Twinkle twinkle little star (jumpers)...

I'm so sorry to have been away for so long. Last week was bonkers busy and the nights that I wasn't working were taken up with fireworks and wedding anniversary celebrations so it was all good - just busy. I would love to have time to write about gorgeous winter coats, the best winter boots, party outfits and all sorts of other things but for now, I'm afraid, we're talking jumpers.

I love a good chunky jumper for when the weather gets cold and I've already had huge amounts of wear out of this funnel neck shaker sweater from GAP (£39.95).  Here I paired it with my also much worn pleated skirt from Topshop (look here for similar), which I still plan on getting plenty of wear out of throughout the winter.

OK so the light gives me a slightly alien like glow but here I wore the jumper under this sleeveless Zara coat that I've had for a few winters now. On that particular day it was warm enough to get away with it. I'm not so sure about today however. Brrrrr.

Or for a casual take, it works quite well with track pants - these are silky ones from Topshop - and sneaker boots. Ooooh, I do love a winter jumper that goes with everything! I know that I will wear it to death and how well it will fare after this winter I'm not so sure but for now? Well, I'm just living in the moment.

The GAP honeycomb cable knit sweater (£44.95) is a great alternative for those who don't like the idea of a funnel neck...

...and all things star related are always a winner! For people who aren't fans of print, or colour, stars are wonderfully accessible and just a little bit cool. So start off with, there's this GAP star crew neck sweater (£39.95) which is a great price.

Or new in there's this HUSH twilight jumper (£85). A cream jumper is also another favourite of mine, especially with gold stars - just not near to tomato soup, or beetroot. But this jumper is a fabulous option for those who choose not to head down the whole "Christmas dressing" route but who want something with a little bit of detail.

There's also a star jumper in Baukjen (£115) which I like because it has a different style about it. The v-neck is so much more flattering on some shapes and the longer length means that it works so well with skinnies.

But this is what I'm really after - the M&S star jumper (£25). It won't be overly warm but it will be great for layering...

...or maybe perhaps the M&S star roll neck jumper (£35)

We seem to be back to chunky jumpers, just with stars on them!

Keeping it warm but silky....

I'm never quite sure why I think that I will achieve so much more in the holidays, than in term time. After all these years you would have thought that I would have learned that having three children at home means that I have less time available to blog, instagram, exercise and catch up on things that I think that I will have time to catch up on. It's not that I don't love having them around, far from it. I love doing lots of baking, being taught how to play games on the wii, going for walks and to the cinema I'm just like an elephant but in reverse....they never forget. I never remember.

So now that I've got that off my chest, I'm going to share one of my favourite ways of wearing something pretty whilst keeping warm. At heart I'm a girl who loves pretty things - lace, bows, frills, sequins, they all appeal but it's how to wear them in the colder months and remain warm.

One thing that I have mastered over the years, well insofar as I've mastered anything, is the art of layering. True, it's not much of a skill but you know, it all counts.

So I start off with a vest, something like this one from M&S one for £5 works a treat but H&M also has great ones too. This one comes in five colours and quite often they are two for £8.

My revelation from last winter were some cropped, long sleeved, ribbed cotton tops from Topshop which I wore over a vest and underneath everything. They were great because they offered warmth where I needed it but because they were cropped, they weren't bulky around the middle. Topshop seem to have replaced them with this style which might not work so well as the tops have a turtle neck and a twist  - so they may not sit quite so flat. But at least they give an idea.

Next we have the ribbed turtleneck jumper from H&M (£24.99). There's something about the snug fit of a ribbed jumper that I find really warm, despite its lack of wool, or bulk.

Now some of you will have broken out in a sweat just looking at those layers but for those of you who haven't, I find the combination of those three pieces offer a great base layer but without the bulk and that means that I can then get to the fun part, whether it be a cami top, a slip dress or a lightweight silky top.

In the above photo I'm wearing the M&S lace trim cami (£22.50). I was actually trying this for size, thinking that I had bought the size 8 but in fact it was the 10, so I have the 8 on order so that I can compare them. Of course I would prefer to pretend that I could wear the silky top just with a thick cardi thrown over it but that's not the case. And whilst arguably I would rather not have to layer three extra pieces underneath the silky top, at least it means that I can wear one, even in the winter.

Whilst writing this post I went a little off piste but I thought that I would share these pieces anyway. First of all, I came across these gorgeous shoes from M&S which are, of course, in THE fabric of the season...

And I'm actually quite fancying them with this H&M dress (£29.99) which looks as if it is the snuggliest dress ever made.

The alternative Christmas Day outfit perhaps?!

Loving a "Love" jumper

I love my "Love" jumper. Like me it's getting a little old now, is a bit frilly around the edges and has definitely seen better days - but I can't find it in my heart to get rid of it. 

However for those of you who might be on the look out for something a little smarter there are two options that I've come across. First, there's this one...

The Hush "Love" jumper (£79). It has great reviews but is only available in limited sizes online. Fear not though, Hush is now stocked in John Lewis where there are slightly more sizes available online and also in store.  For anyone interested, its composition is 55% merino wool, 45% cotton. I always like to know the composition of knitwear - more than anything to work out whether it's worth paying the extra for it.

As a less expensive, but equally lovely option, there's the GAP "Love" sweater (£27.99)  It's made of 30% merino wool, 45% nylon and 15% acrylic so it has quite a lot less wool in it but equally it's quite a lot less expensive. And it depends on how it's going to be worn as to whether that matters so much - next to the skin (in which case less wool may be preferable), as a layering piece (again the amount of wool may not be so relevant for warmth). only on odd occasions (again cost may be a factor). However if it's something that you're going to love, wear all the time and want for warmth rather than just because it says "love" on it - then maybe it's worth paying that bit more.

I would happily wear either of these jumpers with a pleated skirt, a fancy sparkly midi skirt at Christmas time or on a daily basis with jeans or coated skinnies. If the grey GAP one came in black, I would be there like a shot but the grey is a bit too pale for me - as is the one that I'm wearing really but again, I can't really bring myself to part with it.

Yesterday two friends and I ran the Birmingham half marathon. I don't think that any of us have ever had to work so hard for a nylon t-shirt, a foil cape and a double decker.....

Orla Kiely for QVC - and fluffy jumpers!

Girlfriend twill stripe chino from GAP (£22.99) leather sneaker boots Zara (£39.99) boyfriend jacket Oasis (£45) Topshop blouse (previous season) Orla Kiely bag similar here (£115)

Yesterday the youngest and I hit the shops by 9am to buy her a few new bits and bobs now that the weather is getting chillier. She has a thing for fluffy jumpers and I've promised her that even when she's as old as I am, each winter I will take her shopping for a new fluffy jumper. I have visions of Bella Freud and Wyse jumpers appearing somewhere along the way. Anyway, for now, this is what she chose...

M&S "Hello" jumper £18.  And this one...

M&S heart jumper (£16). I figured that you can't really argue with logos, sequins, pink fluffy hearts and grey. Hmmm, can't imagine why she likes those things. Plus they go up to an age 14 so for anyone who is on the petite side....

I went a bit slouchy on the bottom half in girlfriend chinos from GAP, which have a lovely fit about them - best described as your favourite jeans on a loose day - and Zara sneaker boots which are so comfortable for walking around town in. But then on my top half I went smarter with a Topshop shirt and Oasis boyfriend blazer, just to off set the slouchier trousers and flats.

The Orla Kiely bag that I'm using ties in nicely with my up and coming QVC shows. I promised to let everyone know when I was on again and tomorrow (Monday) at mid-night I'm doing my first Orla Kiely show, Then at 9am on Tuesday I'm presenting the morning show followed by three further shows at 2pm, 4pm and 5pm. During the 4pm show I will be launching Orla Kiely homewear on QVC which is hugely exciting. The other shows will be featuring bags and wallets plus I will also be launching Orla's watches and new jewellery range. So, for anyone who would like to, please do tune in!

I'm not sure when I'll be back but hopefully it will be soon - and I'll keep posting instagram updates of my Orla outfits. Have a super week everyone!

Sorry about the grey jumper appearing again. I have a new laptop and odd things keep happening!

The best flat, comfortable, boots out!

A few weeks ago I treated myself to these grey suede boots from Zara. I'm still not quite sure what it was about them that appealed to me but I really liked them. Maybe it's because I haven't seen them around that much so they felt quite fresh - but I suspect in reality that it was the grey that got me. Plus the white soles - and the fact that I can walk in them.

Try as I might, I can't find them on the site but I've come to realise that I'm quite often rubbish at finding things online after I've bought them. If anyone likes them enough to hunt them down (with success) do let me know!

I appear to have a cow on my shoulder!

A sparkly flamingo t-shirt, shorts and a camo shacket...

Oh my golly it's been hot here today (as I think it has been in lots of places!) It was properly, swimming in the sea hot, like it hasn't been for ages. During the day it was bikinis all the way but in the evening Mr SG and I went for a walk along the south coast cliffs.

It was still warm so shorts and this new flamingo tee from H&M* seemed to fit the bill. I took the camo shacket for when the sun went down and wore trainers because the cliff paths are, unsurprisingly, high and a little uneven.  The Saywhatyouc bag held essentials, just in case we came across an ice-cream kiosk that was open. We didn't.

*I can't find the flamingo t-shirt on the UK site, even though I only bought it on Friday. It was a one off so I suspect that it is pretty old stock. It's probably not very helpful but I've linked to the US site for its composition, further details etc.

Call off the search - the GAP sports luxe bomber jacket is here!

Just so that you know, there really is no need to look any further for the perfect sports luxe bomber jacket for the winter, than this one from GAP. With a pleated skirt, cropped kick flares or culottes, it will make the transition from summer into autumn much, much, easier - well it will in my mind at least!

I can't pretend to have been overly taken with its £174.95 price tag but a 30% offer which pinged through the day after I found it meant that we were at least starting to talk the same language.

So it's currently winging its way to me and I have high hopes - which is always dangerous!

But for another bomber, there's this blue sateen colour block bomber jacket in New Look (£24.99). Whenever I go in to the store it catches my eye. I can see it being a great way to update a work wardrobe. Outside of work it would look fantastic as styled below, or for the evening over a slip dress. 

In fact New Look is by far my favourite choice for bombers this season, so I've included a link to their bomber jackets because, other than watching the Olympics and Suits, what better past time is there for a Sunday night?!

A Topshop Special!

Given that we've got a few days of sunny weather forecast, I thought that I would share this embroidered flute tee from Topshop with you all. It's pretty, it goes with lots of things and you can never have too many summery tops.

I like a pretty, fluted, type sleeve. There's plenty of room in these sleeves - and in the body too, without it all feeling too voluminous. And I'm not sure what's happened to all the Ghillie shoes that everyone bought last summer - they seem to have all trotted off together on a Ghilllie vacation - but I'm resurrecting mine because I still really like them as they are flat and comfortable :)

 Embroidered flute tee from Topshop (£39)

Anyway, must dash. Hope that you all have a super, sunny, weekend! Beth x

A pretty Victorian top from GAP

I will remember this day forever because it's the day that our lovely Flo came back from 4 weeks away in Tanzania. In that time we've had two short texts but nothing else as her phone stayed at home and wi-fi was virtually non-existent. It's been a long old time. At times I thought my heart would break and friends have picked me up and dusted me down. I'm still not used to hearing her voice calling "Mum!" down the stairs. Our once tidy house is strewn with damp, smelly, dusty clothing. And I couldn't be happier.

So I guess that a slightly fancy but everyday type top could better be described as a blouse really couldn't it? It would save on a lot of words! I bought this eyelet Victorian top from GAP yesterday. It is pretty and lightweight - good with skinnies or cut-offs for our Guernsey holiday - and with a nod to Victorian. Predictably I can't find the white online so I've linked to the blue but GAP's new "eyelet" range is pretty well stocked in stores.

They embraced as only siblings can.

 "Why are you so ugly?" she said to her brother.

"Why are you so short?" he replied.

And then we were five again. 

NB. To anyone who has siblings who fight to the point of driving you utterly and totally insane, there may well come a point, in the future, when they stop fighting and actually love - OK like - one another. In our case it happened when our son, who is younger than his sister, grew tall enough and strong enough to pick her up, throw her over his shoulder and remove her to another room when she started to annoy him. Those years of tears and tantrums (often from me in frustration!) are now over. So there is hope. I promise.

A Quick OOTD and some New Look sandals - my new favourite purchase of the summer

Shirt: John Lewis weekend (last summer); shorts: Gap, Belt: Boden (previous seasons); Shoes: Aldo (previous seasons); Basket: Guernsey Boutique (similar here)

Stars, hearts, neon, flouro, metallics, stripes, sequins, flamingos, palm trees, smiley faces and pom poms - I am a sucker for them all. Stick them on an item of clothing, preferably all at the same time, and I'm there like a shot.

So tapping into merely the stars, hearts, metallics, sequins and the tiniest bit of flouro means that there's a lot left for another day. Note to self: Must try harder.

Before I go, I wanted to share with you these pink leather beaded lace up sandals from New Look (currently available sizes 4 to 8) which I bought today for £11. I've been on the hunt for some "proper" summer sandals for a while. It started with some pom pom ones that I saw at Matches. Unsurprisingly it finished there too. New Look had a less expensive version but they had sold out and having looked a few times I'd decided that it was going to be a project for next year.

But then I spotted these and the deal was done. I've worn them around the house this afternoon and they are really comfortable, plus the ties don't come undone - which is always an added bonus. I painted my toenails especially to take a photo of me wearing them, then trashed my handi-work, tried again, trashed it again and gave up as I had to go and make a lasagna for dinner. To be honest I think that the family appreciated that more anyway.

Denim and (not quite) Dancing Shoes...

I've been on the hunt for a denim pinafore dress for probably over a year now, trying them in Warehouse, Topshop and Zara but not finding one that worked until I came across the Karolina denim pinafore dress in Monsoon (reduced from £59 to £29.50). This one I knew would be different because it was less rigid than the others that I had tried, plus the skirt had slightly more room in it meaning that I could walk around properly without tottering and tripping over my feet. I'm wearing the size 8 but I've ordered the 10 too, just for comparison purposes.

And these shoes were in the Zara sale. They were £19.99 and I have to say that they are so comfortable. I love a bit of a chunky shoe and they're a modern take on a brogue. They also come in full on gold - but navy is a little more me.

I'm not sure that I'm quite a Dancing Queen in these shoes - they probably should have a higher heel and lots of glitter - but for now I'm happy to strut my stuff on the door step!

Silver shoes and a big smile!

I didn't realise it at the time but this outfit brings a whole new meaning to "matchy matchy". I'm not sure that matching your trousers to your bag has ever been a big trend and I'm not sure that it's about to be one now either.

I don't know about anyone else but I find skinny jeans too restrictive in the summer. But then when I put them on in the autumn I'm convinced that I've put on about a stone as they feel so tight. So anyway, for last night's trip to Pizza Express, I wore GAP broken in straight khakis, which they do year on year (the skinny mini style is more fitted) and this Cos frill top, which I spent ages tracking down via a link in an earlier post, only to find that it's sold out online. Anyway, it's called the frill detail stripe top and costs £28, for anyone who might want to try and track one down in store.

I also wore this Hush smiley pendant which my friend gave to me. I just love it! It's so hard not to smile when you look at it.

There's also this lovely Hush smiley t-shirt and smiley sweat top - for anyone who might fancy some smiley clothing too!

Smile everyone!

Frills, personalised bags and pom poms!

Today was the day for a picnic in the park and for a round of crazy golf with the lean, mean, hole in one eight year old golfing machine, and her friend.  The irony of playing a game with the word "crazy" in it with those two was not lost on me.

But I took solace :) in my new personalised tote bag from SWYC which I first saw on Fran of thefashionlift - although obviously she had her own initials on her bag, and not mine.

In addition to loving the style, colour and the fact that this bag is personalised, it was also utterly brilliant for crazy golf; I could get everything in it plus the strap was just the right length - not so short that it cut me in half when I put it across my body but not so long that it fell forwards every time I reached down to pick the ball up, half strangling me and making me fall over at the same time (which has happened on more than one occasion. Dignity lost!)

It was also time to give this Marks and Spencer broderie bardot top (£29.50) its first outing. The reviews are right in that it is quite voluminous but I liked that. If it's hot enough to wear a top like this I like it if the air can circulate! It's just one of those tops that needs to be paired with a fairly fitted bottom half for the proportions to work properly.

And I think that it would be remiss of me if I finished this post without drawing everyone's attention to this amazing Pom Pom Clutch (£18) also from saywhatyouc. Well I promised that I was going to use more print and colour in my outfits!

Hope that you are all still enjoying the sun and that you have something super planned for the weekend. x