Hardly speaking a word

I heard this song whilst watching a crime drama on the beeb today.

I'll set the scene for you.

A father drives miles to pick up his young daughter from a bus station because she got the wrong bus and didn't have enough money to get home.  

She'd spent all her money on stuff and a present for her dad.

At first he was mad. Why didn't she call?  Why did she wait for him to check on her?

Then she tells him she was trying to be independent and explains were all her money went.

So they both hug and she says she's sorry and he says he's sorry and then this song starts to play.

Then I thought I like it.  Who sings it? Then I found it.  It's by a lady called Lori Mckenna.

Happy listening.

aahhhhhhhhhhh stains stains go away.

This is one of my favourite dresses in my world - bought from my favourite shop Ribbons and Taylor for a whole £24.  This is also the photo I took after a big oily orange greasy stain was removed.

I feel proud.

You see, I decided to sit at the table on the floor, put my nachos at arms length and try and get the food into my mouth as quickly as I could before it fell onto me and my white dress.

I thought I'd be alright and after my first nacho I wasn't.

Splish splash splosh. Aaahhhhhhh from me, ahhhhhhhhh from my flatemates, my mouth wide open as we all slowly looked at the big brown stain on my lap.  But I wasn't so panicked, because I had Bicarbonate of Soda. 

So if this should ever happen to you... do as follows....

*Soak the stain and sprinkle with Bicarbonate of Soda (I was going to abbreviate to BOS, but didn't)

*Let stain seep through, then scrap away powder and repeat until bored. (I did it about 6 times)

*Pop into washing machine on delicate cycle (I dry clean nothing)

*Pray a little if you are religious.  I'm not, but I wish a lot and hope who ever hears wishes is listening.

*Take out of machine and take a deep breath and hold it up and try and find the stain.

* If the stain is still there...then sorry I don't know what to suggest next. But if it's not...

*Let the dress dry in the sunshine.

*Stand back and try and spot the stain.  Stand closer and try and spot the stain.

*Can't see anything?

*Then smile a big big smile and be happy. 

X

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe.

I just stumbled on this picture a few days ago and thought WOW.

Have you seen the film my  My week with Marilyn? 

I saw it a few years ago and fell in love with Marilyn and thought WOW. 

Then I read so much about her, googled her until I thought it was time to read something else and read a list of quotes that shattered the perception of her being a dumb blonde.

How can someone be such a superstar and be so vulnerable.  Be so adored and yet seek to be so loved?  But I guess she's no different from any of us. I suppose. 

Just wanted to share this pretty picture.

Happy at Hepwright's

I found my sanctuary today in Southampton.  I needed it because I was a little out of sorts.

I had the feeling you get when you say yes to a job and plan to move 300 miles to a city you've never paid any attention to.

I'd been up since 5 am and here since 9 am looking for a place to call home and trying to find things to like to ease the transition from North to South.

Hepwright's today was truly my sunshine on a rainy day.

I stepped into familiarity - bright colours, tempting clothes and a fabulous welcome.  The owner Catherine Wright bellows you in.

Standing behind the counter, her red curly locks were tamed by a vintage scarf.  Wearing a beautiful embroidered Kaftan she sashayed towards me.  The lady of vintage quickly got to work on getting to know who I am.  

I think she's genuinely interested and she'll remember you, your story and what you bought when you come back. 

Wright is passionate about what she does and cares how you look in her clothes.  

She's honest.  Her nose has scrunched up a few times, when I've come out of the dressing room and we've both agreed what I'm wearing isn't really right for me.

But I like that.  

Catherine is cleverer than just being honest to the detriment of her business.  She makes sure she flips it upside very quickly - so there's no time to dwell on how you look because she's there in a flash with smiling eyes and a bunch of things in her hands.

If your dress isn't sitting right, she'll whisk around her shop grabbing solutions - fabric, shoulder pads, belts, heels an alternative frock - to make everything good again.

There's plenty of everything here.  Dresses, belts, shoes, scarfs, happiness, personality and warm glows and good tunes.

You can hire clothes, sell them, buy them, go in and try them.

When I think of Hepwright's I think of Catherine - chatting to her customers, making a new cage bird feature decorated with earrings, sitting in the shop window re-stitching a dainty frock or declaring how hungry she is and leaving you there alone whilst she runs across the road to get the best cheese sandwich you've ever tasted - so she says :0).

I think of her whistling while she works.  The quirky fairy godmother of vintage waiting for all the plain Janes in Southampton to walk through the door so she can get them ready for the ball.

I bought this delightful skirt and jacket combo made of silk for £25.  I've worn the skirt with a white vest top and I love it. 

Glamour magazine last year said "Hepwright's is one of those vintage shops in the UK you need to know about."  

I agree.

You need to know about her shop and get a little sprinkle of Catherine Wright's magic vintage fairy dusk too.

Happy shopping.

A little bit of Folksy browsing does you good

I found this brilliant website.  It's a place you can buy beautiful handmade gifts and craft supplies from British designers and makers.

I've seen cute dresses.  Cute tops. Cute accessories.

I've spent a little time lost in its pages and have put a lot of things in my Folksy wish bucket.

If you have some time have a look too.