Because I previously bought the same shirt (slightly shorter) in white cotton and loved it, I thought it was a good idea to purchase this oversized pale green shirt as well. But it isn’t as easy to style as the white one. Where the white one was cute on my wide leg jeans (see this blog post), this pale green shirt wasn’t. So I opted for my old Paige flared jeans, which I bought in Vancouver in 2015. (That is why I have so many clothes…they last a long time. And honestly, I give away a lot of clothes too.)
Another reason why I hesitated to buy this shirt was the colour. It is a pastel shade and if you have followed my blog for a while, you know I adore bright colours near my face. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and solve the dilemma with colourful earrings.
We, the BVA girlfriends group, gathered at Marianne’s house and Jilske took photos of me in the garden.
Below: Close-up of the pinkish earrings (Lara Design).
OK, I grant you, they are not that colourful, but I like their style, they suit the outfit.
I just had my hair cut and hated it. My lovely hairdresser who is really good, always cuts my fringe shorter than I want, despite my warnings when she starts. And, having the choice between leaving my bob a little longer or a little shorter, she will choose the latter. From now on she is not allowed to do my fringe anymore. I felt dopey.
The photo below is taken a week later when I went back to Marianne to re-shoot her photo (I did a terrible job the first time). She then took a photo of me and my earrings as well, with my slightly longer hair.
Below: A bench and green leaves behind me. My idea of an ideal setting.
Below: Did you spot my new boots? Blue cowboy boots with a narrow ankle. They are great for walking, especially when I wear my soft socks with that little bit of cashmere.
Before I continue with the outfit photos (they are more or less the same as a back garden isn’t the greatest background, but sometimes you have to make do), let me re-introduce you to my friends.
Below: Our host of the day, Marianne. I took many terrible photos that day or forgot to take any altogether, but this photo is the re-shoot.
Marianne’s outfit was very well put together again, a red-violet pleated skirt with a jumper in red-violet, green and cream.
Below: Marianna (her name ends with an ‘a’). She doesn’t like being photographed but lo and behold, I was permitted to publish this one. She had charming shoes on, matching her cardigan.
Below: Marijke in a chic cream-beige outfit. Always in a good mood.
Below: Jilske. This photo was taken in a shop later that day. She carried my bag nearly the whole time. Great combination with her bright blue jumper (sweater).
Below: Marijke tried this chair too. I think she looks so surprised because she heard the price, which was quite reasonable. It is a rocking chair by the way, and it swivels.
Our 6th member, Claudia, couldn’t make it and she was sorely missed.
Below: The back of the shirt is fun with the split and the little buttons. I usually keep a few unbuttoned.
Below: Jilske was crouching to take this photo and I kept yelling at her that I don’t like ‘frog view’ photos as they are called. The orange bag isn’t as bright as in these photos, but somehow I cannot change that, not without making myself pale as a sheet.
Below: I tried on Marianne’s coat as Jilske had bought the same one and wanted to sell it again. I hesitated but, in the end, decided not to take the coat. (Sorry Jilske.)
Below: We went to a shopping mall nearby and the girls goofed around (again). Can you spot Marijke and Jilske?
Marianne is wearing green lace-up boots.
Below: Jilske tried on this dress. Marijke explained to her that the material wasn’t stitched correctly.
Below: Jilske near a Christmas tree in a department store. This photo doesn’t do her outfit justice. It was really nice.
Below: I wasn’t bothered, didn’t need any clothes or should I say, I bought enough clothes the week before. Behind me are clothes from Essentiel Antwerp, my favourite brand. I turned my back on them.
Below: After our shopping time, we got out the French cheese, the nuts and the drinks. Soup was warming up and dinner was already in the oven. Not the most flattering photo but you can feel the cosiness, can’t you?
What happened in my life this week
Saturday I went back to Marianne to take a better photo of her, as you have read above. Afterwards I picked up two pairs of boots from the cobbler for two friends. It is easy for me to go there so I offered to take the boots for them and fetch them again. Always nice when you can make somebody happy, right?
In the evening, we had drinks and dinner with our friends Ger and Marja. We hadn’t seen them for a long time due to all sorts of mishaps. The restaurant was cosy, the food was very good and the service excellent. Especially when I accidently set off the motion-driven tap in the WC with my bag. That wouldn’t necessarily have been a problem, only it was a big tap and it was right above the opening of my bag. What a mess. Everything in my bag was soaked. A lovely staff lady cleaned up more than I did and gave me a plastic bag to carry wet stuff home. I did dry a lot in the restaurant.
Sunday Kitty dropped by and the three of us had a joyful morning chatting and drinking coffee. Did a lot of household chores.
Monday it was time for my fitness exercises and the physiotherapist again. I was really pleased I had the physio appointment as my calves’ muscles were tense and strained. I got spasms during the night, making me leap out of bed.
In the afternoon I cleaned the crystal chandelier, a hazardous chore and I changed the light bulbs. Gosh, the landing is now as bright as a lighthouse.
Tuesday Marcella came for coffee and I bought a pair of silver coloured earrings from her for my bonus daughter (see below). She coveted these earrings after she borrowed mine in golden. It was a stroke of luck that Marcella (Lara Design) had them in silver colour as she sells mostly gold plated.
Below: Marcella, looking really nice.
And the third booklet for granddaughter Zoë arrived in the mail. Title Christmas is coming. Below a little collage, hurray for my creative husband.
Wednesday Marjolein and I did a photo shoot at the NEMO museum in Amsterdam, a delightful, interactive place. Unfortunately my preset settings on the camera were no good for the dark day we had. On the bright side, it didn’t rain and there wasn’t much wind, just a very grey and dark day. You’ll see the result next week.
Below: Marjolein in the interactive game whereby she had to protect the earth from all sorts of nasty stuff, like meteorites and acid rain. She is holding a shield above her head but like in the real world, it was hard to be in time.
In the evening we had Georg and Marla over for a mussels meal. Of course Ron cooked them. Great evening.
Thursday Ron and I went into town to buy some stuff like amuse spoons, coasters, a cake plateau, Christmas serviettes etc. We have a fantastic shop in Haarlem for such things. Only when you walk around in that shop, you keep thinking “oh that is handy, I’ll have that too…” And it is a good shop, not a cheap shop, get my drift?
Anyway, with a drink in a coffee place and a little more shopping, I felt really Christmassy. (Ron didn’t.)
Below: I wore this jeans outfit with my black blazer. What I call an easy peasy outfit. Very comfortable and great for walking. I had been walking a lot the day before and my problem knee was protesting loudly.
Friday we visited a friend for her birthday and did all sorts of things around the house.
Greetje
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