Shopping – Growing Old Greyfully

Tuesday’s Temptations

Looking for an outfit to take you from day to night on holiday.

This week my Tuesday’s temptations have been chosen from & Other Stories, as I look towards the summer holidays and try to plan some outfits. I love block primary colours and mixing them all up.

This outfit takes you from pool to evening just by adding other accessories.

The dress

A perfect dress to wear to the beach and then out for the evening if necessary.

The bag

I am very late to the party with the raffia bags, but I really like this one with the leather strap detail. The size is perfect to hold your beach towel, suncream and whatever else you want to put in there.

The sandals

I love a comfy but pretty sandal and these do just the job.

The bikini

This style of bikini is perfect to give shape to a boyish figure but also to enhance those with curves.

The hat

Everyone needs a big hat, no more said.

The purse

Just because it’s red and pretty.

Now all we need to do is go on holiday!

Thanks

Sam x

Tuesday’s Temptations

New regular blog post for Tuesdays

I haven’t posted for a while so wanted to get my butt into gear so today’s the day. Whilst out at the weekend I popped into Oliver Bonas for some birthday pressie inspiration only to realise they have some lovely clothes (especially dresses) in stock at the moment. So they have inspired me to start Tuesday’s Temptations.

First up is this beautiful leaf print dress, that is bang on trend – £75.00

2. I love an animal print whether leopard, cow or dalmatian. The great thing about a classic shirt dress is you can use a belt or put it over jeans or leggings and it will still look fab – £69.50

3. This block dress is my favorite, you could wear with different colour shoes to really make a statement. – £69.50

4. This dress is also bang on trend, lots of white dresses happening all over the place this season. The pattern on this one is lovely and made with quality. – £85.00

5. It’s not a dress you are right, but it is a gorgeous bright orange skirt. The material is so touchy feely, I had to buy it. The fit and belt are just perfect for a bit of a mum tum and true to size. Not too short either. – £49.50

This is not an Ad for Oliver Bonas just lovely items of clothing I would buy myself.

#tuesdaytemptations

Obsessed with The George

I recently posted on Instagram about The George in MontClair, New Jersey. It has been designed by beauty legend Bobbi Brown. I have become slightly obsessed with the interior, it is just beautiful and many of the interior design magazines have been writing about it (The Cut, Architectural Digest etc). She uses red and the union jack against dark greys very carefully which gives the rooms just the right amount of pop.

So I had a good look around to see what great accessories you can use to get a similar effect to update your greys and whites. Using the reds, tartan and union jack subtlety just like Bobbi Brown.

This large tartan throw over the bed will be perfect to give some bright colours to your bedroom. Tartan throw by John Hanley – Bear and Bear

I love a union jack cushion, but my husband won’t let me have them. Don’t worry I don’t usually listen to him so they will appear shortly.

Union Jack Cushions – Red Candy

A Wild and Wold 746 telephone from Robert Dyas. These phones always speak to my love of retro and there is no need to worry about getting your finger stuck on this one, it has been totally updated.

I love this Faux Book which actually has gin inside (you’ll look well read but can have a sneeky drink) available form Fortnum and Mason by Chase Distillery.

You can’t get more British than a red mini with a union jack on top – This will add a bit of fun to the room without going ott from TK Maxx

Not so subtle but I blinking well love this, it is a closet, yep a closet. I can’t tell you how much I want this. If you get it, I want to see pictures!! From Maison du Monde

I also wouldn’t be able to help myself from jumping out of it in a superhero outfit!

Thank you

Sam x

the main image is taken from The George website. credit: The George.

Nice Fanny Pouch! (aka bum bag/belt bag)

When I was a teenager my sister, brother in law and mum saved up their hard earned pennies to take to me and my niece to Disney World. Then it was a holiday of a life time and growing up on MTV, LA Law and Dirty Dancing of course the US of A was exciting.

My sister had done a lot of reading up on what you should and shouldn’t do. Taking stuff on rides was a no-no, bum bags were the way to go in order to keep your belongings whilst hanging upside down on the highest, largest, fastest rides in the world.

The blog post by Ainsley Louise – Inspo – Fanny pack, reminded me of the day we were waiting for the Disney parade to start. We were early and eager to have a good view. The crowds started to build and a lady stood next me, in order to pass the time she said started conversation. Her opening gambit was “Lovely Fanny pouch” pointing to what I thought she meant my nether regions. Slightly shocked and moving closer to my sister, she said it again “nice fanny pouch”

Now we didn’t know in the US, fanny meant bottom, as it means the complete opposite part of our body parts in the UK, there was my sister and I thinking she was complimenting my lady garden and not my bum bag.

I am so glad that the fashion industry have decided to rebrand the Fanny Pack/Bum Bag to the Belt bag. Now no 13 year old is going to get complimented on her lady garden, but quite possibly her designer belt bag.

Here are my favourites:

Anna Belt Bag Kiss

Clare V Fannypack

Zara Belt Bag

Top Shop Panther Bum Bag

Chloe Pixie mini suede and leather belt bag

Love

Sam x

The most instagramable reusable coffee cups around.

Bando coffee cups

Image credit: Bando

I love coffee, espresso, cappuccino, latte, vanilla latte, I have them all. Coffee is my friend, I have a coffee from a coffee shop once a day, it is my little treat in the morning on the way in to work. That means that I have used around 350 non reusable cups a year.

Although I put my coffee cup in the recycle bin it is better to have to not recycle them in the first place so recently I bought a Thermal mug from Paperchase as it was on sale and thought it is better than nothing. Now I have started looking around at all the other stylish reusable mugs that are out there.

Not only will you be helping the environment but your pocket too, most of the big chain coffee shops have discounts on their coffee if you bring in your own reusable cup. I have also noticed that they fill your cup up to the top so you get a little more coffee for your buck too.

See this article in the Telegraph to see what you can save when using a reusable cup when buying your coffee in the UK.

I had a good look around and here are my favourite and most instagramable reusable cups:

Bando at Selfridges

Paperchase

Kate Spade at Trouva.com

Caroline Gardner

Bando at Selfridges

Paperchase

Kate Spade at Selfridges

What I would really like to see is the big designer houses really making these wanted accessories, imagine a Louis Vuitton or a Gucci cup? These would be all over insta and Pinterest as the next big accessory. I would personally also love to Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham all over this.

Thanks

Sam x

The Humble Tea bag

drew-taylor-235558

I read an article in December in The Times newspaper that said gardeners have been noticing that the Tea bag was no longer disintegrating into the earth, after popping used Tea bags in the compost bin and then using that in their gardens. Small pieces of the T-bag was turning up in the soil when turning the earth. I was surprised to hear that and a little upset as my morning routine consists of making a nice cuppa before getting started on the day.

It turned out that Tea bags have up to 25% plastic in them. Our humble tea bag has been sealed with a plastic glue and therefore was not fully biodegradable. The article also mentioned that Mike Armitage of Nature Matters has launched a petition to get the main manufacturers to remove the plastic – you can sign it here.

In the past few days The Guardian has reported that the Co-op have taken notice and are now developing a 100% biodegradable Tea-bag (read article here) which is great to hear and I really do hope that the others manufacturers follow suit. So that we have a choice of tea bags to choose from.

Moral Fibres blog post about plastic in our tea-bags is an excellent resource to find out if your favourite brew includes plastic and some great suggestions of getting rid of the bag all together and going back to leaves and a strainer.

Please sign the petition and also you can email the major companies to request the removal, all contacts provided in Moral Fibres post.

Lets help our hug in a mug be truly that again.

Friends, Lobsters & Valentines

So on January 1st 2018 Netflix launched all 10 Seasons of Friends so you can watch every single episode back to back, so obviously some of the famous quotes will be making a come back and still doing the rounds.

I noticed in Paperchase a valentines card with “You’re my lobster” on it, and reminded me of Pheobe’s famous quote when Ross and Rachel finally got together – “He’s her lobster”. This got me thinking about Lobsters and the trend that started last year although didn’t do aswell as pineapples, unicorns, flamingos and donuts.

It appears that this trend has continued over to 2018 along with the Cactus, Birds of paradise and Tropical prints. I went on the hunt for Lobster merch and found all sorts of lovely products.

Here are my favourite lobster items for you to share with your loved ones this February 14th.

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This Lobster Valentine Bottle Opener makes a great addition to your Kistch bar area – from Paperchase £18.00

2. This gorgeous Lobster necklace by Tatty Devine – Lobster Giant Necklace £165.00

3. Perfect lobster purse from Skinny Dip – £20.00

4. I want this for my kitchen, Lobster artwork by Monicas Print Medley on Esty – £7.67

5. The card that started this blog post – Paperchase £6.00

6. Although best for use in Summer I couldn’t resist this lobster lilo which is fantastic. Perfect for your summer insta shots. You can buy direct for Sunny Life but have also seen it on John Lewis – £46.50 to £50.00

7. You’re my Lobster mug in the style of Friends logo from Muggy Bug on Etsy £7.95

8. Lobster clutch bag by Kurt Geiger – from Selfridges £90.00

9. Very cool lobster earrings by Luxulite on Esty – £10.00

I am not affiliated with any of these companies I just post abouy products I like and would buy myself.