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!

Friday Night Fun!

On Friday evening Rich and I were invited to our friend Jane's for a get together with a group of friends.  This time it wasn't the normal Supper Club girls.  There was Jane's two daughters and a few of their friends, Sarah - who is a Supper Club member and two other couples who are friends of Jane and Sarah.

We had a lovely evening of chatting, laughing, eating and drinking.  When will we stop!!!  Jane had even put a box of dark chocolates out which I'm sure she knows I don't like so upon my complaint she went to recover her well hidden stash of our favourites and we devoured a big bag of Twirl Bites and Minstrels!!!

I wore my Oasis dress for the first time.  It's so comfy to wear but I'm not good at getting in the car or bending down in a dress.  As I always wear trousers I'm not very ladylike.  I wore it with black opaque tights and my old black knee high boots.

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:

Finally I go out in a dress!!!

So what do you think???!!!!!

Thank you to everyone who commented on which dress I should wear.  Actually it wasn't too bad.  I thought I'd feel really uncomfortable but it's a very easy dress to wear.  I've had it for ages; probably at least a couple of years.  I'm pretty sure it's from Primark.  My boots are also old.  I found them in the back of the cupboard.  As my son put it, "they're really old school".  Maybe I'll get some new ones in the sales.

It's inspired me to try dress wearing again.  Claire and Sarah also wore dresses but they are regular dress wearers.  We had such a lovely evening.  Claire's house is always immaculate but at the same time warm and welcoming.  Although Claire, like myself, is a reluctant cook she always gives us a lovely meal and is a wonderful hostess.  We had salmon in a cream sauce, roasted new potatoes and salad followed by trifle and of course plenty of bubbly and wine.

Yesterday was my day off my diet.  I really enjoyed the whole day but feel crappy today.  I'm not sure you realise how over indulging effects you until you diet then there is such a contrast in how you feel on diet and none diet days.  I still exercised yesterday.  My friend Paola picked me up at around 8.30am and we met some of the Cleeve Ladies at Pitville Park and went for a run.  The reward at the end of the run was coffee and cake at the cafe!  I also walked the dogs for over an hour. 

I'm actually glad to be back to dieting today but it's an exercise free day for me - unless you count walking round Sainsburys!  Tomorrow back to running!  Bring it on!  Oh and it's my day to weigh!!!  Prepare for me being devastated!!!!