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!

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!!!!

Saturday Night Supper

Last night I went to my friend Jane's for supper along with three other friends.  We had a fab evening, lush food, lots of wine and even more laughs!  I wore my burgundy/wine coloured Gok straight jeans - again - and my Joules hunting shirt.  Doing this blog has made me realise that the saying "you wear 20% of your wardrobe 80% of the time" is true.  I'm very aware now that I wear the same things on a regular basis.

I looked through my wardrobe last night and tried a few things on that I hadn't worn for a while but ended up going back to my favourites!

At supper Heather - who also usually avoids dresses - was telling us that she had seen a dress in Monsoon that she had coverted for weeks and finally went to buy it only to find it didn't fit her.  She was gutted because she loved the dress.  I know that feeling.  I saw Myleene Klass in the newspaper wearing a dress from her own range and just thought - that's so me - only to find that it's sold out in all sizes except size 20.  Gutted!!!

This is said dress.  I just love it.  Anyway in order to be more interesting with my wardrobe I have ventured into the loft and returned with four dresses.  My dresses live in the loft due to lack of use.  So they are currently hanging in my bedroom and I am determined to wear one next Saturday for supper at Claire's.  Now I've said that I guess I'm actually going to have to do it.  I'm feeling uncomfortable already.  I will try them on tomorrow and see if that makes me feel any better???!!!

I have to say the Myleene Klass range of dresses is really nice but others must agree as most of them are out of stock.  I like the following ones too:

I've had such a naughty week of eating and drinking this week so from tomorrow I'm off the wine, on the diet and out there running.  Wish me luck!!!

My latest purchase!

Having missed a few days of blogging there's a lot to catch up on!!!  I went out to supper on Friday evening and as always we were served up amazing food by our lovely friend.  We all had seconds of the main course and then polished off a pavlova that would have easily fed 16 between 5 of us.  Luckily I went dressed for comfort so after dinner was able to kick off my boots and relax on the sofa.  I wore my Gok skinny jeans - very comfy, Next jumper and M&S boots.  The jacket is from Top Shop and I love it.  It's so soft and easy to wear.  I hate coats that restrict your movement.

On Saturday I went to an equestrian event called Your Horse Live with my daughter.  There were hundreds of trade stands - yay!!! - and I actually did some Christmas shopping as my daughter chose a few things she liked.  I treated myself to a tweed jacket.  I have wanted one for a while but couldn't find one in the shops.  I did see one in Jack Wills but I think Jack Wills is for teenagers! And not only that it was £199!  Extortionate!!!  I found one on the Joules stand.  I absolutely love it!  It feels so good and is just what I was looking for. And it was only £89 - still a lot I know, but because I bought my daughter a shirt for Christmas I spent over £100 and therefore qualified for £20 off.  Result!  Anyone who likes Joules - they have good offers on at the moment!
I also bought a couple of things which I have given to Rich to give to me for Christmas presents.  It makes his life easier and he's very happy not to have to shop himself.  I got a black v-neck jumper and a tweed waistcoat from the Rydale stand.

This is me ready to head for home after a good morning shopping!

I've also got on my mind that, as predicted, one of my friends has suggested that we are going to wear dresses on our New Year's Eve bash.  I haven't seen any dresses I fancy in the shops, magazines or online.  I did like the red dress that Myleen wears in the M&S advert but its sold out.  I'm actually worrying myself about the number of times I'm mentioning M&S!  That's so not cool!!!  Anyway, as I'm not a dress person I think I will just head up into the loft, where I have a wardrobe for my dresses.  They live up there because they get used so infrequently.  I must surely have one I can wear for New Year's Eve!