Wisely and avidly planning our Christmas lists..

[blossoming]

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

Roma - I can't see the pic either!

Blossoming - In awe of the creativity.

Well, I picked up the much feted /magazine featured M and S dress. It's a keeper! V feminine and a potential Christmas Day dress I think. The 10 was a good fit, although it is slightly too big on waist...but an M and S 10 isn't really a 10 is it? Would recommend:

here.

Ah yes well done on hours Roma and congrats on contract ltec! Friend here tonight got to crack on.

I like the dress notyummy, that would look nice with my new Jil Sander jacket that just arrived. I think I'm keeping it, though can't believe that unstructured crepe black jackets have a market at £995. It's nice enough for £140 I think.

That dress would look amazing on you notyummy. My Phase 8 reorder arrived and I'm really happy with the size 10 janice and the 10 in the black sequin dress. Both keepers. The sequin is perfect for chapel and dad's birthday.

Yes I thought maybe that too Roary. Colours aren't far off from the ones I love anyway. There seem to be lots of you dealing with the general juggling of life, work,dc and everything. It's hard isn't it?

Ok - (boring) boot saga continues. Because I'm a twit, I put my name on the delivery, so friends DH is not allowed to pick it up as he has no ID with my name on it! Will try ringing the sorting office tomorrow but guess rules is rules. Am so annoyed with myself - but expected boots to be delivered when friend at home. So, do I re-order and have sent to another friends house who is visting UK this coming WE and just hope the original boots get sent back after the 3 week pick up period expires and Kew refunds me OR play it safe and wait til I know Kew have refunded first pair but risk them going out of stock?

DH thinks I should give up completely - and see if they are reduced in Jan sales!

WWYD - and sorry if you have all nodded off by this point!

Afternoon!

Am thinking am a summer, but not 100% certain. And yes I did see that the Mint Velvet dress I like is on sale!! So now have both the Silver Moody Dress and the Floral Moody dress in the basket, in a v optimistic size 10. Hmmm, what foolishness is this me wonders, so not pressing "Buy" just yet.

Roma - well done on the reduced hours! That is great news.

Cakey - congratulations on the contract, and I agree w the other Wise Ladies that a housekeeper should be a guilt free expense! Enjoy freedom from the drudgery. Bet the DHs don't give hiring someone to help a 2nd thought. Mine doesn't, beyond whether we can afford it and whether they are good.

Bloss - you are a craft machine, aren't you?! Well done w all your handiwork!

Dukan-ers - I will be joining you once babies have landed (a week today!!) and I am a few months into it. Or sooner, depending on how I feel.

Ooops, and I did mean to send a box of salmon to Everything. Absolutely not all your fault.

Am thinking of you, too Yangy w all the stress your work/life "balance" is causing you...

notyummy - you really are Herculean w all that you are juggling, too.

And carciofi? - your DH has never done bedtime? Wow - I would have crumbled under that pressure!

A week today, Bunny?! Amazing!

Evening all

LTEC congrats on the job and a housekeeper sounds perfect. Enjoy.

bunny - a week - wow!

The brick dress arrived today. I love it, and while the fit round the neck and choulders is fine, it's a bit sack-like round my middle. I'm reluctant to pay twice the My-wardrobe price elsewhere though (they seem to be the only place out of size 10s). Head says return, heart says keep . J Crew cardie also here and so pretty. Need to try it on with some of my stuff to see if it's a keeper, but it's looking good so far.

I reckon you'll be able to sort something out with the sorting office oww. And if not, I would re-order. I don't see how Kew could charge you for a pair you never received, even if they didn't get the originals back. Surely that's the protection that signed-for mail gives? If the post office has no record of the boots being delivered, then I don't see how Kew can not refund you.

So lovely to see photos of so many of you - roma I am extremely envious of your arms

loobylu3 - yes, my DD is very fond of clothes! She tells me off if ever she catches me not wearing matching bra and pants, and tells me in no uncertain terms what she likes me to wear. And she famously had a major strop in the Bonpoint flagship store when she was only 22 months old - DP had chosen a coat for her, and she didn't want it and leapt out of her McClaren, grabbed it from his arms and threw it on the floor. So I think we may have a lot of trouble when she hits her teens...

Loving the Mint velvet dresses bunny.

Some nice things in their sale,like
www.mintvelvet.co.uk/tracks-print-dress/sale/mint-v/fcp-product/504
and the charcoal tunic.

Ha ha ha, I love it, Bonsoir how funny that she threw the coat DP chose on the floor! Although I won't be laughing when DD decides she hates what I have chosen. So I may as well stuff her little feet into Hebes for as long as I can!

Now, Wise Ladies we think we have chosen our names. Can you please give me HONEST feedback? We are quite confident w our choices, but just in case I haven't thought of something that I should be aware of, would be good to get your thoughts.

• Emmeline (Emme for short): after Emmeline Pankhurst (leading suffragette), means "industrious" in German;
• Aurelia (Lia for short): after Marcus Aurelius (Roman Emperor who was a Stoic) and also Julius Caesar's mother (she sounds to have been v impressive), means "gold" in Latin.

Haven't told anyone in RL, BTW, so shhhhh...

bunny, firstly I'd say from meeting you that you are definitely a summer.
Secondly, a week?? No way! How exciting. And gorgeous names. And lovely with your dd's name too. My lips are sealed.

ollie, what a right old PIA. I don't know what to suggest. A flight home maybe?

Bunny Very quick one - love, love the names.

Must get on with Ocado order.

This was nice in real life - dress today

Perfect names! love them bunny

God I hate some websites - Gaby cowl neck dress if you are interested!

LTEC Good news

Roma You look fab

EIE Of course things are not your fault.

Right will be back.

Some nice things in Hobbs - some party wear 40% off - good party shoes and glittery cardigans etc.

bunnymother - lovely names (I especially love Aurelia) and good luck! Lucky you having all girls!

All you posters having housekeeper envy - are you sure you want someone who knows everything about the ins and outs of your life and can fiddle around in your drawers and things? It's my idea of hell! I'll do anything to get chores and errands done by other people but outside my home or on an occasional basis. I dread the sound of the cleaner's key in the front door...

Bonsoir - if the 'life' that the h/k knows the ins and outs of is one where I am relatively stress and drudge-free, spending QT with my dh, being a present and engaged mum to my 3 young dc and managing to work for myself, then yes, I am more than happy with that idea

back later all - story time!!

no no before I go - bunny I adore both names, Beautiful, meaningful and just unusual enough. Unique not freak

no luck on peacock sorry hells. Primark terrifying. Why do cheap winter clothes look cheap, whilst a decent % of cheap summer clothes can get away with looking fun, frivolous etc??

What exciting things are in your drawers Bonsoir?!
Ours are full of rubber bands, old pens, batteries, hand cream...

bunny love the names.

Bonsoir ime the pleasure of the neat and tidy drawers overcomes my dismay at the thought that someone's been fiddling around in them. But I know what you mean. If I was naturally tidier on my own I'd be happier doing it myself really. Am about to tell ap that she has to be out by 17 Dec. Send me firm, authoritative but kind vibes please. Then I have to work out how to compose email to her mum to let her know her daughter is too unstable to be gallivanting around Europe on her own.

Bunny, no, never Mon-Fri. You have chosen gorgeous names.

Roma, you are so elegant!

Lovely dress, HF