Tag Archives: Marks & Spencer

Home comforts.

Here was me thinking I might lose a few pounds on holiday.  Errr not the way I’m going at the moment.  Copious wine, Mum’s fab cooking, plus a trip to Tesco where I stocked up on a few home comforts.

 

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I’ve already had steak and kidney pudding and mushy peas, the bag of revels, and the Monster Munch have been opened.  It’s a good job I stocked up on some of my favorite shape wear from M&S this morning too!  Right now if you use BRAFIT48 at check out you will receive 8GBP off every 40GBP you spend!  I broke it up into separate orders online to benefit fully from the code!

These are my favorite pieces – they really do cinch the waist, and the legs have no elastic so completely eradicate the VPL.  At 25GBP each who can argue with that?  M&S also ship free to the US now so I can rest easy.

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This afternoon we’re babysitting for my sister so the house has 4 children in it.  Poppy is enjoying every minute of schooling Hugh, Jack and Tom – poor boys.

Here’s my outfit for today – starting with a jacket and sneakers for a trip into Bury, followed by a cardigan and flip flops for hanging out at home.

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Jacket – Zara TRF (old) // T-shirt – Gap // Jeans – Asos Saxby // Sneakers – Golden Goose

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Flip flops – Havaianas // Cardigan – Boden (30% off everything till 24th June!!) Limited Edition sparkle pocket cardigan (old)

Off to help corral the children!

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The sales are on!!

Last night my brother and his family came over for dinner.  I love hanging out with my brother – he’s quite tolerant of my foibles/quirks – or at least he appears to be.  After dinner, once all had left, I happened to be surfing online and low and behold what should I see but the Zara site announcing it’s sale starting at midnight.

For the first time ever jetlag proved handy. I set my alarm just in case, but thanks to Poppy missing her Dad -bless her, I was wide awake at midnight, on my iPad, filling my cart.  As I was about to check out, feeling very happy with myself, I lost the will to live.  The UK site would not accept a US billing address and UK delivery address.  Now for a moment I did think about waking Mum to borrow her card, but I quickly realized that she may not have placed the same degree of import on the Zara sale, especially close to 1am.  Deflated I rolled over and fell asleep dreaming of what could have been.

In the cold light of day it was probably no bad thing.  This morning, as I stalked the site again, I realized that I actually only REALLY wanted 2 items.  Both are actually cheaper on the US site but the dress was sold out in a medium there – so thanks for letting me borrow your card Mum:)

Here are my purchases:

Jacket – $69.99 or 49.99 GBP

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Dress – $69.99 or 49.99 GBP

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Happy with my purchases we then headed to the Trafford Centre with my sister.  I was not planning on buying anything.  In fact I even went into Zara and came out empty handed.  Louise then dragged me kicking and screaming into Ted Baker.  Darn it – three dresses later we emerged victorious with grins across our faces.

Here’s Louise’s dress – just stunning on her – in a size 1 – after 2 children!! How can that be?!

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And mine – another example of how different our styles are.  I’ll never achieve her level of elegance.

The NULA dress – the same style as my taxi print one that Avril kindly sent over for me, but this is the Paris one, reduced from 129 GBP to 90 GBP.  The print is stunning.

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The Allysia dress – reduced from 129 GBP to 65 GBP – a proper bargain!

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Poppy didn’t come home empty handed either.  I have a blogger in training I assure you.  I adore this cute Marks and Spencer’s dress that Nana bought her for her belated birthday present.

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Now I’m off to sit in the garden and relax with my favorite purchases of the day – my vacation is complete now I have my hands on these.

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A list as long as my arm.

It’s got to be a quick post today – no waffling from me about the Met Gala, except to ask what happened to my invite, and Madonna what were you thinking?  I know it was a punk theme but come on – I just think it’s awful – but then again maybe I should give her kudos for still daring to be different?

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My absolute favorite from last night was Taylor Swift – maybe not obviously punk, but the J. Mendel dress and make up created a sophisticated and glamorous look – I love this.

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For the best interpretation of punk I’ve got to give it to SJP – her mohican head dress by Philip Treacy is fabulous, and the Giles Deacon dress is just divine.

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So now on to that list as long as my arm – ordering cake, buying birthday presents, collecting rsvps, tidying the spare room, buying wine etc. etc.  – oh and a bit of work here and there too.  It might help if the sun would shine, but Atlanta seems to be stuck in a stationary rain cloud right now.

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Shoes – Vince Nina // Trousers – Zara (old) // T-shirt – Zara (old) // Knitted jacket – Marks and Spencer (the cream version is now in the sale!)

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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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Spring?

Yay the sun is out!  After a few snow sprinkles yesterday I was worried winter may be here for a few more weeks.  It’s funny as a remember leaving hospital 5 years ago with Hugh and it was snowing then too!

I’m loving my new Marks and Spencer cardigan – it’s perfect with the AllSaints Dita dress – even if I did just bloody well spill beetroot juice on it – gah!  Fortunately managed to get it out with some lightning fast action!  So much for staying healthy – beetroot juice – good for body – crap for clothes.

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Leggings – Zara // Boots – Rag & Bone Newbury boots // Dress – AllSaints Dita t-shirt dress // Cardigan – Marks and Spencer

 

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Oil pulling.

I am turning granola.  Well I’m at least becoming more ‘green’ friendly and more aware of pollutants entering the temple that is my body.  I suddenly realized this just the other day when Avril was telling me to stop using Bio Oil as it is a mineral oil full of rubbish stuff that will actually dry my skin out.  Rosehip Oil apparently is the way to go – so I have just ordered some from Amazon to give it a whirl as a night treatment.

The other ‘treatment’ I started doing regularly just a few weeks ago may make you feel queasy – but I assure you it is fabulous and you will notice a difference too.  Oral health is really important – not just to prevent tooth decay and bad breath – but gum disease has also been shown to raise the incidence of heart disease and premature birth/miscarriage.  I am REALLY OCD about my teeth, especially after orthodontic treatments as a child and adult.  I want to keep my teeth around forever thank you.  In the past I have used a mouth wash for whitening, freshening and rinsing after brushing.  Mouthwash can be really harsh and has brought tears to my eyes in the past – plus read the label – I dare you – so many chemicals!  Anyway I was reading about juicing (see I am turning granola…) and stumbled across an article about oil pulling.  Bear with me.  Using an organic oil – I prefer coconut oil – you just swill it in your mouth, like with mouthwash, only for a bit longer, about 15mins.  Coconut oil can be a bit intimidating as it is solid at room temperature – but trust me – take a tablespoon in your mouth and it will turn liquid at body temperature.  It tastes fabulous – just like coconut – no surprise there really.  Ok so what does swilling oil do?  Well to a scientist, ah hem, like myself, it makes perfect sense.  The oil ‘pulls’ toxins and bacteria from the teeth and gums.  Remember hydrophilic and hydrophobic at school?  Well all the rubbish stuff in your mouth is actually quite oil friendly (feel free to switch off here, but I used to use oil in my research to separate certain proteins – some liked oil and some didn’t).  So the theory is that oil pulling every morning or every other day will remove all the rubbish from your mouth.  Avoid swallowing it as it is now full of toxins, and spit it in the bin or down the loo as it will block your sink drains!  I swear it has been beneficial – and much more pleasant than mouth wash.  Others say it not only freshens breath, whitens teeth and helps oral hygiene but can also aid a more restful sleep and diminish arthritic pain – true detoxification.  Give it a go and let me know what you think.  It’s now part of my morning routine – and I actually ‘swill’ while showering every morning.

It’s Hugh’s birthday today so we’re both hanging out together.  It’s the last time I’ll be able to take him out of school on his birthday.  The new drum kit seems to have been a hit (groan – no pun intended) – at least with me and Poppy – one of us WILL tour with Jack White.

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I had to nip into Zara to take a couple of things back – poor Hugh got dragged along too but he gave me 10 mins to try a couple of t-shirts that didn’t come home with me.

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Boots – Rag & Bone charcoal suede Newburys // Trousers – Dorothy Perkins coated jeggings // Knitted tunic – H&M (old) // Coat – Boden Iona coat (only $97 in clearance!) // Scarf – Marks & Spencer bicycle scarf

 

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Larkin’ about.

Slowly moving back to the land of the living today.  Which is good as it is Hugh’s 5th birthday tomorrow and he is VERY excited.  So excited that last night he was trying to convince me it was Wednesday today.  Given my jet lag I almost believed him.

Today I took my inspiration from a couple of my favorite US bloggers – Tiffany Wendel Personal Styling and Sheree from It’s Not That Deep.  Both are Moms, and REALLY cool Moms at that.  I love browsing their sites, and though I’m not sure I can get away with all their looks, they certainly provide great inspiration.  Both of them have worn a black fur gilet over a denim jacket recently:)  I’m also trying to wear all my warm, furry things before it warms up and they get packed away to the downstairs closet!

I started having some fun on our big rock in the garden – a rock I only venture near in the winter as I am sure it provides shelter for snakes in the summer!

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Fur gilet – Skaist-Taylor for NM and Target // Denim jacket – Gap (old)  // Red jeans – Zara (old) //  Top – The Limited collection, Marks & Spencer (old) // Sneakers – Converse

Complete change of subject now, but I was on my drive into work this morning listening to NPR as usual.  They reviewed a book, Wave, written by Sonali Deraniyagala.  She survived the horrific Tsunami on Boxing Day 2004, but lost all her family to it.  It was heart wrenching to listen to her story – but I really now want to read this book – here’s the NPR link.

 

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Please don’t stop the music…

A year of blogging!  Who’d have thought it?  So there to everyone who thought it was just another of my fads:)

While taking the photos this morning I had the iPod on and it suddenly dawned on me that it was a year since my first post.  I couldn’t stop smiling, and then I couldn’t stop dancing…

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The skirt is J.Crew, tights are Marks and Spencer, jumper is the Off Duty jumper from Boden and the boots are the fabulous Newburys.

Thanks to all of you for your support, and for embracing my weaknesses, challenging my opinions and reading my waffle – love you all xx

 

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Wish it was time for school!!

We’re climbing the walls here.  MM is back at work and I am going stir crazy with 2 little ones at home.  Yesterday we spent the morning at the Y and then had a play date to keep them busy.  Today we headed out to Zoo Atlanta.  Far too cold for most animals to be out but at least my animals got to run around and let off some steam for a couple of hours.  They are now in front of The Aristocats for the afternoon:)

It was nice to get dressed after a day in work out gear – though it was definitely a day for layering.  I chose the emerald green Zara jeans – in the sale at $30 – (I dreamed about wearing them – I must be outfit planning in my sleep now…), paired with my H&M stripe t-shirt dress with my fab Boden Off Duty jumper.  I really do love the neck on this – really snuggly for a cold day like today – though I had to de-feather it after wearing it under my puffa the other day in NYC.  The boots are some old favorites – Frye Shirley over-the-knee.  They are buttery soft and super comfy because they are nice and flat – a beautiful riding boot that I also own in taupe.  Hurry quick to Zappos.com here as they’re reduced by nearly $100!

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So before we headed out I donned my J.Crew cashmere hat, H&M wrist warmers and a favorite coat from last year.  It’s a faux sheepskin waterfall coat from Marks & Spencer.  I bought it in their coat sale last December when I was back home.  I love it – really warm and stylish.  This might be the one that comes to the UK with me in February.  This is the closest to it I can see online, and online it is sold out, at just 30GBP in the sale.  If you are in the UK there may still be some in store – worth checking out!

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Now please send oodles of patience my way as I resolve conflicts over movie preferences….

 

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Grrrrr.

A couple of my Boden orders arrived!  The first – the slouchy merino jumper is gorgeous.  I normally order the larger of my two sizes in knitwear and did so with this, ordering the US8.  It is perfect.  Lovely and oversized with drapey dolman sleeves, but lovely and snug around the bottom and the cuffs.  It is long too and sits on my bum perfectly.  I think it can be worn with long skirts or skinny jeans equally well – as long as your lower half is fitted this jumper will be flattering.  I ordered the silver melange and love it so much that with the 25% off (code Q753), and some account credit begging to be used, I have just ordered it in sunset too.  Grab one now while there are plenty of colors and sizes left.

The second order is the washed red Fairisle jumper.  Hmmm – I do like it – but MM’s look was one of complete surprise – ‘that is so not you’ – was his comment – which I have to say is why I like it.  I have returned it though as I think the red was too Christmassy (yes ignore what I said the other day), and also the US8 was fitted.  If there is one thing I don’t like it is fitted knitwear.  So I have returned and I’m exchanging it for a US10 in the Fudge melange.  The jury is still out but again with 25% off it is worth a try.  I think I like it as it makes me think of cold, winter walks that end up in front of a roaring fire in a country pub eating steak and kidney pudding.  Not many of those here in Atlanta.

I do like a bit of animal print.  Today I am going for it in a big way.  The outfit initially started as red and taupe but quickly became overwhelmed by leopard print.  The taupe top is from Zara in the sale and the cardigan is the radish effortless cardigan from Boden SS 2012 and it still pops back into stock occasionally.  I love this cardigan – the color just makes me happy.  Serendipitously I discovered my H&M leopard print scarf coordinates perfectly with both.  Yes there is a lot going on here so I attempted to tame it with my Hudson Collin jeans and Sam Edelman tan (really taupe) suede Louie boots.

Then I went and over did it completely and threw on my best purchase ever from Marks & Spencer – last year’s leopard print coat.  Words cannot express how much love I have for this coat.  Oh how I wish you shipped to the States.

Odd experiment here too – always far happier with photos taken of myself in the mirror rather than with the tripod – must be because that is how I always see myself rather than how others see me?

Stay warm and let me know if you order anything from Boden with this fab deal!

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