Happy New Year & My Style Challenge for 2014

Last week, I got to thinking that most of my readers were just as busy as I was and would rather spend quality time with family and be fabulous multi-taskers at home so I took a break from this blogging madness. And it was bliss not taking photos or having to think too much about what I wore each day. But mostly it was lovely not being on the computer for a while. I totally switched off Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest and only used Facebook on my personal account. I had movie time with the kids, took them to swimming & soft play, made endless sequin art and jumping clay pieces, played Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit with the board game obsessed son and went for family walks. The recipe for a chilled out Christmas.

 I do have one Christmas outfit post - from our Boxing/Stephen's Day walk with the kids at Hillsborough Forest Park. Gorgeous baltic, muddy day...perfect for my new Boden Fairisle cardigan...

Parka - ℅ Target Dry (15% off with SchoolGate15)
Cardigan - Boden
Cream Top - Joules (similar here)
Jeans - F&F at Tesco
Wellingtons - Old but fab ones here and here
Welly Socks - similar here

I don't know much about colours but this cardigan just seems to brighten up my skin-tone and I love the neon vibe going on. Has been worn more than once over Christmas.

And in the next photo, I show you the best gift ever..

Yes - I've got my iPhone 5c...along with £20 worth of indestructible protective accessories. I'm a real klutz with phones but this one has to last 2 years so I've got a Survivor cover and a military grade Zagg screen protector wrapped around it. Following up on my Christmas wish list, the Uggs were received on Christmas Day too but they've already been returned. I've another post coming up on that one....

Apart from that, the most notable fashion update from the past week is that I've not been to the sales. For the first time ever! Ok, ok, so I did the order from Boden before Christmas (see this blog post - some kept, some went back) but I've not ventured to Belfast....yet...

So it's 2014 now - the year my eldest child goes to double figures! Hard to believe that this time 10 years ago, I was 30 weeks pregnant...not a particularly stylish Christmas Day then I seem to remember. But what about the blog for this year? I'm about to enter my 3rd year of blogging and I want to challenge myself a bit more with my wardrobe and here's where you can join in too.

For each month in 2014, I'm taking on a different style challenge...without breaking the bank. I did consider a few radical options like a whole year of not buying ANYTHING. Cue paper bag moment. But after discussing it at depth with Gemma Louise, we decided that was too boring and by the time April came round, you'd have all switched off as I wear the same stuff again and again - believe it or not, my wardrobe is not that extensive.

Instead...and thanks to GL for her idea...I'm going to do something different each month and I'd love if you'd join me in it. As I type, I've only got Jan, Feb, March & April planned in detail. A couple of exciting things in May stop me going further - I will reveal all when I can.

January is Sale Bargain month. I've identified 5 items that I feel are missing or need replaced in my wardrobe and I'm going to secure the best quality and lowest price options in the sales during January - and let's face it, the sales are pretty amazing this year...I've got a post coming up tomorrow about one sale in particular that you need to check out.

February is Frugal month - no shopping ALL month. I picked Feb as the sales will be mostly over by then and it'll be too cold to be thinking about SS14 clothing. And it's a short month too..

March is Clothes Swap month and I'm going to give you full details on how to host a Clothes Swap in your home with your friends...as well as having one myself! I had one just over a year ago and it was just a great night..perfect excuse for catching up with friends and a great way to clear out your wardrobe ahead of spring/summer AND bag yourself some free clothes.

April is Charity month, where I'll be scouring the charity shops of Belfast for the best items to add to my wardrobe.

I hope you'll join me in the challenge this year either for a month here or there or the whole thing. I'll set up a linky (if you don't know what this is, click here!) each month for other bloggers so that there's more than me to follow...I'm particularly excited to see the linky for the clothes swaps at the end of March!

All that's left for me to say today is HAPPY NEW YEAR! I'm so grateful to all of you for your support during the past 2 years. Your comments, emails and page clicks are what keep me going on this blog journey. And your support of my shop has been amazing. I hope to keep bringing you great new stock during 2014. Oh and a January sale too - anyone want a January sale?? I'm off to work on that one too! 

Ax