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

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New thread.

Thanks everyone for the go-ahead for the sequins for anniversary dinner. Funnily enough there's a picture of me taken when out for dinner just days before DS was born also wearing a sequin jacket (TS, creamy/grey, hmm must dig it out again). Not sure whether it's good that I know what I like or whether I'm in a serious leopard / sequins / stripes style rut!

Finally a breakthrough on the CE leopards front: lovely, lovely DH came home from Manchester with a pair last night. They're in the camel colour and are gorgeous. They're a 24 and very tight but I think they'll be perfect by spring so am really thrilled. fleecey thanks for your eBay spot; I've had a browse and there's some grey in 24 for around £105... Tempted to get them as well!!

marsha your haul is simply magnificent. Oh to own even one Stella item. The green coat and sequin dress particularly made me drool and glad you got the scarf after waiting so patiently and so long! Is delayed gratification all it's cracked up to be?! I'm so impatient I rarely get to find out and just have to purchase asap!

icey know exactly what you mean about the boredom of maternity outfits. I feel just the same which is why I'm throwing myself with such excitement into the joy of post-bump attire. I'm excited about meeting you and talking babies as well as clothes.

zembo thanks for the pm; will reply now. Good decision on the roxy. I'm hoping you'll bring it to the MU so I can try it on and run away with it see whether I should return or ebay the TS as still a bit unsure.

What is everyone doing / wearing for NY?

Glad your DH's uncle is bit better icey.

Is 'Bridesmaids' worth a watch bloss? Might order it for my post-baby sit-on-the-sofa-a lot DVD stash.

really like this reiss dress but it's new season not sale!

Yes that's lovely emo. Curse that tempting new season stock! I'd forgotten to look at reiss sale so thanks for the reminder. Like this shirt and this spotty one

Marsha what a great shopping spree, your Dad sounds truely lovely. I keep picturing you and your Dad like the scene from Pretty Woman when the shop assistants fawn over Richard Gere whilst Julia Roberts tries on all the great outfits! Really love the sequin dress and of course pleased you got the scarf. My enormous chunky cream scarf has not been off my next since Christmas Day - I love it.
Amber also pleased you got your hands on the CE. Bridesmaids is one of the funniest things I have ever watched - real snort tea out your nose stuff, try and see it. Bloss is right about the leads wardrobe and I love her hair too - she can do that wavy thing with it which I love.

All this sales talk is making me ....whatever that word is when you feel a little frustrated that you can join in. Not seen anything here. I have just done my biannual perusal of the new Next season and as usual a lot of tat - there is a nice long sleeved navy lace top, a navy jersey cover up for the beach and a nice work dress (one of those that looks like a blouse and skirt) but will not link as they will seem so blah after the gorgeous Stella stuff!

Am seriously considering getting the big Zara shopper in tan (not in sale) as liked it for what seems like ages. It is huge tho so would need a job which comes with a laptop to go with it

Blue - not Amber - sorry - too much festive chocolate has addled my tiny brain!

Ollie, I am seriously contemplating getting this Pure brown leather bag, there are some other ones worth a look too. I am so delighted as the GP Finchley Park top in black arrived this morning and fits beautifully (XS was only size left in the sale) - I love it!

Blue, those camel CEs are lovely, so are the blue ones. Great that you are having a mini meet, so nice for you and icey to be able to talk babies.

Marsha, hope you all enjoy The Magical Night - is it today you're seeing it? Great that Berlin hotel lived up to your parents' expectations .

Marsha- I am green with envy!

Icey- glad your uncle is better. Thanks for the offer to bring the Earharts to the MU. Sounds very sensible!

Am hiding watching TV in the bedroom and eating Christmas cake whilst dd and 2 five year old girls rampage downstairs with her Playmobile. Devastation will ensue I am sure, which will need to be tidied up before MIL arrives later.....

Looking forward to our London trip in a couple of days. Nice hotel, NYs day parade and a show. Even the weather forecast looks good!

Marsha what a fantastic haul, so glad to hear you are having such a lovely time having your family over too.

blue what a start your DH is, the hotel looks like a beautiful spot.

Icey so glad to hear about Dh's uncle, fingers crossed he continues to progress. I hear you on the boredom of maternity outfits.

Nice bags ollie and pickled.

Are you staying in the same hotel again NY? Yes, the forecast is pretty mild for the south over the next few days.

I am in a dilemma. DH and I did a bit of a finances review last night. I was really hoping to find a job a lot nearer to home after my mat leave. However, its looking like to do this I'd need to take a pretty big pay drop and go full time. But full time nursery would be impossible for 2 DC's. However, if I did do this we would have to not do any of the work planned for the house. I am not sure I can live with our current set up with 2 small DC's!! However the alternative is to go back to a role that really isan't very good for me. Lots of thinking to do. Part of me would love to see this as a chance to do something really different, but how do you go about a complete career change..? Not a very W&A dilemma though I am afraid.

EMO dress would look perfect on you

MIM I am a firm believer in things coming good. I faced a similar dilemma with DC2. In the end I found a really great nanny just by chance and having a nanny 2 days a week and some time at nursery works really well for us as an option as although a nanny is expensive it's cheaper than full time nusery for 2 and more flexible and I don't have the hideous rush to nursery on the two days I have a nanny. Is that an option for you?

Well done your DH Blue on both the jeans and the anniversary front. I am determined to buy one pair of lovely jeans before the year is out and am torn between yours and bright red ones. Think you're right about them being great for Spring. Will look lovely with gladiators. Bridesmaids is amazing. Real laugh out loud stuff.

Marsha fabulous, fabulous haul. Wow.

MiM decisions, decisions and nothing easy. Would it be worth having an appointment with a careers-type person to get some guidance on other potentials? Second Ants on things coming good in the end.

Ollie I love the Zara shopper. So nice.

Thought of you today Bloss - we were on the farm helping to move, inject and spray 200 lambs who graze here before being moved to the Welsh mountains. I had such a good time - chief sheep sprayer was my role. DS loved seeing the sheepdogs at work! We had an interesting time on boxing day which I meant to relay. We went to see the hunt setting off, so Otis Ferry was atop his horse being a general arse and OMG the outfits of those viewing. It's so interesting how different 'tribes' dress. Dubarry boots, tweeds, Princess Michael of Kent hair and skinnies on everyone. Men in cherry cords. Very interesting.

So, the sale saga continues. Went back to Selfridges and saw my jodhpurs had been reduced by another £50 Luckily I had them and the receipt unworn in the buggy still, so I exchanged them for another pair and a pair of red 811s which were reduced to £50! Also got the pink at that price. Other finds include a prink snakeskin Whistles belt and this necklace

So I think that rounds off my sale shopping as I have ruled out the VWA dress, as it would cost me double the amount in shapewear, and I already have one I never get a chance to wear. Also the snakeskin C/Es arrived and are going back as too low rise. Shame as otherwise lovely.

blue glad you got them at last!

ollie it's a lovely bag, and not a bad price at all.

red love your description of the boxing day crowd, really made me grin!

amber I admire your sales stamina and how lucky re the jeans, result!

pickles I like that bag.

Reiss have some further reductions. Have ordered a red dress for work, the long sleeved one (unable to link at present for far of losing post !

this is the red reiss dress I have ordered!

Ants never thought of that, may well be an option and will be worth looking into.

red, yep that's exactly the sort of thing I need. I'll contact the RCN in the new year, hoping they will offer something along the lines of that..especially given the fee I pay to them every year! Love the description if the cherry red cords gang .

amber, wow 811's for £50 is a great price and red will be great in spring/ summer.

X-posts.

NJC thank you so much for that link, that looks like what I need and I like the idea of seeing someone outside of nursing too. Have bookmarked to call after new year.

emo that dress is lovely, the colour will look stunning on you. I love this too.

this speziale special made me laugh!

MiM yes I like that one too. But sticking to a longer sleeved one. I feel wise for abstaining. They are great work dresses!

Gosh am chatty this eve.... DH watching Dave channel waiting for takeaway, I am knackered but not working until next Tues now so a chance to hopefully get "organised" and enjoy my DDs. DD2 at 15 months is leaving a trail of destruction in her every wake, but is lovely and cuddly at times too. DD1 is nearly eight now- how did that happen?!

Are you sure you're finished sales shopping Amber? Not even a trip to buy me some 811s at £50?! Very jealous of that price.

Emo 15 months is great - but yes to chaos. N is picking everything up, emptying boxes and into everything. She is also kissing everyone and full of laughter. Gorgeous.

red I genuinely would but it's DS's birthday (and party) tomorrow! Really do recommend to London ladies though, they had lots left, and also loads of coloured C/Es for the same price!

Evening! Finally back from MILs, and though I've been keeping an eye on the thread it's been hard for me to keep up properly or post. It's been a lovely few days though, ds1 in particular has had a blast playing with his cousins - has made my life much easier too! Our turn for entertaining tomorrow, with my brother and his family coming.

I may have gone slightly over the top in the sales - I am studiously avoiding totalling up expenditure until parcels have arrived and I decide what I am going to keep. Only the NAP order has arrived so far - J Crew cashmere jumper going back as the fit's not right, but I am v v happy with these - great fit and great colour for me, so definitely to keep! Awaiting parcels from HoF, Urban Outfitters, Isabella Oliver, Great Plains, Jaeger and Amazon (major , sounds really bad all written down ).

MiM, I agree that talking it through with someone removed from the situation can be incredibly helpful, especially as it's not just about career, it's also about work-life balance, and to get that right you need to do a bit of digging and soul-searching I think.

Emo, I love that dress, your working wardrobe is fabulous.

Amber, very impressive sales stamina, very glad to hear it has been rewarded with some great bargains! And Marsha, love your purchases, that coat is a-maz-ing!

And blue, what a fab DH you have, great that you got your hands on the jeans.

... and Coggles .

Evening all, just a quick hello from the slopes! Loving all the Links esecially Emos speziale jacket!
Marsha you lucky thing, what a great haul!
Annie well done on sorting out your wardrobe, I so need to do that .
Nothing to report on a w&a front, all the shops were closed when I went down town today! Dh was relieved!