April Roundup |2016|

The fact I'm posting both March and April together should tell you something about my April. It's felt like one of those months where I've just been dragging myself in ten different directions. 

I was still ill at the beginning of the month and I still have a cough from it now. Which is a bit rubbish. 

Haven't done an awful lot in the way of dancing, although I think we've just about managed once a week. 

I read quite a few books:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (comfort reading while I was still sick)

Spitfires Over Malta (finally!! So pleased to have finished this!)

The Blue Max (totally different to the film. In all honesty, kind of depressing)

The Zeppelin Destroyer (what?! Written in such an old fashioned manner, enjoyable, but I'm not sure what just happened) 

Good points:

My goddaughters third birthday party. I'm fairly certain everyone had a blast. Adults included. We had a lot of fun the night before cooking up mountains of vegan cupcakes too. 

On that note, cakes made with Betty Crocker cake mix and fizzy drinks are AMAZING. I now have an obsession. Which has done my waistline no good at all. 

Had a lovely couple of evenings with friends. One where we watched the live action Cinderella. I must have the step mum's clothes. The second in Bury with Kate again. She's found a pub that might become our haunt! 

Bad things: 

My car failed it's MOT kind of catastrophically, but with a lot of help from my mum I found a new (to me) one so I'm kind of happy again, but I will miss the jag! 

One of my snakes unexpectedly laid eggs, then prolapsed and had to have surgery. It was very stressful for everyone involved and I'm so incredibly grateful to the vets practice as we're fairly certain she's on the mend. 

Didn't even manage to complete my March/April sewing goal, but going to try and get that sorted this weekend before finding fabric for the next two months! 

Also it snowed and hailed. Quite a lot. Indoors in the hangar where I was working for two days. Miserable weather. 

I've lost all semblance of organisation and routine in my life!!! With everything going on its just gone to pot. So I'm going to try and get on that again in May. Get my rhythm back. 

I forget what I've done so quickly which seems a shame. I'm going to take a cue from Butterfly Balcony's blog and do a weekly update instead. I think Wendy has the right idea. Keep motivated with it and be accountable. Hopefully it will also get me back in the habit of blogging regularly. 

My April goals fell by the wayside. Although I did set my hair a couple of times I think! 

May goals? 

Blog a weekly update. 

Run at least once. 

Yoga. 

Finish April's skirt...

German. 

The goal's are always the same, they're things I want to do so why is it so hard to accomplish them sometimes?! 

How was your April? More productive than mine?? :) 

Jo :) 

March Roundup |2016|

Well. March is done. It ended amazingly badly when I got a terrible cold that was nearly flu like in intensity. It certainly kept me in bed for long enough!! It's also the reason this post is so late! 

I can't think that I did anything special in March to be honest! I was glad that I pretty much kept to my outfit a day challenge, but as I've shared them all on Instagram I won't bore you with them here too! You can find them under #outfitadaymarch

I danced a lot still. We had the Easter party at Jazz which was a fun evening. Although half the band were stoned and rude sadly. 

I made my first pair of shorts ever and loved them. I definitely want to make more, and add pockets! 

Went into Bury for dinner again with my lovely friend Kate. Had a nice chat in a cosy pub. 

I read an incredibly interesting book called "The Airmen Who Wouldn't Die". It's about the idea of life after death all centred around the R101 airship disaster. A fascinating read if you believe or not. 

I also read "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" while I was sick on the last day of the month. I always reach for the HP books if I'm stuck in bed. They're so comforting!! 

Still slowly getting through "Spitfires over Malta". It's a very fact based book and although the content is interesting, and I love reading the diary excerpts, it's quite hard going for me. I will finish it soon! 

I binge watched The Walking Dead when I was sick and the season finale was epic. 

Annoyingly I didn't run or cycle again, I did start doing yoga in the mornings though which I really enjoyed until I got sick. 

April Goals:

Set my hair more often. 

German practice. 

Yoga everyday (when I'm better!) 

Run.

Blog more....again! 

February Round Up |2016|

Another month (just about) gone. If anything exciting happens tomorrow I'll be sure to update! 

Good things this month:

Kept my diary every day. 

Finished my January/February sewing projects. 

Work audit went well. 

Lots of dancing at jive and jazz. 

Bad things this month:

Read no books. My Internet was fixed on my phone and I read too many blogs instead!! 

Didn't run at all. 

Had an amazing dinner out with the Jazz Club committee at The Ship Inn in Tiptree. They rustled up some immense vegan food for me and it was much admired by all. 

 

I purchased too many fripperies this month really. Mostly vintage style underwear. Stockings from Stockings HQ and a bra from House of Satin that I will review next month. 

I've really enjoyed wearing vintage style underthings when possible though. It makes me feel rather glamorous! 

I went and watched Deadpool with a friend and we were in hysterics for most if it. Would love to see it again. Then I saw Dad's Army with my Dad, which was great as well. Felt spoilt for films this month. 

We had an audit at work in the last week of the month which we had a lot to prepare for. It went ok in the end but I worry about these things and I'm glad the stress is over!! 

My best bit of the month has to be the annual BGA Conference. We had a wonderful time this weekend. I'm shattered, but happy. It was a lovely day and a complete giggle in the evening. Plus I got to wear nice clothes all weekend and not get covered in dirt. Bonus. 

I got to paint and gem up my nails too which felt like a complete treat. I got these gems from Poundland and they're just loads of cheap fun! 

I was so pleased to finish my sewing projects for January and February. I really put loads of effort into my skirt. I hate sewing button holes, so the fact that it has a matching button that has a hole to go with it and not a safety pin in sight makes me really, slightly stupidly happy!! 

I also got some hair clips off eBay, fixed one hairflower I had, added a clip to some flowers I'd grouped and worn with Kirkby grips previously and made up a whole new clip with blue flowers. The only problem is I now need more flower storage and want to raid the local garden centre to make even more!! 

I kind of failed at doing more outfit posts but my accessorising was much better when I went out I think. Especially now my piercings are pretty much healed and I can wear different earrings with no pain! 

I definitely failed at more running. 

So in March I'd like to:

- Run and cycle. Just a little!! 

- Do more outfit posts. 

- Blog more. 

How's your February been?

Jo :) 

January Round-Up |2016|

I can't believe it's the end of January already. It has FLOWN by! I'm not sure how much I've actually accomplished really, but I've felt like it's been a reasonably good start to the year! 

I ran on New Year's Day, and have been a couple of times since. I still need to break my new trainers in though...I keep wimping out and using my old ones!! 

I've read five books:

1) Little Women

2) Jane Eyre

3) Sense and Sensibility

4) Throwaway 

5) American Sniper

A slightly odd selection there, but all enjoyable. It was nice to catch up on a few of the classics, some easy reading and I enjoyed reading American Sniper. I borrowed it from the gliding club on a whim. I've never read anything on the Iraq war, and it was interesting to hear about it from someone immersed in the fighting. All you hear otherwise is politics. I enjoy autobiographies. 

I've not sewn anything up yet, but I have purchased all the fabric for my petticoat (see my last blog post for sewing goals), plus the bondaweb for my aeroplane print skirt. 

I've been on quite a few walks which I've loved. Been so lucky with the weather! 

My best bits have been organisation. I've kept a diary every day so far this year, a meal plan and kept the calendar updated. I've also been treating my ear piercings with salt water twice a day as they were constantly being irritated and whenever I wore earrings I could only deal with them for an hour before they hurt too much, so that's been brilliant as they're almost fully healed now. 

I've had dinner out with a friend I've not caught up with enough recently and can't wait for monthly date nights now. 

Plus loads of dancing. Jazz Club and the Jive Club. I had a really amazing time seeing The Jive Aces in Clacton and would love to go and see them again. 

Plus my tax return is all done which makes me a happy bunny, and work has been, on the whole, good this month. Plenty done and plenty to do. 

February Goals?

- Better outfits in general, more planning when I go out. Earrings and accessorise more. 

- Outfit photos. Plus some nice ones for certain things for the blog! 

- More running. At least once a week would be good. 

Did you have a good January? 

Jo :) 

2016 Sewing Projects |Sewing|

I had six projects planned for 2016, but wasn't totally sure on one of them. Then circumstances conspired this January and I have an event at the end of February that I need a couple of things for. So item six was bumped, projects were rearranged and here we are! 

I wanted to set out these items to sew because they've all been on my list of "things I want" for ages. I still want them, so I might as well have a productive year! It doesn't mean I won't sew other things alongside hopefully, just that I want to get these done. Two months for each project, plenty of time to research, buy patterns and materials and sew the items. Which as you'll see are not always in one piece.... 

January February

Petticoat for Laura Ashley dress. 

Airplane prints circle skirt using vintage prints from VintagePleasure on Instagram. 

I want to wear the airplane prints skirt during the day at a conference and the dress in the evening for the dinner dance. My Vivien of Holloway petticoat is just too short for the skirt on the Laura Ashley dress and without spending a crazy amount on a bridal petticoat I'm at a loss. So dress net and ruffles on a handmade petticoat it is!!

The prints I saw on Instagram from ???? and just fell in love with. I'm hoping with some bondaweb they'll make an awesome statement skirt. 

March April

Ultra high waisted pencil skirt with detachable braces. 

From Collectif. 

I've seen similar to what I want all over the place in vintage repro stores, but nothing perfect. I hope I'll be able to recreate the picture in my head in fabric. I'm thinking interesting kick pleat, detailed top band, gorgeous fabric. It might be a bit ambitious!! 

May June

Grey silk cape and circle skirt. 

An old photo. The hat looks almost white here! 

I need to find the perfect fabric for this. I have a gorgeous grey silk pillbox hat with feathers and a veil, but it doesn't really go with anything I own... I want to remedy that and I reckon this could be a very chic outfit. Or total disaster. I've never sewn with silk. 

July August

Blue and white striped robe. 

Underwear and frillies! 

Taking inspiration right off the pattern envelope! It will also be kind of a muslin as I seriously need to do my Godmother's robe as I've had her fabric for literal years and not made it for her. A mixture of fear and laziness I think has held me back!! Terrible goddaughter!! 

Plus if there's time I'd like to play around with underwear and slips etc. Just for fun. It's my birthday month after all. 

September October

Grey woollen suit jacket, pencil skirt and pleated full circle skirt. 

Sorry about the terrible quality, it's the only one I can find!! 

When I saw this photo I completely fell in love with the look, but knew I'd probably never be able to afford a true vintage version as beautiful or even a repro version. Do they exist this gorgeous?

So I know I can sew circle skirts, and pencil skirts. It's just the jacket. So some clothing construction learning might be required. Which will be interesting at least. These two months are Definintely Ambitious. 

November December 

Quilted circle skirt. 

I can't remember where I first saw a quilted circle skirt. It was somewhere in blog land and true vintage. Gorgeous and as usual, way beyond my budget. 

Then Gertie and her fabulous blog popped up again recently with a tutorial for one. Dreams do come true. I'm terrible at actually following directions, so I might not totally stick to her instructions....it's the same basic idea though! Pretty fabrics and toasty legs! 

I hope I do get through them all this year. Fingers crossed. I get way laid easily!! 

What are your projects for this year? 

Jo :) 

New Year Resolutions |2016|

It's that time of year again and I'm sure most people have already written there's up, but here are my resolutions for this year. I think I kept two of last years. Going vegan and running a 5k. Which is pretty good going for me as I'm definitely one for good intentions and no results!

This year I want to:

Go to Paris. 

On my own. I've always wanted to see this city and through one thing and another it's not been possible with another person. So I'm romancing myself by going. I want to be a total tourist and see the sights, and maybe buy some fancy French underwear. I've already been looking at hotels and flights and dates, so I just need to save up some money and this will be a tick by the end of 2016! 

Go solo in a glider. 

Another long term aim of mine. This year will be my year. I've got a savings plan in place for this too and I'm hoping to rejoin my local club halfway through the year. Fingers crossed on this one as I can't imagine being left alone on charge of an aeroplane!! 

Learn German. 

Something else I should've done a long time ago. I'm going to get myself a dictionary and things again and aim for an easy one hour a week. Or perhaps look for a local class. I'd like to learn Italian or French too, but one language is pushing it a bit!! 

Run a 10k charity race. 

Probably the race for life again. I enjoyed it last year. This should really be just "run 10k" as I've never done that before, but it's good to have goals...

And finally I have six sewing projects I would like to complete this year that have been on my Want list for ages. That's a whole other post though, that will appear in due course. It's hopefully not the only sewing I'll do, but it is a guideline! 

Last year I made a list of things I hoped to try and accomplish, which I liked, that weren't really resolutions, but more ongoing challenges. I'm not sure that's really a difference, but maybe there's less pressure on these!! 2016's are:

Swear less (already going badly)

Better organisation (every year!!) 

Writing a daily summary in my diary. 

A whole #366happydays which you can see on my Instagram under #joshappy2016

Healthier eating (also every year...) 

Grow my hair out

Get more flexible for dancing

Learn more about clothing construction 

Sew some lingerie 

Remember birthdays. Seriously I need to work on this one!!! 

Have you made resolutions? Do you keep them? Good luck for 2016!

Jo :)

New Year, Vintage Laura Ashley |Outfit Post|

Hello lovely people! Or potentially just my Mum and Godmother! Thank you for the photos Rose!! It's a whole New Year again, it's a cliché but I have no idea where 2015 wooshed off to. I think I packed a fair bit in last year, and I hope this year will be even busier.

I seem to have started a couple of new traditions last year that I'd like to keep going in the future.

1) A New Years Day run is important. Start as you mean to go on.

2) I cook a spread out three course meal on New Years Eve.

3) I want to see the New Year in wearing a fabulous dress.

I found THE dress a couple of weeks before Christmas when I shouldn't really have been spending any money on anything other than presents, but it had to come home with me.

 

Lurking in the party dress range of a local charity shop (PDSA in Diss if you're nosy) was this stunning vintage Laura Ashley gown. I'm wearing my Vivien of Holloway petticoat underneath, but it's not really long enough!

 

The fabric is heavy and the print is gorgeous. It has glitter in the fabric somehow as it shimmers. A lovely sweetheart, strapless bodice and ballerina length skirt reminiscent of the 50s, even though this is definitely an 80s number.

 

 

I wore it with a yard of hand knotted ring pearls and matching bracelet from Roxana Jems (who'll be opening their doors at some point in2016), vintage lace gloves and my wonderful patent Pleaser stilettos. Although I succumbed to boots and a cardi (and other layers!!) to troop down to the Kelpies at midnight!!

 

 

These photos were taken earlier in the day as I needed a good photo record of just how gorgeous this dress is! It was a fun way to start the New Year!!

 

How was your New Year? Do you dress up or slob out? Both have equal appeal!!

Jo :)