I think for it to be blackmail, it would have to be a formal letter.

Dressember Days 27 and 28: Stormy weather
Apparently the Met Office have an amber weather warning out for gales in Northern Ireland. I can believe it - I lay awake for most of last night listening to the rain driving against the window. It's a nice cosy sound when you're buried under blankets, but I did worry a wee bit that Nic's flight tomorrow might be affected. I don't think it will, though - hopefully the wind will have blown itself out by then.

Anyway - apart from a quick trip to Sainsbury's with my mum last night I didn't really venture out of doors yesterday and passed an enjoyable day reading and watching TV and playing with the dog. My holiday posts can't be very interesting because when I'm at home this is all I really want to be doing. I tested out one of my sale dresses yesterday - an orange floral Oasis number:

Orange floral dress from Oasis and Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Ultragirl shoes

Not too much of a tale with this one - except this is one I have waited out. I liked it at full price but it was too dear, when it was reduced to £45 in the summer sale it was still too much - but for £10 I wasn't going to turn my nose up at it. The only criticism I have is that it has those hanger ribbons and on a dress with a side zip, they tend to get stuck in the zip - and this one did, or rather in the hook and eye above the zip, which is really annoying. I got the scissors to them, anyway. The fabric is really gorgeous - a deep orange with a lovely floral print:

Today was a wee bit more active. Over breakfast I indulged in a big mug of coffee and my latest addiction - Made in Chelsea - before getting dressed and going to Cookstown with my parents. I got another frankly terrible photo before going:

Louche Dale dress and Irregular Choice Flick Flack shoes

My adorable Louche dress, which was a present from Nic. They had a few in the Aspire sale, there, but I think they got snapped up pretty quickly. I love, love, LOVE this dress. Of course, it was covered up by my coat when we were in Cookstown because the wind and rain were so bloody extreme, but still. I added to my shoe total after cracking in the sale in McConnell's. I don't normally go in for boots as I find it difficult to get them to fit my birdy calves so when these did, I hopped. My mum agreed that I should get them but told me most sternly that this should be it shoe-wise for a while. She's not wrong - for in addition to the Irregular Choice pair I bought last week, and the shoes my parents gave me for Christmas my sister gave me a pair and I recovered a pair from here as well. The shoe challenge has just got that wee bit harder. First world problems!

That said, I don't regret buying these - they're a light tan colour so will wear well into the Spring, and I really like the brogue detailing at the front and the unusual wooden heel.

Not much planned for this evening, now - perhaps more shouting at the soaps. I had the dubious pleasure of watching the Eastenders Christmas episode twice. It really feels like the BBC were pulling out all the stops to totally bum everyone out over Christmas because that shit was BLEAK. Even the dog objected - she stood up and howled for a full five minutes during the episode. Apparently this is something that she only does when Eastenders is on! As I mentioned before, not having a TV makes me overdose a little on rubbish TV when I'm at my parents' house and the same goes for the soaps. Although, for real, how is anyone meant to believe that Steve McDonald (and, indeed, the rest of the people of Weatherfield) could be stupid enough to believe anything Tracy Barlow says? His acting is so, so, so bad as well. Also, how does Peter Barlow keep getting women to sleep with him when he is such a loser? Such are the mysteries of soapland.

Perhaps I'll be back tomorrow - Nic arrives in Northern Ireland for a week of fun before real life starts again. I can't wait!

Happy Christmas, everybody!

Dressember Days 24, 25, 26: Happy Christmas, everybody!
I'll get it out there now - I don't have a picture from Christmas Eve. It was too busy! You know how these things go - there was lots of running around, seeing family, bickering. Also, I spent a pleasant few hours in the early afternoon watching DVDs in bed. So that was good. As it goes, it was a wet and windy day and my sister and I got rained on, and I had a headache - I didn't feel particularly festive.

But Christmas day itself was just lovely. It really was. We exchanged our gifts and messed around and it was great. My siblings and I do secret Santa, and my brother and I got each other, and his gift to me was some beautiful Bare Minerals eyeshadows and a hat. My parents gave me perfume (not a celebrity perfume this time!) and a beautiful pair of shoes and some pyjamas. Some photos from the day:



These ones are of the dog, after she stole my chair on Christmas eve

Hipster Baby Sister

Christmas shoes!

The siblings and me just before lunch

I know. So many pictures of the dog!

Ready for Christmas lunch

My Christmas day was much like most people's - I had lunch, went to sleep, watched TV and hung out with my family, and in the evening went to visit my darling Emma to drink champagne and gossip and cackle. It was wonderful. I wore the dress Nic gave me for Christmas with my new shoes:

Emily & Fin Lucy dress and peep toe shoes from Barratts

Aww, isn't this dress lovely? Nic did well, and so did my parents with the shoes. They're not shoes I would have picked out for myself, but they're just beautiful. I was so spoiled!

Today we decided to get out of the house, and my parents and I headed down to Belfast to have a look in the sales. Baby Sister is moving into her new house later this week and my parents were in search of a set of saucepans as a housewarming gift. I was just out for a dander around. I wore another Emily & Fin dress - 2011 has been a year of Emily & Fin dresses for me!

Emily & Fin Lucy dress, pink tights from Pretty Polly and Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Lady Dragon shoes

Just because - a picture of me with my Daddy

It was actually pretty pleasant in Belfast - it seemed even more so after hearing the news. My parents found what they were looking for, I found a few pretty frocks, and we just had a good time dandering around. The main thing is that it was really, really good to spend time with my parents. I know it makes me sound very soppy, but I'm lucky to be so close to my family and spending time with them makes me happier than anything. We stopped for coffee and a scone in Clements and chatted and messed around, it was a lot of fun. This is what I love the most about the holidays.

A bit of a dodgy photo of Belfast from the top of Castle Court

I'm knackered now, though! Maybe it's just being on holiday, but I could quite happily sleep for an hour at any point during the day. So, I'm looking forward to getting to bed tonight. Hairdresser Sister is off out and I was invited, but I was just too sleepy. She looked absolutely gorgeous, though - so she kindly let me take her photo:

Hairdresser Sister and The Chef - don't they look smart! I'm going to have to get one of those dresses for myself, I think.

Right. I know this isn't exactly scintillating but I am so sleepy! I'll be better craic tomorrow, I'm sure. I hope so, anyway. Did you all have lovely Christmases, darlings? I hope Santa was good to you all!

People assume I'm great at golf, but like everybody I hated golf lessons when I was a kid so, I used to just hang out with the sailing club instead. Got my knot on.

Dressember Day 23
I'm a bit later this evening, because the internet briefly stopped working at my parents' house, and it took nearly an hour on the phone to their crappy provider to get it sorted. Sigh. Anyway, obviously Daddy did get it sorted and now I'm free to mess about on the internet - well, as long as I can get the big dog down from the sofa long enough to do anything. He looks like the hound of the Baskervilles but he's as soft as anything and very affectionate and excitable. Dog ownership doesn't appeal to me at this stage in my life, but my parents' dogs are darlings and it's all part of the fun of being at home.

Today is Baby Sister's birthday and we had a few things to do. In the morning I went grocery shopping with my mum and it wasn't totally horrendous. It was grand, in fact. Of course I was dying to get wearing my new shoes even though they don't really go with any of the frocks I have home with me. I did, and I have to report that the old biddies of Dungannon (and later, Portadown and Tandragee) were most complimentary about them, stopping me to comment on them! My mum was most bemused.

Fever Cezanne lace dress and Irregular Choice Flick Flack shoes , with Birthday Girl Baby Sister

My handsome brother took my photos for me today - thank you Dangs!

Not much story attached to this dress, except to say that the flash makes it seem much shinier than it actually is. I tried this dress on when it was first in store but wasn't pushed on it, but it's because it sizes up really big and my usual size was massive on me. One day when I was having a stressful day I popped into the shop at lunchtime and there it was, on sale, but only in a smaller size, which fit me much better. Mind you - and not that all of my dress memories are boke related - but when I wear this dress I think about the day I bought it and how I was so ill that I boked on the train on the way home. Miserable, but a gorgeous dress. And while it doesn't really go with these shoes, nothing actually will - which means everything will. At least, that's what Roisin logic dictates.

After the grocery shopping, Baby Sister and I headed to Portadown for lunch and a last bit of Christmas shopping and then on to The Bridal Court in Tandragee for a bridesmaid dress fitting. I can't show you my dress because the wedding isn't for a while, and the one I tried on isn't in the right colour anyway, but it was gorgeous and we had such a nice time. After a quick stop into the Linen Green in Moygashel it was on home for birthday cake and coffee. Tomorrow we'll be doing a bit of running around and visiting, and I'm looking forward to it so much - I love Christmas eve with my folks.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve, all!

Fact. Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

Dressember Day 22
I've been having another lovely lazy day today. Hurrah for the holidays! I slept in this morning - but really I overslept a bit, as I've been fuzzy-headed all the rest of the day. After a quick breakfast I got dressed and headed out with Daddy, who had some errands to run up in Ballygawley and Fintona. Before we went he kindly took a photo of my outfit:

Emily & Fin Anya dress, pink tights from Pretty Polly and Firetrap Desire shoes

I love this dress so much, and I don't think it ever photographs as well as it looks. I bought it in a shop in Dungannon last Christmas when I was shopping with Hairdresser Sister and it was in the sale, and the sales lady picked it out to match these exact tights. I wore it to work a few weeks ago and MH called me Captain Cavewoman because of the animal print at the top, but otherwise I don't think it has that vibe. It was my first Emily & Fin dress, and as it turns out, the first of many!

The spin out to rural Tyrone with Daddy was really nice. The weather is grey and damp, but the countryside is so beautiful and it's always good to spin about in the car and chat. On the way home we stopped at Suitor Gallery in Ballygawley for a wee look in the shop and a coffee in the shop. I bought Baby Sister a lovely polka dot cake stand as a housewarming gift, and Daddy treated me to coffee and a mince pie scone:

The coffee was too sweet but the scone was amazing. When I got home, Baby Sister and I headed into town for a wander and a bit of Christmas shopping. I got a wee bit more Christmas shopping and she and I both bought a pair of shoes. I don't have a picture of hers, but they're understated and elegant. Mine, not so much...

Baby Sister

Gaudy as hell, aren't they?! But I love them. My mum was less impressed, but as I was modelling them for her with pink tights I don't think she got their full effect. She did say I was not to wear them to Emma's wedding, but that's fair enough! I know these shoes would get side-eye from a Vegas Drag Queen, but I love them. Good old Solo Dungannon, it often has a shoe bargain for me. I wish I had more room in my luggage...

Now, this evening is going to be a quieter affair. I'm looking forward to more trashy TV and some quality time spent with my book club book:

I might hate this. I think there's a good chance I will. But it is undemanding and therefore perfect for the holiday. Adieu, my dears. Until tomorrow!

It doesn't matter what day it is, Father. There is always time for a nice cup of tea!

Dressember Day 21

Afternoon, everyone! In true holiday style, I've been having a lazy day of it and am seriously contemplating going for an afternoon nap in a little while. This is how to live, I tell you.

As I say, I've not exactly had a taxing day so far. I stayed up reasonably late last night watching silly TV programmes (CSI Miami: pure hilarity. Imagine: non-stop cutaways to Alan Yentob nodding and crying) and I had a nice lie-in this morning. After breakfast my lovely younger sister cut my hair for me. She used to be a hairdresser and is wonderfully obliging when it comes to cutting my hair for me. This is a good thing because it was desperately in need of a cut, and I hate going to the salon. I think she did a lovely job, and there was no messing about.

Thanks, hairdresser sister!

My plans for the day don't run to much more than drinking coffee, reading, playing with the dog and hanging out with my mum and sister. Maybe I'll have a rummage through the sale rail at my local branch of Tesco. I love the holidays, I really enjoy not having anywhere to be. Of course, I'm keeping up with Dressember. The theme today is to wear a wedding dress (errr, NO) or something otherwise inappropriate. Well, some people might argue that wearing a dress to lounge around in is possibly inappropriate, but I don't really hold with clothing rules.

River Island Paris print dress, pin dot tights from Boots and Irregular Choice Flick Flack shoes. The photo was taken by my sister, thank you darling!

The story with this dress is it was the last one of those River Island dresses, and I knew I'd love it. I was outbid on a few on ebay (they went higher than my el cheapo philosophy would allow) but finally someone listed it with a crappy photo and I was the only bidder. I adore the print, which is the Eiffel Tower so OMGSOFRAAANCH:

Blogger Cliche Alert!

My Dorothy Perkins polka dot tights bit the dust yesterday so I replaced them with these pin dot tights from Boots. It's a bit much with the polka dots on the shoes but whatever:

And that's really all my craic for today. Now, it might be time for that afternoon nap....

I'm in love with the illusion, so saw me in half, I'm in love with the trick so pull another rabbit out of your hat.

Dressember Day 19

A slight break in posting there, folks. Sorry about that! It's been a busy few days. Yesterday was my last day at work for the holidays and I was flat out getting everything finished before I went. And I did! It was a quiet day in the office, and productive and a fitting end to a hectic year, I think. I had chores to do and errands to run, and I'd made plans to hang out with Char that evening. It was pleasantly productive, and nicely finished off by watching University Challenge in bed with a hot water bottle and a mug of lemon and ginger tea. Rock and roll, eh? I did wear a dress, and I did get a picture of it, though. My colleague Leanne kindly stepped in and took another photo of me in our picturesque secure room:

Fever Maui Atlantis dress, green H&M cardigans, Pamela Mann tights and Charnos tights and Bertie Sardinia shoes

This isn't a great photo of what is a very pretty dress, but I was at work and reaching that point of pre-holiday exhaustion, what can I say? I will get a better photo of this in future, I promise. I bought this dress on ebay - it was one of those ones that got away, and after being outbid on one in the summer (oh hai Denise!) I was pleased that no-one wanted to buy a summer dress in the depths of December. It's a halterneck dress and I altered it to give it straps, and don't let my shiny face and slightly manic expression deceive you, it's very nice to wear. I gave my green tights a road test underneath some black tights and I like it, but I think the overall effect is a bit more Grotbags than I was going for. Oh well, live and learn!

No dress photo for today as I have been travelling, but I am wearing a dress! As I type this I'm sitting in the living room of my parents' house after a very pleasant journey home. My flight was easy, no snow or adverse weather to worry about, and when I landed in Belfast City airport I was greeted by this beautiful sight:

A Tayto vending machine - happy day!

My parents collected me from the airport and we pottered around a bit in Belfast before coming home. I've just been relaxing and hanging out with the family ever since and it's lovely. I have a sore throat (I always get a sore throat on the plane) and I'm tired but it's all good. I only had a small amount of space in my bag though, so I'm not going to be able to continue with my different dress every day thing. I will still be doing Dressember, and hopefully will be able to draft my sisters or my parents in for photo duty!

Right, I'm off now for a cup of tea and to cuddle some family members. Until tomorrow, dear readers.

Just for today, we're Lords and Ladies

Dressember Days 17 and 18: Early Christmas

Afternoon all! I hope you're all having a cosy Sunday - I am. I'm curled up in my default Sunday pose, with a blanket and a DVD and soon a big mug of tea and my Bagpuss hot water bottle. It's been a wonderful weekend, and I only have one day of work left before I'm off on my holidays, and I'm feeling festive and relaxed and excited and happy.

On Friday night Louise, Jackie and Kim came over to Leamington for some dancing in The Assembly. We met some friends in the Jug for a few drinks before getting down to some serious dancing. I wanted to wear something festive and fun to dance in, so one of my Vivien of Holloway dresses fit the bill perfectly:

Vivien of Holloway polka dot circle dress, Fever Fez bolero and Topshop shoes

Nic bought me this dress for Christmas last year and the first time I wore it was to go out on New Year's Eve in Dungannon. I was sick in a bin in Hagan's, and every time I wear this dress I feel a little flush of embarrassment, and then relief that I managed not to be sick on the dress! This is certainly fun to dance in. The Assembly was really busy, and full of really hairy men and women with massive hair who'd been at the ZZ Top tribute band that had been playing that afternoon. I like the crowd at The Assembly, and I had a lot of fun - although I could have done without the sleazy man who hit on me by weirdly squeezing my shoulder. YUCK. Anyway, apart from that it was an excellent night.

Nic woke me up early on Saturday morning, full of excitement for Christmas. As we don't spend Christmas day together, we have a little tradition of celebrating an early Christmas together - we exchange gifts, eat selection boxes, watch Christmas specials and have Christmas dinner. This year it felt extra special because we've both been so busy over the past few weeks, it feels like we haven't had much time for just the two of us. So, I was really looking forward to yesterday. It was perfect! Nic loved his presents, and I loved mine, and we had a beautiful day together. One of the Christmas treats we had planned was breakfast at Bread & Co and so I was up and dressed far earlier than normal for a Saturday:

Emily & Fin Lucy dress, H&M jumper, wool tights from Dunnes and Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Ultragirl shoes. Apparently it was spotty Saturday or some shit over on the Dressember facebook, but whatever.

Nic bought me the dress and the jumper for Christmas. The dress is obviously me, but the jumper is something I probably wouldn't have picked out for myself. My short neck makes me wary of bulky necklines, but I love this. It's too long to layer over dresses, but I think it looks pretty good underneath, and I really like the cowl neck. I'm looking a wee bit tired in this photo - it's the effect of a few late nights and long days, I suppose.

And that brings me to today. It's been a quiet day, as Nic headed off at lunchtime and I've been have a nice time pottering around the house, getting things ready for when I go home. Lovely Nic was still on photo duty this morning and kindly took this for me:

Emily & Fin Ella dress, blue cardigan from Mango, star tights and shoes from Topshop

No story really with this dress, except that it came from the Aspire sale and it hides tea stains really well. Which is a good thing, because I keep spilling tea on it! I think it's cursed, or something. Nic bought me the star print tights and I can't figure out if they're cool or if they make my legs look like I have some kind of weird skin disease. I think it's the former, but annoyingly the damn things ripped at the top as soon as I put them on! I think they'll still be wearable, though. I hope so anyway.

Now. I have tea to drink and episodes of The OC to watch and letters to write. I'll see you all tomorrow my dears. Until then x

This is an unholy alliance. This is two storm fronts colliding. This is the apocalypse for us all.

Dressember Days 14-16: Apollo Cinema Leamington Spa are law-breaking, anti social SWINES

Hi all, remember me?! I have had a busy busy few days and haven't had much time to update, I'm afraid. And I didn't manage to get a photo at all yesterday, but that's the way it goes sometimes.

Wednesday was my second work Christmas do - this time with my team. We had a meal booked at DC6 Diner in Coventry after work, and I wanted to get a little bit dressed up for the occasion. I had a busy day with a few big meetings, but it was all good. SJ once again kindly obliged with the photos. It was Waving Wednesday, apparently...

Dolly Dagger Scarlet dress and Irregular Choice No Place Like Home shoes

This photo was taken in our secure room, and that's Coventry so fetchingly behind me. Here's one where I'm not looking quite as dorky:

Okay, so this is the dress I bought from Dolly Dagger and which made me cross because it had a cheap-ass zip. It's a really pretty frock but I'm going to be irritated for some time to come about the zip thing, I think! I'm wearing a petticoat under it here and a camisole from M&S because otherwise it's too low cut for work. Sparkly shoes are the natural accessory for a gingham dress and lots of people remarked on how festive my attire was.

The Christmas party was great and I can recommend DC6 as a venue. The vegetarian options sucked, though. I did not enjoy the food, but I think on another occasion, when not restricted by festive menu options, it might not be so bad. The venue itself is very cool, though, as it's a decomissioned plane parked at Coventry airport. I took a few photos of the inside:

The approach to the plane

Sadly they don't bring the food on a trolley

It was a really good night, even though the food sucked. I didn't drink too much because I knew I had to get up early on Thursday morning as I had a full day of meetings in London on Thursday. Sadly the assbaskets at Apollo Cinema, Leamington Spa made sleeping impossible as they started cleaning their carpets at midnight and the noise of the generator kept us awake until nearly 3 o clock. I went out to investigate what the noise was and gave the carpet cleaner a piece of my mind. I'll be putting in a complaint to environmental health, though.

Anyway, all of that made Thursday a chore as I had a long and thinky day. I looked like crap, too. Hence the no photo. But I did wear a dress, and a new dress at that. I slept on the train on the way home and had just enough energy to join some friends for Christmas dinner in the pub that night. The food this time was much better, and it was a really fun evening.

I'm working from home today and have been busy once again. I popped out in the morning to see my friend Lucy and her gorgeous little boy and it was absolutely lovely. The forecast snow didn't materialise (thankfully) and it was really mild, so I wore this:

Red Herring dress, cardigan from H&M, tights from Dorothy Perkins and Irregular Choice Little Miss Oh shoes

I love this dress so much, it was so cheap and such a nice surprise that something like this could come from Debenhams. It's a copycat dress - I saw Lauren wearing hers and shamelessly copied her. She didn't mind, thankfully - and we've yet to show up at the same place wearing the same thing.

I still have some work to do so I'm going to head off. But, to make up for my lack of outfit shot from yesterday I will do two tomorrow. I'm heading out tonight to go dancing with my darling Louise - I just need to decide what I'm wearing! See you all tomorrow.

Well that's simply the way they talk here. Nobody pays any attention to you unless you swear every other word.

Dressember Day 13

My dear readers, I thoroughly expected today to suck. But you know what? It really, really didn't! I woke up lots of times in the night because of the wind rattling the window, and worried a bit about today, but it was good. I had a big meeting first thing this morning, and I was convinced it was going to be long, and dull. But, it didn't over run and it was really, really interesting. Also, the corporate planning session afterwards, which I was really dreading... well, it wasn't fun, but it wasn't bad. I went out for a walk at lunchtime with Leanne and SJ and in the afternoon we had our work Christmas do - which, admittedly, was in the office. But still - there was food, and good wine, and macarons! This doesn't sound a lot, but I work in the civil service, so such things are unheard of. It was a good day, and I got some work done too. Yay!

My lovely friend and colleague SJ took my photo when we headed out at lunchtime:

Emily & Fin Lucy dress, black cardigan from Dorothy Perkins, Charnos tights and Firetrap Desire shoes

I actually had a different outfit planned for today but the dress I had in mind has been packed away, so I farted around for ages trying to decide what to wear (and then had to peg it to the station) This dress suggested itself, and I paired it with these Charnos tights I bought last night. This was my first Emily & Fin Lucy dress and I've since gained a few more - I like the shape and I have to say, I think their quality is very good. I bought this one on ebay for around £5, and you can't say fairer than that, really! I bought the tights last night when I took Nic shopping for part of his Christmas present.

Charnos tights

These were £2 in TK Maxx, and I love the bows. They're quite 80s and a bit sloaney, but I like how they look and I think they go really well with my ruffled shoes! As you probably know, I dislike tights as a rule so going for fun ones helps me over that mental hurdle.

Now. I had a wee bit too much free wine this afternoon. Nic is watching Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and there's pizza on the table. I'm audi. But I'll see you tomorrow x

BISCUITS?! If that is what you believe, then go back to Cardassia. I will send you my mother's recipe.

Dressember Day 12

Oooh evening all, it's a chilly one, is it not?! After a long day at work, Nic and I had to do some Christmas shopping in Coventry so I'm only just home. It's time for a quiet evening in with University Challenge on the iplayer, I think.

Not much craic with me today. With the exception of a rather irritating exchange with a colleague today, it's been a good day. This is partly because of the large quantities of cake that were available, as some of my colleagues had organised a charity cake sale. I took loads of photos, but I'll just give you the edited highlights!

SJ had made these chocolate brownie cupcakes. They were immense.

Some of my team mates spent Sunday icing these - they look good, don't they?

It was cold and windy when I woke up this morning so I decided I'd go for comfort today:

Fever Kaleidoscope Dress and pink topshop heels

Everyone should have a dress this comfortable in their wardrobe, and I confess I'd been holding off wearing it because I knew I'd have a morning like this one. I just wanted to stay in my pyjamas when I woke up, and this is the next best thing. I know I look a bit frazzled here - but it was a busy day! This was another el cheapo from ebay buy - it was £7, and it has certainly earned its keep since then! The bright colours of the neckline make it easy to accessorise, and brings it out of that boring black dress bracket. Up until now I've worn it with pink tights and blue tights, but I bought some green tights this afternoon that will look great with it too. So yes, a big old thumbs up for the dress, even if I sort of hate how mad I look in the photo itself.

That's me for this evening. My dinner is nearly ready. I'll be back tomorrow, though - goodnight all!

We're Mary and Joseph, just like the Bible. But we've got Cheryl, not Jesus.

Dressember Days 10 and 11

Evening all! It's windy and rainy and horrible outside, but I'm tucked up all warm in our wee flat with a hot water bottle and a blanket. It's all about comfort this evening, right down to dinner - macaroni cheese. I have a busy week ahead of me and then it's HOLIDAY TIME, so yay!

I have a couple of Dressember dresses to share with you. Nic and I had a lovely lazy breakfast in bed on Saturday morning - coffee and bagels and a CD and sunshine. It was lush. I had some Christmas shopping to do, and the highly exciting task of going to the Post Office. We were joined by Tom, who was revisiting Leamington for one night only, and we had a good afternoon of catching up, drinking coffee and Christmas shopping.

Laura Ashley Falling Roses dress, polka dot tights from Dorothy Perkins and Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Lady Dragon shoes

I wore one of my Laura Ashley dresses. I didn't want to pay full price for this dress because it was ridiculously expensive and when it came up on ebay, I paid more for it than I normally would. For all that, I often forget about it - which is a shame because it's so beautiful. It's silk, as well, so it feels very luxurious to wear. I have a petticoat underneath because the skirt is a wee bit long, and it gives it an extra bit of shape. The Lady Dragon shoes attracted attention again - some random man on the street invited me to tap dance with him! To be fair, I don't think he was being weird and it was his odd way of paying me a compliment. I think he was a bit embarrassed afterwards though, he scuttled right off! I took myself off to Cafe Havana on Warwick Street to join Nic and Tom for lunch. It's a gorgeous little cafe with some very tasty food, and quite an eccentric menu. They've named some of their dishes after famous people, and I was really amused by how they did it - the BLT was named after Gloria Estefan! Before I move on to the next portion of Saturday, though, I'm going to be slushy and share a picture of Nic:

Nic in his hat - I knitted his scarf.

After a speedy but delicious dinner of vegetarian hot dogs, it was time to get ready and head out. Denise and Michael were having a Christmas party and we were going along to that. Denise is also taking part in Dressember, and we were unintentionally colour-co-ordinated!

With Denise - I'm wearing my Bettie Page Rita dress, Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Lady Dragon shoes and tights from Untold at House of Fraser. Denise is wearing a dress from Spotlight at Warehouse and suede shoes from Office

Denise made a concession towards Sparkling Saturday with her tinsel, but I didn't. I'm not on Facebook and the Dressember people don't seem to be interacting much with the Twitter stream (@Dressember, if you want to follow someone who never tweets) so I didn't bother. I wanted to wear this dress again anyway because it's so gorgeous. I can never seem to capture the colour properly, it's almost a Kelly green in real life.

A combination of the flash, hot apple punch and the heat in Denise's house gave me a good old red face but oh well - more festive, I suppose! I decided earlier in the day that I wanted some seamed stockings to wear and these were what I found:

Wavy seamed tights from Untold at House of Fraser

The party was lots of fun, and it was very good to meet a few new people and to spend time with friends. The hot apple punch and mince pies were most enjoyable as well! We ended up having quite a late night, and so a good long lie-in was in order this morning.

I have done very little today with the exception of going out to see Lysy and The Scientist, so we could catch up and exchange our birthday presents. We bought each other a copy of the Colette Sewing Handbook and were finally able to exchange them. In honour of this, and in an attempt to inject some colour into a grey and rainy day, I decided to wear one of my many Colette dresses - my curtain Rooibos:

Colette Rooibos dress, yellow cardigan from H&M, tights from Peacocks and yellow sandals from Next

Although I don't plan on doing much sewing until after Christmas, I was very excited to finally be able to look through the book and I can already tell it's going to be indispensable. As well as the book, Lysy had brought me a present from Paris - a box of macarons!

Here I am, full of excitement at the prospect of an afternoon with macarons and a sewing book. IT'S THE ROCK AND ROLL LIFESTYLE.

Speaking of that Rock and Roll lifestyle - I have macaroni cheese to make. See you tomorrow!