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.

Fingers crossed Amber. I found the hazard awareness section the most difficult. In fact, I found that worse that the 'free driving' bit on the practical. That was far better than I thought it would be.

Sorry, missed your post Dona. Sounds like you need to do some more trying on with the IM.

That is lovely Verity. (although I can only do very simple stuff, the colour is gorgeous).

The blue of the DVF is divine. Lovely dress.

Dona I like throwing in different shapes sometimes. Feels fresh and new. So I say keep (or swap for smaller one if big, but then big of a faff).

I learnt on manual at 16 and had a little Mazda. But quite enjoy my first automatic.

MiM F&B is the best bit. You can pin your selection!

And (last thing), it helps with selection. If I don't want to pin it I'm not buying it.

Good luck Amber.

What really throws me is not knowing my way around, all the little one way streets. Sat nav is the answer, I suppose.

Pinterest is helping me not to buy without thinking about it. I'm definitely going to the R&B sale, might take the DDs tomorrow afternoon. It's our wedding anniversary and I've just made £100 in returns (faulty items not changing my mind!).

MiM, it will be so nice to have it all done for Christmas.

Dona I have had my eye on your Marant dress, but it's too voluminous for me, I'm only 5'3". I very much like this one though Hera I'm making myself something similar at the moment.

mim lots of decorating, lucky you! It has been so much fun redecorating our house after the flood, I agonised over the shades of paint and am so happy with it all. Almost makes the stress of the experience worthwhile.

dec I completely see what you mean. Maybe familiarise yourself with essential routes, like home to Westfield initially

MiM you just need to get back on the horse, so to speak. I was completely terrified of getting behind the wheel again and after 2 weeks was fine. My driving has improved immeasurably in the months since then. I now think about the convoluted methods of getting to places I used to have (involving the timing of feeds, toilet stops, bus timetables etc) and wonder what the hell I was doing. Also very useful for getting stuff done in the 3 hours that DS is at pre-School.

Looby a completely gorgeous name. Lovely. Thank you Decam and Pickled.

I really am in love with Pinterest. I have also just received my first pay cheque from my tutoring post and would like to get myself something before the necessary car bill, renovation of garden etc. What from my wishlist?

Oh Red, first pay cheque - hurrah. You could get this COS jumper and let us all know if it's as gorgeous as it looks.

Best of luck for tomorrow Amber. What does it mean if you are going down a motorway and all the signs are grey?

Hurrah, I have finally got going in Pinterest too and am loving it. Not sure if anyone else is interested in following me then pm me or you could find me in your followers with the black and white profile pic and initials J.E. Sorry to be so roundabout and cryptic but not sure how to link to account on iPhone!

I know what you mean about the benefits of wardrobe planning and selective buying. I think I'm going to get addicted! I'm afraid I'm being a bit of a magpie, re-pinning lots of your lovely things.

Also trying to work out who a few of you are as I don't know many RL names...!

DS had his first trial morning at pre-school today: huge success. Came out and declared 'I love my new school mummy!'. I wore grey baxters, white linen Zara tee, floral Zara blazer and bright pink Zara necklace for drop-off .

Good luck with driving mim. Horrid bus driver. I am in awe of mothers who manage on public transport. Funnily enough I get my first automatic car this month, one of the new RR evoques (in white I know, I know, a mummy and TOWIE cliche but I love it).

Gorgeous day SE.

Your work outfits always sound so elegant and varied ny.

Thanks so much for Italy suggestions. dona we're now going to go in May, so thank you. pickled I would like details of that rental please, sounds wonderful.

I remember my teenage summers of the early 90s as endlessly sunny...

Yes to that jumper red. Have already repinned it! And now I know who you are!

RR congratulations, can you PM your initials so I can take a look at your wish list!
Verity, what a lovely dress! Even lovelier in fact than the IM dress (=much closer to my comfort zone). I'm 5"8' and need clothes that create the illusion of softness and curves. Looking like a sofa does that I look really terrible in severe, angular, minimalist pieces (cue: COS), while my curvy classic hourglass shaped friend looks stunning in them.

We have a satnav that hilariously mispronounces Italian placenames. DH is set on learning all the shortcuts and byways in Rome, so he mostly insists on driving with the satnav turned off. Traffic is too crazy here for me - don't drive - walk a lot & use the tram & bus almost daily. Amber good luck with the exam, I took up driving & bought a car in Brazil when I was 8 months pregnant. I was absolutely terrified and sure I'd crash every time I set off but started enjoying driving after the first 6 months or so.

Random thoughts: a Sodastream machine really helps with weight loss - I always drink some freshly carbonated water when I crave wine and fool myself into thinking that I'm having a glass of bubbly.

Somone posted an exercise site link and I'm fascinated by setting a "walk a marathon in a week" goal. This may be very softcore to some of you but it would mean 6 km of walking per day. It just happens that Dior/Chanel/Hermes/Zara are exactly 3km from us (thus a window shopping trip would be 6 km), and DD's school exactly 2km from us (=pickup would be 4 km). I might be able to integrate that into my schedule with very little extra effort. Need to measure my evening jog with a pedometer... I've started to listen to brainy NPR programs while exercising, catching up on books I will never have time to read and films I will never get to watch. It takes my mind off the boredom of jogging

Blue, villa here. Still in the middle of nowhere but near some nice places.

Blue May is a good choice! This year, stunning weather and everything still green (grass has wilted by now and everything is dusty and yellow).

Ah, but you don't Blue! You don't appear to be following me - initials LA, shall follow you instead.

Oh no, thought you were TH.. Yes please follow me and then I can follow you!

No, no - shall let TH reveal herself. We do have very similar wardrobes, it must be said.

Found you red: lovely wardrobe. And we have a few of the same things!

Red the red dress? Very nice. I seem to be pressing something by accident, and it is blank. Will put a comment.

I do love the red dress Marsha. Do we think this website is as dodgy as it appears to be??

I have followed you, Blue (SMcG). Glad your DS enjoyed his first day. I think I have worked out who Always Running is too.

Verity, funnily enough, that is the one trip that I have done in the rental car that I'm happy doing! I don't blame you for not driving in Rome, Dona. I drove in Manhattan a couple of times and couldn't hack it.

I wouldn't use them, Red, they don't provide any contact details.

I know, and the bad spelling and the weird terms of contract and so on. Sigh. £59 would have been so much more palatable than £160.

TH is me blue.

Lovely dress, Red but not sure about the site. Yes, I do need to get back on the horse. Its encouraging to here that you are so positive about driving now. It will also open a lot more doors for me with regard to a job closer to home.

Can anyone recommend a good company for children's storage? I really like this but it's a bit more than I was hoping to pay. Have seen something in Ikea, but it looked a little flimsy. However, it was on display so may have just been worn out by customers.

I am so looking forward to getting organised, DD's clothes are dumped in a big plastic box and our bedroom is now a bedroom/home office/playroom/nursery combined. Yet I still manage to look fabulous every morning...

Oh MiM I know the feeling - it's horrible having everything in disarray. Aspace are good for storage but imagine similarly priced to GLTC, they do have good sales though