Friday, 30 March 2012

Frock on a Friday!

Yes, it's a bit of a rarity round here to find me taking part in Frock on a Friday - not because I don't love frocks, I do - but because I loathe having my photograph taken. Whether or not a piece of my soul is lost remains to be seen, but I figure you can't be too careful. Anyway, I decided it was worth battling the camera demons to enter Ceri's amazing competition over at Style Eyes, and decided to wear my most recent vintage purchase - two posts for the price of one. You might have seen entrants strutting their stuff with somewhat more élan on other blogs - the idea is to showcase an outfit with an ethical element to it - whether second hand, bought from a free-trade/eco-friendly label, handmade or recycled. 



Yeah, squinting into the sun is so flattering...



Outfit details
70s maxi - eBay
belt - charity shop in Ireland
denim jacket - swapped
vintage clip on earring worn as brooch - found in attic
vintage wedge shoes - stolen from mum
30s earrings - charity shopped



Indian glass bracelets - bought by husband in Hydrabad
seed necklace - bought by me (direct from maker) in Thailand
Nail varnish - China Glaze 'Gothic Lolita' + Barry M 'hologram'
(neither tested on animals)

This was not what I wore to the park this afternoon with Boy2 - it would not have stood up to all the dinosaur fighting and tree climbing he insisted on. However, it is what I changed into when I got home - school's out and so was the sun!

Have a fabulous weekend.


Linking to Flea Market Finds


Lakota x



My Facebook competition to win a copy of 'Junk for Joy' ends tomorrow, so pop over if you fancy getting your hands on a book full of upcycling ideas. 


I've also been shortlisted for a BiB award (in the 'LAUGH' category), so if you've ever laughed at my eBay nonsense or the things I've dug up on Pinterest, I'd love your vote!




Oh, and in an ever more bonkers turn of events, I've also got a nomination for 'Blog of the Year' in the MAD awards. So, y'know - feel free to nominate me again! That one appears to have actual prizes. 



Tuesday, 27 March 2012

...and I couldn't even have a glass of wine!

Wow, thanks so much for all your replies on my blogger quiz - that was the most popular post in a while!

If you enjoyed that post, I wonder if I could ask you again to vote for me? Thanks to your nominations, Faith Hope and Charity Shopping has actually made the short-list for a BritMums 'BiB' Award [Brilliance in Blogging - their words not mine] - in the 'LAUGH' category - and well, it would be pretty cool to be in the finals. I don't have a gazillion twitter followers and very few people in my day to day life know about the blog, so if you could take the time to vote I'd really appreciate it. It's very quick and you don't need to enter any personal details - just tick the box and submit. You'll need to scroll down to the 'LAUGH' category, it's the 11th award. Thanks!

It's been another busy week with Boy2's birthday and party this time. When I gave up alcohol for Lent I had somehow failed to consider the fact that it encompasses both children's birthdays. Won't be making that mistake again! Neither will I inflict more of my cake making efforts on you here, but if you do want to see what my attempt at a pirate treasure chest looked like then there are pictures on my Facebook page. And for those of you who follow my blog page on FB - have you seen the competition I've got running at the moment? You can win a copy of  Junk for Joy by Sian Berry - with all kinds of makeover and upcycling ideas, perfect for Spring.


Hope you're all enjoying the sunshine.
Thanks in advance for any votes - I won't be boring about it, honest.

Lakota x



EDIT: At the risk of being really tedious and completely negating my last sentence I have just discovered from Twitter that I have been nominated for 'Blog of the Year' in the MADs as well. I have no idea how this works, I think I would need lots more nominations for the remotest chance at this one but as there is actual MONEY and a holiday up for grabs I suppose I should at least mention it :-) 

I will put a badge on the sidebar, and if you feel like clicking then please do and I will love you always. (I thought this one was really for child-centric blogs only, but it appears that my occasional sarcastic mention of the offspring and my dire birthday cake efforts loving words about the children may actually count for something. Why are there no awards specifically for snark and sporadic charity shop treasure? Perhaps I will start one. Who's with me?

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Highly Scientific Quiz - What kind of Blogger are you?


Bloggers. In cities, it's said you're never more than 6 feet away from one. Whether they're photographing their hazelnut mochaccino froth and cinnamon whirl in your local cafe, or snatching up that set of original Babycham glasses from under your nose at the jumble sale, you can't go anywhere these days without bumping into a cute girl with an iphone and a teacup necklace. But if you've yet to take the plunge, what kind of blogger should you be? And if you've already got your first followers - are you really being true to yourself? Inspired by the 'personality tests' in the magazines of my misspent youth, take my in-no-way-serious quiz and find out!


1. It's been a long week, but it's finally Saturday morning. What are you doing?
A. You've already been to the post office to pick up your missed deliveries from the week's internet shopping, and now you've got your camera and are taking a stack of outfit photos in front of the local primary school. Well, there's finally no-one around, and those railings make a great back-drop.

B. Popping the tea-pot back under its hand-knitted cosy, before making a start on that Easter wreath for the shed door.

C. Catching up with new shows on Nickelodeon after taste testing 4 new breakfast cereals with the kids. Then making photo realistic light sabers out of wrapping paper cardboard tubes.

D. Coming back from the car-boot while the street-lights are still on, dragging a Fortnum & Mason hamper filled with vintage curtains and a Midwinter tea-set.

E. Girlfriend, please - it's Saturday morning. I'm asleep.



2. Your hair is indeed your crowning glory, but what does it look like?
A. Dip-dyed ombre, currently lavender.

B. It's tied up under a rockabilly style scarf. You don't want to get glitter in it.

C. In a long pony-tail by day, glam and glossy on nights out.

D. Cherry red or shiny black, with a cute 50s style fringe. You sometimes try victory rolls, but you have no idea how women did this every day.

E. It's certainly well conditioned, there's 8 different shampoos and 4 types of nourishing masque on the side of the bath.


*******

3. You need to pick a name for your blog. What do you choose?
A. Narnia Girl: Wardrobe Adventures

B. Ric-Rac and Bunting

C. Staying Mum - Secrets from Parenthood's Front-line


D. Nothing New (Under the Sun)


E. Becky Sharp's Beauty Spot




4. You've thought long and hard, and decided to get your very first tattoo. What is it?
A. A dotted line sketch of a heart on your wrist.

B. A ball of yarn with needles on your shoulder.

C. A teeny tiny footprint, just on your hip.

D. A traditional swallow, with a girly coloured scroll.

E. Permanent eyebrows. They never grew back properly after your earliest attempts with tweezing.

*******

5. Why is your boyfriend/husband complaining?
A. The credit card bill looks like an alternative alphabet rhyme. A is for ASOS, B is for Bertie...

B. The scarf you said you'd crochet for his mum's birthday is only 12 inches long so far, and has cost £27 in Tibetan alpaca wool. He was going to pick something up in the Next sale.

C. He's fed up of you telling your friends about how inept he is with the children. It was only that one time he  dressed 3 year old Esme in 9-12 months dungarees from the charity shop bag. Backwards.

D. He says it gives him the creeps the way your collection of 60s 'big eye' art always seems to be following him around the room.

E. The usual. How he's fed up of showering at work because he can't do everything in the 5 minute bathroom slot you've allotted him. Doesn't he realise you have a limited edition eyeshadow palette to swatch?

with thanks to Sarah Misfit

6. Why can't your parents come and stay in the spare room?
A. It's an over-flow wardrobe. There's a distinct possibility of being killed in a shoe avalanche unless you know the safe paths.

B. They can, if they want to sleep on an antique treadle sewing machine table. The super-king sized hexi quilt should be finished really soon. Once you've given that decoupage chest of drawers a final coat of varnish.

C. At the moment, having a playroom so that Princess P's Sylvanian Family figures can be kept out of the lounge is far more important than Grandparents coming to stay. Grandparents bring more bloody toys!

D. It's full of eBay inventory. When there's a free listings weekend, you'll be right on it.

E. Your parents are always welcome. Besides, your Mum got given Creme de la Mer for her 50th birthday and you know she hardly uses it.

*******

7. It's time to change your profile picture. What do you upload?
A. You looking moodily at the pavement/sky, holding a satchel.

B. A colourful granny square

C. A picture of your toddler from behind, wearing wellies and a tu-tu

D. That slightly demonic looking pottery owl you just found in the Cancer Research shop

E. A close up of your eye, made up in four shades of MUA's Pretty Pastels



8. What's on your dressing table?
A. You're sure you have a dressing table - somewhere. It might be under that pile of discarded outfits in the corner.

B.  A felt flower brooch, mini garland made from vintage maps, and a cross-stitch magazine.

C. Guerlain Midnight Secret, Origins eye cream, several odd socks, a box of raisins and a Power Ranger 

D. An art deco vanity set, glass bon-bon dishes full of hairgrips, a 1950s poodle ornament and the cast of Bambi.

E.  87 perfumes, including all the Harajuku Lovers fragrances and some which are only available in New York.

*******

9. You check the search keywords in your blog stats. How do people find you?
A. Peter Pan, polka dot, brogues, ice-cream, London Fashion week, H&M Collection

B.  Burlap ideas, mod-podge, cute amigurumi armadillo, XXX grannies

C. Outings with under 5s, toddler tantrums, Cybermummy, Carrot stains Marc Jacobs

D. vintage tea set, Tretchikoff Green lady painting, Cats eye glasses, cheap charity shop 

E. OPI swatches, Urban Decay, fishtail braid how-to, Customs charges USA to UK  

*******

10. What are you drinking?
A. Tea

B. Tea

C. Tea

D. Tea

E. Tea

*******



If you answered mainly As...You are Personal Style Penny. You refer to clothes as 'pieces' and 'remix' your clothes rather than merely wearing them in different combinations. You like statement jewellery, small dogs and Irregular Choice shoes. Your boyfriend dislikes your high waisted floral shorts, but your 2,755 followers disagree and adore the way you've styled them. Your ultimate ambition is to be snapped by The Sartorialist.

If you answered mainly Bs...You are Made it Myself Molly. Your 'DIY ideas' board has reached Pinterest's limit of 1000 pins and you have recently worked out you will need to outlive Methuselah to complete all your WIPs. You have signed up to 11 craft fairs this year and have a permanent hot glue blister on your thumb. Your fabric stash has contained a fat quarter with matryoshka dolls on for 11 years now, awaiting just the right project.


If you answered mainly Cs...You are Mummy Blogger Millie. You used to work in advertising, but now spend your days ruled by the capricious whims of tiny dictators. So, not much difference then. You are a social networking addict, and brand ambassador for any number of kid-centric companies, which certainly makes life on one income less expensive. Your children always have the most interesting lunch-boxes as a result of all the free samples you receive.


If you answered mainly Ds...You are Second Hand Sally. You treat the high street with suspicion, bordering on contempt, and prefer the run down areas with a high concentration of charity shops. Your friends find you a useful resource for offloading  'hideous stuff my Granny left me', but are always happy to come for cake in your bright and cheerful kitchen. They are secretly impressed when Elle Decoration features the very same mid-century sideboard as you have in your lounge.

If you answered mainly Es...You are Beauty Blogger Becky. Your YouTube channel has nearly as many views as Kony 2012, and you have an extra recycling box from the council for all your empty products. You have firm opinions on whether GlossyBox or Boudoir Prive is better, and refuse to be swayed on the matter. However, you continue to subscribe to both. You can look on the bright side of any situation - a three hour delay at Heathrow means spritzing and swatching galore in duty free!

If you answered across the board - Congratulations! You could be a 'Lifestyle' blogger, making everything you do desirable. Your starter kit will be delivered shortly - a vintage suitcase, Tatty Devine name necklace and half a dozen Ladurée macaroons.

Love ya,

Lakota x