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

Very wise to avoid Oxford St carciofi. Chester was bad enough yesterday! Not sure about the duck egg blue though. We have a chocolate brown sofa for the kids (habitat) and a nicer slate one (laura ashley) for guests! Downstairs we have two big dalton gold sofas (laura ashley again, worth a look especially at sale time).

Sunday they're redoing the nativity. Can I wear my sequin dress or is that so over?

carcofi, glad you are enjoying the cottage. I love duck egg blue as a colour but I would be tempted to limit it to accessories or walls rather than a hugh £££ purchase like a sofa.

My DCs are 9,7 and 3 and we have pale stone coloured sofas from Multiyork. The covers are removable and washable and since we are cottage sized here too, I can fit them in the washing machine. They look as good as new and are nearly 2 years old. Our old sofa was from there too and is still going strong after 10+ years.

Carciofi - we had two lovely duck egg blue sofas from The Sofa Workshop (half price in the sale). They looked great until the boys hit toddlerhood and then just looked grubby. We should have brought the arm covers but even the cushions had marks on them. They were supposed to be washable covers but I never could get them really clean. Sold them last year (I cried) and brought sensible mocha coloured ones. Lady I sold them too tho told me she had managed to get them v clean tho!
They did look lovely and everyone complimented them! Would buy them again - but only if I could ban DSs from sitting on them!

Good news - I hope. The Warehouse dress was back in stock in a 12 on ASOS this morning so quickly ordered one. One of those things where I will have to wait and see if they have it stock when it comes to dispatch! Delivery email said I would receive it by Tuesday 11th Jan but hoping it comes by next Sat for the concert......whats the Patron Saint of Fashion so I can send them up a little prayer?!

As I have never really bought any furniture in the UK, I don't know if M&S's is any good, but look they have a sale for sofas and armchairs.

carciofi- I love duck egg and other similar soft blue/ grey/ green tones. However, probably not the best choice. It depends how strict you are re children eating all over the house/ making sure pens don't go astray, etc.
How about a lovely grey with jewel coloured cushions, etc. I always think that is a lovely combination too or you could have a duck egg/ lighter chair (from which the DC are banned)and a darker coloured sofa?

bonsoir- you are so lucky to be decorating your apartment, especially if the insurers are paying! What fun to be choosing all those paints, etc, etc.

LTEC- I'm not to keen on the dress or the top tbh- too frilly.

verity/ vino- agree re scales- I think you can get too caught up on numbers using weighing scales. It is more about how healthy you look, how clothes are fitting, etc (actually just noticed that's exactly what verity just said!
I do understand how people (women especially and often v good looking, intelligent, successful ones) get obssessed with their food and weight and it can take over your life.

I agree that weight fluctuates because I woke up on the 27th 4lb heavier in 4 days! It's back to normal now thankfully. I know that without careful monitoring my weight creeps up though and daily morning weighing works for me (and for my dad, they must have passed it on to me!) Age and a change in lifestyle means that I have to be on my toes I suppose!

Have (hopefully) posted a pic on my profile of me in P&J dress. Opinions please! And ignore the bad hair, lack of makeup and grumpy face please TIA!

The dress looks great on you but I share your reservation re: colour. Better with darker hair/skin maybe? It is a bit too vibrant for your lovely pale skin. It would probably work best with opaques and hair up though if you decide to keep it. IMVHO of course (and DH's as he happened to be looking over my shoulder). Unfortunately there are not a lot of colours to choose from.

Feel free to ignore me as some far more stylish ladies will probably have completely different opinions.

It's a lovely dress with a lot of personality and it needs commensurate glam from you - and it will look really lovely!

I'd wear it with flat knee high pale grey suede boots and anthracite opaque tights and a zebra-print (or giraffe print) bag.

You might want to do your hair with some kind of hair ornament - a sparkly hairband or some diamanté clips?

abo Agree with bonsoir: Dress definitely needs opaques and va-va-voom attitude. Maybe bloss can assess wether colour is good for you?

I'm already dressed for NYE (nude silk dress with some black embroidery, black opaques and cheapo M&S shoeboots) and waiting for DH and DD to come back from the cinema. Champagne is in the fridge and although I have a really bad headache and haven't had enough sleep I feel so much better now that I'm dressed properly and have hair and make-up done.

Eek, have just discovered that the Italian place where we wanted to get takeout food from is closed today! Better start ringing some other places to find out where our dinner will come from.

ABO, I agree with pickledsiblings, from the photo at least I'm not sure the red is 'orange' enough for you. But see what the consensus is.

Right, I've started sorting my wardrobe post-colours, and have my first offering for you lovely ladies. Anyone want a white Goat cardigan? It's cotton, in a size 8, and a pic is on my profile. Don't want any money for it, let me know if you fancy it!

Your outfit sounds lovely, fritzi. I don't even know what time DP is getting home - he had a bit of a disaster at work yesterday (master key to all offices appears to have been stolen) and he was trying to get a locksmith out to change the locks. Not easy on 31/12.

DD and I went out and bought flowers for the apartment, scallops for dinner, and some lovely macarons and tiramisu ice cream from our favourite local pâtisserie, and kouglof for tomorrow morning. Prosecco is in the fridge. But it's going to be very low key here tonight.

It's getting colder, too - I had that exhausted feeling after going shopping that you get when you walk around in really low temperatures.

Why do you want to pass on that gorgeous white cardigan, Apuski? . Just think how fabulous it will be with SS11's block colour looks!

I've had it for two summers now and just don't wear it - it washes me out I think. Plus I'm not size 8 on my hips any more and hopefully won't be again (too thin for me).

Lol you lot know me so well re frill on dress driving me bonkers

Bought the top though as will be easy with denim and tan, back home too. Horrified at full price though, who do these people think they are!??!!

ABO you are a hottie. Looks good. Think you need opaques and some kind of statement necklace featuring lots of black/jet to balance your paler colouring

Right the kids are in fancy dress and we are off to the wear-em-out party. Happy ny everyone!!

Apuski - I would love that cardigan but are you really sure?? Its so lovely and would work well on top of other colours?

Just back from Drs as finally have succubmed to anti-b's for sinuses as its been 2 months now. Also need a new pill - and there was a teeny 2 week old there - sooo sweet

I think the dress needs a lot of work to look right abo, sorry! I think you're right re colour being more suited for winters. If you're unsure, I think that's your answer. The right colour would make you look and feel 'wow' from the start.
Did you see the IO dresses ollie linked to yesterday? I'm sure they'd look great on your figure.

ollie, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your dress.

fritzi, I'm glad things got better for you in 2010. You are so lovely and thoughtful to everyone on this thread. I hope you have a lovely evening, with some food!

All this prosecco chilling! I have 2 bottles of my favourite chateauneuf du pape in the cupboard or a Spanish El Bombero (parents gave me 2, drank one with dh last night, lovely, but 15%), or I could chill some prosecco too. Decisions decisions.
I aim to do my new DVD, 6 week 6 pack later. I'm very tempted to take before and after side view photos! Don't worry I won't share!!

Agree completely about opaques; do tonight is at a friend's house so don't think I could do boots all evening though...

Thanks LTEC

Will try with opaques and report back!

ABO - the shape is beautiful on you but agree i agree with the ideas for dressin git up to it's full potential!

Sorry I missed the outnet voting but totally agree on teh dress!

ABO agree with Bloss. The lady who did my colours said sometimes you love an item in your wardrobe but whenever you put it on, it doesn't look or feel quite right and thats often down to the colour. I love the dress tho and the style is fab on you. This is the IO dress I linked to yesterday and the blue is lovely: here

Fritzi - your outfit sounds so lovely. I had no idea you had lost that weight this year - well done you. I'm sat here in jeans and cardi so will go and get changed forthwith to get in the party mood! Am wearing the navy Next dress my friend got me or an old but faithful LBD withs shoeboots.

Do you think this is one of the MNer's from the other thread?here

Just done sparklers with the boys in the garden. DS2 wanted to just watch from the safety of the lounge - sat there looking out of the window with his mouth wide open and hands over his ears until he realised they made no noise and then of course he wanted to join in. Too cute!

We have 4 bottles of prosecco in the fridge and 2 bottles of champers - but will be sharing with 5 other people (who will also be bringing supplies). Hate hangovers so will be sensible (famous last words!)

Right, frock going back. You lot are fab. Put pic on FB too and everyone come back saying it's great, when I think if it was great I wouldn't be having doubts and posting photos! I really like the waist and skirt, but think the top and sleeves make me look a bit butch.

Tracey I'm sure, pm me at some point and I'll sort out sending next week.

Have arrived at friend's house, better get back and be social! Have a great night all, happy new year!