll be placing my first order this weekend - and since I'm paying postage, might as well add a cheeky one for myself....you know it makes sense.

Jelly Bracelet with Hamsa Tassel
Anouska Woods £12

Hello Dolly!

Genius

The Magnificent Dolly Parton -
 Stanley Chow (around £30 unframed)

I'm really particular about the kind of art I display on my walls - not in a posh 'it's art darling' kind of way, but in the way that I like art to hold a meaning - favourite actress, singer, place, holiday memory etc. So, a couple of years ago when we renovated our kitchen, creating new empty walls that needed filling, I knew the search for prints wouldn't be straightforward.

My Hubby is a massive Man Utd fan and a few years ago he spotted prints displayed in the Men's Department of our local House of Fraser store. He described the prints as caricature of Utd players - so when he suggested we get some of these for our newly decorated space - it was a no-brainer of an answer. Abosolutely Not.

Not to be put off, he went online, managed to find the artist and much to his smug delight found his work was not all about footy heros. The guy is the great Stanley Chow, a digital illustrator whose work is also showcased around the world in various magazine editions - think Time and New Yorker, as well as producing some uber cool illustrations for big brands like Coca-Cola and Nike.

OK - so I caved in and allowed a spot on my wall
 for Sir Alex - Stanley Chow

Thankfully for me, his range of subjects is huge - name a current personality obsession and Stanley has probably got it covered......Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Steve McQueen, Bob Dillon, Marvin Gaye, Audrey Hepburn, Blondie.....the list of cool iconic superstars goes on and on.

Our Stanley Chow collection is steadily growing.....and I've turned friends into fans when I've given them his prints as gifts. The guy is a genius, loved by me even more because he's from my home town Manchester. I think Stan's fame is starting to catch up with him as his prints seem a little harder to come by at the moment - but his work is well worth checking out and if you see something you fancy, I'm pretty sure Stan and his team will oblige.

Marvin Gaye - Stanley Chow

Nailed

I think pedicures are like Marmite - love them or hate the thought! I'm a serious lover - could spend all day having my feet messed with. It's a fact - I know that makes me sound weird. Anyway, I'm loving this new 'Little Boy Blue' from Rimmel,  so much so that I've just had a second pedi with this colour. Last time it looked perfect for 3 weeks, so gives salon brands a good run for their money in my opinion. Makes a pleasant change from reds, pinks and corals and looks fab with denim. I've spotted it floating around on Ebay if anyone else feels the same about Little Boy Blue

Little Boy Blue & Little Swedish Hasbeens

Little Boy Blue - Rimmel Salon Pro

Wore

I once worked a Christmas season at my local Jo Malone concession - long story...... One of my favourites is the lesser known Nutmeg & Ginger cologne. It's such a calming, natural, soothing scent, and whenever I spray this it reminds me of relaxing days spent in a beautiful hotel spa. Lovely for hot summer days when you don't want a heavy perfume and need a lasting signature spray.

Pomegranate Noir and Nutmeg & Ginger -
£42 Jo Malone

Prickly Post

Inspired

Cactus Vase - £45 Graham & Green

I'm busy making plans for our next BIG holiday to Mexico, so it's not surprising that I'm drawn to all things vibrant and, well....Mexican looking. The latest Graham & Green offerings landed through my door this week, and this little prickly cactus vase caught my eye. I love the colour and cool texture and have a few places in mind to show this beauty off - against the orange backdrop in the kitchen, the white hallway walls, or as a conservatory talking point next to a once bright pink sofa (curse you sun for fading my pride & joy!). 

Bell Jar Lamp - £130 Graham & Green

I love all things flamingo (glasses, prints, socks, necklace, cushions - you get the message), so this lamp not surprisingly caught my eye. I think it's fabulous and would look right at home on my bedside table. For anyone tempted, the catalogue came with a 10% site wide discount code valid until 31/8/15 - H15C10.

Quality

Blogging about uber cool brand SelfishMother is not ground-breaking I know - let's face it, that's how I discovered their new range. What's not clear though is whether or not it's all name and no substance - what's your guess? 

My new slogan tee arrived recently (service is super speedy) and I love that it's made from thick cotton material and cut quite loose fitting (I have the M). For my Mumsy figure it skims in all the right places and can easily be worn with any of my jeans - an impressive claim eh? With this tee, there is certainly no sign of my well established muffin top....a problem I often find with thinner tees worn with fitted jeans. 

Of course the dark colour helps here, but have to say, due to the thick quality, I really don't think it would be a problem even in a lighter shade. I'm really tempted to order their non-slogan plain tee's at just £20 - their quality beats other brands I've tried hands down and with a huge percentage of sales supporting a great cause, I think it's a no-brainer of a purchase.

Charcoal Tee - SelfishMother  £30

Minion

My eldest is in dire need of a new bike - bring on a trip to Halfords! At just 10 it seems a childs 24" wheel will probably only last a year, so on the advise of the professionals, we're now looking at buying a 14" frame from the adult range. 

Here's the problem - at 10 she still wants a funky bright pink bike, but the adult range are uninspiring at best - white frames with wishy washy logos is top of a poor choice in the kind of price range that is acceptable to pay for a 10 year olds bike that is left in random places when she's out and about.

Someone out there please design a cool range of bikes for growing kids and soon to be teenagers that goes along the lines of this reserved helmet.......we love it! If you know of such a range, I'm all ears.

Minion Helmet - Halfords