Wisely and avidly planning our Christmas lists..

[blossoming]

Come join me!
Not so inspired but I do so hate being threadless.

40denier, the red didn't excite me. I suit a deep blood red best. But then I was after a grey coat!
everything, I think it looks good open, compared with other double breasted coats I've tried.

Went to Halfords in Chester yesterday to find a bike for ds, from Santa. Found a great one. Only trouble, not in stock, nearest alternative Ellesmere Port. I don't even know where that is! Long story but I could pick one up, built, if I go tomorrow.
Tomorrow is when my car's getting fixed from my shopping scrape.
So first, get my dad to drive me 10 miles the wrong way to drop the car off, then he has to drive me all the way to EP, at least 70 mins, pick up bike, drive home, and hide the bike for me. I'll be lucky to be done by school pick up! And you say it's going to snow? My 'scrape' is going to take all week to fix apparently.

Bloss - ds1 has this bike and they deliver.

For those who are registered with Vente Privée and looking for a new bag, there is a Furla sale! Many red bags to, ordered a black one for winter but can't do link somehow .

sorry: too

Thanks tracey, but I do need to get him the exact bike he saw yesterday. He's written the details down in a letter to Santa too!
All in bed here. Off to Shred. Still feeling a bit delicate after last night. Oh well!

Bonsoir your DD looks lovely, beautiful blonde hair and such a nice length. Fab zebra cardi (Mini Boden?).

bloss there must be a cycle shop local to you. We get a great level of service from ours and they can get their hands on virtually any bike within days and set them up to your specification. (Useful for me when I wanted this bike but didn't quite have the inside leg for it.

I can definitely recommend Ridgebacks and AFAIR they are slightly cheaper for a similar spec to the Islabikes (I know that Islabikes customer service is supposed to be fab though).

Bless at the letter .

Oops, x posts bloss, just ignore me.

Anybody else need a bike?

No more bikes here pickled after DH's excesses earlier this year

Ciao ragazze

Dp misread his watch so we put dd to bed two hours earlier than normal tonight. I feel all off kilter.

The Topshop haul I ordered arrived yesterday but I haven't been able to try anything but the leather look trousers & some boots (I couldn't wait) and have been attempting to hide it from dp even though he took delivery. I went so mad I ordered two of the same pairs of boots. Any thoughts? I want a slight heel, plain, ok with skirts and skinnies. They're not 100% fantastic but I have two pairs of them in my possession.

I am going out next Friday for a big night with dp. We are going for a wine tasting and dinner but I'll be meeting him from a big work do with 100s of people I used to work (same company) with that I haven't seen for 2.5 years. I want to look fab. I am going to wear the leather trousers and not sure what on top. I won a sequin Whistles top on eBay but it is a 14 and think it might be too big. Remind me what tops you Black Rats ladies wear with them? Can I get away with my fur coat too?

Anyone want to remind me of their dd's Christmas outfits? I still haven't found anything for dd 2.5 but very tall.

Bunny I missed you sharing your agreed names. Please share! I love your dd's name. Like Fritzi, I am excited too. I keep thinking of you wondering if they've made an appearance yet.

On that note, I followed Roman's comments the other night about us being a gang of girls and it made me . I have a very small tight circle of female friends in rl but they almost all live overseas. I find it hard to trust people in the real world and it has been lovely to gently become friends with you all. None of the false, judgmental crap and we can all duck in and out whenever we want without any pressure. I have also never met anyone (apart from my dsis) who thinks about clothes as much as us. I love it.

Vin I keep meaning to say that i looked at your photos and you're beautiful and must have the most amazing lips I have ever seen!

Bonsoir what lovely photos of your very ladylike dd. I love her outfit and headband. I struggle to find nice things for dd's (& my own!) hair.

Cakey how are you finding the Mellonhead? I need a haircut but it has to be low maintenance. I dyed my hair (blonde) for years but went natural (light brown) years ago after a bad incident in the hairdressers. It is long and am growing out layers. Now I spend a fortune on a hair cut every few months then tie it in a knot everyday. I might try and find a photo or two and upload them to my profile.

Zembo still thinking of you.

Everything where do you like to get your frames?

Cutler and Gross usually do great red ones.

Tracey, is your DH a serious cyclist? I vaguely recollect reading that during a lurking phase. I'm feeling slightly daft now, offering advice on bike buying (but only a bit).

He does a lot of mountain biking and bought a new bike earlier this year so the only thing our dc's get at all hot-housed in is bike-riding

But I know nothing about it other than what DH says I don't even think I'd know how to ride a bike any more.

Islas' are expensive though but I justify as it will do 3 dc's. See cost per wear applied here too

mm - Am amazed that your DD let you put her to bed 2 hours early! Hope you don't get an extra early start tomorrow to balance it out.
Ooh yes - do upload some photos - then we can find you a cool new hairstyle.
I am currently trying to grow out some of DD's fringe as she looked a bit like a lego character so am experimenting with hair bands and clips. Only from Claire's though as we seem to be losing bits at a fast rate.

Bonsoir - your DD is très cute and very stylish.

Ah, peace! Tracey Men and their bikes, eh? DH has 3.

Bonsoir What a lovely little girl.

MrsJ We go through clips etc like nothing on earth. DD has never had a fringe. Only 2 hair cuts! I must put up a pic sometime of her.

MM I think some sparkly number would go with your leather trousers. Or a plain silk blouse and a good belt.

MrsJ she has already been up twice! She was very concerned that she'd not had her tea (though she did eat a massive roast dinner at 4pm).

Am finding it hard to locate a photo of my hair. Will keep trying.

Hi all

Just a quick - tried to catch on what I missed since Friday PM, but there is quite a lot!

zembo - Hopeing you managed some rest and are looking after yourself.

Everything - Am also thinking of you and the situation that find yourself in that does not seem of your making at all.

Bonsoir - Your dd is gorgeous!

Haven't caught up yet with links on clothes or potential Christmas presents but will try to later.

Had a great weekend (down to DHs work and staying in country pile!) Hosts were lovely and couldn't do enough for us. Wore black Vin skinnies and breton top with wedge boots on Friday for travelling and evening as DH said it was a very casual 'kitchen supper' - which it was. (We are officially not posh in my family but when I did a job in the military which involved spending time with royalty I had to learn all the appropriate 'U' and 'Non-U' language - hilarious! Came in handy this weekend too...) Then wore new Ruby Rocks top with leggings and flat knee high boots to DHs work thing, which seemed about right. People were in all sorts of things. We put dd to bed, and hosts kindly babysat whilst we went out to dinner and then a party last night. Wore grey skinnies with asymettric stripey top and new grey boots. Lastly met friends for lunch today in Burford (so pretty) before driving up to Lincs. Am shattered.

Oh, and welcome all new fellow Shredders!! You will be on 3 kg in no time Just have a look at the Shred thread and you will see you certainly don't need to worry about bulking up btw - utter myth. Unless you are taking hormones and lifting literally 120kg deadlifts - it is REALLY hard for women to get big muscles. I would like to look Angelina Jolie back in the day when she did her Lara Croft stuff, and she was doing some quite serious weights work then....but was hardly scary looking. Alas, I have neither her will power (or personal trainer) or the stunning bone structure..

Right, conscious that I have missed loads of developments. Sorry!

NY I love Burford, it has Christmas written all over it. Used to go there a lot - we lived in Faringdon when dh was at SC.

Glad you had a fab weekend.

Ladies of W&A - I need a hat! Froze my ears off doing the garden today and saw that they expect it to be minus 10 and lots of snow later this week! I would love one like Blossoming's M&S one - but I can find one to suit me! They just look like shower caps on me! What do you advise? I love my Primark trilby but its not very warm. I just don;t seem to suit hats! Are earmuffs the way to go? (serious question). What would WIT do? (Oh speaking of which - on her latest post she mentioned wedding preparations - do we think its her wedding? Will love reading THAT post if so!)

Glad you had such a nice WE notyummy and your coat looks great Bloss - is it lovey and soft? Looks it. Good pressie buy Fritzi - its what we've got DS1 too as part for his xmas present. Hope you have had a restful WE Zembo.

My friend from over here is visiting the UK this weekend and phoned to say she has brought me this dress as an early b-day present - here - am very touched as we dont tend to buy each clothes as gifts but she saw it and thought it was very me. I'd not noticed it online but think I really like it!

Gotta run - DH wants laptop!

hope everyone has had a good weekend, sounds like lots of entertaining and parties, hurrah.

Eie am deeply sorry and can only say again - you desrve so much more

Zembo have been thinking of you all weekend. Hugs.

went to a 1st b'day party in Nth London yesterday, had to park miles away from the venue bc of match day restrictions and very much enjoyed listening to outraged Gooners storming up the street on their mobile phones, despite being a Gooner myself (am more about annoying Spurs dh than serious supporter)

the Warehouse swallow blouse made its debut, with straight leg jeans, the red M&S heels like these but with a bow and a camel coat.

then on to a 40th last night which was utterly fabulous . Thought I had my outfit sorted but felt frumptatstic when I put it on so ended up wearing the Halstonesque ebay dress which I had actualluy packaged up to send back having decided that I didn't like the fabric. In the event, it felt like completely the right thing to wear and I was really pleased with it all night - isn't that weird how that happens? Wore with lace tights, Edelman shoots and a big glitzy medallion necklace that I bought at a church jumble in Northumberland for 50p or something Plus my leather coat with the huge faux fur collar (Greenwich market) Very happy and perfect with the Mellonhead which is winning me lots of positive comments - go for it MM. No maintenance, just drag the straighteners through roughly. (and deffo sequins and fur with your leather leggings!!)

tracey what was that hair product again? have lost the link...

glad you had a fab weekend NY and lovely day yest Bloss Great coat! and a 10! well done you

I love it - everyone is catching up and sharing weekend news at the end of the weekend! Glad you've been having lots of fun cake and ny

esher how are the building works going?

eie I am so very sorry to hear that about your H. I really don't know what to say except that you seem to have been incredibly patient and put all the effort in so please don't beat yourself up about it.

zembo thinking of you lots at the moment.

bloss fab coat news for you! Love it!

vin move move move. Paris sounds fab...

bonsoir your DD is truly beautiful and she does indeed look very happy - what a lovely girl

Well my navy Janice had her debut on Friday night with nude patent heels and an animal print clutch. We took SIL and BIL out for dinner as a belated wedding gift (they didn't want pressies because we'd all travelled to Gozo for the wedding) and I'm fairly certain we spent more than we would have done on the gift. But hey, we enjoyed it too! Had an eight-course taster menu with accompanying wine flight and it was all amazing. We had a few drinks with them before dinner and I don't remember going to bed once we got home Fab food and first-class company though.

DS is ill so stayed at home yesterday and today while DH took DD out.

DH's birthday tomorrow. He's working in the morning so we're going to go out for lunch as a family and have a takeaway together in the evening.

Morning lovely ladies.

Fleecy hope your DS is feeling better today and happy birthday to you DH, enjoy your day.

Bonsoir what a beautiful DD, what's that she's got around her neck, is it part of her dress? I can only begin to imagine how gorgeous you are!

EIE my DH has some nice glasses with a subtle red on the arm bits -can't remember brand, I'll ask him.

I've had a good weekend really, a couple of 2nd birthday parties where I was with lots of close friends and my little family have been great. I think I've lost and am still losing a fair bit of blood and feeling dizzy and tired. Will find out what's happening at the scan today. Emotionally I'm not too bad, been trying to focus on the positives of the situation. The people around me (including all of you) have been truly wonderful. Thanks again.

Zembo - hope they don't keep you waiting round too long and that DH or some-one is going with you.

Really do think you should put your feet up today and make sure you're eating and drinking well. Take care of yourself.

zembo - take care and I hope the scan isn't too awful.

It's lovely reading this thread first thing on a mon and hearing about everyone's weekends.

fleecy your evening out (and outfit) sound lovely, hope you have a lovely day today.

LTEC fabulous outfits as usual! My DH (lifelong spurs supporter - has a season ticket) was a v happy man on sat after the match.

notyummy sounds like a great weekend, I love reading about everyone's outfits.

Bonsoir your DD is gorgeous and so stylish. I was trying to persuade my DD to get dressed on sat am and wanted her to wear a jumper because it was so cold, she refused telling me 'but mummy it doesn't work with my skirt' - she's not yet 3.

I've learnt many useful things from this thread - dukan, shred, janice, etc. Yesterday DD slipped in the bathroom and hit her chin on the hated bidet (I can't wait till we get rid of it) cutting it open. We had to rush off to a&e and as I grabbed things to take I remembered Ollie having to rush to a&e and took some books and a colouring book which were great to have during our long wait so another handy tip from this thread - thanks Ollie. DD's fine, she'll have a tiny scar, and was v brave, I felt so proud of how good she was at the hospital.