Party Outfit

Every single year I get myself into a right tizzy and have a last minute panic that I NEED a new dress for my work Christmas party. And every year I'll rush around desperately looking for something and end up spending £50+ on a dress that:

a) I don't like all that much
b) I will never wear again
c) I most definitely can't afford

So, this year I'm very pleased to say that I spent a mere £4 on my Christmas party outfit.

The houndstooth pencil skirt was bought at a jumble sale that I went to at The Cumberland Arms a few weeks ago. The skirt was part of a Chanel type suit that a lady was selling for £5. My friend was in love with the jacket, myself the skirt and so we struck a pretty sweet deal. 

As soon as I bought it, I knew exactly how I wanted to wear it. I tried to channel Marion Cotillard in the photo above.  I didn't manage to find a peach/orange coloured tube top, so settled for one that I found on a sale rail in H&M for £2.


I did buy some lovely red shows in the Urban Outfitters sale (£10- GASP), but sadly they didn't arrive in time. I just know I'm going to wear them to death though.

£10. Unbelievable.

Christmas Wrapping Paper

Someone gave me presents wrapped in brown parcel paper last year and I loved it! So, naturally I had to steal the idea. I've been thinking about ways to spruce it up a bit and have bought a lot of gingham and tartan ribbon in festive colours. I wanted to do something with the paper itself though. I thought about doing potato printing, but got home one night with an appetite (gettit?) for crafting, and no potatoes...so...this is what happened:

I think I get the most satisfaction from doing crafty things with bit and pieces that I already have lying around the house. The knowledge that I'm getting more than one use out of something stirs my thrifty soul and leaves me very content indeed. I had some acrylic paints left from candle holders that I made a couple of months back and some cheap sponges (that I planned on putting in a gap in my bedroom window...before I decided that it was a stupid idea) so I decided to make a stencil and make my own printed paper.

It was messy, but a lot of fun. In hindsight I should have made the stencil smaller, so that I  could have more trees printed on the paper, but I'm still quite pleased how it turned out. Plus, they say it's the thought that counts!

Health Kick

A friend of mine started a personal training course recently and I'd be badgering him to give me some tips to lose a little weight. I'm currently a size 10-12, but at 5'2 I still feel like I'd like to lose just a little weight and tone up.

I do eat well generally, but when it comes to carbs and sweets I am insatiable so it didn't come as a surprise when my pal told me that I was eating carbs for almost every meal and it really wasn't doing me any favours. He suggested some foods that I should try and encouraged me to keep going to boot camp to burn calories and build muscle, as apparently, more muscle means burning more calories?

So for the last 2 weeks I've really cut down on the carbs, but I havent ruled them out entirely. I've been eating a lot of nuts, sweet potato, eggs, cottage cheese and fruit and vegetables. Every few days I've had something with carbohydrate in, but I've tried to reduce the portion size. The first few days were awful and I felt really sluggish, tired and grumpy, but after my body adjusted I now feel less bloated and I definately feel more spitely. I've tried (and not really succeeded) with replacing tea and coffee with water and fruit tea and I've also braved the cold weather and walked into work instead of catching the bus.

Will (my personal trainer friend) said that I should have 1 day a week where I eat what I like, within reason of course, and this is the one thing that I have stuck too! When I was in Sainsburys  I saw that Vice Versas were back! Remember those? They are sort of like Minstrels but inside the brown shells there is white chocolate...and well...vice versa! Those were a little treat. Amazing!

Although I haven't lost a lot of weight I feel a lot better, I'm healthier and I've finally 'cracked' (getit?) how to make an omelette...although...I took a photograph of this failed attempt...I was so scared I was going to give myself food poisoning that I left it in the pan for far too long, eep!