Tag Archives: JohnnieB

Instagram weekend round up.

Happy Easter all!  I am sitting here typing while the loin of pork roasts.  I always slip a few slithers of garlic in it so it smells amazing – hhhhmmmm!  I was contemplating roasting a leg of lamb – it seems more appropriate at Easter – but I always find the left over pork easier to use up in a Mexican dish later in the week.  I’d better get a few more spin sessions in before the bikinis come out for Spring break!:)

I thought rather than cracking open a bottle of red before dinner is ready, I’d update you with some weekend outfits instead.

My son was off from school on Friday for Easter so we headed out to Target for some fun shopping – well kind of – I basically needed to buy more Mini Eggs before they sell out till next year!

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I’m not much of a hat wearer, but I fell in love with these Mossimo straw Fedoras.  Still not convinced I would ever wear them so they didn’t make it home with me, but I might try them again – they’d be great on the beach!IMG_3520 IMG_3522

Jacket – JohnnieB (old) // T-shirt – Forever21 // Jeans – H&M boyfriend jeans // Sneakers – Converse

Later on Friday I was watching the children play while having a little playtime myself – nothing better than a margarita in the sun:)IMG_3531

This bracelet brings me so much joy.  It’s an original Susie Ho design and it reminds me of the fantastic time we all had in London on our blogger meet back in February.IMG_3534

MM giggled at me on Saturday morning for being ‘so dressed up’ with no where to go.  Well I did take Poppy to her Zumba class so surely that counts?  I love this M&S cardigan – it makes a casual outfit feel a little more ‘put together’.IMG_3536 IMG_3538

Trousers – Zara // Boots – Isabel Marant Dickers // T-shirt – Forever21 // Cardigan – Marks and Spencer

I also nipped into the Mall later in the day, so obviously I had to take a peek in Zara.  I’d fallen in love with this jacket online and, fortuitously, they had my size in store.  Would have been silly not to have brought it home, no?

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Last night MM and I went out for dinner and drinks to our favorite bar.  I normally choose my ‘going out’ attire by selecting the one item I really want to wear and building the outfit around it.  Last night I really wanted to wear these Zara trousers.  I’ve had them a while and took them all the way to the UK and back without them being worn.  It turned into a perfect opportunity to pair them with my white pumps.  I LOVE these shoes.  Whether you like the outfit or not, it was one of those times where once I was ready I felt great:)  I’m convinced the Saturday 8am spin class helps psychologically too!

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Shoes – BCBG Generation (currently reduced) // Trousers – Zara // Tank – Express (old) // Jacket – Zara

So Happy Easter all – I’m now off to crack open that bottle of red:)

 

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A chance to layer again.

I’d rather not be given that chance but hey ho.  Those of you in the UK will be relieved to know the Eastern US is also freezing their t*ts off with you!  Wrap up kids spring will be here soon – look at it as a chance to wear those winter clothes one last time:)

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Jacket – JohnnieB (old) // Dress – Target (in clearance at $21!) // Scarf – Zara // Boots – Newbury Charcoal Suede Rag & Bone // Jeans – Dorothy Perkins coated jeggings

 

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Comfy sneakers.

Yes I know sneakers are everywhere right now and every blogger, magazine and newspaper, it seems, has featured them – so it’s my turn with a pick of some of my favorites.  I have been a sneaker/trainer advocate for some time and always used to make a point of buying them cheap from the US, when we first started traveling here.  Friends laughed at me when I described my various pairs of trainers that were either for ‘fashion’ or ‘fitness’ – well you don’t want to wear smelly trainers that you worked out in down at the pub!

My favorites were, and probably always will be, the Nike Air Max ’95s.  I had a pair of grey with green and a pair of blue with orange, which I adored and wore both till they fell apart – unusual for me!

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I am also a big lover of hi tops and again Nike tends to be my go to brand.  I love these Dunk wedge sneakers that they have designed.  As you see, like my trousers, I like my sneakers loud!

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Going old school – I love these Vans – perfect with skinnies or boyfriend jeans with a simple sweatshirt for a great tomboy look.

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These new Adidas ones have caught my eye too.  I love Adidas and have a pair of navy Gazelles.  I had a pair of green ones that I hunted high and low for back in the early 90’s when Ms. Moss made them a must have item.  These hi-tops are a grey marl jersey fabric – they look super comfy and I can’t resist grey marl ever – even on sneakers.

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Finally, of course, we can spend a little more should we so wish.  Waiting in my closet to be worn are a pair of Marant Bobby sneakers.  As soon as the rain disappears they will be on my feet – I adore them and they are the perfect color for summer with shorts.

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After Kat reminded me about the Ash Virgins, I took a peek at their new Spring sneakers and I am currently yearning for a pair of Ash Virgin star cutouts in silver – they’d be awesome with boyfriend jeans and my Zara red leather jacket:)

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Coincidentally my past few outfits have revolved around sneakers.  On Saturday night we went out to our lovely neighbors for little get together.  It was a fabulous night, late and indulgent and the kids had a blast too.  I wore my new Matalan maxi skirt, old Gap striped t-shirt, Boden Union Jack scarf (old), Gap denim jacket (old) and white Converse.

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Today I went for comfort, and rain is expected so the Bobby sneakers are still in their box!  I bought these Nike sneakers over a year ago and love the girly pink trim on them:)

Jacket – Boden JohnnieB (old) // Sweatshirt – AllSaints Decay top (old) // Jeans – H&M boyfriend jeans // Sneakers – Nike Air Max (similar here)

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So have you bought into the sneaker trend?  Which are your must haves?

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Back to basics.

I am on the other end of the spectrum from “Domestic Goddess”. I rarely cook – as in a home made meal from scratch – and never bake.  All this is changing though and I’m actually finding some pleasure in it.  Yesterday I found myself in heaven with a Saturday afternoon at home all by myself.  A highly unusual situation.  After being ill this week I have been craving some real comfort food – more specifically some good red meat.  So I decided to make a beef and ale stew.  It wasn’t until I actually put it all in the oven that I appreciated what a ridiculously easy, yet deliciously rewarding, meal this is to make.  The house smelled incredible and yes the stew tasted pretty darn good too!

Next up is to bake my favorite cake that my Mum makes when I’m home.  It’s delicious – and even better with custard when I can find it over here – Delia’s very sticky prune and date cake.  Maybe we need the equivalent of The Great British Bake Off over here for some additional inspiration?  If Dancing with the Stars can work here then surely a baking show can?

Looking for comfort again I decided to take advantage of Boden‘s diminishing discount offer and order some great basics for the coming winter months (WAFF is the best code I could find that is current and will give you 15% off).  I love knitwear and I would wear it all year round if I could.  Boden has the best quality and selection of classic shapes I have found.  They’re not cheap but reasonable when bought with a discount.

My wardrobe right now seems to revolve around patterned or colored trousers – whether they be of the jeans, skinnies or harem variety – so I chose some lovely neutral sweaters that can be worn with all of them.  My favorite is unfortunately delayed but, fingers crossed, it may turn up early.  It is the black Off Duty Jumper – a lovely roll neck, boxy jumper that will look great with skinnies and will layer well.  I normally order US 8 in their jumpers but went for a US 6 in this based on reviews.

Next up for a bit of sparkle I ordered the sparkle Skye jumper in parchment.  I had ordered the regular Skye jumper early in the preview and returned it in the charcoal as 1) the 8 was huge and 2) the charcoal seemed a bit blah for the price.  I do love the cut though and hope that this lovely nude in a 6 will be a good choice.

Finally for a splash of color I’ve ordered the washed red Fairisle jumper.  I think this will look gorgeous with jeans and a white shirt underneath it, with my Pistols.  I love this red and yes it may be verging on a Christmas jumper but what the heck – I’ll happily wear this on Xmas Day in NYC!

Ooops I did just say finally didn’t I?  Not quite – I ordered the Iona coat too – in fact 2 of them.  I couldn’t quite make my mind up – red for fun and color or black for versatility – so I’ve ordered both colors to compare and get MM’s opinion.  Some of the UK reviews complained about this coat being too light – which here in Atlanta – could make this the perfect coat for me.  I’m really hoping it works more like a heavy cardigan that I can throw on over a top or light sweater.  I love the drape of it and think if styled right it could look really fun and stylish.

I’ll keep you posted as they arrive!

Today we headed to the Zoo – one of our favorite places to spend Sunday mornings – yep another way we differ from the majority of Atlanta.  MM took great amusement in my camo gear – it really wasn’t intentional to look like I was heading out into the wild with the rhinos, but a bad choice of outfit in hindsight!  The camo trousers are Zara – I can’t say enough about how comfy these are.  The top and scarf are also Zara, worn with my JohnnieB leather jacket from last winter, and the Ash Gwen studded sneakers.

Oh and I have a budding hairdresser in the house – my daughter decided to cut Hugh’s hair today – he won’t need his fringe trimmed for a while that’s for sure…

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One less life.

Just read the title to this post again and I assure it isn’t as morbid as it sounds!  MM and I just returned from the ABC Kids Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky.  I’ve only been once before when it was based in Las Vegas.  When we both go it means that we have to get a sitter for the children and I really don’t like leaving them for 2 nights.  Don’t get me wrong – I like the adult time away but I miss my little ones like crazy.  The reason for the ‘one less life’ is that there is always far too much partying involved and I really feel like a cat with one less life on my return to normality!

I was rubbish at taking my outfit of the day photos – which is madness really as they would have been fun with a great mirror, well thought out packing and no one trying to get me out of the house quickly – but I had other priorities!  I did get some fun shots of the party animal that I am though…On the first evening I wore my AllSaints Dita t-shirt dress, Zara bordeaux skinnies, Zara jersey jacket and my Rag & Bone Newbury boots.  Here’s a photo from the loo in the exhibition center – people really do think I’m weird when they catch me photographing myself!

Now the incriminating photo…dead classy:)

The cure the following day included:

Today I’m just about feeling human again so managed to pick out something other than sweatpants from the closet.  These are Zara cargo pants which I love – really comfy with lots of stretch, a Zara camouflage top, JohnnieB leather jacket from a couple of years ago and my Ash Bowie sneakers in camel.

Now off to sweat out the toxins at the Y.  See you tomorrow!

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