Holiday shopping

This weekend has been Enforced Holiday Shopping Weekend.

Now, I do not, in any way, need to be encouraged to go shopping, but I hadn't quite budgeted for a big trip to the stores this month. However, I began to realise that gone are the sandals and bikinis only to be replaced by woolly hat, gloves and jumpers! Yes, that's right, the new season is here.

For someone who is only going on holiday at the end of August, this creates a problem. Shopping for the holiday must be done, but there is nothing left in the shops! I had intended to leave my shopping until next month, but it wasn't to be and I realised that in order to get anything summery I must get a move on and go and buy it before it is all gone. After seven hours on Oxford Street yesterday, I only managed to get two dresses, a bag, a pair of pumps and a few entirely un-holiday related items. A little more today in another location and I came out with a top, skirt, pair of shorts and a dress.

It really is rather short-sighted of retailers to stop stocking summery things in early August, when August in general is prime holiday season! Still, I suppose it wasn't a complete disaster - look how pretty!

Thursday Tip #2

Why has nobody ever told me about nail polish drying drops? You know the little bottles that come with a squeezy pipette thing? Possibly the best idea ever.

Yes, yes, ok, I am a recently reformed nail-biter and this is the first time in my life that I actually have long nails, so such products have rated low on the list of crucial cosmetic items. But now I found nail polish, I'm not going back. And really - waiting for your nails to dry is such a drag when there are important things to be doing.

Think pink (or yellow, or cobalt, or mint green...)

Some discussion on Corporette this week made me think about pink in the office. I wear it. Not all the time, but often enough. I have a fuschia pink shirt, a shift dress in the same colour and a fuschia coloured pashmina that often accompanies me on my travels around the office when the air conditioning is racked up to 'Arctic' and that short-sleeved shirt just won't do the job. I am generally a big fan of bright colours and also have various items in yellow, coral and bright blue. My choice of stores may sometimes be a little controversial (as in you wouldn't think one would buy work clothes from said stores), but I have learned to match slightly crazy pieces with old classics and nobody bats an eyelid now. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to shop for work clothes right now, but what is to stop me doing some window shopping.

Now, not everyone loves Express for office clothes, but I have several lovely pieces from there. One must, of course, steer clear of the low-cut sleeveless numbers, and get past the fact that all the models look like the Xeror repair man is about to appear any minute to ravage them. All that aside, I very much like this, for example. It would really just look gorgeous tucked into a lovely, black (knee-length) pencil skirt.

I saw this today and loved it - slight concern that the ruffle is too low down to tuck into a skirt (yes, yes, I'm a tucker), but I love the frill!

As dresses go, the colour here is lovely - perfect with black chunky necklace, shoes and cardi to tone it down a little.

Finally, if one is feeling a little unsure about going wild with the colours, shoes are always a great place to start. Funky coloured shoes with a plain black shift dress or black pencil skirt and neutral top give you that little something extra, don't you think? I have not (yet) been brave enough to wear pink shoes to the office, and amazingly I do not even own a pair, but a nice blue never went amiss!

Herein endeth the windowshopping. Now it is time to feel depressed about not having the money to buy any of the above!

Thursday Tip

Vaseline is magic for shoes that rub. I bought the cutest pair of flats a while back and they are just a little too tight (yes, I know, I should have bought the size up, but they were cheap so I thought the size up would strecth and fall off my feet immediately).

My best friend introduced me to the vaseline trick, and it really works! In case there is any confusion, you rub vaseline on your feet, put the shoes on and you're good to go!

This of course should not encourage me to buy shoes that are too small, but might help me break out a few discarded pairs that I love from the back of the wardrobe!

Best home-made lunch ever - tons of vegetables, mushrooms and boiled eggs and soy sauce. This is the answer to those days in the office when you have tons to do but hunger drives you home much earlier than is good for your t0-do list. Usually I am hungry again after lunch around 3pm. Yesterday it wasn't until 7 and it's all thanks to my protein-packed new BFF.

What a nasty day at work. One of those vexing days where your inbox is bursting at the seams as it is and what you really want to do is lock yourself up in your office and get through the huge mountain of work, yet you can't even touch it on account of the unscheduled issues that need to be resolved immediately.

Vexed.

Yes woman

Remember that movie 'Yes, man'? As cinematographic masterpieces go, it was hardly top of the list, but the principle is pretty good.

In my attempt to de-tediumise my life, I've taken a leaf out of that book and decided I need to stop saying 'no' to things automatically because I am too lazy to do them.

So, despite the fact that tomorrow is Sunday (prime chilling out time) I have agreed to go and see a show my friend is in. Admittedly, I can't really afford it, but she doesn't need to know that.