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!)

quick question:
does anyone know where you can buy shu uemera eyeshadow online? I had some gorgeous eyeshadow years ago from one of their stores, a metallic kind of taupe shade which was really lovely, but they don't sell it anymore on space nk etc.

God isn't she beautiful??

Just gets better with age....

NY As you know we are in the same boat! Tricky isn't it? All you can do is your best. When I go into the office (and do nursery drop off) I too arrive at about 10.30 - and then have to leave at 15.30, doesn't look too good does it?

some links here to Families Day

I would wear a fitted dress, to the knee (yes, yes I know it's not your dress of choice )in a striking jewel colour. There will be some fab national costumes there.

Roma Love your dedication to work today! If I were you I would be setting up my own business - no idea what. How helpful am I! I love Faberge so my idea would be buying and selling Russian jewellery - although I think the majority of antique Faberge is in the UK!

Tracey Like the sequined cardigan. V versatlie.

Vin Here

Hf - Thanks for that. I will have a rummage through my dresses. All my 'day' dresses (of which I have plenty!) are a bit 'worky', but I do have a purple Oliver Bonas number that might fit the bill. More casually I have new grey skinnies with asymmetric breton top and new grey boots. May have a trying on session. Still don't know what to wear to the aged posh folks supper, but I am sure I will find something.

MM - Been meaning to say - hope you are feeling better??

oh wow thank you hf~ I didn't realise they had a website like that [am bit slow]!!

Roma - star wars lego very popular with ds1 who is 6. Also decent watercolour paints, brushes and paper if he likes art.

I have also bought him some star wars pants for xmas - not my cup of tea but I know he will love them!

ny I wear my navy/fuschia Shanghai Tang silk velvet trouser suit to dinners when not sure what would be right. Do you have anything pretty but versatile like that?

NY, that sounds tough going without your mother's help. The purple dress sounds lovely.

Fritzi, no, have to wait for Christmas for the bag! Isn't DH lucky that I take all the planning out of it for him?

Bunny, the publican has a nerve! A guy I worked with used to comment on my bump (which actually never got that big) and his beer belly was bigger than my stomach. I liked QC, glad I am going there. Glad you are happy with the nanny.

DT, happy birthday!

roman does he have a light sabre? And I second the Star Wars lego suggestion too. Always a big hit with my boys. This looks great.

And bloss you evil temptress - the J Crew sequined cardie would not let me leave the page without ordering

carciofi I also pointed DH in the direction of Alex Monroe website for my birthday. Much better than ending up disappointed I think.

Roma, my DS just turned 6 too! He loves Lego and Drawing so we bought him Star Wars lego (so many pieces but it keeps him occupied).

We also bought the game Frustration - we all love it and DH and I played it last night!! [Smile]

Thank you for all the birthday. It is actually the end of this month, hence treating myself today but nice to get some pre birthday wishes!!

Oops, sorry it was tracey who led me to the cardie, not bloss.

notyummy at your wardrobe challenge for your DH's work do. What will you wear? Hope things get easier when your parents are here to help. I'm also struggling at the moment as I'm fully responsible for whole business in new job I only started three weeks ago. My boss is in Thailand and left me to it. On the one hand I'm flattered that she trusts me to manage it all on the other hand I'm slightly panicky that something goes horribly wrong. And breathe. Have to distract myself with some online shopping.

roma May I ask what kind of bed you got? We're looking for one to replace our old and ugly IKEA bed and was thinking about vi spring mattress too. But they are so expensive... Would rather have some cash left to get that shearling coat. Hovering over buy button but not sure whether to order small or medium.

Welcome notfromconcentrate!

Just been given details of the hotel dd will be at for a trip next year for netball training - here, because you need to go to a 4 star hotel in Italy to practice netball !!

Golly Dexter - I'd have tried a bit harder at netball at school if we had trips to places like that.

Evening all
DD1 was up most of last night coughing till she was sick so had day off school today so am feeling a bit weary after 3 day weekend with both of them!
Gosh, I always think I've had a hard day running around after dds, cleaning house, cooking, supervising building works etc .......then I read what NY has packed into a morning and I'm and realise I am a massive lightweight!

Tracey - Love that J Crew gold cardigan - I love that shade of old gold. Have you bought it? I am seriously tempted!

NY - I think I must have missed your link to By MB leopard dress - sounds lovely, could you link again pretty please?

Bunny - only a week to go! How exciting. so glad the extra help is working out.

Hells - I did know you were joking about Spanx fakes - I just thought it was a very funny/witty comment!!!

Roma - are you working for personal fulfillment or out a financial need/want? Is a bit difficult to opine without knowing what it is you do/your motivations for so doing. You certainly sound qualified enough to do anything you put your mind to. IMO finding ways to personal fulfillment is easy, finding fulfilling/enriching ways of paying the bills is not.

Another one here with a personal allowance that gets paid into my own separate bank account. I like having my own money . I am very tight about it though - have been known to ask shop assistants to split purchases across 2 different credit cards in store to ensure things for the dc come out of the joint a/c and not mine
Am lucky though as dh generally very relaxed and enabling as regards purchases for both me and the dd's although he has been a bit antsy of late as we are haemorraging money like you wouldn't believe on the house at mo. Am still shopping, just being a bit more discreet about it

Esher - I haven't purchased as yet as not sure what I'd wear under it. What I really want is a creamy coloured very plain silk top but can't find one.

Hope DD is better soon.

Did dry-cleaners/cobblers trip this morning - golly spent £££ and so dull.

Evening ladies just popping in quickly to say the gap skinnies arrived today - they're really uplifting in the bum region and generally lovely so keeping - although not very wise as I'll probably fit into them for another 10 weeks absoloute max. Got this shift dress too - colour is a proper crimson, the one that suits me best so a keeper; slightly more wise I think as roomy enough to accomodate a small bump

Sorry haven't had a chance to catch up. Feeling really tired today, I think my pregnancy is finally manifesting itself!

Zembo I am in awe of you - pregnant and fitting into size 00 skinnies!!

evening all

about to go back and catch up (we are going to fill this thread in the space of a week, aren't we?? new record!!!)

Had lovely day out with the Uncles today (who was talking about libraries the other day? Was it you Dolce? they have one in one of their houses, all rich, deep colours, floor to ceiling books with one of those ladders on wheels, French doors out on to the garden, heavy drapes in winter, roaring fire, overstuffed armchairs and low stools - exquisite) Anyway I made the mistake of dressing, rather excitedly, for the lovely lunch I knew they'd take us for rather than for the zoo, which is what we spent the early part of the day doing. By golly I was frozen. Thank goodness for the butterfly house.

At lunch it seemed that Baby L might be in need of a sleep so I quickly volunteered to go and browse the delicious boutiques take him for a walk to send him off and managed to try on this little HH beauty Fabulous!! More than a touch of the Rocher about it, too

Right, reading time. Back later.

Me too at 00 skinnies! The very size is amazing to me.

Plus I love that shift for a small bump. Feeling very heartwarmy about another pregnancy on here.

You must take care too.

I need to read all this. sorry to skip so much!

Esher - here is the Marlene Birger dress. There are actually loads of lovely things from her on this page. Seriously lush.

Am agape at the pregnant lady in size 00!!

LTEC - That HH is lovely. I have nearly talked myself into a Halston dress on a number of occasions....