Crepeys/Hagsnet - the moonlight beckons!

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Because moonlight gives you a nice glow and doesn't show up your wrinkles or grey hair.

I'm oddly still losing weight, about a pound a fortnight, despite drinking wine, eating cake, and doing little exercise. Not complaining, natch, but it does mean all my trews are too big. Except the ones I put away, which are still too small.

Re periods, oh yes. In fact I have one here today. She arrived with no fanfare, or PMT, which is bizarre. Yet once again welcome.

Re toy boys, I find it mostly advantageous. Though he was born a year before I went to junior school, so our cultural memories of the seventies and eighties are very different. And he's indeed gone through less in his life. But he's a harder worker, and a generally nicer person than me, so has lessons to teach me...

herbs - how can you lose weight without even trying? You must be doing something. Let me into the secret, please!

Or maybe it's all the sex you're having with your toyboy DH that's burning it off?

I've had a bit of a bug, I think, involving 'toileting' more often than usual. Don't fully recommend it as a weight-loss technique, as it is rather restrictive on getting out of the house, and expensive on bog roll. And inconvenient if one only has one lav, and it's in the bathroom. It seems to be on the wane, now, but the weight loss continues. I'm also doing a lot of haring about after DS, and pushing his vast bulk about on 'country walks' when he can't be arsed to get out of his buggy.

Hello all. Well, I have missed a lot - PMS, toyboys, lo-carbing and the delights of Sheffield. I am blissfully post-menstrual so feeling quite At One With The Cosmos. It helps that I went back to work yesterday to an almost empty, quiet office, got loads done and left dh looking after the 3 kids, plus my godson, and doing the "getting ds1 to sailing" routine, which is always a stressor. My lot STILL have another week off school as they are building a new infants block and have taken days off the hols in the rest of the year so that they had more summer to get it done. Fair enough really, but I am wilting after so many weeks entertaining the troops.

Scrolling back through - MI, I reallly like those black trousers, both the white co ones and the M&S ones. Did you buy them? If so, are they fairly sturdy, fabric-wise? I am toying with getting this (courtesy of dh's discount card, yay) but obv cannot go bare-legged and need good leggings/jeggings. I'm also trying to work out if I can get away with these. They look like they would hold in the gunt, but perhaps be not kind to the thighs. Comments, please?

I did snort when I saw this though. Clearly for the peri-menopausal in mourning for their youth....

I love the trousers, but the shirt's not really my thing.

What's wrong with the dress?!

DD2's party in full swing (they are in her room playing Consequences ). Her BFF has turned up post summer with blue streaks in her hair and a pierced nose. She is 10.

I have decided it is Wine O'Clock.

Definitely wine o'clock

Off out to meet friends in town - going to his club, wherever that may be!

BTM - I love the dress, I think it's fab, it's just that they called it Peri that made me laugh.

MrsS - It's definitely getting to drinkie time. I am going to play with the cocktail cabinet this evening (hic). I brought some dodgy melon aperitif back from France and reckon I can make a sort of negroni, but with the melon instead of the sweet vermouth. I'll let you know how it goes, if I can still type.

I am still wrestling with some editing but they are PAYING ME. Lots.

Wilbur, apart from charity shoppe haul (silk frock currently being altered - whole thing will end up costing me over £30 BUT it is divine and manages to be both work-suitable and quite sexy attractive) have purchased nothing. Helpful neighbour who has been out shopping picked me up some black dye to revive fading Sainsbo's jeggings which I will then shorten to capri length. Honestly, I need so much. Shoes, too.

Friend (Orangina - must inveigle her back to this thread!) warns me against M&S trousers but swears Zara is packed to gunnels with charming items.

(pops in, waves, smoothes furrowed brow, pops out again....)

I was reading a Zara thread recently, and it made me want to go shopping; it is ages since I had a good old child-free browse.

I also saw a link to this little number on a recent thread, and I think it is gorgeous. I've been looking for a "going-out-with-skinny-jeans-and-high-shoes" top for ages. What do you think?

Wilbur, I like the trousers, I don't think they will be too unkind to thighs as the flare at the ankle will balance it out. Also, if you wear it with your long cream shirt your thighs will be covered anyway. But you can keep the peri-menopausal dress.

I am currently sitting in a field in Dawlish (first bongo outing) so looking stylish is so low down on the agenda as to be on page 7 I think! I kind of like the total lack of pressure so am in Capri pants (m&s red) and a grey fleece - I am pretty sure this combo won't be seen on any catwalk any time soon! The beach was absolutely fabulous yesterday - the clouds were stunning and we knackered the dog out making him swim in the sea. I think I might have lost a few pounds in Japan and want to continue as feel so much better. Dp and I have big grown up talks about the future and stuff....
Have a good weekend Hags.....

CV, I really really like that top and the dress like it as well. My cheap black jeggings have taken the black dye really well; given the lack of warmth, I may not shorten them to capri length after all (although really should chop an inch or two off in any case as am shortarse) - what do you think?

I do like that Warehouse site. I am tempted by this but worry it's not a dark enough red for my hair.

The teal one is nice though, MI. Also like the bird print top.

It has been sweatin' 'ot here today, and although we have had a torrential downpour, it's still hot and clammy.

I survived the party! They were actually no trouble at all, and parents picked them all up quite promptly. Cat was relieved to see the back of them and did not venture out from his hiding place inside my wardrobe until this afternoon.

Am off to see the Smurfs film tomorrow with DD2 and MN friend and her daughter. It is in French, which will delight DD2...not...

Well, I don't hang about....

I bought the lovely Warehouse top and wore it to a party this evening - it attracted several comments!

What's Warehouse sizing like?

Encouraging note in Obs mag today about redheads wearing red. I do actually like red. A lot.

My friend has red hair (well more orange - a lovely shade) and she often wears red. It's just a question of getting a shade that suits rather than clashes with the shade of the hair I guess!

I am due a shopping spree, but I think I might wait a couple of weeks till there are more autumny things in the shops.

MI, Warehouse sizing seems about right, although the top was quite loose-fitting in design so it's difficult to tell. They only had an 8 and a 12 in stock; they both fitted, but the 8 was a little short. A 10 would have probably been OK, but the 12 was fine too, so I bought that. The top was a much darker red than it appeared on the website - more of a magenta. It has little cut-outs in the sleeve which are lovely. I'm very chuffed with it!

About your jeggings - I much prefer a capri length - I think, if they go right down to the ankles, the thin-ness of the bottom of the leg accentuates any big-ness at the top (iyswim). But it depends what shoes/boots you plan to wear with them.

I am currently umming and aahing about buying either this or this as a winter work dress (I don't work in a suit-y environment, thank goodness). What do you think?

She has, Kerry.

I prefer the grey one, myself!

Well, I thought it was more red-and-white-striped than pink.

It all depends how clingy the dresses are; being M&S, they are probably not very. Ideally they will "skim" the midriff rather than accentuate every lump.

My usual trick is to order them to be delivered free to my local M&S, then try them on in store and return the one that I don't want. Dangerous, because I may like both.....

I had a lovely black knitted dress from Next that I lived in last year; unfortunately it didn't have any lycra content and ended up very baggy around the arse (it weirdly happened during the course of a single day - I suddenly realised the back of my dress had essentially collapsed, and had to spend the rest of the afternoon rooted to my office chair. )