Birthday & Busy Week - #Chicandstylish #LINKUP

Good morning my friends.

Hope you are well.

I've had a busy week with a few birthdays to celebrate.

On Saturday I actually went out, out!  My friends birthday on Monday meant 6 friends met in a local restaurant for a slap up Italian meal on Saturday night.  We all had a wonderful evening and all agreed it was much needed. It's was really nice to get dolled up in a pretty dress for a change.  I wore this cute red dress with some black ankle boots (will share on the blog soon).

I was left a little dumb founded with the wearing of masks.  I had to wear one whilst entering and walking to the table and also if needing the loo.  But whilst sitting at the table and people around me sitting at their tables not wearing anything - obviously! Why do we need them whilst walking around! There were also thin perspex sheets hanging between tables in some areas, and not in others.  I'm bemused to think the virus couldn't spread anyway.  I suppose restaurants have to be seen to be doing something don't they!

Yesterday was my mum's birthday & as she's not been going out my sister and I decided to take an Afternoon Tea to her.  I took scones, jam and cream, a cake my daughter (Little Berry Bakes) made, caramelised onion quiche and prosecco and my sister bought some quality sandwiches.  We set the table just like we'd be in a fancy restaurant and enjoyed a few cups of tea whilst devouring the tasty fare.
Today I'll be having my fringe trimmed, fringe-gate is the on going saga of my fringe. I don't mean to be awkward but each visit I seem to what something different, it's too full, too thin, too long or too short, I want it curved, straight or feathered!!! My hairdresser just does what I ask and never asks any questions - lol.  This afternoon I'm seeing my friend for a drink and chat - she's my Neal's Yard specialist, so I might come home with something on my wish list! 😉 

Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday, it's a big one so I'll tell you all about it next week.

Style not Age - Gothic Romance.

Hi there everyone - thanks for joining me today.

Can we really be in the last week of October already?  With Halloween next weekend it won't be long and I'll be putting my Christmas decorations up!  Yes really Hubby and I have decided we are going to start the festivities early in order to bring on Christmas, some fun times and the end to a very bad year!

You might remember last week I told you I've started buying some gifts already & with another shopping trip under my belt I've managed to cross off quite a few from my list - hopefully I'll get everything done and dusted before there's any sign of queues outside shops or items out of stock!

I had another wonderful weekend with the family.  If you saw my IG stories you'll have seen I went pumpkin picking with my grand-kids.  Something I've never done, and if the weather's that bad again it might be my last - lol.  We had rain all morning, and the field was full of sticky mud with plenty of puddles to splash about in - fortunately I wore my wellies - I've had them for years and really need to get a new pair.  Maybe I'll invest in this pair from Joules, they could last me another 30 years!  I came home with about 8 pumpkins of different sizes, the kids just kept adding to the basket.  Some have been carved and are outside already.  I'm going to carve mine when I have a spare five minutes and maybe make a soup or something with the insides. 

Okay let's get back to the task in hand.

As it's the last Monday of the month it's the turn of the ladies from Style not Age to complete their latest challenge.  This month has been set by Emma and her choice of Gothic Romance proved a rather hard topic!  As I had no idea I went online for a bit of inspiration. This is what I came up with!

Neutrals with a Hobbs Jacket - #Chicandstylish #LINKUP

Morning my friends.

What you up to?

Keep your ears covered if you don't want to hear about the 'C' word - no not Covid the other one!  

Christmas is literally just around the corner and I've started to buy some presents!  With half price toy sales going on all over the show I thought it would be a good time to start.  I have bought four already and am planning more shopping trips in the coming days to make sure I have the majority bought by the end of November - let's see how that pans out!

If you'd joined me over the past couple of weeks you'll have seen I've been embracing the neutral-shades-bus.  I'm still not convinced they are really 'me' but for the time being I'm going with it.  

I know they've been on repeat since I got them, but quite honestly these trousers are just perfect for the seasons changing temperatures.

Last week I teamed a navy blouse over them and before that they pulled together my lightweight trench and new floral top    

Today I've picked my gorgeous Chanel style jacket which has biscuit flecks as well as pale coral tones too.  I wore a matching blush top that has to be a mainstay of my wardrobe ( - along with the other shades I own - cream, black and bright yellow), I wish I'd bought more colours as they have so much to offer.

Grey and Green Together - Yes It Works.

Morning my friends.

How are you all?

What a super weekend I've had, well it started on Friday.

My son finally got to marry his sweetheart in an intimate gathering of 15.  Fifteen not by choice, but  due to Covid, we made the best of the day and literally had an amazing time.  I will be posting all about it soon, so do stop back to see it.

As you can imagine Saturday and Sunday have been very slow.  I had breakfast at the venue on Saturday morning and came home to relax and replay the previous day in my head.  It was truly a magical occasion with everything perfect, or as perfect as it could have been considering the circumstances.

So before I run away with my dreaming let me tell you about my latest look for my grey trousers.  A favourite for this time of the year.  I'm after a pair in seasonal tan as I've so much to go with them - I have just found and bagged these from New Look - so will see what they are like.

Navy and Biscuit Neutrals - #Chicandstylish #LINKUP

Hi there.

How you doing?

Well my dress is ready as are my shoes, bag and fascinator - my nails are being painted today and I'm just waiting for the big day to arrive, my son gets married tomorrow!  It's been long awaited since being postponed in June and although it's been reduced to only 15 family members I've got my fingers crossed they'll have a wonderful day.   I'll be sharing my outfit on the blog soon, so hope you'll stop back to check it out.

I'm sharing another neutral outfit on the blog today. You've seen all these pieces in the past, but not together.  When I got my culottes I knew they'd have plenty of options & I really love biscuit and navy together.  You can see two previous looks here with a sunflower top & here with my new top from H & M.

 

My New Neutrals.

Morning my friends.

Hope you are all well.

I'd like to start today off with a big Happy Birthday to Esther Ruby! 🎈

With my busy household at the moment I've yet to changeover my summer wardrobe for more warmer attire. I am planning to do it sometime .... err ... very soon!  I need to get things sorted as I have clothes and footwear absolutely everywhere!  The trouble with having all the seasons clothing around and nowhere to put it means I can't really see anything to be able to match, plan and keep track of.  Watch this space for the mammoth task being completed. 😏

I need to be making room for new pieces like the sweet mint green and biscuit top I wore with neutral culottes and lightweight trench coat last week, and this long line cardigan I picked up in the Marks and Spencer sale along with a caramel snake print shirt from H & M!

Relaxing in Playtex - #Chicandstylish #LINKUP

Morning my friends.

How are you all.

On Tuesday I ventured out to get my wedding outfit ......happy to say I found something and having already some suitable shoes, bag & fascinator hat I'm all set.  It's going to be a strange wedding for sure, with only 15, yes 15 people allowed to attend.  I'm absolutely gutted for my son and his future wife.  They've spent the past couple of years planning, buying, dreaming and looking forward to getting married, already having had to postpone it in June.  All the rules the government have set down seem very unfair to some, for example we can attend the hen afternoon tea the week before at the same venue with over twenty people - very unjust!  They could have postponed again for a date next year, but quite frankly they just want to get married now, so fifteen close family will be there to witness their marriage and enjoy a meal and few drinks.  I'll keep you posted about my outfit and how the day goes (it's not until a couple of weeks though).

A while ago I was asked to style some pretty lingerie, I toyed with the idea wondering if I should or shouldn't commit, I did - and you can catch the Playtex underwear set here. I figured it was just like being on the beach in a bikini.   When Playtex asked me if I'd like to review another set I happily said yes knowing if I'd done it once I could do it again.  Now lock-down hasn't been very kind to me, I've eaten what I wanted to and drunk a glass or two more often than I care to admit!  So for this post the photos aren't quite as revealing as the previous post - but you'll get the gist of just how lovely the set is.

Items marked with * have been gifted to me, however these are 100% my own honest comments.

September Review.

Good morning everyone.

What you all up to?

Grand-kids are back and it's like they've never been away.  The house is coming on though, so with talk of the kitchen being fitted along with carpets being ordered I don't think it will be long and I'll be bidding them farewell. 😢 

Another month has flown by and the thought of Christmas and festivities has been entering my head.  I've made some lists and plan to get all my presents bought and wrapped way before there's any fear of long queues for me to worry about - that's the plan anyway!

So as we've entered October it's time to step back in time for the September Review.

Another mixed bag last month dominated by my white culotte trousers.  They're so adaptable for different occasions and can be dressed up or down as the mood takes me.  It seems they're nearly as flexible as my jeans although no denim was posted on the blog last month, guaranteed I lived in them.  I'm after another pair for winter but have yet to find the right ones, I'll keep you posted guys.

Neutrals for Autumn - #Chicandstylish #LINKUP

Morning my friends.

How are you all?

Been a funny old week for me.  My daughter and family, who are living with me, have gone off for a few days away!  It's been very odd to say the least!  Extremely quiet, dare I say tidy and rather boring!  No impromptu cuddles, toys on the floor, kids programs on the telly or a big den in the front room! 😄

They are back on Friday and I'm sure once they're home it will be like they've never left, it will get me used to them eventually moving on to their new property though.  Not looking forward to that one bit!

It has given me the opportunity to get back into blogging though and I've planned quite a few posts in advance - so that's going to be very helpful & I'll have more precious time to make memories with the grand-kids eh!

I've only bought a couple of Autumnal bits so far, and this little top from H & M is one of them.  I spotted it and felt it would adapt many clothes already in my wardrobe and get them ready for our new season.