park life

P2
Dress: Matalan (here) | Boots: Shoe Zone | Coat: Zara
The weather last Sunday was gorgeous, just gorgeous. Ben and I took the opportunity to take my camera for a walk around St George Park and practice my promise of getting more outdoors outfit shots. He’s pretty good behind the camera right? We need to have a proper play around with my camera and it’s focus settings- until I achieve my dream of being able to afford a decent DSLR we’re making do with my decent but not quite there bridge camera.
I really want to do this more often, it was nice not to be confined to where I can park my tripod or balance the camera and I actually felt pretty relaxed. We had a good walk too, I want more days like this so I can really stretch my legs. Walking is pretty much the only exercise I’ve been able to do since my back first went in October so I’m trying to get in as much as possible pre-op. Post op there will be no stopping me and I can’t wait to get on my bike again.
I really like these photos actually, which is quite rare for me to say about pictures of myself. For once I’m not sat analysing what my body looks like or how I could do with wearing more makeup or standing at a more flattering angle, I’m just enjoying the pictures as a whole and thinking back on the laugh we had taking them.
This dress is my favourite clothing purchase of the year so far. A mere £12 from Matalan and so swishy and fun. Obviously I’m attracted to any item of clothing with a Daisy on and once I’m off my shopping ban I expect a few more will join it. I’m also a swing dress convert, I thought they’d do nothing for me but actually I really enjoy the draped and twirly affect.
These boots are becoming worn out with the amount I have worn them recently. As much as I love them I can’t wait to be back in one of my many pairs of heeled ankle boots.
The coat was a Christmas present from my parents and is perhaps the warmest thing I own. Good old Zara.
I’m so ready for this weekend, the weeks in January always seem to drag on and on. It’s going to be a family orientated affair this weekend for the most part. It’s my beloved Grandad’s birthday today and I can’t wait to see his face when he sees the present Ben and I have got him when I meet him for coffee in my lunch break.
For those of you who don’t have a DSLR/SLR camera, how do you get the best from your outfit photos? Any hints and tips are welcome.

Muggle

007
Dress: Primark | Tights: New Look | Bag: Guess c/o Sarenza | Bangle: gift
How awesome is this Harry Potter inspired bangle? My friend Eloise always buys awesome gifts but this one pretty much tops them all. Brilliance.
I wore it with a dress I picked up for a fiver the other weekend in Primark. I’d only popped in to get some tights en route home from Ben’s but I got distracted by the sale rail (and then the beauty section) and ended up with a little bit more than I intended. Still, the dress fits nice and is a decent length so it was a fiver well spent in my eyes. I sometimes think I should stop shopping in Primark but at the moment it’s a means to an end in terms of being able to buy clothes and other little bits and bobs. Their black tights are also the most durable I’ve found which is a good enough reason for me to carry on spending my pennies there.
My bag is the one I featured in my Sarenza post a few weekends ago. When my voucher for the month had arrived and was for the exact amount the bag was reduced to in the sale I knew I could forget about shoes for the month. It’s actually a fair bit smaller than I usually go for in a bag but after a little bit of sorting I still have more than I need in there and it’s much lighter to carry- a real bonus for my back.
Speaking of backs, I have a pre-op assessment today at 1:30pm and am scheduled for surgery on one of the dodgy discs on Feb 4th (all being well). I’m pretty nervous and not looking forward to the weeks off work afterwards. I hate not being able to do things, although in the long run I’ll be able to do a heck of a lot more! At least I’ll be well up together on blogging and reading/commenting on blogs for once…

Post-Op Wishlist

I don’t think I really mentioned this before but (all being well) I’m going in for surgery to remove a disc from my back on February 4th. It’s only a day case, or worst case one night stay in hospital type procedure but the recovery period is a fairly long one (they reckon 6-8 weeks off work) so despite being on a shopping ban I’ve done a little bit of browsing and come up with a post-op comfort clothing wishlist.
Bambi Sweater– £19.99 from New Look. This is just too cute. Bambi is my second favourite Disney film (after Beauty and the Beast) so this has gone straight on to my post shopping ban wish list as well as my post-op one.
Cat Print PJs– £10 from George at Asda. It’s pretty self explanatory why I want these, who could resist the cute kitty face. They are an amazing price too. Most of my PJs these days come from Asda, I can’t get enough of them.
Ellesse Slouchy Sweat Pants– £38 and exclusive to ASOS. I don’t really own any jogging bottoms, I did buy some cheap ones in Primark before my ban but they are stupid slim fit ones and I’m craving something a bit baggier for lounging around in. These ones fit the bill perfectly, I love the entire Ellesse range at ASOS actually, there are some really awesome pieces.
Lacoste Ziane trainers- £38 from Treds. When I am up and about and heading to physio appointments or just a general wander to keep myself mobile some comfy, easy to put on shoes are a must. I’m really loving these ones from Treds, perfect for slipping on with whatever I’m wearing in a gorgeously girly shade of pink.
What other things would you consider essential? If you have any ideas for keeping myself entertained for the time I am off then feel free to leave them in the comments. I’m not the best person for sitting around and not doing much, eek!

Interior Ambitions

Call it the Pinterest effect but lately I’ve found myself browsing interior design websites and online shops more and more frequently; an obsession which is only likely increase when the time comes to actually move out of my Parent’s home.
Lately I’ve been loving the selection of products on Fabrics & Papers…specialising mostly in well, fabrics and papers there are also some really gorgeous decorative pieces that I would one day love to add to my own abode.

What would you have in your dream home?

How have you decorated where you live now? DIY decorative ideas welcome…

Once a Cat Lady always a Cat Lady

Cat Print Shirt: Monki at ASOS | Skirt: ASOS | Boots: New Look

Oh how I love this shirt, the cats make me smile every time and it’s a good alternative to dresses when worn with a skirt for work. I have a tote bag in the matching print which probably makes me bordering on obsessed but I don’t really care!

The skirt was a purchase in the ASOS sale, I wasn’t sure about it as I have a love/hate relationship with pencil skirts but when it arrived and I tried it on I realised it wasn’t bodycon tight, just tailored to skim. I love the green and black tweed style material and the asymmetry of the skirt.

I wore this last Thursday after a mad morning clinic followed by some time in the office followed by a girly lunch with Mum- I eat out so much these days, admittedly it’s mainly wetherspoons but hey, they do food well (and cheap!)
We spent the afternoon catching up with my cousin Soph, her partner Chris and their gorgeous son Noah who’s a real cutie. I last saw him when he was only 12 or so weeks old. He’s 9 months now and just adorable. I’m in no way ready for kids myself but I do love spoiling other people’s!
Well,
that’s it from me today. My mind is drawing blanks and I need to be thinking about breakfast and getting ready for work…