Squashed tomotoes and stew

Happy Birthday to me! Yes, it's my Birthday today - the big 3 2. To celebrate i wore my party dress while i can still fit into it. It's a Zara maxi dress from last season that i bought off ebay for a friend's wedding earlier this month. I'm going out for a meal with the hubby this evening so thought I'd give it another airing. It's not maternity but it's really floaty and the waist detail is quite high and more empire cut so it's been perfect for pregnant occasions. I wore it with a blazer for the wedding but will be teaming it with my leather jacket tonight and maybe some flat ankle boots, it's really versatile like that you can dress it up or down.

My birthday haul is one big fat blogger cliche with Michael Kors Gold watch (at last!), Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, some YSL False Lash Effect along with a few other bits and bobs. A homemade card from hubby and my boy was the icing on the Birthday cake...x Talia

The Palermo affect

 

The fact i can still fit into my regular clothes makes me very happy. I'm not a huge fan of the clingy body-con anyway so do tend to size up and that has certainly proved a good move now i'm bun cooking. This Topshop chiffon dress was a wardrobe favourite last summer, when i had a waist to cinch, particularly after the style crush du lifetime Olivia.P was spotted in the yellow version. So now to this summer and i no longer have a waist so i've converted a cinched waist to an empire line and hey presto - maternity midi.

I wore this out for dinner with friends and thanks to the delicious summer we're having (insert sarcastic face here), i felt the need to tone down the summer pastels with my Zara leather jacket and Black Topshop elasticated shoes. Cinching my non waist is an eBay China export studded double wrap belt which is horrible quality and has an accessory lifespan of around 15 wears at an absolute maximum. It's done that thing where the coated pleather just cracks around the belt holes, not a happy eBayer. However it's my go-to rock belt so i was left with little alternative. As not to break the habit of a lifetime, i will grab the opportunity to wax lyrical about Zara. This Zara leather jacket I bought in Puerto Banus on a girly holiday is at least five years old and even though i've worn it to death, it's still a wardrobe favourite. Thanks to my oversized handbag on the elbow habit, the arms are now almost thread bear so i was beyond over the moon when i saw it in their new A/W collection and shall definitely be repurchasing. The shape is perfect for me and if it aint broke and all that...x Talia

At last, my love has come along

At last! Sunshine :) I have to admit summer is not actually my favourite season. I get a little stressed with the unpredictability of it all, however after the unseasonally cold period we've been experiencing recently, I have been waiting for a day like today. If not only to debut my Asos Floral Print maternity trousers. After getting a sneak peak at the Zara S/S look book, floral print trousers were pretty high on my wish list so when Asos got this maternity version in i snapped them up. They are really generous on the waist so i have not only been waiting for a day bright enough to pull them off, but also for my bump to be a sufficient size to keep them up. Today is that day and i have rejoiced!

Teamed with a lovely New Look maternity shirt dress that i have rouched up slightly to make a little shorter thus qualify as a top. Court shoes just were not cutting it this morning so Topshop elasticated peeptoe shoeboots were added and i also put my black Zara blazer over the top which i wish i would have snapped as i liked the extra layer it added although it has long since been discarded due to the beautiful sun beating down. Not a grievance we get to air often enough in this country...x Talia

The print detraction



Pregnancy legs are bordering on getting the better of me. From my last pregnancy i know i get a fair amount of water retention in my legs and it makes them swell a little, the sight of which left me all but discarding skirts from my wardrobe this morning. I've been trying to stay healthy and not 'eat for two' as the old adage goes but it hasn't stopped the swell. But i accepted this is part and parcel of the wonder that is child bearing and went with this dress anyway as i really like the print and am hoping it will  detract from my cankles.

It's courtesy of New Look and was bought with some vouchers i got for taking part in a maternity project for them. I have to admit when i went to spend my vouchers, I couldn't find a whole lot in the maternity section that i was particularly sold on. However I think their regular collection is really impressive this season and the empire cut on this graphic print dip hem dress nicely accommodates the bump. It is nice and sheer and has black thick straps. I've been hugely tempted by the collarless blazers in Zara this season, in fact seriously tempted by the collection as a whole for the last year (just divine!) but with a little Danny Zuko flick of the collar, a similar look can be achieved with an old Zara standard blazer with lapels. Black shoe boots also from New Look...x Talia

Up on the roof

After feeling like a bad blogger i vowed to do an outfit post today and this usually happens in my garden as i am not brave enough to take to the mean streets of Nottingham. However, these plans were scuppered by some pesky roofers my neighbour had in thus the new location. I will be back outside as soon as roofers and weather permit!

When it comes to shopping religion, it's no secret that i worship at the church of Zara. They can actually do no wrong by me and I have been literally bursting at the seams to blog about my love affair with these shoes. The weather has not allowed me to wear them too much as i have no desire to get wet toes or put that nude suede in any puddle's firing line. They do the shoes in a variety of colours and budget permitting, i would have snapped them all up. Even though they are a snip at the bargain price of £29.99, i limited myself to one pair and this mix of nude, black and orange won out.  Ankle strap sandals have made a triumphant come back recently and seeing how my girl Camille has been rocking them recently i snapped them up and have worn them at every given opportunity.  The heel is a little on the dainty side for me at 21 weeks pregnant but practise makes perfect.

Teamed with Topshop maternity floralprint and black silk tee and H&M Mama maternity trousers. Oh and in other breaking news...It's a girl! My bank manager will soon be shuddering at the sight of Zara Mini...x Talia

Long lost friends

At last! A non rainy morning enabling a blog post. Sorry i am am such a slave to the weather but i only use my ipad to blog and it's photos only really work outside so i was very happy to see a respite in the rain.  I'm now 18 weeks into the pregnancy and my bump is feeling rather neat today, it actually looks smaller than a few weeks back. Either that or the rest of me has grown making my bump seem smaller by comparison. Not liking the latter option really.

As well as the weather, i am a complete slave to the skinny jean. It's a love affair that's not wholly reciprocated really as i am a big bottomed girl and they suit girls of snake-hipped origins much more. So when having a bad (read large) hip day i reverted to my first love, the skinny flare. Rachel Zoe does the flare so so well she constantly has me searching for an equally ahmahzing pair but i don't have much luck. I am tall and have zero to no options of leg length on the majority of nice skinny flares that i've tried on over the years so i was super thrilled when i discovered these first pregnancy haul Zara Maternity Jeans like some long lost friends. I got them off Ebay and i actually don't think Zara do maternity anymore, please someone prove me wrong as this is the biggest loss to pregnant women since they vetoed Stilton. They are the perfect length for me and so comfortable. Teamed with white silk Zara shirt i got in the January sales, treasured Dogeared wishbone necklace and River Island tan leather slouch bag. I've got some nude Primark pumps on but in true Zoe style have tried to cover them as much as possible with the flare. I have an oil stain on this bag (Bio Oil accident), if anyone knows a way to get an oil mark off leather i would love them forever...x Talia

Don't call it a tunic

When we had that little warm spell a couple of weeks ago we moved the garden furniture around a little and have not yet moved it back so my recent pics are a little out of sorts. I'm trying to get used to it but i knew what i was doing with everything where it was before so am hoping to get it back to normal pretty soon.

It's been a hectic week with work and travelling to see friends in London so i've not had much time. These pics were taken in about 2 minutes so soz for the strange faces. Since discovering the AMAZING fashion guitar blog i have been stalking her backlog of maternity inspiration.  It struck me how little maternity specific stuff she had, she seems to adapt her pre-bump wardrobe brilliantly and i was inspired to do the same. However after attempting it i am convinced she was blessed with a neat teenie bump and no pregnancy related hip widening (this happens - FACT!). Anyhoo, I'm not sure if the top is actually a top or a dress so lets call it a tunic. Scrap that, i hate that word, lets calls it as top as that's all i'll be wearing it as. It's really textured and almost leather  like. It was picked up with my Zara Boxing Day haul and is roomy enough for bump space. Gap white long sleeves tee underneath as it's still pretty cold and i caved and put on my H&M skinny maternity trousers as they're just too comfy. Block heels from New Look mean my pregnancy balance issues don't have to contend with a stiletto. Although not pictured i finished off with my ASOS masculine coat..x Talia

Carrots and maggots

So we're in week 14 and  i'm starting to look a little more pregnant. I'm venturing back into the world of maternity wear and am generally pretty happy with what's out there at the moment with some exceptions. I do still have a few maternity pieces from my last pregnancy, such as these trousers. In my experience, it's the trousers that are always the first to feel the pinch and i have already relegated numerous jeans to my post-pregnancy cupboard as they're not going to be needed for the next 9-12 months. Damn the non stretch high waist! Disappointingly, the majority of maternity trousers for work are boot cut and generally pretty dowdy so i was glad H&M could accommodate my need for a slim trouser leg with these fronm the Mama range. However i did not have the same luck when i browsed H&M maternity last week, as per my tweet, I'm pregnant, not 65.

I'm still fitting into most of my tops so grabbed this Zara button back cream blouse with a nude M&S slip underneath and my new statement necklace from New Look. My nearest New Look branch is Nottingham and it has just had the mother of all refurbs.  I think when shopping your surroundings really can make a massive difference and i found it a pleasure to shop there with a huge shoe department and a great range of jewellry. I bagged this bright necklace which my 3 year son has advised me looks like carrots and maggots. I disagree, i think it's pretty prefect and great for injecting some colour into an outfit. I'm out for dinner and going to the theatre tonight so went for this large suede clutch which was also part of my New Look haul and i love the pastel yellow accent on it. Primark peeptoe patent nude platforms finish this little work to evening ensemble...x Talia

Black and Gold

So the daily 'what fits me today' adventure is well under way! It's a lot of fun let me tell you (insert blank faced smiley here). The bump is almost 3 months old now and high waisted, non stretchy stuff is already being archived. Dresses will be my friends for the foreseeable future.  Although i'm not sure how long this Zara shift will be feasible as it's more fitted and non stretch but i love the puffy shoulders, it's stiff fabric and shape. It fits today and that's all that matters.

I've been waiting for a laid back outfit to try out my new eBay necklace. Love the whole spiked jewellery love affair that is happening right now and found this delightful matt gold number on ebay for the bargain price of 14.99.  Went with my Hobbs faux ponyskin chelsea boots as the heel is nice and chunky so i can hopefully avoid the pregnancy heel wobble that i am prone to developing. Over the top i put my ASOS masculine wool coat which finished it off nicely but didn't have time to snap as i was already out the door when i grabbed it, the fun of the nursery run and all that...x Talia

Old school

Tuesday comes round far too fast for my liking. Not actually as fast as Monday for most of you guys so i shan't moan. I tried my very hardest to plan my outfit last night, in my head that is, i am far too disorganised to get the items themselves out the wardrobe. I actually almost always fall asleep before i reach a conclusion but the upside of that is sleep so, again, i shan't complain.

I opened the wardrobe this morning and had to start from there really. I have a new jumper from George at Asda. I love a plain black crew neck and especially if they a little rouching to the shoulders but unlike my others, this is a more longline version which is great for my taller frame. I put a sleeveless white H&M shirt underneath with collars poking out. I love the whole 'flared skirt out the bottom of a longer top' look which i think was cemented by this Carrie Bradshaw outfit so i put my Zara pleated skirt underneath. Went with grey tights and black velvet shoeboots from New Look. I was told earlier i look like a school girl thus the title.  At 31, i'm not sure if that's a compliment or not?

In a bid to post my outerwear more, i quickly ran back outside to do a shot of my new ASOS coat. I've been after a masculine longline wool coat for a while, I did attempt to add more colour to my wardrobe with this item by trying a burgundy and a camel one but went back to black. Fur collar was gifted to me by my sister and saves me scrapping around ebay for the H&M one...x Talia

Who cares what they're wearing..

Blog post title yet another song, this time Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile from Annie the musical in homage to this delightful dress from fab online label Never Fully Dressed. I first discovered this label after one of their dresses was featured in one of the Sunday supplements (about 2 years ago) and i really love their stuff. You can also get their stuff from ASOS marketplace. This is the second of three dresses i have from them and it's good for day and night. As it's casual Friday at work i have gone for my Zara waxed jeans which i picked up in the sale and Topshop nude ballet bumps which it is probably a little cold for but i felt sad for them at the back of my shoe cupboard. Cross earrings from Topshop but it's what you wear from ear to ear, and not from head to toe that matters :-D (regretting not smiling in these pics now)...x Talia

Agadoo

Apologies in advance for the bad joke post title. Black Lace. Agadoo. See what i did there? I know (groan) but i couldn't resist. Not only have i gone with some black lace today, care of Zara new collection, but i have also gone for a bit of a new hair look. It's a little 90s throwback to the old wavy one sided affair and happened a little by accident after i took my bobble out from yesterdays hair knot, it just kind of fell like this but it's something a little different so i thought i'd give it a whirl. Back to the outfit, I would have liked to team this top with trousers to balance the lacy girlyness of it but the top come up a little short in the body for me so i know i'd be forever pulling it down to ensure no muffin top action was happening which would have driven me mad.  So i went with Asos high waisted skater skirt instead and black New Look ankle boots...x Talia

Slouchy blues

Thank the lord for topknots and peg leg trousers! I was also certainly appreciative of the respite in the big freeze today. No ice on the windscreen and lack of frosty floors for outdoor outfit pics always make for a happier morning.  Due to the third day of Batiste hair i have been left with no alternative than rocking a topknot. I heart the topknot so this is not a stretch for me, although i did let that kind of dictate the outfit. I think these Topshop peg leg trousers with their huuuuuge pockets are along the same sloppy relaxed look and set off a topknot. I carried on this slouchy theme with this Topshop jersey batwing charcoal grey top which i haven't actually worn to work before as deemed it too casual but thought my new eBay necklace and some electric blue colour pop suede heels from New Look would redeem this look from weekend to relaxed office. I realised i babbled on in yesterday's post so am attempting to keep this short and sweet..x Talia

p.s
Need to start including my outerwear so novice pic  ←here. I was in a horrendous location so have blacked/whited it out. Leather jacket, Zara. Extra long chunky knit scarf, Burton...x

If only...

Today was just one of those days when i was slightly uninspired by my wardrobe.  I think lack of sleep due to a chesty toddler who crawled into my bed at 1am and proceeded to cough on me all night and this horrendously grey weather.  Anyway this is the conclusion i came to and although its not the most inspiring or innovative of outfits, i wanted to blog it as we all have those days don't we? I want to include the rough with the smooth days, i've even considered blogging Sunday's 'outfit' if you can even call it that. After a morning slobbing around in bed, I decided at the last minute that Sunday would not be a pyjamas day and that i would leave hubby in bed and take aforementioned toddler to the cinema...ten minutes before the film started. Had i had the time, I would have blogged both of us because we were a hot mess.
Him - Grey marl joggers, black uggs, white long sleeved tee (with chocolate milk stains) purple AA hoody and a mahoosive fairisle bobble hat.
Me - AA leggings, jersey vest dress, boyfriend checked shirt, ambush boots and topknot.
Add into this lack of make-up, really the dark cinema was the best place for us.

So back to today's concoction. This shirt was from the Zara sale and i do actually really like it. I'm having a definite spotty moment of late so this fitted in nicely. Went for this pencil skirt as wanted something high waisted so this jersey number with deep pockets from Primark was perfect. However i was left with that funny 'if only' feeling and today's was 'if only i had some grey suede footwear.' Although not pictured, I have a grey cardigan on and really thought some grey suede ankle boots, very much like the 3 sizes too small for me pair I saw in the Zara sale, would have been lovely. Don't you just hate it when you know what would finish your outfit off perfectly and it's just not in your wardrobe? Well today was one of those days. But i settled for black suede New Look ankle boots. Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to eBay i go...x Talia

Clown feet

 

Outfit pics were so much fun today as my little boy kept running outside and jumping in the pictures so i have some nice ones for the family album. I love my son dearly but as I promised my friends when falling pregnant, i try my very hardest not be a baby bore so have decided to omit the ones where he is hovering in the doorway or we are chasing each other round the garden :)

I have instead decided to share with you some boots i got in the Hobbs January sale. I can admit to never having bought anything from Hobbs before. The shop we have in Nottingham is very nice but on the odd occasion i actually shop in town, i never go in. However when i stormed the Zara sale on boxing day i was heading back to the car park with my haul (including this skirt) and happened to glance in the Hobbs window and spot these Faux Ponyskin Chelsea boots. It wasn't until i actually got to the car park that i decided i should go back and try them on.

There were lots of other really nice pieces in Hobbs and the service i received was truly exceptional (i've been shopping in Primark too much). I kind of fell in love with them and although i have struggled to mix them with things, and in these pictures make my size 7s look mahooosive, i still love them.  They are rather eye catching so i kept the rest of the outfit simple with black pleated skirt, crisp white shirt from Gap men's section and necklace that i blogged about yesterday which i can see may be featuring on here a fair amount...x Talia

Let's party

I've always been a massive fan of ebay and my friends often refer to me as the ebay queen. This was a title i was happy to adopt, until i found Twitter and discovered the work of the delightful Victoria was brought to my attention. This lovely lady tirelessly searches ebay for all manor of goodies requested from her army of followers via her Tumblr page. I would say a thankless task but she gets a lot of love for it, all completely deserved. It was through her post that i discovered the ebay seller Letsparty. They sell all kinds of stuff that is mostly 'designer inspired' for really reasonable prices. I for one have no problem with this. Sellers from Asia often come in for some stick but these guys aren't pretending to be anything they're not and have lots of nice feedback so i bit the bullet and ordered this necklace that had actually been in my basket all over Christmas. It arrived yesterday and i love it. It's a dark gun metal colour with lots of metal cubes, the pics aren't too clear of it but it's a beaut and although have teamed it with all black for the office, i can imagine it going really well with a simple grey marl jersey tee and blue skinnies for a casual look too.

Tux style trousers were picked up in the Zara sale and are really well tailored although are showing a little too much evidence of festive excess than i would like but i am working on that with healthier food choices/not eating everything in site (aka the Christmas diet). However I'm cool with being a big booty girl so am just looking to ease a little of the tension in these trews. One of my outfit posts would not be complete without a little Primark so knitted turtle neck sweater and nude heels courtesy of Primarni...x Talia

Texture me

Good morning! Well after the dreadful quality of the photos yesterday, and never being one to ignore constructive criticism, i have taken my dearest Camille's advice and strived to show more detail and have better photos. My budget isn't stretching to a SLR just yet so for now these will have to do, hopefully an improvement on yesterday. Showing off more of my January sales hoard with this over sized leather look texturised tee from Zara.  I have a little crush on over sized tees being tall and holding the majority of my excess weight at the top of my thighs, this little beauty covers that area and for this i love love love it.

Although i am at work i have teamed it with skinny jeans from Primark. I should probably invest in some non denim skinny trousers (suggestions of good finds welcome) as i have lots of tops that go with a skinny trouser that i can't really wear for work with jeans. The reason i have dared to today is that some of the office treat Friday as casual day, although not everyone. This is why i have opted with some high velvet ankle boots from New Look as i think a higher heel dresses denim up in an instant. So i have leather look, velvet and denim for a nice texture mash-up. For a touch of colour, and extra insulation, i have put a raspberryy coloured long sleeved jersey top underneath that also goes rather well with my new Zara bag that i also got in the sale. Get used to this phrase, you may be seeing it a lot...x Talia

Should auld fashion mistakes be forgot...

Happy New Year! Only five days late with my new year's wishes but the first couple of days back at work coincided with me taking over the nursery run so i have been mostly late for work. However this morning i rushed that little bit faster and had time to take a few outfit pics. I apologise for the quality of these but the app i use for the photos had mysteriously disappeared along with the lens that i usually use so they are a bit dark. Plus it was very dark this morning due to the horrendous winds and rain. If i had hatches, last night they would have been battened down as it got pretty scary.

On to this morning and this, a rare trouser wearing post.  I am currently trying to shed a few lbs i put on at Christmas and these Topshop men's waistband peg leg trousers are forgiving so perfect for January.  The shirt is from Motel Rocks and it's the perfect leopard print, big spots and a great camel toned hue. It is referred to as a boyfriend shirt but i think could do with being a little bigger and a little longer to really qualify for 'boyfriend' status, unless your boyfriend takes the same size as you.

I teamed with an old Zara blazer and, inspired by Audrey Leighton of Be Frassy blog fame, i rolled the short sleeves above the blazer sleeves as i've seen her do this and think its a really simple but effective touch, she can do no wrong in my opinion. Nude round toe heels from Primark. I have worn these to death, lucky my husband is a cobbler, but due to excessive wear the ends have taken the slight imprint of my toes which actually makes me love them even more for reminding me of Vivienne Westwood's infamous animal paw shoes. Long live Dame Viv...x Talia

They call me Zara

Happy Christmas! Merry Boxing Day and all that jazz. Hope y'all had good ones. As with most, this is the busiest time of the year with numerous Xmas parties, in laws taking over the residence and massively excited 2.5 year old running around waiting for Santa, it all was rather lacking in blog posts. Soz. Anyhow, I'm baaaaaaaaack! And have lots of sale gotten gains to show you.

This post is dedicated mainly to the fabulousness that is Zara. Delicious just does not cover it. I got there at 9.15 after waking up from a Christmas Day champagne fuelled Articulate session having not bought all my wish list when the clock turned midnight on christmas night and the boxing day madness began like i said I was going to do. This resulted in a not so fresh faced dash to town to join the minions. Actually there were only about 15 people outside Zara so not bad at all.

Got lots of things that I wanted pre-sale and a couple of bits from the new collection. Once again drawn to the non-sale new collection like a moth to the well cut, reasonably priced flame.


For today's post, in short; Sheer cream shirt, waxed jeans, tuxedo blazer and burgundy leather tote, Zara. Nude pumps topshop. In long; I'm a complete sucker for an oversized cream sheer shirt, there's something so classic about them and love this collarless design. I have been after some waxed jeans for a while but had a long list of misses and no hits. I had originally decided to get the All Saints ones but saw these on the sale rack for a third of the price. I didn't try these on but am well happy with them as they fit really nicely although I have convinced myself Zara sizing is getting smaller after comfortably fitting into a 14. Aint no shame in it. Tux jacket is a nice variation to the blazer and had spotted this pre-sale, always a bonus. I had originally wanted the big camel pleated handle leather bag but it was nowhere to be seen online or in store so although an unintentional purchase, I fell in love with the burgundy bag's size, colour and mix of suede and leather.

I got a fair few other bits, including some amazeballs Chelsea boots which popped my Hobbs cherry, so will share ov the weeks to come. Am now off to fill out my size 14 arse with Tapas with some old school friends who are home from London and Oz! See you next year if not before...x Talia

The Primark Leather Dress

I purchased the Primark Leather dress on its second sighting. The first time i saw it i was a little reserved, a full leather dress was perhaps a bit much so i left it. Since then it has worked its way into my head space when outfit planning for occasions so when i went in again and saw a rail of them i thought it was meant to be. I'm really happy i got it as the leather, although faux, is very realistic and not at all pleather like. Also the shape is great i think. High neck, capped sleeves and a-line mini.

On the occasion pictured, i was going out for a posh Christmas meal with all my girlfriends. Hubby questioned the appropriateness of a leather dress at the high end restaurant but i think teaming it with classic pieces takes it well away from it's fetish roots. Blazer from Zara, skull scarf from Topshop and my old trusty New Look Ankle boots which you can't really see on this pic as my tall hubby took it so it's kind of a view from above. He's a supporter of my blogging and i couldn't have got these shots without him, albeit a little blurred and footless. First after dark shots so a little break from the norm but really wanted to share.

Nail inspiration courtesy of Emma @milkteef. Spotted the single bling nail on a twitpic she posted and thought it looked lovely so purchased a pink GSOH nail glitter, the only shade they had left at my local Superdrug which i think works quite well with my favourite mink polish which was a Nails Inc magazine freebie from the summer. On another beauty note i tried out Laurens Way fake tan after getting sick of the smell of Fake Bake. It's quite good and smells way better than fake bake but think i might head back to the St Tropez mothership when this bottle's done. Come back to what you know and all that...x Talia