Memories of raiding my Mamgu's jewellery box

 Hello!  Greetings from a warm evening!  Many children have memories of raiding their Mum's jewellery boxes and wardrobes to play dress-up. Do you?  I always think of my Nan, who we called Mamgu (Welsh for Grandmother because they had a house in Wales).  She had several jewellery boxes on her dressing table including one of those boxes covered in shells!  I  have a tactile memory of it! I loved all her costume jewellery- blingy gold chains, pretty necklaces.  My sister has a lovely ring of hers- it was crystal hearts (I am slighly envious in a sense although this is silly as I don't really wear rings, which we always used to try on.  When she died in 1996 (I think?), I ended up with most of that costume jewellery.  Her life was a terrible loss and it always seemed so sad, because she had suffered from hepatitis for over 20 years (via blood transfusion) and had survived all the horrid steroids she had to take and the end seemed so unexpected at the time since she had defied all the odds.  I don't even know/remember what it was she died of in the end. She was so wonderful and supportive of my sister and I, in every way: emotionally, financially, musically, socially.  Even now, when I get the hiccups, I put my fingers in my ears and swallow, just like she told me to do when we were sitting in the car outside the Vets once.  I remember, just after saying this, her telling me at the time that she was just tired, so tired, so tired of her skin being so wrecked by the steroids and I still remember, at the age of 14, the pangs of compassion and intense love I felt for her at the time, in fact just writing this is making tears flow out of my eyes.
I felt like I was party to a secret tiredness that she hid from the world at large, she was always so positive and it felt like she had confided at me, was sharing a secret with me.  I was suddenly aware of mortality at that point.   How strange to feel so intensely, a memory like this from so long ago...

Anyway, I do digress, the reason this revelry comes to mind, is that last night, in my usual procrastination, I decide to do a bit of tidying rather than marking my grammar books.  As I moved objects around my pigsty bedroom, I came across her dusky-pink fabric jewellery box that I have, that contains many of the necklaces and chains that I have of hers.  There are some that I wear regularly, but these included things that I don't really wear, but keep for the sentimentality, and others I had forgotten about.  As I held each precious item in my hand, I smiled as in my mind's eye, I saw that young 5,7,11,13-year old who stood at that built-in dressing table and cooed at the treasures like that magpie that I was, am.   The necklace pictured above, always particularly makes me think of notably her, as I've never seen another one like it.  I took it out and put it to wear it today.   I'd like to offer that same sweet memory and delight to my own young relatives, perhaps my own young niece, in a few years, might come and visit eccentric aunt Kezzie and raid her jewellery box to play treasures.   Do you have memories of your grandparents like this?

 Today was so beautiful, so lovely.  It was serendipitous that I found Mamgu's necklace as it totally fitted with what I had planned to wear today, anticipating a Thursdays are for thrifters with the lovely Meagan at Brass in Pocket (Alas not!  Where are you my dear?!!) . As I wore Mamgu's necklace, I wore with it a mostly thrifted outfit, perfect for the sun.  This gorgeous orangey/pink silk floral kimono top was a charity-shop purchase, originally from a (for me) posh UK shop called Reiss. I bought it at a time where there were loads of pretty-looking kimono tops in the shops, but they were all synthetic material- I don't really like that type of thing, but I love silk- it's perfect for summer! It also reminded me of the lovely Agatha-Christie looking girl I loved at the Chap Olympiad, 2010.  I almost decided to put it in my 'cull' bag yesterday, but thankfully tried it on and decided that it was so unusual and pretty, that I'd keep it, despite it being a size too big for me!

 The skirt is also thrifted/charity-shop Gap. The mock-tortoiseshell hoop earrings another delighful find in Mamgu's box, that were also a charity shop purchase.
The boots are Tescos as are the tights.

 You may scoff at the black tights in such sweltering weather, but I didn't want constant comments regarding this:

Can you believe that this was just from standing up too quickly on a train and whacking it on the side of the seat?!  It even shone through black tights!

The day was lovely on the whole.  Despite waking horrendously late, with a headache, I had a good morning in Reception, doing estimating numbers of ants with the children, some phonics and enjoying being outside in the Knowledge and understanding area.  A lunchtime recorder club rehearsal was great.  Even the terrifying prospect of teaching Year 2 a medley of 9 songs from the 1990's (Chumbawamba, Steps, S-Club 7, Spice girls, Whigfield, Oasis, Britney Spears, Eiffel 65, and er- the Macarena),  as part of our Jubilee celebrations, was fun and successful!  It's always hard trying to sing pop with young kids, as the pitching is totally not suited to them! We watched my Year 4 class give a Cornet performance (brilliant), I enjoyed a cute picturebook about evolution  and my drumming club totally nailed a Samba practice for our Jubilee picnic next week!  Finally, I came home to mark books in the garden, which in itself was delightful.

Now, as I finish school prep and pack for the weekend, I have a favour to ask you.  Which dress do you think I should wear for the wedding? I can't decided.

Either this beribboned dress from Coast.  I last wore it for my Mum's wedding in 2008 or 9? (sorry Mum!) and that's the only time!

 Or, this cute collared mint with pink polka-dots pleated dress from Joy Louche.  Bearing in mind, I am in Northumberland, outside, playing my flute!


I've just suddenly realised why this wouldn't  focus! No flash!



Please help! 

I hope that you have a lovely day and that you enjoy the sunshine and take some time to relax and look at the clouds!

Skirting the issue

Hello! It's been a lovely week all in all  and better still it ends  with a bank holiday!  How lovely! I thought I'd do a summary in general. Also, I'm going to try and not do too many outfit posts here so I am combining several into one post!  Most of them involve the naughty thrifted finds I bought on Saturday.  Oh and not once have I worn trousers!  Which is unusual for me if it is rainy and blustery, though not out of character in general!

 This was what I wore to CBC's Saturday night outing out to the West End for dinner at Princi, Soho and then onto cocktails (lemonade for me) in a car near Covent Garden.  We had a great time- the food was divine and it was so nice to spend time with different friends, including combining mine and CBC's friends.  The drinks were also fun, and though I don't drink as a rule, I might have tried a cocktail if I hadn't had a headache.  Oh well, it was cheaper, especially as 2 friends ended up buying my 2 lemonades while they all had cocktails!  I feel bad asking people to buy me expensive drinks, esp. if I wont have the time to reciprocate, due to the late hour.
The black dress was charity shop as was the purple ASOS ruffled shrug.  I thought the dress had a 1920's edge to it (well until I belted it) so I wore this black jet headband in a flapper-style, except that it made my hair look more 60's.  Oh well!

 On Sunday, we went to Spitalfields for lunch at Androuet, a French (expensive-eek!) cheese restaurant where I ate not very much (but my lovely French onion soup, cup of salad, mint tea and scoop of fruit sorbet was delicious though small!) and ended up paying 3 times the amount it should have cost(with service) due to 'splitting the bill'.  Why do I always get stung in that situation!? It feels mean and petty to draw attention to it and even though they said, I should pay £5 less because I didn't drink, I felt bad doing that, especially as CBC doesn't have a huge amount of money and I didn't want him to have to pay more, esp as it was his birthday!).  Anyway, the £5 wouldn't have made much difference as I would still have been paying £15 more! (Lawyers obviously don't realise teachers wages don't compare!) Anyway, it was lovely!
The subsequent concert at the Barbican, comprising of Symanovsky Violin concerto, Scriabin Poem of Ecstasy and something else was gorgeous and it was nice that around 12 friends were there for CBC!

The dress was a Topshop via charity shop floral dress, worn with new Dorothy Perkins Peterpan collar necklace, Vintage luxe earrings Pride and Prejudice earrings, Oasis Cardigan and eYe Boutique boots.

Look, I even did a FOTD for you (never to be repeated!!)  I actually wore make-up! Urban decay turquoise eyeshadow, No7 black eyeliner and YSL Touche Eclat!

Monday was quite a successful day in school, despite tiredness.  My recorder club are going from strength to strength and I am really really proud of their committment and achievement! 

2 friends came to dinner, who I haven;t seen for ages and it was a delight (though the washing up hung around for 2 days-oops!)

Here was my Twobirds linkup! Pale legs and floral clashes!

 Tuesday was a tiring day with an orchestra rehearsal in the evening and I was absolutely hoarse from teaching my Year 6 Balinese monkey chant (Kecak).  You have to shout directions over the top of 30people singing and chanting loudly!  I did it for two hours all in all and better still, did it in the playground so the parents who came to collect their children early could see just how mad I am!!!

However, rainbows  on my thrifted rainbow Madras Check dress (thanks for the name Vix!)made me happy!

 I just wanted to throw this one in because I took it to show the lovely late birthday present I got from my dad and step-mum.  Lovely embroidered Per Una skirt!

 The next day was really rather charming as I took my choir to sing at 2 old people's homes, the ones we sang at at Christmas. It's the first time a choir has been there, not at Christmas time, I was keen to develop our relationship further.  We prepared a selection of songs, many of which the old people would know:  Boiled beef and cabbage, Daisy daisy, My old man said follow the van, Knees up mother Brown, Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner, The national anthem, The white cliffs of Dover, We'll meet again, Jerusalem, English Country gardens, then 2 lovely Olympic songs by Chris Willcox, one of which had a cracking swing piano part which I hadn't tried to play  until that morning and my music kept falling off the keyboard stand.  It's great fun trying to sightread from memory!!!
It was SUCH a pleasure to perform there- so many of the residents responded, some cried with delight, one citing, "I'm crying because it is so beautiful", many danced and sang along, one who couldn't open her eyes mouthed all the words, others laughed and cheered.  One or two were silent, but you could see the light and recognition and delight in their eyes.  It is so humbling to be allowed to visit them and share our love of music.  I think it's so important to share with our older folks.  Their delight on seeing children is so evident.
I've agreed also to go and play my flute at one of the places, as I can't always get cover to take a class out.

 This dress, was also a SAturday charity shop purchase (F&F)- it's a bit big (ok 2 sizes too big) but I quite like it- and could get it adjusted!

Home group at church was amazing in the evening. I mean truly amazing. Even if you weren't a believer, you would have got so much out of it! It was an amazing lesson on forgiveness and how it affects us!

On Thursday, I was off school because of polling day (our school is used!) which meant a leisurely morning and a chance to escape my shabby hair with a cut!

I had a lovely day and then had a lovely evening (except for work) having dinner at CBC's and waking him up from fallling asleep doing work!   He is a great cook and he loves veg as much as I do!

My outfit was not thrifted at all but comprised some old favourites- F&F floral top, Primark cord skirt and purple desert boots and Pearl Lowe cardie. Comfy but not particularly exciting!

 Oh it was sooo hard getting up this morning particularly as I had to get up super early at CBC's!!! However, ti was a good chance to do marking on the train!  I arrived unusually early to school and got everything ready!  All in all, a good day, despite having sore throat- maths AND guided reading were good (unusual!) and in the afternoon, we had a good crack at French and SEAL.  My class do confuse me sometimes though.  Why can they understand the concepts of ellision, infinitives and conjugating verbs and bandy those terms around ok and yet struggle to remember to remember animal names they've been learning for AGES in French? Oh well!

In the last of the week's skirts, I wore this old staple Primark skirt (that my head always asks if it's Monsoon each time), along with Primark black top, M&S boots, Monsoon leaf earrings and Peter Pan pearl collar necklace!
I have had a leisurely time looking at blogs and eating reblochon cheese on chilli crackers and now am off to find some proper dinner!
I've realised that I mainly wore: black, blue, florals! Oh dear, somewhat unvaried,but I like it!

I hope your bank holiday weekend is charming and fun!!

Bisou!

Rainbow Brite Part 1

If there's one thing I have always loved more than anything it's a good rainbow!!!  In any form!  Anything rainbowy and I'm there.  As a child, my mother despaired of me because my best friend in the Infants at school, Claire and I, used to spend our whole lunchtimes and breaktimes searching for shiny, rainbowy stones.  And then we would fill the pockets of our blue checked dresses and they would subsequently break washing machines!

To this day, I am mesmerised by rainbowy items (probably why I spent so long looking for 'multicoloured during the April Scavenger Hunt). I have 2 childhood memories pertaining to rainbows which I will share at some point, got to rush out 5 minutes ago, but they hinge on rainbows and I always look on them fondly.

Rainbow Brite, wasn't she great?  I loved her and I loved her outfit!  Why oh why don't they do adult-sized stripy rainbow tights in wool!  I would buy them in abundance!

Anyway, the spending ban, post Lent, is totally shot!  I just caved in on Saturday and visited the charity shops and Debenhams!!

One item I found in the PDSA shop, was this lovely vintage M&S rainbow checked dress.  It's actually a size 14, but somehow I can get away with it, especially if I wear it as a skirt like this!  It made me so happy swishing around in it in school today! (Until I caught it on the computer station and snagged it!)

I wore it with a black top also thrifted on Saturday and this lovely pink scarf I've had for ages!

Accessorised with Cath Kidston sweetie-inspired necklace, H&M beret, rainbow bracelets from Claire's and Secret Santa respectively, Red or Dead Lovebirds, Primark belt and pink parrot earrings.

Wearing rainbow made me happy all day!!! It was also cheery for fellow optimistics!

Hope you are all well!

Take care.

Linking up to Meagan's Thursdays are for thrifters

The red car and the blue car had a race

Since the shopping ban began, I've had the yellow version of this car-print skirt on my mind!  Literally, I thought, "Shopping ban" and I thought "Car-print skirt!".  I admit to growing a little more envious when I discovered Char (a fellow shopping banee) had got one via the lovely Alex!  And then my knight in shining armour, CBC,  stepped in and saw my wistful expression when I showed him the skirt (read that begrudgingly taking it as flashed it at him mournfully when he was in a fluster at the counter paying for something!  Somehow, he took it!)

It's been rather unsuitable weather for it since I bought it so it had its first outing for his birthday and then worn to school the next day with different tights top and cardie!

It takes inspiration from the Gucci catwalk (ooo-er!) and my headteacher spotted it instantly (we always spot new clothes on each other!) and said it reminded her of this Milkyway advert (except the proper 1990's version where it said, "He's looking for a lovely treat, lovely and light, because he knows it wont spoil his appetite")  Yep, there's a red and blue car there!

 Worn with unironed red and white candy-striped ruffle blouse (Warehouse via charityshop)
Primark heart cardie, Wolf and Moon bunny necklace and Aldo shoes.

 I've taught 2 maths lessons this week (if you don't count Reception taking away caterpillars from leaves) and it's been a bit surreal. One thing that kids have always struggled at when I've taught it in the past is division using written methods.  And yet Wednesday and today, somehow they got it, they got the method I taught them and just wanted to keep doing it utterly enthusiastically!  It's lessons like that that remind me why I'm a teacher!

Any old iron? (TAFT!)

What are you like about ironing?  I am terrible as my outfit to school today demonstrated!

 It's Thursday for thrifters linkie day today with Meagan and I was conscious of this as I dressed!  I was going to go for a total thriftathon but then the absence of my brown suede boots stopped that!
One thing I love about looking at other people's blogs is to learn inventive ways to wear your clothes that I wouldn't have thought of!  Lots of you have taught me about wearing a dress tucked in with a skirt to make a different top! So I tried that with a dress I'd not thought of doing that with, today!

Most of the outfit is charity-shop sourced and again, comprises of items I'd not thought to wear together.

Top (actually a grey dress), Primark via charity shop (thrifted for my American friends)
Polka dot skirt, Hobbs via charity shop
Belt and cardie, Primark
Shoes, Aldo
Kissing Earrings, vintage via St Francis hospice charity shop
Grey pearl necklace thrifted 2nd hand via village fete
Tights ?

Some people scoff at buying something Primark from a charity shop but I remember really wanting this dress but it being at a time when I was trying not to buy things unnecessarily so I didn't buy it but then when I saw it in a charity shop (was cheaper anyway), I couldn't resist!  I've bought Primark things there several times! Who cares where it came from if I like it and think it's worth the money- the charity shop can't do anything else with it!

 My camera takes getting used to and I had NO idea why it suddenly went hazy! It's like it said, "NO more photos you vain idiot!"

Excuse the goofy shot, it was to show the earrings and necklace! I still haven't worked out how to take head shots, you can see straight up my nostrils here!
4 thrifted items in an outfit- not bad!

Today was quite fun at school!  I held a little survey via the children outside in Reception and Nursery to find out what the most common colour of toilet people had (it was a spur of the moment thing prompted by one child showing me the posh loo he'd made out of lego!).  Apparently, it is white!  All were white except for one green (shudder) loo!  Why can't I have a turquoise loo!?

It was CBC's birthday on Tuesday, so I made him this card.  Another attempt at stained-glass window painting.  Rather messy but ok! SO that's another monthly make for April for Annie the Felt fairy's link-up!

Thursdays are for thrifters: Birthday gift

Hello! 

How are you?  Well I hope!  Hurrah, Meagan has returned to blogging and has a Thursday for thrifters link again.  If you've found something second-hand go and link up!

I'm am currently refraining from clothes shopping for me due to the inspiration from the 100-day shopping ban.  I decided that it would be one of things I gave up for Lent but extended and believe me, I've found it FAR harder than giving up confectionary!!!

Anyway, I did happen to find myself in a charity shop a week ago or so when I was looking for something for World Book day (a certain element for my costume so it didn't count, especially as I didn't find anything) and I found the perfect birthday present for a friend of mine in the St Francis Hospice shop.  A whole outfit for £10!!

 It seemed like these items were destined for each other.  A brand new floral and polka dot dress from Boden for £6 (labels still on) in her size, a blue Monsoon cardigan in the perfect shade for £3 and a gorgeous beaded Laura Ashley necklace for £1 which was made up of ALL the colours of the dress!  This seems like the perfect outfit for her (she's 52 going on 53 but very young at heart!). She's an amazing women, so sacrificial, she puts up with a LOT in her life and gives to so many people.  She seldom spends much money on herself so I was thrilled to find her such a lovely (and expensive dress) that she wouldn't buy for herself!  I really hope she likes it!

I'm going to try and find a slim box, like the ones you get when you buy clothes from really expensive shops (not that I've ever done that!) and cover it in beautiful paper, decorate it with decoupaged flowers and sequins and put the outfit inside in tissue paper!    I wont attempt to find her shoes as she has awkward feet but if I happen to see an inexpensive pair of sandals, I might pick them up.  What colour do you think would be the best!?

I'm really tired as I went to bed at 2.15am and got up at 6pm.  The Artsmark assessor was in today and of course, I was in a high state of nerves!! It seemed to go ok!!!!

Thursdays are for thrifters- red wine and fork! (with a dinosaur for good measure!)

Greetings one and all!  I'm going to be linking up to Meagan at Spunkychateau for Thursdays are for thrifters! Thank you for the kindness regarding "The shorts!"

I'm really excited as tomorrow with Year 2, they get to pretend to be Foley artistes- if you don't know what they are, they are the people who make the sound-effects to go with TV/film to make it sound real- e.g. when someone runs up the stairs, they dub the sound of the footsteps in sync with the movement- well they've been learning about dinosaurs this week and they're going to watch this clip of a sound-designer showing how to create sound-effects then research and do their sound-effects to the clip.  Go and have a go yourself! I love the fact I get to teach it twice!!!

This outfit features 4 thrifted items, 3 recent.  Firstly,  I bought the following items in charity-establishments 2 weeks ago- such cute kissing boy and girl earrings, a swinging heart necklace and a porcelain flower brooch (not in the outfit!)

This fork bracelet, bought at a country village summer fete last August. It was obviously someone's old bracelet and was very tarnished- a bit of elbow-grease solved that!  Yes, it really is a silver dessert fork!

A red-wine coloured cordhuroy mini-dress (threeeefted ma loves!).  Ultra comfy.

Non-thrifted parts of the outfit are my vain Irregular Choice Penelopes and navy school tights! (technically thrifted since my Mother gave them to me after not needing them!)

Here is the jewellery in action (and an attempt at hairstyle! I've been wearing this headband in my hair with my hair down for years but never tried it with my hair up.  Thanks for the inspiration Lauren!)

And voila, the whole ensemble! (Ahrgh, how did I forget the hat!!!!!!!!! It is serendipitously the same colour as the dress- Tescos, the night before buying the dress!!!)

How has your day been?  Wonderous I hope! Mine has been pretty cool- this afternoon I taught my Year 5 groups for the first time- I'm giving time to some pupils who are sort of middle-ability but are kind of 'stuck' at a level in their writing, giving them intensive sessions to work on their targets.  It was great- they were sooooo enthusiastic and really seemed to enjoy the activities- today was creating complex sentences by adding chunks of information (subordinate clauses)  to add more description to characters and working on characteristics of people- using extended vocabulary!  I love teaching writing- how I have missed it!

What have you enjoyed?