Would a camel cape be entirely wise? Or a pair of houlihans a bit too avid?? Who cares!

[notyummy]

Please join me ladies. Don't want to be too sad and lonely on a Friday night.......

Hells - Paris! How lovely - will you be popping into Bon Marche?

And I keep meaning to post about you going to NAP - is that at Westfield?

What on earth are you going to wear?

Still not caught up properly but am having mild panic re what to wear for having my colours done tomorrow???!!!! Consultant is coming here and think the best room (light wise) is my bedroom - do you think she will want a rummage in my wardrobe???? Hope not - esp is she tells me that navy blue is not my colour!!! Am scoffing a box of Poppets as a stress coping strategy! Not good esp as now on Dukan! Will try harder tomorrow!

oh no! Surely one of our ladies will have a secret code?

Thanks for the donna ida - alas my bottom is not suited to a size 25! If only.

Ooh! Need opinions. My birthday this month and I'm thinking of getting a nice bag. It's been ages (years) since I got a good one. Saw these on the outnet and and love all. What do the W/A ladies think. There is the gold or the purple metallic, then there is the slightly more sensible one Am I mad? I love Pauric Sweeney bags.
Also taking a leaf from Cake's book. What think ye of this Leona Edminston dress? I like the colours and cowl neck suits me given small norkage.
Hope you enjoy the colour consultation tomorrow OWW. I'd love to have it done!

Lots of August birthdays on this thread!
Rufus - of those bags I like the gold one best but like this one better.

Anyone watching the sleep programme on channel 4?

Have any of you been watching the Alicia Duvall Adulthood programme? It's so tragic and upsetting.

Rufus, I love the dress.

Hells, if you come across a My-W discount code, please let me know!

OWW, enjoy tomorrow.

MrsJuan, I watched the sleep programme. Both approaches seemed to work well. DD mostly sleeps well but we had a month of her sleeping badly when we moved and sitting beside her cot at night.

only a day, yet so much to catch up on.

mm congrats on being approached for work! nice feeling even if you have decided that now is not the time. Sounds like you have such a gorgeous time with dd - I'd be reluctant to compromise that, too. Sorry asos order was rubbish I rather like those Apple boots from Topshop too.

hells gosh no I didn't mean to imply that I get offended when people comment on the 3dc thing. Well, when I'm having a shocker in public and some random says "you;ve got your hands full" I do want to scream "Fck off!" but when friends etc comment I do accept that it's a compliment but at the same time feel a bit awkward, I guess. But yes, like tracey* have felt an oddity bc of lack of help as most I know have gps, ils and hired help ... I feel more 'normal' now that mum's on hand to help out (although I still tend to go solo during the day as she is volunteering at a charity shop and doing boring chores other stuff for me)

tracey I have been to Rajpoot!!!

lol at the school run thread

another martyr here ... but I get a kick out of it ... and beat myself up if I don't give everything my all .. including parenting ... so would rather be knackered than feeling sh*t about myself (although tend to feel that too )

hells Paris what fun!! hope your grump passes quickly. Ams ure it's just post holiday comedown. You look so beautiful and happy and relaxed in your pics. Bound to be feeling a bit blah with return to work and the pace of London.

OWW good luck with colours!! how was ds's b'day?

rufus hurrah for Leona!! I like MrsJ's Pauric bag best too, sorry

dh here this morning, mum here tonight, so have managed 2 runs today. Am reasonably confident that cake of weekend has been atoned for. Still need a post-interview, post-party treat for moi. Hmmmm.

everything hope you are having a lovely night, neanderthal lady legs and all!!

Wow Cake 2 runs. Very impressive.
Like MrsJ's bag as well. Was wondering if it was a bit OTT, so didn't link! Should have known better! I do like it, I have to say. You don't think it's too much?
I actually managed to bring all 3 DC to M and S today to get the older two kitted out for back to school. Felt v proud that I managed all 3, and did get a lot of "you have your hands full" etc, but I don't mind, think it was all kindly meant! Although I did have to threaten DS1 that the shop lady knows Santa "personally" and would be reporting back.

To add to the shortlist of bags!
this MJ one I like the colour, but not sure about the chain.
this Michael Kors one is nice, but boring?! Well after the other ones it looks boring anyway.
BTW, love the scarf Carciofi. How awful the MW code doesn't work anymore. I was planning a purchase, and everytime I looked I'd say "oh well and add in 25% off with the code"! Not anymore!

well done on M&S trip rufus!! how old are your dc?

have been searching fruitlessly for something to scratch my buying itch tonight. Hmph.

oooh ... hang on sec

ooooh More avid than wise as we are (against my wishes ) now talking AW10 but ooooh

Oooh! claps hands excitedly in a seal fashion.!! Love love love Tibi. It's totally transtional!
My DC are 6, 5 and 2 and 1/2! Any 2 is fine, but add a third and there's chaos!

carciofi like the scarf, work out cost per use - reckon it will be a bargain ;)

LTEC thanks for the baby reassurance, I think the problem is when I get pregnant I get large all over which means the bump looks small! Despite me being 5'10 and DH being 6'5 and built like a second row DS was a very average 7lbs6! I'm sure if you add thick tights and boots to that Tibi dress with a long line cardigan belted it can be autumn as well!

notyummy that mothers help sounds fantastic!

Monkeysmama gutted for you about the ASOS wedges as they were lovely, was seriously tempted to break my no heel rule. Not so keen on topshop wedges. Please tell me you ordered the jacket, if I wasn't pregnant I would be sending a link every day to my DH with a reminder about my b'day. Right I promised myself I would keep quiet about some of the eating/exercise regimes on this thread but PLEASE you have to give your body more than that, you might feel less bloated because you are eating less carbs but you can do that AND still nourish your body during the day.

hells Moulin Rouge sounds fantastic, however I admit my only point of reference is the film. You will have loads of fun planning your outfit.

OWW let me know how the colour consultant goes, think will be asking for one for christmas pressie.

rufus I am sorry I don't like any of the Sweeny bags find all of them a bit too much (but of course like everything is down to an individuals style they wouldn't go with my hoodies and jeans ) I do like the Marc Jacobs one howeverand the MK one.

I was a bit torn about the school run thread, mostly because I veer between yummy mummy (sorry just easy phrase to use) and waynetta slob, I don't seem to have a middle ground it just depends on time/mood, however the people who came on and basically said get a life were out of order. I am now considering if I would get away with pyjamas underneath a decent coat and nice pair of boots however!

I am still dithering over a handbag, have completly ruled out nappy bags (even the il tutto ones) and was feeling a bit guilty about getting anything until the second in a week pair of shoes arrived for DH (I swear he belongs on this thread more than I do).

Would like (small) wedge suede/leather heels now. Going to go and investigate russel and bromley as it sounds like something they might do.

Whoever was feeling guilty about foxglove, I am loving

these in brown

these if I had the legs and wore heels

great price for riding boots

variation on victorian lace ups, think would look great with skinnies, so next year for me then

not sure if I like the heel on this one, M&S sometimes get funny ideas about heels

Right must put laptop down and get ready for gym!

Libra, I bet you look great. R&B usually have nice wedges.

You can go through Quidco for My-W purchases but it is not as good as a discount code. I might swap the DKNY wrap for the scarf as the wraps are always in stock.

Rufus, I prefer the MK and Marc Jacobs bags too.

MM, forgot to say well done on being approached for work. Sounds like you made the right choice though.

LTEC, the Tibi dress is gorgeous.

DD shouting, back later

monkeysmama if you did want shoes like the ASOS wedges and had the spare cashhere but ££

Cake - tibi dress: pink + large animal pictures = obviously made especially for you!

libra - like your boot links - there are some great ones around this year. I thought about you and your changing bag search the other day when I found a partially fermented plum and a leaking pot of bubbles at the bottom of mine. Would have been gutted if I had been using a more ££ bag (although maybe would have been more careful). I think tkmaxx is always worth a look for bags.

Thought sleep programme was a load of crap in the end. Can't see how over an hour of crying can be classed as a 'gentle' method but I am far too soft. DD has had some great phases of sleeping through recently so think we are getting there albeit a bit late in the day.

Re school run thread - what I don't understand is why the issue only crops up for some when their children start school - I will readily admit that I dress differently depending on who I'm meeting that day and always have done. Probably makes me very shallow but I can't be the only one

Hopefully getting hair cut at the end of the week - can't decide whether to keep it long or go for bob - only really grew it for my sister's wedding but I quite like it now. And whether to go back to being blonde? Hmmm...

Libra - Loving the 'foxglove' links - MUCH better name than footglove !

Actually I have decided that I like a lot of the M and S shoes I have seen recently. Is that it? I'll be 39 soon - is this 'proper' middle age setting in? Will I be eyeing up separates in Country Casuals shortly? Answers on a post card please!

I want a pair of nude heels or wedges, but not the massive bloody 5 " ones I keep seeing. That would make me a 6 ft 3" circus sideshow, so 3 " would be more suitable....anyone seen anything vaguely suitable??

BTW - those of you on an exercise kick. Two things to share:

tabata Disclaimer! This is seriously hardcore, albeit very short so useful for the time pressed. This site suggests it with weights, but I have been doiing it with sprints and on the cross trainer. By the end you will probably feel sick...but anything that tough has got to get results....right??

Boot Camp - Fantastic for those of you getting bored with the Shred. I have had this for 2/3 years but hadnt done it for a few months and went back to it yesterday. Yes, it is hard - but fun as well. American and cheesy though....but thats part of the appeal. DH is a fan and does it at least once a week!

Today the weather is RUBBISH. However, I am having a 'shop your wardrobe' day. I discovered, to my shame, a Jigsaw skirt that I have had for over 2 years but still had the label on here from their 'Hampstead' suit range that they never really change. I bought the trousers and jacket as well and always wore the trouser suit..so am wearing the skirt today, with wedges and this warehouse silk top.

Have ordered a few cheap things for Tuscany trip later this month:

maxi

...and another maxi

sandals

If they nasty, then obviously they will all go back! Having said that, I got a couple of vest tops from their whilst in there looking for DDs school PE tops, and they are great - quite long, which is good for me.

Waiting for image consultant to arrive! Forgot cleaner is here today too - goodness knows what she will think when we go up the bedroom and start draping scarfs!
Libra - those M&S links are really good - I am mildly surprised at how nice those brown riding boots are - never think to look in M&S for boots! Quite like the shoeboot too but just can't seem to walk in heels!!! I need lessons!

MM - Meant to say, well done on being headhunted! Even if you don't want to do it, its a real ego boost. Something similar happened to me about 3 years ago (specialist recruiters phoned me about a position in the royal household, no less...) but I turned it down; they pay peanuts dontcha know?!

• didn't mean to turn a post about you MM, into one about me, me, me...apologies!

Libra I like the wedge boots but don't want to spend that much on suede boots. I hardly ever currently wear heels but am thinking that dd is 2 now and I will have more opportunity to wear a small heel. Suede though could be a step too far. Thanks for worrying about my eating too . Re the jacket, I don't know how to ensure dp gets it for me without being really rude. I should've just bought it myself! I really hope he gets it for me - I haven't liked a leather jacket this much ever.

Cakey I hear you on the camel coat front. I have a Max Mara long camel coat I got in a charity shop in Hampstead when I was pg. Problem is it is a size 16 and even with a belt it just looks too bulky. I am going to go to the leather skirt shop soon - I might choose a day when pil are here and go sans bebe. Will give you a shout! Love the dress you linked to btw.

Thos of you who like the Topshop Apple clog boots would I tuck skinnies into the top? I so rarely get to the shops I think I will order them and see. I seem to miss the boat on things by dithering for ages normally.

Tracey I am following you on Twitter (I am BM) and keep meaning to tell you I am impressed with your tweets. I am still a bit at how it all works and only joined because my rl mates keep teasing me for not being on it.

I wish the sun would come out again. I am going away in a month but don't want to be pasty until then. Got a wedding the day before we go away and am planning on wearing the snakeskin Reiss dress Tracey suggested for me that provoked such wrath at the other wedding. I am wondering if these look cheap or might be ok. They're quite cheap and the HoH shoes I wore last time were so uncomfortable I am not wearing them again. On that note, the Bloch pumps have cut my feet to shreds!

Off to look at the bag links!

Thanks for the work congrats btw (even though I am not taking job!) I think it has put dp's mind at rest a bit too knowing I've not ruined my chances of ever working again!

yikes - again my post was 'stolen'!

I have decided to get some more leopard print in my life. Let's face it, I'm nearly 40 now and it's time to embrace my inner Bet Lynch. this is too £££ for a bit of faux fur but is the shape any good? I'm clueless on how to incorporate animal print stylishly. If I'm on the right track I'll do some more searching for something at the right price. If I'm completely wrong...then set me straight please.

MM - well done on the headhunting...what a tribute to your skills! Was it those pink blochs? I couldn't wear those either. Bizzare as the others I have are so comfortable.