Pastel me

Tammy's latest trend through the decades theme is pastels! (Go check out!)  I like pastels, I always admire outfits with them and yet I found very little of them in my wardrobe when I went to look!  I have a couple of pale pink and pale blue cardies but that's it!  I have lots of pink evening gowns and posh dresses but not clothes for on a daily basis!  Obviously, not something I generally feel confident buying!  I pulled together the following as the only real every day outfit I could make in pastels that I could get away without ironing (I don't do it!)!!

 The shirt is a White-stuff one I like a lot but don't really wear.  The skirt is a Monsoon old favourite I bought about 4 years ago and even then, it's mostly brown!

 The necklace is one of the plethora of Primark charms for a bracelet you can buy- I use them on necklaces!

I've had this belt (Primark also) for about 2 years but haven't ever worn it- it seems a bit silly- ugly utiitarian material in pink with itchy-scratchy pink flower!

Cardie is an H&M Christmas purchase!

Really not sure about the whole look but I tried!  Ask me to wear one of my pink evening gowns and I'm up for it!

On another front, I always feel so helpless when a loved one is going through difficult times and when they are depressed. All I can do is pray but wish they also had that hope to put their trust in, it means things never feel impossible or unsolvable.  I also pray for all those in teaching- it's a horrid job at times, especially those brave souls that teach in secondary schools- some/lots of Essex teenagers really upset me with their disgusting disregard for those who work so hard to try and make them have a better future. I really couldn't do what they do.  If they only knew how awful it is to be on the receiving end of their despicable disregard. Sorry to share, I just find some of their behaviour repulsive. All I can do is pray!  Pray that it will change!  Pray that we can tirelessly respond in a way that will be loving but ultimately restorative.

On another front, how's the spending ban going?  I was totally envious of Char's Car skirt today, I saw it and really wanted to buy that when I was in Primark some weeks ago! However, it is, I reiterate, a good thing!

Lovelies, tell me something wonderful/happy!

Show me your stripes!

Hello!  Yay, it's the Two birds inspiration Monday!  For the first time in ages, I thought, ooh, I'd like her real outfit!  What a nice dress! She's called Olivia Wilde apparently. Nice to meet you Olivia.

 I knew what I'd wear as soon as I saw the photo!  When I was in Brugues recently, I went into C&A (for a bout of nostalgia!), a shop we used to have in the UK but it went out of business here. However, it thrives in European cities!  I saw this dress on a sale rack advertised as being 7.10 euros.  Very reasonable I thought....

 When I got to the counter, it came up as only 2.10 euros!!! Bargain!!!!!!

 I wore it with this floral jacket from Joy as I thought it had a similar shape/neck to Olivia's jacket.  Also wanted to try this floral/stripes combo this that I've seen on some blogs.  Not sure I succeeded!

 Underneath I wore the navy cardigan to match more- I like matching- am more scared about clashes!

The flashes of blue at my ears are the most amazing feather earrings that my friend Jill bought me for my recent birthday!  They're sooo prettty and floaty!

Go and check out the other girls' interpretation at the two birds, the home of Nora and Megan!!!!

Mother's day makes!!!

Happy Mother's day to all you mothers! (Is it Mother's as in one mother's day or Mothers' day, as in the day that belongs to all mothers.  Hmmmm...)

 Here's my first Make a month for Annie the Felt Fairy's challenge.  Really not my best!  It includes some recycling- the pink criss-cross card is from some packaging!

 I nipped over with CBC to take my Mummy her card and some pressies (Bath selection pack, Cath Kidston robin pin-badge, Green and Blacks mini bars) but I was really sad not to have been able to take her a posy of flowers which I have done every year for the last 8 years.  At church, a talented yet humble team of ladies decorate the church with the most exquisite of flower displays and then make a myriad of posies for daughters to take and give to their mums.  Somehow, because I was playing the piano today (Les Dawson extraordinaire- sooooo many dodgy wrong notes!!!), I didn't go up to get one and saw that there were one or two left but after the service they'd all gone!!! I also wanted to take photos to show you how amazing they are but I forgot my camera!

My Mum is fab and it was lovely to see her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  She's always done so much for me, sacrificially.
Here she is as a glam teenager (???) dressing up for Amateur dramatics as usual! What a beauty!!!!!!!!

What I did this afternoon:

 My other makes of the day (month) are very basic but since I made them and they took a significant length of time, they shall be recorded here for posterity!  28 leaf head-dresses for my school choir!

We're going to sing at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday and one of the many props we were asked to provide were head-dresses!

They look rubbish up close as you may have secretly thought as you read this (I agree!) but I'm hopeful they'll look effective from a distance!

I'm not actually turning them into circlets until I can actually staple them to a child's headsize! I'll do that on the day otherwise they'll be mashed by then!

 However, here's a taster (oooooooh dear!!!!)  Dan naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go on, mock me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Emerald isle

 Happy St Patrick's day to thee of the Blarney stone!


 I have an orchestra concert tonight and it's quite a sweet touch that we all have to wear a touch of emerald green with our usual "all black" outfit.  I'm planning on wearing my Christmas ribbon round my waist from Christmas presents!

 I thought I'd make a nod to Ireland with this outfit also.
Emerald green top and leggings (Primark) with emerald lego earrings (craft-fair?) and greeny albalone M&S necklace! With just a touch of navy blue to tone it down!

Have you ever seen Amadeus, the film?  Excitingly tonight, we are playing La Grotta di Trofonio by Antonio Salieri (1750-1825).  If you've seen it, he's the man who lots of rumours circulated regarding the possibility of his having contributed to Mozart's early demise! They were supposedly rivals! Not true about the murder bit, but it's such a nice surprise to play some music by him and see the comparison!  Lots of the orchestra think it's rather trite but I love it!  Mind you, give me a pretty flute solo and I'm anybody's!

Hope you are off to have an exciting weekend!  Last night, CBC and I went to a localish restaurant called The Apollonia, a Greek restaurant. We didn't intend to go there, we just parked nearby as there are lots of restaurants to choose from, and went to have a snoop! It was hilarious as they had entertainment in the form of very Greek-looking singer, DJ and pianist who had the most Essex accent you could imagine, Tom Jones impersonator, a hilarious Greek dancer who got everyone (except us!) doing that mediterranean circle dance whilst wearing a tower of glass tumblers and a bottle on top of his head! We had the mezze which was delicious, a massive selection of dishes, homous, tahini, taramasalata, beetroot salad, crab salad, Greek salad, Haloumi, gammon slices, sea bream, garlic mushrooms (AHRGH!), mussels (sadly I'm allergic!), chargrilled meats and loads more!  It was very friendly, great value and there was sadly stacks left over!  I always feel so guilty leaving any food but I wanted to be able to sleep! 
Frantically made a Mother's day card today as have been meaning to do it all week but work seemed relentless! Will show tomorrow or as soon as I've managed to get it to my Mum!!!

Have a lovely day!

Peterpan frills!

Greetings mes amies!  It was lovely to share your kind comments on recent posts, thank you!  It's always lovely reflecting back on holiday memories and even just memories of the day just gone!

And wasn't it a beautiful day today!  Alas, I spent most of it inside, but the small sections in the sun were great!

Today is Thursdays are for thrifters at Meagan's!  My outfit photos include 2 thrifted items- 1 Peterpan collar dress (Phase8 I think but not sure via Charity shop) and pink frilled Kew cardigan (charity shop).  Worn with blue mini satchel bag (Won in Hazel's giveaway), Tescos floral tights, Liberty print silk scarf, Primark necklace, Peacocks belt, eYe shoes.

 Shots feature ubiquitous Kezzie mess!

 Blurry photos but there we are!

Can I ask, does anyone else have trouble actually getting themselves to eat fruit on a regular basis.  I love fruit but I just can't seem to make myself eat it.  (That said, I ate blueberries and raspberries during the staff meeting this morning as I'd forgotten my bagel to toast- hmmmm, maybe that's the answer!).
I buy it, take it to school and then it comes home in my bag.  I rarely fancy eating it in the evening.  Then it seems to go off.
I start with good intentions.  I start off a week with a little snackbox of fruit and then the rest of the box moulders in the fridge as I don't quite manage to eat it!  I don't have this issue with vegetables which I eat in abundance with my dinner!  Any suggestions gratefully received!

Spring rustlings- 10 things to be thankful for.

How are you doing?  Well I hope.  I am fine.  How are you getting on with any challenges in your life?
I am "enjoying" my Lent/100 days challenge not to buy any clothing items/frivolous items for myself- no really! I am thankful for it.  Even though my headteacher came into school today wearing the Dotty Perks bird-print 50's dress that I saw on Char's blog and instantly wanted!  Danielle (A blog from Blackpool), who initially issued the challenge, spurred me on today with her idea about looking at a list and writing down things you wanted to buy and seeing if you still want them 3 weeks later. I really needed to take on this particular challenge- I am ALWAYS buying something- every week, and it was adding up, not good for me on a whole host of levels.  I needed to stop being so materialistic, Absotively, posolutely!   Anyway, there are an abundance of things I feel thankful for this week:

1.  For the coming of Spring.  My favourite season.  Everything is so POSITIVE. The anticipation, the new life, the surprises, the colours, the increasing light, the changes.  Being surprised by joy each day at some new remembrance of Spring!
2.  For the way sometimes things just WORK!  I spend a lot of time in teaching, lacking confidence, always feeling I'm not good enough, wondering why I do it!  Then, a lesson just goes so well, the majority of the children respond well and you know that what you did was good and right and fitting/
3.  Relating to the above: when someone shares something positive about you.  The TA who was present in a music lesson yesterday said to me at the end of the day, "That was a lovely lesson, I really enjoyed it! I'm going to go home and try and practice!".  It made me feel all warm and appreciated! It really is all I need.  Reassurance that something I do is worthwhile and valued!
4. Similarly, when children say to me, they're happy when I'm looking after their class.  I always think it's a class of "We love whoever is in front of us at the time" but still it's nice they said it!
5.  PPA! (Preparation, planning and assessment time)  Thank God they introduced PPA some years ago! How on earth we would do all the work is otherwise unimaginable!  I didn't get any 2 weeks ago, last week I only got half of it due to Artsmark meeting and next week I have none due to the concert at the Royal Albert Hall.  I am sooooo grateful I have it tomorrow!
6.  Escapism in the form of a good book!  I can forget about those 30 Maths investigation books that need to be marked for a little while!
7.  The Lent course we are doing at church, called Freedom in Christ.  I'm really tired and finding it hard to say much as part of it (I'm usually very talkative!), but it's so positive, clear, easy to understand and positive! Much needed.
8.  I'm as always, thankful for my family.  Though I am shockingly bad at phoning, they are always there, loving me and supporting me!
9. Cycling and sunshine.  Despite not feeling great at the start of Sunday, having a 22 mile cycle in the aftenoon really blew the cobwebs out, gave me a dose of much-needed exercise and vitamin D and a sense of achievement!
10.  The impending holiday.  12 more wakeups till freedom! (though as part of this, I am so grateful to have a job since I know some people would love to have one and others are losing theirs and that is a worrying time.  I am, however, grateful for the holiday that accompanies the job!)

Come on then- put on your flower garlands, wreaths and flowing dresses and join me in saying what you are thankful for! Tell me!!!

I capture the castle

Continuing from my last post, our holiday continued in Reims, City of the Kings.  We stayed in an amazing restored chateau a couple of miles outside, in the midst of Champagne country called Chateau Hermonville.  The house is an amazing B&B run by Sophie and Alain. They restored it to full glory after it had been left in disrepair.  It has an interesting history.  It was occupied during both WW1 and WW2 by German troops, so it has some secret tunnels leading from the kitchen to some outhouses in the grounds to allow for people to escape.  It was wonderfully spacious, peaceful and since they have 4 rooms, it will probably always be a peaceful place to stay in.  Happily for us, it is their lowest seasons so we were the only guests.  The next morning, after Valentines day, we came down to breakfast in the magnificent dining room.   A long table, enough for 10 people, set for just us.

 An imitation gas fire, was the only hint of modernity.

 Breakfast was amazing.  A silver pot of tea, freshly squeezed juice and fruit salad.  Croissants, yoghurt, muffins, pastries, fresh bread, cheese, brioche freshly made.  It was a repast fit for a chateau!

It was so peaceful there at the chateau.  Hermonville seemed a really peaceful, sleepy town- pure tranquillity!

I try to look here like I've really captured the castle!

After Sophie telling us about the grounds (1 acre I believe!), we discovered they grow their own champagne grapes, so they had their own champagne.  They offered us a glass upon arrival but we both plumped for tea.  Would you have?

I loved the Mr Darcy costume upon a bust by the cabinet.  This hauge cabinet was full of crockery etc.  Puts my messy kitchen cabinet to shame!  CBC and I wished we had our Regency outfits to take the perfect photo within a suitable setting (yep, I have my own Mr Darcy.  We had some regency dance lessons a while back!)

The living room was amazing, full of small details, perfect for the 18th century era.  How amazing to grow up here like Sophie's children did!

The best feature for CBC and I was the authentic Pleyel piano (albeit not very well tuned!).  After we'd had breakfast, we sat at the piano and played through some Mozart piano duets.  They were ones he wrote for him and his sister Nannerl, they're mostly quite playable and delightfully fun so we didn't sound TOO dire when we discovered Sophie was listening! (nor did we sound good, so it was a little embarassing!).  The perfect setting. We wished we were staying another day or two, as it was wonderful.  I'd have loved to have  gone on some walks in the area.

There were more costumes and details to admire.

I quite like this shot- it makes me think of Van Eyck's The Alfini Marriage  with my reflection in the mirror as proof that I was a witness to the shot!

When we first arrived, it was soooo exciting going up the stairs, wondering which room we'd be given!

We thought that these doors lead to the other wing of the house, but they turned out to be a large cupboard!  Our room was second on the right!

Our room had a lovely little dressing room to the side with huge cupboards and a pretty desk!

Simple, but beautiful fittings

The room was a lovely size, after our Paris hotel which was tiny.  The bathroom (not pictured) was huge!

These photos come from the website.  I strongly recommend staying here.  It was fairly expensive, but really special for a treat!  We were so lucky to stay here as they are fully booked all through the summer season (champagne enthusiasts!).  It would be a wonderful retreat say for a honeymoon or something similar if you wanted an excuse?!

The day continued with a car tour of champagne country and a visit to Moet et Chandon's cellars!  More anon...

Have I persuaded you.  Come, stay at my castle!

Valentinees day: The Moulin Rouge and onto my 18th century chateau!

Valentines day was our last day in Paris.  After a hasty breakfast and I had given CBC his card, we went for a last wander around Monmartre and to CBC's delight, we found Le Moulin Gallette which looked an amazing restaurant, such a pity we weren't staying. 

Packing up our things, trying to cobble together our terrible French (I have a good accent but can't remember any useful vocab!  I can give lots of Classroom instructions though!) to check out, we bid goodbye to Timhotel, which had a great location if you ever want to stay. (that's me in all the clothes!)

Since the car was parked right down hills, we dragged our suitcases down the cobbled paths, sadly noticing we found an amazing shopping street which was full of wonderful-looking food places- it seemed very Marylebone high street.

The Moulin Rouge was on our way so we stopped for photos though a stonking-great lorry was parked outside it!

 As we collected the car to continue our journey onto Reims, CBC voiced his determination to fulfill an ambition to drive around the Arc de Triomphe.  This road is renowned as the most CRAZY one in France.  This roundabout has 8 lanes (except WHERE are the lanes?!) and you have to giveaway to things coming on.  It's the only one like it in France, totally loopy!

We had borrowed a friend's Satnav and had set a course for Reims but it was hilarious because it seemed to be frantically trying to get us to avoid the Arc as it kept replotting our path to avoid it right up until the last few metres

 Tense with nerves, we avoided buses as we approached...

 And then into the throng!  It was totally Wacky racers meets the bumper-cards. Vehicles weaving erractically in all directions at a high speed.  People coming on from all roads, barging their way in!  I admit my heart was pounding...

As we drove, we took in the last sites to be seen as we began the long drive to Reims, city of the Kings.

 At long last, we arrived at our B&B,an amazing 18th-century restored Chateau that CBC had found.  I have to say, he is an absolute genius at finding wonderful, unique, special places to stay. An amazing place to spend Valentines day at!  This was no exception. Domaine de Lattaignant or Chateau Hermonville was breathtaking!  I can imagine it is a dream in the summer at the height of the champagne season!  As you may realise, it is deep in champagne country!

However, I shall save my Chateau photos for their own special post!  Sufficed to say, that Sophie and Alain, our hosts, were delightful.

We headed off into the city to catch some sites before hopefully finding a lovely brasserie for a Valentines dinner.

Our first stop was the amazing cathedral, the place where the kings of France were crowned from the time of Clovis.  It is wonderfully ornate, covered in amazing masonry, exquisite, intricate stained glass windows and a labyrinth!

 The outside was stunning.

 Before venturing inside, we decided to visit the Palace and its treasures first

 Inside, we scrutinized some gigantic stone friezes and statues that had fallen off the cathedral, or been replaced after erosion.  They were at least double my height and we wondered how on EARTH they manage to get them up high on the walls before the invention on cranes!

 The Virgin Mary was about 3 times my height!

 The banquetting hall was spacious and CBC and I imagined having a quadrille there!

 CBC disappeared off and I was left delighting at the royal treasures.

 I found this amazing chapel.  I should point out that there were no others and CBC had gone back to the main entrance.  It was like  small part of the cathedral itself and it was filled with a sense of peace and hushed silence.  I felt compelled to sing and did!   Luckily, I don't think I was overheard!

 More coronation garb

 This ornate costume was worn by the Dauphin.

 And of course no palace would be fit without a crown.

 Down in the crypt- more spacious chambers.  Apparently people can hire this space out!

 After a trip to the gift shop where I bought a wind-up snail and ladybird, we headed back to the cathedral.
It was like the Artic in there though the beauty made up for it.
A whole host of wonderful stained glass windows.  There were at least 3 rose windows like this one.  It's such a shame I couldn't capture the wonderful light effect in this photo.

 These seemed very contemporary

 And lurid.

And delicate.   The peace of this place of sanctuary was wonderful.  It was bombed in WW2 but it remains steadfast, restored to glory.

 Reims has a famous labyrinth which I am still somewhat confused about.  Whether it is just a pattern on the floor or an actual maze deep below the cathedral (our host seemed to think that) but I am disappointed not to have seen it.

After a stop for tea and something chocolately in a patisserie, we headed off to a recommended brasserie which catastrophically was fully booked due to the day.  Realising this might be a portent of doom, we successively tried places which said they were full, others that were far too expensive (and probably were full), we frantically drove in the car trying to find any places listed in the tourist guide.  After half an hour or so, we had been walking in the cold, both miserable we finally ended up in a Creperie, jammed-packed, but the waitress saw my tear-stained face (I am a terrible cry-baby) and made room for us.  We had the 'Valentines deal' which was a galette with caramellised onions, fig jam, foue gras (I was a little uncomfortable eating this for obvious reasons but it was nice.), a glass of champagne (I don't really drink but when in Reims...) and a chocolate pancake with raspberries, the evening ended better though I being a little insecure thought CBC was in a mood with me for getting upset and was in that state of feeling that I wish I didn't so obviously let my feelings show and feeling embarassed about crying, so we were a little quiet!  He was just feeling guilty though, he said. Misunderstandings eh!

Back at Hermonville, very late, we enjoyed a chat with Sophie who told us they have a secret passage of sorts!!!

Here's just a taste of Chateau Hermonville...

More anon...

http://www.domaine-de-lattaignant.com/