Spring Dressing

As the sun has come out this week-end, I have to ask coming from a sunny country, why when the sun comes out in England do people think its time to take their clothes off and not put any sunscreen on, choosing rather to go a choice of blushing salmon pink?  While driving home yesterday afternoon, which was nice but not excessively hot I noticed a guy on the top of the bus who had taken his top off, I’m really hoping he wasn’t all sweaty when he sat down on the seat, and I noticed a girl walking down the road with what looked like a long top but it was a dress.  When I went for a walk later I was behind two girls with denim shorts on which were encroaching up their bums and there tops were half showing there boobs and too tight.  I had to ask myself at what stage do you look in the mirror and think that looks okay?  They were with their mom too, could she not of said something.  Remember as a rule of thumb if your top is a bit revealing perhaps were another sun top underneath and don’t wear revealing shorts or skirts with this top.  Rather wear longer shorts a skirt still above the knee but perhaps a bit flarely.  If you are wearing a short skirt/shorts don’t wear a revealing top.  Wear a bit of a flary top and one that does not show your tummy.  And remember if your shorts cause a muffin top at the tops of your legs they are too short, too tight so a big NO!!

Opinion over and moving on to a nifty idea instead of having crisps to eat when you want a mid afternoon savoury snack, home popped popcorn.  I’ve been filling a Tupperware in the evening when I make a small pan of self popped popcorn (this way I can control the oil use) and now I’m not munching crisps come the mid afternoon slump. 

I have also discovered for a super smooth skin that a rice exfoliator is the way to go.  I’ve been using the Lotus Flower and Rice Milk from Rituals.  Because it has tiny rice grains in it, as you gently rub, you rub until the grain is dissolved which combined with a bunch of other things leaves your skin feeling ultra smooth and soft, not to mention glowing to. 

Now I know I sound like a broken record but I hope you are all still doing your squats and calf raises while brushing your teeth, every little bit helps.  I’m really enjoying my glute exercises at the moment, doing 20 slowly for a count of 5 three times a week has really made a difference.  I really think I’m getting into the do more do less mode.  I didn’t even do a big run this week but sprinted up and down the hill 10 times instead, I was pooped afterwards. 

Now as Spring is defiantly here on this side of the globe, I thought I’d put on a few outfits of what to wear when you just don’t know.

And this is the dress on, I've got Nude shoes on
but it looks great with knee high boots too 

This is New Look Pattern 6045, the same as the Green
Oriental Dress on my sewing page, easy to make and
the lace adds a touch of something not sure what
though.

Want to dress up your shorts for Saturday drinks now the nights are lighter, heels and a smarter top.
This is the same top as the green one I made.  So glad I managed to get a pattern off the bought top.
So if you can sew grab a top that looks easy and make your own pattern and get going.  If not find a friend who can. 
I like that this top has elastic at the bottom so it folds under, is great casual or dressed up. 

Recognise this dress, is the red one I made for winter, I cut the sleeves out and now have a great summer/spring work dress.  Easiest job for a new dress, alter one you have or find a friend who can. 

Table cloth

Yikes I hadn’t realised I hadn’t blogged last week....ooops!!!

Well yesterday I finally made my round table cloth.  Now I know this might sound boring but with me, never.  Firstly I measure my round table and I needed 150cm by 150cm material.  I wanted a green with some detail on it, preferably silky to go with the green pink in the lounge.  After searching my local material shop, my mom suggested a sheet.  So I looked for duvet covers, no luck.  Then I found some on Amazon.  A bit about sceptical buying material online but it looked just like I wanted so after a bit of uhming and ahhing I clicked buy.  Only to say nooooooooooooooooo when the email came through saying dispatched.  I had only ordered a meter.  It arrived was exactly what I wanted so I decided to get 3 black 20cm cut, one to go down the middle and one down each side.  Then I cut the green material down the middle only to cut down the 1m middle and not the 150cm middle.  Eeek.  So I sewed that back together and then cut down the right centre and added the 3 strips.  Then I phoned my mom in South Africa to tell me how to make it because I couldn’t find a simple way on you tube.  The result

The easy mom steps of how to make a round table cloth: 

1.        Measure the diameter o the table, mine was 120cm. 

2.       Add the drop and seam allowance for both sides of the tables.  I wanted a 3cm drop and 2cm seam.  So I added 10 cm.  Making it 130cm.

3.       Then take your material and fold in half to get a fold line.  

4.       Then fold in half again the opposite way, like folding a sheet, forming a square. 

5.       Place a pin (pin 1) in the centre of the first fold, which is the fold line of your second fold. 

6.       Fold back so you just have the first fold with the centre pin in. 

7.       Then divide your diameter (mine is 130cm) by 2.  Giving me 65cm.

8.       Measure 65cm down from the centre pin and place pin2 and 65cm up from the centre pin placing pin3.  Then 65cm across from the centre pin to the open ends of material placing pin4.

9.       To make your semi circle because the material is folded put your measuring tape on the pin1 and measure across 65cm to pin4. Then as if your measuring tape is a compass measure 65 cm round until you get back to pin2.  Now you have the bottom half of your semi circle.

10.   Now do the same for the top part.

11.   Mark well and cut out and there you have your circle. 

Now this week I’ve decided I’m making popcorn for my snack at work, this should stop me eating junk.  Yes the popcorn is self popped.  I have been doing my kettle bell exercise with the glute and horse kicks from Tim Ferriss’s 4 hour body for 3 weeks now and so far so good.  I have to admit that as I don’t need to lose any weight I haven’t been following the diet exact but I have been following it in essence.  I’m eating more eggs, lettuce, broccoli and having salad and meat for lunch and lo and behold I don’t have half the munchies I used to have. 

I have also realised the difference body brushing does for you.  I noticed how smooth the tops of my arms were which were a bit bumpy a year ago.  Not anymore.  So body brush, body brush, body brush and massage that body lotion in.