Shopping With A Mission.

Your Mission, should you decide to take it is..................shop till you drop.
Target : Vintage clothing, shoes and bags.......you have your list, work from it.
Your Disguise:
Comfy boots, you have miles of hilly terrain to cover.

Easy to slip on and off dress....there will be changing rooms, lots of them.

Thin Cardigan: It may be the end of October but you will be working up a sweat hiking and carry heavy bags.
Spare high heeled shoes: For trying on those must have dresses.
Large Bag : Carries survival kit, chocolate, mobile, purse and bottles of water.
Camera : You never know?
Your destination : Brighton, all the Laines...........cue music........................

Up at 6am, quick get ready as my lift will be here soon. Yup, shopping this early. Well, first is the travel time and the aim is to get there exactly as the shops open. Bang on. We have a lot of ground to cover!
For those of you who have never been clothes shopping with me.......well let's just say it is an experience, and for those of you who have, I apologise again, you really didn't know what you were letting yourselves in for bless you. All those miles and hours I made you walk, I hang my head in shame..........but it is an addiction. Fortunately it has taken me years to find her, but I have found a worthy adversary. Someone who loves clothes shopping every bit as much as I do, and who can shop just as hard and fast. Ding Dong!

Even before the shops opened Brighton was busy, heaving like a swarm of bees. We parked and set off through the large shopping centre and off into the back hills of Brighton. The best place I know for the most vintage, retro and general cute individual shops in this area.
First place we headed for was the wonderful Velvet in Bond Street. One of my favourite shops and I couldn't leave without I buying a cute little delicate scarf before we blasted into Irregular Choice shoes like a whirlwind of squeals!! Their shoes are to die for!!
Then it was off to one of the best vintage shops in Brighton that I know Dirty Harry in Sydney Street. Their prices are so much more than reasonable and the staff are fabulous, not only by wearing the vintage clothing in their own individual styles but also in their pleasant approach to helping customers. It's a thumbs up from us. My girlie friend bought the most divine Audrey Hepburn 1960's black marabou feathered wiggle number. Bellissimo. x
Bustling down Sydney street was a gas and all the shops and market stalls were in a Halloweenie mood, except one seemed to have a mix up of the seasons and had the Easter Bunny ears out instead?! But they're so cute, we can forgive them for making us go "Awwwwww look at the bunny ears!"

Next it was a quick step over to the gorgeous Wolf and Gypsy who always present their shop in such a beautiful way. They have at the moment these most adorable hand knitted cardigans, but that will have to be for another day. We had a list to stick to for situations just like this, when one of us is torn and drawn by a beautiful item of clothing.....the others job is to issue firm orders to "step away from the non listed bargain"!

We weaved our way through Sydney street in and out of the nicely presented vintage shops and one rare shop that smelt of heavily of moths balls and where everything is piled it seems without neither care nor love. Each of us holding the others bags as we rummaged on hands and knees sometimes through the piles of discarded hats, shoes and wraps. Rail upon rail of coats and vintage dresses, asking to move mirrors into the light and giving each other honest appraisal and opinions of potential purchases. We met some of the most jolly, happy and lovable staff along our merry journey and some that were so miserable their faces might have cracked had they actually smiled at us, but that's the heady mix of Brighton that I love.

The energy, the buzz, that eclectic mix of life....and then it happened, I stepped into a small store that I adore on the corner of Sydney street, the rightly and justly named Fashion Temple, and I fell in love with a dress the moment I saw it hanging there on the rail. A 1950's rockabilly retro wild black and red cherries halterneck dress with low hung black netting. That with petticoat frou frous at home would look banging! For such a bargain price I could not leave it there, it had to come home with me, but not before I twirled around the shop in it jive style. Ready for next years Vintage Fair.

A sharp left turn up the road and we were at another shop I adore Kate and Aud . Small compact, but beautiful and filled with the most delicious items on the cusp of Trafalgar Street. Kate does the dresses, Aud the jewelry. I found a beautiful 1930's tea dress upstairs, but sadly it was designed for a flat chested girl. I know, I was heart broken. My head had already planned it to go with my heeled tan brogues, brown knitted bolero.....but it was not to be ma cherie. Having traipsed through every vintage store on the North Laines it was time to head over to the conventional stores for a quick mooch before heading off to the South Laines, Ship Street, where my girlie friend fell in love with a vintage fur coat in Penelope's Portmanteau, a classy little joint with smoking hot jewelry and handbags. We rounded the day off with a visit to Monsoon a shop I adore at any time of the year or any place.

Winding the day down we snuck into Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shop  for a few treats to take home. The shop is a legend of vintage sweets for memory taste buds. Our nearest one is in Chichester and my girls love it! It is the main shopping event for them every time we go in.

We also quickly popped over to Hardy's Orginal Sweet Shop There is so much to test and taste that it's like Harry Potter's Honey Duke's store. There is always something new to squeal at. Shelves filled to the brim with row upon row of delectable sweets, all brightly packaged and coloured begging to be tried and devoured. This time I got them a Gumball machine each to savour. The staff were all dressed in full macabre Halloween costume, which I adore. It really gets everyone into the ghoulish spirit of things and is immense fun!!!! 

Last but no way in the least is a visit to the famous  Choocywoocydoodah's in Duke Street where the window chocolate sculpture displays have hoards of people always crowded around it. They never disappoint and have displayed a gorgeous Halloween theme. As this is the career path my youngest daughter wants to take, I just had to take some photos to show my girls when I got home, They displayed a Vampire pre-bite on a woman's neck and several life like chocolate skulls.

It's a must do visit I'm afraid! The sculptures are so  awesome and then you realise that they are completely made out of chocolate....the fascination and admiration grows ten fold in a heart beat.

Heading home with arms full of bags, recent loved purchases, treats for those loved ones at home and sides aching from laughing together girlie friend and I staggered gracefully back to the carpark.

Tonight my legs and buttocks ache from walking and climbing quaint little boutique staircases. That was some hardcore shopping, but it was worth it..every step, even if we did only buy two vintage items off our lists......there is always another shopping day to plan.

Mummies and their cute bags.

The day has been spent in the Autumn sunshine painting rabbit hutches and revamping the chicken house. Not only has it gained a new extenstion on the bottom for the duckies and disabled elderly chickens, but also a new poop hole door and had a whole new repaint. This time in a colour called ' wooden spoon'. It's a creamy brownish white and will give the whole chicken area a nice new 'clean' feel. I just hope the ducks and chickens fully appreciate it.
After a day of working in the fresh air, my crew were pretty hungry and after a filling lasagne we popped off to Sainsbury's to get Pickle her Halloween costume - that she had seen previously and was desperately worried they would sell out of all the scary Mummy costumes in her size before the Samhain celebrations arrived. Luckily there were just a few left and she was greatly relieved to finally have it in her hands.
Whilst the gang went off in search of other treats I decided to browse the new Sainsbury's Gok Wan section that he has designed for their Autumn / Winter collection. There are just four key pieces I would buy or recommend in the whole collection. Two stunning red dresses - show pieces - one is a false wrap to the side with buttoned cuffs, the other a structured wiggle with a body con built in. Both were beautiful and would go in any wardrobe on any woman with the right accessorises and tweaking.
Then there was a lovely (sadly not real leather) black biker's jacket, perfect for that racy number with skinny jeans, killer heels and rock chick tee shirt and lastly but not least the piece I did buy myself as a little treat was this gorgeous herring boned 40's monochromatic inspired handbag.

So cute and totally matches my newest shoes.

Little Pumpkins, little pumpkins come out come our where ever you are.....

Ah Pumpkins. Seeing boxes of them stacked at the supermarket last night reminded me of their deep smell, rich flesh and tactile skins. How I love Pumpkins. Big ones, small ones, knobbly bobbly ones. They are a cuddly, strokable vegetable with as many variations as it's glorious colour...........and what a colour.
Looking at it just makes you feel all warm and glowing inside. It's like a mini portable heater of colour. Faced with a whole wall of it last night, I couldn't help but think how bang on trend orange is for this season. It is the colour for this Autumn.

You can wear it as key items or, as I intend to, as bold accents of colour splashes that evoke a burst of warm glow to your skin. It's a very flattering colour - in the right tonal blend to your skin. My skin being darker and my dark hair requires a more latino flavour and so burnt orange is always a good one for me. Rich, vibrant and full in body. Paler english roses are lucky and can take a paler colour right down to a wash. If your skin tone is a darker than latino then the more vibrant and glowing the orange. Basically the rule of thumb is - the darker the skin the more rich and solid the colour palette.
I have my eye on a jigsaw orange scarf I caught a brief fleeting glimpse of when I was in town the other day. Mud Boy always jokes that my eyes are like a hawk searching for prey when it comes to clothes. I can spot something that will suit me perfectly from 200 yards away he says. I just know after years of failure what finally does suit me. It's a highly honed and acquired skill don't ya know.

In the end I didn't pick up any pumpkins - give it another week before I start baking all things orange and knobbly. For when Halloween is upon us I become slightly pumpkin obsessed. If I am not carving them or decorating them, I'm cooking with them making pumpkin muffins, far ranging pumpkin soups, pumpkin risotto, roasted pumpkin, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cupcakes and delicious pumpkin pies in as many different varieties as I can. I just adore pumpkin. The orange colour of the fleshy food is so inviting and  along with all the other squashes of the season they find their way into every morsel of food we consume for the whole of the Autumn fall. It is a food not only beautiful in colour but also of property. I think the reason my body finds it so appealing is for this very reason. For our bodies know instinctively what is good for them if only we'd listen more.
Pumpkins, indeed all orange squashes, including my favourite butternut, contain cancer busting beta carotene and life saving vitamin C. High in fibre and low in potassium. They also contain calcium, iron and are low in salt and fat. I know it is the iron in them that my body cries out for, but it is the beta carotene that gives them their bright luscious colour and is wisely used by our bodies to make vitamin A.
From now on until they are depleted from the shops, I will stock up on pumpkins, filling my basket with three or more every week. They are jolly easy to store over winter time. As the pumpkin, like most vegetables and living creatures breathes through it's skin - to keep it fresh all you have to do is seal the tiny holes. You do this by smearing your pumpkin in vaseline and voila it will stay fresh all winter! A perfect stored burst of the Summer's bright sun that helped it grow. That's how I look at pumpkins, as a wonderful vessel stored with to the brim with bright light warming sunshine. Mother Natures perfect sun container.

Christmas Hints.

It's that time of year again when the kids start to think of Christmas lists and Mud Boy will turn to me and whisper, "what do you want filling your stocking?" with raised eyebrows, wink wink. I say the same as every year -  "A big wad of cash, so I can go shopping, -  failing that perfume and clothes". xXx
As with every year I have to resort to leaving very small subtle clues around as to what clothes I would like for Christmas, otherwise I'll just get guitar bits. As much as I love Mud Boy and I really, really do, he is like most men - totally clueless about woman's clothing, and in all fairness why should he 'get it' - he after all doesn't wear them!
So when Christmas jogs around the corner, it's us women who have to either buy it for ourselves, wrap it and act all surprised on Christmas day or give strict instructions, via picture and location, as to exactly what it is we require from the big jolly man in a red suit. Here's my first hint of the year.............

Not too subtle, but one can't afford not to get it right!
On other Christmas news front Budge last year asked for a live giraffe and a penguin on her list, this year it's a small mouse lemur from Madagascar on her list! The others always have something normal on their lists, but not Budge. Never Budge. x

Shoe Eye Candy!!

I know I blog quite a lot about clothes and shoes, and yes, I admit I do have a bit of a shoe fetish going on, but OMG  IRREGULAR CHOICE SHOES ARE DIVINE!!!!!!

I saw them once in Chichester in one of the small lanes as I was buying myself a pair of brushed red Oxygen boots, and I wanted to stand and cradle them they were so beautiful, but I was with Mud Boy and the girls and  Mr doesn't really stand for much shoe nonsense when we are out shopping. It is his mission to get from the car to the shop and there and back in as short a time as possible, with the least amount of clothes /shoe/ bag stops as humanly possibly ........ and he will pick me up and carry me from a shop if necessary .... it's been done it before!

                                                                          

A friend called me the other day and described these gorgeous shoes she had seen in town and was literally stroking, but they were £200 a pop! An utterly ridiculous amount to spend on shoes.........but they are sooooo preeetttyyy!! Instantly as we swapped descriptions, we recognized we were fantasising about the same make of shoes ............... Irregular choice shoes. I will say the name again, incase any one out there fancies buying me a lovely birthday or Christmas surprise .......irregular shoes. (I am a size four by the way .....wink, wink!)

They are total shoe eye candy, utterly frivolous and useless in any practical way shape or form. If they were caught in a rain storm or you stepped in a puddle they might just shrink, if you ran for a bus in them bits would more than likely  fall off and forget mud - it would stain the delicate fabrics. For all these facts above - I love them all the more!

However, being resourceful we have both found at the same time a source of cheaper irregular shoe fix ......ebay!!! This is a dangerous situation to be in .......... I really ought to step away from the shoes......but in all honestly could you!

I need more shoe boxes!

Anyone who knows me, will know that I have an undying passion for mary jane shoes. There's just something about them. I can't explain what really, other than the fact that I just LOVE them. As a shoe design they are my ultimate favourite. It's as if they were made for me. They are the most comfortable shoe in the world, the most stylish, colourful, playful and feminine. They are my shoe.

When I gave up work to concentrate on home educating the girls I felt lost without my own spending money. A common problem I think for most women who go from a career into the home environment. To get round this Mud Boy and I arranged between us that I would have not a monetary wage, but I would be paid in shoes, bags and clothes instead. So if I see a dress I like, I buy it without any guilt attached, because it's my 'wage', so to speak. I don't feel then that I am taking money selfishly for myself, I have instead earned it with my 'job' of  home educating. I have a value. I have a worth. Therefore I deserve a reward or payment. Be that in shoes, bags, jewellery or dresses.
Let's face it most of us home ed mums have a real guilt about spending time or money on ourselves, or even finding the time for ourselves can be a HUGE logistical problem, especially if we don't have family near or who support us. We need to feel valued.

That doesn't mean that the only reason I home educate is for shoes, bags and clothes. That's not it at all. I home educate because I love to home educate and because we firmly believe that it's the right choice for our girls. It's what they have asked us to do.

It's more about me, than anyone else. It was how under valued I felt in society, once I had accepted the role of stay at home mum - home educator. Any life insurance, mortgage or pension advisor will tell you that you don't actually have a 'job', and they have told me so many, many times over the years, even though it has been widely recognized throughout the world as the most valuable job there could ever be - raising the next generation. But on financial paper you simple don't 'exist'. You will be put down on the form as a 'home - maker'. You no longer have any financial value in this world. How demoralising is that for someone who is probably more educated than the little wotsit sat behind the desk evaluating your worth??!!
This to a much younger me was a massive blow to my self esteem. Here I was busting a gut day in day out with three young children aged five and under, home educating, saving the Government, council and schools thousands of pounds, forgoing my chosen career path, doing the very best I could everyday without support and ending up absolutely shattered both physically and mentally and it wasn't classed as 'anything' outside in the 'real' world!!!
Yet I knew deep down that what I was doing was being greatly valued by husband and eventually would be by my children, but at that point in time I felt like I wasn't actually being valued at all.
So I self worth retail therapied myself. It may seem really shallow at first, but it actually helped me recognize that I am worth something. I'm being really honest here. Buying clothes and shoes makes me feel good and it's a small reward for doing something that I really love to do. Okay, so I don't have a 'proper job' on 'paper', okay so I don't earn any 'money', BUT having a new pair of mary janes makes me feel just as good as if I do, because I've earned them. I've earned all those shoes through the tears, the tantrums, the sibling and daily squabbles, the new educational discoveries, the home-edding ups and downs and family joys of our daily home educating life style. I've worked my butt off making sure the girls and my hubbies needs were and are all met to the very best of my abilities and I deserved some kind of reward. Damn it, I deserve those shoes!