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!

Mum on the Run - A dress for a sunny day

I'm using a little artistic licence today.  I actually wore this dress earlier in the week but to reveal what I am wearing today would be not only a crime against fashion but also one against humanity. I can describe it though - striped top, PJ shorts and Mini Boden sheepskin boots - totally stunning (not!) 

The style of this Oasis dress is good for any pear shaped ladies.  The neckline serves to broaden the shoulders whilst the movement in the skirt disguises heavier hips/legs - bringing your shape back into proportion.  I am also wearing Cath Kidston flip flops.

I am nursing what can only be described as an unusually strong adverse reaction to alcohol today, which is most unlike me.  I was unable to stand up for much of the day but having conquered that inability was so worn out by the effort that I had to lie down again.  Probably not the most productive use of a sunny day (especially given how much I complain when it is cold) but it really wasn't my fault. I'm not sure whose it was, or how it happened but there we go.

Mum on the Run - With her friends!

There are certain things in life that make us nostalgic and these things provide us with comfort.  It may be hearing a tune on the radio that reminded us of our school discos, the smell of a perfume that our Grandma used to wear, or visiting a familiar holiday destination from when we were young. 

For me, recounting stories to our children of what I got up to with my friends when I was at school is a great way of re-living my memories and remembering the fun times that I had with them - well, other than when the children ask me whether electricity had been invented when I was a child and then I am just indignant! 

There was the incident at school when the picture that I had drawn of a certain part of the male anatomy was held up by one of my friends to show to the class.  Drawing never was my strong point but at least the class found it funny.   Or the time that my friend and I were cycling to school and, as a result of laughing so much, she ended up nearly falling off her bike only saving herself by discarding the chocolate bar that she was eating over her shoulder, and in turn over a hedge, into someone's garden.  Why we were eating chocolate bars at 8.30 am escapes me now but we will always share that memory.  Those moments of closeness, laughing so much that your sides ache, must have positive health benefits of that I am sure. What I am not so sure though about the RSI I received as a result of writing lines because I was laughing with my friends, rather than concentrating. 

Nivea are marking their 100th birthday with a celebration of closeness in modern Britain, entitled "A Million Moments of Closeness".   Their aim is to literally capture "A Million Moments of Closeness".  You can join in NIVEA’s celebration by uploading photographs of you with a friend, sibling, partner, parent or child at facebook.com/niveauk, or you can look out for their road shows, throughout the UK, where you can jump into a photo booth and have your picture instantly uploaded. You can also pick up free goodies if you attend the roadshow events.

 

As part of their campaign, Nivea have enlisted the help of Professor Beattie, a psychologist, for expert advice on tips for making friends as adults. These tips include sharing a secret with someone, paying attention to what people are saying and never saying "Nice".  In context I think that "Nice" can be a good word to use.  I got chatting to one of my now closest friends by use of the word "Nice" as in "Nice bag!"  We then went on to discover that we had the same forenames, year of birth, number of children, occupations and we were both left handed.  OK, so that's not why we are friends, our love of cakes, running and her ability to crack me up help in that department but the word "Nice" definitely featured as an opening to our friendship.  

 

Whether you share your pictures on Facebook or at the roadshow, at the end of each day, Professor Beattie will choose his favourite picture and the winner will receive one of 100 prizes worth £100.

As for making new friends as an adult - is it harder?  I can't say that I have noticed that it is but everyone is different.  Some people have, and need to have, lots of friends.  Others have one or two close friends and that is all.  What I am sure of though is that we all derive huge benefits from our friendships and with families often fractured by distance, friends have, it is said, become "the new family."  However what I have noticed is that modern technology has changed how we conduct our friendships.  How did we ever manage at University to make an arrangement for the following week and not change it? No mobiles, no texts, no being late.  We had to stick to it. 

An old University friend and I have recently got back in touch after many years and we decided to do something that was special to our friendship as we knew it whilst at University.  So, the way that we stay in contact is by writing to one another - sending cards and letters when we can.  We are both busy and it doesn't happen as often as we would like but there's something lovely about opening the door after a long day at work and seeing her familiar handwriting on a card on the mat.  I wait until the children are in bed and then curl up and savour reading each and every word, then putting the card on the mantle piece for a few weeks before filing it away in a memory box.  Can a text or an email compete with that?  I don't think so.  Sure, texts and emails have their place in modern day life and for those with family and friends abroad, Skype is fantastic - but for those friends for whom you would drop everything in a crisis, hearing their voice in a telephone call, see their writing in a letter and even better, seeing them face to face, if only once a year, is something to be treasured above all else.   

  

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Mum on the Run - Birthday suit!

Fortunately, that's not all that I am wearing but it is my birthday today and I share it with none other than Jennifer Lopez and Wonderwoman.  How fab is that?   For once the sun shone,  which is a rarity despite the fact that I have a July birthday.  We all had a great day, with a highlight being a trip to Selfridges to buy birthday cakes.  They were fab but we universally agreed that the chocolate biscuit cake made by my husband and our daughter was still the best.  Even better - I get to choose what we watch on TV tonight.  My husband just can't wait to start Eat, Pray Love....NOT! I'm letting him watch Top Gear first though - just so that he can brace himself.

I always tend to play it safe clothes wise at Christmas and birthdays as I don't want to worry about what I am wearing. Having said that, my new Ted Baker top made an outing but with tried and tested (with plenty of room for eating) straight jeans and ballet pumps.  My grey Mulberry is also a year old today so that had to come out too!

When we got home it was really hot so I changed into a white sun dress and flip flops then sat and read the paper before friends came round and we all had fizz (and more cake!)  Bliss!

Mum on the Run - An evening out with the girls

Last night I went out with a group of friends for dinner. I knew that it was going to be hot so that ruled trousers out - that and the fact that they tend to have a waistband which I really could have done without.  Also, being the wimp that I am, it's not often that it's warm enough for me to go out in a summer dress without the need for extra layers and so I took full advantage of the balmy summer evening. Having had such a great time last night I now feel fully rejuvenated in one sense but also a little bit worse for wear around the edges!

Dress - Reiss, shoes Pied a Terre

Mum on the Run - In a 500byGucci!

Do you remember how, in the early 1990's, everyone aspired towards owning a Gucci belt or a pair of Gucci loafers.  Remember the LBD that Posh Spice wore which everyone assumed was Gucci (in fact, it was Topshop)?  Well, now there's a new kid on the block.  To celebrate both the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and Gucci's 90th anniversary, Fiat and Gucci have collaborated to create the 500byGucci - a stylish, simple and sophisticated car, which is unsurprising really given that it was customised by Frida Giannini, the Creative Director of Gucci.

Now, I am married to someone who is utterly and completely obsessed by cars.  I have spent many an hour having "Car Chats" and my knowledge of cars is really far greater than it should be.  So, here's the technical info.  The Italian car comes with two engines, a 1.2 litre and the award winning 0.9 litre Twin Air.  They are priced at £14,565 and £15,765 respectively.  Best of all, you can even order the car online.  All you have to do is pay a deposit, order it from the factory, track the car's progress and make a final payment.  The car can even be delivered especially to your home.  It's as simple as ordering a pair of shoes - Gucci, naturally. 

So, now to the aesthetics.  The 500byGucci comes in both black and white, each benefiting from glossy pearl glass paint.  The black version comes with chrome detailing, whilst the interior contrasts sharp black and white for a contemporary feel.  The white version comes with satin chrome detailing, whilst the interior is ivory black giving it a softer, sophisticated look.  Both showcase Gucci's distinctive colours and iconic branding.

 

I think that it is fair to say that some pairings in life work - Fish & Chips, Wills & Kate, James Bond and Moneypenny - others however aren't so successful - the Montagues and Capulets, Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, Cheryl Cole and American X-Factor. 

The collaboration between Fiat and Gucci however has success written all over it.  There are lots of families who run two cars, one large one and one smaller one as a run around.  The 500byGucci definitely appeals to me in that regard.  OK so the children won't be able to play a double base or a tuba but that really doesn't create a problem in my mind.  Not even a small one.  In the words of Elena Bernadellli, marketing director for Fiat Group UK "it will also appeal to those fashionista customers who want to have a unique car to distinguish themselves."  To me it's fun, fresh and exciting, which is exactly what a car should be. 

The 500byGucci is available in the UK from this summer and you can find out more by registering at www.fiat.co.uk/500bygucci


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Mum on the Run - A stripy jumper dress

The day started out a lot smarter than it ended up. I had a meeting with a hotel in the City Centre and so I started off with black trousers, silk shirt, black blazer and heels.  Knowing that I didn't want to be too dressed up when I collected the children later on, I took some spare clothes with me to change into. Apologies at this stage to anyone who saw me getting changed in my car whilst parked in the Waitrose car park. Anyway, off came the silk shirt, black blazer and high heels and on went the stripy jumper dress and flats.  Ah, that was more like it! I love my new jumper dress - I know that it is too big but it is so comfortable and I can wear it as a dress with wedges, with flats, with trousers and flats, with a leopard print belt, with a sparkly scarf -it's just so versatile and at £14.99 it just had to be.

Anyway, now that all three are at home having finished school, what are they doing?  Well, having come home to a lunch seriously lacking in nutrition - actually one hasn't even eaten yet so he really is lacking in nutrition - they are now watching dvds of course - a whole afternoon's worth. How bad is that on the first day of their holidays? 

I used to do exciting things like take them to the cinema, or bowling, or out for lunch (together with the rest of the school) but I have given up.  All those bags, woodwork objects and waiting to be served - it all got a bit much. Plus they are all whacked so Blockbuster it was this morning and I can highly recommend it.  The youngest chose Tangled, or Rapunzel or, as she calls it "Buckpunzel" - and yes, you do have to be careful how you pronounce that one - especially in public. Her swearing vocabulary is already much larger than it should be for a three year old and I don't think that we really need to add to it.

So, that's us sorted for the afternoon - well until they appear for some highly questionable snack, which I will grant, just for today. They think that they have got off lightly. What they don't realise is that I am spending the afternoon typing up lists of jobs for them to do whilst on holiday - there will be daily jobs and weekly jobs, some they may earn pocket money for but most they won't. They think that the witch on Buckpunzel is bad?  They ain't seen nothing yet!

Outfit: Trousers Ted Baker, Jumper dress H&M, Shoes Dune  

Mum on the Run - more like Mum on the Sprint!

Crikey, what a day.  It's warm, which is great and I was working with a lovely lady today.  Then it was home and time for ballet, school run etc. I was really hot when I came home and had five minutes to change before going out so I went for the safe summer formula of white (dress), tan (belt) and gold (shoes). 

Unfortunately the dress was more see through than I realised when I bought it, so on my way out I grabbed a long vest to stop me from being indecent.  Unfortunately it spoiled the neck line of the dress a bit but that's what Mum on the Run is all about - not always having the time to get it exactly right but doing the best we can with the time available.  By the time this photo was taken the stack of bangles had come off and a couple of other accessories were lost somewhere along the way.  Mind you by that stage I was past caring - a cup of milk had been chucked across the kitchen (accidentally) and our son had looked at the dinner that I had cooked and said "why on earth did you think that I would like that?"  And the summer holidays haven't even started yet! 

Dress - French Connection, Shoes Dune.

Mum on the Run - A Sunday at home

Today we were up to the usual family chores - ironing, tidying, chopping the tangles out of the hair of our three year old (she now has a bit of a combover at the back but it works fine) and cooking lunch from Jamie's 30 minutes cookbook. OK, so the meals may take 30 minutes to cook but it takes about three and  half hours to tidy up afterwards.  I think that I may soon be reverting to my one pot cookbook - it's stew or soups for us now until the end of the year.

As for the outfit, this black linen dress is great for days around the house.  It's fairly childproof and has a decent length on it so I can go on the trampoline without giving the neighbours a shock.  I had to go out in the afternon to pick our son up from a party so put my gold wedges on for that but I also wore it with flip flops when I was at home.  Well, more accurately our daughter's flip flops.  I mugged her when she returned from her camping trip and pinched them off her as her Cath Kidston ones are much nicer than any that I own.  Surely that can't be right.

Outfit - Dress French Connection, Shoes Dune, Bag Orla Kiely

Mum on the Run - A Sunday at home

Today we were up to the usual family chores - ironing, tidying, chopping the tangles out of the hair of our three year old (she now has a bit of a combover at the back but it works fine) and cooking lunch from Jamie's 30 minutes cookbook. OK, so the meals may take 30 minutes to cook but it takes about three and  half hours to tidy up afterwards.  I think that I may soon be reverting to my one pot cookbook - it's stew or soups for us now until the end of the year.

As for the outfit, this black linen dress is great for days around the house.  It's fairly childproof and has a decent length on it so I can go on the trampoline without giving the neighbours a shock.  I had to go out in the afternon to pick our son up from a party so put my gold wedges on for that but I also wore it with flip flops when I was at home.  Well, more accurately our daughter's flip flops.  I mugged her when she returned from her camping trip and pinched them off her as her Cath Kidston ones are much nicer than any that I own.  Surely that can't be right.

Outfit - Dress French Connection, Shoes Dune, Bag Orla Kiely

Mum on the Run - A sunny Saturday

I love Saturdays. When I wake up there's an expectation that the sun will be shining, that (somehow) peace and serenity will settle on the house and that we will live a day of harmony - oh, and that a perfect tapas style lunch will appear which we will all sit down and eat together. 

I have a feeling that we may get part of the way there today.  Our eldest is away and as much as we love her (and her highly amusing school report), she does have an amazing capacity to wind her brother up.  We have now reached the stage that the fighting between those two is so legendary that our youngest, who is starting school in September, has asked me "When I get home from school, do I have to have a fight?"

The only thing that makes me wonder whether I am aiming a little too high is the theory that my husband put to the test last night, which went like this:

• Juice based cocktails don't make you drunk, because they have juice in them;
• Juice based cocktails are good for colds - because they have juice in them;

Yep, you can guess what he was drinking last night.  Given that he didn't get up until mid-day today, I wonder whether he was wrong.  I couldn't possibly comment whether it was a cold or a hangover which kept him in bed for so long but my loyalty to him would have to say that it was a cold (together with the fact that he might read this at some stage and get grumpy if I insinuated that he had a hangover).

So, the outfit was simple, a Ted Baker cream top and navy trousers together with the sparkly flats.  It got a bit hot later on when I was playing table tennis so I swapped it all for a dress but that's another story.