Rocky Robin

As I was looking through some blogposts that reviewed 2016, I realised that I have done very few outfit posts in 2017 and indeed, less blogposts than I have in previous years. I do think Instagram has a lot to do with that as has just being generally busy.

Anyway, I thought I would share my Christmas Eve outfit.

 Forgive the scruffy photos but I got my husband to take these quite late at night after I had come back from the Anglican Carol service and Catholic Mass (yep, went to both one after the other)

The robin dress is a handmade pinafore from Vintage Style Me.  I have one Dinosaur dress from there which I bought last year.  I follow them on Instagram and I know that times as a handmade business can be very hard and from the promotions running on Instagram felt that perhaps they weren't getting as many orders as they might have liked so when there was a promotion where they sent you a discount voucher, I ordered this pinafore. It IS a Christmas fabric, but I reckon I could get away with it in the Winter months.

To make it season appropriate, I wore this moss-green Topshop turtle neck underneath (charity-shopped) and some thermal leggings and boots (sadly not pictured!) 

Plus, my other favourite Robin item is this freebie necklace I got from Rosebud Casson last year!!

I always like it when CBC approves of an outfit (sometimes he is a bit disparaging about some of the more 'novelty' or 'Doctor Who' outfits)-  he liked this one!

What did you wear on Christmas Eve?

xx

5 broooches #55

300 reports complete. 200 to go.... Ahrgh!

A quick post here- one that was already ready to go but I always feel it is nice to add a welcome to you, written on the actual day!  It's only 6 days since my last broochage post but I haven't got much time to do anything else but I wanted a wee distraction!

Hope there's something you like here!

You can just see Nessie on the right. He's from @fairytalecollars on Etsy!  He seemed to fit right in with the Orla Kiely pattern I felt.

And here are the teapot and teacup brooches I made a while back out of Shrinkplastic. I started making another brooch the other day, one that has been sitting waiting for ages. The subject of it is so cute so I will be dismayed if it goes wrong in the oven!

Two photos of this one.  I thought I'd wear my Glitterpunk pastel keyboard with my Miss Patina Aristocat blouse!

Last but not least, is an ensemble you will have seen a few weeks ago. My charity-shopped Robin jumper with Rosebud Casson Robbin necklace plus her Blackbird pin and a Primark bird pin plus a Christchurch welcome badge!

Any favourites here?

xx

Cottontail

Fern Cotton today wears a cosy winter outfit. I think you'll be getting bored of my cream Bunny sweater as I'm sure I've worn it for Inspiration Monday more than once! And once again, I will not be persuaded into skinny jeans so we have a dress added to cover my modesty in leggings! However, it's appropriate that I can make a bad pun on the Fern Cotton and rabbit link. I like the fact this outfit has made me think of more ways to wear my bunny sweater which I usually wear with the same black trousers!

Wearing: ASOS BunnySweater, Appletree boutique horseprint dress, Primark leggings, Leather boots: eYe Boutique, Robin print scarf (it appears to be the day of animals?)

DO you know what? I am so envious of you bloggers who can get outside photos. I am tired of dim dingy photos in which I try to capture an outfit and wish I could actually experience some daylight during the week. Perhaps I should get out of bed earlier (laughs hysterically!)

I am so excited that my Mother in law is coming to stay with us for a couple of days. She's coming for CBC's concert and it is exciting that she's going to stay as we have not hosted her before and moreoever, she's going to be our first overnight guest. This is not something I have experienced much. I think I can count the number of overnight guests I've had on one hand in my adult life (excepting CBC of course) and this is the first time I've had a spare room! Frantically trying to hide away all my piles of stuff and realising that perhaps I should remove a crammed drawer full of clothes so she can put hers in a drawer. My spare room serves as spare clothes storage!

I am hoping to go Swingdancing myself tomorrow night. CBC seems very reluctant to go recently and he has one of his two school concerts, so I am going to lindy in London tomorrow whilst he's doing that! Seeing the Swing off on Strictly come dancing last night has me itching to go and swing! It's surprising how out of practice you can get by not constantly going! I also have to go and pick up a lovely Christmas jumper from ASOS up from my old house that has arrived for CBC. I have plans to steal this jumper once Christmas is over! If you like Wardrobe zoos, you might like this one!!!

Head over to the Twobirds for some fluffy jumper love!

xx

10 things to be thankful for

I haven't done one of my Pollyanna-style lists of things I am glad for in ages here. I've being doing them of course but not on here! 1. For the beauty of the nature that visits my garden! This little robin is a frequent visitor. He usually only poses for my Mum but I bribed him by sprinkling meal-worms in front of him and chirping to him. He answered although CBC doesn't believe me. I know we had a conversation!
2. For the glorious weather at the weekend. Despite causing me headaches, it was wonderful!
3. For the joy of feeling better after having a rotten cold. Last week, I had to croak my way through 2.5 days of music lessons, singing assembly, choir, recorder and drumming clubs, orchestra, science experiments, guided reading and bible study. I felt utterly rotten. I am so grateful to be regaining my voice and my nose!
4. For lovely vegetables! Harvest time!!!
5. For wonderful people who write Pride and prejudice sequels or spin-offs or alternative narrators- it's like a wonderful excuse to read it over and over again with a new outlook! (Disclaimer: No one is as good as Ms Austen but I like to commend attempts!) When oh when will someone write Mr Tillney's diary???
6. For the unknown joys of a lie-in and sleeping for 10 hours- rare and vital!
7. For friends who understand.
8. For the joy of half-term on the horizon: 14 wake-ups...
9. For having a darling year 3 class who actually DO SIT there and listen when I ask them not to play their recorders when I want to hear individuals! And do everything I ask! This is rare- the temptation to blow is often too much for them!
10. For the nice x-ray man who didn't mind that I had completely forgotten my appointment and said I could come in later!

What are YOU thankful for this fine day?

Let them eat hats 13- unlucky for some!

These were photos taken 2 Sundays ago when I went to rehearse flute quartets at my friend Anne's house. I decided to wear a hat to church and this one picked out the grey-blue flowers on the dress and the grey leggings I wore. This was the 4th of the hats I bought when looking for a hat for my Mum's wedding. It came from a charity shop near school (bought alongside the pink one). In fact, this one did end up being worn for the wedding, but not by me, but by my family friend Norma- it matched her outfit exactly!

Laura at Daisychain dream recently posted about finding things you'd forgotten about at the back of the wardrobe and the shoes I was wearing here are such an item I found that morning! The great thing about these were they were free! My friend Anila had a clothesswap party and I was offered these by her Mum Vanessa who has equally large feet but decided she didn't like these pretty-much brand new suede Mary Jane Clarks shoes. They are sooooo comfy!

The necklace I wore is a vintage crystal bead necklace I bought in Felixstowe which I wore today and it was hilarious as young kids are like magpies and were instantly drawn to its shinyness and iridescence and kept coming to look!

Why oh why do I always put my head on one side!
Oh and this little fellow keeps lying in wait for me in my front garden! He keeps sitting on my door handle or door-mat and then flying to a horizontal surface within arms reach of me! Luckily I had my camera round my neck as I walked home from school!

I'm sure birds were never this friendly when I was little! Does anyone else have friendly bird visitors?

Robin red breast

Your melody so melodious, your feathers so fine.

How is it that you stand up on legs this slender?

You trill proud and dandy, as you bob round the bushes,

Eyes gleaming black and wise; there's no tricking you.

Proud and capable, the model husband protector

You make me beam, dear little fellow with your suit of red and brown!

Images (c) R.Gibbs 2011