Early to bed and early to rise makes us shredded, AVID and WISE

[ApuskiDusky]

New thread!

Not that I've been on the old one much )

Wow blossoming thats some memory! Thanks for remembering and yes I have had lots of wear from my parka and I have been wearing it again now we have some springish weather.

I have been wearing it with Bretons (including the navy and ketchup Boden one- another shameless copy from you and skinnies. Getting a bit meh about bretons now though.

Waves at Fritzi! I don't really weigh myself and don't have scales as I find for me it's not a route to happiness. I use clothes to judge.

Plum...kitchen planning exciting! I love Living magazine too. What are you going for?

I am probably going to go ultra simple in my next house in the kitchen department (We have a whole list of 'wants', even the DCs!!!). My wish list for the kitchen includes painted (stone colours)cabinets, freestanding housekeepers cupboard, huge island with slate surface, teak worktops(v hardwearing, virtually indestructible) everywhere else; 4 oven Aga, stone flag floor with underfloor heating....oh and walk in pantry......

Have ordered the trews and will advise when they arrive. Oh and bought Red today and £25 gift card with it!

Oh and using Clarins Multi active day cream and night cream and definitely good ! Have been up loads with the girls as both been poorly and not looking so ravaged thanks to Clarins. I am such a cream junkie.

pickledsiblings I LOVE that bag in yellow. I think everyone is right in saying it goes with navy and grey though. Very tempted!

vin well done you! It must feel wonderful to have two offers and good luck with the decision.

Dolcee JL have a Clarins special on at the moment, one of those get 4 big/small things free with 2 purchases. I'm looking for a night cream so tempted.

For anyone interested in a trouser shopping update, I managed to try 2 navy pairs on in FC today, both of which made me look like a barrel. Lesson of the day - pleats on trousers do not flatter me AT ALL. On a brighter note, I found a great jacket to go over my dress for the black tie do next week here it looks smarter in RL.

Trouser quest continues this weekend.

pickled - I think your bag/dress ensemble definitely goes. Navy, white and yellow - fab!

carciofi London driving is scary but you soon behave as recklessly get used to it. I had 3 instructors (and a 20 year break from driving) before I found a good one. He had - and needed, the patience of a saint, so don't settle for the first one you try if they are not suited to you.

Anyone else seen the summer Boden stuff here - not inspired and some of the material for the dresses is just plain erghhhh! Think the only thing I would consider is the twist jersey top in taupe or navy.

Back from school run - treated myself the boys to a bag of pick and mix sweets as a Friday treat. Regretting it now, boys hyper and I feel sick

Boden summer is grim this year.
bloss - did you get the linen/jersey top in the end from Spring?

Hi all - well done Vin!

Abo - thanks for the report on the trousers. Let us know how the next lot goes...

Tracey - Hope you feel better soon.

My ASOS order has arrived:

WHITE Silk Cowl Neck Dress This dress is going back - too tight across the shoulders and cheap looking.

This dress just fell into my basket.... and is LOVELY on. Would recommend. Particularly flattering for a pear I think.

These trousers are keepers although I wished I had sized down (should have trusted the vanity sizing and gone for a 10 as they are a bit big everywhere but cannot be faffed exchanging...) I think I will get more wear out of them in spring/summer with a tucked in t shirt/fitter top and some wedges. Would be good for smart/casual work look.

Morag, he was a really nice guy so that helped and I'm lucky I don't have the pressure of doing the driving test. Driving in New York really put me off so I think I'll skip central London for a while.

OWW, I like that top too and one or two dresses for DD but not impressed with anything else.

Bloss, could you post the tea cakes recipe please?

NY, lovely dress. How many maxi dresses do you have?!

Emo and Morag, I have ordered the bag. It will be my first bag to cost in xs of £100. I'm really a £30-£40 bag girl at heart .

Emo, I don't think pleated trousers work on any figure type apart from the supermodel one.

OWW, you should have had some Welsh cakes .

Dolcee at your ultra simple kitchen plans. They sound quite 'complex' to me.

Bonsoir, you are going to hate me for this but IMO it is hard to beat the Rainbow Fairy books for girls on the cusp of reading, it carries them right on over . My DD loved them and she now reads all sorts. She downloaded Pride and Prejudice a few weeks ago on her iTouch.

It is a lovely bag, Pickled.

Thanks Carcofi. I'm not a great driver either. I am totally fine with country lanes but Motorway driving, no way!

Isn't this a beautiful dress for DDs I have ordered it in green for mine.

Sweet dress. I am going to order this dress for DD.

Too pink?

That is a lovely dress too Carcofi. I like the blue. I love that AH tote but I couldn't make the pink work. Mainly because it is a colour that I go on and off IYKWIM.

morag, I'm still waiting for the top, but I'm quietly optimistic! What colour is pebble anyway?

carciofi, my family have been making Welshcakes for years, and my great aunt had her recipe in a book (lots of lard), so I use Nigella's recipe from Domestic Goddes, with a few tweaks:

Welshcakes

125g soft stork margarine
250g self raising flour
75g caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
some freshly grated nutmeg
100g currants
1 large egg beaten

7.5 cm round cutter
smooth griddle or frying pan

Method:

Rub fat into flour as though making pastry (I use a blender), then stir in the sugar, spice and dried fruit. Add the egg to make a soft, but not sticky dough.
Roll out on floured surface to thickness of 7.5cm, and cut out. Preheat unoiled griddle or frying pan and cook cakes 3 mins each side until golden brown. Remove and sprinkle with caster sugar.
Makes about 20.

DS just ate 3.

That bag has your name on it carciofi!

I missed your bag link pickled. Any chance of a link?

Oops, that should read, roll out to thickness of 0.75cm.

Tracey I see you have the same SRD as me from French Connection!

Also liking this
www.greatplains.co.uk/product/womens+Dresses/J1AP5/Hornpipe+Dress.htm

yellow bag

Off to do the dreaded swimming lessons run.

Love that maxi notyummy. what size did you get? Think we are reasonably similar (although you are far more toned/shredded)

I got a small Whelk and it fits perfectly. I am a smallish 10 on top and a large one on the bottom.

thanks notyummy. i'll order a s then

Am going to try the welsh cakes bloss sound yum!

tracey hope the Abs kick in soon.

fritzi forgot to mention you and your wardrobe are stunnas

pickled I am not a handbag person usually but that is lovely and I like owws too

Oh reine I'm flattered by your compliment but you should see me today: long slouchy cardi over ill-fitting empire-line dress. Wardrobe: clothes scattered everywhere due to what-to-wear-crisis this morning . Time for I think!

I can't even have wine on these anti-biotics and have to remain upright for half an hour after taking them or will be very sick apparently

Have read thread but brain gone pffft.

Vin - take the job with more money I think you need options at the moment and money will give you that. You're young enough to switch careers later. [ blunt]