Does size matter?

Now don't click away after reading the title of this post because I am only talking about one of my favourite things here - handbags.

Rumour has it that the bigger the bag, the thinner you look, but is it a fail safe optical illusion? Personally I think not, and the notion had nothing to do with my recent gigantic tote purchase, I just love a big handbag and believe that the reason Victoria Beckham looks teeny tiny next to her giant handbags, is basically because she is teeny tiny, its her diet doing the work not her handbag.
I haven't suddenly began to look like a size 10 when I carry a large bag, it is more a case of the advice a florist might give to a bride, if you are tall or overweight you will look better with a large bouquet whereas a petite bride would be swamped by a huge floral arrangement. Surely it is all a question of balance?

The size of your handbag does help in one area of your appearance however, and that is age.  A large tote gives an overall youthful appearance unlike the frumpy small shoulder bags much favoured by our mothers who don't carry mobile phones, lipstick, baby wipes or Kindle's and although there will be times when a small handbag is essential whatever your age, you may not look smaller with a piece of arm candy of gigantic proportions but you won't have to leave anything at home!

 

Clockwise from top left: Diane Von Furstenburg at The Outnet was £340.00 Now £169.99. Anya Hindmarch Palma tote was £595 now £297.50. John Lewis Collection Tote £39. Lou Tote from Reiss £245. Jigsaw Leather Tote was £139 now £69.

Do you think large tote bags make you look slimmer or more youthful?

Don't forget to enter my #rockupinred competition to win a limited edition Radley handbag, details here.

This time last week in pictures.

I love the snow I really do, especially when it falls on a Friday evening and the whole family can stay indoors cozy and warm without having to worry about getting anywhere.  Monday mornings and the disruption it can cause, not so much, and although most of you are probably sick to death of snow photo's which have been all over your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the last week or more, I have to indulge myself with a snow photo post as I don't suppose we will be getting any more in the South East this year.
I always head to the village church on snowy days, it makes sure a gorgeous back drop and even with just an iphone you can get some half decent photo's. These were taken last Sunday when it snowed  virtually all day.  Nobody else wanted to join us, just me and Charlie out together, hardly anybody else around and a sort of eerie silence everywhere we went.  They say it's the little things in life that bring the most pleasure and being out and about in awe of mother nature with my favourite person is sometimes all you need and you certainly appreciate the central heating when you get back home!

Although it was freezing cold, taking in the beauty of the snow covered tree's and buildings had us both losing track of time.  We really should have both remembered to put a watch on!

I hope you enjoyed the snow and didn't fall prey to all the problems it can cause.

Something for the Weekend.

I was intrigued to hear Jo Elvin from Glamour magazine talking on Daybreak this morning and announcing that Fedora's were the latest fashion must have after I blogged about them a back in November.  Luckily my eldest daughter took my advice and picked one up from French Connection so was nice and early to the Fedora party......

   

Sadly no longer on line but if you are looking for something more stylish than your knitted beanie to see you through the remainder of this horrid cold snap, grab a bargain with this wide brimmed trilby from Warehouse. I looked like Benny Hill when I went out in the snow last weekend, so something has got to be done to up the headgear ante!

Originally £26 now £12 and Warehouse are offering free UK delivery until 28th January.

The Sales are now on their last knockings and if you decided to abstain from treating yourself after the expense of Christmas, now could be the time for a payday treat at one of the most miserable times of the year.

Net a Porter now have up to 80% off for lovers of designer goodies.

Uniqlo have a £10 off a £50 spend code, so now could be a great time to invest in that padded jacket or essential cashmere jumper by using code UNQ50 at checkout until midnight Sunday 27th January.

Brora have added more lines to their sale if a piece of high end cashmere is on your shopping list.

Hunter Boots have become a stylish snow and wet weather footwear essential and the brand are offering free delivery if you spend over £75 online.

 

Just look how popular they are in my house, I think it is only me who doesn't own a pair! Shop direct from their website and you will see that they offer both slim and wide fit options.

Dune are offering an additional 20% off of sale prices and some discounts were already up to 70%. Discount is already applied, no code required.

I can't even think about new season offerings, I'm way too cold!

Are you opting for a payday treat to cheer yourself up?

Don't forget their is still time to enter my #RockUpInRed competition to win a Limited Edition Radley bag, all you have to do is send me a picture, see all the details here.

Looking for reasonably priced Boys Footwear?

Boy’s Shoes: Kit Them Out For 2013

The start of a brand new year is a great time to kit the kids out with new shoes. Pop into a high street shoe specialist and get feet measured professionally – there’s no obligation to buy. Or use a handy foot measuring tool online. You’re then free to shop around for the best prices on quality shoes, in order to make your household budget stretch as far as possible.

Buying shoes at the supermarket is super convenient, and you can try them on the kids there and then, or buy with the peace of mind that you can return any unsuitable items with ease. Alternatively, shop from the comfort of home at ASDA Direct, for the ultimate in convenience.

Be sure to try boy’s shoes on thoroughly, checking the fit when standing and walking. When you buy shoes from George at ASDA you have 28 days to return any items that you’re not completely satisfied with.

What to Buy for Boys?

There are several different types of shoes that all little boys will need. Shop around for the best deals and you can kit them out with the whole lot for much less than you might think.

School Shoes

School shoes are an essential, and as they’ll be worn more than any other shoe it’s vital that they are a comfortable fit. High street shoe specialists can charge a small fortune for school shoes, which makes keeping up with growing feet a big expense. At ASDA you can find leather school shoes from just £15, in a choice of styles.

Choose school shoes with Velcro straps for younger boys, so that they can easily put them on and off themselves after PE and the like. The George Leather Loafers are a versatile buy for older boys as they can also be worn on smart occasions and to parties and proms.

Casual Trainers

Every boy needs a pair of comfortable, casual trainers that can be worn for playing out or sports. Young children don’t tend to care about expensive sports brands, so buy unbranded trainers while you can still get away with it and save your pennies for when they are older and peer pressure comes into play.

You can pick up simple casual sports trainers from just £5 at George, so it doesn’t matter how muddy they get!

Cool Trainers

While casual trainers are great for getting dirty outdoors, it’s also a good idea to treat your son to a pair of cool trainers to wear to parties, on days out and whenever a smarter casual look is required. High tops are the trainer of the moment, and with pairs for under a tenner at ASDA, you won’t have to blow the budget to make yourself a very popular parent.

Welly Boots

Unfortunately, rain is unavoidable in the UK, so make sure that your son is prepared with a sturdy pair of wellington boots. Don’t forget to pick up a few pairs of thick welly socks for a more comfortable and cosy fit.

Indugling my second favourite passion.

I can remember when I first starting reading fashion blogs that I used to get a little bit annoyed when one of my favourite bloggers posted about food or a recipe they had used, I wanted to see fashion, read their opinions on brands, see what they had bought, but in more recent years my outlook has changed somewhat.  With the introduction of Twitter and Instagram I feel as though my life is no longer just about beautiful fashion and accessory imagery, as I am now far more interested in the lifestyle of the people I follow on various social media platforms, and often find myself cooking meals that I have seen or looking for similar recipes to delicious looking meals that have made my mouth water on sight.
As Mums who cook daily, there are times when we all need some inspiration and although I class myself as a fairly good cook, my repertoire consists of meals I ate as a child, homemade pies, casseroles, stews and spuds of some description with everything, and although all of these meals do contain some healthy elements, I have never cut out the pastry, white pasta or dumplings nor made a concious decision to introduce healthier meals into my menu plans, but that has all recently changed after I attended a Deliciously Healthy Cookery course last week.

 

I was really excited about attending this event as I tend to think that anything healthy is boring and tasteless but I couldn't have been more wrong!  The Cookery Class took place at Witherdens Hall in the Kent countryside on the outskirts of Canterbury and we were greeted with tea and coffee before the lovely Emily (the founder of My Deliciously Healthy Kitchen) explained what the day would involve and that we were more than welcome to join in with the food preparation or just sit with a cup of coffee and make notes, all very informal, although everybody was more than happy to get involved, although I think I took more pictures than do actual food prep!  

We started off by making a healthier cake which we would later eat for pudding, followed by a Moroccan spiced winter vegetable soup for starter and garlic chicken skewers, dukkah roast vegetables, chickpea stew with fragrant quinoa for main course.  We made a tapanade for a mid morning snack which impressed me no end as I dislike olives immensely, but mix them with some sun dried tomatoes, lemon juice and olive oil, and ta da! a healthy snack packed with goodness. 

Emily explained to us that after years of yo yo dieting and trying every diet known to man, she finally gave up and adopted a healthy eating lifestyle which has led her body to find it's natural weight.  Couple this with her extensive knowledge of benefits every ingredient used has for you, I couldn't help but be impressed by the whole set up.

Once all the food was prepared and cooked, we all sat down to a beautifully laid candle lit table, white and red wine, and got to taste the meals, and boy were they delicious! I was totally stuffed after eating all three courses but having come away with a recipe pack of all the meals we cooked, I am totally inspired to get cooking and have ordered everything I need to replicate these meals with this weeks Sainsbury's order, so the family are in for a real treat tomorrow night!

 

In hindsight I think these workshops would make a great day out for a group of girlfriends (a hen day you are not afraid to take your Mum on?), a husband and wife who perhaps share the cooking duties, and gift vouchers are also available if you are stuck for an idea for someone who has a passion for healthy eating or is looking to start a healthy eating regime.  The class runs from 10am until 3pm although ours was finished a bit earlier than this, so plenty of time to do a spot of shopping in Canterbury or even a cultural visit to the Cathedral to round off your day.

The price for the workshop is currently £65 and when you think you get to eat a three course meal with wine, snacks, endless tea and coffee and leave with a detailed recipe pack, in addition to everything you learn, I personally think it is worth every penny which is why I felt compelled to write about it!

To book a place on the next workshop and to find out more click here.

Exclusive Discount code - an extra 10% off sale items at Baukjen!

When you get an email from one of your favourite brands giving you the chance to offer your readers an exclusive discount code which takes an extra 10% off of sale prices, you don't hang around, especially as this offer has only been given to a small selection of bloggers and only lasts until midnight on Sunday!

Whether its a selection of wardrobe staples, the brands classic jersey wrap dresses, a slouchy knit or that go with everything leather biker jacket that remains on your winter sales wish list, there is something that is sure to make an impact on your day to day dressing and solve your current style dilemma's.

Ros Slouchy Cardi - Originally £105 – Sale price £52.50 – Price with 10% offer - £47.25 

Coco Shirt (Pillar Box Red) – Originally £99 – Sale Price £49.50 - Price with 10% offer - £44.55

Cara Drape Dress – Originally £149 – Sale Price from 74.50 - Price with 10% offer - £67.05

Maryna Blazer – Originally £179 – Sale Price from £89.50 - Price with 10% offer - £80.55

 To claim your extra discount just enter code 10EXTRA at checkout. Shop all Sale here.

Will you be shopping the Baukjen sale?

Rock Up In Red Competition.

When I was approached by the British Heart Foundation to take part in their Rock Up In Red campaign and join in their fight against heart disease, I couldn't have been more pleased to support an event such as this and to also give readers the opportunity to win a fantastic piece of arm candy, a limited edition red leather bag by Radley.

It was just over two years ago that my 78 year old Mum had a heart attack and it was an extremely worrying time for us all, so to be able to do something to raise awareness of National Heart Month which  kicks off on 1st February, seemed like a fantastic idea and the BHF are asking that you get friends, family and colleagues to Rock Up In Red and get involved!  You don't have to dress in red head to toe, maybe wear red lipstick, paint your nails red, or keep warm with that red jumper or red thermal socks you rarely wear, the choice is yours, just call the BHF hotline on 0300 330 0645 or visit bhf.org.uk/red to request your fundraising pack and donate just £2 per person (£1 for school children) and make a heartfelt statement to your loved ones! I think I am going to paint all of my beauty clients lips red for the month of February, that should be fun, but if you fancy holding a coffee morning or any fun event you can think of, get in touch and order your pack now!

To take part in this fabulous competition and be in with a chance of winning this stunning Radley bag, all you have to do is upload a picture of you or a family member supporting the cause by wearing something red to my twitter feed @styleateveryage or post your picture to my facebook page before midnight on Friday 1st February and be sure to use the hashtag #rockupinred and Good Luck! I can't wait to see your entries!

Rock Up In Red - Competition Terms and Conditions.

1. The Promoter is http://www.styleateveryage.com/
2. Entrants must be aged 18 or over and a UK resident. Only one entry per person.
3. The competition opens on Friday 4^th January and closes at midnight on Friday 1st February, all entries must be submitted within these dates to be eligible to win.
4. The prize is a Radley handbag, no purchase necessary.
5. There is only one Radley handbag per winner.
6. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and subject to availability. The Promoter reserves the right to change the prize or cancel the draw at any time.
7. The Promoter's decision is final and binding in all matters.
8. The winner will be judged by the Promoter and the judge’s decision is final.
9. Only the winner will be notified.
10. All BHF employees, associates and direct suppliers are ineligible to enter.
11. If the winner cannot be contacted by midnight, 18^th February 2013, the Promoter reserves the right to select a substitute winner.
12. The Promoter will not be responsible for any delay or failure to submit entries before the competition closing date.
13. The name of the winner will notified by the Promoter after the competition closing date.
14. Entry into the competition will be deemed to constitute acceptance of these terms and conditions.
15. Any data collected is for prize draw purposes and to contact and notify the winner only.

Trying to be a savvy sales shopper and failing miserably!

Sometimes when sales shopping I really have to practice what I preach. It's no good me waxing lyrical to readers or clients who want style advice, about how to be a savvy sales shopper if I disregard my own advice completely!  So, after some successful online accessories shopping I went off to Bluewater 2 weeks ago now, on New Years Eve, armed with a very limited budget (what was left of my birthday money) but a list of items that I really wanted.

No longer the die hard sales shopper of 15/18 years ago when I was "that" person who almost fainted inside Next within the first hour of their sale, trying to bag myself some suitable office attire and clothes for my three young daughters (I was a single mum back then), these days I just can't stand all that hassle and even the thought of a half price bargain won't see me at Bluewater until everything has started to die down a little bit, but you certainly pay a price (although not a monetary one) for leaving it late.

So off I went with my list. A list containing items that I wanted to fill gaps in my wardrobe or to create looks I had seen and admired else wear   Well let me tell you I got diddly bloody squat of the things I wanted and it was so depressing as I already knew I couldn't get my wish list online, well not in my size anyway.

If I found a jumper it had the wrong neckline, the blue shirt was more a blouse than a classic cut and as for sizes, well what a joke, I now know that the entire female population of the UK (or maybe just Bluewater shoppers) are either sizes 8, 10 or 16, as everything left in every damn shop I went in was either in a medium or a 12!  This should of course be enough inspiration to slim down to this dress size because size 12's everywhere must love the final reductions, 70% off - tick, do you have it in a 12? - tick - "er of course we do madam!"

Either medium sized women hate shopping or is it more to the point (being friends with an independent boutique owner I know this) that brands sell clothes in bundles that come in packs of 1,1, 2, 1, 1, and you can guess what size they get 2 of, yes it's a 12! Buyers often don't have the ability to buy 10 tops and have 6 of them in the sizes they know they will sell, but that's another story for another day with a "gripes against the fashion industry" heading.

As we decided to head home, dragging our sorry arses behind us and with the car parked very close to this particular store, I went somewhere I rarely shop these days and one I certainly no longer sales shop from - Next.  I thought it was worth a quick look and my daughter agreed, picking herself up a pair of pyjama's and me grabbing a couple of pieces I have wanted for ages, although they weren't on my list, so I don't feel that they were silly impulse purchases and I am glad I have bought both of them, even if I can't wear them immediately and this is where the savvy shopper redeems her disappointing shopping jaunt with a tweed/bouclé looking biker style jacket, I mean seriously how long have I been posting about jackets such as these from every damn retailer on the planet from Chanel to Boden?  Plain t-shirt and statement necklace is all that is required..........

Was £50 paid £25

And another jacket, again an item I am always talking about and will also just slip on over a plain t-shirt and jeans for nights out or the next few festive seasons............

Was £40 paid £16.

So perhaps it wasn't such a wasted day after all!

Did you shop on the High Street with certain items in mind, make impulse purchases, or come home with nothing?

Plus sized dresses at Crossroads.

If you fall into the plus sized buying category and have either a winter sun or summer holiday coming up shortly, shopping on the high street can be a total nightmare.  You want pretty Plus Size Dresses that will keep you cool, have a trend led edge, work with either flat sandals for day or heels for evening, and that are as far away from a baggy winter jumper as possible, then look no further than Australian brand Crossroads.

.
$29.95

$29.95

With a selection of brightly coloured maxi and midi length dresses and international shipping, there is something to suit every taste and occasion.

Are you a plus sized lady heading off to the sun this winter and despairing over your wardrobe options?

Beauty Buys - Dermalogica.

I have a bit of a strange relationship with Dermalogica products if I'm honest.  I wouldn't dream of having a facial unless the therapist was using Dermalogica and I also wouldn't dream of using anything else on my own clients, unyet I have a drawer full of it, that I never use at home on myself. Strange woman.

That was until just before Christmas when I had an email from whatsinmyhandbag.com alerting me to the fact that they had a £10 off a £30 spend code.  Now WIMH is a site I use to browse the contents of celebrity handbags and had never really looked at the products they sell online, until this discount code and upon closer inspection I noticed these Dermalogica sets of iconic items were only £9.50 each when on other sites they retail anywhere between £18 and £24 so I stocked up and made a promise to myself that for the meantime I was going to use this beauty brand, after all, everybody I know who uses it on a daily basis has lovely skin, so why had I not done it before?

Now you know how much I love my Liz Earle and Eve Lom cleansers, as both exfoliate in addition to cleaning the skin, so I have had to get used to using a separate product, the iconic Daily Microfoliant, which so many people rave about, but other than that, I am finding that I really like it all and instead of being on that constant search for a luxury product that will completely banish my wrinkles, it's about time I just gave up as I have realised that no such moisturiser or eye cream actually exists and all we can do is cleanse, tone and moisturise on a daily basis the rest is down to good gene's, good food, no smoking, and a high factor sun cream.  

 

The set consists of 4 products which would be suitable for all skin types and makes the ideal starter kit or travel companion.

Special Cleansing Gel - Really like this and remove with water and sponges as I would for a facial. It's anti-bacterial whilst being mild enough to use on all skin types.

Daily Microfoliant - Powder formula that you mix with water.  I remove it as I do the cleanser. I spray their Multi Active Toner afterwards but this is not in the set, I already have this. Made from Rice Bran which has been used by Japanese women for centuries.

Daily Soothing Cream - One of their universal moisturisers meant for normal to dry skin and does soften skin on impact. Increases hydration whilst soothing and healing.

Multi Vitamin Power Firm- An eye cream which can also be used in the lip area but not many websites tell you that, so its great if you feel you would like a multi function product that deals with that particular problem area as well as your eye area. Contains vitamins A,C and E along with antioxidants and seaweed.

I spoke to a good friend of mine who was Dermalogica trained at College and always performs my facials (when I find time to have one) and she said that she doesn't use the Microfoliant as she finds it drying and I do agree with her, but so long as you apply your toner and moisturiser straight after, your skin won't feel uncomfortable for long. I also have their skin prep scrub which my friend prefers, but am using the Microfoliant for now. She also said that she can't use this particular eye cream as it gives her small red spots around her eyes and funnily enough, it did me too, but they were so tiny and that ceased to happen after a few days of use, so she uses this particular product on her upper lip area and between her eyebrows instead.

WIMH now have another discount code running with £12 off a £35 spend if you fancy stocking up on these sets as I did, or giving Dermalogica a try for the first time.  They would also make great gifts if you have any female birthdays coming up.

I would also like to recommend their Age Smart Power Recovery Masque, a powerful concentration of antioxidant vitamins for mature or prematurely ageing skin which I have also recently bought.

You can buy all the full size Dermalogica products mentioned here from www.lookfantastic.com

Have you ever tried Dermalogica? If so which products do you swear by?

"Designing clothes for middle aged women with no fashion sense".

How rude. Not a quote from me I can assure you, but from some money saving woman called Jasmine, I caught the tail end of the conversation on TV this morning over yet another bad year at M&S just in case you wondered who she and now I, am referring to.

I have to confess I totally disagree with this statement. OK so perhaps they could be a bit more fashion forward but they do seem to have most of the fashion buying females bases covered with their Limited and Indigo collections for younger women, Per Una - OK so I am not sure about who buys this, Autograph with its classic investment pieces in quality fabrics and then the other traditional range which is pretty much what my mum would wear.

There are always real gems on offer at M&S, you just have to look for them, in fact there have been two pieces I have been gutted not to get my hands on in the last six months, firstly a sequin front grey sweatshirt which was a dead ringer for a "Vince" one I had lusted after on the Matches website for ages but was sadly out of my price range at the time, and more recently a gorgeous sequin top I wanted to put away and wear next Christmas after I saw Sarah had bought it here.  Both were sold out online in my size by the time they hit my "M&S little gems" radar, although you can still snag the gold sequin t-shirt in all sizes up to a 14 (see below).

Image taken from Google, a blog called Florence Finds.

I also know that I frequently see Bloggers posting about items they have bought or seen in M&S which are not only fabulous but also a good price for their high quality.  I really don't know what else M&S can do to be honest, I thought their "Ageless Style" campaign last season was spot on and really excited me and my advancing years.

I dare you not to love something from my top 6 fashion forward buys (sorry but I had to include the sequin top) which piece is your favourite?

 

Autograph Sequin top was £49.50 now £23. Limited Collection Bullet Spike Necklace £15. Floral print dress £29.50. Autograph Tweed Biker Jacket £75. Side Zip Western Boot £29.50. Limited Collection Floral print trousers £35.

So how do you feel about good old M&S? Tired out and designing only for middle aged women with no fashion sense, or perfectly capable of interpreting current trends?

Sales Haul Part Three - Totes Amaze....

Small bags and clutch bags have their place in every womans accessories cupboard but there is no doubt I am most definitely an "everything bar the kitchen sink" kinda gal when it comes to day bags but there was something missing from my collection and that was a classic black tote, a bag that would go with every outfit unlike my LV monogrammed Neverfull and Alexander Wang Rocco, so the hunt was on when I browsed the Harrods Sale on Christmas Eve with my xmas money from the Other Half.

 

My cursor was hovering over a Victoria Beckham beauty but upon reading the description, what looked like a black bag was in fact forest green so I opted for a Givenchy Antigona Tote, so simple, so chic and a complete bargain. And massive.

I like a bag that if going into town will allow for a couple of purchases from Boots, the Bakers, card shop or even the local New Look without the need for me to be carrying a load of plastic bags, I just want to put it all in my tote and be done, so much easier.

I also love how the bag has a little zipped pouch attached to the inside, perfect to keep your cash and cards safe and the smell of the calf leather is so strong, it really is intoxicating, no need for scratch and sniff with this beauty!

 

Givenchy has been given a new lease of life recently, it wouldn't have been on my radar at all a few years back but their handbags now have a huge celebrity following, bringing the brand back to the forefront of the luxury goods market.

As well as the classic black, there are some gorgeous new season sorbet colours available. View the full collection of Givenchy bags online at Harrods here.

Is a classic black tote on your arm candy wish list?

*In a year when there were so many linguistic transgressions to irritate us, one in particular stood out. A worthy successor to the now appallingly overused “OMG!”, the phrase “totes amaze” is one of those that takes you aback in its completely (or perhaps one should say “totes”) tastelessness. “I can’t believe you actually just said those words,” one wishes to say when the grating assault on the English language is heard. Sadly we merely grin and bear it, perhaps for fear of being  regarded as a fuddy-duddy. Still, one must appreciate the present time; next year there will be something even worse coming along.

Sales investment purchase of the day - the Acne Pistol Boot.

Along with the Ash Jalouse and the Isabel Marant Dicker, the Acne Pistol boot has also received iconic footwear status over the past year thanks to both celebrities and fashionista's such as Gwen Stefani and Keira Knightly who have rocked the ankle boot trend with style, and I didn't dream for one minute that you would find any of these brands with a reduction during sale time but how wrong could I be?

The Farfetch.com facebook feed alerted me to the fact that the Acne boots were indeed on sale on their website with a 30% reduction, OK so its not the 70% a lot of retailers are now offering on the remainder of their sale stock, but it certainly makes the boots much more purse friendly and if you are sales savvy enough to be shopping ahead for spring and summer, I love how these white textured boots will work for every season, not just winter.

Was £360 now £252. Buy here.

So if you are lucky enough to take a UK size 4 or a 7, I envy you as I sit wondering if an insole will make them work for my size 6 feet!

December on instagram.

December started with two new Christmas decorations and the purchase of an artificial tree which meant we were able to get into the spirit of the festive season far earlier than when we buy a real tree.  My first spring and summer look book arrived courtesy of Wallis and had me dreaming of sunshine, kaftans and sparkly flip flops.  I made a Curly Kale soup from my veg box contents so that my body took in some green veg goodness before the onslaught of my 2.55 birthday cake and the cutest Chanelesque cupcakes you ever did see.  Birthday bubbles and beautiful flowers helped to ease the pain of getting yet another year older.

Cocktails at the Corinthia London for my birthday lunch. Christmas lights in Regent Street and window shopping at Cartier.The following week saw me coughing and sneezing and a Vitamin C injection helped to stop the germs get much worse as the festive season was fast approaching.  I may have missed the smell of pine needles but lighting my White Company scented candle every night more than made up for it.  The Pugs dressed up on Christmas Eve whilst I made bread sauce and tried Disaronno with crushed ice and cranberry juice for the first time.  Our traditional 25th December breakfast always consists of Bucks Fizz and Bagels - yummy!

The excitement of opening presents with Courtenay and Claudia (looking rather serious wearing her JLS Christmas hat, New Topshop leather jacket and furry gilet over her pyjamas - what the heck? Chloe and her boyfriend look on as Charlie opens his biggest gift. Getting giggly at lunchtime over silly cracker jokes.  Whilst the Turkey cooked, I painted my nails with my new nail polish - a Christmas gift.  More bubbles to toast the day and as December 2012 came to end, my life got much more exciting as my Christmas Eve sales purchases began to arrive.

I hope you all had an amazing December and don't forget you can follow my instagram feed here.

*Apolgises if the layout of the paragraphs doesn't look right - it's a blogger thing, they look fine in my draft!

Top Ten Sales picks under £100 at Net-a-Porter.

With many readers saying they have held back from doing any sales shopping as yet, to save you from falling off your very own "Fiscal Cliff" it's time to check out what luxury online retailer Net A Porter has to offer for under £100.  From pared down daytime style to cocktail hour there is still plenty to choose from if you have been holding back from treating yourself to that extra special high end purchase.


Bloch Ballet Flats was £125 now £62.50. Victoria Beckham skinny jeans was £185 now £92.50. J. Crew Stripe Sweat top was £80 now £40. Mulberry oversized t-shirt was £130 now £65. Marc Jacobs shopper was £60 now £42. Lulu Frost Crystal Earrings was £110 now £55. Jonathan Saunders gauze scarf was £190 now £95. Carven Jersey Dress was £200 now £100.

Have you treated yourself to anything in the Net A Porter sale yet?

Christmas past and presents.

Didn't get too much for Christmas this year as I had asked mainly for money and you all know that most of that went in the Harrods sale, but I got some lovely things which were kept track of via my Amazon wish list.

Yes if you didn't know already, you can create a wish list on Amazon of anything you want from literally any website and you can share your list with family and friends when you have a birthday, or Christmas is fast approaching.  I also use mine to keep track of clothes and accessories I have my beady eye on, so it really comes in handy as once you have signed up you get a little "a" up in the right hand corner of your screen and you just click on it to add any item you wish.

 

A very thoughtful personalised Calender made up of photo's old and new, some of them really made me laugh, especially the one where I had literally just given birth to Courtenay 21 1/2 years ago on the living room floor (but we won't go into that). You can see a couple of oldies on the cover, the three girls when they were little and Charlie about 18 months old, head to toe in Burberry (if I was having a boy, he was gonna be the best dressed kid in town at any cost) and the Nigellisima cookbook - loved the series so was really pleased with this.  I couldn't stop looking at Nigella in this latest series with her skin like porcelain and constantly wondering to myself how a woman of 52 could remain completely wrinkle free when my face is beginning to resemble a map of spaghetti junction and she has a good few years on me yet!

   

Topshop jumper and M&S massage slippers. I don't really know what to say about these slippers other than, the idea is an inovative one, but they really hurt my feet! The insides are like a Tods shoe sole, full of bobbly bits (see pic) and they are not in the least bit comfy! I can think of better ways to get a foot massage!  

I've wanted the Eau de Hadrien scent by Annick Goutal like forever, but buying scent for myself always feels a little indulgent unless I'm in Duty Free, so I was over the moon to get this gift set especially as it contains two perfumes (one is a perfect purse spray) but as beautiful as it smells and for me this could easily become a summertime signature, it sadly doesn't last very long, so I'd be interested to know what you think if you have it or have tested it out on yourself at any time. If you want to read a review or see what elements make up this perfume you can do so here. Laura Mercier Creme Brulee signature candle - smells utterly divine, perfect to uplift your spirits whilst on a New Year downer but I warn you, if you are dieting and can't indulge in a Creme Brulee pudding, you might well end up eating this candle, if so please make sure you blow it out first and google the calorie content.

The obligatory Liz Earlie cleanse and polish - always a winner with me, although I have been using Dermalogica lately (that's another post to come). Ministry of Sound triple CD - all my favourite tunes and a Chanel nail polish in Dragon.  Lovely dark red but a complete nightmare to remove even with the use of base coat!  It was that bad I painted them with it all over again, well I did say it was a nice colour!

 

Mother In Law did good with her present for the house this year. Yes we got a coffee machine and a not so exciting Toilet brush which was no way on my Amazon list! What possessed her, I really don't know! 

Hope you got everything you wished for and more this Christmas!