Now do I sell a kidney, a toe or a child......

....to buy the new Mulberry article of total and utter lushness that is the Del Rey.  In Deer Brown.  Oh be still my beating heart, I adore this bag.  I need this bag in my life.  Ok so that may be me slightly over egging the pudding. I bought a bag of a very similar colour (actually a better colour for me as I needed a lighter shade, truth be told) only a matter of days ago (my last blog in fact.  I'll get my coat).  So I don't Need it at all.  

But it is a complete beauty. 

"Oh but it's a bit formal and a bit stiff looking", I hear some of you cry.  Fear not fans of the slouchier bag and those who don't have an office to go to and still have to carry round humzingers/matchbox cars/pack of crayons/the odd chupa chup and a small hipflask (just me?), as opposed to an Ipad and a set of business cards.  In the flesh, it isn't such a prim little thing as can be seen:-



Over the years I have lusted after a Mulberry Bayswater in Oak.  But every time I've had the funds to treat myself to a big ticket bag, I always somehow end up finding something less, err, less... traditional I suppose is the word I'm looking for?  I know they're a complete classic and in fact, sitting here right now, I'm actually thinking, why on earth don't I have one?  Duh.  I just always seem to find something more appropriate.  Maybe it's that I've felt I had forever to be classic - after 40 perhaps?  Which happens to be perilously close now and I'm still not sure I'm quite ready to be that sensible or that grown up.

So perhaps this is the perfect option instead.  A Classic looking option but that has been given a new lease of life.  Well, it would be the perfect option were I to have nearly £800 hanging around in an envelope with "Bag Fund" written on it.  I knew there was a flaw to my plan.  Which leads me back to the quandary of kidney, toe or child...... Maybe I should just wait for my birthday.  By which point, fickle eejit that I am, there will be something else sparkly on my agenda that's caught my magpie eye.  Truly pathetic. 

Whilst we're on the subject of Mulberry loveliness, I do have to give a quick shout out for a sneaky outsider that has won it's way onto my Lust List.  The Postman's Lock across body bag in pebbled beige. 

Remarkably similar I personally think (although clearly, what sort of expert am I?) to the Del Rey but with a more functional (oh crap, is that me getting old...) cross body strap.  It's a really cute summer size as well.  And as Rugrat Three is starting school in September (I shall be a mess at the time, a godawful, weeping mess but at the moment I can only hear trumpets of celebration in my head) the need for a bag of Mary Poppins proportions will be gone.

But at £650 it's as out of my current budget as the Del Rey so my bag habit shall have to remain fed by the bargain Cos bag I purchased (was gifted I should say, even better) the other day.  And which, when it gets trashed as it's the least practical colour under the sun, I will be infinitely less gutted about, than had it been a Mulberry (been there, cried the tears, had the tantrums)

Now a brief round up of what I have been wearing in this, frankly absolutely appalling beyond appalling weather.  I am sorely tempted to boycott Summer altogether and from tomorrow, start thinking about Christmas and crack open the mulled wine.  We had hail this morning at 6.30am.  Proper, full on hail.  In May.  The least I say on the subject the better, as otherwise smoke will start appearing from my ears. 

Saturday morning.  Started with such promise.  There was that big yellow thing in the sky that looked like sun.  Off for the usual round of gymnastics drop off (and no, not me participating) and then a treat blowdry at the hairdressers (I honestly only do this a couple of times a year, despite having been twice in two weeks.  But last week was for my bi-annual cut, honest guv)


Nude vest - Primark
Beige linen tee - Zara
Khaki skinny zip jeans - By Malene Birger
Brocade cropped jacket - Wallis (this is 7 years old and gets dragged out every year and every year is commented on positively!)
Large cream stone and gold necklace - Anthropologie
Gold fretwork ballet pumps - Jimmy Choo (ditto the Wallis jacket but these are only 6 years old)
Nude leather bag - Cos

I did decide to earn Mother of the Year award and give The Husband the afternoon off, so took the kids swimming.  Unfortunately Rugrat Three is unable to swim at the moment due to a perforated ear drum (with which he's delighted - with the lack of swimming not the dodgy ear - as a water baby he is not), so I had to sit with him.  As we were at an outdoor pool and the sun was in fact merely a watery yellow mirage and it was bloody freezing, you can imagine I wasn't remotely gutted at not being able to swim too. (that and the fact I'd just had my hair done)  But the other two were like pigs in poo (v cold poo it does have to be said).   Since I knew I would loafing around on the grass I had got changed into:


Nude vest - Primark
Blush jumper - H&M
Floral jeans - Primark
Matt gold Hav rip offs - Primark 

Off out on Saturday night to a very good friend's party which was just Amazing.  As I had been so pleased with my outfit from the other week and there was only one couple going to be there who had seen it, I just completely rewore it.


As a quick recap

Nude vest - By Malene Birger
Peach (these are actually a peachy blush..) skinny cropped zip trousers - Zara
Blush and gold belt - Mango
Blush sequin cardigan/blazer - Zara
Nude strappy sandals - Zara
Large cream stone and gold necklace - Anthropologie
Tan De Manta clutch - Alexander McQueen

Sunday was pretty much a write off - back at 3.30am, up at 7am.  Ouch.  A quick snooze at midday and then off out for a late lunch with friends.  A day of carbs (bacon sandwiches, lasagne and chip and pizza for tea - the sign of an excellent party the night before)


White longsleeved longline top - Isabella Oliver
Natural rectangle linen jumper - The White Company
Khaki skinny zip jeans - By Malene Birger
Khaki and black leopard print scarf - By Malene Birger
Tan Rockafella boots - Russell & Bromley
Cheeta print ponyskin bag - Zara

Monday, lulled into a false sense of security by beaming sunshine first thing.  Let's just say later on I got very very wet.  Let's also say that I got up at the crack of dawn in aforementioned sunshine and very smugly hung my washing out before the school run.  Not so smug later on.  For the record, my washing is still out there.


White floaty sleeveless double layer top - Taylor Stevens
Distressed straight leg jeans rolled up - Zara
Leopard print cardigan - Warehouse
Gold bee necklace - Alex Monroe
Gold charm necklace - Made
Tan leather and rivet cuff - Mulberry
Tan Rockafella boots - Russell & Bromley
Tan Shopper - Zara

Today I caved and have resorted to dressing like it's November.  And I was still freezing.  I am bringing out the moon boots tomorrow.


White vest - Primark
White linen tee - Zara
Dark grey Baxter jeans - Topshop
Beige and grey blazer - Zara
Fabulous Finches scarf - Mulberry
Tan leather and rivet cuff - Mulberry
Black Madonna stud wedge trainers - Ash
Tan shopper - Zara

Tomorrow I am giddy with excitement about a day Up West with three of my oldest bessie mates, one all the way over from Boston so it's completely justified.  Shopping, lunch and general debauchery (which will no doubt mean I'm home by 5pm.  Oh to be in my twenties again........)