Avidly surveying the sales... but already starting Wisely to wonder about A/W Wish Lists.

[blue2711]

New thread!

The fake tan is on (with requisite orange patches, naturally) and hair is done. I'm on countdown to Big Night Out, aware that will have to get ready whilst putting 2 DC to bed.

40bum lady is wearing my black suede Zara sandals today. I heartily recommend. She goes out a lot, doesn't she?! . I have a wardrobe full of going out clothes but not enough occasions to wear them all!

bloss is right: coats and warm jackets are the way forward. I am stupid; I have 20 odd blazers and lightweight jackets perfect for May to September but only 1 jacket and 2 coats I like for September to April. Must rectify.

Icey, glad you got to go out, even if only for a while. That top is very cute.

Really like those Whistles black trousers too.

Ollie, I ordered the cord skirt and the drapey tops. I am sure they'll have another 20% off soon. Hope the visit is going well. My dad could do with losing weight too, for his health rather than appearance. DD1 told him he has a big tummy, luckily he laughed!

Amber, we have so many toys from DD1 that I didn't buy much but I got DD2 this handbag for her birthday, which she loves. This tea set was DD1's but is a big hit with Rosanna too. I also bought a canvas with her name on it for her room. My neighbour makes them. Her grandfather paid for a term of Monkey Music, which is a great present.

Yes, Bloss, forgot to say, that was so sweet of your DS.

She also loves this penguin, which was DD1's. Anything from Fisher Price really!

Last post, I promise ... the Vtech walker is also great but you may already have that from your DS.

Blue - we've used these people and had a lovely villa.

I love Italy and we really want to go back to Ravello next year. Ideally I'd do a villa but there don't seem to be any in Ravello - my ideal holiday consists of a villa with a cleaner every day within walking distance of restaurants - I've found this very hard to find in Tuscany though as villas seem to be in the middle of nowhere.

Congratulations Looby!

decam vtech walker is the one thing I have ordered for her, and I was looking at that teaser. Will also get the handbag as she would love that, thanks so much for your help!

Re villas in Tuscany, I absolutely love this place.
Went there in November olive-picking (25 C), will go back this year.

I know I'm going against the current here but I would avoid Italy in June-Aug.
I've had a lot of visitors over the past two weeks, it's been 35-38C, much too hot for leisurely sightseeing and dining out. Many of them have complained about the weather... Best times to visit imo March-May and Sept-Oct. We are leaving Rome in mid-July for cooler climes and coming back on Sept 1. Over this long holiday weekend, Rome was a ghost city - ample parking everywhere

Evening All

Dona, where do you decamp to then? We stayed in a converted tobacco barn in Umbria last year and it was gorgeous - near Anghiari, a beautiful hillside town. Let me know if you're interested Blue.

Amber, 1 is such a great age (they all are), is she showing signs of walking yet? You have a great wardrobe btw, you should start a board for workwear ideas, or just steal Annie's .

MrsCB, as I suspected, you have the legs of an 11 year old , they look just like my beautiful DD's (she is now taller than me), she tells me on a daily basis how much she loves them, I think she's just relieved that she didn't get mine . Loved your going out outfit last night - you should wear skirts/dresses more often.

COS have beautiful things in the most gorgeous cool greys, pity many some of their fabrics are man-made. I think there should be a search facility that includes search by fabric type. What do you think Suburban?

Hi all! Airshow done. Went for coated Gap skinnies, Mango printed tee with combat jacket over the top and grey low heeled boots. So glad I did as weather was pretty rubbish- squally showers - and it felt really chilly at times. Saw a fair few shivering woman in dresses.

Ollie- I can report that the Dutch fast jet guys won the 'most charming and handsome aircrew' competition. Sadly, they didn't even know, as it was going on in my head only . They also had a orange tent playing v loud Euro house music and giving away stuff. Kids loved it. Italians did a fantastic display with a comedy Italian commentator on the PA system 'Ladeeeesss, wave to our brave pilots as they do speciaaaaaal show for only you!'

Good times.

Waves weakly..

We are back from Manchester,had an Amazing time,just one of those weekends where everything was perfect (reminded me of the Brighton trip)

Am thrilled for you looby ,happy times.Could someone please PM baby looby's name.

Have tried to catch up on all the posting but head Very fuzzy.

How was the wedding red ?

ollie the party looks amazing!hope all goes well for your parents' stay.

DH asleep on the couch,girls watching 'Cars' and I am psyching myself up to start an order when what I really what I want to do is eat popcorn and peruse Grazia!all selfinflicted though!Did your DH have a good time mim ?

amber my DD2 loves her baby doll.

Congratulations Looby! Fabulous news.

Had a busy weekend. BBQ today, out yesterday. Was fun but am pooped.

Glad you had a great time Reine!

Agree NY weather is tricky atm glad I wore new Avedon skinnies rather than skirt.

glad the airshow went well yummy we had rain of course but cheered to see that Manchester girls feel no pain on that score..this morning saw a girl heading to town in shorts,bare legs and 6 inch heels..not a sign of a goosebump!

Oh and managed to shake off the boys for half an hour to do a quick raid of the humungous Primark in Manchester where picked up a handful of goodies.luckily all fine as all queues massive so didn't bother with any trying before buying.

pickled she is a lazy lump, has only just started crawling in the last week or so, and that is only to do helpful things like knock over a drink, not for exploratory purposes. So unlike DS who was up the stairs at 8mo. Still she is a cheerful soul. I am trying to put her to bed at the minute and she just won't stop laughing at me. You are so right about workwear - I have literally nothing. Need to get cracking on that front, pronto!

blue UCL alumni here also!

Airshow sounds fun NY, the Italians sound a hoot.

Reine , how lovely to have had another one of those w/es. We've been watching DD in a concert today which was lovely as always, our 2 boys are so patient, they get seriously dragged around. Do report on you Primark finds.

Marsha, feet up and some I think, and then GET PINNING!

Yes just accepted Hopefully's invitation. Just trying to work out how to get round the huge sing up with fb button. That I do not have. Am going in!

Yes pickled there's a a niche for fussy shoppers like us right there. Have just repinned a load of your COS stuff, really beautiful.

Glad you had fun Reine/NY, I have packed jeans, jumpers and boots for next week cue unexpected heatwave...

Vtech walker is great and still a favourite here, but the songs especially "hello puppy calling..." get so stuck in your head.

DD has gone to bed with her new holiday boots by her side

Amber, my baby is another lazy lump, not walking either but trying to stand. She's a little giggler too and thinks she is hilarious. I can picture her getting into trouble in school for it when she is older.

Last time we went to Italy (Amalfi coast) in October, it was freezing, we were unlucky with the weather. Had no suitable clothes so had to go shopping. I was quite pleased as DD1 was a baby and I love the children's clothes there.

Yes, MrsCB, you looked gorgeous!

Sounds like a fun day, NY, and night, Reine.

DH was working again. GRR!

NY my dad and sis were at (I assume) the same air show today (he's in Lincs, so am extrapolating...).

Congrats Looby!!

Amber and others with lazy babies, mine win that contest hands down. DS1 crawled at 12 months and walked at 22 months, DS2 crawled at 13 months and showing no signs of even really cruising yet at 15 months .

Tree fell down in our garden today. DH noticed it was wobbling badly in the wind and brought the boys in, and 39 mins later it fell down about 10 inches from where they were playing . We were both practically shaking.

Haven't read back much, too bloody busy.

Wow, well done hopefully's DH for being so observant! How scary.

Little madam finally asleep. She is at lest hauling herself up on me, all the time so hoping she will get going soon and tire herself out a bit! 359 days in and still no sleeping through...

decam have ordered the handbag after finding her chewing on the strap of my MaxMara, having strewn the contents all over the floor and eaten the receipt for an Isabel Marant top I was unsure of. Suppose I'll have to keep it now...

Half way through pinning wardrobe. Am lagging!

Hopefully scary. Good work by your dh however.

I think I've found you all. Hope that's the done thing.

Evening all. Big congrats to Looby - can someone pm me with baby Looby's name please! Hope you're having lots of cuddles with your brood.

Have had such a wonderful weekend. Wedding was bloody amazing; ceremony in beautiful library in the Marriott Hotel on Westminster Bridge, overlooking the Thames, sun-filled boat journey with pimms and canapés down to Greenwich, with reception in The Trafalgar Tavern with lots of free-flowing booze and gorgeous food. Caught up with all of our old crowd and did much dancing. Also bumped into a close friend from school who is now v glam and co-organises the Comedy Festival with her brother. Free tickets for the week? Yes please! Incidentally I'm down from the 16th July for a week - any SE Londoners fancy joining me at the festival, give me a shout.

I'm turning in for the night, but will be back in the morning to properly read the thread and catch up. Did glance upon some Whistles links in the car and was impressed, obvs.

Big mwahs to you all!

Glad you had a great time, Red, sounds fab.

Hopefully, that's so scary.

Amber, I bought DD2 the bag for the same reason! DH muttered something about stereotypes, but as I reminded him, Hillary Clinton has a pink bag too. Hers is Ferragamo, not Fisher Price.

Hello all, I'm just back from our lovely holiday in Italy - had a fab time, though it got a little hot for ds2 at times. I'm ignoring the washing until tomorrow!

I've only done a quick scan so far - and I see many congratulations are in order Looby! Hope everything is settling down, and that your whole family are enjoying the new addition!

I see a few have found me on Pinterest, and by going through Bloss's followers have found a few more of you - though I'm concentrating on pinning house stuff at the moment, I may get round to clothes soon!

Will try to catch up properly over the next couple of days - I've delayed starting my new job for a week so that I can interview nannies this week, so I should have a bit of time for MNing and shopping in between the laundry loads!