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

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New thread.

Lovely photos marsha echo everyone's comments about your amazing legs!

Just seen this lovey sequin jacket/ cardigan in Zara www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/uk/en/zara-W2011-r/164036/630627/CARDIGAN%2BWITH%2BPAILLETTES

I had a couple of those icey they are good in the deepest of night when poppers seem too much work.

Lovely photos marsha: adorable dcs, fabulous tree and you looking great as usual!

Thanks so much for lovely compliments. So nice!

No eggs NYE? Faints at prospect . We eat so many eggs here. I can't do small neat bags really, but i think it's nice if you can.

Icey I can't believe how close you are to your due date. Exciting.

Ants lovely Zara sequins.

Everyone asleep. Excellent. Going to watch Mad Men.

In hotel having cocktails. Secret Santa- I am carrying my snakeskin clutch....and DD wore her pink owl ring out to dinner. Have both a hotel and restaurant recommendation for you all but will do so when we have left in case bit too much of a give away!

Weather forecast good for tomorrow so planning Pre-breakfast run along the Thames.

marsha lovely pictures, and agree that the green coat looks fabulous on you. Was that tree in the hotel?

everything well done so far. We are egg free in this house as we can't risk getting it on our hands and then touching DS. I do miss them, but you get used to it. More of a pain for baking.

NY sounds like you are having a lovely time.

Icey it's coming around quick isan't it? I ordered a hypnobirthing CD today. I see that one born every minute is back on Wednesday night. Suspect I'll be watching through my fingers. I have my VBAC class in a fortnight time too. Eek!

blue when are you due?

Evening all and a very happy new year!

Have returned from our country sojourn to the anticipated chaos. Nevermind. End in sight and all that.

Hello Looby! Lovely to see you and what wonderful news. Congratulations.

Looking great Marsha.

How did your Poang secret assembly go Icey?!

Have just watched Sherlock - was excellent. Looking forward to Great Expectations on catch-up and just saw an advert for Call the Midwife with Miranda which looks great. Such a telly addict.

Hi Ladies, I just wanted to de-lurk for a minute and wish you all a Happy New Year! I have been following this thread for a while now, after losing my style mojo after the birth of DD2 13 months ago...

Thanks to you lovely lot I have bought the following over the last year:

2 pairs of Agnes (the best trousers ever - no ironing needed - got these cheap from Donna Ida sale)
Star blouse from Zara
ash boots
Warehouse swallow blouse
Batiste volumising dry shampoo
Roxy Biker
Lily and Lionel pink leopard scarf

I blame you for my overdraft.

Hello cousin, great buys! Why not stay de-lurked, as it's a new year and all?

Am knackered today as started phase one of get DD out of our bed. Lasted til midnight before I brought her in! She woke me about 6 times subsequently, in what I can only assume was revenge.

Glad to hear you all have lovely NYEs. DH and I stayed in and had a games night, which was silly and fun. One of the best things about the festive period this year has been spending time with him.

looby congrats! 4, wow, I feel I am chasing my tail with 2!

Love the sound of your wardrobe cousin! Another roxy owner for me to feel jealous of... Do stay de-lurked.

I am due February 7th mim - if I make it that far! Feel very uncomfortable and jittery today.

Cousin, you have to stay, we need you - you have somehow managed to zero in on all of the best buys, well done!

NY, I agree with Annie, your DD is having a lovely time of it, she is obviously great company. Your comments about her in the Hotel room really made me .

Annie, DD is now my height and when I buy things I do factor her into my decision. She loves my Boden cropped sparkly cashmere cardi .

Amber, I remember operation get the DC out of our bed, it goes on for months!

Nerf guns (present from SiL), Ninjago swords (from Santa) and bow and arrow at the ready - the park beckons. Have a great day all .

Pickled do!

Cousin stay, you practically have w&a full house.

MIM yes in the hotel. Better shots than mine here.

Really nice Christmas vibe and decorations. I was really pleased as I wanted the children to feel like it was very Christmassy even though we weren't at home. The German Christmas markets were very nice too.

Happy New Year to all W&As, mwah!!,

Spent the first day of the new year zip-wiring through the forest. Wore H&M chinos, white splendid vest and plimsolls .

Will post properly when we are back.

Cousin do stay de-lurked, lovely list you have there.

Big wave to Fritzi - sounds like you are having an adventurous time. Looking forward to hearing all about it when you get back.

Oh blue, not long for you then. I had that jittery feeling for a couple of weeks before DS was born. The night before I went into labour I felt really strange.

What a beautiful hotel Marsha, looks like there was a real festive atmosphere.

Sorry to hear of the lack of sleep Amber, many sympathies. DS has been waking loads lately, its a killer.

Went for a short walk with DH this am, still feeling really faint when I walk for any distance so I am at his mercy for getting out of the house! Kindly, he let me have a wander around House of Fraser although he didn't seem impressed by the Mulberry sale. Some good discounts for Anya Hindmarch though.

Hi everyone. I am feeling slightly panicked at the thought of my workwear not fitting properly tomorrow. Off for a long walk, then will decide on one spanx or two.
What a fabulous wardrobe cousin. Really impressive edit! Stay!!

Wow! I can't believe so many of you are due so soon. Does that include you too MIM? Thank you so much for the clothing offer, icey. I have now dug out some old maternity bits and have a few nice things (IO wrap around top, trousers, etc) but all Winter stuff as last two times, I was big during the Winter months. Ten years ago when I was pregnant with my first, the maternity clothes were shocking < shudders at the thought>

marsha- love your coat and your hair! I am resolved to do something about my hair and get a decent cut/ maybe restyle. I haven't had it cut in nearly a year. No split ends and condition is fine but it dos look a bit mane like! I need to find a hairdresser that I really trust which is hard....

every- I do like the bag but the reduction isn't great.

amber/ annie- 4 children is mad, isn't it? Annie- are you trying for no.3? I seem to remember that you had trouble with no.2 and I guess that is why you are worried re fertility. Have you considered trying acupuncture? I know that it probably sounds a little off the wall but I am sure that it can help (have had a number of friends/ acquaintances who have used it successfully for this after being told chances slim/ had several failed IVF, etc)

red I had a little look at The Sherlock Holmes on replay but I couldn't get on with it at all. I think it is because I love the original stories and have a big crush (intellectual not physical) on Jeremy Brett for his interpretation of Holmes. Have you seen any of those?

BTW- mini news flash for blue- Roxy jacket in the cream colour now reduced to £145 in JL (size 6 but I seem to remember reading somewhere that you are tiny) :)

Hi all! We are all currently slumped on the train home after a whirlwind day and a half in London. Managed to do the parade, Christmas lights in Oxford St, Regent St, Bond St and South Molton St, Winter wonderland, The Railway Children (just AMAZING!), 2 swims and a run along the Thames. The Westminster Park Plaza came up trumps again with great cocktails, yummy breakfast and a nice spa (and obviously the room upgrade!). Must mention a fab restaurant too. We have eaten there twice now and it is ideal for families without being a cheesy chain style place. It is called Troia and it is on Belvedere Road just behind the South Bank where the London Eye is. Calls itself Mediterranean but is more Persian food, with concessions to those who don't only want that. Fantastic atmosphere, great prices, lovely good- and family run with staff who seem to genuinely like small children. They don't dispense crayons and colouring sheets, but do play with children and bring special treats from the kitchen. Not swanky but great for families.

Fritzi- great to here from you and hope you had a fab time!

Bloss- I bet your clothes will actually fit ok. I appeared to have escape the festive season unscathed as of yesterday morning ......however the last 36 hours have been pretty naughty food wise... Will have to hope that all the walking and the morning run in the sunshine pay off! Have just finished scoffing a scone for an afternoon snack, and had the last mince pie of the season yesterday afternoon...as well as gorgeous tiramasu for pudding last night.

Apologies for the me, me, me post. Will reread thread now.

NY, great to have a recommendation, thanks. London is such fun isn't it? And so nice that it's just a train ride away. Glad you enjoyed the Railway Children. I really want to see Swallows and Amazons sometime soon as we love The Divine Comedy in this house and it's Neil Hannon who has done the music for it.

I have been shopping today and bought this rather nice pea/capey coat, it is a great price shape and I love the cuffy arms.

Also bought this bird print top which looks good tucked into a skirt - still keeping with the bright theme .

Couldn't resist buying DD her first bra whilst in NL - size 28AA. It was £2 and I just bought it so that she could experiment really. She tried it on and is still wearing it .

Looby, H&M maternity usually do quite nice basics.

Fritzi, loving the image of you stylishly flying through the jungle! Have a great holiday and Happy New Year to you.

Lovely buys Pickled and aah at the buying of DD's first bra. My Grandma did that for me when I was staying with them in South Africa one summer and her approach was a little unorthodox for the 11 year old girl!

Fritzi so glad you're having a great time, hope your accommodation has been good .

Sounds like a lovely trip NY, completely second Annie's point about the significance of such trips - am sure I've mentioned my Mum taking me to Barcelona on my own at 8 before. My most vivid and treasured memory. You must all be looking forward to your Australia trip so much!

Looby DH and I are real Conan Doyle geeks, so have the box set of Jeremy Brett version and they are much loved. It's a very different interpretation, but so very clever the way they pay homage to the original text - tiny bits here and there that were making both of us smile. Looking forward to the next one.

Amazing wardrobe edit Cousin - do stick around, always good to have someone with such discerning taste around.

Have been shopping today to try and pick up some clearance bargains at John Lewis. We managed to get some fantastic dining chairs we've had our eyes on at a keen price although I was banned from buying anything else until we have the kitchen in which to put it - fair enough really, there are already too many boxes as it is. I have a visit from the nursery tomorrow to prepare DS for moving up to the pre-school on Thursday and am convinced they will declare the house unfit for children and report me!