Monthly Archives: February 2013

Experiments in DIY

16th February 2013

January and February are the most dull months I find, the reality of winter hits with no Christmas to cheer us along. When Ladbrookes wanted to send a parcel to help sparkle up those days to celebrate their diamond slot games (find out more here) I was clearly all for it.

What I didn’t really anticipate, despite knowing that this challenge would involve a little bit of DIY was just how hopeless I am at it. When the pack of “tools” arrived (which I failed to photograph in true blogger fail style) containing studs, swarvoski crystals, SUPER strong glue and a pencil to mark your place I thought I’d be in for an easy and fun time. Days later when the Asos goodies they also provided turned up I started to think otherwise.

(A note on the outfit- the dress, shoes and necklace all came via Asos thanks to a voucher supplied, I made the most of the sale and snagged the whole lot ot complete the look. The tights and bad posing are entirely my own).

Above…that’d be my workspace. This wasn’t getting me off to a flying start was it? Despite that stumbling block I set aside some time on a gloomy afternoon and plotted what I wanted to do. Drawn immediately to the studs I decided simple was better. How hard can it be to push a few bits of metal through some shoes? Er, very as it happens. In the end I resorted to the glue, sticking my fingers together in the process. I’m not the artsy, crafty type but hurdles aside I had fun and really quite like the end result. It’s a bit like a young child and their first piece of art…no matter how wonky it looks there is a real sense of achievement that comes from it and I have to say with the music blasting, the occasional curse word and an hour or more whizzing past this little activity really did brighten up the day and added a touch of something sparkly.

Now,
if only I could remove the glue from my fingernail…

are you a DIY diva? Or is it a disaster zone for you too? Share your trials and triumphs below.

xxx

P.S. excuse me if my blog commenting is more dire than ever, google reader has kindly eaten most of the blogs I follow, as you do…

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Pass the Specs

15th February 2013

Dress: New Look
Tights: Primark
Boots: Madden Girl c/o Sarenza
A few days ago I was contacted by Specsavers about taking part in a fun little game called “Pass the Specs”. The idea behind the game is that a pair of frames is sent to five bloggers each month, in turn to see how they style them up.
The frames in question were these beauties by Armani and I have fallen head over heels in love with them, so much so that I am going to scope out my local Specsavers on my lunch break tomorrow, see if they have them and then book in an (admittedly overdue) eye test. I’ve never really been sold on larger frames on my face but without wishing to sound big headed I really think these suit me. I think half the problem before was that my face wasn’t full enough to take them…recovery has so many upsides and I think that warrants a spectacle shaped treat don’t you?
I’m not really sure if I had any inspiration behind this outfit other than it’s what I would and do wear on a daily basis and I think it complements the frames quite well. Something I’ve learnt over the years is that glasses don’t have to be a bind. If you need them you need them and it’s only recently that I’ve started heeding that advice and wearing mine when required. 
Sorry to detract from the main topic of this post, but oh these boots. I’ve had them since I injured my foot and this was the first chance I had to wear them. In love. I managed a whole day on my feet in them with no discomfort. Expect to seem them rather a lot more.
Back on track; what do you think of the frames? What would you style them with?
I can’t wait to see what the other bloggers in this month’s challenge come up with!

xxx

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taking some time

14th February 2013

It probably hasn’t escaped people’s notice that I’ve not been having the best of weeks. Whatever I blame, be it “winter blues”, “being a woman” or “just a shitty week” what I hadn’t done until yesterday afternoon was admit I needed a bit of a break and some me time. I like to think I always need to be busy to be ok, often this is true and I thrive on the buzz of being occupied but sometimes what I really need is to take a step back and just indulge in some peace and quiet and calm.

It’s not something that comes easily to me, being able to just sit and relax but over the years I’ve learned a few tips and tricks for un-winding.

1. Tea. I am a hardcore coffee drinker but when I’m stressed out even I have to admit that tea is best. There is something so soothing and calming about tea and this from Whittards couldn’t have arrived at a better time. My favourite for relaxing is the Jasmine variety but all of them are amazing and the Moroccan mint is super soothing on a stressed out tummy. My handy little tea pot keeps the leaves out of my brew and I’m going to keep the tins for jewellery/bits and bobs storage after. I’m not a dainty tea cup person when it comes to hot drinks. The bigger the better as far as I’m concerned, my favourite vessel is my “Espana” mug, hunted down and bought back from last year’s adventure to Spain. I can’t wait to see what I bring back this year…no injuries I hope, but to be sure I’ll be taking out travel insurance this time such as Age Concern UK Travel Insurance

2. Meditation. I was a sceptic for so long but now I am regularly found taking some time out just to breathe deep and zone out. If you haven’t tried it because you think it’s too “airy fairy” I urge you to rethink.

3. Mindless tasks. Sorting a tin of buttons, playing a pointless game, window shopping for *the* perfect gift for someone even if their birthday isn’t for another six months. Fill my head with a trivial task and I can easily lose a couple of hours of my day without thinking of anything else.

4. Baking. Anyone who bakes will understand this.

Once upon a time kitty cuddles would have been on this list too but Mae is going through a difficult teenage rebellion and time spent with her is far from relaxing!
What do you do when you need to get away from it all and relax? What am I missing?

xxx

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dolly girl

14th February 2013

Dress: Pearl Lowe for Peacocks (really old now!)
Tights: Tesco (and far better quality than the CK ones from yesterday)
Boots: New Look 
I’m not sure why but this dress always makes me think of dolls? I have a strange mind and I’m not afraid to make it public. I’ll never not love this dress, snapped up for £10 when the Bristol Peacocks sale was closing down. I took a chance watching it drop in price and managed to find one left in my size the day before the store closed it’s doors.
Happy Valentines Day to those who make something of it. For me it’s just another day and perhaps in years to come I’ll change my mind but for now I remain cynical! Instead I’ll talk about my great love for Les Miserables. I’m hopeless at films, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been to the cinema since I started this blog. I just don’t have the attention span or enthusiasm about most films to bother going as inevitably I end up fidgeting and getting on people’s nerves. I’m the same with DVDs at home too, I just seem incapable of sitting down and getting in to a movie…I am getting a bit better when at home though and have found myself broadening my horizons.
So, needless to say I was hesitant about going to see Les Mis, especially as it is such a long film. The cinema was packed, I was in a vile mood and I just wasn’t looking forward to it much.
Eating my words right now. For the first time in my life I was utterly captivated by the screen. I was so engrossed I forgot about the popcorn I had artfully hidden in my bag and didn’t fidget or get up for the loo six thousand times either.
I’d actually go and see it again given the chance. 
Anyway,
work beckons. I’ve been drafted off of reception and in to phlebotomy. I love that I never know what I’m doing one day from the next…it makes my job that extra bit better.
xxx

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a touch of sparkle

13th February 2013

Dress: Tesco via ebay
Tights: Calvin Klein (don’t waste your money, they ladder so easily)
Boots: Miista
Shallow as it sounds I’m a firm believer that sometimes all it takes to feel a bit better is a bit of sparkle and some killer shoes. Enter this dress, which I scored bnwt for about £3 on ebay. The sequin collar adds just enough sparkle to know I’m wearing it without being overwhelming for day time. The drawstring waist means I don’t care how bloated I look and as for the shoes…what can I say? They are my feel good favourites and I am so glad my foot now allows me to wear them. I love the attention they attract and the look on folk’s faces when I tell them that I only paid £6.50
I’m so tired it’s unreal. A mad morning at work yesterday, a late night at the cinema and being on the early early at work this morning means I’m considering begging one of our doctors to hook me up to a coffee IV. I’m not sure what is going on at the moment but work is utter chaos (and secretly I love every single second of it).
Well, I’d best get moving. More on my thoughts about Les Mis tomorrow when I have a bit of downtime in the afternoon!
Happy mid-week, who overindulged in the pancake stakes? 
xxx

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