Avidly gazing at spring/summer looks, while Wisely purchasing caghouls......

[notyummy]

Hi all!

Sorry about the rain/hairdo situation Hopefully.

I am eating G and Bs Mint dark choc as I write Verity.

Bloody cold here. And wet.

Morning!

SE those swimsuits look great. Might get one. Not that I need one - I tend to cope with my 300 year old swimsuit for the once or twice a year I go in a pool.

Beautiful sunshine yesterday - was actually too hot walking to Waitrose in the afternoon. Without a coat!

My Insanity DVDs arrived yesterday, so i spent some time amusing myself at how not-perfect my diet it (it comes with an 'elite nutrition plan' which mainly consists of adding protein powder to all meals ). Suppose I might actually start it today.

Thanks for your thoughts on the neighbour thing (and luckily its not the neighbour I always make a tit of myself with Fritzi ) Im not going to say anything - as non smokers, I am certain they will pick up on it in due course especially if its regular thing. Smiled at the image of your news at 10 ciggy break Bloss!

Will buy the shoes though!

My love affair with Colin the painter is over - he has started to point out other paint jobs that need doing in the house. So annoying. The good news is that quote for the new kitchen island and floor was very reasonable so we are seriously looking at options.
DH thinks we need an island that has a raised ridge of say 10 to 15cm along the back to help hide anything we put on it. I think this will look odd and want it to open ie just a flat surface, to help with a streamlined look. This is the sort of detail I can spend months nagging negotiating with him about.

Still half term here and I have absolutely no idea what Im going to do with the boys today. Dull and grey weather is not inspiring me much.

blossoming - "There is a gap in the market for a 'British weather' retailer: all year round boots, stylish outerwear that is waterproof and has some warmth, thin gloves even..!"

Do you think that the Aigle brand has the legitimacy to morph into a more stylish purveyor of really functional outerwear?

Morning. Think we may get a little sunshine today, fingers crossed. Going to try a new playgroup with both DC this morning.

Hope you get your own way ollie. Good call on shoes and smoking.

hopefully love that the DVD is actually called Insanity: sums up my feelings perfectly .

Have a real urge to go to primark for the first time in years - must be the effect of 40bum blog (plus lack of cash / guilt post Bicester).

Need more long line / oversized fine tops so I channel Wendy in leggings in her latest video.

Have a good day everyone.

Morning

Pickled I was so sorry to hear about your mum

Reine, Great blog and amazing business idea, how was the trade show?

Shame about the jumper blossoming. I noticed on another thread J Crew have got free shipping, returns and tax free to the UK until the end of May, some really beautiful cashmere on there in so many colours I might invest.

Blue I can't find a link, longchamp have got some nice bright leather bags with across body straps, a bit less stiff than satchels.

Went into Gap yesterday and they had some lovely things especially scarves but even the assistant stopped her sales pitch mid flow and admitted it will all be in the sale before the weather improves

Ollie, I also think the raised ridge on the kitchen island would look odd. I'm sure the neighbours will catch their daughter smoking eventually. It is hard to hide the smell.

I really liked my Aigle coat from last winter, will definitely look at that brand again.

Blue, I ordered an Isabella Oliver long line top, £20 off with the code TELEGRAPH. I think the code is only valid until tonight.

Great you enjoyed the wedding, Verity. I love Cork, would happily move there.

My friend gave me her Whistles £15 off card, I've already used mine. Thinking of getting this, probably more useful than a dress.

I have pathetically failed to put away any money for the sales, better get saving.

Ollie I like the idea of a flat surface, mainly because putting a ridge along it gives the idea of a 'back', along which things will inevitably get shoved and piled up.

Have managed a modicum of style today by actually adding accessories and swapping the cashmere boyfriend cardigan for navy linen biker. And then ended up not getting out of the car at nursery because DS1 wanted my mum to take him in, so no one can appreciate me actually looking like a human. Need to give notice (2 months) at nursery this week, makes moving seem very real all of a sudden!

Morning!

Ollie - I am with you on the ridge.

Suburban - good tip re J Crew. I may have a look.

Weather still very 'meh' here - overcast and windy. Am workinmg from home and just done 30 minutes in the garden, which underlined how much I hate gardening (I think because I am always so short of time that it is a md dash round to try and make it look respectable.) Did frantic grass cutting, weeding, sweeping and threw some bark on one of the flower beds. I need Fritzi to come and potter around and make it look nice . I did actually plant some bedding plants on Saturday, but it still looks pretty bleak and our fences need replacing - at least one of which because the neighbours leylandii are pushing them over .

Hello.

Bleak but dry weather here at the moment....am sporting fitted Cos white shirt with white thermal cami underneath and indigo skinnies, amber and silver necklace, and Tods loafers.

Boots - yes, well, I have become obsessed with the Marant Dickers and really want a pair now....anyone know where I shall find?

Funny, Blue, was at Bicester at the weekend, (Saturday). Bought a black snake Temperley pouch, loads of Cath Kidston stuff for the little ones, although not really all that bargainous, and then found myself in a sort of frenzy, because I was desperate to spend some money on a bag, but the ones I really wanted weren't in the Bicester shop (hello, Mulberry Effie!)...really liked the Tods bags with the rubber bubbles too, but just shy of £1,000 in the outlet shop seems a little excessive, even to me!

Found gorgeous Tory Burch shoes, but alas, not in my size, and tried some Markus Lupfner slate grey skinnies, but too ridiculously long....it wasn't my day really. Love the Rupert Sanderson shoes!

Had a lovely lunch in Carluccio's too...

Made up for dull day by shopping at the Mall yesterday...bought some pale raspberry tapered cropped chinos and pale grey boyfriend blazer from Mint Velvet; Taupe/cream stripe scarf; grey suede wedge boots from Kurt Geiger, and some really pretty white camis. Do need a 'chic' lightweight parka type summer coat too....

Decam love Cork, too...been there many times for the Jazz, and the craic, of course!

Olli, agree that the 'back' on an island will look odd. It will look much more streamlined without...You'll just have to keep it organised and avoid piling up plates etc. on ot....I plan to have an island in our new kitchen...can't wait.

Bonsoir...I do really rate Aigle. Stylish and functional.

Hopefully, navy linen biker jacket sounds good...where is it from? Been searching for a 'go to' (as they say), 'throw on, make me look polished with minimal effort' style jacket..would this pass muster, do you think?

Seventh I was wondering about WIT being preggers at Easter when she was snapped curled up in a ball shying away from the camera...in a swimsuit!

Must get on...out shopping with my little Gal. A brilliant shopping pal at 2.5 yrs!

In total agreement about the island - DH, god bless him, does have strong views about little things sometimes. Plan to go to a few showrooms to change his mind.

Am in the park with boys whizzing round on their scooters - such a great buy.

Next alert but i really really like these sandals. here

Dauphin - can you tell me more about where you think Aigle lies versus other brands? Why, for example, buy a winter coat in Aigle rather than Zara/H&M/Benetton? Or Moncler?

Oh my goodness ollie, me too! Hmm, but will their next-ness put me off?!

Thanks so much for j crew, longchamp and IO tips: I'll get browsing after DS's lunch when hopefully both will have a sleep.

DS is turning into a fun shopping companion too, though bookshops and supermarkets rather than clothes shops, sadly.

ollie A ridge would spoil your kitchen island for sure. Just indulge DH a bit and take him round some showrooms and he will see reason .

Ollie, I can't even picture a ridge on an island. Does he mean turn the whole top of the island into a giant tray? Isn't the point about islands that they can be accessed from all sides? Even if you just had a ridge at one side you'd spoil that surely. Have just read back and think I get it...does DH mean the bit that faces towards the other room needs to have the ridge. If so, it will only 'hide' short things and only when you are sitting down .

Boinsoir I perceive the Aigle brand to be very well made; it's the 'real deal', as it is attractive, stylish, cool, functional wear. A French version of Barbour, if you like. I wouldn't buy a winter coat from Zara or H & M, as I personally perceive these brands to be more style over substance, if that makes sense. I would consider Zara or H & M for more on-trend elements, maybe a colour block piece, or print jeans etc....although I am such a clothes snob really, I only ever want the real thing (I'm disappointed alot!).

Ooh I would love a Moncler puffa! Beuatiful...

sorry...Bonsoir

Thank you Dauphin. Do you think Aigle could get more on trend?

Dauphin navy linen biker is Dorothy Perkins - here. It's the perfect adding-a-bit-of-polish-without-trying-jacket for me, but I have a really casual style, so if you're a bit more formal/classic normally it might not be ideal.

I am gearing myself up for the Insanity fitness test later. You get a little chart to fill in (which I have replicated on Excel, in the interests of eBaying the whole thing when I've finished!) with how many reps you can do of each exercise. Having watched the fitness test through, I am anticipating a lot of ones and twos...

Man, I need some new clothes. My two favourite vests are so baggy on me now - I'm doing that 1980s-visible-bra-at-the-armpits thing, and not intentionally. It's so difficult to know what to buy with this godawful weather though. It's mild here today, but really overcast.

I agree with dauphin bonsoir. I only want the real deal too, and Aigle is up there with Barbour, Burberry etc as a well respected brand. The person who designed their winter coat was quite enlightened. I cannot count the number of compliments I've had on it. Clothing is different though of course, although I have a plaid shirt, it is a bit Kate Humble. They would need new designers (from Burberry Brit maybe) on board, but I would buy it as a brand most certainly, something more functional than Max Mara weekend, but less £££ than Moncler.

Also agree with Dauphin and Blossoming re Aigle. I wouldn't tend to go to H&M or Zara for a winter coat. I like Moncler but it is too expensive for me. Got several compliments on my Aigle down coat but haven't looked at their clothing.

Hopefully, I ordered this vest top today with the IO discount. It said one use only but I put in two separate orders and the £20 discount was applied each time, so the vest came to £9 with free delivery!