WIT or Wisdom? Who cares... the festive season is nearly upon us and one thing is certain: Avidity is the new black.

[LetThemEatCake]

Trick or treat! [hsmile]

I'll order some (no obligation!). Just if you like it, I'm sure others will too ollie.

Dolcee - provincial lady was fab - hope you enjoy it.

Bloss - wash bags look brilliant - I'll definitely have one and will pm you.

LTEC - have been shopping to m&s and tried on your red shoes - lovely! Have now ordered them as they didn't have my size but question - did you do bare feet with them today?

General question - when wearing shoes with jeans what are you doing on your feet? Do I need to get some knee-highs?

Also got DS1 a lovely down filled coat in gap and its 25% of all the children's coats this week so was a very reasonable £33.

Couldn't see much else I liked but had 2 youngest with me so was not much time for lingering. DD again mistaken for a boy several times - just because she was not wearing pink or purple or 'no and no' as Bunny calls them and that still makes me laugh.

Right - off to buy pantomime tickets for eldest child and me. My face did at the price - £50 for 2 tickets!!

Hells - love the dress but I love sequins.

Bloss...like those bags too...

Hells like the dress esp drapey back...v nice indeed! Also liked the HofF one linked to...I think those type of dresses are timeless. A good avid and wise investment I should say.

I love this time of year...lots going on and really festive already...

We've got christening coming up in few weeks...

Cake does L still have Infasoy or is he on Soya milk proper...? And Bloss what does babybloss have? I think I am going to stop the formula 12 mths stuff plus...and go on to cows but wondering what you wise ladies do?

OWW have put my ballet flats away as feel too cold...chunky boots all the way....

Plum love your use of ecru earlier. Good one!

I forgot to say that Bunny I chuckle at your fat gene every so often comment too... an age

Have added jumper to profile. (proviso . It is a one off for each child as it takes me aaagees is hideously expensive and labour intensive compared to say a Caramel Baby and Child one from the sale. And I am not as professional at Bloss) But hey I get to do the chicken!

The bottoms are Christmas Hatley pjs, which I love.

Dolce I LOVE this season too. The trees are looking amazing. It is not too cold. Favourite term for a while.

(have added more names to list)

OWW I am still in ballet flats ... very sensible for trying on I think. My fave convenient shopping outfit atm is jumper dress, tights, pull on ankle boots. On and off in a flash.

tracey am so pleased you liked the shoes! sense of validation Yes, bare feet today

mm really glad you and dp had great night, worth the dark circles I'm sure!

hells and ww dammit now I want sequin mini dress .... could prob stretch to the HoF one ...

have almost decided to return the lace dress

another washbag order from me please Bloss!! But .. guess what ... just rummaging for shoes for the dc in the porch to go in the backyard with and guess what I found!! a bundle of post inc the Nars!!! thank you so much! your note made me smile

Marsha - so so gorgeous - are you sure you don't take orders

marsha That jumper is so cute!

dolcee I have Falke fishnet tights and they are really fine and soft.

marsha, how adorable!!

So pleased you found your orgasm cake! (Nars Orgasm, ladies..)

dolcee, dd's been on the cow's milk since her birthday. No big deal here. I wouldn't have said she noticed a difference really.

Hello!

Ha ha, me waggling my bum at the camera, Felix. Made me think I had uploaded the wrong photos . Fear not, there are no such photos!

Bloss - heavens to Betsy, is there no end to your creative talents??

And Marsha - what an incredible jumper - heirloom for your DSs to keep and pass down. DD has a fine cream woollen shawl that my grandma knitted - v treasured item. Doesn't mean I hand washed it though (what's the diff between that and cold gentle wash w Woollite? Apart from an extra hour of spare time )

Hells - I have to say, as much as the links to the cheaper dresses seemed wise, they just aren't as lovely as the sequin dress you bought. I just love it and imagine you will so enjoy wearing it. I have a charcoal sequin dress from Oasis (Kate Middleton was pictured wearing it w knee high suede boots a couple of years ago) and I love it w a tux jacket, opaques and black heels (patent mary janes in the past, but am thinking suede shoe boots that Choo? bought from M&S from now on).

Dolcee - if you want fine nude coloured fishnet stay-ups, I had some from Agent Provocateur although these ones look too pale on the website. Ones I had in RL were a good colour (although am a little on the ghastly (ha ha) ghostly side.

Re formula - DD is 16 months' old and still on Cow & Gate from birth. Keep meaning to transition her to cow's milk, but not sure why I actually need to. Can understand its a faff and ££ v cow's milk, but I don't care. Plus I like that it has all those added vitamins and minerals. PFB anyone?

OWW - when I can get DH to help me, I have started wearing ankle biker boots from Gap (not on the website, but v comfy and classic and really reasonably priced at £70, I think). If am solo (ie mid-week), its ballet flats. Although new nanny started today - YAY!! Can I ask her to help me shove my shoes on? She does it for DD

Marsha - that jumper is so sweet as is your DS

Bare feet, LTEC - Bare Feet! Its freezing here - so am I the only one contemplating knee-highs - just figure it means I'll wear my shoes more and not just spend all winter in boots.

We're off to Calcot Manor for dinner on Sat night - the more informal bit though. And am taking mil shopping on saturday morning - am half-tempted to make her over a little I bought her a cardigan and scarf for her birthday (boden) and she was so delighted as think I am the first person to ever buy her clothes.

Right have just taken deliver of asos order.

leather jacket&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Black this I'm keeping fits me very well and will replace the new look pleather. Thank the lord I hear you all say

However bag&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Leopard this is going back as didn't notice the gold trim and it makes it look really cheap.

Right, have made a decision. Inspired by the lovely Blossoming, I have just emailed the organisers of a Christmas Bazaar to see if there are any tables left for me to have to sell my baked goods. Hopefully I will get one for a free due to now being a member of the networking group (they are the main organisers). Was really undecided about doing it esp as its being held on the 6th December, the day after the big Sinterklaas celebration which we are now hosting for DH's family, but as I seem to be pretty organised for presents etc this year, I thought why not! It would be nice to earn a bit of pocket money with which to buy some more Mac make up presents for DH - still feels weird buying him stuff with 'his' money even tho he is brilliant about what I spend.

Blossoming - PLEASE don't buy that material on my account - couldn't remember which prints you went for in the end. Was it the apple ones that worked out too pricey? Which material do you already have apart from the eiffel tower stuff? (Typical me - always like the exxy stuff!)

Question - and forgive me sounded like a fashion dunce, but when you all say about buying knee highs to wear with shoes, do you mean proper socks or knee high tights in the style of pop socks????

Bloss! - "So pleased you found your orgasm cake!" - almost choked on my fruit pastille!

Tracey - the leather jacket looks great, and imagine it would suit petite lovely you. Oh, I didn't notice that gold trim, either, until I re-read your post.

Notyummy - hmm, I certainly don't subscribe to the "unless you are suffering the most you daren't complain" school of sanctimonious martyrdom thought. Your hip hurts and you can't do what you want and can normally do, you have every right to complain.

Thanks for all the sympathy and input on SPD. Am grateful its not as bad as poor Fleecy had, that does sound tough.

Cake - good point re not doing post-DC investment purchases until, well, post-DCs! Will resist.

Have to run to Post Office, once called to find out gestational diabetes results (once had just one or two more fruit pastilles)

Sorry about that choke bunny, but couldn't resist!!

Good for you ollie, sounds great. Don't be daft, I've ordered the fabric, and hells wants it too. It will probably be my best seller!

bloss, look at this FAB fabric!

bloss love the washbag and think the price is about right too. We're in Norfolk and things are cheaper here too (unless North Norfolk).

cake I was out last night for a while and missed the dress photos as well. Not rudely ignoring, just unable to comment.

hells love both of your dresses but think I'd be tempted to wear the sequin one backwards so I could see the nice draped bit!

bunny were your results okay? Hoping you don't have GD.

mm sounds like you had fun last night. Glad to hear it. It's nice to let your hair down every once in a while even if it doesn't feel like such a good idea in the morning!

Lovely day here today. I kept DD off playschool this morning and we made the Christmas cake before my family came for lunch. This afternoon DS did his first poo in the potty - unprompted as well! Felt like dressing casually today so in navy/white loose breton and skinnies. Think it's because yesterday I felt like being smart and wore the drapey Anglomania dress lots of us have to visit a client.

Ooh am really about the lovely comments thanks!

Bunny hope you are ok.

Have full house of children back in a bit.

plum/fleecy Love the owl fabric!

bloss I mean!

I want to find my 'orgasm cake'!!

Right- first day back mildly disastrous, am new girl all over again, horrible, new team, already annoyed the director, etc

I wore lola cruz black suede shoeboots with falke opaques (so soft) black skirt/red top (working the november poppy look)

Today I took DS to hospital where DD was treated. And someone there has had a baby and named her after my DD

sorry all me,me- haven't read much of thread yet but hope everyone is well

Ooh, OllieWW, I bought some bits in Ikea today that would be perfect for dolling up yr baked goods. This twine is a natural fibre string, that would look gorgeous round the neck of bottles/jars, tying these labels on perhaps. I bought them to put on my jars of chutney and mincemeat to give to people over Xmas.

Have bought cheapo version of these jars, as they look nice and vintagey when filled and decorated

Oh, Vino, bless you. What a day. At least you looked fab. Glass of vino?

vino that is lovely -but very poignant too re dd's name.

Work will get better

Hells That Tibi dress is fab.

Bloss Your washbags are wonderful. And marsha - wow too!

20% off at Jaeger - REDAW2M

Oh Vin - how heartrending re your DD, I would def have blubbed too. Hope tomorrow is better at work. Although it does sound like you looked fab

GD "hotline" was engaged. Bet am fine though. Will report back if my beloved sugar is denied to me. In tears.