Tuesday 19 June 2012

Old friends, new friends, fairs and swaps

I am terribly, horribly, despicably behind with blogging!

I feel like there's a party going on without me, so I will try my hardest to catch up with all your posts which I have missed as soon as I can.

Last week was taken up with preparations for the school summer fair and then the event itself. It went well, I think, despite the rain.

Then my dear friend Barbara arrived back in Sheffield, which she and her delightful family left 4 years ago for a new life in New Zealand.  We have been catching up, including a whole day of charity shopping and much chat today.

So absorbed was I in having a lovely time, I was never going to make it to school on time to fetch the kids, and had to ring a friend to get them for me... Priorities, huh!



These pictures are a bit of a cheat, they are from a week or so ago.



I really like this Warehouse maxi but it is so low cut, I have to put a vest underneath or I'll have someone's eye out with my frontage.



Twirly whirly girlies.



Eldest has had a much needed hair cut since these pics were taken, she looks great with her sharp new bob. Pics will follow...



So, I love them and everything, but they don't half hog the camera.


Another delicious event has been receiving my Jubilee swap parcel from Style Queen Sacramento.


Ooh, looks good, doesn't it? 



I'll show you properly when I have more time.


Thank you so much, darling Sacramento, you have been so generous and thoughtful. 

And thanks to lovely Lakota for organising the swap again, it's such a great idea.



Warehouse maxi dress, cardigan, bangles (charity shopped), vest (flea market), turquoise pendant (gift), hair flower (Boots sale), blog-hogging girls (home made)


I haven't forgotten you all, I've missed you, and I'll be dropping by to add my two penn'orth to your blogs soon, I promise!
    xxxx

37 comments:

Lakota [Faith Hope and Charity Shopping] said...

Woooo, great swap gifties from Sacremento. I will have to do a linky post soon so everyone can share, a few people have been asking.

Krista actually just did a post a maybe yesterday where she's wearing a bright sports bra under a strappy dress, gives a similar effect to the vest and I was very taken with it. Don't know if we can find similar here though.

I'm in Summer Fair hell now, just come back from penultimate PTA meeting before it all kicks off on the 30th.
x

Louise Mc said...

Ah, great to see you back in blogland, and looking so fantastic too. What a gorgeous package from Sacramento, it looks so colourful and happy. X

lucy joy said...

Good to know your mini blog break is due to being busy, and not being fed up (like my breaks usually are!)
A few days in blogland feel like an eternity.
I'm just loving that snap of you posing with the girls, it's beautiful. They'll have such a healthy self-image thanks to you.

How great are the colours in Sacramento's parcel? riot of pattern and bold colour, just lovely.

I had a nightmare about not being on time to collect the boys from school the other day, it's a huge fear of mine. In the dream I couldn't get anyone to pick them up for me either!
The school-run is such a tie, isn't it? Why don't we have nannies to pick the kids up for us eh?

Glad to see you back, looking good, and with stories of a returning friend to share, it's all good news.

Lucy x

Pull Your Socks Up! said...

Ooooh can't wait to see missy's new bob, my face hair do for a lovely wee lassie:))). Oh it must be so lovely catching up with an old friend, she must have many tales to tell of that mysterious land so far away:). You look simply scrumptious with your beautiful gals and oh what a divooooooon parcel from Sacramento!!! I just want to give you a enormous arse-squeeze immediately if not sooner! xxxxxxxxxx

Unknown said...

Oh you are so beautiful in this gorgeous flawy maxi, amor! I love these colours on you - and the floral is timeless. I am super duper impressed that you prioritised shopping and chatting over collecting your children from school! Can't wait to see the hair cut. The parcel from Sacramento looks fab - the COLOURS!!! Love you more than floral frocks! Sarah xxx

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean about your blog buddies having a party without you. When I can't get to the computer I miss it all too. Your garden photo with your kids is precious. Looking forward to seeing her new hair cut. Nice goodies from Spain!

The Small Fabric Of My Life said...

Someties life gets in the way of blogging - enjoy.
Love the dress and the pic of you lined up with your girlies.

Melanie said...

What a fun twirl party with the girls! And don't worry - everyone is still around in various states of here-ness. I would have liked to see you put out someone's eye with your frontage! Fabulous outfit, especially with all that arm candy. The goody pack from Sacramento looks inviting!

mispapelicos said...

You look divine in that frock, my dear friend. What a household of fashionistas you have, ahhhhhhhhhhhh
Posting about my parcel soon.
My husband kept the mug ( you know men...old children, hehehhehehe.)
Much love.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Vintage Bird Girl said...

Yay to having you back in blogland! I've missed you. Lovely summery frock which looks fab with the purple cardi & top. Looking forward to a closer look at your swap goodies too. Xx

Anonymous said...

welcome back - a break can do you good!

That maxi looks lush, I love it!!

xo

Loo xx from Jumbles and Pompoms said...

Yay, you're back!

Love the dress and pics of you three twirly girlies. xx

Vintage Coconut said...

No worries everyone get's behind every now and again. I am behind myself. =/ I had very little motivation to sign into blogger this week so far. *Eepp* I was more worried about watching a T.v. series. hahahaah

Love your dress, you and the twirly girls all look beautiful!

two squirrels said...

Oh the twirly wirly pic of you beautiful girls made me smile!!!!
The maxi is lovely on you Curtise, so floaty and pretty.
Yay a friend from NZ, I hope she is loving being a kiwi.
The gifts look yummy, oh the blog world is so kind.
Much love v

Kitty said...

Aaaw don't the three of you look just grand all lined up together like that!! Gorgeous photo, both girls look so like you, let's hope they grow up with your fab legs and sense of humour too, then there'll be no stopping them.xx.

Mimi and Tilly said...

Hello lovely lady! You look fantastic in your photos, I love your amxi dress too. Your comment about having to wear a vest made me laugh. I have to do this too, and it's only a recent thing. Somehow in my 40's puberty finally hit and I developed a frontage! I've gone from being flat-chested to right busty and don't quite know what to do with myself, so try and mange the sid-uation with a well-placed vest. As you do. Em ♥

Vix said...

My friend Liz has that dress, too. It looks stunning on both of you and that picture of you and the little 'uns lined up is just gorgeous.
It's so hard playing catch up when you've been out having a real-life so don't feel obliged to visit me, having fun with mates is a far better option (and hopefully you'll be doing that with me soon!)
Sacramento's parcel of joy looks wonderful, Fink was a very posh label back in the day! can't wait to see you rocking all her super choices!!! xxxxxxxx

Trashsparkle said...

You look fabulous and curvalicious in your rose-print maxi... and yes, I'm a vest-underneath gal too; its either that or shorten the straps and that's far too much like hard work;)

Not just me that dreams about being late for picking up the kids... you too eh Luce. Mine are old enough to make their own way now but I still get Those Dreams (serves me right, its ever since that time I fell asleep on the sofa FIVE minutes before being due to leave for school... the embarassment, the distressed children....)

Love your swop goodies - the psychedelic pattern is wonderful. And your gorgeous twirly girls are fabulous... there'll be many outfit changes going on next time you've got the tripod out! xx

Anonymous said...

I love the photos of you with the girls and your maxi dress is fabulous!!Sacramento sent you an amazing parcel of pure swap joy!!
I love all the things she choose for you!Can't wait to see you model them for us!
Kisses xxxx

Miss Simmonds Says said...

I love your busty dress, very pretty! Nice to see those little posers take after their Mum! Bet you can't wait til they're teens!
Sacramento sent you some amazing stuff, though I'm not surprised, I bet she's got hoardes of amazingness hidden away. xxxx

Forest City Fashionista said...

Imagine, ignoring your virtual friends for a real life one ;) I think all of us will forgive you. I love the multi-print maxi and all your bangles--summer is the perfect season for flowy long dresses. Adorable photo of the three of you lovely ladies!

Angie said...

Maxi dresses make such a statement and I love this boho look on you!Talking about priorities I once almost forgot my little girl in the super market ...and husband was with me ,too.She was in her pram but we only cared about the super market trolley.

Unknown said...

Hi Lovely, was wondering were you were! I am busy as well and always behind with blogging , oh well!

Can not wait to see your eldest with her bob! she must be so cute!

Nice swap! Sacramento is indeed one of the queen of styling!

Take care and looking forward to your comments!


Ariane xxxx

Fiona said...

Ditto Curtise. Have been SO busy lately and went away on my days off (No not with HIM!) will catch up soon. The girls on film are hot!
Hope all well. xxxxxxx

Rose&Bird said...

Glad the fair went well, shame about the weather. You're looking great as always, rocking that maxi! Must be great to have your friend back from NZ, you obviously had loads to catch up on x

Caroline said...

I do love seeing all the parcels that you send to each other. I don't participate as I don't think I could live up to all the parcels sent previously!

Thanks for your input on my glass dressing table set.

C
xxx

Krista said...

Look at you all sweet and sassy in your floral maxi! Great dress for twirling in cowboy boots...do you have a pair you need a pair if you don't. I love the picture of all three of you ladies, too adorable. The purple sweater is sweet and yes I do own several sports bras that I wear under dresses just like this.

You have been missed but never forgotten. I love the last picture of you all aglow like the Virgin Mary!
XXOO
Krista

Anonymous said...

Cut yourself some slack when real life intrudes on blogging. Love the last two photos of you and your girls.

Unknown said...

aahh i love the photo's of you and the girls ;-) I bet you had loads of cheeky fun taking those photo's. You all look fabulous. Glad to hear you have been having some fun. dee xxx

Stacey said...

I love that flowy maxi dress, and the picture of you with your gorgeous girls! I think we all feel like we're out of the blogging loop sometimes. Don't worry, you'll catch back up!

karensomethingorother said...

I'm quite behind on my blogging too, but that's just because of bad attitude, not copious amounts of fun.

Love the outfit--the whole thing, complete with the fabulous hair flower, and I think the dress still looks beautiful even with your covered up frontage.

Dawn said...

This is a great garden party dress, love maxis in the summer and anytime really. Do you mind if I ask where you live? Sheffield sounds familiar. Excuse my ignorance. dawn suitcase vignettes xo

The Style Crone said...

I know what you mean! I've been behind myself and just now catching up on your beautiful post with the maxi and lovely head piece. And the twirly whirly girlies.

Sacramento has fabulous taste!

citizen rosebud said...

What a bunch of fun you're having- don't worry about playing catch up. We're all here. Ready when you are.

I love the dress- boo on designs that are sbsurdly over over the top in a decolletage that puts your lady bits over the top.

Love the pic of you with your chillens. A handsome and styish lot.

And Sacramento's goodies look delightful! She picked the colors and prints that suit you. Can't wait to see you model them!

Trees said...

Oh I really loved this tiered maxi on you and your jubilee swap package looks awesome!

Trees said...

Oh I really loved this tiered maxi on you and your jubilee swap package looks awesome!

Anonymous said...

Your swap parcel looks lovely. It is wonderful to get suprises like that.