My lovely sister whisked the kids away to Tynemouth on Saturday, so the last couple of days have been a child-free, sunshine-filled, treat-laden Festival of Goodness!
Saturday was spent wandering among secondhand book and record shops, charity shops, having coffees and drinks, followed by a meal at the delightful Thyme cafe.
I spent a few minutes berating myself for forgetting my camera. I had planned an anatomy-of-a-weekend-type post and kept seeing brilliant photo opportunities wherever we went. But that's no way to live, is it? So I abandoned my irritation, and just enjoyed the experience - yeah, an undocumented day, who knew they existed in a blogger's world?
That said, I did take my camera with me yesterday for a stroll around Sheffield city centre.
The sun had brought everyone out to play, it was very busy and lively.
The fountains in the Peace Gardens are a magnet for kids.
I love the Winter Gardens - I love the shape of the structure, the light, the water features, the plants, and the Bradwells banana and toffee ripple ice cream.
An artistic nod to Sheffield's industrial heritage as a centre for the cutlery trade, through the production of Sheffield plate and stainless steel.
On a beautiful sunny day, it's easy to love this city.
When I first came here, there was nowhere to sit outside and enjoy a drink and some food; now, plenty of people are very happy to grab the chance to do so. We never know when the weather will allow it again!
1970s maxi dress - Ebay
Cardigan, necklace, bangles and sunglasses - charity shopped
1970s denim wedges - Second to None.
Gotta have GPP (Gratuitous Pussy Pics)...
... and GGP (Gratuitous Garden Pics)!
Predictable, moi?
Yesterday evening;
One of my favourite dresses.
Our favourite Thai restaurant.
My favourite starter.
Forgot to take any other photos - too busy eating!
There are charity shop finds to show you, but they will have to wait.
A lazy day is in order before we head up to the North East to have a laugh with my sis and her man, collect the kids, and return home on Wednesday.
Hope you had a great weekend too!
xxx
57 comments:
From a place of love and honesty, I've missed you most of all, Scarecrow!
I love BOTH of these gorgeous maxis - and your favourite is also my favourite. How delightful to have a wonderful aunty to give you and the kids a lovely break from the every day! I plan to be that kind of aunty too once The Poo Danger is well and truly behind us.
Your city is absolutely beautiful - I love the water garden too and all of the gorgeous cutlery art and the lovely sunny outdoor spots for sitting and eating and watching the world go by.
And you know you never have to apologise for gratuitous pussy pics.
love! Sarah xxx
Hi Curtise, how utterly blissful - a whole weekend without the kiddos! Lucky you! Glad to see you made the most of it. I love both frocks-esp the first one. And now I'm wondering if the Hubster dresses like his Missus? Not in frocks, but in vintage...have you converted him yet? (snazzy tie perhaps?)
I'm quite fond of a Thai and a chang or two myself btw x
Looking great as always! Love your Photos- must visit England soon again!
Xxx
Divine in your delicious maxis darling! The first one looks amazing with your teeny waist & ample boobage. I love the pics of your city....it looks like the kind of place I love, lots of history & op shops! Great combination! The colours of that second maxi just POP! Xx
Beautiful pics Curtis, Sheffield looks stunning in the sunshine. So much to see, love the cutlery art, all those lovely fountains and banana and toffee ice cream...let me at it! Nice to see you out the front for a change and what a mahooosive restaurant! I'm sure you were the best dressed diner there.
The garden is looking splendid, pussy (Charlie?) looks so pretty peeping through the Honesty.
So glad the weather was good for your child-free long weekend. xxx
Fantastic! The sun is back! Looks like a great time, your photos are really cool :)
I hope you have a lovely time away.
thanks for the lovely pics, Curtise. I feel like I went on a mini vacation, which is nice, since I'm clogged with idiot germs right now. It's refreshing to see someone not all feeling sorry for herself, but instead looking beautiful in a bright, colourful dress with denim wedges that I want to LICK.
Also, you KNOW I loved the pics of your garden.
Your Sheffield photos are as gorgeous as you in your colorful maxi. How wonderful to have a weekend to wander and enjoy your surroundings. I'm enjoying the scenery and your outfits with my morning coffee.
... and the dress fits perfectly!
That blue and red dress you wore for your meal out is stunning.
You look AMAZING in that unique maxi dress! So romantic haiwaiian, and the 'meal out' dress looks wonderfully unusual and lovely on you too. So glad you had a fab weekend without the kids, you obviously made the most of it!
Oh, that looks like a fun weekend! Love your two maxi dresses!
There is nothing quite like England when the sun shines. You are its best flowers, dera Curtise.
Thank you for sharing.
I must go to Sheffield in one of my visits.
Much love, dear friend.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Gorgeous pictures, every one! Sheffield looks lovely - so many fountains, and I love the cutlery art. Your dresses are as bright and cheerful as the sunshine, and your pussies are so pretty! Sounds like a wonderful weekend.
Sounds like you had a fabulous weekend. Love the photographs.
Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger
Gorgeous photos! I wish you could have run on over to my house during your kid free break. ;)
What a brilliant sister you have, and obviously a bit of a witch too, knowing to take the kids off your hands when we had one of our rare lovely days!
that dress really shows off your bangin' bod a treat and I love those Second To None sandals, sunny Sheffield and gratuitous pussy shots. Thai, beer and a favourite dress sounds like a perfect weekend.
Have a fantastic time up North!
Loads of love! xxxxx
I love the maxis! And i love your town so pretty and love the art with the sheffield cuttelry so clever ans so original!
how amazing!
I had no idea Sheffield was so Parisienne! What a cool city. Looking forward to those chazzing finds! xxxx
That dress is so pretty, I love the colours and it fits so perfectly. I've been to Sheffield several times, but never to the town centre, how bad is that? It certainly warrants further investigation, I think. Xx
Hello! We were lucky enough to also have a kid free weekend recently - we were down in Brighton for B's brother's 40th birthday, it was such a treat. Not sure I got much in the way of pictures either, I was enjoying the novelty of holding a hand which wasn't small and sticky!
Gorgeous maxis as ever, your hair is looking great too.
xx
Looks like those two AMAZING dresses are you summer staples! Or GVBSS (Glamorous Vintage Blogger Summer Staples) perhaps. They've gotta be some of your favorites, and I can't decide which I like the best. Pretty!
Beautiful and very, very interesting town you got there, Curtise. No wonder you love it.
Looks like a promising summer shaping up for you!
Have a great week,
Jan
nah, we're not suppose to take photos of every thing are we? If so I flunk. I really enjoy seeing where everybody lives. It's a treat. And keep the cat photos coming
Days away from the kids can be such a sanity saver, although it always took me several days to shift out of Mom mode. The dress is a lovely fit and the pics are enough to make me want to come for a visit.
what a sister...what bliss! i am fantasising a bit about it at the mo as my two are sick... love sheffield, rain or shine, glad to hear you made the most of your time off x
god those dresses are divine! great to see you enjoying sunny days....our dress sister post is up on the flight platform as well xxxx http://textgeorge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/shiny-t-tuesday-dress-sisters.html
Ummmmm ... did you say banana and toffee ripple ice cream? Oh heck, I'm drooling!
Well hello there, it is with tail between legs that I return for a perve and a chat. But I'm sure as a fellow cat-lover you understand that I deserve instant forgiveness, something delicious to eat and the best warm spot in the house to highlight my glamourosity. Hehheeee!!! Aren't I a cheeky bugger? Ooooooh so you and the Mister have had the house to yourselves ... hmmmmmmmm??? My faith in humanity is restored with the shot of the children jumping for joy in the Garden of Peace, people gathering outdoors to enjoy each other's company and the sunshine AND the heavenly sight of you in glorious maxi frocks! My eyes were travelling to your denim shoes in each of those shots, gawd they're gorgeous and feck me you are a ray of sunshine my beautiful friend! xoxox
That must be a HELL of a treat, having the kids taken off your hands for a bit! You've certainly made the most of it, and looked mega FOXACIOUS whilst going about it! each maxi has me all a dribble, especially the colours of the second. I love the out and about pix in Sheffield, I always do.It's another life in another country and it's GRAND!
Love you! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I love that this post is labelled as 'no kids'..it makes me hope to have a less Busy sister to help me enjoy a sunny weekend as you did! Sheffield is beautiful, I enjoy to visit it through your photos, the spoons and forks sculptures are my favourite! I adore both your maxi dresses, especially the blue and red one, I'm not surprised that you like it so much!
Love xxxxxxx
Time with out the kiddos, always a pleasure
Love the sculptures from Sheffield
Brett
Well, that's a stonking pair of maxis your scrumptious creature.
You have to go sans kids every now and then...s'good for all concerned.
And speaking from a place of honesty...if you were my mam, you'd drive me mad by not wearing fleece or beige and what have you.
Now I know what to do with all my old spoons.
Love,
Em
xxxxxx
Both maxi's are FABULOUS!! You loked stunning !!
Thanks for the pix you took of sheffield--such an interesting place!!
that's wonderful you got to spend the weekend just doing whatever YOU wanted to do!!
Wow!! Looking stunning, love the dress. I hope you had a fantastic kid free weekend. Sheffield is looking gorgeous in the unexpected sunshine. You look radiant. The cats all look beautiful and evil. Love the colours in that dress, they match the sky. Sorry this is short and rubbish using my phone! Xxx
Wow!! Looking stunning, love the dress. I hope you had a fantastic kid free weekend. Sheffield is looking gorgeous in the unexpected sunshine. You look radiant. The cats all look beautiful and evil. Love the colours in that dress, they match the sky. Sorry this is short and rubbish using my phone! Xxx
Wow!! Looking stunning, love the dress. I hope you had a fantastic kid free weekend. Sheffield is looking gorgeous in the unexpected sunshine. You look radiant. The cats all look beautiful and evil. Love the colours in that dress, they match the sky. Sorry this is short and rubbish using my phone! Xxx
Wow!! Looking stunning, love the dress. I hope you had a fantastic kid free weekend. Sheffield is looking gorgeous in the unexpected sunshine. You look radiant. The cats all look beautiful and evil. Love the colours in that dress, they match the sky. Sorry this is short and rubbish using my phone! Xxx
Wow!! Looking stunning, love the dress. I hope you had a fantastic kid free weekend. Sheffield is looking gorgeous in the unexpected sunshine. You look radiant. The cats all look beautiful and evil. Love the colours in that dress, they match the sky. Sorry this is short and rubbish using my phone! Xxx
Wow!! Looking stunning, love the dress. I hope you had a fantastic kid free weekend. Sheffield is looking gorgeous in the unexpected sunshine. You look radiant. The cats all look beautiful and evil. Love the colours in that dress, they match the sky. Sorry this is short and rubbish using my phone! Xxx
WooHOO - no kids, sunshine, two marvelous maxis (your fave is mine too), ice cream, kitty cats....it's all good! It's nice to leave your camera at home once in a while (although inevitably that is the day that a great shot presents itself) so that you can focus on what is going on around you. Sounds like a wonderful weekend!
Ah, that looked a fun weekend! Plenty of eating out too, always a barometer of good times for me.
I love your blue dress with the denim-blue wedges peeking out. Looking forward to seeing the charity shop acquisitions :-)
I like both your dresses but especially the one with the orange pattern.
Hooray for the lovely weather! Shame its gone away now.xx
Woohoo! Curtise and her man out on date night together. How fantastic. That is definitely worthy of a favourite dress. I am always impressed with people who have a favourite restaurant. It sounds so sophisticated.
A child-free bank holiday weekend, what a fantastic present from your wonderful sister. The weather gods obviously approved.
Both of your dresses are amazing. I'd be hard pressed to choose, but then red is ALWAYS good...so is sitting outside for a drink in the sunshine, and mooching around the chazzas and just doing fun things. Nothing better for raising the spirits. xxxxx
It's everything lovelier when the sun is out? I was in Sheffield a million years ago and don't remember it at all so thanks for the highlights of your fair city. I especially like the cutlery sculpture.
I'm lusting after those denim wedges.
Oh, that maxi frock is a dream and it looks divine on you. I love your GPPs & GGPs :)
...xXx
Looking like a lovely day! We had sunshine too, but today its cold and raining again. What a mess.
Your dress is beautiful, my dear!
Love the GPP & GGP :)
Can't wait for you to show your new treasures!
xxxx Tani
Oh sweet a kiddie free few days must have been lovely.....you look so relaxed and serious stunning in that floral maxi. I love just getting an ice-cream and people watching.
Pussy cat photos are always a fav to see....oh and the garden too!!!!!
love V
it seems a fabulous and sunny weekend: free of any duty, wearing a pretty maxi and pretty denim wedges, and looking gorgeous!
and love that one of your favorite dresses made an special appearance!, it's one of my favorites too!!
love your photos, that cuttlery sculptures are amazing and it's wonderful to watch people enjoying the sun!
besos & sun
Oh the giraffe! I love it! I also love the expression on black kitty with white bibs face!
Stunning topical maxi, no kids, and Thai food. I'm jealous.
Becky
Sheffield city centre looks like a Wondrous place. I am sure you get used to it when you see it all the time.... But for me seeing it, it looks like a lovely place. Forget the kids I WOULD want to be running around in the fountain. I love fountain running! *hahaha*
FREEDOM! Blue skies over Sheffield and no kids pretty much guarantees a lovely day out and about. Not that the kids are bad you know what I mean. I love that you had ice cream and that you can appreciate where you live like a curious tourist would. The blue maxi is a perfect choice it hugs you perfectly and looks cosy! I think this is the first time I have seen all your pussies in one place. They are such pretty pussies too. Which one is the real killer?
XXOO
You look fabulous, and the pictures are just so interesting. I had a nice time looking at them. Here in Rome it's raining and cold!!!
I am now following you also on Bloglovin
www.hungrycaramella.blogspot.com
I had a family free day and a half last weekend. As much as I love my family, it was just awesome. Sunny. Thrift shopping. Whatever *I* wanted to eat. Le sigh of content :P
Curtise, you have the best collection of vintage dresses that all look so great on your tall bodacious curves.
I have an urge to weld my silverware together.
GPPs are sooooooooo cute. Must have for successful style bloggers!
Working backwards through your posts I can see that you did thoroughly enjoy your child free weekend Curtise, it sounds like bliss and you look gorgeous all dressed up and somewhere to go! I know what you mean about an undocumented day, I feel like I actually need to stop looking at everything as a photo opportunity and enjoy the moment a bit more! xx
lovely dress. i love every single piece about it.
Sheffield is such a pretty town. Groovy spoons. Curtise, you really rock a maxi! I know what you mean. In this crazy move I've managed to locate my camera but I haven't yet found the charger. So frustrating!
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