A Wander down to Wallingford

Well Hello there,
Wow I can't believe I haven't posted anything for a week!

How are we today?
I am in a jolly mood as I have just come back from a visit with Trish, who is like a mother to me. I have a great relationship with my actual mother I am just fortunate to have Trish too.


It was a lovely day to visit the sun was out and it was actually a little hotter than I expected. Mr Rob and I got on the train and it was a funny old journey indeed, Rob was taking numerous funny photo's, he had me giggling loads.

I took this picture of my lovely Mr Rob on the way back, I think he is so handsome, I just had to share it.


We had to make a change at Slough and we saw this poster which I thought was really cool, I can't remember what detergent it was but I was impressed at the use of socks.


I have known Trish for 23 years and I am so thankful to have her. Trish is always there for me whenever I need her, she always supports and encourages me in whatever I chose to do. Mr Rob and I hope one day we may be able to live in Wallingford or one of the surrounding villages. It would be fantastic to live down the road from her.


We took a walk down the river to the bridge which was so nice, there were dogs and people paddling in it. I was amazed how many dogs were swimming around it was a lovely site to see.

As I am sure you are aware when it is a hot day ice cream is a must. I had lovely mint choc chip which I ate while we sat outside a little cafe and people watched for a bit. Rob didn't take many pictures in Wallingford so I have 'borrowed' a couple from the official website.


Well I hope you have had a great week and weekend so far.
Enjoy the rest of it and I hope to be back soon with some projects I am half way though.

Recently I seem to start something and just move on to the next before I finish I really must focus on finishing some to share.

Today's Outfit
Cardigan & Bicycle Necklace - eBay
T-Shirt - Primark
Skirt & Belt - M&S
Shoes Clarks
Bag - Cath Kidston

Ciao for now!!!

Katrina x

Not so sunny Saturday

Ello Peeps,

Am I cool enough to say peeps?? I am not sure but I have said it now!! hehehe :)

So Saturday I went into central London with Mr Rob for a bit of browsing, it was very busy so we had a quick stop in Liberty's to have a look at the fabric which although it is a little pricey I did treat myself to just enough for a simple skirt as it was so cute .
It's not a great photo but what do you think?


We then wondered down to Anthropology which was my first visit... mostly because I couldn't seem to find it on my own. Mr Rob whipped out his Iphone 4 and found it in a jiffy.
I must have spent about an hour in there looking at every item, or so Mr Rob thought I did. I purchased this lovely new Mug can you guess what the K stands for? hehehe :)


We then had a stroll down to Marks & Sparks where we picked up some Watermelon & Mango fruit packs and then we sat in Green park to munch them. I love Watermelon and Mr Rob loves Mango so it worked really well :)


I love the collar on the dress I wore and the colors match so well with my favorite knitted cardigan. I think I have three or four pieces of Mustard knit wear which is helpful because even though it is July it still can have quite a chill in the air when the sun goes in...hence my title.

I also wore my new bicycle necklace which I have worn everyday since I got it :)

Dress: eBay
Cardigan: H&M
Belt: Thrifted
Necklace: eBay

Well that's enough about me, I hope you had a good weekend and your week is just as great.

Ciao for now.

Katrina x

Race for Life 2011

Hi Guys,

So as I said in my last post, I took part in the Race for Life on Sunday.
It was a very soggy day, at one point it was like a monsoon but I kept going with the encouragement of my collage Reena.

We walked for a bit then jogged and walked then jogged and walked... you get the idea :).
All in all it took us 43 minutes, not bad I say for my first Race for Life.


We raised £422.00 which is 41% more than out £300 target and I plan to do it again next year :)

Here is a picture of a soggy me with my medal :)


I hope your having a great week, I have a follow up post on my Summer bag project that I will put up shortly, its almost finished.

Anyway Ciao for now my lovely readers.

Katrina x

Made by Yours Truely

HI :)

I am so glad to be finally showing you the dress I made!!!
I have made items in the past but but in the last year I had lost my momentum with it all so I decided to do a dress making course to fire me up again and it sure did.



I wore it out with Mr Rob the other day, he is really getting into his photography at the moment which means he is taking my pictures LOADS sometimes when I don't want him to; but he did take some cool pictures.


In the class we were taught how to draft a pattern based on our own measurements and we made alternations to it to make the style we wanted.


I am a little heaver on the hips so I wanted a bit of a flare, and I am obsessed with pockets so I incorporated them in to the design.



I picked the fabric because it reminded me of a 70's print and also purple is my favorite colour. I love how well purple and mustard go together, I matched it with my favorite boots and belt and I quite like the outfit.

I did wear it once before with turquoise tights but I think the purple look better.

I have started making two other dresses one from the same patteren as this and another using a different purchased pattern.
I just wondered if my readers would prefer a step by set account of the dresses I make or just the finished product.

I am also working on a "How To" of my hairstyle as promised.



I am off to do my 5k race (or rather walk, I hate running) for life this morning. Wish me luck!!!
If you'd like to sponsor me my page is HRHENS, Pictures will follow I am sure :)

Have a great day.
Ciao for now

Katrina x

Dramarama - Anything Anything

This is an AWESOME song, just had to share :)

A Few of My Favorite Things - Episode 4

Hello All,
How are we today?

It's time for a Few of my Favorite things post again, to start us off this time it has to be my friends, I haven't seen them as much as I would like lately but as I have some time off next week I will hopefully squeeze in some visits in between looking after my nieces.



Another favorite thing of mine is TEA, I L.O.V.E Tea!!!!!
PJ Tips is my favorite choice, I find it very difficult to go even an hour without one :)
There is something so comforting about tea, it always seems to make me feel exactly how I want to. When I'm thirsty it refreshes me, when I am cold it warms me up and when I am sad it makes me feel better.
So here is a big YAY for tea :)


The next has too be Mr Rob's Photography, he is so talented with his camera. He takes all my pictures as I have said before and he has finally set up his on tumblr page The Blog Mr Rob. It makes me smile for several reasons one because he used Mr Rob and I call him that. Also he'll be able to share pictures he takes, like the one below :)


Anyway that's my favorite things for today, I will be spending the weekend sewing, reading and drinking tea because it is pouring with rain outside.

I hope you have a great day.

Ciao for now.

Katrina x

This Week I'll Be Mostly Reading :)

Hi people how are we?

Me, well I am feeling a little sorry for myself :(
I seem to have a trapped nerve in my neck and it is causing me quite a bit of pain. I am off work next week so I am just mustering on but this may be a slow blogging week for me.

Ok moan over, the reason for this post was I wanted to share a really cool book I found, I don't normally buy these kinds of books but when I saw the Style Yourself featuring 95 international fashion bloggers I decided to get it. It arrived today and although I haven't finished it completely I just had to share.


I love getting inspiration for outfits from the many sites I follow and this books definitely gives lots. There are aspects relating to specific styles and a breakdown the many of types of Dresses, Jackets and other items in your wardrobe. It also has some really cool ideas on remixing certain items and a break down on wardrobe basics every girl should have.


My favourite thing about fashion blogs is the ability to pick & chose ideas and remix them into my own style to make them more me and with so many different bloggers in this book it has introduced me to LOADS more!! :)


Anyway I definitely recommend you have a read and if you'd like to get to know the main contributor Jane Aldridge a little better you can find her at her blog Sea of Shoes which I must say is an awesome blog :)

Ciao for now.

Katrina x

A Few of my Favourite Things - Episode 3

Good day to all that read my blog :)

I realised last night I didn't do a Few of my Favourite Things posts last week, which is odd as I have many favourite things.

My obsession this week is Peter Pan Collars, I just love them and I keep wanting to add the to all my outfits. I think I am going to have to make one that I can use with all my dresses.
There is a really great tutorial on the Wayward Daughter Blog about how to make your own. I'll give it a try and report back.
Another favourite is finding new blogs to read, I particularly like finding ones that inspire me whether it is with my sewing or fashion. I am finding I have got so many to catch up on that I don't get through them all in one sitting. Do you have that problem too?
This is just one of the many I have stumbled upon recently.


Instergram, I am loving it at the moment, I have been taking random pictures of things and messing about with the way they look. I love the picture I took of my DM's which have floral laces.My last favourite thing for this week is this amazing tutorial for a Pom Pom scarf by Miss James of Bleubird Vintage. It is just so cool I love the colours and I plan to add it to my already long To Make list.

Well have a great weekend.

Ciao for now.
Katrina x

Floral Skirts are my Favourite

Hello my dears,
Can you believe it is almost Friday already? Hasn't it gone quickly!

The weather isn't going to be great this weekend so I think I will stay in and do some sewing. Now I am not sure if I told you but I have been doing a sewing course for the last ten weeks and the dress I designed is almost finished, just the hemming left :)
I can't wait to show you and I'll follow up with a post all about it soon.

So for now (it's a little bit late) this is what I wore to work on... Monday I think?


I am constantly wearing my hair like this at the moment, when travelling in the morning by tube I get so warm I need my hair up off my neck and as it is not much cooler in the office it just makes sense to keep it up.


I was thinking about doing a tutorial on how to do it, is that something you would like to see on here?
I got the skirt in a charity shop for £1... bargain right? Then I took it up about 6inches but I think It needs a little bit more. What do you think?


My top is from Topshop, the pictures don't really do it justice but it is tiered and it's embroidered. I'll have to get more of a close up.
I love the little Peter Pan collar, and have developed quite an obsession for them as of late.

and of course my boots of the moment from EBay.

Here are some lady bugs, just because :)



It is so difficult at the moment to get outfit pictures done because I leave the house at 6.30 to get to work and then by them time I get home I am feeling all gross I just want to jump in the shower. I will try to do more.

Ciao for now.

Katrina x

National Kissing Day

Hello All,
Did you know it is National Kissing Day today, I have been giving out many:
1. My Mum
2. My Dad
3. My niece Macey
4. My niece Evie
5. My dog Alfie
6. My Mr Rob

Who have you been kissing today?

Ciao for now.

Katrina x

My Blog of The Week - A Beautiful Mess

Hi My lovelies!!!
I hope you are all well and your day has been fabulous so far :)

So my Blog of the week is....


This is the blog the of the ever inspiring Elsie Larson (formerly Elsie Flannigan), I stumbled across her blog one day and I have been hooked ever since.

There are so many cool aspects of her blog and I could do a 400 page post about all the things I love so here is just a few.

Firstly her Outfits posts, she has the most amazing clothes!!! Well...she does own a vintage dress shop.. how could she not. right?
Every time I see a new Outfit post it inspires me to use my clothes in so many ways. I just love this dress she's wearing, it makes me think mmmhhh what do I own that remotely resembles it?


One of my other favorites is the Makeover Story, Elsie takes girls who need a little bit of help in expressing themselves with their style and makes them over. She helps them pick out outfits and she also does their hair and make up, My favorite Hairstyle is the one in the picture below, if you click on it it will take you to Elsie's how to guide.



Next is the project restyle, which is a collection of other bloggers who take all different kind of items and restyle them. This one was one of my favorite a mans shirts into a skirt, I am raiding my dad's wardrobe as we speak :)



Elsie also offers the most amazing E-Courses, once I have finished my dissertation I will most definitely taking her Dream Job course, If it is still available. Finger Crossed :)



Last but by no means least is Elsie's DIY projects, as I am planning my wedding at present it is really helpful that Elise who has just had the most amazing self styled and created wedding which she has followed up with DIY's.
I love the bouquet's Elsie and her Bridesmaids put together, I can't wait to make my own :)


So that's A Beautiful Mess, I would like to say a big thank you to Elsie for all her inspiration.
Why don't you go take a peek. I bet you become as hooked as me :)

Ciao for now.

Katrina x

New Project - New Summer Bag

Hi All,
So what have you been up to this weekend?
I am sure my America readers are having a great long weekend with Independence Day tomorrow.

HAPPY 4th JULY!!!!

So this weekend I have been working on some projects, and I thought I would share my progress, I am covering a bag that Mr Rob's mum gave to me.


The original covering needed some updating so I started by taking off the handles, unpicking the lining, removing the sequins.... yes gold sequins on a green bag (this is why it needed updating) and then finally I was able to take the fabric off.


I have picked the fabric to cover it; I just have to pop along to Cath Kidston to get it sometime in the next week or so :)


Once I have that I'll use the old fabric as a template and I'll do a follow up post showing how I put it all together.


What have you guys been up too?

Have a great week.

Ciao for now.

Katrina x