Happy Birthday Ben

Happy Birthday to my baby boy, Ben.

He spent the first four days of his life in the Special Care Baby Unit as I was suffering from flu when he was born and he caught it too.

Ben was born on a Thursday morning and when he was three days old I walked into the SCBU to feed him by tube when I saw this Mother's Day card on top of the incubator.

Inside the nurses had taped this photograph.

His birthday usually falls around Mother's Day but this year it is on the same day.

As he was so poorly when he was born it always reminds me how lucky I am to be a mother.

Bad Blogger

Forgive me fellow bloggers for I have been a bad blogger.

It has been over a week since my last post.

I am finding it harder and harder to blog regularly but I don't know why.

Work and family life has always been hectic and I have managed to keep posting before.

I will do my best.

This weekend will be busy.

Tomorrow it is Mother's Day and my son's 14th birthday.

Whatever you do this weekend, I hope it's a good one.

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Trousers - H and M

Shirt - Boden

Jumper - Primark

Why I Wear Make Up

Whatever your views on the viral  #nomakeupselfie trend which has raised over £1,000,000 for Cancer Research in the past few weeks  I have to say there is a very good reason why I wear make-up: it makes me look and feel better.

OK so it takes me five minutes to slap on my slap and I am sure if I had more time I could end up looking more like my daughter than my younger sister, but at 48 the make-up certainly does help shed a few wrinkles, brighten up my complexion and add a spring in my step.

My face wore:
Bare Minerals Medium Foundation
Bare Minerals Warmth
Bare Minerals 7pm Eye Liner
Bare Minerals Flawless Mascara
Bare Minerals 'The Promise' Eyeshadow Duo
Bourjois Light Beige Matt Finish Powder
Nars South Beach Multi Stick on Cheeks and Lips

What do you think?

White Heat

The weather has turned again and its back to layering up for a while.

And while it may be colder, wearing a white top reminds me that summer is not too far away.

At the weekend I sorted my wardrobe out and got rid of as much black as possible, adding some lighter, brighter shades.

I also added around 20 items to eBay in a bid to extend my meagre spring wardrobe.

Selling on eBay has helped me to focus on the not so great buys and a reminder what sells well if I change my mind.

I have even added a couple of charity shop buys that I am hoping to make some money on.

How is your spring wardrobe coming along?

I wore:

Boots - Clarks

Trousers - Gap

Shirt - Ghost

Simple White Tee

I decided to keep it clean and simple today with skinny jeans and a white t-shirt.

I am so lucky that the dress code at my college is so relaxed.

I did wear a jacket to smarten myself up.

I always feel so much better when I can dress as 'me' at work.

It was even warm enough for the first airing of the ballet flats.

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Jeans - Marks and Spencer

T-shirt - Warehouse

Necklace - Next

Enough Said

On the way to Mexico we watched the film, Enough Said; a gentle comedy about middle aged singletons who get together.

It was James Gandolfini's last film and the first time I had ever seen actress, Julia Louis Dreyfus.

I loved the film but I loved Dreyfus's wardobe even more.

Her casual style echoed my own aspirational style.

When I came back I looked through some articles and found some looks that appealed to me.

At 5ft 2in she is also much closer to my 5ft 1in height than my other style role models.

Here are a few more snaps and styles to help me out of the style doldrums.

What do you think?

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Return of the Mac

My winter coat is looking a little jaded as we move forward into spring.

But at minus 2C this morning I needed to layer up to keep out the chill until the sun shone.

My Gap mac fills the gap between winter and spring.

It is deceptively warm and cozy and the lighter colour and style is just perfect for the lighter, brighter days.

It may be a while before I lose the boots.

I wore:

Boots - Clarks

Skirt - Boden

Shirt - Zara

Mac - Gap

The Joy of Spring

I haven't posted a regular daily outfit for a while as I lost my style mojo.

Apart from the recent celebrations and holiday, my daily outfits have been nothing to write home about.

But today was a different story.

The sun shone and I am now able to take my snaps outside.

Hopefully, the tide has turned.

This floral top always puts me in the mood for lighter, brighter days.
Looking back at my blog last year I hadn't realised that it was Mother's Day on March 10th.
Here is what I wore last year.

I wore:

Boots - Clarks

Jeans - Marks and Spencer

Shirt - Zara

Happy Birthday Joe

Joseph Michael burst into the world on Wednesday March 8th 1995 weighing 6 pounds 8 ounces. 

I was in labour for less than two hours and almost didn't make it to hospital. 

He came home from Leeds Met university this weekend where he is studying Accountancy and Finance. 

Here he is with his sister. 

And here he is just a few weeks old with Rebecca who was born the same day .

Happy Birthday Joe. 

El Dorado Seaside Suites

I share my birthday (February 19th) with a Prince (Andrew) which is about as close as I have ever got to royalty - until this year when we went to El Dorado Seaside Suites in Rivera Maya and I was treated like a princess.
Although we had booked the holiday to celebrate our Silver Wedding we couldn't fly out until February 17th, but it was well worth the wait.
So we celebrated our anniversary at home with a meal and this is how I celebrated my 48th birthday. 

Although we spent most of our week away relaxing on the beach, we did find time for some trips. 

Here we are at the foot of the Nohuch Mui pyramid in Coba. 

It is the highest Mayan pyramid at 130 feet tall. 

The Mayan people prefer sleeping on hammocks and I have to say they are very comfy. 

Another cocktail on the beach?

Don't mind if I do!

Time for some yoga. 

At the top of the Mayan pyramid with spectacular views of the Yucatan Penninsula. 

After that exhausting climb it was time to cool off in a refreshing cenote ( a natural sinkhole).

Paul enjoyed some deep sea fishing.

A birthday cake made of towels was a lovely surprise from our housekeeper. 

Mexican Evenings

Monday

Looking a little pasty but we had been up for around 36 hours.

Dress: Karen Millen

Shoes: New Look

Tuesday

Feeling rested and refreshed.

Dress: Butter by Nadia

Sandals: TK Maxx

Bag: Gap

Wednesday (and birthday)

Dress: Boden

Sandals, as before

Thursday

Dress: H and M

Sandals, as before

Friday

Dress and belt: Top Shop

Necklace and sandals, New Look

Arm Candy: Husband

Saturday

Dress: Butter by Nadia, as before

Necklace: Next

Sandals, as before

Sunday

Dress: Miss Selfridge

Necklace: Playa del Carmen

Sandals: Boden

Mexico Update: The Outfits

We are finally back and unpacked from our week away at El Dorado Seaside Suites in Riviera Maya in Mexico.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate our Silver Wedding and spend my very first birthday in the sun.

I have been trying to catch up with all your blogs but please bear with me.

I will start with some outfits shots before a full holiday review.

Although we had a fairly generous baggage allowance I didn't want to spend too much time worrying about outfits so tried to keep the packing to a minimum.

Here is what I wore during the day.

Day 1

Sundress: Primark

Birkenstocks

Day 2

Twelveways dress, bought online after reading this review.

Unfortunately, I ended up with a customs charge which made it quite expensive but I expect I will wear it for years and it was very versatile.

Sandals: Boden

Necklace: Dorothy Perkins

Day 3

Twelveways Dress as before

Skirt: New Look

Sandals: as before

Necklace: as before

Day 4

Twelveways Dress, as before

Birkenstocks, as before

Day 5

Dress: as before

Birkenstocks, as before

Day 6

Dress: Top Shop

Sandals, as before

Day 7 was a boring travel home outfit: leggings, boots, twelveways dress worn as a tunic and denim shirt!

Coming Up

What I Wore in the evenings

Holiday and resort review