Red Boots & Golden Years

Before I begin I should quickly state that yep, I'm still pregnant.  Due this Saturday but as you know time and dates mean nothing to the littluns.  Just trying to enjoy my last days of relative freedom and sleep.

On Saturday afternoon I went to a vintage 50's tea party in celebration of my parents' 50th wedding anniversary.

This is me trying to discreetly pose for some outfit shots with my cloudy lemonade while everyone mingled around with their Pimms punch.  I kept getting collared.

As you can see I didn't go with the 50's theme.  This dress has been seen on the blog before because I have practically lived in it these past few months.  It's about as much effort as I can muster at the moment.  Plus I wanted to wear my new babies which match it perfectly...

These bad boys

I got them for a song on Amazon.  I think it was a pricing error as they were advertised as a size 7D as opposed to a standard size 7, which were about £25 more expensive.  I took a gamble and it paid off.  I handed over my £46 and they arrived at my house the next day, a standard size 7 not a 'D' in sight.  Turns out Dr Martens don't even make a 'D' fitting.  Go figure.

I also lacquered my nails with several layers of turquoise glitter

Dress - Asos Maternity
Boots - Dr Martens
Owl bag - Ebay
Cardi - supermarket
Brooch - charity shop
Typewriter necklace - Etsy

My niece organised the party and it was held in the very pretty house she lives in with her mum and step dad.  She stepped in and organised it within a few weeks after the idea we'd had of a big kick butt rock n roll themed party fell through due to my health issues and inability to organise it.  She did a stellar job.  A relatively small affair with close friends and family.  Everything looked so dainty and charming that I couldn't resist walking around snapping a few pics before everyone got there

I really wanted to play in this outhouse but it was temporarilly home to an old bathroom suite

The weather was glorious, spring was in the air.  The music ranged from The Andrew Sisters to Little Richard with a little bit of The Inkspots thrown in for good measure.  There were sandwiches with no crusts, tea and fairy cakes - perfect.

Gonna try and blog again before I pop but if I disappear for a while you'll know what's happened

xxx

Shaken Not Stirred

I thought I'd share some photos of me enjoying a vodka Martini after a particularly long day last week...

 

Mr N mixed me one as only he can

I was trying to be all 'Mad Men' in  my new-old dress, bought recently at a vintage shop in Leominster. The collar is an Ebay purchase 

  I bet Joan never looks like this though

I kept telling Mr N off for referring to our fabulous bar area as a "cabinet".  How dare he?! It's a bar dammit!  I haven't spent all this time pimping it up retro style for nowt 

All I need now is some soda siphons and a pineapple ice bucket.  I'm on the lookout

Anyone fancy a G&T?

Lucy x

Kitschen Goodness & Today's Outfit

You may recall I mentioned a few posts ago that my kitchen was in the process of being beautified.  Well, I thought I'd share the finished results here on my little blog.

When Mr N and I first moved in to our humble little abode nearly 5 years ago the kitchen was one of the main selling points used by the estate agents. The previous owner had not long had it fitted with very popular fake beech effect cupboards, with fake granite effect shiny work surfaces, beigey coloured lino complete with stainless steel appliances.  To top it all off, it was painted a kind of light to mid yellow.  Suffice to say it was HORRID!  Everything I hated and didn't want.  I'm sure it would have appealed to many a young couple buying their first home, it was functional, modern, and neutral (read: bland), but I just wanted something with personality. 

Unfortunately it was a brand new kitchen and there were more pressing jobs that needed to be done to the rest of the house so it took a back seat for 5 long years. 

I'm so pleased with how it turned out.  Even more so with how little it cost us.  The fake beech was painted over with plenty of undercoat and Ronseal cupboard paint in fresh blue and the horrid water stained lino made way for some Alice in Wonderland black and white tiles.  Add a couple of floating shelves from Ikea and we were good to go!

  

Unfortunately we couldn't replace the work surfaces this time around due to them not being a standard depth and therefore super expensive to have specially cut.   Fortunately they don't look quite as bad in the new set up.  I'll have to live with them and with the stainless steel oven and light fittings for a while longer.

I'll just have to add more kitsch

I'm still not sure where I'm going with the shelf arrangement.  It may take me a few tries before I'm completely happy with it.

I was surprised at how 1950's the end result was.  It wasn't really a conscious thing but I'm pleased with it nonetheless.  I embrace the vintage of most eras, but when it comes to interiors, the 1950's through to 1970's usually wins out.

I probably should have picked a pretty polka dot rockabilly number to pose in for my first kitchen outfit shots in keeping with the theme of the background but, well, I didn't.

I'm all about keeping it real :)

Top: Next
Skirt: vintage, charity shop
Witchy boots: Asos via Ebay

Wow, that was a rather photo heavy post wasn't it.  Hope you enjoyed your little peek inside my home.  I just love nosing around people's houses, one of my favourite type of posts to read!

Nearly the weekend - yay!

Lucy x

PS.  I'm up to 15 followers, I'm so chuffed! Welcome everybody xx