MN Vogue - volume 84

[shopafrolic]

Bring on the cosy sweaters, boots and coats - Autumn is here and it brings lots more shopping opportunities for the Voguettes. Join us for fun fashion and beauty chat from high street to designer. Continuing on from here

Delurking I used to post ages ago but sort of lost touch with a few things when I also had marriage issues (spent time on the relationship board trying to make sense of it all)

I've been back on the style and beauty boards for about the last 8 months looking for inspiration and came back to you lovely lot reading and browsing your links.

Lost 1 stone last year as I was diagnosed pre diabetic and need to carry this on for this year. Also trying to improve my wardrobe by buying better quality classic items.

Sport forgot to say I now have a electric slow cooker best gadget I have ever bought (and I have bought a few) also doubles as a slow cooker.

Does a lovely risotto in 10 minutes and pulled pork in an hour that just falls apart.

Pressure cooker that meant to say!

Welcome back littlered tell me more about the electric/pressure cooker, I no longer use my slow cooker as everything tasted the same, have abandoned my bread maker, now just have a toaster, kettle and a Nespresso machine.

Topaz forgot to say hi in my earlier post, lovely to see you back and liked your best buys. Will we see you again at the MU?

Hello and welcome Eesha I like the sound of your Victorian blouses, great purchases by the way, I love a batwing jumper and am off to check it out.

Fedup thanks for linking the Uniqlo jumper, I wanted it in navy but it's oos at the moment.

Lovely to see you back Topaz - thought you'd given up on us! I'd forgotten how much I like your style so needless to say I like all your purchases.

Waves to Eesha (nice jumper) and welcome back to Littlered

Marsha toddlers are so funny when they're mobile - I should imagine you'll lose weight just following mini marsha around

Good luck with the job situations Kitty & Topaz; I think we get to an age where it's not worth being in a job you dislike/find too stressful etc and there is a need for change.

I used to use the slow cooker a lot when I had all the dc's at home but rarely do so now. Was having a convo about soup makers the other day and apparently it will languish at the back of your cupboard

Someone mentioned the Royal thread earlier - I love it - great fashion, jewels, history & gossip Not sure how I feel about having a royal family in this day and age but that's another discussion!

@kittyhello the batwing top is very comfy. I'm a size 14/16 and wear the large nicely

sounds like 2018 hasnt been an easy ride for most of us. I thinkf or me it's been a year of drastic, big changes rather than drip drip drip. those big things have been pretty big each time though, moving back north, finding out i have additional heath issues i didn't know i had. There have been very many bright spots but somehow they seem harder to crystallise in my mind than the things i see as a negatives. funny how that happens. This coming year,f or me, is going to be mainly about resettling back north and trying to get a handle on my health. now i know whats been causing the underlying ongoing 'ill feeling' i'm hoping i can get it under some sort of control and regain some sort of more functional life, the past few years have been killer in terms of just not feeling in sync with the rest of the world, hoping for that to change over these coming few months

No fashion news to report, im still not finding anything im loving enough to actually fork out for so keeping my purse firmly closed unless something really does grab me

Kitty I have the pressure king 3l bought it on sale in Asda it cooks (just) enough for 4 adults but wish I had the 5l for the extra space.

I came home from work and forgotten to defrost some beef to make a casserole and it cooked it from frozen in 40 minutes and then I added dumplings and cooked for another 10 minutes and they were light and fluffy.

Pulled pork is simply a pork joint and a jar of bbq sauce. We have done ribs and then finished off on the bbq. DH wasn't keen as he didn't like the way meat tasted and felt in a slow cooker but even he said this was a great gadget.

Plenty of videos and recipes online plus books and a Facebook group to share recipes and tips.

Hi Topaz, nice to see you again. And hi to littlered & eesha.

Blingy I started having lattes with oat milk last year as felt I was getting bloated from all the milk. Oatly barista is the type I recommend - it doesn't have the slightly weird aftertaste of soy milk and doesn't separate. Don't try the Starbucks one which tastes like sick.

One of my colleagues has a soup maker & was raving about how convenient it is. I used to make lots of homemade soup when I was freelance bit just used a stick blender.

I feel like I haven't tried very hard to lose weight yet. Need to give up the after dinner choc & work biscuits as well as start exercising. I've never run so may try couch to 5k this year. Just find it hard to fit it in with work.

Gosh, a lot of what has been said has resonated with me. It's hard to "talk" properly on here as I struggle with the fear of being outed and for various reasons I find it difficult to talk to friends irl. I'm quite an untrusting sort! I love coming to meet ups as it really is a completely safe place to get it all off your chest and now that I know you all better having been to a few I feel more comfortable doing so.

Hope 2019 will be better for us all!
Welcome back little and topaz and welcome to Eesha!
queenc I feel quite sure a soup maker is unnecessary!
dry love the swimsuit and espadrilles, you will look super chic in them.

So here are my sale purchases
equipment silk shirt I thought the print might be a bit twee/ditsy but actually I really like it.
more nicholas kirkwood loafers I got a further 15% off on that price. Will wear these a lot in the summer.
zadig and voltaire ankle boots I paid about a quarter of that price in Bicester
long cardigan looks better irl
This going out top camo print blouse hadn't come across this brand before but quite liked a lot of it.

bargain alert and available in all sizes!

Morning!

Started my fitness routing today, 30 day shred every weekday in January then am going to do bike classes and hopefully work up to being fit enough to do boot camp. Oh and pick up my running again too, just once per week to start with. Feels good to have taken the first step. My wardrobe is filled with beautiful clothes that don’t fit so my incentive is right there!!

Topaz lovely to hear from you, happy new year!

justa a bargain indeed! Don’t think I can do yellow but fab for those who can

Justa you naughty enabler. I’ve just ordered those espadrilles. Yellow would go with all of my summer stuff, looks fab (but not close to my face) and I can send fp cream ones back....saved me quite a bit. Thanks

Great buys Justa

Mara I’ve been out of they gym for nearly 4 weeks, another 2 to go. It will be tough going back but I’m getting desperate . Will. E joining you on spring fitness regime

fab bargain link @justasecond i bought both the yellow (which dh thinks i will never wear, but hey it was £27!) and the blue denim which was £36.

Love that floral blouse you linked. I would love to be able to wear something like that (and look as good as Mara and Kitty in their floral tops!).

Highly recommend this Hush Skirt if like me you like a lot of black! Looks good for both work and going out.
This has also just arrived Mint Velvet Star Top need to try it on but thought it would be good with indigo jeans.
As has this Whistles Dress again need to try and I have about 6 of these or similar so need to justify.
What I really need to do is have a big wardrobe sort out and stop buying more!

Hush Zebra print skirt

Blooming Hush links!
It's the meg ruched skirt in zebra print!

I couldn’t see it on the link Vegas but like the sound of it. In a similar vein I am listing after this Rixo tiger print skirt

A quicky as in a cafe - if you get prescription glasses do you buy the frames from the optician or online? The Tom Ford ones are half the price on Pret a Voir (never used it good reviews on TP) but does seem easier just to buy from optician

WWYD?

Loving all the sale purchases. I am always tempted by Castaner ankle tie wedges - but I have such short legs I normally avoid ankle straps. Does anyone else have this problem?

Also, it’s heart-wrenching to hear so many of you had a tough 2018. After a trying time for me (the usual things - relationship, weight, work) - I think I have pushed through and I’m on the up again. This thread is one of the things that has helped me - I so love to hear you all expressing yourselves and the MNV thread is a truly happy/safe place for me.

Keep on in style you wonderful voguettes - by the time you get to NH summer you’ll be winning again

Like Fedup, I used my slow cooker more when the DCs were at home. I tend to use it more in the winter, but haven't done yet this year. I have been trying to eat more plant-based food, though definitely not being vegan or even vegetarian, but using many of the recipes. I stepped away from it over Christmas, but will be back to it from next week.

It sounds like you have had a lot of change as well in 2018, One. I hope you have a good 2019.

Great sale- shopping Justa. I particularly like those loafers.

I really like that skirt Viva, am tempted but I have black/cream skirt that fills that gap so will have to ponder!

Lovely skirt mara, especially as pictured with the cream sweater. I have been lusting over the Rixo website for over a year. I did order a dress but sent it back as the fit wasn't right. I have looked at, and loved, the mismatched prints for so long now, that I think I may be over them. That may be why I prefer the skirt with a neutral.

Good words, Apple .

I was out with friends last night and wore this Kitri top, with blue slim trousers. Felt happy in it, though the sleeves were a nuisance when eating!

I would like to make it to a MU this year, perhaps the July one as I am busy the weekend of the one in March.

Wow I’ve seen the light with more expensive swimming costumes. My Seafolly swimsuit arrived today and it’s an incredible feat of engineering ....loads of Lycra that sucks you in, rushing and padding, so well designed. So flattering!!! Love it