Hot stuff

July 29, 2013Leave a comment

Not a glamorous outfit I have to admit BUT needs must!

I don’t know what it is about steamy hot summer hols but people relax and lose inhibitions they have back home. Stiffly dressed execs chill in shorts by the pool and become different people.

I would never wear this get up in UK but it was 33 degrees on this morning’s run! Revealing my midriff is not something I relish and to be honest I hate. But after threw kiddiewinks even if I worked out forever I’m never going to have a washboard hey ho.

Running in this made me realise how easy blokes have it when they simply don shorts and trainers! I felt so much cooler and feeling the breeze across my body really cooled me down. Sounds too obvious to state! Sod high tech uber expensive breathable tops – back to basics au naturale is the future!

Sizzle in the sun

July 24, 2013July 24, 2013Leave a comment

Why can I still not be responsible in the sun?! My kids are milky white with factor 50 slapped on every hour but I have an uncontrollable tendency to fry!

Yes, I’m naturally dark, but yes I also burn and today was the day (day 5 of hol) when I sizzled in the sun 😦

I think I have a burn bravado pseudo personality! And I know a lot of us have this streak-but in the evening we soon retreat to reality with the after sun and glorious nighttime glow!

Today it was the back – my excuse is I couldn’t reach it but really I got engrossed in a book 🙂

So tonight’s outfit was a black full length maxi from Next to hide a multitude of tanning sins! Hidden support was a bonus as the morning run and an overdose in sun made for a huge appetite! Gold and twisted thread hansa necklace and Victoria Beckham sunglasses

God damn bargain

July 23, 2013Leave a comment

Love mixing high street with bits of bling and I couldn’t resist this holiday bargain of the century from H&M! Striped bandeau dress £7.99 yes £7.99! Teamed it beach hair, gold vintage jewellery and Michael Kors clutch.

Great night with live music whilst kiddies played around a beautiful fountain in the square. Who cares what Peter Pan is up to!

Spanish sequins

July 22, 2013July 24, 2013Leave a comment

Headed out sans kids! Met some friends in La Manga Club and their parents kindly offered to babysit 🙂 headed to new restaurant and bar Ampersand. A cool mix of al fresco dining with club that caters for all with a downstairs music lounge, massage, tattoo and fashion boutique. Feeling very grown up without the kids! Drank fizz followed by a stunning rabbit (a first!) paella. A real treat.

Opted for sequinned Pacha River Island play suit with jewelled flip flops and Stella McCartney handbag

Sun Sangria Single

July 21, 2013July 21, 2013Leave a comment

Day one of solo mum hol went swimmingly.

Now, what to wear on a sun-soaked Spanish evening out with the mini munchbunch. You want to feel good and make the most of going out-partly practical partly glam (who needs an excuse to glam it up?!) but no way wanting to encroach on tramp-like! Would defo get odd looks from the wives! The look: wet hair fresh from day at pool, Diesel puffball cotton dress to hide odd tan lines, Replay belt, acupuncture flip flops (determined to finish hol with perfect posture!).

Having the chance to have late chilled nights in open air restaurants is all part of the fun on holiday, it’s very different when single with kids….still huge fun BUT you don’t get any adult interaction. I suppose its still rare to see a single parent of three out in the evening, so I find it a great chance to focus solely on the children with no other diversions. When the kids make friends and go off to play then that’s when it feels weird as you’re surrounded by couples and families, but even then I just relaxed into it and tonight was great.

Tonight we sat out by a fountain drinking fizz (me!) and having huge ice creams 🙂

Travel style

July 21, 2013July 21, 2013Leave a comment

The all important travel outfit x4!

Never easy to stay smart, comfortable and kids stain-free throughout. Trick is simple, fuss-free especially with airports asking you to literally strip off if you beep!

Keeping the kids cool, clean and looking half decent is a trick in itself and I do admit to feeling proud when they behave and look good too 🙂 blame my grandmother’s Victorian standards! Gold stars for the kids they were fab from start to finish.

The two boys donned trilbys and matching Gap shirts with trendy Toms whilst the Princess Diva that is my daughter (not sure where she gets that from!) swished her way through the crowds in a cool cotton joules dress and straw hat.

Me. A thin bright neon jersey dress from H&M (this summer bargain less than £10!) which was a tad too hot in the queues but then a bit chilly on the plane-never can win that travel battle unless you carry numerous layers which is not for me-bag was already filled with kiddie entertainment and essentials, no space spare! Matching neon shopper, acupuncture flip flops (comfy but not sure if their medical benefits kicked in!) and striped straw hat from Accesorize.

100 minute hour

January 30, 2012January 30, 2012Leave a comment

My two youngest still nap for an hour at lunch, this is my saving grace when it comes to keeping ahead and yes, they could probably manage without it now and again but I definitely couldn’t! I usually plan in my head in the morning exactly what I want to fit into that time frame and it ensures I’m chilled with the kids because I don’t have numerous chores to fit in when they want to play.

Example – this Saturday I had a big girls night out, so Friday lunch hour:

12.30 – put a colour on my hair

12.45 – topped up my Shellac nail colour from Christmas

12.55 – mopped the kitchen

hair dyed, nails done..on to the mopping!

13.00 – loaded the washing machine ready to turn on when kiddiwinks awake

13.03 – emailed local nightclub to organise VIP entrance (girl’s nights out are such a treat it had to be done haha!)

13.05- tweezered my brows

13.10 – showered and rinsed hair, body brushed and face scrubbed!

13.20 – epilated under arms

13.22 – hung evening outfit up

13.25 – took Saturday’s meals out of freezer to defrost

13.26 – put roast chicken in oven for tea

13.28 – kettle on and cup of coffee made

13.30 – kids up!

Now that, pre-kids, would have taken at least a day and a half!

I could have easily tried to fit that around the kids on Saturday but will have undoubtedly not achieved half of it in double the time and it left me Friday night for my first bootcamp session – the pain!!

Roll on…

January 18, 2012January 18, 2012Leave a comment

va va volume with velcro rollers

Adding some va va volume doesn’t need a visit to the salon, simply two minutes and a handful of velcro rollers whilst the kids are eating breakfast!

The added bonus is that it is always better with at least one-day old hair as freshly washed hair is too smooth and slippy 😉

Grab the biggest velcro rollers you can and simply separate your hair into sections, slightly backcomb each section and roll the hair around the rollers. It literally is a two minute job. I then leave them in until I am about to load the kids into the car. It is a’just stepped out of a salon’ moment! Sprtiz a bit of hairspray, work with your fingers and away you go.

These are my favourites which I use:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Denman-TCR4-Thermoceramic-Self-Rollers/dp/B0047ZDCHM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1326917653&sr=8-2

Just Browsing

January 17, 2012January 30, 20121 Comment

The fairer beauties amongst us are far more aware of the importance of framing our faces with strong brows – especially as the years roll on, framing our ‘delicate’ bone structures becomes more and more important 😉

Being dark, I have simply focused on combatting the perils of bushy brows and tweaking the shape (always have tweezers near every mirror in the house in case I spot a stray!).

I have only recently realised the benefits of simply adding extra pigment to my brows can wake my face up dramatically. Now when I don’t apply any other make-up I still frame my brows and apply mascara.

before and after

I love mineral make-up and this one is my must-have brow kit so far http://janeiredale.com/eyebr_bbk.html

It is so easy to use, doesn’t look overly applied and the three brushes each do their job perfectly.

Hattrick

January 14, 2012January 14, 2012Leave a comment

Gap hat and snood, Monsoon cape, Osprey handbag, CK jeans, Russell & Bromley boots

Wet and windy, greasy, beach-bum – hats can be the epitome of style and cover sinful ‘slap head’ hair!

On casual days, if I can get away with it, a hat is a must. It immediately gives the impression you’ve made an effort.

Today was a greasy day 😉

Boys joined in with gorgeous Monsoon headgear.

The Monsoon mohair wrap is several years old and I don’t know what I will do without it as the quality of the mohair would make anyone feel like a sumptuous Snow Queen!

Hint – decent quality handbag with cute detail lifts a casusal outfit ten-fold. This Osprey has great chunky leather stitching.