Yay ! it's Friday!

Hiya .... It's all good here.  Weather may be on the turn, so ...... wait for it,  actually managed a cardigan today! yes indeedy a full on, long sleeve, to the waist cardigan, alright I've had to remove it indoors, but still had it on most of the morning.  I shouldn't jest, I'm really going to have 'the hump' when it's really cold.

This morning I had the pleasure of accompanying my princess and her mum to baby gym.  This at the local gym club.  An hour long, structured class where they can play, learn new skills, sing songs and generally interact with other children.  My princess loves going and at the age of 2 and four months enjoys balancing on the beam, bouncing on the trampoline, hanging from the bars and singing some of the nursery rhymes.  Mummy's and nannies get to join in with the singing, give aiding hands when needed, chat and have a coffee.  Such a fun way to spend an hour.

My normal daily chores followed gym club, and I'm now home having a bite to eat, cup of tea and a blogging session.

This is what I stepped out in today..

This detailing on the back I'm loving, makes a plain cardigan into a statement.
Also the waterfall front gives this piece a softer look and also matches the frill on the Cami top.

Next cigarette jeans similar here, along with this cute top from Top shop years ago similar here and here.
Here's the aforementioned cardigan.  You might remember I mention a while ago about not having many statement coloured accessories in my clothes collection and I wanted to address this.  So when I spotted this in the Tu range at Sainsburys I decided it would be perfect accessory to have.  I knew this mustard coloured cardigan would match well with a few tops I already have, so when I saw the sale sticker on it I popped it straight into my trolley!   I'm sorry to say that this has sold out on line, but the real meaning I'm trying to convey is buy statement pieces in bold colours that will mix with others items in your wardrobe, that way it brings new life to older clothes.  Items such as cardigans, jackets, shoes or handbags will all do the job.

I also spotted and bought a cute jersey top, but found it has a hole in the sleeve, I'll be returning this and will show you in a post when I've replaced it.

OK ta ta for today - happy Friday and look it's nearly wine o'clock!!


                               Jacqui B.

Throw back Thursday - lace dress.

Evening .....It's ok I've survived my keep fit classes and happy to say I can still walk normally!
Somewhat achy I might add, but booked up for next week so It can't be all that bad.

A little shopping trip this morning, but only two purchases - all good they're for the Autumn but not the colours I went out for!!!


Still been a hot day, but I'm chomping at the bit to start wearing autumnal clothes, silly isn't it wanting the weather to change.  I'll be moaning when it's cold, wet and windy, but he ho that's how it is - as hubby says I'm never happy - lol.

Here's what I picked to wear today.  This outfit has now been demoted from 'going out wear' to 'shopping/day wear'.
Does anyone else do that?
Demote something that has past it's best and been seen quite a lot?

Workout Wednesday.

What are you up to on this first Wednesday in September?
Like you I'm wondering what the weather will be bringing into the 'what shall I wear' equation.
Firstly though I'm actually participating in not only one but two, yes two keep fit classes!!  Having not been in ages I know this is going to be difficult.  The hardest class will be spin/cycle, really it has been more years than I care to remember when I attended these workouts! 
Dripping with sweat with a face resembling an inflated tomato such a good look, such a unfit look!
Straight after I'll be joining the ladies in a class far more relaxed! ... Pilates.  That's going to hurt tomorrow.  Oh well as they say "no pain, no gain".

Two for Tuesday.

Hi there.

Two for Tuesday by way of two new Autumn/Winter fabulous looks

The first being velvet. Ekk I love velvet.  It always reminds me of Christmas, evenings out, dinner parties and the feeling of luxury.  So when I saw these gorgeous pieces made of the smoothest, softest material that feels great when touched.  I was in my element.  The icing on the cake when I saw this amazing blue crinkle velvet dress from Anthropologie for £108, but being such a classic piece it will be timeless and would be worn again and again - by far my favourite for the season.  I can not wait to get going with this sumptuous fashion.  Layering, adding co-ordinating pearls and leather belts.  So much choice (rubbing hands together a la Fagin).  Are you a velvet lover?  You'll either love it or hate it!

Monday means .........Back to normal

Bonjour to another week!

Alright back to normal means kids back to school,  your time is here again.  A little 'me' time.
Well OK I know my children are at work so that doesn't apply to me - but hang on one minute - for me it means shopping with no children in the stores, no long queues full of teenage girls and less holiday traffic on the roads - hurrah!

Sad to say attended a funeral today, seem to be unfortunate enough to have been attending a few of them recently - and I'm not liking it one bit.
Opted for the conventional 'black' outfit with an embossed pencil skirt along with black silky v neck top - both I have to add are from Matalan and have been on repeat over the past year.  These black suede shoes are a particular favourite of mine, a few years young, and from Clarks.  I quite often check out the shoes and sandals in this shop, mainly for the sizes they do my fit of a 6 1/2, and the comfortable padded insoles.
The weather today was typical funeral weather - dark, dismal, damp and depressing!  This could only happen in the UK fabulously hot weather and then on a funeral day horribly wet weather!

Sunday -Family day.

Hello to you all and welcome to my blog.
Had a good evening listening to a TV programme about The Carpenters, that was a trip down memory lane for me.  Made me think about growing up at home with mum, step-dad and my older sister.  My mum loved their music and we always listened to them on a radio cassette!
"Rainy days and Mondays always get me down" wow what a tune!  Funny how music and songs take you straight back to a particular era in your life - a bit like smells, they do that too.
This I avidly watched, listened to and appreciated, hanging onto that warm, happy feeling of remembering my childhood  that seemed only yesterday!

Pulling myself back to 2016 - it's Sunday, family day and yes roast dinner day.
With nearly a full house today hubby and I are in our element.  Roast lamb, roast potatoes, all manor of veg, gravy, mint sauce and home made dessert.  Trying, for the first time a Plum Bakewell Tart, using some freshly picked plums from my mums tree.  Lets hope I do it justice. Let me know if you'd like me to add the recipe too.

Saturday - Dusky pink.

Great to be starting the weekend after a short working week.
My week flew by, how about yours?

After having my fringe trimmed, eyebrows waxed and nails painted yesterday, I'm feeling somewhat 'human' again.  I've been a bit lax with my nails and left them 'polish free' for over a week now - that doesn't happen very often. 
Chose a cute little dusky pink and I think it's going to work well for the Autumnal colours I've seen recently.  So this colour will be on repeat throughout the coming months for sure.
At home in our nail kit I've got a good selection of gel nail colours to pick from, then I use my own machine to cure them see here.

Friday feeling fresh in my white top!

Good day to you all - how are we all?

Friday has me feeling fresh in not only in my white top, but in the cooler weather.
Woken up to a cloudy day with a light breeze - oh does that mean our summer is over?

Had such an exciting day yesterday, you see I was co-host for the very first time on Thursday Fashion Files with Jill and Carrie. Being as it was my first I didn't really know what I was doing but after a couple of  "help" messages, a bit of coaching from middle daughter and a little self belief I managed to link everything up without any major issues!  Feeling rather proud with myself that I succeeded. Yay!

Secondly on the exciting front, taking the dog out for a walk yesterday - we're on a mission for her to lose weight, you see I recently had to say 'goodbye' to my much loved and treasured little dog Candy, See here my Roxy had been neglected in the walking department and had put a bit of weight on, so my aim is to take her for daily, longer walks. 
So back to yesterday I opted for a different route, one I used to take when meeting my son from school, this took me over a stream - Roxy stopped for the obligatory sniff and as I turned to walk over the bridge I glimpsed the trail of a fleeting Kingfisher!  Now I love birds - they amaze me and I've got plenty of feeders arranged in my garden to encourage visitors.  I was so pleased.
It was only a glimpse as it flew away but I'm sure that's what it was - a vibrant blue and orange swish, and it was gone!  I'll be visiting that spot again with no dog, soft shoes and a camera!

This was actually the second 'glimpse' of a Kingfisher, the first time on a canal boating holiday on the River Avon - early one morning whilst moored in a quiet spot  my husband in a whispered voice said there was a Kingfisher on a branch over the water - I swiftly reached for the camera to take a couple of shots when my bestie had heard and tried to get a better view from the side windows - well if you've ever been on a canal boat you'd know that this side window is actually two shutters that when pushed open lay flat against the sides of the boat - yes you've guessed it, the sound emitted was similar to that of a 12 bore shot gun - bang, bang! and the bird flew away.  Result no photos and one embarrassed friend. lol.  We have quite a few laughs about this - one of many when we get together!

I digress - back to fresh white top, this I'm wearing with jeans, prompted by a recent blog view.

I love the plainness of this top, with just the right detail and coverage on the arm, white always makes me feel cool and fresh - Trying to find the link on the site, will update if and when I do.

My old faithful next skinny jeans were the chosen ones today - lucky them, along with M and S previous season sling back.  White with small black dot effect to compliment this beautiful white top.
Suitable for just running errands in, but stylish enough to wear with a dress for a date night out.

AW coming in strong now and I'm seeing some lovely bits - keep up with what I like/need ok want on my Instagram here, where I'll be giving you some fab ideas to run out and buy.

Linking up with The-wardrobe-stylist. why not pay her a visit, she'll love you to.
Until tomorrow - it's been great. X

                      Jacqui B.

How I wear my "off-the-shoulder" top.

Today I'd like to show you how I wear my "off-the-shoulder" top.

I've mentioned before that I don't think this style of top works for me, having wide shoulders plus all I see are younger girls sporting this style with skinny jeans and looking so gorgeous, that's two reasons for me not going with it.  However I'm happy to say I can still wear this beautiful blouse but in a different way.
Here's how I wear said style and I hope you agree it still looks as good.

A pencil skirt and elegant blouse is the epitome of femininity and elegance, along with a court shoe and matching bag make for a very stylish outfit.
A recent buy from my local TK Maxx, one of my favourite stores,  an off-the-shoulder gorgeous pale khaki green and cream pattern silky blouse.  I stepped out in this beautiful blouse paired with this cream lace skirt from the Florence and Fred Sale see my previous post here, along with my sling back nude court shoes from a stunning range at Lotus Shoes.

The silky blouse is an off-the-shoulder style that I pulled up onto my neckline in a deep scoop, with sleeves just about finishing at the elbow with a darling little tie detail that I love.  I tied them quite tight for this wearing, because I was eating out and didn't want the ties to drag in my dinner plate - not a good look - haha!

This is the choice I made for my bank holiday Monday afternoon of shopping and dinner for two.  After checking out various restaurants we decided to plump for an intimate little Italian near the town centre. 
I can honestly say we had an amazing three course meal in Osteria Posillipo, consisting of Antipasti, Scallops wrapped in bacon, Salmon pennette, chicken escalopes with Parma ham and mozzarella followed by cannoli - perfect meal for two people - along with a couple of beers! (only one for me as I drove).

Well I do hope you like my way of wearing the off-the-shoulder top. In fashion with a hint of classic.

Until next time - thanks it's been great. X

                         Jacqui B.

Co-host on Thursday Fashion Files!

Welcome to Thursday Fashion Files!

Welcome to Thursday Fashion Files with Jill at Doused in Pink and Carrie at Curly Crafty Mom! We are excited to have you here and would love to have you link up one of your latest outfits with us.

We are always looking for Co-Hosts for Thursday Fashion Files. If you haven't signed up to Co-Host, but are interested, sign up by clicking HERE.

We now have a Thursday Fashion Files Pinterest board. We will be pinning our top two picks along with our own outfits for that week. Be sure to click HERE to join our new Pinterest board!

How I wear my "off-the-shoulder" top.

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Guest Co-Host:




Jacqui from Mummabstylish is our co-host this week. Be sure to stop by and visit her if you haven't already!

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