Tag Archives: Mango

Rain, rain go away.

So Georgia has apparently had 25% more rain fall than usual this summer. It’s always extremes here – extreme drought or extreme rain! The peach crop is suffering with enormous swollen peaches that are having their sweetness diluted – who knew hey? I am suffering with frustrated, cranky kids…roll on school.

I just took them out for lunch to get us all out of the house, and now we’re home they have immediately started screaming at each other, arguing over which movie to watch. Telling them ‘in my day I was happy to have a movie to watch’ oddly doesn’t seem to have much impact. I might have a goblet of red now they seem to have called a truce.

We’ve all had our back to school haircuts and I’m now sporting a true bob. Gone are the sun bleached, dry ends – my hair now feels lovely and sleek with no grays in sight – thank you to the lovely Lauren at Plum Salon. We made her earn her money yesterday with 3 haircuts and a color!

By the way I did ask him to smile, not grimace.

Jacket – Zara (not online but I have seen it appear in stock clearance) // Pants – Mango sale // T-shirt – Gap (no longer online but was in the sale here) // Sandals – Tory Burch Emmy (old) // Bag – Alexander Wang Rocco

And so it draws to a close.

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After almost 4 weeks in Northern Cyprus our vacation is over. It is bitter sweet – I’m excited to get back to a routine and see our dog, but I’ll be sad to leave this beautiful place. We have seen more than I ever imagined, eaten fabulous food and met some wonderful people.

On Sunday we went out to our local restaurant for the penultimate time. Remind me to never drink raki again – I’m not sure why I ever thought it was a good idea?

Sandals – bow cage sandals from Marks and Spencer // Trousers – Mango // Tank – H&M

See if you can spot the errors in the meze menu – regardless of how it’s spelled it tasted amazing I promise!

Nasty, nasty raki.

On Monday we headed out for a drive, via Bufavento and Five Finger Mountain, towards Kantara again. Just when I needed it most, we serendipitously stumbled on the most perfect restaurant nestled between the mountains. They served the coldest Efes and the tastiest Lamaçun – perfect for a girl still suffering from the effects of raki!

Dress – New Look (Just 9 GBP in the sale!!)

So today we must pack our bags and lie on the beach one last time soaking up the rays of the Mediterranean.

I probably won’t post till I am back in Atlanta, and we’re taking our time getting there with one last stop at my Mum and Dad’s. In the meantime you might notice that James Perse are having another sample sale – there are some amazing discounts – you can access it via the banner ads on the right. Also Boden have released their Fall collection!! For free shipping and 15% discount, again use the banner ads to the right. Enjoy!

Feeding my need for harems.

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So you all know by now that I love harem trousers. I think it is the fact that they are a love ’em or hate ’em item that makes me love them more. There is no middle ground – they are completely polarizing – I know from the comments I receive. Thankfully there are a few of us harem lovers around, otherwise stores like Zara and Mango wouldn’t continue to provide as many amazing options as they do. Even Next has got in on the game – admittedly their crotch is not low slung – but they are great for a harem novice.

Here are my picks from Next – I have them in white and black, and I have just ordered the navy – they are incredibly comfortable and quite flattering if you ask me, though Next seem to employ the same online stylist as M&S.

In navy – these come in black and white too.

I love this pattern – it reminds me of the Lululemon Wee are from Space print.

And of course there has to be some animal print in there.

And my very favorite – the tie dye option.

Since buying my Mango trousers I’ve seen them featured on a few other blogs so I’m quite happy I bought them before the sold out in the sale on the US site! You can find them here on the UK site for just 19.99 GBP, again they aren’t too low slung for those of you who just want to dip your toe in the harem trend.

I’m not usually a fan of paisley but I love the folded waistline this paisley print pair – again just 19.99GBP in the sale.

I may have also bought these – at just 15 GBP they are great value – a lovely loose linen, perfect with sandals or heels – and great for vacation.

Now Zara are always reliable for harems. I have a couple of winter styles and then I bought these for my vacation that are now in the sale – I adore them – they are a great blue and lovely and silky. They are the perfect dressy holiday trouser in my opinion.

I’m very excited to see that they are now available in orange or pink in the new collection.

And now for a real love it or loathe it item. I, of course, LOVE it and have ordered it – it will be waiting on my desk when I return to work – what a treat! I love how ridiculously it embraces the full LOW slung harem trouser. With killer heels and a clutch I think it will look simple and elegant. I present to you the Zara baggy fit jumpsuit.

I told you that my Husband was a great lover of harems too – he even wore them at my graduation ball – well he’s just ordered a pair of tailor made ones here. I’m tempted to invest in some Cypriot couture myself, though I’m a bit concerned about what exactly ‘planted within’ means?

Meanwhile here I am in the wonderful Zara trousers out for dinner last night. The t-shirt is Ted Baker which is proving to be incredibly versatile – it goes with everything – and the sandals are Zara too. I actually put make up on for the first time in a week but still couldn’t face the heat of the hairdryer.

So have I persuaded you to give harems a go yet?

Wish I could actually wear them.

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All my new sandals that is. It’s chucking it down here again in Bury. I thought I’d bought enough foul weather clothes – but I forget how foul it can get. I have zero waterproofs and zero waterproof shoes with me. Same can be said for the kids. We are completely unprepared for cold, wet, rain.

I think I might have enough sandals for Cyprus though. I’m hoping that wearing them there is pretty much guaranteed.

Here’s a closer look at the lovely bow cage M&S nude sandals – they really are lovely. Some reviews say size down but I ended up with my usual UK 6 – maybe it’s due to my wider feet – but just be warned you might want to try a size down. The nude have a suede heel rather than the metallic heel on the other two colorways.

As much as I love my sandals, my favorite purchases are these Autograph peep toe booties – in snakeskin and black – they are perfect. The heel height is about 3″ so perfectly comfortable and ideal for day wear too. As I’ve mentioned before, my toes have a mind of their own, so these keep them nicely encased and on their best behavior. I wish they came in nude too.

Now for what I’ve been wearing for the last couple of days. On Wednesday night, after my day out with Sue, I needed some comfy clothes. I know – the bra is bright blue and can be seen – but the photo is more so you can see the new Mango trousers. I LOVE them. The t-shirt is Gap and the bright pink looks great with the neutral trousers. Size down in Gap tees – this is a small.

Yesterday I wore plenty of brights – begging the sun to appear. Obviously it didn’t work. The nail polish is Essie Lapis of Luxury and complements the colors in the t-shirt really well!

Jeans – Boden skinny jeans // Jacket – Boden chic leather jacket (old) // Shoes – Marks and Spencer bow cage sandals // T-shirt – Ted Baker (old)

Looks like the Marks and Spencer sale has started today! Plus Boden currently have 40 items for men and women, and another 40 items for Mini girls and boys with 40% off – enjoy!

Still in her 30s

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But only just! I spent the day today celebrating my sister’s 39th birthday. We left early, abandoning our children, and ran for it to the bright lights of Manchester. What followed was one of the best days of sibling bonding I’ve ever had. I wish I could spend days like this every week with my sister.

After a mooch around the shops, where I bagged a couple of great deals in the Mango sale, we headed to Harvey Nicks for a fabulously debauch lunch – minimal food, copious prosecco and abundant conversation. I felt like I was on an episode of Long Lost Family – we spilled so much, talked so much, laughed so much and cried a little. It’s amazing what growing up can do for a relationship.

Lovely Louise – Happy 39th!:

My new pants – fabulously comfortable:

In between bottles of wine we dashed into Zara where I fell in love with this jacket – I will be ordering it on my return. It’s just the most perfect lightweight jacket – it fit like a glove.

We also managed to buy half of the Marks and Spencer’s shoe department. Lordy I might need a new suitcase again.

I first saw these on gorgeous Avril and I couldn’t resist the nude too.

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Then these are the first ever strap sandal I have ever owned! Normally I can’t get my toes to stay put beneath the strap and I end up with all sorts of nasty welts and blisters – but these are just SO comfortable. My first ever non-thong sandals. I promise – far nicer on – no Jesus sandal about these! My sister confirmed they were cute and not frumpy – I trust her, you should too.

Here are Louise’s – very classy indeed and a great wearable height. I’m so impressed with M&Ss shoe collection – thank goodness they do free shipping to the US now!

My outfit today (it was warm and sunny!):

Dress – T-shirt dress James Perse (old) // Jacket – Zara (old) // Shoes – Isabel Marant Bobby Sneakers // Scarf – J.Crew (old)

Off to bed now ready to head to Leeds! That’ll be a fun story for you:)

White shoes.

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Okay nearly every celebrity has been photographed wearing them and yet they are the most difficult item to find in stores and online here. Are they still just too 80s? Is it still too early in the season? White shoes – I have been looking for them everywhere.

Solange Knowles started my obsession:

Then one of my favorite bloggers, Sheree from It’s Not That Deep, wears them frequently with absolute cool and aplomb, like here and here. She claims they can be worn with anything and go with everything and she is on a mission to prove it.

So the search began. There are few criteria they must adhere to – they must be white white – not cream or off white, and they must be pointed, single sole pumps/courts. Easy hey? – Surely every cheapo shoe store must carry them for those whose fashion sense we question, if not for those fashionistas who are giving them a new lease of cool? Not so. Unless I want a pair of YSL – sorry Saint Laurent (why mess with a brand??) or Manolo BBs I cannot find any that fit the bill.

I thought I had. I ordered the Odette from Asos. River Island is having a resurgence (even Kat has seen the light) and I saw these when I was back in Bury. I thought they would work a treat. But oh no – my toes (inherited from my Dad) are too curly and sticky out to fit in this vamp shoe – so off they go back to Asos:(

Mango have another great alternative but in the time taken for Asos to deliver (yawn…) the 39 sold out…but still $99.99 seemed steep for a pair of ‘on trend’ white shoes that may be resolutely off trend next summer.

So on a rainy wet Saturday I dragged the family to Lenox Mall white shoe shopping. Oh how they leaped with glee at the prospect – NOT. I did return with a pair though which I was planning to wear tonight till our babysitter called sick. Now I’m drowning my sorrows in a glass of white, anticipating a Chinese takeaway instead of getting my glad rags on. Oh well there is always next week!

So these are what came home with me – the BCBG white patent pumps. Patent – yes – I was doubtful too – but the fit of these persuaded me I should get them. They cover my toe cleavage perfectly with no risk of the freaky little toes escaping over the front. Plus the heel height and the vamp are not so crippling that I can only do ‘car to bar’. I got mine from Macy’s but can’t find them online – so here they are at Zappos.com.

Now I also have my eye on these – but who needs TWO pairs of white shoes? I LOVE the lucite heel – but the guy in the shop was trying to persuade me I needed a US 8 1/2 – I know I don’t – I need an 8 which they didn’t have. ALDO stop commission based sales – do you really think ‘the 8 1/2 will be perfect with an insole’??? I want my correct size please, not to help Mr Salesman out with his weekend drinking money. Anyway, I can assure you these are gorgeous in the flesh and I may still order them…

Now these don’t fit the initial criteria – in fact they are a brogue and they are flats – but when I saw them on the Massimo Dutti site I NEEDED them. Now I have them here I know I don’t. They are gorgeous, but not $200 gorgeous. In fact they are a slightly distressed leather and in the light the shoes didn’t even look like a pair – one was slightly grayer than the other. So back they went.

While we were out we had fun – it’s rare we all go shopping together but now the kids are older it is a little easier and the Mall acts as a confined running area for them – much to the chagrin of other shoppers. MM even tried on some Nudie jeans in Bloomingdale’s – he didn’t buy – we have VERY different shopping habits fortunately.