We Wise ladies Avidly are, bearing bags and links from afar.......

[notyummy]

New one!

Thinking of you today bloss The picture of her with her brother is gorgeous,you can feel the love

sorry iy's early,'picture of DD'

Hope your day today is ok Bloss and you manage to fit in a good amount of time to spend with DD. Also hope your weather is slightly better! It is now quite sunny here but breezy and bitterly cold. Brrrr.

Having a big 'trying on' session here today to decide what to wear to DHs party next week and my work do. The gold dress has been vetoed (boo!) but I have about 8 alternatives laid out . The dress code is 'no jeans, no tee shirts, no trainers'. Apart from the obvious, I am not sure what means for me!! My works do is a bit different as it is lunch followed by drinks (for most of the day!!) Most people will be coming form work so I need something that does the day to night thing and isn't too dressy.

Amber - your story about the nappy made me remember the aspects of baby/toddlerhood that I really didn't enjoy!! DD was actually pretty good tbh and we didn't have anything too bad, but she did once 'lay some cable down,' as DH described it, in the conservatory (at least she chose the wooden floor ) whilst we had a whole load of guests.

Can't put DHs pressies on here as I think he may occasionally have a nosy. Not in a stalkerish way (well, probably not) more amused fascination - but wouldn't want to spoil his Christmas surprises! Clarins stuff for men is nice, and Molton Brown have a few nice things for men. Talking about mens toiletries, I passed a guy on the escalator on the Tube on Monday who was wearing Farenheit. I haven't smelt it for years, but an ex-boyfriend many years ago (19!!) used to wear it and just that single whiff brought back some vivid memories . Scent can be so powerful for that sort of thing - and music, I find.

Agree with that NY boyfriend from the past used to wear Cool Water and if I ever smell that, or [cringe] Tommy Girl which is what I wore at the time (it was a really long time ago, ok?) I am immediately reminded if him. He was gorgeous! Saw him recently and his rippling six-pack is no more. To clarify, I did not undress him, it was obvious.

bloss hope you have a peaceful day today, with plenty of time to remember.

Am waiting for the baby to wake so we can go to toddler group. It is DH's last day at work today before new year, or so he says. He has, however, promised to top up my sale fund for every day he has to work over the holidays so I may be shoving him out the door ;)

Why is packing such a drag when you have kids? Feeling very wistful for the days I used to just chuck a haphazard assortment of dresses and a few pairs of slutty heels into a bag and go. It's all warm, sensible stuff these days. There is a very cheap Herve Leger dress in the Outnet clearance, but what is the point of it lingering accusingly in my wardrobe?

a bit like the Ilincic?

Bloss my thoughts are with you. Gorgeous gorgeous photo.

I have a hotpoint washing machine. That is my stylish contribution for this morning - have been out two nights on the trot "entertaining" and am feeling it today.

For those who have't seen it yet: Outnet flash sale is on!!!

pickled Good luck for today!!!

Oh I love that Emo and I was about to press buy, but rang to check on sizing and remembered that Preen is very small. They are really strong in Japan (I worked there for a week, before going into something else ). An XS might be Wendy territory.

Pickled good luck today.

Amber are you flying somewhere? It is a bit of a drag, short haul somehow worse than long haul. Our last easyjet was grim. At least only 4 hours.

NY totally agree. Hair gel + Anais Anais perfume + chocolate and orange juice in a car would probably make me feel ill still.

Hi Fritzi did you get something? Amber did you leave the H Leger?

Emo I always enjoy your nights out vicariously..without the hangover of course

icey I really chuckled at the thought of your DD showing the builders her potty's contents!

85% off on outnet today..maybe you can find the ilinic there marsha

vin would love to meet you on the 17th..must be a huge shock going back to being a student but hopefully a good one.

where are you off to? amber sorry if I skipped one of your earlier posts..packing is definitely fun free when you have children in tow!

yummy do you have an event in mind for the gold dress or do we need to plan one

red and pickled meant to say ages back I will be very cross if you Don't try your hands at novel writing,you are both very engaging posters!

taking it easy today as DD2 has (another) bad cold and had a frenzied day of xmas wrapping,baking and school nativity yesterday..only got school fair to get through this afternoon [sceptical] ,Santa tomorrow and the annual debacle of trying to make a gingerbread house that doesn't collapse and then things look a little calmer!

Reine - sadly no event for the gold dress . Maybe the March MU? I'll just pretend it's a Christmas party! DH is taking me away somewhere next month, so there might be an opportunity then, depending on where it is.

Blue - meant to say re my job. I work in economic development. As you can see, it's all going really well........

Pickled - good luck!

NY gold dress perfect for March MU.

I have ordered the Preen dress. I couldn't help it. I shall be here weeping in a few days when it doesn't go past my elbow.

marsha Sadly no. Must resist impulse buys but some of the discounts are amazing!

reine Get a gingerbread house kit from IKEA or from here. You just have to assemble the parts and hey presto: Have fun decorating!

the preen dress is Amazing marsha ..how we get to see you wearing it next week.

your comment about your job made me smile yummy and yes to dress at spring MU

fritzi I am a stubborn mule..DH has tried to coax me into some mild cheating (to avoid my toddleresque meltdowns)but each year I hope for a real Christmas miracle!

Good morning.

Do hope you have a peaceful day Bloss, have been thinking of you all this morning. How is the weather up your way today?

Lovely dress marsha.

Reine I use the Ikea one every year, its fab. I like the fact that you still decorate it yourself.

Love the talk of smells, yes they can be so evocative. Body shop "White Musk" takes me right back to school and Cerruti 1881 back to my first boyfriend in London. He played in a band in a local pub we used to go to. I though he was a rock god. In hindsight, he was not.

Just had a look at the outnet fritzi, lots of stuff gone already. Need to be quick, quick.

How lovely that your Dh is finishing today amber

Oh no, nothing so glamourous, just Centre Parcs for the week and then popping to Bath to visit DBIL. I will be neither stylish nor beautiful. Will be relying on cashmere/sparkly jumpers with skinnies and boots. May have to pop into R&B in Bath and "show" DH the 5050s.

Fab dress Marsha, fingers crossed it fits!

Have just put up new Christmas tree so DD can decorate on return from school. OMG it is huge!! Makes our other one (which is now up in conservatory) look teeny. New one is just over 7 foot and also quite wide. Looks v convincingly natural though. Once I have covered the bottom with presents and it has some decorations on it, I really think you are going to have look very carefully at it to see whether it is real or not.

notyummy I'm sure DD will have lots of fun decorating the tree! We put ours up last weekend and our living room looks like Santa's Grotto. DD has put Christmas decorations on all available surfaces and there are lots of twinkling lights, gingerbread house etc. Think we are overcompensating a bit this year as we won't be here on Christmas day and DD is a bit worried that it won't be a "real Christmas".

Thinking of you today, bloss.

That Preen dress is amazing, marsha! Hope it fits.

My fur gilet is having its first outfit today! (a bit naughty as it's supposed to be my Christmas present but I'm hoping DH won't complain when I turn up for lunch looking -hopefully - gorgeous in it). I'm wearing it with this dress and long brown boots and Alexa bag. Wondered about leopard print ankle boots but decided it might be overload with the gilet. Will prefer this outfit with a belt over gilet a la Wendy but considering am now 32 weeks I think it looks pretty good!

Last day to win MW wish list.... Then have to decide what to use the 40% off on. Does anyone know how Current Elliott skinnies fit compared to J Brands? Love these leopard jeans.

Hopefully will return from lunch and shopping with some further OTK boot knowledge too.

Blue you put me totally to shame. I am wearing black tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt that the lovely carciofi sent me, with one of DH's hoodies. You sound amazing glam. Hope you have a lovely lunch with DH.

Great discount on the Tibi sprogger, fingers crossed for you.

I love all this Christmas tree talk, very festive. We are sticking with a small artificial one here as we won't be here over Xmas itself but hope that next year we will have a big one!

Did anyone else ever get crippling heartburn when they were pregnant? I never had it with DS, but have it really bad this time. I am munching on Remegel all the time and have had to cut all white carbs out. Soup is my new friend.

Hi everyone. There's a lot to be said for keeping busy and having tough classes! Four down, two to go, and I've popped home for lunch and cold rice pudding.
Weather is freezing with massive showers. No snow though. Wearing pinstripe davina covered by Aigle.

Good going Bloss.
The Aigle is so cosy isan't it? I can't do mine up now, but its still like leaving the house with a duvet wrapped round me.

Oh my god wan it was the bane of both my pgs. Started at 30 weeks with DS and 20 weeks with DD. I lived on Rennies and little else. Pretty much anything I ate made it horrendous. You have my greatest sympathies but no advice because I never managed to cure it!

blue you sound uber-stylish, the gilet is great, isn't it? I am looking not so stylish in yesterday's grey cashmere jumper and ancient skinnies. Am pleased though because they are from when I was first going out with DH, and I haven't fitted into them for a long time.

Well done on the bargain, sprogger!

Glad to hear the day is going as well as can be, bloss, and how nice that you can come home for lunch.

I too had horrendous heartburn. Bring on the liquid Gaviscon (on prescription because I was getting through so much!) On a slightly more positive note, I think it was what stopped me eating for 2/3 and putting on much weight.

Hello again, I keep getting left behind with no time to catch up on all the posts - everyone is being too avid

bloss thinking of you today. Tin of salmon.

njc my Dad was a classical cellist back in the 1960s/70s. He gave it up before we were born as he wanted to be a very hands-on Dad and it's not exactly compatible with the evening and weekend working hours and lots of travel! So I also grew up in a musical household and still keep my hand in. Speaking of which, I am accompanying my DM in a concert on 17 March so no meet-up for me again. Boo!

icey Ds has a mini Poang in his bedroom. Very cute.

I have a pair of black OTKs that DH bought me a couple of years ago. I like them with dresses. Have never ever worn them with jeans, not being of Wendy-esque proportions.

Speaking of which, weight loss is not going well. Possibly due to my love of fudge and takeaways. Am getting the Shred DVD back from my sis so hopefully that will help. Don't have time to go to the gym as L is still feeding every couple of hours in the day, sometimes a little more. Don't really mind as she's already sleeping through most of the time so I wouldn't change it!

I also won a raffle this week - some smellies and a candle so not quite in the same league!