You know what an outdoors-y type I am, always yearning to spend time in the countryside, fostering my habit of noticing the changes and identifying any new sightings. The miles we cover each year runs into numbers our combined fingers and toes have long since exceeded, probably weeks a year.
There's a well vocalised bias towards the warm and joyful seasons of spring and summer from me and I cannot pretend to be the least bit apologetic. However, since when has a change of season stopped me from going out?
The spate of wet weekends has meant two things; firstly, indoor jobs have seen some attention, not least plenty of cooking and baking of seasonal treats and secondly, when we have ventured out it has meant getting wet. Thankfully, we had a window of opportunity through which to escape on Saturday after a wet start, so we headed out for some fresh air and a mooch round the wilderness.


Keen have been a footwear brand whose boots have featured on the blog many times before. I'm a dedicated fan and have remained impressed with the build quality, design and comfort of their range. They have a new model out now which is more heavy duty than those I usually wear which will plug the gap in my boot collection nicely. The Karraig waterproof hiking boot is their latest in the range and is a boot built to perform on the most demanding of terrain. I can attest that these boots are particularly sturdy and hold my feet in an especially secure way. Next time I'm on a walking holiday these will be my first choice for those mountain ascents. Not only do they have a strong, grippy sole and foot bed, the lacing up has been designed to provide the maximum amount of security for fitting and the boot even come with a handy sheet to show you how to tension the laces best. The walls of the boot are noticeably firmer than any of my others which make my feet and ankles feel properly supported and ready for anything.

I'm wearing the steel grey/smoke blue colour wave but they also come in a lovely chestnut brown too. Currently available direct from Keen at £159.99, they represent a high quality boot and it's a reasonable price for this product which is both designed and manufactured in Europe.

This autumn I'm determined to dodge the clouds and get outdoors as much as I can to clock up some more miles. It's fungi time already, plus the beautiful berries are in full glory. Leaves are starting to put on a show for us so there's plenty to behold on the landscape no matter where you are.
Who's up for more adventuring this autumn?
Many thanks to Keen for sending me these boots to explore in.

Take care,
Sophie

There is so much potential over autumn and winter for outdoor adventuring. The crowds head out on Boxing day for a walk but guess what? The countryside is open all year round to be enjoyed so don't let the cooler weather put you off. Grab a warm coat, a fluffy scarf, hat and gloves and head out for some vitamin D and fresh air feelgood factor.
I'm an outdoorsy type anyway, so providing it's not howling a gale or raining cats and dogs then I'm game for a stroll my beloved camera round my neck for some happy time. To get me set up for some miles under the big Norfolk skies this season Keen have sent me a pair of their new boots - perfect!
I was amazed when I took them out of the box, they have a beautiful soft feel to the outer which is unlike any piece of footwear I've handled before, it's nubuck leather upper (and waterproof), they're not heavy or clumsy. It's always a good sign when you like the feel of a boot before even trying it on but the whole construction is super tidy with a lovely lining inside.

When I popped these on they felt great, really comfortable. Exactly what I ask from a boot; ankle support, easy laces which keep them nice and snug all day, a wonderful feel to the sole of my foot. It's got superb cushioning and support which give a strong sturdy footing yet keep things feeling light underfoot.
The Terradora mid leather waterproof boots are a women's boot and come in some fabulous colours. I went for the Scotch/mulch colour wave but they come in four shades including a beautiful wine red shade. This is both a practical brown shade which will suit whatever I'm wearing and yet with a pretty purpley quirk to add some character.

How were they to wear? Well, fabulous. I wore them for five hours straight as I'd intended to walk around the countryside before lunch but we had such a restorative time that I didn't want it to end so we dropped by Tesco for some sandwiches before heading out for a second walk and a second visit to Tesco for more supplies for tea. After coffee at home a trip to the allotment was in order to harvest our vegetables (and for me to pick the final remaining flowers) before returning home. I was so comfortable that I didn't feel remotely like I'd just worn new boots at all. I would classify these as a proper multipurpose boot; I think my primary use for them will be dog walking and my countryside jaunts. If you're into wearing trainers regularly then these are better than a low rise sporty type for general use.
The verdict? A resounding thumbs up from me. I've worn my Keen East Side booties so often from last October and I know that my new Terradora boots will get plenty of outings over the coming months.
I'd love to say a big thank you to Keen for sending me these boots to review, I'm a big fan of the brand and they stock a really comprehensive range of outdoor footwear for men, women and kids too - not just boots so they are well worth a look next time you want a quality pair.
Are you ready for an autumn adventure?
Sophie

Saturday's forecast was for sunshine in the morning then an afternoon of heavy rain. I got up early and relished the sunrise; early starts suit me. I love an early morning to feel like I'm making the most of the day.
Faithful skinny fit jeans are perfect for chilly mornings, as are super fluffy jumpers. That day I wore my new Keen ankle boots along with some nifty turn-ups. You know how much of a fan I am of a practical boot.

This pair of East side booties are ticking all the boxes for me at the moment. This pair are in a colourwave called pale olive/gargoyle, (although technically each bootie is made up by three colours). I love the concept, these are so different to anything I've seen before and for good reason; the assymentric lacing system contours to the foot for maximum comfort and best fit. I did feel like my feet were kept well supported, with a perfectly snug fit. Just what I want to feel while out and about. As an ankle boot fanatic I could wax lyrical about the benefits of that little extra support all day, but for people who just prefer a shoe, the Lower East Side Lace might be more your thing.
The internal cushioning to the sole makes them wonderfully comfortable to wear. I'm mightily impressed! The heel has a subtle debossed pattern which adds extra detail to the boot. The Bridge City collection may have taken it's inspiration from Portland, Oregon but it translates into universal sophistication. This is a pair of boots just perfect for travelling, city exploring and
This country girl is a Keen Bridge City fan!
Sophie
Thank you to Keen for sending me these booties to review, all opinions my own as always.

I'm not naked. That's the first thing I want to say.

The second thing is that this two piece is one of the most unusual things I've worn in a while and it's made me realise how light my tan is this year! I can hardly be described as 'brown as a berry' this year, although where that illogical saying comes from is beyond me.

When I saw this Charisse suede crop two piece I immediately thought it would be perfect on safari. Not in the traditional sense;I mean more of a shopping safari on the mean streets of the city. Binoculars in hand, ready to spot those bargains from long range and a long life bag ready to carry home the spoils.

A strong pair of boots were called for and my new sale buy from River Island definitely fulfilled the brief. How much do I love these boots? I can't even quantify. Platform, sturdy high heel, lace up and a buckle too.... All sorts of awesome. Finally, the outfit wouldn't be complete without some accessories and loose hair having it's own party.

Thanks to Luxemme for sending me the shorts and top to wear! It's a limited edition piece so if you're after one then you'd better not dilly dally or you'll miss the boat. It's faux suede, in case you're wondering or are worried. And it's really soft too. I'm thinking of layering under the top for Autumn to keep me toasty.

Have you ever worn a two piece?

Sophie

Ah, summer. Finally the right day came to wear my venerated white lace dress one that I bought in winter and have been peering at longingly ever since. It's a funny one; ¾ length sleeves and a short, lined dress which has to be worn on a warm day but definitely not a scorcher. The right day came about on Saturday, a mix of sunshine and white fluffy clouds with a light intermittent breeze to gently blow through my hair. All I needed was a small floral crown, some clinky jewellery (including my gorgeous necklace that just seems to work perfectly with so many pieces) and a good pair of ankle boots.

I'm really impressed with these brown chelsea boots from Shoe Zone. They fit really well and are super comfortable; I wore them all day and again yesterday too. You can't beat a practical pair of ankle boots and these brown Lilley boots are ideal for summer walks and of course, festivals! I think this boho outfit would be perfect for a day out at a festival this summer and one which I'd be wearing to spend a day chilling out with live music under the bright blue skies.

Have a wonderful day,

Sophie

Many thanks to Shoe Zone for sending me these fab boots to review!

Can you believe it's the first post this season with a tartan skirt? I KNOW! My beloved collection of these awkward length pleated skirts is about to come into it's own with some thermal tights – Bob's your uncle. That day I was undecided on the red or the blue skirt so I asked the opinion of my esteemed consultant (husband) and after the very briefest of dithers he chose blue. Things have moved on; roll back 18 months and he assured me he wouldn't be seen dead with me if I wore these skirts, even he has warmed to them.

Oh my gosh, these biker boots have been a godsend, I love them so much. By far one of my favourite buys of the year and touch wood a pair that will last a good while. There is little worse than finding a pair of treasured boots wears out before your love for them wears thin. The idea of forking out a fortune for an expensive well made pair does scare me but it has to be said that cheaper footwear is made pretty shabbily these days so it's little wonder they don't last.

Have a great weekend
Sophie

The days are getting cooler and calling for me to layer up, dig out my warmer clothing and dress more practically for the conditions. There was a definite nip in the air on Sunday which inspired me to grab my favourite knitted skirt which in my opinion will go with almost anything (or I'd at least wear it with pretty much anything) along with some warm tights. My go-to combination of shirt and jumper [LOVE] is back, with a good quality pale yellow check shirt and a new grey (with metallic thread) jumper – both charity shop finds.

The obvious footwear to go for is a pair of boots – you know what a fan I am of a pair of practical ankle boots! This leather studded buckle pair are by Sole Diva and I think they fill a gap in my footwear collection for sure. They were sent to me by JD Williams who have an awesome range of boots for autumn; not only do they have a massive selection, but many of them come in a whole range of width fittings for the foot as well as long boots with wide calf fittings too. I opted for a wide foot fit as often I find my feet are squashed in to a regular fit which was refreshing!

Have you found yourself reaching for winter favourites yet?

Thanks to JD Williams for kindly gifting me the boots <3

Sophie