It's been a long winter but the return of flowers to my hair should be a near permanent feature from now on. It feels good to dance around with bare arms and wild hair; the sunshine brings out the best in everything it certainly brings out the best in me.
 As the temperatures are still lingering on the low side for the time of year I've not fully switched to summer clothes yet but in a fit of excitement I carefully retrieved this black lace tee. I haven't worn this beaut nearly enough considering how magnificently versatile it could potentially be. Naturally it needs something solid underneath but being black the possibilities are endless.


Little blue skirt seems to be getting littler! Oops.

 In some really exciting news I've been named as a finalist in the Country Style Blog Awards which is something that's left me feeling happy. I decided a long time ago that my own personal style was something I had to stay true to, regardless of what other bloggers are doing or the media dictates you ought to look like. I call myself a country girl and the vast majority of my outfits are perfect for a wander in the countryside. I've been ever so grateful for your support on my blog over the years and if you like you can vote for me here, any votes are sincerely appreciated. Thank you for making me feel like it's more than just ok to be myself.


Have a wonderful day!
Sophie

Done

In progress

Still to look forward to

A belt is virtually a necessity when a dress has belt loops (and unfortunately this one does) which is a bit of a shame as I like how it hangs on it's own. Lovely to find a white dress which isn't sheer for a change.  The neckline meets very much with my satisfaction, as does the hem. A dress with room to manoeuvre inside is fine by me.

 I was queried recently on precisely what ankle boots could be worn with. The answer, dear friends, is nigh on everything. Dresses, yes, most certainly.
The unusual gathering to the neck is a pleasant variation to the norm.
Another new favourite for the wardrobe!
Sophie

Old faithful; that's how I think of this dress. I bought it years ago, via ebay no doubt - at one stage that was my mainstay way of shopping. The postman got quite tired of delivering parcels. Anyway, this dress has remained one of my reliable favourites, suitable for everything. Flattering, practical, warm enough, cool enough, always looks just right. It was, however, too much for a poke around a local auction over the bank holiday weekend... When most of the other locals looked like they were ready to jump back into their tractors I stood out like a floral sore thumb. Maybe the flowers in my hair were the final straw.

The crux of the post was to reach out to you - fellow bloggers - who either never, or hardly ever post outfit pictures of yourselves. I can't emphasise enough how important I consider it to be comfortable with how you dress and how you feel. I started taking outfit pictures back in 2011 and ouch some of them were uncomfortable. Maybe you feel just as awkward as I was. Maybe not.
I used to hate my hair and skin - for years, since I was about 12 or 13 when you start to notice how you compare to other girls. it's only in the last 3 to 4 years that not only have I embraced how I naturally look but actually feel good bout myself. A smile goes a long way. Relaxed shoulders and a twirl for good measure. Knowing who you are is a bit of an unburdening...
It only takes a minute, or four to take some pictures of yourself and reflect on that. I got all of these in four minutes. Of course, if you're after something more specific it may take much longer but I always prefer to pick out a few which turn out the most flattering.
It's too easy to lose sight of who you are, or look like. My advice is to run with it, breathe easy and smile. Pick your fights carefully; there is no point wasting energy fighting yourself. There are plenty more battles out there more worthwhile.


I'm rustic. Little make up, wild curls.... That's who I am. It only takes a minute to see.
Sophie

So often here I can feel like I'm an imposter.
Much as I adore taking pictures with my camera then writing my thoughts down to empty my mind, with the end result complete and scheduled for publishing, doubt creeps in. I'm convinced that with every coming post I'll be rumbled as a clueless pretender, that you'll realise actually I'm rubbish at producing content. Somehow, I've got away with it day after day for years. One day someone will notice that actually I'm just no good. In real life nobody considers me creative.

Thinking back to when I was younger I was always interested in writing things down. Little poems. Thoughts. Notes to people. Letters. Lists. Writing stories. As a child I was happy left to write whatever I fancied, but remember the lack of interest with which they were received when I excitedly read them out. Naturally, you can't please everyone. Grandparents did seem much more easily impressed by things. One memory that really sticks in my mind was when I created a little story book and illustrated it myself when I was around 10. The paper was some curious old fashioned writing paper and string was threaded through a hole in each sheet to keep them together. The story itself was about a few friends joining a football team. My handwriting was abominable; the letters all different shapes and sizes, weaving their way round the pages and defying gravity.

Recently, I found the book again in the stash of things Mum keeps from our childhoods. Knowing it would be there (they weren't all that many things worthy of keeping) it filled me with nostalgia seeing the paper again. The mini book obviously had an impact on my (paternal) grandfather; when I was 15 and the question of career paths reared it's ugly head I received a typewritten letter from him. This baffled me slightly, but even more than the idea of him writing to me was what he actually wrote. He questioned whether I had considered becoming an author as the story about the footballers I had read out some years before had stuck with him. My grandfather put forward the suggestions of how I could go about writing a book and the realistic practicalities of being a writer. I dug out the letter a few minutes ago, knowing exactly where to find it. Reading through it brought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat. His enthusiasm and sincerity was touching; the letter came with a sheet of notes jotted down with perhaps how to create an ideas board for a story's format.
Racking my brains I can honestly say that nobody else has ever encouraged my writing in the least, not even vaguely. Perhaps he would have been the only one to support my blog. Perhaps, in the back of my mind his letter written in 2001 gave me the thumbs up to go ahead with writing down my thoughts, sharing my ideas. No, I'm not ready to consider writing a book yet. Probably no more so than half a lifetime ago, but that's not to say never.

Sadly, my grandfather passed away several years ago, before I started this blog. I like to think that even if everyone else in my family were to disapprove of it (if they were to find out - you know I like to keep things to myself) that my grandfather would have enjoyed being an approver against the flow.

That letter is one I will treasure forever. Someone had faith in my creativity.

Sophie

I can feel spring quietly erupting all round. The rays of warm sunlight grill the landscape and the growth bubbles to the surface, bursting forth into the air and swishing all around. I wore flowers in my hair. I wore a bright paisley patterned a dress. I couldn't hide my smile.
The dress is a charity shop find from last year although I admit I've not felt driven to wear it much. It's a soft cotton-y piece from Monsoon originally and a bit too big for me without a belt. I cannot imagine why it has such a horribly low neckline which without a top underneath it would be utterly unwearable. I don't understand it at all. I chose my bright orange soft tee to wear as it works in with the bright pattern. Loose sleeves. Perfect.
Do you dress with your head or your heart?
Sophie

The new season is in full swing so I wanted to share a few plans and aspirations for the new season so you can see what ought to be cropping up here over the next couple of months (I always enjoy reading Hazel's list).

I'll start with what's already done

• Get started in the greenhouse. Start off the flowers and vegetables. Tidy the greenhouse. It's been lovely and I'm enjoying it.
• Bird feeders and nest boxes. Check! C has put them all up, two feeders and three boxes. I'm so excited  We also have a little bird bath too (in the hope pigeons won't bother).
• Take a weekend away. Yes! We spent the weekend in Cumbria and were lucky with the weather. Hopefully plenty to share on that soon. 
• Write letters. Three. Posted, almost.
• Spring clean. The last year and a bit have seen something of a u-turn in housekeeping. We have been keeping everything pretty spick and span so it's just a case of upkeep.

What's still to do

• Make a start at the allotment. Sadly it's staying really wet after a lot of recent rainfall so although C has put a lot of manure over the plot, its still a far cry from being prepared.
• Bake a cake. I have a burning desire to make a Victoria sponge for the Easter weekend.
• The great bi-annual wardrobe reshuffle. Oh it's always such a mammoth ordeal but discovering clothes that were forgotten for a while is good.
• Pick flowers from the garden. I'm not sure whether I'm too early for this but we'll see!
• Swap winter for summer bedding plants. Again, not sure how early is too early!
• Make a new tablecloth. I need to source some material, which is the annoying bit. Just whipping up the sewing machine shouldn't take all that long. 
• Sort out my footwear. I need to get my summer sandals and ankle boots out. Maybe even buy some more, I have my eye on this pair of little grey boots from Daniel Footwear and also I need a pair of canvas festival shoes too
• Summer style. I have my heart set on floaty dresses and flowers in my hair. Help.

What are your plans for spring?
Sophie
This post includes a sponsored link. All content and opinions my own.

It's been a winter full of oversized jumpers and thermal black tights but I'm not about to pack them away just yet; staying warm is a priority so I'll be clinging on to them for a while yet.
 Muddy, faithful Magnum boots as ever and my beloved Joules bag from Country Attire.
Have you been tempted to dress up for a sensational spring day?
Sophie

Keeping warm has been priority number one for so may months now, I can't wait 'til it's warm enough to wear fun things without having to bung on endless layers to avoid hypothermia.
Wrap up warm!
Sophie

I don't remember the last time I shared any beauty tips here, but believe you me, these are my staples for winter. These three are my absolute rocks for taking care of myself over the cold, harsh months and they're absolutely worth using. This is not a sponsored post.

The Body Shop Hemp Intensive Hand Butter was a recommendation from several people, the only one I recall being my hairdresser who swore by it. My hands are prone to suffering badly over winter and when I say suffering, I mean it. When I hear people complaining about how dry their hands get I can't help but smirk as they have no idea how much worse it gets than that. Over the years my hands have taken a beating over winters; the dry skin getting so bad it splits in a zillion places and bleeds. They scabbed over in tiny segments. Washing hands hurt but don't even get me started on antibacterial gel. I could clench my hand and could drip blood. Gruesome, but true-some. Previous years' attempts with hand cream had been frittered with lapses. I lost interest. I used products that didn't work. However, this year I wanted to look after myself better. I wanted to make the effort. In late summer/start of autumn I made sure I went into the Body Shop store and bought the hand cream designed for very dry skin. It's £12 for 100ml in a sturdy pot. I've conscientiously applied it to my hands and wrists every night; as I sit here and stroke my hands I can report that they're soft as silk and utterly beautiful. If you suffer from very dry hands then I would recommend this for you without question.

My second recommendation is the Tony & Guy Prep Leave In Conditioner which is £6.99 for 100ml online from Superdrug although I've always bought in in Boots for £9 for 2 tubes in store. I use a 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner to wash my hair with, towel scrunch so that my hair is no longer dripping wet, apply half a walnut size blob of this stuff all over my hair then sometimes I then use up to a tennis ball size lump of fairly strong hold mousse before letting it air dry. This seems to work best for me. My hair has been coping with winter better than usual.

Last of all we have Burt's Bees Lip Balm. I have two from Holland and Barrett; Burt's Bees Lip Balm with honey and the variety with mango butter. Both are brilliant and I grab which ever is nearest to hand to reapply after a few hours. they're not tinted but leave a good strong protective layer on lips which stop them cracking and keep them feeling good. I've not really worn any lipstick this winter and instead stuck to balm. These are £3.69 each for 4.25g from Holland and Barrett but currently on a 'buy one get one half price on mix and match' offer. Well worth it.
Have you tried any of these? I love them!

Sophie