Well, as you know from yesterday's post, I went to see my in-laws.
And that meant one especially wretched thing amongst many other potentially wretched things (which in the spirit of Christmas I will nobley choose not to name!):
I have to get out of my comfy clothes.
Sigh....
And I had to put on pants that required buttoning and zipping...
"It's too soon!" I cried aloud, as I stood in front of my closet and then looked down at my waistline. "I haven't started the celebrity-fast-detox-purge-binge-whatever that I should have started at midnight last night!!"
But alas, I had not managed to fit that in. And so, as I put on my two year old stretchy Cynthia Steffe jeggings/riding pants/pants-I-could-fit-into thingamajigs, I definitely needed a special top, something that would hang over my own hanging-over parts. And I recalled that in one of the bleary-eyed 30% early morning madnesses of two weeks ago I had ordered two of the chiffon blouses - one in the pewter leopard, the other in soft fuchsia. They fit perfectly and they were elegant and so I decided to keep them.
It is a lovely blouse, which seems to be sold out right now on the site, but which will likely pop back at any moment for even cheaper than what I paid. It is a soft silk with substance and even after me being scrunched up in the backseat for 2 hours each direction, did not wrinkle. A miracle!
No one but me dressed up at all for this event. But I felt good. And while I could feel all of my jiggly bits, I felt that I had camouflaged them quite nicely and frankly, we will deal with them on January 2nd.
Here I am, looking slightly stunned! I have paired them with my grey Tippi cardigan and when I arrived chez in-laws, I put on my purple tie ballet flats. No one noticed. I looked cute for a woman who feels like she has swallowed the whole turkey!
I thought you might also want to see the big surprise Mr. WMM provided me: garnet earrings and matching necklace.
While the coat was expected (I had chosen it after all) the jewellry was not. I was shocked to get two pieces of lovely jewellry, which is indicative of
a) how much of a haggler he has become since he purchased the diamond earrings and now feels quite emboldened to go into a jewellry shop and get a good deal; and
b) how down in the dumps I have been in the last few weeks, both following my dad's passing, the lead up to Christmas in the wake of that, and my decision that it may be time to consider what I want to do for the next 15 years of my life. I do not recommend such malaise as a way to get fine jewellry, but I am not complaining!
One of the earrings (the other was already on my ear!)
A very nice surprise indeed!
I hope your week is going well! We could not get tickets for Les Miserables last night and are hoping to hit there today! Stay safe out there!
On the 3rd Day of Christmas, WMM gave to me:
Two hummers feeding by her honeysuckle tree:
In the darkest days of winter, and on those days when our spirits are feeling dark indeed, it is comforting to remember that summer will come again and so will these beautiful creatures.
Thank you all so much for stopping by. You do not know this - but you are making me very brave indeed - more on that soon!
And that meant one especially wretched thing amongst many other potentially wretched things (which in the spirit of Christmas I will nobley choose not to name!):
I have to get out of my comfy clothes.
Sigh....
And I had to put on pants that required buttoning and zipping...
"It's too soon!" I cried aloud, as I stood in front of my closet and then looked down at my waistline. "I haven't started the celebrity-fast-detox-purge-binge-whatever that I should have started at midnight last night!!"
But alas, I had not managed to fit that in. And so, as I put on my two year old stretchy Cynthia Steffe jeggings/riding pants/pants-I-could-fit-into thingamajigs, I definitely needed a special top, something that would hang over my own hanging-over parts. And I recalled that in one of the bleary-eyed 30% early morning madnesses of two weeks ago I had ordered two of the chiffon blouses - one in the pewter leopard, the other in soft fuchsia. They fit perfectly and they were elegant and so I decided to keep them.
It is a lovely blouse, which seems to be sold out right now on the site, but which will likely pop back at any moment for even cheaper than what I paid. It is a soft silk with substance and even after me being scrunched up in the backseat for 2 hours each direction, did not wrinkle. A miracle!
No one but me dressed up at all for this event. But I felt good. And while I could feel all of my jiggly bits, I felt that I had camouflaged them quite nicely and frankly, we will deal with them on January 2nd.
Here I am, looking slightly stunned! I have paired them with my grey Tippi cardigan and when I arrived chez in-laws, I put on my purple tie ballet flats. No one noticed. I looked cute for a woman who feels like she has swallowed the whole turkey!
I thought you might also want to see the big surprise Mr. WMM provided me: garnet earrings and matching necklace.
While the coat was expected (I had chosen it after all) the jewellry was not. I was shocked to get two pieces of lovely jewellry, which is indicative of
a) how much of a haggler he has become since he purchased the diamond earrings and now feels quite emboldened to go into a jewellry shop and get a good deal; and
b) how down in the dumps I have been in the last few weeks, both following my dad's passing, the lead up to Christmas in the wake of that, and my decision that it may be time to consider what I want to do for the next 15 years of my life. I do not recommend such malaise as a way to get fine jewellry, but I am not complaining!
 |
| The necklace with a wee tiny diamond |
One of the earrings (the other was already on my ear!)
A very nice surprise indeed!
I hope your week is going well! We could not get tickets for Les Miserables last night and are hoping to hit there today! Stay safe out there!
On the 3rd Day of Christmas, WMM gave to me:
Two hummers feeding by her honeysuckle tree:
In the darkest days of winter, and on those days when our spirits are feeling dark indeed, it is comforting to remember that summer will come again and so will these beautiful creatures.
Thank you all so much for stopping by. You do not know this - but you are making me very brave indeed - more on that soon!
Garnets hold a special place in my heart and yours are lovely. Merry Christmas
ReplyDeleteThanks fmcgmcclic (I don't know what this name stands for, but I am pretty besotted woth it!) - you are very kind! First real garnet of my life! Are you a January baby, too? Or love a January baby?
DeleteRED LETTER DAYS WMM, I am wearing my Mum's garnet necklace again today. It goes with the cranberry/ red delicious Christmas pants etc. Will take a photo for you. I was in midst of job apps. and email answering yesterday afternoon so can hit the ground running back in real life next week. While I know change can be difficult (especially along with loss) think how wonderful you will feel and be when you persue your next dream in 2013...Tell that Barry he's "the bomb". And THANK YOU for the hummingbirds!
ReplyDeleteHA! I am really excited for you as well in 2013! Given my eternally glass half full personality, I need to have a direction to go towards that is positive, as opposed to leaving a negative. Make sense? Barry will love knowing he is the bomb! I must take a picture of him with his new JC tweed cap. He looks kind of like Nigel, which is high praise indeed!
Deleteoh, I sympathize... it took me the longest time to come to grips with being an orphan. Strange, too, because so much of children's literature is about the adventures of orphans, you'd think that as adults we'd feel prepared. On the other hand, call me a terrible person, but I don't miss my in-laws at all.
ReplyDeleteWFF - you are NOT a terrible person! Mu FIL is quite a lovely man! My MIL has said some very mean and vile things over the year. Having said that, she has taught me some valuable lessons - such as how to treat new people, how to treat my son's girlfriend, etc. My aunt once said that is it is the mother or mother-in-law that sets the tone and that she always knew if she wanted to keep her son close, she had to give her daughter-in-law a reason to come visit, as in lots of love and acceptance. You get what you sow I guess, don't you? SO if you are a bad person, me too!
DeleteWhat an absolutely beautiful surprise gift, WMM! I told you that he is a keeper for sure, and now 'the bomb', too!
ReplyDeleteYour outfit yesterday was definite Casual Chic and looked lovely on you, too. I'm glad to hear that you survived your MIL again. My FIL has passed away, but I still have a real character of a MIL to deal with, and that is no fun at all.
I hope that you are enjoying your vacation, and that you get your tickets today! :)
FFM! I am leaving in 10 minutes! I cannot wait and will report in!
DeleteI am starting to enjoy my vacation and that is cheering me up quite considerably!
Hope you are having a grand week! Our house is a terrible mess - I know what I am doing later this afternoon...
Look at your ballet dancer legs! I am still in elasticated waist trews, I'm too scared to weigh myself, hubs has put on 7lbs in a week!
ReplyDeleteYou and Dani have excellent husbands!
Hubs is heading off to see his family tonight. Cocktails for one.
Oh lucky you getting to stay home!! (did I say that out loud - yup - I did!)
DeleteI will join you later when I get home from Les Miserables!
oh and ps: good luck to the poor slob who has to lift this ballerina over his head!!
DeleteWMM - your hubby is a gem! I am very impressed that he chose the jewellery on his own. My husband gave me beautiful aquamarine earrings for Christmas, but he needed a bit of guidance! The aquamarine is the birthstone of my husband, both sons and my late dad, so quite special to me.
ReplyDeleteAnd I will definitely be keeping your aunt's advice in mind in the future, being the mother of two boys!
Hi Patricia!
DeleteI love aquamarine and I think it so nice to have the stones of other family members as well!
Yes - I think it is really important to be the perfect MIL!
I'm a January baby too - I love garnets. Very pretty set!
ReplyDeleteI can relate about in-laws, most of mine are ok and I see fairly often, but there are some that I can only handle in small doses (Christmas and Easter mainly). We hosted most everyone last night so that is done with! :)
Hi! Well good on you for doing the hosting - that is always a lot of work, isn't it? We only had to show up someplace!
DeleteWhen is your birthday?
Well now, you have put on a brave face for your husband and children for another year and you can be proud of yourself for staying above the fray. I'm interested to see how you are being brave, I'm sure it is something good.
ReplyDeleteHi xoxo,
Deletethanks muchly - and I even stayed above the fray without a cocktail! WHo knew I could be so restrained????
Ugh, pants that require buttoning and zipping, I feel this pain! That's a good outfit, though. I really like that top. And the jewels are really beautiful. I love the unexpected settings, so pretty!
ReplyDeleteHey Cate! I am with you on the pants! Today is day #1 of getting back into daily yoga! I have decided to take baby steps instead of ripping the bandage off all at once!
Delete