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]

Roary - I just phoned boden up and said I knew the website was saying out of stock but were they really, really? And she magically found me one and its been despatched today. So on wednesday I will be wearing breton top, indigo skinnies and leopard belt - nothing like a bit of forward planning

Is anyone planning on buying anything from the final Kate Moss collection for tosho? I quite like the look of two of the tea dresses and the little leather jacket. May order and see what the quality is like . . .

tracey I like the tea dresses I must admit,but fear I am a little old for them at 43....they are always so short.
Congrats on the Boden lepard belt.I bought two last year from Peacocks of all places!
I do like Boden's customer service...

Fritzi, I really like Giorgio Armani Face Fabric.

Fritzi I love chantecaille's 'just skin' but it's quite exxy- however it does last for absolutely ages. Also tried laura mercier illuminating tinted moisturiser which was nice

I love the shoeboots monkeys linked to from M&S.. can't order as they are too similar to ones I bought recently from local shop- but they were more than twice the price and not as nice! (and actually kill my feet)

Thanks for your comments. vino is chantecailles "just skin" the same as "real skin". I think I might have one of those at the back of my drawer. Don't know why I never really used it. Will see if I can find it.

Evening wise ladies.

Hunky postman bought my new boots today. Love the m&s shoeboots and they are very comfy. Am unsure about shearling bikers as they look quite slouchy and not as biker ish. I will try and upload a photo for opinions as I can't make up my mind.

Enjoyed the blog plum

I am stripes girl, love florals but not on me!

Yes, well done on the leopard print belt Tracey...I wonder what other items that approach could work on ? I really fancied the chunky knit with pockets but alas out of stock, or not? I shall find out....

I really like the wardrobe planning btw...

NY and bloss great photos!
have fun tonight plum
roary sorry about the bug and bad dreams Poor mite.

Lots of v.tired children here tonight. Was so sweet, my friend (with 2dc) and I alternate monday afternoons/ evenings at each other's houses. So they all have baths mid-afternoon before getting together - so this afternoon, at ours, it was drop scones for afternoon tea and then the individual pumpkin risottos with grilled chicken for dinner. Berries for dessert. Like little dinner parties, they make u slaugh so muc, getting dressed up and putting on shows etc etc.

Those mini pumpkins are great, they just run and run. They have been used to play "hide the pumpkin," used in our autumn harvest table display thingy, used as babies (being pushed around in doll buggy), used for as bowls tonight and now, finally, they are scrubbed out gracing my window sill with tealights. Quelle bargainousness!!

There are two dresses in this week's style supp that I may have to try - both M&S - this and another one on page 34 (can't find online) Going into town tomorrow to pick up the KG red shoes so will have a look if there's time but doubtful as ds1 is only at nursery for morning session.

carciofi how are you feeling? has the queasiness subsided a bit?

Ha LTEC - I thought of you when I saw that dress in Style! It is rather nice!

oh, the shoes thing. I never want people to take their shoes of at my place and don't partic like being asked to do so elsewhere.

re racism - I thought you would understand Zembo. Sadly, I think lots of people have their blind spots/ unreasonable assumptions etc about all sorts of things, not just race. My dad's manifests itself in a very low-level way, like speaking very clearly to a non-Caucasian waiter, or cursing a bad driver and then catching sight of who is behind the wheel and saying "ah, typical". he would never use any of the horrible appellations (and would be horrified to hear someone else doing so). But it's racism nonetheless and I find it embarrassing. I wouldn't say he was 'bleeeuggh' though - rather, someone who has suffered a lot at the hands of other racists (sometimes with physical violence) but, rather than wanting to avoid perpetuating such behaviour at all costs, seeks solace in finding another scapegoat.

The world is a tricky place; people are tricky. Complex. But not without their positives.

Pretty dress LTEC.

Just flicking through new vogue and some lovely star themed things - made me think of you LTEC and your little star

Oh god LTEC - I hope that wasn't insensitive.

Did any of you see the line up models in Saturday's Guardian? One is wearing a black jumpsuit on sale at Urban Outfitters with a top underneath. I love it.

Esher did your Wallis dress and necklace come? What do you think of the Full Circle trousers?

Am happier this evening as mum is back from a week away and have been hanging out at hers. Dsis came for for tea and we've both decided to stay so I can make my famous pancakes for breakfast and we can enjoy a bottle of wine now dd is asleep.

I loved Bloss' stripes and florals statement. I have always been a plain woman who has admired others' stripes from afar. But no more. Am in stripes how after buying 4 Bretons on Saturday!?

Love all the lovely things about kids. They're fab aren't they.

Any one heard from Libra?

really? I will have to check it out. I love star print (always have, but more now )

tracey I never asked you how your night out was Sat before last? and what you wore?

roary no not going home yet! April or Sept next year - one or the other, in balance at mo (work stuff ...) DD will start school beginning of 2012 - so we'll be there before then.

no!! not at all tracey. Makes me happy that people think of her (and me!!)

thank you

where is bloss with her swatches??

bloss what colour would you put with this??

I thought purple/ magenta/ lilac?

not that scarf, just closest colour I could find that wasn't marl!!

I'll tell you where I am ltec. IPhone has banned me from Mumsnet Talk. I have had to persuade dh to go and talk to his mother so I can have a minute up here!
And I'm a pretty sight, let me tell you. Fresh from chair squats and v raises, or whatever.

Tomorrow I am going to post a photo of all my stripey clothes for your perusal.

Right, light grey. My favourite. Not lilac, dear me no. But definitely purple, magenta, fuchsia, royal blue, navy blue, emerald green, any of the winter colours which means brights, jewels, high contrast. But no lilac.

If you don't hear from me again, you'll know why. I shall be on the phone to Orange first thing.

Can't keep up, but what I CAN remember...

Ironing - I don't do it. Send DH's shirts out. Bad luck about everything else.

Shoes on/off? - we are bare foot at home (keeps me on my toes - ha ha - pedi wise, at least). Don't care what guests do, except muddy shoes. Main reason is DD picks up things off the floor, was worse when she was crawling. No doubt have proven myself to be utterly plebeian

Maternity clothes - I rate the TS Baxter jeans, although do have to hoist them. Better than the DP over the bump shockers that dragged my knickers down w them. Should slash them w scissors as pay back . My current uniform is TS Baxters, l sleeve Primark stretchy top (£3 each!! Bought about 7 different colours), ballet flats, scarf and FC Lark coat (thanks to Fritzi that I found that, I think). So not v stylish, but is practical (have to run around after DD so no dresses/skirts this time due to knicker flashing worries at playgroup). I 2nd the advice not to buy maternity tops - just size up. I like H&M, Massimo Dutti, Zara and Primark for their stretchy tops/cardis. Loving my charcoal grey open cardi from Gap in merino - so soft and warm.

Plum - have a fantastic time tonight!

Vin - oh, you lovely girl, I hope your first day back goes well tomorrow! Thanks for advice on protecting post-whitened teeth - my chompers are in for an almighty bleaching once babies arrive. I was also a bit about stories from older ladies and their alcohol / cigarette consumption about 15-20 years ago.

Coathanger for shoes - excellent tip, thank you! These boots don't have a zip, but will use hanger on boots that do.

Forgotten everything else. Although I read the thread and mentally respond ie laugh, smile, think of what I want to say, never get much in a post...

Bloss - meant to say that I thought your outfit looked great, but could barely see - 'twas from quite a distance. I was squinting hard, but couldn't see properly .

Yangy - I adore the sound of your christening outfit! Sounds divine.

Good luck tomorrow Vin will have fingers crossed that it goes well. What did you decide to wear?

Carciofi we have babysitting "issues" which is part of the problem. Long story but dp is incredibly worried about something happening to dd. He manages this fear most of the time but can't leave her with anyone but me comfortably - not even his parents. You can imagine what it means for me. I can count my nights out since dd without her on one hand. Luckily she's great coming out with me & sleeping a while in her pram. But it can be hard & sometimes the pressure gets to me. I know I'm everso lucky to be a sahm (& he's lucky I am!) but he just cannot comprehend that going out with dd isn't the same as going out on my own.

I just read the news about Lily Allen and it made me feel everso sad. And there's me complaining about not getting a night off.

MM - it's tragic about Lily Allen. So sad, isn't it?! But your babysitting situation still does sound v difficult - lots of pressure over a long period of time. And at some point your DP will have to trust her w others ie school, so maybe better if he started to transition in slowly w the ocassional, or even 1 afternoon a week, babysitting? You do need some time out, I think, as parenting can be so wearing and selfless.

Indeed - so incredibly tragic for Lily Allen.

MM - agree with Bunny - very tricksy regarding babysitting. Like carciofi I use Sitters and have had pretty much the same babysitter for the last 6 years - she's a registered childminder and very good. Children are always in bed before we go out anyway.

Have been up since very early and have already made 2 batches of cookie dough and got us all ready. Am doing breton jumper from hobbs which I love (rubens sweater - can't link though) with silk leopard print scarf and skinnies.

LTEC - wore grey animal print jersey dress when we out last. Am out this saturday too with in-laws - not sure what to wear for that . . .

Right - off to school.

Although MM - I do understand why your DH is edgy about leaving your DD. Took me a while with each of mine to feel comfortable leaving them even when they were asleep and in bed.

It's Tracey the dynamo!

Re Baxter sizing - I think it's true to size. Was 10 pre-preg and wearing a 10 in the Baxters. The Marthas in a 10 are too big though - v odd. Am getting a bit fatpuffy now (weren't there ankles down there once?) so maybe the Marthas will come into their own .

Did anyone get SPD (pelvic girdle pain they call it now) and did they do anything for it whilst preg (ie exercises) and did it go away once DC/s were born?