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.

On the plane. Waiting to take off soon. DS seems fully recovered. Guess what Ollie? He managed to get lost in airport while in DHs care! Heard "could x or y pick up a courtesy phone". I did. "is one of your children lost?!" "er. Who do you have? They are with my DH". I knew the answer before she told me really.
Hope you all get well soon.
And I really like the skirt NY. Might ask you to re link when I get back!
So sorry about the license Amber. Happened to my Dsis. Lost all the passports and it's very tricky as they were in UK and had Irish passports for themselves and DC. Finally for them re issued. Sold their car a few months later and the new owner found them in the document case down the side of a seat!

Amber would this or this or this be you? Need only one or two good jackets imo. Would also check out Helmut Lang - lots on NAP sale and Outnet ATM.

Red, your poor DD.

Bloss and Ollie, get well soon. I have a cold now too. Or maybe hayfever, not sure.

Rufus, hope your DS is on the mend and you got away.

That Marant dress is a beautiful print.

Amber, I used to like Theory a lot for work, skinny trousers and blazers or a dress. Maybe head into Selfridges.

MiM, could you invite a friend with DC over?

DH came home early last night so that was really nice. I have tried three different babysitters but can't find anyone for Sat night.

Hopefully and Everything, hope you are having a good day.

X-post, Rufus ... have a great time!

The sales assistant in R&B told me that 50/50 boots were their best seller last year. I am not surprised, they are fab.

We have just made chocolate brownies. Was a bit of a throw it together recipe, so I am intrigued as to how they come out. They may be my first blog entry.

Amber lots of good advice re work clothes here. I tend to stick to stuff from H&M for work, purely as the risk of coming in contact with various bodily fluids is too high to risk wearing anything good!

Goodness Rufus, your DS is fast! Safe journey.

Keep thinking about SE and Hopefully, can't wait to hear all about it from them.

Hope you find a baby sitter Decam, although as you know I often improvise with a pretend 'night out' for DH and I indoors. (Sad)

Not surprised at all Decam. I saw some lovely navy pumps in R&B yesterday, very slight wedge heel. Would pin them if that had a website to the ever-growing wish list.

Dona I love all those jackets but probably still a bit to casual. We are very formal at my place of work - jeans would be immediate dismissal I think! A bit of leopard print is probably the extent of what I'd get away with and that'd still get people talking. Work is a bit of a minefield for me anyway as I met my DH there and, ahem, was named in his divorce, and there are a lot of people who think I married him for his earning potential so I try not to look too flash. I like the idea of theory decam. Think I'll try and blag some kid free time and get up to the Village this weekend and have a loom at Joseph, Matches, LKB. Whistles etc.

mim DD is one on Sunday and DH and I have had ONE night out and that was to a Steps concert so I am the queen of pretend nights out. It oi do what you can in the circumstances...

Amber - I have a pretty large working wardrobe! If you are thinking fairly formal I think at least 2/3 good quality fairly plain blazers/jacket that can go with a lrage range of things. I wear dresses a lot, like Dona. I have a big range of fairly fitted dresses, both patterned and plain. I do have some suits, although only wear them as a suit occasionally - more often just wear the trousers, or the skirt part. That said, it is useful to have them as 'armoury' for particularly formal occasions. I have built them up over the years so I now have about 10/12 suits, dating back from 1998...when I am pretty sure you must have been at primary school .

MIM - help!! I need a completely dairy free, easy to make pudding for a dinner party. DH insisted that the choc pudding he wanted to make is fine....and it isnt because of the butter! He is still making it for everyone else though (because he basically thinks that a pudding without choc is all wrong), so I need something easy to put together for the one dairy free guest instead of offering her the fruit bowl, which was DH's helpful suggestion

I like the sound of those navy shoes, MiM. Looking forward to the blog. We often do the same! I think we might take the DC out somewhere at the weekend and wait for one of the babysitters to have a free night.

All those labels have great work stuff, Amber. Jazz it up with shoes and bags!

Hope your DH doesn't have to travel during your holiday, Fritzi.

The J Brand leggings have arrived, I'm wearing them already so thanks Bloss and Rufus! I could have done with a size down but hopefully they won't stretch too much.

ny I was 13 in '98 so not quite. Unless you think I'm particularly slow I was thinking mostly dresses tbh, I'll have to get up at about 3am to get my pair of reprobates to nursery on time as it is, so anything that simplifies the issue is alright by me!

NY you could make them but use a butter substitue like "Pure", which is here and you can get in the supermarket.

If not, I'd go for an assembly style pudding - what about crushed merguines, with fresh raspberries, toasted flaked almonds and a drizzle of Oatly cream? You can find this in the 'free from' section in the supermarket.

What about a Davina Amber?

Amber my job is much less formal than yours. But I would combine the less formal jackets with a severe black pencil skirt or black cigarrette trousers.
I think I have a few Theory pieces too (just cannot remember what).
I also find that shift dresses and jackets are an easier combo than skirt + blouse + jacket (more armourlike if you will). Perhaps just because in the morning you don't need to faff with finding an ironed shirt / blouse.

Wasted morning trying to do returns and preparing a highly stressful lunch of string beans (my role models), mashed potatoes and fried chicken. DD1 is an extremely picky eater - in early June she stopped eating lunch altogether. Now I'm trying to reprogram her over summer hols. Goal: to get her to eat a few vegs and some fruit. They way I'm trying to do it: she is living the princess phase, so each forkful represents princesses' dresses, shoes, jewelry etc. Really seems to work, she has eaten a little mache salad (gagging her way through it) and announced today that she actually likes string beans .

Didn't have enough time to finish all errands in the morning, so off to post office now

Loving all the amber work wardrobe ideas! I will probably not return to a formal position for another 3yrs so I live vicariously through you lot. Looking forward to your work wardrobe board on pinterest amber; bet you'll look fab. How rude of people at your work to opine that you eyed up your DH's earning potential - says more about them than it does about you. I have a cousin who once said to me that I did really well marrying someone who can afford private school fees but it also made me laugh!

Gracie has arrived! Huge thanks to emo for brilliant delivery service. She is lovely and the colour is divine (the cobalt blue). So glad I didn't get the hot pink Marc Jacobs or Michael Kors I'd wondered about, as the blue will go perfectly with the many pinks, reds and creams in my wardrobe. My only slight quibble is with the strap length, but longer than I usually have as you can't adjust it. Fellow short ladies (mrscb?! anyone else?) have you found it an ok length?

Matching up the real life names with mumsnet aliases is driving me crazy! Still don't know lots. DH, AT, LA and CG please can you reveal yourself?!

anniemac your boards are lovely. Have repinned some gorgeous house pics and girls' outfits.

Right, will add mini Gracie to my bags board which has helped me to see that now I really don't need to buy any more for a while anyway.

Blue the Mini Gracie is one of my favorites. I'm tallish but found the strap still too long. You can loop it once around the flap - this will shorten it. Or take it to the cobbler. I took a steel chain from another bag - perfect.

Thanks for concerns for DD - yes Fritzi, she did have her forehead glued a month or so ago . She is much less robust than DS, but much more physically wayward! She's fine - just a really horrible black eye that is making people stare at her and look sympathetically at me.

Glad you are loving the 5050s still Decam - your stamp of approval makes me feel further justified in their purchase. Speaking of which, I have officially begun my Pistol fund...

Amber I would wait for a bit more of the A/W Whistles (I'm such a broken record) stock to come in - they always have gorgeous work wear bits.

Have a lovely holiday Rufus!

Am of blue Gracie blue. Enjoy her!

We can save together, Red!

Enjoy the bag, Blue.

Dona, DD1 is a very picky eater too, she will eat more in school but not much at home, it drives me mad. DD2 so far eats everything.

Amber yes to Joseph. Good for work stuff in a more formal place.

Dona love that blue dress.

Fritzi have a fabulous time with your friend. Report back on the verdict on the Marant!

Blue great work on the bag. It's lovely.

I need to start a boot fund, can't decide if I want the Balenciaga brogue boots or the Marant Jenny. Either way it must be flat, short and grey... Opinions?

Toughy Amber. I think I need a link with outfits and each type to decide.