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Wednesday 29 October 2014

Family time and bridesmaid shopping

Yesterday, I joined a group of ladies for a what promised to be a civilised shopping trip to the retail mecca known as Meadowhall, just outside Sheffield. The brief: to head out into the aforementioned mecca in search of four purple bridesmaid dresses for four beautiful girls. The group: My lovely mother-in-law, two sister-in-laws and one sister-in-law-to-be, and four beautiful girls, aged between six and (almost!) thirteen.

At half-term. In a HUGE shopping mall.

It was really rather tiring almost immediately, mainly because our search was fruitless for the first hour or so, and we needed lunch; however, things soon picked up when we spotted some very acceptable dresses by John Rocha - and they were purple!

Cue fitting room antics, 'oohs' and 'ahhs', and excited clapping from the bride-to-be..

And finally, we walked away with not only three of the four dresses needed, but when we got to the till we discovered that the dresses were on sale for 75% OFF.

75%!!

What a bargain. Smiles all round, high fives, and then a swift trip to a certain fast food outlet for a quick food stop, before hitting the LEGO store, the Disney store, Claire's Accessories, Lush and TK Maxx, and pausing for one of the beautiful girlies to have a bounce on the trampoline bungee. As you do.

We had left before 4pm, having had more than enough of the shops, and feeling pretty exhausted!

It is days like that, though, that can give you some of the nicest memories; though stressful at the time, it's so important to spend those hours together, with a wedding in sight. My nieces won't be this age for long, and I just adore them, all of them. I love that they want to hold my hands, and show me what they've bought with their pocket money. I love that I was able to buy my gorgeous almost-teenage niece a birthday present that she actually wanted. And I love that I got to be part of the trip, to be one of the ladies that shop.

Do you enjoy shopping? Do you crave the rush of that new purchase, or run screaming from anything retail-related? I'd love to know.


Monday 27 October 2014

Shaking off the sad face



A very quick post to say how excited I was at just how effectively some of my favourite comedy episodes - combined with eight spoonfuls of Ben & Jerry's 'Joy to the Swirled' ice cream (yes, I did count!), a couple of decent cups of tea, a roaring fire, my cosy slipper socks and a brand new home and interiors magazine - have shaken off my slightly sad and miserable mood. I always miss my husband dreadfully when he has to go away for work, and it invariably takes me a little while to adjust to the quiet, especially on the first day. 

Cue 'Miranda'. 

For those who haven't seen it, please watch it. For those who have and didn't like it, fair play, it's probably not everyone's cup of Earl Grey. However, for me, someone who adores silliness, enjoys the ridiculous and can relate to 'not quite fitting in', this is the perfect cure for melancholy. Miranda, I salute you; I just love you. 'Such fun!'

What do you do to get out of a grump? I'd love to know.