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Not so much as Blue Monday but more of a teal one. On this, said to be the most depressing day of the year, we've just taken delivery of a new velvet Chesterfield.
This morning's choice of outfit was an All About Audrey maxi dress which I bought new in 2024, a vintage Afghan velvet waistcoat and a pendant made from sea glass which was a birthday present from Liz and Adrian.
If I wasn't already excited by the long awaited settee, I've been waiting over a year while Jon dithered over it...I'm buzzing after smashing a personal best at swimming this morning, completing a mile in 42 minutes which, to anyone who isn't interested in fitness, is probably as interesting as watching paint dry but as someone who has never really considered herself as sporty, I feel like Superwoman. I filmed this before Xmas but my goofy smile sums up how empowered I feel after swimming!
@vixbrearley #over50women #swim ♬ Underwater Love - Chris Le Blanc & Bes & Meret & Karmaloft
With the Gala closed on Sunday for water polo there was no swimming, I've had a pretty lazy weekend although with a couple of dryish days I was able to get outside and take some stock photos for Vinted, selling several items within minutes of the listings going live.
My outfit for dropping off my sales parcels on Saturday morning was the Jaase maxi dress I'd bought from a charity shop the previous day. It's a lovely relaxed fit and should work with a polo neck underneath on colder days. Here it is in action....
On Sunday, with chores out of the way, I finished This Little Life through tears. It wasn't an easy read but it's a book that'll live with me for ever.
I’ve watched a couple of episodes of can you keep a secret. It’s so funny, I love Dawn French in most things. That blue Chesterfield is dreamy. I used to have an Oxblood leather one and it was so stylish. That £2.99 dress looks gorgeous on you. What a steal xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Louise! I'm trying not to search Gudrun Sjoden on Vinted, Dawn's wardrobe is so colourful and lovely in Can You Keep A Secret! xxx
DeleteThe Chesterfield is glorious! Oooh, you do look gorgeous in all your outfits, esp the new Jaisse dress! I like the loose sleeves and cunning underskirt!
ReplyDeleteGlad your Vinted purchases were so speedy! I really need to get back into swimming once my tailbone heals!
Thanks Kezzie! I was starting to loathe sitting in the lounge with that tatty old sofa with all the webbing hanging off and claw marks in the arms! I hope you heal soon. I don't know how I ever lived without swimming! xxx
DeleteI really need to lose my fear of color- your rooms are gorgeous. I went blue on a bathroom wall and love it but cautious elsewhere. Your finds again will go to lucky owners.
ReplyDeleteBe brave, Sam! You can always paint over it if you hate it (but I bet you won't)! xxx
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ReplyDeleteThe TikTok video... I love it! Beautiful in the swimsuit and in the dress. Such a great look with the dress and the black cap.
The room with the new sofa is gorgeous.
Thanks so much, Andrea! xxx
DeleteIm enjoying your Tiktok videos, Vix. I love your new settee, it looks so comfy and well earned after waiting 20 year for the old one to conk out that is good mileage! Im interested to see what you make with the old settee :) Thanks for the tv line up tips. Betty
ReplyDeleteThanks, Betty! I'm so happy with the new sofa, I was starting to get really annoyed with the old one and having to keep chucking throws and blakets over it to hide how tatty it was! xxx
DeleteI'm excited to see your up cycling project! A friend of mine hacked her old couch to pieces small enough to get rid of week by week in the garbage so that she needn't pay for it to be taken away. She actually decided to have two easy chairs instead of a couch at all.
ReplyDeleteHearty congratulations on your swimming, that is a huge achievement and you are so faithful at going for the exercise! Not always fun to do that in winter weather!
JanF
That was very crafty of your friend, Jan! Kudos to her!
DeleteJon's not happy about being dragged out of the house at 7am three times a week but he loves it when he's in the pool (or so I keep telling him!) xxx
Oooh we watched The Inside Man too! Much throwing of empty crisp bags and easy peeler peel at the screen. Stanley Tucci and Atkins Estimond got the best of the scriptwriting and acted everyone else off the screen. Ahem. Thank goodness I treated my mister to the boxed set of Ghosts for Christmas https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8594324/
ReplyDeleteWe had a much loved plaster pink velvet chesterfield that just basically died. We tried to get a quote to have it refurbished (it was very ancient and full of horsehair and giant springs) but it would have cost a lot of money. I always regret getting rid of it - the bloke who did come and have a look was quite dismissive - most folks seem to want to put a new cover on something relatively modern and had no interest. Your new chesterfield is very handsome and looks very at home in your lovely lounge.
Congratulations on your mermaid milestone! It takes me 20 minutes to get my shoes and socks on at the moment lol. Frockage is awesome as always - getting myself dressed is infuriating as I have to make sure I have no trip hazard hems, nothing too wafty, sensible shoes, no bangles or objects of strangulation etc.
We intended to refurb our kitchen last summer but obvs that got put on the back burner after I fell. I'm living vicariously through your house projects lol!
Ah well - back to tussling with BT/BT Openreach over our broadband that stops working when it rains (honestly).
Elaine Anon
Hello Elaine! Oh yes, Atkins Estimond's lines cracked me up, the one about the feet especially! I've not seen Ghosts, I really ought to, everyone I know loved it. The BBC really do make the best off-the-wall comedy.
DeleteThat plaster pink Chesterfield sounds divine. I loved the Loaf one in the same colourway but couldn't justify the expense and knowing how messy Jon is, it'd be rancid in weeks!
You should challenge yourself to shave a minute of your getting dressed time every week, turn it onto a sport! I can titally understand not wanting to embrace the waft after that breakage. You'll get there in the end. xxx
Your Teal Monday Settee is just perfect - love love love!
ReplyDeleteInterested to see what you have planned for its predecessor 😊
Thanks, Kate! I'm hoping it works out now I've bigged it up on my blog! xxx
DeleteI couldn't cope with the pain of "A Little Life".
ReplyDeleteIt was a hard read, wasn't it? The writer is incredible. xxx
DeleteEverything I said on FB!Not on Tik Tok but enjoying the little clips here. Xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Annie! xxx
DeleteWell done on your personal best, I hoped there was a quick pitstop at 'Spoons' on the way home to celebrate. And I LOVE your empowerment swimming video!! I was wondering where Dawn's outfits were from, I should have recognised them, it is a good series isn't it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue! I thought you'd have clocked Dawn's outfits straughtaway being a GS fan! Can You Keep A Secret is great fun, isn't it? I'm sad we've watched them all! xxx
DeleteBrilliant result on the swim and I love the colour of your new settee.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Aril! It's hard to find anything that isn't "fashionable grey" these days! xxx
DeleteYour new blue couch is amazing, Vix! I love it! Well done on your swim timing! That's so impressive! Ah, what fun to revisit your dollhouse! Much love to you, Jon and the furry boys.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sheila! The doll's houses are in urgent need of a spering clean. William climbed into one yesterday and managed not to knock anything over, he didn't half make me laugh! xxx
DeleteHi Vix, what a lovely colour sofa. I remember many many years ago my then piano teacher had a blue velvet sofa in the room where I had my lessons but she was loathe to let me sit on it!! The All About Audrey dress has some rather fantastic sleeve action going on. The newly-acquired Jaase dress too looks great with your suede coat. Talking of Stanley Tucci films, we went to our local community cinema viewing of ' Big Night' ( featuring a youngish Stanley Tucci) and an Italian meal last Friday. If you' ve not seen it before it is worth checking out I believe. Your swimming is very impressive, well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Alysia! I love that you still remember your piano teacher's sofa!
DeleteI shall have to look out for that Stanley Tucci film. Have you ever seen that Levi's advert starring him from the 1980s? I think he's definitely got more attractive as he's aged and I adored him in his Italy travel shows! xxx
Well done on your swimming achievement, you have every right to be proud of yourself.
ReplyDeleteI do love your rather plush blue velvet chesterfield . We have a chocolate brown one but it needs respringing , a one day project.
Looking as good as ever in your wonderful outfits.
Thanks so much, Jill! I bet your chocolate brown Chesterfield is very luxe, well worth getting it respringed! xxx
DeleteWow a fabulous, lush couch Vix.
ReplyDeleteWell done with your swimming, you're doing an amazing job. X
Thanks, Jess! xxx
DeleteOh Gosh! I do love coming and peeking at your blog. I'm not nearly as adventurous as you, but the comment "No Bloody Fashionable Grey in this house" had me standing up and shouting HURRAY!!! My son and DIL have a lovely, modern, practical COMPLETELY GREY house, and I itch to see some colour. To be perfectly honest, our walls are cream, but at least they're covered in colourful artworks. And I don't dress in the black, or grey-all-over clothes so many of the younger people do! Thank you for sharing your Pizzazz with us. It delights me. Virginia
ReplyDeleteHello Virginia! It's lovely to hear from you and thank you for your kind comment! Grrr....Fashionable grey depresses the life out of me, I'd much rather have cream or off-white and a huge collection of colourful prints than conforming to a lame interior trend!
Deletexxx
That Chesterfield is splendid, and looks so comfy. Now you're all set for another 30 years.
ReplyDeleteGrey's day is definitely over at the design-led end of things - GREEN IS COMING - but it'll probably take a while to filter down into people's homes. I really hate it when people paint the outside of their houses grey. Are they trying to match the sky for the most miserable half of the year or something?
Thanks, Mim! We're really pleased with it and being slightly smaller than the old one the room doesn't feel quite so cluttered.
DeleteI'd love to see green making a comeback. Our friend Tony works in furniture retail and is sick to death of his customers only wanting grey. Yore right, it's miserable inside but even worse as an exterior colour! X
You made a fantastic maxi skirt! Great outfits as well. The dark maxi is beautiful
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your personal best. Swimming is amazing, it's the best sport there is.
I miss swimming! There's no pool here. I wish I was brave enough to swim in the sea in the winter. Well, maybe some day.