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

Happy New Year!!!

Ready to go out on New Year's Eve

Dress from Next.

Well it's day one of 2013.  I can't say that I've done very much other than take my son to pick up his car.  It was good to have a lie in this morning after a late night.  For the past few days I've been fighting off a sore throat and this morning I woke up with a head cold.  I've had a couple of Nurofen and a Lemsip and am determined to keep it at bay as back to running tomorrow!

Last night - New Year's Eve - we had a fab night.  There were ten of us who had dinner at Wesley House (which is beautiful) followed by dancing.  Many of the people we were with are really close friends and so it was a perfect way to welcome in the New Year.  Three of the people we were with I have known for longer than I've known my husband!

When we arrived we enjoyed several bottles of champagne along with canapés before being shown to our table.  The Wesley always looks fabulous over the Christmas period like a real fairytale winter wonderland.  Our table was in the atrium which was actually where our civil ceremony took place less than two years ago so it has a special significance for us.

We enjoyed plenty of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc along with our meal and lots of fun and laughter.  I think we all danced so much that our feet ached.  The highlight was when Sarah put in our request for Bon Jovi and S Club 7!!!  It got absolutely everyone dancing though.  Well everyone except our friend Pat who wasn't actually capable of standing by then!

Here's a look at the other girls dresses:

Do you have a favourite dress?  Any ideas on which is the cheapest/most expensive dress?  Please share your thought.

Finally a photo of Rich and I:

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!!!

Friday Night Fashion

This is what I wore out to supper last night!  The complete outfit is actually from Gok's range at Sainsbury's!  The jeans are this season and the top is last season and they are paired with my favourite nude heels from New Look.  And I was actually told that I looked skinny!  Thanks Olivia!!! 
I have been trying to be good about what I eat and only drink wine once a week and I have been running with my running buddy Heather but each time I get on the scales they say exactly the same thing!  Anyone else have that problem?  Why can't they just lie and tell you what you want to hear??? If they did then I'd move them from their lonely existence in the bathroom to pride of place in the lounge!

So I had a fab evening.  Our friends live in the most beautiful house so it was a super place to be.  First plus point!  We were joined by their gorgeous daughter and her lovely boyfriend and another couple who we hadn't seen for a couple of months but very much enjoy spending time with.  Second plus point!  The food was absolutely delicious.  Third plus point!  And the champagne was flowing.  Fourth plus point!  And at this point I must add that it's a very well known fact that champagne contains zero calories when consumed with good friends on a Friday night.  I believe the same also applies for profiteroles!  And the fifth and most important plus point was Rich was driving so I could enjoy all of the above!!!!