Lazy Sunday Afternoon

After the whirlwind of kids and cake and and film-watching and the occasional stern voice (time to settle down now, boys!) and pancakes for breakfast and swimming and a birthday tea at our favourite Chinese restaurant, a quiet day was definitely in order.

Lazy Sunday afternoon, I've got no mind to worry...

Dress, suede ankle boots and C&A Clockhouse suede jacket - Ebay

Black top (ancient) and belt - retail

Hat, bangles and tights - charity shopped

Pendant - car boot

So what have I achieved today?
Hmmm...

Bit of breakfast-making.

Bit of photographing, measuring, and putting a few things on Ebay.

Bit of nagging support and encouragement about homework.
A minute of silence.

Lots of tea drinking. 

Bit of chocolate indulgence.

 Bit of ironing.

Bit of tomfoolery.

Fed the cats. They wouldn't let me forget to do that.

I spy the Seldom Seen Kid! 

Did some Birthday Boy cuddling.
Delicious!

Close my eyes and drift away...

I'll be linking up with Patti's ever-popular Visible Monday.

Hope you have had a lovely weekend!

xxx

Domestic Bloggess

   Now I know you probably have me down as some sort of Domestic Goddess and a candidate for Parent of the Year.

Wholesome organic meals on the table every evening, with beaming healthy happy children eagerly anticipating their Turnip Surprise before doing their homework with great enthusiasm and erudition.

When I have fulfilled my tasks as school volunteer extraordinaire, PTA member, and general Pillock Pillar of the Community, you know doubt imagine I skip home, don my pinny, and clean every inch of the house with nothing more noxious than a squeeze of lemon juice, a sprinkle of bicarb, and a whole lot of elbow grease.

Not for me the towering pile of ironing looming ominously over the top of the washing basket, the layer of not-so-fine dust and cat hair covering every surface, or the quick fix of fish fingers and oven chips...

Yeah, right!

I am far more likely to be found arsing about in the garden taking photos of myself and flashing my petticoat!

What has it got in its pocketses?

(Our family are all very much looking forward to the release of The Hobbit.)

I can cook fine, I just don't like it much.

I hate the drudgery and pointlessness of housework. 

But sometimes even I have to make an effort.

It's Seldom Seen's 9th birthday today, so there was a cake to make, and beds to change ready for a sleepover, and tea to shop for and prepare, and even a bit of hoovering to be done (encouraged by Melanie's tales of Upright Love).

I found these devil horns while I was tidying up, don't they match my outfit perfectly?

I always prefer the uncooked cake mixture to the final product somehow.

Maintaining high levels of hygiene at all times, obviously...

Dead Ringer for Love was on the radio.

My Top Tip for Successful Baking - have a little dance in the kitchen. Makes it all much more bearable.

Hmm, bit on the wonky side. But there is nothing wrong with a bit of wonk.

I even had time for a lunch of yesterday's leftover homemade spicy butternut squash soup and two of the best cheeses ever - Gouda flavoured with wasabi, and a white Stilton with red chilli.

Mmmm, I believe in cheeses.

And I bought this fabulous pan at Chesterfield flea market yesterday for £2.

It has Oct 1973 stamped on the bottom and looks unused.

Perfect for more winter soups.

Or Turnip Surprise.

1970s dress - vintage market

Cardigan, shoes, tights, bangles and petticoat - charity shopped

Blue beads - gift from Liz

So do I pass muster as a Domestic Goddess? Are you convinced?

Nah - the devil's in the domesticity!

I'll be round to visit your blogs when the boys are asleep.

I may be some time...

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

xxx

When in doubt...

...just throw on a load of colour!

My new-to-me 1970s skirt has all sorts of colours and florals so anything goes with it.

Anything goes, full stop.

To tell the honest truth, when I got dressed this morning, I chose this cardigan thinking it was orange. Next to my red cardigan, it is orange.

But next to my pumpkin-a-like tights, it looks red...

But by the time I'd looked in the full-length mirror and figured that out, it was time to go to school. 

So I had a oh fuck it moment and left the mishmash of colours as they were. 

Why not brighten up a dull day?

Warm and cosy in my 1970s wool coat.

1970s USA-made cotton skirt - Cow vintage shop

Belt, t-shirt, cardigan, bangles - charity shopped

1970s coat - flea market

Shoes - jumble sale

Necklace - my mum's

Tights - retail

I love those little ILGWU Union Made labels. 

I'm easily pleased.

Another burst of sunshine arrived today in the form of a gorgeous gift from a blog buddy.

Not for me this time though...

...for my Littlest Love!

Thank you to the very kind and very talented Kylie, Hostess of the recent Retro Cook Off, Collector of vintage tea towels, and Maker of Owlies!

Littlest's eagle eye had spotted the owl which Kylie made for her daughter and posted on her blog here. I commented that Owly had a little British fan, and lo and behold! Kylie whipped up a beautiful version just for my girl and sent him all the way from Australia.

Kylie, you are a star, thank you so much.

 Littlest loves him and so do I!

How's the week going so far?

Good, I hope!

  xxx

Governess or Cowgirl?

So it's back to the school run and and scrabbling around for dinner money and checking spellings and tracking down stray plimsolls and ironing uniform and all that malarkey, after a week off.

I needed a haircut and a new jacket to face it!

The dress is an old favourite, but the little wool jacket was a find in a vintage shop I called into after I had been to the hairdressers.

I know I don't need another black jacket, but this one fits perfectly and has that flattering nipped-in waist and lots of buttons and peplum-y detail.

What's a girl to do?

I think my Halloween steampunk governess look has turned my head, all of a sudden I want to look all severe-yet-slutty Victorian. No bad thing...

1970s maxi dress and boots - Ebay

1980s wool jacket - Cow vintage

Carpet bag - flea market

Hat, bangles and necklace - charity shopped

And the best accessory of all?

If only Jessie would let me drape her around my neck like a stole...

 

Yesterday, Eldest wore her usual uniform of a checked shirt and jeans of some description, which reminded me of Madonna in her Don't Tell Me video, and inspired my outfit and a little photo shoot.

 

Don't ask me why we have these cowboy hats, we just do...

Seldom Seen wasn't made to join in, it might have looked rather too gay porn/Brokeback Mountain to be appropriate...

Still not wearing jeans. You can't make me.

She ain't heavy, she's my sister.

I borrowed a hat.


I bought the check shirt (from a charity shop, obviously) for a line dancing event which got cancelled; I was really disappointed!
 
Don't tell my heart, my achy breaky heart... 

 

I think this Stirling Cooper sheer skirt (last seen accompanied by a wig and a corset here) might look rather fetching with the new jacket, what do you think?

 

The little buggers didn't tell me I had my waistcoat buttoned up wrong.

No pocket money for them this week.

Eldest likes Madonna but hadn't heard this song or seen the video before. I don't think she was overly impressed (too low key for her tastes) but she liked the dancing. Yee haw!


Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday today!

   xxx

                              

Day Tripper

I've been blogging for a year now (I missed my first anniversary, it was while I was ill in September) and the process has brought about some developments and changes for me.

One of these has been the unexpected delight of making new friends. 

 

Not just I make a nice comment on your blog, you make a nice comment on mine virtual acquaintances - I mean proper meeting-in-the-flesh, Skyping, hilarious emailing, gift-exchanging, you-really-get-me friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday I went off to the vintage blogging centre of the UK, Walsall, to catch up with my dear friends Vix and Clare, and meet Em and Dee for the first time.

 

If you get the chance to meet up with other bloggers, do it - they don't disappoint!

 

It may sound like a cliche, but after you've "met" through blogging, meeting for real is just like catching up with someone you already know. It felt as though I had known Dee and Em for ages, they are engaging and funny and kind and chatty, everything you want in a pal!

 

 

 

Second to None, rapidly becoming the most famous vintage shop in the country, never disappoints either.

 

Dee was so dedicated to rummaging among the handbags , she risked life and limb up on the steps, while Clare and Vix worked their way through the day dresses, and Em found an armful of vintage goodies to try on.

Style Chameleon Vix - a Sergeant Pepper gold and purple velvet coat one minute, a 1960s turban-style hat the next!

Coffees, curry, vintage and charity shopping, all accompanied by lots of chat and lots of laughs - sounds good, doesn't it? 

It was!

 

I really enjoyed our visit to Walsall's art gallery too.

Yes, but is it art, darling?

Damien Hirst's Away from the Flock, a lamb suspended in a case of formaldehyde, made me feel sad; the Stonehenge-inspired installation made me feel non-plussed; and many of the paintings and sculptures made me feel delighted and inspired.

It was fabulous to meet up with these gorgeous, friendly, funny women, and many thanks to darling Vix for hosting yet another Walsall-based outing! You can see her account of our day here.

And what did I buy? 

 

This rather delicious 1960s paisley dress with a cute keyhole neck.

Groovy, baby!

Yeah, I came over a bit hippy-dippy chick... You can see where Littlest gets her face-pulling inspiration!

1960s dress - Second to None, Walsall

Cape - flea market

Beret - gift

Boots - Ebay

Brooch, flower and lurex tights - charity shopped

 

 

 

 

And while I'm on the subject of fabulous blogger friends, look what the wonderfully talented Joni has made for me!

EEK! I've been immortalised as a Calligram!

 

This image is on Joni's art blog here, and she is working on a fashion series, starting here.

 

Joni, you are amazing, I'm so honoured and delighted, I can't tell you!

See what I mean about blogging buddies? They are bloody brilliant!

Hair cut and root retouch for me tomorrow, about time...

Have a great weekend, whatever you're up to!

    xxx

Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead

I am not one for the imported ritual of trick or treating but the kids wanted to dress up... and you know I'm not averse to a bit of dressing up myself.

So we reached a compromise;

dress up and go out for a Halloween tea, thereby avoiding the hoards of kids coming to our door expecting sweets.


Clever, no?

  

 I managed to avoid the ubiquitous Slutty Witch/Vampire look this year...

...preferring Steam Punk Governess chic.

Hammy Horrors.

Can't think where they get it from...

Oops, the skirt has swizzled round a bit (it's slightly too big) so the rose is off centre, but you get the idea. Does my bum look suitably stern and scary? I do hope so.

Method acting at its finest.

You know what they say about never working with children or animals?

It's all true.

1980s silk leg o' mutton sleeved blouse - vintage shop
Skirt (don't laugh, it's Per Una), Ann Summers corset and bowler hat - charity shopped
Boots - Ebay


We had a really good laugh getting decked out and taking the photos, we enjoyed our tea out, and I haven't contributed to the future development of diabetes in my children or anyone else's.

Result!

Spot the odd one out.



Joining Lakota's Halloween link up today.

  xxx