Spring into Summer with Next #NextKids

I am always delighted to attend the Next events which showcase kids' clothes for the following season. Today, myself, Ella, Kizzy and Freddy headed to Next's HQ in Leicester for a sneak peek at their new ranges of kids'clothes and accessories for Summer.  Unfortunately, due to the M1 being closed and a detour that saw us cover just 5 miles in an hour, we arrived horribly late.  However, we were made to feel very welcome as we were shown to the showroom to admire the latest looks.

I love Next clothes for Freddy so I really enjoyed looking at all the new styles that will be available for him this year. There are some excellent T-shirt designs about to hit the stores, featuring superheroes such as Superman, Batman and the Avengers, vintage Star Wars, The Lego Movie, Ron Burgundy, Angry Birds, bands and Plants vs Zombies (our personal favourite on account of our PvZ addiction!)  The forthcoming World Cup has inspired a range of T-shirts based on the football strips of different teams from across the world, which are really lovely.  It's nice to have a football shirt that is made from soft cotton rather than that shiny material that they are usually made from. The World Cup has also influenced some other designs including one which shows Spiderman in goal, saving the ball with his net! There are also some more traditional England t-shirts and sports' clothes, so little ones can support our team as they compete in Brazil this summer.

I was very impressed with the all-in-one swim suits featuring fun character costumes, transforming the wearer into a little Superman or swashbuckling pirate.  Great fun for the beach!

The kids loved browsing and picking out things they liked.  Kizzy loved the delicate floral prints and sunglasses prints in the girls' section and was pleased to see the sizes go up big enough for her to wear!  She loved the collared playsuit, perfect for fun in the sun.

There were some fabulous accessories and shoes for both boys and girls which will go perfectly with the outfits, from some gorgeous sparkly pumps for little girls to cool trainers for the lads.  

Next's summer lines have a style to suit every child:  preppy, smart, sporty, funky, fun loving or casual.

There were some lovely little boys' suit jackets, shirts and waistcoats which would be perfect for a summer wedding or special occasion, at high street prices.  A great way to save a few pounds if you have a formal function to attend with your little one this year.

After spending some time perusing the new looks from Next, we were treated to a lovely lunch at Cini.  The little ones got to make their own pizzas in the kitchens which were cooked freshly for them. Freddy and Kizzy tucked into their pizzas while Ella and I enjoyed spinach ravioli.

With some fab company and some goodies for the kids thrown in the mix, we had a  lovely time.  Thank you to Next for another lovely #NextKids event!

Going Wild With Next

With Next's Summer range of children's wear featuring so many animal prints and designs, where would be the perfect location to showcase it?  At the zoo of course!  So, yesterday I attended the Go Wild With Next Blogger Event at London Zoo along with Ella, Kizzy and Freddy and a host of other bloggers.

We were treated to some nice food, entertained with a Meerkat encounter and able to view rails of the gorgeous new Next kidswear offerings.  With clothes for 0 - 16 years old, my family love Next clothing, so getting a sneak peek at the new lines is always a privilege. 

The summer season promises a nod to nostalgia with key pieces inspired by fashions of the 50s through to the 90s alongside some funky tribal prints, denims and fluros.  

For the girls, the Cuba Story is this season's hottest trend with its vibrant colour palette and punchy prints.  Featuring retro capri pants and cute shift dresses, it's a fun and bold look.  For girls preferring a touch of whimsy, the Paradise Lost range is very pretty and girly.  Distressed denims and tie-dye fabrics add a modern twist.  Style Tribe brings an urban feel with tribal influences, and features monochrome and ochre tones.  Animal motifs and clashing animal prints give an exciting safari adventure feel to this range (which is my favourite of all the new lines!)  The playsuit is gorgeous with its ethnic feel and contrasting fabrics.

The boys will enjoy showing off their street style with the 90s Bright range.  TV and musical influences of the era bring bold colours with retro tees and high tops giving a cool vibe.  Accessories such as snap back caps and sunglasses add a playful touch.  50s Smart gives a preppy mix and match trend.  Chinos, floral or striped shirts, blazers and cricket style jumpers give a smart-casual feel.  Flat caps and bow ties add to the old school effect of the look.  Monochrome makes a statement, especially when teamed with bold, clashing animal prints and geometric patterns.  Flashes of fluro add to the story.  The Shipwrecked trend brings sun faded colours, Hawaiian and photographic prints.  Tropical beach wear, straw hats and printed vests will be big hits this summer. Perfect for hitting the surf.

Overall, this summer season promises a lot of fun pieces that kids will love to wear and adults will enjoy buying.  There is a real sense of humour that keeps cropping up throughout the ranges, particularly evident in the graphic tees and with the bespectacled giraffe who appears on a lot of the individual items. 

 I have earmarked lots of clothes that I loved.  The key denims and the graphic tees will be perfect for both Kizzy and Freddy's summer wardrobes.  I love the animal inspired babygros and dungarees which will look gorgeous on my baby grandson Ted.  Let's just hope the sun shines for us!

After enjoying chatting to the buyers about the key influences of the season, we were free to enjoy the zoo.  We received a selection of summer accessories which I would have loved to try out there and then but it was absolutely freezing.  Sunglasses and sunhats were usurped in favour of wooly hats and coats! 

We visited the monkeys and the tigers, wandered through the Aquarium and the Reptile Houses and saw the penguins before returning to the car for our 3 hour homeward bound road trip.  We had a lovely, but tiring, day and are grateful to Next for inviting us along to preview the new ranges.

My mini-fashionista  and Next fan Kizzy was so enamoured by the day and the goodie bag she received she has decided to make a series of fashion vlogs starting with this one based on the summer accessories from Next.  She blogged about it too on her site A Calm Zoned Kid.

Check out next.co.uk

Perfect Christmas Outfits From Next

I have that festive feeling bubbling in my belly!  Our choccie advent calendars are on standby ready to count down the days until Christmas Day.  The chill in the air teases us with the prospect of snow.  The Christmas adverts are taking over the TV.  And Next have their Christmas collection on line!

When Northern Mum asked us to show her our dream family day Christmas wardrobes, I was happy to pour through pages of sparkly, glittery party wear and funky, woolly Christmas jumpers to find outfits for Ian, the three littlest, my baby grandson (due on December 18th!) and myself.  Oh to win the £500 prize and make my fantasy shopping a reality (otherwise we will be donning our novelty, velvet Mr and Mrs Santa outfits for another year!)

Ian's Christmas Outfit by wendymcd83 

The whole James Bond vibe of the recent months has given me a slight fetish for men in sharp suits and there isn't much sharper than this white tuxedo jacket.  With hints of Michael Buble and John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, it reeks of  rampant exhibitionism and frivolous fun.  The patent wing cap shoes would keep him looking sharp right  down to his size 12 feet.  I'd like to share my Christmas day with my husband infused with the magical confidence that will overtake him because of this tuxedo!  To keep him grounded and to remind me that my novelty T-shirt wearing hubby is still somewhere inside that flamboyant get-up,  I'm teaming it with novelty festive fairisle socks (and probably his novelty red velvet Santa boxer shorts too).  I'd also need to give him a bib so he doesn't dribble gravy down his front, because white tux's are unforgiving when it comes to food spills.

Ella's Christmas Outfit by wendymcd83 

My trendy teenager would absolutely love to dazzle in this sequinned, snowflake jumper.  As it's long, she'd probably call it a dress and team it with nothing more than a pair of woolly tights. But just in case she was feeling modest, I've included a pair of skinny party jeans with just a little added sparkle..  The wedge  boots are really gorgeous.  The hidden 8cm heel will add a couple of inches onto her height, which will be much appreciated by Ella as she is very dinky.  The absolutely awesome Reindeer Onesie would be the snuggliest, cosiest outfit to relax in, whilst sleeping off the excess of Celebrations and candy canes.

Kizzy's Christmas Outfit by wendymcd83 

I adore this outfit for my ten year old Kizzy.  It's funky, fashionable and fun.  It's got attitude, just like my tween.  The black hi-top boots are practical but the patent shine gives them a feminine edge.  They look so comfy too!  I adore the winter shorts and tights combo.  Sadly I don't think I could pull this look off as a 40 something housewife, but I think it is a great fashion statement for the young generation.  The sequin tie top has just the right amount of sparkle to combine festively feminine with edgy.

My Christmas Outfit by wendymcd83 

My fantasy outfit would be enhanced if Santa could deliver a miracle weight loss potion to me in time for Christmas day.  Failing that, the rather stylish bodyshaper will be excellent for sucking in my wobbly bits, holding up my boobs and cinching in my waist.  Hopefully it will cope with the strain as the Christmas dinner feasting puts it under extra pressure.  I adore the embellished tunic dress and the lace shoots (shoe boots...get it!) are incredible. (Would my bunions squeeze in?  To right! Even if it took a crow bar I'd get my feet into these pretty, girls' shoes!)  I don't ordinarily wear much jewellery, but the bracelet watch is a lovely piece that not only looks gorgeous, it also helps you time your Brussel Sprouts as they boil on the hob.  Very handy!

My Christmas Outfit by wendymcd83

I love dressing Freddy!  My little dude looks so cute all dressed up on special occasions.   The mandatory festive jumpers are a definite must have for a three year old.  I've picked out two, a Snowman design and a Reindeer design,  because he is guaranteed to spill dinner, chocolate and fizzy pop at various points during the day.  The jeans are well cut and look cool and will cope with a day of crawling around on the floor getting presents from under the tree and then playing with all his new toys in the middle of the floor while us grown-ups watch a Christmas day edition of Surprise Surprise!  The trapper hat and boots will be excellent if any of his presents require being outside, keeping both toes and head warm and toastie.

Ted's Christmas Outfit by wendymcd83 

Hopefully by Christmas I will be blessed with the title of Grandma to my baby grandson Ted.  If not, that means he is overdue and needs to be induced after Christmas day, meaning that all his newborn sized "Baby's First Christmas" romper suits will have been purchased in vain!  Plus his mum, my future daughter-in-law Jade,  will be extremely fed up making us all feel bad for her!  So fingers crossed for Ted's timely arrival!  I have picked out an outfit for Ted based on the desire for him to come on time in the week before Christmas day.  Being called Ted, I couldn't fail to fall in love with the aaron cardigan with teddy bear ears!  Awww!  The fairisle romper suit and two piece outfit are so stylish...real baby chic.  The matching I Heart Santa bib will be ready to mop milky spit ups.  But the 'piece de resistance' is the Christmas Pudding bobble hat.  All this baby cuteness is making me feel very grand-maternal indeed and looking forward to a festive cuddle with my son Joe's firstborn.

I have spent a fair few virtual pounds putting together these gorgeous Christmas Day outfits and I have loved every minute of it.  There are definitely a few key pieces that are now on my Christmas shopping list.  The Next range of Christmas clothing, accessories and gifts is really lovely to peruse...there are so many fabulous things.

Take a look at www.next.co.uk for some inspiration this Christmas.

Check out outfits and inspiration on my Pinterest Board and my Polyvore account where full details of the items in my outfits can be found.


And because I'm now feeling all festive, here is a Christmas photo of me and my kids!

Next Mummy Blogger Event Video

The Next Mummy Blogger Event last month was an amazing event, that I attended with my three youngest children Ella 16, Kizzy 9 and Freddy 3.  We were all interviewed and feature in the official Next video.  Freddy was a bit awestruck being wired up with a mic and filmed by the cameraman but did a great job!

Freddy Preparing For His Interview

Here's the full Next Mummy Blogger Event video...

The Tiger Who Came To Tea! #Project 52

Freddy took a fancy to the mini donuts at the Next event and nothing was going to stop him from getting one!

The Next Mummy Blogger Event

Next have just launched their Childenswear Collection for Autumn/Winter 2012

So today me and my three youngest attended their Mummy Blogger Event at Crockwell Farm in Banbury to take a look at the range.

Next's children's clothing is suitable from newborn to age sixteen (although most stores do not stock the larger sizes so check online for older kids).  The new AW12 season's range consists of perfectly practical clothing featuring some great designs.  I love the colour palette of the collection which includes rich autumnal tones alongside monochrome pieces.

The Arthouse collection features abstract prints, intriguing textures and flashes of metallic.  The bold zebra prints and ochre tones appearing through the patterns are absolutely gorgeous.  We fell in love with the zebra print dress and cardigan for baby girls.  The Wild Bunch offers girls adorably kooky, easy to wear vintage-look denim with oversized knits and jersey tops in toffee and soft pinks.  Leopard print, stars and glitter threads add a pretty twist.  The Evening Post collection channels 1940s nostalgia with heritage fabrics, tweeds, cordrouy and cable-knits.  The Explorer and Little Explorer ranges gives boys a colourful selection of all-terrain wear to layer for an adventurous look and includes some funky Aztec prints.  A retro look comprising of jackets, peacoats and preppy chinos alongside braces and bowties creates the Rookie range for little Hipsters. The Gentleman's Club reworks country classics...think elbow patched cord blazers!  50s Revival recalls Mods with the smart casual range of skinny fit polos and cardigans.  There really is something for every taste and one of the best seasonal collections I have seen in years.  I have ear marked many key pieces for the kids and future grandbaby!

Next generously sent us a voucher to kit the kids out for the day and we really enjoyed choosing outfits.  Kizzy's soft pink skinny jeans and metallic lace top looked gorgeous.  Fred chose a rock star combo of skinny jeans and retro Union Jack t-shirt.  Ella went for the vintage Olympic tee which will be perfect for our Olympic trip in August!!

As well as seeing the clothes we were treated to some fantastic entertainment.  For the grown-ups there was a Beauty Room where a team of very talented and friendly therapists gave us massages, manicures, pedicures, reflexology and threading.  Ella and I thoroughly enjoyed being pampered by the team from Beauty With Inn while the little ones were looked after and kept busy with lots of fun activities of their own.

So while we were enjoying our beauty treatments, Kizzy and Freddy raided the cake table for mini donuts, had their faces painted, watched a magic show, danced at the disco, played on the bouncy castle and enjoyed having fun with the on hand child minders with their lovely selection of toys and books.

There was a photographer who took photos of the little ones which I look forward to seeing!  I snapped Fred during his session!

It was brilliant to meet and catch up with so many other lovely bloggers, look at the new Autumn/Winter collection and chat to the wonderful team behind the event.  We were thoroughly spoiled and had an amazing day!

Thanks to Next for such a wonderful and generous event that was enjoyed by us all!

View the Autumn Winter collection at next.co.uk

A Summer Outfit From Next

Next Mummy Stylist Competition Entry

My 9 year old Kizzy is a bit of a mini fashionista.  She loves her clothes and I love seeing her dressed up and looking gorgeous.  She has an uninhibited ability to team up clothing and her original sense of style and knack of co-ordinating colours and patterns means she always looks great.

When I saw the Next Mummy Stylist competition I wondered if I could do any better if I tried to style her myself.  So this is my attempt at creating an outfit for Kizzy from Next that would be perfect for summer and do justice to my gorgeous girl!

Matching the Mood

I started by choosing a palette of colours to match her skin tone and hair colouring.  I love the spice inspired colours that are on trend this season.  They are so rich and evocative of sunnier climes.  They would look lovely on my little girl with her tanned skin and dark hair.  This mood board shows some of the pieces in Next's SS12 range that immediately caught my eye.  I love the use of bold floral decorations and the attention to detail in the cut and design of the clothing.

Warm Spice Colours

With fawns, browns and tans, reminiscent of the warm hues of ginger and cinnamon, even if the sun doesn't shine this summer, Kizzy will radiate the vibe and warmth of an exotic Moroccan street market.

I picked out these key pieces to make up my final outfit which I think is stylish, versatile, practical and would look great on any young girl.

My Outfit Styled from Next.co.uk

My final outfit choice for Kizzy consists of:

The Layer Top and Scarf Set (£15) in tan, offers a mock layered look for a stylish look.  The long white vest is topped by a stripey crop top and finished with a spotty scarf.  I love how the scarf can be used to accessorise other outfits.  It can also be transformed into a bowed head band for a trendy 50's look.  The clashing patterns work well together to give an eyecatching finish.

The Slub Cardigan in Ginger (£15) is my favourite piece. The waterfall style shape is really feminine and trendy.  In the British summertime you need a good cardi to throw on when it's a little bit chilly!  I love the colour and the feature stitching.

The Belted Shorts (£13) are just perfect for summer.  The belt is gorgeous and matches the tan theme, while the pretty flower adds a girlie touch.

Gorgeous brown leather Tassel Sandals £16:  I love how these are both practical and fashionable.  Teamed with a maxi dress or with shorts, they offer a versatile solution to summer footwear.

The Corsage Straw Bag  (£9.50) is perfect for carrying around your essential bits and bobs.  Whether at the beach or at the shops, the bag looks great and the flower adds a touch of whimsy!


The outfit I have styled for my daughter would cost just £68.50.  Each piece would work perfectly in a capsule wardrobe for the summer.  Adding some extra items such as some key denims, pumps, some Chinos, a hippy style skirt, maxi dress and some printed tees would create a number of amazing looks based on the same theme.  With the £500 prize budget I could dress Kizzy for the entire season plus get a few key pieces for her siblings'summer wardrobes too*!

*Including this T-Shirt for her little brother Freddy....I love it!

Wear It! Wave It! Win With It!

Official Team GB Olympic and Paralympic Supporters' Scarf by Next

Next have launched the historic must-have for the London 2012 Olympic Games.  The stylish scarf has been designed as a tribute to Team GB and is a lasting iconic memento of this momentous occasion.  It is a statement of support and involvement.

The intricate patterns incorporated in the scarf represent the athletes, the events, symbols of our nation, representations of the supporters, the date of the Olympics and a GB map.  It is truly a piece of art.

Available as a 90cm or 50cm square, the scarf can be worn or waved with pride.

There is also a Paralympics design representing the 'talent, pride and determination' of the GB team with 'ice in their minds and fire in their belly'.  The hand painted lion symbolizes this, and the sixty hands represent the sixty million supporters of our greatest team. The large size costs £10, the smaller size costs £5.

Everyone purchasing an official Olympic or Paralympic scarf from Next can post a photograph of themselves wearing it to win prizes, including hugely coveted Olympic London 2012 tickets.

Check out the Wear It! Wave It! Win With It! page for more details.

Next sent me a scarf to try out and here is how Kizzy wore it!

All profits from the sale of every scarf go to support our athletes in the quest for Olympic and Paralympic glory.  

Red Carpet Glamour by Next

The Elle Style Awards 2012 are being held in London on February 13th.  The star studded event celebrates all that is great in the world of fashion and this year is again being proudly sponsored by Next.  

What better way to celebrate this than by creating a glamorous, red carpet look using items from Next.co.uk, showing that high street style can satisfy even the most discerning fashionistas!   

Last year, style icon Emma Watson looked stunning in this nude coloured mini dress with cut out detail by Hakaan.  Playful and a little bit daring, this look is very chic.

To recreate this look, I have teamed an Elise Ryan Mesh Body Con dress with a pair of satin lace bow platform shoes, and accessorised the outfit with some sparkly gold and cream bangles, all from Next.

Elise Ryan Mesh Body Con Dress

Bracelets

The trend towards the neutral palette does not mean that fashion has to be stuck in neutral!  It's all about the texture and cut of key items.   The dress has a scoop neckline, cut out detail on the bust and on the back, and a figure hugging ruched mesh front to add texture .  This attention to detail is inspired by catwalk designs and celebrity trends and adds a flirty vibe.  A perfect dress for the A-listers' after-awards party!  The shoes have lace bow detail and are open toed making them perfect for a special occasion and bringing a touch of drama to the outfit.  The stiletto and platform heel add length to your legs making you look tall and sleek for the papparazzi!  The set of gold and cream bangles add a touch of glamour and sparkle to the outfit, embellished with diamanté and glitter.  A perfect look for the red carpet!

You can pick up this outfit for less than £50 (the dress is currently only £20.99 in the sale!), so you would look out of this world, without it costing the earth!  Red carpet glamour at high street prices!

                                                

The Next Blogger Event Official Video

Back in November I was lucky enough to attend the fabulous Next Blogger Event.  It was a really wonderful and kid friendly day, which we all thoroughly enjoyed.

The video of the day has now been released.  I'm in it a few times checking out various items in the Next Spring Summer children's collection.  Freddy didn't make the final cut unfortunately, although he was filmed playing with a Thomas train.  He had a lovely time and especially enjoyed the rather delicious looking cupcakes that feature in the video!  All the other children look lovely in their Next outfits.  Take a look and see if you recognise any of the other bloggers and babies!

Here is Fred's official photo taken on the day by the Next photographer, which I adore!

The new SS12 collections are now available to view online at www.next.co.uk

Well that was 2011!

It has passed in a blink of an eye and a constant flurry of activities.  2011, has been a great year! My family have continued to make me proud and are my greatest joy and achievement. Freddy has grown into a bright and gorgeous toddler (with a Diva-ish penchant for dancing in his big sister's dresses!)  Kizzy is thriving at school and has enjoyed taking part in the Gifted and Talented programme.  Ella's musical talents continue to astound me with her beautiful guitar playing and vocals.  Megan is doing so well applying for Graduate schemes ready for September. Joe has been promoted at work with his new post starting in January.  But 2011 has been a great year for me personally too!  My blog has continued to present me with amazing opportunities and I have been amazed at how much it has evolved over the last 12 months. Here are some of my highlights of the year.

My success with my weightloss has seen me have photoshoots for The Sun and Top Sante and I have appeared in the Mail Online.  I was the runner-up in the Slimpod Slimmer of the Year competition which was a huge honour, after shedding 3 stone with the Lose 2 Jeans Sizes Slimpod!  This year I want to lose another stone and maintain a comfortable size 12.  That will be a huge achievement and will make me truly believe that I have completely kicked the yoyo diet habits forever.  I am forever indebted to the wonderful Sandra Roycroft-Davis who I have met on numerous occasions this year.

Top Sante shoot by Thomas Skovsende

In 2011 I have been a Craniac for John Crane, a Graco Ambassador and a Toys R Us Toyologist. I have worked with some great companies including UK Mums TV, Aldi, Regis, Pampers, Warner Bros, P&O, Quinny, Next and Ubisoft.  I love working closely with brands that I believe in.  It is an amazing opportunity to test out products and attend events, and share my thoughts on my blog.

In 2011 I enjoyed going to Cybermummy along with fellow ambassador Emma representing Graco.  With a hire car from Hyundai and Lou as my co-pilot we had a great time meeting fellow bloggers and learning a thing or two about the blogging world.  I even won the passport competition, winning a weekend at The Four Seasons Hotel.  Above all though, attending this event was a huge achievement for me.  Just a few months prior to this, I would never have dreamt that I would be able to drive all the way to London and stay in a hotel on my own without Ian by my side.  This was a real test for me and my self-confidence...and I've not looked back since!

Feeling like an official Blogger at Cybermummy

I took Kizzy to the Hexbugs Bedbugs Sleepover at London Zoo.  It was amazing sleeping on the floor of a bug house alongside ants and cockroaches after having a private tour of the zoo by torchlight.  We went with Helen and her daughter Hanna who were perfect company.

Meeting a Tarantula at London Zoo

The Next event to preview the SS12 range was a wonderful, child friendly affair where we were thoroughly spoiled!  I had some photos taken of Freddy which I absolutely love.  I'm proud to be part of the Next Blogger Network and would love to work with them again in 2012.

Fred modelling his Next jeans (Next jumper was removed prior to photoshoot!)

I guest edited Real People which was a real highlight of the year and got to produce a two page spread that appeared in the magazine.  It was an amazing experience that gave me the chance to recommend some of my favourite blogs and top toys.

My Real People pages!

Attending the Tots 100 Butlins Christmas Party was a wonderful opportunity to combine blogging with my family, as me, Ian and the kids descended on the Bognor Regis resort.  I had a really great time catching up with favourite online friends and spending some quality pre-Christmas fun with my family.  Thanks again to Sally!

Our Tree Decorating Team at Butlins

The Rachel's Organic event at Buxted Park Hand Picked Hotel was another wonderful opportunity.  We watched top chef Lucy Hyder prepare dishes using Rachel's products before being treated to a sumptuous four course meal in the 5* restaurant.  The hotel was exquisite, the company was superb and the food was out of this world.

Me and Lucy Hyder of Buxted Park.

I have enjoyed family outings to zoos, safari parks, theme parks, Blackpool dungeons and events such as Bob's Big Build (where we enjoyed a marvellous breakfast on board a Clipper alongside Danielle, Helen and families before arriving at the O2 for lots of Bob related fun!).  Sharing the benefits of blogging with the children and Ian is a real bonus, making the hours spent tapping away on my laptop worthwhile.  The children have also relished the opportunity of being my Tiny Testers, helping me with my reviews.  I couldn't have done it without them!

Kizzy at Bob's Big Build

What a great year 2011 has been!  Here's hoping that 2012 is going to be as successful, eventful and fun for us all!  I hope to see many more of you in 2012...our community is a wonderful place and I am honoured to be a part of it!  Happy New Year! xxx

All Wrapped Up With Winter Warmers

As the colder weather sets in, the woolly winter look has re-emerged as my fashion statement of choice!  I love it when you can wrap up in a stylish jumper or cardigan, snug and cosy against the chilly air.

This weekend, we had a lovely festive weekend at Butlins in Bognor Regis with fellow bloggers from Tots 100.  The weather was great.  Cold but sunny...perfect Winter Warmer weather.

Luckily I've bought some really great knitwear from Next which I packed for our weekend away.

Freddy was perfectly snug in his hooded Next jumper as he walked on the beach.  We layered it with a long sleeved top and a vest underneath, ensuring that he was warm, but unrestricted.  Perfect for playing on the beach, throwing stones into the sea and having fun.  In the chillier weather a quilted gilet will add another layer of snugness!  I love the neutral colours, the fit, the length and the warmth of the cotton mix woollen hoody.  At just £15 this is a real bargain from Next.

For myself, I bought the softest, cosiest Cable Knit Cardi in Oatmeal.   It is thick enough to wear instead of a coat on brisk winter days teamed with a pair of jeans and boots.  It has become a real key piece in my winter wardrobe and I love it!

It is just £38 which is a great price for such a thick, warm, cotton blend woolly. It is chunky, in a fashionable neutral colour that goes with anything.

Check out the great new winter collections for children and adults at next.co.uk.  Treat yourself or buy a snuggly winter warmer for a loved one this Christmas!