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

[PlumSykes]

new thread

Notyummy - the woman I've started having facials with thinks my spotty outbreaks around the jawline mostly (horrible) may be linked to a vitamin B deficiency so have started to take a small ammount of supplement. I always thoughts I would never have wrinkles and spots at the same time but life is cruel......

LTEC Hope the sickness bug has gone for baby L. DD had that on Thursday - I thought of yangymac as I got a phone call from nursery after only being at my desk for 2 hours and dh miles away!

NY I was in Marble Arch M&S on Friday (and always nip in when I am in the area) and looked out for your dress too!

OWW Enjoy the sales.

Marsha Hope the waking/sleeping gets better.

Not very beauty (well, kind of) but what sofas does everyone rate? Our main one is 18 years old - well it shows you get what you pay for!!

HF - I have the lansdown from here and its lovely. We've got it in a sort of honey colour if that makes sense.

Yangy. In my bed. I am lazy too. I couldn't do it if I actually had to get up /wake up properly!

Happy birthday baby L, hope he's feeling better!

Morning all - sickness bug here too. First me, now DS3. I'm really hoping nobody else comes down with it as we've an Inset day off school tomorrow and have bought tickets to take DSs 1 & 2 to Chessington while the grandparents have DS3 .

Agree with yangy that nude tights have their place. Definitely need to get colour choice right though...

I wear nude tights too - what else can you do with a skirt suit? I'm not sure why they get a bad press. Had never thought of nude fishnets though, that's an interesting idea. I used to love cosmetics for legs from sock shop, once upon a time. I've never found an alternative that's as good.

(Have just heard ap emerge after 33hr kip. I've turned off the wifi to discourage hibernation.)

OWW was it really d s who came home at 2 and was nursing a black coffee and sexy voice?

33 hour sleep! Blimey - is she a vampire?

OK, she suddenly went out, so I did scout of room and found a cocktail of prescription drugs (not hidden nor out of reach of children). Including for severe depression and for insomnia. I'm thinking bipolar - the highs are the super-extrovert, creative, loads of fun girl we see, and the lows are the hours shut away. (Shooting out without saying hello to me or the kids fits as part of a low, I'd say.) So I've texted to say she has to be back to talk at 9pm. Unfortunately she's clearly not fit to take responsiblity for my kids' welfare, so I'll have to give notice. I will be understanding.

This kind of thing makes me pissed off with the parents though. I even talked to her mum - she is really close to her family - who told me that she had 'burn out' from university and the pressure of having worked so hard to get in, so she felt she needed a year out to recharge. Either she has her head in the sand or she's very irresponsible imo. There's no way I would send a daughter with depressive illness to care for children.

Hello,

Zembo - thanks for thinking of me...you are lovely! That's around the figure i was thinking actually...and seems fine! Bless...

We like navy here too...although I love LBDs and black super skinnies!

Great title Plum!

Marsha - it's a habit to break, and just reassuring her but not offering seems to do it in the end I think. Roma is right...Good luck!

I have a lady coming round later for an intvu. I had her in mind as a cleaner 3-4 hrs per day, but if she seems good and willing (I think she is - I just spoke to her on the phone, when I'd got over the drugs haul) then I will hire her straight away for longer hours - probably 1-8pm every day, and 7am-8pm on the day I commute (just in case the children are unwell and off school). I will try to get 2x per week evening babysitting thrown in. I expect it will work out more expensive but less hassle.

What do other people do when their primary school children are sick?

I'm wearing that Zara dress with horses today, for only the second time ever. It's a bit too big and I'm too lazy to take it in, so it didn't look good for summer in the end, but over leggings and black polo neck, with a black skinny belt and boots it looks very nice

I agree about sizing changes but I'm also confused about them. I'm quite thin and wear an 8. I used to be a 10-12. But there is not always anything below an 8 in the shop so I'm not sure what thinner people do. I'm sure I used not to be the smallest size in the shop. I never see these size zeros that you read about in magazines.

OMG - yes Roman - meant to write DH not DS (who is 5 so would be more than a little shocking to be talking about him drinking coffee and talking with a deep voice!

So, I did my usual thing of going up to a make up counter with the intention of buying a new eye shadow and possibly a lipgloss - and then came away with 66euros worth of Mac stuff! Sales assistant made up my eyes with a neutral highlighter, dark taupe shadow and used a pencil to give me that smokey eye thing - made it look so easy I was sold! Now have to re-create it at home.... Also got a lovely natural lipgloss which has a shiney milky effect. None of the sale stuff I had earmarked was yet out on the shopfloor - but did pick up chunky beige cardi/cape thing which was reduced from 79 to 41 euros! Paperchase has opened a concession in there too so drooled over all the notebooks/pencilcases/photoalbums I don't need but like but didn't buy anything (but when it has 30% off on Thursdays sale I will be back!)

What a weekend for WAGs! romanarama, your international life of mystery never ceases to amaze me! Hope you get your childcare sorted out soon.

Oh, and I won't hear another word about vanity sizing! I'm just so pleased to be back a 12!

ollie, I wear these nude hold ups.

I had to wear them last night, we hit 1C on the way home. Definitely too cold for bare legs, and I have a few thread veins that I'd rather were hidden away.
Dress was a great success. DH hadn't seen it before and he was very pleased. I wore that Zara blazer over it, and closed the one button, and it looked good.

I've been up since 6.30 and have been super efficient and busy all day. I gave dh the lie in because he drove last night, and had a civilised (yes, civilised) breakfast on my own with MIL.

The party yesterday: the stress, the preparation, the chaos, the noise.. Never again. DH looked after the screaming hordes in the main hall, and I escaped to the conference room with my mum and my sister to lay out the party. But ds had a great time, and got some good presents, so it was worth the effort.

Hope everyone is well. Sickness bugs and IL visits, all gone and forgotten about I hope.

Goodness it's not just me getting navy fever then.

Wore knit dress to wedding with opaques to cover poor bruised legs, received many nice comments so felt nice and not underdressed after all.

Yangy I would have been gutted about the moths. I am paranoid about washing/drycleaning/airing stuff and thus far not had anything destroyed but your poor lovely clothes.

OWW - The necklace is amazing, like the boots too.

Cake - Happy Birthday to your little DS, hope he has had a fun day.

What is everyone's opinions on denim shorts/opaques? I really like them on others but hesitant in case I look silly. I have a couple of girly nights out coming up and was thinking nice top/denim shorts/tights/high patent courts. I saw a girl in town rocking some lace tights with denims and a sheer blouse with a cami underneath and heels. Sounds really busy but looked cool.

Roma - sorry to hear about the childcare issues but you have obviously done the right thing - I feel your pain though! Re sickness, well I have generally had to take time off. DH has (to a lesser extent) taken time off to - although as he is now away 5 1/2 days a week that is not an option! We have an amazing mothers help that I have used once when DD was ill, because I REALLY had to - you know what it is like though; the GUILT!

Happily - Having checked your profile and seen that you are 11 (woe is me...) years younger than me, I would say go for it if you have the figure. Just think about accessories to avoid being mistaken for student (not that all students are bad - I was one once - but if you are a bit older/more sophisticated then it is good to look as such )

Would second the recommend for nude fishnets. V classy.

Had another wardrobe edit today and moved all summer dresses and skirts through to spare wardrobe in dds room. Everything looks so much less cramped and I am feeling pleased about that. Got rid of a few bits and pieces but all VERY old and well worn so wont attempt to pass it on to any of you.

Have also ordered a few pairs of flat boots:

these

these

these

I only actually one want one, so will see what fits the best. I want really comfy but slightly edgy and something that I can wear with maxis as well as shorter skirts. I also want them just below the knee as I have a pair that stop on my calves and they are v unflattering.

ny Like Boots No 3.

Yep, have taken annual leave here myself - and used my cleaner. It's needs must I'm afraid when no family nearby.

NY Do you ever use special paid leave? I have done.

Yes Hf, I used special paid leave when dd in hospital earlier this year. Thought that definetly merited it!

Yes, that did indeed merit it! But just remember that other people use it for when the boiler blows up/washing machine floods/cat gets stuck up the tree - well at least in my dept anyway!

notyummy and OWW*, I'm a spots expert. There are a lot of remedies - I started getting acne when I was about 26, and have tried all sorts of things. I take spironolactone everyday now, or more or less. Providing I don't skip too many doses I have perfect skin. Well, perfect is a bit of an exaggeration, but not spotty anyway . I don't recommend roaccutane, which I found had unpleasant side effects without being particularly effective. However, I did for a long while find topical tretinoin (retin-A) effective. I don't think there's any effective acne treatment that's compatible with pregnancy or breastfeeding. I also use the avena cleanance range of moisturisers and sunscreen which I find good, and a topical antibiotic called acneryn on any spots with tops (sorry if tmi!).

happily a friend of mine wore denim shorts and opaques with a smart breton top and fab patent courts recently and it looked really good. Red lippy made it look less student and more grown up.

I fancy trying some of my summer shorts with tights, boots, layered tees, a belt and a chunky knit. Aiming for something like this but with tights. What do you think - too mutton? Have ordered a couple of knits to try and have also ordered this hat to wear with wavy hair or a side ponytail or bun. I thought it was rather cute.

Happy Birthday L! And to Bloss' DS. Hope all went well for everyone and glad you had fun Bloss. Sounds like you were looking rather fabulous!