Which trousers???

I love trousers!  You probably already know that if you are a regular reader of my blog  Dresses and skirts are not my thing.  I don't feel right in them.  I feel comfy in trousers.  You don't have to be careful getting out of the car or bending down.  You can just sit down without having to smooth down your skirt/dress in case you are showing too much flesh and you don't have to worry about your dress/skirt being tucked in your knickers when you've been to the loo.  Trousers are definitely the way forward!

It's not that simple any more though.  There are so many different types of trousers.  There's skinnies, straight, boyfriend, bootcut, flare, leggings, jeggings, harem pants, ankle grazers, cigarette pants, cargo pants, chinos . . .  to name but a few!  Which style do you choose???

I tend to wear a lot of skinnies.  I used to think I was too fat to wear skinnies but now I love them.  I used to wear bootcut but now I hate them.  So with that in mind I decided to try on a few pairs of my trousers with a basic white T-shirt and a pair of nude heels to see if the style of trousers makes a difference to how fat I look!  Brave I know!!!!

So what have I deduced?   That I look fat in all of them!!!  However if I stand sideways I look thinner.  So if you see me out and about don't be surprised if I'm walking sideways!  I wish I'd worn a black T-shirt I might have looked a bit thinner!  Because it's not just style of course, it's colour too that can influence how fat or thin you look!  God, why is it so complicated???!!!

 These are my Gok at Sainsbury's skinny jeans.  I love these jeans but are they flattering?  Not with this top!

 These are my burgundy flares from Primark.  I love these because they are comfortable and swishy.  Quite flattering from the side!

 These are my M&S harem style pants.  I actually love these.

 These are my burgundy leggings from Primark.  Would be fine with boots.  I would never wear them out like this.  They are comfy and feel much better quality than Primark!

So what do you think?  Which style of trousers do you like to wear?  What style would you never wear?  Come on share your style secrets.

I saw these two adverts in a magazine the other day.  I love them both but I don't think I could wear either.  Mutton dressed as lamb comes to mind.  But still, I do love them!  Would you wear them???

A Night at the Cinema

Last night I went to the cinema.  I went with my friend Jane and a workmate of hers who I hadn't met before.  We went to the Screening Rooms which is a bit like going business class at the cinema.  The seats are large and comfy with lots of leg room and small tables for your drinks and nibbles.  There's waiter service from a menu of wines, beers, soft drinks, hot drinks, hot and cold snacks, chocolate and ice creams.  It's divine!!!

We went to see Les Miserables.  We knew it was a long film and a musical but we didn't know too much more. We settled down with a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a block of chocolate.  I was a bit worried I'd be bored as the film was almost three hours long but it was brilliant!  I highly recommend it!

The shock was that by the time we left the cinema the snow had really come down heavily and the roads were treacherous making the journey home quite scary!

It really doesn't matter what you wear at the cinema as it's mostly dark but I wore brown skinny jeans from River Island, M&S jumper/tunic, Dorothy Perkins boots.

Living the High Life!!!!

Despite the snow I have had a very decadent few days!!!  On Thursday Rich and I had a Spa Day booked.  I'd bought the voucher from Living Social back in November.  I wasn't expecting much to be fair.  The voucher cost £35 for the two of us.  It was at the Greenway Hotel which I'd never actually heard of so expectations were quite low.

So when we walked in I was pleasantly surprised!  It's beautiful!!!  The staff in both the Spa and the restaurant were absolutely lovely.  The decor is gorgeous.  The pool area is so nice.  Low lighting makes it feel really intimate.  Lovely comfy loungers and even a sofa where you can relax.  The pool is great and it has two spa beds in it which have jets in them so you can lie back and be massaged.  There's two saunas - a hot one and a not so hot one and a steam room.  Outside in the courtyard there's a lovely wooden, rustic hot tub.  It was so fabulous sitting in it whilst the snow was falling.

Our deal entitled us to use of all the spa facilities from 10 til 6, a two course lunch each with a glass of champagne and 20% off all spa treatments.  The lunch was superb. Rich had starter and main but obviously I had main and dessert.   The Chicken Caesar salad was gorgeous and the chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream was divine.  The decor and ambiance is so chic it made the whole experience feel really special.

We chose to use our 20% discount off treatments and both had a 40 minute Tranquillity Divine Soul Anti-stress Ritual.  It was gorgeous!  So a massive success.  I will be looking out for future offers at the Greenway!  Definitely want to go back!!!

On Saturday evening we had girlie supper at our friend Cath's house.  It was exciting because Cath has recently had an extension and it was the first time I'd seen her new kitchen.  It's fabulous and looks so big.  We had a lovely supper, delicious food and lots of banter as the girls were looking on a dating website that Sarah had seen advertised.  We had to ask why men put such unflattering pictures on when they are trying to attract a partner.  I think that could be our new business - styling men and photographing them for dating websites.  We could "Gok" them!

I wore black Gok skinny jeans, dark grey Next top with floral print back, M&S boots and my horsey snood.

Yesterday - Sunday - I went on another Spa Day!!! Yes I know that is crazy.  Two Spa Days in one week.  It's a bit like buses - you wait for ages then two come along together.  When I'd booked the Greenway I hadn't realised that this one was going to come along.

So Cath, Jane, Paola and I went to Cowley Manor!!!  It's got a fabulous reputation and I've wanted to go for years.  It cost £75!!!  It's a January special offer.  It's usually much more expensive.  For that we got use of the Spa facilities, a two course lunch and a 60 minute treatment.

Our approach to Cowley Manor was so beautiful - down a snow covered lane, into the drive with Cotswold stone pillars up to the beautiful and very grand Cotswold Manor House.  In contrast the Spa is very modern but they have used Cotswold stone alongside glass and slate so it still feels in keeping with the surroundings.

We were given our robes and shown to the changing room.  Then we took up our places on loungers by the indoor pool.  We were the only people there for most of the morning although it did get busier after lunch.  We all thought it lacked something.  Namely a jacuzzi.  The indoor pool wasn't that warm and the sauna and steam room were hot so you can't exactly sit in there for too long.  A jacuzzi/hot tub is such a social place and if it was located outside it would have been amazing to be in the hot tub in the snow.

As the day wore on we warmed to the place more.  I guess as we started to relax.  There were nice magazines and newspapers to read, water jugs and glasses provided and a bowl of tangerines which we happily munched on.  We had out treatments - all four of us at the same time which meant no one was left at the pool with no one else to chat to.

Three of us had facials and one massage.  The facial was so good.  The beds had heated blankets on them so you were so warm and cosy and they were adjustable so you didn't have to lie flat on your back, you could have your head up, feet down, etc.

After our treatment we had lunch.  I'd say it was nice but not amazing.  Then feeling totally chilled out and full we went back to our loungers to relax.

After a little while they started to remove the cover from the outdoor pool and steam began to rise.  We decided to go out and dip a toe in to see how cold it was.  Quite cold!  But we couldn't rest.  There was something so enticing about swimming outside in the snow.  We adopted a strategy of going outside in just our swimming costume, walking in the snow and getting really cold, then jumping into the pool which in contrast felt warm.  It was brilliant.  We went in twice and had a good swim around, tried our hand at synchronised swimming and then got out, ran back inside and straight into the indoor pool - which in comparison felt like getting into a hot bath!

So we had a lovely day.  Will we go back?  I'm not sure that we will.  They do have lovely products in the changing rooms but I think may be we can get better value else where.  We did, however, decide that well being is important and we should try to do more of this sort of thing.  It's now our quest to sample as many spas as we can this year.  So, if anyone has any recommendations or knows of any
good offers please let me know!!!

Finally I'm sharing a few photos of Cowley Manor and our day - excuse the quality!

Officially OLD today!!!

Today - 7th January 2013 - my youngest child turned 18!!!  All of my offspring are now adults.  I must be very OLD!!!  I've tried to convince Rich that in order to deal with the trauma of being so old and childless I should be allowed another dog, but he's having none of it!!!!  

His presents all ready for him!

Me ready to go out to lunch with Rich, my son and his two best mates.

We had a lovely - if not enormous! - lunch out at The Plough at Ford.  I wore my Forever 21 blouse and my Gok skinny jeans and M&S boots.  

Today was also weigh-in day.  I was really pleased as my diet only started last Wednesday so I've only had 5 days of dieting and I've lost 4 and three quarter pounds!  Yayyyyy!!!!  Rich has lost 8 pounds in the same time period!!!  Whoop whoop!!!

Tomorrow is day one of Dr Gundry's diet for me!  I think I'm going to struggle.  It's also our gym induction so it's all systems go.  I will keep you posted!

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.

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!

Am I really 50?????

Hello!

I'm 50!  Glad I'm typing that and not saying it out loud because no matter how hard I try I just can't believe it.  I don't feel 50.  Well, except when I'm having hot flushes! I feel more like 25!  I want to be young.  I'm sure I am young.  And then I look in the mirror and . . . massive reality check!  Surely that's not me?????

I have three children age 22, 20 and 17.  I'm married.  In fact I only got married last year so surely that makes me young?  I have three dogs and a cat.  I like riding and reading, socialising with friends, drinking wine - particularly a nice Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc or Champagne.  I'm a chocoholic and a shopoholic.

I still listen to Radio One!  My children are always stealing my CDs so I must be trendy?!  I like chatting to my children's friends.  I like being silly!

But . . . what is it appropriate to wear when you are 50?  And more to the point - where do you shop?  I would love to shop at Johnnie Boden.  He regularly sends me offers and tempts me in with his 20% off and free delivery; addressing me as though we were friends.  But I just can't.  I look through his collection and think - "it's all for grown up, sensible people."  But I guess Johnie really is sending me offers because I'm his target market.  He thinks I should be grown up and sensible because I'm . . . not 25!!!

I like to shop in New Look, Top Shop, River Island, Oasis and Warehouse.  But do the shop assistants imagine I'm shopping for my daughter?  Are they gossiping behind my back saying, "What's she doing in here?" with that snarl of contempt that young people have when the can't ever imagine being . . older!  And how long can I continue to shop in these teen emporiums?  

Next is safe.  Anyone can shop in Next.  But where else can I indulge my shopping addiction?  Not M&S, unless it's for underwear, that IS admitting you're old!

And do I give in and wear classic shapes and designs or can I still follow fashion trends???  It's such a dilemma!  Can I wear the same styles as my daughter or is that 'mutton dressed as lamb'?  And where is Gok Wan when you need him?!!!