As we AVIDly await the joys of spring and the new fashion finds that it will bring, we WISEly contemplate our winter buys and return all goods that are unkind to the eyes

[macmama]

Couldn't resist!

look at these scarves

Evening lovely ladies,

Happy Birthday for yesterday NY and today Reine!

Vin - good luck with the flat decision. Hope you manage to leave your P behind

Roma - hope DS is ok - sounds scary - and so does your DS falling out of his highchair exhausted! Great shopping by the way.

A friend has asked if I want to do the personal shopper thing in Selfridges with her next month. I haven't spent anything this month so could probably cobble together a reasonable budget and take DH's credit card. Should I do it? Still don't feel I know what I'm doing style wise even after a years apprenticeship here so it could be worthwhile.

Also, DH is doing his annual New York trip in Feb - has anyone seen anything lovely that he could bring me back that I would otherwise have to pay customs tax on??

Love all the breton links - I definitely have space in my wardrobe for a couple of new ones so will watch this space for feedback once others have ordered

Thanks bloss i think it's going to take me a while to see definition. Have very wobbly tummy. Still the results so far are good enough to motivate me. I know what you mean about level 2. Too much plank and floor work for me. Loathe loathe loathe walking press ups! But yes think I will stick to levels 2 and 3 for another month and then maybee try the 6 weeks 6 pack. Is that very cardio by the way? I do find all the jumping jacks a bit hard on my knees and let's not mention my pelvic floor or lack of one!

Lovely top exhausted I covet. But not for my body shape unfortunately not matter how much I shred!!!

Plum those scarves are lovely. Bad girl.

DH had his "Im watching Top Gear, do not disturb" face on Fritzi so will try the coat on again now!
Pleased you got the H&M top Ants and lots of luck for tomorrow. My twin sister went back to work last week after a year off and said by the end of the day, it was like she hadn't been away at all.
Great haul Exhausted - I love it when you get to swing various bags off both arms - a sign of a good shopping trip!

At the risk of sounding even more of a saddo, - do you remember the big High Tea I had to help organise last year when we had a Breakfast at Tiffanys theme? I've got to do another one in April but this time I'm in charge of organising- eek! Going with an Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatters Tea Party theme so have been buying up lots of cute antique cups and saucers from second hand shops to stack on top of each for table decorations and will string oversized playing cards up on red ribbon to hang on the walls. There will be bottles of vodka homemade lemonade with labels saying 'drink me' and teapots/cups filled with flowers etc. All very twee and a bit 'lashings of custard' but hope the Expat Mums will love it. Its been suggested I wear er this

Beautiful OWW! That sounds great fun - I would love it but I am a saddo

Ants - well done on your 30 days. I hate level 2 too so have just stuck to level 1 but increased the weights and keep hold of them during the cardio too. Hope that's ok!

OWW, that sounds like so much fun!

Exhausted - what a haul, love it all. What is the fit like on the Reiss top?

Hope tomorrow goes well for you Ants.

No not too much cardio in 6 pack. More in level 2. No need for Tenas anyway.

ollie, that sounds gorgeous as always. They are lucky to have you.

Go for it mrsjuan.

Just been cleaning up sick. One day I will believe him when he says he feels sick..

BLOSS LOOK

But I already have the Navy..and I can't get both..can I?

Just a quick one to day Monkeysmama I am really sad to hear your news, hope you are taking care of yourself :(

choo that dress is stunning.

Choo fab dress! Love the grey one too.

Choo - gorgeous. I would love a rummage in your wardrobe (!) - you have such lovely dresses.

School run, supermarket run, Post Office run, change the beds - God I hate Monday mornings.

Ooh, the Bec in grey. Stunning.
Dh says must wear snowboots Friday. He hasn't read my brief, obviously.

OWW love the tea party theme, the costume is interesting, are you sure light blue is your colour ?

Choo lovely dress - wish they still sold it in navy, I would definitely consider investing

mrsjuan my husband is off to NY this week too and you've spurred me into action, especially as he is staying the weekend there and will have time for shopping...

Tried that Reiss top on yesterday in RL in the cream colour and it is lovely - more structure to it than some of the thinner lace ones and for me a good length. I have a credit note from a wisely returned pair of high heeled boots so considering investing - could wear for "smart casual" day at work I think with appropriate accessories. Thank you to whoever first pointed it out (think it was plum)?

Right must get on with breakfast, school run etc etc etc and see if fourth wash of indigo jeans has stopped them from transferring colour everywhere. Enjoy your Mondays!

Choo - The colour on that dress would look amazing on you.

Exhausted - Boo to commuter trains....

I really did not want to leave the house at 6 15 this morning in the freezing cold. Grim.

Am wearing my circus print wrap dress today, which always cheers me up because it is so flattering here.

Hope you all have good days!

DS at home again this Monday. I think they have a rule that you have to keep them home for 24hrs after a vomiting incident. He is completely fine though. It is going to be another long day. Time to sort out returns though and go to the bank. My local bank, you know the one that prides itself on being accessible to customers, has changed its hours to 10 - 2, Monday AND Friday. Hardly school run friendly.
Have great days everyone. Back later.

Ooh Choo that Bec in orange is lovely. Anyone seen a cheaper-but-similar? I really fancy a coral dress, I've enjoyed my coral cashmere jumper so much this winter.

How's ds exhausted ? Mine still has an impressive lump: I told him to show it to all his teachers when he arrives so they bear it in mind if he starts acting strangely!

That site looks interesting ny - will have a browse later.

Tracey - chat to some Mums further up the school and see how well-supervised the prep session is. I thought it would be a godsend for ds but the boys just seemed to daydream / pass notes / doze, with no pressure from the supervising teacher. They were tired I guess - going from pre-prep to prep is quite a step, even in the same school. So we were v little further forward with out homework, just had a much later start really.

It was also a pain going out at 5 with the little one 'cos she had been settled since 3.15 and didn't want to get suited up again and leave Cbeebies . Plus it made tea v late ... So we dropped our prep session quite quickly.

Mumsnut sounds like prep was just a sort of babysitting, a bit like at our school.

bloss platforms are v.warm - why can't you wear platforms to rugby? Assuming you won't be on the pitch, of course

Choo, the Bec in red is so gorgeous. Do you get a lot of wear from the navy one? I'm always in two minds about buying two of the same thing in different colours. The times when I have done it, I always end up not wearing one of them because I prefer the other. If that was the case though, you could always e-bay on the one you weren't wearing. If it suits and you love it, why not?

Thanks for feedback Exhausted - didn't realise there was a short-sleeved option. This really presents a dilemma! Hope you have/had a good day at work

NY the circus print dress is lovely, a great Monday pick-me-up, I'm sure.

Painter/decorater has just started on the hallways and staircases. He's going to be here for two weeks and DS has taken a bit of a shine to him. Poor guy is going to get very little done at this rate... In fact, some W&A feedback would be good; Victorian house with hallways currently in beige and beiger. We're going for a Wedgwood blue below dado and white above, with white gloss on skirting boards etc. Blue too cold do we think? Also, am on the look-out for some period-looking light fittings for the hall. Any suggestions?

Doesn't Natalie Portman look lovely at the SAG awards.

redllama - pale blue is a very difficult colour for decorations, IME. I once painted my South facing bedroom blue, in the days when I was single and lived in a boudoir - I had a large double wrought iron bedstead, a white Portuguese bedspread, Venetian mirrored bedside table, a three-way mirror on my dressing table, white embroidered curtains - the full romantic works. And it still looked cold and uninviting unless it was a cloudless day with bright sunshine!

I also think period light fittings are difficult - lighting has evolved so much in recent years, and we are all used to the fabulous modern lighting that you get in shops, restaurants and hotels. Period-style just never gives off the same ambiance.

The cold, uninviting bit was my concern Bonsoir, painter is going to do a little sample for me this afternoon, so I can ruminate on it some more. Your boudoir sounds lovely, despite perceived coldness!

Have seen quite a few Art Deco glass lampshades on e-bay that I like and that I don't think would be too incongruous, but am going to go to a local auction house to see if they have anything I can actually look at.