Casually Bright

 Sometimes, when the weather is super cold and i'm feeling super tired from a really busy week, i like to don a pair of comfy jeans and a cosy knit.  But just because its winter I still love to inject a bit of colour, heck i don't think i can dress in any other way. Bright's all year round are just what i looovve to do.

Do you like to wear bright's all year round?

 My mum and dad recently bought this lovely jumper (sweater) for my birthday, an boy do i love it. It has cute little pockets on the front and is such a fun colour and so cosy to wear.
And i guess i just can't help but add these booties to every outfit, i love how they just add a little sparkle to even a casual outfit. I'm not entirely sure how i'm going to feel about glittery sparkly boots after the holidays as i'm not normally a glittery person, the holidays must bring it out in me. But come january we shall see!

Jumper: Matalan (gift from the 'rents)

Jeans: Tesco (from the summer)

Shirt: Next

Boots: new Look

 We are in for a super busy weekend! Talyn my gorgeous step son has his birthday party on Sunday and i have a lot of wrapping and preparing for both birthday and Christmas to do! I have to admit, i am finally getting a little excited!!!

Have a Wonderful Weekend!!!

xox

Yippy Dada Giveaway!

I had the pleasure of receiving a wonderful baby changing bag recently from a brand called Yippy Dada.
I only wish  i had discovered these wonderful bags 2 years ago when i had first given birth to Neo.
You see, as a girly girl i do like a nice bag. I like it to be striking and beautiful but also able to hold the two tons of crap that i carry around with me on any given day. On the days i have Neo with me also, times the crap tonnage by two.
Even though we are out of the bottles and baby food stage, he still needs a fair bit. This boy goes through sooo many nappies and juice. We always carry spare clothes and we always have a good few toys, wet wipes and other toddler paraphernalia on hand too.
So a good bag is essential to me as a lady and a mama!

 Bella Baby Changing Bag in Red

When i first had Neo i bought myself a basic nappy changing bag, but then didn't really love it so i just opted for bigger normal bags and kinda muddled on through. The amount of times in a sleep deprived state i thought i'd lost my keys/purse/phone in the big old bags, it was pretty bad! The Yippy Dada makes things soooo much easier,with lots of compartments and sections and even a detachable key chain to attach your keys on to whilst they are in your bag (which in my eyes is genius!) this makes outtings with babies MUCH easier. 

This bag is definitely Neo approved ;-)

Since receiving the Yippy Dada bag i haven't stopped using it! Even on the days i'm without Neo i have been taking it out with me as it is just such a great size and so well organised. I choose the red as it goes with my personal taste and most of my outfits! But i also love their Highlander satchel and this funky Buttercup bag!

They also do a rather fabulous clutch range:

The bags come beautifully presented in a Yippy Dada box and each bag comes with a dust bag too.

The bag comes complete with:

• shoulder strap
• bottle insulator
• changing mat
• clothes pouch
• keyring attachment

I was stunned by the superb quality of the bag and i have to say, even as Neo grows out of nappies in the next 6 months i will still be using this bag as we potty train him and long after that!

And good news!!

The lovely people at Yippy Dada are giving Rachel The Hat readers the opportunity to win one of the fabulous bags! Not a mama, but know someone who is or expecting, well what a superb gift this could be for them?

All you have to do is:

*Be a Rachel The hat Follower and hop on over to Yippy Dada and tell us in the comments below what your favourite bag is

*LIKE Yippy Dada on their Facebook Page

*Follow Yippy Dada on Twitter Here

Simple right? Thats 3 entries per person. Please leave a separate comment for each to be included as a vote!

The winner will be drawn in 7 days from today

They have also set up a fantastic 20% discount for all Rachel The Hat readers: just enter RACHELTHEHAT at the checkout (valid till 20th december, just in time for a great Christmas   present!)

Good Luck!




This bag was given to me by Yippy Dada but all views are my own... and Neo's ;)

Joe Browns Dress

So remember the other day i mentioned I've been loving the 1940's era lately and also watched a string of Rachel McAdams films? Well that inevitably included The Notebook. In my honest opinion one of the best films, ever. And it may not be what the cool kids are watching (i never did make it in to the cool gang,haha!) but to me it is just such a beautiful story! I can never watch that film enough! And plus Noah is well, perfect.LOL!

A couple of weeks ago Joe Browns contacted me and asked if i would like to try something out of their new range. I shopped at Joe Browns quite a lot a couple of years ago and then they fell off my radar for a while, so i jumped at the chance to try something out once again.

The dress i chose was Soaring The Sky Jersey Dress. As soon as i saw it it reminded me of Allie Hamilton's in The Notebook in this scene :

You see? Beautiful huh?! (the dress that is ... stop looking at Ryan now ladies ;-)

The old school glam, vintage style with the red lip and the curled hair just add to the whole ambience of this beautiful outfit. She looks fab and the outfit was perfection. 

And so this was my take on it.

I actually wore this for my birthday on Monday (before i fell down the stairs), i wore it all day out for coffees and then out with hubby. It is a lovely stretchy comfy material with lots of give and lots of comfort, but in my eyes, that doesn't detract from the beauty of the dress! It was a complete pleasure to wear!

Dress and red vest underneath peeping through: Joe Browns

Tights: Primark

Cardi: River Island about 3 years ago

Shoes: New Look

I wanted to look a bit glam that day, being my birthday and all, so i added the pretty bow tights and the little red cardi for a ladylike vintage look.

I'm really looking forward to remixing this dress with some boots, socks and thick tights and a leather jacket, giving it an edgier look could be real fun! i think it will soon become a wardrobe staple for me, a dress i will definitely be going back to time and time again.

 Have you ever shopped at Joe Browns? I love their funky alternative dresses and tunics, I love that they have a lot of different things to what is on the high street.  I think i may be adding this and this to my Christmas list and leave Santa a note to say i've been extra good this year ;)

A Casual Day..

Happy 1st of December to you all! Hope you're bringing in this festive month in a lovely way today!

We went to Neo's nursery Christmas production, but unfortunately Neo cried the whole way through and wouldnt stay on the stage... don't think he's a natural performer lol!
Its also been rather eventful here as we've had our first proper cold snap with a beautiful covering of frost in the mornings. Driving in to work the fields look stunning. But with frost comes trouble! In my little town a major water pipe burst and we are on day 2 of no water! Its been crazy! Last night i did a late night dash to the shop to get water and supplies and today they have had truck loads of bottled water being delivered to each street effected... oh how i long for a nice hot shower! Not having it has really made me appreciate having it! If you have water today (which im guessing you will!) have a nice hot shower for me won't you?!

So today i bring you a reeeaally simple outfit. I'm not even sure if its blog worthy but i just really liked it's simplicity. I have been on a Rachel McAdams film run lately completely unintentionally , she just so  happens to be in a few of my favourite films (The Notebook, The Time Travellers Wife and The Family Stone). 

In The Time Travellers Wife , she wore this kind of outfit in the scene where he has been missing for a few weeks all over Christmas and she has to go to the gallery and tells Henry life doesn't stop now that he's back, and then they go on to win the lotto.  Its nothing special of an outfit but when i was watching it , i had one of those "hey i have items just like that" moments. And so the outfit was re created. I tried sourcing a pic of it but there wasn't a full length, best one was here where you can only see the top half. Hopefully  you get the idea.. have you seen The Time Travellers Wife?  

I don't wear this coat enough! Paul bought it for me a couple Christmases ago and i just love it, it twirls so beautifully and the tan colour goes with just about everything. My coat collection is getting a leetttle out of control. Anyone else have a thing for coats? No more additions this Christmas thats for sure!
Speaking of Christmas we are doing are Tree and decorations tomorrow! I can't wait! I love putting the dec's up! And the obligatory Elf watching will be taking place! Its my favourite :-) "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear". Me and Paul quote Elf lines all year round haha! our favourites are "he's an angry elf" and "Do you need a Hug" hahaha!!

 So, Monday marks the date of my 28th birthday.. crazy! i can't get over how quickly the past 28 years have gone, especially the past 10! I can remember my 18th like it was yesterday!! Compared to my 18th (which was a 4 day long celebration!), i think it will be just a quiet one this year with my nearest and dearest. Oh and cake of course!  I shall see you on the other side lovelies! where i shall me another digit older!

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins : last year

Coat: Gift from Paul, but from Next

Black Turtle neck: George at Asda

Mustard Jeans: Clothing at tesco