Don't ever shop to make your hangover better...

It doesn't work. Well, not entirely. This is what I discovered last Friday whilst I was trying to recover from a night out with friends mid week.  I met a friend the next day and we went into Brixton to run some errands and have lunch.  We ended up in Speedy Noodle having some speedy noodles! My food was delicious. I was starving, as it was well after 1pm and I hadn't managed to eat anything as yet.  So after stuffing my face and feeling better for about 15 minutes, the nausea was starting to creep back in.  You know that feeling I'm talking about. That feeling that makes you promise to yourself that you'll never drink again.  Well I know because I've made that promise to myself many times!

So after leaving Speedy Noodle feeling slightly queasy (not because of the food, just the hangover!) I spotted H&M across the road.,  ah the joy of shopping to take your mind off things, and I did still have over an hour until I had to pick up the kids.  I bid farewell to my friend and headed into H&M Brixton with an renewed feeling of good health and a spring in my step.  (I was listening to the radio today, they were talking about new research that proves that retail therapy extends life expectancy.  I knew it!!!!!!).  Anyway, I started off looking for a dress that would be practical, not too short, pockets etc...but the shopping quickly escalated into a frenzy of oooohs and aaahs and "oh I saw something like that in a fashion magazine somewhere...."  I do talk to myself sometimes! 


One thing I did find frustrating is that now stores do not have stock rooms anymore so everything is on the shop floor.  I kept looking at dresses that there seemed to be a lot of, but the sizes were either 6's and 8's  or 14's and 16's.  Very disappointing indeed, and so when you ask if they are getting more in, they always know when their delivery is, but never what is going to be in it.  So you have to spend your time popping in and checking for what you want.  Or you give up on the thing you want all together.  It seems to me that this is a sure way of losing business.  There is no service to order anything, which would  make sense, as you spend your money and they make a profit. Rant over! I then had a pang of shopping guilt and went to the children's section and had a look for something for my daughter.  I did pick her up a T-shirt, but only after I found one for myself in the older kids section (9 to 14 years)!

So, loaded down with no less than 14 items, I made my way to the changing rooms and waited patiently in the queue, which I must say is my favourite part of shopping.....not!  On reaching the front of the queue the fitting room assistant proceeded to get into a full blown  conversation with a customer who was a friend.  Whilst this was happening the fitting rooms were emptying and the weight of the clothes I was carrying was getting heavier and heavier.  Not forgetting the hangover, at this point was in a rotten mood, but of course being stoically British I huffed and puffed but said nothing and waited until she "saw" me.

I finally got into the changing rooms and tried on all the items I picked up and decided on the yes's and the no's.  Anyway long story short, I left H&M with three dresses, a  T-shirt  and a three pack of socks! (For me and some bits for the birthday girl to be.)  I know that I bought two dresses that are the same but the summer potential for practicality are great.  The dress has huge pockets, can be worn with a T-shirt over or under, (even one of my crop T-shirts already purchased) and a cardigan. It can easily be dressed up or down and is also quite smart with the right shoes (not trainers!). It came in another colour way but I had to stop myself from buying three dresses exactly the same. The fabric is also really good as the skirt part of the dress is quite structured hiding "bits"!  So here they are.
The three dresses.

T-shirt from kids department!

 Socks!

 Happy shopping, just don't do it with a really big hang over!

Samara

Splurge.....

I really should not ever be allowed in a shop again! If anyone sees me heading towards the doors a a store that pulls me in like a tractor beam, please stop me, cast a line, hook me and reel me in. Save me from my addiction!!!!  Well OK it 's not always that drastic, but last week I was walking past Diverse on Atlantic road in Brixton when I spotted the sale, hard not to spot, as sign in the middle of the pavement!  I went straight to the clothes that they have down stairs.  That part of the store is run by a lovely woman Lorna Jane, her label is Uma Jane www.umajane.co.uk (named after her grandmother) anyway, I love her stuff down there.  It is different from the high street normality and u know if you buy something from there you are not going to see half of oxford street or wherever wearing the same thing!

I think in the end I spent at least and hour and a half in there!  Lorna and I got talking, to put it mildly!  We spoke about kids and lack of sleep and body shape and family, mothers, daughters, exes, lovers and of course fashion.  I ended up trying on about 10 or 12 items as Lorna asked me to try things on for her to see how they looked!   She also said I have a nice decolletage!  Always good to hear a compliment.  Lorna did her job well, I left £55 of my hard earned pounds lighter, but with three dresses one of which she threw in for free! (A LBD with a bit of hot pink running through it, very cute.  To be worn abroad, well in the sunshine.... like Lisbon?!)

The first dress I chose is a maxi halter dress with some kind of animal print (i forget which!) in black and coral, so of course I love it, because of the colour, I imagined a warm summer evening having drinks with my girls (meant in slang way, not my children, and also as I have one of each!) or my TDHS, either would be fine as long as the night is warm and the conversation and drinks flow freely.  Which if I'm out with my Yummy Mummies the last two would definitely happen, not sure about the warm summer evening, but after a few glasses of rose wine it will feel like summer anyway.

The second dress I ummm and ahhhed about, because although it is a glorious colour, but it is a bit sheer.  Lorna managed to pursued me to buy it, and I have visions of myself in NYC or Manhattan, doing a Carrie Bradshaw, in a fabulous dress with bright bra straps on display!  I mean really, should a mother of two be indulging herself this much?   I think the answer is yes.  I can't remember the last time I imagined myself anywhere else but here with the children or on a family holiday (and the holiday was my most indulgent fantasies,) let alone having visions of myself looking cute and sexy in New York!  The pictures show how I would wear it if I was New York bound, orange leggings and vest and white polka dot peep toes. LUSH!

The last dress I was eyeing up was in the sale basket.  I had tried on a hundred items already and I was now fully dressed and had no intention of taking my clothes off again, because I couldn't be bothered! I held the front of it up against my chest to get a rough idea if it would fit, and decided that it would be too small.  The ever loving Lorna, when I went to pay, offered it to me for free!  So of course I took it.  The zip was broken, so it needed work, but when I tired it on at home, it was actually too big!  The picture shows the side of the dress without the broken zip!  This dress needs to go dancing as it has a really full skirt and it flares out when I spin, I love it!

No more shopping for me!  I have got the children's birthdays coming up and birthday lists as long as my arms! So remember if you see me heading into a shop and it's not a children's store, save me from myself! Also if you are floating around in Brixton or in need of a fab dress for a glamorous night out check out Uma Jane, it's worth a look.

As always, happy shopping.

Samara.

Lisbon Loving

Hello my lovelies, did you miss me?  I was just deciding how to tell you about my wonderful short break to Portugal, but I cannot find the words to describe exactly the feeling.  It has been a long time since I have spent 3 nights away from my children.  A long, long time.  I don't have the words for the overwhelming emotions I had whilst I was away and since I have been back.  I felt guilty about enjoying myself and silly for missing my children, although missing the didn't start until the 3rd day! The time away for me was healing.  Allowing me to reconnect with the part of me I had pushed away and tidied into a box a long time ago.  The part that through my past relationship I had only allowed to show its face when I was on the verge of losing the plot. It was liberating, allowing myself to enjoy just being me and not feeling guilty (all the time) for not being there for every waking moment of my children's life.  The time away also allowed me to miss the children enough to not think about how much hard work it is being with them, like the fact that my daughter DOES NOT listen (she is creative and is just in another world!) or my son who wakes up at the dawn of time, every single day! So by the time I was on my way home I was positively excited about seeing my children (although some what torn, to leave TDHS!).  My love for them was much more tangible, rather than buried under the sleep deprivation, frustration and monotony that is part of having young children. It's been two weeks since I have been back, WHEN IS MY NEXT WEEKEND AWAY?!

I did have the most amazing time! Packed all the wrong things for the beautiful weather they had in Lisbon that weekend and was forced to go shopping to buy summer dresses, a bikini, (really!), sandals and a T-shirt!! The shops in Lisbon are great! They have the most enormous shopping center's all over Lisbon that stay open until Midnight!!!!  So I could spend the day in the sun, on the beach, sightseeing and eating alfresco in lovely restaurants then spend all evening in the SHOPS!!!!!! OMG amazing.  Seriously, Lisbon is beautiful, full of history and architecture, old and new. It has a river that runs through it to the sea and elements that remind me of the South bank, in London and then it has the most stunning beaches that stretch for miles and miles both north and south of the city.

So let me tell you about the shopping!  I actually ended up in the same shops that I shop in when I'm at home!  The difference being the stores are more spacious and the sales staff were always keen to help.  For example the sales assistant in Zara was very helpful in locating a pair of silver leather sandals that I wanted in my size.  (She was asked by TDHS, so this may have been a factor in her prompt service, but for me, no worries as I got the shoes I wanted and TDHS said they made my feet look sexy!) There is a small picture of them below.  I shopped in H&M one evening and picked up two dresses the same in different colours.  I needed summer dresses for the fantastic weather! The dresses are empire/baby doll style.  They cover the tummy but don't make you look pregnant, which is good.

Dress in blue and cream....looking good Samara....(Professional Photo for a change).

Silver Sandals from Zara

Bikini from H&M (This is as much skin you will see of mine, I'm comfortable with you seeing my back as all the fat is on my front!!!)

Orange T-shirt from Zara, layered with a short sleeved sweat shirt from Joy, and grey cotton trousers from Uni Qlo.  The T-shirt is quiet long so covers bottoms if you wanted to wear it with leggings. 

Anyway I have no complaints about my shopping experiences in Lisbon, but then I have no complaints about my trip there.  It was a perfect few days.  So if you ever get the chance to take a short break I highly recommend Lisbon. 

Until next time people.  Happy shopping.

Samara.