November

Farewelll November.
November is usually my least favourite month of the year.
But no it has passed.
The countdown to Spring begins in December.

This year I was determined to bring some colour to the dark days.

Here's to December.

December will be magic again.
 

What A Difference A Cardigan Makes

This outfit is simply last Monday's outfit with a cardigan thrown on top.

I was surprised how different the outfit looked.

As the weather gets cooler it is all about layering.

 

I  have to say my lovely light Marks and Spencer thermals have been brilliant.

 

I am excited today as I have just booked two tickets to go to the Clothes Show next Sunday with my daughter.

I can't believe I have never been before.

 

I will now spend the next 10 days worrying about what I will be wearing.

 

Today I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Skirt - Marks and Spencer

Top - Vero Moda

Cardigan - Boden

 

 

 

Lunchtime Christmas Shop

I made amazing progress with my Christmas Shopping list today.

At lunchtime I drove to the local shopping centre to take a dress back to Next and managed to find presents for my two nephews, niece and my son's girlfriend.

I was back at my desk within 45 minutes feeling very smug.

How are you getting on with your Christmas shopping?

 

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Jeans - Tesco

Top - Marks and Spencer

This outfit is a twist on Lilac Friday.

I am amzed at how just changing the jacket gives the outfit a different feel.

Lokking at the capsule below I think it is the most like outfit 22.

 

I can hardly believe that there are just three days of November left before Dressember starts.

 

Today I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Jeggings - Marks and Spencer

Top - Vero Moda

Jacket - Asos

 

 

Thermal Underwear as Outerwear

It's a bit parky* up North today which means it's time to revert to the thermals again.

My thermal body and thermal tights are just the thing for layering up and staying warm.

 

I know keeping to one colour scheme is best for shorties like me but I like the textured  look of grey against black, brown or blue.

 

I am not sure there is a number form the capsule  list below as number 8 is a top and  not a buttoned up cardigan.

 

Still it shows the endless options of a good capsule.

 

*parky - an adjective used by northerners to describe chilly conditions or weather, as in:

 

It's a bit parky today, love - you'll want your coat!

 

 

Today I wore:

 

Boots - Clarks

Skirt and thermals - Marks and Spencer

Cardigan - Boden

Necklace - Wallis

Belt - Tesco

Saturday Night Sunday Morning

 

 

Last night was the night to wear my new Karen Millen dress and thanks for all your style tips.

In the end I went for bare legs, statement ear-rings, no necklace, black sandals and my hair down.

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We had a fabulous evening with lots of eating, drinking and dancing until the small hours.

 

I also wore the flower which originally came with my shoes as a corsage.

I spent most of the night dancing.

 

It's back to the Sunday chores today, shopping, cooking and getting ready for the week ahead.

 

 

 

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Linking to Visible Monday.

 

Saturday

Dress and Shoes: Karen Millen

Sunday

Dress - Tesco

Boots - Clarks

 

Lilac Friday

Today's outfit is probably closest to number 2 although I have added the cardigan.

I am quite pleased with this week's array of outfits, the capsule has encouraged me to wear much brighter colours that I would have done otherwise at this time of year.

 

I am looking forward to a busy weekend.

How about you?

 

 I wore:

Jeggings - Marks and Spencer

Top - Vero Moda

Cardigan - Boden

Belt Up

Today was just about the greyest day of the year so far,

I was so glad to be wearing orange as it made me feel so much brighter.

The belt help to keep this annoyingly too big blouse together.

Today's look is inspired  by number 17.

 

Tomorrow looks like a 22 sort of a day.

 

But then again, maybe a number 3.

I wore:

Shoes boots - Clarks

Skirt - Marks and Spencer

Top - John Lewis

Finders Keepers

Now my daughter and I are the same size (5ft 1 and a UK size 10) it is a case of first up, best dressed.

Today she had a late start as it is mock exam week.

I was up and out by 7.45am which meant she didn't see what I was wearing.

 

Until last night I didn't think I had a grey jacket for this capsule until I was tidying her room and found this little number from Asos.

 

Although I am wearing the tan shoe boots I think this comes closes to number 27.

Which look do you think I should go for next?

 

I wore:

Light trousers - Tesco (£5 in the sale)

Shoes boots - Clarks

Shirt - Boden (from a charity shop)

Jacket - Asos (my daughter's)

Visible Underwear - Thermal Vest (Marks and Spencer)

 

 

Orange

I had been hunting for an orange shirt for a while when I noticed this shirt in John Lewis.

It had been reduced from £45 to £13.50.

Unfortunately, they didn't have my size so I bought the next one up thinking I could add layers underneath.

I am not sure.

It does seem a little big and an odd shape.

I will have to see.

I am pairing it with my black leggings and shoe boots.

A homage to outfit number 12.

 

 

 

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Jeggings - Marks and Spencer

Shirt - John Lewis

Scarf- River Island

Mix and Match

 

Thanks for the good wishes - I am feeling much better now.

 

 

Today's outfit is inspired by number 20 on the capsule.

The top costs £2.50 from a charity shop and is by Vero Moda - it still had the original label on.

The skirt is at least 4 years old and the shoe boots are enjoying their second winter.

 

 

I wore:

Shoe bots - Clarks

Skirt - Marks and Spencer

Top - Vero Moda

Notes From A Weekend

It may have been the cheese and wine evening on Friday evening but I spent the weekend in a blur of migraines and weird dreams.

 

In between I managed a coffee and hot chocolate trip to the local village with my daughter.

Red squirrel spotting in the garden.

 

And a lazy Sunday morning with the papers, a mug of tea and a boiled egg.

More Capsule Capers

While mooching around Pinterest I found this fabulous capsule of 13 items.
 

It is supposed to make 31 different looks.
 

Never one to miss on the opportunity to experiment with capsules I had a look through my wardrobe to see if I could replicate it.
 

Here is what I came up with.

1 Dress

1 Cardigan

1 Jacket (I chose a long cardigan instead)

1 neutral coloured trousers

1 dark coloured trousers

1 dark skirt

1 neutral skirt

4 tops

1 tan coloured shoe boots

1 dark coloured shoes boots (instead of shoes)

Total: 13 items
 

 

My plan is to see how I can work these items for the rest of November.

Jumping For Joy

Friday's inspiration comes from none other than Pudsey Bear.

It was Children In Need Day and we were asked to wear something spotty for work.

Our ingenious IT guy had forgotten but went into the stationery cupboard and came out adorned with little orange stickers.

He looked fabulous.

 

 

As it was Friday I was jumping for joy.

 

In the evening we went to a Wine Tasting Quiz Night in aid of the school PTA.

It was a night of singing, dancing, drinking and quizzes.

I don't know why my husband's best friend decided it would be a good idea to go and remind the headmaster that he was in the same class as him and my husband at school.

The very polite but sligthly tipsy head came over to our table and you could see the look of horror.

 

"So when.... "

And the time that....

 

was frequently followed by "you knew and I didn't" had me in stitches.

Thankfully, an even more drunken mum grabbed him and whisked him away for a dance.

 

I would love to be a fly on the staffroom wall on Monday!
Talking ow which I am linking this to Visible Monday.

 

Today I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Dress - Matalan

Cardigan - Boden

 

Misery

 

Oh my goodness, I look a bit psycho here.

I don't know why I look so miserable. I had a great day.

The sun shone for most of the day.

I managed an hour's walk at lunchtime and after work I went out for a lovely meal with my husband, daughter and her friend.

 

 

Maybe I was feeling a little miserable about the fact that I will never look anything like the model in today's inspiration photograph which comes again from the Baujken catalogue.

Today I wore:

Boots - Clarks

Skirt - Karen Millen

Top - Tesco

Cardigan - Marks and Spencer

Supermarket Inspiration

Today's inspiration comes directly from the supermarket.

I had spotted this denim dress/tunic in September and though it would probably end up in the sale.

I was right. As I was buying the office milk yesterday I noticed it on the sale rail for £7.00.

I think it is meant to be worn with leggings but as a shorty it comes to my knees.

I was in such a rush this morning that I forgot to add my scarf for the photo but it was a cost dress for wearing while I caught up with writing UCAS references - 40 down, 30 to go.

 

I wore:

Boots - Clarks

Dress - Tesco

Thermal Top - Marks and Spencer

More Everday Inspiration

Today's inspiration comes from my Autumn 2012 pinterest board which was originally posted in this blog here.

 

I passed on standing on the chair as I didn't want to have a broken limb to contend with before work.

 

I love the way inspiration boards and pictures remind you of what you already have in your (or your daughter's) wardrobe.

 

I wore:

Boots - Clarks

Dress - Gap

Shirt - my daughter's

Everyday Inspiration

I love J's blog where she posts the picture which inspires her daily outfit.

 

Today's inspiration came from the Baukjen catalogue which came through my door.

As soon as I saw this photograph it reminded me of my £5 denim dress from Primark and favourite Boden cardigan.

 

I love the way the blue dress mixes with the grey tights and caramel boots to add texture.

As Monday is also the coldest day of the week in the office I wore my new grey thermal body from Marks and Spencer underneath.

The material is so thin but incredibly warm.

I was toastie warm all day long.

 

I wore:

Boots - Clarks

Dress - Primark

Cardigan - Boden

Body - Marks and Spencer

Linking to Visible Monday.

Notes From A Week And Its End

I apologise for the absence of posts but it has been a busy week which began in A & E when we were told my daughter's sore foot was due to two broken bones.

After her foot was put in plaster she was sent home on crutches with an appointment for the next day when a new cast would be fitted.

 

 

I won't go into the details other than to say I understand doctors sometimes get it wrong.

But for those two days it was a struggle.

Have you ever tried to bath a 15-year-old with waist length hair and a leg in plaster?

This weekend startred with some lovely sunshine and the chance to watch my youngest son play football which was a family affair.

My 17-year-old has just started coaching the team and my husband has been manager of the team for the past six years.

 

It also marked the start of winter which I measure when the last leaf leaves my cherry tree.

 

As usual Sunday started with a sprint round the supermarket.

Here is Ben baking some meringues for our evening meal which were delicious.

 

I would also like to thank everyone for their suggestions about how to wear my Karen Millen dress.

I have decided to go with hair down but swept to one side, big ear-rings, a silver bangle, bare legs, black strappy sandals and cream clutch bag.

I will preview the look soon.

 

After Sunday Lunch with the family we settled down to watch a film before the fun starts all over again.

How was it for you?