The Last Car Boot Sale

Car Boot Sales!

I have promised Iron Man that this really is the last one.  It’s going to have to be as no loft means no hoarding.

This one has had to be hardcore though.  Alarm set for 3.45, leave by 4.30.  Never before have we been so committed.  The Kid had a sleepover and the attention seeking rabbit was left with enough supplies to see her through the morning.

There is no room for the 7.00 sellers these days.

You end up in the cow-shed and go home with everything you came with and 25p.

That’s enough to rock any marriage.

So here we are at Dunton in Essex and for the first time in weeks, I’m cold.  So cold that I’m tempted to start dressing myself in the very items I am selling.

This will probably be the closest I will get to a modelling career in brown leather boots and a Pom Pom scarf.

In fact, I’m glad to see it’s not just me that’s cold because there are people here shopping in their fleecy pyjamas.

I often wonder what possesses people to get up at such an ungodly hour to buy other people’s toot but wild horses couldn’t keep them away.  Just as well really.

We are rather departmental this time around and Iron Man could easily be cast as Mr Selfridge as he stands over the merchandise negotiating with purchasers that are interested in the giant inflatable champagne bottles.

As I sit in the car, I feel proud that he has stuck to his guns and held out for 50p per bottle. Especially after the effort of blowing them both up.

This is despite being offered 50p for two.

Sale agreed!  Inflatables Are Us!

Our Christmas section has been unveiled and as I have said before, it would rival Harrods.

The 3 sided tree is out in all its glory.  No shift so far.  People keep wanting to buy all three at a heavily discounted price.

I’ve had to impose a limit of one per customer.

No one needs 3 trees.

I can vouch for that because they have been sat in the loft for years.  I am doing these people a favour in not taking their money.

And as for the three sided tree – well, rooms will always have corners.

There will always be a need.

Trade is picking up slowly, very slowly.  As I sit in the car nursing my chilblains,  I can hear Iron Man engaging with more customers.  I think he may have cracked a joke too.  Time to investigate and the sun is out.

I am seriously wondering to myself though whether the days of the car boot are over.  It’s much quieter than it used to be.  Maybe we have chosen a good time to retire and bail out.

It has been a very long slog.

Lots of bartering and haggling and fun.

And lots of nice people stopping by.

Many satisfied customers.

And some unsatisfied.

I am never going to let you have something for £2 if I’ve asked for £10.  This is not the way to successfully negotiate a deal.

The charity shop will always win this one.

I will also never fail to be amazed at the ability of women with Size 7 feet that try and squeeze them into a size 5 and then want a discount because they are the wrong size.  Such are the antics of these places.   You can never have enough shoes of the wrong size at times like this.

It is these things that make the whole thing worthwhile when you have stood on your feet for 8 hours.

Of course we forgot the chairs.  And of course among the 22,000 stalls, we were unable to find a pair.  This is known as Sod’s Law.

The temperature warmed up nicely over the course of the morning and as we queue to leave at 1245 after 8 hours trading, I am a little charred.

In the boot of the car is more or less what we came with.  Including the trees!!

We have made £130 in sales which is not too be sniffed at but we could probably have both done an 8 hour stint in Poundland for more.

And with the car as full as when we arrived, we go home via St Francis Hospice Charity Shop laden down with goodies for them, so nothing is going to waste.

Best seller of the day goes to Barbie.  Her late entrance proved to be worthwhile.

Her authenticity was questioned and we thought we may have to get Ken involved but she held her ground.

I gave her new owners some wise advice.

It is not OK to bend a dolls legs and arms backwards.  EVER.   It is also not OK to imply that my goods are anything other than legit.  Do we look like we are the type to house fake Barbie’s.  No.  Thought not.

Do not even think about asking me to knock the price down.

People can be cruel sometimes.

I do hope we have done the right thing for her.

And the ex soft furnishings from The Kid’s old bedroom are on their way to Thailand with another satisfied customer.

Everyone is a winner.

I can honestly say that I will never do another Car Boot Sale in this lifetime.

Iron Man and I are at one on this.

We are done with this chapter of our lives.

Promise!

The marriage would not survive.

Nicky

 

 

 

 

So Who Is Inspiring the Tweens to Vlog?

If you are the parent of a Tween and you have noticed them talking to themselves and making weird facial and hand movements very animatedly into a device, the chances are you have a Vlogger in your midst.

That is, of course, if they are not just taking a selfie!

So for ease, I am going to start with a couple of definitions.

Tween – a girl ages about 9-14…too old for toys, but too young for boys.

Very easy to market to, will usually follow any fashion trend set for them, will most likely go through the phase of ‘finding themselves’ as they ‘grow up’.

Vlogger – Video Blogger – One who records a video blog.

A vlog or video blog is a blog (short for weblog) which uses video as the primary content  A video logger who creates video content about their life and travels!

Source : Urban Dictionary

Has the world gone mad I hear you cry.  First Blogging and now Vlogging!

I may be preaching to the wise and converted here but for those of you that are wondering what it’s all about, I am about to explain my findings.

I thought this would be useful for parents, who like myself, find themselves and their daughters becoming a part of this ever growing phenomenon.

So, as a Blogger myself who comes into regular contact with Vlogs, Vloggers and Vlogging, I thought I would take a peek into the world of the Vloggers and Bloggers that are capturing the attention and imagination of our Tween’s.

As a parent of a 10 year old daughter, as well as being interested in finding out more about these Vloggers, I also have one eye on my daughter’s safety online and the other on making sure that she is viewing appropriate content.

So first up – the lovely Zoella (Zoe Sugg).

I would be surprised if you haven’t heard of her.  You may not have seen her channel but she is often in the news and is always very prominent in the Tween magazines along with her fellow Vloggers.

Zoella reached the milestone of having 10 million subscribers to her You Tube channel this year.  Starting as an accidental Blogger five years ago at the age of  19, Zoella now has a very successful career as a professional Blogger and Vlogger.

As you may or may not know, one can earn money from V(B)logging through brand sponsorship and endorsement as well as from launching their own product ranges and public appearances to list but a few sources of income.

Zoella has had several books published and as I understand it (!) part of the appeal is that she is part of a group of Vloggers and Bloggers that are friends.

I have read the blog and seen her You Tube channel.  The content is varied and covers everything from days out to hair do’s, make-up & skincare tutorials, recipes, friendships, girly stuff, pets and having fun.

Zoella is very sweet in a girl next door kind of way.  She is also squeaky clean which is a thumbs up for parents and she is also very likeable.  Not a bad role model to have in my opinion. She is also very successful through her own sheer hard work.   Another positive.

Some other facts :

Brighton seems to be the mecca for these Vloggers with some of them being based there.

You will also come across the ‘haul’ trend

Haul – a shopping spree

a vlog titled “Makeup Haul” or “(Store Name) Haul” is a video showing a shopping spree in that given area, showing products or clothing that will usually be featured in future How To, or tutorial videos

Source : Urban Dictionary

Of course any ‘haul’ is mainly going to be brand endorsement or sponsorship and is therefore marketing by definition but we have had no demands for purchases made as a result of this.  Also very important when the pound is in the hand of the parent.

Here are some of the other VFFs (Vlogging Friends Forever) who you may stumble upon.

• Zoella’s boyfriend, Alfie Deyes (Pointless Blog) is also a Vlogger
• Her brother, Joe Zugg (Thatcher Joe)
• Marcus Butler (Alfie Deyes friend)
• Tanya Burr (Zoella’s friend)
• Jim Chapman (Tanya Burr’s boyfriend)
• Louise Pentland (Zoella’s bestie) SprinkleofGlitter
• Caspar Lee (Friend and former flatmate of Alfie Deyes)

And here is Zoella on her You Tube channel with some of her VFFs in case you have no idea of what I am talking about.

 

So What Is The Appeal?

I took the opportunity of asking my daughter this question and I was really interested in the answer.  Obviously I know why people Blog and Vlog in the adult world and why people follow them but the younger Vloggers have been a bit of a grey area for me up until now.

I wanted to understand

Q    Why the appeal?

A    Zoella is likeable, relatable and homely

Q    Do you feel you have to buy/have the things she talks about?

A     Of course not

What Does Mum Think?

From what I can see with my mummy head on, it’s all harmless fun and entertainment.

There is always lots of laughter when Zoella is on and it’s really no different from watching the TV or reading a book to an extent.

Obviously it can be addictive viewing which we will always monitor.

And then there is the marketing element which is, unfortunately, going to be present wherever the kids are looking and watching and there will naturally be some kind of influence.  Thus far I don’t feel that this has been a problem.  Nor does it mean we have to rise to it. What I have seen my daughter and her friends do in this regard is to create their own haul with their own little products.

Any Vlogging that is done by my Tween is monitored and will only be shareable amongst those that we know.  I am mindful that this point in particular is a bit of a moveable feast but our current parental control settings don’t even allow access to Amazon!  We are all over that one.  For obvious reasons.

All in all, I’m liking what I’m seeing.

And Finally!

I would just like to add that we had the fruit picking idea first (*BAE) but I am happy to concede that any future visit to Brighton will be solely for the purpose of being groupies.  I have no choice but to #hashtag along – really!

I can also testify that Tanya Burr’s Chocolate Cornflake Cookies are divine and if this cooking behaviour continues then I would be a fool to complain.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Are you familiar with this crowd and the world of Vlogging?  If not, I hope this post has helped and I would love to hear your thoughts.

And, if you are already converted “we’ll see ya in Brighton with your haul”!

Nicky

 

*Before anyone else!!!!

 

Hobbs Styling Session

I wrote a post recently about the changing shapes of the forty+ and fifty minus woman and my quest to find things that do actually fit and look stylish at the same time.

A term that I captioned ‘bang on trend but still able to bend’!

I mentioned that some of my lifelong favourite stores were no longer cutting the new shape and that my quest was on for some new places that were a little more to true to the sizing and style of women like me.

Shortly after this, I attended a styling session at the newly opened Hobbs store in Barkers Arcade, High Street Kensington which was hosted by Catherine Semmens who blogs all about fashion at Not Dressed as Lamb (such a fabulous name for a blog isn’t it).

Catherine’s strap line is “Who Wants To Be ‘Age Appropriate’, Anyway?” and she challenges the rules around clothing and the expectations of what we ‘should wear’.

Many of us (myself included), have probably always associated Hobbs with formal work wear.  I have to say it has been ages since I visited one of their stores but to do so fitted perfectly with my quest to find ‘my kind of sizes’ and ‘wise garments’.

It’s always lovely to walk into a store and be greeted by this.

Credit : Not Dressed as Lamb

There was an opportunity to have a good browse before the session started.  The fact that I had a glass of fizz in my hand made this even more pleasurable.

There is also something very decadent about walking around such a beautiful shop.

I was really impressed with the occasion wear.

In the past, my go to shop for weddings, do’s and such like has been Coast and Monsoon where I have always managed to get some great outfits.

I would never have thought of going to Hobbs so this was definitely worth noting for the future.

My go to stores for separates and casual wear are H&M, Dorothy Perkins, Forever 21 and River Island.

Again, it was good to check out the Hobbs range.

Just time for a quick picture with Catherine and then straight on with the session.

Credit : Not Dressed as Lamb

Catherine had carefully chosen a selection of her favourite pieces and throughout the session, we were treated to seeing the lovely  models in some of the great outfits she had selected in line with her theme ‘Going for Bold’.

My personal favourite of the evening was this red top.  Well actually the whole outfit was pretty gorgeous.

Credit : Not Dressed as Lamb

 

Catherine talked about always taking something a bit random or different into the changing room as well as your usual pieces.

This was a good reminder to change things up when it comes to clothing.

We can all play a little safe at times.  I know I am guilty of this and will always tend to go for a different version of the same thing.

I also find that I have more of a critical eye when choosing for myself these days due to the points around age and sizing that I raised in my previous blog.

Feeling comfortable is incredibly important to me now and there is nothing worse than feeling ‘trussed-up’ and just, well – ‘not right’.

Anyway, back to the show and next up was elegant pleats.

The outfit below really interested me as I wouldn’t have thought to tuck this style of top in to a skirt.  It definitely worked though and it looked stunning.

And of course, not forgetting the accessories because, quite simply – a girl can never have too many!

After the session, we were encouraged to try on anything we wanted with the help of the marvellous store staff.

This was my green light and one of the things I was particularly keen to establish during my trying session was how true the sizing was.

I have to say I give full marks to Hobbs for this because although I was initially recommended a Size 14, I actually managed to comfortably get into a Size 12 which found me having a little grin to myself in the changing room.

Don’t you just love it when that happens.

No purchases for me on this occasion as I’m still making a few tweaks in the form of sensible eating and exercise but Hobbs is a definite revisit for me the future.

My thanks to Catherine for her very ‘stylish’ styling session.  You can read more about it in Catherine’s own words here.

And thanks to Hobbs for hosting the evening in their lovely new store.

 

Chelsea Girl Doesn’t Have My Size

Or style!

And then I find out that BHS is closing down.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I jest of course as I think Chelsea Girl closed down before I was big enough to shop there.  I just latched on to my sister and followed her round while she spent her hard earned fiver from her Saturday job.

As for BHS, may it rest in peace with it’s good friend Woolworths in pic ‘n’ mix heaven.

Not somewhere I’d shop for clothes but the home section was fab.

Anyway,  I’m digressing so let’s get to the point.

Fashion through the age ranges.

For the purpose of this blog, I’m not sure whether I should describe myself as 40+ or fifty minus but what I want to talk about is accommodating body changes and style preferences.

Too much salad and Prosecco together with a slowing metabolism and a whip me whop through the 40s is scientifically proven to have an effect on body shape.  I have this information from a good source.  The mirror.

There is a randomness to these changes – like suddenly acquiring someone else’s boobs, shoulders, arms, back and middle.  The whole top section in fact.  You don’t see it coming gradually.  You just wake up one day and it’s like, well – there.  On your body.

I’ve spent my whole life wanting bigger boobs and having been gifted a few cup sizes around mid 40 (yes it shocked me too!), I realise why everyone bemoans them.  They make clothes look different. They are uncomfortable and bras itch like mad.

I have walked around my favourite stores only to berate them in the changing room for changing their sizes (and styles).  This is a combination of some retailers being a bit stingy with the material and my delusion in not noticing my new top half sooner.

I’m nothing if not persistent but after trying to get something past my shoulders in the tenth shop, hoping the material will give so I can at least move my arms, one can become despondent.  The fact that it leaves me sweating buckets (yes that as well, the little bugger) – well what can I say.

Anyone nodding along?

Unlike Alice in Wonderland, when something says “Eat Me” and “Drink Me” – I do not shrink and fall down a rabbit hole.  Fall down yes – rabbit hole – definitely not.

More like eat a muffin top and you get one.  Smug cow in her blue and white dress. Those jam tarts do come back to haunt you though Alice.  Especially the yellow ones that are always left in the box.

Don’t say I haven’t warned you.

I have realised that I have to take some responsibility for my new ‘grown-up’ shape.

There really is not much to be done about it other than the usual but it does mean a different way of looking at clothes. A new way to address the extras.

I shall certainly mourn the old figure.

But moan I will not – nor is this a quest to be on the front page of Vogue, I have always been one of those lucky people that never had to worry about my weight or my plate.  It’s more of a nod towards feeling comfortable and changing things up a little bit.

On the body front, I don’t want to have to keep hoiking things up or pulling them down.  I want my clothes to stay where I put them.  I also want them to shake hands and meet in the middle.  Just get along really – not that hard is it!

So it’s about comfy staples – those beautiful Mars Bar gems that you really can work, rest and play in.  Simples.  So time to find said little numbers.

This I think will be the bit that takes a bit longer.  No longer the quick dash round picking up the stinky small sizes and being through the till in five minutes. More I see shopping as being more of a one item thing, it will probably require detail and said item will have a history of helping people like me.

A wise garment.

It will probably have a top end price tag too.

Outwardly I will still be the same me as before but inwardly I will know that it’s OK to have that extra glass of Prosecco and piece of cake because I have space in my wise garments for these eventualities.

Bang on trend but still able to bend.

This shall be my new style guide going forward.

I have a few places in mind but any suggestions would be most welcome if you have been on a similar journey.

Wish me swell.

Nicky

 

 

 

 

 

3040 Blogger Meet

How many lovelies can you get in one venue at one time?

Quite a lot as it turned out at the recent blogger meet hosted by Catherine from Not Dressed as Lamb at The Imperial.

A lovely opportunity to meet other like minded souls of a similar age, also blogging and, in many cases, also parents but without this being our focus.

Most refreshing.

We all love the kids dearly but our blogs happen to be about things other than parenting and that’s OK.

A glass of Prosecco or two chased down with a delicious Canape always goes down a treat when walking into these events.

I had only briefly met one other blogger before, – Amanda at Ginger Mum and it was lovely to have a proper chat this time.

Many women came alone but within a few minutes everyone was busily chatting about anything and everything.

I managed to break the ‘Golden’ blogging rule of taking pictures and confess that I have very few of this fine event.

I also have to confess that face to face meeting and chatting wins hands down for me and this occasion was no exception.

Hopefully my rhetoric will make up for my lack in the picture department!

 

It was lovely to meet Catherine for the first time.  I really appreciated that she was willing to share information that was really helpful but also quite personal to her.

There are many questions that are asked that don’t always get answered in the blogging world and Catherine answered a couple for me and I really value that honesty and support.

Sometimes the smallest things can become a ‘brick wall’ but they can often be easily answered when others are willing to share.

There was lots of lovely examples of this sharing on the day.

I’m so glad I was a part of it.

And then there was the lovely Nayna and her team from Hope giving a really interesting and insightful glimpse into the Hope journey against a backdrop of their beautiful garments.

I think we were all totally overwhelmed to have received the beautiful and generous gift from Hope and I cannot wait to start wearing mine.  Most unexpected – thank you so much for this.

We were also showered with lovely gifts in our goody bags.

Delicious Macaroons from The Imperial …

And a stunning bracelet from Lizzy O …….

How to make a girl feel special!

So may wonderful things and such a great day for so many reasons.

Thank you to each and every one of you wonderful ladies.  It was a fabulous day and I really enjoyed meeting you all.

I didn’t get a chance to speak to everyone but I look forward to many more of these lovely events.

Until the next one …..

Nicky

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hairy, Hairy Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

 

So the sun is out, the sky is a beautiful blue and we are promised two weeks of delicious sunshine.

We are going to be hotter than Ibiza they say.

Hallebloodylujah.

We are soooooo ready for you.

Well, almost.

You see some of us have grown an entire extra layer of skin and hair to get us through the cold climate that we fondly know as the spring.

Our poor little bods having alternated between our entire winter wardrobe twice, are vowing never to come out again.

The sight of the blue skies spur us into over drive as we realise that Yeti is not the one we need this week.

So for some of us that means a quick trim of the lawn and borders.

What the eye doesn’t see and all that.

And unless you are a seasoned all year round maintenance type, it is likely that the sight of the blue skies will have you running for the nearest razor, wax pot, lawnmower and shears from your archives.

In short, it’s time to run for your lady garden.

And this is the great thing about living in the UK, you never quite know when it’s time.

Surge too early and you get your summer timings mucked up, surge too late and you are so going to be the one in the onesie at the BBQ on the hottest day of the year.

Don’t think we don’t know.

Let’s face it, we have all been that person haven’t we?

Trying to work out the timing of a wax over the summer months is a bit like scheduling a board meeting with participants from 12 different countries.

Because as we well know, once embarking on the rigid schedule of hair removal, we then have to think about when it’s going to grow back.

Wouldn’t do for it to clash with the Queen’s Garden Party after all would it!

So we may just have to factor in a quiet weekend of languishing in private where we pray for our leg lawns to grow just a quarter of an inch so that we can once more be relieved of it.

I have to say there can be advantages to hanging out with anyone 40+ at regrowth times.

I include myself in this category.

This is quite a strategic social move.

On the basis that they can’t read a menu without their own (or someone else’s) glasses, they are unlikely to see your delicate leg lawn cutely peeping out from your pedal pushers.

That is one of my top tips from my Beauty Bible and will ensure you never need miss an event again.

So I’m guessing we are going to fall into two halves here.

Some of us will be ripping off our skater skirts and winter sleeves to reveal our ever-ready bodies whilst others are flicking through the wardrobe for the lightweight trousers and sleeved tops.

Yes we do all have THAT outfit.

Oh how I hope that someone opens a hair removal salon called The Lady Gardener.  Maybe they already have.  It’s certainly there for the taking.  A franchise even or a chain of ‘garden’ centres.

And then there are the borders.  Otherwise known as hands and feet.

And like all good borders, they need a hint of colour.

Now, if we can just flick back to the Beauty Bible, I’m suspecting that if you are anything like me, there is definitely some ‘behind the scenes’ preparation needed.

No point planting flowers among last years foliage eh!

So having shaken off the winter socks and boots, you are highly likely going to have a little extra padding on your little tootsies.

To put it more delicately, if you could exfoliate your entire body with the heel of one foot, then you probably need to brace your little tootsies for the knife and a good grating.

And that is completely bloody normal in my Beauty Bible. 

So what are we waiting for – best foot forward.

IBIZA we are coming for you.

Have fun in the sun.

Nicky x

 

  

 

 

 

 

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