Stepping out of my comfort zone.

I'm sure one of you out there can understand the energy and effort it takes to do something that you wouldn't normally do on a daily bases especially if you have been at home for 7 years raising children. Stepping out of your comfort zone and putting yourself out there in a capacity that means that people see you. Just you. Not mother or housewife or cleaner or chef or driver or electrician or nurse or children's entertainer or any of the hats that can be put upon us as mothers that pigeon hole you or really describe or explain who you are other than just being you. I know that the same thing can be applied even if your are not a mother...being stuck in a job that you took because it was offered, but never fulfilled your heart and soul, but you get pigeon holed as that, what ever that may be.

So this is what I did today, took a big step. Held my breath and stepped out into the unknown. I had an email from Topshop, you know the kind of one," come and buy all our lovely stuff etc..." but this one had info about London fashion week starting Friday 18th, and they are offering workshops ranging from drawing design work shops, previews and make up workshops, including a workshop about blogging from the front row of the run way shows! (Susie Lau from style bubble and Topshop's Inside-out) When I first read it I thought, mmm, that's interesting. Then I read it again and thought it would actually be good to go. But then I decided, no, as I had my son at the time of the workshop. Then after some encouragement, yes. I organised some childcare, and made plans to be there! Now from the moment I had made the decision to go, I was nervous. I had butterflies in my tummy. By the time I go to Oxford Circus I was actually having palpations! I could feel my heart out of my chest, sweaty palms and back and arm pits! The whole works! Attractive I know. I must have looked a right state. I just kept thinking of all the young design/fashionista that would be there. That I would be the old lady! Not on trend or any of the expectations that I alone had put on myself!

The work shop started at 11am. I arrived at 10.45, 15 minutes to get a good seat and my paper and pen out! I walked into the store saw the board advertising the blog workshop then went to a cashier to ask where it was within the store I needed to go, only to find out that I was a DAY EARLY!!!!!!!!! Arrgghh.

Gutted. Disappointed because I had a ticket booked for that afternoon for a train to Dorset for the WEEKEND!!!!!!! And I never go anywhere for the weekend, because of my commitment to the kids! I even asked my mum if she would go to the blog work shop for me and use the voice recorder on her phone, to no avail!

So I didn't get to go, but I stepped out of that place that keeps me comfortably unhappy, you know what I mean. I feel proud of myself for making the effort and breaking out of the zone. Really.

So I found myself in Oxford circus with over two hours before my train.......so I shopped! River Island, a pair of earrings and a ring. Zara, a pair of electric blue trousers with cuffed ankles and braces! H&M three t-shirts that are slightly cropped, (eeeekkkk tummy exposure may be a possibility!) one black, one coral, one yellow. Planned to wear them with a vest underneath to prevent that from happening, as you can see peeping out from under the Tee in  the picture!

After that I ran, with my purchases safely stowed away in my suitcase, to the nearest tube station to save my bank card from any more heart failure. I got to Waterloo train station an hour early. I didn't trust myself to not spend any more money. But I am extremely happy with my purchases, in fact so much so that I gave one of the T-shirts to the friend I went to visit. I'll replace it though, because it was really nice, a good colour and fun!

Anyway on and upwards!  If I have learnt anything this week it's to take risks and be brave.  Are you brave? I dare you to be.....

Happy shopping!


Samara

Shopping in the shops....

I must be a retailers dream.  I find it impossible to walk past a shop, and once I'm in it I find it impossible not buy something.  A prime example, I was returning to my local H&M to exchange a skirt (my bum didn't fit!) except they didn't have it in store, so I tried on three other things...

I left with a new Jump suit (£19.99), new head scarf thingies with wire in (£3.99) for two), and two bracelets (£1.99 each).  I mean I really should show some self control, but when I am waiting in a queue, which is always the case in Brixton, all the perfectly placed accessories just look at me longing to be touched and tried on.  So that's what happened.  I did.  Now my experience in H&M was O.K. There was a very helpful lady who searched the whole store and asked three other staff members about a skirt that I wanted to exchange. So then I went into the changing rooms and tried my three items.  Two items were no good, and the third I wanted to try in a different size. So I asked the lady in the changing rooms, very nicely, if I could try the jumpsuit in a smaller size.  She told me to go ahead and get it myself!!!!!  I mean really! That is  not customer service!

 

So had to put my coat and shoes on, take my hand bag (as this is Brixton we are talking about) and go and get myself another size.  The thing was that I had picked the jump suit up by the front door and I had to stalk all the way from the changing room at the back of the store, to the front of the store, with it's big windows (that everybody can see in!) in the centre of Brixton. I was paranoid that I didn't want to set off the alarm  because of the security tag attached to the jump suit I was still wearing!  I felt like I was going to be wrestled to the ground by the security guard because I looked like I was about to do a runner. Not the best customer service I have experienced to say the least, but at least I didn't get wrested to the floor. Phew!

I really like this jump suit, with its deep pockets and harem trousers. The fabric is really light, so I put a T-shirt under it for now but will have to wait until it warms up a bit still, but I will definitely be able to wear it right through the summer because it is so light. They did have a leopard print one but I have one quite similar already!  The bracelets I picked up because of their colours, warm and summery and in keeping with this years spring/summer trends. The head scarf I just thought was really cute with kissy lips all over it!

A few days later back in H&M in West Bourne Park.  Seriously, no self control. And actually my shopping experience was not that much different from Brixton. The store was much quieter, which was good, but there was only one cashier at the  cash desk and he was so painfully slow that I contemplated just shouting "HURRY UP!" or something more obscene.  I wasn't even in a rush but just the sheer fact that he was as slow as a snail, enraged me!  I had to do some deep breathing and luckily I was distracted by a handsome stranger!  It was frustrating because the store was so empty it shouldn't have taken so long.....anyway I bought a pair of heels (£24.99).  Very comfortable and not too high. All I need now is some sunshine!!!!

 Shoes!!!!

Anyway friends, until next time, and as always.....

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Samara

The story starts like this.....

I have to tell you the story about me and the relationship I have with clothes.  I don't quiet remember when it started, but I do have memories of getting dressed as a little girl, and how I used to lay out the clothes I was planning on wearing, so my sister would come in and see them and then I would wait until she got dressed and then put something different on, she was always really upset by this, but I just didn't want to look the same.  We looked like twins for a while as she grew fast and caught up with me, then over took me.

Anyway I guess i was about 16 when I started with experimenting with my outfits, away from my boarding school, at home on the weekends.  I tried out stuff that I knew at school I would get the mickey taken out of me if I had worn it there.  There is a picture of me floating about somewhere of me in a pair of black army boots, over the the knee navy socks, a pleated navy short skirt. I can't quite remember what I was wearing on the top half but I'm sure the outfit was not as cool as I thought at the time!

So been thinking about this picture and started trawling through old photo's and guess what? I found it! Now I'm no good with technical things and I can't scan the picture.  So I'm employing one of my Mum's favourite tricks, take a picture of a picture.

Actually not as cringe worthy as I thought.  But as you can see I liked to do things a little differently.  This I was often told, and not always in the nicest way.  But I'm rubber and you're glue,  and words bounce off me and stick to you.  I remember being called weird about dressing differently, but to be honest it only spurred me on more, to become the dresser I am today!

Now, I did do a little shopping on Friday after the arrival of my new trainers, to find something great to go with them! The excitement of them only spurred me on to spend money that I really shouldn't have! Thing is though, I did!  Eeeeekkkk! Shopaholic entered Joy in Brixton on a Friday afternoon, and 1 hour later left with a Jumper, a pair of black leggings, two dresses and a pair of head phones! Plus I got  a free dress for spending over £75.  Which I definitely did!  No shopping for me for at least three weeks, or until, well lets face it, it will probably be Friday afternoon.

New Headphones! How cute.

Jumper! Was half price and have been longing for it for months, and it went into the sale, £32.50.  The quality is really good.

This dress made me feel really slinky and I think the lines of the dress are flattering. It also has a nice zip detail on the back, not all the way down though! I think that when I do wear it out I wear it with a low heel, or TRAINERS! Anyway I love it, although it's definitely for a skinny day, if you get my meaning!

This is another skinny day dress but I love that it is off the shoulders, V. sexy feeling, but also covers everything! Not a usual buy for me because if I buy a dress I quite like to show my legs but, i really liked the print and the colours, and it looks good with my trainers!

This is the free dress I got! Quite cute. It has a cat and dog black and white print on it and has pockets!  I love pockets in dresses, really practical.  The sleeves were a bit tight around my arms, but it was free so I can't complain. Actually just one arm.  No more arm wrestling for me if I plan on wearing this one out.

Anyway friends, if there is anything I can do to help you find that special something that you are looking for, I mean I'm trawling through the shops and Internet anyway, (which I love to do!) please send me a message and I could help you out! Whatever takes your fancy.

Happy shopping, it's the weekend!

Samara

Friday is new trainer day...

Hello you! So today is Friday, and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my new trainers. I have been tracking them on the UPS website and they arrived a Stansted this morning! Eeeeek.  They are getting close.  I hope that they are not disappointing now as I have put so much into them emotionally.... as I do.

So this is what I am wearing today, in my eager mood I feel playful and and happy, and I think that comes across in this out fit. The trousers are from RI (river island), I picked up on-line for £10. The are really long and have cute zips on the side and a quite high waist with a thick elastic black waist band, that is not too tight and hide a multitude of tummy sins, and are actually very slimming.  The T-shirt dress from NL (new look) on-line, £14.99, I picked because they are so easy to wear all year round, e you can just layer them up in the winter and as the weather warms up strip down! The zip through I've got on is Primark, I got it a year or so ago for a couple of pounds, I love the print and the colours but have only really been able to fit it properly recently (I have lost weight due to stress. I'm not sure how I feel about this as I have lost weight from the bits I quite like it to stay! My boobs and bottom but my tummy remains, how ironic.) Anyway, the trainers are Nike, they have shiny black polka dots all over and I changed the laces from white to pink.  When I look down at them they make me happy with the fat pink laces!

 What else?  Oh the accessories, well the earrings a one of several hundred pairs I own, they were from RI a long time ago.

OMG just checked the UPS status and they are in the van for delivery!  Can't go anywhere until they arrive. I don't want to miss them!  Actually I've even arranged for my friend to pick my son up to take him to nursery. Priorities! AM I bad mother?!

Back to today's outfit.  The coat I picked up in TS, was in the sale half price, £50 from £100.  A bit indulgent for me but it was my Christmas money and the coat was calling me, actually I walked into the store,  turned left saw it, tried it on and bought it. I was in an out in 5 minutes! I was lucky it was the last one.

Guess what?! They have arrived, and soooo not disappointed!  Shoe heaven, shoe ecstasy!!! (She squeals and screams...son looking slightly puzzled at the noises coming from mummy).  I love my Nike Dunk High Skinny Supreme iD. So do you want to see?......

I know it may seem a bit shallow shopping to make you feel better, but believe me,  if just one of the purchases you make,  make you smile, then the next person to see you will smile too!  Before you know it your smile is passed around the world! To all you women especially the mothers (who really need reminding, as i know). Don't forget how strong and beautiful you are.  Feel alive, feel confident and own your body, accent it, show off your assets, those shapely waists, long legs, perky boobs small but especially big!  But what ever you wear feel proud of who you are, of what you have achieved and life will always feel good.  Anyway enough life coaching!

Happy Shopping

Samara

It follows...

Well today feels exciting and fresh, I can almost feel spring in the air! Which, after this long cold winter, has had  me longing for hot summer days and long summer nights.  Which reminded me of a purchase I made last week from schuh. A pair of gold leather wedges that were in the sale, £19.95 from £55, they have free delivery over £14.99 and free returns, which is good if they were a total disaster. They weren't, but I do feel like a giraffe in them as the heel is about 14 cm, and the wedge about 4cm! Being tall is a novelty for me at 5ft4in and the shortest in my family.

I must say that I'm not the greatest on heels, and for those who have the pleasure of knowing me personally can agree with the fact that I do live in trainers.  According to others I have ruined, no not ruined but made a silk purse of an outfit into a sows ear by wearing trainers!  Can't help it though, just love to have comfy feet, especially on a night out when I am actually wearing a nice top or a dress.  I'm already thinking about sucking in my baby belly (2 c-sections later), I also don't want to have to think about them hurting my feet, whether I can actually walk in the heels, desperately trying not to fall flat on my face and look sexy! Too much for me after a long day with the children.

I digress, so I bought the wedges thinking that there would be easier for me to walk in and sturdier so that I wouldn't totter around so much, or walk like Whoopi, and do you know what.... I don't!  Wedges are the way forward for me! Well until I spot another pair of shoes calling me.....

Nice!  I was thinking these would look good with a maxi dress/skirt or shorts! Whatever takes my fancy.

Bye for now.

Samara


p.s. Friday!

So it begins..

 I shop a lot online, in fact, with 2 kids I rarely make it into the "real" shops ever, which is sad for me because I do love to feel, touch and try on all those lovely clothes and shoes and accessories. I want to share with you my experiences of  my on line and off line triumphs and failures, and just how I like to wear them. Because sometimes I can be a little unique in how I put things together.  Don't get me wrong I like to follow fashion but I do insist on having me days!  These are usually when I'm a bit emotional (happy or sad), and there has been a lot of these over the last year as my has marriage ended.

The truth is my marriage ending made me realise that I had been putting me to the bottom of the list in everyday life, which had rolled from days and months into years, 6 to be precise. So this is how it works,  my kids go to bed at 7 in the evening then I spent the rest of the night (until I drag my arse to bed, they are very early risers) surfing, and trawling through web sites looking for clothes, shoes and accessories and placing them carefully in my "basket" until another day when I have cash, but what I realised that your items aren't always saved.  Annoying when have spent 3 hours going through a site, thinking about size, fabric, cut and what I want to wear if for! Also some of the really good bargains have time limits. So I stopped worrying about the money and just stared shopping!

I'm high street through and through and some of my experience I gained  before I became a stylist, was as a Topshop Style Advisor at the Oxford Circus store, you know the huge one that is like a time machine, because you can think you are just going to pop in for 10 minutes and come out 2 hours later with a bank card that feels thoroughly abused!

Anyway where were we, so my favorite shopping sites are....

http://www.riverisland.com/Online/
www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk
www.schuh.co.uk
www.newlook.com
www.office.co.uk
www.accessorize.com
www.topshop.com
javari.co.uk
www.asos.com
http://store.nike.com
www.lasenza.co.uk
store.americanapparel.co.uk
www.joythestore.com
www.clothingattesco.com

Now don't laugh at the last one, but Florence and Fred at Tesco can be really good!
So do you want to see my latest purchases?... They are 4 pairs of earrings and a bracelet. Actually these were from the local market in Brixton on Electric Avenue, 3 items for £5. Was on a outing with my son and his school and spotted these.  After the trip to the market and dropping my son and other children back at school, I ran, child free back to the stall to buy them, only to spot several other pairs that I couldn't live without...and a bracelet. It maybe a few months until I wear them all but they all have a purpose, to create an outfit from or to finish it, or to express my mood, but my earrings are always a topic of conversation at any play group or school play ground and if I make out to a bar for a drink well.....that's another story.

Hope you all enjoyed this? I did for a first experience.  So next time I'm back do yourselves all a favour and  go treat yourself, like me.

Come again soon and spread the word....

Samara 


p.s. got some new women's Nike Dunk High Skinny Supreme arriving on Friday that I designed myself (well  the colours anyway) come along to check them out.