11 November 2014

Purple pirates and painted faces

Hello lovelies!

How are you?!  

Sorry it's been so long- please ignore the dust bunnies and the cobwebby corners (they're totally left over from Halloween... ahem). The last few weeks have been such a rollercoaster I've basically saved myself the cost of a ticket to Alton Towers. Well, that's the story I'm sticking to, to counter-act spending money on a novelty Christmas jumper at some point in the future, once I find one that's suitably ridiculous. 

So, most important thing first: I MADE CUSTARD. From scratch! I've never done it before but, after being thrown into an Emergency Custard Situation by T's Mum baking us an apple and blackberry tart when we were out of ice-cream, I rose to the challenge and I'm very proud to say I succeeded. It wasn't the best custard I've ever had, but it wasn't lumpy or vanilla-y scrambled eggs, so I'm counting it as a win.



Secondly, I've spent the last two weeks transforming myself into a Florence Nightingale/Nigella/Kim & Aggie hybrid, because T's had an operation on his back which basically renders him immobile until January. I take my bobble hat off to the thousands of people who juggle cooking, cleaning, and caring for someone on a daily basis because it is seriously hard work. Which reminds me, I bought myself a new bobble hat

[This is where I was going to put a photo of me in my new bobble hat, but I'm having a Bad Face Day, which means no photo. I'd recommend you look at the photo of the M&S model instead.]

I bought said hat in the midst of a hardcore shopping expedition in Haywards Heath. I'd never visited it before but, finding myself with several hours to kill while T was under the knife at the local hospital, I decided to charity shop until I literally dropped; thanks to an over-stuffed carrier bag explosion. Amateur. 

The explosion was partly due to buying a gigantic coat which, again, won't be shown in situ on me due to aforementioned Bad Face Day; so you'll have to make do with the photo below. 

[image source]

The combination of gloriously vivid purple and a ruffle-y collar make me feel like I'm in fancy dress as the captain of a pirate ship sponsored by Ribena. 

Talking of fancy dress, I spent the first weekend in November as fancily dressed as a girl can get; being a bridesmaid for a childhood girlfriend. Now, y'all know I'm really not a hair-and-make-up kind of girl, and usually take a much more lazy-arsed laid back approach with my appearance. So I was surprised to find I actually rather enjoyed having my hair done for two hours, and being given a new face by a make-up artist! 

Part of the enjoyment might have been due to spending the morning in my PJs, eating croissants and drinking prosecco, but it was rather liberating letting other people choose what I looked like for a change. This is my super-sleek hairstyle:


And here I am in my bridesmaid's dress and make-up, in two uber-glamorous photos taken in the toilets at the reception. I really am pure class. 



It was fun to play dress-up for the day, but I'm not sure I'll be changing my usual clean-teeth-and-go routine any time soon. Removing three wipes' worth of make-up and TWENTY FIVE kirby grips before going to bed is too much like hard work; especially after umpteen glasses of prosecco. 

What have you been up to recently? Do tell- I've missed you all!

Katie xxx

P.S. I'm linking up to Hannah's #TWTWC.


19 comments:

  1. Oooh, is that a Vivien of Holloway dress???? You look beaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaautiful!!! Ha, the coat sounds good and new hats are always good though which colour did you go for?
    x

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    1. Oh - you're good! It is indeed Vivien of Holloway. We had bright yellow petticoats underneath too, to make the skirt stick out :) I went for the grey hat- it seemed to show off my under-eye bags less than the black one :p xxx

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  2. I thought for one teeny tiny moment that you had very hairy arms! You're looking gorgeous and your hair is really pretty - well worth having to remove 25 kirby grips if it keeps it like that for an evening although I do realise this is not real life day to day styling. Custard looks delicious :)

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    1. Haha- thankfully my arms are not QUITE that hairy. That bolero is so fluffy it's like being hugged by a bunny (and who doesn't want that?!). Thank you muchly for the compliments :) xxx

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  3. lovely dress and your hair for the wedding looks so pretty! I too amd a laid back person when it comes to hair and make-up but I love getting all dolled-up for special occasions, kinda makes it more fun! Nice hat btw and I'm v.impressed that you made custard. I don't even know what you need to make custard, for shame! :) X

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    1. Don't worry Annie- I had to Google it :p turns out it's much simpler than I thought. xxx

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  4. Wow, what a gorgeous bridesmaid dress! Sounds look you've had a busy week so we will forgive you for your absence ;)

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    1. Isn't it just? We were so lucky the bride chose such beautiful dresses and not lilac taffeta with ruffles! xxx

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  5. You looked great in the photos, I'd love to have hair you could so something like that with. Mine is just so thin and straggly :( Sounds like it has been a good week, if busy! Well done on the custard too!

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    1. Thanks Louise :) I do feel very lucky to have such thick hair- but it's a real pain to dry/brush, and I spend what hours picking loose hairs off my clothes! I guess hair is one of those things where everyone wants the opposite :) xxx

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  6. Witwoo to you and your temporary new face/hair.
    Disclaimer: I also like the old face/hair combo.
    The coat looks like it was very much worth a split-bag-tastrophe too.
    Hope T gets all well and shit soon.
    M x

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    1. Thanks Michelle- and I appreciate the disclaimer too :) T is getting there, thank you- I'm busting out my best bedside manner and bringing him frequent snacks xxx

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  7. I love Haywards Heath for the charity shops - they're epic!! I found my winter coat there last year too :) I may have the Christmas Jumper for you - it features a dinosaur, and will hopefully be up on the blog next week! You look so pretty :)

    Thanks for linking up to #TWTWC xx

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    1. Oh wow- that sounds amazing! I can't wait to see what you've found :)
      I was really surprised with how good the shops were, and will be visiting again soon I reckon (perhaps after Christmas, when everyone has a clear out?) xxx

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  8. You look gorgeous! I also thought you had very hairy arms! It'd because the bolero is the same colour as your skin! And I am very old with failing sight...
    Loving your hair do. xxx

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    1. Thanks Emma Kate :) It was a pretty good match for me; less so for the other, non-pasty bridesmaids :p xxx

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  9. You look gorgeous! That dress is fantastic and that hair style is so pretty! I hope T heals up nicely!

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    1. Thanks Jen :) He's getting there- thank goodness for Netflix to keep him amused! xxx

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  10. Woo, very glam! Excellent bridesmaid's dress (and Vivien of Holloway? Good call!) and I do love the bobble hat as well. I had a similar number of kirby grips in my hair when I got married - I think it took about half an hour to get them all out! A big get well soon to Tom as well, I know what it's like not being able to do anything and needing someone else to look after you! Take care of yourself too, the carer also needs looking after xxx

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