Thursday 8 November 2012

I do love to be beside the seaside.

This weekend I visited the wonderful Brighton. Its a place that my boyfriend and I had always wanted to visit so we decided instead of Christmas presents to each other this year we would go on a trip instead. Its such an amazing place and I instantly fell in love with the whole relaxed vibe of the place.

There is such a wide range of shops, from high street to vintage, coffee shops, bars and pubs and some amazing places to eat.

















We stayed in a really lovely B&B called Snooze. I fell in love and wanted to move in instantly. Each room has a different theme. We stayed in room 6, with deep red colours, vintage fittings and the most comfy bed I've ever slept in.
The owners were really relaxed and just let you get along with enjoying your stay and you were able to come and go as you pleased. Its really reasonably priced as well. Very much recommended
http://www.snoozebrighton.com/


Here's a few other places I recommend:


http://www.jumpthegun.co.uk/
Perfect for the mod man, knits, Polo's, Harrington's, tonic suits you name it they have it.

http://www.beyondretro.com/en/
A massive vintage shop, if you don't find something in here I'll eat my lovely vintage hat!

http://www.northlaine.co.uk/snoopers-paradise/
A mixture or vintage clothing a housewares, massive and full of lovely trinkets and bargains.

http://www.tobewornagain.com/
Lovely vintage shop on the north laines, they have a whole floor of shoes upstairs!

www.bills-website.co.uk
Lovely deli/bistro. Perfect for lunch or just a cup of tea and some cake.

http://www.thedorset.co.uk/Dorset/Home.html
Really cool bustling bar, I didn't eat here but the Sunday roasts looked amazing

http://www.farmsussex.com/Welcome.html
I had possible the biggest and best slice of carrot cake here. Enough said!




Wednesday 7 November 2012

Woman of the week: Tennesee Thomas






This weeks woman of the week is the lovely drummer and actress Tennessee Thomas. I love the way she mixes 60's vintage finds with designer items and mixed them in her own quirky way.


How to get the look:

Dress: Peakaboo Vintage 

 Dress: Cow Vintage

 Shoes: Cow Vintage

Tights: ASOS

Tuesday 6 November 2012

My Body

Like many women in this world I don’t think I have ever been 100% happy with my body. There is always something to change, to tone up or to loose a couple of pounds before that holiday, big night out or first date.


Recently as I’ve got older and had a child my body shape has changed and this has been a massive struggle for me to come to terms with. Over the past year or so I’ve been incredibly hard on myself and I know there are a lot of women out there in exactly the same position as myself.

I recently went on a lovely girls holiday with a group of friends and rather then looking forward to lazy days on the beach I worked myself up so much about my waistline and what I looked like, sometimes to the point of tears, that I dreaded going on the holiday and couldn’t relax the whole time I was there. This beating myself up about my body completely ruined the whole holiday for me.

Why has it become the way that only being a size 8 is acceptable or attractive?

Who is it we are trying to please and get ourselves so worked up about these sometimes unachievable weight goals? I work in an office with quote a few women and I can guarantee that nearly all of us are on some kind or calorie counting, weight watchers diet.

Years ago we celebrated women with curves, like Marylyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Diana Dors.

I love watching Mad Men, a show set in 1060’s New York, where again women with curves were seen as real women, not called fat and not plastered all over the newspapers or gossip sites because the had gained an extra couple of pounds.

Now a day we are faced with our “celebrities” in magazines like Heat, Closer, Daily Mail etc. with big massive red circles around photos of them on the beach with a tiny bit of cellulite, or quotes such as “she has a rounded tummy, she must be pregnant”

I for one stopped buying these magazines a while ago and it makes you wonder who writes these items? If its women writing about women then this is a great shame. How would these women feel if we went to their place of work or followed them on holiday and placed big massive red circles around their thighs, stomachs or bottoms?

I like my food, I enjoy cooking and I eat healthy balanced meals, I do a lot of walking and whenever I can I go on the odd bike ride around the park with my son. I don’t eat loads of junk food or excessive takeaways’ but my body shape has just changed and that is something I have had to come to terms with. I this is something I need to stop beating myself up about.

Its taken me a heck of a long time, its taken me walking out of shops with the hump because only that size 12 pencil skirt would now fit, its taken me buying a size 10 trouser to get them home and realise this size just doesn’t really fit round the waist anymore.

So I’ve had a massive clear out, the size 8 dresses and trousers have gone off to better homes via eBay, and have been replaced by clothes that suit my new shape in sizes that actually do up and I can breathe in! And I am slowly, starting to feel ok about this.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not turning into some size fanatic and I still have some serious down days about that little extra bit of tummy that turns up when I sit down or when I see photos of some amazing Victoria Secrets model with legs up to the sky and a washboard stomach. But then I realise that will never be me, unless I want to spend every waking hour in the gym and eat tiny stupid meals and then beat myself up because I had 1 Malteaser!

I’ve short little legs, and round hips and a post child tummy and Im going to learn to love these. Its hard but I just really hope we can start to work and stop this obsessing over size 0 and the need to be thin to look good and teach our children, boys and girls, that yes it is good to be healthy but healthy doesn’t necessarily equal stick think, and being stick thin wont bring you all the happiness in the world.

Thursday 1 November 2012

Ebay Haul

Over the past couple of months I have become extremely addicted to the treasure trove that is ebay. I honestly dont think I have bought anything from a "proper" shop in a long while!

So here are some of my lovely bargains I have picked up recently:





There are quite a few more where these beauties came from, I went a bit made at one point!

You can pick up some real bargains on Ebay and there are some really good little independant vintage sellers about. I'll share some of my favorites with you soon.

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Bean and Chorizo Stew with Cod






This is a really easy and tasty stew perfect for making after work and warming on these dark winter nights.

You will need:
200g chorizo, sliced
1 onion chopped
3 cloves of garlic
Olive oil
1tsp smoked paprika
1 tin tomatoes
1 tin butter beans

In a medium saucepan over a medium heat, cook the chorizo, onion and garlic in a little olive oil for 5 minutes. Add in the paprika, tomatoes and beans, then reduce the heat, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Remove the lid in the last few minutes to thicken stew, if desired.


You can either serve this on its own with some bread but I added some cod with this. This was really easy to do too.
Place the cod on some foil with a tiny bit of butter, salt and pepper. Wrap into loose parcels and cook in the oven at around 180c for about 20 minutes.




Tuesday 30 October 2012

Juno Says Hello

If your on the lookout for something for a special occasion and want to make sure you never face the horror of turning up in the same dress as someone else head over to the amazing Juno Says Hello.

Their amazing website is full of some of the most people vintage finds. You may need to say some pennies but these are serious one off, keep forever dresses.

If it is way out of your league price wise then they do offer a hire service which starts at around £50 depending on the dress.





Take a look at their website, they have a pretty cool blog to read too.

Monday 29 October 2012

Hello!





Hello!

Sorry Ive been gone a while, I took a little break from the old blog but have missed it terribly so Im back. Now just to work out how to use this thing again!

Thought Id start with a picture post. Ive developed my style slightly over the past couple of month and find that the 60's style suits my changed body shape so much more. Que much trawling over ebay and finding some lovely bargains which I shall update you all with over time.

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Wednesday Wants- Sister Jane

Studded Leather Collar Tweed Dress £75.00

Leather Collar and Cuffs Lace Dress £49.00

High Waist Dungarees £33.00
Love this lace dress with the leather collar and cuffs and I really like the idea of these trousers but I'm not sure they would suit my short little legs! There would definitely be some taking up and sewing being done.

On sale at ASOS, Topshop and they also have a fab website at Sister Jane

Orla Kiely Pre Spring/Summer





Im loving all the Pre Spring/Summer collections being shown at the moment (if only we had some decent weather to be able to wear lovley summer clothes) the Orla Kiely collection has really caught my eye. I love the laidback feel of it, its so simple but really stunning. I honestly love every single piece.

Better get saving those pennies!

Photos Vogue.co.uk