Stepping into 2012 in style, remaining WISE and AVID all the while

[Russianred]

New thread.

Well, somehow I survived the Harrods sale, though got sworn at by an elderly lady

Bought bloss' slinky Whistles top, a plain White Vince T shirt, this Zara blazer and this silver clutch

Also got a load of Laura Mercier stuff in Space NK, including the primer mentioned above.

CEs were not in the sale at Harrods I'm afraid blue, but your metallic bag was reduced in Zara!

Am now just waiting for a better reduction on some coloured J Brands and a VWA dress and my sale shopping will be complete!

Amber, you're doing well , what VWA dress are you looking for?

Blue, what colour CE leopard print skinnies are you looking for?

This one pickled, saw it in HN today, but was dithering as it is v clingy and was wondering what kind of underwear I could wear underneath it...

Arrrgh, I can't open NAP links, stupid DNS blocking program thing as recommended on MN. Can't do La Redoute either, the lingerie is the problem...arrrgh and it won't let me contact the administrator.

Don't miss the Royal Institute Christmas lecture tonight at 8.00pm folks.

That's a lovely dress Amber. You need spanx!!!!

Have just done my first session of Ripped in 30. Loved it. Feel much better for it.

Have just returned from a drinks party with the DC (and drove, on my own, down country lanes to get home - this is something of a revelation) and am taking a moment to catch up. We're having such a lovely time; I went for a really long bike ride with my friend today whilst she rode alongside, on her horse. I even rode on the horse for some of the way, which was bloody hilarious. I am no equestrian.

Amber your planning clearly worked to your advantage! Lovely sales bits.

Ollie the BBH is revelatory. You'll love it.

Sympathies on the bad sleeping front - I was in bed with DD last night as she is teething really badly and it was the only way to stop her crying incessantly and waking the house up. DH was on the sofa with the dog, bless him.

Lovely jeans Pickled thank you for the link. It's those or some navy nes. Have never tried C/E before - any ideas on sizing? Also, have you got any discount codes for MiH Carciofi - the Oslos I'm keen on are full price.

Sorry to hear about bad news Annie.

I find C/Es to come up a bit big red

ants not sure spanx would work, as you can literally see every bump. Maybe the spanx slip?

I have a VWA clingy jersey dress and wear a spanx strapless slip underneath with these unattractive but practical briefs underneath. What did you do to get sworn at amber?

Some lovely sale buys on the thread - enjoying the links and hearing what everyone's been up to over Christmas.

Shame about the fights ollie. We were thinking the same might happen if we do move to Spain. Not sure what the situation is for flying to places other than coming back to see family. Do you find it a bit limiting?

Amber I've got this VWA dress (I think a few of us have it), I've worn it with a spanx slip underneath but it makes me feel fat so I'm going to eBay it in the spring. Perhaps I should have sized up. Well done on the sales shopping! I haven't bought anything yet.

Blue, NY, Ice* - let's try and meet up in Jan, I'll PM you later on.

I didn't find anything I wanted in the sales, I think I did better online before Christmas. I liked the Earharts but they were still £190. The AH bag I was thinking of and had a look at the Mulberry Rosie, I think it would still be a rip off at half price. Saw lots of nice new season stuff and Rag and Bone have great coloured jeans. I spent a load on Liz Earle and ordered a BBH when I came home, hoping for great things from it!

Red, Mrs CB mentioned an MIH discount code a few days ago, voguediscounts, I think, but not sure it still works.

Amber, I got shouted at last time I was in Harrods. A woman backed into my pushchair (taking about 10 paces back to do so!) and accused me of ramming her. DD1 said "what a nasty woman", very, very loudly. :o

AH bag I was thinking of ... was not a must have!

I'm done with the sales now (I think).

Fleecy, when we were in the US, I spent most of my holidays (10 measly days) visiting family back home.

I really, really have to do that too Anniemac. I know I have too much stuff when my wardrobe and drawers are too stuffed. Not great.

Lovely to read about everyone's lovely Christmases.

Amber your dh's does indeed sound lovely! Well done on the sales shopping.

Zembo you were right about the brows . Even dh likes them now after a few days. Phew.

Pickled your links are lovely. Great colours.

Everyone is here in London now. So the celebrating continues. Will be back soon to catch up properly.

Berlin was beautiful, very lovely. It was great to spend so much time time with my brother, sister and parents. It's probably the best Christmas I have had for a while. Altogether, but also in a different city.

All together.....

Thanks Anniemac . Have a fabulous time with your dh's brother and family.

It is so great to see them, and do the lovely dinners and conversation is good. I'm also finding it takes willpower not to wish they lived here and lament that they do not. Still, lucky to be together once a year.

Actually Dad mentioned getting a house in South of France yesterday. He was probably not serious. But might see what can happen with that .

Glad you had such a great time Marsha - and well done on the clear out Annie! Also glad your DD feels better. Dh and DD have spent the last 2 days playing with her lego . To be fair, they have just about finished a pretty fabulous looking house, inc satellite dish, up and over garage and flower garden. DD is engrossed and much keener on the fiddly aspect of lego than I remember being at 5. Obviously a genius .

Russian - Your Christmas sounds fab!

Zembo - I am def up for a meet-up.

Bloss - so pleased you enjoyed Ripped in 30. It has disappeared from my Amazon wishlist, so I assume it will be making an appearance for my birthday so I will have to wait until the end of January. DH and I have been punished regularly by Jillian over the holidays and so far, no weight gain! (I realise that sentence sounds a bit dodgy BTW!) In fact, I am off to 6W6P after this.

Looking forward to getting my dresses - got an email at 4am to day they had been despatched, which is pretty speedy.

I have put on 7lbs in 7 days. I will be wearing black leggings, Whistles slinky top and 50/50s for the rest of the holidays.
How dangerous is the Kindle? From weighing to thinking 'I need Jillian', to downloading, then starting to read Unlimited? 30 seconds!!

Back from haircut for DS2 - always a bit stressy as he wont sit still. Walked past Inwear and my grey dress is reduced 50% - hate it when that happens just 2 weeks after buying. Website worth a look - lots of things 50% off.

Fleecy easyjet destinations from here are the same price as the UK but anything else is just a rip off. Tickets to Portugal via a Dutch low cost airline are around 200e per person for May. You get used to it, I learnt early on with lots of things not to look up the UK equivalents!

Marsha sounds like you had a lovely Christmas.

Bloss and other kindle owners. Amazon has a kindle sale on at the moment and The Novel in the Viola is down to 2 pounds - worth a read.

Have borrowed inspiration from bloss and am wearing black ski pant, whistles slinky top, OTKs, biker jacket and blue mcqueen scarf. I like.

Have by some amazing miracle (I think it's called breastfeeding) managed to avoid gaining any weight. Impressive, given by DH's admission I am a greedy bugger.

bloss and ny amazing work with your exercise, especially so soon after the festive excesses.

red your Christmas sounds idyllic!

fleecy like carciofi the old lady walked into my buggy. I must admit to being less than ladylike in my response... Slip sounds a good idea - I have some similarly attractive but useful pants.

zembo it wasn't the fatness aspect I minded so much as the fact my underwear lines were v visible!

Have just watched the DVD that accompanied my Bare Essentuals starter kit. Eek! Seems slightly more time consuming than my usual minimalist approach to make-up (at the traffic lights....) Think it will have to be for 'going out' purposes only, given that I only wear foundation occasionally anyway. Ant top tips from those who have it already??

Like the sound of your outfit Amber. I am in COH skinnies, worker boots, beige, orange and black striped FC slouchy jumper with fitted longsleeved black top underneath.

Ooh, enjoying some quiet time alone at home for the first time in days! DH back at work and DS at MIL's for the afternoon. I am suddenly really exhausted! We had dear friends staying last night which was lovely and then DS and I were out to lunch at a friend's house earlier today. Very tired but happy!

Great sales purchases amber. Love the VWA dress. Shame underwear can be such a challenge. Thanks for looking for CEs for me. pickled, I am after the grey leopards. I have been surprisingly non active in the sales so far, although just about to purchase gold Zara tote. More useful than the various gold /glitter / sparkle clutches I keep looking at wistfully!

zembo I would love a MU in January, keep me posted.

marsha your Christmas sounds lovely and you sound so fond of your family.

Off to do more online browsing while 'The Sound of Music' plays in the background. By the way is it just me that the Russell and Bromley site won't work for?