Starbucks, Shopping, Sushi and Fro Yo

In the spirit of looking on the bright side...one of the things I’ve been enjoying about my recent separation is the occasional child-free day. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my children, but single parenting is hard work so the odd time to myself is enjoyed too!! Liam normally has the children on Saturdays, so I go spinning and to the gym in the morning and before I know it it is time to pick them up again! This weekend however, he had them on Sunday. The 4 of us went to Halfords to buy Christmas presents. A bike for Izzy…

And a helmet for Toby, as we are giving him a second hand bike from my friend’s son…

I then headed into Exeter on my own, bliss! First stop, Starbucks for breakfast…

Dirty chai latte and toasted fruit bread, my favourites!

I then set about the serious business of clothes shopping(!) It was so peaceful shopping by myself, but I did miss having someone there to give an opinion…so I ended up taking lots of photos of myself in changing rooms & texted them to my sisters…what did we do before iPhones?!!

My main aim for the shopping trip was jumpers, as I literally have none – it has been a little chilly around here in just tops and my gilet! I bought this turquoise jumper from Superdry…

and I also loved this purple hoodie…

but my sister, Sarah, suggested I look in Republic instead…

Perhaps not quite as nice, but £20 instead of £45…I was glad of the saving!

I am also addicted to buying Pineapple exercise gear from Debenhams…I already have it in black/turquoise, grey/red, and black/purple but this black/lilac combo drew me in!

These capris are a bit longer than my usual ones, which is good for this cold weather. The new design is also more black than the other ones - my other sets have tops that are mainly coloured with just bits of black or grey. I'm happy that these look a bit different whilst still being the great fit that I love.

For lunch I went to Yo Sushi. It only opened in Exeter about a month ago, and I’ve only been to any Yo Sushi once before when I was pregnant with Toby, so I was excited to try it!

I don't like the idea of raw fish though, urgh, I definitely stuck to the vegetarian options!!

Avocado maki…

Inari Pocket…

Crunchy Tofu Salad…

and Vegetable Futomaki…

The tofu was a bit bland - but the rest of the salad was good; and the inari (fried soya bean) was a bit sweet – but the contents of the pockets were tasty. I loved both the rolls though, simple really is better!

No dessert as I was headed to the most exciting part of my day! When I’d been out in Exeter in the evening a couple of weeks ago, I’d noticed a new cafe called Bubble Bubble Co. It mainly sells bubble tea, but it also has self serve frozen yoghurt!

The bubbles were also part of the topping options. I was curious about them. They are vegetarian – made with seaweed extract and fruit juices. I tried the peach bubbles and they were actually my favourite topping – so fresh and real tasting!

I had chocolate and caramel swirl frozen yoghurt, topped with spiced biscuits, chopped peanuts, a couple of varieties of chocolate sprinkles, raspberries, blueberries and peach bubbles…

It was priced by weight so I was hoping it wouldn’t be too expensive…it came to £3.12 which I didn’t think was too bad? Although my wallet and waistline are both probably glad I don’t live that close to Exeter…this is definitely a treat that will be included in every shopping visit from now on!!

My other aim for shopping was to buy some shoes. I have flat feet, which are also size 8 and wide…so shoe shopping is an absolute nightmare. My current shoes were some men’s navy hiking trainer type things from Sports Direct, and after just a few months they already had holes in both shoes – by the big toes and at the edges! I failed at finding any other shoes to fit me though, in the end I bought the exact same shoes again (!) but at least this time they were half price!!

Luckily yesterday I was shopping in my local town and popped into Fat Face. They had some boots that caught my eye and the display size was an 8 so I tried them on, so comfy! This is the first time I’ve ever owned boots like this so fingers crossed they wear well!!

I also bought those trousers, but in the next size down from the pair I'm wearing in the photos, yey, my hard work at the gym is beginning to pay off!!

And now I really need to stop spending any money…at least until the post-Christmas sales!! I have got everyone's Christmas presents sorted already, luckily, but yesterday someone crashed into my car while it was parked outside my house, grrr, no contact details left so I’ll have to pay the bill…not what I wanted a week before Christmas!!

Have you bought any new clothes lately? Or anything on your wish list? I think I’m pretty much sorted for clothes for now, although I am planning to go sale shopping on the 27th or 28th as Liam has the children on those days. I’m not sure how much shopping I’ll actually do then though, it’s always so busy but at least I wont be trying to fit a pushchair in the crowded shops!! The last time I went Boxing Day shopping was when Izzy was still in a pushchair - a year before Toby was born - I still shudder at the memory!!