Wednesday 5 December 2018

Same old, same old...but some new charity shop finds.



I seem to have lost my blogging mojo just lately. My third year blogoversary was in November and I forgot to mention it.  I tend to have a quite routinised lifestyle and seem to talk about the same things all the time; charity shopping finds; walking, crocheting projects; excursions with family/ friends etc. I worry that I'm boring! 😢 The thing is I love reading about other people's everyday lives; it's the details I find so fascinating, so I can only hope that many of you are the same.

Our weather turned very cold in the third week of November. On Wednesday 21st the temperature dropped to 1.5 degrees and reached the giddy heights of 3.5 degrees later in the day! I hardly walked all that week. Just managed a 4 mile walk with my daughter on Friday before the school run.

It was a very good week for charity shopping, though.  This was last Saturday's outfit. We went to Emmaeus for a little rummage and I bought 3 bangles for 50p each, a flower brooch and a green necklace. They had quite a lot of wool which they don't usually have, but I was very restrained and didn't buy any! I also bought a winter coat BNWT by for 3.50 in the Wood Green Animal charity shop during the week as well. 


These were last week's purchases, too. Yellow kimono: 4.50 and Phase Eight wool dress 2.99 both from Great Denham, Barnardo's. I was checking the sale rail and spotted them, I find it hard to resist kimono type tops...


Boots bought a few years back from The Reuse Centre 2.40 and yellow shiny tights I've had for years and cannot remember where I got them from.

All jewellery and scarf charity shopped.

It was my youngest brother's birthday so we went to Kettering on Saturday evening for a birthday meal celebration. We went to 'The Hare' in Loddington. When my mum was alive she loved to come here and it's also where we celebrated her 70th birthday; on that occasion she arrived in style in a white limousine accompanied by all her grandchildren!


Here we are waiting for our food to arrive.

I bought this jacket in the Cat's Protection charity shop a while ago for 3.50. Checked/gingham tunic charity shopped but grey leggings bought from Sainsbury's and boots online retail.
All jewellery and scarf charity shopped.

On Monday I walked 8 miles along the river to Great Denham. It was a chilly day and a bit gloomy but I enjoyed my walk; I feel guilty if I don't go out walking at least three times during the week. 

On Tuesday I went to the food bank and in the afternoon I went to Rushden on Tuesday for a quick rummage. The Sally Army yielded a brooch; a necklace and a pair of summer trousers. I bought a grey Italian dress (see below) for 2.99 in the Cancer Research shop and a pair of earrings for 50p in The Heart Foundation. I like buying some summer items in the winter. I put them away after washing them and they're such a nice surprise when I swap my wardrobe over in the Spring.


I really like this kimono - it's yellow!


Black jeans 79p sale rail in Barnardo's; blue top by Gudrun Sjoden charity shopped in the same place  for 3.99. Boots bought in Oxfam. The yellow bangle is one of the three I bought at Emmaeus last Saturday.


All jewellery and scarf charity shopped.

Because the weather had been pretty miserable I concentrated on my crocheting. I got to 72 squares and decided I had enough for a reasonable size blanket  as if I continued with the original plan of 144 squares I may not have had it finished until after Christmas - and it was for a Christmas present. So, after having played around with the squares I ended up with ten rows of seven squares. Then I had to crochet them together....


One of the best things about crocheting as far as I'm concerned is choosing the colours. With this project  there is one row of pinks, blues, purples, greens, grey and oranges and red and yellows, and one row of mixed colours drawn from the ones I've listed.


It might look a bit wavy but once the squares have been crocheted together using grey wool in single crochet  stitch and a border added, it will look both squarer and more finished.

 I'm already planning the next stash busting project which is a slightly different version of the same pattern; and this time I'm going to go for completely random colours! No colour scheme whatsoever just random colours. I'm quite excited by this as I always have a colour scheme in mind when crocheting but I'll use a toning colour to join the squares which will bring it all together - I hope!  I've  still got so much wool left to use up...

As I've been crocheting as much as I can I haven't got much reading done this month - only 5 books in November.  I read 9 in October. If only I could crochet and read at the same time I'd be laughing! I am catching up with 'Vanity Fair' on my laptop as I crochet so the brain is being stimulated. We've been watching 'Beck' on BBC 4; it just goes from strength to strength, I think.  There are 10 books in the original series and I've read them all;  of course they are now extending the story lines. We've watched 'Little Drummer Girl' on BBC 2. H'mmnn, she did all that for love? I don't think so - but of course I haven't read the book and screen writers do take liberties sometimes...


This is the grey Italian dress I bought for 2.99 in the Cancer Research in Rushden. Charity shopped, Monsoon cardigan from the Red Cross a couple of years ago for 1.99; orange tights from the Cat's Protection League and shoes from Primarni 5.00 in the sale.


All jewellery and scarf charity shopped.


I bought this tunic recently but can't remember where; it may have been the Willen Hospice shop  in Newport Pagnell and it's by Lily and Me. Cardigan 1.00 rail in the 3:16 charity shop and leggings 79p from Barnardo's. Boots on line retail.

We had a national food bank drive in partnership with Tesco last Thursday. I had a two hour stint in our largest branch of Tesco; giving out food bank shopping lists. Most people were happy to take a list and many people donated items. I'll find out when I'm next at the food bank how much was donated; it's usually several tonnes of food!

I also went to the hairdressers...

All jewellery charity shopped.

I walked for 8 miles on Friday; just around the area where my daughter lives.   There's quite a lot of concrete paths around where she lives; a combination of concreted farm/bridle tracks and an old RAF base. It had been very wet for days so I wanted to avoid fields.

At the weekend OH and I went for a rummage in Newport Pagnell. I picked up a leoprint soft jacket for 2.00 in the Hospice shop. We stopped at the Barnardo's in Great Denham on the way home and I bought from the sale rail: a spotted blouse/tunic for 79p; 2 pairs of leggings at 79p each; a skirt for 79p and a jumpsuit (in thin material so only for the summer) - also 79p and finally a multi-coloured necklace.  All for less than a fiver. Didn't I do well?


Cardigan bought from the Independent Charity Shop. Dress by Primarni retail. Boots present from daughter. Tights and scarf charity shopped.



All jewellery charity shopped, except earrings from Bedford Market about ten years ago.


There are some flowers that look just as good as they start to fade as when fresh; hydrangeas, for example. I don't know what these are but they're beginning to fade and I think they're lovely.


The Karina blanket is finished!


Joined with grey single crochet stitch and six rows of double crochet in the border. I might just join the next one with an 'invisible' join..

I'm very pleased with it.

30 comments:

  1. Your crocheted blanket looks great! I like the visible join vs. invisible - I think it helps tie it all together cohesively.

    Lovely outfits as always, O Queen of Accessories! I enjoy reading about your life - don't worry that your posts are repetitive. Mine certainly are, and I've managed to keep readers for nearly 11 years. I find blogs like yours (and mine) very comforting. There is no "message", no flogging of products, no feeling like you never wore that outfit in public. Your blog feels authentic, as do you, so keep it up! :) Oh, and Happy Blogoversary (in November!). Well done, Veronica!

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    1. Thank you, Sheila, for your thoughtful and kind words. I wonder if I'll last as long as an 11th blogoversary?

      Here's hoping!

      Delete
  2. I love your latest crocheted wonder, the colours are so cheery and the join adds to the brilliance.
    I always enjoy reading your blog whatsoever you choose to write about. Your chazza shop finds and outfits are always fantastic and I love seeing photos of you and your family. I adore Beck, I was devastated when Gunveld died but love Steinar and his ginger gorgeousness now. xxx

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    1. Thank you, Vix, you are very kind and very encouraging, always.

      Oh yes, he's a proper Viking isn't he?
      xxxxxxxxxx

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  3. I love reading your posts and seeing what you've been up to, and especially seeing your charity shopping finds and the outfits you've created with them. No chance of ever getting bored! I too love reading about people's every day lives and surely everybody's got some kind of routine in their lives, haven't they? Quite a few lovely outfits here, but the first one is my favourite in every way. That yellow kimono is magnificent and the Phase Eight wool dress is quite a find as well. I also love the grey dress with the peachy pink cardigan and tights. Oh, and happy blogoversary, Vronnie! It'll be three years in March for me! xxx

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    1. Thank you, Ann. I'm so pleased you enjoy reading about my life; I certainly enjoy reading about yours!

      That Barnardo's shop is a pit of temptation...I might just have have to a quick visit tomorrow.
      xxxxxx

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  4. Hi, I think the flowers are lysianthus. One of my favourites.

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  5. I really enjoy reading your blog although I don't make a comment very often. I love your style and wish I could find the charity bargains that you get. I'm not a regular blogger but think it would be hard to keep one going on a regular basis but I love to hear about other's everyday lives and makes me feel that my own life is not as boring as I sometimes think it is. It also gives me inspiration to try new things.

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    1. Hello Rosie, thank you for commenting. It's very encouraging to know that people read and enjoy the blog.

      I do the same as you on lots of blogs; I read regularly but comment rarely.

      Keep trying new things!

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  6. Me too! I love reading about everyday lives, and your photos of your outfits make me smile. I don't comment very often but I do read your blog regularly. You have inspired me to go charity shopping XXX

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    1. Hello Linda,

      Glad my photos make you smile and I hope the charity shop Gods are smiling down on you!

      Delete
  7. Love your blog too, as an avid charity shopper I love to see your finds, and your personal life is authentic and not boring to me. Lise in Nesebar.

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    1. Thank you, Lise!

      I've stayed in Nesebar - what a lovely place it is. I might have to seek out those old photos one day...

      Delete
  8. Dear Veronica, Getting lots of things done while dressing in your high style takes savvy know-how. That is what keeps me returning to your blog. By the way, those primary colors this week literally popped off the screen! Judy @fancified.ca

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    1. Thank you, Judy! Some time we all need a little encouragement....

      Hope your week is wonderful
      xxx

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  9. I think your blog is absolutely wonderful - and never ever boring. You have such an eye for a bargain and a lovely sense of style. Long may you continue to write this blog x

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    1. Thank you, Penny!

      I think we all experience this doubt about blogging but your words of encouragement are gratefully received.

      Have a wonderful week.
      xx

      Delete
  10. woww, I'm in love with your crochet blankets, such a beautiful art job! And totally agree that one of the best things in crocheting is choosing the colors, so joyful!.
    And I also love your outfits, so many colorful accessories (love particularly your amber-orange necklaces and the massive pendant in the last outfit! cool!) and you totally rock!. Love the mixed prints (gingham and plaid details! brilliant!), love the orange and grey color combo and love your new hairstyle! gorgeous!
    Your yellow kimono is a stunning piece too!
    And I also enjoy to read about other people's quotidian details, they add some real life context, and I love to know about your purchases, walks and crocheting!
    besos

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Monica.

      You are always so encouraging!

      Hope you have a great week
      xxxx

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  11. Didn't your blanket turn out fabulous?

    I'm always a bit jealous of your walks. I can't walk outside anymore as my skin reacts to the cold. I hate that I'm reduced to walking the treadmill in the basement.

    I can see why you love that yellow kimono. Combined with the bold blue it is stunning.

    Those shiny gold tights make your legs look like they've been dipped in gold : )

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    1. Thank you!

      I'm sorry to hear you can't walk outside Suzanne - hopefully when it warms up a bit?

      Those shiny tights also have some trailing plants on them but they were out of camera shot on the other side of my legs!

      Have a great week
      xxx

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  12. Belated congratulations! Don't think the posts are mundane/routinised at all, they're about your life and like you I love reading about others' day to day. But get your mood, my 3 year is in February and I've been feeling mojoless since the summer, it's really about how blogs are so time consuming and often with little reward, that being feedback. I'm realising that those (the majority) who monetize their blogs have money as a motivator to keep them going when hitting the doldrums. So Maslow may have added a caveat to his theory if he'd been around in the age of blogging!
    That said, we're still standing, eh, and writing as we want to, so let's keep in keeping on! And if I could work out how to monetize, then maybe that will get me over this 3 year hurdle!
    So outfits. Glorious as always. Love the yellow kimono and how it's fitting in to your day to day. Oh and coral and steely blue ... YOUR colours, sweetie!!
    Hugs, Mary x.
    thepoutingpensioner.blogspot.com

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    1. I tend not to follow blogs that are trying sell me something but I can see why that acts an incentive to many bloggers - but not me!

      Maybe it's a case of 3 year blues and it will pass...

      Thank you for your comments, Mary; I always appreciate them.
      xxx

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  13. I enjoy your posts and admire your charity shop finds and how well you turn them into stylish outfits. I write a monthly "sentence a day" post and always worry that people will think I lead a dull life! I wish I could crochet. I tried to learn, and also to knit, but my grandma said I was "like a cow handling a musket."

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    1. read your blog and don't find it dull at all; as I said I'm fascinated by other people's daily lives!

      I never got the hang of knitting either, Gail. And your Grandma's comment is one I've never ever heard before!

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  15. Congratulations on three years of blogging Vronni! I felt a bit blah about my last blogiversary too, but that's just life isn't? And yes, I understand that you feel a bit repetitive - we all have our doubts about our blogs from time to time, but I'm sure your readership reflects how popular you are. I do love to read about your bargain finds and also how far you're walking every week. My favourite outfit this time has to be the grey Italian dress with that lovely peach cardigan - you look fab in this! Keep on trucking on Veronica xxxx

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  16. Sorry I'm a bit late catching up on my blog reading!
    I love seeing your chazza finds & how beautifully you style them!
    I also love the pics from your travels & your lovely crochet projects.
    Those flowers are Lisianthus or Prairie Gentian, they are lovely & easy to grow!
    xox

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