Frankly my dear, I dont give a damn

We all have items in our homes that hold memories be they good or bad or a bit of both.  They may have been gifts (to ourselves or received from others) or could have been items once belonging to someone dear to us.


Whilst clearing out my wardrobe I came across one of my memory items - a pair of polka dot shoes....

These shoes have a bitter sweet memory which goes a little something like this...


I was bullied at school for being the 'fat girl'. There were three of us in my year, all girls carrying a little bit of extra weight that lead us to be subjected to hurtful name calling. I was so shy, I wished everyday that I could blend into the background but my extra weight meant that I stood out from the rest of my peers. My school reports each year said that I was "too quiet in class, needed to speak up more and get involved in class discussions", not a chance!


I decided to get involved with the drama scene at my school, a group of 'outsiders' who didn't care what I looked like and excepted me for who I was. I adored acting as it meant I could get away from being the fat girl and pretend for that time that I was someone else. Once on stage I had so much confidence, in my mind people not looking at 'me' they were looking at the character I was playing. Through my drama classes I developed my love affair with costume and vintage styling.


As soon as the door slammed on my secondary school years and I headed to college I realised that I was never going to be one to follow the crowd, if I was going to be noticed for being bigger than the other girls then I was going to be noticed regardless of what I was wearing or who I was hanging out with.  I fully got to embrace my individuality when I arrived at Uni. No one cared if I was wearing an out of shape men's jumper from Oxfam or if I wanted to wear red lippy at 9 am on a Monday morning.  My friends all had indie posters hanging on their dorm walls, I had Elvis. We would hit a nightclub, them in their boob tubes and tiny skirts, me in something random from a charity shop - they liked me for me and for the first time I couldn't give a damn what anyone else thought.

So what about they shoes? Well I bought these Irregular choice shoes in a discount store, there was no way my meagre bank balance could stretch to the full price of these.  The first outing for my new shoes would be my first in head to toe 50s rockabilly styling.  Being quite tall these big heels gave me some serious height. Walking into the pub that evening I can confirm that I turned heads - mainly because the patrons had never seen a big boobed and butted girl dressed like me before. Yes I got loads of comments and digs "Are you in fancy dress?" was asked and continues to be asked when I go for a night out in my town, but you know what I felt amazing. Truly comfortable in my own skin.


From then on there was no going back ;o)  I love these shoes and what they represent.  I still have self conscious moments, I still revert back to the shy girl of my past, I still carry my curves but I also have the ability to say "This is Me".

 This is why blogland is such an amazing place, we all are excepted for who we are, regardless of our backgrounds, what we are into, where we live or what we look like and I have made some wonderful friends in you all.

 I'll finish off with a quote from the fabulous Helen Hartman in her latest blog post, as I think she sums up a little new year thought beautifully, "Be Bold Enough to Be YOURSELF. Embrace the flaws you know you aren’t going to change and let go of the things that have held you back, starting with the resolutions you know you wont be keeping" Check out Helen's blog Here:
 
Have a fabulous New Year all :o)


Big Love

Sssh... Santa works for Royal mail!

So Christmas is over for another year, I hope you all had a fabulous one, mine was lovely and it all went far too quickly!

I have now to do a little post of thanks as usual blogland has been super kind to me and I've had a couple of lovely parcels.

Beautiful Kylie of Lucy Violet Vintage sent me a fabulous little bundle all beautifully wrapped:

Inside I had a kitschtastic Skegness trinket jar, floral pomander, 'Love Notes' sweets (aka love hearts over here in blighty), a fabulous vintage cotton in shade 'Scarlett' *beam*. 

 

 Kylie also sent a gorgeous handmade floral pot holder, made from scrumptious vintage fabrics and also embroidered with a 'S':

Its all beautiful thank you Kylie :o)

I also received my charity swap parcel from my swap buddy Rachel. The swap was kindly organised by Lakota, in which up to 5 items were to be sent, one of which had to be from a charity shop, a Christmas decoration and something handmade.

I couldn't wait to open this parcel. Along with the cutest polka dot heart decoration I received a Lush 'Secret Santa' gift box which has soap and a bath ballistic inside, a little cherry necklace and a gem of a book: 'Sew and Save'.

 

+

Love it all thanks Rachel.

To top of the Christmas kindness I also received a little cutie from Susan of Tea Dairy fame:

Such a sweet little decoration, thanks Susan. It was put up on the blue Finley-proof Christmas tree we had up this year in a bid to keep him from stripping the main tree bare.

Although some decorations were subjected to the taste test...

Big love to you all, and wishing you a very happy new year.

Merry Christmas to one and all :o)

Hello my lovelies.  Sorry I haven't been around much the last two weeks, with the winter bugs, work and Christmas organising its been a bit hectic. New years resolution is to make sure I catch up with all your blogs and get my blogging mojo back :o)

So I had to pop in to wish you all a very happy Christmas and of course a fabulous new year.  I hope you all get everything you have been hankering after wrapped up under the Christmas tree:

May we all be luck to get a 'Hoover'.

For those families who have everything how about a 'Daisy'...



Best not to cheat at Monopoly this Christmas with the Jones family



 Santa also thinks about the smokers at this time of year:

What a great guy!

Big Love you all

Bit of Craft

Its been a while since I've shown you a craft make of mine on here - manly because i haven't had time to scratch my butt let alone get my craft on.

Well I finally got the mod podge back out to make a couple of Cath Kidston print decs for the tree. I admit I am loving CK's bird print on the Christmas collection but alas not that keen on the price tag.

So I bought myself some wooden tree shapes at a craft shop and painted them white:

And with a packet of Cath Kidston bird print napkins and some mod podge I have myself a couple more tree decorations:

Now I just need to get the Christmas tree up!

Anyone else not got the decorations and tree up yet?


Love to you all

Season of Good Will

Operation declutter chez Scarlett has gone into full force.  Last weekend I took 6 bin bags of clothes and clutter to the charity shop (please take note gods of thrift - I'm expecting some great charity shop karma now).  Finley's toy have also been culled in the lead up to the influx of new bits of plastic on the 25th.  I not sure who is doing the favour to who here...I may soon be banned for donating my tat ;o)

I am also being very restrained in what I'm bringing back to the home therefore no boot sale for me last weekend and only a quick look in two charity shops.  I am finding it a bit strange however to see my donations on the rails in the shop with price tags on, but the homestead is getting a bit more organised which is the main thing.

I'm not the only one to have got into the 'good will' this season - our secret santa at work has been decided, and the theme this year is '£5 gift from a charity shop'  and I didn't even suggest it!  I'm very much looking forward to seeing what everyone gets given....and knowing that certain people will have to actually visit a charity shop.

So I haven't been able to completely resist the thrifty buying last weekend but two crimbo items instead of a bag full is a good start to curbing my habit.

I saw this little wooden crate in the window...

 I asked the lady at the counter is I could have a peek inside...

 ...and there were these super cute kitschy 'handblown' glass ornaments. This according to the paperwork inside it is the 'Night before Christmas' collection.  They only wanted £3 for these in the hospice shop.

In the next charity shop along and saw another little box of Christmas magic:

 Spoons!! Now I really didn't know that I would need crimbo spoons until I saw these ;o)

Bit of fun for £2.

I did also notice that the charity shops are filling up with new bits, so its not just me on operation declutter.  I'm also loving the crimbo marketing technique of this particular charity shop in which they are wrapping up pretty much all the "nearly new" donations in cellophane and putting a bit of curled plastic ribbon on and marking it as "The perfect gift this Christmas"...some people will be a little disappointed this Christmas with the 4 year old M&S bath foam and talc collection in tatty box.  Good on them for shifting it all though.

Hope you all are having a fab week so far.

Big Love

Birthday Love

Its December - whats going on? I really cant believe we are weeks away from Christmas!  But before I start on my crimbo posts, as promised I would show a few of my birthday gifts - these ones are extra special as they are from my beautiful blog buddies.

Lovely Lakota obviously knew that I needed some distraction for the lure of the iPhone with....

Hell yeah - Elvis jigsaw!  Now at my age I'm ready to take on a 1000 piecer ;o) She also sent me an awesome swallow necklace and pin up girly badge (on my bag at time of photo).  Brill thank you Lakota :o)

 

Beautiful Clutter's Jem sent me a fabulous leather photo keyring...

 

...and Rosie Lee brooch, I'm a sucker for anything teacup shaped :o)  Love them both thanks Jem.

Super talented Susan sent me an amazing cross-stitched ring which she has made (and which I was eyeing up on her blog!)

Along with a tea-towel that pretty much sums up my hubby's thoughts:

Hehehe - he wishes I would get my butt in that kitchen and cook!  Love it, thank you Susan :o)

Now ok, there is a little bit of Christmas in this post all thanks to the fabulous Loo xx who sent me the best crimbo decoration ever...

Christmas Flamingo!!! How amazing is this bird! He is going to be put out of reach of little fingers.  There was also an extra bit of birthday cheer with this card bear kit:

Thanks Loo :o)

A big thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes on my last post too, maybe next year I'll be lucky enough to get an electric pussy too ;o) Mwahaha.

Right its about time I had a blog catch up with you all so be 'seeing' you all soon...

Big Love

One reason to visit a charity shop...

Thank you my lovelies all for the happy birthday wishes. I had a fabulous day out in Brighton and I received some beautiful presents (to be blogged about soon). 

While in Brighton I did spy a charity shop sign I had to share:

Well it would be rude not to.... *wink*

Hope you are all having a fabulous week

Big Love

Back to the booty

After a couple of weeks without my boot sale fix I was starting to get twitchy so it was only right that I headed off to the boot sale this morning.  I don't think I was alone in this thought as every man and his dog turned up today, it was bedlam!

Now I'm trying to be a bit more 'selective' in what I'm bringing home as I need to begin the declutterthon so we can get out house on the market, i cant say its been easy but today I was very restrained and only purchased a couple of bits:

Large silver plated candle sticks. I'm been after some of these for a while as I love big church candles and these are the perfect size for them. I bagged them for £2 the pair.

 1960's First Aid tin. This comes complete with all its original unopened contents:

I love the '1963 shops, office and railway first aid instructions' in the lid too.  Obviously there weren't many accidents where this tin was kept!  All mine for £1.

Vintage glass sweet jar - 50p

Vintage vanity jar and candle sticks - £2 the set.

Needle craft trinket jar - 20p. This was such good value that I bought the lot:

Now to get my cross stitch mojo on and make some cute chrimbo gifts with these :o)

So that's my buys, what about a little:

Witnessed at a Boot Sale:

The booty I go to is not too far from an army town so there is a large Gurkha population which visit the boot sale. The Gurkha's are amazing at haggling, i should be taking notes from them as they get things for crazy prices. Today however one family took it a bit far by pulling out a blanket and setting up a stall at the end of a row of all the items they had just bought! Not only making a profit they also got away with not paying for a pitch!

I was also informed today that a Fisher Price castle was "Vintage" as it was from 1992, lol! I may be a year older tomorrow but now feeling positively ancient! ;o)

A Polish couple inspecting a king size bedspread. They decided to unravel it and stretch it out...they did this across the whole front of the sellers stall and then proceeded to have a heated conversation with bedspread stretched out. While they conversed no one could get a look at the stall and I could see the seller getting redder and redder as people kept walking by!  The couple then decided they didn't want the bedspread after all.

Hope you have all had a fabulous weekend, my chickadees :o)

Big Love

Early Birthday pressie to me :o)

Hello all my beautiful blog buddies. Sorry I haven't been around much this last week.  My little boy has been very poorly with a throat, ear and chest infection. He also picked up a sickness bug which has resulted in lots of dirty clothes and a sofa covered in sick - you wont see that in Ideal home magazine!

So this weeks been a bit of a write-off, work has been mega busy and there's been so much to do at home that I've not had a chance to sniff out the charity shop gems.  I did however decide to get myself an early birthday pressie...

Yes I succumbed to getting an iPhone 4S. My old mobile was on its last legs so decided to join the techno revolution.  Like a balding male buying a sports car during a mid-life crisis, I've banished my getting older blues by getting teched up ;o)

I will also now have even less time to consider doing any house work - mwahaha! 

I hope you are all well. I've got a whole lot of blog hopping to do now to catch up with you all :o) 

Big Love

The toys are back in town

I'm a nostalgic 80s child.  If I see a toy from my childhood when I'm a thrifting then I find it very difficult not to take it home. Since having my son I find that he is a great excuse for buying these toys of my youth (even if they are way over his age group or toys which I hubby would cringe at him playing with).

The extra bonus of being "a grown up" is that I can now buy the items my parents refused buy.  One such toy I really wanted thanks to the advertisers was 'Rub-a-Dub Doggie'.  My mum refused to buy it for me, however my wait for this toy was over this weekend when I saw his cheeky face in a box at the boot sale:

Now he doesn't look like much but check out this 80's TV advert for this bath time buddy:

I thought this was amazing when I was was a nipper. I must admit nostalgia has got in the way and in reality he is just a plastic dog with a lever on the back which you move to shake his head - a pretty rubbish toy but nearly 30 years on my son loves him in the bath. Well worth the £1 I paid for the trip down memory lane and the sight of a 15 month old squealing with laughter in the tub.

While we are talking 80s toys hows about every budding designers dream toy:

Fashion wheel!  I used to adore this (yes mum and dad gave in to my demands on this one).  So hands up who also had one of these?

There was nothing better than rubbing the black crayon over the selected outfit creations and then colouring it in while trying to keep between the lines.

I would lose hours playing with this toy, just the cutting with the blunt safety sissors was time consuming enough.  My original fashion wheel was donated to a school fete when my love affair with it ended.  It was therefore only right to buy this boxes fashion wheel for £1 when I saw it at the booty...and yes its just as great as I remember.

Did you ever want a toy as a child that your parents would buy?

Big love to you all, and i'll be taking a trip round all your beautiful blogs