Mum on the Run - Fabulous totes!

As we all know, totes are huge (excuse the pun) this season and the Zara tote has had massive press coverage.  However I also love these totes from River Island - which I spotted this morning.  The purple and orange ones are great for lifting those darker winter colours.  There are great neutrals in the silver and gold and great colour combos in the green above (there are others too). 

At £60 ish they are a good price for a large leather bag and the practicality of having something that you can throw your possessions into and go, holds great appeal.  I love the orange one as it goes so well with navy (which I wear alot) and thanks to Victoria Beckham, there is going to be lots of navy and orange around next season.  My only tip - I would put a small cloth bag inside - such as a dust bag for shoes - to protect it and make transferring your belongings to a next bag much easier.  Enjoy!

Mum on the Run - A Cos dress and Sledge shoes

Today I was running a style event for a group of ladies at a firm of solicitors.  It was great fun - they were a lovely group and the event seemed to do what it was designed to do - get ladies chatting.  OK, so it may have been about shoes and the like but there was definitely a good buzz and as was noted - it was more interesting than a golf/racing/motor racing outing!

I wore my navy Cos dress (the gold band around the middle is a zip but fortunately the dress doesn't unzip into two halves) and LK Bennett Sledge shoes. 

Mum on the Run - A chunky knit dressed up with a skirt/scarf and pink patent shoes

Today saw a combination of clothes old and new - a Zara skirt from last year, Gap striped top, this season's Warehouse jumper and a new Oasis scarf to pull it all together. I dug the pink pied a terre shoes out yesterday when continuing with my clear out - they are probably 7 or 8 years old but I still love them.  They are a bit retro with a "Queen Mother" kind of heel! 

I quite liked the colour palette and the combination of the very casual jumper with the slightly smarter skirt/scarf.  Most of all though I was warm and comfortable!

Mum on the Run - the caped crusader

My husband was at a conference today so I wisely (!) headed into town with the three musketeers for a bit of Christmas shopping and a look around.  They each chose a decoration for the tree, behaved nicely in a cafe and I only lost two of them - pretty good going I thought. Each time the little one asked for something I suggested that she add it to the Christmas list that we would make on returning home. Hopefully she has forgotten the majority of the 325, 000 things she asked for or else it will be a very long list.

Having visted a friend in London earlier in the week who has the most immaculate house you could ever imagine, I have attacked our cupboards with gusto.  Virtually everything in the house is at risk of being disposed of.  Anyway, I came to sort out the 500 plus set of instructions for all manner of toys, electrical gadgets and appliances we have had over the years. I found that a not insignificant number of instructions belonged to items that have been stolen. I am tempted to put them in a plastic wallet, label them up and leave them in the shed for the next time that the thieves visit so that they can at least be certain that the lawn mower is working to the best of its ability and doesn't need a service.

I also found a neat diagram of how to load the dishwasher properly. Having been asked by my husband whether I was any good at jigsaws as a child, on account of the fact that (he thinks) I can't load the dishwasher properly, I am going to tape it to the front of the dishwasher and follow it closely - because obviously I have nothing better to do with my time.

So anyway, the outfit was just a bit of a chuck together really - Warehouse printed shirt, Boden coral jumper over the top, Warehouse skinny jeans, Clarks pumps  and Jigsaw cape. I preferred it later on when I swapped the jeans for wider ones and the shoes for my red shiny loafers. I felt a bit more "balanced" and the proportions were better.

Mum on the Run - A bright pink coat!

Ah bless her - the three year old has been put in charge of the camera again as the rest had gone off to school/work before us - this was the only shot that I could use as the rest were blurred.  I have this amazing ability to have my eyes shut on many photographs - the odds of it are meant to be minimal but I seem to manage it. Shame that I can't beat the odds of winning the Euro millions - but then I wouldn't be posting picture of me wearing a bright pink coat which I was going to give to a charity shop but which I decided to keep and now love.  No, instead I would be sunning myself on a yacht in a bikini and trust me, that would not be a pretty sight.

So instead, here I am on a cold November morning ready for another day in the shops.  I resorted to flat boots and skinny jeans but tried to lift it with an Oasis sparkly top, a piece of my Stella & Dot jewellery and a bright coat.  It all reflected rather nicely on my nose - currently a similar shade of pink to my coat as a result of a cold.

Boots and jeans Cos, Coat Benetton, Top Oasis, Necklace Stella & Dot

Mum on the Run - A skirt - and an acid yellow one at that!

....also carrying on the theme of bright clothes, today I wore a bright yellow skirt from Cos.  It's wool, slightly A-line and the kind of colour that I would wear on my bottom half but not my top and only if everything else was plain - in this case navy. I did feel a bit conspicuous to start with but I soon got used to it. I went for a bit of a preppy look with loafers, a pea coat and a navy sparkly jumper from Warehouse. 

As you can see, I really was "on the Run" in this photo - trying to get 7 of us out of the house but failing.  Our son was talking to me out of our bedroom window at this point, hence the glance skywards!

Mum on the Run - A bright Whistles cardi

Carrying on with the jumpers/cardi theme, last week I bought this cardigan from Whistles.  It's nothing to be proud of - it was in the sale so I don't suppose that many people really liked it but I did. It reminded me of a cardi that my Great Auntie Vi knitted for me when I was at school and being a sucker for anything a)warm and b)coral coloured I knew that it was going to end up in my wardrobe!

I have styled it both with a navy lace skirt and a leopard print belt and then as above -Cos skinny jeans, Cos boots, long Jigsaw top and Oasis scarf. I was so hot that I had to take it off later in the day - definitely a winner in my book!

Mum on the Run - jumpers are where it's at - especially if they are striped!

I think that you can tell that a small person was involved in taking this shot from the way that I am looking down.  It also explains the fact that the top of my head is missing -  but at three, said small person does very well - and this blog was always meant to be a family endeavour! 

This was our first scootering trip out this week as our youngest has had chicken pox.  As usual, I needed to be fairly hands free - it's just safer for everyone and in particular the local population - hence the cross body bag from Cath Kidston.

I was styling a lady this morning for her daughter's wedding so on returning home I chucked off the smart stuff and grabbed the closest casual clothes - which just happened to be Gap straight jeans, H&M striped top with an Oasis striped jumper over the top and a Boden jacket with a Peter Pan collar which is of the moment now but probably wasn't when I bought it two years ago - I just liked it though!  The boots are from Jones and just happened to be nearest to the front door (they are still a bit muddy from when our 12 year old borrowed them to go to a bonfire.)  She's after my LK Bennett shoes at the moment and I have told her no flippin' way.  I had to wait 40 years for them so she's not getting her mitts on them!

Mum on the Run - A cable knit jumper

Having promised to get my act together and blog more I have actually failed miserably this week.  However I managed to get my son to take this photo of me today sporting my new cable knit jumper. 

As you probably all know, jumpers are huge this season.  They are everywhere and come in every colour and knit imaginable.  Those who are really in the know are sporting jumpers with dogs on them - but I think that I left those behind when I was 4.  It was my first day of school and whilst I wasn't sporting a dog, I wore a navy jumper with a panda on the front.  (I wish my recall for all things in life was as good as it is for clothes.  Mostly I don't even know which day of the week it is anymore.)

Anyhow, whether jumpers are "this season" or "in" I don't really care because the main thing is that a good chunky one will keep you warm and for now at least, they are in plentiful supply.  To be ultra on trend I should have put it with a skirt but that's just too try hard for the school holidays.  This one is from Warehouse and has a good wool content to it  (many don't).  Cos also has a great jumper with a funnel neck and which has grey and yellow in it -sounds bizarre I know but I love it.  Topshop has one with an alsatian on it, Cath Kidston a Westie and Joules, ducks!

So, anyway, back to what I was meant to be doing this week - posts on flat shoes. Here are the second pair:

Loafers - you might have already been there before in the 90's and now think "no way" but let me try and persuade you.  They are flat and comfortable, smart and a change from ballet flats.  They look great with jeans and slim cropped trousers and give a preppy feel.  If brogues aren't for you, these might be. They too are from M&S and cost £45.  Not too bad if you aren't sure whether you want to make a big financial commitment to them.  Jigsaw also has some nice ones.

Have a great weekend!

Mum on the Run - the secret of stylish (and comfortable) flats....

Yesterday I was running two sessions at a day long workshop in Birmingham. In my first session I concentrated on smart/casual clothes, covering 10 key pieces for the season (plus accessories). For each of the 10 key pieces I offered a timeless classic and a couple of alternative more on trend pieces. I then had the fun of putting lots of outfits together - which is fun as they don't always turn out how I had imagined! 

 In the afternoon I concentrated on evening wear and some tips for the ladies on how to dress themselves slim.  I had a great day and learnt so much from the other speakers, who covered personal life coaching and diet and nutrition.

 We will be doing some more workshops in January and I love them as I get to shop. Lots.  In fact I shopped with so much success this week that my credit card was eventually declined. Unlike most people, I love it when that happens as it means that it is time for me to go home.  It took a couple of days though (I did go home in between)!

Whilst I was at the workshop, one of the ladies came up to me and said "you need to blog more". I was surprised that a) anybody actually read it in the first place and b)even if they did, that they wanted more.  So anyway, here I am. I have been a bit lazy on the blogging front of late so it was the kick up the bum that I needed.  I just wish my children would react so quickly when I asked them to do something - that way I wouldn't end up unpacking a swimming bag that had sat festering somewhere for in excess of a week.

Anyway, when I arrived home, there was a box of shoes from M&S waiting for me.  Unlike most people, who like Saturday deliveries, I don't appreciate them at all.  How am I meant to hide my purchases if they are delivered on a Saturday in broad daylight - received by my husband and three nosy children who want to know what is inside?

So anyway, the point of this post and of the ones over the next few days is to show you what flat shoes are around this season - and these are a flat patent brogue.  Now I know that they aren't for everyone, and that they can be quite hard to wear if you don't have the slimmest of ankles but there is no doubt that they are comfortable and smart.  If they are for you, they look great with cropped trousers, jeans, or with a dress, as an alternative to ballet pumps. Office does some styles with a bit more of a heel, if you prefer some extra height. 

I like these M&S ones because they are not quite so masculine as some of the styles and, being from M&S they come in half sizes.  Added to that at £45 they are a good price so if you are not sure whether they are something you are going to buy into in a big way, they are good for testing the water.  More to follow tomorrow...

A revolutionary concept - the first global Personal Stylist Directory at istylista.com

So, the children are back at school and nicely into the swing of their various activities. I completed the 5k race that my husband entered me for without telling me (revenge will be sweet) and I have been a busy bee working on lots of new amazing work opportunities.

I haven't posted many pictures recently, largely because I have been wearing skinny jeans virtually non-stop (even in this heat!) In fact, I am waiting for someone to ask me whether I actually own anything other than skinny jeans.

The reason for the lack of variety in my clothing of late is because I take the demon three year old to school on her scooter every day and I need to run to keep up with her as she whizzes of into the distance shouting “I love scootering, it makes me big and strong” (and leaves me exhausted) - which means flat boots, which means, for these particular boots at least, skinny jeans. However, this has to stop. I can't live in the same pair of boots - oh no, that would never do. So really it can only mean one thing - more shoe shopping is in order. Yep, I like the sound of that (maybe that’s where the revenge will come in).

During the summer, when I was no quite so depleted in energy, I was lucky enough to make contact with the lovely Chantelle Znideric, who runs the fabulously successful online stylist service http://www.istylista.com/.  Chantelle set up iStylista.com with the funding that she received as a result of winning an award from the Federation of Image Consultants.  Her site has gone from strength to strength and I wanted to tell you all about the new feature that she has just launched on her website.

Chantelle has added to her site a Personal Stylist Directory. The Directory lists stylists not only in the UK but also all over the world. People visiting the site can use the Personal Stylist Directory to find out about the services that the individual stylists offer (including me), together with their experience. They can read testimonials from clients and see which awards the stylists have won. Anyone who is considering booking a session with one of the stylists gets a complimentary 15 minute skype or telephone session with them prior to making a booking. So, wherever you live, you can now take a look at the Personal Stylist Directory to see whether there is someone in your area who can assist you with your styling needs.  Not only that but you can find out all about them and have a free 15 minute chat before deciding whether to book them for a session.   

From a stylist's perspective, there is the potential for unlimited business. Each stylist has a web page dedicated to their own business and there is the opportunity for the stylist to increase their exposure by writing articles for the iStylista blog.

 If you would like to find out more, either as someone who is interested in booking a session with a stylist, or as a stylist who would like to be listed on the directory, you can find the Personal Stylist Directory at http://www.istylista.com/stylists/

 Of the new Directory, Chantelle has said “as a stylist I appreciate all too well the challenges we face in setting up and growing a business in this exciting industry and therefore I wanted to create something that helped other stylists on multiple levels. We heavily researched the challenges faced by many existing stylists and then built the directory and all its functionality from there. The real advantage to our stylists however is that iStylista.com continues to attract a huge global audience each and every month – meaning an already established level of presence and loyalty”.

Mum on the Run - a high waisted A-line skirt

Do you remember the song by the Lotus Eaters - The First Picture of You?  The chorus goes "the first picture of you, the first picture of summer, seeing the flowers scream their joy..." Well I fear that rather than this being the first picture of summer, it is probably the last picture of summer.  And I'm less than convinced that my flowers look as if they are screaming with joy.  Mind you, it is one more picture of summer than I was anticpating.  I had actually put all of my summer clothes/shoes etc away but in the heat of the day I painted my nails, sprayed on a bit of fake tan, dug out the sandals and off I went.

My husband has just looked at this picture and commented that he liked the skirt.  I think that his words were "that's actually a nice skirt.  It's high waisted and shows that you are slim.  That's what you need rather than those ones that sit on your hips.  Can I be your apprentice?"  Watch out Gok, your style crown is about to be stolen!

So anyway, the skirt is actually winter stock from  Cos.  It's a heavy cotton though, so OK for this time of year and also for when it is cooler.  As we all know, A line skirts do a great job of skimming over the hips and this is no exception.  I like the fact that you can take a decent stride in it! 

The top is a Ted Baker one that I bought in the sale in the summer.  I'm pleased that I've found something to put it with as it's a bit tricky to style.  The Dune sandals are still going strong but are about to go into hibernation for the winter.

Mum on the Run - teal skinnies

I gulped as my husband uttered those famous words this morning - "are those new jeans?"  The gulp wasn't because he would mind but rather because he noticed!   Fortunately he didn't notice the boots though or else the gulp might have been for the other reason.  It's amazing how far one's birthday money can go isn't it?

Anyway, I have several events lined up in the next few weeks so this week I have had to do some shopping for them and along with buying things for the event came one or two purchases for my own wardrobe - these teal skinny jeans from Warehouse being one of them.  I love the colour - it's different and very this season, without being too far away from the norm as to make me feel conspicuous.  They are mega comfortable as they have a high rise - which means that when I bend down, they don't head south!  One thing though - they do give so you need to buy them as snug a fit as possible to start off with.  I put them with my new Chelsea boots and a striped top for our trip out.  Stripes are a bit last season really but I love them and always will - and anyway I haven't had time to replace them with spots yet!

Jeans  -Warehouse, Boots Cos, Cardi and top Gap, Bag Mulberry

Mum on the Run - Festival outfit

 I don't tend to post pictures of our children or really mention anything other than their bad habits (of which there are many) but I made an exception for this photo of our youngest playing air guitar at a festival on Sunday - just because it made me laugh.

It also leads me into my festival outfit, which consisted of a couple of new bits - the sparkly jumper from Warehouse and the grey skinny jeans from Cos plus some biker boots and a Longchamp bag which I already had. I left the spotty wellies/shorts/denim shirt/sunglasses look to our twelve year old, who is much better anatomically designed for it than I am i.e. she doesn't have my legs! The pink jewelled purse around my neck was courtesy of our three year old - I think that she thought I might get lost so it had 10p in it in case I neede to make a phone call.

 Unfortunately I think that the jeans and sparkly jumper may be featuring a lot because they are so comfortable.  The sparkly jumper scoops down at the back so does a good job of bottom hiding - always good in my book.  It also comes in gold and navy.  Using a £10 voucher from Style Magazine this month, combined with their 20% off day meant that it would have been rude to have left it in the shop.  The jeans are oh so comfortable, nice and high, lots of support and a change from blue or black.  I also bought....wait for it....some Chelsea boots to wear with them.  I remember owning a pair in the early 90's when I worked in London and I never thought that I would own a pair again but they are fab!  Great with skinnies, flat and practical and they just liven everything up a little.  Speaking of London, I have an invitation to an event at LFW so I am very excited.  Not sure what I am going to do with the children that day though - haven't really thought that one through - Mum, are you reading this?!!! 

Mum on the Run - Breakfast at Tiffany's

We were invited to a friend's birthday party on Saturday night and the theme was "Breakfast at Tiffany's".  My husband isn't really a dressing up kind of chap and has a bit of a limited wardrobe - not in terms of cubic capacity you understand - rather in terms of cubic capacity available for his clothes, as opposed to mine - if you get my drift.  So, to make him feel better (and as a nod to the androgynous trend) I combined two outfits into one - male and female - with black trousers and blazer for the blokey bit and the pearls, tiara, bag and heels for the girlie bit.  It was a great party!

Black cigarette pants - Ted Baker, Black blazer - Gap, Nude shoes LK Bennett, Bag Liberty

Mum on the Run - a tunic dress

I haven't posted much recently, largely because it's been that in between stage - too cold for summer dresses, too warm for winter clothes and I need the children to go back to school before I get chance to sort my wardrobe out.  So really, if I am honest, I have been wearing jeans a lot.

Today we went to the hills on the outside of the City for a walk. At one stage my husband carried my bag, whilst I carried the little one up a hill. He asked how he looked carrying my Kiera Knightly bag.  Ah bless. I felt that it would have been unfair had I not told him that the bag was by Orla Kiely, not

 Kiera Knightly.  That came hot on the heels of our son asking whether the skirt being worn by our youngest was "a bandage or a pencil skirt" (it was A-line) but the boys are clearly catching on in this house!

Anyway, our walk was enjoyable, so much so that at any moment I expected Jo Frost, she of Supernanny fame, to appear with her cameras and a narrative saying "the Goodrham family have taken my advice and are now having day trips out and interracting with their children in an effort to improve their parenting skills and improve their children's swearing and general bad behaviour." I can't say that I would have been shocked.

We subsequently went to listen to songs and stories by a ranger kind of guy.  He sang a song about eating, and then vomitting, up a bumble bee. Lovely. This was closely followed by a story, the moral of which was, if you are told to keep a secret, then you must do so, irrespective of everything else. The instincts gained from my previous profession kicked in and I thought "great, all the paedophiles are going to love him."  Bad I know, but there we go.  

Anyway, to the outfit, I have dug out my Gap tunic dress (tunics are going to be HUGE this season) which  I put with my green skinny jeans. It will be versatile in the months to come, I am sure. As to the jeans, I felt much happier having my thighs covered up and I must admit that I felt a little less frog like! The outfit would have looked slightly more finished with my navy and white striped scarf .  However, I am in the process of washing all of my scarves, together with my silk things and knitwear -whilst I can still stick them all on the line to dry.  Next week I will hit the shops again.  Yipppeee! 

Mum on the Run -What (not) to wear on a chilly day out!

For obvious reasons, I wasn't going to post a picture today but then when I saw this pink bench I just had to take advantange of it, even if it did mean revealing a not particularly inspiring outfit to the world! 

We decided to go on a family day out today and, having been out for a run this morning, I knew that it was very autumnal outside. So, having given my outfit all of 30 seconds thought, on went the biker boots, jeans, striped dress and warmer coat.  We packed our picnic of home made soup and home made bread rolls into the Cath Kidston bag and headed off merrily on our way for a famous five trip out.  (More like fighting five, especially in the case of the eldest two, but there we go!)

About 10 minutes after this was taken our youngest had an accident with her soup which left my boots, jeans and dress covered in it.  I won't go into details but it looked as though something other than soup had been thrown down me.  Lovely. 

Unless the weather gets itself in gear I can feel a trip to town coming on to stock up on warm layers.  If that's not a good excuse for a shop then I don't know what is!

Mum on the Run - "One day"

My husband has generously agreed to go and see "One Day" with me tonight, which is very good of him because I don't suppose that it is really his cup of tea. Even more generously, he has offered to buy me a bag of popcorn - aren't I the lucky one?!  He has given himself a bit of a pre-med in the form of a few glasses of wine so hopefully it will act as an anaesthetic and he won't realise how terrible the film is (if it is - which according to the Guardian critic it is.)  However, my friend and I decided that it probably isn't the kind of film that a Guardian critic would like, so we weren't surprised that they said it was pants.

So, having done a bit of my Tracy Anderson dvd (accompanied by our three year old who transformed the standing abs workout into a naked pole-dance) I had a wash and a brush up and decided on my comfortable peg trousers, sparkly T and flat sandals.  My brighter turquoise skinny belt would look better but I think it's somewhere in the car.  However, most importantly, I should be able to slouch and scoff with comfort in the cinema!

Trousers M&S, sequin T Topshop, Sandals Dune

Mum on the Run - An outfit to make your legs look longer....

For a change I thought that I would talk about the proportions of an outfit.  Our son doesn't approve - he prefers what he calls "the funnier posts" and wonders whether I have run out of things to say today.  Unfortunately for you all there's plenty more - but more about the roast chicken with the lemon up its bum tomorrow!

For those of you who feel in need of a couple of extra inches in the leg department, the proportions of an outfit such as this will help you to achieve that.  There are a few reasons for this:

• Unlike trousers, when wearing a skirt, it is impossible to see where your legs start - always good if you are trying to disguise the fact that they are shorter than you might like them to be;
• Being full length, the skirt does a great job of maximising the length between your feet and your waist!
• The skirt is high waisted, which again creates the illusion of longer legs;
• The cropped jacket, which just meets the top of the skirt, keeps the top half neat and compact, which again elongates your bottom half.

On another note, skirts such as this are great for hiding all manner of unfinished beauty business and are a god send.  I love wearing this skirt in winter with biker boots and a chunky roll neck and in summer it works well with a lighter top and sandals.  A bit of versatility can never be a bad thing in a wardrobe.

Mum on the Run - A printed tunic dress

I love Tuesdays and it's solely down to the fact that two lovely people come into our house and clean it for us - and for a few hours at least, the house is perfect.  No crumbs, clean bedding, it smells fresh and the stainless steel shines. So why is it that it is on Tuesdays, and Tuesdays only, that our children seem to drop things on our lovely clean floors (or in the case of our three year old have a little mishap and then walk soggy socks all through the downstairs to come and find me to tell me)?  Spotting the wet footprints on the floors and then diving at them with a cloth to wipe them up is not a good look - but I will do whatever to preserve the clean house for as long as I can. I'm not sure why that is really, maybe it's because when the house is clean I can at least pretend that I am a Domestic Goddess!

Today I had a couple of extra little ones for the afternoon as my friend was poorly.  Luckily Mum was here to lend a hand and at one point they were sitting around the dinner table singing "Doe a Deer a Female Deer..."  The windows were open and I thought that from the outside our house would sound like the Sound of Music.  Which is better when I am here on my own and the children are fighting as it then sounds like the Hammer House of Horrors.

So, our daughter has requested that I point out that this dress that I am wearing is one of her favourites.  The print, which is concentrated in the middle of it, is good for drawing the eye inwards. It also skims without hugging the hips, has a slashed neckline and a nipped in waist, all of which are good for pear shaped ladies.

The summer holidays become limiting clotheswise after this many weeks so I decided to put this printed dress over my jeans.  It's just a bit too short for me to get away with on its own.  It was quite nice to feel a bit dressed up but still casual enough to go to a delightful soft play area without feeling OTT.

Jeans Gap, Dress Warehouse, Shoes Dune

Mum on the Run - Where's Woolworth's when you need it?

Is it just me or do the rest of you with children find that you spend half of the holidays giving them an MOT?  This is our list so far:

1. opticians;
2. immunisations;
3. school shoes (and we still have trainers to get);
4. school outfitters;
5. dentist;
6. haircuts

and there are still school bags and sports bags to buy, labels to sew on, out of stock school trousers to find, trainers for one and then we will nearly be there - other than the wellies for the youngest. 

Since when did wellies get so expensive?  I remember wellies used to be the cheapest of the cheap when it came to shoes - not any more.  Do you want stripes, spots, flowers or hunter lookalikes?  No, I just want some good old red wellies - nothing flash and just like the ones you used to be able to get from Woolies.  Anyway, much to her disgust, our three year old has pirate wellies for school.  Well, I figure that they will only stay in her pump bag and they were a bargain at £5 so as far I was concerned it was a done deal.  Now that her brother has found his new passion for clothes, pirate wellies it is for her.

I would post a photo today except that, because I was painting the front door and putting a new net on the trampoline, I needed something trash proof - so out came the crocs.  I know, I couldn't believe it either.  I haven't worn them since I was pregnant with number 3 but I have to say they were very comfortable - and very chic when put with my towelling shorts and a vest.  I told our eldest that however much she begged me to borrow my chic outfit it wasn't going to happen.  Her wry smile said it all - "Mother, you're not funny but you are an idiot."

Mum on the Run - breathe out - no one will be able to tell!

Oh crikey me.  At the dinner table tonight no 2 child asked whether Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister to which his clever sister responded "no, it's Gordon - Gordon Ramsey."  I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.  That came after we realised that having made some bread, she had added 1.5 tablespoons of salt, rather than 1.5 teaspoons.  And don't get me started on the fact that she wants to be the countdown person at NASA for the rocket launch. Heaven help them.

So, this has to be the most comfortable top in the Universe and was my sneaky purchase in H&M yesterday when our daugher was Gokking her brother. I would put a close up photo of the top (minus me) on it but I am too tired to sort it all out.  Anyway, it has bat wing sleeves and some gathering right in the centre, just under the bust, so it provides some shape.  It is great for those days when you feel like wearing something loose but not too tent like and it is definitely a top, rather than a T-shirt, so it gets my vote.  At £7.95 it was my bargain of the day!

Mum on the Run - escaping for an evening!

Last night I was working and I have to say, it was quite nice to escape for a while.  Not that things haven't been calm here for once - astonishingly they have. I keep finding the eldest two plotting by the computer, furtively flicking through magazines and generally doing something other than arguing.

Anyway, the fact that I was working meant that I was forced to do some ironing and generally sort myself out, so it wasn't a bad thing.  I opted for simple head to toe navy in modern shapes and accessorised with my new Hobbs necklace.

I then found out what was going on with the rioters.  Our eldest (12) had taken control of her brother's (9) wardrobe and she was giving him a make-over.  This resulted in a shopping trip today but I have to say she has done a great job.  No longer could she stand him looking "like a nerd" - and now that he is going into year 5 she thought that he ought to have something decent to wear on non-uniform day.

So, out have gone the too short cords, Clarks trainers and Ben 10 T-shirts and they have been replaced by straight jeans, converse, long sleeve grandad style tops, checked shirts, a padded gilet and a messenger bag  (For those of you who know him, don't fall over in shock!)  When we returned she showed him how to put the outfits together and photographed him so that he has a reference point for the future.  So funny! I have to say, it's almost worth me giving up my clothing allowance just to buy the peace.  Actually, there's no doubt about it - it is worth it.  I consider it a small price to pay for my sanity.  Looks like my wardrobe might suffer over the next few months!

Outfit - Cos top, navy M&S peg legs, Zara shoes, Mulberry bag, Hobbs necklace.

Mum on the Run - Button it Viv - it can be tartan if you like!

When I read in Grazia today that Vivenne Westwood had criticised Kate Middleton's style it did get me thinking.  Apparently, having criticised her eye-liner, she then went on to refer to her image as being that of an "ordinary woman" as opposed to that of an "extraordinary woman".  Really, I just thought that it made her sound a little pathetic and I felt a bit uneasy about the whole thing but I wasn't sure why.  I don't have particularly strong views on VW, and whilst I think that Kate is pretty I wouldn't say that I am obsessed with her in a kind of crying/screaming/where's my Kate scrapbook kind of way. 

However, I tried to think of some kind of analogy to see whether my response to VW's comments about Kate was unreasonable.  So I thought about the Grande Dames of the acting world, the equivalent of VW if you like, but in their own field.  Would Judi Dench or Helen Mirren criticise a young actor in the same way? I doubt it.  Surely they would nurture young actors, giving them encouragement and words of wisdom when they set out on their journey.  And anyway, Kate has never held herself out to be a style icon, a trend setter or anything along those lines.  She just married her chap, who happens to be the future King of England, which means that she is very visible. So if the girl wants to wear tan tights and nude shoes just let her.  If she likes her eyeliner and her long hair who is VW to say otherwise. If she likes to do a bit of fashion re-cyling and wear a fascinator good on her.  I am sure that she has her own views on VW's style.

My final conclusion was that men wouldn't behave like that towards other men and that's why I felt uneasy.  So much for sisterhood and all that - which is why, if I criticised VW, I wouldn't really be advancing my own argument very much.  So this is all that I will say about the matter - she should "button it".  It can be tartan if she likes, and she can sew it on herself , but if she can't say anything positive she should spend her time doing something constructive instead like (insert your own thoughts).  Alternatively, as my son says, Kate should just say " Off with her head." Right, I will now get off my soap box.
   

Mum on the Run - Green jeans

I was so proud of myself today - not because I was up and out with the children early but because of where we went - the local leisure centre, complete with wave machine, water slides, toddler pool, grit on the floor, overflowing nappy bins and general grime. 

As I looked up at the showers shaped as toadstools in the toddler pool I though to myself "blimey, give my Mum a day in here with some hot water, rubber gloves and a scrubbing brush and the place would look so different."  She is the Queen of cleaning.  The children knew that it was their once yearly trip and they made the most of it.  In fairness because we were there early, it wasn't too busy and I managed to wait a whole ten minutes before I even looked at the clock to see if it was time to get out yet.  As I say, I was very proud of myself. 

The outfit consisted of my green River Island jeans, Next white T-shirt, Gap cardi, green converse and a Cath Kidston spotty bag.

I must confess that I haven't been brave enough to wear my green jeans with flats but I saw a friend of mine wear coloured jeans and flats so successfully at the weekend that I decided to give it a go.  OK so she is at least 2 inches taller than me so as long as I don't get too close to a mirror, or if I do squint when looking, I think that I can just about get away with them!

Mum on the Run - Making the most of your maxi!

As my friend said today "Maxis are great if you haven't had time to get your arse in gear" which is not why I was wearing my maxi but I have to agree that she has a point.

So anyway, the weather wasn't that great and that, plus needing another layer to keep me warm by the fridges in Waitrose, meant that the denim shirt went on.  I tucked it under and tied it at the front to make it the right length.  I couldn't make it sit quite right at the top - but I realised when I took it off in the evening that I hadn't done the poppers up properly.  An elementary error I think.

I also accessorised with a new necklace - a birthday present to myself .  I can see myself getting a lot of use out of it - either with a plain white T and jeans or a LBD.  That's my excuse for buying it anyway!

 Maxi - French Connection, Denim shirt Next, Necklace Hobbs

Would I like to blog for Look? Would I ever!

Generally I'm not really one for competitions.  I suppose it comes from the disappointment of never winning the primary school raffle - and being deprived of that wonderful pair of plastic high heeled shoes.  Such a tragedy. 

So when I saw the competition run by Look Magazine, the prize being to blog from the front row of their Show, I initially dismissed the idea - not because I wouldn't love to but rather because last year's winners looked so young!   So, I flicked idly on through the magazine and then realised that something, or rather someone, had caught my eye.  Erin O'Connor. She was pictured on the runway looking fantastic and I thought to myself "Blimey, if she's there actually participating, maybe my presence won't be so noticeable on the front row (providing that I don't smile too much.)" 

So, having read the terms and conditions, just to verify that there wasn't an upper age limit for entrants (which was lower than my own age) I decided to go ahead and enter the competition.  So here I am, writing a blog post as to why I should be blogging away from the front row at the Look Show - and this what I concluded.

Like all other entrants to the competition, fashion and styling are my passions in life (as well as my husband and three children of course - just in case they read this).  However, I see myself as championing the cause of women over 40 who want to be stylish, fashionable, edgy or whatever and who are not yet ready to be consigned to a twin set and pearls.   Being more mature (well, in some ways at least!) I can offer a slightly different perspective on the clothes being shown than some of the younger women out there - and there are a lot of them (young girls, not clothes that is - but in reality probably both)! 

I see my role as identifying which trends are to be embraced by the 40 plus market, which should just be given a nod to and which should be left alone entirely! Brothel creepers anyone - no, maybe not. 

The High Street doesn't really see fashion for the over 40's as being "sexy".  In some ways I can understand that - shopping for clothes which have enough length to cover knees which are no longer what they once were, or finding tops to disguise a "Mummy tummy" is hardly the thing of which multi-million pound ad campaigns are made.  However, there are lots of us over 40's out there and we hold a large proportion of the nation's wealth - not me personally you understand, unfortunately - but as a whole and I would like to represent us, in our entirety, including the extra bits that we have acquired with age.

On the day, I would have an eye to which brands suited which body shapes and which brands had clothes which were cut well and which looked as though they cost a lot more than they actually did.  Anything which looked as though it had been designed by Phoebe Philo would get my vote, as would anything which looked as though it was from Marni, DVF or Miu Miu.

The UK is known to have one the best High Streets in the world.  Blogging from the front row of a Show which showcased some of those brands would be incredible.  I must confess to knowing all of the brands well - some I would say even intimately - even Forever21, as I spent many hours styling a young girl in there recently.

Watching the Show first hand to see how the brands have evolved to capture new markets, to see how each one goes about meeting the needs of women, what they have done to create their own niche and to see how they  interpret the designer trends would be a fantastic experience. Stars, spots, 1960's, 1940's, colour blocking, the boyish look - the list goes on - I have no doubt, will all be there to be blogged about. 

As a final thought, I am sure that the other skills that I have acquired with age could also be put to good use.  If anyone needed guidance, a shoulder to cry on, a spare tissue or a friendly ear, I could be that person.  I may not be smiling (n.b. see the comment re lines above) but inside I would be over the moon to be present. 

P.S I would also relish the part of the prize which involved going to the cinema (without having to watch an animated film) going bowling (without having to use the special equipment for three year olds) and drinking cocktails with gay abandon!

Mum on the Run - A day at home

Just an easy day at home today, hence the jeans, converse and H&M cotton top - the colour of which isn't great on me but I would usually layer something else underneath.  For once though, it was warm enough not to. The only thing that I added was a leather cuff.  Temperature wise it was great, however the jeans reminded me that there's not too much spare room for more chocolate cake!

Our two eldest are being home educated at the moment - they have to earn their TV time by reading some of Alan Sugar's autobiography.  I figured that they would learn a lot and as it transpires they have.  I heard them sniggering about the swear words that they had read - which includes "the f-word, two p-words (pi** and pric*) the b-word (b*******)" and more besides, and that was just the first chapter.  Excellent.  I think that they well and truly got one over on me.  

Mum on the Run - A lace skirt styled for a casual feel

Today we visited family and then spent the rest of the day at home, playing games, cooking, doing general jobs and finishing the chocolate cake that we made yesterday.  I must confess, we didn't find the last task too arduous.

I don't generally wear lots of skirts but this lace one from Mango is really comfortable.  It has a slight stretch to it and is pretty yet practical, with the lining finishing above the hem of the skirt, showing the lace off.   Given that it is lace, it can be dressed up or down, so I did a bit of both really - dressed it down with the Jigsaw striped top but added sparkly Dune sandals. It was quite nice to wear a skirt for a change.

I have seen that Mango has a similar skirt this season but in red.  As there's going to be huge amounts of red around for A/W '11 it might prove to be a good investment.

Mum on the Run - A bit of a frill

We have been away for a few days so today was one of those catching up kind of days.  I started by doing a bit of a Tracy Anderson work out, which my son witnessed and which caused utter hysterics - which is good really as it made up for the lack of a smile on her face.

By the time I got showered I had lost the will a bit so I really just grabbed what was comfortable and would be cool enough if it got warmer later on (failed there though - the jeans were boiling - obviously!)   I have to say that these are good jeans though - they are from Topshop and fit really well. The rise is fairly good, as is the colour and they come in different leg lengths. They are called Jessie.  The pink vest is from Boden - a pain to iron but nice to wear.  I layered another vest underneath for some additional coverage and resorted to the default footwear of converse.

Later in the day we made THIS -  yum yum!  Naturally I had to test the first piece! 

Mum on the Run - An asymetric dress

I love these photographs - nothing to do with me, just that they were taken by our little three year old munchkin and you can see from the angle how small she is.   In the absence of her older brother and sister, she was in charge of the camera and did really well, chubby finger over part of the lens aside!  She even gave me the 3-2-1 countdown that her brother does.

Anyway, to the dress - I threw this on hurridly when on the way out to ballet.  If I had had too long to think about it I may have taken it off, fearing that it was a bit too try hard for the day but actually it's really practical - plenty of room in the skirt so easy to walk in, a decent length and once on it stays well and truly put.  The last time I wore it was for a friend's 40th in May where I styled it with high gold shoes, so it was really nice to wear it as a daytime dress.  Ideally I would have had time to put a belt with it but that wasn't an option today.  The dress is from French Connection - and probably massively reduced in the sale now but I'm not going to check!