Trying to look good with so much going on!

I've told you all quite a bit about my efforts to lose weight this year. I have been doing The Fast Diet, as have quite a few of my friends.  I've found it quite easy.  On fasting days - two a week - you just don't think about food.  You have decided you are not going to eat and that is really powerful.  Until last week I was doing really well.  But last week I did my two fasting days and then on my five eating days I just couldn't stop eating!

I think The Fast Diet works if on the other five days you stay within the normal ranges - 2000 calories for women - but I obviously didn't!  This coupled with the fact that Heather and I only managed one run last week meant I put on 2lbs!

This was not good!  I'm trying to lose weight so I look good in my new dress for my husband's Birthday party in less than three weeks!  So drastic action was required.  Serious cut back on calories this week!!!  Yesterday I fasted and I'm going to try to fast again today and tomorrow, then eat sensibly for the rest of the week and only allow myself to be naughty at dinner on Friday night - as I'm going out and Supper at Heather's on Saturday night.

I'm also going to run a minimum of three times this week and walk the dogs as much as possible.  We had a really good run last night.  5.2 miles and it was easy!  We could both have carried on so bring on Wednesday!

Last week seemed like a quiet week socially - probably only because I've been doing so much with the girls lately and last week we didn't actually have an evening out together.

On Friday I went to the races - Cheltenham Festival - but the weather was horrible!  We did however see Will and Kate.  We were literally stood two feet away from them as the police cleared the steps so that they could come through.  They are both so skinny!  I'm just jealous!!!  She is very pretty though!  So that was quite exciting but other than that I can't say it was my best day at the Races!  I didn't even wear my racing coat.  I just opted to wear my horsey Eurostar jacket which is one of my favourites.

Friday evening my friend Jane came for supper and Rich lit a log fire so we were really cosy after a day spent in the rain.

On Saturday evening Rich and I went out to supper and it was an evening with a difference!  I wore black skinny jeans (Gok at Sainsburys), my black ankle boots (Stylist Picks) and my new red jacket!!!  I bought it, or rather Rich bought it for me, from the Joules stand at the races.  I love it.  It's styled on a hunting jacket.  It's so cool!  And it was half price!!! Yay!  Still expensive I guess - reduced from £179 to £89 but well worth it because I do love it!

 

 We decided to go to Broadway.  I'd seen a restaurant on Trip Advisor called The Workshop which is a sister restaurant to Russells in Broadway - which is absolutely lovely.  So we parked the car and sheltering under our massive brolly - yes it was still pouring with rain - we tried to find it!  It turns out it closed back in November!  To be replaced by Russells Fish and Chip Shop!

We decided to give it a go!  It's quite . . . basic in it's furnishings but was quite busy too.  Always a good sign!  We both ordered the "half pint of prawns with saffron mayo" to start and they did actually come in a half pint glass tankard.  And they were delicious!  I had the fishcakes to follow.  Again delicious and packed full of fish rather than potato.  And they served Prosecco too!

The choice of desserts however was uninspiring - ice cream or . . . ice cream.  So we went across the road to the Broadway Hotel.  I haven't been there for years but its lovely now!  And with the rain still bucketing down outside it was lovely to relax on a comfy sofa by a blazing fire with a glass of bubbly and dessert.  Definitely want to go back and eat in the restaurant.

Whilst relaxing there I came across this article:  

So Girls - get out your red lipstick and your eyebrow pencil!!!

My week ended with another high calorie outing but it was way too good to miss.  My friend Sarah had invited a few of us to afternoon tea.  We have become addicted to the concept of afternoon tea having been out to various placing - The Frogmill being the most recent - and really enjoyed it!

We had a lovely afternoon.  Sarah had made scones with jam and clotted cream, Victoria Sponge, Vienese Whirls and Flapjacks and it was all yummy!  She even sent us home with a party bag of cake!!!  Result!

Beautiful Bargains!!!

It's been a busy few months of social occasions for me which is brilliant but of course I need to have something to wear for all of them!  So I've just had to shop!  It's tough I know but well . . . I LOVE IT!!!

The girls and I went to a clairvoyant evening!  Don't ask!!!!!!  My friend Paola looked lovely that evening all dressed in blue.  So it got me into blue!  I don't usually wear blue.  I searched on line for some blue ankle boots.  Everything that came up was horrible!  One of the Google results was Jones the Bootmakers.  Anyone who is local to Cheltenham will know that Jones is quite expensive.  I almost didn't bother clicking on the link as I didn't want to pay in excess of £100.  But I did click.  And there was the most gorgeous pair of  high heeled blue suede boots!  It was love at first sight!!!  And . . . joy upon joy . . . they were in the sale!  The shopping fairy was looking down on me!  They were reduced from £110 to £33 and they had them in my size!  Yay!  Needless to say I couldn't enter my card details quick enough!

A few days later my boots arrived.  I opened the box and fell in love all over again!  I was almost scared to try them on.  I couldn't bare it if they didn't fit.  But in a truly Cinderella moment they did fit!!!!  

As I was going to my friend Jane's Birthday celebration at a very nice restaurant called Armagnac a few days later I wanted to wear them!  I had bought a dress from Dorothy Perkins' website.  They had 25% off for the weekend so I'd ordered a few dresses (intending to choose the nicest and send the others back) as I knew everyone was wearing a dress for our evening out.  As it happened one of the dresses that I'd kept was navy.  It was yet another bargain!!  With the 25% discount it cost me less than £25.

So I went out in my new dress and my new boots.  As you know I'm not a dress kind of person and I'd certainly never worn ankle boots with a dress.  I had double checked with my daughter that it looked alright!  And I loved it.  And what's more I felt completely comfortable - unheard of in a dress!

Anyway, my blue quest continued!  I think I may be obsessed!  I bought some super soft blue jeans from New Look at just £14.99.  They are sooooo comfy.  And I bought a few blue T-shirts and thin jumpers also from New Look.

A few days ago I received an email from Stylist Picks saying they had a special offer on all boots this week - 50% off.  As regular readers will know I love Stylist Picks shoes and boots.  I let my friends Jane and Heather know as they have both bought shoes or boots from Stylist Picks too. 

Now both of them have bought new boots in the current sale and I'm feeling somewhat left out because I haven't actually ordered any.  In all honesty I don't need any more boots but as Heather said -  it's rude not too when they are so cheap!

Another Girlie Supper!

Ready for Girlie Supper - blouse from Next, leggings from Gok at Sainsbury's and boots from Stylist Picks

On Friday night I went to a Girlie Supper at my friend Paola's house.  It was a supper with a difference for us.  Whoever hosts a Girlie Supper normally does all the cooking but at this supper we shared out the courses.  Sarah brought nibbles, Annita and I provided the starter, Paola did the main course, Jane and Heather each did a dessert and Claire did the cheese board.  It worked really well.  We had an amazing meal and drank loads of champagne.

Hopefully Paola didn't feel too stressed as she only had to do one course.  It can be quite stressful cooking all three courses.  We always say at our Girlie Suppers that no one should feel under pressure.  We would be quite happy with beans on toast because it's all about spending time with our friends rather than having a sophisticated menu.  In saying that though I don't think we have had a bad meal.  In fact quite the reverse.  Whoever hosts always makes a real effort and we are thoroughly spoilt with delicious food and lots of wine.

We are trying something new on Wednesday.  I'm hosting a Wine Tasting and Pizza evening.  Hopefully it will be fun.  I will update you on how it goes!

I'm back on my diet today.  I had a bad week last week with lots going on and I've strangely decided to become a Domestic Goddess recently - which is so not me! - and I've been trying out lots of new recipes.  We have been eating far too well.  Rich and my son seem to like it but it's not so good for the diet!

My friend, Jane, has persuaded me to join her in giving up chocolate for the month of February!  We are both chocoholics so it's not going to be easy!!!  We can't have chocolate in any form - no chocolate biscuits or cakes or anything at all with chocolate in it or on it!!!!  Arrrggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

This is us at Paola's with her gorgeous Dalmatian - Crash

The Consequences of Feeling FAT!!!

Stepping on to the scales after Christmas is never a joyful event.  Far from it!  And so, if you are one of those people who love shopping you are probably not in the mood for clothes shopping.  You take your normal size into the changing rooms and it won't go over your hips, won't zip up or just leaves rolls of fat bulging over the sides.  This kind of experience is to be avoided at all costs.  You knew you were fat before the scales confirmed it so you really don't want these totally unsympathetic new clothes to scream it out loud in a very public changing room.  You may feel like ripping said clothes off and curling up into a ball and sobbing loudly but I find the assistant in Next is not too keen on this behaviour.

But girls there is one thing you can always buy whether you feel obese or skinny.  I have to add here that feeling skinny is an unknown concept to me!  You can buy shoes!!!  They always fit!  God I love shoes!  So I have to admit that's what I've done!  Firstly I ordered some ankle boots from Next.  They arrived a day or so later and I pulled off the packaging to reveal my beautiful, sexy, orgasmic boots.  I tried them on with a slight hesitation - if they don't fit I will cry - but they fitted!  And I LOVE them!!!  Oh great joy!  Who needs clothes when you can have shoes or boots.

It didn't stop there however.  In my inbox I get regular newsletters from Stylist Picks.  I've never bought anything from them but I quite enjoy browsing their newsletter.  Their latest one was advertising their sale.  I happened to stumble across - by some slip of the mouse - the shoe section.  I reasoned with myself that I didn't need more shoes.  I've got loads of shoes.  But then the sale prices twinkled away at me taunting me like a bar of chocolate or a glass of NZ Sauvignon Blanc.

This morning my new footwear arrived.  To be fair it would have been rude not to take advantage of these bargain offers.  It was so exciting unwrapping them.  They came in black shoe boxes with black ribbon tied round them.  Inside the shoes were delicately wrapped in tissue paper with a little sticker holding it in place.  It can't get better than this even at Jimmy Choo surely?  They felt expensive and sexy and perfect.  Oh I LOVE my new shoes and boots!!!

Yes I didn't stop at one pair I bought a beautiful pair of black ankle boots for just £25 and a pair of black and tan shoes - a snip at just £15.  You are obviously nodding in agreement that I had to buy said footwear at such bargain prices.  There really was no alternative!  And I do really LOVE them.

So here they are:

My Next boots

My £15 Stylist Pick shoes

And how lovely is the box!

My gorgeous £25 Stylist Pick boots!

What an exciting day!  It's given me a real boost from my cold which even with Nurofen Express is giving me a splitting headache and eyes that I just want to close as they hurt so much.  So I deserved cheering up!

I also though I'd share with you some of my Christmas presents.  Rich bought me things from the list I'd given him.  Not sure how he'd get on without a list?!!!  May be next year I will try it.  I'd really love a surprise but one I like not one I'd have to pretend to like.  Tricky!  So he bought me several books.  I'm on book two, Cheryl Cole's autobiography.  I've already read David Walliam's.  Shout if you want to borrow it but WARNING it is rather dark.  He also bought me a bottle of perfume and the following items:

As you may have guessed I love tweed.  This is from an inexpensive equestrian company called Rydale.

This is my Pull and Bear top which you will probably remember I wore Boxing Day.

This jumper is also from Rydale.

This bag is from Joules and I love it!

It's probably the most expensive bag I've owned at around £90!!!!

And this is what my daughter bought me:

This purse is from Joules and it's gorgeous!

I love what a contrast the lining is.

And a furry headband also from Joules.

My son bought me a laptop cover which I asked for and this lovely handbag.

This is from Oasis and will go beautifully with my new Next boots!

And my friend Jane bought me some yummy chocolate from Hotel Chocolat and this fab snood:

As you may have gathered I love horses!

I was also lucky enough to get a spa voucher from Richard's daughter and several other gifts from them and two very appropriate plaques from my lovely friend Theresa but I will share these with you another day.  Today is officially SHOE DAY!!!!