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!

I'm in Chester buying interview shoes .
Well I only have sky highs or boots so not appropriate. Also wearing stripey janice exhausted. Got some lace up shoe boots with good heel and red shoes for dd. You need not ask from where. Oh, the job is full time, but hours are good and holidays amazing!!

Disappointed that monsoon Breton not on shop floor.

allbuggiedout, Jigsaw has an autumn Breton!! Will link when home.

zembo, please let them take care of you and find out what's wrong.

Welcome new posters!

notyummy, are you still delicate?

Much better thanks Blossoming. Symptoms disappeared at about 9pm last night, although I did have a wave of cramps during the night. A bit weird - like a bout of running induced IBS. Very painful and debilitating though, so glad it was only a few hours.

Zembo you poor thing! How awful really hope things get sorted out properly for you.

Monkeysmama thank you for the Lotta links. I am sorely tempted by the tan braid high clogs. Feel like I need them which is ridiculous as I can?t wear to work so will be strictly casual weekend/holiday thing. I think I want them before I go to Dubai though...so much for no spending I have been wondering about the MiH jeans leg lengths too not sure about taking flared jeans up by 2-3 inches think it might butcher them. Luckily I have my goldsign flared jeans now (from Ebay) which I love but they are quite low rise like the higher rise of the CoH and MiH flares (and how good would they look with the Lotta clogs when weather gets better).

Florence I like the Uniqlo jacket alot but think a whole new range of JS stuff is coming into Uniqlo tomorrow or something ? saw a lovely camel double breasted short coat in the Evening Standard last night which I think is part of the new collection.

Welcome to feelingsensitive and anyone else new

lackadaisy I wear maxis and am 5ft3 ? I think they look fine on shorties.

DTi10 nice to see you, hope work is not too manic!

Vin good luck with lettings I will PM you with last lettings agent I used in our area if you like ? they were fine but it was a few years ago now

Zembo - take care...I am so shocked at what you are having to go through...and I hope Roary's demand of the universe works quickly.

oh and Vin - I'm very glad to hear you are not dealing with her any more. She sounds insane.

Hi

Oh Zembo - your poor thing. Thinking of you !

Tracey and Plum - up for a trip to Cabots or such like....dh away this week and next, out at Wales V England on Fri pm, so I think I am going to be owed a day out one Saturday if you can make it....sans enfants, of course! Pm me dates....

Been shopping and bought some lovely Nars lipstick and Bobbi Brown tinted moisturiser, and had hair done, so feeling good.

Ooh..glad you found the earring Tracey

And Vin - .....that woman sounds like a nut! I would have put her in her place. (These things always occur to me after the event though). I can think of fabulous put downs several hours later...but I think I might have asked her to explain herself and make her squirm, silly bint. I would then have reported her....but I'm like that. ...oh, it's made me so cross!

A second thank you for the Lotta link, MM, have just ordered the tan braids, they're exactly the same shade as the GAP thong/glads I had last year that I wore to death with nearly everything, so hopefully they'll be a good addition to the wardrobe.

Feeling, I am a SAHM too and think Vin has given great advice. I went through a phase of buying skirts and dresses as felt they were the route to being glam, but I never felt comfortable when playing with the DC's and felt that was the priority. So I got myself some jeans I loved, flats I loved and took it from there. Also, I fell into a trap of buying lots of 'basic' tops - ie black and grey variations on the same theme which meant I never felt 'special'. So now, I buy tops that I love in colours that work and if it looks like something I already own, I don't get it. Exception made for Bretons of course.

Snap Llama have just ordered the very same. Great minds etc

Hopefully we won?t bump into each other around SE London... !

Now MUST stop shopping!

Comptoir des Cotonniers at Brandalley today including lovely pink silk dress hope link works

Zembo - golly - I do hope you're ok.

Vin - OK I'm going to be blunt surely if you ditch your partner it will get a lot easier to rent as you won't have his credit problems causing issues. And you know you do really sort of need to do that don't you?

Went shopping this morning with Bea and lordy what a lot of trash in the shops. Only thing I liked was a tucker silk shirt in yellow with navy spots but was £210 so put it down promptly.

Have just made lamb tagine which has gone in the slow cooker for the children to turn their noses up at tomorrow - such fun

I think I am slightly in love with this bag. But it definitely doesn't go with my current lifestyle with a 3-month old and a 4-year old. I won't be going back to work till October. Should I buy it "in anticipation" or will it look horribly dated by then?

Tracey I am actually considering buying a slow cooker so that I can put dinner on before I go to work and save me some time in the evenings especially while DH is away. We do tend to eat a lot of one pot meals so it seems to make sense.

Worth it you think? Do you have a recommended brand/model?

Vin - Tracey speaks sense (as always)!

Tracey - I really want a slow cooker...but my kitchen is too small for any more 'stuff'. I keep walking past one of our potential future houses and gazing into it's relatively large kitchen. It shall be fully equipped with slow cooker! I'm currently starting work on operation 'house doctor'...so that if we do love one of the houses our one can go straight on the market. It's such hard work!

I do rather love my slow cooker - not sure what make it is will check later but it was very cheap about £20 I think from amazon.

Tis very handy in winter although DH moans if I leave it on overnight as he hates the smell of food cooking first thing in the morning

Daisy - how about one of the Cambridge satchel co bags? Similar vibe but all leather and lovely colours.

Hmm, the more I think about it, the more appealing a slow cooker is. I am a bit scared of having yet another kitchen gadget that is underused though....

Hello Ladies

Zembo, what a terrible shock, you poor thing. I hope, now that you are in the right place, things can finally get properly sorted.

MM those clogs are lovely. I am tempted by the blue suede 'proper' clogs as my current brown ones are looking down at heel. I have both blue and red hasbeens from last year so I totally understand your colour dilemma. Mmmm...do I need some tan peeptoes??

Tried on the Great Plains Breton dress today in a denimy blue/cream colour. Is that colourway on trend? . It is quite short but a nice soft cotton. Medium felt like a 10/12.

Tracey-when you get your new Aga , you will be able to ditch the slow cooker and cooking smells will be vented outside so no more moaning dh....I really miss mine .

Yes, load of old rubbish in the shops....just thinking that today.

Yes, am thoroughly fed up of cooking new things for dcs (especially DS), who turns his nose up at everything . DDs better...thankfully. My Mother said, 'oh, just give him what he likes...' Oh, right. Bolognaise. Every night. You didn't do that for me...was made to eat all sorts of nasties...in the name of experimentation....

I must say, I love Tagines....

Bloss - our W&A candle making guru - I'm working on the High Tea event. How easy would it be to make teacup candles ie fill the lovely cups and saucers I have been buying with wax and a wick like this: here Is it as easy to make candles as she says it is???? Was thinking it would make a nice gift on each of the place settings?

Had v quick whizz round H&M - nice slub jumpers in at the mo - liked this one first one, second page in navy with white stripe V fine knit, almost transparent. Also had them in plain white, coral and navy.

Feeling - hello! Your post sounded v familar to me. I'm slowing changing my SAHM wardrobe mindset (following Vin's de-cluttering method - v wise gal is our Vin!). In fact, wearing a blue woollen dress today - even tho I'm at home with the kids. Neighbour complimented me on it tho which is always a boost (think she was shocked that I have real legs!)

OWW, those teacup candles are lovely. The whole thing sounds like such fun, and you appear to be in your element .

I saw a lovely fine knit navy bf cardy in H&M that would go nicely with the red/navy GP Breton dress (+ black opaques and shooeboots = outfit, yes?)

Its a longshot but does anybody here have experience in reading trade publishing contracts (for a book)? I have just been given one to review on behalf of a family member, I have a basic idea what to look out for which should get me by but no practical experience/market knowledge in negotiating such things...

Zembo my heart goes out to you for the pain and upset you have had recently. I hope you are now in good and caring hands and feeling better soon. I prescribe lots of rest and MN.

MM, llama and Mac - would it be utterly ridiculous for me to order a pair of Lottas too? Less ridiculous a prospect than these which I am still visiting from time to time on t'internet...