Argan Oil Hair Treatment

I'm always amazed by the brilliant beauty bargains I see featured on other bloggers' posts, so I've been making a conscious effort to have a real look for great deals when I'm out and about shopping.

Whilst I was in my local Lidl recently, eyes scouring every shelf for a great deal, I happily came across this Argan Oil Hair Treatment at the amazing price of £2.99 for a 100ml bottle.

Any product that can help improve the condition of my hair, and reduce styling time is worth a try in my book, so there was no way I was walking away without buying this little bargain.

The oil states that it is an intensive, hydrating hair treatment which has extracts of moroccan argan oil and vitamin E, which help to repair and rejuvenate hair, all whilst adding shine and reducing frizz.

Sounded quite amazing to me - I couldn't wait to give it a try.

Once I had washed, conditioned and towel dryed my hair as normal, I used the oil - the recommended six squirts for long hair -  rubbed it into my hands and then pulled it through my hair, focusing on the ends, which are usually quite flyaway.

I have to admit that I did make a little bit of an error at this point though.

As my hair is so long and thick, I figured I would use an extra six pumps of the oil...just to make sure it worked...  This really wasn't necessary at all.  I noticed that as I was dying my hair, it seemed to be a little bit too oily.  Next time I'll follow the instructions properly and do as I'm told.

Lesson learnt.

This little mishap aside, I could really see a huge difference when it came to styling my hair.  The usual knotty-nightmare-to-brush mess was a lot more manageable, and brushed through easier.

It seemed to be a lot less damp too, which made drying and straightening it a lot faster - my hair really did feel a whole lot softer and silkier.

It looked all nice and shiny - even the Hubby noticed - so there must have been an improvement!

The oil also had a really subtle, slightly oily scent - but one that was quite nice.

I think I'll be heading back to Lidl pritty soon to stock up on a few extra bottles before they all sell out.

A very well spent £2.99.

Legally Glam: Blogger Style Challenge

I was having a browse through a few of my favouite blog's yesterday when I came across Legally Glam's Blogger Style Challenge on the the lovely Michelle at Satchels and Pearls' blog.

It was the beautiful prize of an amazing Ollie & Nic Mini Georgina Satchel in a lovely shade of pink that grabbed my attention straight away - it is beautiful!

The Challenge: Style the gorgeous Ollie & Nic Satchel for a day meeting friends and then shopping in London.

So here is my contribution -

Seeing as the outfit is for shopping in the capital, I figured all black would work well - very classic and I think it allows the beautiful satchel to stand out and draw attention to itself by being the only pop of colour.

The dress is from River Island and can very easily be dressed up for a night on the town - I thought the leather effect gave it something a little bit extra - adding a little bit of a rock feel to the shopping trip.

The shoes are again from River Island.  I love, love, love studs!!  And with these being all black they are edgy yet still keep with the casual-rocky feel of the outfit.

I found the hat at H&M - again, black, plain and very on trend.

All topped off with a gorgeous, snuggly warm shearling jacket to help fight the chill whilst hitting the shops.  This too was from River Island.

I think this outfit makes the satchel look even more beautiful than I first thought...if that is possible!

Gates Academy Of Performing Arts

Having lived in Bradford all of my life, it's always pritty big news when someone from the town makes it into the world of the "rich and famous".

I for one love anyone who makes it "big" from Bradford, they help restore faith that no matter where you come from, or which direction you want to go in, if you have the right determination, you can get there. 

From Kimberly Walsh to Dynamo to Lunar C - they are all fantastic!

Well you have to show your support for "your own" now don't you.

Imagine then, my surprise/shock/gobsmacked-ness (delete as appropriate), when there I was, expecting yesterday to be just a normal working Friday, when I spotted non other than Bradford's own (and another one of my fav's) Mr Garath Gates wandering the school corridors!!

Now, I have to admit, at first I was a tad giddy, googly eyed and star struck- but then again, so was every other female member of staff that I came across.  We all seemed to revert back into our giggly-school-girl-alter egos.

Well, it's not everyday we have a little bit of excitement during the working week - I'm sure we can be forgiven for throwing ourselves into it all, full force!

When we approached Gareth en mass, he didn't flee (as he probably should have) or tell us "No" (again, as he probably should have), instead he was very gracious and professional and posed for lots of pictures and signed tonnes of autographs.

Brill!

You may well be wondering by now, why on earth would Garath Gates want to be wandering around a high school in Bradford on a Friday afternoon.

Well, his visit was all in aid of his amazing new venture.

Garath was visiting local schools around Bradford to tell youngsters about the amazing Gates Academy of Performing Arts that he has founded himself.

The academy will be an amazing asset to young children aged between 5-16+ in and around the Bradford area.  It will give them an opportunity to follow their dreams and learn the various disciplines within the performance arts world, focusing on singing, dancing and acting.

Children will have the perfect opportunity to focus on their passions, hopefully giving them new opportunities to one day follow in the footsteps of the founder himself.

Yesterday, Garath treated the children...well, all of us really....to some renditions of his songs, and gave the students (and staff) a chance to jump up and join in with him.  I'm not sure any of their voices quite matched up to Garath's, but everyone was having lots of fun and really enjoyed the moment.

Garath then took some time out to answer various questions the students threw at him.  It was all really laid back and informal - the kiddies loved it and it definitely made their day.

Garath's mum was also on hand to show her support.  She answered questions from the students too, and explained how Garath had worked hard to overcome his stammer so that he was able to follow his dreams and pursue the career he had always wanted -

He never gave up

I think this was the message that really hit home to the students.  The look of realisation on their faces was easy to spot - if Garath could overcome what he had, and still become successful, what was there to stop them?

It was a lovely moment

Bradford is full of amazingly talented young people, who just haven't had the chance, or the right people to guide them into exploring their talents fully.

With places like The Gates Academy, children will have that chance to excel and to be coached properly, giving them a real opportunity to grow, prosper and achieve.

Amazing Stuff!

Gates Academy Bradford
Location: Dixons City Academy
Ripley Street
Bradford
BD5 7RR 
Email: gatesacademy@hotmail.com

Telephone: 07971 043633

Having Garath Gates in school today really brightened up the day - and without a doubt this academy in Bradford will give lots of young people a chance to brighten their futures too

National Coal Mining Museum

I've been looking through some of the photo's on my phone recently and I came across a few from family days out we went on during the summer holidays.

One of these days out was spent at the National Coal Mining Museum in Overton, Wakefield.

The day was brilliant and in my opinion the Underground Tour of the mine itself was the absolute best part.

Well, it kept two hyper seven year old boys interested and enthralled all the way through, so it must have been fab!

We chose a perfect sunny day to head on over to Wakefield and spent the first part of our afternoon at NCM looking around the museum itself.

It was really informative and interesting, but to be honest, it went over the kiddies heads a little bit.  I think to fully appreciate all that this section of the museum has to offer - the history of the coal mines; the coal strikes; the problems faced by the miners, it is more suited to children older than seven years.

We did have a look around non the less, and even though we seemed to rush around faster than everyone else, we did pick up some really interesting facts.  We then seemed to spend an age browsing around the gift shop, with the boys trying to buy as much as they possibly could - typical.

I think its important to point out at this point, that whilst the museum itself is free to walk around, you do have to pay a refundable fee of £2.50 per person if you are planning on taking the Underground Tour.

This is a necessity as buying a "check" allows the museum to calculate just how many people are underground at any one time.  At the same time as buying your check, you are given a specific time slot for the tour - only a certain number of people are allowed "down t'pit" at any one time.

We didn't know any of this when we arrived, and I'm so glad we asked someone - we almost missed out on the last tour of the day...I can just imagine how that conversation would have gone with the kiddies if we hadn't realised in time....

As we had little a bit of a wait before our tour, we bought a ticket, for only a few pounds, for the short return ride on the steam train on site.

The children really enjoyed this, and although there is an option to get off and have a little walk around whilst the train comes back again, we decided to stay on, and get back to the museum in time for the much awaited tour.

Which was brilliant.

From start to finish the tour guides were so friendly, so welcoming, so loud and so very very Yorkshire.
They are all former miners, so they certainly know their stuff.

I just loved them and their down to earth, friendly nature.

We were first led into the lamp room and had to hand over our belongings - which is why this post is very lacking in pictures...cameras and phones are a no-no in the mine.

We were then each given a hard hat and battery lamp to wear for the duration of the tour - safety first!

After a safety briefing, we were then led into the tiniest lift, or "cage" and slooowly began our decent 140m under ground.

Whilst the cage was pritty small and a very tight squeeze, it didn't bother me too much, and I'm not all that good with enclosed spaces to be honest.

I think the experience of the tour guide helped with this - he talked throughout the descent, putting everyone at ease and making us all laugh throughout.  And it was over in no time at all - a few minutes maximum, so wasn't that unbearable at all.

Once out of the cage, the tour began.

We were led through the coal mines, and explored all of the different aspects of mining.  From mine conditions in Victorian Times and improvements through the decades, to examples of advancements in mining equipment - no stone was left unturned.

We really experienced just how bad early miners had it!

At one point we were even told to switch off our battery lights - the only source of light in the mine, and the utter darkness was truly shocking.  It really brought home the reality of what having to work in such conditions all day everyday was like - it's unthinkable that people had to do it really.

The guide we had during our tour was very child friendly.  He made sure all of the children were engaged and having fun - even encouraging them to lead the adults and walk up front, which naturally they all loved.

My son Charlie particularly found the guide amazing - especially when he threw a stick of "dynamite" at him.

For days afterwards, Charlie commented at just how lucky he had been to not have blown up - so cute.

The little ones also had the option of exploring parts of the mine through specially designed areas which were really low to the ground and very tight squeezes, allowing them to get a real feel of the cramped conditions.

My very own Big Kid aka "Husband" also found this bit too hard to resist - he loved scrambling around!

The tour lasted about an hour or so and then it was time to head back up in the cage to ground level.

The NCM has lots to offer.

Whether it be a family day out, a school trip or a corporate event, the information found on the NCM website is brilliant: http://www.ncm.org.uk/home

We had a fab day, and I'd definitely recommend a day out at NCM to anyone, come rain or shine.

(I would suggest to take a picnic though, I found the cafe slightly pricey and I personally didn't rate the food that I ate too highly, but then again, this may just have been because we arrived quite late in the day.)

Lots of informative fun and activities for kiddies - young AND old.

Jack Flash, On't Sofa, a VIP Guest List & The Verve, Huddersfield

It's not a usual occurrence for me to find myself on any guest list of any sort.

Especially a guest list of a VIP showcase of some amazing talent.

And talent in the form of Jack Flash no less!

But low - and - behold that's exactly the situation I  found my self in last night!

Quite amazing stuff eh!

The "VIP Guestlist" event was held at Huddersfield's The Verve Bar.  The bar is a really laid back, informal student-type bar, but it's definitely not like any of the bar's I visited back in my Uni days I can tell you!

The Verve is fairly small, with both an upstairs and downstairs seating area.  There is a balcony upstairs that overlooks a beautifully lit "stage" area, which is perfect for live VIP performances.  :)

Good Lights!

The decor of Verve is pritty unique too.  Whilst you have the usual bar table and chairs, there is also the odd brown leather sofa and chair combo thrown in, adding a bit of "classic sophistication".

There are old...well...what can only be described as school D.T woodwork benches - dotted around, now living life out as tables, whilst padded sections of gymnastic vaults act as seats - genius.

The walls hold a mis-mashed mixture of framed portraits, cartoon drawings and collages, that all "just work" together, to add to The Verve's unique look.

I particularly liked the "Customer's Must Not " notice standing proudly next to the bar.  It made me wonder just how many times any of them have actually been heard by the bar staff!

The bar staff were really friendly and approachable too.  And the alcohol was cheap - always a bonus!

So that's the bar, now we need the VIP

And yep, the VIP of the evening was Huddersfield born MC, songwriter and producer Jack Flash (www.jackflashuk.co.uk).

I first heard of Jack Flash numerous months ago, when the Hubby was listening to battles on YouTube.  I've always liked watching the battles and appreciate the talent that the battlers have.

But when I first heard Jack Flash, I remember taking a bit more notice than usual.  

Listening to "There No More" for the first time, I was hooked - it's just - "Wow".

It's a very moving, emotional song, and not something you can listen to just once.  It's too thought provoking - you need to hear it again and again.  I loved it.

Naturally then, when The Other Half announced that he had an invite to a "if your names not down, you're not coming in" showcase of Jack Flash with his new live band, and that little old me was to be the "Plus 1" on the invite, I did a little happy dance - I was an extremely happy bunny.

And trust me, I was not disappointed.

The performance was beyond fantastic.

The passion Jack Flash has for what he does came through in every single song.  The lyrics were so real, hard-hitting and meaningful.  I was totally drawn in.

Having invited only a select few people, the atmosphere was really intimate and relaxed, and obviously with everybody there being fans, and really feeling the energy coming from Jack Flash and the band, the vibe in the room was fantastic.

On't Sofa - www.ontsofa.com -  (Twitter, Facebook) were there too, and they captured the whole performance... kinda hoping they didn't capture me in the "audience shots" though I must admit!  :)

On't Sofa are a fairly new music and video channel, who work with musicians all across the spectrum, from Indie to R&B to Hip Hop and beyond.  They work throughout the UK and are passionate about bringing real, live music to audiences, without editing or changing the live sound at all.  It really is a case of "What You See (or hear) Is What You Get", ensuring audiences hear the true, brilliant sound of the artist.

And tonight was no exception

We were treated to a rendition of Jack Flash's new song "Dangerous Pursuit", which was also filmed with On't Sofa earlier.  It went down a treat - another bit of fantastic 'story telling'!

Then, to top off his performance, Jack Flash decided to give us a bit of a freestyle.  And when I say "a bit of a freestyle" I mean a fantastic, extremely clever kind of a freestyle.

The crowd totally loved it!

And what wasn't to love.

To use my favourite word again - it was amazing.

So amazing in fact, I thought a quote from it was very apt:

"this year here, next year the O2"

I don't doubt that one bit

The band kept the crowd captivated and were crazily good.  They just fit together perfectly, creating an addictive sound you just wanted to hear again and again.  There's no way anyone would ever think that they haven't been playing with Jack Flash for years.

Astoundingly talented people.

I think I may even have fallen a little bit in love with the beautiful, sultry voice of Jade America Harris.  Her voice complements Jack Flash's style perfectly.

I had a fantastic night, and was honored to be able to be there...I can't wait until next time!

Jack Flash is crazy talented...and a really nice guy too...he even stopped for photographs.  :)

If you haven't checked him out before, then you really need to, even if you don't think this style of music is for you - trust me, have a listen and you'll change your mind.

He's fab!

"Progression" is out now too to buy on iTunes for £6.99 - bargain.

Now I've just got to persuade The Husband that I need the album more than he does!!

Coffee at Coffea

Blogging has definitely upped my social life ten fold since I began a little over three weeks ago.  I've been lucky enough to get myself a few fab invites and to meet some lovely people (even if I am a little bit of a gatecrasher sometimes!)

The wonderful Kelly asked me to join her for a get together in Leeds, organised by another very wonderful lady Yuna, and obviously I jumped at the chance to tag along.

And that's exactly what I found myself doing this Saturday afternoon.

After about twenty minutes of people watching in the train station (I'm a little bit nosey!), I met Kelly and her two very own Mini - Bloggers and we headed on over to Leeds.

Our destination: Coffea.

Now, despite me going to Uni in Leeds for three years I'm terrible at finding my way around, but luckily I had Kelly on hand to take charge and lead the way, and Coffea was only a short walk away - we even arrived early and found Kelly waiting for us.  The rest of the ladies - Michelle, Yuna, Kerys and Emily  arrived very shortly after, and in we all went.

Coffea is a small yet perfectly formed coffee shop, situated very close to Leeds train station.  Coffea offer a wide selection of fresh, handmade sandwiches, salads and cakes, as well as a range of warm drinks.

Coffea's "Mission Statement" promotes customer satisfaction.  Staff are trained to provide high quality customer service and are encouraged to ensure every customer stepping through the door relaxes, enjoys and savours.

And savour we did.

After being encouraged to take over the "comfy corner" in the shop, we were all given a complementary warm drink of choice from the lovely Coffea staff - how fantastic!

Naturally, we just had to order something to satisfy our rumbling tummies to go with it too.

Coffea has a good selection of both savory and sweet treats to choose from.  From sandwiches to salads, cheesecake to cookies, there was a lot to keep everyone going - even the most sweet tooth couldn't fail to be satisfied.

Along side all the sweet goodies, Coffea also offer healthy snacks.  They stock snack bars, frusli bars and fruit and I found this made a very refreshing change.  Usually, when grabbing a snack if I'm out and about, I find it really difficult to find a place that offers a healthy alternative to the sweet stuff.  Coffea definitely tick this box and provide options for every customer, whether they be sweet toothed or a health fanatic.

Saying that though - I just couldn't resist the pull of the sugar!

I opted for a large caffeine boost in the form of a white coffee, accompanied by a huge, frosting covered slice of very yummy looking carrot cake.  I was told it tasted even better than it looked and that was it, I was sold - I just couldn't resist.

Healthy eating plan well and truly out of the window.

But I have to admit, it was worth every single little calorie.  It was absolutely gorgeous and very obviously freshly made.

The other girls food choices ranged from warm sandwiches to meatballs - and they all looked amazing.

I really wish I'd gone all out now and opted for food and cake.

Judging from the comments that were made, I'd say that the warm food tasted as good as the cake did.

Once refueled, we relaxed, had a chat and got to know each other a little better.  We were joined by Arash, and Yuna brought us all some goodies out (Yay!). 

 I've heard good things about Teapigs, so was thrilled to be given two of their flavoured teas to try at home - Liquorice and Peppermint, and a very intriguing Silver Tips White Tea, adorned with a great white shark picture.  Can't wait to give these a whirl.

(Oh, and Thank You Michelle's Dad - my 7 year old loves the torch pen and has claimed it as his own.)

Tea

 If I had to find anything, my only niggle with Coffea is that they didn't have a toilet facility available for customers.  Now, usually, this wouldn't be a real issue for me if I was out on my own, but being a Mum, I know just how important a toilet break can be.  Today, Kelly had her two lovely Mini-Bloggers with her who, after a few juices, needed to pop to the loo.

Kelly had to nip out and take the kiddies down the road, which broke up our get together for a little while and I could see this causing other visitors a similar problem if they were to sit and stay in Coffea for a while.

However, this aside, I had a great afternoon.  Good Food, Good Coffee and Good Company in a really nice, friendly, relaxing environment.

Coffea obviously value their customer's opinions too, as they have a huge feature on one wall, made of a large Community Board.   Customers are encouraged to pin their opinions and thoughts about the experience they had during their visit for all to see.

The food is lovely and the coffee is delicious.

Don't just take my word for it - pop along and try Coffea out for yourself

www.ilovecoffea.com

Book Review: "Eric Elmoor and the Gauntlet of Godric"

I have read so many books, I think it's only fair I share the odd review with you now and again.

I think it's about time I posted another.

Now I absolutely loved this book.  I understand the genre may not be to everyone's taste - it's a little bit Harry Potter, a little bit Lord Of The Rings - but it was right up my street.

The author, Tommy Meyers , lives in America and is absolutely brilliant - he's a really funny guy and thinks nothing of speaking to his fans via the social network sites.  He has assured us that this book is the first in a series of five.  The second of which is currently in the process of being written.

I can't wait to be able to cast my eyes over it.

You won't be disappointed with this.... fingers crossed it too becomes a  huge, successful film!

Eric Elmoor and the Gaunlet of Godric

Thomas .A. Meyers

I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone and everyone – I am anxiously awaiting the next installment…thank goodness there are another four to come!

The story transports you into a mythical, fantasy world filled with magic, mythical creatures and evil beings, all trying to be ruled by the rising of the technological world.

The characters are well described and are all very believable. I found myself feeling what Eric was feeling, and felt passionate for him to overcome the obstacles put in his way and for him to strive to be the best he could be…I was also very desperate for him to “get the girl”!

The plot is very well thought out, and the story is pieced together by giving the three main characters viewpoints at simultaneous times – Eric, Derex and Ben. The reader is able to see the struggles, the pains and the anxieties each character is going through, and can then bring these different views into the experiences of the others, giving a fuller, wider understanding of what was happening and why…brilliant! Particularly brilliant I felt, when it came to understanding Derex. Yes, Derex is the “villain”, but by having his views explored first hand, you are able to understand that he isn’t simply being evil for evils sake – he has his own personal justification for needing to do the things he does. However devastating they may be.

The concept of racism is a huge part of the story, and is developed very well. Eric is viewed as “different” by most people he encounters throughout his life, whether that be the people within the city he has lived all of his life, or with the elves he is very newly acquainted with.  Eric is labelled “a half-blood” and this story illustrates his inner struggles and torments at dealing with the set backs such a label can bring. It also helps to show that regardless of how different the people all over Novogard think they are from each other, they are all actually fairly similar. Whether they be an Elf living in the highest treetops of Fairwood, or a rich human living in luxury within the city of Gondlair, they are all united in their alienation of people viewed as “different”. Personally for me, this really brought home how this concept is mirrored in much of society today, and I really liked how the story explored this point.

Right up my street!! - 5*

Morgan Clare Fashion Bloggers Event 2013

Last night I was an extremely lucky lady and was invited (Thank You Kelly!) to attend a bloggers fashion show, organised by the lovely people at Morgan Clare in Harrogate, collaborated with Voir Fashion Magazine.

This was my first experience of an event like this, and I was absolutely delighted.

Morgan Clare are a lovely boutique, situated within a quiet part of Harrogate.  They first opened their doors in 1997, and have grown, expanded and developed into the treasure trove of beautiful designer fashion that they are today.

Morgan Clare promote a relaxing, pleasurable shopping environment, and deliver the ethos of customer satisfaction.  No matter if you are lucky enough to visit the store itself, or are shopping on line (www.morganclare.co.uk), Morgan Clare believe customer service should be of the highest standard.

It was very easy to see why the store has won numerous awards, including "Best New Store" and "Best Designer Store",  as well as being listed in Vogue as one of Britain's Top Boutiques.

From the outside in, Morgan Clare oozes class, luxury and sophistication -   I loved it instantly.

Once we entered, we were greeted instantaneously with a lovely glass of champagne and the most adorable cupcakes I have ever seen -  even the strawberries were covered in sparkles!!

They were delicious.

And then as if that wasn't enough of a fantastic greeting, the lovely ladies at Morgan Clare encouraged everyone to enter a prize draw where one lucky lady would win a beautiful piece of Daisy jewellery.

It is safe to say, we were incredibly spoilt!

After the amazing reception, we were let loose to browse the store and I absolutely fell in love.

Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Diane Von Furstenberg were just a few of the amazing designers on show.  Every item, every style of shoe and every handbag were all so different, but all so similar in that they were beautifully made...and to die for!

The Designer-Girl in me was in her absolute element

Alexander McQueen

Stella McCartney

The highlight of the evening - can it get any better - came in the form of the fashion show.

The store was turned into a catwalk, and the uber sophisticated models showcased perfectly the gorgeous pieces available in Morgan Clare's AW2013 range.

Every blogger had their favourite piece - I particularly fell in love with the black and white Stella McCartney pencil dress and the MSGM Brocade Floral Print Sweater...then again, the Floral Flute Dress (also by MSGM) was stunning too.

All too soon it was time to leave, but Morgan Clare had yet another treat in store before we departed.  We were all given a Morgan Clare goody bag filled with lovely things to take home with us.

!Amazing!

The evening was an definite success - and I even met some fantastic blogger ladies too, who I hope to meet again in the very near future.

Now - is it the Stella McCartney dress or the Alexander McQueen Clutch??

Decisions, decisions...!

Book Review - "Attic Of The Mind"

I thought I would post another review of a fantastic book I have read quite recently, whilst being a part of Orchard Book Club.

Hemmie Martin was extremely kind and posted me an actual signed paper copy of this book - I was a very giddy lady when it arrived I can tell you.  It's one of my most treasured possessions  - my first ever signed book.

I really did enjoy reading this story and couldn't put it down once I'd started.

Here is my review - I hope you like it!  :)

Attic Of The Mind

Hemmie Martin

"Attic of the Mind" is the gripping tale set 25 years after Lilith Fields was a patient of a psychiatric ward, and suffered abuse at the hands of Walker, the supposed trusted ward nurse.

Lily has waited, and suffered, for a lifetime for her moment to extract revenge on Walker, and Dr Nathan Rine, the trainee doctor who chose to stand by, thinking of his own future career and allowed her abuse to continue, unreported.

However, will Lily be able to see her plans through in order to claim her long awaited happy ending, or will her demons prove too strong for her to overcome?

I found this story gripping and very difficult to put down. Each chapter ended in such a way that it was impossible not to continue.

The characters are very well developed, and they are all very "real", each with their own flaws, issues and secrets, making the story even more believable.

I thought the plot was well developed. The subject of abuse would always be a difficult topic to read about, and initially I thought I may find sections of this story hard because of this. However, the author handled the subject very sensitively, and no difficult details were elaborated upon more than they needed to be.

This doesn't mean that the story is any less hard hitting, or the plot hindered in any way - it isn't. The author gives just enough information, in such a way that your imagination is able to piece together what has happened without actually reading lots of harrowing details.

I also thought it was a plus how even though Walker is the obvious hated character of the story, he has a section of his own childhood and private life opened up by the author, allowing you to see reasons as to why he became such a dark and destructive man, and inflicted so much pain on his victims.

I would recommend this story - how can you not love a book full of suspense, cliff-hangers, and with a huge twist at the end!!? :)

Brilliant - 4*!

Outfit of the Day

It was back to work for me today and earlier this morning I was feeling slightly nervous to be honest.  But - I have survived, and I even enjoyed the chaos a little bit.

I didn't enjoy the 5am alarm call, but I suppose I'll fall back into the routine of it soon enough.

Anyway, in preparation for "the big back to work day", I knew that I needed to hunt down some clothes acceptable for work, and as cheaply as possible.

As it was the Little Man's first day back at school yesterday, once I'd seen him into his new Year 3 class - fighting back tears and trying not to be "The Embarrassing Mum" bawling in the playground - I decided to go home and rake through all of my old, not-worn-for-ages clothes hidden away in the depths of my wardrobe, in a hope I could come up with some smart outfits for "back to work".

Ideally, I would have liked to have been able to rake through Primark and purchase a whole selection of new purse-friendly outfits, but my funds are a little...well...a lot non exsistant at the minute- even for a Primark splurge!!

I suppose that comes from a six week holiday spent entertaining a seven year old and his friends with day trips, gift shops and other costly activities.

Anyway, after spending most of the day rummaging about, knee deep in clothing, I did manage to come across a few little surprises.  Hidden between jumpers that were squashed together, and sandwiched under a pile of old jeans, were things I'd totally forgotten about!

"New" outfits without spending! Fab - and now I have a little bit of a "new" work wardrobe to start me off nicely.

After all of this hard work (!!), I decided that now is as good a time as any to post my FIRST ever "Outfit of The Day".

And my first ever photo of me!!  :)

Obviously I need to be smart/casual working with children and appropriately covered up, so today I opted for a full on Primark outfit, apart from the flip flops, which are New Look...but ancient New Look, and by ancient I mean about 7 years old.  They have seen better days I have to admit, but because they are so plain, they go with just about anything, and I can't bring myself to throw them away.

I bought all the items I'm wearing quite a while ago and I doubt they're in stock now, but you never know.  However I'm pritty certain New Look stopped stocking the flip flops a good long while ago!!   :)

It's me (eek!!).  And yep, I felt a wally posing and sorry about the background - I will do better next time!  :)

Primark:

• Black jersey midi dress with white polka dots

• Black Cardigan

• White strappy vest

New Look:

• Gold Flip Flops - trust me, they are that battered, you wouldn't want a photo of them!!  ;)

It was all about comfort and practicality today.  The cardigan and vest (under the dress) helped to "cover up" a little bit.  Plus wearing a cardie is really useful.  I'm usually running around after numerous 12 year olds and it gets a tad warm, so a cardigan's perfect to just be able to ditch on the run. Literally!!

I love this midi dress.  It covers me up and is a good length for work.  I think the materials a little bit clingy around the tummy (urgh!) but because it has a waist tie belt in the same material as the dress it helps the material at the top drape a bit and helps disguise said problem area.

And I finished off with the ancient flip flops! They are a bit of a death trap to try attempt to run up a flight of stairs in, but they go with the dress, and if I remember to run slowly, I'm usually OK.

Plus they're much safer than heels....!!

I don't really wear much jewellery for work - I like to keep things plain, simple and un-fussy.

And that's that.

Simple, wardrobe-recycled, work outfit.