When the kids are a-napping...

My children love me. I know this because they have gifted me with the joy that is them napping AT THE SAME TIME. It's a wonderful, wonderful thing. And if you need proof of my happiness you only need to look at the following photo collages:

Before synchronised naps

Look at the misery

And during synchronised naps

Happy happy, joy joy

I think the photos speak volumes but I've been laughing at them ever since noticing the difference in my face. I love my kids but nap time is a blessing!

Because I'm at home with the boys by myself today I don't have any real time to do fun dress up shoots but I have managed to cobble myself together into something of an outfit. 

Make-up

I managed to do my make-up but it was a challenge - especially when my two year old was insistent that he help me. My eyeliner is not particularly well done but I've got some on - so that's the main thing. I also decided I would wear falsies and am determined to make them a part of my everyday look because I feel so much more 'done' with them on. And they're really not that hard to apply. Well... apart from today when I managed to smear my eyeliner with the wet glue but you know what I mean. My nude lippy is a plumping gloss from a range called 'Sexy Mother Pucker' from Soap and Glory.

Would be rude not to pout in this gloss

Clothes & accessories

I've got on a black collared cardigan from Lindy Bop over a simple stretch grey & white striped M&S tee and my usual brushed black La Redoute jeans. It's not exactly exciting but I at least look more put together than slopping round in my maternity trews (yes, I sometimes still wear them - they're so flippin' comfy but look awful). And I added my swallow earrings which I found in my jewellery box and thought they looked pretty retro/kitsch. I would love to get some fun brooches as I think they could brighten up outfits like this and add a bit of interest to them. I must do a charity shop trawl soon as I think I could probably find some real gems for not much cash.

Hair

Not much time to do anything with it but I did a little back combing at the crown and caught the sides of my hair back with two black non-slip barrettes I bought in Superdrug just the other day. I think it has a bit of a 60s feel to it. It could probably do with more height for oomph but as I'm just running around after my children today I'm not going to quibble.

Anyway, the toddler is already up so I'm off. 

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My Rockabilly Summer Outfit of the Day trial run

I'm slowly but surely learning how to code (very, very basic HMTL & CSS) in order to customise my blog... I managed to add my Instagram to the top left - so do follow me on there if you'd like to see more of the pics as and when I upload them. Am naturally on there as myrockabillysummer. I am extremely guilty of using filters and 'artseying' them up a bit before putting them on there - must try to upload some 'natural' ones #nofilter.

OOTD Trial Run

I tried to style myself today in a bit of a nod to rockabilly. Didn't get a photo of the OOTD... but I have detailed it below in case you're interested... was kind of a trial run.

I wore;

- My much loved Lindy Bop 'Onassis' Leopard print top (currently only a bargainous £7 in the sale; pictured left)


- Paired with my brand new brushed black jeans from La Redoute which I rolled up to resemble a capri type trouser (photo also left of the jeans as pictured on their site)

- And I wore my zip up black low top converse trainers. Can't find an image of them or anything like them anywhere on the net so will grab a photo soon to upload for you to see. I've had them for a while - genuinely can't remember where I got them. I suspect they might have been a bargain find in TK Maxx.

My hair was ever so slightly bee hived and put into a low bun... looked a little '50s secretary I thought. I think it could have done with a plain black headscarf but I don't have one. Must put that on the shopping list. You can have a shufty at today's insta to kinda see what my hair and make-up looked like.

I'm particularly loving my Revlon Colour burst matte lip balm in 'sultry.'  It's so easy to put on and lasts quite well - I like to layer it on top of the classic Benefit Benetint cheek and lip stain in rose to help keep the colour for longer. The colour has enough of a kick that it's worth wearing but it's day suitable. I love red lippy but I find it a bit much for day to day wear - it's great for a night out though *trying to remember the last time I had a night out*

And I have to talk about my Converse glasses... I've had them for years but I love them... I think they suit me but they also key into the vintage look. I bought them from Vision Express in Westfield and went with a brown frame rather than black one as I felt it looked better with my very fair complexion. I would be tempted to try a black frame now though to see if it's got more impact... and maybe something more exaggerated cats eye shaped. Althought there's aways a risk you end up looking like something out of a '50s dressing up costume.  I prefer not to wear heavy eye make up when I'm wearing them  (so no winged eyeliner or lots of mascara - just a lick) and I think the Revlon Matte Balm looks great combined with the glasses and my blue hair. Just enough but not too much. Wearable but hopefully looks like I've made an effort.

I also had a faux leather jacket but it was too warm to wear that today, and my classic black Wayfarer Ray Bans that I snaffled from Secret Sales a while ago. There's something timelessly cool about those sunnies.

I'm a bit stuck for a bag - I don't think anything I have particularly works. I had my very uncool, Mumsy black Kipling bag instead today. Very practical if not massively stylish - I have to shove a lot of crap into it when out and about with the boys and I love all the pockets!

Thoughts

The outfit worked well I thought and was easy to wear -  I wore a black vest under the leopard print top to enable a less flashy breast feeding experience and I was able to roll around the living room floor and run around the garden with my kids. Not a bad trial run I'd say.

Parting gift

A woman actually laughingly said to me "I have to ask, what do you call that hair colour?" She then went on with some further comments about me but not to me - RUDE. I chose to rise above it and ignore her but was tempted to ask her the same! I'd rather have blue hair than a badly bleached brassily blondish mess. Oooh, bitchy.

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The Voices.

Ha, I realise the title of this post sounds a little paranoid (or you might be thinking I'm about to start swivelling round in a large red chair) but...I promised to talk more about my 'bravery' in a previous post.

'The Voices' are those thoughts in my head which stop me in my tracks. Makes me take off the fun dress I was going to wear, makes me wipe off the red lipstick and makes me shrink away. It's insecurity, obviously, but it's also ingrained. Therefore, it's a really bad fucking habit to get out of.

I have this wonderful locker of negative experiences; the time a bitch at school described my appearance in her photo as 'stumpy' (yeh, thanks - that was the look I was going for), the stranger on the tube screaming 'ugly' at me, a friend's ex sneering at a headband I was wearing, the Cow I used to work with who had a knack of belittling Every. Single. Thing I wore... and so on and so forth. They all sit there, collectively waiting to make me feel like shit whenever I get dressed. I want to let it all go but negativity becomes second nature when you've been practising it since your school days... Is it any wonder that stepping out of my front door in a strong style can scare me off from doing it?!

Let 'em stare Nora, you're fabulous.

I recently read a blog post called 'Let them stare' on Nora Finds. This fabulous looking creature (pictured above) climbed St Paul's in this amazing green dress and cape. She described how she had some negative comments to her outfit and the looks she got from strangers. But she just got on with it. I need to channel some of that gumption - never mind a bit of her on point vintage look. She's a total vampspiration.

What I need to focus on, are the times I. Pulled. It. Off.

Like when:

• A lady kept describing me as a 'pocket Venus' (why, thank you *blushing*),
• or I wore a gorgeous green Monsoon dress to a friend's wedding and actually felt attractive (see above),
• How much fun I had dressing up for my son's Christening in my Lindy Bop dress, my Faux Fur coat and purple dye in my hair,
• And of course how beautiful I actually felt on my wedding day... The positive stuff needs to start drowning out the white noise and those feckin' mean voices!

There was also the below moving and rather timely video on Scary Mommy this morning. It essentially says you need to let your insecurities go because your children won't remember your perceived imperfections - they'll remember you and the time you spent with them. Another reason to just enjoy this Summer with no limitations.




I know this is not something I alone suffer with and I know what I choose to wear is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. But it is something I need to deal with and I hope this blog and my Summer of fashion fun will enable me to just be brave, step out there and just fucking enjoy it!

My mantra needs to be fuck it. Fuck it all.

Til next time.

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Lindy Bop Sale Madness

Great Balls of Fire

I've just spent far too much in the Lindy Bop sale... So much for the 'on a tight budget' rule :/ This was also not my scheduled post for today but I just had to blog about my sale moment of madness. Reader... it was a bloodfest, haha.

It's currently still on as I write this post so if you're looking to grab a bargain now's the time - some items are under a tenner! Amazing. There's quite an array of items up as well so I was spoilt for choice. The only major set back was the sheer traffic to the site which prevented me from getting some bits yesterday and drove me to drink a cold bottle of beer with my dinner last night. It was seriously frustrating as the site kept crashing, putting me in a queue of hundreds and losing what I'd put in my basket. It was a total virtual shopping frenzy. I gave up and went to bed but decided to have a go again this morning (after my beautiful boys decided that 5am was a great time to rise) and had much more success - great for me but not so great for my overdraft. I have missed out on a few things I was really keen on as they'd sold out by the time I was able to buy this morning but hey ho, that's how sale shopping goes.

I've tried to buy a range of items, some of which will be more versatile than others. I've also tried to push myself a little and go for some colour and prints. I can't wait for the parcel to arrive on 2nd June... I'm also a little tentative as the fit is probably going to be an issue with most items but I can but try. I've ordered a size or two up from my other Lindy Bop dresses (I have 3 already) as they are now far too tight.

My main rules for buying in the sale were;

• They had to be no more than £10 (I think I made an exception for one item but it was only £14 so not too bad) 
• I have to be able to access my - ahem - mammaries *coy look* as I'm still in the throes of breastfeeding my youngest
• They need to be versatile; can be dressed up and down (for the rare occasion when I might actually get to dress up to go out somewhere non-child related)
• And can be day appropriate (there's little chance of me doing the nursery run in a full blown sateen circle skirt and petticoat).
• They wouldn't potentially make me look like a 5 year old girl going to a birthday party or like I'm trying to dress to match my toddlers

I was seriously tempted by the Bletchley stripe shirt dresses which come in black, red or green and were available in my size and which fit with my style brief very well... and at £18 in the sale they are a great price. Unfortunately, they are still just that bit too much for me. Darn it. Maybe next time. 

Elsewhere on my shopping list; 

White plimsolls,

Jeans (the type with turn ups or can be turned up easily)

Maybe a bomber jacket (there's so many out there at the moment & I think the right one could look fab),

Raglan / baseball tops,

White ankle & trainer socks (I seriously don't own a single white sock - my sock drawer is dominated by black).

Possibly dungarees... Provided they don't make me look like a kid (see last point above)

I've tried to think of other things which will key me into the look but which will be easy to wear and fit in with my chaotic lifestyle. Will be having a look in Primark and online at H&M and La Redoute as they're a good price (especially in the sales or if I can find a voucher code) and it's amazing the things you can find. I'm essentially mixing reproduction vintage clothing with modern day high street to try and find a look and style which works for me.

Will report back on any further purchases and of course how the Lindy Bop purchases shape up when they arrive.

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