Shopping Summer Style

This picture was taken after a long day in a warm sticky building

 Nothing exciting outfit wise and hardly any make up left on.

Seconds after these pics were taken there was a torrential downpour.

But the sun has been shining all week and today was my last day before a whole 13 days off, so I'm still smiling

Dress: Primark via charity shop
Leggings: goodness knows
Sandals:  Schuh sale
Beads: charity shop
Tote : Etsy

Here are some of the thrifty finds I've bagged in the last week.

Check out this fabulous 1970's St Michael tablecloth I found at the Marie Curie charity shop.  Actually, it's not a tablecloth, it was labelled as a single bed throw but its just the right size to fit over my giant dinner table.  Usually I have to improvise with several smaller ones.  (I just can't bring myself to use oil cloth, no matter how practical!!)   To top it all off, it was brand new.

  Extreme close up!

This vintage case was £1 from the local hospice shop.  I feel like I should be selling stockings from door to door from it!

More 1970's kitchenware

Some coloured glassware and a crochet...thingy.  I have no idea what it is.  It's round but kind of tapered in the middle like it should be thrown over a lampshade.  I just liked the colours and at 50p I could hardly leave it behind. 

Oh 1970's tat, I just can't get enough of you!


A few days ago, the Nation family did it's bi-annual (or thereabouts) trip to a well known American-style wholesalers to stock up on razor blades, shaving foam, vitamins, cotton wool... and giant tubs of sweeties.

 

There was plenty of sweetie excitement to be had.  I was very restrained and only came home with the one tub of flying saucers.

There's something so exciting about the cash n carry type shopping experience.  Ok, maybe its just me, but the rows and rows of endless stuff gets me all excited in a chocolate factory kind of way. 

Especially when you see rows and rows of stuff like this.  Complete collections of vintage Famous Five and Mr Men & Little Miss.

She's my favourite  

We topped off the American shopping experience with hot dogs, pizza and smoothies - perfect!

Linking up with Lakota's Ta-dah Tuesday to show off my thrifty finds.  Better late than never right?

I will be away in sunny Scotland for the next week or so but never fear, I will be back to bore you with my holiday snaps before you know it.  Send me positive thoughts for good weather.

Off to stock up on supplies for the housesitters.  See you soon

Lucy x

I Am Smitten, I'm The Real Thing

Yesterday we went to an engagement party.

About the same time as I bought this dress, I also bought this black lace number from Ebay.   It's by an Australian brand called Sarah Jane.  I had kind of had it in mind for this party and didn't really think much about what I was going to wear until yesterday.

 

The coral coloured shoe of Little Miss 5 just visible in the background!

When I tried it on again I wasn't too sure if I was really feeling the black lace thing, particularly since the UK is currently in the grips of a rather unexpected heatwave, something which has only increased my love of pastels and candy colours.  

In the end, I was rather pleased with it.  It's actually a little bit big (I love being able to say that!;) but it was very comfortable and not too hot for the soaring temperatures.

I did however compromise by bringing out the clown make up.

A splash of mint green eyeshadow, matching nails and a slick of cherry red lipstick took care of my colour fix.

 

I was so pleased with how my make up turned out.  I am usually so cackhanded with anything to do with hair & beauty and, even after 15 years of application, I still take a chance that both my eyes will look the same whenever I use gel eyeliner.

The deco style bag was from Primark a few years back.

It was a good night.  A family gathering of the most traditional fashion, embarrassing uncles, vol au vents, drunk granddads, lots of kids running around the dance floor.   Great stuff!

This song was in my head all day.  Quite appropriate really.

Lucy x

Babydolls & Baby Jane

I've noticed that this blog has had a lot of hits recently from people who have Google image searched "Paula Yates" and have come across this post I did as a competition entry way back at the start of this blog.

Source

It got me thinking about why I like Paula and have always been drawn to and inspired by women like her.

It inspired me to share some of my other favourite charming, alarming blonde women.

Courtney Love

Miss Havisham

Found here

Nancy Spungen

 A tragic tale oft told

Baby Doll Meighan

Kat Bjelland

  Baby Jane Hudson

Perhaps the ultimate icon of the tortured female persona?
 
I find the lure of the tragic blonde heroine just impossible to resist.

Who are your favourite women, real or fictional?

Lucy x

Kitty, Pink & 80's Love

I hated yesterday's post.  Please pretend it never happened.  Woe is me, yadda yadda yadda.  Blah blah, yuck!  Let's talk about today, the sun was out, yay!  And I finally put this up in my bathroom

I love Hello Kitty, always will.  I loved it long before the 5 year olds of today and will probably love it long after they've moved on.  It was an Ebay purchase.  All the way from Hong Kong as bafflingly, nowhere in Britain does there exist an outlet that sells Hello Kitty shower curtains.  What's up with that?!

It put me in a pink mood

Went all English rose with No 17 pink glitter eyeshadow, Benefit Benetint stain and Vaseline Rosy Lips.

Pink tights and pink beads on my pink bathroom rug

Too much pink?

Don't forget pink flamingos.

I actually felt a bit eightiestastic in this get up.  I think it was the sheer number of colours I mixed together.  And with the addition of this bag to pop out to shops with...

... it kind of sealed the deal.  I don't mind though.  I'm an 80's kid through and through!

Skirt, top, beads & bag - Charity Shop
Cardi - Dotty P's
Bird brooches - Acorn & Will & Primark
Belt & bracelets - Primark
Tights - Next
Purple t-bars - Ebay

Last time I did an outfit post in my bathroom, a few of you lovely readers were very complimentary about it and expressed an interest in seeing more, so I thought I'd spoil you...

Towel and toy storage

Retro bathing beauties pic and pink frame from Ikea

 Essentials

You can never have too many rolls

More Hello Kitty, just because.

Hope you enjoyed a teeny peek inside my home. 

Why not enjoy one of the best 'eighties' songs ever before you go

Lucy x