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.

Amber so did you work for your DH when you were together (nosey emoticon). I've done some work for DH while I've been on Mat leave but I couldn't work for him-it would be a disaster. We met at a mutual friend's birthday drinks when he managed to spill a drink on me. Whenever I moan at him about being clumsy, like yesterday when he scrapped the new paintwork, he points out that if he wasn't a total klutz we might never have got together.

I've read 50SoG. A friend who's also on Mat leave and I were joking yesterday that we should quit our jobs and write smutty books instead as there's obviously lots of money in it. I've had another bad night with DD2 so my only bedroom fantasies are about 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I let DH sleep in today despite it being my turn for a lay in and have already iced 2 carrot cakes, one for friends coming today and one for our neighbours for putting up with the builders. Next is sorting out the sitting room shelves. I've unpacked everything but the shelves look all wrong and too cluttered which s annoying me.

blue I thought your lace shorts outfit sounded fantastic, very that you can wear an outfit like that so soon after having a baby.

decam what a lovely book from your mother. My sister and I have my mum's recipe box which I love, I like making things with DD1 that she made with us when we were children.

Right, I need coffee. We have friends coming for lunch, there'll be 8 adults and 7 children here and it's raining.

MiM great news about the car, you'll be fine and in a week or 2 you'll wonder how you lived without it.

Red I'm that you're still in bed, I've been up for 2 hours. Lovely news about your friend.

I have a whole different mental picture of Amber now... I think Secretary is a great film, made DH watch it when we were not long together and he was utterly traumatised.

MIM congratulations on your car . It will be fine, honest.

Enjoying scrambled eggs on a muffin in joyful peace as for some reason DH and both DSs are all having a bath. I haven't investigated, but it sounds very raucous. The sun is actually shining (for the next five seconds or so, at least) and I have a day of sewing, blogging and photographing ahead of me. Happy days.

MiM Not sure about the linking to FB thing. Only noticed when the RL name popped up in the http box of someone who was using their W&A name on Pinterest so thought I should flag it.

Things have kicked off at DH's work so he is going into the office today. Why these things happen a week before most of the office leaves for holiday I do not know. Im refusing to listen to any mutterings of our holiday being affected.

Happy holidays Fritzi

Been on the road since 5:30. Just changed from jeans into shorts

Argh very slow at waking up this morning, still in pyjamas.
Had two glasses of wine last night and after a dry month it was clearly too much - alcohol makes me very hot at night and really disrupts my sleep.

Reading Overdressed on my Kindle. Eyepopping reading - much more shocking than 50 Shades of Dull. A must read for any fashionista, really makes one think. Strengthens my commitment to no-buy July and Marshalogy. Making discoveries in my wardrobe is also very satisfying, as is the mental effort of rejigging or repurposing - much more satisfying than instant purchases.

I witnessed mass psychosis at sales yesterday. People mobbed the stores and bought Ikea bagfuls of stuff totally indiscriminately. DH's secretary said that it's customary for Italians to spend all their money at summer and winter sales and then live very austerely for the rest of the year (no outings, no restaurants, no minibreaks) because they have overspent and are paying off the credit card bills.

Children fractious and crying all the time. Must be the heat - everyone's nerves are frayed and everyone is irritable. Seen from the hills, Rome is a speck of brown dust. I was at the supermarket the other day when there was a mini blackout - stood in the darkness with a bunch of tomatoes in hand wondering what I would do without refrigeration and A/C and elevators. Was in Italy in 2003 when there was a countrywide blackout that disrupted all aspects of life for several days - no trains, no light, and the gelaterie were offering their melting inventory for passers-by (DC would like that ).

mim you can unlink your fb page from pinterest as soon as its set up to be sure!

Wonder how long it will take the 50 shades mania to pass? Hats off to the writer as no doubt she has made a fortune despsite the dreadful writing and plot!!! It made me laugh no end.

Thanks for the lace shorts support! dona I really need to read that book. I've been doing lots of shopping my wardrobe lately too and tiny surprise have found a few things that I would totally buy again but have been ignoring because they're old . I am definitely guilty of just wearing my newest things... Found a very me tomato red overisized broderie anglais little top. Cute with a bright ish blue denim skirt from a few years ago too. Trying to cull lots of things too, which is satisfying.

Happy holidays fritzi.

Have just secured very profitable tutoring job from September, just 2hrs a week but will provide both a bit of cash and a bit of a challenge for me. Really pleased. No need for work wardrobe though!

So excited about Murray's match later!

to my surprise, not a tiny one!

NSG we're still same department at same firm, but the powers that be put a bit of distance between us when our affair was exposed. I have climbed the ranks a bit now, but our paths occasionally cross and we do work well together. Was a lot of fun at the time; we'd often go to examine meeting rooms together to 'check that they were suitable' for events...

Great news re. Car MiM, when did you pass your test?

Great Blue and congratulations on the job! I've also found quite a few items in my wardrobe that I might have mindlessly repurchased. Now that the price of cotton has skyrocketed, I also find that holding on to old basics is worthwhile as re-buying would result in viscose which I hate or a much higher price tag. Have even briefly considered the Ines de la Fressage piece of advice of dyeing faded but good quality items navy. And need to have a white blazer dry-cleaned - it will look and feel new afterwards.

Wearing another wardrobe treasure today: a Mondrian-patterned Zara cotton dress from 2008. It has a black grosgrain ribbon belt and I'm pairing it with black satin ballet flats. I nearly got rid of this dress last year during the move, but am now happy that I held on to it. It's perfect for Italian weather and Zara doesn't do many cotton dresses any more. The good thing about being a classic dresser is that the clothes I like are not disposable like much of very trend-driven stuff.

Fritzi have a good trip!

You are very efficient, NSG! I was up at 5.30 with DD2 but made DH get up at 7.30.

The dress sounds lovely, Dona. I am still in pajamas.

I could not work with DH, he cannot fathom 9-5ers and I always did my work but tried not to avoid working late.

Happy birthday to your DD, Amber, hope you have a lovely day!

Cool about the car, MiM, you won't know yourself. Oops, this is the top. It is expensive but hopefully My-Wardrobe will stock it so I can get a discount.

Hope your holiday is not disrupted, Ollie and have a good time, Fritzi.

morning all...lots to catch up on and still lots more to pin..thanks for the compliment deca - the bags and shoe collection has been built up over the last few years. Like to wear expensive shoes with Zara cigarette trousers for work.

Just back from DS and my new favourite Sunday morning routine of swimming followed by French toast and smoothies at Whole Foods. DS was silent throughout eating his and then said emphatically "that was yummy"

Went to a great pub last night for early dinner with XP and DS - food was amazing. I had a courgette flower stuffed with scallop mousse for a starter mmmm. Really pleased that we can do all that stuff together still and have a good time - odd really but better than fighting.

Off to some friends for lunch...hope I can watch the tennis but think am the only true Brit there.

mim exciting about your new car. You will understandably be nervous on your first couple of outings but after that it will be fine.

blue congratulations on the job and also thought your lace short outfit sounded fab.

Right sorry have to go...demanding DC

The thing with pinterest is my wardrobe looks marvellous. Everything is in mint condition and on a lovely model. The reality is, unfortunately, different.

Breton I'm so pleased that things are feeling easier and you are getting on well.

Dona love your outfit and adore black grosgrain ribbon and the image of tomatoes in hand in the dark.

Blue excellent news on the tutoring.

A quicky as I am reclining pool side with dh. bliss!

Breton glad you have been able to spend time with your DS and XH - my parents managed it a lot, and I think it made the whole thing much more 'normal' in my eyes - I was never aware of any disharmony between them, apart from the fact they didn't actually live together.

Listening to the final on the radio while I work, keep forgetting to actually work though!

ants I agree - though it is helping me see that I have plenty of things without needing more.

yay mim - what colour is your car and does it match your season

am going to a nautical themed fancy dress party next weekend, just walked with DD2 in the buggy to the fancy dress store and got a mermaid dress and blonde wig. Now I am home am having second thoughts - I look apalling as a platinum blonde and not sure the dress can be worn with a bra! Think will go for navy/cream short sundress I already have with red and white stockings, red shoes, red scarf tied nautical style and maybe a sailor hat. hmmm. or maybe go dressed as a parrot!

I am watching Wimbledon from the a&e department of local hospital, sporting the lamest injury ever. Look away now if squeamish. Dropped a kitchen knife on my big toe while making dinner and have neatly sliced straight down to the bone. Wound is only about 1/2" long and not bleeding, but it won't close and bone is just, you know, on display. ]

emo wow to the mermaid outfit!!!!!

hopefully that sounds awful. Hope it gets sorted soon!!! Ana that it's not too painful!!! Yikes!

Toe stuck back together, phew. Lovely a&e nurse even managed to resist laughing at me with my little plaster .

Good purchases SE.

Oh am super impressed. Held out for the serious sale reduction on this and RESULT! Still not dreadfully cheap but I am v v happy! Shame I havent been so lucky on the red 811 front- anyone finds them in 27s please let me know! So that's the autumn wardrobe started!

Great haul everything particularly like skirt.

hopefully ouch

Ouch indeed Hopefully. I always dropping knives!

Boden sale has started. Not sure I can be bothered.

About to look at your links Everything Sounds a good haul tho.