Party frocks ahoy! Avidly and wisely dressing ourselves for the party season!

[blossoming]

Sorry to hear about your dd dolcee. Hope things improve soon.
Glad to hear your family were better behaved this time ollie.

I wonder what an avid and wise Christmas party would be like. Where would we have it? What would you wear? (Complete fantasy obviously!)

Vino & EIE ok so you don't know me in rl but there really is life on the other side. Someone once said to me that when the passion is gone "the rest is admin" & that made it more manageable for me. It is so hard leaving someone but when you throw off the chains of social norms and decide you deserve a chance to be happy it feels so liberating. It isn't all easy but being on your own and lonely is a lot less lonely than being with someone who once loved you and lonely.

Vin I've had curfews and "random searches" of my person, handbag, phone etc. It's shit and nothing you could ever do can justify it. Without laying it on too thick - the longer you put up with it the more normal it becomes. And the more damage it does to your potential future healthy relationships (as I know)

What do I know anyway!? I've been in bed since 8 & am only up to take more cold& flu tablets!

I think <a class="break-all" href="//hwww.theofennell.com/collections/bees.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these are all so beautiful

Particularly love the tourmaline earrings. Well a girl can dream!

Have great days.

Tracey Good luck with the house viewing.

LTEC Hope you had fun last night.

Stripey Janice will get an outing tomorrow to a Remembrance parade and lunch. Going to wear her with a fitted black tweed jacket, black courts and a poppy.

EIE and Vino, sorry to hear that. Vino, I'm shocked that he imposes a curfew, how dare he!

I wonder if I could do the Shred dvd now? I have to cancel my gym membership from the end of the month as we are moving but need something else.

Where is Rufus?

Outfit sounds lovely, HF.

vino and eie hope you are able to make the changes you need without too much further unhappiness.

mm wise words. Hope you feel 100% better

esher beware the sizing on that zara blouse, i got a small and it's a little big but doesn't come in xs so I imagine would be miles big on you

Hope everyone, new or not, knows that they are welcome to meet up? we are not cliquey only proviso- No lurkers!!! Not without a delurk first

Morning.
Went to a friends house last night for a birthday celebration - we played Singstar - not played it before and I was a bit but it was quite a giggle once I'd got over the fact I hate singing in public! (wine helped)

Thanks for the nice compliment LTEC - I don't think DH thought I was being generously minded on Thursday ev when I was having my full on strop - it really was 'talk to the hand cos the head aint listening' stuff! Watched Nigella and then calmed down. Would recommend her as a de-stropping aid!

EIE - really sorry to read your posts esp after things seemed to be going better over the summer. I really feel for you (and Vin) know that doesnt help much but hope things get resolved in ways that result you both being as happy as you deserve to be.

Quiet WE planned here - garden needs a big pre winter tidy up so time to bribe the kids to help clear up all the leaves!

Outfit for tomorrow sounds great hf. I wore navy Janice in the end last night as had not been organised enough to get clothes out before L went to sleep... Co-sleeping, clattering hangers= disaster. So had to shop from my floor . wore with lace tights and edelmans. Have to say was slightly taken aback by the number and type of compliments I got. Think Mellonhead was prob a good move.

Fab littke bar we went to, all chintzy wallpaper, great music, cake stands, cocktails from empty jars and teacups. Lots of pretty people and nice frocks to admire

Just day outings for rest of w/e, all with dc: party today, lunch with friends tomorrow. Am looking fwd to it (she is fab cook with lots of appliances in lovely kitchen!!)

Enjoy your Saturdays

Morning everyone! I'm so looking forward to dh returning from the Far East. It's really hard to keep in touch with him when he's in busy meetings at so many hours time difference. Love the sound of the Janice stripy remembrance day outfit.

OWW I want to tidy the garden too, but it's pouring with rain. Need to work up the courage.

As an aspirational W&A lurker... its like desperate housewives here... with the joy, the ups and downs, the laughs and the tears and the neverending glamour. I am a voyeur - sorry....

But But BUT - I love the vicarious shopping and have joined the club and got the Janice in Navy. Have a family event and wanted a dress. It is lovely - very flattering. Not Yummy - it fits a little like your Oliver Bonas dresses - the best £10 quid I have ever spent on 2 dresses. So keep it up !

Has anyone seen the Phase8 skirt in real life. I fancy it for work

What a lovely skirt boogie. I'm not very good with skirts though - for some reason I find coordinating a whole outfit rather difficult when there are too many items . I tend to stick with dresses and jackets for that reason.

Welcome Ican - delighted to hear that someone else other than Zembo benefited from the Oliver Bonas find! I think that skirt looks lovely - I have something similar and have a lot of wear out of it at work.

EIE - Am so sorry to hear that the counselling is not working. It sounds like you have put so much of yourself into making this work....but that isn't always being returned.

Vin - It's all been said really. A curfew indeed. That sort of control is unhealthy and I hope you manage your 'end of the year' target.

LTEC - I love the sound of that bar you went to - sounds amazing!!

HF - That hotel (Burgh Island) you linked to looks amazing. I was very taken by it. Like the sound of your rememberance outfit!

DH back from the Tower of London dinner. He ended up driving back afterwards and got her at 2 30am last night. Said it was great - but thanks to LTEC for trying to make it happen! There was a couple there who had 6 week old twins ([bunny!]) and had left them 100 miles away with his mother....now that is a hardworking MIL!!

icanboogie, I've linked to that skirt before. I'm sure someone has it.

carciofi, in the shred there are lunges, squats, push ups, star jumps, skipping, sit ups. Don't know if it's suitable really.
looby, you'll have a pert bottom by Christmas if you start the shred now!

hf, I love your outfit, but now I want a tweed jacket!

Hi to everyone else. Lovely and sunny here! I'm sewing. Dh in chaos charge!

notyummy - a grandmother looking after 6 week old twins?! I doffs me cap! Would never happen here - neither my mother nor MIL would/could. Despite my mother trying to assure me during the week that "I would be surprised what (she) could do to help". Actually, no I wouldn't.

EIE - gosh, this is so hard, isn't it?! Was thinking about you last night when awake and thinking that while its easy to say "once you have done your best, and it isn't working, you should leave", it must take a tremendous amount of energy and resolve to actually do so. And what if you just aren't sure ie you don't have the resolve? How do you know when to end it? Esp if its not so bad as to be an obvious decision? Doubt this is actually helpful, just wanted you to know what I think I empathise.

I've only been away for a moment and you have filled half a thread already. Hope DH has a conference call tonight so I can catch up. Can't see links properly on phone. Have a good Saturday everyone and hello to newbies!

I am sat in bed feeling sorry for myself. No food in the house that doesn't require half hour cooking and dp and dd out at park then swimming. I've been flicking through some of the tens of carabiner we get sent. La Redoute have some criminal styling. Sometimes they do really nice pieces at low prices but just don't know how to put them together. They have a nice shirt sequin black skirt I've got my magpie eye on but I am still searching for a plain top to go out in. I want a plain tshirt style alternative to my black silk pussybow shirt.

Am I the only one who doesn't have anything from Phase Eight now? I may have to have an on line browse.

Pleased that starting shredding now will get effects before Christmas. I'm starting again Monday. It worked in summer but needs to work miracles this time round.

Cancelled our weekend with friends due to my flu. I had a small mean laugh earlier as dp struggled to get dd dressed then out of the house. He finally got her in her coat and hat and she needed a wee.

Catalogues - flicking through catalogues.

MM love the idea of you reading carabiners! Did you see my (fabulously unhelpful because in the US) coat links? THey do do international shipping...and are also in Canada if your DH is going over. My mom is going to check out one of them in person for me!

Bloss Ok, having seen your lovely photos you are such a winter and I am not!! You are much more Snow White looking than me! And I have to say I like the dresses you already have by far the best, although Janice the Zebra suits you very well.

Plum LOL at your brothel. Presumably all your ladies are very stylish.

Miss Vin I have kept quiet about your situation for a long time on the basis that everyone else has been giving you sensible advice, but just to reiterate: abusive relationships need not be physical to be abusive and they are by far the hardest to leave, despite people's best intentions to do so. I am just going to put in this link and leave it at that, it might give you some practical support about how to leave. This is meant in the best Tin of Salmon spirit.

EIE how miserable for you.

Sorry you're poorly monkeysmama. Cheese on toast?

Oh, HF, your link doesn't work!
roary, glad to be of assistance!

bloss you are very lovely in your pics. What happened with HofC, did your second choice area need consultants? Or COlour me Beautiful? Am working on setting myself up as JCRew Uk Saleswoman of CHoice. I'd have to be better than blood NaP, which has the worst selection at the highest prices.

mm - Cos for lovely silk tees to tuck into sparkly skirts. Black, navy, cream. Lovely, much more luxe than the price (£15ish) would suggest)

sorry you did ask the other day and I forgot to respond
get well

roary, you've reminded me to get on to it. Been sewing all week when not chatting and shopping!!

Cos not on line are they?

Have any of you seen this thread You have to read from start. I've been crying with laughter.

MM I don't have anything from Phase8 either, but unlikely to remain that way for long if I keep hanging out here .

Have just been around for coffee with uber chic French friend, who recommends vente privee. Have not browsed yet, but will do so now.

EIE it does sound very sad for you. Have you thought out what you would do if you decided to leave? I think there's a lot of practical help for women in difficult relationships - organisations that help you to work out your entitlements from exP and the State so that you can visualise how and where you would live and that sort of thing. You could make some hypothetical plans which might help you feel more comfortable about taking decisions when the time comes.

Also second Cos for lots of lovely stuff. Haven't bought anything, but had a browse the other day and thought it very creative at good prices. I liked the fine knit tops with very very long sleeves.