AVIDly purchasing lavender, orange, yellow and pink for spring is a WISE thing.

[FritziGreenEyes]

Sorry for poor thread title but I am hopeless at rhyming at the best of times...
Unbelievable how quickly we filled the last thread!

Had one hour on Friday before the meeting started and used my time very efficiently and bought these. They are not quite as high as the 50/50s but suit me better. Was hugging the shopping bag close to me on the train back home yesterday .

ollie Such a shame that your DH isn't going to go with the job offer over here. Oh, the fun we could have!

hopefully Having you on this thread is great and I enjoy reading your posts a lot. I hope your mother doesn't find any more tidying tasks for you today. You look fab in your wedding pictures.

annie Hope you got all your work done last night and have the chance to get some rest today.

red We have our hob on our kitchen island too. We couldn't decide on backsplash for ages. Haven't had one for ages and it is absolutely fine. I do most food preparation stuff on the island anyway.

Have lovely Sundays everyone!

Beautiful cakes and daughters reine. Your eldest looks a lot like you in her dressing up clothes.

Oh yes-also spent £30 on my wardrobe premium delivery thingy so that if I get bored on maternity leave (ha ha) I can order and send back tonnes of clothes to try on just for fun

Icey- I am tempted by the Oushka bag that Fritzi linked to here as a changing bag and then a normal bag afterwards but sadly I have now spotted this one which I think I prefer.
Posted it earlier down the thread but cunningly hidden at the end of the post so no one noticed.
Opinions anyone?

Ok here goes:

5 pairs of j brands (I know): £275
Indigo C/Es: £40
Nudie high kais: £20 (eBay)
McQueen skull scarf: £82
Mulberry necklace: £75
4 Vince tops: £100
Splendid skirt & top: £55
Whistles slinky top: £30
Acne pistols: £36(!)
Benetton cashmere mix jumper: £20
Superga trainers: £20
Couple of gap l/s tops: £25
Gap chambray shirt: £30
Barbour international navy jacket: £115
Maje checked scarf: £32
Forever 21 scarf and top: £28
TS spotty trousers: £38

Which I think gives a total of £1021 and I'm pretty confident there will be stuff I've forgotten. Does that make you feel better Hopefully?

I think I have a problem. I have made about £150 on eBay though... And I had Xmas and Birthday money...

Will catch up and do some links now!

Wow Amber - that's some list . I know it's a lot of money but you've got some great stuff there- well done!

Looby-yes, 2nd bag is v nice too but I'm quite drawn to the pockets (and price) of first one.

Love the Sandro jacket Verity.

I've never been done but assume I'm a summer and tend to be drawn to those type of colours.

Back from heart tests which were all fine apart from now hooked up to a heart monitor for 48 hours and of course my first question is 'how on earth am I going to wash my hair'!

Hello lovely ones

Reine, please can I see pics?

Blue, hope you have a good night's sleep tonight. I think it is a great time to have a baby now, she'll be at that gorgeous 6 month stage in the Summer.

Icey, you are so funny with your MW special delivery/trying on thingy . Are you feeling well? What does DD think about your expanding tummy?

I have bought mostly work clothes this month with the exception of the sharkskin Agnes (£150) and Vero Moda peacoat (£50). I too would love a fab scarf that so far has remained elusive.

Hopefully, I am finding it hard to keep track of your boots' situation, ditto the Marant jackets Marsha et al .

Will be down in London for a workshop thing on the 13/14 of Feb so will have a chance to browse around some real shops then. I so envy you lot that can just nip into proper shops.

Bonsoir NY

Wouldn't be half as brave if my DH was on this thread, NYE! Shocking, isn't it? But you're right, as a ruthless ebayer I do look at resale value and operate a 'one in, one out' policy, so to make room for today's new Barbour, my other one (short quilted trench which has never felt quite right) will be listed later.

Icey and looby Ive ordered the Byron last week (grrrr) to replace my battered slouchy Boden one. Not sure about the extra hardware on the straps (fussy) but like the style. Am looking upon it as a Mulberry Tillie trial!
Cant work out if the shoulder strap is short or long tho.

Had a v quick try on of the Cee Me dresses. Nice but not sure if nice enough (Roxy test). Will try on properly tomorrow when im less tired and grumpy (ice skating with 6/7 year olds - fun but hard work)

Am loving the january balance sheets, must do mine.

Good on her NYE. There is a horrendous photo of me watching the midwife do dd's first bath with my hair looking absolutely wild. It's a bit longer this time so will be tying it back neatly at the very least!

Btw- not sure if I'm a spring. I am 'soft and warm' according to colour me beautiful- what does that translate as?

Lovely to see you pickled. I'm fine but starting to think that working up until the last minute wasn't such a great idea. Dd has been very positive all along- she adores babies and is very excited. The reality will probably not be so appealing to her though.

I am in London this weekend for a catch up with my fantastic house mates from university. We only meet up a couple of times a year but when we do it's like we have never been away. Have planned afternoon tea somewhere near the southbank and theatre in evening. Can't wait- could be last weekend of freedom in a loooong time!

How annoying ollie! Tell us more though- would it work as changing bag? Are things likely to get lost in the depths? Are the pockets magnetic or do you have to unbuckle them? Is it nice and soft?

Icey soft and warm translates as an autumn (not sure if HoC have a 'soft autumn' classification, but that's what CMB used to call soft and warm).

Am trying to throw DH off the computer so I can use it to post my January round up.

Ollie- have you received it yet? I'm guessing that you have to wait rather a long time being overseas- must be frustrating!
NYE- prefer normal bags to changing bags. I don't think they are necessary and they don't tend to look as nice unless you can spend ££.

fleecy- I would say that you are a Spring (laughing at myself here as haven't even had my own colours done)! That June colour is gorgeous but could be kind of hard to match with clothing..

amber- wow-you are a big spender- some really great things on your list!

My list for Jan although I tend to go by credit card months which for me start mid month!!

Wrap: 3 tops/ blouses (sale) approx £150
TS Maternity Leighs £38
Hush PJs £20 (sale) approx
Thermal vests (2 in sale) £40 approx

Total approx £250

Children: 2 pairs trainers (sale) approx £30
Boots for DD1 reduced from £45 to £13 (best bargain)

Have justified the above spend by:
a) sale time bargains- always spend more in the sales
b) have earned an extra £150+ on top of usual salary this month.

Icey, I remember reading in a Penelope Leach baby book that you shouldn't say that your PFB is a big girl/boy now that the new baby has arrived but that you should continue to call them your baby too. I liked that bit of advice . Your w/e plans sound great, what are you seeing at the theatre then?

Hopefully, I eagerly await your round up .

Thanks for the link ollie. It looks very promising. Although I'm a bit jaded with bretons. Not convinced the white background ones suit me tbh. Will wait to try one on in RL.
I have always loved balenciaga bags. This is my alexa. Wonder if I could not spend for 6 months then purchase?
Actually no, DH was just being nosey and saw how much they cost. He said, it's a good job you've got enough bags isn't it!
Hmm, maybe I will.

Bloss I am a huge Balenciaga bag fan. I remember the motorcycle bag being the first proper designer bag I ever coveted, back a few years when every single celeb had one, and I've always noticed them since. Think they have the perfect little dose of drama and I always love the new ones. I like the red version of the one you linked. Maybe I'll treat myself if I have a bumper year with my business

My January round up (courtesy of my spreadsheet):
Orange 811s £130 (inc import duty)
Teal J brand Maria £130 (inc import duty)
Khaki Agnes £55
Mustard TS skinnies £38
Kettlewell tank £24
Splendid tank £25
Inhabit slash neck jumper £265 (ahem)
TS dark green top £36
M&S boyfriend cardigan £40
ASOS aggies £45
Aldo boots £70
Brown scarf £24
Belt £66
yarn for wristwarmers and scarf (knitted by moi) £22
Various underwear (not arrived yet, but assuming I keep it all) £135
maxi skirt £60

Giving a grand total of £1,165, so still well within the mental limit I set myself (£1,500 - £150 a month for the whole of 2011, having spent a total of £300 during 2011)

I've only included one pair of Aldo boots as I'm suddenly unsure about the other pair. Will decide tomorrow with proper clothes on instead of post-Shred leggings and holey vest.

Items still on my essentials list (not including my SS wish list) include:

• A trench or a biker jacket
• A smart dress
• Some accessories
• A shirt (I need one. How did I never realise before today?)
• I may also need to buy more vest tops, as I didn't really realise quite how much I would shrink, and the two I bought are verging on being too big for me!

All of that will take me nicely up to my £1,800 limit!

I think my entire Brora order is going back (or that would be added on too, of course). The boyfriend cardigan in camel is absolutely gorgeous, but essentially it's £200 on a very casual cardigan. I now I'd wear it lots, but I'm not sure I should wear it lots (I have a tendency to revert to the scruffiest and most casual items in my wardrobe, so try to keep them to a minimum). Neither of the jumpers I ordered are right colour-wise, so they're going back too.

NYE haven't taken photos of fan (apart from the phone one I sent you), will do so at some point. Shopping trip today was fun - I literally just went to John Lewis and Aldo, so it wasn't stressful.

Evening All.

I have been very restrained this month and only bought the Aggies, a burgundy cashmere vneck and a pink long top, can't help but feel proud of myself, although this is probably a reflection on my excessive buying last year!

Bloss That bag is very like a smaller version of the one I won, tis really nice!

Nice school run purchases Fritzi

The Oushka bags are fab Looby , I never bought a nappy bag and always used a large handbag.

Oops, forgot £80 on Zara blazer and bag...

I use this as my changing bag if I'm going out. Just bung a couple of nappies, pack of wipes and muslin in it. I keep the free Boots parenting club bag in the car as a back up with spare clothes etc.

I think that for me, the Chanel polish will be almost a neutral. It's not that far from my skin tone (I am not orange though!) and I think it will look neutral next to brights and will buck up the creams etc and make them a bit more fashiony.

amber you have done well. You should add up how much all that would have cost full price, would be an absolute fortune.

nye how could you forget me, eh?

I am super excited because it's 31 January and that means DH has finished loads of accounts and tax returns and won't be working overnighters for a while. So from tomorrow on I get 30m piano practice time and 30m to Shred every weekday while he watches the children. Can't wait to get stuck in. It's a bummer being back at work because every time Lara sleeps, I work. Should be working now so better go...

Thank you Fleecy! Have done the sums and can confirm that had I bought my haul full price I would have spent well over £3k, so suddenly feeling very wise again!

annie you, like me, have got some great bargains there, so don't feel despondent, you can always rein it in for a couple of months.

blue you must be so excited! And as someone else (forget who but very wisely) pointed out, she will be at a lovely age in the summer. I have fond memories of sunbathing in the garden with DS kicking and gurgling happily on a blanket in the shade. Poor old DD has spent the last few months looking like the Michelin Man due to all the layers (though she doesn't need a lot of help)

Belated happy birthday reine!

Did you ever order the VWA Hopefully?

ollie hope one of the dresses turns out to be a keeper.

Feeling the need for some lilac in my wardrobe, but is that just horrible on a possible Winter? Need some summery colours in my life!