Over indulgence!!!

Well Christmas is that time when we all over indulge - in spending, socialising, eating and drinking and under indulge in exercise and fitness!  I have to say I can't wait to start my healthy eating and exercise plan.  I feel so lethargic and fat compared to how I feel when I'm watching what I eat and running regularly!

I missed my evening runs with my running buddy, Heather.  And I've hated feeling so full.  It hasn't stopped me eating though.  We still have loads of chocolate which I feel obliged to eat before 2nd January as that's when I will start my diet!  Also drinking so much wine leaves me feeling not so good.  Not hung over but not as fresh and alert as usual.  I feel like not drinking any more but I know I will!  Especially as we are out on New Year's Eve.  I probably won't even last until then!

Also Ive been haphazard with my beauty regime!  Usually I cleanse, tone and moisturise morning and evening.  I also exfoliate twice a week and put on a face pack once a week.  A lot of that has not been happening over Christmas.  I think it's really important to do that at my age!!!  Lack of beauty regime, unhealthy diet and no exercise is not an ideal combination!  It doesn't make for glowing, youthful skin!

I've been giving my New Year's resolutions some thought and definitely my main one will revolve around diet and exercise.  Heather and I have already resolved to do three 10k races in 2013.  Running is great but it doesn't tone up your bingo wings or your stomach so I need to do something else too.  I was doing Kettlercise earlier in the year which is fabulous but I injured my shoulder and am reluctant to put it under pressure as it was so painful for so long.

I'm on the look out for a cheap gym membership for a couple of months.  I don't want to sign up for a year just to give myself a boost to start the New Year.  Once the nights get lighter and the weather improves (if it ever does!!!) I tend to run more, ride more, walk the dogs more so I don't need on- going gym membership.

It's interesting though looking back at the photos I've posted during the course of this blog.  On some I look reasonably slim and on some I look positively chunky!

AVERAGE

FAT

SLIM

SLIM

SLIM

AVERAGE

FAT

FAT

SLIM

AVERAGE

AVERAGE

AVERAGE

DO YOU AGREE???????????

Christmas!!!

I hope everyone has had a super Christmas.  Does anyone else find it exhausting?  There's all the preparation - cleaning the house, buying presents, wrapping presents (which seems to take forever), putting up the tree (ours died within about 3 days!), grocery shopping along with everyone else in the entire area!  Then I had to go and pick up my Dad.  Although he's not much trouble you still feel responsible for him and don't quite relax.

Ready to go pick up my Dad on Sunday 23rd in my Next blouse, Sainsbury's straight jeans, M&S boots and New Look handbag

Here with my cousin's husband

                                                 

Ready to go out to lunch on Christmas Eve.  Next
lacy top, sparkly vest, Top Shop skinny jeans and M&S boots

Although Rich cooked on Christmas Day I did all the tidying up (he's a very messy cook), got rid of all the wrapping paper, put everyone's presents away.  Rich got really stressed doing it too. He's usually very laid back.  We all got to Skype my eldest son in Australia which was lovely.  My Dad couldn't quite believe his grandson was on the screen of my iPad!

There were five of us for lunch, me, Rich, my son and daughter and my Dad.  After lunch my daughter and I cleared the table, stacked the dishwasher, washed up everything that wouldn't go in the dishwasher and tidied the kitchen.

Rich and I after lunch!

The table from above and my Dad chilling with the dogs.

On Boxing Day we had a load of friends coming for lunch.  It's an annual tradition.  I got up, tidied the house, prepared the lunch, set the table and chilled the wine.  When everyone left I cleared up again.

Boxing Day table.

Waiting for guests to arrive in Top Shop jeans again and my new Pull & Bear top which I got for Christmas.

The next day same process but for Rich's daughters, son in law and three grandchildren.  Although it's good having such a social time I actually prefer our girlie suppers!

Ready for guests to arrive on 27th in a top I've had for absolutely ages, Gok jeggings and New Look heels.

My homemade lasagne ready to go in the oven.

Almost Christmas

Last night we had a Pre Christmas Get Together at our house with some of our best friends.  I lit all the candles and dimmed the lights (mainly to hide the fact that the Christmas tree is all but dead!) and put on the cheesy Christmas CD.  The champagne and Sauvignon Blanc was chilling in the fridge and the food warming in the oven.

It was lovely to spend the evening with such special people but time always seems to fly by.  One of our friends has lost three stone this year, she says without trying.  She's more than ten years older than me and is looking really skinny and obviously feeling good.  She's changed the way she dresses and was in skinny jeans last night.  It just shows it doesn't matter how old you are you can reinvent yourself.

I wore my new black top which I bought from Forever 21 on Oxford Street and my black skinny jeans from Gok at Sainsburys, my favourite nude heels and my new necklace.  I thought all of my friends looked really good last night but all in totally different ways.  Jane tends to be a skinny jeans and pretty tops kind of person.  Sarah is good at dresses or tunics with leggings and boots.  Heather can wear almost anything because she has a lovely figure but she seems happiest in skinny jeans.  She can wear them with flats and still look fab.  I need to wear heels.

Anyway when I put the bottles into the recycling I worked out that the wine drinkers had each drunk at least one and a half bottles each of wine or champagne!  No one reported a hangover this morning though!!!

Today I had to go to pick up my Dad who has come to stay for Christmas.  My daughter and her friend came with me.  My Dad and most of my family live an hours drive away.  We took the opportunity to go and visit my cousin who had all her family there including her 12 week old baby grandson who I hadn't met before!

Rich is now so used to taking photos of me that as soon as I came downstairs dressed and ready to go he was ready to take a photo.

I've obviously worn these clothes before since blogging, but they are so comfy and easy to wear.  Blouse from Next, straight jeans from Tu at Sainsburys, boots from M&S, bag from New Look.

And here I am with my cousin's husband who made the whole trip for us by making us laugh so much!!!

Girlie Christmas Supper

Morning!  I'm bright and cheery this beautiful Sunday morning.  Not a hangover in sight.  I've been trying to find my Christmas carols CD but it's disappeared.  Feeling festive!!!

Last night was a real success.  In previous years we have been to the Wine Bar for Girlie Christmas Supper but this year - after changing the venue three times - we went the the White Hart (otherwise known as the Wine and Sausage).  It was a good choice.  Nice atmosphere, good service, lovely wine and delicious food.

There were eight of us and most of us were on good form and entering into the Christmas spirit.  Sarah coped well even though she is suffering from a bad back and was drugged up so that she could actually come.

We had great fun opening our Secret Santa presents and then when everyone had opened them each trying to guess who had bought ours.  I got a lovely bracelet from Coast so I'm very happy.  Paola also bought a game for us to play which was lots of fun.  The couple on the next table probably didn't appreciate how loud we were but hey it's Christmas!!!

Anyway, I wore dress number one.  Brave for me because it's quite short but actually I felt really comfortable in it.  So here's the evidence:

I can't believe I'm doing this!!!

Second post of the day!  I've just come back from my friend Sarah's - she needed help eating the cakes she had made - I was completely selfless in volunteering to help.  Victoria sponge and coffee and walnut cake. Mmmmmmmmm yummy!  Anyway the talk inevitably came round to what we're wearing tomorrow night for our Girlie Christmas Supper.  It ended with Jane and I raiding Sarah's wardrobe and trying on her clothes.  I tried on two lovely dresses!

Anyway I thought I should come home and go through my own wardrobe and try on a few outfits.  And - stupidly and stone cold sober, although I have just poured myself a glass of wine - I'm going to post the photos for all to see.  I've got crappy underwear on (luckily you can't actually see it), my hair looks like I've been pulled through a hedge backwards at least twice and I have no make up on so go easy on me.

Here goes!!!

I actually tried this on and posted before - for supper at Claire's although I didn't wear it on the night.  I like it better today.  I think it's a contender.  It's Rich's favourite too.

I actually love this dress.  I bought it recently from Monsoon.  Oooohhhh get me!!! I think of it as a daytime dress but I really like it and it's very easy and comfy to wear.

I thought this would look nice but it doesn't really does it???!!!

I love this top but it doesn't look very nice in the photo.

Princess loves this outfit!!!  I like it too although it's not a very flattering angle.

So what do you think???  What shall I wear tomorrow night?  Or do I need to go back to my wardrobe and look again?!!!

A little treat . . .

Yesterday I went into town.  I had a few things I needed to do and Rich wanted to go buy the things I had put on my Christmas list.  I was wandering round trying to buy gloves for all of us as it was so cold when I found a couple of things I just had to have.  Well you have to treat yourself once in a while.  So here are my new boots and I even found a cardi to match!!!

What do you think????  I love them.  I've got some similar boots but these fit me so much better and are so comfy.  The cardigan was £10 from Primark and the boots were £20 also from Primark.  Bargain!!!

Not to be left out my dogs all had new coats.  The temperature has dropped and they like to look trendy on their walks!

I have also ventured into the loft in search of more dresses and later on I'm going to try a few things on in the hope that I can find something to wear tomorrow night.  Wish me luck!!!

A Quiet Week

I've not posted for a week because it's been a pretty quiet week, as in I've not got dressed up to go out anywhere special in the last week.  Sometimes life's just like that I guess.  Instead of dressing up I've been out running.  I did seventeen miles last week and stuck to my diet.  Yesterday was my diet day off as I took my children to London -  shopping for their Christmas presents.

So the only new clothes I've had in the last week is a fluorescent yellow running jacket, new running tights and gloves.  I would post a picture but I think it's better that I save you from such a sight.  But rest safe in the knowledge that I can now be seen by passing motorists. 

I'm trying to have a better beauty routine.  Under instruction from my gorgeous hairdresser - Simon - I am deep conditioning my hair twice a week.  I'm also exfoliating twice a week and using a face pack once a week.  Since the Neal's Yard party I have been using a toner.  I always use eye cream and moisturiser. Hopefully my skin and hair will benefit.

This week I've got a couple of outings coming up.  On Friday we are off to the Races again.  On Saturday we are going out for our Girlie Christmas Supper and Secret Santa.  I have no idea what to wear on Saturday.  I'm going to try to have a search through my wardrobe tomorrow.  I don't really have a sparkly going out top.  I think quite a few of the girls will wear dresses.  I'm not sure what to do.  I will search out a few alternatives and let you know.

Oh here is a picture of one of the tops I bought from Oasis a week or two ago.  I really like it.  It looks better on. I'm sure I will be going out in it soon.