Up Toon Girl

Down In The Dumps

2012-02-16T14:57:00.000Z

I've got the February blues and can't really summon up enthusiasm for very much at the moment.

I've been spoilt with some lovely things from David and when I pull myself together a bit more then I'll try and post about them.

For now I would rather not blog until I am less grumpy and annoyed with myself, so have a picture of my small ginger child hosting a teddy bears picnic instead.

Hopefully I'll be back to myself soon!

Red And Green Should Never Be Seen

2012-01-07T13:47:00.001Z

Hello 2012!

We had a marvellous time over Christmas. I'm quite sad it's over. Yesterday we had our Twelfth Night supper and took down the tree and decorations whilst drinking all of the leftover port and singing carols loudly and slightly off-key.

Rosie had the most fantastic time, from helping to decorate the tree, to cooking Christmas dinner, to eating her own bodyweight in chocolate and mince pies. Father Christmas was very good to her this year and brought her a little Brum-style yellow classic pedal car and the look on her face when she spied it under the tree on Christmas morning was priceless. We haven't been able to prise her out of it ever since and she has been taking lessons from Toad of Toad Hall by crashing it into unsuspecting victims at regular opportunities and cackling wildly.

I managed to catch up with my oldest and bestest friends over the holidays which meant so much to me. I really love my girls and as all of us are scattered to the four corners of the country nowadays it is ever so hard to schedule all of us in one place at the same time.

(Red Seagull dress from Collectif, Emerald Wrap Sweater from Laura Ashley via charity shop)

It might not look it, but this was a very staid catch up and these were taken at about half five in the evening before any alcohol had really been consumed. We're old ladies now so have to finish our partying early! I love this red dress that I'm wearing (along with a rather clashing emerald green jumper). It was a Christmas present to myself from Collectif, sneakily bought during their 40% off sale recently.

I feel that I could really get into the swing of Christmas properly if I had another few weeks of practice. Alas, I am back to work next week and my one New Year Resolution so far is trying to get myself back in the habit of getting dressed before lunchtime, which so far I'm failing at miserably. Probably a good job as I've already spent far too much money and put on half a stone! I'd be a bankrupt blimp if I celebrated any more.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

2011-12-07T21:52:00.001Z

I am usually one of those disorganised souls dashing around the shops at ten to five on Christmas Eve,with 30 presents still to buy and no food for Christmas dinner in the fridge. However, this year I am allowing myself to feel ever so slightly smug. I have almost ticked everything off my present list, with just one or two gifts left to buy (God love online shopping!).

To get ourselves properly in the spirit of things, we took Rosemary to Beamish Museum, just down the road, to visit Father Christmas.

I have been to Beamish many, many times over the years, as I suspect almost anyone who went to school in the North of England within the last 25 years has. It's slightly surreal to think that I wasn't much older than my daughter is now when I first visited.

(French Navy Princess Coat vintage via charity shop, fur collar added and alterations made by Karina Hesketh)

My favourite part of visiting Beamish is always the traditional sweet shop. It appears that Rosie takes after me in this.

Yesterday was St Niklaus Day and even the weather was attempting to be festive. We all put our shoes out for him to fill. Rosie was most taken with the idea that in the morning her shoes would be full of chocolate pennies.

We decided to go for a walk to try and burn some of the excess chocolate off.

(is there such a thing as excess chocolate?)

Nice Things

2011-11-24T15:15:00.002Z

Dancing all night at a good friend's wedding and not having to get up at the crack of dawn with Rosie because my mum had her.

(Velvet Rose dress by Tara Starlet)

Giving Rosie the biggest hug when we went to pick her back up and her saying "love you Mama"

Getting home to find some lovely parcels waiting for me.

Wearing thermal socks inside boots on a cold, windy morning and feeling smug as well as snug because everyone else is complaining of cold feet.

Being able to legitimately use hot chocolate medicinally to ward off chills and general grumpiness.

Cake, Shoes and Thermals

2011-11-09T15:33:00.001Z

I am now ostensibly another year wiser.

However, I am never ever going to be thinner if I don't stop eating cake.

I had a lovely birthday and was spoilt rotten with presents.

Although they can be a bit hit and miss I am generally a fan of the Pearl Lowe for Peacocks collections and I own one or two of the dresses. Gemma blogged about the 2011 Christmas collection a little while ago and I immediately decided that the black swing dress with lace centre panel was my favourite. For some reason the Metrocentre Peacocks seems to have decided to start selling its Peal Lowe Christmas collection early and so I ended up with my black and gold swing dress over a week early. I've double checked and Peacocks are still saying that the launch is tomorrow. If anyone wants to get ahead of the queue then I suggest you go have a sneaky peek today.

I also got a lovely bra and knickers set, some more perfume, chocolate, makeup and the glitteriest pair of Irregular Choice shoes I've ever owned.

I have just bought my annual thermals and am feeling all snug. Which is a good thing as I have caught yet another cold and completely lost my voice. David has a chest infection at the moment and everyone around is dropping like flies again.

I am pondering what to wear next weekend for a wedding in Birmingham. It's getting pretty chilly. I think Autumn/Winter weddings can be beautiful but I do think they're a bit trickier to dress for without looking as though one is at a funeral. Any thoughts?

Ella x

What Happened To October?

2011-10-29T17:36:00.003+01:00

Blog, it's been a while. I can only apologise and point out that I have had neither computer nor time with which to post.

In the last 5 weeks I have:

- Had our garden wall knocked down and rebuilt.

- Been ill. Twice in fact.

- Attended the North York Moors Railway At War Weekend. It was as good as ever and I bought a lovely black crepe 40s dress there for £20 which just needs taking in slightly and a new fastener put in. This year Rosemary went as an evacuee. Several people offered to take her in and the way she's been sleeping I was half tempted to take them up on the offer.

- Been to the most civilised hen do ever at Bettys in Harrogate for afternoon tea.

(Teal Swing Jacket from New Look, Green Floral Dress from Dorothy Perkins)

- Driven up and down the A1 more times than I care to remember.

- Dropped our one and only set of car keys down a drain and watched uselessly on the sidelines as the husband painstakingly fished them out again with a metal coat hanger (did anyone else think that that this only happened in bad comedy films rather than in real life? I will never snigger in disbelief again!)

- Got bored of my hair again, dyed it back to brown and chopped a load of it off.

(cardigan via charity shop, thermal vest from Marks and Spencer)

- Bought a bunch of flowers for 10p which have so far lasted 2 weeks. Bargaintastic.

Autumn is my favourite time of year. I know so many people who dread the end of British Summer Time and start immediately counting down the days until spring sunshine and warmer weather. Don't get me wrong, I like those days too. But there is something about Autumn that just strikes a chord in me. Cosy clothes, sitting in front of the fire with a hot drink after a brisk walk kicking leaves up, watching the leaves change colour - basically all the clichés. I love clichés me. I also love Halloween, Bonfire Night and my birthday and they all happen inside a week of each other. So I am pretty damn excited about next week.

Nice things coming up include a Halloween party tomorrow night at the Settle Down Cafe in Newcastle, more Bettys afternoon tea in celebration of my birthday (if I'm going to have birthday cake I want GOOD cake) but this time in Northallerton on the 4th (only tourists queue up at the York tearooms), Rob Heron and his Tea Pad Orchestra at Northumbria University (shame Judy's Affordable Fair comes with it but you can't have everything) on the 5th and then again in Penrith on the 12th when the Nostalgia Meets Design fair rolls into town.

Lastly I beg the forgiveness of both Miss Lucy Nation and Miss (or should that now be Mrs?!) Lina Sofia as I have only managed to post off their giveaway prizes today. I am so sorry ladies, it's been a nightmare being offline this last few weeks and I just haven't been organised enough to grab your addresses from my inbox the few times I have managed to check my email.

A Messy Weekend

2011-09-12T21:05:00.002+01:00

This weekend we did a spot of painting.

We were assisted by a few other babies...

(all images courtesy of Northern Stage)

Can you spot Rosie and I?

This is part of an ongoing project by Northern Stage called "First Steps" and it was originally started as part of the theatre's fortieth birthday celebrations. I'm so pleased that we took part in this idea. It's enabled us to track our lives as parents; from the comfortable naivety of pregnancy, through the gruelling early days of no sleep and utter panic, to the point we find ourselves at now - a family.

I can't remember life before Rosie apart from as a very murky memory. To be honest, I don't really want to. I don't want to be the kind of parent that slavishly puts their child's every whim and desire before their own need for an independent life, or that lives vicariously through every achievement having put their own dreams on one side. However, I absolutely delight in making her happy. I adore her giggles and gurgles, the funny expressions she pulls when she finds something particularly amusing and her great, deep belly laughs that shake her entire little body until she's rolling around on the floor in uncontrollable glee.

In these last few months she has made leaps and bounds in terms of communication. From having perhaps 50 words she has suddenly collected hundreds and is now making sometimes quite complex sentences. It is completely amazing to watch this tiny creature change in front of your very eyes to an independent person, with their own quirks and thoughts.

When I was pregnant people gave me all kinds of advice, most of it unasked for and totally disregarded since. However, nobody once told me that being a parent was the absolute best and most worthwhile thing one could possibly do with one's life. I don't want to define myself by my parenthood but I have turned into a total cliché - I love being a mother and I don't care who knows it.

Giveaway Winners!

2011-09-12T19:54:00.000+01:00

My run of bad luck with technology seems to be continuing, as my camera now appears to be on the blink.

However, I digress.

I popped all the entries from my blog, twitter and facebook into a hat and the winners are...

Lucy Nation wins the perfume.

Lina Sofia wins the hat.

Congratulations ladies! If you can email me your addresses to my spam filter email address which is nietzscheanfish at hotmail dot com then I will send them off post haste.

In answer to the queries about the gloves, yes they are very small. I am supposing that the fact that they don't fit anyone might well be fate telling me to keep them, hurrah!

I have had a very messy and paint-filled weekend, which I will post about shortly.

Operation Get Rid Of Stuff (or in other words, giveaway time)

2011-09-02T21:04:00.005+01:00

I've been quite busy the last few weeks.

Our house is a bit of an ongoing project. We bought it in a state of minor dilapidation about 6 years ago and have been patching it up ever so slowly as and when funds allow us to. As is quite often the way with houses, most of it now looks moderately presentable to the public. The only room left to tackle at least partially was our bedroom. I kid you not, I have had nightmares about being swallowed alive by this room. It was dark, forbidding, mouldy, damp and generally ugly. It had no storage options and was a permanent bombsite as clothes were piled haphazardly over any available surface.I was completely fed up with it and generally stamped my foot until David agreed we could redecorate.

So it has gone from looking a bit like this (which is a rather flattering depiction thanks to the flash on my camera)....

... to a bit like this.

Hurrah for pretty Laura Ashley wallpaper on half price offer!

We are still only halfway there with it but most of the hard work has now been completed and I can sleep soundly again.

Our bedroom isn't the only thing that has been changing colour. I did get round to colouring my hair again, but for a bit of a change I've opted for a darker red than usual (mainly because Superdrug own brand hair dye was on 2 packs for a fiver and I'm a cheapskate) which meant I didn't have to pre-lighten. So I still haven't braved the B4 Colour stuff. Maybe next time I'll give it a whirl.

(pink 80s Laura Ashley dress via eBay, green spotty cardigan from New Look)

As we had to empty our bedroom in order to start decorating it has given me the opportunity to wade through the piles of useless crap I own and work out what I actually should look at getting rid of in one form or another. There are bin liners of stuff to go to charity, suitcases of things to eBay and then a few things which perhaps one of you may enjoy.

Without further ado, welcome to the Up Toon Girl Giveaway.

I present for your delection and delight three (possibly) glorious prizes.

Firstly, a pair of perforated ivory kid leather gloves, size small. I bought these for a couple of pounds at a junk fair a few years ago and still haven't worn them so realistically I'm probably not going to miss them, even though they are rather lovely.

Secondly, a half full bottle of V by Valentino perfume. I used to love this perfume and wore it every day... right up until I became pregnant with Rosie and found that it just didn't smell the same any more. I was hoping that once I'd had her my body chemistry would settle back down again but no, it just isn't the same as it used to be. I feel slightly sad about this. It's been stored correctly out of light so hopefully someone out there might love it as much as I used to.

Last but certainly not least, a green tartan/plaid/check fascinator hat. This is a similar story to the gloves. It is lovely but I still haven't worn it. I think this might be because I bought another one very similar at the same time which does get regular outings.

Rules to enter are pretty simple:

1) You must be a follower to enter.

2) Leave me a comment telling me which item you'd like to win and where you would like to wear it to (I'm nosy, so shoot me!)

3) Entries are open to all, apart from the perfume which I have to restrict to UK followers only.

4) Giveaway closes next Friday, 9th September. I will choose the winners next weekend. I would really appreciate it if you all assisted me in getting rid of my stuff.

I leave you with this advert for the new Westfield in East London. I've never been to a Westfield shopping centre but I did quite like looking at the fashions in this video.

I Have A Confession To Make...

2011-08-12T21:58:00.002+01:00

I'm not really a brunette.

Or at least, I don't think I am.

Every year for at least the last 15 years I've swung wildly between being a "sensible" shade of dark brown and a much more interesting yet vastly higher maintenance copper colour. I just feel more like a redhead when it's cold. And today I am feeling cold. The weather is crap, I'm already dressing like it's autumn and people are starting to mutter about Christmas - therefore I am itching to break open the red hair dye again.

I usually have to bleach the hell out of it every September to get red of the dark brown and get it to take the red but I thought that this year I might try this Colour B4 stuff that seems to be floating around. Has anyone tried it? Apparently it smells revolting but if it is kinder to my poor abused follicles then I suppose it is probably worth it.

In other news, we made chocolate brownies.

Curry, Wine And Cheap Laughs

2011-08-01T14:41:00.005+01:00

I went out on Friday night.

It was my very good friend Becky's birthday at the weekend so I was back over in Carlisle for a curry and a boogie. Accompanied by David and my little brother Jim we joined Becky for a meal out before suffering some very bad kareoke miming.

(Green "Floridita" dress from Dorothy Perkins)

Yes Heather, I did buy that dress.

Yesterday Rosie and I went to Bitts Park and played in the interactive water sprinker things. We got a bit wet, but never mind.

Today I Shall Be Mostly Talking About....

2011-07-28T00:49:00.002+01:00

... Bags.

Karina's Bags in fact.

I am posting this to celebrate the latest addition to my handbag harem.

Isn't it beautiful?

I now have *cough* six handbags made by Karina and David is starting to worry that he will be ousted from the bedroom before long as all available space is being slowly taken over by my bags.

Karina hand makes all of her bags using the most beautiful leathers, suedes, vintage scarves and antique buttons. She lives in a little house in Newcastle which is basically an Aladdin's Cave of wonderful stuff, piled high with remnants of original 30s fabric, scraps of fur, vintage brass bag frames, Art Deco buttons and just piles and piles of leather in every colour and finish imaginable. The smell is just fantastic (I am not a leather fetishist, honest). What I especially love about each of her handbags is that they are absolutely unique and individual because of the materials and trimmings she uses. There will never be another one. Despite the bespoke nature of her work and the fact that her bags have been sold all over the world, she somehow keeps her prices within my grasping reach. I'd rather have a bag like hers than a Radley, any day of the week. Obviously she's a massive enabler (have I been watching too much House?) and keeps insisting on making pretty bags that I want very much.

We share a similar affliction in that our husbands are both obsessed by the band Half Man Half Biscuit and keep subjecting their long suffering wives to obscure jokes about Joy Division Oven Gloves.

I am going to use my superb new bag this weekend when I go out for my friend Becky's birthday. It is sat on my knee right now and I am very tempted to stroke it, a bit like an evil cat.

Acquisition makes me happy.

All images in this post courtesy and copyright Karinas Bags

Home Alone

2011-07-26T21:32:00.002+01:00

Hello blog! I am afraid I am not an incredibly prolific writer by the looks of things. In fact, I seem to have doubled the number of followers I had last time I posted. which appears to have been a while ago. Sorry about that.

I decided tonight that I would have to document a very rare event - I have the house completely to myself.

This really does happen once in a blue moon. David is away with work in Stratford upon Avon this week and Rosie Posy is in Cumbria being spoilt rotten by my mum. So I went a bit giddy with the idea of freedom and have done all the things I really can't justify or manage when I am being a responsible grown up person.

So, firstly I went on a nice long bike ride with Emily.

(green floral dress from my grandma's wardrobe, yellow cardigan from charity shop)

Please excuse the crazy hair - it has not been nice weather in Geordieland recently!

Emily is my pride and joy. I love her so much I won't even let her live in the shed (which is where David says she really ought to be) in case some nasty man takes a shine to her. So she stays in my front room and simultaneously entertains Rosemary/terrifies the cats/irritates my husband.

I didn't really have a destination in mind when I went out but just started pedalling. I am lucky in that the Hadrian's Cycleway route is literally at the end of my street, so weaving in and out of smelly traffic really isn't a problem if one fancies a nice gentle ride somewhere. I went into a very relaxing meditative trance and only came to when I realised I'd cycled 7 miles and was almost in the city centre. Seeing as I'd only brought my back door key with me and didn't even have a pound for a cup of tea I thought I'd better come back again, only pausing to help a hapless Australian who was determined to walk Hadrian's Wall but had unfortunately started out in the wrong direction.

Seeing as I was cooking for myself and myself alone this evening I have gorged myself on Moules Marinieres with crusty bread and a lovely salad. Seriously, is there anything better than lounging around in your smalls with garlic butter dribbling down your chin and a cold glass of wine in your hand? I think not.

I am now going to set my hair in a needlessly elaborate fashion and have a very hot bath. And then go to bed and starfish just because I can.

2011-07-07T20:47:00.002+01:00

I have a dilemma.

Don't know about you but I think that as far as dilemmas go, it's pretty fabulous. The very last size 14 is currently being held for me at Dorothy Perkins in the Metrocentre. However, the cost is exactly the same amount as our weekly food budget.

Hmmmmmm.

Home Sweet Home

2011-07-01T22:40:00.002+01:00

Oh, I've been a bit quiet for the past few weeks haven't I?

I'm afraid we've all been dropping like flies in Up Toon Girl Land and so I haven't had much chance to do interesting things. Happily we are feeling better now. I even managed to buy myself a pretty new bra and knickers set yesterday.

(Floozie underwear set from Debenhams)

I am currently staying with my parents at their house in Cumbria, which is actually where I was born and bred. It's always a wrench to leave Cumbria and one day (when I win that elusive lottery jackpot) I will be able to afford a house here. I feel very sad that I can't give Rosemary the kind of childhood I had - a cross between Swallows and Amazons and Just William. Always outside, building dens, running amok in the woods, swimming in rivers, cycling 8 miles to the nearest village shop because we wanted an ice cream, sailing on the lakes... every day we'd come home filthy and exhausted but supremely content.

We currently live in a lovely little village on the outskirts of Newcastle but it just doesn't have a patch on "home" and I would move back in a heartbeat.

Ho hum.

A Splash In The Sea

2011-06-04T14:45:00.003+01:00

I think almost the whole of May was a complete washout, weather-wise. It was drizzly, incredibly windy and just generally pretty unpleasant to be out and about in.

However I have high hopes for June based on what we've had so far. It was an absolute scorcher on Thursday which was completely wasted due to waiting for Rosemary travelling back up from Yorkshire with her grandparents and I was determined that we were going to get out and do something on Friday to compensate. My mum was missing her demented toddling granddaughter so we arranged for her and my sister Cerian to come over for a day out and about.

So what should we do? The beach? The beach! Yes, let's go to the beach! Where else would you possibly choose on such a glorious sunny day! OK it's the North Sea (which never gets above 3 degrees even in the height of summer) and OK, it's North Tyneside rather than the Riviera but Geordies know how to have fun in the sun as well as anyone else. Possibly more so, considering how little of it we see here.

First stop - a greasy cafe in Tynemouth for that all important tea fix.

Next stop - the beach!

(green floral dress found in my grandma's wardrobe, primrose yellow cardigan from a charity shop, mustard belt from eBay)

Tonight we are having a barbecue, although I'm sad to report that it is rather overcast and cool today so perhaps our supper will be saved from an untimely charcoal demise.

A Busy Weekend

2011-05-30T21:45:00.007+01:00

Spring Bank Holiday saw myself, David and the small shouty madam head down to Yorkshire for a weekend of visitations.

On Thursday we started with the in-laws, who immediately fell upon Rosemary and carted her off to go and look at some horses. This meant I could enjoy my first hot cup of tea in several weeks. I have stocked up on hot cups of tea deliberately in the last few days as who knows when the next opportunity will come around.

The next day saw us meeting an old friend for lunch and catching up - rather a lot of catching up as I hadn't been in contact with her for 13 years and only randomly found her again a month ago through the wonder that is Facebook. As a treat she had bought us tickets for the House Of Rose And Brown's vintage fashion show in Saltaire, where I promptly bought two new hats. Oh dear. We are trying ever so hard to be less profligate with money and I had given myself a strict allowance before we went in. This meant I only had enough funds for one delicious cocktail but I think the hats were worth it..

On Saturday we had the loveliest day out in Skipton seeing Andy and his wife Heather who we don't get to meet nearly often enough. Andy was David's Best Man at our wedding but due to various combinations of distance, jobs, money and circumstances I hadn't seen either of them for almost two years. So a nice day out together was definitely in order, particularly as Heather had never met Rosemary despite making her several beautiful blankets as gifts.

We had a nice lunch out before walking along the canal towpath to look at the ducks.

(floral raincoat from charity shop, red polkadot shirtdress from Laura Ashley via Ebay)

Rosemary insisted on walking it All By Herself (albeit with some assistance from David) and almost jumped in the canal several times due to the overwhelming excitement of seeing ducks. It was an incredibly windy day, and although my hair had started off passably neat, by the time we all decided that hot chocolate was in order it resembled a haystack.

Heather introduced me to the most marvellous shop called Apothecary, which she insisted I would love on sight. She was absolutely right, I did. Any shop that has a staff uniform of black and white polka dotty tea dresses has to be doing something right in my book. Apothecary sells all manner of incredibly tempting goodies, from traditional grooming sets complete with boar bristle shaving brushes to the sweetest brooches and hair accessories. Almost the best thing about the shop is the décor. Heather reliably informs me that the wallpaper in the shop is from Laura Ashley and I am now ever so tempted to paper our bedroom in it.

(Oriental Garden wallpaper in duck egg from Laura Ashley)

Apothecary also stocked the most beautiful tin tea set in the children's section. When we got back from Skipton I immediately dragged Mother-In-Law over to the computer to show her and she fell in love with it on sight. Rosemary now has a fabulous tin tea set winging its merry way to her, courtesy of Grandma. Thanks Grandma!

I have made a mental note to make sure I win the lottery before visiting Apothecary again.

Sunday saw Mother-In-Law and I head to the vintage fair held at Cedar Court Hotel just outside of Huddersfield. This is not to be confused with Judy's Affordable Vintage Fairs, who I fell out with a long time ago due to a plethora of bad 80s tat being flogged to 12 year old idiots at £40 a pop. This one was much more to my taste. There were some really good quality stalls there, manned by very friendly vendors who weren't taking the proverbial with their prices. We did several circuits of the stalls thinking very carefully about what we fancied and I had almost bought some gloves. Marcel wave clips and a pair of carved plastic earrings before spying exactly what I wanted.. I am very glad that for once I restrained myself from making crazy impulse purchases. One of the stalls was held by the lovely girls at 20th Century Foxy who were trying to thin out their stock a bit and had brought along a selection of gorgeous items. The first thing I saw was a Tara Starlet dress that I had been lusting after for several months but sold out in my size almost immediately.

("Fifties frock" by Tara Starlet via 20th Century Foxy)

This dress and I were fated to meet as it was the only sample, in my size and priced at £50 cash price as opposed to £90 at Tara Starlet. Having exactly £50 in my wallet was obviously a sign from God that I was meant to buy it then and there.

Luckily David agreed with me. I don't have the heart to tell him that Tara Starlet have now brought out a delicious ice cream pale yellow version which is just as scrummy.

I wore it last night on my last social outing of the weekend, visiting one of my oldest friends Liz. She cooked a delicious supper for us and we then proceeded to consume rather a lot of wine and play cards into the early hours.

I am now counting down the hours until the in-laws bring my Rosemary back home. At 14 months old she is definitely old enough now for staying over at Grandma's and I know for a fact that she is happy as Larry without me but God I miss her already. Roll on Thursday.