AVID and WISE: This is the place where you can harp on about your new buys.

[FritziGreenEyes]

Sorry about thread title. Hope everyone is back from holidays soon and will find us here.

amber Which JBrands did you get?

bonsoir I tried on those two tops in Cos before Easter and was tempted too. Bought a simple navy dress in Cos and shoes, which are not on the website . Will return this top. Cos is great at the moment I think.

Ollie love that green dress but v alarmed by the back. Worry that less in touch people would think I'd just forgotten to do my zip

Marsha it must be so lovely to be done. Enjoy your work detox and getting into some exercise whenever you feel energetic enough.

Red 3 colour palette is inspired. Is it wrong to colour drape DS1 so he has the perfect palette?

I hardly ever dress my DCs up. I find kids in anything remotely formal a bit weird - tried to put DS1 in a shirt not long ago and he asked what it was . But then I am a v casual person and so is DH.

Had a nice play with my Stella and Dot order this evening. Will almost certainly keep this long casual necklace and these beads in coral even though they are a bit overpriced. Quality looks good and I know I'll get good use from them. Really wanted to keep the curb chain in gold, but it was just too shiny. weight and length were good on me though - they used to do a duller one, so hopefully they'll do it again at some stage. Also keeping this bracelet. If I make a bit of money one day soon I may well order this statement necklace as I think it would be useful for adding drama to plain t-shirts and jeans outfits.

LOL Decam. DH actually said recently, when DS1 didn't come in as usual in the middle of the night (when had bad dream), but just got up and turned on the light and went back to bed, that he felt a "little sad" and that he started thinking about them growing up etc, etc. I cheerily said "well, that's what grandchildren are for, and you can be really involved etc, etc" and he ACTUALLY said "yeah, I started thinking that you know if one of them had a baby....you know really young.....well, I'd just mind get stuck in and it would be fine....." I looked at him in horror. "ARe you out of your mind? They are 8, 6 and 4 years of age. What are you thinking?"

Oh and can someone link to the does my bum look 40 blog. Don't seem to be able to find it online. Thanks.

Not wrong at all Hopefully. Only as wrong as my attempts to hothouse DS (again, slightly joking).

Rufus I am really laughing at your DH's logic.

And also, I meant to ask a slightly cheeky favour of anyone with young DS'. There is a lady in SA who helps my Mum around the flat whenever she is in the country who has a 3 month old and whose partner died whilst she was pregnant. She is struggling financially and asked me to send on any of DS' clothes to her. I have long ago given his baby bits to various friends and never thought to ask for any back. I am now saving everything to send on/take to her in the future, but only from 2.5 upwards. If anyone has stuff they'd be happy to send on, I would happily cover p&p/nuisance incurred.

Here it is Rufus - have just spent a happy half hour reading it. Very funny writing style and excellent legs. Am .

Thanks Red!

Im laughing cos I didnt see the picture of the back of the green dress, how funny!

Just had a v quick peek at the 40 blog, looks good, and I love her collection
of picture frames at the bottom of the stairs.

Just had a quick scan. Boo hoo, she's not 40, only 38. Love her style though. In my head, that is how I look.....

She looks really skinny too . With good hair . Honestly I don't know what's happened to mine, but I think it's down to losing my comb in Spain and having to buy Pantene. Thank you mrscb, red and decam, I ordered the kerastase with the In Style sticker on it.
Back to the blog: I love the stripy tunic with the other tunic on top. Quite inspired I think.
red, how have I missed your job news? I'll have a look for you, but most of DS's stuff went to my nephew, and also I found at that age that he just wrecked his clothes. That's a lovely thing you're doing. How awful for her.
They've done those tops before haven't they decam? I had a pink one.

Are Matches quite slow then? I've had a despatch about the scarf too

Suburban the M&S sandals are here. I've ordered them to collect in-store and will report back... Meant to say before that I liked the post on your blog where you showed a few different ways of wearing the Dotty P dress. It made me think that perhaps rather than buying more I should shop my wardrobe and wear different combinations.

DH has taken the day off to help me out - I have been so frazzled with the DSs recently! I think he gathered that when I more or less had a complete breakdown last night at the thought of another day

My Me and Em order has finally been dispatched, so I will be able to report on the new colours in the next day or two.

Right, got to do lots of work today to make the most of DH being home! Need to justify all this shopping I've been doing...

Sounds like things are tough with DS2 Hopefully. Have seen how the whole seperation anxiety thing can be very draining with friends who have had similar issues. One cracked it by leaving her DS (ie the house, in care of her DH or friend etc) for really short periods of time (say 10 mins) every day and then slowly building it up to an hour and more. Her son was obviously v upset but slowly got to learn that Mummy would always be coming back and things did improve. Another put her son into nursery for 2 mornings a week - just to give herself a break and so she could spend time with her other son. Again, he didnt like it at first but the staff were great and it helped a lot. Know its not easy though.

Also to Verity. How did things go with DS this morning?

Those M&S girls sandals look a great buy. What a shame they are too small for my size 7's.

Red will have a rummage but like Bloss, think all my baby stuff has gone. Will bear in the mind for the future though.
Rufus I loved you late night chat with DH! How funny.
Bloss Sorry about your Boden delivery stress. Agree it was a v odd thing for the receptionist to do. Maybe she is an avid Boden fan and thought you couldn't possibly wait a minute longer to receive it???

We cycled to school this morning and I froze in my grey jersey blazer and scarf. I guess I need some sort of short parka to go over the top as loathed to start wearing my wool peacoat again - its almost May for goodness sake.

Glad you have DH home today, Hopefully. I had that Pure Collection sweater you linked to, it was very nice until I shrank it. Might get another one.

Matches can be a bit slow to dispatch, so can Me and Em. They charged my credit card on Friday but no dispatch email as yet.

The weather is pants again. At least it means I can stay home this morning and wait for The Boots. Suburban, DD1's birthday is also very soon and I remember being in summer dresses this time last year and terrified my ankles would turn into cankles. They did so my dress wearing time was short.

Rufus, I really couldn't see you as a gran, not for a very long time. Just tell your DD every time you pass Holles St, that's where you will end up if you are a bad girl. My mother used to say that to me and put the fear of God into me!

Hopefully have a good day today. Good your dh is home. And thanks

Decam which colour pistols did you get?

I loved my acne pistols but I remember a male friend saying I always had them on after a summer of wearing them with dresses etc. Made me think ah people noticed how much I wore them. So will wear the beejuzus out of the Lanvins instead .

Morning and thanks to all who have been on the hunt for the sought-after foot buffer.

red Would love to help but haven't got any baby clothes left at all. Will ask some friends with smaller ones. I did the three-colour thing with DD's wardrobe last year but that idea might have originally been someone else's. Now that DD is in school uniform most days, I try not to be too strict about what she wears. We bought a black Benetton T-Shirt with a white chalked-on Minnie Mouse yesterday and she is really rocking it with her H&M skinnies and high-tops

hopefully Your DH is a star. Re-charge your batteries today and please don't stress about food/weight. Life's too short...

deca Fingers crossed your boots arrive soon and brighten up your day!

bloss What was the receptionist thinking? Maybe she thought you would rip the parcel open in front of your class and coo over your new clothes . Just imagine it would have been a parcel from Matches, NAP or MW! Your DD sounds so cute in her little uniform. Did she enjoy her first day at nursery?

The 40 Woman Blog almost sent me into a bit of a depression yesterday. She looks so well put together in all pictures and oh so slim and young and beautiful hair too. Oh, and I think WIT is definitely pregnant. The picture at the pool where she wears the sensible black swimsuit with her back turned towards the camera says it all. Remember last year when she was bouncing along a beach in a bikini?

Ollie they had some nice short parkas on sale last time I was in Uniqlo. Oh and where's your jersey blazer from? I've decided I need a blazer (or 2) but the few I've tried have been too short and looked odd.

I've just realised that I have to go into work next week for a meeting about what role I go back to after mat leave (I can't go back to my old role). I need to do some prep for it but also I don't know what to wear! Work clothes would be too much, my usual uniform of skinnies and Ash hi-tops is too scruffy, I thought maybe skinnes, boots, a blouse (which I'd need to buy) and a blazer (ditto) and scarf, any advice v welcome.

Hopefully hope you have a productive day.

Fritzi, you are slim and youthful with great hair. Wish I had DMBL40's hair too. My hair is blah. We do have the same Rockafella boots though. :o I need more scarves and little jackets. And maybe hair extensions.

Marsha, I ordered the tan (the black weren't on sale but my black Ash Jalouse are still in good condition). I think it is great to wear something until it falls apart. I do that with jeans.

Red, sorry, I get rid of baby clothes asap and mine were mostly pink. Poor woman, it must be so hard for her.

Bloss, yes, I have that pink top too. They do them every year. I don't like many of the colours this year.

Ollie, do you like Barbours? They are good for this type of weather.

NotSoGrumpy that sounds like a perfect outfit, in fact that's what I'm wearing nearly every day recently!

Hopefully ((hugs)) to you, it's really tough, but glad your dh stepped up, not all of them do. Hope you have a bit of time to yourself today, a wander around the shops maybe?

Bloss sorry but I had to smile at the image of the receptionist handing you a big boden parcel in front of the class! How old are they? Probably went totally over their heads. Ds1 came home yesterday to tell me that some of the boys in his class were involved in a physical fight resulting in 1 being expelled and 2 suspended

Ollie I'm back in my fur coat (and gloves) today after wearing a wool peacoat yesterday. Hate this weather although at least it sunny here.

Thanks to everyone for the kind words He went to school today, phew, but dd is home with an upset tummy I had a morning alone planned, but life rarely goes according to plan I find! Poor ds is cursed by being both very bright and very sensitive, which is not a good combination of traits IME. He has been lucky up until now to have lovely intuitive, nurturing type teachers, but the teacher he has this year just doesn't "get" ds2. What annoys me is that I had anticipated this and so met with the teacher at the beginning of the year, and went in every time an issue arose and he seemed to take on board what I was saying but in reality he just assumed I was being a fussy mother and ignored what I was saying. Well, it's come back to bite us all on the bum now as Ds is now suffering from severe stress. I have thought about moving him, but he has good friends there, and it is a lovely school. I'm hoping that we can just scrape through until the end of the year as he has a good chance of having a better teacher next year.

Pickled I'm really sorry to hear dd has been having problems at school too. It's so difficult to see your lovely dc in distress. I hope you are able to resolve the issue soon. Good luck with the job-hunting

Dec I hope the boots arrive soon, and they fit!

I think I'm going to do some sewing, I find it quite soothing.

Keep warm everyone

NotSoGrumpy, I tried this jersey blazer on recently, I'm thinking about it.

That is a funny blog, thanks for the link. I like the pictures too Ollie, I love catching glimpses of bloggers houses

YY to WIT being pregnant, but I have to admit my first thoughts were along the lines of "You're too young, and your career is just warming up, getting proper editorials of your own rather than being the office junior, you need to think of your long-term career" I am showing my age now!