In the country...

Eep, I've been a terrible blogger! In my defence I have been out every night this week. And I've not been getting a lunch hour at work, much to my devastation. Eating whilst working does not a happy Helen make. I've not even had time to read Closer. Sob.

But, the parents are off on holiday tomorrow! For two whole weeks. Which means I get two glorious weeks to myself. So expect lots of posts, as I try to fill my evenings after inevitably going stir crazy after two days of dog sitting.

For the time being though, I need to do a bit of a catch up. A couple of weeks ago, the day before I went to Glastonbury, I took a little trip to the Cheshire Show. I do love a good agricultural show.

There are few things more quintessentially British than wandering round the WI tent, having a scone with cream and jam and then going to watch some pigs being judged. Topped off with a perusal of the cheese tent, grabbing a few samples in the food hall and then watching the grand parade of champions (the best bulls, cows and horses in the show).

There was, of course, only one real reason for my attendance though...

Sadly the Show was on a Tuesday, which is my weigh in day. So no glorious food samples for me, and not even a cream tea. I did have some amazing frozen yoghurt though, which almost made up for it.

Almost.

10 things...

♥ 1 is because all I can think about is the iced lemonade I had at Glastonbury. There is nothing quite as thirst quenching.

♥ 2 is because I'm quite ignorant when it comes to flowers. Particularly wild ones. So I'd like to be able to name a few more.

♥ 3 is because it's time for a change. The raven has stayed for two years. It's time to move on.

♥ 4 is just because I really like fish. And I never seem to eat it. I fancy a lovely trout salad or a haddock risotto with a poached egg on top.

♥ 5 is because I haven't seen the sea for ages. I love the sea. It's so soothing.

♥ 6 is because I'm an indecisive, fickle woman girl at the moment. I need to decide what I'm doing and where I'm going.

♥ 7 is because... well, who doesn't love meringues, whipped cream and berries? A fool, that's who.

♥ 8 is because I haven't been getting enough exercise. My excuse is that it's too hot to go to the gym. It's not too hot to go walking though, so I must.

♥ 9 is because half my clothes are now too big for me. I don't intend on ever putting the weight back on so they've got to go. Charity shops and ebay here I come.

♥ 10 is because life is wonderful.

What do you want to do this summer?

Votes for women!*

You've probably seen hundreds of bloggers asking you to vote for them in the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards. I probably don't have a hope in hell of winning but being nominated would be so so lovely. I love writing this blog and reading all your comments/emails is one of the best parts of the whole process.

So, if you like my blog and you fancy helping me out then please vote for me in the 'Lifestyle' category. It's simple enough to do, just choose the category, enter http://www.clearyourheart.net as the blog link and then write a few words about why you're nominating me.


In return you'll get lots of good thoughts from me and a virtual brownie or two... xx


*Men are, of course, welcome to vote to. But I've had the Sister Suffragette song from Mary Poppins stuck in my head all day. Hence the title of this post.

Stripes

Dress - Miss Selfridge; Bracelets - Top Shop; Necklaces - Tatty Devine and Dorothy Perkins;

Flower corsage - H&M; Headband - Primark

I'm on a spending embargo.

I was due to start on 1st July but I failed spectacularly. I blame the sales. And my inability to avoid the sales in my lunch hour. So I'm starting tomorrow. No more unnecessary spending for the rest of July. No more online shopping in my lunch hour, no more trawling the shops and buying things that I can live without.

One of the positive and negative side effects of weight loss is that I can wear lots of clothes now that I would never have dreamed of wearing before. Positive because I can finally wear things that I feel good in, negative because my bank balance has taken a severe dent. So I'm stopping it. Now. I've got so many clothes that I've barely worn so I think it's time to get a little more creative and work with what I've already got.

Sandals - Marks & Spencer; Ring - Dorothy Perkins; Necklaces - As before

This dress was one of my last purchases (£20, Miss Selfridge) and I've basically lived in it this weekend. The top picture is how I wore it to my friends' barbecue last night, the picture below is how I wore it to a garden party this afternoon. The accessories were the same both times, except for the addition of the Tatty Devine necklace and a massive flower corsage in my hair last night. And a slick of red lipstick.

Dress & Necklace - As before; Sunglasses - Top Shop; Hair - No straighteners

I never ever thought I'd embrace the maxi dress. It was one of those items of clothing that I thought I just couldn't wear. I love this one though and although I'm still not a huge fan of my arms I don't mind getting them out so much anymore. I'm also embracing my natural curls and not straightening my hair to within an inch of its life any more.


How have your weekends been, my lovelies?

Outfit Post: It ended with a kiss...

 

I cannot get enough of my garden at the moment. I think it's the thing I'll miss the most when i finally move out (apart from the canine and human contingents). Getting home from work and being able to sit in the evening sun, smell the flowers and hear the bees buzzing is blissful.

I finally feel like I'm clean from Glastonbury. Numerous showers and baths have washed away the many layers of grime and dust and I'm left with a rather spectacular tan. For me, anyway. I normally just go from white to red and back again.

Vest - i love boxie

Cardigan - New Look

Shorts - Cut off Primark jeans

Flip flops - Muji

Nail varnishes - Barry M 304 and OPI Glamour Game

Chunky legs - Too many cakes