Tag Archives: Boden

A strange way to begin the week.

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What an exciting morning – welcome to those of you who have popped by after seeing my blog mentioned in the Daily Mail – I hope you hang around and enjoy reading my posts.  It was MM* who encouraged me to start blogging as a means to help keep my family and friends on both sides of the Atlantic connected with events, and also as a fun, creative outlet to share my thoughts, passions and opinions.  I am happy to see from the comments on the Daily Mail article that there are many other people out there with strong opinions that they like to share!

So as I was neglecting my family this morning and checking myself out in the mirror every couple of minutes and wondering where I might spend my Husband’s money today I almost decided to take a day off from posting – but where’s the fun in that?;)

I had to drag the children out of bed this morning – both of them completely exhausted from a weekend at the pool.  I am so proud of my daughter – not yet 6 – she passed her swim test that allows her to use the slide at the pool.  It’s a huge milestone for anyone who is less than 4ft tall and thus not eligible to slide without passing the test due to the height restriction.  She had to swim a full length freestyle and then tread water for a minute.  I’ve never seen her so determined and she wore that green wristband with pride all weekend long!

I’m still vacillating over growing my hair – I wish it was a quick fix.  I’m definitely heading into bouffant territory but I think I’m going to continue with the pain.  Every time I see cute pixie cut though I start question my decision, plus for the first time in 21 years I have MM telling me he now prefers short hair!

I opted to wear something bright and cheery today to start the penultimate week of the school year.  We all have so many events and activities this week I am praying that coffee and bright colors will keep my mood buoyant.  I’m wearing my Boden silk whisper top from 2011, a J.Crew skirt from a couple of springs ago, my Tory Burch sand Revas and the necklace and belt are both Target who always have great cheap and cheerful accessories.

*MM – My Man

 

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A work in progress.

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We met with our contractor the other day.  He came with his crew to get some last minute measurements before delivering our final quote.  We’ve been in the house for just over 4 years and to be honest the work is really more cosmetic than necessary.  We are having a new master bathroom, replacing the remaining carpeted floors with hardwoods and adding granite and a new back splash in the kitchen.  Much to my delight I have also managed to squeeze in a new walk-in closet into the design!  Well they might as well while they’re here and doing our bedroom floors right?  Our current closet isn’t small – certainly not by UK standards, but MM is gradually surrendering more and more space to my ever increasing collection of clothes.  I’m not very good at getting rid of stuff – or maybe I’m just getting better at choosing clothing I love and cherish for longer?

My current overcrowded closet space (not including my shoe closet or the winter clothes now in storage downstairs!):

The pool at the Y opened yesterday – summer is officially here!  Going to the pool with a 4 and 6 year old always requires preparation, though MM has it down to quite a fine art these days.  Snacks are required so they can refuel on peanut butter sandwiches, watermelon and strawberries, plus of course pool toys, sunblock, towels and changes of clothes.  It’s never a case of just ‘nipping’ to the pool – proper planning is required.

I got to try out some of my new summer arrivals for the first time too.  I really like the Boden towelling hoody especially in this candy stripe – though I’m not a fan of the big white buttons.  I may just cut them off as I think they look a bit cheap.  It’s currently in the sale at $66.30 which I think is a bargain given the quality of the fabric – it will last many summer seasons.  If truth be told it probably is a little too warm to wear here in Atlanta over a bathing suit.  I think it’s much better suited to a blustery Mediterranean beach but I’ll have to wait to test that theory until after the new floors, bathroom and closet!

Yesterday I wore the ruffle trim tankini in Bluebell bud which I adore and wore on our trip to Tybee Island at Spring break.  Today I’m wearing the Apple stripe for the first time – I think I prefer this color but it is a close call.  I’m very glad I bought 3 colors in this suit – plus I have the tankini tops and the bikini tops so I will get maximum wear out of them.  All the pieces are currently on sale and all but the navy stripe are available.  I was hesitant to photograph myself in a bikini for fear of attracting the ‘reader’s wives’ followers but hey I’m here to show you how items of clothes look on real women so here goes – although I did opt to keep my shorts on:)

I hope there aren’t too many Cinco de Mayo hangovers out there today.  I enjoyed a couple of margaritas with my healthy chicken burritos last night so it’s back on the wagon for me today.

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Flat pack hell aka IKEA

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I’m so happy it’s Friday.  The end of the school year is taking its toll.  It’s filled with birthday parties, ballet recitals, pool openings and teacher appreciation days.  I am in constant flux of running errands and driving people around town.  Dealing with two separate teacher appreciation weeks for the first time is driving me nuts.  Don’t get me wrong I value our teachers and I am in awe of the work they do but this week alone I have had requests from Hugh’s daycare for cash, presents, cards and lunch for the teachers.  I’m more than happy to help provide a fun lunch but sometimes I feel I’m being asked for donations every month – and it’s not like we don’t already pay them to take care of our son.  Maybe I’m being too harsh but from Christmas bonuses to Valentine’s Day to teacher’s birthdays and teacher appreciation week I’m starting to feel a tad irritated.  Plus I then get invited to Muffins for Mothers at 4pm on a Friday afternoon!  What working Mom is going to want to do that before a commute home on a Friday?  They used to have it in the morning for breakfast when we dropped the children off, which makes far more sense, and I’ve just made the daycare Director perfectly aware of that.  OK vent over and done with.

MM had the morning off today and we’ve had the pleasure of each others company in IKEA for the past 2 hours.  My daughter turns 6 on the 18th May and her request for some weeks now has been for a more ‘grown up’ bedroom.  It’s not childish now but she wants a desk for homework, more storage, and more grown up art on the walls.  I’m actually very impressed that she wants these for presents instead of more dolls – which do get played with, but I’m sure Ken is up to something as there seems to be an ever increasing population of them every time I enter her room.

I love IKEA‘s products – I wouldn’t want the entire house furnished in IKEA but we have fabulous bar stools, a couple of beds, storage solutions and some dining chairs from there and they all look great.  They obviously aren’t built to last years but they do the job and look pretty cool.  What I really don’t like is the IKEA store itself.  Even when you enter with a list of the specific items needed I guarantee you will never get out in less than 2 hrs.  I’ve even learned a few short cuts through the maze of furniture but still I can’t get out quickly.  I write down every code so that I can go immediately to the correct warehouse shelf, but every time there’s an issue – I write it down incorrectly, we change our mind on the way down there and forget the new number, or we mix up items and end up having to search on the computer terminals.  None of it IKEA’s fault I hasten to add – always user error.  Then of course the flat packs are heavier than lead weights so negotiating them out of the store requires strength and skill, not to mention we had omitted to remove the car seats from my car, so we ended up straddling the back seat unclipping awkward child restraints so we could lower the back seats!  Aaarggh!  In 90 degree heat and humidity too – yuk!  Well all we have to do now is to work as a cohesive team and calmly assemble said flat packs.  Normally this involves me trying to instruct MM, getting exasperated with him for having no logical or spatial reasoning, then telling him to get out of the way and let me just do it on my own…all part of his cunning plan.  I promise to post photos of this sequence of events over the coming evenings while we try to assemble the desk and shelves quietly once the children are in bed.  Or as MM suggested S. and his girlfriend will be here by then and surely living in Stockholm makes one an expert on assembling IKEA??:)

Before the excitement of IKEA I headed to Jenny Craig for my first weigh in.  I am thrilled to say I lost a whole 3.8lbs this week!!!  I’m only trying to lose about 15lbs in total so I hope it keeps coming off this quickly.  I haven’t felt hungry at all due to eating all the healthy fruit and veg that Jenny Craig encourages you to volumize with.  I should be fast as lightning on my morning run tomorrow!

Poppy and I before the school run this morning:

I was asked the other day, by Diane, if I have any favorite tunics that I go back to time and again?  Well I do try and rotate my clothes but the one that I love is from last summer and it’s the Terrazzo Tunic.  It’s so comfortable – I know some really disliked it thinking the print was very 1970’s wallpaper but I am definitely one of its fans!  I’m wearing it here with my Boden spot prize necklace from #BodenMondays twitter fun!

To all my readers in the UK enjoy your long weekend and Monday Bank Holiday!

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And the verdict is in…

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Blunderbuss is freakin’ awesome!!!!  Jack White is a genius – I cannot stop listening to this album.  It’s everything a White Stripes fan is looking for.  There’s a great mix of Americana, blues and funk, a great example being my favorite single on the album Trash Tongue Talker – I can’t stop watching the YouTube video – I love Jack!  I’m gutted that there aren’t more dates on his tour I’d do anything to be at Hammersmith Apollo, I’m even back in the UK then but it’s all sold out…

I’m praying the weather improves in the UK by June.  It’s atrocious there right now and I’m going to have the annual dilemma of packing for every climate.  Fortunately the advantage of my Boden tunics is I can wear them with skinny jeans or bare legged so all I need to do now is pick the ones to take from my copious collection!  I sneakily bought another the other day – a clearance bargain I say – calm down!  I bought the coal Everyday Jersey Tunic early in the AW 2011 season and I have to admit it took a while to grow on me but I always get great comments when I wear it.  Here it is with the Boden cashmere wrap and piped shoe boots – seems an eternity now since I had to wear tights!

I looked at the blue one again and again and just couldn’t convince myself I that I liked it enough, if at all, to order, especially as I tend to wear black in the winter and this just seemed too garish.  As spring advanced though I found myself musing over how it would look as a dress with bare legs.  I definitely think the colors are more summery and by pure happenstance as I was browsing one day, as I often do on the Boden site, there it was – a size 6 with my name on it for the bargain price of $30!  I like it a lot as a dress and it will definitely get plenty of wear…now NO MORE tunics till AW 2012!!  However you all are free to keep looking as items keep popping back into the clearance section.

Tuesday has recently become one of my favorite days since I discovered Lululemon release their new items every Monday night.  One of the first things I do sitting at the breakfast bar with my coffee is to click my bookmark for the Lululemon website and browse the fabulous new colors and prints.  My two favorites today are the new pace setter skirt in beachy floral white fossil/black and the swiftly racerback in porcelain – the two will look great together, hmmm I’m convincing myself more so as I write!

I also discovered there is a new Lululemon store opening close to my house – I may just have to nip by there on the way to Poppy’s ballet class today!!  Happy May Day!

 

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I love Jack White.

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How did it get to April 30th?  I’m really not sure what happened to the first third of 2012.  I know time is supposed to speed up as you get older but come on now really?!  May is jam packed with events and milestones – my daughter turns 6 and finishes kindergarten, the pool opens next weekend, Memorial weekend signals the beginning of summer (though we’ve had summer temperatures for some time now…), and we have our favorite friend from our University days arriving to party for a long weekend with his new girlfriend.

I can’t wait to see S.  When I moved in with MM* in my 3rd year of University, MM was already sharing his flat above the The Central bar with S.  We all worked together in the bar, partied together and lived together.  S. was always very tolerant of my immediately intense relationship with MM.  In fact he was instrumental in getting us together.  The night MM told me he was “infatuated” with me S. had been working on his behalf from behind the bar, plying me with heavy handed Moscow Mules making me far more susceptible to flattery and sweet talk:)  After graduation MM and I helped S. move down to London in a white van, and a few years later MM was S.’s best man, and though his wedding didn’t last too long it resulted in two gorgeous daughters for him.  After a tumultuous time in London S. moved to Sweden where he has been happily living for some time enjoying the Scandinavian lifestyle and regular vacations to Thailand (apparently all Swedes go there in the darker months!).  We haven’t been allowed to speak to the new girlfriend yet – I’ve even been banned from trying to search for her on Facebook.  S. knows me so well that he’s aware I never keep anything to myself so I assume he is putting these restrictions in place in the interest of self preservation.  At this stage he must be feeling relatively secure and comfortable with the new relationship as I have been granted access for a whole weekend!  S. if you’re reading – I promise I will not embarrass anyone but myself:)

S. by the way is also a huge music fan particularly The Jesus and Mary Chain, so in an attempt to have some new music to discuss I’ve just bought Jack White’s Blunderbuss.

I must just mention that I LOVE Jack White.  Seven Nation Army and Icky Thump have to be two of my favorite singles ever and the best music to run aggressively to!

Blunderbuss has had some great reviews.  It’s his first solo album and by all accounts he hasn’t strayed too far from his White Stripes sound…I’m going to stick my headphones on and listen to it while I work today.  I love listening to a new album – you’re never quite sure if it is going to make an immediate impression or if it will need a few listens for you to appreciate it.  I must just remember there are colleagues sitting near me so I must not start howling along.

After a good 4mile run this morning and already climbing temperatures I was looking for something comfortable to wear.  I have to say I really disliked the Boden SS 2011 Ibiza tunic when I first bought it in the preview.  I immediately sent it back thinking the yellow was far too lurid.  However, it reappeared in the clearance just before Christmas last year and I have to say I absolutely love it now!  See you even need to be exposed to some items of clothing a few times before you fully appreciate them!  Maybe the fact it was only about $30 helped too – but now I wish I’d bought another color too!  It looks perfect with my Tory Burch black patent Eddies.  Oh and speaking of Tory Burch they are having a Friends and Fans event that ends today – enter FRIENDS12 at checkout for 25% off!

*MM – My Man

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Tug o’ War

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I bunked off work today to help out at my daughter’s field (sports) day at school.  It was so much fun hanging out with a bunch of 6 year olds.  Poppy doesn’t turn 6 till next month but I’ve recently noticed a huge jump in her maturity and it’s quite amusing to hear her using new vocabulary and intonation in her delivery – it makes it easier for me to visualize what I might be dealing with in 8 years time – terrifying!  I was in charge of the tug of war station and as the eight or so classes of kindergartners rotated through I had to explain the rules and get them excited about using their muscles!  As you can imagine much yelling and encouragement was needed so it turned out to be the perfect event for me:)  And goodness I’ve never met so many ultra competitive kids!

When I returned home I was disappointed and yet relieved to discover that there would be no NYC marathon number for me this year.  My friend Martha at Running in Mommyland, who recently did her first marathon, also didn’t get a number so we have agreed to train together virtually for Miami in January.  It will be my first marathon and I am excited but terrified.  It’s amazing what emotions running can evoke!  I’m hoping to get another couple of friends to commit to so we can make it a long girls’ weekend and party hard after running hard – Miami is the perfect location for it!

This afternoon I made a poor attempt to get some photos of me with the children – of course Hugh would not comply but MM managed to get a couple that vaguely resembled a happy family:)  I’m wearing my Ibiza tunic in quail egg which of course I love, and is thicker than last year’s pool party tunic so can be worn decently away from the pool side.

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Sinks, tubs and faucets (taps!)

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Thoroughly exhausted.  I woke last night to the panicky feeling that I needed to do something, though I had no idea what and then couldn’t get back to sleep – and that was at 2.45am!  I can’t complain though as I have a feeling that my sister is feeling more tired than I am after a marathon labor that produced my new nephew at 6 minutes to midnight last night.  He still has no name which makes me giggle.  It demonstrates how different my sister and I are as I had both my children’s names picked before my third trimester – I think I’d even practiced writing them down and Googled them to check there were no criminals or weirdos with the same names.

This morning was spent having fun picking out tiles, tubs, sinks and faucets for our new master bathroom.  Talk about overwhelming – I had no idea there were so many types of white subway tile, never mind worrying about picking the right kind of sink for the modern aesthetic we’re aiming for.  I even had to get in tubs to check them for comfort which was a tad embarrassing given the unsightly state of my feet after losing a toenail after the weekend’s race!  Anyway I feel like we’re on the right path to the desired end result, though I’m dreading the weeks of turmoil, dust and workmen ahead.

Needing a bit of color I opted to wear my radish Effortless cardigan over my AllSaints Tilly Tee, with my Hudson jeans and Tory Burch navy Eddies.  I love the cardigan and had several complements throughout the day – this color really is one of my favorites.

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Mexican date night.

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Back in England our favorite way to spend a date night was to head out for a good curry and a couple of lagers.  Due to the lack of good curry houses here our need for heat and spice is more often satiated by Mexican food – the more jalapenos the better!  Plus I prefer a couple of margaritas these days to cold, fizzy lager.  Last night, to celebrate another half marathon and take advantage of Grandpa still being here to babysit, we went out to Nuevo Laredo.  It was lovely, so relaxing and such a giggle.  I’m pretty sure I could have eaten all that was on my plate but that would have been greedy no?

It was freezing here, so unexpectedly I had to scurry to find a sweater and jacket to wear.  I hurriedly threw this little ensemble together – my Boden stripey jumper from AW 2011, Boden leather jacket from SS 2011, Hudson jeans and Tory Burch navy Eddies.  I think this is my favorite jacket – I always feel casual yet polished in it.

Before I went out and stuffed myself another Boden parcel arrived.  I had hastily ordered the Boho tunic in Haze champagne spot when a US 6 came back into stock and somehow I found myself putting the Glam jersey tunic in purple in my basket too.  The Boho tunic unfortunately was extremely tight across my 36Cs so I have had to return for a US 8 – but the good news is it is gorgeous.  It’s a lovely lightweight, silky tunic that will be great dressed up or down in the height of summer.  I love the haze color too – a great soft purple.  Just be warned that due to the lack of stretch you may have to size up from your normal size in jersey tunics – it’s not as loose fitting as you might think.

The Glam tunic sparked some debate on Boden’s Facebook page last night.  Others have ordered it and reported it looked a tad cheap – I can see their point – and sometimes too much embellishment is not a good thing.  Also the print is pretty busy.  But, when I first opened up my purple one I instantly loved the colors.  There is a coral color playing in with the navy and purple spots making it a really unusual but summery color combination.  My only niggle is I think it needs to be an inch longer.  I am keeping mine as I have learned the hard way that sending something back ultimately ends in me pining for it.  Looking at the photo I think nude shoes will be better – the navy ones make my legs look a bit stumpy – never a desirable look.  What do you think about the tunic?

Mike leaves today to head back to England – it’s been a great visit and fun to have him around, and in other exciting news the 24th April may also be the birth date of my new nephew!!  My sister is huffing and puffing on a labor table in the North West of England as I write.  MM and I are hoping that he is called Daniel to provide ample opportunity for fun at family affairs with his two year old brother Jack:)  Interesting fact of the day Jack was also born on the 24th of the month, as was his Dad, and his Dad also!  Uncanny hey – though not all the same months admittedly.

Today I have on my Boden tunic from SS 2011 (I think it was the funky tunic similar to this season’s), Boden leggings and Tory Burch Revas in hibiscus pink.  Hopefully I’ll have some cute baby photos to share tomorrow!

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Another 13.1 done…

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So another half marathon successfully completed.  Still a tad slower than I had hoped for but the course yet again had far more hills than the profile had led me to believe.  It was also one of those courses where you ran backwards and forwards along the same 3 points so you could always see the faster folk running past you the other way – just a little demoralizing!  I much prefer a nice long loop where you have no idea how many are in front of you or behind you!  It was won by a 26 year old girl (it was an all female race – I prefer mixed) in 1hr 31mins – amazing.  The last 2 miles seem to go on FOREVER but thankfully my reception committee was there to cheer me across the line.  The weather was amazing and we got to relax afterward with music and wine by the side of Lake Lanier.  I shuffled around the house for the rest of the day – my knees got really tight – but I’m feeling pretty good today after a good stretch and using my foam roller.  I have to wait till Wednesday to see if I get an NYC marathon number before planning another half.  My goal now is to get leaner, toned, stronger, faster and more competitive – my next 13.1 will be under 2hrs!

My outfit today was inspired by the need to be comfy and by School Gate Style’s color palette.  I love pink and grey together – MM always says it’s my love of the ’80s.  I’m wearing my Hudson Collin jeans (mid-rise today for added comfort!), grey ruffle J.Crew tank from a few seasons ago, pink Boden LE sparkle pocket cardigan from AW 2011, and my favorite Tory Burch camilla pink Eddies.

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My First Boden Summer 2012 Order Has Arrived!

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I vacillated over this order for some time.  Unusual for me.  Of course I ended up placing the order as previously when I have been on the fence and not ordered, hoping to try them in the clearance, the items have promptly received rave reviews and sold out  – the Border print tunic for instance (though more stock was recently added so I swooped!).

It was initially the print of the Fab jersey tunic that I couldn’t decide on – I loved the colors and have a current obsession with green – so knowing how often fabrics look better in real life than online, I ordered both the prune and the moss.  I am thrilled I did!  I like the pebble colorway too but think it’s a bit too pale for me.  As always the jersey is super soft and stretchy and to me the cut feels as if it does nip in a little at the waist making it less straight up and down.  I ordered the US 6 which seems to be my regular size for Boden tunics – especially jersey.  I’m 5’6″, 140lbs, 36C with no waist so I definitely think a Boden US 6/UK 10 is more generous than other brands.  The prune is gorgeous – a lovely brown background and the lilac flowers are gorgeous, so even though it is brown the colors feel very summery – it’s going to be stunning with a golden tan (spf everyone!!).

The moss is lovely too.  I think moss is a bad color name – for me it conjures up dirty greens on a damp day – not good!  This green is actually much fresher and vibrant – though not lurid and fluorescent – a good balance and again perfect for summer.  The navy flowers mean it can be worn easily with navy shoes too – but nude flats would look great with both colorways.

The Fab jersey tunic comes heartily recommended!

 

 

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