I was a little emotional when I read the following email from one of my readers yesterday:-
" Hi Sharron,
Obviously I set to work immediately and was so pleased to hear that my reader adored Great Plains, their new season pieces are amazing, I want it all, and further email exchanges also confirmed that she is a lover of stripes, so I knew this would be a fairly easy task and one I would enjoy immensely! As ever I try to use as few retailers as possible to save on postage costs.
![look 1]()
Stripe and Lace Top £40 Great Plains. . Fat Face Tapered Chinos £42 at John Lewis. Warehouse Denim Jacket £45 at John Lewis. East Tote Bag £22 at John Lewis. Converse £45 at John Lewis.
![look 4]()
Tan Leather Sandals £32 Accessorize. Stripe Dress £39.95 Gap. Denim Jacket as before.
![look 5]()
Tanni Stripe Top £25 Great Plains. Chino's and Sandals as before.
![look 2]()
Water Colour Blouse £65 Great Plains. Mango Jeans £27.99 at John Lewis. Pink Clutch £15 Accessorize. Leather Sandal £39.99 Zara.
![look 3]()
Roses Tunic Dress £60 Great Plains. Bag and Shoes as before.
So for a £500 budget I have spent £498.98 but shoes and bags may not be required and I haven't wasted money on any costume jewellery as I don't know what my reader all ready has.
I have created three daytime looks but any of the tops could be worn with the jeans for day with either the Converse or the sandals. By the same token they all work with the chino's to create more looks. The jeans and floral top will be perfect if going out for a drink and the stripe and lace top could also be worn with the jeans and heels for an evening look. The floral dress is for more dressy evening's out, weddings or christenings etc.
So that's the summer wardrobe sorted now for everything else!
Lifestyle
Having been a single mum myself to three little girls for 5 1/2 years, I know that it's not all about the clothes and looking good, although it is important to look and feel "polished" purely because you will feel better about yourself and hopefully get your confidence back. It is never easy to be both Mum and Dad and have no partner to talk to about the things that were said after parents evening, nor making decisions concerning the children alone.
I used to run our lives like a military operation in those days but looking back, the structure was important for all of us especially as I worked full time during those days.
Family and Friends have to become your support network, so never be afraid to ask for help with babysitting or sleepovers, you need a life.
Have some fun and socialising needn't be expensive. If you can't afford a big night out, invite girlfriends round for a bottle of wine and nibbles, cinema with a couple of drinks after. Avoid Saturday nights indoors alone unless it's X Factor/Strictly Come Dancing season when I refuse to go out. Never be afraid to change arrangements for your ex to have the kids, he needs to know you have a life and are moving on.
Pamper yourself - you deserve it.
Sunday night is my pamper night and you will feel so much better after a good body scrub, moisturise, face and hair mask. If you don't have time to paint your nails, keep them short and well kept.
Look out for Spa day deals and have a girlie get together as often as possible. Check out Groupon and Wahanda offers in your area.
Keep Busy
Start a blog. Its a great way to get support and make new friends. Join sites such as Mumsnet or Britmums, they have a lot more to offer than just how to start labour early!
Look after the pennies
You may be on a great maintenance deal now but anything can happen. Case in point, my close friend S who with a good divorce lawyer got awarded her husbands monthly salary for herself and their only child whilst he was left to live on his twice yearly million pound plus bonuses - until he remarried and fled the country. Somehow leaving every light on in the house day and night and buying Donna Karen leather jackets and Burberry Trench Coats somehow lost their sparkle. Spend wisely and save what you can, you never know when you might need a small nest egg. Budget the food shop by doing a meal plan and only buying what is on your list or shop online, delivery charges are probably less than the cost of petrol these days.
Your Are What You Eat
Which is exactly why my body shape resembles a jam doughnut! Of course I know the importance of eating healthily and I do, most of the time, just can't give up chocolate and cake. Check out www.mydeliouslyhealthykitchen.co.uk for recipe ideas (the soups freeze well and have become a family winter warming essential) and give yourself more time with the children by baking in bulk and freezing where possible, maybe set aside a day each month when the kids are at school and nursery. My local butcher who is normally very expensive currently has a deal for 11lb of chicken breasts for £21, so keep your eye open for a good deal. Claire is a girl after my own heart when it comes to batch baking and saving money.
And Finally
It may be the end of an era but a whole new exciting chapter is about to start, nobody needs a wanker who would cheat on you anyway xxx
" Hi Sharron,
I wonder if you can help me. I have three young children, 8, 6 and 4 and at
Christmas I discovered by husband has been having an affair. Sadly he didn't
want to work things out (he's having a midlife crisis) so I am now on my own
with the children.
If there is a silver lining it's that I've lost loads of weight through
stress and am now a size 10 to 12 for the first time in years! The downside is
that nothing (and i mean nothing) I own fits me anymore and I am fed up with
baggy jeans and over-large tops. Can you suggest a few pieces that would work
together that I can wear this summer (and beyond?)
I work from home part time, so my life really consists of the school run,
after-school clubs and the occasional coffee or night out with the girls.
I adore your blog. I also adore Baukjen and Great Plains, in fact that is how I found yourblog in the first place searching for blogs that mention them.
I would be so grateful for your help, I always struggle to put an outfit
together, but it's time for me to start looking after myself again and I'd love
to look good and hopefully feel better too.
Warmest Regards"
Obviously I set to work immediately and was so pleased to hear that my reader adored Great Plains, their new season pieces are amazing, I want it all, and further email exchanges also confirmed that she is a lover of stripes, so I knew this would be a fairly easy task and one I would enjoy immensely! As ever I try to use as few retailers as possible to save on postage costs.
Stripe and Lace Top £40 Great Plains. . Fat Face Tapered Chinos £42 at John Lewis. Warehouse Denim Jacket £45 at John Lewis. East Tote Bag £22 at John Lewis. Converse £45 at John Lewis.
Tan Leather Sandals £32 Accessorize. Stripe Dress £39.95 Gap. Denim Jacket as before.
Tanni Stripe Top £25 Great Plains. Chino's and Sandals as before.
Water Colour Blouse £65 Great Plains. Mango Jeans £27.99 at John Lewis. Pink Clutch £15 Accessorize. Leather Sandal £39.99 Zara.
Roses Tunic Dress £60 Great Plains. Bag and Shoes as before.
So for a £500 budget I have spent £498.98 but shoes and bags may not be required and I haven't wasted money on any costume jewellery as I don't know what my reader all ready has.
I have created three daytime looks but any of the tops could be worn with the jeans for day with either the Converse or the sandals. By the same token they all work with the chino's to create more looks. The jeans and floral top will be perfect if going out for a drink and the stripe and lace top could also be worn with the jeans and heels for an evening look. The floral dress is for more dressy evening's out, weddings or christenings etc.
So that's the summer wardrobe sorted now for everything else!
Lifestyle
Having been a single mum myself to three little girls for 5 1/2 years, I know that it's not all about the clothes and looking good, although it is important to look and feel "polished" purely because you will feel better about yourself and hopefully get your confidence back. It is never easy to be both Mum and Dad and have no partner to talk to about the things that were said after parents evening, nor making decisions concerning the children alone.
I used to run our lives like a military operation in those days but looking back, the structure was important for all of us especially as I worked full time during those days.
Family and Friends have to become your support network, so never be afraid to ask for help with babysitting or sleepovers, you need a life.
Have some fun and socialising needn't be expensive. If you can't afford a big night out, invite girlfriends round for a bottle of wine and nibbles, cinema with a couple of drinks after. Avoid Saturday nights indoors alone unless it's X Factor/Strictly Come Dancing season when I refuse to go out. Never be afraid to change arrangements for your ex to have the kids, he needs to know you have a life and are moving on.
Pamper yourself - you deserve it.
Sunday night is my pamper night and you will feel so much better after a good body scrub, moisturise, face and hair mask. If you don't have time to paint your nails, keep them short and well kept.
Look out for Spa day deals and have a girlie get together as often as possible. Check out Groupon and Wahanda offers in your area.
Keep Busy
Start a blog. Its a great way to get support and make new friends. Join sites such as Mumsnet or Britmums, they have a lot more to offer than just how to start labour early!
Look after the pennies
You may be on a great maintenance deal now but anything can happen. Case in point, my close friend S who with a good divorce lawyer got awarded her husbands monthly salary for herself and their only child whilst he was left to live on his twice yearly million pound plus bonuses - until he remarried and fled the country. Somehow leaving every light on in the house day and night and buying Donna Karen leather jackets and Burberry Trench Coats somehow lost their sparkle. Spend wisely and save what you can, you never know when you might need a small nest egg. Budget the food shop by doing a meal plan and only buying what is on your list or shop online, delivery charges are probably less than the cost of petrol these days.
Your Are What You Eat
Which is exactly why my body shape resembles a jam doughnut! Of course I know the importance of eating healthily and I do, most of the time, just can't give up chocolate and cake. Check out www.mydeliouslyhealthykitchen.co.uk for recipe ideas (the soups freeze well and have become a family winter warming essential) and give yourself more time with the children by baking in bulk and freezing where possible, maybe set aside a day each month when the kids are at school and nursery. My local butcher who is normally very expensive currently has a deal for 11lb of chicken breasts for £21, so keep your eye open for a good deal. Claire is a girl after my own heart when it comes to batch baking and saving money.
And Finally
It may be the end of an era but a whole new exciting chapter is about to start, nobody needs a wanker who would cheat on you anyway xxx