Shall we Avidly sprint to the sales for some Wise purchases? Trench coats and cover ups, sadly.....

[notyummy]

There we go!

Evening! Glad you had a fab day mim. Love the can of cocktail!

redreally chuffed for you. And a bit jealous .

dona you really transported me to the streets of Rome there. Funny though, even though I am a pretty classic dresser myself, I do think the street fashion in England (mostly) outdoes elsewhere in Europe. Lots of fun with fashion and edginess here and I do think our high street shopping is unparalleled.

Loved my 1.5 hrs alone in town today! Not long but worth it. Discovered that Zara has expanded (goodbye nextdoor Kew), our White Company now has an outlet floors to rival Bicester, mostly containing children's clothes, and Jigsaw has gone. Cath kidston coming soon ( pleased about this, know it's very passé but do like the bed linen and bags etc for children).

My haul: some lovely discounted bits for the DC from the WC; the 'Fifty Shades' book ( got to know what the fuss is about. Hadn't realised the characters are all based on Twilight, the publisher just got her to change the names at last minute) and some Zara finds as follows:

These shorts. Not to be styled like that obviously! Was thinking with high black scrappy sandals and a simple loose silk top.

These very soft gold ballerinas.

Also got a basic white linen tee, a gorgeous cream silky top with flower detail on the sleeves (can't find on site) and the WIT neon pink necklace which is fab here.

Tried the leopard loose trousers on mrscb's blog and loved them but think I lack the nerve!

Have a cobalt Gracie sitting in my virtual shopping bag....

OK, so here it is, the final AH Gracie Roll call:

Fleecy - mini, blue
Amber - mini, green
MiM - mini, nude
Emo - full size, nude
MrsCB - full size, black(?)
MrsCB - mini, blue
Decam - full size, black
Always - full size gold lame
CHOOGIRL - mini, blue
Verity - full size, pink
Dona - mini green
Ants - mini, coral
Dumbo - mini, blue

Looks like the mini Gracie in cobalt is the fav, thanks for playing .

Red, glad your day took a turn for the better. I think you are going to love working those hours/lessons, couldn't be better really.

Hopefully, sorry it didn't work out for DH but asyou say, it may be easier this way round. Hope something else comes up soon, 'tis a good time for finding work in DH's field, no?

Dona, love the sound of a yellow leather skirt, if I had one I don't think I'd be sweeping floors in it.

MiM, excellent shopping, v. useful purchases that you will wear loads, totally worth it.

sounds like such a fun day MiM. Lovely buys. If they don't have pumps in navy do you want the nude instead?

That sucks Decameron DP worked loads of weekends last summer. Have you managed to book your holiday yet?

Good luck tomorrow Fleecy

Not scrappy sandals (or stroppy) but strappy obviously...

Decam I went to the 7 store on Regent street. They did not have them in Selfridges as far as I could tell. Funny though, the 7 store had them originally priced at £230, but down to £170 in the sale, whereas thats the listed price on Asos. Yes, I am usually a 29.

Glad the garden is looking better SE, and agree that it sounds like the water company have been next to useless. Yalla Yalla is street food from Beirut, was very good.

Red, very good news about the childminder and very promising that you are already on a course.

Haven't heard from Fritzi for a few days.

SE I really hate underwear which goes all sad after 3 months, and I find most cheaper stuff does (am about to bin second lot of M&S pants in 6 months, while Lejaby and Triumph pants continue strong!) And I really like matching sets when they're plain neutrals, makes it seem just a little bit less tiresomely dull and practical, which they essentially are. I can't cope with shorts-pants, and it's astonishingly hard to find decent knickers that are knickers rather than shorts or a thong.

So, if I've abandoned the 5050s (amazing how giving yourself permission to buy something makes you face up to whether you really want it!) I am torn between orange DVF dress and Alexa as the Next Big Purchase.

dona I am having major lifestyle . Sounds wonderful!

X posts - just the navy thanks Suburban.

Thanks MiM, I know where I am going on Tues now!

Suburban, no, he hasn't had time to discuss it, grrrrr. Your DD is so cute.

Go on, Blue, get the bag. :) I like the gold shoes a lot.

Oh MiM what a fab day! Sevens sound wonderful - can you link to them so we can ooh and aah?

Dona I want both your wardrobe and the opportunity to go to a cocktail party please, am .

Poor you Everything. I would have been gagging throughout, am sure. Very bad that it hasn't been dealt with by the appropriate people though.

Nice buys Blue. I tried one of the basic tees on Sunday and they are such a lovely fit. Came back and tried in my Whistles seam back and looked positively awful in in in comparison. Am ebaying the latter (never even worn!) in order to fund the former.

Yes, am pleased with the childminding situation - DS loves the space and freedom at nursery, but DD much happier to potter in relative calm. She's an ex Art Teacher and does all sorts of creative things I never do with mine and is such a lovely lady; DD will be with her DS who is 16 months and another 13 month old. Think she will relish being the 'big girl'.

I really rate Simone Perele for underwear - Hellsbelles if you remember her - first put me on to the brand and now every time I go to London I buy a set in Selfridges. Cheaper than a boob job.

Blue - love that necklace - think we do have very similar tastes.

Seventh - lovely neighbour but ooooh can not believe the water company did not deal with that.

I really rate hanky panky knickers for total invisibility under stuff and they don't highlight my indent either

Pickled - hope the job is going well.

MIM - what a fab day - particularly the mojito in a can on the train - I must repeat that myself. In fact takes me back to when I worked when we'd whizz into m&s at paddington for drinks/snacks for the homeward journey.

Emo - I love hearing about after works drinks - the only thing I miss about work! Well that's not stricty true but oh how I miss a sunny sunday afternoon in a pub garden or a friday after work just having impromptu drinks after work . . .

So summer again until thursday apparently. And that will be true as its middle child's nursery trip and it always always rains for that.

The Italians on The Sartorialist always look incredible.

Red great news!

MiM and Blue great shopping.

Hopefully. pleased you have found something major instead that feels good. Good choice.

Dona I always feel I need to crack the outfit before going out. It's subtle but very important. Then I have a fabulous time. In the day too now I think about it. Your party sounds lovely.

Mim that sounds like a lovely day and fab purchases. I think it makes sense to buy great jeans when on mat leave because you wear them all the time.

pickled I knw you've done the final roll call but I've got a cobalt mini Gracie too.

Well my NaP sale purchases arrived and both are keepers. decam the jeans are quite a dark grey (darker than I ideally wanted) but I like the cut. Oh and I was thinking about your comment about us having lots of the same items - I think it's because I shamelessly copy you

Usual day of nursery run, park, couple of trips to the naughty step for DD1 here today. Every time I think the tantrums are improving we have a spectacular one although today she was just v rude.

We met the builder yesterday, seems as if the power had to be turned off because of the wiring horrors they found (all rectified now) but we won't be moving back for another week or two.

I've just realised I'm going back to work in a few months, I need to start thinking about work clothes, maybe a Davina.

red great news about the childminder, it's amazing how things work out.

Decam poor you and your dh. Is it a project with an end in sight or ongoing?

Pickled how's the hot Swede?

Dh and I have a big thing this weekend. And due to arrangements we are meeting there. Maybe we should do that cheesy movie thing where we pretend not to know each other

MrsCB I used to have a Simone Perele set, it was really lovely. No longer suits my shape though, for some reason. I find Lejaby, Aubade and Panache all good on me.

at pants in therapy.

Marsha if you pretend you don't know each other, then it's obviously vital to buy new clothes that he hasn't seen before

Ooh what a fabulous idea Hopefully! Am really looking forward to it. Even the meeting bit, like a date!

SE Chie Mihara brand really suits you. And they are lovely.

Am starting to get a bit more 'in the zone' as regards imminent birth, etc. I find it quite hard to do that until just before (usually because I am the last minute type who is packing her hospital bag this evening)!
pickled-the DC are quite excited. Mainly, they keep asking me which day the baby is due/ when is it popping out, etc? Sounds as if new job going well.

Dona- Rome is so gorgeous. I also love Italian cities and agree that Italian women are generally v stylish if less individual perhaps.

MIM- sounds like a fantastic day and great purchases! That lack of freedom with little babies is hard so it's wonderful that you have made the most of it.

decam- v tough to have your DH working so many weekends in a row without a break and no family support. Mine has had lots of spates of doing the same. I can cope with one or two but it does get v depressing and exhausting after that with little adult company/ no respite. I think the babysitter sounds like a v good idea. Could you arrange an evening out with a friend just to get away or perhaps meet a friend with a similarly hard working DH for lunch with the DC?

Nice buys blue. I like the necklace too. Do you think the linen Ts are good quality do you think? I remember noticing them when last in Zara.

red- things have a funny way of working out better than you could have imagined sometimes!

bloss- that Balenciaga looks v lovely.

Marsha, hot Swede is actually a hot German. He is incredibly laid back so working hours are v. flexible. Watched the CG prog, fascinating! Hope you've recorded it for your Parents, I imagine they would love that sort of thing. Wonderful trees and front doors.

MrsCB, I am really enjoying work and almost have to pinch myself to prove it's real. Went to a v. high brow seminar last night and felt as if I totally belonged . Is the blog that you and your pals are doing a step in a new career direction for you?

NSG, excellent AH choice, I am now frantically serching for a nude mini G for

Ollie, wondered if you needed this for your collection.

Pickled Ah yes German. I couldn't quite remember but knew he was hot.

We don't have recording devices here. Bizarre really when one thinks about it. I need to find a way for them to see it.

Your job sounds amazing. Really pleased for you, worth waiting for right one. I love seminars. Reminds me I had to do a symposium once and got rose thorn in my eye and had to do it in sunglasses. It was either that or a patch. It wasn't their language so sure they thought I was er doing a talk wearing dark glasses for no reason! . I love the sound of your high brow stuff, it all sounds really nice.

Annie thanks! yy lovely poem. Aw cuddles are sweet. I always think it's fine. Although ds2 breathes loudly and keeps me awake!

Annie, you are always so sanguine; it's lovely .

Looby, glad to hear you are getting into the zone, probably a good idea. Best of luck for the next few days.

x posts Annie, Johnny Depp indeed. Love him in POTC.

Marsha, you remembered correctly about hot boss being a Swede, I got it wrong! LOL at you giving a lecture in shades.