Time for some Honesty...

 I  have been an awful blogger lately. I have had no new outfits to post, i have not been replying to emails or comments and i haven't been swinging by or linking up to any of your wonderful blogs. 

For this i sincerely apologies! I love the blogging community, it feels like a protective wonderfully lovely bubble against the "real" world. 

A few of you may remember i mentioned some genuine stress and anxiety a couple of weeks ago, but didn't say why. So i thought i would unveil the reasons behind my cryptic comments and talk to you all about my current "real life" situation in all its crappiness as i just can't fake enthusiasm today. Life has worn me down.

 For those of you who have been with me from the beginning you may recall (or not, so i shall tell you) that my husband ,Paul and I ran a business together since the beginning 6 and a half years ago, just think of the film Jerry Maguire and that was kind of how we properly got together and started the business but in a less dramatised way,lol!

We have had good time (hitting one million turnover, winning Young Entrepreneur of the year, generally working together) and we've had very bad times (huge debts, people stealing and back stabbing, recession) Its been more tough than good, but we plodded on. 

Then the dreaded recession hit and we struggled on through until we had 3 customers go into liquidation consecutively leaving an outstanding total bill owed to us for over £100,000. 

We tried and tried to recover but we couldn't. 

So this is me telling you that yep, life is pretty shitty right now (please excuse my cuss words but sometimes an expletive in this condition are necessary, in real life i am actually cursing like a trooper)

We are closing down our business which is so hard, for many reasons (practicality, nostalgia, necessity)

and we are having an awful time doing it.

Seeing as I'm being totally honest here i will also say, we may be loosing our house, some belongings and cars.  Its an awful situation to be in.

We have never been a flash couple driving round in expensive cars (i drive a little mazda, which i luff!) or in fancy houses and we don't spend a lot of money on anything, we have not had a holiday in over 3 years and we don't own anything super expensive. I hope you all know that about me, i'm actually quite  a cheapskate!

So our personal lives are amidst the mess that goes hand in hand with the business. We are currently on the roller-coaster and, in all honesty i want to get off. It has been an atrocious week of no luck and things constantly going wrong even when you thought they couldn't possibly.

 I am running off about 3 hours sleep a night and getting up to work harder than i ever knew i could. On one hand i think to myself "Rachel you are made of tough stuff, keep going" on the other hand i am in a mess on the floor crying my eyes out. 

I am super grateful to the lovely ladies i work with in my "new" job (i started it in October and had been running 2 jobs for a while there) for being supportive and flexible and just generally making me laugh when i thought i had forgotten how, and our dear friends Estelle and Dean for giving us so much help and just generally being wonderful friends...salt of the earth, you guys!

I know this isn't really my normal post type but i think i really felt the need to vent and this is my only place i guess. I also wanted to offer up an explanation as to why posts may be sporadic in the next few weeks. I may still manage it all as i actually find it a wonderful distraction from the crappy reality right now, but it may not be on regular days. I have a wonderful Sponsor Spotlight coming up for you soon and a beautiful set of photos my husband took which will be coming tomorrow.

So if you could all bear with me through this tricky time, i am *hoping* to be back in a happy, bubbly, fun place on the blog and in real life, soon.

If you're wondering these photos were actually from a sponsored post i did over at the lovely Marisa's last week. They are from the snowy time we had a couple of weeks ago. I am completely loving polka dots right now. Even in times of stress i still do like a nice polka-dotty number ;-)
Thank you for listening to my stressy rambles, when i get emails /comments /tweets through it really still does make me smile and feels so good to have you all, my extended friends from across the globe.

 Dress: Ebay 

Chambray Shirt: Next

Tights: Matalan

Red Clogs: Lotta From Stockholm

Brooch: Vintage

Jacket: River Island

Biker Jacket pt3: Office Wear

Today ladies i thought i would bring you part 3 of this little series

Biker Jacket Pt : Office Wear

When i received this jacket i knew i wanted to try as many different ways to style it and for the office was one style i wanted to try.

 I threw on some smart tailored trousers and a nice blush sweater and scarf, donned my loafers and felt smart!  Don't get me wrong if you have a very strict dress code this may not be exactly the right thing to wear, but for me its smart and comfy! I really like the idea of a pencil skirt and the jacket to....note to self must try this!

 Hubby always laughs at these trousers and suggests a game of chess every.single.time...lol.

If you would like a little look at previous styling check Part 1 & Part 2

(just for the record i had big old ski socks in my bag;-)

One things for sure i am still  totally in love with jacket!

Jacket: c/o Next

Sweater/trousers: Next

Scarf: Matalan

Shoes: Tesco

Bag: New Look

Introducing MissesDressy

I was recently introduced to MissesDressy and when i'm introduced to a good thing, i like to pass on the word to you girls!
MissesDressy was launched in 2008 with a goal to provide high fashion and designer names to women and teens.
I was so surprised when i clicked on the website (and then clicked again and then some more) at the range they sell. If you are looking for any type of occasion dress they have it! From wedding prom, ball gowns and smart day dresses.. the list goes on. 
Here's a few i have been partial to cyber stalking lately:

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6. 

1,2 and 3 are the wonderful Eva Franco who i think has some gorgeous retro/vintage inspired fabulous designs which i am completely head over heels for!  The blue wrap dress looks gorgeous too and the white with black belt looks very Zooey Deschanel don't you think?

I've also gone slightly cray-cray for beauty! Just need another wedding ... mmmm, that would be coooool.

So if you have a special occasion coming up definitely Check them out! 

I do like to share the dresses love!;-)

Familiar Formula

Its the weekend ladies... doesnt that feel good!!
I do have a crap ton of work to be getting on with which is a little bit rubbish, but i have every intention of eating and drinking and attempting to be merry this week! Are you up to anything nice this weekend?

I am in need of a bit of comfort lately, and when i am in need of that i always seek out my big thick sweaters, corduroy and thick tights! 

Apparently i'm on a bit of a teal, grey and pink kick! I didn't even realise when i put this together that it had the exact same colour scheme as this post.. teal and pink must be floating around my sub conscious right now, not that i mind, i really love the little duo, they look so pleasant together.

Thank you all for your comments on my last post regarding stress. I am going to take up your advice ladies i think! Add to that a BIG glass of vino and i should me as mellow as can be this weekend ;-)

 Do you have a favourite colour scheme? 

This pink and teal is a rather refreshing break from my normal blue/red/mustard combo's, which are also a favourite go to of mine!

Skirt: Next

Sweater & Tights: Matalan

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

All old

Wishing you a lovely weekend ladies!