Ducks and Geese

Not much blogging going on this week guys. I have an ultra stressful event on that has had me crying on Ben a number of times – all I want to do when I get home is either cry or slob. So, apologies, but I’ll be back properly soon!

Anyways, we’ve been having great weather this week… here are some pretty pictures of the fun walks we have had. There were loads of geese lined up by the weir, and we saw some very cute signets. I always feel a horrible fear when presented with protective swan parents though! Probably because as a child I tried to hug a baby swan, which is (for future reference) not a good idea!

Lovely days!!!

One of those days

Some days it is advisable not to leave your bed. To roll over when the alarm goes and bury your head in the pillow. To deny that the day even exists.

You can tell it is one of those days from the groggy dullness that descends as you try to clamber upright. From the fact that nothing in your wardrobe looks any good, and that your hair simply won’t do what it’s told. From that fact that you can somehow mange to hit yourself in the eye with your toothbrush, when it has toothpaste on it. Ouch

Today was one of those days.

First off, it was like watching Dawn of the Dead as I zombied (yes, it is now a verb…) across the room. Language was miles beyond my grasp, and I couldn’t open my sleepy eyes for a good ten minutes, and only then one eye at a time!

I should have gone back to bed.

But I didn’t, I soldiered on. And promptly left the house not realising that my dress was split up the back. I dread to think how many school children I mentally scarred as I wandered hazily up the road! So… back home it was. Where I sewed it up… walked out… and heard it split again.

Third time lucky, I grabbed anything out of the cupboard that would match the shoes I already had on. Meaning that am now wearing my pretty but not finished summer dress, with arms removed and only haphazardly sewn up. I am just hoping noone notices!

Take my advice, my dears – if you feel a day like this brewing, it may be best to just go back to sleep!

ps. I was late to work, by the way!

pps. I have now laddered my tights!

ppps. Did a quick google search and these “bad day” stories did make me feel a little better!

Plenty of hard work (and fashion, of course)

What a productive day! We spent most of it wandering into town on secret (top secret) missions that cannot be released on this blog until they actually happen. As it turned out, town couldn’t help supply any of our needs, so we had to head back home! Despite the pointless trip, we then proceeded towards working – with a point!

Ben’s car has now been beautifully T-cut and scrubbed till I was coated in wax head to foot (no exaggeration). The result was worth the effort – our little corsa has been turned from a strangely faded pink car, into a glowing beautiful red one. It was like watching magic happen, as my scrubbing and buffing and shining revealed the red car that has been waiting beneath that crusty oxidised exterior!

Working like a dervish all day resulted in me being a sweaty and terribly unattractive person – all be it one with the talent to t-cut a car. I have a feeling guys only see that as an advantage if I can do it in hot pants whilst delightfully sweat-free with an exposed bra region! This is exactly the role for women in Transformers 2 – unless they were being eccentric or straddling a motorbike and pouting, then they simply weren’t worth including. Megan Fox, you have really let yourself down by letting them portray you like that! *rant*

Whilst having all the undesirable effects, working hard like this has also made me think about “work wear” that looks beautiful and stylish. The practical items that you simply wouldn’t wear in a dirty environment for fear of damaging! Is it possible to find outfits that are fashionable and exciting, or is work wear simply far too practical to be any fun?

Here are my favourite work-wear style picks from the fashion marketplace. Any one (or combination) of these should make working hard look like walking the runway! Just don’t expect to actually do any real work in them!

• Get the shoes right first – these simply can’t have a heel. Even when playing at being a manual worker, heels will look far too contrived. And this is coming from a heel addict! CAT shoes are the ultimate worker shoe – I own a lighter coloured pair of these myself, and they get soo many complements!

• If you are brave enough, baggy vintage t-shirts and black leggings can look surprisingly good. I won’t lie – I look ridiculous in this sort of get-up, and I wore these outfits decorating as a kid. If you are reasonably petite and can pull off baggy outfits, however, then this Mickey Mouse t-shirt would make a great functional painting outfit!

• Thankfully fashion has headed in  work-wear inspired direction in the past few years. Because of this, great denim dungarees and cute jumpsuits (for the tall and well proportioned amongst us) are everywhere. The most loyal to the work wear cause are this stunning acid denim jumpsuit from Topshop, and a lovely simple and actually functional pair of dungarees from AG Adriano.

• Gloves – perfect for keep your delicate girly hands (joke!) all safe! Sexy yet practical gloves can look great with a delicate floaty outfit, or with cute yet practical outfits. My favourite and most brilliant pair are vintage, and quite fantastically detailed yet rugged.

• Finally, keep all that wayward hair of the way with an oh-so-practical hairband (alice band). These looks really cute and is actually great for making sure fringes etc don’t get in the way. If you are a sparkly girly girl at heart, your should love this gem-encrusted hairband. If you like things a little quirkier, then I think this unusual handmade band from Etsy will suit you best.

Good News and Pretty Dresses

Well, the weekend so far has been great. We travelled to the rather glorious and sunny Oxford, which was spectacular and far hotter than I could ever have expected Oxford to be! The real reason behind the trip was to fix Ben’s car, in the hope that we can keep it going long enough to part exchange it or sell it on.

Anyway, after the nightmare of a week that has just been, the fates started to be nice. The car (good gods) fixed itself. Isn’t that amazing! All the problems were completely gone, and whilst the garage could see possible causes, they thought essentially it was fine! The garage tightened and rearranged some stuff, and then refused to charge us. I don’t think you could ask for any more.

We then watched Transformers 2 – great for the cars, but you will no doubt hear a rant from me re: women as sex objects etc in the next few days. The Audi R8 though? Beautiful as ever! Finally, a trip around the shops completed the day, although I only managed to find one charity shop – perhaps Oxford is just too posh for secondhand!

Despite the lack of shops to thrift from, however, I managed to find a fantastic dress. For this one, I pushed my thrifting limit up to a high £10!! The pictures don’t do it justice, but it is an Armani dress, soft grey fabric with a royal blue band around the back. I have no idea if this is a good thing, but it is very much reminiscent of Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) in Friends – quite early 90’s in a good way!!

2000 Corus jobs axed

According to BBC news, 2000 Corus jobs are due to be axed. Currently i know that this isn’t Ben… but my, isn’t this getting close to home!!

My thoughts? He needs to be job searching. Horrible horrible horrible.

My response?

An Yves Saint Laurent lovely white jacket, and and shedloads of pairs of tights. I have issues.

Links à la Mode: Ice Cold Lemonade

Ice Cold Lemonade

Edited by Clutch 22

Compiling this week’s round up of posts hit closer to home for me. I think we can all relate to the times where stress builds up and blocks inspiration. Reading each of these individually was the exact refreshment I needed (hence “lemonade”), especially with my birthday coming up next week – total outfit planning mode.

So what’s in the mix? Alixrose and Decline Designs offer personal style inspirations, Fasshonaburu teaches us how to get our budget-shopping on at high-end boutique sales, hkShoeGeek talks harnesses and Fashion Consciou$ inspires by reviving the culottes trend (so cute on her).

Links à la Mode : June 25th

• 39th and Broadway: Ever wonder who really determines how your clothes fit? An interview with a technical designer
• alixrose: You have the perfect outfit, but whats the one thing that can keep it from becoming fabulous?
• A Typical Atypical: A deep dive into the reasoning behind shoe obsessions
• Awakened Aesthetic: Affordable ways to bring urban fashion into your decor without getting tacky
• Bobbins and Bombshells: Fashionable History – A look into 1920’s swimwear and bathing suits.
• Bonne Vie: When Bloggers Unite – The Hotel Max Edition
• Decline Designs: Defining Your Personal Style – Having “Go-To” Outfits
• Fasshonaburu: Digging through a high end sales to find purchase-worhty pieces, and tips on how to not go over budget
• Fashion Consciou$: Fashion Flashback – Return of the culottes
• Fashion Pulse Daily: The evolution of the gladiator to the “mandiator”
• Freya: A little gown guide for your summer wedding
• hkShoeGeek: Harnesses – A collection of favorites for every style and price range
• Idiosyncratic Style: A guide for casual wedding attire
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: You just don’t compare…
• Retro Chick : Mary Queen of Charity Shops – Now it’s all over, some final thoughts
• Shoe Daydreams: Are you on board with the latest trend – Over The Knee boots?
• Tatiana Supports the Arts: Indie Designer Spotlight – ALEX&RA, designed by Alexandra Cipparone
• The Bare Skinny: Not everything has to be black and white – inspiration for adding color to your wardrobe
• The Coveted: Shu Uemura’s inspired lashes
• Unfunded: Respect your elders – Rock the vintage!
• Work Chic: Chic hosiery options if you still have to wear them in the summer heat!

Getting Crunchy

It has been a difficult week for people, so far. A difficult couple, in fact. All around me, things are starting to fall apart. Jobs, plans, hopes, dreams. Despite talk of the recession lifting, this past few weeks has seen it suddenly take a big crunchy bite into the lives and loves of friends all around me.

I hate the fact that cars will break only when you have no money. That people you know and love will be without jobs in the blink of an eye. That contracts fall through, that hopes become impossible to follow through. It sounds very negative, but it is true!

Essentially, for the first time, the credit crunch is starting to hit home, and it hurts. It is unfair, cruel, and unpredictable. It makes me want to moan and whine.

Ironically (and probably ill-advisedly), pressure like this makes me want to spend more. I want to alleviate the ear, annoyance and trepidation by buying pretty things, by spending my hard earned (and now even more vital) cash. I keep finding myself on eBay, indulging in reckless bidding and foolish shopping therapy. I need to stop.

Sending a little hug out there to anyone who needs one, and sincere hopes that things will get better.

Shoes glorious shoes! Why do we love them so?

You probably know that I love my shoes. After all, I own enough pairs to protect the feet of a small nation – as long as protecting their feet involves cladding them in dangerously high blister inducing heels! Anyway, I thought the time had come to question our strange obsession with the sculpture of the true fashion designers masterpiece – the high heel.

Platforms, wedges, stilettos. Mary Janes, Strappies, Gladiators. The possibilities are truly endless, and new variations are being developed every day. I find myself absorbed by the colours, the styles, the height. Some of my shoes, I haven’t even worn!

So why do we (ah, what a great generalisation!) all seem to love them? Ok, it isn’t everyone – but lots of girls seem to love the feel of a good sculptured sole caressing their tootsies! To top four reasons (in my little eyes!) all follow:

1. The fit:

For me, shoes never fit as a child. I was dragged from city to city (literally) to try on smart black shoe after smart black shoe. I always ended up in the last pair I tried on that just about fit my skinny long feet, and consequently hated shoes for the majority of my childhood. Come teenage years, however, they suddenly fitted - and what a wonder it was! Now, this initial relief has developed into a true passion! On one website, a girl explained how for her, clothes never fitted well. Shoes were always the best way to find something to make you feel good!

Fluevog shoes are known for a great comfy fit. These are the best coloured ones!

2. The look:

Forget that they are a fashion item. Regard heels as a piece of art – and a number of mine really are! Distanced from practicality by a number of miles (and a number of trip wires, razorwire, landmines etc…), they often are bought just for their look. Guys who don’t understand – imagine that feeling when you see a girl in a pair of beautiful heels. Sexy, no? That feeling, of something being beautiful – that is one of the real reasons to love shoes! See Queen in Heels for some great shoe art (literally)!

True shoe art- you have to look to the designers for it!

3. The feeling:

Tottering in 6 inch sky scrapers. Feeling the heads turn (boys and girls!) when wearing a great pair. Knowing that your black jeans have suddenly become the best outfit ever worn. The feeling of self confidence and raised self-esteem is a huge reason for girls across the globe to wear heels. In the same way that a loved item of clothing can make us feel protected, so a great pair of heels can be armour against the hardships andthreats of the world. It may seem silly, and perhaps it is – but for me at least, heels can make me feel like a new woman. Sexy, modern, stylish and unbeatable – all from a little heel! Read here for a great summary of the psychological advantages of great heels, for this gal during pregnancy in particular!

I want these. I think they would look great – and I want them in red!

4. Muscle power:

We have all heard the stories – that high heels make your legs leaner, stronger, and more toned. Walking in these towering beauties is, as any heel-newbie can tell you. When I first stared wearing heels, I had to walk somewhat like John Cleese in order to get anywhere at all without falling over and dying! Honestly, I looked ridiculous! It was soo funny! I have seen other people walking stupidly too, but at least I have got slightly better. And every time I wear them, I can feel it working all up the back of my legs, as all those sets of muscles I never knew I had get to work. Try some dancing in stillettos to see the real effects (not my lazy half decent walking!).

Advertising Standards…

A rant today guys! I promise a bit of a more interesting post tomorrow!

As I mentioned yesterday, Ben’s car was conking out. Not much of a technical term that one, but essentially his clutch died and costs more to replace than the car itself is worth. Great, eh?! Anyway, we popped into the Vauxhall garage this morning armed with a full page advert of offers printed in yesterday’s local Newspaper, the Leamington Courier. Keep that in mind – it was from yesterdays newspaper!

Anyway, amongst the expensive new and expensive cars were a few offers that would have meant Ben could have actually afforded a decent car. Offers like “Half Price on a Used car”, or “New Cars at Cost Price”.

Anyway, long story short, but the garage were useless. Upon arriving at the garage, the young sales rep explained that he didn’t know what any of those offers meant. After all, for example, why would they sell cars at cost price? It seemed “ridiculous” to him. I thought about explaining about stagnating markets etc etc, but thought it may not do any good! Even showing them the advert repeatedly simply didn’t work!

Next we tried to push them on what offers they actually did, and what cars were available for each of the offers. “Oh no” he said “we only have those offers to get people through the door”. How absurd, we responded – after all, I don’t think that is actually legal. Upon pressing further, he checked with his “business manager” – who agreed that the advert was only “to get people in”. Essentially, they don’t actually do any of the offers that were advertised. They have done them in the past, but for single occasional cars that sold up to two weeks ago. Considering this was yesterdays advert, this was quite impressive!

I, with my cute little marketing hat on, very concisely and very politely gave the salesman a little lecture on the Advertising Standards Rules, as well as on Ethics and Compliance. Being that this young man had already boasted about making a woman cry last week about deals that weren’t available, however, I doubt he listened to me.

Grrrrrr! Sorry, I couldn’t keep it in!

Eureka Moments (and the trauma of having a clear out)

Lots of stuff is going on in the life of Lauren this week. Amongst other things, we mightbe buying a house (Read: Flat!) in a local village. Daunting, terrifying, and very exciting. At the moment it is a bit of a blur of viewings, getting the parents up to have a look, searching for the best mortgages and more. It’s great. Of course, Ben’s car seem to be dying which is putting a bit of a downer on it, but let’s just hope it all works out.

If nothing else, it shows that first time buyers can still get on the market!

On other topics, I sat down and had a little tidy up this week. I dragged out my drawers, and found myself staring at a collection of buckling drawer bottoms, added to by a pile of jeans, an extra box of tops, a large pile of jumpers, and a few odd little bags full of pretty much everything else. I didn’t know what to do!

There, in front of me, was a collection of most of the items I have bought in the past 5 years, cringeworthy mistakes and unwearable items included. They all spilt out at me, overflowing and busting at the seams. My little tidy immediately evolved into a full blown fashion clean out.

The result? I ended up with one bin bag full of rubbish (why I kept those torn tops etc for so long, I will never know!), and two bags choc-a-bloc with donations for the local charity shops. Quite successful, you would agree?

So how did I decide what to get rid of? I followed a few simple steps (all based around utter, cold-hearted ruthlessness!).

• Sorting.

If you are anything like me, your drawers will be a mess. Every time you have a clean up they will become tidy again, but then the overflowing will begin and there is no looking back. I removed everything from my piles and sorted. For the tops drawer, for instance, I had a pile for sporty, dressy, work, strappy, and misc. I also had a pile for significant tops that were all wrapped up in memories. No way to get rid of these, but they also didn’t need to be kept like I would actually wear them again!

•  Deciding.

Not the easiest thing to do, this was the most important step. I looked at my collection – anything torn, worn, ugly or misshapen? Bin it!!For the rest, I used a three step process – 1. Had I worn it recently? 2. Did I still like it? 3. Did I plan to wear it again, ever? Anything with two no’s went straight away. Anything with one no was a judgement call! I did make sure to keep all decent strappy tos – they can be clothing gold!

• Sizing.

If it doesn’t fit, I made myself bin/donate it. I told myself that I was helping the world, and that whilst one day I might fit back into them (ever hopeful), it was ruining my clothe-owning vibe to constantly be reminded of my size! It made me feel a failure for no reason. So I got rid of some beloved clothes, in a brash Eureka moment of ultra-realism. I am soo happy now I have done it.

It wasn’t that difficult, honest! Have any of you managed a clean out?