21 days to go: In A Spin

I finally took delivery of my new Hula Hoop.
I had read about using Hula Hoop's to have fun and get fit when journalist Rosie Millard, tried it out in The Times recently.
My daughter was once voted the Hula Queen at a local summer play scheme when she managed to keep going longer than anyone else. She was five at the time.
So, if you can't beat'em, join 'em.
I had great fun following the DVD routine with instructor Betty Hoops (I kid you not!).
I managed to keep up with most of the moves although I certainly need more practice in others.
For my retro routine I chose a retro influenced outfit of stripes and spots.
Forgive me if I have not commented on many blogs this week but I am having a screen break.
To recharge my batteries I have taken the week off work and have limited my use of the computer to 20 minutes a day to deal with urgent enmail (and this blog).
I spent most of the day getting back to nature by gardening and planting some new herbs in my herb garden.
I wore..
Shoes - River Island
Dress - Matalan
Necklace - Top Shoop
Hula Hoop - Gaiam

22 days to go: Mercury Rising

It's very hot here today.
The mercury tipped 33C in the car.
Most of the day was spent running errands.
I appear to have lost my youngest two children who have disappeared down the road to play with a family who have a swimming pool in their garden.
I can't say I blame them - I would love to dive in right now!

I wore....
Sandals - Clarks
Dress - Per Una

24 and 23 days to go: Playing Shop

It has been another busy weekend.
Saturday was spent running around the kids and meeting up with our friends.
The idea was we'd have an early drink in the local village, back to our house for something to eat before an early end to the evening.
It didn't work out like that.
At 6pm we met up for the drink. Which turned into three.
We ate around 9pm and then watched the Bruce Springsteen At Glastonbury concert on the television.
The evening finally ended at 1am.
Not that I am complaining - a night out with good friends is better than any medicine.
But it was an early start on Sunday as my youngest was playing in a football tournament.
They won one, drew one and lost three games.
As we came home the eldest son appeared as he was refereeing for the afternoon.
On Sunday evening my parents came round and we managed a barbecue in the garden before the heavens opened and the roads were flooded with a torrential downpour.

I spent a little time over the weekend preparing for a grand charity sale.
I have decided to give up on ebay when my last lot is sold and do it myself.
I have around 100 items of clothing and accessories that I think are too good for the charity shop.
I am slowly filing them on a new blog which will be launched at the end of my year.
I will be asking for a donation plus postage and all proceeds will go to a charity that provides medical aid to prevent mothers dying during childbirth in the third world.

On Saturday I wore..
Shoes - River Island
Skirt - Tesco
Top - H & M

On Sunday I wore..
Shorts - Tesco
Vest - Gap
Kaftan - Gold hawk
Shoes - Clarks

25 days to go: A Simple Life

When I was a young (ish) mother of four very young children I wrote to the author of one of my favourite books.
"Dear Mr Crofts,
You have inspired me to take a leap into the unknown and abandon my staff job to become a freelance writer."
I also added a bit about noticing that he had four children too.
I got an almost immediate reply.
"Dear Jane,
I am so glad you enjoyed the book and that you found it most useful. However, writing is the easy bit. Parenting four children, now that's a different story."
Or something to that effect.
I thought it was an odd reply and duly took the step into the unknown.
I left my job as a features writer at The Liverpool Echo on October 31st 2003.
At the time my children were 2, 5, 7 and 11.
Yes, they argued and of course it was tiring but I felt I had it all.
I managed to find enough work to equal my staff job pay and I could do it around the children.
I didn't have to ask anyone's permission to go to Sport's Day or to care for my children when they were sick.
And I could still pay the bills.
Happy Days.
And then life become a little more complicated.
My children changed as they grew older; as children do.
But more worryingly, the World changed too.
The very hi-tech equipment that had enabled me to work from home was now becoming the instrument of my misery.
Instead of being a friend, the internet and mobile phones that allowed me to accomplish my daily work were now being used by the enemy to bombard and influence my children from all quarters as they bounded into teenagers and High School and all the challenges that these years bring.
Over the past year the balls that I have been juggling for so long have tumbled down.
I can no longer keep my eye on the ball because invidious forces have blindfolded me and tied my hands behind my back.
I wish I could tell you what is going on in my life.
But I can't.
Not yet.
Suffice it to say the more complicated my life gets the more I exert what little control I have through clothes by aspiring to the life I want - a simple uncomplicated one.
The Simple Life that Nanci Griffith sings about.
So today, for my complicated life I have chosen a very simple outfit.
Soft colours, simple lines and everything tucked in and tidy.
And as a new day dawns I am ready to take on the world.
Again!
Have a wonderful weekend.

Shoes - Clarks
Skirt - Marks and Spencer
Blouse - Gap
Belt and Sunglasses - Tesco

26 days to go: Me and the Red Dress Are Friends Again

Do you remember when you were 11 0r 12 and you fell out with your best friend?
The following day you take up where you left off before the fight and when anyone asks why you fell out; you can't, for the life of you remember why.
That's how I feel about this dress.
I loved it.
I fell out with it and now I'm in love with it all over again.
How could I have been so cruel?
The colour brightens my day, however dull it is outside.
The dress ignores my imperfections and loves me for who I am.
One day, when all my troubles are over, we will laugh about the day I thought of banishing it from my life all together.


I am also sporting my new Clarks sandals for the first time.
They are soooo comfortable.

27 days to go: A Fashion Crime?

I committed the fatal fashion faux pas when crime writer Martin Edwards visited the jail today.
What was my hideous crime?
I wore exactly the same skirt I had on last time I met Martin here.
By the time I realised this it was too late.
Seriously it was a great day.
I used to work for Martin's firm as a PR consultant and through a shared passion for reading and writing we have stayed in contact.
By day Martin is Head of Employment Law at Mace and Jones Law Firm in Liverpool.
But by night he is a prolific crime novelist and short story writer.
The guys had lots of questions to ask and were more than eager to hear about his approach to the art of crime fiction.

But back to sartorial matters. I have noticed I wear my denim jacket a lot during the summer months and as it happens one of my favourite fashion writers wrote about this recently.
So maybe my crimes against fashion can be forgiven, after all!












Today I wore....
Shoes - Clarks
Skirt - Gap
Vest - Zara
Necklace - Top Shop
Scarf (Sarong) - Tesco
Denim Jacket - Tesco

28 days to go: To eBay or not to eBay?

I am being ruthless with my wardrobe edit.
I am thinking of ebaying this dress.
I know I have posted about how much I love it.
But - I am not sure if it fits into my new rules.

1. Does it suit my shape?
Not so sure now!
2. Is it age appropriate?
Again, not so sure.
3. Does it go with anything else in my wardrobe?
Not really.

I am thinking with my sentimental hat on now.
I love the colour and the print of the dress - it cheers me up when I'm down.
It has travelled to Rome, the South of France, Barcelona and Anglesey with me.
And I may get Scraggy Sarah Syndrome.
What's that?
Well back when I was about six years old my mum had asked me to clear out my dolls for a Toy Sale at church.
There was this doll I never played with.
She was filthy. She had no clothes to fit her.
I had hacked at her hair and one of her eyes was wonky.
She was the first to go.
But the following night I couldn't get to sleep.
I thought of some other little girl being given Scraggy Sarah.
And then I started to cry a little; then a lot.
By 11pm on this Sunday night I was inconsolable.
My poor mum rang everyone she knew who was collecting the toys.
At 11pm - that is how desperate she was.
Finally she managed to find out Sarah's location and the teenage son of the woman whose job it was to clean up the dirty dolls arrived just before midnight with the special delivery.
I was so happy.
I cuddled Sarah all night.
And ..........never played with her again!
Anyway here's the dress, please help me decide.












Today it is hot and sunny and I am cleaning the house.
I wore....
Shorts, Vest and Scarf - Tesco
Shoes - Birkenstocks