AVIDLY addressing the key questions that WISE women ask....like 'full refund or credit note only?' and 'what this would item actually be on a cost-per-wear basis?'

[notyummy]

Hello all!

Oh amber that sounds beyond grim.

Yes bloss off to Twickers today with work colleagues and clients. Bar opens at 1215...! Will be cheering for England however you'll be pleased to know we have a Welsh contingent with us!

Dd2 has had teething cold cough general out of sorts all week and sleep had not been good.

warehouse code for 25% off is GLAM

I meant to say mim the best of luck!

Amber- that sounds grim. Really hope you feel better soon.

Emo- have a great time at the rugby.

Hopefully- completely overlooked the weights question- sorry! If you are regularly using 2.5kg then yes definitely 3 or 4kg needed at least for the next step up. I use a mixture of 3, 5 and 7kg and that seems to be a range that really pushes me. You can get ones that fit on to each other and therefore are flexible- 2kg, 5kg or 7kg for example are the ones we have like that. I will see if I can find a link to the kind I mean.

These are the kind we have. They look a bit different to the usual pastel coloured plastic weights that manufacturers rather patronisingly think woman should buy (i have some of those as well!) but they are much more flexible and usually take up less space when packed away.

A 10 would be too big for you Amber, the dress is on the large side. Hope you get well soon.

I have just come across a beautiful navy wool coat, very tempted but it is late in the year to buy winter coats, isn't it?

Glad you are feeling better, Mim. I was terrified that the DDs were going to be huge as the sonographer told me both times they were quite big and DH and I both weighed over 10lbs. They were both 7lb14 exactly, a fine size but not massive.

My mother was very generous and bought me lovely stuff, my friends were envious. I blame her for my clothes addiction now. :)

Have fun today, Emo.

The Wrap catalogue is for the recycling bin now!

Yes LK Bennett vanity sizing is a bit mental. I remember trying on a wrap dress very shortly after having DD and I was the best part of 11st, I picked up a 12 (optimistically) and the assistant kept coming back with smaller until I was in an 8!

NY thanks for the weight link. Pathetically, I am enormously intimidated by them - am much more comfortable with girly pastel ones! Hard to actually find pastel ones in anything other than 0.5/1/2kg. Will be brave and get some like yours I think.

I remember the excitement of pre-holiday shopping trips when I was little (I suppose my mother must have bought us clothes at other times, but I can't remember it!) - we would race to Tammy and new look after school with her and try on pretty much everything we could lay our hands on. And lo, a lifelong love blossomed

Poor you MiM. I ate a pineapple when I was overdue with DS1. My god the pain! The acid felt like it had eaten away my entire tongue. I measured small throughout with DS1 and he was 9lbs 9, and really big throughout with DS2 (got a growth scan) and he was 7lb 12 (at 39 weeks by CS), so I have no faith in measurements/scans etc.

Amber I have been wincing at your piercing story since I read it! Ouch!

Sitting on train next to three flight attendants from various airlines, including possibly the campest sounding bloke I have ever heard. They are discussing their latest stop overs and I am slightly

I love these stories of early clothes shopping when we were little girls. My mother used to take all three of us to the best shop in town so we could try things on and get outfits. I can't believe that hasn't changed now

But we had quite a sloaney style back then in Hicksville. Alice bands, pie crust collars, blazers, scarves around the neck like little air hostesses.

But I remember my French grandmother arriving when I was 13 and my eyes like saucers at her chic indifference. Not petite French, but tall, strong, formidable (probably with family more north east France near the border). So lots of tall blondes on my mother's side. Anyway my grandmother would get so many compliments and I remember someone saying she could make a scarf from Kmart look a million dollars. And it stuck in my mind.

Then I got more adventurous at university and then quite out there, and now here choosing from labels I love.

ooh yes - pineapple. I tried that as well - it didn't work and just made my chronic heartburn worse.... (But it wont do any really harm so why not, eh MIM?) Also tried reflexology (which didn't work either.) Like Hopefully I measured small for dates - 31 weeks at 38 etc and the community midwives tutted and sent me to hospital. DD was 9lbs and it was just down to my build/height.

Amber hope you are feeling better soon.

Emo have a great day.

Scarfi yes go for that lovely stuff you linked to at Matches I think it was.

MiM you poor thing 5.30 is so early.

I bought the Kenzo scarf and got home and suddenly it didn't work anymore. Too square and thick. I need skinnier and longer so will have to take it back. I always have to do this quickly or I get edgy.

Marsha - my maternal grandmother was the one who nurtured, inspired and indulged my interest in clothes. She was a student at the Slade in the 1920s and had been an illustrator before marrying and having children and she had amazing style, in clothes, decorating, gardening, food, holidays. Even her dogs were über stylish!

Hello all.

Another busy week here but have at least managed to fight off my horrid cold. Much sympathy to all those still suffering. Have been interested to see the pierced ears debate. DD (7 in June) has been asking and it has been a very firm no from me. I may reconsider in a couple of years but for now I am worried that actually having them pierced would too much of an ordeal for her and also the maintenance re turning them every day until they have healed and keeping them clean. Not sure what school policy is re PE either?

pickled love the Gap denim jacket and such a good price. May consider for DD. will have to check with her as she has very firm views....!

Cannot believe how soon MU is. Have no idea about outfit. Not helped by the fact that I am fairly portly at the moment. Am thinking about Me & Em dress after seeing all the love it has on this thread and emo's feedback may have swung it as a fellow size 14!!!!

Work is still very full on. I did manage to agree a fabulous 3 week break in APril/ May though!! I have not been able to use much of my holiday allocation. The last 6-9 months have been manic and the holiday year ends in May so I have to use it or loose it!!! Anyway boss has agreed to me taking 3 weeks off. Am so excited at the thought. Hopefully the weather will be nice. Am planning to bliz the shred and diet- have downloaded MFP in readiness as I want to be back to a fighting weight by summer.

mim and icey big hello to you both. MIM glad you are feeling better good luck with the pineapple!

bonsoir your DD sounds very very chic! Am very very envious of ladies who lunch status

scarfi love your DD's self assurance. Quite right I bet she does look delicious!

marsha you have sounded so much happier since you had your highlights!!!

Right am off. Have a bit of a maintence day. Haircut, manicure and b wax.....

anniemac - "I hope she retains her innate sense of style." Here here to that. I really want to encourage my DD to have her own style - I have strong feelings that that is how you avoid teenage mono-look branded horror a few years from now. From my observations, clothing/style is like anything else - if parents have nurtured a skill from early childhood, teenagers are much better at navigating the worst temptations of teenage rebellion than if parents avoided the issue in childhood altogether. Same concept as Convent girls going mad for boys and sex!

Ants, that's great about the time off. Definitely get the Me and Em dress.

Hopefully, the guys sound funny.

Bonsoir and Marsha, your grandmothers sound très chic indeed.

I ordered the coat, this one with QX47728 for an extra 20% off. I'll have to return the red bag I just bought but I'll buy it again in the sale! I really like the Alexa bag and will probably use that non-stop for a while anyway.

Morning all. At tennis with DC.
Marni not for me either- don't like the tribal prints much nor the styles. The DVF for kids looked great though. I think that would suit my 2 girls.

I much prefer the Conservative style of the French clothes that you linked to bonsoir compared to the things in most British shops. It is all so overdone here. Less is more v often, I think!

My DM was also generous (father paid though) when it came to our clothes. They couldn't afford to buy what they did in reality. My mother loves expensive clothes, etc still (like mother, like daughter there). She is 66 now but easily looks 10 years younger and certainly takes care of herself now that she has lots of time!

Need to pop and check on noisy DC!

I had little pearl stud earrings to match my Communion dress (age 7), I am sure Rufus was the same!

Do we think MU is going to turn into a MU of Me and Em dresses?

Yes would love to Anniemac

It's a shame you and (and Dauphin, MrsCB) won't be at the MU. And one day we could do a Paris one. And everyone else that is with a little gorgeous baby or can't make it. You will all be missed, although still welcome to come of course!

Haha Ants yes am much happier after this week of SS prep . Feel I have been Sprung. So pleased you have a big break coming up you definitely deserve it.

Bonsoir I am sure one of my distant Parisian relatives was on a BBC show about Paris, filmed in a salon for dog (although it sounds so much more delicate in French than 'dog'). But it was years ago and I haven't had the chance to check.

Great coat Scarfi, ready for next year. Good thinking.

I agree about gentle introduction to one's own style. I started at university so a bit late but it was quite a strong look but also still fashiony rather than a huge swing off into the ether.

Ok better um get ready and take scarf in.

MiM I meant to say I'm gettting union navy MiH Paris. As I need indigo to replace some jbrands that are defunct, I might get another more summery colour too later on if they are great.

Have fun at thw rugby Emo, think my Dad is there so if you see a brown haired Alf Stewart (remember Home & Away?) lookalike, say hello!

Looby - am so sorry I missed you off the MU message, not sure how that happened but will send you the message asap. Understand that you may otherwise be occuppied tho

Scarf i liked the floral blouse from Wrap you linked too.

MiM glad you are feeling better and brighter. I was 2 weeks overdue with DS1 and still feel slightly ill when I look at a pineapple as I ate one a day trying to get things started!

Hopefully arent the Davina weights from Argos supposed to be good? May not be heavy enough for you now tho. I struggle with 1.5kg...

My Mum was v strict about not letting me and my sisters get our ears pierced. Within a week of my sisters starting Uni they had them done! I never liked my ears so have never had mine pierced. Didnt stop DH buying me some earings a long time ago thinking I had tho!!!

My Mum used to make a lot of our clothes as money was tight and she is a brilliant sewer. Didnt used to mind too much as she was good at making fashionable clothes - remember being thrilled with a navy dress with a sailor collar circa Princess Di mania and some pedal pushers. Also remember the excitement of having something shop brought esp a raspberry quilted winter coat from Bhs which was was on my bed as a surprise after school one day!

DH just booked a sitter for this evening so we are off out for the evening for impromptu night out - going to my favourite eetcafe (bistro style restaurant) that really does the best spare ribs in the city. Haute cuisine it aint but sometimes a girl just needs good old fashioned food - and prosecco of course!

olly I will look out for someone of that description shouting at england to "stop being fling galahs"!

ants go for it. Washing
One this weekend will report back

I recall not being allowed pixie boots as a 9 year old and feeling most hard done by! My mum was a sewer too. I do recall having a raspberry pink sweatshirt from VHS and dark blue jeans and feeling like the bees knees! Also my favourite t shirt had a picture of MrGreedy on it, how apt!!

On train to lunch and game. About to over heat as its boiling !

Flaming not fling. And bhs not VHS. Stupid iPhone!

Morning All! this is my third attempt at posting today, have lost my previous two!

On the subject of ear piercing, all 3 DDs have their ears pierced, I have learnt to pick my battles and they all wear studs (like their mama ) and so it's been fine. On the other hand tatoos and body piercings would be a total no no in our house, but having said that, because they know it, it has never really been an issue.

Amber you are such a rebel!

Scarf bought a similar dress from The White Co last year, it never really sat properly and so i never wore it, another item for Ebay when I eventually sart my odssey!

Emo Enjoy the rugby!

DD2 came home from France last night, it is so good to have her home. Last year some of you gave me advice on how to motivate her to study, well, she produced an excellent report and came second highest in her year in French! before you ask she was marked at the same level as the others! I won't mention her science grade though! [proud mummy emoticon!]

We don't have a summer uniform here, the children wear the same uniform all year round. Mind you we really only have two seasons wet and wetter!