Xanthe ♫

Ok - I know this is the wrong section but you answerers in the weddings are always so much better than the fashion category!

I am hopeless with fashion so want some advice on how to look great for the Melbourne Cup this year. I am going to wear this dress...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25906286@N04/35575689...

It's a little hard to see but it is fitted and rouched all the way down with a high neckline with thick straps.

I don't want to wear black with it like in that photo so I was wondering what you thought of adding gold or cream coloured accessories instead to make it more 'light' and daytime appropriate?

Maybe a fascinator like this one?

http://www.hatsfromoz.com.au/catalog/images/hats_i...

I have reasonably short hair which I am growing out but the bottom layer won't be much past my shoulders by the time of melbourne cup.

Any advice, comments, ideas would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I want to look fashionable for Melbourne Cup this year so if anyone could put an outfit together for me (with pics) I would be appreciative.

About Me: I am 5'5", Weigh 68kg (yes, a little overweight but I hope to be 65kg at least before the races), I have an hourglass figure, my skin colour is a light olive tone and I have brown hair and brown eyes.

I think I got mine today - I sent my husband an early valentines present to his work today (a message written with chocolates) and got the following sms back;

"No matter how bad today gets it will be a good day because of you"

That just makes it all worthwhile for me. I mean, that is what valentines day is all about isn't it? The fact that I have made someone's day better is the biggest gift I could ever be given.

Now let me hear your stories....

Ok, so our housewarming party is this weekend. We have about 20 people. The food and drinks I have planned is as follows;

Savoury

- Antipasto Platter (cured meats, cheeses, olives, sundried tomatos, marinated peppers, etc)

- Marinated Chicken Wings (about 100)

- Mini Pizzas (about 50)

- Spinach & Ricotta Filos (about 50)

- Bread with Dips (olive oil, sundried tomato tapenade, black olive tapenade)

- Chips & Nuts (as fillers on the side)

Sweet

- Rum Balls (very fruity with very little rum - about 50)

- Cupcakes (2 types - about 50 all up)

- Wedding Cake (top layer that would easily feed 50 people!)

- Fruit Platter (grapes, strawberries, apricots - easy finger food fruits)

- Chocolate Mints (50)

Drinks

- Punch

- 2 bottles of white wine

- 2 bottles of red wine

- 2 bottles of sparkling

- 2 bottles of non-alcoholic sparkling

- mid beer

- strongbow

- sprite and coke cola

I am sure we have enough drinks and sweets, however do you think we have enough savouries? Thanks in advance for your answers!

The dress is the eighth one along (or 4th from the end) in pink/purple and orange on white...

http://www.dianaferrari.com.au/products_zoom.aspx?...

I have a hat similar to this - except without the feather and it has a flower instead of a bow...

http://images.watoday.com.au/2008/10/20/239238/Fas...

So I was thinking white accessories (use the hat I have, white shoes and white bag). What do you think - do you have any other ideas for me? Or any way to fancy up the hat I have to make it more unique?

Ok, our house is almost built but I'm not sure about the furniture for the open plan dining, kitchen and lounge area. Here are the details so far;

Kitchen: In the middle of the dining and lounge areas. White cupboards, large 90cm silver coloured stove and exhaust in the middle of the wall with cupboards either side, long white with silver spec bench in front. (Basically 2 parallel lines of benchtops & cupboards)

Dining & Lounge: Nothing yet, just a dark grey tile (with a very slight brownish tinge) with white walls (this tile goes through the kitchen as well)

So far we have a really dark brown wood dining table and display cabinet with a tiny bit of silver detailing. We like the darker wood and the silver ties in nicely with the kitchen, however we are unsure what colours to go with in the lounge area. Should we keep it the same to have unity throughout the level, or should we mix it up a bit? Also, we were thinking of a grey (not too light but definitely not dark) coloured couch/sofa - would this work? I was hoping to add colour through cushions, curtains, etc.

Any ideas on what to do and what colours would look best would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I really don't have a lot of money to spend but so far I don't have many options for a nice outfit that is suitable for a christening - if you know of a shop that I can look at around Brisbane that I can buy either a blouse or dress for under $50 please let me know! (P.S. I am 24 so something age appropriate too!) Thanks.

I am organising a staff function for 20 people and need some more ideas on places to go around South East QLD for a dinner and a show that everyone will enjoy. It needs to be in or around November.

We are currently looking at going to Brazillian Touch or maybe a lunchen on Melbourne Cup Day... any recommendations or suggestions would be great. Especially if you have been somewhere great we would love to hear your experience. Thanks in advance.

P.S. Please don't tell me to Google it - we have done that and so far can't find anything better suited than the above two options.

Ok - I posted this in other sections but got no answers so sorry for posting it in weddings but I know some of you will actually answer!

My brother-in-law has just bought an engagement ring for his girlfriend. Sounds great right? Well - my husband and I have a few problems. Firstly they have only known each other for 2 months (or less) and we really feel they are rushing into this. I know people have done this and their marriage has been great - but there are a lot of marriages that don't work in these cases and we just don't know why they can't wait a little longer.

Anyway, the second issue is the main problem and what we need help with. Because we (my husband and I) really do not like the girl. We try and be nice to everyone and not judge them too much, but we just cannot bring ourselves to like her. Let me explain...

First meeting: She spoke to my husband as if he were a child (he is older than her) and told us how she wanted to gouge a birds eyes out with a spoon because it kept flying into her window.

Well we thought she was "interesting" to say the least but since it was the first meeting we were willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Second meeting: She said nothing while we were all having a normal conversation... maybe she is shy? No. When we stopped she started by saying how our music collection was "cr@p" and how "white people shouldn't listen to black music" - proudly professing that she was a racist. Then she again spoke to my husband as if he were a stupid child, and proudly told us how she almost started a fight with the Veronicas just because she hated them so much.

My question is - if she is going to become part of the family how do we learn to deal with her? Because there is no way my husband and I can ever like someone like that (ie racist, violent and rude). We want to be happy for my husband's brother and at the same time we want to be able to spend time with him, but we don't feel like spending time with him if she is around.

How do we learn to deal with her so we can still have a good relationship with my brother-in-law?

Any advice would be appreciated.

My brother in law has been with a girl for only a few months now and wants to propose. I am not saying he shouldn't marry her but my husband and I feel that it is just very rushed and don't see why he shouldn't wait just a bit longer before making such a big decision.

Have you or anyone you know rushed into a marriage - and would there have been anything someone else could have said to help you slow down and think more logically about the situation?

Don't get me wrong - I want them to be happy and if that means them getting married then all the best for them - it just feels very rushed and because of the rush the odds are certainly not in their favour....

Sorry about putting this in the "Other-Australia" section - it should have been NZ but it posted it here...

My husband and I have a couple of days off work in a couple of weeks so we are interested in going camping somewhere around south east queensland.

Do you have a favourite spot or know of any that we can check out?

We don't do a lot of fishing or water sports so a lake or dam is not necessary, however we do like climbing mountains and doing walks...

Hi - I can't really afford a personal trainer anymore but I need people to help keep me motivated. Is there anyone who is interested in emailing me on a regular basis so we can help each other keep motivated? Maybe even compare our weight loss in a friendly competition if you want? Anyone who is interested please email me!

I have just started using Polyvore and am keen to get used to it so let me know the following details about yourself then I will create an outfit for you.

Age:

Body Shape: (ie Hourglass, Pear, etc)

Height:

Weight:

Fav Clothing Colours:

Occasion: (ie Formal, Casual, For a Wedding, etc)

Other Info: (ie Anything you feel is important to add)

Ok - so I want to plan a Casino Royale themed new years eve party and am just wondering what you would wear to it if you were invited? The invite will specify the dress as formal/black tie.

The guests won't know this unless they ask but I will be wearing something similar to this (mine is a halter with a very low back and small train but similar colour) and my husband will be in a black suit with formal shirt and tie (or maybe bow-tie)

http://www.polyvore.com/casino_royale_outfit/set?i...

The drinks will be alcoholic and non-alcoholic martini style cocktails and there will be nibbles of vol-au-vents and canapes. We would play card games for most of the night - and maybe watch the movie if people wanted.

What do you think? Does it all sound good and what would you wear? (Pics of your outfits would be great)

Ok - so I want to plan a Casino Royale new years eve party and am just wondering what you would wear to it if you were invited? The invite will specify the dress as formal/black tie.

The guests won't know this unless they ask but I will be wearing something similar to this and my husband will be in a black suit with formal shirt and tie.

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=9791759

I have been applying for new jobs for about 3 months now and have had ONE interview to a job I really wasn't interested in. I just keep getting regected and I don't know why.

I have 2+ years experience in the areas I am applying for and I have checked my resume and cover letters with friends and family who all seem to think they look good - and yet I still can't get a job.

I am still in my current job (need a new job cause I will be moving house in a few months) so I am not desperate for a new job yet - but I am getting very down on the whole issue because no-one seems to realise what a good worker I could be.

Does anyone have some words of encouragement for me?

I really want to lose just 5 kilos - but find my eating habits and will power isn't helping... Can anyone say something to me to help me keep motivated and help me take control of my weight?

Now I know I will upset some people - but I honestly just want to know why it is such an issue to pay for your own meal (as a guest) at a wedding. Don't get me wrong - I think if the bride and groom have enough money and splash out on things like a dress, etc then I think it is in extremely bad taste to ask your guests to pay for their meals. HOWEVER I go to birthday/dinner parties all the time at restaurants and peoples places where the guests are asked to pay for their meals as their gift to the host (ie. instead of bringing a birthday present). Why is this any different for a wedding if the couple can not afford anything fancy?

Oh - and just to be clear - I am talking about guests paying for meals that are quite cheap - certainly not anything over $30pp.

And please don't get angry at me asking this question - I am just asking for your logical reasons and don't think there is any wrong answer.

Just wondering if anyone has been and what they suggest. I am going next month with my husband and while there is heaps of options for what to do I would really appreciate some suggestions from real people on what to do. We don't have a whole lot of money but do need somewhere to stay and want to do a winery/gourmet tour while we are there. Any suggestions are welcome.