Bargasms

I have used the phrase Bargasm before as it was a phrase coined by my friend who referred to finding bargains that were as good as you know what!

Before I went on holiday to Portugal in early September I went for a forage through my local charity shops and was so thrilled with my Bargasm Bonanza.

These shorts were 50p and the lace blouse just a few pounds.

There we a lot of Zara stuff in and I snapped up this satin shirt which looked amazing with the BNWT Karen Millen skirt that is making even me (who hates the cooler months) look forward to the cooler days ahead.

Sadly, I had to take thr trousers back as they were two sizes too big although they lookpretty good in the photo!

 I was especially thrilled with this short coat that I know I will  get lots of wear from which came in at uner £1!

Love a flat lay!

The coat has a lovely lining.

I think the piece I will get the most wear out of is this Fat Face denim skirt.

Its a reminder of the skirt I loved and lost here. A bit darker and a bit longer but it has pockets which is the most important.

Still only managing a post a month but at least I am consistent. Happy Secondhand September.

Flowers, Fashion, Family and Frocks

 

It's been another while.

July just flew by in a frantic flurry of flowers, fashion, family and frocks.

Let's start with the flowers.

This year I decided to grow some flowers from seed.

I had never done it before but was inspired by The Floral Project to sow and grow.

I ordered some seeds and the day my son, Joe moved out (sob, sob) in March my first seedling germinated

I have been amazed by the abundance of flowers including Cosmos, Lavatera, Dahlia, Delphinium, Scabiosa, Cerinthe, Erigeron, Cammomile, Stock, Poppies, Calendula, Gypsophelia and many more.

I have started a new list for next year!

Now onto Fashion.

July was the month of the pop up shop.

My sons, Joe and Ben set up Luxe Collective, a pre-loved designer fashion business and they have grown from strength to strength since starting in our spare bedroom.

They now employ over 20 people and are about to move out to their third new building.

They decided that this July they would set up a pop up shop in London next door to Louis Vuitton in Bank.

They have a big social media following - 1.4 mi on Tiktok alone.

But even they were blown away by the queues on the opening day.

I went down to London for a meeting in early July and went to see the shop before it opened.

And last weekend my husband and I travelled down to see the shop just before it closed. We met up with our London based friends, Sara and Niall who we last saw in Gran Canaria in February and had a lovely weekend.

And family!

Although it was Heidi's birthday in June, her party fell on the first Saturday in July which was a lovely sunny afternoon in the garden where her parents had organised for a special visit from some furry friends.

Mason and Heidi are growing so fast, I ca hardly keep up.

In fact I was struck with a photo of Briony holding Mason which reminded me of a photo of me holding her wearing a very similar skirt in 1999.

Finally, the frocks.

I love the opportunity to wear frocks in summer and here are my favourites this year to finish.

I hope its not another month before I get to post as it means the summer will be over!

Tempus Fugit

 

How did it get to the end of June without posting for a few months?

And how did I used to post every day?

Life has been more than a little busy with a full-time business teaching yoga, two grandchildren, an allotment and the usual life admin.

And today Heidi Rose is two years old.

My little allotment buddy is a walking, talking, bundle of energy and I have loved every minute watching her grow.

Her little cousin is not far behind, alhtough he loves dismantling my gardening efforts.

ON the rare occasion when I am not wearing dungarees or yoga pants I do still enjoy dressing up, especially wearing my Vinted buys like this gingham skirt and crochet top.

And if I do get a spare five minutes you will find me in the garden, reading about gardening.

Hope to see you soon,

Jane X

Reunited (And it feel so good)

It's the last day and I am feeling blue.I am not sure what to wear but thanks to this Zara Co-Ord that I bought from Vinted last year I have all  bases covered.

Today we are meeting up with our very good friends, Sara and Niall who by complete coincidence are in Gran Canaria at the same time as us.

They are staying in a nearby resort so we catch the local bus to meet up.

Saran and Niall live in Surrey but we met on this holiday  in 2008 when our son and their daughter had a holiday romance.

We both had four children of similar ages and despite living in Surrey they were all Liverpool fans.

Over the years we met up every summer on Eurocamp sites and as the children have grown older we have remained friends vsiting each other's homes almost every year.

In 2019 we enjoyed a week in Lanzarote together and last year we went down to their son's wedding in the Sout Downs.

They are such fun and we just pick upwhere we left off whenver we meet.

It was a beautiful day to catch up and enjoy the sunshine.

I am sure there was talk of Liverpool's latest (woeful) performance!

And so the sun sets on our winter sun break.

It must be time to plan another.

It's My Party

 Sunday. A blissfully quiet Sunday as its the only day the buildng work across from our hotel is quiet. 

We could enjoy the views, listen to the birdsong and drink a peaceful coffee on the balcony.

You would think it was my birthday. And actually it is.

I got the chance to wear this Nevery Fully Dressed swimsuit - a bithday gift from my mum.

Breakfast was on the beach in Puerto Rico in the sunshine.

Back to the hotel and the chance to laze by the Infinity Pool with a pint of wine or too!

The swimsuit matched the skirt I had bought last year from ebay.

What a way to spend a February birthday!

It's My Party

It's the day before my birthday which falls on a Saturday which means another day of banging on the building site across from our hotel so we decided to enjoy my birthday a day early by visiting the Amadores Beach Club.

I know my husband so well and his sheepish confession that he hadn't packed a birthday present for me was herded away when I produced this new Dilli Grey dress I had bought myself as I knew he would forget.

I had purchased it using my Vinted sales so it hadn't cost me anything and it hadn't cost him anything. Win win!

Underneath the dress I wore my favourite Tesco swimsuit and we relaxed and enjoyed the chill out area by the pool.

 The music had that soporific vibe and after a morning sunbathing and reading I was ready for lunch.

THe sushi was divine.

And the entertainment was entertaining.

The best birthday party for a long time.

Friday: Markets and Maritime Life

 

Frid

Friday and it was market day at Mogan.

Before we arrived on Gran Canaria we had been told of its beauty and we weren't disappointed.

We arrived by boat from Puerto Rico which took about 30 minutes and was an enjoyable bob along the waves by the coast.

The harbour itself is so pretty, surrounded by restaurants and pretty houses and lanes which weave around the back streets.

We alighted here in front of this beautiful blue and white port building.

We enjoyed a breakfast on the harbour watching the world go by.

I'm a sucker for a pretty door.

So pretty.

A coastal walk to cool off.

Just loved these ruggled rocks.

It had to be done.

At 1pm we took another boat out to see the dolphins in their natural habitat.

It took about an hour t get there. We stayed for an hour and another hour back.

The photos are not great on my phone but we saw so many happy dolphins showboating in the sea.

Cheers!

Today I wore:

Trainers: New Balance

Shorts - All Saints via Vinted

Tshirt - River Island via Vinted