The Creped Crusaders - new thread!

[wilbur]

New thread for chatting. Oh and swapping S&B tips.

Having a manic day here - INSET day at school and I have 7 kids (inc my 3) over for lunch. While also trying to "work from home" and talk to removal people.

I have spent today belatedly celebrating International Women's Day at a v. lovely local event that dd and I have been to every year for the last 3 years. There are all sorts of free workshops, some serious and many not so serious. Dd and I tend to opt for the not very serious and this year she and I did a flatbread making workshop, which was really good and dd did not even huff about being the youngest one there by about 30 years. We then did a wirework jewellery workshop (we both have nice new necklaces) and then I did a House of Colour one. I have vaguely investigated having my colours done, so it was v. interesting to see the local consultant in action. Really impressive. She was also giving out leaflets for a company that produce clothes using the HoC colour palette and I sse they sell lots of nice basic tops with 3/4 sleeves. I have a thing for 3/4 sleeves. Am thinking of raiding the dc's piggy banks and getting my colours done now.

And the flatbread workshop was done by Tracy Smith of Magic Oxygen . I heart Tracy, she is fab (and based in Lyme Regis ).

Oooh Stropps, it sounds great!

One of my friends got her colours done years ago. What did you do at the HoC workshop?

BTM, the HoC workshop was on "The Art of Accessories" and it was very interesting. She did a brief explanation of the colour palette and seasons thing first, which made a lot more sense to me than the stuff I have read about it online (I'm a terrible cynic about these things) and then she stripped (!) her clothes off to reveal a plain brown cami and skirt and proceeded to show how to dress these up with different bags, shoes, belts, jewellery, scarves and jackets for a) a business meeting, b) smart casual and c) an evening out. Sounds simple, but it seemed clever to me. I'm a simple soul :)

Re: facial oils: I have been using this for a few years now. It is the business. Only problem is since the company got all successful the price has gone up alot (damn). Is much better than the Neal's Yard ones, imo.

It looks lovely but at the price I must seek out all those threads about using cheap stuff

Art of Accessories sounds good. I have a scarf (Orla Keily one) on today and DS has just come home and said I look like one of those really posh yummy mummys

@ posh ymmy mummy. I would be chuffed if I got that comment from one of my offspring.

I only use a teeny tiny drip of the oil as a sort of treatment (or serum, or whatever the buzz word is at the mo'). No, I can't think any one slaps that onto their face as a cleanser...

Ruby, yes, it was Kettlewell. I have emailed the consultant to see if I can get an appointment (I can get a discount if I book on the back of attending the workshop) as I am heartily fed up with pulling things out of my wardrobe, putting them on and then thinking "Holy shit, why on earth did I buy this?".

I can't imagine it would be a good idea to have my colours done until the pizza-effect on my face has subsided somewhat. I look like I have been having gin for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a couple of decades.

I am a bit unsure about getting my colours done - what if they say that all the colours that I love don't suit me?!

ruby, that's the problem with DC's having a social life - I went for a drink while DD was in gym last night, but had to stick to the diet coke so that I could drive us home again. Mind you, after the skinful I had last week......

OK, the idea is growing on me. A bit

Wilbur - the S&G cream 'hides imperfections' via its 'light-reflecting pigments', or some such. No brown bag in the packet I got.

As for cleansing with oil, from what I've read about the oil cleansing method you use olive, almond or castor oil, not the expensive facial oils, which seem to be for moisturising.

I'm such a guru.

I'd like to get my colours done, too. As long as she said I suited muted greys, cream, blues and purples, as that's all I have in my wardrobe.

Herbs, I think you are right!

Isn't the weather hideous. Thank God DS's footy got cancelled (at the last min of course) - he has now done some maths homework and is reading Harry Potter in his bed

I have spent the morning watching DVDs of The Moomins with ds. This is serving as a good antidote to the rather upsetting job I am working on at the moment, which is making me feel a bit ill and sullying my internet search history big time. And this afternoon we are going to make choc brownies and eat them all

Oh what's the job Stropps?
Foul here too, raining so much is seeping under back door. Mango salsa made, ds playing Lego with friend, two episodes of The Bridge, cup of tea and banana loaf here!

Don't talk to me about rain.

I spent twelve hours - twelve hours - yesterday in something resembling the Somme, running the Control Tent for the football club Tournament. DH spent a similar time running the car parking. It was unspeakable weather all day; at around 3pm the flimsy marquee I was sitting under took off in the wind, and the PA and all my score sheets ended up in six inches of mud....... several teams abandoned the tournament half-way through, as their mud-encrusted players succumbed one by one to hypothermia. Once everyone had gone home we had to take down all the tents and clear up in lashing rain; we got home exhausted at 7.30pm and were in bed not long after. Such a shame; it is a great day usually, but we really should have cancelled.

I am now working my way through a truly terrifying pile of crusty laundry.

By the way, bucking the trend, DH is quite a good dancer, particularly if an A-Ha track comes on. I think it is his supreme confidence in his dancing abilities that carries him through.

My God, CV, you are troopers! It sounds awful.

Can you dance to an A-Ha song?

I have danced to most things when drunk

On the good side I resumed swimming this morning after a shockingly long hiatus; and took DD2 to Sainsbury's (to get all the things, notably fresh veg, we'd left off the delivery order) and bought her a charming little red shiny satchel I covet myself (after snapping up similar little satchel in yellow in a charity shop for a fiver yesterday). On the bad side I am grumpy and cold and damn and ahem rabid tetchy with PMT and have snarled at everyone else in the Inferiority Complex.

It is warm and sunny here, chaps, and has been all weekend.

I am feeding DD1's teachers on Wednesday and have been having a nice little email exchange with her absolutely divine math(s) teacher, about what pudding to make. He has asked for trifle. He is American...will he be expecting working class trifle (with jelly) or posh trifle (without)? Curry is the main course and the dear man has said "the hotter the better." A man after my own heart. I could snog him. He is 55 and looks no older than 35 max - he must have a portrait in the attic.

The DDs did not want to come out yesterday so DH and I went for a wander and spent the early evening drinking cocktails in a bar on the other side of Paris.