Waiting For Hush

No, not the peace and quiet kind, although that is very nice.....I've been waiting (not so patiently) for these Coated Biker Jeans from Hush.
On back order they arrived and were opened with so much anticipation, like a very over excited child on Christmas day. My present to myself, it's all good!

I love the detailing, the zips and padded knees, they feel great on, more than that they make me feel great!! Well worth the wait - & 20% off :-)

I wore them out to a drinks party, with my bright pink & christmassy Boden Blouse now 50% off in the sale, ggggrrrr!

So, last day in work today - ending with an antenatal class at 9.00pm, but then straight to my best friends for a girlie get together! Cant wait! My Christmas starts tonight!!

Wishing you all a happy day whatever you're up to!
XX

Just Add Hat......

Bbbbrrrrr. Well December has definitely brought  cold weather to the West Pennines.
No matter what the weather Mr.L and I always have to walk Olly, no excuses. We need good cold weather wear to keep cosy warm whilst battling the elements.

On a recent trip to Leicester we came across down filled jackets in the sale at Blacks. I've always been interested to try out down filled jackets, having heard how warm they are without the bulk. I have to say they really impressed me! Really cosy with 80% down and 20% feather and fits into a tiny bag about the size of my hand!! In fact we were so impressed Mr.L & I got matching ones ;-) They are last year's Lowe Alpine.

Whilst we were buying new jackets we decided we needed new wellies too. I've always bought traditional Hunter wellies, having had a pair that lasted ten years and I had to throw as the heel was so worn down!! Such a shame the quality has dropped over recent years and my last two pairs split within a year - I needed something sturdier. We found  Muckboots perusing the web and decided to give them a try. 

They are so warm & sturdy - it's like walking in slippers (very supportive slippers!!!) I love the styling and the colourways - brighten you up on a cold winters day :-)

Olly getting in on the action!

So, all I need now is a hat. Here's my favourite....

Barts Fur Cable Knit

But any of these would cut it...

Boden - add a bit of colour to the grey! :-)

Mint Velvet

UGG - for 'hotheads'

White Company

Are you ready for whatever Winter throws at us?
Which hat would you choose?
XX

Around Here Lately

Gosh, where on earth has the time gone? I'm missing this little space. I may not be as articulate in my writing as some bloggers out there, but I love this small space. Sometimes life runs away and you have to play catch up constantly - that's me at the moment. So, thank you so much for coming back if you've dropped by before or 'hello' if you are a first timer! I'm hoping to be back to share more real soooooon!!

Life has changed dramatically, since the birth of Sebastian, days off spent with my Daughter, helping her with her breastfeeding, making sure she eats and rests & Christmas shopping together of course ;-)

I had a quick trip to Newcastle for a work conference. 

If I had to describe Newcastle in three words it would be 'City of light'. 

I have enjoyed one Christmas dinner so far on an extended family night out - only another ten to go!! I wore a new bright pink top from Boden that just screams Christmas plus a nice chilled throw on after work look! ;-) The blouse did tend to crease a bit, but things like that don't bother me, especially when I have a glass of wine in hand. 

Currently 40% off - other colours available.

Elephant in the room - new oven. VERY slowly getting to grips with it, so hard after cooking on my AGA for 14 years, which I just used to throw the food in and the Aga, being so kind would then just churn out succulent tasty food....even if I forgot about it. 

Sadly this oven is not so kind :-( 

Drinking my favourite tea - caffeine free lemon, ginger & ginseng from M&S. In my favourite new mug. With a stag on it. Of course!!

I am completely overhauling our diets. I lost over a stone in weight doing the 7lb in 7 Days Juicy Detox (& following up with a healthy lunch and daily juice for breakfast after). I feel so much better and more energised. Below is Jack Monroes Peach & Chickpea Curry, tasty & wholesome - just yum - I love her recipes! More on my new healthy eating soon!

Christmas isn't Christmas without at least one visit to a Christmas market is it? We visited Manchester last week - not many pics to share - too bloomin' cold :-) I'm going again tomorrow from work - yay for Gluhwein with Amaretto!

 & so, Christmas is slowly putting in an appearance. Ornaments old and new nestling together. A new baby and new memories to make with my beautiful family.

I'm off to check on the casserole in the oven and wait for my Daughter to arrive with that special little bundle, aaaaahhhhh!

I am having problems with Google Chrome on my tablet. It hasn't been allowing me to leave comments on the lovely blogs I follow, so I shall be sorting that out tonight - I do love this little community.

Ok, no more of my ramblings.....
wishing you all a lovely week ahead!
XX

Travelling Light

Most times I fly I take hand luggage only (tight I know) & have got it down to a fine art.

 When I did used to weigh in, my bag would be around 12kg and then I would come home with lots of unworn clothes and unused toiletries, yes really!

The only time I don't travel with hand luggage only is when I ski and that is down to bulk more than anything!

I wanted to share how I pack for hand luggage only and stay within the very strict airport requirements for toiletries.

If I am flying in the morning I pack the night before, flying in the afternoon or evening I pack in the morning. What you don't remember can't be important right?

Firstly I gather toiletries, I must admit to buying sunscreen at the airport along with a nice body-wash and lotion - this time it was Soap & Glory.

 I have a set of small bottles to decant shampoo & conditioner into and the rest are travel size Dermalogica products. 

I already had the lovely REN freebies which have been around for a while now - in fact I picked up more with RED magazine at the airport :-)

Make-up wise I am happy just wearing mascara, my Desert Island product, 
especially once I have a tan!



Next swimwear, nightwear & pretty underwear...

& a beach towel - I don't like to use hotel towels by the pool or on the beach.

Two skirts and two vest tops - the lovely paisley pants didn't make the final cut - & I am glad as they would have just stuck to my legs in the heat!!

Two maxi dresses - so cool & I can go braless (not well endowed!!)

Boden Breton & Fat Face shrug for cooler evenings (Breton went unworn)...

Accessories - I wore sandals to travel & took my Birkenstocks, the brightly coloured scarf has been to so many places with me & has been useful for a multitude of things.
 I took a small leather bag, my Longchamp tote, sunglasses & my Deerheart necklace!



Before being placed in my bag I had three small piles :-)

& here we go - plenty of room left over, can be squished to fit in small places - nice & light too!

Here I am at the airport - not a great quality photo (Mr.L needs a lesson!)

Back to show daily outfits soonXX

Breton Stripes

Like a lot of people I love a Breton Stripe. They have long been a fashion staple for many people, myself included.

I have always bought stripy tops from allsorts of stores but every year, probably for the last 3 years have looked at the Stripy Breton Boden Tops, picked them, put them in my basket and proceeded to then dump them (does anyone else do that? Bad trait!) 

I decided to do a quick Google of Breton and this is what I found:

Breton /ˈbrɛtən/^[3] (Brezhoneg) is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany (Breton: Breizh; French: Bretagne), France.

The flag of Brittany is called the Gwenn-ha-du, pronounced [ɡwɛnaˈdyː], which means white and black in Breton.

The very first Breton Tops would have been black and white stripes like the flag of Brittany, now you can buy them in lots of wonderful colours.

Anyway, last week I decided that this should change and this time didn't dump them! I chose two; classic navy and citrus (which is actually more of a lime green).

The quality of them is amazing, I'm sure these won't go out of shape, shrink or fade like their cheaper  predecessors. Lots of people admired the citrus (lime green) one over the weekend

and my Mum said she could see they were a lovely quality!

Despite  bagging 20% discount, when my parcel arrived I had not one but two free unexpected gifts inside! The lovely French blue purse with padlock fastening and the brightly coloured floral and bird print notebook. Love a notebook - I write lists of lists! Another trait of mine!

Boden currently have a whopping 30% off dresses so get over there and grab a bargain!

XX