Perennials

Today's outfit (snapped in the changing rooms at work) is one of my hardy perennials.

per·en·ni·al  (pə-rĕn′ē-əl) adj.

1. Lasting or active through the year or through many years.

2.

a. Lasting an indefinitely long time; enduring: perennial happiness.

b. Appearing again and again; recurrent. See Synonyms at continual.

3. Botany Living three or more years.

I bought it in July 2009 for £15 in the Principles closing down sale in Southport.

Here is the collage I took of my booty and I still have the pink dress.

Here it is in June 2013

And in August 2011

A midsummer bloom in June 2010

A spring appearance in April 2010.

Today (April 2014) I wore:

Boots - Clarks

Skirt - Principles

Vest  - Gap

Cardigan - New Look

The Last Snows Of Spring

 

I took this photo last week and now there is hardly any blossom on the tree. 

Our garden looks like there has been a pink snowstorm. 

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Trousers - Gap

Top - Top Shop

Happy Easter

 

Sunshine and blossom means it has to be a sunny floral top for Easter Sunday.

We are off to watch the Liverpool match at our friends' house and then a lovely yummy roast to look forward to.

Wherever you are I wish you a very Happy Easter.

 

 

 

I wore:

Sandals - Birkenstock

Jeans - Gap

Top - Clements Ribiero from TK Maxx

Flashback Friday

This is what I wore four years ago today.

On this day four years ago I had volcanic ash on my mind.

All planes had been grounded and we were due to fly out to Seville the following week.

Happily, we managed to catch our flight and had a wonderful time at the Feria de Sevilla which begins this year on May 6th.

It is a wonderful celebration of all things Sevillian, including food, festivals and flamenco.

Hope you have a wonderful Bank Holiday Weekend.

Blue Stripes

Just a few seconds after this photograph was taken, a seagull dropped an unwelcome present on my top.

I know it is supposed to be good luck but I was not impressed.

Then again maybe I should buy a Euro Lottery Ticket!

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Trousers - Gap

Top - Boden

Birkenstock Chic

Birkenstock Chic.
Those are two words I never thought I would see in the same sentence.
But, I have just discovered that I am so out, I'm in.

Apparently, Birkenstocks were rockin' the Spring/Summer 2014 runways.

Who'd have thought a middle-aged mum of four would be on trend.
Don't believe me then take a look at this article in the Daily Telegraph.
Having said that, I am not the only 40-something mother of four to favour the 'ugly sandals'.

It's the first time I have ever seen myself wearing the same attire as Heidi Klum.

But I love my Birkenstocks because they are so comfortable.

I wear them mostly on holiday, straight out of the sea with my feet dripping wet, I throw them on for a whole day sightseeing and could still carry on walking and at home when the weather is warm enough or every time I get a manicure.

I have never paid more than £24.95 for a pair and they have been worth every penny.

I bought my first pair on 2003 for my holiday to La Manga.

My next pair for our trip to Italy in 2006.

Below are my red ones, worn in Spain in 2009.

And today I am wearing my coral pair which I first bought in 2008.

No doubt when they come back into fashion in 10 years time I will still be wearing these.

I wore:

Jeans - Gap

Top - River Island

Sandals - Birkenstock

The Simple Things

 It doesn't take much to make me happy.

Being off work for two weeks got me off to a good start.

Then the sun came out.

Today I started my day with my daily yoga practice outside for the first time this year.

Then a three mile walk with my 10-year-old chocolate Labrador, Harvey, to the beach and back.

At the end of our road we pass the allotments.

Before coming to the Southport to Liverpool rail line crossing.

Then we pass the army camp.

Almost there.

"Come on Slowcoach."

And there we are.

Our own deserted beach.

Bliss!

Time to enjoy what's left of the sunshine.

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Jeans and Vest - Gap

Shirt - Ghost

Cream of the Crop

Off out for a 50th birthday meal for my friend Di.

Di is a lovely friend who I first met when my eldest son, Sam was just a baby.

She is such a warm, caring person who was just born to be a nurse.

However, I still find it still slightly inappropriate that with a name like Di she works as a hospice nurse!

I wanted to wear this top which is cropped and means as soon as I sit down my back is on show. 

This cream jacket was the answer, light in colour and texture it means that I can maintain my modesty and wear the top.

I am not sure what this weekend will bring but I hope you all have a happy weekend.

I wore:

Sandals, Belt and Jeans - Gap

Top - Top Shop

Jacket - Boden

Dark Vision

 I had lots of plans today.

Mow the lawn, mop the floors, clean the fridge....

But then this book arrived, a debut novel from my former Liverpool Echo colleague, Debbie Johnson.

I worked with Debbie for ten years and she was a great colleague, funny, feisty and very, very clever.

I love novels set in the city where I worked for many, many years.

Although I was born in Manchester, I have lived and worked in and around Liverpool since 1989 and consider it my home city.

If you want to know more about Debbie, you can read it here.

Now please excuse me while I follow the adventures of Lily and Gabriel.

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Jeans - Tesco

Top - Boden

OM!

So excited.

I have just booked my tickets for the OM Yoga Show in Manchester in May.

I was delighted to see they had a workshop on handstands.

I have been able to master the headstand for some time but the handstand has always escaped me.

I am not sure I will ever be able to stay up but I will give it a good go.

Then all I will need is a beach.

I wore:

Bikini - Next

Angelica Slice

I have been after a pair of tan flats for a while and when I saw these shoes on this blog  last week I had to have a pair.

They are called Angelica Slice.

They cost £39.99 but luckily for me I had saved enough £2 coins to cover the costs.

Of course, they are from my favourite shoe shop, Clarks, and true to form they felt so comfortable as soon as I put them on. 

I am a size 4.5 and Clarks is one of the few shops that still sell half sizes, but for me it makes all the difference.

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Jeans - Marks and Spencer

Shirt - Boden

Graphic

I have been after a bright graphic top for a while.

I just sold some clothes on eBay and had some cash just waiting to be spent.

I noticed this one on the River Island website after my daughter had left the site up.

Honestly, if there was an A-level in browsing clothing stores online my daughter would be on track for an A*.

Still, I am glad she went to this site, River Island isn't a shop I normally go for.

One of the best things about this top as well as the style is the  fact that it washes and dries so quickly and doesn't need an iron.

Win, win, win.

And if I am not mistaken, I have just spotted a snapshot on the laptop of my daughter wearing it.

Sneaky!

I wore:

Jeans - Marks and Spencer

Shoes - Clarks

Top - River Island

Lighting It Blue

 

Posting a little late but this is what I wore on Wednesday.

I was showing my support for World Autism Day and the Light It Blue campaign.

Iconic buildings such as The Empire State Building took part by shining a blue light to raise awareness of the condition.

Autism is a condition close to my heart.

My four-year-old  nephew, Seth, has been diagnosed with autism.

 

 

Here he is on holiday with my son, Joe.

Seth currently attends a mainstream school but my brother and his wife are uncertain about his future.

Anything that can raise awareness of the condition will always get my full support.

 

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Jeans and Jacket - Gap

Top - Top Shop

Welcome April

A quick photo on the way to work. 

It was a marvellous misty morning that have way to beautiful sunshine. 

Welcome April. Lets hope there is more sunshine on the way. 

I wore:

Shoes- Clarks

Trousers - H and M

T- Shirt - Warehouse

Jacket - Tesco