Avid and wise trying autumn/winter for size..

[blossoming]

Hi everyone. Come and join in with your lovely links to autumn/winter clothes!

[notyummy]

Sounds like a good day PORTIA!

Happy anniversary Amber.

I have also had a good, relaxed family day. Lie in, breakfast and then we all went swimming. Lunch out (day v healthy so far... But VAST piece of choc cake at lunch ruined that... ) Watched some animal TV with DD (Great Migrations- she loves it!) Then DH did Dds homework with her and made ice lollies whilst I went for a run. Legs were aching from Jillian and No More Trouble Zones yesterday, but a run sorted them out . Roast chicken dinner before bed for DD. Dh and I now on the sofa with a pile of newspapers and Sons of Anarchy.

Pickled- DH and I are good friends most of the time and I am v happy- but rest assured we do a healthy amount of bickering and can infuriate each other. I have enormous respect for him though as he supports me and DD in everyway he can. He genuinely seems to enjoy family life (occasional grumpy shouting episodes aside).

[dexter73]

Portia - there is a great shopping centre in Barcelona called Port Vell which is in the port area (obviously!). Not so sure about restaurants. Bil lives in Barcelona so he takes us to places and I never remember what they are called!

[MarshaBrady]

Evening lovely people. We saw a good exhibition at the V&A today. Good for children too. The Power of Making I think it is called.

Pickled yes, dh is prepared! He bought rechargeable batteries last week just in case.

How lovely to be going to Barcelona Portia and DeepLeaf. Feels like a really lovely time of year to go.

Ok got to fly. Dh wants me. ach, waves to all.

[IceCreamCastles]

Evening all

Just marking my place. Trying to find boots tonight. Might come back later with a short list.

[blossoming]

Thanks for the info annie. I'm looking forward to trying a few out on the 8th.

Really annoyed today. Dh hasn't spoken properly since Wales lost this morning. Only by one point, to the world champions. And before the match he was warning ds that we would be thrashed! Omg, how long does the world cup last??

[ApuskiDusky]

Hello all, found you!

We have just finished unpacking [been a very long day emoticon], so we are finally in!

Tomorrow is shaping up to be interesting - first day for ds1 at preschool, first day for nanny, and the neighbour from our old house who made the offer has upped it a bit, but we have had three viewings this weekend and are hoping we might get another maybe higher offer in the next few days.

Must go to bed.

[wideawakenurse]

Morning All.

Flying in before leaving for work. Hope the weather today isan't as ghastly for everyone as expected by the forecast.

Back tonight.

[redllamayellowllama]

Hi all, just marking my place here. Am feeling a little delicate even today and aching all over after a night of ridiculous behaviour at the wedding - interpretive dance-off, anyone? Needless to say, I lacked both style and elegance come the end of the evening. Was the most beautiful wedding I've been to and, predictably, spent the day weeping. First night DH and I have really cut loose since DCs; was lovely.

Hope today goes/went well Apuski and fingers crossed for some offers coming in.

Glad DD is beginning to settle Portia - am full of admiration for what she is doing.

Sound like gorgeous days Marsha and NY. Autumn is my favourite time of year for family days out.

In case I forget, good luck for tomorrow, Pickled.

Big wave to everyone else, will be back properly later - I have a mountain of washing to get through and a barren fridge to see to!

[IceCreamCastles]

Sounds like you had an amazing time at the wedding Red - is there any photo evidence?!

Wow Apuski - what a lot of firsts and the offers and viewings sound promising

Oh dear bloss - poor dh!

Your day sounds lovely NY. DD likes animal tv too - she watched the nature's miracle babies thing last night with dh and hasn't stopped talking about it.

Any opinions on my boot hunt so far?

Just to set the scene I really want http://www.my-wardrobe.com/belstaff/black-trial-master-boots-388252?c_id=awin&utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=affiliate_window&$ja=tsid:9731&cm_mmc=affiliate--affiliate-window--UK--my-wardrobe these belstaffs but they are about double my budget really

So instead I'm wondering about:

office ones

ollie's kew ones

m&s

la redoute

la redoute again

clarks?

I like these ones from the front and side but they've got a weird elastic thing going on at the back

or anything else anyone's come across - under £200, black or v dark brown ?

[IceCreamCastles]

oops - belstaff link again (although I'm sure you all know what they look like!)

[redllamayellowllama]

There'd is far too much photographic evidence for my liking Icey. I like e Office pair and the Kew pair the most. Have you looked in R&B? My black boots from there are just as you describe and I love, love them. About £195, iirc.

[IceCreamCastles]

Oh dear .
Haven't seen R&B ones - there isn't one nearby and they don't have a website that you can buy from do they? But I could maybe make a special trip. Goodness knows when though!

[AntPants1]

ice I like both of the la redoute ones

[AntPants1]

Have you tried Hobbs? They usually have some good boots in?

[redllamayellowllama]

No, R&B ar annoying like that. <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=Russell+and+Bromley+riding+boots&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&tbo=d&tbm=isch&tbnid=0f9LYwfIEjeOYM:&imgrefurl=www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Russell-Bromley-riding-boots-VGC-eu-39-5-uk-6-5-/170686053113&docid=gJsqhksdx-gn6M&w=225&h=300&ei=Hv9tTpP-PIrMtAaXh-3GCw&zoom=1&biw=1024&bih=690" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">this is my black pair.

[AntPants1]

Hobbs

www.hobbs.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1017&productid=0211-L60J-019H020&productvarid=0211-L60J-019H020-BLACK-37_5&refpage=1144

[redllamayellowllama]

And, ahem, I also have a tan pair. I just went looking for them but can't find an image - they're less structured with a buckle at the top. Equally gorgeous and about the same price. I've definitely seen these exact ones instore recently.

[OllieinOrange]

Icey some lovely links there (I know this wont help but those Belstaff's are things of beauty aren't they?)
I like the Kew ones () and the second La Redoute ones are nice. Did you want black or brown? These JL ones have the same buckle detail as the Belstaff ones here but limited stock. My Kew ones are v comfortable but more on the chunky side. I also like the LKB ones I linked for Bloss a while back here
Pickled I think your Apple Adventure would make a really great blog - please consider doing one. Lots of luck for your interview tomorrow.
Portia pleased your DD is settling down. I love everything about Barcelona! Can't remember the names of any shops except Sfera is worth looking out for - really nice clothes for very good value. Am still wearing a couple of white cotton tops with lovely detailing 3 years on. Several dotted about the city and concessions in El Corte Ingles. There is also a big shopping centre on one of the tourist bus routes - The Triangle I think it translates as?

Calling Westfield experts - where's good for lunch there?

[carciofi]

Annie, thanks, I might do that.

Bloss, hope your dh has recovered.

Ollie, when I bother to stop for food in Westfield, I usually go to Le Pain Quotidien or Del'Aziz. I told dh on Sat night that he is babysitting on the afternoon of the 8th, he said ok so I am a definite for afternoon tea. Please let me know what I owe you. :)

Icecream, I like the Kew or Office boots.

Apuski, good luck with the viewings.

DD1 had a trial run of her new preschool, she loved it and kept saying "I'm so exciting" (she meant excited!). Lots of skinny jeans and Mulberry bags on the mums.

[blossoming]

Hi everyone!
Hope things have gone well for you apuski.
Great news re 8th carciofi, and re your dd's preschool. Great when they're happy!
Had a bit of a day. Off to college for my first 2 hr class to find the road closed with a fallen tree. Big detour (but lucky there was one!). Was okay, got there in time, and back in time for lessons in school. Lakes were like stormy seas. Quite scary.
Dress today hidden by my purple craghopper coat. Sleeves too short. Difficult to look glam today. Also my arms are peeling!
I'm looking for boots too, but ones to pull on over leggings. Biden have a pair of sturdy looking ones but there is a 7 week wait. But I did get a voucher for 20% off and £15 off today. I miss the Fly boots for those occasions, but not the wet socks obvs.

[ApuskiDusky]

Hello! Um, we seem to have sold our house! Neighbour upped her offer again after we rejected it, and none of the viewers from this weekend were in a position to offer yet, so we finally said yes. She's a cash buyer and wants to exchange in 4 weeks so it'll be all go I think. It's hard to be really excited as it's below what we'd ideally like, but hey, it's more than what we paid in 2006, so not bad.

Nanny great, preschool went really well, and everyone I've met today has been really friendly, so a good day overall!

I will be relying on my iPhone all week until we are connected so won't be able to do links, but I got a dress from Great Plains that I love. A bit short for work so might get it taken down a smidge, but will keep it short for now as I might wear it for the meet-up!

[wideawakenurse]

Icecream I am in a boot dilema too. I really like the Kew ones, as I am looking for a biker boot but not too chunky.

Apuski sounds like things have picked up, fingers crossed you are not far from an offer. We have two viewings book here this week.

Oh dear Bloss, here's hoping DH is feeling better about the result now!

Have fantastic times Portia and Deepleaf in Barca.

Sounds like the wedding was perfect red, and how lovely to have some time with DH. I agree to seeing some photographic evidence of the dance off.

Glad to hear DD enjoyed pre-school carciofi.

Good luck tomorrow pickled, keeping everything crossed.

Ollie I think you'd be a great blogger, and I'd love to hear more about your craft/cooking projects - you always make them sound so simple but they always look beautiful.

No A&W news here, spent the weekend at my parents house, so lots of attention showered upon DS. DH and I went for a meal on Saturday night, just out for a curry. Nothing fancy, but very good for us to have some time together alone. We only had one minor bicker in the pub before hand! I wore my maternity indigo baxters (they are a great fit icecream) and a black wrap top that looks like IO but is in fact from Debenhams.

I am on the look out for some black patent wedges for this winter. Thought they'd be a good alternative to heels but be a more comfortable also. Anyone seen any on their travels?

I have just meal planned for the next 10 days - very organised which goes against every fibre in my being, but trying hard to reduce our food bill and also was inspired by lots of lovely autumnal recipes in this months Olive magazine.

[wideawakenurse]

Cross posts apuski, great news on the offer! Hope the sale is quick and stress free for you.