Home Bargains.

It was a beautiful day on Sunday here in sunny Ayrshire.  Imagine that, in February!  The light was so good that it sent me on a mission to take a pile of photos to save for future posts - and then I ran out - when the sun was still out (bummer!)  So, while contemplating, I was looking out my kitchen window and spotted Millie (free cat), rooting around in the bamboo (free cutting) and these sights were framed by my cucumber and melon seeds (proper bargain...!), and my 10p tin plant pot.  Get the theme yet?  Home Bargains!

This was 2ft tall when we got it about 5 years ago.  Now it's 4 times the size and is my favourite garden plant. I love it. Thank you Gordon my gardener friend! 

Introducing Millie the family cat.  We've had her for five years, having got her when she was just 6 months old.  A terror, but we love her anyway!  Again, free to a good home so thank you Sarah!  (I hope Millie agrees that it's a great home, not just a good one!)

Who knew you could grow melons in a cold climate?? I got these, plus cucumber seeds (with propogators) for just £1.50 each.  And they are yet to die (just don't look too closely at the back row...)!

6 precious cucumber seedlings.  I think I may love them more than my family, so besotted am I... (and very wrong to say such a thing...!)

TKMaxx for 10p.  Need I say more.

This is one of my kitchen shelves.  Look up the top and admire my £3 picture, some of my collection of monks bought all over the place (read, can't remember where), and some of our inherited china.  Love this shelf.

Now, I paid big bucks for this by my standards.  Robbie was aghast!  It was in the bargain bin in Next because the glass was missing.  £3.  I told ya.

Not everybody will get this, but I know I'm quirky so it's fine!  Two silver spoons, one tablespoon and one serving spoon.  Drumroll please.  10p each. They need a bit of a clean and a polish (as if!!) but I just love em.  So pretty. 

See you soon!

Wendy x

Swoon for Monsoon....!

I had such a lovely day yesterday, just loooovely.  First, I made it through a morning at work without completely exhausting myself (even though we had a crisis, a dent in a head, and a trip to the docs for one of the little uns, poor thing...)  By the way, I run a Nursery!

Then I had a friend and her gorgeous baby come for lunch, which was fab despite the fact she had to sit in a dirty pit of a house and eat from my empty cupboards... A true friend, never complained once!

And on top of all that I had time to pop into my favourite charity shop, and did I get some gorgeous new things?  You bet!  Photos to follow very soon of my 2 new scarves (one black with little butterflies and one emerald green), a David Emanuel coral pink top and a brand new, with tags, New Look cardigan that was originally £15 and I got it for 2.  If I could have skipped out the shop I would!

Today though.... Awful.  I overdid it at work, (though to be fair I think I maybe did a bit too much yesterday, looking back...) took to my bed to lie still for four hours, and now, at 9pm I'm finally able to use my hand.  Hate that my health is so bad just now.  Makes me miserable.

But not to worry, let's take a look at another of my latest acquisitions that barely dented my housekeeping!

One of the things I love about eBay is when someone takes rubbish pictures so gets no bids til I come along and take a chance!  This was 99p.  I know!  I can promise that the minute the weather stops me needing to wear thermals under my jeans, I'll be wearing this beauty.  It's, again, from Monsoon... I notice a theme starting, and I just can't help it because I absolutely love Monsoon stuff so sniff it out whenever I can.

It's very pale blue, a perfect length for me, nice and long, but not trailing 3feet behind me... (am only 4'11"...)  I think this skirt will go with just about anything so I know it'll be a regular wardrobe staple.

Followed neatly on by....

I'M GUTTED!  This was also an "eBay 99", is Monsoon, the most gorgeous deep burgundy, has jingly bits and is my dream skirt, seriously.  Oh to be 8 foot tall.... cos it's too big.  NOT FAIR!

I know I should re-auction it, but I'm going to look at it for a while beforehand cos it's so blindingly blummin beautiful.

Be back soon!

Wendy

It's ridiculopothy!

So, as I said in my last post, the clothes that I've bought recently are all part of my new wardrobe.  The wardrobe that will feel and look fab, just in time for the better weather (well hopefully...) and me being fully recovered and feeling fit again.  I'm banking on this.  The surgery I'm getting is for cervical ridiculopothy, to give it its official name, and it has an 80% success rate.  Nothing to worry about... !

I've had incredible luck in the charity shops these last few months actually.  I can't believe some of the gorgeous clothes I've got for literally pennies.  Who in their right minds sells a beautiful silk monsoon skirt?  Even if it didn't fit I'd keep it just because it's so lovely!  This isn't good is it?  I wonder if I'll run out of wardrobe space soon...

For goodness sake how gorgeous is this?  I got it off eBay for £2.50 and the photos don't do it justice I'm afraid.  It's duck egg blue silk and is a lovely fit, woo hoo!  It sits on the waist and has a bit of a fifties feel.  Definately for summer though as it befits bare legs, sandals and a summery strappy top.  Can't wait.  Might just save it for Paris...!

And now onto my £1 bargain from my local Cancer Support shop.  I always look through the bargain rail, rarely finding anything as this shop doesn't move its stock very quickly and doesn't often have anything I fancy.  Couldn't resist this though as I liked the detail and had a feeling it would become a bit of a staple, with jeans, which are a very regular part of my wardrobe!

It's George from Asda, a size 8 and in excellent condition.  I've already worn it out for lunch and, being quite a loose fit it worked very well in hiding my expanding tummy!

Apologies for the poor focus.  Maybe, as time goes on with this little blog, I might get better at taking photos.  Either that or I could get my youngest to take them, seeing as she enjoys it and is doing it at school this year.  Wish I'd already thought of that!

So back to work tomorrow.  But first I suppose I should fold all the washing I've ignored all weekend!

Be back soon!

Wendy

A slipped disc and a snuggly cardi

Well this has taken much longer than I expected... What with a slightly painful slipped disc in my neck (understatement of the century!), and a total lack of energy due to a dose of painkillers that would knock out an elephant... taking photos has taken a bit of a backseat this month in favour of major tele time in front of hoarders, mad men and grey's anatomy.  Life's not all bad!

My neck problem's been ongoing for seventeen months now (!) and as a result I've seen major changes.  For starters, I've put on weight for the first time in my life (very unhappy about that one),  I've got less energy than I've ever had, I'm in chronic pain all day every day, I've stopped cooking, I do less housework, I go out less, I sleep more and I shop less.  Well that's a good one I suppose!

But the good thing is I've slowed down and when I do get a bargain I love it all the more!  These clothes by the way are my "new wardrobe".  I see myself wearing all this lovely stuff when I'm feeling better and am back on my feet again.  I cannot wait.

So, first of all my goijus Amarylis.  This has brought me no end of joy since I got it.  For Free.  It has given me two beautiful flowers and has been in both my living room and bedroom, giving me so much pleasure every day.  Just a shame I'm rubbish at taking pics and one of them has turned out yellow!

The other fab bargain I want to share is my chunky knit grey River Island cardigan.  This is rarely off my back.  I get very cold when I'm sitting around eating double deckers (instead of looking after my business and getting my emails read...)  I wear it with a super long scarf wound round me nineteen times, and oh my, tis lovely and warm.

Now down to business.  This little beauty cost me £2.00 in my most favourite charity shop, the Ayrshire Hospice.

Well that will do for now.  Am working tomorrow so need my beauty sleep, which will be followed by my early morning cuppa and weetabix in bed, courtesy of my lovely, long suffering hubby.

Be back soon!

Wendy x