Trendy Thursday - More bargains!

The last thing I need is more clothing for the boys.. what can I say?  I'm addicted.  Especially if it's a bargain.

It's very hard for me to walk in to a charity shop and not buy something.  When you see items for 99p or less, it's even harder.  Last week I popped in to one of the shops in town and had a nosey at the children's rail.  They had a load of items for 99p and I ended up buying a pair of awesome unworn neon yellow trousers, a Diesel body warmer and a Where The Wild Things Are tshirt.

Charity Shop, eBay and Etsy bargains

I could tell the trousers hadn't been worn as the label was still attached.  The tshirt and the body warmer probably had been but hardly at all.  For so little money, how can you walk away from that?

I got a few more items in the post last week - when do I not?  We love Studio Ghibli in our house.  In particular, we love Spirited Away.  Ethan is quite obsessed with the character No Face from that film.  I found a baby vest on eBay with No Face printed on it.  Not only does it look cool, it fits in with my current love of monochrome.  Felix loves to watch Spirited Away as well and I know he recognises No Face.

I ordered a knitted crown from Etsy.  I've seen them on a few babies and think they look so cute.  With Felix's first birthday just around the corner I thought it was high time we got one.   It's going to look brilliant - I hope he'll keep it on!  He's getting better at wearing (accepting!) hats now.

Anyone else got a bargain this week?  Link up your kids fashion posts below. Don't forget that you can tweet me your links for a retweet.  Please also comment here and visit others who join in!

Loving statement legs!

In the first few weeks after having Felix, despite having lost my pregnancy weight, I didn't have the energy to get too excited about what I was wearing.  I was enjoying not being in maternity clothing and fitting back into old clothes, but that was about it.

Now, a few months in, I've got the shopping bug BAAAAAAD. I've not actually made it out on a proper clothes shop, but there's online shopping, my local Asda and the charity shops to keep me happy for now.  I've been buying quite a bit from H&M online because they stock current trends at such bargain prices and I'm usually pleased with the quality.  Plus, I get less guilt because I always get a few things for the children at the same time (like they need it!!).  I've also bought a few things from New Look online because they stock way more than my small local branch but I can get it delivered to them for free which is VERY handy.  All of these are great options for a busy mum!

So, what have I been buying?  Well, in particular at the moment I'm really enjoying patterned leggings and skinny jeans.  I bought a gorgeous pair of floral print jeans from New Look online last week in the sale.  A nice fit and the floral pattern is ontrend.  What I love about pattern is that it actually does the opposite of what you think it might.  Yes, they are statement, but the pattern also distracts from bulgy areas and often has a slimming affect on your silhouette!  Love it.

Medicated Follower of Fashion - Floral Jeans from New Look

Mustard vest top - H&M - current season

Grey Vest - H&M - last year

Floral Jeans - New Look

My number one faves at the moment are these fantastic monochrome leggings from H&M.  I total bargain at £7.99.  I could wear them every day of the week!  They are really slimming, look fantastic with oversize tops which are really in at the moment.  They work well with boots and flats.  I adore them.  My friend who is a huge Split Enz fan (heard of them?  Some of their members became Crowded House, like Neil Finn) says they remind her of the outfits they wore and I know what she means:

www.medicatedfollower.com - Split Enz image source: Google

Printed oversize top - George at Asda - current season

Cardigan - George at Asda - last year

Grey vest - H&M - last year

Leggings - H&M - current season

Moccis

It's nice to finally get round to writing up a style post that isn't about the boys!! Love them as I do, life is SO BUSY now.  Ethan still isn't full time at school, but as of today he's there until 1:45pm and actually, that's already giving me enough time to write this up!  So, hurrah!!

Just because, here's a few other outfits from the last few weeks.  I'm sorry for the image quality today, but all photos are taken from my phone...

www.medicatedfollower.com

Orange jeans - H&M -last year

Floral cardigan - Yumi - current

Green dress - Top Shop - old

Lace tights - New Look - last year

Duck print dress - Yumi - current

Denim jacket - New Look - last year

Floral maxi dress - New Look - last year

Linking up today with Transatlantic Blonde, The Pleated Poppy and on Friday, Rachel The Hat.

What I Wore Wednesday - New (old) boots

On Friday Ethan and I were in Nailsea visiting my parents and decided to trawl through all the charity shops there.  We found some fantastic bargains, but I think the best find was a pair of Wrangler boots for £4.99.  Suede and in excellent condition.  I had to snap them up!  They have a heel but are actually very comfortable to wear.  I wore them all afternoon on Sunday and they remained comfortable.

Dress - MOST by Smafolk via bebaboo.com

Necklace - Olivia Bib Necklace by Stella & Dot

Cardigan - New Look (last year)

Belt - New Look (old)

Leggings - Asda

Boots - Wrangler via charity shop

I really do love this dress.  It looks like a sack unless you wear a belt, but with a belt I love it.  The print on it is sooooo cute.  I think it worked really well with my new (old) boots.  I do think it needs a statement necklace thought!  I think this outfit is quite smart for a Sunday doing nothing much, but it was all very comfortable, so I was happy :)

As you can tell from my photos, I was "haunted" by Ethan the helpful ghost.  Bit freaky isn't it!  Must be because Halloween is around the corner.

Have you snagged yourself any good second hand bargains lately?  I couldn't do without charity shops these days - about the only place I can afford to shop!!

Linking up today with Transatlantic Blonde and The Pleated Poppy for WIWW.

Magpie Monday - Edward Lear

My charity shop stomping grounds a sparse at the moment.. after my previous BIG HAUL I have now hit a lull... I looked in heaps last week and the only thing I came away with was a copy of The Owl & The Pussy Cat by Edward Lear (it also includes Calico Pie).

For 25p I thought this was a bargain.  It's from 1988 and I love the illustrations.  If anything, it looks like it's older than that illustration wise (not condition wise, because it's in excellent condition).

I'm a big fan of Edward Lear.  I grew up reading his wacky limericks.  I am often found quoting:

There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, "It is just as I feared!--
Two Owls and a Hen, four larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard.

It sticks in my head and often when I have nothing else to think about, that comes out...

Who doesn't love The Owl & The Pussy Cat though?  Do you know there's a restaurant in Bristol called The Runcible Spoon?  It's a co-operative as well, so I really want to go there sometime soon.  I have a feeling that they have named that more to have a connection to The Good Life than Edward Lear though, as in one episode Tom tries to sell excess vegetables to a restaurant called The Runcible Spoon.. who knows, I'll ask them when I go..

I digress... I thought it was a lovely little book and Ethan is enjoying it very much!  Linking up with Liz of course for her fab linky :)

Magpie Monday - Boggle and Puffin Annual

Hello bargain buddies!! It's Monday, it's Magpie time!

I have two items I am very happy with and excited to share with you today, and they actually hail from the same year!  1974.  I wasn't born in 1974, but despite never being around for any of the '70s, I have a huge desire to own items that come from that time.  Sometimes I have indeed thought that I was a glam rocker born too late... (I blame my obsession with The Rocky Horror Show, ELO and the film Velvet Goldmine) anyway, I digress.. My gorgeous, wonderful Magpie items for this week are a 1974 edition of Boggle and a copy of the first Puffin Annual, also from 1974.

First up, Boggle.  Pete and I first got into Boggle on our holiday in Cornwall this year.  Both of us had heard of it before, in fact Pete had played it during his childhood.  I hadn't though.  With little on TV (and who wants to watch TV on holiday anyway?) we fell upon the board games available in our cottage.  By far the most fun and challenging was Boggle.  We spent several evenings playing and thoroughly enjoyed it.  As soon as we came home I began a quest to get hold of a set for us, but me being me, I didn't want to just go out and by a brand new version.  I wanted a second hand, pre loved set, preferably one that dated from decades ago.. Why, you may wonder.. Well, I don't know why exactly, but when it comes to board games, I just love to imagine all the people who have played with the set before, the fun times they've had.  The thought that this particular set has been entertaining people for 38 years makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.  Another bonus with the 1974 set is that the dice are all wooden which makes them wonderful to handle.  It's in excellent condition and I feel well worth the £4 I paid (including postage) on eBay.  One drawback (though I don't consider it so) is that the 1974 edition is harder than today's edition - the older editions contain more "difficult" letters such as K's making it harder to come up with words.  That explains why when Pete and I first played with ours a couple of weeks ago we were only coming up with one or two words in the first few rounds!  Either way, I am extremely happy with this magpie find.

Second up, my Puffin Annual.  I found this treasure in the Nailsea branch of CLIC Sargent.  This is one of my favourite charity shops in Nailsea, I'm always finding hidden treasures in here.  This beaut set me back £1 and personally, I think it was a pound well spent.  I don't believe this is worth very much in terms of money, but I do think it is rich in social and cultural history.  The illustrations alone are stunning and the amount to read in there is fantastic.  This is a classic example of how little effort appears to be put into today's annuals.  I used to love getting annuals at Christmas each year, I was very fond of old Jackie annuals (I remember, oh... the shame.. I had one which had a big "heartthrob" style picture of Noel Edmunds in it which for some reason I found quite "dreamy" *vomit*).  I also loved to get Brownie annuals.  I don't remember Puffin annuals though. I wonder how long it was made for?  Anyway, this gorgeous beast shouted out at me from the bookshelves at the charity shop and I knew it was coming home with me.  The stories are a bit too old for Ethan, but in the meantime, I'm enjoying reading them.  I think it'll be fantastic when he gets a little older because there are quite a few step by step activities to try out.  I just think it's a total gem.  It's in impeccable condition as well.  The only thing that makes me a little sad?  The inscription on the first page - "To Peter, From Daddy, Happy Christmas 1974".  Awwww, this just makes my heart bleed a little.  I wonder who Peter was?  I wonder how this book came to be in the charity shop?  I wonder if Daddy is still alive?  Was it an ill chosen gift from father to son, a gift that remained on the book shelf only to be donated some 38 years later?  Or was it treasured and given away upon a death?  To be honest, it's in such good condition, I think it's more likely to be the first.  At least my hubby is Peter.. we can pretend it's his.  Let's just not mention that he wasn't born until 1982.

The front cover makes me grin!

Awwww......

The unmistakeable Quentin Blake

Raymond Briggs!!!!

Exciting for Moomins fans - Tove Jansson!

How to make a ship in a bottle... OK, might do that with little man one day!

I feel a little Yellow Submarine-y looking at this illustration!

Of course I am linking up this post with Missie Lizzie of Me and My Shadow for Magpie Monday.  Do check out the other bargain hunters!

Magpie Monday; Fisher Price

I popped into town on Saturday to get my hair done (sans child) and afterwards, as I was on my own, decided on a quick snoop around a few charity shops.  I'm glad I did.  Can you ever come away empty handed?  Well, I know for a fact sometimes you can, but more often than not, you come away with something (many things).

I only went into three shops as I didn't have much time to spare.  I didn't find anything I wanted in the first two (well, the first one had a massive mirror that I thought would look amazing in the garden, but it was £25 and we're a bit broke) but the third shop came up trumps.

Firstly, I spotted an old Fisher Price "Pull-a-Tune" xylophone.  It didn't come with a mallet with which to bash out a tune, but that didn't concern me, we have copious things at home that can be used.  It's not in fantastic condition, but good enough and it still works brilliantly.  I'm a real sucker for old Fisher Price toys, and I like them looking used anyway, shows they've been enjoyed!  I knew Ethan would love it.  As soon as I brought it home, he was running around with it making a racket.  For £4.50 I think it was worth it.  I believe it dates from 1964 having had a google.

As well as the xylophone I grabbed "Balderdash" - an amusing board game.  My parents have it.  We're trying to increase our board game selection, so for £3 this came home with me.

Have you got any second hand bargains recently?  Do you like charity shopping?

Linking up with Missie Lizzie for Magpie Monday :)

Magpie Monday - Boden

I've not joined in with Magpie for a couple of weeks... I've been trawling the charity shops but not come across anything very much!  I keep on looking though..

I had a bit of luck this week.  I found a Mr Men book for Ethan for 49p - no pic I'm afraid.  It was brand new, one of the modern ones, so nothing exciting, but Ethan loves Mr Men so it was a great find for him.  Went in his "poo prize bag" (he gets prizes every time he manages 4 poos in the potty/loo!).

I also found a Boden dress for £4 in charity shop in Nailsea.  It was a very lucky find actually.  I owned the same dress before - well, not exactly the same one, but the same design and print, but it was too small for me (bought on eBay).  This one was the next size up, so when I saw it on the rail in the shop I got all jumpy and excited.  You know when you feel like you've spotted the best thing in the shop and you start checking over your shoulder to make sure no-one's about to pinch it from under your nose and you get nervous butterflies?  Well, it was like that.  I marched off to the changing room with it AND IT FITTED!!! Yay!  Sweet, sweet, sweeeeeeeeet!  I can't really afford brand new Boden.  Not unless it's in the sale and a treat!  This made me very happy.

I have a pic from the changing room:

Yeah, I wouldn't normally wear it with black leggings and these boots.. but hey!

Also have a couple of pics of me wearing it the other day, but they don't really show it off very well!  It's lovely and comfy though.  Going to be fab if the summer ever arrives...

Well, that's all for this weeks' bargain hunting... hopefully I'll find more for next week.  Don't forget to head over to Missie Lizzie's place to see what the other bargain hunters have found!

Magpie Monday - Clothes for the future..

Last week's trawl of the charity shops in mine and my parents town was not very lucrative... hardly anything jumped out at me, and I went to a good 7 or 8... There were a couple of coffee cups in a branch of St Peter's Hospice that were nice, but they were asking £7 for each cup which I thought was really far too much for a charity shop.  Anyone else found this with St Peter's Hospice?  I find their prices are by far the highest.  When I was in there last week they were asking for £7-£10 for dresses that looked worn, and £8 for used shoes.  I just think it's crazy.

Anyway.. I did have a little success in the end in one of the other charity shops.  I got lucky in their children's clothes section.  I managed to get three totally unused items - a pair of Next shorts, a practical pair of cords and a GAP polo shirt.  They are all age 5-6 (Ethan isn't even 3 yet) but they cost me just over £4 for the lot, which I thought was a bargain, and well worth the storage space.

It has to be said, they aren't the most exciting items of clothing ever, the colours aren't very inspiring, but they are practical, worth the money and hopefully won't be out of style by the time Ethan is big enough for them.. something like a polo shirt is a classic look that will stick around.

My apologies for Ethan's feet in the first photo, I couldn't get him to keep out of the way!

I'm linking this post up with MissieLizzie for Magpie Monday.  Why not pop over there and see what everyone else has found this week?