Half term break

I love half term - no school run on Mondays and Fridays. I haven't done that much this week despite my relative freedom. I've been walking 3 days in a row. On Tuesday I did 5 miles on my own. On Wednesday we (Ramblers) walked 7 miles in a place called Little Staughton - this is the church where we started from. 

This is us trekking up the hill back to the church on the return journey.

Then on Thursday we walked 4.5 miles in Marston Thrift." Marston Thrift is a magnificent 140 acre wood on the West Bedfordshire Ridge below the village of Cranfield. There has been a wood here for at least 900 years and over time a unique, wildlife community has developed, including rare and unusual species". 

We didn't see any rare or unusual species but we did see and walked through a lot of mud - it had rained all night!

On Friday I went to Rushden, which is about 12 miles away from Bedford, for a rummage around the charity shops. This is what I wore to go rummaging. I'm almost shopping my wardrobe here except for the cardigan which is new and bought from my charity shop. It's a Hobbs cardigan and cost £4.00. I saw a Hobbs fur gilet in a magazine when I took my grandson to the dentist on Wednesday and it was £550.00!

The spotty palazzo pants are actually emblazoned with little stars and are from a charity shop in Donegal. The shirt was bought on line.  Belt charity shopped.

In Rushden I bought; 2 pairs of earrings, a brooch and a metallic disc necklace; a red and black, knee length, flared M&S skirt (£5.00) and a long black slip from the Salvation Army. I then bought a grey pair of Chelsea boots at Extra Care for £4.50. Finally, I visited Store 21 (not a charity shop!) and in their sale bought a bat wing top and floral leggings for £9.00. So, I have had a very good week of charity shopping as well as buying a couple of new things.

Earrings bought on line and pearls charity shopped.

On Saturday my OH and the middle grandson went to watch Arsenal play at home, that is at the Emirates Stadium in London. I had the house to myself, but went into town to run some errands and visited the Age UK charity shop where they have a very good sale rail. I think they're clearing out their winter stock to make room for the summer stock as it's a very small shop. Anyway, for the sum £6.76 I bought: 2 pencil skirts, a pair of trousers and a spotty tunic top! I also  bought a pair of blue suede boots for £1.99 at the British Red Cross shop on Monday. 

These are the floral leggings I bought on Friday. The top is charity shopped, as are the boots, necklace, bangles, earrings and watch.

If you're wondering what that odd thing is behind my head, it's my neck pillow! Very important if I'm on the laptop or even just reading - my neck needs the support.

I bought a hydrangea bush years ago and planted it in a pot in my tiny garden. It has done well every year since.  Last year, once it had begun to die back, I cut off some heads and dried them. These are a few of the same and aren't they gorgeous - such lovely delicate colours; pink, lavender, even some orangey bits.

Well back to usual routine tomorrow - I hope you've all had a lovely weekend.

Kimono weekend

This the kimono I bought last week and I wore it on Saturday to go and visit my son.

I had planned to wear this necklace (a recent purchase from the Salvation Army for £1.25) with the kimono but the bloody thing fell to pieces when I put it on and it's not repairable - damn!

The skinny jeans are from Primarni, the black draped top from La Redoute sale last year worn with black vest underneath from Lidl; black ankle boots from Next; Christmas present from daughter about 3 years ago.

Blue beads, bangles and earrings all charity shopped.  I look a bit serious here - was I thinking about whether my OH would remember it's Valentine's Day on Sunday or not?

Of course he did -  flowers and chocolates; bless him! Especially as I wasn't even going to be spending it with him....

Instead I spent Valentine's Day with my friend Natalie in Cambridge and her friends. We went out for lunch, drank a few glasses of wine and then went back to her house and drank more wine. It was lovely to meet everyone as we'd not met before and we all got on really well, We've planned to do it again in a few months time.

I was wearing another kimono type jacket bought from the RSPCA shop about a year ago. Black velvet loose trousers from M&S (Christmas voucher 3 years ago), top from charity shop, black boots Next. Necklace Primarni, earrings  and bangles charity shopped.

For reasons I can't disclose we all had to wear a hat. Natalie had bought about half a dozen different styles from E Bay and we could choose one each. This was mine; this isn't a very good photo - a selfie, but I'll feature the hat again, I'm sure.

I'm going to head out over to Patti's 'Visible Monday' on Not Dead Yet Style here there's a party going on!

I've gone a bit bonkers!

Having not bought any clothes for 5 weeks I went a bit bonkers for a few days.  Or as my late mum would have 'sure, you've gone completely mad'. I popped into Bedford first thing Saturday morning to satisfy my desire to charity shop for clothes; followed that with a charity shopping trip to Northampton and then bought a couple of bits in the charity shop I volunteer in on Mondays - and bought a couple of things in the British Red Cross shop. On Tuesday I went to the Salvation Army shop and picked up a couple of things, too.  I feel happy now and not deprived!

On Saturday I bought this little blue and white container to hold my mini cacti - £1.50 in Save the Children, Northampton. I also bought 6 wineglasses in this shop for my daughter for £1.50.

I bought this blue knitted dress to replace some of the 4 dresses I gave away, as I realised they didn't suit me. This one is Empire line and suits me better. I bought this in Oxfam, Bedford for £5.00. The striped waistcoat was £2.00 from Save the Children, Bedford.

The scarf was £1.00 in the 3:16 Christian charity shop bought in Autumn 2015; the yellow tights were charity shopped ages ago. Boots from Sainsburys.

This time round I found that when I was charity shopping for clothes, I was much more choosy. I bought things I needed; slouchy jeans, structured pencil skirts and dresses. Yes, I bought 2 more Empire style dresses! One, a black knitted one from the £1.00 rail in the Cancer Research shop in Northampton, and a Country Casuals cerise, printed one for £1.99 in the British Red Cross shop.  I bought a white linen tunic from Next for £1.00 (for my holiday) and an animal print tunic for £1.50 (for my holiday) in the Sue Ryder shop in Northampton. This was a new shop to us as we've never come across it before on previous trips to Northampton.  Anyway, this time I found it much easier to look at clothes and discard them because I didn't need them, or they were the wrong shape or style for me.

I bought a patterned, scoop neck, short sleeved top  in Save the Children in Bedford for £2.00; as I have mostly plain tops with short sleeves. I also rescued a plain white Boden t shirt from the ragbag for 50p. I have plain white vests, plain white long sleeved tops but no short sleeved white t shirt! Finally, I bought a lovely colourful kimono for £1.99 in the British Red Cross shop and a coral coloured scarf in here for £1.00; not because I needed them but because I loved them. I also bought a crinkle, floral patterned long skirt for my holiday in the Salvation Army shop. Oh - and I bought a sweet bracelet with pink roses in it...

Earrings were bought in Debenhams in their January sale a good few years ago, metal cuff charity shopped and watch.

I think I have truly satisfied my  charity shopping urge for this week!

This is the kimono. I am going to wear it on Saturday when I go to see my son so I've hung it over a black draped top that I'll wear under it. I may wear it with black leggings or black skinny jeans and boots.

This is the skirt for my holiday.

This is the draped pencil skirt.

This is the small black and grey check pencil skirt.

This what I wore today. The second of the Empire line dresses - this one is H&M and from the £1.00 rail.

The cardigan is charity shopped a couple of years ago and the tights were also charity shopped. Brogues from Tesco 50%  off sale just after Christmas. Bangles charity shopped. I bought the necklace in a shop in Bedford called 'Simi and Lola' which is closing down and therefore has lots of reduced items. It's a lovely shop and I'll be sad to see it go. The earrings are from Sainsburys.

This is the sweet bangle I got for 50p and I bought this coral and red coloured necklace on Thursday for £1.25 at the Keech Hospice shop.  Yes, on my walking trip I passed 2 charity shops and had to pop in! I also bought this lovely hat there for £2.99 and a paperweight for 99p in Barnardos.

Isn't it fab? All I need now is somewhere to wear it to!

I am buying it!

I am buying it!

I was so excited to be buying again, I popped into Bedford town first thing Saturday morning to check out a few charity shops before we went to Northampton. I realised, through doing the shopping my wardrobe thing for 35 days, that I didn't have any boyfriend/slouchy jeans in my wardrobe; only straight leg or skinny ones, so I was very pleased to pick these ones up for £1.99 in the British Red Cross shop. It's a very casual look today!

I also bought a structured pencil skirt here for the same price - in fact all the clothes are this price  in this shop. Then in Age UK they had two rails of sale clothes and I picked up another pair of slouchy jeans for £1.79. Slouchy jeans are just like buses - there aren't any for ages then two come along at once! I also picked up a beautiful draped pencil skirt - Twiggy from M&S for £2.29, and a knitted tunic in cream for £1.79. I bought this Bench multicoloured, zip up top for £1.50 in the 3:16 Christian charity shop.

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Yellow t shirt rescued from the ragbag for 50p at Save the Children, where I volunteer. Red creepers charity shopped in Wellingborough in December 2015. I think the blue top I wore on the 35th day of 'not buying it' would go well with this jacket,  so would my red draped top and I have a black draped top that would also go with it.

 I remember reading somewhere a long time ago, that before you buy a garment make sure you have at least 3 or 4 other items that will go with it. I wish I had used this advice this more often - I have a couple of items in my wardrobe I find it difficult to pair  or match things with.

I may have to post a couple of pictures of these anti social items soon and ask you for your opinion!

Necklace, gift from my brother a couple of Christmases ago; I have a blue one, too. Earrings are about 15 years old and were charity shopped, but can't remember where. Bracelet 50p in Willen Hospice shop in Newport Pagnell and black ring I bought for myself years ago.

 I have a red blotch on my neck in this photo. I've noticed I get these blotches on my neck quite often now; I've no idea why and wonder if it's an age thing?

Northampton was a bit of a disappointment. I hadn't been for about 18 months and there seemed to be fewer charity shops than I remembered. I did pick up some bargains though so I'll show you those in my next post.

Not buying it - Day 35

Day 35

I have decided after 5 solid weeks to abandon the 'not buying it thing'. Partly it's because its such a hassle to get my OH to take the photos daily, but also because we are going charity shopping to Northampton tomorrow and what happens if I see something fabulous - or just a bargain? So this is my 35th consecutive post where I've tried to shop my wardrobe and wear outfits composed of what I already have, without adding any new items other than accessories. I can still carry the 'shopping my wardrobe' challenge forward, but I can buy new things and go back to just blogging once or twice a week; rather than every other day.

This outfit is entirely charity shopped. The wide legged navy trousers, the gingham shirt and the blue jumper.

The boots are my Tesco outlet faithfuls but will be binned soon as the heel is wearing down and it costs more to re heel them than they originally cost!

Bangles are charity shopped as are the pearl necklaces. I have quite a few pearl necklaces both long and short. The earrings were a present from OH when we stayed in Oxford for his birthday last year. They were off a market stall and he bought me a square pair as well but I left them in the mobile home in Donegal last year - by accident.

I'm going to link up with Spygirl's 52 Pick me up here - it's Sapphire blue this week and I think my blue top qualifies!

Not buying it - Days 33 and 34

Day 33

I was feeling like a lie in this morning so I didn't get up in time to go on a Rambler's walk. 

I find the older I get the less I like rushing around. If something requires rushing around - count me out.

So. although I didn't get up in time I still went walking. I walked to a village about 3 miles outside of Bedford called Bromham. In fact I walked to end of Bromham Park,which was the home of the local gentry, and back again - 7 miles exactly. I spied these lovely snowdrops on my walk.

I thought this tree was magnificent!

We lived in Bromham when I first moved to Bedfordshire 35 years ago. I didn't like it. I was born and grew up in London and I love cities and towns. I didn't drive when we lived in Bromham and the public transport was woeful; it was difficult to do shopping and go anywhere with two small children. I was much happier when I moved into Bedford town! The countryside is lovely but I don't want to live in it. I do enjoy walking in it though!

(I had taken a few more pictures and put them on the blog and then deleted them from my phone. When I came to add in day 34 they'd disappeared from the blog too!)

I wore this outfit today - more red but some  burnt orange/rust too!

The camel colour trousers have zips at the bottom and I bought them from the La Redoute sale some years ago. I usually wear them in the summer, but as they are made of thick cotton I've co opted them for winter too. The knitted rust/burnt orange waistcoat was a charity shop find - originally from Primarni. The tunic has a bit of a 60s vibe with the red,camel, purple and mocha psychedelic pattern; charity shopped.

I'm wearing my brown animal print boots from Primarni but I didn't walk in them - I wore my proper walking boots.

The beads were a gift from son's ex partner and the earrings were charity shopped. They combine red and orange and were the inspiration for this outfit.

Day 34

I did get up and go walking today and we did 5 miles. It was a beautiful day and quite mild. We hoped we would see some lambs, but we're a few weeks too early; although we saw some very pregnant ewes. 2 sheep had got out of a field and we had fun trying to get them back in. I don't mind a bit of sheep herding when I'm walking!

I've worn this tunic before here (but not as part of 'not buying it') and it came from a charity shop some years ago. The vest/waistcoat is a recent purchase from the Children's Society for £3.99. Leggings are from M&S and I have a brown pair too, bought with a gift voucher which was a retirement present from work colleagues. Black boots  from Next, a Christmas present from daughter about 3 years ago.

This coral scarf came from the charity shop where I volunteer; it was £1.99. Bangles are charity shopped and the bracelet a gift from my ex mum-in-law. Watch charity shopped.

Earrings are, naturally, from Sainsburys!

Not Buying it - Days 32 and 33

Day 32

Just the usual busy Monday today, school run, followed by charity shop volunteering. Then a quick browse around a couple of charity shops. I bought a book on allotments and a pair of sunglasses in my own charity shop. Then home to tidy up, put the washing away and another wash on. Off to to pick grandchildren up, on to post office and then home with youngest where he he waits for either his mum or Dad to pick him up.

Skirt from Wallis and bought last year in the RSPCA charity shop for £3.99. Black and white top £1.00 rail charity shop. Boots Clarks 50% off sale about 5 years ago.

Necklace 2 euros charity shop in Donegal. Earrings Sainsburys. Watch and bangles charity shopped.

Day 33

I'm wearing an ink blue tunic from M&S charity shopped, over navy blue leggings. Red cardigan for warmth and contrast, charity shopped, and red boots, retail on line. The scarf was rescued from the rag bag at my volunteer charity shop; it's from Next and cost the princely sum of 50 p! I needed it on today when I was out and about and at the food bank. I also walked 4 miles - I took the long way home!

You can see that the tunic has contrasting striped detail on the top.

Bangles charity shopped. Necklace £3.00 from the RSPCA in Newport Pagnell last week. Earrings - Sainsburys of course!

I love this necklace - you'll be seeing a lot of it!

I'm off to link up with Anne's 52 Pick Me up  as my tunic is ink blue  - not navy!!