Update, and a Pasta Disasta!

I have a couple of new posts coming soon, but they’re just not quite ready for the world yet, but to give you a hint of what’s coming:

Op Shopping!

As promised, I went shopping in second hand stores on Saturday. I didn’t quite get what I wanted to, and I did cave in a fabric store, but I did get some useful items.

I only had a budget of £20 today, and after my £2.50 bacon and egg chapati that was down to £17.50. I have to say, the majority of that was spent at the fabric store, but on the upside I have fabric and lining for my next ‘Perfect Work Skirt‘, which I’ll make a tutorial for (now that I know what I’m doing and aren’t just winging it). I bought two items of clothing, work skirt fabric and lining, and lace for when I get to underwear making. I’m on the look out this week for a light blue or white cotton – the lace is light blue – although I might do some more research first into exactly what kind of fabric is best for underwear. I also still need elastic for that project, but if I just go for one puzzle piece at a time it shouldn’t take too long, and it wont hit my weekly budget too bad!

Of the two items of clothing I bought, one was something I’ve been keeping an eye out for – a new cardigan. Well, new to me in this case! I was going to buy a blue M&S cardi like this one here (which I already have and love in emerald green); but when I saw the cardi below on the far right in Oxfam Tooting I couldn’t resist. Wine red will throw a nice splash of colour into my very black wardrobe, it will look good with the green side panels of my first work skirt, and goes with my cowboy boots! This last one is the ultimate test for buying new clothes, as I’ve not worn any other pair of shoes to work in at least two months, if not three. Plus, it’s nicely thick without being dowdy or jumper-ish, my size and only £3! Score! As you can see, I now have cardigans in Pink, Grey, Green, and Red, – not a black cardi in sight! Progress. EDIT: I have since looked at the cardigan and realised that it is a M&S cardi, abet a fairly old one (the tag has a very old fashioned logo, although it’s been looked after well, there’s no piling and it looks almost new)

Aren’t they awesome?

The second item of clothing was not on my list – although I had been thinking about pyjama trousers, if only for when we’re in Copenhagen next week – but was completely necessary. See, they’re Peter Alexander PJ trousers covered in musical notes. How could I resist? I didn’t even know if they would fit me when I bought them, but if they were too small I could think of several people who would appreciate the beauty of these lounge pants (as I’ve decided they are too fabulous to be relegated to the bedroom). I am happy to report they fit perfectly (nothing fit me last time I had a look at Peter Alexander, so that make me feel quite good about myself). They are extremely comfortable, soft and warm.

In related shopping news I bought a beautiful dress last weekend from CollectIf in the January sales (which are still on – up to 75% off!). CollectIf is vintage style clothing, and can be a bit hit and miss for me – I’ve never bought anything there before, although I’ve seen one or two dresses I’ve liked. This floral summer dress was only £20, when really it should have been £80 looking at the fabric and quality of finish. Score for me! Not sure when I’ll wear it – it’s definitely not a winter dress – but it’s skirt has a very similar pattern to my work skirt, including pockets! I might see if I can pick up a slightly more work-like fabric and replicate the pattern – I can easily see myself ending up with a work wardrobe that’s three or four of this dress in different colours and weights, and the same with the skirts! Now I just need to find a good blouse pattern and do the same and everything will match…

I was hoping to pick up a men’s shirt or two to amend into a blouse, but I couldn’t find one that was nice and big enough to play around with. Maybe another time – there are plenty more charity shops around London just waiting for Ange and I to hit them!

Morning Routine

 

I struggle with mornings. Ask anyone who knows me, and they will readily tell you mornings are not my forte. I have been known to be late to work because I’ve slept past my stop – half an hour past my stop, once. This year, that is all going to change!

I have three (interlinked) 2016 New Year’s resolutions – I’m aware how often these fail, but they’re incorporating things I’ve been working on for a couple of months now, which will hopefully help their chances of success. My number one, overarching resolution is to become a morning person. Yup, that’s right, I want to become a spring-out-of-bed-at-6am kinda girl.

Well, maybe not ‘spring’ as such.

The other two resolutions are to start working out in the morning – I’m big on quality home time, and not so big on running after a meal, so I don’t like working out in the evenings – and start doing my hair and makeup before I leave the house. Rather than 2015’s routine, which was tinted moisturiser while waiting for the bus, and letting the tube wind dry my hair. Not a good look.

We’re only two days into the 2016 working year, but so far, so good. I’ve been getting up at 6.10am (a far cry from my previous 7.15am); having a cup of tea, going for a run or doing some strength training (YouTube Yoga anyone?); browsing the internet with a piece of toast; having a shower; doing my hair and makeup and still leaving the house early. It’s been a revelation, I tell you. I do have three small tricks that I wouldn’t be able to do this without:

• Outfit planning when the washing is done at the weekend – Monday to Thursday’s outfits are planned, and hung together – dress/top+bottom, stockings or stocks, cardigan, scarf and underwear. The whole shebang – no more ‘what am I wearing today, do I have any clean underwear?’ for me!
• Organising my breakfast and lunch in advance – since I moved in with R in August, I’ve been cooking my lunch (paella this week), and organising my snacks on a Sunday afternoon. I’ve now gone one step further – 5 slices of toast in separate freezer bags, 5 smoothies worth of berries, ice cubes, chocolate whey protein powder and almond milk separated out. No more thinking about food in the morning, or worse, forgetting and ending up buying crisps on the way to work
• Music:

I have four morning playlists, two of which I always use. They are 1601 1 Morning Part One (the first playlist of the morning – I push play as soon as my alarm goes of); and 1601 3 Morning Part Two. In between these two playlists I use either 1601 2 Running (as you can guess, my playlist for running); or 1601 2 Strength, which is for the first part of my strength workout (planks, crunches, stretching before the aforementioned YouTube Yoga). I have very specific uses for the two morning playlists (the running and strength playlists are self explanatory, so I’ll leave them be, but if you have questions about these feel free to ask)

• 1601 1 Morning Part One is three, fairly ‘peaceful’ songs. They cover getting dressed (into workout clothes with a bathrobe on top to stay warm); and my cup of tea. By the time the last song is finishing – Kelli O’Hara singing What More Do I Need? – I should be walking out the door for my run or setting up my yoga mat.
• 1601 3 Morning Part Two is for everything from the end of my chosen workout, to walking out the door. It has very specific triggers. The beginning of the playlist is the time for me to have a piece of toast, make a smoothie, and browse the internet. By the end of Edyth’s Beauty Salon – from Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day – which is the 10 minute mark I need to be moving to the shower. I need to be done in the bathroom – showered, teeth brushed, dried – by the time Jeremy Jordan finishes singing Santa Fe – 20 minutes later. I then have another 20 minutes – or until Taylor Swift finishes Blank Space – to get dressed, do my hair and makeup and be walking out the door.

This all may seem very pedantic and precise, but for me it’s entirely necessary. I have very little concept of time – I can stand in the shower and be unsure if it’s been 5 minutes or 15. I can look at my phone to check the time, see a message and look up 20 minutes later not realising how much time has gone by. The trigger of music – for example knowing once I get to La Vie Boheme from Rent I need to get a move on in the shower – helps me stay to time.

Although experts suggest sticking to the same wake up time every day including weekends, I will not be setting a Saturday morning alarm. I do hope this will help me make the most of my mornings – waking earlier naturally at the weekends would be a nice benefit – and I am aiming to keep this going until we move home to New Zealand in May, mostly so I can show off my new morning routine to my mother, who may need to sit down in shock!