Big City, Little Town

So, following my frankly appalling day on Friday where I missed curry night (and no, I'm not over that yet), I did wonder whether I was even going to be fit for all we had planned for the weekend. I woke up bright and early on Saturday morning, and whilst I most certainly didn't feel back to normal, I felt well enough to make the journey with hubby over to Cardiff to visit step-daughter.

It's the second time we've made the journey in as many months, and I'm growing quite fond of our routine which involves stopping off at a great little greasy spoon off one of the A roads for a fry up. Alas, I wasn't up to a full fry up (complete with door stops of fried bread) for a change, so settled for a delicious bacon and tomato butty, which set me up for the rest of the day, even if it did make me look like a right lightweight amongst all of the Welsh trucker patrons.

Once in Cardiff, we picked step-daughter up and ventured out into the cold greyness as step-daughter informed us that it was the first break in the rain since... well forever really. I quite like Cardiff, we set straight off to the vintage shop we'd visited the last time, and although I tried on a lovely faux fur coat, it just didn't seem to suit me. I have very broad shoulders and I have to be so careful with bulky coats, particularly ones with expansive shawl collars. Hubby found a suit though, and then I dragged them both around every department store and underwear shop in the city in search of some shapewear for wearing under my recently acquired wiggle dresses. I'm going to have a rant about shapewear, can someone tell me why shapewear manufacturers assume that you're happy to put the most beautiful Joan Holloway style dress on over something that looks like the saggy skin of saveloy? Yes Spanx, I'm talking about you and all of the ilk you have spawned... they could get it right in the 50s but apparently attractive shapewear in the .... whatever decade this is, cannot possibly look nice too. (rant over... for now). Anyway, after scouring many shops I did finally find something, it wasn't the corselette I was hoping to come away with, but nonetheless it's an impressive bit of engineering and seems to do the job. Good work Maidenform.

After perusing a few more shops, and buying an impromptu pair of shoes we settled down for some dinner at one of the city's Weatherspoons. Following a hearty meal (perhaps a little too hearty considering my stomach still wasn't 100%) we wandered back through the dark, coloufully lit wet streets of Cardiff and back to the car to drop step-daughter home, before heading home ourselves.

Sunday morning I had a delightful lie in, watching Gok Wan repeats from under the warmth of my duvet with hubby. Around midday I set off to pick Mum up for a bit of a girly shopping trip to nearby Leamington Spa. Leamington was packed, the Sunday Christmas markets are out in force and so are the shoppers and when I got there I didn't feel too well. We had a little potter around the markets, but then set off to our favourite coffee bar, Bar Angeli. It's not even the coffee (which is delicious) that I love in this bar, it's the pancakes. Seriously, they are so simple, and yet so delicious. Lovely Lauren came in while I was in the middle of polishing off my pancakes and peppermint tea, obviously having similar thoughts of idling part of the afternoon away in there. Ah, Sundays.

After the pancakes and tea I was ready to take on the world, and managed a pretty hardcore shopping session picking up birthday gifts for my besty, a new moisturiser, some much needed hosiery and some beautiful earrings (I lost one of them on their first outing today).

I headed home, arriving back in the dark to find hubby and step-son engrossed in an art project. I managed to get roped in momentarily, but actually quite liked the results... well, minus the pink fluffy slippers.

Sunday evening was spent lounging and relaxing, just how Sunday's should be and whilst my appetite has certainly not fully returned, I do feel somewhat improved today.

Elementary my dear Watson

(This blog post is dedicated to my dear friend Mrs. P-J, who having lived away from the UK for around 6 years gets very nostalgic about all things Christmassy)


Me with Mrs P-J back in the summer in Malvern

Yesterday evening hubby and I headed over to nearby Warwick to visit the Victorian Christmas evening. We've been to similar things before in the Cotswolds, but this is the first time we went to the Warwick one. We'd arranged to meet up with lovely Roisin, Nic, Lauren and Andy, and after having a tremendous struggle with finding a space to park Granville, we were there shortly after the lights switch on.

About half an hour before leaving work I'd decided that I was going in fancy dress as Sherlock Holmes, and with a bit of improvisation between my own wardrobe and hubby's I came up with a Holmes kind of look. I was over the moon when Nic overheard someone pass by and exclaim 'Was that Sherlock Holmes?' and then equally overjoyed when I gentleman passing by while hubby was taking photographs said 'Sherlock Holmes I presume?' Talk about mission accomplished.


Sherlock Holmes I presume?

By the time we got to Warwick it was packed, but we could really have done with arriving a little earlier. Nonetheless we had a nice time wandering around the Christmassy feeling centre, eating pork and stuffing batches and perusing the antique shops, since all of the shops were staying open late for the occassion. There was a beautiful carousel in the centre of the town, and smells of food and hustle and bustle everywhere. We were all particularly drawn to the ferret racing, and enjoyed getting to stroke them afterwards... even if they are a bit smelly. I like ferrets, I'd have one as a pet. 

Nic and Hubby near the ferret races

Lauren and Andy had to leave a little earlier, but the rest of us set off to a small cafe bar for coffees at the end of the night. It was so cosy and with a beautiful view onto the gorgeous church, and then we all left to head home, having had a lovely evening out. 

Searching for clues



Alas this morning when I woke up I felt terribly poorly with a bad stomach. My initial thoughts were that it was the pork batch, but that theory was proved wrong because everyone else who had had one was absolutely fine. I think it could be because I'm running off a lot of nervous energy at the moment and perhaps running myself a bit too much. I think it's caught up with me. It's most unfortunate though because hubby and I are meant to be out for a lovely curry with friends tonight and we've not been able to go. Hubby brought me back some of my favourite white roses to cheer me up, but I'm still gutted I'm missing that curry... I'd even made a fascinator to wear. I just hope I'm well enough to go out tomorrow.

Fascinating

On Friday evening hubby and I are going out for a curry with some friends. I know what I want to wear, but didn't have any suitable head apparel to go with it. Monday night I attacked my scrap fabric stash with the intention of making myself a nice little complimentary fascinator. I've never made one of these before, so I was kind of winging it on this. It's fairly easy to make and I'm pretty pleased with the result. So here's the first headpiece crafted by my own fair hands.

Clash of the Tartans

Sunday afternoon has rolled around yet again, so before I settle down to watch the Elizabeth Taylor epic, Cleopatra, that one of my friends bought me for my birthday last month, I thought I'd share my shenanigans.

This coming week is my Father-in-Law's birthday. Since I hubby and I work all week it's virtually impossible to go visiting during week nights, so last week I thought I'd give a new recipe a go, the Hummingbird Bakery Brooklyn Blackout cake, and take it up for Father-in-Law on Saturday morning.

It was a fairly work intensive cake to make, and I've recently been suffering what I think may be RSI in my elbow, so the excessive whisking of the eggless custard really took it out of me. Nonetheless the hard work was worth it in the end because the cake was absolutely delicious. Everyone loved it and I think I might use the recipe as a basis for hubby's birthday cake in just over a week.

Once we'd finished at my inlaws, hubby dropped me and Mum at the train station to head for nearby Leamington for a peruse of the shops. I'm totally broke after all I've spent this month at vintage shops and fairs, so it really was just a peruse for me. Nonetheless I did find a vintage dress pattern for a mere 50p in a charity shop, and even broke me can afford that.

Whilst in Leamington Mum wanted me to choose my Christmas present. I'm so indecisive that it took a whole day for me to come back and buy the first thing I saw, but there you go. We enjoyed a lovey coffee before getting the train home to Coventry, where the train station was filled with louts following the football match.

Back at home hubby and I decided to catch up on Pan-Am since we'd recorded it, but not watched it yet. I was expecting good things given the buzz on twitter and blogs, and I have to say I am not disappointed. The costumes are totally droolsome, and I wonder if Springs catwalks will be an array of early 1960s fashion? Just a hunch.

Today I've had a wonderful day which included a deliciously long lie in, and a fry up courtesy of hubby. Now we've just settled down to watch Cleopatra and have a lazy Sunday afternoon. Ah, bliss.

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Away to London

Shoes - Deichmann; Trousers - Heyday; Cardigan - Fever; Top - Hobbs; Coat - Fever; hat - Royal Navy; Bag - Louis Vuitton

Pictures: hubby in Chelsea, me admiring a christmas tree, my outfit, Westminster cathedral by night and drinks in the pub.

Way back, at the beginning of the month and before I'd spent all my wages on vintage frocks, I'd booked a Megabus ticket for me and hubby to spend a day down in London. Today we were up ridiculously early to get our bus and got to London bright and early. We didn't really do any shopping, but one shop we did look in was the iconic Philip Treacy. I fell in love with so many hats. It was so nice just to have a day off work and spend it with hubby, and the weather was kind to us too.

Right now, we're on our Megabus home, and I'm marvelling at modern technology that allows me to post a blog while on a bus. Little things.

Have a great weekend whatever you do.

Frocks, Friends and Bonnets for Dogs

Hello folks, did you all have a nice weekend? I had intended to give you the usual Sunday evening installment of what I'd done over my weekend, but I was cooking this Lemon Drizzle cake again, and I have to say it turned out much better than last weeks. Still not perfect, but most certainly getting there.

Anyway, Saturday was something of a whirlwind. In the morning we had to nip to Earlsdon to pick up a mount for a photograph, before heading off to The Vintage Fair that was being held in St. Mary's Guildhall. We'd arranged to meet the delightful Roisin at the event, and we got there a tad early and joined what was already a growing queue. I'd decided to go all out vintage for the event and wear the 1940s dress I bought at the Criterion vintage sale last week, my turban (which I adore) and the vintage coat I bought in Bourton-on-the-Water a couple of weeks back. Hubby went all vintage too in his favourite 1940s look, but we realised once we were inside the sale that actually we really didn't need so many layers.




Hubby and I rocking our 1940s look

What's under the coat

The sale itself was great. I've been to St. Mary's Guildhall before for a Christmas meal, and it's a lovely venue. It's a medieval banquet hall and the perfect location to cram a load of wonderful vintage sellers into. I have to say I've been to a couple of vintage fairs in Coventry, and this was head and shoulders above them all. It catered to all tastes, whether your a 1940s lady, or a 1980s party animal, and it had plenty to buy for men and for women. 

Busy shoppers at the vintage fair

Prices were, on the whole, reasonable. I came away with this beautiful late 1950s/ early 1960s pink wiggle dress, which while it doesn't look much on the hanger is extremely Joan Holloway on (I have something about wiggle dresses this month).

Hubby got this beautiful tweed blazer and a pair of brogues.

Dapper hubby in his new to him Daks jacket

Roisin didn't buy any frocks but had a right old rummage through everything. Then we retired to the vintage tea area for lovely cupcakes and tea in vintage china. It was while sitting here that I spotted Angie from Redressing join the queue. Although we've exchanged many a twitter conversation I hadn't met her before, and I always love to meet new people, so we had a wee catch up before me, hubby and Roisin set off to the Transport Museum to visit the Christmas Craft Fair and have a chat with the lovely Mrs. W.

Lovely Roisin and I taking advantage of the lovely
surroundings of St Mary's Guildhall

We met Mum at the craft fair, and she was the only person who came away with something... a knitted bonnet for Bailey her dog.


Bailey's new bonnet

Afterwards, we had a potter around town and I found the most gorgeous 1950s hat in a charity shop, but you'll have to wait for a photo of that. In the same charity shop Roisin was asked if we were sisters. I should add here, I'm 6ft tall, and Roisin is lovely petite lady. Hubby found this hilarious.

Lovely Roisin in my turban

Something I was totally surprised about whilst walking around town was the reactions I recieved to the way I was dressed. I had a couple of people tell me how lovely I looked, including a lovely young lady in Waterstones. The girl who worked in Blue Banana got very excited by my totally vintage look and an elderly lady in the charity shop wanted my turban. I don't think I've ever quite had such reaction to my appearance... so I think I'll start dressing like that all the time, I quite liked the attention lol (big head).

Anyway, before long it was time to say good bye to Roisin and head home. We'd had a lovely day.

Saturday evening, after a quick change (sorry I didn't get an outfit shot), hubby and I nipped out to a local bar. We didn't stay out too long though.


Hubby and me on Saturday night

Sunday, I had a really lazy day applying for jobs, popping to TK Maxx and baking cake. Now I have all these glamorous dresses I need to arrange some glamorous events.

Looking Back

Taken in my first 1950s phase

Poor old hubby, he's been in bed all day. I mentioned yesterday that he was unwell, and today he's just go worse. Without my resident photographer in action, there's no outfit shot for today, but that's ok because I was just wearing something I've worn before anyway.

Even so, I wanted to treat you to some photographs. A little known fact is that hubby is actually a professional photographer. I know, we both work salaried jobs now, but we both have our own creative personalities too.


Yep, that's me.




While hubby was studying, he took lots of photographs of yours truly. Beautiful photographs, and photographs which over recent weeks he's been playing with on various iPhone apps. I just thought I would show you a few of these images, all taken whilst I was in my mid-twenties and with me sporting various guises. All of the outfits were my own clothes, and the shoots were based largely on the looks I was sporting at the time. 

This on location shoot in Oxford remains my absolute favourite of all of the shoots.

  I'd like to think perhaps we could get into taking some photographs again as he's really good. I hope you enjoy them.



Pouting, again on that favourite Oxford shoot



This one always reminds me of Clockwork Orange

Picture Fail

Following the failure of my new photo app on the phone earlier today, I thought I had better make it up to you with some better photographs. I got hubby to take some photographs when we walked the dogs (Hubby's been poorly today, so it took a lot of effort for him to head out, let alone take a photograph). The outfit is the same one I was trying to show you in my last blog post.

Baby, it's cold outside.

Shoes - Deichmann, Trousers - Next, Cape - Vintage, Bag - gift, Hat - Gift

I thought I would do a proper outfit post and show you the cape I had on Friday, properly. I love capes, I've got so many layers on under the cape, I would never have managed to get a coat over it all.

The lovely hat was a gift from Caroline (www.secondhandshopper.wordpress.com) and the lovely vintage style handbag was from Mrs. J.

Tuesday and I'm already counting down to the weekend, is that so wrong?

I've been playing with a new photo app on my phone too, I hope it has the desired effect.

A Very Vintage Weekend

Well folks, I have had a lovely weekend, even if it was a bit busy. Those are usually the best ones though aren't they?

Lovely cakes at Marjoriedoo Vintage
(Courtesy of Marjoriedoo vintage
Facebook Page)

You may remember in Friday's blog that I mentioned I was off the opening of Marjoriedoo vintage, which is a new vintage shop in Coventry. Well, after an almighty drive back to Coventry, hubby finally picked me up from work and we were at the shop for about 6pm. There were already some people there, and hubby and I were greeted with the warmest of welcomes as one of the lovely owners, Jo, recognised us from Twitter. The shop was formerly a pub, but when we went inside you could see that a fabulous transformation had taken place. The shop was roomy, and scattered with interesting little bits of vintage memorabilia (radios, clocks, pictures etc) to take your eye.

As it was opening night there were delicious cakes and wine to be had while perusing the rails for a lovely vintage gem. The range of items is great too, Marjoriedoo stock both men's and women's and seem to have a good selection of both. I was quite taken with the extensive range of coats, some with great names such as Mary Quant and Aquascutum and all of them reasonably priced at around £40ish to £75ish depending on the coat in question. I also put my eye on a couple of faux furs on the rails.


Me and Hubby
(Courtesy of Marjoriedoo Vintage facebook page)

Dresses ranged from about the 1950s (see my purchase further down) through to the 1980s, and accessories to boot.

People getting stuck in at the rails
(Courtesy of Marjoridoo Vintage Facebook Page)

I really enjoyed trawling through the rails, and was initially going to buy a little jumper at a mere £9 (the price range is really good), but then something caught my eye. In fact, the something had caught my eye before I saw the jumper but on the hanger I thought it was going to be too small. Hubby made me try it on and it fit like a dream.

The picture doesn't do this outfit justice, but I can't wait to get it on because it's pure 1950s glamour. Remember that episode of Mad Men when they base a whole ad campaign on the fact that most women wanted to be a Marilyn (Monroe of course) or a Jackie (Kennedy)? Well this dress actually makes you feel like both, it hugs the curves like a Monroe and has all the style of a Jackie.... but that's enough of me waxing lyrical about the frock (and to think I was able to buy it in my hometown).

Needless to say we both really liked the shop, and I can see us visiting on regular occasions... not least because the owners were all just so very friendly, chatty and welcoming.

Saturday morning we were up bright and early, and had lots to do. Firstly we were having freesat installed in the bedroom so that we can pop the breakfast news on in the morning before work, or snuggle up and watch a film under the warmth of the duvet on these cold winter nights. After that, it was off to opticians to pick up my new 1950s style cats eye glasses, what do you think? I got the frames from  'Jeepers Peepers Retro Eyewear' and I think I like them so much that I'm going to buy the tortoiseshell ones too.

Before long though we were heading to nearby Earlsdon for a vintage sale at the Criterion theatre. These theatre vintage sales can be somewhat hit and miss I find, ordinarily I don't come out with much. It just so happens though that this weekend I was able to find not 1 but 4 dresses worthy of trying on. In the end I only came away with one though, a beautiful silvery coloured 1940s style tea dress for a mere £10. (I don't have a photo, it's hanging up drying after I handwashed it). After a potter around Earlsdon and the customary drink and toastie in Zafiris we spent the evening watching DVDs. I know, it was bonfire night and we should have been out at a display, and were meant to be out at a display, but I'm suffering terrible with my wisdom tooth at the moment and I'm too coward to have it removed. Anyway, I didn't think that standing out in the cold watching fireworks would assist my throbbing face at all.

Today we've had a pretty chilled day of visiting relatives and meandering around a sunny town centre, before coming home where I got hubby to put up a new shelf in the kitchen for my cookbooks, what do you think?

Right now, my Christmas cake is in the oven cooking and I'm off for a bath and a brandy... in that order... or maybe even at the same time. Have a wonderful evening folks whatever you do.