Karl, Marc and Oscar might be three WISE men, but if it's AVID women you're after, this is the place

[PlumSykes]

new thread

Ok, after another bad night with DD waking up and tossing and turning in our bed until the early hours I look as pale as a sheet of paper. We'll have nice Italian takeaway tonight (lovely thin crisp pizzas and rocket salad with parmesan shavings) plus champagne as I can't face any cooking today.

DH kindly brought me a cup of tea and the laptop up to bed and I have just ordered Faux Fur Short Coat - Cool Grey / UK 10/US 6/FR 38/DE 36 this faux fur coat, a bargain necklace and this one-shoulder dress. The dress will probably be horrible quality but I couldn't resist as it is cheaper than the necklace.

bonsoir If I can't get a decent faux fur coat, I'll hop on a train to Paris and go shopping with you to that shop down the road. I could hop on a direct train after dropping off DD at kindergarten and arrive at Paris Est by lunchtime .

Here's the faux fur coat again, sorry...

That is very brave Carciofi - good luck! And enjoy the chocs...how kind of Vin.

Fritz - fab finds. I am very tempted by the jacket too.

fritzi - any day good for shopping except Wednesdays. Let me know when you are coming

opps! Clothes even better

Ollie I like your list of highlights for 2010. For me that list includes:

• Picking apples from our tree for the first time
• Watching DD and her friends having fun
• Two trips to Berlin to see my best friend
• Getting my energy back after a long spell of depression
• Losing 8kg weight
• Finding all you lovely people on this thread
• style-wise: Bloch ballet pumps, my new leather jacket, skinny jeans and of course navy Janice
• Having my colours done
• Having my eyebrows threaded
• Resigning from my old job
• Our big party in autumn
• Starting not to care so much what other people think about me
• Getting a place for DD at our favourite school.

Projects for 2011 will be:

• Going out more often with DH
• Get a new cleaner or possibly housekeeper
• Re-connecting with my sister
• More physical activity or dare I say it: Shred
• Limit my time on the computer to free up more time for creative things
• Drink more water (that has been on my list for the last 15 years I think...)

Happy furniture shopping carciofi

Bloss dying to see the shoes! Why do R&B not have a properly functioning site, don't they realise the business they are missing out on from this thread alone?

Bonsoir shocking news about your friend, I'm sure it's hard to take in. I love having a bit of time with dh during the day, we have friends with 3 the same ages as ours, we sometimes have theirs over on sat afternoons and they have ours on sunday and we get a little time together which is really nice. If I were you I would definately have a fur jacket

Tracey I smiled at your post last night as I was wearing my 'Turn of the Screw' blouse yesterday. We should continue the tradition of Christmas BBC drama inspired purchases with a 30s silk bias cut something perhaps?

Hells I LOVE that seqiun top, the cut looks so flattering and sequins make your face glow IME.

Vin so glad you had a great day yesterday, but don't buy that dress

Cake love the sound of last nights outfit. I felt really sad when you posted about pavlova at the wedding, I have been in situations like that myself. The bottom line is you need to be KINDER to yourself. I guarantee you, if you had eaten a slice of cake, nothing bad would have happened You would still have fitted into your rats the next day. I have spent way too much time thinking about food, but I have reached a good point now. I have a similar outlook to Bonsoir really, if I'm good 80-90% of the time, then I can do what I like with the remainder and still fit into my skinnies.

Which leads me to my next point, if you will all allow me to rant a little - FEEL FREE TO SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH Weighing scales -they are the devils work, particularly for those of us who think too much about food. I dumped my years ago and my life has been so much better for it. I know that if I still had them, this is exactly what would happen: hop on the scales and find I'm a few pounds lighter, I'd spend the day with a spring in my step, hop on and find I'm heavier, I'd be pissed off and punish myself by not eating enough, resulting in feeling tired and grumpy and the whole family would have a bad day. Now I judge my weight by looking in the mirror and how my clothes fit and life is much more pleasant. Ok, lecture over

OWW I feel for you over the neighbour incident, it is exactly the sort of thing I would do. We lived in a rented house one time and the central heating went. Had to call out the plumber, who called out the electrician, neither of them could work it out. After many hours, and a large bill it transpired that when I had put the hoover in the cupboard, I has switched off the mains electricity to the heating as the hoover was leaning against the switch

Fritzi love your purchases and your lists, your resloutions sound just right for me too

Oh, and of course for 2011: Meet you all on the 19th! Will it be a lunchtime thing again or evening? Need to know to book flights accordingly.

bonsoir Lunch in Paris and fur-shopping for a day would be so tempting. I can anticipate the sharp intake of breath from lurkers .

I also want to free up more time for creative projects (especially decorating-related ones) in 2011. My wardrobe, DD's wardrobe and DP's wardrobe are all heaving entirely under my creative control, I do all the catering and entertaining and I have no garden, so really decorating is the next step - and there is plenty of room for improvement .

Oh yes, fritzi, I think we could really make the day of some of those posters who revel in pursing their lips. Let's go for it in the name of altruism

sorry I will catch up soon but does anyone want to stop me or enable me on these:

Breton dress

cute tank

extra 50% off on both

what do you think? outnet madness?

Hmm, not sure about the ruffles on the dress and I usually love ruffles. Might give the top a punt though.

Vin you are absolutely right, happy and kind sounds just right to me

Bonsoir god I am at the thought of decorating your presumably gorgeous apartment. Please share the links

Hello all!

V quickly, as am about to head off on a run:

LTEC - The stripey dress looks like the sleeves could be v annoying. Tank better, and with your colouring/shape I think you could pull it off. Oh, and Yule Log is a VERY naughty chocolate sponge, rolled into a swiss roll shape and then covered in choc icing. You cut a couple of bits off the spone and 'add' them to other parts to make it look like a 'log' and run a skewer through the icing to give it a 'knobbly' look.

Carciofi - delighted to hear that you are another person who has benefited from Vins generosity.

Loving the highlights/resolutions lists! Will try and think of some to add, although it may be tomorrow, as we are pretty busy all day preparing for the party.

Blossoming - I would LOVE the DVD if you wouldn't mind. Many thanks!

Fritzi - I believe the 19th is evening-ish?? Anyone help me out?? Also, are we going to take the plunge and book rooms??

DD downstairs writing thank you cards. She is really keen to do it, which is great! I am sure that wont last so am making the most of it. We have bought these things that she fills in bits of (at 4.4 you can get away with it )

Right - must go!

Verity - I urgently need to redecorate (repaint) the whole back of the apartment - very long corridor, bedrooms, bathrooms. The insurers should be paying for quite a large chunk of this (this requires quotations and negotiations, which themselves require time and energy). And I am sure that once everything is beautifully painted that inspiration will return for details - like chair coverings.

We also definitely need another sofa and another bookcase - will link for S&B approval when I get my act together!

Great ny, I'll send it next week. Especially as 6 week 6 pack just arrived!

How's this for weird? I buy the shoeboots, and today a party invitation arrives! This never happens!!

LTEC, I like the tank but not so keen on the dress.

I decided that I am too tired to go to Oxford St (stayed up late, excited at having cable TV again!).

Would duck egg blue sofas be a ridiculous colour to choose with young children? We have leather now and I don't like them.

Meant to say, I'm keen to book for 19th too. It's for evening do fritzi.

carciofi - I think duck egg blue would be optimistic with young DCs .

I have a large sofa with anthracite velvet loose and cushion covers, all fully machine washable and tumble dryable (though the main cover needs to go to the cleaners as my machine isn't large enough for the weight). It looks surprisingly elegant and is very warm and comfy.

Bonsoir, I think you are right, it would not be very practical! Back to the drawing board.

The room is very dark so we need to brighten it, in case anyone has any ideas. TIA!