Hey
Carciofi what lovely news - un Carciofino!
Esher I was really sorry to hear your news. Sending you an un-MN hug.
Hells your post about the bra and thinking of me made me smile (can you link to it when you get a chance?) I was a bit 
when dp asked why I was so irritated not to get an Internet connection on my laptop while in Italy & I had to admit I'd rushed back with my purchases and wanted to share them with my A&W friends on line.
I am really irritated with myself for not getting the blue-black Belstaff boots which were about £100 cheaper in Italy. I went through my wardrobe "putting together" outfits yesterday to try and convince myself I don't need them but they've well & truly lodged themselves in my thoughts. They are so beautiful and would look perfect with my new navy cashmere dress but if the boots over jeans look is coming to an end I'd get nowhere near as much wear from them as they price would require. We will see.
I've been following the brogue debate with interest. I purchased a pair of patenty dark grey ones (I usually loathe patent but they're shiny rather than patent really) and wore them a few times with Marthas but when I look back at the photos I look very unbalanced clothing wise. I tried them on with a few things yesterday and I like them, just not on me. So I am coming to the conclusion that rather than a pair of long black boots, I actually need something to wear under trousers. I have three pairs of pegs and nothing to wear on my feet with them. I've been looking at these Ash boots for a while but am not sure they fit the brief of fitting under a narrow peg leg.
I also realised when looking at my wardrobe yesterday, I have to stop shopping for the life I had. Clog boots I can hardly walk in? Short beautiful wool dresses I can't bend down in? Not great for sahm. It makes me angry when I see mums too dressed up to play with their LOs. Good news is I've been a lot more wise recently and my All Saints jacket goes with everything as do the Belstaff boots 
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Am awaiting deliveries from Zara, Uniqlo, H&M and M&S today! Have ordered ££ of cashmere from Uniqlo to try on and chose a few bits. Also ordered this Zara maxi and this which I've had my eye on for a while though expect they'll both go back as I'd have no idea what footwear to wear. I am also waiting for that Mango shirt to arrive Cakey I saw it in Grazia ages ago and forgot to order so thanks for reminding me .
Despite it being very un-Italian, I am not a big fan of dressing dd up; she prefers to be "nuda" as often as possible and I tend to get her a lot of bright Scandinavian dresses and leggings. When we go back to Italy though I make a lot of effort and dd looked so cute in these wonderful Zara trousers with a grey roll neck, grey cardigan and these cute Ecco boots. I have extended my A&W-ery to her wardrobe this season and have limited it to 4 colours so everything will go together. She of course only wants to wear her grey marl Barbapapa tracksuit from H&M 
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Off to post on your blog Cakey. Rufus I tried everything to get that dress this summer! I ended up getting one for a fraction of the price from a shop locally and wore it loads on holiday.
Sorry for the long post!