My Christmas outfit

Wow, it's the 8th December today; how can that be? My oldest friend has her birthday on the 15th of November and I always feel that once we've celebrated that, I start to focus more seriously on Christmas but this year I feel like I'm behind on everything.  Hope it's not just me...

I've got friends who've had all their Christmas shopping done since early September.  Not me I'm afraid.  I don't mind collecting up odd things throughout the year but I prefer doing it in November and December.  It adds to that festive feel I find!  My boys have made their lists, I've bought some items and other items I've planned where to buy them.  Plus, of course, Father Christmas is taking care of a few.. As I've got my head (pretty much) around gifts for others, I've found myself thinking about what I'd like to wear on the big day itself.  Everyone does Christmas Day their own way, but, for me, dressing up in something special (and new!) is pretty much essential.  This year, as I am working again, I also have a Christmas party to attend! I am most definitely on the search for a party outfit!

I shop online for clothes most of the time, mostly due to time constraints and the fact that our town doesn't have much in the way of decent clothing shops.  If you exclude the charity shops.  I love a good second hand bargain! I usually start off with a good google for the kind of thing I'm after and see what pops up.  Last night I found myself perusing Esprit.  When I'm looking for my Christmas Day outfit, I'm looking for something special.  A bit of luxury, a true party outfit. 

I definitely struck gold stumbling across Esprit.  It's hard to pick just one dress! But my budget dictates that I must.  A lot of the velvet dresses they stock appeal to me (there's something so festive about velvet!) but for my body shape I feel this lovely  is the one for me.  I love the simple black top half, it's unfussy and compliments the patterned skirt well.  The fact the dress actually looks like a separate skit and top is something different, I don't have something quite like this in my wardrobe (and as I own over 130 dresses that's quite an accomplishment).  The skirt has just the right amount of "shiny" about it and I love a bit of bronze.  It's still a very on trend colour but also one I feel is Christmassy.

Of course, once you've chosen a dress, you have to accessorize, right?! Footwear at Christmas time has to have an element of practicality, I feel.  For one thing, it's chilly.   I'm not one for strappy high heels at the best of times.  I think these metallic ankle boots have the right combination of complimenting the dress, keeping feet toasty and looking a little bit different too.  I'm also not a fan of going for the most obvious choice.

I'm a tights girl.  I have almost as many pairs of tights as I do dresses.  Which is actually pretty logical, I think! This is the time of year for soft and cosy tights and I think these cotton tights would work perfectly with the dress and boots.  Keep my legs nice and warm!

So, how about you?  Do you like to wear something special on Christmas Day or is it a pajama day for you and your family? Whatever you wear, however you spend it, I hope you enjoy it!

Christmas jumpers.. of course!

I couldn't really write a fashion piece at this time of year and not mention the old Christmas Jumper, could I? How long is it since they've been back in fashion now?  Seems it's been quite a while.  I know it was ironic to start with but I think it's gone beyond that now, and to be honest, I think we should just admit that most of us just love the chance to fling on some cheesy chic.  Am I right?

We do love a Christmas jumper in our house.  Pete only had one, which I bought him a few years ago, and he lamented recently that he liked the look of a geeky one he'd seen online (a Street Fighter one if you wanted to know!) but it was over £25 and he just couldn't justify it.  Well, it got me thinking.  Why not get him one for Christmas but give it to him early so we could all "enjoy" it well before the big day.  So I did.  And I think he was extremely happy to find it waiting for him after a long day at work one day.  He's hardly taken it off since!!

Christmas jumpers for all!

I have quite a few Christmas jumpers, t-shirts and dresses myself.  Even tights.  The boys really have heaps of stuff though.  They both have an actual "Christmas section" in their wardrobes.  I love seeing them wear the clothes each year.  I do add to them each year too and of course, they grow out of things.  Though I have to say that we have quite a bit of Smafolk and DUNS Christmas wear and it just goes on and on.  Ethan has a beautiful Smafolk top he's been wearing for 4 Christmases now.

I don't think many of us don't go in for festive wear these days, but just in case, I'll post the question.  Do you go in for the cheesy clothes fest or do you avoid it like the plague and stay classy?

Me - Merry Christmas Robin t shirt - Cath Kidston (very old).

         Elf t shirt - Tee Fury (I think - sorry!)

         Gingerbread people dress - DUNS - Funky Little People

Pete - Streetfighter Christmas jumper - Amazon

Ethan - Mini Rodini Christmas print top - KyNa Boutique

Felix - Reindeer Print Christmas jumper - Sainsburys  

Linking up with gorgeous Hannah today.  Congrats on the Insta 10K lady! XX

Trendy Thursday - The 2013 Round Up!

It's time for the final Trendy Thursday post of the year and I thought a nice way to wrap up the year would be to share some of my favourite outfits of the year - but not ones my boys have rocked - no, ones you lovely lot have linked up!! So, without further ado, here's my pick of the bunch:

Lovely Emma from They Grow So Quick has been joining in with my Trendy linky for a loooong time now. I always love her posts, I love that she has two boys like me, and a really similar taste in clothing.  Her boys always look awesome, but overall, I really love the post in which she shared Seb's denim shirt.  It reminded me that Ethan didn't have one and had me heading out to the shops to find one for him.  Love to be inspired!

Up next we have the lovely Kara and her gorgeous daughter Addison.  Kara has a real eye for fashion and her three gorgeous children have just the right balance of cute and trendy in their outfits.  I love this outfit of Addison's that Kara shared with us back in April.  It's cute, but the dark colour of the shoes balances it.  I particularly love the trousers!

Sarah of Mum of Three World started joining in with the Trendy linky earlier this year and has become a regular - thank you!  Her daughter has a great style and as she's a little older than a lot of the other children featured in the linky, it's especially interesting seeing what she's wearing because she is a lot more involved in choosing what she wears!  I adore this beautiful dress that she wore for a Christening in July.  Delicate and striking in an understated way!

Emma from Bubbablue And Me is another long time Trendy buddy.  She has a classic taste.  I think it's fair to say that her taste and my taste are different.  Mine a little more out there I think!! Still, I love to see her posts.  Her little man always looks lovely, well dressed and comfy.  Emma picks some lovely trousers for N and so I've picked her post on chinos.  Love the colour!

Hannah of Make Do and Push joined in with Trendy for the first time a few months ago and I adore her style.  It's so lovely to have new bloggers joining in.  The outfits she puts together for her gorgeous Busby are so bright and funky.  Like me, she's a lover of Slugs and Snails tights so I had to pick this post of hers!

Finally, we have Claire of What Elsa Wears.  Oh, I DO love a blog all about what a child is wearing.  This is a blog after my own heart!  I had to pick this post showing Elsa's Christmas jumper collection.  What a collection!!!  I think the snowflake print is my favourite.

That completes my round up!  I've got the linky live, so link up any outfit posts you have for this week if you like.  I want to thank everyone who has joined in with Trendy Tuesday/Thursday this year.  It really means so much to me.  It's such a small linky but I do love it. It makes me so happy to see people linking up and even if it takes me a few days, I do try to get to everyone's post to comment.  Children's fashion is my passion and I love sharing it!  Trendy Thursday is taking a break now until the new year.  I look forward to seeing you back and hopefully a few new faces as well!

Happy Christmas and Happy New Year all! xx

Trendy Thursday - Christmas clothes for baby!

Well, I warned you that we're getting our Christmas on in our household, and it's true.. well, for the boys and I, anyway!  I believe last week I mentioned that Festive Felix would be getting his turn in the spotlight?  He's certainly been rocking a seasonal selection in the last week!

There are so many cute Christmas outfits and North Pole infused pieces for children these days.  Really, we're spoilt for choice.  I don't think it's worth spending too much unless it's something like a hat or leg warmers that they might be able to wear for a few years on a row.  So.. I have tried to be restrained! Still, there are some real bargains out there and because they are so cute, it's hard to resist!

Primark is a good place for budget seasonal items.  It's a little harder if you have a baby boy I find but it's always worth a look, even if Primark is rather reminiscent of a jumble sale!  I found some leggings for Felix in the girls section.  No reason why they can't be worn by a boy, especially if they are only setting you back a couple of quid!  F&F clothing at Tesco also has an extensive range of seasonal wear this year.  I got an adorable fleece sleepsuit from them, red with a Nordic style print.

Polarn O Pyret have a beautiful new print this year called Nordic Nights.  I think it is absolutely beautiful.  I grabbed a sleepsuit in this print during their 20% off sleepwear & free postage deal the other week (I was also able to use my 10% off voucher - bargain!).   PO.P are fantastic for festive threads; their classic red and white stripes look Christmassy but can also be worn all year around.  They have some fun items like braces, bow ties, and my favourite, neck ruffle/collar.  OK, it's a bit silly, but it's also adorable!

Image source: Polarn O Pyret

eBay is another place I always check for a festive bargain.  I love leg warmers for the boys.  Ethan doesn't wear them much these days but they are still very handy to have around.  You never know when you might need an extra layer of warmth on your legs or arms and they tend to be one size fits all (though of course, the bigger you are, the smaller they will be on you!).  I recently bought Felix a pair with Christmas Trees on for a couple of quid on eBay.

Ruffle/Collar - Polarn O Pyret

Green vest - Ej Sikke Lej (this was Ethan's)

Red Fleece sleepsuit - Clothing at Tesco

Stripy Stocking - Polarn O Pyret

Robot print vest - Mini Rodini (Ethan's)

Tree print leg warmers - eBay

I might try to showcase something other than Christmas clothing next week, but I promise nothing ;-D

Join in with the Trendy Thursday linky!  Write up a children's fashion blog post, link up below, tweet me and visit others who join in!

17 weeks - time for a festive tee shirt

Howdy folks!

I'm 17+3 today and feeling it.... tiredness still not eased off... my restless leg syndrome has ramped up a gear, I still have a blocked nose most of the day and sleep sitting up.  It's wonderful, I'm really glowing.  NOT.  I just keep thinking about the 20 week scan.  It'll be lovely to reach that "half way point", to know what we're having and hopefully to get a tiny bit more energy!

Although I'm not feeling physically my best, I'm trying hard to keep upbeat.  It helps that Christmas is round the corner, so I'm keeping everything festive.  This includes the annual "bringing out" of my festive tee shirt from Cath Kidston.  I've had it for a few years now, 4 I think, and it comes out every year in the run up to the big day!!  I love this tee shirt, it always makes me smile, and quite often other people as well when they spot it!

I'm afraid my photos are a bit rubbish this week, I took a few when I was in the loo at my local coffee haunt.   yeah, I'm so classy!!  So, my apologies for that!!

Hat - M&Co

Coat - Red Herring Maternity

Tee shirt - Cath Kidston (old)

Jeans - Topshop Maternity (2009)

Kensington Uggs - Cloggs.co.uk

Jewellery - Stella & Dot (you can buy via me, stylist I.D. 145279)

My jeans are from my previous pregnancy and I'm still very fond of them. "Pippa" skinny maternity jeans from Topshop. They really are a "true" skinny, a lovely fit. Loved them last time, glad I have them to wear again!! Also really really thankful I bought this hat a few months back because it barely gets above freezing at the moment and it's so handy. Between the faux fur collar on my coat and this hat, I don't need to wear a scarf. I do love my scarves, but sometimes it's easier not to have to worry about grabbing one before leaving on the school run!!

I just want to take this opportunity to say a bit thank you to everyone who reads, comments and follows my blog. It's been about a year since I started to make a huge effort with it and it's paid off. I'm not one of the biggest blogs out there, but I've carved out a nice little niche for myself which I'm happy with. So, thank you for helping making that happen. I hope I can keep at it in the new year!! In the meantime, I feel I need a break from all things blog, so with Christmas coming up, I hope you won't mind if I take 2-3 weeks off... There's a chance I might feel like I have a quick blog post I want to type up in that time, but just at the moment, the blog is starting to feel a bit like a chore. I know I need a break. Normal service will resume in the new year, when I will be over 20 weeks and hopefully feel refreshed and ready to start again!! Don't abandon me forever and have a lovely lovely Christmas and New Year!!

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

Trendy Tuesday - Festive Tops!

I had a little break from Trendy Tuesday last week.  I'm still not quite over this cold (16 days and counting) so that combined with pregnancy leaves me feeling very drained and tired a lot of the time.  Pete (hubby) is now quite poorly with it as well so I have a patient to look after.  Combine all of that with getting ready for Christmas, I'm tired... and blogging is falling behind a bit.  I might take a bit of a break for a week or two over Christmas, I'm feeling the need for some time away from it all, it's starting to feel more like a chore than a passion...

Anyhoo, on to today's subject for Trendy Tuesday.  Festive clothing!  I love a bit of Christmas clothing, I'm a sucker for anything with a fairisle print, or snowflakes.. Even better though is something with Father Christmas on.  This year I've found my No.1 favourite Christmas top EVER.  It's designed by one of my favourite brands, Smafolk and I bought it via bebaboo.com.  They don't have any in stock now unfortunately.  Luckily I'm signed up for their emails so as soon as they had them in stock I was able to dash over there and click buy BUY BUY!!  I'm glad I did.  I love it.  I got it a size too big so it should do Ethan for this year and next.  I'll be happy to see it come out again!

I've bought a couple of other festive tops for Ethan this year, one (pictured above) I bought in a charity shop for 75p (originally from Asda) and the other is a fantastic knitted reindeer jumper from Primark.  I got myself a very similar one so Ethan and I can look really cheesy!! Unfortunately I don't seem to have a photo of it on my laptop or phone, but believe me, I will have pics of us wearing them over the next few weeks!!

Do you like to buy "festive" clothing?  Do you buy a special outfit for your children to wear on Christmas Day?  Something else I like to do for Ethan is to buy new pyjamas to wear on Christmas Eve night - all part of the excitement!!  I wonder if others do that.

It's easy to join in with Trendy Tuesday.  Got trendy offspring?  Take their picture, blog about it and share with me!  These are the "rules"

1) Link your blog post to the linky below.

2) Please display my badge (to the side) and your blog or in your blog post and link back to my blog.

3) Please comment on this post and visit as many of the other linked up posts and comment too.  We all love a comment!

4) Tweet me (@medicatedfollow) the link to your blog post so I can retweet it!

Thank you all for reading and joining in!