Hand luggage only...

This weekend I am off to Madrid for a few days to stay with my lovely friend C.  I have just finished packing and rather wish that the contents of my suitcase looked like this:

Instead they actually look like this:

I travel fairly frequently and like to feel organised when I am going away. Over the years I have developed a few tricks that make packing easier.  I have a standard list of toiletries that I work from each time and just adapt slightly depending on where I am going and how long I am staying.  I have another list of items that I always travel with like my phone charger, a book, my leather folding photo frame and a scarf.  The rest I work out based on the type and length of trip.

I think having the right sized bag makes a big difference; that way you aren't tempted to take too much or forced to take to little.  I have the perfect cabin sized suitcase that is ideal for this kind of trip.  This weekend's packing includes:

Jeans

Black skirt

Long sleeved t-shirt x 2

Vests x 3

Lace jumper

Sparkly top

Evening dress

Pyjamas

2 x ballet pumps

Trainers

Evening bag

Day bag

Jewellery

Toiletries

Camera

I try to pick a colour palette and stick to clothes in that range.  That way it is much easier to mix and match.  This weekend I will mostly be wearing navy blue and brown.  With a purple dress thrown in for good measure!

Have fun whatever you are up to and what ever colour you are wearing!

Long over due...

I haven't written a post for what feels like an absolute age and I have a million and one excuses.  The last month at work has been beyond busy, I was in Birmingham for nearly two weeks then headed straight off for a family holiday in Dorset.  So maybe not a million and one but valid excuses nonetheless!

So, to recap last month I set myself the challenge of not spending any money for the whole of November and I have to say that I was rather pleased with how well I managed.  I will admit that Spirit of Christmas proved rather too tempting for me and I was unable to resist a few purchases, but in my defence they were all gifts for other people.  I started my Christmas shopping early-ish and bought some beautiful presents.

I managed to stick to my guns for the rest of the month and didn't buy anything that wasn't on my allowed list.  Until that is I fell in love with a punch bowl.  It has a beautifully elegant shape and a glass ladle and is entirely impractical!  I will endeavour to take a photo of it for my next post, hopefully filled with a delicious festive tipple!

My bank account was noticeably healthier and I felt very pleased with my own restraint.  I may do the same in January, if only to make up for December which has been the polar opposite of a no spend month!

No spend month...

After reading about another Jess' intentions to have a month of not spending on her brilliant blog Knitting on Trains I decided to set myself the same challenge.

Today is payday so my month will be 28th October - 28th November.  I will admit that this month is a little, tiny bit of a cheat month as I am away with work from 19-28th November and will have meals provided along with a per diem for any other essentials. However, there are still 21 days of temptation available to me!  Days which include an invite to Spirit of Christmas.  I have no idea how I will manage to resist!

I have made myself a list of things that I am allowed to spend on and things that I am not:

Allowed                                Not allowed

Mortgage                             Clothes, shoes, handbags

Bills                                       Books

Food                                      Make Up & toiletries

Travel                                    Lunches

Planned socialising          Knick-Knacks, specifically vintage plates!

                                               Cards & stationery

                                               Jewellery & accessories

I am hoping to see how much money I usually fritter away over a month and then put that towards Christmas presents next month.

I'll let you know how I get on, so wish me luck!

Behind the scenes...

On Monday we received a SOS call from Westfield Shopping Centre.  They had been let down by the team who they were expecting to run their demo theatre at the grand opening.  We managed to get some of the MasterChef finalists to come and cook on stage; they sent over their recipes and we worked out a shopping and equipment list.

Westfield Stratford have a purpose built demo stage in situ as part of their Great Eastern Market so I headed down there on Tuesday morning.  I travel with my own bag of tricks as there are never any measuring spoons, blue plasters or enough tea towels.  The really essential items in life!

We had a great day and made some amazing dishes.  I managed to snap a few behind the scenes photos of the cookery demonstrations.

Apologies for the terrible photos - I only had my iPhone with me!

A bit more packing...

Tomorrow the husband and I head off on our summer holidays.  We are going to St. Jean de Luz for a week and I could not be more excited.

I am so looking forward to a week of lying on the beach, walking along the cliff tops, eating delicious food and drinking a little too much wine.  With that said I am also looking forward to packing my suitcase up and believe I have devised the perfect packing list for a week away at the beach.

Here's what I will be taking:

Two bikinis - the same style, different colours.
Sunhats - one oversized floppy affair for when I want to channel Sophia Loren, one more understated Panama.
Four T-shirts - some plain, some striped
Jacket - an evening cover up. I have opted for a denim jacket. Simple & goes with everything.
Skirt - again denim.
Cardigan
Sarong
Beach cover-up - I have an oversized White cotton shirt that does the job.
Two maxi dresses - perect for the evening and easy to dress up or down.
Chinos - just in case the weather turns!
Tan clutch bag
Navy evening bag
Beach bag
Tan clogs
Navy Birkenstocks
Leopard print flats
Navy ballet pumps
Dress up/down dress - this one is black, goes with all the shoes.
Day dress - I actually have 2 of these, one striped and one geometric print.
Scarf
Jeans
Hoodie

If we had any special plans then I would add to this with one extra dress. And that's the lot!

Preparing for the week ahead...

I don't like Sunday evenings;  the end of the weekend, a period of limbo before work begins again.  They remind me of going back to school, of feeling nervous.  I have a Sunday evening routine to prepare me for the week ahead.

I like to make sure that my clothes for the working week are ready.  I realise that this next admission tips me slightly over the acceptable side of organised but I like to have all 5 days planned and arranged.  (This includes shoes, jewellery and handbag!) Sunday evening is also a time for grooming; eyebrows tidied, nails painted, a hot bath and face pack.

I try to make sure that the flat is spic and span, that all our washing is done and put away and that we have clean sheets on our bed.  When that's all done I sit down and decide what we will have for dinner each evening.

With all that in hand I take myself off to bed with a nice cup of tea and have an early night so that I am ready for Monday morning!

Two weddings and a dog-sitter...

This week is the week of weddings. We have the husband's sister's wedding on Thursday and then my sister's wedding on Saturday. I love a wedding so am in my element. The fact that we have two in such close proximity means lists and planning, and as much as I love a wedding I think I may love a list more!

Unfortunately Bingo is not invited to either so he is off to the country for a mini break.

Our wedding schedule starts at the Crazy Bear in Stadhampton and finishes at St. Paul's Cathedral. Yes, St. Paul's Cathedral. I am beyond excited about both. I know that they will both be amazing and both be so different. Updates to follow.

One of my favourite things...

I am just going to come out and say it...I love packing.  I know that most people find this more than a little strange, the husband can't fathom how I can happily spend an evening folding clothes into neat piles, editing these and then lovingly packing into suitcases.


I think that this love is strongly linked to my love of lists, the two really go hand in hand.  Obviously I write my own lists, then I stumbled across this on Wearing It Today.  It is the perfect accompaniment to my pages of scribblings.