"Oooh" the Wise & Avid sing, "could we want another thing? Joseph shearlings, Maxmaras, handbags covered all in stars..."

[LetThemEatCake]

following on from bunny's festive lead ....

Bonsoir they are asking for you over on the Chavspirational thread.
I really really wanted to pop on and tell them

"Sorry, Bonsoir is busy at present, preparing sea urchins for ten tomorrow "

Oh you should Esher - they'd love that

I have just hoovered my car in the snow because am ashamed of crumbs and picking up other mums tonight [mad]

Have also painted my nails whilst children did educational activities [watched cbeebies]. Must say I do like a classic red on toe nails.

Now what to wear tonight bearing in mind its freezing and unlikely to be able to walk far in heels but counter that with fact I am picking up 2 uber-glam and beautiful and skinny mums.

Libra - I think that faux shearling is ok actually. It also has the advantage of being able to be worn in wet/actually snowing weather which real shearling does not. A couple of mums at school have similat faux coats but in the light beige colour - I prefer the choc brown I think

Tracey - I love some of WIT lady's looks this week and last - do you have any flat over the knee boots - think they look fab a la WIT with belted coat (hers is fur but I think you could use any ultra-luxe coat for this look).
Much as I love scarves etc I might try something a bit more pared down esp if you are driving so, skinny black or charcoal polo neck (ideally merino) with short sleeved dress or tunic over. Good thick black opaques, otk boots and leather gloves and a belted coat.
Also easy way to look instantly more chic in this weather - blow dry hair properly then DON'T wear a hat. Most other people will have had to so you wil instantly look better than them

Tracey wear what you like but with a warm coat and boots, and the shoes in a bag. Unless it's a pub crawl . Where are you going?

Well DH home early and was thinking oh goodee time for me to play dress-up but he's now off for a quick bike ride.

So will end up throwing on whatever in a mad panic undoubtedly - loving your ideas though Esher but could never go out in flat shoes . Am sure that must be chavspirational My addiction to heels I mean.

Romana - we're off to Jamies so should be fun and only 10 of us going as apperently even with a months notice lots of people are unable to find/book a babysitter Or they just don't like us

Thankfully have good valid reason for not going out on the school 'mum's christmas 'do' ....have a good night though tracey... Hope you get to enjoy some nice food.

Right, Roma...Mughlai Chicken a la Nigella...

serves 8-10

2.5 cm fresh ginger peeled
4 cloves garlic peeled
2 teasp ground cumin
1 teasp ground coriander
1/2 teasp dried chilli
4 table sp ground almonds
125 ml water
5 cardamom pods - bruised
1 cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves
veg oil
2 onions
1.5 kg boned, skinned chick thighs
2 onions
250 ml greek yog
250 ml chicken stock
100 g sultanas
1 teasp garam masala
1 tablsp caster sugar
salt
75 g flaked almonds

put ginger, garlic, cumin and chilli in food processor and blend to a paste.
add ground almonds and water then blend again and set aside
heat oil in pan and fry chicken pieces, seal both sides then remove to one side.
tip in cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves and cloves and turn in oil. peel and chop finely the onions and add to spices and cook until softened and lightly browned. pour in blended paste and cook. add yogurt 125 ml at a time. then stock then sultanas.
put browned chicken back into pan and sprinkle over g masala and sugar...cover and cook on gentle heat for 20 mins. nigella (funnily enough) also puts 125 ml double cream in hers..I don't, but it's still lovely. I toast flaked almonds and put on top, eh voila...

And sorry girls but not loving most of WITs looks.....

pickled my loafers are dark berry coloured patent ones.

dolce sometimes I think WIT looks fab, others I really don't like. Not keen on the fur ovengloves mittens the other day but love that Reiss coat.

tracey am sure you'll more than hold your own with the other glam mums and look fabulous.

reine I'm not sure you can have too much leopard print! I particularly love the ruffle one that esher also has.

esher I have some flat over the knee boots like WITs - they're lovely and warm

I tend to wear them with simple shift dresses so as not to look too 'Pretty Woman'

I am the same re Wit.
I loved the Leopard coat.
She seems to do the black base layer plus statement coat thing well.
I may do a similar look tomorrow with my own more muted 'vintage' leopard print coat.

Fleecy lol at the ovengloves. they were weren't they!

Just had a quick trawl of ASOS re otk boots but luckily none cheap at a sensible price point and in my size. I don't really need anymore boots!

For the most part, I really like WIT's style but I think it is because it is really very basic /pared down and contains all of what I'd consider are my key/fave looks but she actually makes it al look how I want it to look iyswim.

I love stripes, a bit of leopard, a statement/classic coat, good boots and bags, polonecks, lots of black and denim all of which seem to constitute WIT's faves too. Where we part company is on the heels and the faux fur (not keen on either of last week's white vintage or the short leopard jacket)

Dolcee what do you not like about WIT - am really interested as I consider my own style a bit of an approximation of hers as outlined above.

That sounds delish Dolcee. I have got to do tapas again on Saturday as friends that are coming over heard that we'd cooked it for other friends last week and complained that we'd never done it for them.

Tracey - have a good night - am sure you'll look fab. I loved your contributions to the chavspirational thread My main embarrassment in that area is an enormous tv that DH bought home one night without consulting me. I cried . In it's favour it isn't wall mounted and our living room is a reasonable size but I hate the hideous thing.

Libra - I'm not sure [helpful]

I am going to shred in a bit but think I should get extra points as I took DD sledging today and trudging up the hill time after time carrying an extra 1 and a half stone must count for something. She loved it - she's turning into a real adventurer now

Oh rats I like this one too

www.mintvelvet.co.uk/the-gabriella-print-dress/new-in/mint-v/fcp-product/749

That's lovely Mumsnut.

No school here agin tomorrow.

I really like WIT girl. Can only think of one thing that didn't quite like (long skirt thing).

The Sartorialist is still my favourite for excellent style.

Tracey am sure you will look fantastic. Our school thing is on Friday (but not for everyone! I am merely an invitee). So glad it is in a posho pub I am not feeling up to full on dinner. (although it's probably one of those things that you love when out/ had first drink etc).

Today has felt like a long day. I hope school is on tomorrow. Doubt it.

I think my problem with WIT is that I expect someone who is a stylist to be stylish (which she is) but with some flair and imagination I just think I've seen her looks all before she has no wow factor. This however is criticism from someone whose favourite outfit is jeans and a hoody....

Where is this Chav thread, shitty day and large glass of wine it sounds like it might cheer me up.

Oh good grief. I have just read back my last post and realised that I have lost the ability to spell and punctuate:

brought home
its favour

Well Esher...I think the outfit configurations are great per se...but some of the actual garments are actually ill-fitting on her. To me she looks likes she's wearing ill fitting vintage even when its not...and the satsuma dress was yuk..she's beautiful so, but even she may have had difficulty carrying that one off.....

I prefer her day looks to eve ones,tbh.

made it home, phew. Had to reverse down the hill this morning though, yikes!

how's this for sod's law .. at auction of promises last year I pledged a child's themed b'day cake. The winning bidder never got me to make good on the pledge as I'd just had L and she thought it was too much to ask of me (it actually would have been fine but hey ho)Anyway she has now asked me to deliver ... guess what day her dd's party is - yep, same day as my ds2!! so am in cake making frenzy right now. Will come back and catch up on the day when next batch is in oven.

Dolcee I do agree with you re the satsuma full length monstross

Bake LTEC Bake!

Esher did your DH make it to CW?

Sorry, yes he did Choo and apparently so did everyone else in his office. It did take him a little longer than usual. Central London was less busy than usual and no snow on roads. He has just got back now.