Boot lusting.. what my feet are craving this Autumn.

The weather is pretty grim out there as I sit at my desk tapping away.  The rain is coming down in sheets.  Despite that, Autumn is such a gorgeous time of year.  I love kicking through leaf piles as I stroll along.  There's something so fun and childlike about kicking crunchy leaves.  I love doing it with the boys too!

Autumn and winter is a time for boots.  OK, if I'm honest, about 10 months of the year in the UK is boot time.. but they are essential at this time of year.  For years and years I have been a calf to knee height boot devote.  However, over the last year I have definitely found love for ankle boots.  I'm not a total convert, I still love my knee highs.  I have a foot in both camps, as it were, just not at the same time, I don't think even I could get away with that as a "look".

Ankle boots are everywhere.  They vary from cheap as chips (£8 in Primarni - just how do they do that?  Not a good thought) to crazy money.  There's quite a few in the middle price range though. The "more than I'd normally pay but these will last me a few seasons and the quality is great" range.

As I'm sure you already know, I recently became a consultant with Me&i, the ethical Swedish clothing company.  When they announced a few weeks ago that they were bringing out an ankle boot, I'll admit I did a happy dance.  This isn't just any ankle boot.  It's a very on trend Chelsea wedge boot with a beautiful and Autumnal flash of cayenne elastic to make them easy to slip on and off (brilliant for the school run!).

Well, today my friends, these boots are available for sale.  All sales consultants are eagerly anticipating orders.  And most of them want them ourselves.  I know I do.  I do need (hehe) a pair of comfy and easy to slip on boots for the cold and yucky school runs so I'm going to put some money by this month and buy myself a pair as soon as I can.  If, unlike me, you aren't strapped for cash just now and you are in the market for a new pair of boots, I'd recommend these!  They are made in Portugal (known as one of the best places in the world for quality leather).  The leather is vegetable tanned which means it's as close to organic as you can get and, as with everything Me&i, they are ethically produced in a factory paying proper wages.  You can only buy the boots via a consultant, so if you are interested, let me know, I'm your gal! You can check out my facebook page for more info!

Esska Shoes Review

I love to discover new brands, especially clothing and footwear brands.  One such brand is Esska Shoes.

I was contacted by Esska a little while ago and asked if I would like to try a pair of shoes from their Autumn Winter collection.  It would have been madness for me to say no.  The trouble was, I then had to peruse their AW collection to choose a pair.  And believe me, it was NOT easy.  AT ALL.  In the end I plumped for a beautiful bronze pair of ankle boots in their Hoola style.

I had to wait a few weeks for the AW collection to arrive in the Esska office before my pair would be sent out and it felt like a long wait.  Every now and then I'd remember they would be on their way to me and I'd get a fizzle of excitement in my belly!!

Well, last week they arrived and boy, they did not disappoint!  Beautifully packaged and including a lovely canvas tote bag, they were desperate to hop onto my feet (they were, I asked them!!).

My worry was that they wouldn't be comfy.  I'm not really a heels person.  I'd love to be, but I always end up back in flats.  These boots have a heel on them.  Not too high, but a heel non the less.  I was very happy to find that they are comfy.  I wore them for an entire day and didn't feel the need to take them off - that's running around after two boys as well!

Esska describe their shoes as:

- Comfortable
- Practical
- Stylish & femminine
- Take you from day to night

Key features are:

- A double padded in-sock
- A rubber anti-slip sole
- Leather upper & lining
- A fun cotton bag

I have to agree with all points.  They are comfy.  They work for day and night I'm sure.  I've only worn them during the day so far but the next time I have an evening off I am building my outfit with them in mind!

Bronze Hoola Boots

These beautiful boots retail at £140 and can be bought via Esska themselves all from one of their stockists around the country (details here).

Linking up with Mummy's Got Style for Fashion Friday.

Sorting my skin out with Soap & Glory

I'm a long term fan of Soap & Glory products.  Their hand creams have been my go to favourites for years now (Hand Food and more recently, Endless Glove) and Scrub Your Nose In It is the best face scrub I've used in a long time.  They are staples in my life.

Despite this, I've never branched out to their other skincare ranges.  I decided recently that it was time to try something different for my skin.  I'm nearly 32 and with the birth of Felix, I've noticed some changes in my skin.  Not good ones.  It's probably down to late nights, early mornings, disturbed sleep and age, but I've noticed the fresh face disappearing (if it was ever there!) and wrinkles creeping in.  I think I'm quite lucky really, before now, there's been little sign of age on my skin, but it has to happen!

I've always looked after my skin, washed it twice a day, moisturised twice a day, always used an eye cream (since age 11!) but I thought it was time for something more appropriate.  I wasn't quite sure what to go for, but very helpfully, the folks at Soap & Glory provide an online Skin Diagnosis Tool which is very kind!

I have combination skin and am quite prone to break outs, so after completing the questions about my skin, I got a recommendation for quite a mixture of products, some to protect against ageing and some to prevent break outs.

After having a good read up about all the products recommended, I decided to plump for Make Yourself Youthful Super Serum (online reviews really raved about this but also mentioned it hadn't caused acne), Make Yourself Youthful Rejuvenating Eye Cream (need to combat those under eye wrinkles!), Beauty Sleep Accelerator (something to use at night to work hard on my poor skin!) and The Fab Pore Purifying Mask & Peel (something to use a few times a week against those spots).

I ordered my products through Boots and had them delivered to my local store.  On Friday they were ready for collection, so, very excitedly (me that is!) I dragged the boys into town to pick up my products.  The evening could't come quickly enough so I could get the boys in bed and drink wine try the products out.

I washed my face and used the mask first, leaving it on for a good 15 minutes so it could do it's work.  It was easy to apply and smelt nice.  I liked that it didn't go hard and uncomfortable whilst on and was quite easy to wash off.  My skin felt really soft and fresh afterwards.  I followed it with all of my new creams.

Every single cream smells lovely.  They all sink into my skin easily and none of them feel heavy.  You don't need to do loads of rubbing, just massage them in gently.

I've been using them for 4 days now and personally, I feel my skin is looking brighter.  I have had a few new spots appear, but that is most likely my skin just adjusting.  I've certainly not had a major break out or bad reaction.

Happily, the creams all work well under my make up so I don't have to wait ages after applying them before I can put my make up on.  This has been an issue with other creams in the past.

All in all, I'm very happy. Soap & Glory - I love you!

Doc love & rose print dresses.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in the '90s I had a pair of docs.  A beautiful, lovely, comfy pair of docs.  They were everything from my school shoes to the shoes I'd wear to the school disco.  I LOVED them.  My friends all had pairs and we all customised our boots with beads on the laces, painting and drawing pictures on them.  Even after I stopped wearing them I kept them.  Couldn't bear to part with them!! Even now, I think they are somewhere in a box at my parents house.. don't think they'd fit any more though!!

For years now, I've fancied getting myself another pair.  They've become a bit more popular again lately, and although that doesn't make me want them any more (I'd want them anyway!) it has pushed the desire to the front of my mind.  The trouble is, docs aren't cheap.. I tried bidding on a few second hand pairs on ebay but they were still going for £45+ and in the end, I decided it'd be nice just to have a brand new pair.  I found a style I loved the look of, sold some things on ebay and then last week, treated myself!!  I've not worn them out yet, I need to wear them in a bit yet before I step out on the school run or on a walk into town (need to make sure I'm comfy!!) but I'm excitedly planning outfits around them!!  Do you have any docs?  Love or loath them?

I do a lot of my clothes shopping in Asda at the moment when I pop in to buy food - I picked up this cute dress there this week for £6.  Can't resist a bargain!! Apologies for the quality of the photos but I have to operate as a stealth blogger these days, when the baby is napping, and I had to take the photos in semi darkness without the flash on!!!  Hopefully you get the idea though!

It's a nice dress, comfy and bright.  I need to tone up after having Felix though and at the moment it shows too many lumps and bumps for me to wear it without a cardi.  I'm planning to do the 30 Day Shred again once I've shifted this cold!

Linking up with all the cool fashion bloggers, Transatlantic Blonde, Rachel The Hat, The Pleated Poppy, Kiwi Women's Style & Not Dead Yet Style.

What my feet are lusting after...

I've got the shoehorn - and I don't mean the kind you use to help get shoes on to your feet!!! ;-)  No, I'm lusting after footwear.  Quite a selection too I might add...

It seems to me that the ankle boot and wedge heel are still very big this year and I have neither in my wardrobe!  These are the shoes I'm currently craving:

The Wedge Trainer:

These were a key trend this year and are set to stay around for a while yet.  Like many, I wasn't sure at first, but having seen a few people wearing them they have sneaked into my subconscious and I find myself wanting a pair.  This pair are rather gorgeous and I would LOVE it if they'd walk themselves to me.  I love the idea of something that looks quite lo-key, good for the weekend, yet gives you a little height.  Something for a shortie like me (at 5'1) is a bonus!

Image source: www.cloggs.co.uk

This pair are made by ASH and are currently available for £94.99 from cloggs.co.uk.

The Wedge Ankle Boot:

Continuing on a similar theme, the ankle boot combined with a wedge heel continues to be popular.  And yet... I don't own a pair!! I've found many I love, but these tick all my boxes. First of all, they are really different.  Most ankle boots are black or tan.  These are purple velveteen!!! Don't you love that word?  They are just asking to be stroked, aren't they!  I think these could happily be worn in the day.. As a Mummy I love having a nice pair of shoes or boots on, it always lifts my mood a little and makes me feel in control.  However, I know these would be fantastic for evenings out as well.  Fab for cold evenings as well!! A heel but nice warm feet.  Lovely!

Image source: www.cloggs.co.uk

This pair are made by Rocket Dog (a favourite brand of mine) and are availble for £34.99 (bargain!) from Cloggs.co.uk.

The Converse Boot:

I have LOVED Converse for a long time now.  I have two pairs I adore, a pair of high top Chuck Naylors and a gorgeous orange pair of Ox Slims.  I love and wear them both a lot.  However, I spotted this pair recently, and what can I say?  It was love at first sight!! There's not much to say about Converse really.. they are a fantastic every day shoe.  A little more trendy than the average trainer, comfy for the walk to school.  I love them!!

Image source: www.cloggs.co.uk

Converse are available in many places but I discovered these ones on cloggs.co.uk and they are currently £62.99.

The DM Boot:

Doctor Martens have been around for ages now (since the early '70s I think?) and in the '90s they were mega trendy with those who were into the grunge look.. and most of us were!  Baggy checked men's shirts, leggings and DM boots.  That's what I used to knock around in.  I think there are quite a few hardcore DM fans out there who wear them all the time, but fashion and style wise, it all went a bit quite on the "traditional" DM boot side of things (they do have quite an extensive range of other styles these days).  However, over the last year or so I think they've been making a bit of a come back and I'm ready for a pair in my boot collection again.  I've always fancied having a slightly taller pair and that's where these come in.  Plus, they are purple.  Something a bit different to black but still versatile enough to work with lots of other colours.  I think they'd look fantastic with skinny jeans or a mini skirt.  You know you're getting your money's worth with DMs as well.  My old pair were faithful for a long time!

Image source: www.cloggs.co.uk

These are available for £109.99 from cloggs.co.uk.

So.. there you go!! These are the the shoes I'm lusting after for my collection this year. I'm not sure how many of them I'll actually be lucky enough to own by the time the year is out, but one can hop!

**This is not a sponsored post, I'm just a big fan of footwear and use cloggs.co.uk all the time!***

What I wore Wednesday - chilled yet eye-catching mama

This is the first time I'm joining in with "What I wore Wednesday", a linky held by Transatlantic Blonde every Wednesday.  I've heard about it and seen others joining in with it for a long time and have often thought I should join in, but never got round to it.

You see.. the thing is, I take loads of photos.. but they are almost always of Ethan.  I am more often the one whielding the camera so there are plenty of photos of Ethan and Pete, but not so many of me.  Not unless I remember to ask Pete to take the camera for a bit!  So.. it's quite often hard for me to get photos of myself up for these types of linkys.  I'm going to try harder though.

This week I'm sharing an outfit from last week when Ethan and I were having a chilled out day with no big plans.  Just a relaxed comfortable outfit, something I could chase him about in easily.  It was my brand new "Birthday Boots" first outing as well.  Very comfy they are too...

Lovely comfy knee high brown leather boots by Cat.

My fave bracelets - troll beads, bangles etc...

Boots - CAT

Leggings - New Look

Animal print top - H&M (via charity shop for £1.50)

Waistcoat - Primark 

 Long sleeved top - New Look

Scarf - Monsoon

Don't forget to visit the lovely Transatlantic Blonde to see all the other lovely outfits linked up!