I recently bought a few things for my autumn/winter wardrobe that I thought I would share with you.
I'm absolutely loving these boots from Ted & Muffy. They were £170, but I didn't realise that if you shop online you can get 25% off your first order with the code WEL25. They are super comfy and I wear them to work with dresses or at the weekend with jeans. They're really versatile.
I wore this travelling to Portugal in the October holidays and had to go in the full body scanner at the airport due to the sequins which set of the x-ray machine!
After House of Fraser I went to Princes Square to Cos, a shop that I love, and my favourite piece that I chose is a belted blouse. Again, its a versatile item that can be dressed up or down. It's only downside is that it's dry clean only.
I have been on the hunt for a waterproof jacket that is practical yet stylish.
I have a Ted Baker mac but it's showerproof, not waterproof which is not ideal for Glasgow! I wore it to the Foodies Festival in Edinburgh last year and got soaked right through my jumper, t-shirt and to my bra!! I also have my North Face parka which is waterproof, but it's huge and puffy and I need something more lightweight
Well I think I've found the perfect jacket...
I spotted this Mac on the Wear Eponymous Instagram the other evening whilst browsing and headed on over to investigate more on the website. Sure enough, the Protected Species jacket is not only fully waterproof, but it's fully windproof too. Result!
It's not long now until we head to Portugal for our first family holiday. I literally cannot wait - it's going to be amazing!!
However I'm feeling slightly disorganised as I haven't really given much thought to the holiday packing until now. I needed a swimsuit - it's been forever since I've been on a holiday in the sun! I decided to head to House of Fraser in the hope that they would have something suitable. I struggle to get swimsuits that are long enough as I'm pretty tall (just under 6 foot!). The sales assistant recommended I try on a Biba swimsuit and I ended up buying one! It's a gorgeous black swimsuit with gold detail on the straps. The ruched material over the tummy area makes it flattering for my mum tum.
My bathroom scales had broken and I've only just replaced them. I stepped on the scales & was so disappointed to find that I've put on nearly a stone and I'm back where I started in Nov last year. I was doing so well and was happy with my size but then I got so busy at work and stopped going to the gym classes. I've a few weeks to get back on track and try to tone up a little before the holiday!! The one area that I'm just not happy with is my thighs. Perhaps one of these wrap things that you can get done at a spa might help as a quick fix? Has anyone tried them?
Last week I was at the House of Fraser AW15 preview event. We sipped on cocktails made by Hutcheson's, nibbled delicious canapés whilst browsing the latest collections. It was such a lovely evening.
One of the brands that caught my eye that I just had to share with you is Gray & Willow. Launching exclusively at House of Fraser this autumn, the brand has a selection of ladies clothing as well as the most gorgeous homeware pieces.
"Gray & Willow embodies relaxed design for your contemporary lifestyle. The brand explores a mindful approach to design that demonstrates relaxed versatility for an effortless, modern Scandinavian style, which has comfort at the core of it’s aesthetic."
I would quite happily fill my wardrobe and kitchen with all of the Gray & Willow! The clothing does have a relaxed feel about it and would be ideal for a busy mum's capsule wardrobe. I rarely have time to think, let alone plan my outfits, and instead rotate around a few tops with jeans (Breton stripe, navy jumper or a black shirt) or a few smart/casual dresses that I team with thick tights for work. I desperately need a few more items and am just loving this brand. I'm hoping that soon I can justify a wee shopping spree.
Cocktails from Hutcheson's
Gray & Willow Fashion
:-)
Gray & Willow Homeware
Gray & Willow Scarf - thank you HOF :-)
Disclosure - I received a goodie bag on attending the HOF AW15 event
I was in desperate need for some comfortable shoes for work... something smart, but something that I can walk around in easily as at the end of the week, when I have the kids, I do the school run and then make a mad dash for the office! So basically a versatile style that can be dressed up or down. I'm still trying to stick to a capsule wardrobe and I don't have space for loads of clothes!
Just a week after I started drafting this post, I found a perfect pair of ankle boots that met my wishes... ta da:
My feet are in a bit of a state. So much so that the littlest asked what was up with them and why was my skin so hard. Yikes! I bought a little buffer, pumice stone type thing but it's pretty rubbish. I think it's perhaps time to invest in something a bit more powerful... the likes of this came to mind:
My home office area has been improved lately due to my new Made.com desk, and as a result I've got some new shelves that need to be styled. I've been looking out for magazine files and haven't been able to find anything in the shops as yet that takes my fancy. I still like these ones from Muji, but I think I need something a bit sturdier. I like this one from Brissi, but it's very pricey at £29!!
I love Mint Velvet. I was introduced to the brand at the end of 2011 by House of Fraser's personal shopper Jeanette, and it's now one of my go-to labels for when I need a new item to add to my capsule wardrobe. At the moment a number of my tops have become worn out through a few years of wear and tear. I could be done with another casual top for day-to-day so I thought I would do a bit of online browsing!
I love the button detailing on the front and back of this shirt. Just gorgeous and I thought this would be a versatile piece that could be dressed down with jeans or equally dressed up for a dinner date :-)
There are quite a few different shimmer tees in Mint Velvet at the moment - I do love a bit of sparkle and sequins in my outfits! And I also spotted these fantastic trainers:
This week the school's go back in Glasgow... the summer (if you can call it that!!) has flown by.
It's time to get organised with uniforms, school shoes, rucksacks for the new term.
We were invited along to Dr Martens to check out their Back to School range for kids. Being completely honest, I had never stepped into a Dr Martens store before (I didn't even realise there was one on Sauchiehall Street, right opposite The Body Shop) and I've never owned (or even tried on for that matter) a pair of Dr Martens myself.
The history of the brand really interested me. Dr Martens air-cushioned sole was designed by German inventor Dr Klaus Maertens and was created to meet the specific need or providing additional support and comfort for his broken foot. The Dr Martens boot with its trademark yellow stitch, grooved sole and heel-loop was manufactured by R Griggs and Co, British boot makers, as a boot for workers and was originally worn by postmen and policemen due to its comfortable, durable and lightweight design. A specific range of "Made in England" products are still manufactured at the Cobbs Lane factory. This is the home of Dr Martens where the first pair rolled off the production line on April 1st, 1960.
In terms of the children's Back to School range, there isn't a huge choice but that perhaps makes our job as parents easier as my little ones couldn't fuss over which ones to pick! I personally love the patent Mary Jane style for girls.
We tried a Chelsea boot style for my son (which doesn't appear to be on the website so I can't show you a photo), but it was unfortunately a bit tight around his foot so instead we chose the Velcro shoe, Jerry, which was much more comfortable for him. That's probably the only downside of these shoes - they are not available in different width fittings. However, huge plus point for me is the sturdy sole. These shoes are going to last well, plus when the weather turns and the pavements are icy the grip on the sole will be invaluable. Velcro closure rather than laces is also ideal for my son's age as I haven't attempted to teach him how to tie a bow yet!
We left the shop with him wearing his new shoes and despite walking around for hours in Glasgow's city centre there wasn't a single complaint of the shoes hurting - which I had anticipated given they were a brand new pair. Unlike the adult shoes, the children's ones are made with softer leather.
Which brings me onto the adult shoes... I felt that it was the ideal time for me to try on a few pairs.
Crikey, the original shoes were sore and certainly would have needed lots of breaking in!!
I then tried on a pair of Teresa boots, these have the air-cushioned sole, but it's slimmer in comparison to the original boots. The fit overall is a bit slimmer so the boots don't look as bulky as the original ones. I love the colour (cherry red high-shine rub-off Arcadia) and the strapping wraps around the back with the buckle gives a bit of extra interest.
I fell in love and ended up buying them for myself... and I have been wearing them every day since!!
I can dress them up with tights and a tunic for work, or dress them down with jeans and a jumper. They're super versatile and unlike the original shoes I tried, these didn't need breaking in (I have been wearing them with two pairs of socks as I've got cold feet all the time!).
P.S. Did you know that Dr Martens do clothes and bags too... I tried on this gorgeous cut out black tunic, but it was too short :-(
We received one complimentary pair of school shoes - thank you Dr Martens. Opinions, as always, are honest and my own.
I'm a huge fan of leopard print... I seem to be drawn to all things leopard print when I'm shopping... I just can't help it!
I used to have a pair of leopard print boots from Boden that I wore to work but they've now seen better days (my old colleagues used to say it was giraffe print anyway!) and my Boden leopard print gladiator sandals are also on the way out so I'm on the hunt for some other additions to my wardrobe!
The other weekend the kids and I went to Glasgow's St Enoch Centre to get a few bits & pieces for our glamping holiday.
We arrived nice and early as the centre was opening so it wasn't too busy. It's rare that I take the kids shopping, preferring instead to pick up clothes for them as I do the supermarket shop. However I'm starting to find with my daughter that she would like input into her clothes and sometimes what I pick out for her isn't what she would like to wear (she's 4 people, just 4!!). Her big brother on the other hand doesn't seem to be too fussed.
I found it a struggle to avoid the toy shops and that seemed to be all they were interested in; our first stop ended up being The Disney Store. It was day one of their sale so we very lucky and got quite a few bargains. They both had wanted the Big Hero 6 pjs but they weren't in the right size for my daughter, so she selected some Cinderella ones instead. She also picked out a Tinkerbell dressing gown/housecoat/robe (I never know what to call it!) as her current one has become too small.
They also both chose Star Wars Rebels lunchbags - I always take a lunchbox on car trips as it can be filled with a few healthy snacks to keep them occupied. These too were in the sale, and my son also picked a matching Star Wars Revels rucksack (doesn't seem to be available online) which he used for our holiday and he can then take for Primary 2 (I can't believe he's getting so grown up!). We had a browse round the toys, watched a bit of Big Hero 6 which was on the big screen and then we headed to the next shop. I was quite proud of the kids as we managed to browse the toys but there were no tantrums when I said we weren't getting any and I managed to escort them off to the next shop without any tears! They seem to be getting used to 'window shopping' and creating wish lists for birthdays or Christmas.
BHS also had their summer sale running (up to half price online and in store) and we managed to find some cool summer T-shirts that were on offer. There were loads of clothes in store that took the kids fancy and my son was struggling to pick just one T-shirt. Both of the kids ended up being drawn to one that came with a water pistol and we bought these on the premise that they could play with the water guns at the yurt. They also had a great laugh chatting about being twins! The T-shirts were great but the water pistol is obviously a gimmick and not great quality... they leaked lots which was a bit disappointing especially as T-shirts were quite expensive at £10 and £12 each depending on the size.
If I had a bit more time to browse, I would have found these T-shirts which are much better value and equally would have been huge hits with the kids as they seem to be interested in dinosaurs now due to Jurassic World Lego (I let my son watch a clip of this on YouTube at the weekend and he's hooked!) and they also love Big Hero 6 at the moment.
There are some lovely girls clothes at BHS too. I've previously raved about the Millie range which I love, and I spotted a number of gorgeous dresses and T-shirts for little girls. The littlest is obsessed with pink dresses but if only she would branch out and try some other colours...
We also grabbed some new socks for the eldest at BHS as he only seems to have school socks that fit him just now! Warm socks are a must for camping!
I had wanted to go to Trespass to pick up a fleece for my daughter, but they both were getting a bit fed up of looking at clothes by this point and were desperate to go to Hamleys as I had mentioned they could have a small toy each for the holiday. Hamleys is absolutely huge, and there is just so much choice. My son very quickly picked a Ninjago Airjitzu whirly thing for £7 which I thought would be ideal for playing with out in the garden at home or at the farm on our holiday. But my daughter was just overwhelmed and despite me giving her suggestions of what she could choose she struggled and became a bit cranky.
To be honest by this point we were getting close to lunchtime so I can understand why she was a bit out of sorts. In the end she chose a make-up case that had a variety of lip glosses and eye shadows, blusher etc. It was in the sale too with 50% off (it doesn't seem to be reduced anymore and is at full price of £30 online) so I agreed. Plus I was hoping it would keep her away from my own make-up stash!!
We paid for our toys and headed to Ed's Easy Diner for some food. The diner has a gluten free menu which I was really impressed with. I seem to be seeing this more and more at restaurants now. With our tummies full and hands full of bags of shopping we decided to call it a day.
All in all it was a very successful trip I think.
Do you take your children shopping with you?
We received a complimentary £100 voucher for the St Enoch Centre in exchange for a review. As always, opinions are my own and are honest.
I'm in desperate need of a new pair of slippers as both of my pairs have got holes in them (so much so that one pair has already gone into the bin!).
I love the mahabis slippers - the upper is grey (you can choose dark or light) and then you can pick a pair of colourful soles... I quite fancy the yellow ones.
// Hair & Beauty
My skin seems to have worsened again... rubbish :-(
I ran out of Merumaya Luxury Facial Wash and since then my skin has deteriorated, particularly my chin. So I'm putting it onto my shopping list! I quite fancy trying the Melting Cleansing Balm too.
// Home & Interiors
I have a cheap set of lightweight cutlery that I bought from Amazon as a transition for the kids from plastic cutlery to grown-up cutlery. However, with it being cheap has meant that it's now ready for the bin; they haven't lasted well at all. So I'm now on the lookout for a new collection. Rick & I both really liked the gold cutlery that we spotted at Zara Home in London recently, but I'm not sure gold is a good colour choice given that most of my interior is grey, including the dining room.
John Lewis have a black set(which are dishwasher friendly!) and cost £10 for 16 pieces. Perhaps this would be a good interim set until the kids are able to use heavier forks and knives. They certainly look better quality than the ones I currently have.
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