That Glow of Achievement

Those quiet moments before your guests arrive.

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Sipping on a well-earned glass of fizz.

Smiling smugly. 

And with time to reflect.

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For the food has been prepped and I’ve been scrubbed up - I love that glow of satisfaction and anticipation that is those few moments between hard graft and party. 

I hosted my family Christmas party yesterday.  I love the opportunities we have to get together as one big happy family.  Of course, I always make far too much food.  Do you over-cater too?

These photos may display a feeling of calm and serenity.
But my party prepping was not without an eleventh hour panic.

Firstly, let me tell you that my sausage roll making is one of my Christmas family party traditions. I love making them for my guys and gals.

And you can’t beat a homemade sausage roll eh?

So the day before the party found me lovingly creating several different types of rolls using a whole range of flavoured sausages and fresh herbs.  These were possibly going to be my best creations to date.  Yes, I was feeling smug.

My Corny Christmas Playlist belted out as I chopped and rolled, creating a magicly festivite mood.
I was feeling smug and very, very happy.

Towards the end of prepping my sausage rolls, (enough to feed the entire parish!), I discovered one of my nails was without its glittery gel nail covering. Horror!!!

 I had no idea if it had fallen into the sausage mix or had dislodged itself before I started food prep.  And of course I couldn’t take a gamble with my family’s well-being.  And yes, the air was blue with angry expletives.
I stepped away from the sausage rolls.
When the anger finally melted away with a trickle of mothers’ ruin, boy was I disheartened.

 So as soon as M&S opened next morning I was in there clearing their shelves of sausage rolls.  They were Oakham-good of course, but I’m sure mine would have oozed that little more flavor with the extras that come from baking for those you love - thought, variety of flavors ... and maybe a glittery gel nail thrown into the mix!

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Outfit deets:

Sparkly bead trim knitted dress, Monsoon, current - I did warn you you’d be seeing it a lot!

Black wedge heels, Clark’s, old

Do you savour that little window before your guests arrive?  

When you’re more than a little exhausted after dashing crazily around the house as you tick off the zillion To Do items on your party prep list?

Do you celebrate your achievements with a glass of fizz?

What has been your fave or go-to socializing outfit this Christmas?
And have you had a Christmas cooking disaster too?!!!

A la perchoine,

Mary x.

P. s.  I’m case you’re wondering what happened to my abandoned sausage rolls :
TP spooned out the sausage mix and froze it for forensic investigation at a later date; the broken and battered pastry was binned.

Sleeper Fashion - A Happy Ending

Hello my lovelies!  

Happy first Thursday in December.   The month is a time of celebration so why not celebrate a random day of the week eh?!  Have you kicked off December celebrating with a lunch or a party, or maybe mince pies with a friend?

But right now, grab yourself a mulled wine, snuggle under a fur throw and hear my Fairy Tale on Thursday ...  with a happy ending, of course.

I kicked off the week with a Christmas party.  My first.  Possibly my only.

I don't go to many now that I'm retired.  When I was working, the balls, dinners, cocktail parties and lunches started mid November and carried on through to sometime in January.  My wardrobe was well-prepared for these occasions and on reflection I don't remember struggling over what to wear. 

  

Now, with invites thin on the ground, I do struggle.  If I needed to put together a ball gown or cocktail party look today, I'd still have no problem as I have thrown none of that previous-life stuff away and my Posh Wardrobe remains intact.  Too good to divest myself of, too pretty, too expensive ...

Lower key dos present a challenge though.  So what to wear for my party?  The younger me would have rushed out and panic-bought something new.  But not today's Pout, thankfully.  Instead I had a good old Girls' World wardrobe try on session ahead of the party.

And I was pleasantly pleased with what I managed to find in the Posh Wardrobe on Monday.

After much trying on (yes and phototaking, Susan H of Over50under20 !!) I chose this little combo.

Loose brown velvet trousers from a set from East (shown HERE in judi-in-disguise-with-glasses).

 Worn with a brown ruffle jumper with glittery gold edging.  A little brown and gold nugget.  And here's the shocker ... I've had this jumper since about 2003-2004 - and I have never.before.worn.it.OUT!!!

It's from Kaliko and I don't know if they're still making clothes after all these years.  Are they?

I'd bought the jumper to go with a long brown velvet evening skirt bought in the Kaliko sale, but that never got off the ground. Then my formal party wear days ran out and I occasionally tried it with other things and thought "naaaah!".  It seemed a bit frumpy, fuddyduddyfiddly with all the gold and ruffles going on.

But on Monday the stars aligned - it was hanging in the same suit bag as the velvet set and I thought (radically for me!) "Let's just give them a go together"

And I thought "bingo!!" (and so did The Photographer With Fashion Views, phew!). 

Suddenly my old fuddyduddyfiddly frilly jumper looked sorta "now".  

Yes, in 2018, ruffle jumper, brown, velvet, loose trouser line ... well they all started to make sense ... after 15 years.

To say I was a happy brown bunny would be the mother of all understatements.  The outfit felt comfortable.  It felt partyish, but not too much so.  And I was wearing it for the first time!

The outfit suited the Christmassy setting.

And rather than tottering around in ridiculously high stilettos, I was able to sneak a chunkier heel under the loose trousers so I could easily manage this spiral staircase to take an artsy Christmas shot for you, without mishap!

So my message here is hopefully clear.  

Open your eyes to things you've kept, which don't perhaps fit the life you have now but which are pretty, too well made or maybe were just too darned expensive to chuck out!

This is so much more than slow fashion.  This is Sleeper Fashion, for I call this jumper a wardrobe sleeper.

On Monday its handsome prince (aka the brown velvet trousers) kissed it gently and awoke it from its slumbers.  

Aaahhhh, don't you just love a happy ending?!

And I tell myself that in some microscopic and superficial way, my sleeper fashion must surely be helping to produce a slightly happier ending to our wondrous planet's tale of woe.  For instead of rushing out to panic-buy myself some fast fashion, I instead shopped my wardrobe.  The posh one.

Do you have any sleepers in your wardrobe?

Have a play around, try them with things you haven't tried before.  

Take photos.  Think radical.   

Maybe you'll find a prince to awaken your sleeper from its slumbers too ... and give it a happy ending!

A la perchoine,

Mary.

What To Wear For A Children's Party/The Cardimance Continues

 I was recently thrilled to be invited to a birthday disco party.

35 children running around and dancing.  Birthday Tea.

Pretty lively stuff! Oh, what to wear?

Peacocks jeans, Woolovers grey cashmere merino cardi, Clarks dependable bendables.  Grey, grey, grey.  That's what I wore.

And a short-sleeved jersey leoprint top from M&S.  I was so thankful I wore that short sleeved top.  The cardi got ripped off within 5 minutes - discos are hot!

And to finish off my greyness, the Zara leoprint came too!

Now, here's the thing.  I wear grey, a lot, jeans and cardi mostly. 

My blogger friend Anna from muttonyearsstyleandi  has had a bit of a cardimance going on with a grey cardi these past few months and so have I.  It's OK, don't fret dear readers, we're not romancing the same cardi.  Yes, ours are both edge to edge cardis, both grey, but to prove that we are not in love with the same cardi, hers has pockets and mine doesn't.  Subtle but convincing evidence that we are not in one of those difficult knitwear menage a trois thingeys.

Anna is sensitive to the needs of hers, doing things like sending her grey cardi on a spa week.  Mine has had no such pampering, no let-up, it's pretty much been on my back several days a week, every week.  It's on the line as I type, but it'll probably be draping me again tomorrow.  I've been insensitive to its need to have a few weeks estrangement, though I'm starting to come round to  maybe giving it a winter break in the darkness of my wardrobe, just hangin', chillin'.

So I ask you, my dears, are you experiencing a cardimance?  And is it grey? 

A la perchoine.

Party Tips

Before I ramble, I'd like to thank you, dear readers, for popping today and during the 11 months I've been Pouting.  

I appreciate the time you spare to visit and the absolute pleasure you give me when you've popped in, and when you follow me or leave a comment - it warms my heart and spurs me on as a blog can be a lonely place :-(.   

The friendships made have been a surprise bonus.  

I am humbled by your support. 

I wish you all a wonderful night tonight, wherever you are and whatever you're doing, and I wish you and yours a happy and healthy year ahead. 

Our recent Christmas Gathering of The Clan was held at Chez Pout.
I'd like to share my preps for the party with you, dear reader.
But before that, let's get the outfit out the way.

I went for total comfort.  A black jersey Rohan maxi vest dress.  Oh how I have worn this dress over the years.  It can go just about anywhere, dressed up, down ... or even sideways!

As it was a fun day, I accessorised with fun necklace and bracelet.  Both made of wood.  Both painted in multi-colours.  Both given to me as souvenirs from exotic places. 

I wear these pieces soooo much, like when we first met here!

But the party was pre-antibiotics, so I covered my neck snuggly with my dependable Zara leoprint scarf.  I think I've made up the word leoprint, BTW.  I hope so.  I think I can safely add that to my "jacardi" in the Pout Dictionary of Words That Should Exist.  But Don't.

Finally, keeping it real and yet in perfect context with the outfit, just a sneak of leoprint pompomed slippers below hemline :-).

And thus, our Pout is ready to party.

Fire lit and coloured lights a-flashing. Front lounge is ready to party.  Hyggeligt, ikke?

Kitchen ready for baking action.

Lemons ready to slide into G&Ts.

Hot drinks area ready for guests to help themselves, as and when

Chairs in place for ladies to place their handbags, a la towels on a poolside sun bed.  Really.  This actually happened.  I wish I'd taken a shot of all the bags positioned on the chairs, "claiming" their spots!

Crisps and nuts dotted around the mingling areas.

Candles lit.

Pout decorated with tinsel by granddaughter, done.

Photographer, as above, done.

Christmas light in its new home :-).

Photographer working on his crossword until the very second the first guests arrived!

Yes, Chez Pout is ready to party!

We had an absolutely wonderful time.  The children had a whale of a time!

It's so nice to see the generations together.  I'm now the eldest.  Ugh!  But it's better than the alternative, eh?

The party was a drinks and nibbles party.  And from it I have three top tips that I would like to share.  They are serious tips.  Don't expect anything witty.  They are sensible tips which may help you when hosting something similar.  Or you may already do these things and I am just incredibly slow to twig!

1.  When serving bought-in frozen party nibbles, take them out of the freezer, cook and serve in batches of one or two differents sorts at a time.  This means that you can gauge what's being eaten and you can stop when it looks like your guests are sated.  Thus, no waste.

2. Use paper plates and cups.  I usually shun them but I tried it this year and used "real" stuff just for serving dishes and wine.  This so worked.

3.  Make your own sausage rolls, with lots of added tastiness.  You get lots of compliments, they all get eaten up = empty plates!

Following those three basic steps, clearing up after everyone left was a doddle.  Just the glasses to wash up (the next day), the serving dishes bunged in the dishwasher and no food to pack up and struggle to find a place for in the fridge.  Simples or what?!

Sis offered to help clear up - I thanked her but told her we'd sort if out.  I am so relieved that I did.  Because having followed steps 1-3, clearing up was but a few moments' work.  It would have been embarrassing having got Sis to help out with such a quick task!

So what about you?  Have you been hosting any parties?  Do you have any time-saving tips to share?

And with this little offering, I thank you for popping in today and bid you

A la perchoine, in 2017!

Knus.

A Slinky 70s Vibe - Revisited

Hi peeps, thanks for popping in.

My Son is in the middle of 40th birthday celebrations.  The big event was a 70s party on Saturday night. 

Hmmnn, 70s theme - what to wear?  Well, this dress here obviously - if wearing the dress back then gave me a 70s vibe, I'm good to go!

I decided that I would dress as I did, back in the day.

A bit of 70s scarfage around head and shoulders.  Some dangly earrings, Peacocks.  All model's own.  A wardrobe raid.

Now, I am aware from that last sentence that my wardrobe is maybe stuck in a time warp.
But hey ho, it was a good decade.

I topped it off with my H&M denim shirt.  

Dressing as I would, back in the day.

Now, I have grown to love this Primark dress.  It's been a go-to this year.  But the only downside to this dress is dancing in it.  Apparently.  Dancing to super cool 70s music.  Sis and I were hardly ever off the dance floor.  And therein lies the downside. 

With Sis, BIL, Son.

A few hours of dancing left my hair in a clingy mess.

And my dress too.  Apparently. 

Around the tum - just the place I would not wish clingage to occur.

The Photographer noted the downside on the night.

Being the caring and sensitive bloke that he is, he felt it best to keep schtum so as not to spoil my fun.  

He told me about it the next morning.

With DIL.

So peeps, if you carry a bit of weight around the tummy area and if you are planning some energetic bopping, here's the lesson learned - best to avoid clingy fabric like slinky jersey.

Or let your caring hubby know that there are times when receiving a heads up of clingage overrides the need for sensitivity.  And so endeth today's parable.

The Photographer, being Hutch (as in Starksky and ...). 

Leather jacket, Pout's - maybe Anne Harvey ca 2000 - I can't be hot on detail every time!

Silk scarf, Pout's, Magasin, ca 1979, so a genuine 70s touch.

Jeans, purple t-shirt and bright white trainers, model's own.

The tummy-clinging experience was enjoyed at

 Vistas-Beach-Cafe, Vazon Bay

I hope you've enjoyed today's parable.
A la perchoine.





Partying With The Rellies

I love a party! 

And I have something to celebrate for yesterday, my lovely Bro and Sis (The Sibs) and their spouses joined us for what we call a Bonding Holiday.  We feel that we should still get to play together, even at our age!  We meet up regularly back home, for coffee, for meals, for quizzes and occasionally we manage to squeeze in a holiday too. 

So, Bonding Holiday, here we come!

They hit the ground running, firstly visiting our aunties (ages 81 and 96!).  Then we got ready for a big family get-together with four cousins and spouses.  I love prepping for parties, I feel alive, enjoying the anticipation building up as I sort out food, drinks and the house.

As it was the start of Easter Weekend, sweet decorated eggs adorned the light-fittings.

Aren't they cute?!

Then on to the food.  Lots of seafood, cheese and veggie things.  Washed down with wine, long fruity cocktails and beer.  Pretty nice indeed!

l

The buffet table's ready.  Now it's time to party.

Wearing new (yes, new!) Next slim jeans, old Primark black tunic and black Clarks heels.

Food and hanging eggs from Lidl!  

What a great shop - wish we had one of those on the island.

We had a fantastic time, catching up with all the rellies. 

And there's more catching up to do tonight. 

After a day on sightseeing today with The Sibs in glorious sunny spring weather, we will shortly be whisked off to Hastings Old Town for a fabby meal with yet another cousin.

It's great to keep in touch with one another. 

Thank you, parents, for giving me wonderful Sibs and rellies!!

A la perchoine.



A Spring in my Step

A sign of Spring

Daffodils budding along the side of the lane. 

But the temperature seems to be going in the other direction, it's dropped to around 5-6c, considerably down from the 11-12c we were enjoying just a week or so ago. 

Not complaining of course as we get off lightly, living on an island.

I've been a bit lax in outfit postings of late,  Knowing I will have photos taken is a key driver in getting me to smarten up my act, which is the raison d'etre of this little blog. 

I may have a long way to go before I put the pout back in this pensioner, but let's keep the momentum going with a few outfit piccies. 

Yesterday, day-time.

Next sculpt jeans, Clarks heeled boots (so springy to walk in) similar here,  Woolovers navy long-line jumper, East paisley and beaded, scarf, and a little string of pearls underneath there somewhere.

Then it was party time! 

We were invited to celebrate the birthday of the fiancé of a friend.  They are both super-special people and as well as celebrating his birthday with a fab meal and lots of dancing we discovered that we were also celebrating ... their recent wedding! 

It was a truly wonderful evening.

Ok, I'm going mostly vintage on you again.  The Peacock fake-leather waterfall jacket is getting another airing, this time with an M&S black lace-necked top, H&M black/red/taupe paisley skirt (both ca. 2004), and Clarks snakeskin nubuck heels, AW15, similar here.

Now, I love these Clarks shoes, they are proving to be truly comfortable but they hadn't yet been put to the ultimate test yet, dancing.  To give you an idea of how comfy these heels really are, get this: I had to be dragged, yes literally dragged off the dancefloor when the taxi arrived because I think I could possibly have danced the night away in these babies, totally pain-free. Amazing shoes. 

Thank you, Clarks, for putting

A Spring in my Step.