Finds of the week!

Being back on wifi has it’s pros and cons.  Under both pros and cons lies sale shopping – it’s great to see what is out there, but at the same time I need to resist temptation.  It’s far too easy to hit the order button sitting in the sunshine with a glass of sangria!  I have, however, found some amazing bargains to share with you!

First up the iconic MiH jeans.  Bloggers everywhere have been singing their praises and Sue and Annmarie both have them.  They were favorites of Jane Birkin and Farrah Fawcett and apparently the denim and cut feels supportive – holding you in, not leaving you short for air!  ASOS.com have several styles left in the sale at incredible reductions.  Keep checking back if your size isn’t available they do keep coming back in stock and ASOS updates regularly.  My favorites are:

The Casablanca – reduced from $314 to $70:

I love this wash – so retro and great for summer.

Casablanca

 

The Breathless (reduced from $453 to $82):

This raw Japanese selvedge is stiff to start with but with wear becomes beautifully soft, aged denim.  Every review says size up in the Breathless so you’re not left breathless.

Breathless

 

The Jane Jean (reduced from $362 to $68):

My personal favorite – I love the wash and the cropped, flared cut.

Jane jean

 

The totally trendy Phoebe jean is no longer available on Asos but I found them half price on Amazon here – included in their Prime shipping program too!

phoebe

 

Next up shoes – and I know this may be problematic for UK readers but Zappos.com have some GREAT discounts in the US.

My Nine West Oslos are now just $63.99:

Oslo

 

These Angellicas are perfectly on trend with their lace up and will look perfect with dresses or jeans (reduced from $119 to $77).

Angelica

 

Another of my favorites is the Kurrious – available in black or taupe.  A great heel height for every day wear (reduced from $119 to $77).

Kurrious

 

My favorite Sam Edelman Reeves are now on sale too.  I ‘ve worn these tonnes on vacation (reduced from $100 to $69.99).

Reeves

 

I don’t need these Katarinas at all but they are sitting in my basket on Zappos right now – I love the putty shade – again reduced from $100 to $69.99.

Katarina

 

These following dresses are not in the sale but are still great prices so I wanted to share them with you!  This sleeveless swing dress is the same I have in grey, white and black – it is perfect for day to night on vacation and I have also worn mine as a beach throw on.  I’ve just ordered it in navy.

navy swing dress

 

This version is gorgeous – the pussy bow could be left looser for daytime, and I love the lower neckline.  The green and navy are stunning and are great vacation evening dresses.

navy Asos swing dress

 

Finally don’t forget the Nordstrom Anniversary sale has started.  People in the US go crazy over it and they ship globally.  It is a sale of NEW fall season items so you can stock up and be ready with your boots and coats!  There are some amazing brands available at great discounts before they sell out in September!

 

 

Food and Wine.

I refuse to worry about weight gain whilst on vacation – especially when I know I’m starting training for another half marathon on my return.  I might as well enjoy the last few weeks of indulgence hey?  Spanish food is deceptive – small portions of fresh food make you think it’s all good, but there’s lots of fried patatas, fish and meats all washed down with sangria or cava – and well – it’s easy to see it ain’t all that healthy.  But boy it is good.  I can safely say we have eaten better food on this vacation than any other.  Consistently great, fresh food and you don’t feel ripped off when you pay the bill.

Yesterday we ate by the beach in La Heradurra.  A beautiful, old school resort town with no high rises in sight.  The shingle beach is clean and the Med is crystal clear – I could live here forever.  I should mention too that the Spaniards we have encountered are incredibly friendly and also especially accommodating of children – nothing has been too much trouble for them.

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I forgot a full length photo but I was wearing my fabulous ASOS swing dress (I have this in grey, black and white – the best, most versatile holiday dress ever!), J. Crew bikini and white birkenstocks – the most appropriate footwear I brought with me!

Yesterday evening we grilled steaks and drank red wine whilst reminiscing with Simon and Karin.

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Top – Mango // Shorts – J.Crew // Shoes – Birkenstock Chania (best holiday shoes EVER)

Today was market day in Orgiva.  First a few points about Orgiva – I adore it here, BUT if you are looking for a sanitized, white washed setting this is not the place for you.  It is a relaxed, bohemian, new age, accepting-of-all type of place – in fact my piercings feel pretty lacking here:)  There are young, old, Brits, Spanish, travelers and tourists here – you name it, Orgiva has it.  The market was fabulous and we came home with wine, bread, jewelry, harems and roast chickens!

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Simon and Karin leave us tomorrow so we will no doubt be up rather late tonight.  We have another week of bliss before heading home.  I am so lucky to have all this time abroad with the people I love.  My Cava beckons but first I must remind everyone to check out the MiH jeans on Asos – they are MASSIVELY reduced and worth trying with free returns available!

Jane jean

 

 

The Alhambra and tapas.

After a day lazing on the beach near Motril yesterday, we headed out for some proper sight seeing today.  Just 45 minutes North lies the beautiful city of Granada.

Spain became my top pick for our vacation destination this year after seeing Anthony Bourdain visit Granada on his series ‘Parts Unknown.  Granada relies almost entirely on tourism for it’s revenue, and is the location of the stunning Alhambra Palace – one of the best examples of Moorish architecture.  Thankfully we booked tickets before we departed for Spain as the queues were huge even at 9am this morning – though not that surprising really given it was almost 38 degrees celsius at midday when we were leaving.  If you ever head to Andalucia the Alhambra is a must see – it is spectacular and incredibly romantic offering some amazing views of Granada and the Sierra Nevadas.

DSC_0498 DSC_0500 DSC_0556 DSC_0562 DSC_0565My dress is River Island, bought from ASOS.  Incredibly comfortable for the heat though I did nearly come a cropper when I stood on it walking up the stairs in the castle!

After the Alhambra we met up with Simon and Karin who are staying with us this week.  Lots of fun, laughter, chat and wine of course!  We headed to one of the most highly rated Tapas Bars in Granada – the Bodegas Espadafor.  When you order a drink you get free tapas – at least in this part of Spain.  We ate sausage, squid, croquettes, paella, broad beans and ham – just the most amazing food – all washed down with beer and sherry – well for us non-drivers at least;)

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Finally I forgot about this outfit photo from our last night in Sevilla.  The M&S playsuit got an outing with the Oslo sandals from Nine West – the most comfortable sandals that I own – and they are now in the sale.

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We are connected!

Phew!  After a week offline we’re back in the land of the living.  We have just driven 3 hours from outside Sevilla to Orgiva, South of Granada and North of Motril.  It’s a little town in the valley – very bohemian and laid back with amazing vistas of mountains around us.  I can hear the kids screaming in the pool now, after a lunch of Spanish omelet, pork meatballs, and maybe a couple of cervezas.  Life is good.

In Sevilla, with Noddy – our Fiat 500L:

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Tapas in Cadiz:

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Performing our ablutions before heading into the Cathedral in Cordoba:

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My outfit for the blazing heat of Cordoba:

Cordoba.jpgTop – Mango Sale bought in Cadiz! // Shorts – Mango // Shoes – Sam Edelman // Flamenco Dancer – Unknown

 

To the left, to the right…

imageGotta get myself connected!  We were horrified to discover that our wifi in Seville is out! I am now deliriously happy it is out! No screens for a week! I’m currently sitting in a yogurt bar in Cadiz using their free wifi on the phone!

We had an amazing night in Seville last night where I wore this River island jumpsuit with Ancient Greek sandals.

About to drink more sherry in Cadiz and we’ve just shopped in Mango. Life is good:)

 

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My sister is 40!

So my sister had her big 4-0 yesterday and we celebrated in style.  Firstly we had an amazing day out with her and her boys at Tatton Park.  I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone in the North West.  An amazing open space with great play areas – including zip lines, picnic areas, deer roaming, plus the kids loved the low flying planes from Manchester Airport!

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Dress – Label Lab House of Fraser (reduced to £17.50) // Shoes – Ancient Greek // Cardigan – J.Crew (Already reduced and now an extra 30% off in the US with HISUMMER)

Today Louise and I had some much needed (sort of) child free time shopping and dining in Manchester.  I love shopping in Manchester these days – it’s really cleaned up a lot and it is so easy to get there via public transport, meaning a bottle of prosecco is available to us:)  We started in AllSaints where their clearance has just started.  I found myself in love with this Lucie top.  I bought it in navy which I can’t see on the website sorry!

Lucie

Then it was off to Selfridges where I knew exactly what I was hunting.  A size 3 in this beauty – the Keepa Regency print t-shirt – it is now reduced to £32.

Keepa regency

Louise and I both came away with the scarf in the same print too – just £33 in the sale, reduced from £65.

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I had to be dragged away from these two gorgeous dresses – the prints are just divine!

The Redosie:

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The Rowzey:

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My gorgeous sister modeling scarves:

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After Mimosas at the bar in Selfridges we headed to Marks and Spencer.  If you have one locally go and check out their jewelry in the sale – Louise and I picked up some beautiful statement necklaces, but there are none left online at all!  Of course I picked up some underwear while I was there too – it just wouldn’t be a trip to Markses without some new no vpl knickers!

no vpl

Before we headed for lunch this little number worked it’s way into my hands.  I just love it – you know me and patterns!  it also just happens to be called the Holiday Poppy t-shirt🙂

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So not bad all in all – and also quite restrained for sale shopping over here where I tend to go crazy over my beloved UK brands!  Louise had a good haul too with sandals and a couple of Zara jackets in addition to her scarf.

All shopped out, we headed for lunch to Harvey Nicks where they were just lovely and Louise even got a little birthday dessert.

Of course we drank Prosecco, and I’m wearing a new M&S treasure.

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Shoes – Nine West Oslo // Jumpsuit – Zara // Denim jacket – J.Crew (30% off with HISUMMER in the US) // Bag – Boden

Happy 40th Louise!  xx

 

This can’t be Bury – I’m wearing shorts!

Ok it rained today but it’s supposed to be fab tomorrow as well!  Fingers crossed as my little sister turns 40!  We’re planning on taking the children for a day out and a picnic, then on Thursday I get her all to myself to do lunch and shop with a belly full of wine;)

We arrived Sunday morning and it has been fun ever since.  Poppy and Hugh are having a great time with cousin Alice.  Three kids are REALLY loud together – especially two Southern accents and one very strong Bolton accent:)

DSC_0036.jpgI’ve been rubbish with outfit photos since I arrived – sorry – but here is one from Friday when I got my hair cut shorter and went darker thanks to Chadd and Gina at A La Mode!  I love these Sam Edelman sandals – again I took a US 8 in these and they fit beautifully.  They are a great platform that give me some extra height without compromising comfort.

Mango topShoes – Sam Edelman // Jeans – Zara (old) // Top – Mango (on sale now)

hair

I’ll be back with plenty of photos over the next couple of days celebrating with my sister!

 

Another VB inspired dress.

My Husband and I are watching the World Cup games recorded, in the evening, once the kids are in bed.  It is far more relaxing and enjoyable without a 6 and 8 year old asking every 5 minutes “who is the yellow team?” or “which goal keeper is he?” etc. etc.  So in order to avoid the fervor around the England game I thought I would do a quick outfit post to try and avoid any updates or scores.  I just have to make it through a hair appointment with the kids before I can lock myself away till later when I can enjoy our inevitable victory with a glass of white.

I adore this dress and I know it will be disliked by many – but hey I like to try new things.  It can make me look shapeless where I need shape, but I love how it accentuates my legs.  It’s from Asos and when I ordered it it was also available in white.  This is a US 6 so it fits large.  The sandals are new from Nine West.  I was looking for the perfect mid height heel for running around in on vacation and these fit the bill.  The black are in on sale on Zappos.com and I also have the orange/coral pair which are lush.  Yes – I have so many issues with sandals fitting my wide feet and curly toes, that once I find a style I buy in multiple colors!  I’ve found them in the UK too – here and here in black suede.  These are a US 8 and I am normally an 8 or 8.5 but hate too much sole showing in sandals so tend to always take an 8 in a heeled sandal.

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EN-GER-LAND EN-GER-LAND EN-GER-LAND!

 

Another jumpsuit

I was encouraged yesterday to ‘keep wearing the jumpsuits’.  So here goes.  I just hope that I don’t get asked for assistance from anyone while I return things to IKEA this morning.Zara jumpsuit.jpg

Jumpsuit – Zara // Sandals – Sam Edelman

 

Southern girls

One of my great friends is leaving Atlanta to begin her new life with her fiancé in Charlotte.  To wish her on her way several of her girlfriends attended a lovely luncheon on Saturday.  In true Southern style we drank Arnold Palmers and ate chicken salad.  Poppy was lucky enough to be invited along and at one point burst into the room saying “thank goodness you’re all quiet at last!”.  We were listening to a pastor give a blessing.  My poor daughter has inherited my social clumsiness.  Of course she has also inherited some charm and managed to smile sweetly, alleviating any awkwardness:)

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Shoes – Hanna Andersson clogs (on sale) // Dress – H&M

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Dress – Asos (on sale) // Clutch – Boden // Shoes – Clogs by Lotta of Stockholm

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On Friday evening my Husband and I went out for dinner to The Floataway Café – another of our favorites.  It’s a bit out of the way for us so we always drive there instead of cabbing it, so it was quite a tame evening for us:)  Another shocker is that I didn’t wear anything new!

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Shoes – Marks and Spencer (old) // Trousers – Zara (old) // Cami – J.Crew (old) // Blazer – Marks and Spencer (oldish) // Clutch – YSL (old)

However, during the day on Friday I wore my new River Island dress.  The fabric is so comfortable and I got so many compliments on it – it is loud though, so it is hard not to be noticed in it!

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Dress – River Island // Sandals – Zara (old)

I have a crazy week of packing for two climates before the children and I leave for Bury this weekend!  The 2014 vacation countdown is on!