Looking forward

Greetings from my new garden! It's my first post in my new house (as the last ones were written in Northumberland).

 It's so pretty out here and you can see the crocuses are coming up that I told of before.

Lent is a time of looking forward.  Lenten actually comes from the word "lengthening" as the days are getting longer and I like that lent comes as the word for us here in the northern hemisphere is coming better in that sense, in terms of the days getting longer, bringing hope, more time, more possibilities.

Something that the vicar said today.  "Look forward from today, don't look back."  It's  easy to look back on the past and hold grudges and resentments and build these up. Oh so easy.  But one thing I'd like to do this lent is to look forward and move on from here and as the reading we read today said, be gathered up like chicks under their mother's wing and know, even when things are hard that I have Jesus' protection.  That is, for me, comforting.

 I thought I'd share the beautiful crocuses with you looking forward to the coming of Spring.

and the first daffodil!

Sending you many best wishes and thanks for your continued support and friendship- you lot are great!

xxx

Linking up to Visible Monday with Patti and all her lovely readers!

Blanket cover

 It's been a long time since I wore TARDIS blue overtly.Voila, TARDIS blue in profusion!  I wasn't going to make the mistake I made last Sunday with church being freezing so I pulled out the big guns with this vintage blanket skirt. I wasn't cold. Result.

 And I find it hard to find things to wear these Irregular Choice, Poetic Licence shoes with so a minute bit of yellow was my cue!

 I really enjoyed church this morning.  We had a visitor from the cathedral who talked on going from being a disciple to an apostle.   I think one of my favourite books of the Bible is 2 Timothy which he read from.  It was the source of the first Christian song I wrote and even now, I read it and think of how encouraging its message it is.  Paul was encouraging a young Timothy in his walk with faith in Christ.  Encouragement is something really important to give each other.
Being an apostle is taking that step from following to sharing your message of faith.

It's so easy not to take the time to encourage, whether as a Christian or not.  You doubt your own self and abilities and it can be easy to forget to encourage other people in whatever.  Telling someone they are doing something well, that they can do it, telling them of the good things that have happened to you, and encouraging them in new paths. Telling someone you are praying for them, offering help and time.  A church friend has been a great source of encouragement for me this month in his family's selflessness in offering CBC and I a place to rent.

You here encourage me.  I think the encouragement that we as bloggers can give each other is very important.  Shamu, a regular commenter on this blog, has show through his poetry on his blog, that he has a constant struggle with acceptance and friendship in life (I hope you don't mind me saying that) and frequently shows gratitude for the encouragement he receives. Reciprocally, he is very, very good at encouraging people through comments, kindness and appreciation, even if his tights excitement is a little bit on the edge! :)  Lovely Laura, at Daisychain dream has struggled with eating disorders over the years, and I know as blog friends, the fact she trusts us to tell us of the struggles is an encouragement to us and we should encourage her in her journey.  Ally is finding her path presenting as a female and our encouragement of her in this is so important to building confidence. I've mentioned before, that Ally is a hugely important force of encouragement and good in the blogging world.  I could go on, but I suspect I will lose you. Every one I have come across in blogging needs encouragement. Encouragement to continue, encouragement for energy, for time and for struggles they have encountered. It is a privilege to be able to make a little contribution towards those struggles with a word here or there.

I've met a lovely new blogger this week, Ellie at This Country Girl's journal (I was her first commenter!) please go and say hi and comment on her blog to encourage her in her first month of blogging!

I hope all is well with you. Is there anything you need encouragement for? Or is there anything I can pray for? Just let me know!

xxx

Off to link up with lovely Patti who is the original encourager of beautiful bloggers everywhere with her link Visible Monday. I'm also glad it is Hat Attack with beautiful Judith because I am wearing my favourite Cloche that CBC gave me for Christmas 2 years ago!

Advent day 13- a day late! Party outfit

 I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday- I'm actually a day behind and I need to do my Pause for Advent post  but it's something I wanted to think a bit more about and I haven't got time today so something easy to post today.

Today's Advent photo is a bit of a cop-out in terms of an interesting photo. It is my Christmas party outfit. We went to a friend's in West London and I wasn't too sure of what the dress-code would be. Thus, I wore this Jaeger Boutique dress which I picked up in the charity shop a few months ago.

I chose it because I wanted to wear my outfit for Style imitating art this week.

Stressed out by Layla Holzer

The piece is this one above and I saw the black top with red spots on and thought of this dress (actually, they are ladybirds).

My only nod to the pretty white skirt was my white dalmation-print shoes!

And just a bit of silly whimsy with my Tatty Devine lolly necklace!
The unheard of lippy- courtesy of Clinque free with a magazine!!!!


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Sorry, I haven't got too much too say today as I have to go and practice for tomorrow. It is my FIRST 'Come and sing' at school- I sent out a general letter to parents inviting them to come and sing holiday songs  not really knowing what sort of reaction I'd get. I've wanted to do something involving kids and parents again after I did the music session with the parents and Reception pupils last year.

It was a bit of a shock to get back about 55 forms which with kids and parents means I will have about 120 there tomorrow ranging from Nursery (eek!) to year 6 with their parents!!!!  I'm a little bit terrified about playing the piano badly in front of that many people whilst singing and leading them on my own but it is a bit of an experiment so let's hope it goes well!!!

Off to try and crack that awful piano part for 'Let it snow!' Drat!


Take care.

xxx

Linking with lovely Patti in her amazing Kinky Melon maxi over at Visible Monday and Style Imitating Art with Salazar

Fezzes are cool

Newsflash in my life is my sister-in-law got married!

Ok, so let's launch into TARDIS Tuesday first.  

Simply, my itemage for this week is the humble FEZ hat. As sported by Matt Smith in Series 5 of Doctor Who for about 10 seconds before it was blasted into oblivion by River Song.  Whatevers.  I'm Kezzie. I wear a Fez now. Fezzes are cool.

It was my sister-in-law's wedding on Saturday and a great day was had by all.  The fez was one of the props in the Photobooth.  I immediately pounced on it like my life depended on it. 

The whole day was wonderful.  My sister-in-law and her husband (woop, woop!!!!) put in SUCH a great deal of thought to it and despite the fact I had a whopping-great headache for much of the day, I had a great time.

I haven't really got permission to post photos of the wedding party but here's a lovely shot of the beautiful bride without showing her face. She looked beautiful and considering she does not like having her photo taken, she did SO well and was radiant and cool! Her outfit was beautiful- SO simple and elegant. Under that funky leather jacket, she had on a lovely lacy shrug over the top of her Grecian-looking dress.

The venue was the Amadeus Centre in West London, Warwick Avenue, Little Venice area.  It is an old church (not used for worship now- is used for wedding receptions though not licensed to do weddings- they did that bit the day before!) and it was a lovely blank canvas with beautiful features such as the organ, gallery and pillars.  It is a neo-classical building.

The ceiling was strung with tiny fairy lights in canopies and foliage and flowers ran all round the woodwork.

The couple, esp my sister-in-law didn't want all the attention of walking down the aisle so they sneaked up the aisle whilst everyone was still not seated. I myself was hovering behind them in a panicky way with a glass of water for her best friend who was doing a reading, thinking I was quite possibly ruining the ceremony. Luckily not!

The ceremony was very simple but moving.  I felt a little tear fall out of my eye as her best friend sat sniffing beside me!

After the ceremony, we went downstairs for drinks. You can see the bottom left picture shows that room which had more fairy lights all down the walls and some funky vintage touches such as two battered leather armchairs and a fireplace facade. 

Apparently the groom came home to find the bride drilling into a cardboard box with an electric drill (he described it as "I love coming home to find you doing something weird!". I thinks he was making the card box!  As you walked down the stairs, a gallery of mock-framed decal stickers revealed themselves to be childhood photos of both of them.  Such a clever idea.  Easily stuck, easily removable.

When it was time to eat, we went back upstairs to the main 'church' part which was now decked out with 3 long tables.

Every place had a wedding scratchcard and a Kinder egg! What a fun idea! Bottom right- some clever person on another table discovered you can join up Kinder egg plastic boxes in a ring and made a large necklace! You can guess therefore, that I went around collecting the rest to do the same! I came home with about 50 of them- I intend to make eggs shakers with kids at school!

You can see another photobooth moment top left.

My lovely Father-in-law gave an incredibly touching and downright hilarious speech! Well done WOMOTM, you succeded in making us laugh and cry simultaneously!  The groom AND bestman also did a really good job! It's unfortunate the bride's new name has lots of puns attached to it which he exploited in his speech!  

The food was incredible! For starters, we had these HUGE platters of mezze food- mozarella, proscuitto, salami, asparagus, butternut squash, olives, parmesan, rocket, (f)artichokes, fennel and huge trays of breads. There was enough to feed an army. Sorry,no photos as I had gone off to try and have some air for my headache when it was served. I was sitting next to CBC's aunt who advised me to take double headache pill types (she's qualified!) and I felt much improved from that point onwards.

The next course was chicken in parma ham with 3 types of veg and roasted potatoes.

Finally, the best of all was dessert.

They appeared with martini glasses and bowls full of mini-smarties, chocolate buttons (proper ones), popping candy, roasted nuts, sprinkles 100s and 1000s, flakes, strawberries, jelly tots, banana slices and jugs of hot chocolate sauce. 

We all salivated in glee and then they brought round bowls of Vanilla ice-cream.  Sufficed to say, er, we indulged! Yes, those are both mine.  Lastly, Kinder dog trapped behind glass looked eerily big!

After that, we adjourned downstairs for tea and coffee whilst the caterers cleared out the tables and reset the hall for dancing.   I snaffled all the Kinder egg containers (and a few toys) I could since I knew they'd just end up in the bin (cue mortified rolling of eyes and embarrassment from CBC who HATES it when I go all Eco about stuff going in the bin.

This amazing male singer sang hits for hours from that point onwards, as we had tea and all for dancing.  

We had fun in the photobooth, dancing, chatting (I totally LOVE the bride's best friend. She's also a Primary music teacher and is SO nice. We said we'd stay in touch to share ideas!). There was more food in the evening- mini pies, cheese, crackers and bread and er, I ate my bodyweight in shrimp sweets. 

Eventually, we had to get home, after escorting certain relatives (who shall remain nameless!) back to their hotel!  Even then, beautiful bride was cool, collected and the most charming host.

I wish I could share photos of my lovely family (inlaws) but I haven't asked permission, so I'd better not. It was SO nice to spend time with them and I just wish I saw them more!

So, what did I wear?

I wore the 1970's fluttersleeve (30's inspired according to lovely Curtise-thanks for that!) dress I bought recently.  It has a double layer with a scalloped hem and sleeves.

Here's WOMOTM's picture.CBC wore his wedding suit with a different cravat.  It is very fitted around the waist but I love having such loose sleeves. It felt simple and elegant.

I did contemplate a Stephen Jones lilac Cloche hat to go with it, but instead decided to wear my Jenny Packham 30's inspired beaded feather headdress (this was what I wore for my wedding) since I knew we were in one venue inside largely. I chose it originally so it could be worn as a sort of 'fascinator' for other weddings.

You can see it here

Added an arm party of bracelets that were all presents at some point

A lilac cropped cardie and finally my Irregular Choice Bed of Roses Ponelope (sic) shoes

It was an incredible day, one I was so glad to be part of and I was very happy for me lovely sister-in-law and new husband.

xxx

Linking to Visible Mondays with the lovely Patti.

TARDIS Tuesdays with the fabulous Maricel

Creative Mondays with the gorgeous Claire Justine.

And of course BEDM with Rosalilium (Elizabeth) 

#BEDM 3: Self Care Sunday

I've had a really pronounced headache for two days now- it started on Saturday morning minimally and I thought, "AAAAAH!" as I was getting on the trains for a shopping expedition with two blogging friends. By the time we were 3/4 of the way we were through, I was really starting to feel it and was thankful for the long train journey to shut my eyes and try to get rid of it. To no avail. Napping all evening and trying to sleep, it was not shifting. When it came to Sunday morning, Self Care Sunday felt like it should be "Stay in bed, try to shift headache," and block the world out. However, CBC knows best. He said to me, "Kezzie, you need to go to church," (who'd have thought he'd say that!) to which I groaned and replied, "But I still haven't done the editing of the sermons." Yes, I am admitting it here. I somehow, in a bid to try and help someone at church, somehow agreed to help edit the audio of sermons to remove all clicks, lip-smacks and other issues and then convert to a movie in Movie-Maker and then upload to Youtube. I'm not very technical, I haven't had the software in the right places (I haven't got WMM yet) , keep forgetting to do it and it's become this horrid guilty weight on my shoulders that meant I didn't go to church for 2 weeks. As I told my friends yesterday, I've got about 10 of the wretched sermons to edit. CBC said I should just go which I knew was right, despite the fact my head was pounding still behind my left eye and ear (always there- why?) and be honest. Of course, he's right. I went and despite the headache, I was glad I did. The sermon was spoken by a nice guest vicar on 1 John on Love. God is love. We can show our love for him by showing it to others. And I was needing to hear that. If I am to take care of myself, first I need to love God, show my love for him by showing it for others. The burden on me was that editing: to remove it was to do it, I originally wanted to help someone else with their burden, that's why elected to do it by offering to help originally- to show love for someone else and finally do what I said I would and then this anxiety which has kept me from going will be removed. Of course, the person I had offered to help didn't come up to me and demand where the edited sermons were- I didn't even get to speak to him. Why do I assume that someone is going to be unloving to me like that? It seems I have thought the worst of him AND Him.

Onwards, I came home. CBC decided we should go out to Tiptree to visit the Tea-rooms of the Famous Jam Makers and then go onto Mersea Island. I could have stayed home and lain down to rid myself of the headache, especially as the Ibruprofen were doing zilch but we went. Actually the car journey with the air blowing on my head was helpful, the food in the tearooms restorative and the best of all was walking along the beach at Mersea island (blog post to follow at some point soon with more of Mersea Island).


Oh how could I forget how restorative that sea-air is. As I was blown and blustered around, the sense of throbbing was somehow reduced and I was not aware of it as the painful spots buffeted by the strong wind.  By the time we drove home, it wasn't bothering me anymore.



 You're wondering about the photos? Don't bear any relation to the story except that that's what I wore today.  Well, I ended up wearing this outfit this morning, planned for TARDIS Tuesday and to coincide with Visible Monday, as tomorrow's brief is something more specific for Blog every day in May.  Despite the headache, you can kid yourself that you don't feel quite so bad if you try to dress normal.  Wearing a jumper and trousers might have been better but I didn't.    And I've have missed an opportunity to pose in one of these fields which was on my 'pretty summer blog locations I'd quite like to have a go at' as we passed quite a few in Mersea Island.

What's the inspiration for Doctor Who today?

Well, it's a Clara Oswald inspiration again.  One of her outfits from The Caretaker.  I've actually done this one as inspiration before here, before the advent of TARDIS Tuesday but in entirely different garments from today.

Image borrowed from Doctor Who tumblr

Image borrowed from Worn on tv

I started the day before windy-restorative-hairstyling, with fairly neat hair but as you can see in the photos, it didn't stay like that.

I am wearing the same shirt as Clara- Topshop diamond print shirt (ahem, saddo that I am) and teamed it with Forever 21 mini-skirt and Clarks oxblood shoes and my acorn-anniversary necklace from CBC .

And as CBC and I lay on the sofa drinking tea and reading, I suddenly noticed his socks matched my shirt. Funny coincidence.

Sometimes, Selfcare isn't what you think.

Linking to the lovely Patti with Visible Monday and to Claire Justine with Creative Mondays and finally Maricel at TARDIS Tuesday.  Of course, this is my daily post for BEDM too!

xx

A proclamation on the future of bright blue

You do realise now, that any time there is any slight appearance,I will be attributing all mention of blue to the TARDIS! Such is my life now I have committed to weekly Doctor Who-inspired outfits! Mwa ha- Mad cat lady no, Mad Who lady- yes!xx
Yes, this is what being friends with Maricel does to you. Embrace it ladies (and gents- not forgetting Shamu, Gary and WOMOTM and any other male readers/friends/family I have neglected to mention).

So a proclamation:

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, who so ever heareth this, that all shades of bright blue shall hereafter be known as TARDIS Blue and should the shades of cobalt, electric blue, royal blue, school blue, cerulean blue and so forth be worn, that they shall hereafter be collectively referred to as such. 

And so on.  So why the mention? Well, I have been feeling Two Birds Inspiration Monday guilt, not been joining in with Inspiration Monday so I when I saw that the inspiration was something I could readily see and think of, I immediately clocked the appearance of TARDIS Blue in Cindy Crawlford's outfit.



Which I decided to reverse, since I have a similar shaped and material thrifted jacket and a suitable-TARDIS-coloured top.
Wore simple denim coloured trousers (which look as wrinkled as a prune- NOT a flattering look), similar boots and voila.

Yet, tis all about the extra secret details to make it my own...


TARDIS sign necklace and Crown and Glory TARDIS blue jewelled headband- secret extra allusions!

I should add that this necklace is NOT good to swing-dance in- either you garotte yourself or a partner or smack yourself in the face. CBC and I decided to beat the Sunday night blues (otherwise known as 'Going back to school misery')  and head down to Southend for Retro Sundays swing dance night. It was in a new venue, an O'Neills and it was a great venue. Lots of old acquaintances from the dance class we attended in Southend were there so it was very jolly and definitely boosted morale dancing.  I felt decidedly underdressed, everyone was in dresses and makeup (girls) but who cares, the point was to dance!

I have really enjoyed my half term, we've done lots- swing dancing, pancake parties, walks in Suffolk, dinner with friends, charity-shopped, sorted out electricity bills, wedding album, tidied, hoovered, cleaned, made bread, got up hideously late, had some downtime,reading, eating, relaxing and now it is back to the grind.  I just have to think of Ecclesiastes when he says, there is a time for everything in heaven and on earth- a time to work a time to relax (paraphrased) - the nicer part is more appreciated because of the not so nice part.  Plus, it is my birthday in a week so I do have something to look forward to.  I'm thinking Kiddie-style swimming outing to a place with flumes and waves in Colchester? Good idea???? xx


Now over to the linkin' lovelies:

Perfect Patti for Visible Monday

Terrific Two Birds for Inspiration Monday

Marvellous Maricel for TARDIS Tuesday



Sorry, I have been doing work, the above and stuff today so will try to reply to comments asap.xx

A flatline on a slant

"That is the cutest thing I've seen!"

Posting a day or two early for TARDIS Tuesday, but it's Patti's cool Visible Monday party and I am doing my visible thing here as well as Claire Justine's Fab Creative Mondays.  

This is a similar outfit to one  I posted back in October but I decided to wear my lovely cheerful bright plaid Clara Flatline shirt from my Clara cosplay back then but in a different way.  Decided to up the TARDIS blue stakes and add the TARDIS blue cardie, different accessories. Oh and an even smaller TARDIS!

I think Flatline was possibly my most favourite episode of the last season. I just thought it was so cleverly conceived- the villains of the piece being 2D creatures.  The way they evolved was brilliant and the moment where the graffiti turned round and came out of the walls was VERY SCARY!!! I should add, that though I love Doctor Who, I am also a numero uno wuss and get scared easily.

There's a girl who comes to church who also loves Doctor Who and I let her into the secret that I secret cosplay Doctor Who on some days and only Doctor Who fans would realise it. She thought it was hilarious!

Had a very thought-provoking church service today, in fact I went to the evening informal Come together service which I thoroughly enjoyed and 2 gripping sermons that spoke to me. I definitely want to write about them and what I will try to do as a result but need a bit more thought. Also agree to help edit and upload sermons to the church Youtube channel which should be interesting. I'm glad to help in a different way too. I went to church dressed as Amy Pond, but that's also for another day.

Eeeek, take a look at the dust on that TARDIS roof!!!!

I have certainly got much wear out of my Flapper Doodle collarclips since I bought them in October. Since Clara has collarclips, this is a nod to her Caretaker outfit too.

I felt really good in this outfit on Tuesday. Had to head up to London for orchestra (hurrah, back to playing!) -comfortable but smart. And I don't like wearing dull colours, so a winner in that respect!




It's cool having short hair. I really do like it!!! So much easier to cope with though lacking long hair for Clara cosplays- disaster!!!







Linking lovelies...