aka the adventures of blueskygirlie: I'm a part-time marketing consultant/social media content creator, a part-time style blogger and a full-time fashion obsessive! I am also a seller of fabulous vintage treasures via Etsy, a mum to a blended family & here to help to prove you can be over 40 & still look great! I dropped 5 dress sizes between my 30's and my 40's and now run 5k 3 times a week. I changed my life and this blog helps me to share what I'm discovering along the way…
Have you been into the Sainsburys clothing section lately? Well I have and it is looking VERY good. Throughout the summer bought quite a few TU clothing pieces that I shared on Instagram and their AW16 collection definitely doesnt disappoint!
I first saw this jumper due to Alex Stedman (of the Frugality blog) sharing it on Instagram and I am so glad I did. It is just lovely. This is seriously one of the nicest jumpers I have ever had, and no I am not getting paid to say that – I bought this outfit with my hard earned money and at only £34 for top and bottom you really cant go wrong!The knit is described as ‘Popcorn’ knit and close up you can see why. It has graduated sections of different textures and is so soft. It has quite a slouchy fit too – I went for the 12 but probably could of sized down but I like the looser fit with this type of jumper.I also bought a pair of their skinny jeans (first time denim shopping at TU for me) and I was impressed with their quality. They are stretchy, true to size (I went for a 12 and they are slightly loose on the waist) and best of all come in a short length! Their fitted shape balances out the slightly boxy shape of the jumper as being petite and curvy I usually try to keep my silhouette quite streamlined.
I absolutely love my bargain supermarket sweep! So are you clothes shopping while you’re food shopping too? What gems have you found?
BARGAIN ALERT: *Sainsburys has 25% off all TU clothing 29th Nov to 5th Dec*
All available in store and online now. Jumper £22 Jeans £16 both TU at Sainburys
*warning this post may have triggering effects linked to food or weight issues*
Hi, I’m Sarah and if you follow this blog you will know that I am a generally cheerful, confident, fun person. You will also probably know that I have lost a lot of weight (I was a size 20/22 at my largest) and have to work hard to stay a size 12 by trying to watch what I eat and running 5k three times a week. It is not easy.It has taken me quite a while to like myself again but my body image is still a constant struggle and this blog, in part, is a tool to embrace my flawed, curvy, 40plus figure as seen by my super critical eyes. I had a eating disorder as a teenager and still have a complicated relationship with food and my body – to try to help, I follow quite a few plus size bloggers, those who embrace their size, love their bodies and are part of the #effyourbeautystandards movement. I admire them and their confidence but I cannot feel like them sadly. Being morbidly obese was a prison sentence for me and although I seemed confident I suffered terribly from anxiety, was physically in a bad place with various aches and pains and I hated myself.
So why am I telling you all this?
Well last week during an arguement with a stranger (a man) I was called ‘fat’. I was also called a bitch, stupid, a ho and various other insults but ‘fat’ was the one that really hurt. It got under my skin and wounded me more then any other insult and it made me think – why do people still use it as a low blow insult? A word that is used to hurt and belittle, particularly towards women.
Forgetting the fact the man saying it looked like the back end of a bus (and was hardly an Olympian himself) once that word was said I felt awful, insecure, and yes, fat. I felt ugly. I felt weak. He had told me in his eyes I was…what? Unattractive to him? Not the perfect body shape? Imperfect? Erm – who cares! But sadly I did care.
At my sons school they are taught the word fat is a hate word, as abusive as a swear word or racial slur and if he hears me using it he tells me off. This gives me hope that using the word to attack and hurt and undermine will end with our generation.
Body confidence is hard – every time I go on a run I put myself out there. Dressed in skin tight lycra it is scary to exercise in front of the world. It not just the actual running that’s hard, its fear of being watched, insulted, maybe even hurt…I’d say pretty much every month I get catcalled by men in cars/lorries bleeping their horns etc – they seem to think thats a compliment. Doing it every other day, regardless of those fears takes guts.
So am I going to stop eating cake? Hell no! Not run in public? I’m fitter than I’ve ever been so, sorry, no. Starve myself for an ideal I can never reach, one that is perpetuated by photoshopped images anyway? My body has done amazing things – it carried a baby, it can run for miles, ticked amazing places and experiences off my bucket list, kept me fit and healthy and my boyfriend seems pretty keen on it too!
What I do need to do is make sure that my confidence in both my inner self and the body people can see (and judge) is greater than any throwaway line or joke. I need to hear the words when the people who care about me tell me I am beautiful and loved and perfect in their eyes. NO-ONE male or female has the right to make you feel bad about the way you look…and the key is knowing they are not just wrong, but that they are the weak ones, the insecure ones, the ones that truly hate themselves. I need to remind myself of this statement –
So another pathetic human being goes on their way thinking they’ve won because they have said some throw away insult which is not based on anything apart from wanting to hurt. But you know what? People like that will never break me – I am more than words, more than their twisted ideals, more than their insecurites – I AM ME…AND AM PRETTY DARN FABULOUS!!!Find my blogs on my fitness and running here, here and here.
With three young boys, my Halloween consists now of more trick and treating than wild parties but any chance to dress up is always a “yes” from me!
This year my office had a dress up day as Halloween was on the Monday, so I thought I’d show you my costume. I’m a bit of a geek so like things that are quite accurate and/or clever so…
Yes, I was Wednesday Addams!!! I loved the TV show growing up and the modern film versions are cool too.
Fashion-wise, I bought a high necked black dress a size too big in a charity shop, wore a fitted white shirt undernearth and accessorised with a vintage belt, leather ankle boots and striped tights. Oh and added a spider as we all know Wednesday’s pet is a spider called Homer! (thanks Google!!!)
Then the rest was just hair and make-up – I centre-parted my hair and plaited it and made my face ghostly pale with dark eye make-up and black lipstick. Its spooky, kinda cool but still pretty stylish I think!
Did you dress up this Halloween? I would love to know what you went as…
Dress – charity shop
Shirt – Matalan
Belt – vintage
Tights – Poundland
Boots -Next
White face powder/black lipstick – Claires Accessories
New fashion hack alert! In todays blog I will take you through a little bit of customising I recently did to a cute Disney handbag I bought from Primark. Its a nice bag but costing only £9 meant that it was never going to have those little extras that makes a more premium bag feel special.
Now I cant afford Coach (well I can but would rather spend it on my house… priorities right?), but I can be creative and by spending a tenner you can take a nice bag and make it a REALLY nice bag!
First pick your weapons – I wanted to create an ornate bag charm similar to the ones seen on the recent Disney Coach bags so I found a couple of cute charms that matched the colours of the bag and fitted in with a cute Disney vibe.
I then removed the existing zipper pull and replaced it with a simple tassel from the eBay bag charm. I kept the original pull safe as I knew I’d be using it and deconstructed the 2 charms ready to use them.
I then added the deconstructed pieces to a large Mickey Mouse keyring I had trawled eBay for. This was the key item of the bag upgrade and it took me a while to find as I wanted him to match the colours of the bag print exactly. The key to customisation is making sure your finish is good and all your components look like they were meant to be there i.e. dont use anything in a silver metal if the rest of the bag is finished in gold for example.
I then attached the new charm to one end of the bag adding the original zipper pull. By using an original part of the bag in this new charm makes the whole thing feel like it was designed as part of the bag.
And finally the finished product! I love my customised, improved and upgraded bag and its been getting lots of admiring glances and positive comments. Remember, being stylish is about creating looks YOU love and are personal to YOU; so mix and match, take things apart and put them back together again and tweak clothing to make it fit how you like it. After all who wants exactly the same things as everyone else?
Disney bag – Primark £9
Heart bag charm – H&M £2.99
Mickey Mouse keyring – eBay £5
Tassel bag charm – eBay £2.49
So, I’ve been trying to ‘buy less and buy better’ as my wardrobe was bulging at the seams with lots of ‘bargains’ that really weren’t that great. This has meant an end to big Primark hauls and the beginning of more careful shopping…
…well kind of! The other day I allowed myself a visit with the rule I could spend just £20 and anything I bought needed to fit into my AW16 wardrobe.
So what did I get with my £20? Well a pretty wonderful mix of things if I do say so myself! Take a look…
Pattern shirt – £7.00
A shirt covered in pineapples, ladybirds, stars, butterlies, hearts, cacti, eyes and much more you say? How could I say no! This is an amazing price and they also do a cute dark blue stars version. I sized up for a looser fit and it looks great with a pair of skinnies.
Brogues – £5 (was £12)
A classic brogue will never go out of style and this shoe is perfect for Autumn. I loved the no laces (I hate messy styling) and the studs add a cool edge. Plus they are super comfortable.
Leopard print blouse – £3 (was £8)
I love a bit of leopard print and this top is effortlessly stylish. Easy to throw on, with a slightly dipped hem back and the exposed zip at the back adds that bit of luxe detailing.
Gold flats – £3 (were £8)
Party season is nearly upon us and I am not a heels lover. I looked at these when they were full price and passed but for the price of a glossy magazine? I just had to!
Sunglasses – £1/pair (were £3/pair)
Ok I know summer is over but you can never have too many sunglasses. As well as a couple of designer pairs (which I keep for years) I like to have a few cheap and cheerful pairs that I can leave in the car or my handbag and dont have to worry if they get broken/lost.
So thats my mini haul! I think I stayed within my rules and have already worn the shirt and brogues loads, so for me its £20 well spent.
Wanting to update my hair colour for winter and looking for a new home hair dye, I decided to take the Olia challenge and home-dye my hair using the Garnier brand. Fearne Cotton has been promoting the challenge and you can upload a before and after pic to their website for the change to be entered into a competition to win a £5000 shopping spree! Also if you buy the product at Superdrug you can claim your money back too – so basically try it for free. I only found this out after I’d bought mine somewhere else but you can find out more here.
Its always a bit nerve wracking trying a new hair dye brand and after the 48hr allergy test I unpacked my hair dye and dived in hoping for the best! I needed 2 packs for my long, quite thick hair and went for shade 4.6 Deep Red.
The instructions were pretty simple and the dye mixed up easily and the packing doubled as a stand which I though was quite clever. The application was easy using the teardrop shape bottle and the product itself wasnt too runny which was good.
I wasn’t as impressed with the large, loose gloves and much prefer the tighter latex gloves I’ved used with other brands so I think next time I will use a spare set of latex gloves rather than the ones provided.
I waited the 30 minutes and then washed it off. Going for a deeper colour meant it too ages for the water to run clear but then I did use two packs.
Some tips for a home dye
Preparation! Make sure you have old towels, baby wipes and clips if you have long hair to make the process as easy as possible. Clear at least 45mins for the task – you dont want to be moving around too much once the dye is on.
Do an allegy test 48hrs before – better to be safe than sorry!
Use Vaseline to create a barrier between your hairline and skin. This really stops drips and having to wash tons of dye from yourself.
Use a timer – its important to follow the manufacturers instructions, leaving your dye on for the wrong amount if time can mean it wont look like you expect it too.
Make sure you use the provided conditioner to finish your hair, this is specially formulated to repair any damage the dye may of done while colouring your hair.
And this is the finished effect? What do you think?
I’m really pleased with the final shade and my hair was left feeling very smooth and silky as Olia is made with 60% oils and I could definitely feel that (I wasn’t sponsored to say this LOL, I didnt even get my money back remember!)
Would I use it again?
I would! Its a great price and it left my hair feeling great but I think next time I will go a shade lighter/brighter as the Deep Red was a little too dark for my liking at first look. Thats pretty typical for me as it usually takes a few washes before I’m happy with a new colour, but now its colour protect shampoo every time.
Garnier Olia hair dye – £6.99 available in all good supermarkets and chemists.
Don’t you just hate when your clothes dont feel right? I am a stickler for perfection in fashion styling (its a throwback from being a Harrods window dresser) and like to customise things that aren’t quite right.
In todays blog I’ll show you a little fashion fix for when your belt is hanging down, looking messy and being generally annoying! Long belts are fine when youre wearing something with belt loops but I like to add belts to my dresses and skirts. Plus, it seems I always have too much belt left over (this belt is a S/M from Primark and is still too long!) as you can see below.
This hack works best with a plaited belt but you could also make a small hole in any belt yourself and do the same.
1) Firstly find yourself a bobby pin (the type you use to pin hair up).
2) Push the pin through the end of the belt where its too long. Make sure it is as near the end of the belt as possible.
3) Line up the belt where you want it to stay put and push the pin through both layers.
4) Twist the belt over so you can get to the underside and then bend out the ends of the bobby pin into a straight line.5) Turn the belt back over and line up the pin, so the pin is hidden underneath.
6) Pull down the belt so it is lined up with the waistband of your clothing and fits your waist snugly.
And Voila! A neat, fixed in place belt!
Simple, yet effective. Look out for other fashion hacks in further blogs.
Reuben started back at school last Wednesday and now we are all back in the busy routine of school runs, working days, clubs and play.
I have to say I have genuinely enjoyed the last 6 weeks. Although a struggle at times to manage childcare while working in marketing part-time and running an online vintage shop, the more laid-back vibe and opportunities to do new things together has been wonderful.
I, like many, dont have tons of spare cash to throw around so the summer holidays are always a mix of days out and either free activities or time at home. So in todays blog I thought I’d share some of the things we got up to big and small… hopefully making memories that will last for years to come.
Bletchley Park
This hidden gem on the outskirts of Milton Keynes is a great place to really experience the lives of the WW2 codebreakers (led by Alan Turing – who you may of seen immortalised in the Benedict Cumberbatch film The Imitation Game). Theres lots of information, exhibits and a replica of the Bombe, one of the first computers as well as an original German Enigma machine. The grounds and house are lovely with plenty of spots for picnics and fun, plus theres a cafe and restaurant too. A great historical visit that has something to interest everyone.
The National Museum of Computing
Next to Bletchley Park is the museum of computing and with two computer/gaming crazed 9 years olds we couldnt not visit! The museum holds all types of computing devices and the boys marvelled at the huge old computers from the 1960s as well as interacting with robots, retro consoles and even some virtual reality. There were lots of passionate helpers on hand to explain things and were very patient with our children helping them program, play and generally interact with the exhibits.
Cinema – Finding Dory
OK, its kinda a no-brainer but the cinema was a great day out for all of us and we made sure to fit in some ice cream afterwards! Finding Dory was a great film that all our children enjoyed (with the age difference this can be hard) and had a beautiful message.
Roald Dahl Museum
What a delight this place is. Small but perfectly formed, it is located in Buckinghamshire where Dahl lived and shares his childhood, all his wonderful work, insights on his process (he ate 3/4 bars of chocolate a day, wrote during strict working sessions and never cleaned his writing hut) and his ongoing legacy. Theres lots of interactive displays, memorabilia, storytelling and talks and a lovely little tea room if you fancy a slice of cake. It is great for school aged children as they are already familar with much of his writing and all visitors are given a cute pad and pencil to write down their ideas just as Dahl did.
The Science Museum
I’d not been to the Science Museum since I was a child and I was pleasantly surprised to see it had changed alot since then. Its free to get in, theres lots to see and do and kids eat free in the restaurant when you order and adult meal. However for all the REALLY cool stuff you do have to pay – the IMAX cinema, 4D experiences and flight simulators add up £ wise, but make for a cool techy day out…and if you travel by train you can get 2for1 vouchers which bought the cost down a lot. Great for inquisitive minds, young and old, and don’t get me started on the amazing gift shop…
Theme Parks
We are a thrill-seeking family so summer wouldnt be summer without a trip to a theme park. We visited both Alton Towers and Thorpe Park this summer and had a blast! Look for 2for1 vouchers and online codes to make it more affordable and think about bringing a picnic lunch. We usually purchase the refillable drinks bottles too and refill throughout the day via the Hydration Stations. Now our 9yr old’s are taller we have a lot more rides to go on so keeping hydrated is important!
thorpe park and alton towers
Swimming
The pool, the garden, who cares?!? If its hot get wet! Our local pool does lots of kid friendly swim sessions and we bought a bigger paddling pool last year and I was determined we would get good use out of it! Again quick and easy, but very fun.
Trampoline Park
This was a new experience for us as a family and boy it was fun! Be warned though it is EXHAUSTING! Our local trampoline park has a ‘Total Wipeout’ machine, dodgeball and basketball areas and lots of high points to jump off of! We will definitely be visiting again.
Frappincino Dates
A simple quick thing to do but it feels special. I love having a Starbucks ‘date’ with my 9 year old and it makes him feel very grown up. He knows its a treat (those drinks are yummy but calorific) and we get some sweet one on one time.
Days at the Seaside
Living in Kent we have quite the pick of the seaside towns. Margate, Whitstable, Broadstairs and Herne Bay are all great to visit and filled with everything you would expect. We walked the pier, played in the amusements (2p machines a speciality), ate chips and swam in the sea. Just perfect.
And of course there were plenty of quieter days at home. This year I made sure our boys didn’t expect to do something everyday and they made use of the many toys and books they have as well as visiting our local play park and spending time with other family members. All in all I think we found a good balance.
Find more photos via my Instagram – follow all the photographic fun and games here.
Those who know me know I love to try new beauty products. Part of my blog tagline is ‘here to prove you can be 40 and still look great’ but that takes work…and great beauty products!
I had heard quite a bit about certain ‘wonder products’ that had originally come from Korean beauty ideas so when Skin Chemists sent me their Advanced Snail Eye Serum* I was pretty excited!
“Snail?!?” I hear you say. Yes, this eye serum has snail secretions in it! Never one to back down from trying something that could make me look younger I dived straight in.
So firstly what does Skin Chemists say about this wonder product?
“Our Advanced Snail Serum works to actively lift, tighten and repair the skin for a younger, more flawless complexion. Snail Secretion, derived from the natural defensive liquid secreted by snails aims to delay premature ageing of the skin, whilst reducing visible age spots and providing protection from free radicaldamage. Osilift, a natural sugar from purified oat extracts, aims to instantly lift and tighten the skin to reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic Acid aims to rejuvenate the skin by boosting natural hyaluronic acid levels found within the layers of the skin, to plump and hydrate. Starflower Oil, rich in essential fatty acirds, provides lipid nutrients, which aim to effectively replenish skin tissues in order to slow the natural ageing process.”
Ok sounds interesting…so what did I think?
Firstly the product looks great. It is in an easy to use pump action bottle that delivers just the right amount of serum for use.
Secondly, it smells divine. It goes on easily and leaves no residue which is great as it means you can put make up over it if you use it in the morning (the instructions suggest morning and night applications for best results).
The instructions said to apply using your ring finger for a very light application but I just very gently applied it around my eyes using my index finger concentrating on the lower area (where those pesky bags/shadows are). As you can see from the photo below I have noticable shadows below my eyes without make-up.
And after about 2/3 weeks of use? Well the first thing I noticed was my under-eyes are looking brighter and plumper.
Its always hard to show differences in photos due to differences in light etc but I definitely can see a difference. The hollows of my eyes look less and the skin seems more luminous. I dont have a lot of lines on my face yet so can’t comment on if it helps fine lines but the few I have havent got any worse and I can imagine this product would keep it that way.
And finally – would I recommend?
Yes I would. This is a premium product with a price tag to match but it does make a noticable difference. I used it regularly morning and night and I have definitely used less concealer since. A little goes a long way and I am looking forward to trying more of Skin Chemists wonder products.
Find the full range of Skin Chemists products here.
*This was a gifted item. For my disclosure statement please see here.
The knit is described as ‘Popcorn’ knit and close up you can see why. It has graduated sections of different textures and is so soft. It has quite a slouchy fit too – I went for the 12 but probably could of sized down but I like the looser fit with this type of jumper.
I also bought a pair of their skinny jeans (first time denim shopping at TU for me) and I was impressed with their quality. They are stretchy, true to size (I went for a 12 and they are slightly loose on the waist) and best of all come in a short length! Their fitted shape balances out the slightly boxy shape of the jumper as being petite and curvy I usually try to keep my silhouette quite streamlined.
always a blue sky girl 
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