Monday 19 January 2015

Simple


As complicated as life can be at times, I find that there is pleasure to be had in small, simple things.

The past weekend was testament to that.

1970s print frock + cardigan + boots. 
So simple.
 
A Friday night out with the girls - delicious home-cooked food, wonderful company, plenty of booze and even more laughs. Photo-free, undocumented, delightful.


Saturday: a Big Lie-In, followed by a visit to a cafe with Nina. 
One-to-one time, and chocolate Malteser cake - perfect.
 
 
Walking home as the light faded, we watched a heron fly along the course of the river, its silhouette like Concord.


1970s DL Barron dress (part of a set), cardigan, bangles, necklace and flower - charity shopped
 
An evening chilling on the sofa accompanied by my girls, cats, trashy TV, and a takeaway - bliss.


1970s wool coat, sweater, belt, beret and bangles - charity shopped
1970s dress - vintage shop
Carpet bag - gift
 
 
Sunday - pootling with the cats.
 
 Jess - our very own Narcissus.

 Charlie - looking angelic, but stalking Jess. At his peril.
 
 
 
Time to read.


And today, a little gift from my blogging friend Mrs B...


another Tufty hanky, 47 years after I was given the last one. How lovely is that?

See? Small, simple things.

xxx

43 comments:

diaryofapennypincher said...

It is nice to pare life down and enjoy those moments, isn't it? Love your outfits, beautifully styled as ever, and particularly like the shorter dress on you, it's a length you wear well! I think I have one of those Tufty hankies somewhere too!

Melancholy and Menace said...

Your day out with your daughter looks perfect, and a special memory.

I love the skeletal graffiti on that wall.

Gorgeous outfits, as always, and such sweet kitties!

xx

Jayne H said...

Lovely post Curtise and couldn't agree more. Love the Tufty hanky xx

Twiggy said...

Great post and I am very jel about your Tufty hanky
Twiggy

bahnwärterin said...

agree! totally!
that hanky is just cute. i remember you wrote about tufty last year. ... and pretty nina with the chocolate cake - lovely!
pet your cats from me :-)
xxxxxxxx

Natalia Lialina said...

You look beautiful and at ease in your wonderful outfits, Curtise! You styled them masterfully - colors, shapes, layers, details and all. Love this coat on you.

I love the photos of Nina in the cafe. I too take my daughter for one on one time from time to time - simple things, restaurant, shopping, sometimes theater or museum. Invited her for sushi once she is done with her "wild" party and things settle down a bit. :)

Such a restful post, just like the mood you are in. xxxx

Unknown said...

I agree about the simple things, we went on a walk yesterday as a family. I was so enjoyable, and it didn't cost a thing. But what a special memory we will have.
Love your outfits,especially that wool coat! :)

Fiona said...

What bliss....a Tufty hanky!
How true your words are, for not half an hour ago I taught myself to cast-on (knitting) from an online tutorial, a bit sad I know but I'm chuffed to bits. Loving both frocks and the look of that cake.
xx

Patti said...

Completely agree. I always say "now that was a good day," after a day of doing nothing but reading, writing and petting the kits. You look lovely while doing simple things, and the chocolate cake looks fab. xox

hippyatheart said...

simple things are the best!! Your little narcissus is solo cute and how nice is the café? your looks are great too.

Amanda Eden said...

That's a wonderful book - enjoy.....

freckleface said...

So much of the time is spent whizzing round like a lunatic doing all the tedious necessary stuff, that I honestly think the simple things are the only things I enjoy now! I love weekends with nothing planned, where I can just be. This looks and sounds like the perfect weekend, friends, chatter, laughter, cake with a cherub, wearing nice outfits, lazy lie ins and finally, reading one of my favourite ever books! You look just wonderful in that D L Barron by the way... Xxxx

Penny-Rose said...

I hear you - simple is sweet. Love the DL Barron dress, I am curious to know what the other part of the set is, is it a jacket? Giant polka dots = lovely. I must have missed the original Tufty post because I haven't seen a Tufty hankie before. Very cute. Hope you are having a lovely week.

Mother of Reinvention said...

What a perfect weekend and chocolater malteser cake too. Love you outfits, blue is a great colour on you. Can I steal your cats? They're so floofy and cute. Xxxx

Virginia at A Sewing Life said...

I love simple things, too, but I must say that your weekend sounds busy and full by my standards! Wish I had a young lady to spend one on one time with--that sounds the most fun of all.

Kezzie said...

I do love looking at your pictures- you always look like a work of art!
Nice outing with Nina- looks very fun and tasty!x
And re your comment- THANK you, that means a lot to be re my enthusiasm- i am sorry to make you feel a bit sad- I think of the privilege I had in having an amazing musical background in my schools and I just long for everyone to experience that. When I looked at my year 6's this afternoon, in their four groups, putting together their Petrouska pieces, they are so nonchalant about their music making but I am glad it is that way for them.

Suzanne said...

It is so true that life is made up of the smallest details.

Thank hanky is brilliant.

bisous
Suzanne

Sheila said...

What a lovely weekend! A Malteser cake? Oh my god, keep me away from that! We have herons here too - gorgeous (but in a way creepy) birds.

Angels have Red Hair said...

I'm loving your frock/cardigan/boot ensembles … especially the blue and green … which in my books should ALWAYS be seen :0)

Sue said...

The simplest things in life can bring the greatest pleasure. I love the KISS method, which is Keep It Simple Stupid, works for me daily.

Angie said...

Sometimes I wonder...is it possible that simple things like a cup of cofee, my favorite radio programme or just hug my kids or lie next to my husband make me utterly happy and satisfied.It was not like that when I was younger.I always looked for more.Is this called maturity but the nice way of it? I like your styling to both outfits.

Trees said...

I LOVE this post! I've been thinking through some "big" decisions today - when I read this, I just thought, well the little things in life really do need to be appreciated. Everything in this post is so lovely - thanks for reminding me to stop and think how good I do have things. Also - take me next time you get malteaser cake!

Vicky Hayes said...

I believe small things are key to happiness (in the absence of bigger things that is!) I read The God of Small Things a few years ago. It's a wonderful, powerful, terrible book and I had to read a children's book about mermaids as an antidote. Hugs, Vicky x

Unknown said...

Small simple things do indeed give the most pleasure I feel. Love the Tufty hankie haven't seen Tufty for years. Loving your photo's you look lovely in blue. Your weekend sounds and looks just prefect. dee xx

Mim said...

That Tufty hanky is a world of WIN. I never knew such things existed! (And Jess looks so much like my cat, albeit with two eyes. Cats are ace.)

Little things are the foundations on which to build big things. The moments that build skills or keep things stable enough to do more from. They may be little, but they're important too. Here's to little things!

Miss Magpie said...

I had a Tufty hanky! I bet it's still at my Mum & dad's house somewhere.....

It really is the little things and as you say simple pleasures in life that enrich it so much.

Lizzie Cole said...

I love the blue dress.

Lizzie Dripping

The Vintage Knitter said...

Good old Tufty Club! I didn't have a hanky myself but I remember watching those tv ads.

Gotta love that 70s spotty dress and cardie combo; that's what I'm wearing the most these days too.

P.S. Your Nina is so pretty, she has such a lovely smile.

Becky said...

Perfect weekend!

Goody said...

I bought L. a copy of The God of Small Things, years ago. I don't think he ever read it. I'll be interested to see what you think of it.

Cake with malted milk candy?! Oh yes, I see Friday's cake taking shape. What a great idea. Nina looks like she's having a nice time with you.

Your boots go with everything (maybe not a ball gown, but you know what I mean) and look especially nice with the mini. Whoo hoo-fist she shows us her knockers, and now we get a glimpse of her gams!

Emma Kate at Paint and Style said...

You sound very chilled and content. Nina looks so pretty leaning on her elbows. Your capet bag is divine. There's no way Tufty is 47 though! He looks so young! xxx

at my dressingtable said...

Curtise it sound divine ! great outfits ,you do have some lovely clothes !!! have a good week xxx

thorne garnet said...

my favorite part of my November vacation was sitting in the yard with my sister-in-law shooting the shit in the sunshine. (not that I didn't enjoy the trips to S.F. and the rest of the events).

Shawna McComber said...

OOOOhhhh I love these colours! You are so right about the simple things. They are indeed the most delightful. Nina is so adorable and it looks like she is having a lovely time. I always enjoy her camera faces. Your cats, and of course especially your Jess who looks like Sophie, always make my heart beat a little faster. Such a cat lady I am. When I was a little girl we had a cat named Minnie who looked just like yours too. Did I tell you that already? I wake up some days and feel like I am just going to go out and get a cat NOW! Or two. Technically I am only allowed one but I am sure I could sneak in two.

Back to those outfits! I love dresses and cardis and you do that look so well. I always end up a bit lumpy but you are so smooth and sleek looking even when you put on more than one layer. I am so impressed. xoxo

Diane said...

A perfect Sheffield weekend. The Good Life - at its very very best xx

Mrs Bertimus said...

So glad you liked your present, I am OVER THE MOON with my coat, which I shall be blogging about joyfully tomorrow....can't do the modelling like you though chuck x

Porcelina said...

Looks like you've had lots of moments to be thankful for, sometimes simple is best.

Love both outfits, and how you always wear a hat or a hair flower or something else to top it off! Sometimes I'm not so good at the finishing touches.

It's nice sometimes to have an undocumented evening isn't it? Time to connect with the things more important than technology x

Peaches McGinty said...

You are absolutely right, and it is the one thing I crave among the chaos 'the simple things', gives me time to breathe - your weekend sounded perfect, of course you look divine *happily nodded when I saw your outfits* and 1-1 time is lovely as is the trashy TV and the family, I do think Charlie and Cookie are kitty twinsies (your cats stalk each other too? phew! that's a relief, 2 of mine are ruthless I thought it might have been a problem) Good to see Tufty still dispensing wise advice x x x

Beth Waltz said...

Curtise, you have again written a line I'd kill to claim: "Walking home as the light was fading..." It's a haiku cutline for a wonderful nocturne photo. How well you've illustrated the beauty to be found by a mindful eye!

Connie said...

I love these kind of days. And I love how simply beautiful you are in your blue dress.

Forest City Fashionista said...

A post brimming with simple pleasures and soothing colours! Cats, cake, books, a walk by the river and trashy tv - all things I enjoy too! I read the God of Small Things quite a while ago and I think I enjoyed it (menopause brain).

Vintage Bird Girl said...

Oooh adorable outfits, but I'm swooning over the green combo. And that teeny tiny waist of yours! I'm glad there's been joy in the simple things. Sometimes we've got to slow down enough to see it. Xx

Melanie said...

Sometimes simple is the best option and your 'simple' outfits are lovely.
Love the Tufty hankie xxx