It occurred to me the other day that there was no reason not to have a Christmas party just because I don’t have a job…and therefore no ‘works do’ to attend.
So me and Kim decided to have a combined ‘unemployed housewife Christmas party!’
Nothing raucous ~ no photocopying our bums or hitting on the boss, just a Christmas lunch out for two.
And very nice it was too. The dress code was casual, because we decided it would be. But who knows, next year we might make it formal wear. That’s the handy thing of being the boss of F all, you get to decide everything. :)
I wish all the employed a very happy Christmas party season. :)
Top from Zara, Jeans from Tesco, Boots from Jimmy Choo.
I wore jeans as you can see…jeans…to eat out in? Well that’s the weird thing about me. sometimes I do break my own rules.
Generally I prefer to eat out in dresses or loose fitting clothing. But if I’m truly comfortable in your presence I will wear fitted clothes for meals out.
(Also it helped that the restaurant in this case was a six minute walk from my house).
I think it’s a clear indication that I love you, and trust you. Because if the worst was to happen, whilst wearing a perilous choice of clothing, and my bag leaked, I know you’d have my back and protect my feelings.
I don’t need any help sorting myself out, don’t panic. if I arrive in jeans to lunch, there is no expectation on you to change my bag with me.
I feel very comfortable with all my close friends. I think I’m very lucky to have some incredible people in my life.
I have no idea how it happened. I only had one bestie as a child, and he’s still my best friend now, but l wasn’t a confident or comfortable in the world child or teenager.
I had friendships of course, but I was never an alpha type gal, I was more of a bit part character.
So it’s always a delight and surprise that I have so many amazing friends now, as an adult.
I am grateful for them everyday, but Christmas time always brings it into sharp focus.
I am lucky for so many reasons, and I am so grateful for this life. 🫶🏼
*****
I bought Chris a full tracksuit for his birthday last week. I didn’t know what to get him, I mean what can you get a man that has me already? Hahahah
He hasn’t had a full tracksuit since his white Sergio Tacchini one when he was about 14.
He has jogging bottoms and hoodies of course, but no matching set.
I clearly made the right decision, because he bloody loved it,
I may have opened a can of worms here, because I’ve rarely seen him out of it since I gave it to him.
He dressed in it on Saturday, and I thought well if you can’t beat them, join them! :)
It did amuse me that we felt so cosy in them, but they will never ever see a running track, these clothes will literally never fulfil their destiny.
We looked adorable together I must admit. I especially enjoyed it when we headed to Nandos for lunch, where I noticed, without fail, everyone was dressed in full tracksuits. Everyone. Young, old and every age in between. :)
We have finally found our people. :)
Tracksuit from Ralph Lauren, shoes from Gucci
In my natural habitat…
We did look super cute. Just to clarify, our tracksuits didn’t match each other, we haven’t gone that far…yet. ;)
Loose fitting clothes are a joy aren’t they. I don’t want to wear casual all the time, but sometimes only a loose fit will do.
I imagine this is the same for the bagged and unbagged alike.
I’ve been wearing a lot of jumper dresses of late. The weather is rotten ~ cold and wet, the worst combination there is in my opinion.
Cold and snowy - yes!
Cold and rainy - no!
Dress from Matalan, tights from Heist, Shoes from Ralph Lauren.
I want comfort and style, preferably both at the same time. ;)
Dress from Tesco, Gilet from Max Mara, Boots from Jimmy Choo.
This outfit is giving Plymouth Brethren vibes for some reason.
Sunday was really lovely. Ben had arranged a meal out for Chris for his birthday.
It was at a restaurant I’d never in a million years choose, because it doesn’t cater for the fussiest of eaters.
But it was definitely right up Chris’s street.
I believe it’s classed as American BBQ food, which is a carnivore’s dream.
I’m more of an occasional chicken, turkey and fish person, but mostly veggie.
I chose to wear jeans, again, for eating in. It’s always going to be a risk, but I felt that as we were going together, it was a case of safety in numbers.
If my bag did happen to leak, no one would really know which one of us it was, not really. I wish I could be this confident by myself, but I’m not.
In a group setting however, if I’m going down I’m taking everybody with me! Hahahsh
Jumper from Holland Cooper, Jeans from Tesco, Boots from Ralph Lauren, Bag from Goyard.
It wasn’t my birthday, so I wasn’t particularly bothered about the food, as long as Chris had a nice time. I’ll pretty much always manage to find something.
We had a lovely time shopping beforehand. I am now fully sorted for Christmas.
Then it was off to the restaurant…in Shoreditch. There are a lot of things that don’t suit me, BBQ restaurants and Shoreditch are fairly close to the top though.
I appreciate I’m in the minority on both counts.
Smoke Shak gang.
I don’t know why, but I assumed the menu would be quite broad, but the only chicken they had was wings. I don’t like the fiddly bones, so I never eat them. And there was no prawns or fish.
It’s more of a smoker restaurant, than BBQ I think.
So I decided on the goats cheese and beetroot salad to start.
I asked what meat came on the souvlaki, which as it turned was pulled pork.
So I was struggling to find anything more to eat.
The waiter came back to the table while I was semi panicking, and struggling to find something for main course, to say that the chef said he’d run out of the pork, so he’d do me a chicken souvlaki.
How amazing and accommodating was that!?
I thought it was such a nice thing to offer to do, after all it’s not their problem that I’m fussy.
He must have used the meat from the chicken wings for it, which he’d deboned.
So a meal that I thought I’d not eat anything of, turned out to be a bloody lovely dinner.
Then we ordered the sticky toffee pudding (a personal favourite) and it was one of the best I’ve ever had! Possibly the best!
It would be worth going back there just for that alone!
We had a great time, the others were stuffed full of beef in various ways. Everyone’s a winner. :)
*****
We have finally finished our Christmas garden decor;
I grew this Christmas tree, it was 2 foot when I planted it a long time ago, with the intention of using it in the house, but unfortunately the timings didn’t work out, we missed our opportunity, and she grew far too big for indoors.
So Chris very kindly chopped her down for outside this year.
Which, along with my idea for the rest of the scene, it looks amazing!
I had the idea to create a little living room on the front porch. I found a fire place on Facebook marketplace back in June. And the rest came to me over the year.
*The man I bought the fireplace from did seem a bit confused, he asked me if I wanted to look at it before I paid him, I said no need, it’s only for the garden. Hahaha
Classic, classy…
My design ideas are very elegant (even if I do say so myself).
…Chris’s contribution…
An inflatable Santa and a 5’ illuminated Angel
I take the piss out of them, but actually I love them, and I love it when he joins in my madcap ideas. :)
********
We’re in the season of overdoing it a bit, so I decided to find some lower calorie meal ideas.
I wanted to make tacos, but felt that it’s not very healthy, especially if I bought the sachet of taco seasoning mix.
So I googled how to make my own taco powder.
…And it was a triumph. I used turkey mince, I swapped the corn shells for crispy lettuce leaf, added in loads of fresh, finely chopped salad to top it with, plus my home made seasoning.
Chris said they were the best flavour tacos he’s ever had, and because it was all so fresh and delicious he didn’t miss the corn shells.
I’d definitely recommend giving them a go if you are fed up with the overindulgence of Christmas.
Have a fabulous weekend. Keep well. Xx