My Home part 1

I spotted this post on TheCurvyWord's blog yesterday, and I thought I would show you all a little tour of my house, starting downstairs. 

I debated with a YouTube video - and I still might venture into that arena, but for now, I'll stick with recycled Instagram photos, with a few new ones thrown in!

I am tempted to say that this is my favourite view of my house, which goes to show the amount of work we've put in over the past 2 years!

The tiles, we lay them. The stairs, we carpeted them. That banister (or Lanister, as we call it!), we built it (as it was previously a wall!). 

Moving down my lovely little hallway, we have my front sitting room - not much work was needed in here, and this is the room I spend most of my time - the only room in the house with the TV! I do like this room, but after being my haven from all the work that needed doing, this is now starting to look in need of some TLC! 

The back sitting room is more like a show room (not that you can tell from the state of it at the moment), as it's not really somewhere I spend a lot of time. Once my desk area is tidied a little, I'm hoping I get the urge to sit and read or chat here. 

And my little kitchen. This is the room that's probably (definitely) had the most work, and it's not quite finished (it needs coving putting up around the ceiling and another lick of paint on the ceiling too!), but it's small, cute and functional - perfect :)

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

What is Meow Chat?

Apologies if anyone got an invite from me yesterday to join this latest social platform. 

I got an invite through Facebook to join my friend in this chat app. 

YAY I thought. Mixing my two favourite things: social media and cats. Perfect. Disclaimer - I'll be sticking with stalking the #catsofinstagram from now on!

So, my tea cooked, the house hoovered, and a load of washing in the machine (all after a days work - where's my halo?!), I sat down to investigate this site. 

It seems like a mix of old school 'random' chat rooms of the 1990s "A/S/L?, equal parts with chat roulette for a 'private' chat with a stranger. There seems to be a dash of Instagram included as well, which is interesting (not really, I'll just stick with Instagram!)

Within 5 minutes I had blocked (and reported) two people in my random generated chat room, and was called an ugly sl*g for asking where the cats were. 

I'm still wondering where the cats are! 

There are cat stickers, but Facebook Messenger has cat stickers. 

And that's about it. 

In my 10 minutes on there I've left with the opinion 'All marketing, no cats'. 

If you did see an invite from me, please ignore. I probably won't be using it again!

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Repurposing

Re-purposing seems to be one of those words you can not get away from right now! Just the same as upcycling (no, not riding a bike up hill) and distressing (no, not what happens when I accidentally step on the cat's tail!).

So, what is this re-purposing? 

Well, I'm a fan of the mystery bag. When companies offer £60 worth of products for £25 - but you don't know what you're getting!

It's like buying yourself a present, and you genuinely don't know what you're going to get!!

The likes of Tatty Devine do it once or twice a year, but smaller companies do it to. 

The drawbacks though, well, what if you've already got that item? Or if it's a ring, and it's too small? Or in my case, a bracelet, and it's too small?

There is only so much regifting (putting it in my Christmas draw and hoping to have someone to give it to by then!), a girl can do. 

So, faced with a challenge of 'make it WORK', I set to task!

First up was the hair slide. 

I have bright red hair, and there are just some colours I don't want to put near it. Also, I have my mother's voice ringing in my head saying 'Mother's special girl' - and not in a good way.

Excusing my steamed up lenses, but my ASOS Swing Shirt seemed a perfect match for Mr Battenburg - and while I loved it, I did get a few funny comments in the office! But, hair slide as brooches and the like? I LIKE!

Next up was a charm bracelet (similar here). It just did not sit right on me, so I set about with a pair of pliers and...

Sorry about my freshly cleansed face, but ta daaaaa!

Once my Mam saw what I had managed, I was swiftly given this little job to do:

So, re-purposing - it really is a thing :)

I'm now looking for more things to try to mix up a little!

Now, where is my glue gun...

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Suits You - Sally-Anne

After having such fun working on Suits You last month, I'm super excited to style the gorgeous Sally-Anne! 

I've had a bit of a stalk of her recent outfit posts, and spotted that she's another floral loving gal. From jumpsuits to swing dresses, crop tops to bubble hems, she seems fearless in trying whatever takes her fancy!

So, I went with what I know, and that is office chic! (Ha, I hope anyway!)

One great thing about this challenge is that price is no object!

ASOS Geometric Monochrome Scuba Skater dress - £38

Simply Be Blazer - £35

Evans T Bar Court Shoes - £20

Red Herring @ Debenhams Satchel - £28

Tatty Devine London Bus Necklace - £30

Cath Kidston Scotty Dog Brooch - £6

£157 for the whole outfit doesn't seem that excessive, especially as these are separates that I'd love to rock on their own as well as together!

The other wonderful ladies who are styling each other are:

Patricia

Nikki

Katherine

Vicky

Steph

Felicity

Sally-Anne

Lisa-Marie

Kitty

Leah

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Fun Times in London

At the start of the week, I had the pleasure of heading down to London for my filming on The Chase - a UK TV Quiz show on ITV.

It was a super nerve wracking experience, but so much fun! 

For obvious reasons, I can't reveal much from the day itself. Even worse, my phone / camera / DS was taken off me straight away, meaning I haven't got many photos from the day itself (other than a signed picture of Bradley, as well as a picture of the Chaser I was up against!). It was AWFUL not being able to check my phone throughout the day, and Instagram EVERYTHING!

Once I got home at 10pm, I did manage to snap a quick snap of the outfit combination:

Prom Dress from Simply Be (Gifted)

LMD Cardigan (no longer available)

Which was super comfortable and clashing - perfect!

I had my makeup on on the day, and multiple reapplications during filming as my glasses were steaming up, and makeup sliding off my face under the lights!

Bradley was super lovely, and we were all made to feel wonderfully at home and supported throughout the process. 

My episode won't be on until early next year, but don't worry, I'll let you all know when you can catch me on the telly!

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

South Tyneside Summer Festival and GirlGuidingUK

After a bit of a traumatic Friday night, I dusted myself off and headed out to South Shields Town Hall for the Catherine Cookson Festival (not called that any more, but shhhhh). The festival is meant to mark the start of the summer activities in the town, with a parade down Fredrick Street and along Ocean Road to the Seafront. It ends at Bents Park, where there is a funday waiting to start, with stalls and activities and bands, to kick of the Summer with style!

I was met by 8 of my 12 Brownies, and we joined a sea of yellow (off set with Red for Rainbows and Navy Blue for Guides and Guiders!), and off we marched!

It was, this year more than most, an honour to march through crowds (sometimes 3 deep), and hearing them turn and comment as to how many Brownies there were, or how much yellow.

My little pack has a waiting list to join. As does my Mam's. More and more girls want to join our movement, but we simply don't have the leaders to support it. 

If you, or your daughter, want to join, either as a unit helper, or thinking of becoming a warranted Guider, visit the Girl Guiding website. 

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Joe Browns for Fashion World

Joe Browns have always something in that appeals to the alternative teenager in me, the vintage loving 20-something, and the nearly 30 but DON'T CARE in me!

When the lovely folks at FashionWorld offered me some items to review, the Joe Browns section was my first port of call!

Yes, you see right, I CHOSE JEANS!

And what jeans they are too!

Good bum coverage, they sit high on my waist (but roomy!), and a good length for my odd height! I went for size 22, but with 31" length - happy days!

 

I also picked up the beaut that is this owl print tunic:

Are owls really super heroes in masks and capes?

Maggie the Photo-bombing cat certainly approves!

I opted for this Vintage Tea Dress too, mainly for the print, but also as the bodice appeared to be rather structured in the photo:

When I pulled it on, I felt I had worn the dress before:

So it's the same cut, but a different print! Happy days!

To add to my stash, I picked up this bright crinkle jersey shirt, thinking it would be lush with jeans, or with a pair of straight legged trousers. Due to the weather recently I've not worn this yet, but I'm rather looking forward to the weather turning so I can throw it on and bring some colour into the office!!

But when I was out at the Simply Be store in the Metro Centre, I couldn't resist buying this Colourful Coral 50s too:

Joe Browns have something for everyone. For my androgynous teen, to my flirty femme persona now, I feel the brand covers the alternatives to mainstream fashion rather well!

Much love my lovelies, 

K x