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

[notyummy]

This way ladies....

Purple Loop on Boden Leopard Belt - it's just to stop the belt guide from moving too far along the belt. I think!

Bloss - you are amazing and I am sending you unMN style hugs!

Carciofi - this sounds so unlike you and agree that hormones are probably to blame but please look after yourself and please don't stay away long.

Tracey - glad you are mending and Fritzi hope you are having lots of coffee.

I was feeling rather happy with my outfit today - navy breton top, skinny jeans and my new red coat...until DH weirdly morphed into LTEC and said - 'hasn't that coat got any buttons - it looks nice but how silly'. And indeed they were both right...I am FREEZING. It really is just a long jacket and not substantial enough to keep out the artic chill (and a scarf would look weird). So yes LTEC - flappiness is a problem...you were right

Very pleased with my new avedon skinny jeans (can't recall who recommended but they are great). Rather chuffed that the 27 is a little loose. I suspect the sizing is quite generous as there is no way I'm a 26.

oh forgot to say - Marsha - you are right - lots of party outfit planning ahead!

I have the school ball tonight - and I'm determined not to buy new party dresses as I wear them so rarely and have a few sitting unloved in my wardrobe. So I'm recycling this. I've got some shoes that are a higher and cheaper version of these these. Boring but work well with the dress.

Hells - vin very kindly sent me her Avedons (for GOSH!) and I think you are right - the sizing is generous. (I would love to say 'no, no - it is because I am teeny...but that would be deluded!'. The 28s are quite big on me and lots of hitching up is required. I think the 27 would be about right - and I am 10/12 on the hips. They are VERY lovely though Vin!

Aargh everything, I feel your pain. My outfit 1 doesn't work!!

hells Love your outfit! Sorry that you are freezing. Your party dress looks great too. I still haven't decided on what to order for party/concert. Think I will wait until I feel properly awake again.

And now the cleaner's arrived..

Hells - get some thermals and you'll be fine Il faut souffrir pour être belle and all that

Oh and potty training update - ds2 has fallen asleep on the potty. I know he's a very laidback/relaxed child but honestly

at tracey and eie

tracey - typical bloke...spending much longer on the loo than necessary...!

Quite excited to find GAP and Banana Rep online. What's Banana sizing like? I'm thinking of ordering these in a 4.

sorry you are feeling down carciofi and hope you feel brighter soon.

bloss can't imagine how mixed your feelings must be in lead-up to 'festive' season. Dec 9th will be a sad day. Hopefully on to happier times afterwards, at least until Boxing Day Carnage (I always think, it's not called Boxing Day for nothing - you really do often want to hit someone by then don't you)

On related note, and with all talk of invitations etc (about which yes, I am excited for Nov/ Dec) - we have been invited to the wedding of some good friends of ours next year. On the anniversary of dd1's birth/ death at the same place where dh and I got married and the place at which we announced that we were pg with her. Is it wrong that I have felt a bit stomach-lurchy since receiving this invitation? Of course we are going and of course it will be a wonderful, happy day but I think I am feeling a bit sensitive atm, partly bc of my friends' baby;s recent death and also weirdly bc ds2 has just turned 1, prob my last baby blah blah

It probably is wrong of me

Fritzi so sorry about the broken night, get that coffee machine going

hells am LOL and re coat but I bet colour is amazing on you. Any sign of the Sees yet?

LOL also re potty tracey. Hope dh perks up is the race off then?

eie will text or call you/ Choo tomorrow, okay?

just played fab fishing game with the dc - involving the hoover and all of the sofa cushions . Room is trashed!! time to head to the park I think ....

tracey DS is potty training here too. He's loving his new pants but less keen on the potty, having only done a wee on it once so far - in 4 days! He will sit on it happily now though so that's progress. He's not yet so comfortable that he falls asleep though...

We're doing it for Jan pre-school start as well.

eie what are you going to wear?

They won't deliver to Belgium I've realised rather belatedly.

Am working so got to be quick.

LTEC Yes just call, text. I have no idea what to wear.

Also would I be out of line saying I'm a bit at your friends. Even if they had forgotten about you announcing your pregnancy they should have realised the date.

choo I thought the same thing! Or at the very least realised the location meant rather a lot to you.

Am off out for wine, cocktails and dancing tonight. Will be a mix of dressed up and dressed down people so I'm going to wear this dress (bit of a cheek them asking £10 for it as it was only £14 new!) with black lace tights and black flats but brighten it up with an animal print bag and cocktail ring. 'Tis rather unforgiving from the side (no carbs for brekkie and lunch today!) but it's great at the front because the big shoulders make the rest look smaller!

Hullooooo...

Girls covered in spots now...baby lapping up the Piriton; Big Sis not having any of it...ho hum...

DH back tonight...hurrah!

Bloss....big, big hugs...so sad...but yes, good that you have the other dcs to force you to try and put a smile on...I know you sound the sort of person who just gets on with things and that's good...but take some time for you too...

Tracey - good luck with weekend of sick DH!!! ...Poor you....

Everybody sounds a bit down...c'mon ladies...

Oh Wise Ladies - am so excited for those of you with fun activities coming up! Evenings out, alcohol (oh, wouldn't it be nice...?), beautiful outfits etc. Am v of you all! I will be bunkering down for newborn mayhem this festive season, but your post Bloss re how you are happy w where you are now re weight, fitness, gorgeous DCs and wonderful DH (who always sounds to be chasing you around the house - is that how you stay fit?) really resounded w me. Am looking forward to emerging from baby-land eventually and reclaiming some of myself back. Am sure DH wouldn't mind either! Although I adore babies, really I do. Am just honest about the "cost" of having them.

Bloss - what a difficult month for you, December will be. Glad you have your parents around you and that 1 year later you are in a good place, overall. Resilience plus.

Cakey - I would have felt upset about that invitation too. Imagine you will keep DD1's birth/death as a private grief and publicly celebrate w your friends. But I would be feeling many emotions in your situation, too. You are v brave.

Marsha - where in the Wonderful Land Of Oz do your parents live? I miss Sydney, but am grounded so feeling a bit sad that I can't go "home" any time soon. So you will have to eat lots of seafood for me. And inhale some fresh seaside air. Mmmm. You will remember to use LOTS of v heavy duty sunscreen? Our sun is extremely harsh and your English rose complexion might get scorched v quickly.