We are Avidly snapping up Primarni brogues, whilst Wisely swapping (for charidee!) our unwanted clothes...

[notyummy]

This way ladies....

HF thanks for those codes. Where would you recommend in London. DH and I have 10th wedding anniversary and going to London at end of November for it.

Thanks for the recipe cake Will come in handy for playschool events!

Finally did the tights and shorts thang today - grey wool tights, taupe shorts, black rollneck tucked in, khaki cardi-coat, tan knotted belt, taupe lace-up boots. So lots of different shades but the same sort of sludgy colour palatte. And doesn't that sound attractive Works though - am pleased and going to keep outfit on when fashionable SIL comes over for dinner and babysitting.

Off to a 30th birthday party tonight at a friend's house. Going to wear this skirt with a black tank tucked in, black tights and black suede flats. Not wildly exciting but the skirt's a nice shape and a bit quirky so will be fine.

abo I'm so sorry to hear about your DH. I know it's scary as we have been there too but I'm sure it will work out well.

carciofi hope you feel better for tonight

bunny you look utterly gorgeous. I'm very as I put weight on absolutely everywhere and get an enormous bump with just one inside. You look so neat and you look tiny everywhere else!

bunny you do look absolutely amazing :) and your DD is very cute!

Cake I do like those shoeboots. Good inspiration to find something similar but less hefty on the wallet as am a bit skint. In fact I'm stalking some cheapo Ebay patents in the spirit of trying out a look before committing to the good quality version.

That said, while looking for silk tees I stumbled across this and am having a lusty moment. Really can't afford it...but they only have my size...eek! It would probably look awful on me anyway as I am not angular in the slightest.

Fleecy I like the sound of both those outfits. So much so that I am noting down your shorts combo for future reference

ABO I'm really sorry to hear about your dh. Very stressful, I really hope he finds something soon.

Dolce I agree re long termness of eating plan (not really a diet). I always remember my mother worrying about my French grandmother eating just a boiled egg for dinner. Or steak and salad. Now I know why!

Hells I love your description especially the word graceful .

Bunny you look incredible. Really. I'm not surprised you are getting wolf whistles. You are the picture of lovely pregnancy. And your dd. oh that picture of her at the high chair, it just gets me (in a good way!) those big, beautiful eyes. I will add you...

Verity I'm really pleased you are enjoying college. It is so great to be doing something you love. I am back to doing the work I love and had to wait a couple of years. It's good. (I'm never really completely 'done', messy hair etc, so prob not perfect! But nice thing to say thanks )

And also I can get away with more these days as (due to a sheer dislike of prams) I am often found with ds2 in my arms. He gets all the attention. People in shops, parks and sr talk and look at him, so I can get away with a lot these days .

hf love all those names!

Ltec I adore See by Chloe too, really great alternative to Chloe when a bit too exxy. Great dress.

Fleecy love the shorts and tights look. Bet it looks fabulous on you .

Love that dress Star!

Love the star dress - have just ordered it in both colours

any opinions?

Good size and I like the colour, but the ziptasticness does put me off a little.

hmm - yes it is a little ziptastic (like that word) and have just had a closer look at the strap and there's something about it I don't like. The hunt continues.

Ooh - Fleecy - I bet you look great. You did a lot of shorts in the summer too didn't you?

Bunny - you look so fantastic, I'm so excited for you - did you ever get a changing bag sorted out to your satisfaction?

Loved the blog & the h&m dress saga cake.

Took 2 dresses in for dry cleaning today - £15 each. Have resolved to check care labels more carefully!

We've had another 2 bad nights with DD. She's also refusing food which is most unlike her and has a temperature. Will give it another day of calpol etc. and take to doctors on Monday if no better. Poor little thing.

this is lovely quality and a great shape although prob a bit too high street for this thread but thought I'd post anyway as it is a great skirt plus a size 10 fitted me and I am NOT a 10

Hi all, I'm afraid once again I am only posting occasionally, RL getting in the way too much. Baby A's weight gain has become rubbish again and I spend my life feeding and expressing, plus ds1 has been ill all week including a visit to hospital with a temperature over 41 degrees. Just making my excuses for poor attendance!

From my quick skim, I wanted to say many congratulations to carciofi, brilliant news!

And ABO, really sorry to hear about your DH's job, I hope it's a blessing in disguise.

And a quick question for Tracey - I remember a thread I think by tulpe talking about a cream she was using on her tummy tuck scar; did you ever try it on your section scar and if so what did you think? I think I need to take action on my section scar now its properly healed.

Hi Apuski - sorry to hear you've been having a tough time -hope DS1 feels better soon.

Gutted for you that little Apuski's weight is causing problems again - I know how draining the whole expressing / feeding faff is. How is he in himself? DD did really well weight wise once she started eating solids and that took a lot of pressure off - is that on the horizon for you yet?

Cheers, mrsjuan; A is fine in himself, a really happy, sociable baby, just tiny and skinny! If things don't improve the paed will run some tests when we see her again in a few weeks. TBH, I don't think there is anything medically wrong causing the poor weight gain, though I worry about what impact the poor weight gain might have. But I'm struggling because no one is telling me what they think I should do (apart from MIL, who thinks I am being self-indulgent for wanting to keep trying to give him at least some breastmilk), so I am bumbling along trying to get the breastfeeding, bottlefeeding and expressing balance right.

He's 13 weeks now, so solids are a little way off, but yes, I have heard that some babies pick up when weaning, fingers crossed for that.

A while until solids then - must feel like an eternity! At least he's happy - most probably he's just meant to be that way - DD is still only on 9th centile now despite my best efforts to fatten her up for the last 17 months! You're not being self indulgent at all - you know that - just doing what you think is best.

It's horrible when no one tells you what to do but there's no concrete answers. I know exactly what you mean about the impact of the weight gain - I still worry now about that & blame the most ridiculous things (lack of teeth etc.) on it.

You're all so re-affirming. vin, do you mean I can consider my trench as my 4th child

Will catch up later, off to make supper...

Hi all. Hope you are having a great weekend!

ABO - So sorry to hear about your DHs job. I hope an opportunity come up for him soon.

Fleecy - Loving the sound of your shorts!

Verity - Good to hear from you and so plaesed that you are enjoying college.

Bunny - You look AMAZING! Yes, a big bump...but slim and lovely everywear else.

Rufus - am loving all the links. Most suitable for a fellow pear.

LTEC - Loved the blog, but do you know I racked my brains and cannot think of a particularly bad S/S buy this year. And I joined this thread in Feb/March time...perhaps a correlation??

Noddy - Don't worry about the high street thing. Burberry through to charity shop finds here! In fact, I think you will find our mighty leader LTEC bought a lovely dress from Wallis but a few weeks ago...

Finally.. Vin - thank you soooo much for the COH jeans. I wasn't sure if they would fit me at 28 as I don't know about designer jean sizing, but actually I think I could even wear an inch smaller...but tbh these are perfect as no muffin top, and if I do have few nights on the carbs and booze then I can still reach for them! I was so pleased when they arrived this morning that I put them straight on. DH looked a bit worried when he saw how small they looked (was obviously to sensible to say anything...just told me afterwards ) but her didn't realise the amount of stretch going on! A donation to Great Ormond St is on its way. I hope yoyr DS is feeling better.

Sorry to anyone I missed - must rush and briase me lamb shanks...and no, alas, that is not a smutty metaphor!!

Just rushing in to say to Plum thank you sooooo much for my C3PO brogues which arrived today
Am hoping to debut tomorrow.

Just settling-in in front of the X factor whilst perusing all the links and catching up on the thread.
Back later to comment properly x

Hi all. I'm watching recorded heineken cup rugby! Lucky me! I'm a bit squiffy after too much prosecco and red wine and too little food at lunch!

carciofi, please think nothing of it. I bought a grey cashmere beanie in m&s today. Seems to work with a fringe although I've never worn a hat before. I'm remembering how cold I was last winter.

ollie, ltec, I have a new laura Ashley dress! Wool, scoop neck, 3/4 sleeves, black and grey thin zebra stripe. Lovely. Needs thick black tights or leggings.

Bought another grape coloured dress from autograph. Think it's been on gok. Excellent with jeggings.

Tried on raspberry coat in m&s and white stuff. Bad shapes. Why is everything a line??

Bought a gorgeous soft wooly throw with mil's b'day money in habitat. Pinks and purples. Chester is great for shopping. Links tomorrow if you're interested

rufus, thanks for that! I'm honoured!

apuski, I was given Maxijul to put in dc2's bottle for extra calories. Seemed to work.

Good evening

ABO I rudely forgot to say how sorry I was to hear about your dp's job. I hope things start looking up for you really soon.

You made me glowing and happy with your lovely comments about me . I wish I felt more like that!

Boy in the park story is making my cheeks burn just thinking about it. The park is literally opposite my house and we go everyday and get a coffee in the little cafe. It's really quiet and the kid working there gets bored. He's sweet and we have a five minute chat every day about travel, education, politics, fashion, sport - the usual random things. I thought nothing of it (why would I) and was so shocked when yesterday he blurted out 'I am in love with you". I was slightly freaked out when he listed what I'd been wearing / our conversations for the past few months and almost collapsed on the spot when I realised other people could hear including one of my neighbours . I was so embarrassed I just kept saying "no, thank you but no, not at all, never" and fell over the pram wheel trying to get away. I will of course never go to the park again. I was a bit dented when I told dp and he couldn't believe it .

Fleecy your outfit sounds great and hope sil was suitably impressed.

Cakey I love the SbC outfit.

Carciofi I love the antibiotics story.

Bunny your FB photo makes me want to be pregnant again and have a beautiful bump too.

I am going to a christening tomorrow and am thinking of wearing this black Zara shirt with a bright yellow high waisted slightly tulipy Reiss skirt. I am not sure what shoes to wear though and if it is too out of my comfort zone (I never wear bright colours apart from a bit of red) Would nude peeptoes be too much colour? Perhaps I'll just stick with black courts.

I wore an outfit I enjoyed today - blue Nudie Long Johns with a lace ruffled nude vest from Warehouse and the Uniqlo camel cardigan and ancient DP satin animal print ballet flats. Took 9 black bin bags to the charity shop today and have more tomorrow we couldn't fit in the car. Feels great!

Have a question for you all. I have a wardrobe literally full of suits and shirts some designer which I will keep but mostly Zara and high end High Street. I don't want them anymore but I do have an emotional attachment to them & what they represent so I want them to go to a happy home. I'm done for a while with eBay but was thinking of maybe advertising on the relevant part of MN for someone who needs them to come and get them from me but they'd have to take them all. I don't want anything for them. Does that sound silly?

I've just re read this and seem very self conscious and unsure of myself this evening don't I . Am going to listen to my ipod and enjoy some red wine while dp watches X Factor (have just seen a girl band with woman in a camel jumpsuit I like a lot)

MM watching x-factor with friends on FB so can't stop. Just wanted to highlight this fab charity dress for success for your suits and workwear.

Gorgeous shirt MM. I think nude shoes would work better than black - less matchy is good in my book and will make the colour seem more casual.

The suit idea sounds like a good one. I'd take them myself if (a) I still lived in London and (b) I had a wardrobe to put them in.

Choo you're a star my dear! I love, love them from their website and have just emailed to ask how I can donate them all. Thank you very much.

I like these black slightly different courts. I thought I could wear them with skinnies and dresses. Any thoughts?

Sorry, me again.

I bought an Aftershock dress on Ebay, brand new with tags, beautiful. I wore it once on holiday and went to collect from dry cleaner today only to hear the plastic beading had melted and stuck together and the dress is ruined even though it said to dry clean it. Can I do anything?