We're AVIDly buying Agnes, Anya & Ash (all very WISE buys!)

[OllieinOrange]

Time for a new thread.....

Hi frizi was wondering how you are. Another vote for the dress. Would look lovely on you.

Bloss and olilie thanks for the Agnes tips. Funnily enough bloss I had spotted them on the house of Fraser site. Now honestly are they more of a summer thing? Am really struggling you see to think of what I would wear on my feet in winter! I can totally see them working with ballet flats and sandals but do they also look good in boots..?

Annie I so do not have a magic formula for sleep! My DS who is 17 months is either a dream or a nightmare to put down! He still wakes up sometimes in the night for a cuddle and some milk. Ah well. Lucky he is so cute!!!!

Ds2 is much better now at sleeping. Has learnt the cues like drawing the curtains and 'night night' mean sleep. He will usually be asleep in ten minutes. Finally! Sleep deprivation was hellish for first year, I said the thing about cuteness too. Still cute, sleep better.

He falls asleep with me or dh however, not by himself.

Hi Fritzi- big wave! I am back from my holidays, I spent so much time on the phone to work, I kept running out of battery! I love that dress, but would struggle with the bust, due to my lack of cleavage.
While away I bought a dress and coat in Zara for work, I always knew that their prices varied internationally, but I didn't think that there was a 30% variation.
Would love to go to the next meet up, at the moment only weekend that doesn't suit is 17th Sept. The last one was a lot of fun.

Thanks for feedback on dress but think I will pass as I don't need any more formal dresses plus I know the cleavage would not work for me. I am slightly panicking as I need to sort my outfit for DDs first day at reception next week (big deal over here with extended family present etc... That means all Omas and Opas ollie ) and the school reunion in September.

portia Loved our extensive trying on sesh at Trilogy at last meet up with ollie . Hope you got some time to relax during your holiday.

OMG, one of my old bosses is on undercover boss tonight. I can't bear to watch it, so I'm recording it - to be watched peering between my fingers and forward winding through the cringey bits as appropriate. Can't believe the company agreed tbh!

Am visitored out -normal service will resume tomorrow afternoon!
DS1 had a lovely birthday - said his desk and tat accessorises was just what he always wanted - awwww. Spent the day in Delft and did a canal boat tour and had lunch on a pancake boat. Afternoon was spent knee deep in lego and playmobil. He kept referring to himself in third person as The Birthday Boy eg 'The Birthday Boy is going to play outside in the garden' - very funny!
Night all!

Morning all!

Ollie - loved the pics of the birthday boy on FB - very cute!

Apuski - How was the boss?! Sounds cringeworthy. I was interviewed for a job many moons ago (and offered it - but I turned it down) by Katie, the 'price bitch' on The Apprentice (she interviewed me before she apeared on the series) here - for those who have forgotten! She was thoroughly charming. I nearly spat out my coffee when I saw her on that series!

Fritzi - sounds like the start of reception is a big deal! I am ashamed to say that due to work commitments DH and I couldn't make DDs first day . My mum and dad came up to stay so they could take her, as I felt that family should do it. I have comforted myself with the point that I cannot remember my first day at school at all, so hopefully she wont remember the fact we couldn't go. I have friends who are teachers and of course none of them have been able to do 'first days at school' because of the nature of their work, so at least I am not alone!! Hope you have a great day - what are you thinking of wearing?

Sun is shining here and I am wearing a belted flowery sundress that I got last year from Dotty Ps. It is really flattering on and easy to wear - and because of DPs crazy sizing the 10 is slightly too big (nothing like a bit of self-delusion to cheer you up is there .)

I have ordered a couple of cheap skirts and will give you feedback if they are actually wearable!! Have really lost my shopping mojo of late (good for the bank balance and the holiday savings for Australia though!) Have looked online a lot and seen nothing that appeals. No chance to shop in person. I do want some fairly longline vest tops in a range of colours but I am too tight to pay a lot (I have two from George at Asda that have lasted for years and kept their shape, so I am not convinced that paying loads is always the way forward. Maybe Uniqlo - any thoughts?

DD at my mum and dads so we went for lovely dinner outside of posh gastro pub place last night in the sun. Gorgeous. Had smoked salmon and asparagus salad followed by smoked haddock and poached egg. Yum! I 'shopped my wardrobe' and found a blue dress from Principles (remember them...?!) that I bought in 1996!! (I remember because I was on a rare trip to London, as I lived in Glasgow at the time.) DH was most complimentary.

DD having a whale of a time, although the poor thing has a mild urinary infection. Mum took her to the docs and she has some antibiotics. She has never had that before and is apparently mostly fine in herself (slight temp but eating fine and playing normally.) Mum and dad have been taking her on picnics and to the beach, plus doing baking with her and fruit picking.

Work completely mad this week, so in some ways a good thing DD is elsewhere because I have had to do crazy hours. I am covering for my boss and a number of things have 'hit the fan'. Good in some ways for the profile as I have been having a lot of 'face time' with ministers, but not good for my stress levels. I have tried to aim for that whole 'swan on the surface, paddling frantically underneath' thing but not sure if I have entirely managed it.

Congratulations if you have made it this far!

Good morning all, it is promising to be a scorcher here, hope it is the same where you are .

Back later for a proper catch up.

Hi all, hope you are enjoying the sun.

I have been trying to catch up for a few days now but each time I do, the baby wakes or DD wants something so before I forget, congratulations to ReallyGrumpy!

Apuski, glad you found a nice house and how awful about your neighbours.

Annie, hope you are feeling ok.

Ollie, that cake you made is fab.

Red, great you are settling in already. I've just bought the Anna Quindlen book you and Roary recommended. I have a babysitter coming this afternoon so I am planning to lie on my bed and read for an hour!

Wan, hope you feel better soon.

NY, dinner sounds lovely. DH and I have not been out together in ages. I have some vest tops from Gap and J Crew (they should be opening here soon) that have lasted years. Hope your DD gets well soon but sounds like she is being very well looked after.

Took the baby to see my grandmother in Dublin as she is not too well and needs 24 hour care at the moment, so I didn't want to leave seeing her until October. Ants and Bloss, sorry I missed you guys.

Ants, I think you could wear the Agnes with boots. I want to try mine with Belstaffs but they are in the attic.

I was about to buy the red Anna bag the other day but changed my mind at the last minute and put the money aside for the North Face arctic parka, which I have been meaning to buy for two winters now. I am planning a purchase free August as I have spent far too much lately so we will see how that pans out. I did see lovely red ballet shoes in Russell and Bromley and I also still want the Goldsign jeans.

I have been wearing the red J Brands loads. I have a bit of a thing for red, now that I think about it.

For those of you dieting, I'd like to offer you my daughters as I have no time to grab more than a bowl of cereal in the evenings. Hopefully they will sleep better when it cools down here. Luckily they are also cute!

Baby crying, bye for now.

Forgot to say, I got this dress, which is lovely on. Would like it in navy too but it didn't go on sale.

Hi everyone. Great to hear from you all.

Disaster has struck. I came home from the festival yesterday MINUS my silver cardigan. How can I live without it? How can Agnes survive without it? Why didn't I take better care.. I am distraught. It was my favourite cardigan EVER.
Anyone want to sell me theirs?

bloss Oh no! Please link to silver cardi so we can organise a substitute asap!

carciofi Thanks for sharing lovely pics of your two utterly gorgeous DDs on FB .

Sorry to post and run, dd escaped through the back door!
Sounds like a great meal out yesterday notyummy. Your mum's a nurse isn't she? Dd will be in good hands.
ants, I was thinking of retiring agnes at October half term but I could be persuaded otherwise! I have no idea what I'll be wearing on my feet next season. You are a similar height to carciofi, so you could copy what she does!
fritzi, are they back to school already? Hope you have a good day.
Well done ollie on your entertaining. I liked those wedged courts. I've seen a few about.
Hope you're feeling brighter annie.
Dh and I had a blazing row yesterday and I'm still really angry with him. Not in a holiday mood at all.
And I think I do need to borrow your dds carciofi! Good to have you back. I'll see you next time I'm down. Great dress.

fritzi I can't link but it was the chiffon trim silver cardigan from boden spring/summer in merino.

notyummy Hope your DD gets better soon with the ABs. Sounds like she still has a lot of fun at your parents' house.

About the first day at school, I really don't know why it is such a big deal over here and I would prefer if I wouldn't have to organise a family party for grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins etc. On their first day at school, children also get a Schultüte - like a giant stocking filled with little presents and sweets. I mustn't forget to mention that good Mums spend hours constructing a lovely individual Schultüte themselves (you can even attend workshops!), but I ordered one . Oh and I need to organise goodie bags for DD's cousins as well. The biggest stress factor for me on that day is having my parents around who don't approve of our choice of school and will look disapprovingly throughout the whole day. But DD is sooo excited and I loved ironing on all the labels in her school uniform (in most German schools children don't wear uniform).

Friend and kids just left. Lovely to see them but I'm wiped. I'm not good with having my house overrun for extended periods I think!

Bloss - really feel for you about loosing your cardigan and sorry about your row with DH. Not a good day. Hope you can track a new cardi down - or even find your old one - maybe you should post a message on Chat - if MN can find missing toys maybe they can find a Boden cardi?
Ants I quicky tried my Agnes on with my black biker boots and they looked ok.
Fritzi I love how the first day of school is a big thing over there - DSs are fascinated by the little school Playmobil figures and why they are carrying huge cones of sweets/flowers. DSs school just hires an organ wagon thingy which plays in the playground!
Carciofi such gorgeous pics of DDs on your FB page. Sorry about your grandmother being so poorly.
NY sounds like your DD is having a great time with your parents - apart from the infection that is. Would love mine to offer to have DSs for a couple of days but they never do and I can't bring myself to ask!
Portia welcome back.

Really disappointed with the new Kew 159 range - nothing really stands out for me so will go ahead and order the long chunky grey GP cardi. Rain here today after only 2 days of sun so I may well be wearing it sooner than planned!

Hi Blossoming. You may remember me, I'm a long time lurker/sometime poster and a fellow lover of J Brand! I have the silver cardi that you've lost in a size 10, brand new hanging in my wardrobe. I would be happy to sell it to you for the same I paid.

I think you're about the same size as me....?

ollie, I agree. There is no noticeable difference in the Kew159 stuff. Just a different website!
My mum has taken the kids out. Blissfully quiet here.

blindassassin, I just saw your post. Can you pm me? Mine was a 12, but I'm sure the 10 will be fine!