Wise and Avid Gals this way please. Just don't call us WAGS.

[PlumSykes]

new thread

Blossoming, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope you have a lovely day.

VIn - Do your hope your DS is OK. Perhaps the doctors? Or a quick nip to somewhere to get some calpol or ibuprofen ? DD does this sometimes (less now - I think she is gradually growing out of all the illnesses having had her immune system battered at nursery since she was 6 months old!) I know how worrying it is.

Oh, and I like those boots you linked to!

Blossoming - Happy birthday!

Tracey - you are so nearly there...

Esher - that leopard print top is very similar in cut and print to the the one I unearthed from a draw last week - bought from Miss Selfridge in 1995 - (although mine doesn't have a pussy bow.) I like it! I also like the boots titled 'now these I like' - very cool.

EIE - Like that skirt. I would wear it work with grey tights and shoe boots, or with biker boots at the weekend. Oh, and congrats on the Champneys evening. I have been meaning to book myself a massage for ages. I love them and try to have one every month, but it hasn't happened recently.

LTEC - That See by Chloe top is pretty, but yes quite £££. Depends on whether you think you will wear a lot I guess.

Am wearing purple silk top with dark blue Jigsaw Hampstead cut trousers and high heeled boots to work today.

Oh - and I will PM you as suggested re the jeans Vin - although I am sure you will have lots of other things on your mind this AM.

Oh, and where is Fritzi? Was she going to London with family?

Happy birthday blossoming!

vin it's on asos, see by Chloe long sleeve lace top styled with slouchy peg legs...
Hope bubbavin is ok x

Vin - poor you. Dr won't think you are panicking. Also is it worth bundling him up so you can go out to get calpol (although I find nurofen works better for my DC)? I'm not trying to scaremonger but my friends dd had a febrile convulsion due to high temp (NOT dangerous - just scary)...and the drs said it's important to bring temps down to avoid it in future.

Bloss - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

LTEC - love that whole look...in fact I want it (surprise surprise!)

oh for the perfect biker boot...what sterling research from Esher. One cautionary note...the Kurt Geiger (really nice ones) are very very difficult to put on (no zip) - I had to send back.

Tracey - good luck with inlaws!

Happy birthday Bloss!

Just come across this thread - any room for a newcomer?

Welcome mani - we are a friendly lot here I think! Bring us some lovely links to drool over! (and no, they don't ned to be £££ - Primark to Chanel....all are welcome )

Aargh just lost a long post....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY blossoming! Have a fab day!

We had a great time in London despite DH being glued to his Blackberry constantly. It was fantastic to see some of our old friends and their kids! DD loved riding the double decker buses and was so excited about eating sushi from a conveyor belt . Most of the things I bought were from DD including Startrites from Trotters. Got my eyebrows threaded at Blink and bought some lovely things at Rigby & Peller. Not very exciting but good basics for me at the White Company: Got this poncho in grey and this dress. I stroked the black shearling coat in Joseph and thought of you ladies when I strolled down Old Bond Street past all the gorgeous shop windows. Spend a few hours at Westfield to escape from the rain on Sunday. I love the buzz of being in London but I felt quite exhausted after a few days (in a good way).

Sorry, here's the dress.

So much to catch up on. Hope DS is better soon vin.

Welcome manipedi.

Fritzi - lovely dress/poncho.

I want to take DD to LOndon - may wait until the Xmas lights are up! We took her last year and had such a lovely weekend, plus we were there on the way out and back to Eurodisney in March. She was soooo excited to see Big Ben, having seen it in lots of pictures. Quite touching really - at 3 1/2 you don't need much to have a good time!

Hi all
No stylish news today from the roaryhouse. Meant to be doing some work while someone else looks after the baby so must get back to it :)

Vin see if you can get the doc to give you some calpol suppositories - they are the best and work really quickly. But definitely worth going, I'd say...

Also, vin are your paige jeggings still available?

All your links are lovely. Fritzi i think you will love your poncho - I am getting lots of use out of mine, it's perfect over the Ergo baby carrier if any of the pregnant ladies is interested!

Oh and I almost forgot to say that I got the grey James Jeans from the Outnet but ... the Fritzi jeans are not that great on me. For me they are a bit too jegging-like and soft and I feel a bit "naked" IYKWIM. Have decided to keep them anyway and give them a whirl. Might work for winter with proper boots and long wooly jumper.

Have to ask your advice on a non-fashion matter. DH and I have invited around 30 people to our house for a Saturday night at the end of October. Now that the date is drawing closer I can't seem to decide on what food to serve. Would like cook myself or is this madness? Problem is that our kitchen is open plan/living space so I can't do any last minute messing around in the kitchen and need food I can prepare in the afternoon. It will be friends/some of DH's colleagues so fairly relaxed. Any ideas on what I could feed them or should I get catering in and concentrate on looking glam for the evening? It will be one or the other I think .

Fritzi Both may well be cheaper - get some catering done to have some big things out of the way and do some bits yourself.

We've never had catering per se BUT we have arranged tons of mezze from our local Lebanese deli that went down a storm and was cheap -c oudl you do that?

How high class is your party going to be? A taco bar could be brilliant fun: you would make some fillings in advance (beef, and if you a have a slow cooker or even if you don't, slow cooked pork shoulder). Then tortillas. You make or buy salsa and guacamole, and have available cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, and perhaps beans for your veggies. Then everyone can make their own. If you get small tortillas or taco shells it would work better. Serioiusly, it's really fun but not necessarily high glam.

I have other ideas too but will not seriously divert this thread :)

Fritzi, you could also serve margaritas. :) Am also liking Yangy's Indian theme.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Blossoming
I remember on my birthday last year, I was fine till I got home and there were flowers from my parents (they're not that type!) and 2 cards from them and my PIL, which said something along the lines of "40 today". I promptly burst into tears!
You seem much more laid back about it. Hope you have a lovely day! With lots of nice birthday treats.

Hi - just about recovered from an epic weekend! The wedding was just lovely - bride & groom were so happy (she wore a stunning silver dress). Ceremony was small & intimate followed by 2 days in a beautiful castle here. Guests all very friendly and DH & I even got the afternoon to ourselves on Saturday for a potter around Ghent - lovely. I wore 3 dresses (grey/cream 2 in 1 dress for ceremony, navy woollen with capped sleeves Great Plains dress for dinner and drapey one shouldered LBD for formal party)- much to DH's approval - it was so nice to get dressed up (less so the sore feet - forgotten what it was like to wear heels for extended periods and for dancing!). Oh yes - when I had a facial last week I got my eye brows and lashes tinted! Wow - what a difference it makes to how much bigger my eyes look- just as well I had lashes done (dark blue/black) as sniffled like a baby when I saw friend all dressed up! Also managed to re-create eye make up - the Mac shadows are so easy to put on, I'm a convert!

Boys were mostly fine with my parents - tho bit annoyed with my Mum for feeding back on every single example of naughtiness once we got home...... .

Still need to catch up in this thread but wanted to say Happy Birthday Blossoming! Hope you are having a very special day.

Thankyou everyone, you're all so lovely (soppy emoticon)!
D'you know my mil sent me £40!!
My parents came round for morning coffee and the chocolate cake and gave me a painting, a verse (dad a welsh bard!!) and some spends for London.
Wore the new boots for soggy school run and they are so perfect!
Dh wfh this morning and we are going to have an early lunch of home made leek and mushroom quiche and twice cooked chips. Yum. (But I had no cake). Shall I have a sneaky wine?????

vin, keep us posted.

Great to have you back ollie, and fritzi. When I've catered for a crowd before I've made quiches, salads, roased veg, garlic bread and a boiled ham. With trifle for pud. Maybe get caterers in.....!!

rufus, I feel much better than I did turning 30. Then I was single, had bushy eyebrows and boy's hair.

G'day!

Oh Esher...you are the most wonderful virtual friend......thanks for your 'research' on the boots front...you have come up trumps! Love the Kew ones (adjustable-clever!); the Office ones and the first KG ones..........so have to make a decision now!

Cake....you know that if I could get away with a £15 pair of boots I would....I like my bargains too...but you can carry it off with aplomb! I shall scour the fb pages...but frightened of visit to Primark I must wussily admit. Wonder if Pure might have decent sweater dresses (cashmere)? Will have a look....Laura Ashley have a nice fair-isle one.....

Glad wedding was wonderful OWW!!! Sounds utterly idyllic!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOSS! Have a fab day and enjoyx

The Boy is getting better by the minute...thank gawd...nowhave a Christening to organise as my most wonderful friends have agreed to be godparents - so lucky : they are amazing people...and want a tea dress type thing for it...think Stella Tennant in tea dress, knitted lacy tights and suede fancy mid heel shoes - et voila! Baby will be wearing navy tartan dress, navy mary janes and navy woollen tights ...bit of a family tradition....

Hi Tracey! How's it all gone then?

Oh, and Bunny -helloooooooooooooo. Last I mentioned were Agent Provocateur big knicks...I sooooo hope I didn't offend?!!!!! Tell me to bog off If I did in any way{wink}x

rufus - brave you! I have zero experience of catering for so many so will keep quiet!

Fritz - oh no! I agree they are very 'jegging' like (I think I did warn everyone once I got them) but they are so comfortable...and look great with long line tops and boots. fingers crossed they work for you like that.

Bloss - yes yes yes to wine! Pressies sound so lovely.

OWW - wow - sounds like it went really well.

Cake - have you had a chance to wear those Ash boots? I really need some smartish shoes/boots but want comfort! Are they o.k for a whole day or too high?

I've just ordered some bits from outnet - links later...but gems (hopefully) include a pencil skirt, white blouse and other basics.