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

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New thread.

I'd say the whistles are true to size - I got a 26 and they compare with all my normal 26's.

And oh yes for hold you in properties - they're like my cdec coated ones so a slightly different type of material to the gap ones which wash and wear better I think.

The only thing is the length is quite short so would be ankle grazing on you taller ladies.

annie denim leggings, long tops and boots is one of my staple outfits. Usually wear with either v plain top or striped and a luxe scarf but wondering about trying with blouses this SS. Recommend TS denim leggings, cheap but thick and no knee sagging.

Going to go and look at whistles site for mrs cb's navy skinnies now!

So, I officially award myself the bargain hunter of the year award. Have been pondering the TS Acne pistol lookalikes for a couple of weeks and even tried them on this week. Glad I didn't buy them as today I found the genuine article in the Matches clearance store for THIRTY SIX POUNDS! One needed a heel tip put on but £4 later they are perfect!

Also got some Houlis in vintage olive for 80% off. A good day!

V v jealous amber. I have the TS ones and have never quite loved them. You've done brilliantly!

Blinking heck Amber! I paid £360 smackeroos for some tan ones last year.

I bought these Carvela ones today half price. To wear with Stella M moto skinnies. (is moto a thing? ).

But I am tempted by the Matches thing. Did they have much left?

amber You are truly our queen of sales now . Love those boots!

mrscb Tempted by some coated skinnies and second notyummy: Coated skinnies are like spanx for legs

marsha I'm glad you enjoyed Christmas in Berlin and had a lovely time with your family. Love all your Stella purchases and think it's wonderful that your parents have indulged you with some shopping.

They had all sorts of stuff. Everything had some minor flaw, but some great discounts. Assume it was all the bits and pieces they couldn't sell/had returned. There were some fabulous dresses!

mrscb Is it the Lily coated skinnies you have got? Can't link to Whistles website...

Thanks Amber! I feel there may be a family Sunday drive to Wimbledon....

Thanks Fritzi, they are indeed lovely parents. For lots of reasons! They loved it too, think they are planning next year's trip. I suggested New York as they haven't been.

Just back from my shopping trip with neighbour friend. I have to say I wasn't really in the mood and had no shopping mojo at all . Have a snuffly head cold which is probably why. Did end up with a new pair of boots from the very last shop we visited - bit like Ash Jalouse ones but with a zip on the front (!) and in a lovely soft matt black/dark grey leather with a wooden heel. They were reduced but that lovely thing happened of them being further reduced at the till!

Also brought DH a lovely navy and white check shirt from Massimo Dutti which will really suit him. Can't wait for all the sales tat to disappear from the shops now tho.

Amber what an amazing find, well done you. Did you gasp out loud when you saw them and then again at the price? I would have done!
Carciofi I love a good polo neck, lol at Milk Tray Man.
Bloss nice Boden boys, the swimsuit especially is a great colour for you.
Reine bracelet sounds wonderful, lovely idea.
Fritzi a big welcome back, seems like you were away forever! So pleased you had a lovely holiday. Did you rock in your Christmas Day maxi? Any SA purchases to report?

Didn't go to see The Help last night as friend and I were both feeling too ill to make the most of it. Hopefully will see it tomorrow evening. Friends of DH over for dinner later - the girlfriend has all sorts of dietary requirements so am doing salmon with a ginger, orange and soy sauce. Very easy.

Off now in search of lemsip (can you tell Im feeling sorry for myself?)

So glad you had a great holiday Fritzi. Did you visit any of the suggested restaurants? I'm so eager to hear all about it! My honeymoon sounds identical to yours NY (although you probably didn't spend a large part of your honeymoon visiting relatives - this is where DH's anti-trips to SA vibe all began...) We went here and flew in on private jet complete with hot pilot, although I was 12 weeks pregnant and had awful sickness at the time. Not good.

Amber I am wildly jealous of your sales mojo. I can say no more.

Blue my trousers haven't arrived yet. Yours? And the Roxy?

The waxed skinnies are sitting in my JL basket. Am hoping they might become a birthday present for me. Will try Revolve Carciofi - thanks for the tip.

Have spent the afternoon choosing carpets and have a carpet-induced headache. Still no closer to choosing; it's a real minefield!

Ollie you do sound off-colour! Boots sound great though, hope you have a lovely evening. Is everyone happy for the 17th? Another list?

17th March MU:

Red

Missed out the bit when I said I'm definitely keen for a meal before MU-ing.

Oh poor you Ollie - you don't sound yourself at all!

DD sends her sympathies as she is also feeling very sorry for herself with a cold and conjunctivitis.

Don't think we chose the best day / night for her first night in a 'big girl's bed'. Am anticipating a lot of bed hopping.

Wow amber - what an amazing find! So of all of you in London with access to such good sales.

Like those carvella ones Marsha - good price too.

red - sounds like you're making progress with your renovations. Ours is back in full swing now. I'm not enjoying being without a kitchen although we have a makeshift one in the utility room.

Dh has started making noises about architects and extensions now too - aghhh.

Welcome back fritzi - sounds like the holiday of a lifetime. Brilliant that your dd was such a good travelling companion.

I feel the need to look at some sort of holiday. DH doesn't like the heat so need somewhere where he can chill out in the shade with the baby whilst dd & I enjoy some sun, sea and sand! Am thinking of villa in a nice part of Spain. Any recommendations?

OllIe- really hope you feel better soon, but good work on battling through and getting some footwear!

Red- we stayed at the Cape for a few nights (they upgraded us- was amazing) and then flew here at the Shamwari Game Reserve where we were 2 of the only 6 at the lodge. It was utterly incredible and one if my memories is having 3 chefs working to provide sumptuous food for the 6 of us and feeling incredibly guilty that I couldn't eat it all!! I was also pregnant - happened in wedding night- but didn't know for about 2 months so happily glugged away on the fantastic SA wines, and then on cocktails in Mauritiys afterwards .

17th March MU:

Red
Notyummy

Wouldn't mind eating as well!

Stayed at Cape Grace!

Dithering now over the Whistles jeans. I am a 10 in TS jeans so I would have thought about the same in Whistles- however I have just compared the measurements of a 10 in TS and Whistles and it would appear that Whistles is a bit smaller. In fact nearly 2 inches (!!) smaller on the hip measurement (which is likely to be the problem for me.) Hmm.

Hi everyone.
Back from mountain biking day. Blue route was closed because of falling trees, and we took a wrong turning and ended up on a red. It was a nightmare. It is for proficient bikers with expensive bikes. And there was me, new to biking and DS, 7. Felt awful for him poor thing. Kept getting flashbacks of being taken on a skiing red slope with moguls when I was a student, when I could only just manage a snowplow. Was very shaken up.
All is fine now, and DS is telling everyone about it, and how he cycled 13.44 miles.
I feel the need to paint my toenails or something..
Good to see you here georgina. Thanks for the feedback re twist top. I noticed very few new styles this season, just new colours. Loved the amethyst colour of the swimsuit, they normally have much paler purples. Didn't buy anything, but give me time!
ollie, you sound awful. Anymore cheap chocolate about to go with that lemsip?
Great to hear of your lovely honeymoons and holidays. And great sale shopping all round.
Thanks for the pm marsha, I have pm'd you back.
Hope you have a lovely Nottingham MU.

17th March MU

Red
Notyummy
Bloss (yes to food)

Count me in for MU on the 17th and yes to food!

Welcome back fritzi.

Am hung over AGAIN. When will I learn? Looking forward to early night....

Fritzi - it is the lily's but already sold out in a size 8 on the whistles website and low stock on JL! I have ahem purchased a second pair as DH said I looked skinny in them - he is clearly delusional but hey - what's a girl to do!

Wow Bloss - well done you and DS! DH is going to do a very hilly stage of the tdf this year (obviously not when its on) and is soooo excited but will need to do a lot of training as its 100km with three big climbs.

Fritzi - glad you had a wonderful trip

Emo - I adore that red dress - had it on my wishlist but sold out in my size which is a good thing really as may have been slightly overdressed on the school run in it.

Now I've got school reunion at the end of january - its a lunch thing at old school - what on earth to where!

Reassured by the JL site that reckons Whistles 10 is same as TS with slightly smaller waist (which should be fine.) Have ordered them!! I really shouldn't have, as I have just spent loads on booking airport parking and hotels, plus boring stuff like travel pillows. I do love my dark grey coated skinnies though, so the thought of some indigo ones was v enticing. Just hope they are not too short (although no bad thing for the wallet!)

Well done on the cycling Bloss- and the hangover Ants. How is the shredding going?

Just popping in to thank carciofi for the lovely cords - am wearing them today - and to apologise for not yet having posted any of my maternity stuff to icey and looby. I have had mastitis so it's been a bit of a rubbish few days. Caved yesterday and got antibiotics so almost better now but DD will not feed from that side today. Grr! Apparently mastitis can make the milk taste different so hoping it's just that... Anyway, will post early next week and PM you to let you know they're on the way.

Sorry you're off colour too ollie

blue you wanted more baby names - if it helps DD2 is Lara Genevieve as you know, DD1 is Sophia Rose and DS is Sebastian James (already outed so no matter!) if they're your type of thing, not that DS is terribly relevant if you're having a girl . Our other middle name options were Clementine and Kate, with first names of Zara, Katherine nn Kitty (not with Kate, obv!), Aurelia, Verity, Erin and Francesca. They're the ones we agreed on.

You have all got me lusting after more coloured skinnies. Which is silly as I have green and orange. But now I want hot pink or red and the cobalt ones. Sometimes this thread is bad for me!

I am also looking for a lovely Spanish villa icey for our initial Valencia exploration at half term but we're going to travel with PIL so we need a few more bedrooms than you. To keep me going in the meantime I have booked a long weekend staying with our friends in Jersey over Easter.

Icey thanks! I was quite chuffed til I saw Amber's . Not really, they are good. Sorry but I'm afraid I don't know any good villas in Spain.

Now I'm going to have to check out these Whistles coated skinnies too.

Indigo is really useful though ny [enabler]. I'm wearing my indigo skinny 910s right now, with slinky whistles top and black sheepskin boots.
Fear I may be asleep quite soon. Hope DH isn't feeling frisky

Is your DH really skinny mrscb? I've never seen such a lot of skinny men in my life! Hope it rubs off on me!
Lunch is awkward I'd say. I would be torn between 'cool' (skinnies and skyscrapers) and classic (dress also with skyscrapers). Look forward to hearing what you decide and offering opinion if requested!

amber what I wouldn't give for half an hour in Matches Love olive houlis

There'll be a run on the whistles navy trousers, I want them too!

Ollie you poor thing, I have my second cold in two weeks, it just takes the joy out of life. I have been surviving on Benilyn day and nights, find them v good.

fritzi so glad you had a lovely time

carciofi I remember you saying your dd would love a cat. We have persian, and she is the perfect pet. Lets dd carry her around, dress her up and sleeps on her bed. We know another persian who has a similar personality. I'd highly recommend them as a family pet, no walks required!

My DVF dress arrived and is perfect, it even has pockets

No clothes shopping today, but chose a kitchen, sofa and tiles for the house. Going for ivory marble for the whole house in case we flood again. Wanted beautiful milky white ceramic tiles, but SA convinced me they'd be a nightmare to keep clean. The marbling in the ones we chose will at least disguise the odd footprint. Have a few weeks to think about whether I love the plain ones enough to wash the floor every day!

Dc back to school on Monday. This week has been back to back playdates and sleepovers, so as much as I will miss them I'm secretly looking forward to a bit of time alone. Planning to be at the shops by 9.15 Monday morning