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

[notyummy]

New one!

NY That sounds like you were busy yesterday!
Happy birthday Baby Marsha
Glad your trip went well Ollie and 'hope that you enjoy your scarf!
Sorry Bloss that you're under the weather, the bag is black BTW.
Hello Fritzi!
Pretty quiet day in work today.

Meant to say would really recommend the location of our WE away - lots of lovely new houses around a lake. There was a lovely spa on site too (kids allowed in the pool). House was nice and big and could easily accommodate everyone. Would be a great place to visit with a group of friends/families.
Website here

Family tension was expected but felt especially about BIL's refusal to do anything that involved DSs - didnt even come on a nice walk around a country park. He doesn't have children but even so..... Mum is in a funny state of mind at the mo too - very negative which is v draining. Just unpacked, lets just say I will enjoy my stash of English chocolate over the festive period!

Massive congratulations on your job Pickled - Im sure it will lead to other opportunities. I got a pearl cluster bracelet - tiny bit too big but like the 3 charms she choose (no star tho ) .
Red your boots look wonderful - very flattering imo. Glad you got some. have you told Wendy yet?!

ollie Welcome back! There is always tension with our family get-togethers. I have a FIL who refuses to participate in anything and only makes an appearance at mealtimes . He really makes an effort with DD but is just generally so unsociable that it does my head in sometimes. I really feel for my MIL.

Annie would you believe I brought it into work in the dust bag and keep having a sneeky peek at it, DH was wondering if there was a cash alternative!

It sounds like everyone has had lovely festive weekends. Ours was lovely too - and managed to wear the fur gilet throughout! Would never have thought to put big chunky cardigan underneath but still slavishly copying Wendy and tried it with some success I think.

Happy birthday to your little boy marsha and agree that 2 is wonderful. We went on Santa steam train yesterday and DS was so adorable as he confidently asked for "some lickle treats please father Christmas".

portia am deeply deeply jealous of the bag. Have hankered after a Balenciaga for many years following a style crush on Nicole Richie who seemed to have one in every size and colour. They are soo expensive though. Am almost jealous of notyummy and those others who don't have a bag problem like me. Would have so much more money to spend on clothes if only I didn't keep indulging. It's the longevity of bags, I think, that does it for me; they transcend seasons and body shape and I love that. But I'm completely different about shoes, I'd love some louboutins but it worries me that a £400 pair of shoes would get just as scuffed and worn as a £40 pair. I very very rarely spend more than £100 on shoes, hence the OTKs being such a big decision! They look fantastic on you by the way red.

Have people been using their 40% off on mywardrobe or do you think it's worth waiting for the sale proper for equally great discounts? Hate it when I get tempted into spending too early.

Hope your Mondays are going well. bloss you've nearly made it to the end of the toughest term; hang in there!

Oh, I forgot: Happy birthday masterbrady! Hope you all have a fun day!

That looks like a lovely spot Ollie.

Portia I too am very jealous of your new Balenciaga bag.

Lovely afternoon here - lunch at a lovely neighbours place (she walked past on Friday and had a nose in the kitchen and insisted on me coming round) and then a pop into town to get miscellaneous presents for people at home who I'd forgotten about (including a 3 week old baby - looking forward to a squidge).

Ah and I also bought some of the bright blue Oasis skinnies as a JBrand alternative - feel a bit bad making another big purchase after the Roxy/50:50 combo. They're a great fit, thanks to whoever recommended them (NJC? hope you're feeling a bit better as the day goes on). The Roxy hasn't come off since Friday, I love it so much and am surprised by how warm it is.

Annie, I have got a teaching job at our local high school, that's all .

Blue - keep on going with bags - whatever works for you. TBH, they are much easier to justify as an investment buy, as they hold their value much better than a series of cheaper clothes choices! I am quite a careless/scatty person sometimes, and lose things like earrings etc - and have had two handbags stolen (one snatched, the other in a pub from beside my feet) and part of me is terrified of spending big bucks on bags or jewellery and then losing them. The bag that was stolen was a £250 one that my then boyfriend bought me for my 18th. That was big money to me back then (still more than I would spend on a bag now ) and I think it has mentally scarred me!

Hope the hangover is gone now NJC - I fear that may be me next Saturday! I am committed to spending time at the work do because I have booked a hotel, (train links to where I live mean I have to leave v early in the evening otherwise.) There aren't that many people that I want to spend loads of time with however, and many of the pople I work with are very straight laced and will have nurse a single glass of wine for 3 hours and then go home at 5pm. Think I am just going to make up for them and hopefully there will be a few others up for a few more glasses of wine and a chat. I am hoping that some of those I don't know very well will actually turn out to be good company. We'll see . If I end up in my hotel room very early with a comfy bed, room service and a remote control, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world!

Apologies by the bucket load. I have only just been to the depot to pick up some post from last week, only to find my lovely secret santa was amongst them. Someone with very lovely writing in fact! Thank you, thank you.

Should say that I have received my SS also.

Received my SS pressie today!
Thank you so much! I LOVE IT! I am trying of course to work out who it is, via the post mark!
Had DH's Christmas party for the children at the weekend. They loved it of course, and I got the tree up. Children did the first round of decorations (all at the bottom of course, nothing at the top) and I redid it later.
Portia that is some prize! My DH would be mystified as to why anyone would spend the equivalent of a car on a handbag. (I am of course less mystified)
Well done NY on your entertaining. I would never take on such a task on my own.
Hope things pick up soon Annie for you and your DH. You sound like a great team, so hang tough, it will all come right, you'll see.
Well done on the new job Pickled, great news. Did your DD find out how she did in her exams yet? Some more good news before Christmas would be great!
Re gilets. I tried on a lovely Steve Madden one in TK Maxx at the weekend, but no matter how I try, I look shapeless in them. Even when I add a belt. I love them on other people.
I have asked DH for gift vouchers for Christmas from Brown Thomas (kind of equvalent of Selfridges on a smaller scale here). He was "isn't that a bit boring?", but it really is better than me having a toddleresque strop. "How could he possibly think that I'd want ....professional golf lessons(insert as appropriate!)" Honestly, I know IABU, but I seem to locate my inner child with impressive precision every time. My DS is like this as well (I know this is not a good thing for a grown up woman to identify with her 6 year old son!). Gets very emotional, when you don't get his present just right. He builds it up in his head as being one thing, and when it doesn't meet his expectations exactly he gets really upset! I need to man up and get over it, don't I? (yes, we do need a sigh emotion)

Opinions please. I am dithering over whether to get this Vanesso Bruno dress or the DKNY one for the 40% off? Neither, or should I hold my fire till the sales?

NJC you just have to get match fit, as they say. Go out again a few times this week and in another week or so you'll be a pro!

I really like the Vanessa Bruno dress rufus and think it'd be the sort of thing you could wear loads and dress up or down (I should qualify this by admitting that dressed down possibly means something different to me than to other people!)

DH out. Should be writing christmas cards but instead am dithering over online purchases I neither deserve or can afford!

Verity, i think the VB is lovely too although it may be a tad short - it would be for Bloss anyway .

Yes to opening SSs en masse.

Well thanks Njc i love them!

Rufus what was your present? Am eager to know! VB dress has the edge for me.

When for mass opening? Just trying to establish whether to take present with me. Would Sunday work or is that too far from Christmas? Just thought it may be easier for all to find time around then before festivities are in full flow.

Hello all. Can't sleep so thought I'd come downstairs, make a cuppa and catch up on the thread. There is a raging storm going on outside.

Arrived back yesterday evening, had a reasonably good weekend, as much as you can at your in laws.

red, I loved the picture of the boots. Looks like the kitchen is coming on too, what a great space you'll have. Your red skinnies/roxy outfit sounded fab by the way. Where are those red jeans from?

Hope your DS had a wonderful birthday marsha.

Hangover sounds grotty NJC. I have to agree that 6 glasses of wine would totally floor me too.

Ollie, glad you had a good break, although sorry to hear about your mum and your BIL. How is your Dad getting on now? The Cotswold place looks like a really nice spot to stay.

Well done on being so organised with your work fritzi, it's so good to get that sense of accomplishment.

What a raffle win portia, good for you! I am not the owner of any high end bags (yet), but believe me I'd like to be.

rufus, I would think that DH would be relieved to get vouchers, much easier for him. I do understand what you mean about possible disapointments re Christmas/birthdays. So much so that I started an AIBU about it a few weeks ago. I did get a few, "man up, why on earth do you expect to even get birthday cards" type replies though. If neither dress really does it for you then walk away and wait for the sales.

Hope you are feeling better soon Bloss.

How are you today annie? Loved reading your posts about DH and the DD's getting all festive.

NY the room service, big hotel bed bit of your works do sounds perfect to me!

I am back to the GP's today, still fainting when I stand for a while and feel dizzy when I walk up the stairs. However, I am feeling a bit more rested than I was and the 'spotting' that I'd been having on and off seems to have resolved. I'll certainly be off from work until Xmas, and then see how I am doing from there.

Agree that a mass SS opening would be great, don't mind when. Happy for this Sunday, after the madness of bath/bed time?

Happy birthday ollie! Have a fab day with lots of champagne and lovely presents!

Yes, Happy birthday ollie. Hope you have a wonderful day X