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!

They sucked me in. One pair of silver sandals winging their way here. In my defence I was after silver sandals anyway.

annie I'm a funny old shape, real hourglass -broad shoulder, small rib cage and waist and then expanding out to wide hips and backside. I also have no real grasp of my figure as just before I met my DH I was a size 16/18. Lost 4.5 stone, was a size 8 for about a year and then got pg, had DS, lost all the weight, was pg again a week after getting back to pre-DS weight and am now about 4lbs off my pre-pg weight. However, even though I am a little heavier than I was pre-DCs all my clothes fit and some are even too big, so must have accumulated some muscle (or its all in my boobs). Even now I find myself picking up 14s in shops, as I can't believe I might need a 10 or even an 8. Still think you are probably much slimmer than me though!! Will PM you this eve re. nudies.

Can't believe all the brave ladies who queued in person or on line for Marni! I'm off to Westfield in the next half an hour to go to Zara...might have to take a peek.

Not surprised by the ebayers - capitalism is thriving and well.

Marsha - the Celine shopping tote is OK, but I prefer the Double Sense by Hermes. It is reversible, so 2 bags in one!

Decameron - have just bombarded emailed you with Alice in Wonderland party links and ideas.

Mominatrix thank you. Yes so do I now!

I can't find it anywhere online. I'll see what the store says.

I segued into Dundrum Verity. It was about a quarter past 10, and everything was pretty much gone. Apparently people were at Dundrum from 7 am! I did keep looking at people thinking I wonder is that Verity! Good atmosphere for sure. The suits went immediately I heard. I would have loved the blue spotted jacket. I did manage to get a green sleeveless top, which I think is v nice.
Decameron think you were wise on the party entertainer. I haven't had an entertainer for any of mine yet, although for DS1 for the last 2 years we have ordered the bouncy castle. 80 euro! That was because though his birthday is the bank holiday weekend in June and we have a BBQ with adult friends also, so they get the whole day out of it. What I do for parties is I go to supermarket with 40 euro, no card, and I buy it all for that. And there is always loads of stuff left over. To be honest they eat very little, a.d tend to take a bite out of something leave it down and move onto something else, so I don't put it all out at the same time! Tescos are dead cheap for party bag stuff, and I've stopped stuffing them with junk as well. (I'm clearly not as competetive as I think) Anyway, voice of bitter experience here. The one time I arranged for someone to do nail art (50 euro) for DD, she didn't turn up. Cue frantic improvisation from Dsis and me. End result was looks from parents on collection, but hey ho, THEY enjoyed it!

I would get a bouncy castle if we had room but we just have a little patio garden. However I might annoy my dad by getting a bouncy castle in the summer as I plan to have a party in his house for DD2's christening (and I'll have a reason to buy this dress).

She is going to have four friends, not 10, just for an hour and half for tea, decorate your own cupcakes and bash the pinata! And wine for the mothers. :)

Thanks Ollie. Some of the ideas are great.

I am back after my Marni frenzy this morning to catch up a little more. Have been feeling a little sorry for myself, but have given myself a good talking-to and am back on form.

Decameron if the hat is no good on me (I have a really big head), I'm more than happy to send on to you.

Well done on wardrobe organisation MrsCB - I also find it odd that they didn't want J Brands. They're certainly in demand here!

That Carven dress is completely gorgeous, can imagine all of you would look wonderful in it. Try, try!

Shame about H&M Verity, any joy in HN? Impressive bargain spotting on Ebay though.

I'm losing my Ebay lust too - bar for children's selling/buying; think that's still very wise.

Any joy in The Great Dress Hunt FLE?

Love the idea of an Alice in Wonderland party! Wonder if DS1 would go for it...

Have finally ordered an Oushka bag! Hope it's nice, would be so lovely to graduate from scruffy bagdom.

DS2 is currently trying to eat his own reflection in a mirror while chuckling to himself, it is v amusing.

Oh god, DH has just been offered an amazing job on a really not amazing salary. And taking it means abandoning an amazing career opportunity for me. But he would love it.

Ooh Hopefully, that's a right old conundrum. Would it mean moving as well?

Red, hope you are ok. Thanks for the hat offer but you should ebay it if it doesn't fit you as there is one on at £62 already!

Can they up the salary, Hopefully? It certainly is a conundrum.

Marsha, Half Pint Chic are selling Caramel kids clothes today. I think you're a fan?

No move involved (although if we did move nearer DH could cycle which would make us richer, but it's not a very exciting area). Think he's going to ask if they can move on the salary, but frankly unless they can up it by about 20% it's still not going to be very good.

Hello...have been for a run and feel grrrreat!

Gosh, Marni mania.....I do like some of the colour block dresses etc. but go off colours.

Really surprising about the J Brands mrscb....I have a few things that I am not going to ebay decameron/red. I shall try and find a decent dress agency too, as ebay very disappointing at the moment. I begrudge practically giving decent things away.

Marsha I do like shoppers and the Celine one sounds nice.

Red - hope you are okay !

Decam, you make me smile the way you can do a complete u-turn in your thinking . I love birthday teas - balloons and a banner are all the decoration you need although fresh flowers do sound lovely Marsha.

Hopefully, it's so hard making those types of decisions. When we were faced with similar I made a speadsheet that allowed me to calculate the minimum salary that DH would need in his new job in order to keep same standard of living. He then asked for that, knowing that he couldn't accept any less - good luck with it!

Decameron - I love traditional birthday tea parties....so sweet, especially at this age. Ours are going to have a joint party this year but very traditional games and simple home made cakes etc.

Pickled, I'd still like Amanda's action kids to come in and do it for me but DH was a bit at the cost! Particularly as DD1 has only asked for a cat cake (beyond my limited baking skills, I'll be ordering that!) and balloons.

See, after being put in charge of of games at our older DCs party, DH succumbed to the idea of someone coming in to do some entertaining! Agree, though, that it is costly.

Hello.

Thanks for the advice on Vogue pattern sizing hopefullly. I shall have to have a bash, though I'm a complete beginner.

Just for info. I remember loads of the stock from the Versace H&M collection came back into stock a few days later, presumably as people returned things.

Impressed by all the Marni acquisitions! I had no chance of getting online this morning as the baby and I were forced to play endless games of hide and seek with the boy. Just perusing eBay and online now and consoling myself that the colours and patterns are not really me, although do really like the sound of the purchases made.

mrscb I'll have your unwanted j brands or indeed anything discarded from your wardrobe!

Enjoying the party planning talk. I've been lucky as DS's birthday is August, so much easier when they can all just charge around in the garden. Love the sound of an Alice in Wonderland theme.

Thanks for the Me and Em code. I might just be the 5th? 6th? member of the thread to get on the bandwagon! Though I am drooling over that Carven too.

I've been thinking about the rose pink jeans styled with marsha's blouse as well.
If a decent MW code comes along then I might try the j brands.

hopefully that is a tough situation. More debating to be done, I imagine!

Nothing from mim or icey today? Perhaps there will be more baby news soon .

This is the white blouse I'm going to try.

I'm sure I've missed lots as I caught up at 3.30am this morning. Hello to everyone, hope you're all well. I just had my toenails painted hot pink, they're making me feel very happy to look at them.

Hi Everyone..well done those who battled H and M and won..I am glad we were out at DD2s swim class this morning..the difficulties in getting through to the site would probably have broken me.realise that not 'in love' with any thing I had seen though thought the silver sandals were promising(but know they would instantly render me cankletastic!)

fritzi enjoy your lunch..you deserve it!
ollie will grill you remorselessly at meet up re AIW party ideas..just need to get the DDs on board.

re-meet-up,I have as usual,as I do pre every meet up so far got very cross with my hair and hacked at it the fringe this morning 2 minutes before school run..DD1 says I look 'different' ..I may be channeling 'Betty Blue''s cut your own hair then dip your head in a casserole cut

oh dear re-e bay..I have sold a few bits but it is a lot of work..sigh

marsha I spent about an hour lying awake agonising over your bag/shoe conundrum..have you resolved it yet?(I can't handle the stress)

blue well done for still smiling after 3.30 wake up!

maybe we need to all list things we want to get rid of on our profiles(for free,swap or sale?)

Like that idea, reine!

Wanted to say hello to breton and sympathy too. That Alexa sounds lovely, enjoy it.