Ramblings of a Model, Mother and Outspoken Weirdo

It would be fair say this year hasn't been particularly tense or emotional as last year. First time in a long while where nothing has really changed all that much. We haven't moved house, we haven't got pregnant, I am still breastfeeding, we haven't had any major injuries between the four of us it's just been a nice and quiet year.

January 2009
We went away for a week for Ian's 33rd birthday stayed in a cottage just outside of Newcastle, it was really nice to have the space and be able to have people round. Me and Ellen had our first photo shoot with a stranger, my 2nd ever and it had been a year since my previous one. Ian also wore my purple flares for last NYE which amused me muchly. I won the title of 2008 21st Century Pin-up which was a massive thing for me, huge competition gorgeous girls, it was amazing that me a mother of two who isn't skinny nor particularly attractive won.

February 2009
We had some really heavy snow and the kids loved it! Laurence was at nursery and had settled at this point and enjoyed it lots.
March 2009
My 23rd Birthday, I can't remember it very well. We went to Center Parcs with my family in March but Ian couldn't get the time off I was mega mega stressed as the kids were really too young to do anything there and I couldn't manage taking them swimming or anything on my own. It was cold and I was a grumpy git. I did enjoy the squirrels though. I have just been looking at the pics and I remember going on a really nice walk with our friends Ellen and Nick and taking a bazillion photos.

April 2009
April the first! April Fools day! My daughters birthday. I am sure she is going to get really bored of my husband pretending we haven't got her any presents! I made her a Care Bear cake, at that time Friend Bear was her favourite toy she took it everywhere. We had a little tea party but I don't remember it all that well, my Nan was moving house on the same day so that was more intense and crazy I remember my Nan was really ill on the day they moved.

May 2009
Laurence's birthday he was 4 whole years old! Meaning he was going to have to start school in September and I was going to have to let the hell go. His birthday was more fun that Vee's! Nothing much else going on. We made him a Postman Pat SDS Van cake and went to soft play. All Laurence wanted for his birthday was a cuckoo clock. I don't know where he got the idea from, we got him one that has a cat inside that has eaten a bird. Much more amusing than a regular cuckoo clock. Laurence also got a hamster called Nicole for his birthday from his Aunty Ellen and Uncle Nick.


June 2009
Quiet month. Consisted mostly of visits to the beach, lighthouse, parks and we also went to the local Green festival. Nothing particularly wow! I don't have any pics of terrible rain so I presume it was a good time for laundry last June! :)

July 2009
My niece had her first Birthday, little Charlie turned 1. I remember her birthday but mostly because the week after the kids were really ill and had conjunctivitis and a flu type thing, then I got ill too and it was just awful. One thing I hate most about being a mother is illness for two reasons, firstly there is nothing worse that seeing your babies ill, secondly if you fall ill you can't rest up and get better you just have to get the hell on with things.

August 2009
We had a trip down south to see family and friends. Always such a nightmare drive with two kids in the car for 4-5 hours but on the way up we stopped a couple of times and it wasn't so bad. I love how the kids somehow manage to make a massive mess in Travelodges even though there is virtually no furniture in there. This was the month I also go my gorgeous Madame le Strange creation and had my first Hourglass shoot. Which was just amazing, so much so I have booked another for my birthday in March. It was also our 7th wedding anniversary on the 17th. Every year I am shock we have managed to make it another year! Me and an my husband has a very honest relationship which can at times be pretty fiery.

September 2009
I had a couple of shoots with the fabulous Greg Sanders friend and down trodden, bullied, victimised shop assistant, he still manages to be perky though and his pics are fabulous. One of the shoots I had the pleasure of wearing an Able Grable frock designed by my wonderful friend Miss Matilda. My friendship with Miss M is one of the best things that 2009 has given to me, I enjoy her 'company' and conversations very much. September also brought my sister's wedding, chaotic, crazy, I hate going to weddings with the kids but we made it out alive.

October 2009
October was a pretty quiet month up until the last week. Laurence was on half term and had a Halloween party. He didn't want to go as something scary so he went as Superman, Violet went as Fire Witch, Ian went as Freddy Krueger (again!), I went as a (not too) Wenchy Pirate. I have to admit the kids Mum did a really good job at organising the party even though she is someone I probably wouldn't choose to spend time with. I took some delicious and gorgeous cakes from Loopy's Cupcakes, we snaffled about 5 of the 24 we took. I had an awesome Christmas themed shoot with Yvette Bessels, fabulous tog I really enjoyed working with her! I had another shoot with a another tog but it's so awful it isn't worth mentioning what an absolute time waster.

November 2009
Didn't get to go out for Bonfire Night because Ian was working, which is shame because we normally go out and get some stuff from the chippy and sit on the Quayside and watch the Fireworks on the opposite side of the river on Dock Road. How tight are we?? The handy thing is that we can even see them from the warmth of the car. Ellen and Nick did bring some sparklers, Laurence loved them Violet wasn't so sure. I had a shoot with Sarah Chappell absolutely diamond lady. She came up a massive hill with all her kid in the rain despite being pregnant and feeling sickly. I really appreciate it, we got some funky unusual images. I really like location shoots.

December 2009.
Never have I seen or been forced to live with a child as hyper as Laurence was this month. Bouncing off the walls! I think him being at school full time has made him worse because he has been feeding off the excitement of other children. He was getting up at 5:00am just to open his advent calendar. I was quite organised this year up until all the stuff with the swine flu kicked off. We still managed to have a lovely Christmas just the 4 of us. It was the first Christmas since Violet was born that we haven't had people round it was really fab. Also just before Christmas my Dad invited my Mum and Step Dad round for dinner, it was a big thing for them and it meant a lot to my Nana. We went round to my Dad's on NYE for a curry. I did then manage to slip on his steep hill death trap of an icy drive and bruise my tushie. I am less than pleased about that!

It's New Years day now. I am looking forward to seeing with 2010 has to bring us 4 Edwards'! I already have a shoot on the 15th and 16th to look forward to. Ian's birthday is also on the 13th which is a nice event to slip us into the year!

I hope anyone reading this had a wonderful Christmas and I am sending you warm, best wishes for 2010.

D x

Vivien of Holloway vs HeyDay

I am also going to review the stores while I am here because one has a much better level of customer service than the other.

Firstly Viven of Holloway

I ordered a pair of their 1940's style trousers. I know they are mega famous for their halter dresses (the world and their cousin has one especially the spotty ones, can't complain though I love my Purple gingham one!). I ordered a grey pair, they emailed to say they didn't have the grey, I asked for the red, they emailed back to say they didn't have the red, I emailed again to ask which ones they did have, they replied to say they had none in my size and that I would have to wait. Why they didn't do that in the first place I don't know! However eventually they came in and I couldn't get grey, nor red and I ended up getting purple.

The trousers I can't really fault. Lots of people are put off by the vintage sizing, I am a vintage 16 or a modern 12 it doesn't bother me particularly. The fit of the trousers are lovely and very slimming, I love the detail of the pocket. The purple is a bit drab but I really like them, just struggle to find things to match the shade.


Hey Day

I have a pair of the Chocolate Swing Trousers from Hey Day as modelled on the site by the beautiful Fleur De Guerre and the customer service from Shona is absolutely second to none, I had asked her numerous questions about sizing, my friend is getting a custom pair of trousers made and she has been an absolute doll. The selection of colour is amazing and also Hey Day uses regular modern day sizing which I know a lot people prefer.

I much prefer the fit and fabric of my trousers from Hey Day and they feel lots more comfortable. There is a smidge or stretch that you don't get with the VoH ones and also I think they wash and iron better. I do miss the pocket detail a bit from the Viv of Holloway ones but the Hey Day ones are a much nicer pair of trousers and I would recommend them more.


I would also like to add I have quite a sizeable arse and this style of trousers look really good on me, they make my curves look nice. So if you want to treat yourself to some vintage style trousers in the New Year I would recommend HeyDay highly!

So it's almost Christmas its -6 degrees outside what have I been rummaging through ebay/etsy for, Vintage swimsuits! I have a shoot in January and I want to do a summery theme! Also I have been wanting to audition for our local operatic society's production of South Pacific this could have inspired me also. Also the lovely lady from Notorious Kitsch posted a link to her ebay listings on Twitter and I fell in love with her vintage cossie sadly it would have been a bit too small on me :( so I didn't bid too high.

They seem to be a lot more forgiving than modern swimsuits after all I have had two children and I covered in stretchmarks especially as Laurence was 9lb 10oz my 5'4 and half inch body wasn't meant to be stretch in that way!

You can of course get some vintage inspired swimwear from For Luna gorgeous selection and a wonderful service. I would need a cossie because my belly button is defunked but the bikinis have nice deep bottoms to cover that nasty bit you get under your tummy when you have sprogged.

I am wanting something with a bit of a ditzy floral pattern. I love this one on Etsy but I think it would probably be a bit large. I have my beady eye on a couple on ebay which I might get for a steal.

We have had some gorgeous snow up North here lately, in fact all over the UK but now it is just all ice and it's so dangerous and slippy outside. I am so excited for Christmas. Here is a photo of my mischievous son playing in the snow.

Can't quite believe Laurence is finished at school for Christmas a whole week before the big day, he is a totally big hyper lump of boy! He's a nutter, luckily we are most sorted, we just need to get some stuff for his stocking so were are having a quick scuttle down town on Christmas Eve, I think it's nice to soak up some of the atmosphere. It's so nice to see him so excited but he is going to be very hard work. He keeps waking up at 5:00am just to open his advent calendar.

I am making more of an effort to sort Violet on the potty, without grossing people out too much we have the hang of Number 1's she just waits for a nappy for the other kind. Fingers crossed we will crack it the week before New Years when Ian is home the whole time.

We are having a nice quiet Christmas at home just the 4 of us. My Nana said she would pop in for a bit in the morning and we said we would go to my Mum's for a little while in the evening but most of the day it will just be us and it's fab we have had people the last two Christmases.

Bought a bargain dress from Pin-Up Parade! if you aren't familiar with this site already and you like a gorgeous frock you should go and have a look see!

I got all the bits and bobs for my friend Ellen's main Christmas present, I hope she likes it. I put tonnes of thought into it and even a smidge of sewing, not as much as I had intended to.

I finally got some pics from a shoot I did 7 weeks ago, they are mega raw so I have just messing with the levels to eek the background out. I think some of them are cute, they all look a bit 80's!
But I don't think it's a bad thing. I was wearing my Alan Windram t-shirt but you can't really see it. I am SOOOO excited about seeing him again in Feb. Melty soul voice magic!

I love Christmas, I am finally getting enveloped in that festive feeling and it makes me happy! :) Had my bestest mates round last night and we made duck happen and had mulled wine and it was just lovely. Ellen & Nick and myself went out, got my hair all nice tried on a bazillion outfits got myself all grumpy before I even left, I ended up going for a cute little purple frock because I couldn't find the bra that was compatible with the Red one. Humf!

We also had some gorgeous cinnammon and white chocolate Cupcakes from LoopysCupcakes! They were the business!


Not got any pics of myself! By the time a pic was taken of me my hair had fallen down! Boooooo!

as my mother would say!

Last weekend (Fri the 20th of November) I went out with my friend with the intention of being a lady and remaining sober surprisingly after drinking a bottle of wine, two cocktails followed by another glass of wine I got a little bit rat arsed. However I wear a super cute little outfit my Able Grable Floral Scarlet Street blouse with some HeyDay high waisted trousers and got plenty of compliments from both ladies and gents.

I am bit small minded when it comes to music, about 95% of the music I listen to is all women. It's not that I don't like listening to men, I just prefer a womans voice. I only listen to 3 blokes particularly regularly Alan Windram, Paul Heaton and Neil Finn. I heard a girl of 17 on Friday and it's inspired me to blog about it she had a gorgeous, warm voice which pulled my heart strings.

I am pretty much out of touch with modern music now to, I listen to stuff that I like and that's about it. I do sometimes listen to a compact disc(!), we have a massive separates system including massive lead weighted speakers which take up loads of space in my lounge. I still really want a NAD amp to match my CD player, the same one that Rob had in High Fidelity. I would want the same sort of 90's finish that mine has though. I am coming across like a proper nerd now, I did used to read What-Hifi though.

I am quite emotional person so I tend to get absolutely sucked in and feel it, I find it easier with a female voice probably because I am female, but then I am over analysing now. I almost can't listen to the song 'Brick' by Ben Folds Five since I found out it was about abortion, it makes me cry like a nutter.

Here are some of the women who make me want to get into music again and be able to express myself in that way. And some of the albums that have sort of shaped me into the woman I am. Or some of the wailing white women that annoy my husband, whichever way you prefer to look at it.

1. Shea Seger - has an amazing sort of country voice, she has only released one album 'The May St Project' I was lucky enough to see her live when she was supporting Toploader (Snarf!). I love all the songs on her album but I guess 'Clutch' and 'I Love You Too Much' are the high points. Also on one of the 2 music videos she did she had these amazing Green trousers on, I have been trying to find a pair similar for about 11 years.

2. Lisa Loeb - my favourite Lisa Loeb song is 'Sandalwood' you can tell this by the fact when I sing along to it I close my eyes. I have dived in and I am swimming in it and it's beautiful. Her best albums in my opinion are 'Firecracker' and 'Tails' one of her songs was on the Legally Blonde soundtrack (might have even been the sequel which is worse) and I found a couple of her albums a bit swoozy (is that even a word?) and Poppy.

3. Lisa Richards - I picked up a promo for liked £2 in Steels Wheels in Newcastle. Picked up utterly by chance, it had a chick on the front had about 21 tracks on it and I figured what is the worst thing that could happen? Her voice is probably more whiney that the other ladies I normally listen too but her songs are amazing and her lyrics top notch.

4. Beth Orton - Her voice is just mind blowing, sort of like Dido but a million times better. Also she is responsible for my all time favourite song 'Devil Song'. Another closed eyes sing along track.

5. Natalie Merchant (10,000 Maniacs) - I think I prefer her solo stuff, and her version of 'Because the Night' is the best I have ever heard. I think I had to liken my own voice to anyone it would probably be Natalie Merchant. My recordings on Myspace were done when I was 17 and my voice has grown up a lot since then, it's all the better for singing the Timmy Time theme tune. 'Kind and Generous' by Natalie Merchant is an uplifting song although I think it could be received as sarcastic too with the 'la-las' but that could just be me being British.

I want to do music again but it needs to be stuff that I want to do which is why I am pretty desperate to learn guitar. I have lots of pent up emotion, I remember the joy of releasing it through music I don't want to be a front woman I just want to be on my own with it.

If you managed to read all that without falling asleep go and make yourself a cup of tea