We are avidly wearing our spring/summer buys, whilst wisely wondering when autumn/winter will arrive....

[notyummy]

Use this thread instead! I mucked up the title of the other one

Grrrr to DH. Was meant to take today off well he's at home but grumpy and stressed in his study so I faffed round all morning thinking we'd do something fun and we can't as he's too busy.

So dc's and I went to waitrose in cirencester - bit of a drive but lovely scenery - yes I am my granny 'going for a drive'

Bought yummy food and now back home - and its raining.

But hey - dc's being very good and even tidied playroom without me asking

Oh and some wellies arrived for Arthur - navy hunters - soooo cute and he adores them. Have justified them as they'll do for Bea too.

Felix and Bunny - thank you

Dolcee - I know that pfffff feeling - having people come is hard work and getting prepared to be childfree for a couple of days is hard work. But just think in 24 hours you'll be sipping champagne and looking fab.

Fritzi - flash sale is when they reduce a load of their stuff by 80% so you can get some real bargains.

Dolce - ooh, aren't you going to look fantastic in your wedding outfit? Perhaps have another Assam tea to get you through the afternoon - agree w Tracey that v hard work getting ready for people to come.

Tracey - bugger about DH being busy and stressed on your birthday! I also think yummy food is a tonic for the soul. If we have either had a tough week or good news I tend to march on down to M&S and get us tasty treats. A current favourite is bagels w cream cheese, smoked salmon and either cress or dill and then some v v finely diced red onion. Luxe weekend brunch at home. Hope you have lots of wonderful meals to look forward to. And if all else fails, look at Arthur and Bea's new shoes!

BTW can someone please buy this Uniqlo navy velvet jacket? Maybe its my inner George Costanza but I do love velvet. Esp red velvet cake

I bought this blue wool Uniqlo stole. Feel free to chortle as you imagine me wildly trying to pin it in flattering fashion while DH looks and then then again. Am looking for roomy and snug but flattering.

pop-up sale I mean...

Pop-up sale is the same thing - its just all their words for big reductions so make sure you're online on monday morning.

The site will crash though - it always does

Thanks, that sounds great tracey. Hope you had a great drive. I love going for a drive too. Especially when I used to live near the Alps when I was younger.

dolce your outfit sounds fab. Can relate to the pressure of having people to stay. Before my parents arrived last week I felt exhausted (and again when they had left but for different reasons).

Just found out that the big "do" we were supposed to go to tomorrow has been turned into an afternoon-with-kids-entertainment-into-evening-with-fireworks-affair. How are you supposed to dress for that? And how to accommodate annoying cast? At least summer is back here so will probably wear dress and plimsolls .

Have had 2 glasses of champagne very quickly so feeling drunk!

Had fab walk earlier with the dc's in pouring rain - we were so soaked when we got back had to have baths to warm up.

H made me some lovely cards which sort of made up for no presents at all to open on my birthday . Had money or vouchers from family but its just not the same is it?

awww Happy birthday TraceyB!

Did your dh get you something for later on?

Happy Birthday Tracey

Hi all

Just popping in to mark my place - you have been busy while I was away! And happy birthday Tracey.

Holiday was fantastic - and I grabbed an hour in an outlet mall where J Crew and DKNY came up trumps. Couldn't believe how cheap things were, shame DH couldn't keep the DSs entertained for another hour!

Morning my lovelies,

Why DD woke up at 5.30 is a mystery to me, and as we have house guests I had no choice but to bring her downstairs and stick a DVD on to keep her quiet.Uggh, am tired. A wee nap later, I think.

I had my trip to the shops yesterday. Was most disappointing, lots of sale dregs left, and a depressingly grey and drab selection of winter stuff. Did try this cape on, was lovely on, much better than in pic, but seems a lot of money for a one season only piece.

Looked in Gap at their new collection of trousers. Nothing for me, I'm afraid.

Did see a longer length sheepskin-y gilet in Zara. Was it LTEC that was looking for one?

Visitors want to go shopping this morning, so may have chance for a little browse again later on. Saw a few nice things yesterday for the DCs, which was not the point at all, but may go back to Monsoon and pick DD up a couple of dresses for wearing with tights and boots in the Autumn.

Morning all.

Welcome back ABO - great you were able to pick up some things on holiday - esp J Crew stuff!

Fritzi - tough outfit dilema! We had great weather here yesterday too - took me by surprised and I did the lunchtime school run in 2 outfits as got hot and bothered in jeans and cardi so had to change for return visit! Hope there is more of the same today!

I'm on a self (and DH!) imposed ban on buying new stuff at the mo - seem to have had an expensive couple of months and (whispers) don't really 'need' anything at the moment either. Doesn't stop me window shopping tho!

Busy WE - DH is off on a corporate jollie to the big sailing regatta in Amsterdam today (why do they organise these things for a weekend - its been on since Weds!), DS1 has one party this afternoon and another tomorrow, plus DS1's swimming lesson, visit from inlaws, grocery/market shopping etc and the weekend is used up!

OWW Another sailing widow here. DH about to embark on the Sevenstar around Britain and Ireland race - 1800 miles!

Oh tracey I'm so silly I got confuzzed and thought your birthday was Thursday not Friday- argh- hope you had a lovely day in the end

Plum DS woke up at 5.45 and normally he will go back to sleep, but no, standing up screeching in his cot even after he was fed

I am now on a real shopping ban, I promise, as faced with impromptu event tomorrow decided I had nothing to wear and so ordered yet another VWA dress oh the shame- it's the silk one I linked to before but am too much in denial of my spending habit to link again and have decided the erdem scarf, though very avid and very unwise, simply has to stay because I love it

right, so no spending at all from me for months to come.

have good saturdays everyone!

just dropping in quickly to say Dolce, hope the wedding is lots of fun - you will look sensational! and hope your mum comes up trumps.

tracey hope the rest of your birthday was lovely.

Fritzi yes I wore the hummingbird maxi! Didn't really rate the restaurant, sadly. Overpriced for what it is , food and service was decidedly average

going to a street party today and then big family expedition to Bluewater tomorrow - kids going to see shrek, dh wants a restyle - bound to be a Zara fur gilet in there for me somewhere. Thanks plum.

have lovely days all

were decidedly average

Afternoon,

TRacey - I hope the rest of your birthday was enjoyable, such a shame your DH had to work

Dolcee - enjoy your child free wedding, I bet you will look stunning!!

Boo hiss to the early rising Dcs!! DH back today after a week in Spain and so his turn to get up with Dcs, so of course they didnt wake up till gone 8am - typical!!

Just getting ready here for houseguests to arrive for the weekend.

Oh and forgot to say I had my weigh in yesterday for my cambridge diet and have lost 7lb already, am very pleased! Now just need to keep it up to lose more this week!

Wow fel1x amazing! Really well done.

Extra 20% off sale items at wallis online if anyone is interested.

Hurrah! Just back from run and swim to find L's passport has arrived!!

Yeay to the passport!

Had utterly rubbish end of birthday but all resolved today - suffice to say grumpy DH rather than apologise for being crap becomes even grumpier

Anyway back from RL shopping as only did local in the end and saw this gorgeous bag which was soooo lovely. But am not buying as have a nice mulberry bag already.

But generally very underwhelmed by clothes - did try on a nice diamond ring though when picking up my watch from the jewellers. Think that will be my xmas present to make up for dh being rubbish yesterday

Oh and tried on Barbour international and really liked this one. However am going to wait and try this one before I make my final decision. Am sure you're all glad to know that

Thank you so much for all your birthday wishes - cheered me up a lot

Esher - I kept thinking of pony club when trying on the barbours

Had to try them on in Austin Reed - what a bizarre shop.

I am so talking to myself but have rationalised getting the minx coat - is that what you're getting Verity?

Talking to you lot has helped me make my mind up

Dolcee - hope you're having a lovely time.

So 16th Oct is now in my diary - think we said lunch and a little shopping - any idea as to where?

I've got my eye on the other one Tracey. Was going to link to it the other day. I love it. I am sorry to hear you didn't have the best birthday.

I feel unwell so am off to bed.

Interesting political rumblings in Oz hey Cakey?

Evening mm - hope you are feeling better soon. Yes, much afoot back home. You are very into politics, aren't you? I remember from election time here. I'm a bit (a)pathetic, tbh. Too much time spent doing a law degree with passionate kids

Tracey you deffo deserve a diamond ring. I love that Mulberry, was also eyeing it up last week. Can't get excited about those jackets but think I prefer the AH one, from the photos.

Correction - I said I wanted a chunky camel cardi as seen on Chloe runway; was actually Stella McCartney - here Next have got a passably similar version here but boo for cotton ... would lose shape v.quickly, no?

am very shattered after much wine and not much food at street party, plus chocolate-cake-charged dc so am going to skip MOTD and go to bed

night all - have great Sundays. I'll be sure to report back from Bluewater!!