Jumble Tales

This is my first post in several days, I've had a crazy week or so and life has got in the way of my blogging, but I'm here now and hope to make it a more regular thing...

My outfit today features my new grey vest/dress £3 Primark which has a racer style back so will need layering over another top to hide the bra straps. The boyfriend jacket is also Primark and was £13. I can see myself wearing it a lot this Spring.

But more importantly...

My Jumble Sale adventure!

So after being amazed at the beautiful bargains that my fellow bloggers have bagged at the jumble sales I thought I'd go along and see what all the fuss is about...

I'd heard tales of ruthless old ladies with pointed elbows pushing, clawing and even snatching their way to the best booty, I was excited but terrified.

I put on my bravest face and paid the admission of 30p at the door, and stepped into a dimly lit hall with tables loaded to the ceiling (well almost) of clothes, bags, shoes, you name it, it was there. One small problem though, there didn't seem to be any way of getting to the table as there was a barricade of buyers eagerly rummaging and digging, sorting and discarding but no way of joining them. I inched a hand through a newly opened gap and waited... OK nobody seemed to mind, I tried an arm, followed by a shoulder and at last I was actually standing at the table!

I soon found myself shamelessly upturning great sections of the fabric mountain to see what treasure was buried beneath, trying to spot a potential purchase amongst the dowdy and the drab.

A hint of lace, a floral print, a delicate pastel, let me at it! I had a blast! And here is my haul...

Left: Principals lace vest and shrug set new with tags was £37! Primark lacy vest - great for under tunics with a little lace peeking out.

New with tags M&S toiletries bag (for holiday)

Topshop wrap style top, travel size skincare stuff, Patricia Cornwell book, 2 scarfs.

Red Debenhams Maxi Skirt

Peach leather Clarkes wedges - look either new or worn once, the nice lady organising gave me these for nothing!

This aubergine tunic is quite shiny and I'm not really sure about the cross over front but I love the shape. I'll have to see how it looks as a proper outift.

I don't like this dress. I thought it could either be great or awful. It's awful!
This pretty pale pink top has a sweet drapey bow detail at the bust but it didn't photograph well, the wave of floaty chiffon at the centre is a lovely way of disguising my mummy tummy!

This dress is a size or two too big but I have yanked it in with the back ties, I'm sure a belt or some adjustments can make it wearable.

River Island cream lace top - I'm going to ebay this one.

What's your best ever jumble find?

Rudey Nudey

I've been longing to wear this scaft ever since I was given it about 6 months ago, but nothing in my wardrobe went with it. I was thinking either dusky pink or duck egg but at the time there was nothing in either colour to be found.

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Fast forward to now and the high street is absolutley jam packed with subtle nude shades and pretty pastels, but as it seems to be the latest trend for Spring most of the gorgeous pieces I picked up made me wince at the price tag and not a sausage on the sale rail, typical!

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Not to be beaten I headed for Primark, where I knew I'd be able to pick up something to satisfy the craving without blowing the budget. I was overwhelmed by the number of pretty floaty tunics adorned with lace, sequins and froth but I'm not sure I want to go to full on and risk looking like a toilet roll cover, and some of the heavily embelished items tended to look a little cheap.

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I was starting to feel that maybe it wasn't meant to be when I happened upon this simple vest top that ticked all the boxes;

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nude? Yes

frilly? a little, but not too much

within budget? £2.50 Oh yes!

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I've layed it over a cream long sleeved top as it's ever so slightly see through, and my jeggings are feeling the love again today, the long thin cardi was £10 from Tesco and I don't wear it much as DH says it looks like I have a dressing gown on, we can't decide if it really does or if we think this because it is very similar to my dressing gown! The scarf really finishes the outfit and brings all the elements together. I've added a Pilgrim braclet with accents of duck egg which ties in with the other colour in the scarf and also a rose bead bracelet and a Hot Diamonds charm bracelet.

Dylan must have picked up on the romantic vibe as he became very amourous during my photoshoot and demanded a "Mummy cuddle"

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What accessories do you have lurking in the closet waiting for their debut?

Full of the joys of Spring

It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining and not a cloud to be seen in the sky. It's official Winter is over (well in my eyes it is anyway).

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I'd been waiting so patiently for a slightly warmer day to occur, each morning I would open the curtains to bitter disappointment (and cold), but today - Hooray! I could wear my pretty floral dress (£5 Primark)

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I thought it sensible to layer it over a long sleeve top for both warmth and decency, and added tights and boots to demonstrate that I wasn't totally deluded about the time of year. This cardigan is one that I bought last year in Sainsburys for about £3 and then found I had nothing to wear it with so I was thrilled to discover how perfectly it picked out the green in my dress.

My nail varnish (Coral by Nails Inc) was kindly sent to me by Laura from A Daisy Chain Dream and it matches the flowers in the print so well.

I'm so glad thatthe weather seems to be taking a turn for the better after such a miserable Winter, all I can say is, roll on Summer!

Groovy Baby

I'm feeling peace and love today in this latest buy from Ebay. I've always loved this sort of print with it's free flowing lines and bold swirls of colour. It's just taken me this long to actually own and wear it!

I've added a vest top underneath for today's trip to Sainsburys but I'm sure in the summer (when showing a bit of flesh isn't going to be so shocking) I could get away without.

I did consider wearing jeggings underneath it as I wasn't really sure if it was that teeny bit short to be worn as a dress, but my hubby reassured me that it was OK, and after giving him a demo he declared my bum acceptable to be seen should a gust of wind expose all, gotta love him!

Excuse the mismatched PJs on Dylan, he chose them, and who am I to argue with such a tempermental eccentric!

This necklace was thrifted from my Mum, I don't wear it much as it's quite unusual but I do love the design.

I did have arms full of wooden, gold and creamy toned bangles but removed them while making Mexican Bean Burgers with Dylan and forgot to put them back on.

I'd have loved to get all funky with my hair, maybe crimp a bit up, or section the front with some braids and backcomb at the crown but I didn't want anyone asking if I was going to a fancy dress party. Maybe next time I'll be that bit braver...

Red Alert

Today is apparently "National Wear Something Red day" not that I really need any excuse to totally red it up!



The tunic has lovely floaty pockets and a zip at the back. I decided to belt it to give it more shape.
This cardi was an absolute steal at £5 in the Tesco sale. It washes beautifully and even better, doesn't need ironing!
Grey tights - £2 Primark. I thought this was quite pricey but they are so soft and thick I wish I'd bought a second pair.
The hat was £3 from Primark and I love the button detail to the side.

I've bundled on as many bangles as I thought I could carry and a multi string of pearly beads.

My new red Topshop wedges completed the look!

I felt really happy today in my bright outfit and high heels despite the cold windy weather I was glowing on the inside.

What brightened up your day?

Happy Feet

Day 7 - Jeggings challenge - Completed!!!

I made it! One whole week without wearing my jeggings. As a reward, and to help prevent me slipping back into old habits I bought some brand spanking new tights:

The burgundy and purple were 50p and the grey relatively extortionate at £2 (Primark)

I also carried out a mystery shop, same as yesterday but a different town. I bought these gorgeous babies, they were in the sale and were originally £60 but I paid £10.

There's something about a red shiny shoe that makes me smile!

It would have been rude not to buy this necklace £1 and set of bangles £2, so I did.

The outfit today is a Darimeya dress that I've blogged before, this time layered over the hot pink nightie I bought last week from Tesco (£1.50). My tights are bright pink with thin black tights over the top to give a subtle flash of colour and I couldn't resist changing into my new shoes!

Mysterious Girl

Day 6 - Jeggings Challenge

I'm doing well, I think. Almost there, the end is in sight now!

I'm quite getting into the tights thing, I do feel more feminine, but also more vulnerable. I've had to be really careful about ladders and I've just come to the conclusion that tights and Velcro shoe wearing toddlers do not mix, well not on a daily basis anyway.

I'm certainly going to give other options a more consideration before I slip on my jeggings but I think they'll still feature heavily in my life.

Today's outfit is (another) ebay dress, this one originates from Warehouse. It's not the most flattering on me, but I'm sure that by the summer it will be fine. The photos don't show it very well but I'm wearing bottle green tights layered over black opaques. The butterfly belt was an impulse purchase from USC. I love it but as I've lost weight it keeps slipping down so may end up on ebay soon.

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This second dress was bought today from a well know high street store which I mystery

shopped. It was in the sale and is a size 10, I tried on the only 12 and the zip was bust so I bought the smaller size instead. I'll take it back, it's too small and I only bought it as it was a requirement of the visit to make a purchase. I thought it was too cute not to photograph first though!

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I'd have never thought the tulip skirt would work for me, I'd always favoured the A-line but I was surprised that this showed off my curves in a good way.

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Have you found anything surprisingly flattering lately?