Braving the outside world

As today felt like the 768th day in a row that we had not ventured outside I was glad of the opportunity to meet up with some friends from our baby group for a cuppa and a chat. We   only got round the corner but it was outside the same four walls so I felt a bit excited and it was lovely to see everyone. It is so nice to speak to people in the same situation as you, to chat about what our babies have been up to, I am very lucky to have such fabulous friends dotted all over the place!

If I'm honest I didn't need to make much of an effort when getting dressed as we were literally going to be sat around (making a mess - babies!) I put on my Next denim jeans as I had not worn them for a while and wanted to see if I liked them enough to include in the 30/30 challenge, turns out they have gone back in the wardrobe! Wasn't fussed enough about them to include them in one of my precious 30. I really struggle with jeans and am never happy with them, I seem to like a pair for a few wears and then go off them.

I also wore a red, white and navy striped t-shirt which I had from Gap a few months ago with the intention of pairing it with a red skirt but I think the cut of the t-shirt is wrong for the style of the skirt and I don't actually like how it hangs off my shoulders. Now I have worn it a few times I realise it is meant to be a looser style and I'm just not loving it. 

I have been thinking again, tonight about the challenge. I am waiting on the arrival of a dress I ordered in October but has only just been sent as it is from the Boden spring collection. I am hoping that this will fit and that it can become a versatile item for the challenge. Hopefully it will be here by the end of the week. I will take some photos tomorrow and post what I have chosen so far.

New years day

We spent the morning putting away the Christmas tree and decorations, it felt so nice to clear everything up. I don't know what is nicer, the excitement of putting them all or the clean uncluttered feeling after taking them down! It feels like we have some space for once which is no easy thing with all of us in a 2 bedroom terrace.

After that we went over to my Aunts with the rest of my family for a new years day lunch. I wore one of the new tops I had for Christmas from White Stuff. It has little cats printed all over it. I wore a necklace that also has a cat on it that I had last Christmas from Hobbs. I also wore my red jeans from Next.

There is an outside?!

As the twins and myself had not ventured out the house in two days we thought we'd make an effort and go to our baby group. This did mean that I actually needed to get dressed, unlike yesterday, hence no post. I don't think there is any need to show my Minnie Mouse pj's on here!

I put on my red skinny jeans from Next and almost instantly George rubbed his dairylea covered hand all over my leg! It seems that I am destined to wash there jeans every single time I wear them. I also wore a top from H&M that I got at the weekend with a 25% off voucher making it a bargain £9.99. It is a very fine linen fabric and I am slightly concerned that it will easily snag. It was very comfy to wear and I can see this going well with a number of things in my wardrobe. It also came in a black and grey colourway and I was unsure at first but am glad my sister persuaded me not only to buy it but to get this peachy colour. I did find myself wishing that I had got the cream and red 'wintery' pattern cardigan that she got as it would have matched this outfit well and I was a bit cold!

Initially I put on the necklace that my Mum brought me back from Banana Republic in New York but decided that it didn't mix well with twins and left it at home!

A grey day

We didn't have anything planned today so those pesky twins and I spent the day inside playing (and doing housework for me - yawn) and putting up the Christmas tree. I am so excited for our first Christmas as a little family and the twins have been thoroughly spoilt!

I put on my baggy old boyfriend jeans from Next years ago, a grey t-shirt from Uniqlo (similar) and an old pink White Stuff vest. This was completed with my lovely Minnie Mouse slippers! And to add a little bling, just to make me smile on a dull day, my sparkly ring from Primark.

Off to lovely yoga in a few mins so a short and sweet post tonight.

Fabulous footwear

As I was going through the photos for this blog post I realised that I had taken the same photo, twice in one day, but with different shoes. I obviously felt at the time of 'snapping' that my footwear was a crucial part of the outfit. Of course, anyone who knows me knows that this is absolutely the case! I do admit that since the twins came along I seem to wear far more practical shoes than I ever have before and actually consider comfort over style most days, how my life has changed! When I worked in an office I thought nothing of planning an outfit around my shoes and gave not one thought to comfort or practicality. In fact as we had a uniform, and a manager who seemed to frown upon anything fashionable, this was my way of injecting some excitement into a dull job!

I do spend time now looking at all my beautiful shoes and wondering when I will go anywhere to wear them, I'm not sure gold stilettos will fit in at the baby group? Times are so bad that I recently bought a pair of high and impractical heels only to return them a few days later thinking that in reality I will not wear them and they were a waste of money. I know that as with everything times change and before I know it I will be back in my dancing shoes, until then I can look at them and enjoy all their memories!

Anyway, I digress from the outfits! These are actually from yesterday. Today I have worn my yoga pants and a t-shirt all day, no make up and not even brushed my hair. We took the twins swimming this morning and then pottered around doing some chores and playing with the twins so had no need for anything else. In fact, my family joked 'didn't I want my photo taken for my blog today?' - I don't think anyone needs to see that thank you!

I went with my parents and the twins to Leicester and was excited to visit their John Lewis. Again, those of you who know me know that I love love love John Lewis, I can't help it, my sister and I were brought up shopping there and there is nothing you cannot find. It is my first, and sometimes only, port of call on a shopping trip and can't imagine living somewhere without one! Again, I digress...I wore my Boden spotted skirt with my navy Gap (similar) cardigan and Boden vest. I also wore the grey Calvin Klein tights I got in Tkmaxx and my Office blue brogues (similar). I have had these for a few years but rarely wear them and I am not sure why as I always think that they look cute. I do find that whenever I wear them people seem to stare at my feet as if they are thinking 'she is wearing blue shoes' and I'm not sure why as they are not exactly unusual? I also wore a vintage necklace that I got from my little vintage and retro shop in Beeston.

Just in case you were thinking that this post wasn't long enough already I have another outfit to show! Hubby and I actually went out together with out the twins last night whilst my parents babysat. We went to the Library at Beeston for some dinner. If you haven't been here we thoroughly recommend it. They do a selection of mini meals from which you pick a few and share them. We then went to see Great Expectations at the cinema which we really enjoyed. I had about, oh 3 minutes to get ready and put on a lace top from H&M and an old Gap denim skirt as well as my tan knee high boots I had years ago from Next.

Twins

Today I needed to go into work to sort out about going back after my maternity leave. I have been very lucky to have been off with my beautiful twins as long as I have been and still have a few months left with them before returning part time. The twins seemed to behave well other than a small sick incident!

I put on my red Next jeans (similar) and a simple white t-shirt that I got from The White Company at Bichester Village, it was a bargain price of £15 instead of £35. I like the sleeves which add a bit of interest to a simple t-shirt. I dug out my Tesco mustard yellow jacket which I had a couple of years ago, I like the combination of the red and yellow. I wore my brown Uggs as well.

I forgot to mention that yesterday was 1 year since we found out that we were having not one, but two amazing little babies! We had been for the 12 week scan and been told the fantastic news. How much our lives have changed since that day. There is only one thing better than a lovely little baby and that's two and I could not have wished for a better pair, they are my absolute world and we love them a million times over.

Looks I'm loving - peplum

I have been loving peplum style tops for a while now but am unsure if they would suit me as they stick out at the hips and I'm not sure I want to wear something that sticks anything out. Surely this goes against the way that us girls normally dress? Anyway, I have been browsing a few and have found 3 covering different price points. What do you think?

Splurge - Whistles £85

 Save - Zara £9.99

Midway - Next £24

Looks I'm loving...dresses

I really love wearing dresses, I think they are so versatile and there is one for every occasion. I am always drawn to them and like to style them not as perhaps they were meant, for example making a dressier dress more casual with trainers and a cardigan.

The top one is from NW3 at Hobbs and it could be worn in so many ways. I think that it is quite smart but with having to wear a uniform for work and the rest of my time with my family I don't really need 'office' wear. I would wear this with tights and a cardi or long sleeved t-shirt under and some flat pumps. That said, at nearly £100 it is pretty expensive for a simple jersey dress.

The gold dress is also from Hobbs and I absolutely love it but again have no occasion to wear it and therefore cannot justify the price tag of £160 (in the sale!) I think it is so pretty and would look amazing with some spiky heels for a wedding or nice meal. Alas, this is also staying in store.

The final dress I have seen is from Next and is not something I would normally look at but it seemed to catch my eye. It is more reasonably priced, I think at £60. I love the colour and shape and think it would be really flattering. This dress has some good reviews on the website too. I love it when sites let customers review their products, I spend ages reading them and try to write one myself when I purchase something as I think it can really help when choosing an item. Boden are amazing for this but recently Next, Hobbs, M&S and White Stuff have been doing the same.

Looks I'm loving...

Here are the latest bits that I have my eye on. I love this necklace from Hobbs with its cute wishbone detailing. The boots are from Next and I think that they would work with pretty much everything that I own and am really tempted with them. I wonder how I can convince hubby that I need, NEED them! I love the kind of distressed look. Finally I love this cute hedgehog t-shirt also from Hobbs. I have 2 of their animal t-shirts and they are such lovely quality, they fit and wash well. I really don't need this one but think it is fab all the same and I have a bit of a thing for animal prints on clothing and accessories.

A day in my life

I saw a post on another blog that I read where they had taken photos to outline their day. There are a few sites around where you can complete a blogging challenge, for example wear a certain colour, answer questions, take photos of certain things etc. I have never actually taken part in one on the actual day but decided to give this one a go today.

My lovely twins are 6 months old today. I can't believe where the time has gone, to think this time 6 months ago we were in hospital and I was attached to a hospital bed with two new babies laying in the cot next to me. We all headed to the zoo with my lovely friend and her friends who have been very welcoming to hubby and myself whenever we have seen them. 

I think that the photos I took throughout the day pretty much speak for themselves! And they seem to mainly involve feeding the twins!

Oh and for those of you who are interested in the clothes, my jumper is from Next, gilet from the Gap outlet at MacArthur Glen, denim skirt from Gap, t-shirt from Primark, thick fleece lined tights and Mulberry Anthony bag.

Looks I am loving...

Here is the first of my new blog posts about the looks I like, items I am considering buying and anything else that catches my attention. Let me know what you think of the new idea.

All the clothes below are from Next. I am seriously considering a leather pencil skirt but am not actually sure when I would wear it? Lets face it, I generally only wear jeans and trainers these days! This one is actually not leather and is only £28, it has some great reviews and people have commented that it looks and feels like leather so it may be a good compromise. 

I also love this lace look, this skirt is so pretty and I love the mix of textures and style when teamed with the denim shirt. I actually already own two denim shirts, a light one like this from Gap and a darker Ralph Lauren one. I would be more likely to wear this with some dark tights and heels or, for a more casual look, with some flat pumps.