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 sort of started to blub and then didn't (am made of ice really) but am really touched, quite amazed really someone else told DS he had a lovely sister.. was v strange experience

bunny hope you don't have GD, gulp a few more packs of pastilles just in case! but at least if you do, you're nearly at magic happy fully-cooked twinny date! which is just fab, has gone so quickly (from here anyway!) I'm getting all broody just thinking about your 3 little gorgeous babybunnies and broody is not the place for me to be right now!

vin Sounds like a really exhausting day! You have so much to deal with at the moment. Hope things will get better at work.

Vin - what a stressful day! Any chance you can make the meet-up on the 12th December? Talking of which where are we going to go?

Right I have a red cashmere cardigan that I've hardly worn as never know what colours to wear with it - its bright red. Have worn it with jeans and a white top but that looks a bit dull really - so any suggestions?

Bunny - do you have date yet for c-section? Friend had a baby girl this morning and I must confess I had that surge of emotion/tearful feeling of what its like to hold your newborn baby in your arms for the first time

Bloss and OWW you have inspired me to brave ikea with the dc's tomorrow morning to get some jars etc. 2 years ago I made masses of stuff for christmas and am going to do so again as Arthur just adores cooking.

Vin - what a day of mixed emotions...but to hear how your DD had touched someone so much that they named their child after her - I don't know what to say - truly amazing.

Tracey - camel and red very 'on-trend' (what an annoying phrase) and would probably look amazing with your colouring. Have you got any camel/beige stuff.

Got H&M magazine through the post today and have discovered bargainous lace dress in black and ivory: here.

Also lots of leopard and nice cropped sequined cardi.

Sorry, it's page 4, second from the right.

Tracey - yes, I am booked in for 24 November aka 3 weeks today!! It really has gone quickly, I agree Vin. DH and I keep saying in amazement only X weeks to go. I guess finding out at close to 18 weeks in a 36 week pregnancy will have that effect

Tracey - I suggest, w trepidation in case Bloss furiously waves her swatch book in violent disagreement, charcoal w your bright red cardi? DD has bright red tops that I pair w grey skinny Zara cords (you know the ones!) and White cardi and her ubiquitious silver shoes. Not that you are looking to emulate a toddler

Oh yes camel and charcoal sound good - thanks ladies

Bunny - 3 weeks! Oh I am so excited for you - mum at school found out she was pregnant with number 5 when she was 18 weeks - her pregnancy went very quickly too

OMG already on p11 and I haven't even posted yet!
Really struggling to keep up with the prolific posting - although avidly reading and enjoying the chat, the links and well, all of it really!

Will update as to recent orders as brain too sieve-like to be able to comment on much else:

ASOS order: MM I tried your full circle jersey harems in the black and the grey but they were a bit thinner than I thought they would be in terms of material, plus too big on the waist so no go . I also ordered this blue maxi dress which is good but am not sure if I will keep as it is cut for a very tall person so not sure if the proportions work on me. Is very body con which is ok (will purchase spanx!) but the bottom bit is a bit of a hobble skirt and not sure if I can be doing with that .....not a fan of restrictive clothing or stuff that you can't walk properly in, even if it would be a going out dress. I think it's definitely worth trying though for taller maxi fans - NY? as the colour is beautiful and fabric is very nice.

Wallis order arrived just as I was serving dds' tea - this looks lovely - who would have thought it for the princely sum of £2.40 (there was an additional discount when I ordered!). The slightly dodgy rosette bit is detachable and it's not lilac, it's nude - will look lovely over H&M nude cowl neck silk top Tracey.
Not sure yet about this necklace - not as gold as I would have liked!
This maxi looks nice, have not yet tried on but SOOOOOOO long! Shame they don't do it in a petite sizing - they only do it in this print which while not totally bleurgh isn't really the vampy goth feel I was looking for no?

Also had Outnet order on Monday across which we shall draw a discreet veil . What a load of expensive old tat. Remind me, will you, that I am not bothering with the Outnet anymore, my hit rate is too low.

Last thing. tights. Bought £15 modal rib in Hobbs yesterday (can't link to hobbs site gggrrrrr) - wearing today and absolutely superb. Really lovely and soft, no bagging whatsover, slight rib.
I know this thread is sponsored by Falke but I bought wore these at the weekend and although very soft and vivid hue had that terrible thing of having to try and hitch them up (without laddering them) every 10 mins as gusset headed kneewards. Not impressed. Luckily I only paid Outnet price.

Wow Bunny - 24 November is so soon! How exciting for you! BTW, I had spd - (not classic spd but more to do with my hips/pelvis actually but I can't remember the proper name of it) - with dd2 really badly, spent last 3 weeks of PG on crutches, virtually immobile. Was pretty hideous but it did improve hugely post birth although took a few months to go and is still not completely gone (but I am a lazy hag who doesn't do pilates as advised etc etc). The BF police don't like anyone mentioning it but if you do have severe spd/similar then BF will exacerbate it/slow down your recovery which is one of the reasons why I didn't bf dd2.

Vin - that is very touching that someone named their dd after yours although it must have been a bit overwhelming when you were told.

Tracey - saw this scarf in Kew yesterday and thought it would be lovely as a counterpoint to a red top/dress.

That fabric is lovely plum. I have red and white twine to wrap round my jars too, from eBay.

Hi esher, how avid you've been!

traceybath, I'm flicking through the Brora catalogue and there's a red cardigan over a grey/silver dress. Lovely.

vin, what a few days you're having. Keep strong and stylish .

Hi, yes it's really touching I'm still a bit stunned. I didn't see her today as she's on maternity leave still. It's weird but in a really nice way- what can I say!? I didn' exactly give my approval but of course I do approve completely- I was pretty overwhelmed and just said 'oh really??' I think I should let her know eventually that I'm really happy she chose that name. Was told that DD lives on because of that, which made me wibble a bit

Oh I saw someone on the train yesterday in a red tartan mini skirt, black tights, brogues, leopard scarf, leopard bag and a parka. She looked really great (I could never pull off tartan/leopard)

Hi Esher

Bunny Wow, not long to go!! Fantastic.

Bloss Talking of Brora 10% off with HARPERSX -and free p&p/returns.

Bloss - snapsies!! I was looking at the Brora catalogue too - I quite like this in the grey colourway.
I also heart this but so ££££££!

Not too avid really as most of it is going straight back (as per usual). I think the only thing I've actually ^bought6 this week is an £18 black boyfriend belt from ASOS, so quite virtuous in fact!

esher love the Kew scarf.
My Phase Eight order came today,
www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/Jerseywear/Tiered-Cardigan/300812019
and is lovely.

My grey snood hunt was successful too,in Peacocks!
Spent £6 on a jersey one very similar to Toast one.

tracey I hav ethe same problem with red.
May try with charcoal.

Have also received Brora catalogue today, just in time for me, my mum, my sis and her au pair to all have a nose today! Have dug out my wristwarmers for work tonight as consolation for not having the £££ to buy lots of toasty, cosy jumpers and dresses!

vin how lovely, if rather emotional.

fritzi how's the job going?

choo hope your DD enjoyed her birthday.

Dh was just agog at the model in a cardigan and knickers! I asked him if he'd like me to dress like that about the house (I mean, come on, what about the dhl man and parcelforce etc etc). He said well yes, but won't you be a bit cold?! Bless.

Vin I've said it before, but worth repeating, I think you are amazing

Bloss you are so crafty I used to have a little business making baby clothes, sort of Bonpoint style, before ds1 was born. Being in Paris rekindled my love for pretty things and I would love to get back into making again. I would love a couple of extra hours in the day for crafty stuff.

marsha that jumper is adorable, and as for your ds, he is gorgeous. I knitted up a storm for all mine, cardigans, hats, blankets, all kept in boxes now.

Paris was fab, dc loved it. Did all the touristy stuff, up the Eiffel tower and Notre Dame, nighttime boat trip, mummies at the Louvre (ds2 insisted we see the Mona Lisa too!), Musee d'orsay, which they loved, esp the building itself, went to jardins de lux 3 times as the dc loved it so much! Dd went on a million carousel rides, they ate nutella crepes until they were bursting and sampled many hot chocolates. I hope they will have great memories of the trip. Didn't get much shopping time, but Bon Marche was a brisk walk away, so had a few sneaky visits to buy dc christmas pressies. The christmas decoration dept had just opened, bought a few amazing ones but had to limit myself to non-breakables. Bought myself deep red shearling gloves which are divine, but didn't really fall in love with anything else, well nothing under a thousand euros! I just loved looking at everything - shop displays and windows, the way the parks are laid out, glimpes of courtyards, everything just looks beautiful. Took hundreds of photos! Hard to be home again, the news here is so far beyond grim re the economy. Am not listening to the news until after Christmas.

Speaking of which, OWW you have inspired me to bake presents! I use Nigellas shortbread recipe, and will package in ikea jars (if there are any left after this thread) Thanks for the idea

LTEC checked out your red shoes today while doing food shop, I am tempted, I love red shoes.

Love that jacket Tracey

Hells I am 41 and LOVE wearing sequins, as Cake says they are so flattering. Actually I had to fill in form the other day (while wearing creamy coloured sequin scarf) and the woman asked me my age, and when I told her her jaw dropped, she had thought I was in my 20s! Made my week day!

MM hope you have survived the day, sounds like a great night out.

Carciofi hope you are feeling a bit better. Hopefully you'll be over the quesey stage by Christmas.

Fritzi hope you're enjoying your new job

NY you have had such a rough time recently, a big unMN hug for you.

Bunny how exciting to have a date, I am getting very excited

Great catching up, I always read this thread every day, even if I don't get the time to post. Two projects due in next week for college so I shouldn't really be here at all, but I'd miss you all to much to abandon W&A

Vin I think a wibble emoticon is necessary.

LTEC glad you are not leaving the northern hemisphere yet - although I wonder if we will beat you there if the DH job thing pans out (still hideously unsettled).

Well, all, it's been a traumatizing evening. Absentmindedly gave DS (6 months) blueberries while DD was having hers after dinner. DD went upstairs to play in her room while DS was finishing, cue massive choking episode. We have done baby led weaning and so are used to gagging but this seemed to me to be proper choking with lips going bluish. Quickly whipped him out of the high chair and did the heel of the hand between the shoulder blades, no dice, did it again, large blueberry flew across the kitchen, whereupon I nearly died and awarded myself the bad mother of year award, especially considering he fell out of the pushchair on Friday. Thank god it worked, that DD was upstairs (and therefore not wondering why I was whacking her brother in the back). I am undecided as to whether to tell DH or anyone in RL as I am feeling so embarrassed and freaked out. I don't know what I was thinking as even the most ardent BLW person would not give a child DS's age grapes, and blueberries are really no different.

Well, I had to console myself by buying these Rowr. I have to say that one of the advantages of moving to Oz will be wearing Boden (the nice bits) without anyone knowing it' BODEN and assuming smug mummy frumpyness.

Finally Bloss have you ever see crayon rolls? My SIL's mate in Seattle used to sell them on Etsy and we get so many compliemtns on ours and have given lots as gifts. Like this one. Perhaps a future project? Am ever so impressed at wash bags.

Vin, it is a lovely tribute that they named the baby after your daughter. It must have been a hard day though.

DD thinks the model on the cover of the Brora catalogue is me. I wish.

Marsha, the jumpers are gorgeous. And the washbags are great, Bloss.

MM, sounds like a great night!

Esher, how do you like the Mulberry messenger?

Hells, I'd left before I saw your message but got there in no time. DD got bored quite quickly but managed to get Bobbi Brown eyeshadows and bronzer and this top.