A Fetish for Red....

Lotus boots from Barratts shoes

I think I may have an addiction to red things at the moment even though its a colour I've never really liked much but you wouldn't think it from these....

I bought a pair of red boots because I wanted something a little different....

from ebay

and then came this red polka dot phone cover case....

Its now resulted in me choosing this red bag...



ouch bag from TKMaxx



 

 

 

 

 

I tend to buy a new bag once a year along with my shoes so I don't mind spending a little bit of money in order for them to last since I use them pretty much every day. The bag I'm using at the moment I've had for a couple of years. I think I had one in between it but I'm not sure... It a little worn around the edges and the fabric inside has bubbled but otherwise its not too bad. The thing with that bag though is that 3 of us at work bought one at exactly the same price. Myself and one of the ladies continued to use ours as we'd also bought the same shoe design but I decided this time I'd like to get something completely different. I've looked for a while but haven't really seen anything new and exciting as most of the shops sell pretty much the same thing for years. Anyway it was my husbands birthday, I never know what to get him as he just isn't in to anything...sports, food, technology etc... I usually end up getting him a gift bag full of junk food which he is happy with or clothes. This time I decided to get him some jumpers but having wondered around as many shops as possible I decided to try TKMaxx which I hardly ever venture into and I did find him 2 there. They have a bag section where everything is stored by colour... I really wanted a purple bag but didn't see any I liked. I then spotted this and a green bag but decided not to be hasty and continued wondering around a few shops before coming and buying this one. I picked up this bag without checking to make sure a strap was in it, the sales assistant started wittering on at me that I wasn't focusing on the bag to realise it had no strap in it. I came home to see if my kindle fit in it which it did (yes!). Only then did I realise the strap wasn't there, I went back but was refused in the store because they were going to close, I was told they were open the next day which surprised me as I never realised a single shop was open in Bradford on New Years Day! I've never ventured out on this day to find out anyway. I did end up going back the next day, the other bag was still there but what baffled me is that I asked the sales assistant just to let me take the strap out of the other bag and she said no... I could have a deduction instead but the whole reason I bought it was because it had a longer strap so I could put it on my shoulder or across my body but with tonnes of shopping the last thing I want to do is worry about my handbag as well.

from Asda Living

I said I'd rather have a refund unless I could swap it for the other bag which she agreed... the other bag was covered in plastic except the zip bit where I could get the strap out and this one I bought was not because the sales assistant the day before had taken it off... so would it not have been better to let me keep the bag I had, give me the strap and reduced or left the other bag at the same price with plastic covering still on? Hopefully you are still following that and can also understand why I was baffled. Well anyway I have this bag still and love the fact it is so different but its also weird having something colourful as colourful is something I like!

I even ended up getting something red for my niece. I encouraged my sister to buy my niece pumps for school as they are so cheap which means you don't care if they step in playdough, paint and in my nieces case sand.... but also they are comfortable and easy for her to move around. My sister did this but the school once insisted that a pair she was wearing was theres and on another occasion they swapped them for a really disgusting pair which we knew were not hers as I'd only bought them the week before. My sister has let her wear some of her home shoes but they aren't lasting long. She keeps also trying to buy her black shoes but once she starts school full time and has to wear a uniform its all she will really wear. I've been looking out for a pair like this for some months now and was over the moon when I saw them and they only cost £6. I showed them to my sister on video link and she just went but they are red... last time I saw your daughter she was such a girly girl. I think these maybe a little big though as every shop sizes are different.

from the supermarket

And I ended the day with a red velvet cake. This wasn't a choose I made but the sales assistant came up to me with it and asked me if I wanted a cake for 19p! I thought he said 90p so nearly laughed when he repeated it. I've never tried it before but have to admit I didn't enjoy it. The sponge was nice but the white chocolate butter cream was too rich... I can't complain at that price though can I?

I'm now thinking of getting a red kindle cover to match everything. I was debating between plain red or polka dot but theres no need to think about it as polka dot is the only one available.

What colour are you into this year with out intending to go for it?

Sunday Shopper.....

I wanted to go in to the city yesterday but with the downpour I really couldn't be bothered. In the end I decided to go today and the weather was great which made me realise I could have put my washing out but never did any.... sigh! Oh well I'll do it tonight and hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow.

I really really needed some new shoes! I know I have plenty of footwear but that is open toe or open from the top which just isn't appropriate when its raining and cold. So I own one pair of boots which at this time of year I really don't want to wear and one flat pair which has worn out in exactly the same place on both shoes so were starting to get a hole in but also were letting rain in. I've been looking for weeks and couldn't find anything. The store I got these from were my last option and I almost didn't buy any as these said they were a size 7 but when I looked closely they looked too small so tried them on and they fit nicely so bought them. I went to this shop before and asked the assistant for a pair of shoes from their more expensive range as they have one out. She never bothered going to get it so after 15 minutes of waiting I left. Today a different lady was at the counter, she served somebody before me and then went away to start stacking shelves. I had to go and ask her to serve me, I probably would have left if it wasn't for the fact I needed the shoes. I just think how rude as she could clearly see I was waiting and kept looking over but the fact she walked off whilst I was stood there.... grrr....

I got another WHSmith Voucher which was to spend more then £10 on a book and get £5 off. I want the complete collection of Roald Dahl so it was an easy choose as that songs and verse one is £10.99. Then they also had the offer of buy one book and get another for half price so I bought the Revolting Rhymes as I loved that as a child. I can't wait to read both of them.

I've seen a lot of blogs taking part in the Keri Smith 100 ideas and it sounds like such fun that I decided I am going to take part but I want to do it journal form rather then blog form so that I can look at it over time. I looked in a few shops which I know do great journals but most of them were spiral bound which I don't like as over time the pages start to tear. I was on my way back to the car when I decided to try one last shop and came across this notebook. I was so pleased as it was me to a T. Only thing is I came home, took off the plastic wrapper and realised that big ugly 250 pages text is printed on to the actual notebook! Why on earth would you do that? I just don't get it. Now I'm going to have to think of a fun and funky way to cover it up but I know, no matter what I do its going to look weird. I can't wait to get started though.

I aren't a huge fan of Hello Kitty, I just don't know what it is about her that I don't really like. Lately though I've seen a few designs that I quite like, like the folder I bought and now this notebook. I then went to another shop and saw one where Hello Kitty was blowing bubbles, I was so tempted to buy it but in the end I left it as I'd spent a fortune today as it was. I'm going to take the spiral out, trim the edge and use it to write letters on.

These books are some that I've had for a couple of years now and my niece loves them. One day my older brother was downstairs watching TV in the time my niece and I get ready for school and work. I had sorted her out but she was moaning about something so I told my brother to let her watch something whilst I sorted myself out, he ended up putting it on Channel 5 where the Mr Men were on. Since then we've gone from watching CBeebies (which had nothing worth watching since they took off Koala brother, Pingu and changed Postman Pat to his Special Delivery) to watching Channel 5 which has on Little Princess, Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom and Mr Men and Little Miss which she loves every single one of. I saw the ball today and decided to buy it even though she has a Disney Princess one similar as well as the hair stuff for her. I wanted the clear elastic one because I want to try out some fancy hair styles.

Lastly I bought these Posters which I saw a while ago at Waterstones. I'm not sure though if the map is dirty or if its just part of the oldish look of it. You will see both appear as my background for photos a lot now.

There was only one last thing I really really wanted to buy, it was some bottle with corks in that were so pretty but as I've banned myself from buying anything for a house, I had to sadly walk away. I've told my husband to book an appointment to see a house tomorrow so who knows what that one will be like.

Whilst in Waterstones I went on a book walk. I do it more often now that I have my iphone as I use the notes to write books that sound interesting to look up on amazon. Usually they are expensive but I save them in my favourites as the prices always drop.

This is the nicest book I have ever come across. The cover is all textured and feels so nice. The pages are handmade style paper with a rough edge around each page. I might have considered looking it up on the internet for a cheaper price if it wasn't for the fact that I've read the book on my kindle and didn't enjoy it as much as the film. So its not worth it which is a shame.

These books were also interesting but of course I didn't get any of them. Those shoes are now in the bin, I always feel sad throwing things away but they were no longer useful.

How has your weekend been?

Shoes Again!

I bought my shoes around October and November time and thought they would last me until next year even though I've pretty much wore them everyday but lately I suspected that they were letting rain water in from the sole but wasn't sure until last week when my niece and I were coming back from the supermarket and it was pouring with rain. I came home to the soggiest socks... urgh! I just find it so disappointing but I guess I got my monies worth. I decided I'll go to a store down the road that sells shoes to get some really cheap ones to last until my summer holidays at least since its not guaranteed that the weather will start to get nicer and I'll be able to wear my fancier footwear.  Unfortunately I didn't find anything even though I saw some really nice footwear... the pink pair my niece wanted me to wear but I was late in responding so she put them on the floor and bent down to attempt to take my shoes off. I had to tell her I liked them but didn't want them as I wanted only black ones.

I did however get 2 bags which I'll have to photograph at the weekend to share with you... they were such a bargain compared to others that I'd seen so had to snap them up.... at least I got something out of my journey there.

This store has quite fond memories from my childhood, in those days it was on the same ground as the supermarket and was originally in a building that once housed a cinema. I remember when going to nursery the windows were lined with wellingtons of all colours which I loved admiring whilst walking along the ledge to get closer. Once in the store I used to go between the shoe racks to get a closer look at all the tangled strings and shoes. The supermarket owner ended up buying all the land and shops which were knocked down, it is all car park space and part of the main road.

Have you made any great purchases lately or maybe you'd had something fall to bits that needed replacing?

My Week In Photos....

A day in the city, Monday seems like such a life time ago, doesn't it? (shoes £6 from Matalan)

I also went to the new Bazaar that has opened not so far away from where I live.

When dropping my niece off in the morning at nursery, we saw lots and lots of worms and slugs, she hates them but calls them snails. When we actually saw this one she didn't like it but was excited to see it and told me to pick it up! Those days have well gone when I used to do that. This one though is freaking me out as I can't understand why its shell is like that.  BTW the room my niece is in at school has two giant sized pet snails, I'd hate to be the one to clean them out.

I think I may have spotted the sun quite a bit during the week which was nice, even at the weekend I could take my coat off, mostly we've had heavy rain.

I've made a start on the journal, here's a sneaky peek at what I've done so far, its really addictive and I've been going to bed far too late trying to get my pages done, I can't wait to share it with you in June.

After visiting the supermarket my sister needed some fabric for some trousers so we visited a couple of shops. (The shoes on my feet were £6 from Peacocks)

1. Pistachio ice-lolly

2. Coco Pops for breakfast

3. Crumpets for breakfast

4. Cheese and Crackers for Lunch

I usually have sandwiches but wanted a change

5 Jalabi and Halwa.

 Jalabi is a fried syrup ring, usually they are so long but these have been broken in to bits.

The best type of Jalabi is fresh and crunchy which this was.

This Halwa is like a hardish toffee with nuts and I love it.

You can get a softer one too which I don't like as much.

6. Hummus and Breadsticks which I tried for the first time.
I think Hummus is tasteless but I've got two others that are flavoured so hopefully I'll enjoy those

7. Tea and Toast for Breakfast.

8. Kitkat (which I photographed for Gotthatswing)

I'll have to photograph some dinner for you to see but they don't look nice in photos.

Did you have a good weekend?

What did you get up to?