Day 972 - No Time To Sleep, Yo It's On Tonight

Shoes: Gold distressed 'Spatz' Irregular Choice

This was my first time out of the house today since Christmas. I've been really suffering the after effects of doing a little more than usual over the festive period (although still tame by normal standards), so it was nice to get some fresh air. I didn't spend too long getting ready because it was raining and I was actually convinced I wouldn't get out in a dry spell at all (but I did). Then on the way home I got accosted by this old lady smelling of wee! Honestly, three times I tried to get away from her by taking a step to the side and trying to walk away and every time she BLOCKED me! It was getting ridiculous. I realise she's probably lonely and I was polite but I was running out of patience.  I don't like strangers invading my personal space, touching me and when I obviously made a move to go and she moved to stand in my way (more than once), I was getting really frustrated. She was quite literally pawing at me, telling me all about what she's had done at the hospital and asking me so many questions about where I live, why I had a walking stick, where I'd been, while pulling at my scarf and coat and admiring my boots and hair. Yeah I was glad to get home!

Wearing: Printed dress and leggings Primark, cardigan Bonmarche.
Fit: True to size (the buttons do come out if you need to get on and off), 4 1/4" heel.
Comfort: No problems with these.

Day 971 - My Baby's Coming Home For Christmas

Shoes: 'Dreamy' Santa heels Irregular Choice 

Another day, another Santa heeled outfit! This was Christmas day and for once I wasn't organised at all with what I was going to wear. At the last moment, I spied this gorgeous Coast dress which I bought a while ago having tried it on ("just to see if it fits"). Turns out I couldn't leave Debenhams without it! It was rather pricey (or at least more than I'd normally pay for a dress) and I've never really had the right occasion for it yet. I don't think you can properly see how pretty it is here, it's gorgeous in real life with a full skirt and net layered underneath.  So, I would normally pair it with bright pink shoes or something that blends, but my Mum insisted I wear my Santa heels to show my nephews (I got a grunt from them at most). They actually looked quite cute even though I wouldn't usually wear blue with black (you know how fussy I am with that). I was pretty shattered from the get-go on Christmas having overdone it a bit on Christmas Eve, so didn't enjoy it very much. It didn't feel much like Christmas either. We didn't stay too late at my sisters, but I still felt like hell yesterday. In agony all over and completely exhausted. So much so that I contemplated being sick at 2am this morning when I couldn't sleep for the gale outside, but thankfully got a good sleep after that, hence the productive day today! I'm glad Santa let me have these shoes early, because I've certainly had my wear this year!  How was your Christmas?

Wearing: 'Kayleigh' floral dress Coast, blue fishnet tights House of Holland, stag ring Primark, stag (smaller) ring and hare ring (part of set) Topshop, green and blue bow vintage brooch my Granny's, blue jewelled hair clip gift, Christmas bracelets left in my stocking from Santa, green Charming bag Love Moschino.
Fit: Quite small fitting, so I opted for the size up. 4 1/2" heel.
Comfort: The lining of the shoes is a little scratchy after a long period, but no real issues with them.

Day 970 - Her Beauty In The Moonlight Overthrew You

Shoes: 'Dreamy' Santa heels Irregular Choice 

Hello my lovelies. I hadn't realised my previous Christmas message was actually my 1000th post, although we still have "Day 1000" to come! That was a nice sentiment to mark the occasion even if it did happen entirely by accident! Onto this outfit and this was Christmas Eve. What a day that was. We've been battling gales and I'm usually all for a little adverse weather action, but this time it was just plain scary. You could hear the wind building like a tornado in the sky (I'd imagine) and then blasting everything. It was whipping, the noise was incredible and you could feel the house move with every blast. All I can say is our half built extension must be made of strong stuff that it's not crumbled before now (along with our church which is currently covered in scaffolding-it took some guts walking under that)! I had two church services to attend (the evening Christingle and then the 'midnight' carol service later). I actually changed into my star/moon Henry Holland dress (seen here), leggings and gold Irregular Choice 'Spatz' boots (seen here) for that as it looked too cold and windy for this outfit (too dark for photos of that at 11pm I'm afraid)! For day, I ended up not wearing these earrings for fear of taking off with the wind and they're a little bit too expensive to lose.  I changed into my Mawi green jewelled ones instead (seen here) which are much more weighty and I took my ASOS green book clutch (seen here) which I forgot to photograph.  I'm a bit undecided with these earrings...they are massive (as they are supposed to be), I'm not sure if they feel too 'novelty' for me.  I'm not sure my neck is long enough for them!

Wearing: Floral wiggle dress ASOS, gold star tights and green marabou clip earrings House Of Holland.  
Fit: Quite small fitting, so I opted for the size up. 4 1/2" heel.
Comfort: The lining of the shoes is a little scratchy after a long period, but no real issues with them.

Thank You & Merry Christmas

Blogging is a funny old thing. From my own personal experience (and I've been doing this for quite some time now), it can consume most of my day (to the point that I have no idea how working peeps do it), it's unpaid, it can cost a lot of money (blog maintenance and the constant shopping factor...ok that last one would probably happen with or without blogging) and it's definitely not all parties and freebies. At times the tech side or situations outside my control can get really stressful and it's a constant, never ending cycle of thinking up new posts, taking the photos, writing, editing and doing so all before it's 'old news'! You become creative director, editor, writer, photographer, stylist, model, PR, product tester and proof reader. I'll be the first to admit, it's bloody hard work!
That said, I genuinely love it and couldn't imagine my life without it. Actually, I had no life before it! I've been ill for 11 and a half years now and blogging has given me something fun and worthwhile to focus on. I give myself deadlines and have schedules to keep to.  I get up and dressed and look forward to documenting it, when I'd probably have stayed in my jammies before blogging.  I'm no longer able to sew, design or draw and my social life is extremely limited, so finding something I'm capable of doing right now whilst linking to fashion (and beauty) is a dream come true. For a while I felt like I'd lost myself and any talent I had was wasted. Blogging for me, is not only an escape from my situation but it's also given me this wonderful group of friends from fellow bloggers to readers. I'll go weeks only speaking to my family at home, so having this social aspect, even if it is virtual is brilliant for me.  I really do hope at some point, I can meet some of you in 'real life'.  At times it can feel like you're working for nothing or nobody is reading and I know I'm not the most successful blogger (however you'd measure that) and I also know I'm probably not capable of attending the fancy events that can lure in a wider readership.  However, I hope there's something here that keeps you coming back and I want to thank you all for the support over the past year.  I read and try to reply to every single comment, email and message.  You have no idea how it brightens my day when I log in to find some new comments.  I hope you've all had a happy and safe Christmas if you celebrate and wish the best for you and your families in 2014.

Day 969 - Where The Tree Tops Glisten

Shoes: Green 'Venus' Irregular Choice 

Yesterday I was going back to the dentist and after wearing my Santa shoes last time, I decided on a non-Christmassy (fabric) pair. However, we've been suffering from wild gales and rain, so I decided rather than ruin those shoes I'd change into the more rain-friendly Venus pair. Of course I'd already taken all my outfit photos, so had to delete them and by the time I got home, it was too dark to re-shoot as there was no (and I mean no) daylight all day yesterday. So we're a little light on outfit photos for this post, sorry!  I ended up getting an injection at the dentist which I wasn't expecting, then came out to a total storm which wrecked my hair (even after fashioning my scarf 'Mary style' around my head). Plus she sprayed the hell out of my face with that water thing and I'm sitting there thinking "I spent however long doing my makeup today...why?"!

Wearing: Barbie 'Festive Friends' t-shirt, pencil skirt and limited edition necklace Primark, cardigan Red Herring at Debenhams, alphabet fishnets House of Holland, green charming bag Love Moschino.
Fit: Run slightly large (not enough to go down a size), 4 1/4" heel and small concealed platform.
Comfort: Very comfy and easy to walk in.

Day 968 - You Can't Fight The Tears That Ain't Coming

Shoes: 'Dreamy' Santa heels Irregular Choice 

Wednesday I had a check-up at the dentist. They always love my shoes there, so I just knew I had to wear my Santa heels. That meant wearing them two days running, which I'd usually try and avoid, but I couldn't exactly wear Christmas shoes for my next appointment in 6 months could I? As it turns out, I have to go back and she (annoyingly) fitted me in right before Christmas (Monday), so I could've saved my Dreamy heels until then! I was mighty flustered this day because my hair wasn't sitting right and I didn't have much time to get ready. Then the waiting room was packed and we had to wait 20 minutes, so I was getting very irritated.  It was one of those days where everyone was annoying me!  Anyway moan over, it's very difficult to photograph the back of your own feet showing off these heels (if you didn't already guess).  I wanted a completely different angle from yesterday though.  

Wearing: Heart 'Betty' dress Swan by Clements Ribeiro, polka dot tights Evans, patent belt taken from another dress, hairband Limited Edition at Primark.
Fit: Quite small fitting, so I opted for the size up. 4 1/2" heel.
Comfort: The lining of the shoes is a little scratchy after a long period, but no real issues with them.

Day 967 - Every December Your Star Lights The Sky

Shoes: 'Dreamy' Santa heels Irregular Choice 

It's surprising how quickly you can get out of a routine. My posts here have been somewhat irregular and it's down to too much going on around me. With builders in and out, constant deliveries and people popping in, I just can't concentrate to write a proper post and edit photos. Plus, like I say, I haven't been out all that much either, so there's been nothing to post! On Tuesday my friend and her little boy came through and we went out for tea and cake and swapped Christmas gifts and cards. It was nice to get properly dressed, even if it was a quick outing. It wasn't entirely relaxing (not why we left), as the place we went to was very busy and noise is really irritating for me when I'm used to being in the quiet (ish). Then the waitress dropped and smashed several plates right behind me onto the tiled floor. I was actually glad to get home for some peace although I did feel like I got all dressed up for nothing. Nobody besides my friend, even noticed my Santa heels! I guess locally they are all accustomed to my silly outfits, so it's when I go further afield that I get a big reaction!

Wearing: 'Grace' lace dress Swan by Clements Ribeiro, leopard fishnet tights House of Holland, cardigan Red Herring at Debenhams, green clip-on earrings Mawi, Once Upon A Time book clutch and elephant belt ASOS, mermaid and seahorse rings bought locally, midi ring (part of set) Miss Selfridge, other ring my Grannys.
Fit: Quite small fitting, so I opted for the size up. 4 1/2" heel.
Comfort: The lining of the shoes is a little scratchy after a long period, but no real issues with them.