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

Happy New Year all! Have been AWOL over the festive period as was visiting my very dearest friend in Shropshire. They're in the middle of nowhere and DS was truly in his element stomping about in waterproof all-in-one and wellies.

Had a moment of sartorial brilliance (even if I do say so myself) at said friend's engagement party in Black Rats, this leopard swing dress and nude patent heels but the majority of time was spent in leggings, hoodies and Uggs. Apologies. Managed to sneak in a little shop in Shrewsbury on a break from wedding dress viewing (am Matron of Honour, don't you know) and purchased this in navy and these in black.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year - am sure someone mentioned a Shred Support Group? Might need to jump on that wagon after serious over-indulgence.

MrsJ - so sorry to hear about your parent's dog.

LTEC - Sounds like you've hit the nail on the head with your diagnosis; your hormones must still be settling down after that period of pregnancy and bf'ing. Am sure they will level out - be good to yourself.

Everything I also meant to say good luck with the driving . I am a recovering (well, the recovery has sort of stalled actually but hey ho) driving phobic so I feel your pain

That's a good idea everything - I really should do it. Have started thinking about TTC soon and want to be in good condition before getting pregnant again.

Parents will definitely get another dog - not sure how long they will leave it but they haven't been without one for 25 years now so it will be very strange for them.

Would you like to decorate my house? It is so dull and I am useless at choosing and decorating!

RLYL - engagement party outfit sounds just right. at your apologies - have spent a lot of time in my Uggs myself this year and have even left the house in them - forgive me W&A. Sounds like you had a wonderful time though.

Everything - being literally forced into driving by circs was def the biggest factor in me driving again so hopefully it will be the same for you. Do you actually have a licence or do you have to get one?

First school run of 2011- DS1 refused to get out of bed so all a bit stressy!
I do love having a cup of tea in a v quiet house on the first day of term tho!
Bloss - re pics, I promise I will one day but DH is terrible at picking up a camera and taking pics - there are hardly any of me and then of course I don't like few there are! If the Warehouse dress is any good, I promise to post one (after a trip to the MAC counter first!)
RLYL - not seen that FC dress before - bet the navy is really nice and what a bargainous price!
LL - the Zara coat is lovely too.
All this sale shopping is making me . Lots of spring stuff in the shops here already - including a lot of coral/orange. DM (thats the Daily Mail not Darling Mother!) reckons these are the SS trends for 2011 here (like the Mulberry bag featured)

Spooky OWW was just going to post that link to the Daily Mail

Fritzi - am liking the summer LV leopard scarf and a better price - perhaps you could have that one? I'm adding that to my virtual list.

Am supervising DS1 doing his homework - we may be some time.

LTEC, DH loses a small patch of hair, about the size of a 20p piece, always in the same place, when he is really stressed at work. It grows back. Supplements sound like a good idea. I think I need them myself, I am constantly tired at the moment.

I'd like the LV scarf, the bag and the J Brand Gigis from that list, please. :)

Lovely dress, Looby and great jacket Bloss. Sweaty Betty often have good discounts, maybe sign up on their website and if I hear of any, of course I'll tell you.

Happy new year, RLYL.

Sorry about the dog, MrsJuan. I cried for days when my mother's Jack Russell died.

morning everyone

thanks for all the great advice re hair - esp to looby. Much appreciated.

ABO you looked great - is that a VWA?

everything I used to hate driving but am now really into it, no idea why. Sense of freedom I think

had nice dinner out last night with NYC friends. I wore skinny jeans, edelmans, slouchy cashmere, warehouse leopard scarf. Embarrassingly, all 4 of us were in more or less the same outfit, even the dhs. I know it's bad but I was mega chuffed that they said ultra complimentary things about my weight and general appearance, the more so bc they are model and fashion photographer. Am I a teenaged girl??? Pathetic

Anyway. How do you like my new bag

oh god Juan so sorry about your parents' dog, so sad I don't have pets any more but have lost a few in the past and it's heartbreaking.

esher - I love florals, but our apartment (1929 Art Deco) is totally unsuited to them except in very small, discreet quantities. And I also think (from more than one experience) it is easier to convince men that they can live with girly colours like pink and red and gold and silver if those colours are in geometric rather than floral patterns!

Anyway, we were browsing World of Interiors and Architectural Digest in bed last night and DP seemed pretty keen to go fabric shopping with me, which is progress.

I dropped DD off at school this morning and went straight to the big Monoprix and found some really rather nice storage boxes for all my homeless sheets, bedding etc. I bought three (not knowing how they would really be in situ), but must now go back for about ten more!

oh dear - none of that is going to suit me at all!

LTEC - three cheers for confidence boosting compliments.

Off to get a tray for Brownies. What's the best recipe (nut free) that you lot have tried? I'm a Brownie virgin (how is that possible?)

helles the Leon ones are good will look for a recipe

sorry they have nuts

have also made these before though and they were devoured by old and young alike

Beautiful bag, LTEC.

Hells, nice Rachel Allen recipe

Hells - these are the easiest brownies I have ever made - and a MN recipe too!
never fail brownies

BTW when I say 'new bag' I am speaking virtually/ wish listily of course

re meet up think we had better appoint an organiser or nothing will ever get sorted. I vote for Notyummy as she is always so on the ball. NY are you too busy or would that be possible?

Have had a v lazy morning here!
DC (hose that attend) are not due back until Wednesday (Tuesday is an inset day).
Thx for posting the trends ollie- some good, some downright ugly, no? I can't say I will personally be rushing out to buy an evening jumpsuit!

bonsoir- forgot to say- what a beautiful looking fabric house you linked to! Art deco style could be absolutely lovely- you could find some lovely shaped furniture that would suit your apartment!

LTEC- are you serious re the bag? Only asking because it has blown your monthly budget by a fraction! I hope you won't be offended and if you have really bought, it is absolutely gorgeous!
By the way, I'm not one to talk re budget as I spent nearly £200 on clothes yesterday although I may well return some (budget was £100) :)

Will come back later to post another link...

Thanks carciofi. It looks like it has nice long arms. A bit of a bugbear of mine this year. Both Barbour and m&s coats could do with an extra inch in the arms for me.
It's minus 2 here today. National forecast has no bearing on weather in this town!
We're going next door for lunch. We've just taken the tree to the recycling place and I'm snuggled under a blanket with ds watching Fantastic Mr Fox we sky+'d. Dd napping.

Bloss, I have the same problem with sleeve length. The North Face Greenland jacket is similar and has long arms. I think I was wearing it when I met you.

LTEC, three months of no shopping and you could buy the bag!

That's quite a novel idea for me some of us. Saving to buy a big purchase! I did something similar 8 years ago when I gave up smoking, saved £20 a week then bought some Jimmy Choos! Do you think, if you saved for 3 months and bought nothing else, that you 'd still want the bag ltec?
You were wearing that jacket carciofi and it was really nice.

yes that's an interesting one. I did this for my Louboutins in 2008 - had had dc2 end of 2007, saw no point in spending ££ on clothes whilst body in transit so to speak so held off on purchases until weight back down (when he was about 6 months old I was more or less back to normal thanks to Cazza V) and then splurged with trip to friend's party in Paris and a visit to Monsieur Louboutin on Rue de Grenelle. Was fabbo.

Will leave that bag on wishlist and see how I fare. TBH, I would like to hold off on SS11 purchases for a bit as I am tired of being saturated with images of "next big things' and able to buy summery clothes which then languish in wardrobe for months. By the time warm weather comes, I am sick of sight of them and end up buying all new stuff anyway. Made this mistake last year and would like to avoid this year if poss. Also am a bit impervious to AW sale stuff as I won't be here next winter, so a bit pointless.

Anyway famous last words. Let's see.

loobylu3 - yes, I quite feel like looking for furniture! This is a good time of year to displace my creative fervour from clothing to furnishings, as clothing sales never inspire me and it really needs to be a bit warmer for me to get seriously into spring/summer looks. Like LTEC I think it's a mistake to buy too many summer clothes too soon.

I've been packing up my homeless linens in their smart new grey boxes and putting them away. I am glad to do this, but why can I not do this sort of big tidying and sorting job (and it has been a really big one) without seething with frustration at DP and his total inability to contribute in any meaningful way apart from financially to housekeeping? On Saturday he went through all his clothes, taking everything out of every drawer and cupboard and deciding what to keep and what to discard, and then putting all the keepers back. Which sounds fine - except that he needed his hand holding every step of the way. And the he exclaims proudly at the end of the afternoon, that his wardrobe sort was a lot more advanced than mine (I'm afraid I resorted to a rather withering comment at this point). Grrrrrrr!

Hello everyone. Have had lovely friend here for the w/e and managed to convince her to give the topshop Jamies a go. She has fab legs but for some reason doesn't think so. We had a lot of fashion chats and I shared many links from the thread with her. As she was leaving DS2 gave her a little note saying 'buy buy', cue lots of laughing and a slightly worried look from her DH. She is also madly in love with my ipad so I think all in all he will view thia as a very expensive visit .

hells, I with you on your DM verdict - none of those looks will work for me.

Saw some beautiful long sleeved blouses in Warehouse and a georgous mint velvet tunic and scarf, will link later when I have sorted house out a bit < surveys carnage>

everything, glad to hear that you have started the New Year on a great note

LTEC, I am sure some sunshine would do your hair the world of good.

OWW I so love reading about all the lovely traditions where you are. Is it Holland?