A week of tunics

On Sunday, with the help of the grandsons, we got the tree out and decorated it and the living room. It's beginning to feel more like Christmas now. I must start wrapping the Christmas presents, but it's a job I absolutely hate. If I could afford to I would hire one of those people who do everything for you (pick up your dry cleaning, take your dog for a walk etc) and delegate that job to him or her!

Monday was my last day at Save the Children. We celebrated with mince pies. 

I couldn't leave without buying anything; after all I have been one of their best customers! I bought a Jaeger jacket in a chequered pattern with metallic threads - I now possess 4 sparkly items of clothing. I also bought a deep blue floral shirt/blouse and a ring for 50p. Total spend £7.50.

Day 1 - Tunic challenge

Everything charity shopped except boots which are from Primark. I bought the exact same pair for 99p in The Children's Society, but they were a size 3 and too small so I went to Primark and bought a pair in size 4. This is the second year I've been wearing these boots and they are still intact...

 I suppose this top isn't strictly a tunic but I wanted to wear it today - it's such a cheerful colour. It's from Dunne's Stores and I bought it in a charity shop in Donegal in the summer. It was last seen here with white jeans and a black leather jacket. Jeans, Next; can't remember where. I am very fond of this jacket; a £1.00  bargain from a charity shop in Wellingborough. Earrings, bangles, watch and ring all charity shopped.

The strategically placed hand in the photos is to cover a curry spill that incurred while eating my dinner; I washed it out but had a small wet patch!

Day 2 - Tunic challenge

It was a very cold day on Tuesday. I had three layers on top but I still felt cold.
There was so much donated at the foodbank we scarcely had room to move. As fast as we packed away donations more people came to the warehouse with donations. The generosity of people is truly humbling.

This tunic is by Quetzal of London. I bought it in the Spring and never got the opportunity to wear it until today. I can't remember which charity shop I got it from but it was more than likely the Red Cross. Black top, Primarni; leggings M&S, and boots charity shopped in the Reuse Centre last winter.

It probably would have been better to wear black long boots with this outfit but I have really gone off my black boots. Both pairs have been delegated to the charity shop bag along with another jacket and the jeans I bought on Saturday in the Red Cross. They were so low slung they just about covered my pubic bone! I thought I had sussed out the cut of the waists on jeans but this pair had me fooled.  Another reason to try things on in charity shops. So far this week; 2 items in and 4 items out - yes!!!

All jewellery charity except the earrings which were a present from my friend in Cambridge.

When I got back from the food bank on Tuesday I wrapped all my presents and put them under the tree. Apart from the food shopping (and I've bought all the Christmas extras, already) I'm ready. In fact all I really want to do is put my feet up, drink sherry and eat mince pies...

Day 3 - Tunic Challenge

It was a cold and miserable day on Wednesday and I didn't feel like walking across muddy fields with my walking group. I decided to walk in the afternoon when the weather was supposed to improve. I actually had quite a nice lazy day; I got up, had breakfast; got ready and did the photos for the blog. OH is off now until after Christmas and it's lovely having him around; not least because he can take the photos when I'm still 'fresh',  and not after a day where I'm crumpled, make up smudged and probably have stains down my front!

I cannot for the life of me remember where I bought this tunic. It's by QED London and is made of warm material; I definitely bought it in a charity shop.

Brown leggings, M&S retail, and OTK boots on line retail. The little grey cardigan was bought at Save the Children for £2.50 and is also by M&S. It's very handy for slipping over things for a bit of extra warmth...

I searched through the blog to see when I last wore this tunic but couldn't find it anywhere but I did find where I bought these beads: £2.50 in Oxfam, Newport Pagnell. All jewellery is charity shopped.

In the afternoon OH and I went to browse round some of the slightly out of the way charity shops around Bedford. Of course I bought stuff (but not as much as OH!). A BNWT kimono in  white, green and cobalt blue - this was £1.99 in Barnardo's in Great Denham and a green maxi skirt for a £1.00. They had a very good £1.00 rail sale but I was very strict with myself. Then we went on to Keech Hospice in Kempston where I bought a rather nice black maxi skirt for £3.50; along with a couple of books. £10.09 spent in total today and I didn't even get a walk in!

Day 4 - Tunic challenge

Thursday was more hectic than I anticipated. I did the food shopping in the morning and was supposed to have lunch with my friend but we decided to meet after Christmas instead. That gave me a free afternoon but once again I needed to go to town. The day was virtually gone by the time I got back...

This tunic from Tu at Sainsburys and was bought in the Red Cross shop. As was the Country Casuals (CC) jacket. Navy blue M&S leggings, also charity shopped but can't remember where.

OTK boots on line retail.

Necklace present from my lovely cousin Linda in Kerry. Earrings, Sainsburys; bangles charity shopped.

On Friday I'm going to visit my son and then I have Saturday free to do the housework and to chill and get in the festive spirit. I have everyone coming to me for Christmas Day except for my older brother in London who is having an Open House Christmas for friends. My dream is to go out for Christmas dinner one year... but you have to book as far ahead as the summer and none of us are ever organised enough to do it!

Day 5 - Tunic Challenge



See what I mean about crumpled! I wore this to visit my son on Friday and after a day of sitting about, eating and drinking and laughing you can see it in my clothes!



Everything charity shopped except the boots which I treated myself to recently via online retail. I must take a better picture of them in my next post. I have wanted a pair of floral boots forever...the tunic is Tu at Sainsbury's and was bought recently in the 3:16. charity shop for £1.75. It's linen and therefore creases easily especially after eight hours wear...

All jewellery charity shopped except watch - Christmas present from daughter about 3 years ago. I bought the necklace last week in Stony Stratford for £1.00.

As far as charity shopping has gone this week; I bought 5 items and got rid of 4 - oh well; you win some, you lose some!

I hope everyone has a peaceful and lovely Christmas. I'll see you all on the other side...

xxx

A week of shirts and blouses

 Monday's outfit - Day 1 - Shirt/blouse challenge

I spent £2.75 in Save the Children on Monday: a shirt for my grandson, a ring (see below) and a small  leather purse to fit in my rucksack when I'm out walking. 

 Everything is charity shopped except the boots (Sainsbury's) and earrings (e bay).

I finally tidied my bookshelves by taking all the stray books lying on top of the vertical rows and stacking them on the floor under the bottom bookshelf. Once I've finished my most recent library book I'll start reading my way through the floor dwelling books until they are gone...that's the plan anyway, and it should work as long as I don't buy any more books!

Shirt, Charles Tyrwhitt and bought in Cambridge Cancer Research last year for £5.00. Charles Tyrwhitt shirts have been around since 1986 and like the shirt from the shirtmaker in Tuesday's outfit, both companies are based in Jermyn Street, London.  The pinafore dress is from New Look; can't remember which charity shop I bought it from. All other jewellery charity shopped.

I thought I might be starting at the Bedford Guildhouse this Tuesday but it will be 10th January; also I start at the Red Cross on 9th January.  New Year, new beginnings!

 For once I had free day on a Tuesday so I put it to good use and finished my Christmas shopping!

Day 2 - Shirt/blouse challenge

As you can see I do love my Sainsbury's boots! Note the white flower ring bought yesterday...

All clothing charity shopped.

This is the M&S skirt I bought last week in Barnardo's. It has a leather trim at the waist and on the faux pockets. It's wool, so it was nice and warm.   Purple tights, charity shopped somewhere. This lilac, purple, pink and blue shirt is by TM Lewin and on their website it says:

The first T.M.Lewin opened in Jermyn Street in 1898. This bustling London Street soon became a magnet for the world’s finest tailors and Mr. Thomas Mayes Lewin was among the industry’s original innovators. A hundred years ago, shirts didn’t have buttons down the front. T.M.Lewin’s ‘coat-shirts’ were not only pioneering, they are a prototype of the modern shirt worn today.

Who knew?

  Both the shirt and the purple cardigan, came from the Red Cross shop.

Necklace bought by OH in charity shop, bangle, watch, earrings and brooch all charity shopped.

I didn't manage a shirt/blouse on Wednesday as I went walking in the morning with the Ramblers. 6.5 miles from the village of Southill to Broom and back to Southill; followed by our annual Christmas meal. I changed, with great difficulty in the car, from walking gear into a pair of trousers and a tunic.

The trick is to wear a pair of leggings under the walking trousers and a vest underneath the top; then take one off at a time and slip on the replacement garments. Of course I changed out of muddy boots,  gaiters and walking socks first into a pair of black boots!

These are my steel pan  earrings from Trinidad - bought for me by OH when he was en route for Jamaica  many years ago and had a stopover.

Velvet trousers, Debenhams. Tunic, charity shopped, boots donated by my daughter. Necklace, watch and bangles charity shopped.

Day 3 - Shirt/blouse challenge

I think you might describe this as a blouse rather than a shirt. I have to confess I don't know what the difference is between a shirt and a blouse - they can both have buttons, for example. This one is from La Redoute, bought in a sale, and this is the first time I've ever worn it.  I wore this sparkly bling to accompany Sheila; you can find her fabulous blog; 'Ephemera' here. She's doing a week of sparkly outfits!

I don't have much in the way of sparkly clothes but I do have some sparkly jewellery. The earrings are from ebay; 99p and the necklace bought locally.

Waistcoat, Zara. Trousers, Topshop; headscarf, and boots from Italy, all charity shopped. I don't like these trousers anymore; off to the charity shop bag for them.

On Thursday OH had a rare day off so we went to Stony Stratford just outside Milton Keynes. We looked around the charity shops. Did I buy anything? Yes. I bought two necklaces for a £1.00 each, two padded hangers (you can never have too many of these) a felt Merry Christmas banner for 50p and a pair of Red Herring jeans for grandson; £2.50. Did I buy any clothes for me? No! It was supposed to be a week of abstention so I abstained. Total spend £6.00.

Day 4 - Shirt/blouse challenge

This is a pretty cheapskate outfit; everything is charity shopped except the boots which are the latest addition to my wardrobe of daughter donated boots (DDB).

The trousers are Next maternity ones (sale rail £1.00 somewhere) which although very comfortable, tend to fall down around my hips. I  have a tummy but not a pregnant one so this will be going into the charity shop bag. The shirt is from M&S bought at the Red Cross £1.99; top 50p rail in one of the charity shops in Royston some months ago. I bought 3 x 50p tops there and have worn all of them now. Cost of outfit £3.49!

Necklace was a £1.00 from Keech Hospice shop last week and all other jewellery is charity shopped except the teal ring from Sainsbury's.

Day 5 - Shirt /blouse challenge

My week of abstention was up so I visited my two favourite charity shops in the town on Saturday morning. In the 3:16 shop I bought a chambray tunic for £1.75; an animal print beret from Next - never worn, these two silver containers below, in which I will put flowers and a couple of other bits all for a donation of a couple of quid.

At the Red Cross shop I bought a brown velvet jacket to replace the one I put in the charity shop bag some months ago as the arms were too tight on me; I bought a pair of jeans and a nice casual jacket for one of the grandsons - all £1.99 each.  Total £5.97 + £3.75 from the 3:16 shop + £6.00 spend on Thursday on Stony Stratford = £14.72. Quite restrained by my standards!

After my little splurge I went for a short walk of 4.5 miles around our local area, and on the way back I spotted this on a street I rarely walk:

We have three other blue plaques that I know of in Bedford but I didn't know about this one.

Everything charity shopped except the boots - Xmas present from daughter about 4 years ago

Trousers, Tu from the Hospice shop in Kempston; denim shirt and grey knitted top charity shopped but can't remember where. I love denim shirts and have 3 in my wardrobe - all slightly different.
Can you see my new watch? It's from Next and is a very tiny rectangle. I love tiny watches but I don't know why I bother with them, as unless I've got my glasses on, I can't see the watch face!

All jewellery charity shopped except for the blue ring.

I have also been getting rid of items from my wardrobe this week; so far the count is 3 cardigans, a small bag of jewellery - mostly earrings, a handbag, 2 pairs of trousers, 3 pairs of skinny jeans - I've gone right off them - and 1 dress. 9 items plus 1 handbag out, 3 items in. That's more like it!

I've got a busy week next week but my plan for outfits is for a week of tunics. The following week, the only thing I can come up with, is a week of maxis. I'm enjoying doing these challenges as I'm getting to wear more of the clothes in my wardrobe and it's helping me make decisions about what to discard and what to keep.

If I don't post again before Christmas I wish you all a peaceful and blessed holiday.

xxxx

A bit of a do and some cardigans...

I'll start at the beginning...

On Friday we attended the funeral of my lovely neighbour of 25 years. She had a white carriage and two white horses to take her to the church and her final resting place. I wanted to take a photo of the carriage and horses but it would have been disrespectful. RIP Cynthia. We will miss you.

This was my funeral outfit. Skirt, Phase Eight charity shopped, top M&S charity shopped.

Jacket and boots; both past Christmas presents from my daughter. Hat, Primark; past Christmas present from eldest grandson.

All jewellery charity shopped.

OH's outfit for the funeral - coat charity shopped in a Leather Lane charity shop in London - he sweet talked the volunteer to get it out of the window for him!

Then off we went to Luton Hoo. It was a bit of a rush in the end because of the traffic in Luton but the hotel was brilliant. The park, the hotel and golf complex is situated in, is enormous. We saw deer, pheasants, ducks and geese from the two french windows in our room. Forgot to take photos of it - what am I like?

Everything, except watch (present from daughter) and earrings (Sainsbury's), was charity shopped.

The bag was given to my mum who gave it to me.

I have to admit to being a little disappointed in my dress; it didn't fit as well as I thought - either that, or I have lost some of my tummy - highly unlikely; me and my tummy have been together a long time now...I wished I'd stuck to my e bay dress but it was too late.

We had a really nice evening. The food was lovely - except for my dessert which was too sweet and cloying, and I'm a woman with a sweet tooth! Anyway, it was great to meet OH's work colleagues who seemed a lovely bunch. There was booze a plenty; no Canadian Club unfortunately but I had Southern Comfort instead and few glasses of Prosecco - which I liked - much nicer than champagne. I didn't get drunk but OH did. We were both very giggley but luckily neither of us had a headache the next day.

Someone took this photo of us...

No rummaging for us in the Luton charity shops. OH managed to get some last minute tickets for the Arsenal v Stoke game on Saturday; we departed the hotel early so OH and middle grandson could get to London to the Emirates Stadium on time.

Did that stop me rummaging? Did it heck! I was very tired as I hadn't slept all that well; I only managed two charity shops in Kempston. I bought some bargain wool at 3 balls for a pound; then in the Hospice shop I bought a yellow and black dress with floaty sleeves for £4.50 from Wallis, and a necklace for £1.50. Add this further £7.00 spend to my current total spend of £23.50, and my absolute total spend this week is £30.50 - a record, I think!

I think this might be my Christmas day outfit...

I have to finish my Christmas present shopping this coming week; volunteer at the charity shop; walk with and have a Christmas meal with my walking group on Wednesday, so I doubt I'll do any more charity shopping. I need to cut back and a week's abstinence will do me good.

I've heard back from the Bedford Guildhouse and they would like me to sort and price the donations they receive for their charity shop, which only opens on Saturdays;  I feel well able to do this after the past fourteen months at Save the Children. I may start on Tuesday next.

Saturdays' outfit - Day 5, Cardigan challenge

Tunic, cardigan and top underneath tunic all charity shopped. Boots; present from daughter and black trousers; Lidl.

I had hoped to wear the green cardigan that I bought on Barnardo's 99p rail over this tunic, but it didn't look right - too boxy in shape. In the end I went with this red cardigan, but I also have a yellow cardigan I could wear with it and two different black ones. I can also wear it over shirts or blouses; I like items like this they can be made to be very versatile.

Earrings; Bedford market, red ring; Sainsbury's. Other jewellery charity shopped.

This week with buying so much stuff I have managed to get rid of two jackets; two tops; a pair of jeans; a shirt and a pair of boots. Seven items out but nine items of clothing in; something's not quite right there! Must do better.

Sunday's outfit - Day 6 Cardigan challenge

Cardigan, Next; trousers New Look; blue top; no label, boots, German made - everything charity shopped.

The earrings are from Sainsbury's.

Necklace £1.00 at Oxfam - months ago; this is the first time I've worn it.

I had a lovely 7 mile walk this morning; it started out chilly but bright and then the sun stayed out. It was fantastic walking weather but a bit muddy after all the rain. I saw three Goldfinches and a flock of what I think were Lapwings who winter here.

I'm thinking about a week of shirts for next week's challenge...

A week of...cardigans

Purple and orange alstromerias this week to match my tunic below! The lilac ones are still looking fresh but are on the dining room table.

I finally finished 'Barkskins' by Annie Proulx. I really think it could have been 100 pages shorter and still been an engrossing read. It was an eulogy to the destruction of the forests in Canada, USA and elsewhere in the world; told through the story of two French settlers in Canada in the 17th century and the dynasties they founded. 

I managed to squeeze in 5.5 mile walk on Sunday morning but have only managed two shortish walks last week. I'd prefer to do three walks a week of at least 7 miles duration. I should be able to walk this Wednesday and Thursday and probably Sunday, so I might achieve my goal this week.

The clothes challenge this week is to wear a different cardigan everyday. Shouldn't be too difficult I own lots; in fact I nearly counted them all but chickened out because I'd end up feeling too guilty...

Monday's Outfit - Day One

I need a haircut. I'm having it cut on Friday and can't wait. All jewellery charity shopped.

I bought this tunic last week at The Red Cross shop for £1.99. It's TU by Sainsbury's and a lovely mix of purple, orange, cream, navy and turquoise. The rust coloured cardigan is by Hobbs and was also a £1.99 bargain from the Red Cross some weeks ago. I nearly wore a purple cardigan with bell sleeves instead but it just wasn't warm enough for a thin cardigan.

Purple leggings, online retail and boots by Sainsbury's.

I was so proud of myself on Monday and Tuesday for my minimum spending. On Monday, I left Save the Children with two headscarves and two small Christmas decorations - total spent £2.50. On Tuesday, after volunteering at the foodbank - we were so busy; so many donations - I had lots of errands to run in town. This is usually fatal for me because I have to look in the charity shops, but I was very good and only looked in 2. In the Red Cross I spent the princely sum of 80p on a padded hanger and in the 3: 16 charity shop, I managed to knock over one of their Christmas trees smashing several glass baubles in the process - oops! I spent a £1.00 in there on two velvet brooches at 50p each. £3.50 spent in total so far.

Tuesday's Outfit - Day 2

This cardigan came from Save the Children back in October and I last wore it here. It's from Blarney Mills in Ireland and was beautifully warm.  The brown jeans are a Red Cross bargain as was the top. Boots from Debenhams and were a Christmas present from OH.

It was foggy, damp and cold all day on Tuesday. It's always cold at the Foodbank because we keep the door open constantly so people know where to bring their donations; plus the volunteer driver is in and out with donations and dropping off food parcels to the distribution centres all day.

50p earrings and Elephant necklace bought in the Salvation Army last week. Bangles and watch also charity shopped.

As the weather seems to be improving from Wednesday I plan to go to Ampthill in the afternoon after my walk and check out their four charity shops.

I had a very good time  in the Ampthill charity shops even though one of the four was closed! Barnardos had a huge sale rail with everything 99p. Even though I said earlier I had lots of cardigans I have added another two to my collection - one of which I'm wearing below. The other has short sleeves and is green flecked - both 99p. I also bought a black summer dress from Italy; a brown M&S wool pencil skirt; a golden bronze asymmetric skirt from Next; a red top, a blue top; a purple and black shirt with big sleeves; a navy blue Boden jacket; red Clarks shoes;  and a ring   - all 99p. I bought OH a pairs of trousers for 99p, grandson a hoodie for £1.99 ; some bits and bobs for the house; £2.99 and a pair of tights for 49p. In the RSPCA shop I bought some household items at 3 for a £1.00 and  a neck pillow for £1.50. Total spend - £20.00.

Wednesday's outfit - Day 3

Crochet cardigan 99p at Barnardo's. Top; Phase Eight, Save the Children. Boots and skirt also charity shopped; boots from  Barnardo's, Great Denham some weeks back.

 Skirt; M and Co but can't remember which charity shop I got it from...

All jewellery charity shopped including the new orange/coral ring from Barnardo; 99p.

Eldest grandson is back for a few days; it's lovely to see him. He took these photos and somehow has managed to include his thumb in the middle photo!

Wednesday and Thursday were extremely mild days - such a contrast after Monday! I walked 7 miles on my own onThursday morning and having started off in the gloom, it brightened up but then clouded over again.

Thursday's outfit - Day 4 

This is the rather fabulous necklace OH bought me when we went rummaging in Kettering a couple of weekend ago. I bought these earrings in a local shop; they're silver and I've had them for at least 20 years. The cerise velvet brooch was 50p from the 3:16 charity shop on Tuesday.

Today I wore a purple velvet cardigan. It's one of the very few (3) things I've ever bought at TK Maxx and I've had it for about 8 years. The purple patterned top was one of the 99p purchases at Barnardo's on Wednesday. I meant to take a photo of me with just the top, as it has lovely pointy sleeves, but my photographer - middle grandson  - was eager to get on with the things 11 year olds like to do!

Headscarf and jeans charity shopped; boots donated by my daughter.

I know I've only posted four days worth of cardigans, but on Friday I have a manically busy day. Here how it's going to go; school run, hairdressers, funeral, school run, travel to Luton Hoo for OH's work do and stay overnight. So, I shall post again on Sunday with the fifth cardigan outfit and pictures of the 'do' outfit. As we are in Luton overnight we may have a rummage around the Luton charity shops on Saturday morning before heading home....

xxx