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!!!!

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:

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.

A Quiet Week

I've not posted for a week because it's been a pretty quiet week, as in I've not got dressed up to go out anywhere special in the last week.  Sometimes life's just like that I guess.  Instead of dressing up I've been out running.  I did seventeen miles last week and stuck to my diet.  Yesterday was my diet day off as I took my children to London -  shopping for their Christmas presents.

So the only new clothes I've had in the last week is a fluorescent yellow running jacket, new running tights and gloves.  I would post a picture but I think it's better that I save you from such a sight.  But rest safe in the knowledge that I can now be seen by passing motorists. 

I'm trying to have a better beauty routine.  Under instruction from my gorgeous hairdresser - Simon - I am deep conditioning my hair twice a week.  I'm also exfoliating twice a week and using a face pack once a week.  Since the Neal's Yard party I have been using a toner.  I always use eye cream and moisturiser. Hopefully my skin and hair will benefit.

This week I've got a couple of outings coming up.  On Friday we are off to the Races again.  On Saturday we are going out for our Girlie Christmas Supper and Secret Santa.  I have no idea what to wear on Saturday.  I'm going to try to have a search through my wardrobe tomorrow.  I don't really have a sparkly going out top.  I think quite a few of the girls will wear dresses.  I'm not sure what to do.  I will search out a few alternatives and let you know.

Oh here is a picture of one of the tops I bought from Oasis a week or two ago.  I really like it.  It looks better on. I'm sure I will be going out in it soon.

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?!!!