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