The race is on to (finally) wear our summer clothes. It's the Wise and Avid Olympics - off we go!

[Russianred]

Athletic leap on To new thread.

Yy to pregnancy capsule. I had everything from IO and it was so easy. I remember going on holiday last year and packing being so simple. Also felt really body confident while pregnant too, well, it is probably the firmest my stomach is ever likely to be...

Hmmm, not much on the GP site. This oversized cardi could work with skinnies and knee length boots for us naturals. here

Red, sorry to hear that you are ill but great to see that you can still regale us with tales of your Mum's misspent youth. I bet you've got some great ones of your own too . Get well soon.

The talk of DHs with red shoes has made me remember that DH used to wear yellow canvas trousers when I first met him . Do you remember when they were called canvas trousers or have I just made that up?

Ollie, lol at Logan's run . Have had a look at GP, it all looks too drab atm. I'm not quite ready for A&W shopping having just discovered the Summer.

Marsha, can you share what personal stuff you're working on atm? Would love to hear about it as it sounds like it's going well. Mind you, things may grind to a halt for you whilst the DSs are off school I imagine.

Have received first paycheque and cannot believe that someone has paid me to do what I do . It is already earmarked for school fees so no nice purchases for me.

Pickled well done on the first pay cheque. Great work! And how wonderful that you love it at the same time.

I can't quite put it on here, but it seems to be going well. I can only focus by not talking about it too much, only when it actually happens can I relax. Dh is on hols this week but I have been so lazy today looking at booking Christmas holidays and enjoying having him around. But back on it tomorrow. (I'll update in time, am sure!)

Hi Portia! weekend sounds fab.

Pickled well done on paycheck, it often feels like every extra cent we have goes on school fees here!

Marsha delighted to hear that your project is going well, enjoy your DH's time off, my DH is planning on taking a couple of days off next week but has just discovered that he will have no one to play with! Myself and the DDs are all busy !

Just found a hedgehog raiding the bins outside. Has cheered me up immensely.

Morning,

I am ill too Red, something they put in the water at Harvey Nichols? Went to bed at 7.30 last night and just woken up feeling very strange. Glad your DH has stepped up to the plate, mine has been at the gymnastics

I'm trying to keep my blood sugar v stable at the moment, so have switched to all brown carbs and do feel better for it. Has also made an incredible difference to DD's eating which wasn't the best.

Very of all the art collections. Ever time my dad comes to our house he asks if it is the "fashion" now not to have any pictures up. No, dad, we just haven't bought any....

Saw, Portia's star boots and Red's new pistolalikes in Topshop on Saturday. Both really nice especially the brown Mighty which are really subtle .

I don't think I can do capsule wardrobe, but don't have that many clothes, do lots of ebaying/charity shopping.

Going to heave myself up and do all the jobs I missed last night now have nice days...

red and suburban Hope you feel better soon!

Really hope you feel better soon Suburban and Red. Sounds rotten.

Not much in the way of art here. One original piece in pride of place - the rest are all prints! (Unless you count the many orginal pieces from DD on the fridge....) Most impressed by the Picasso .

Weather awful. Am in boring black trousers, flats and trying to brighten things up slightly in a coral TS knitted tee. At the moment the forecast for London is looking good for our trip to the athletics on Friday....but slightly more dodgy for the camping trip with friends on Staurday/Sunday nights.

Really want to buy some clothes but will be good and buy DH his birthday present instead. In S and B realted news, I am going for a massage and facial later today. have found a lady who does good stuff in working on slightly sun damaged skin (spider veins that are too small to use IPL on) so I am off for a second appt witb her. The upside is the back and shoulder massage that comes with ot - so relaxing!

Not great weather today, but good as I won't be so tempted to laze in the sun and read.

Have ordered Alexander Wang bag as I had it on my wishlist on NaP at beginning of the season, my thing is if it comes up at the end of the season reduced I can check it out.

My ardour may have cooled at the same rate as the price so will see what it's like. Will have to be very good quality as quite plain.

Hope everyone feels better soon.

Oooh, which bag, Marsha?

Sadly no Picassos here, our artwork consists mostly of framed posters and canvases of the girls.

Enjoy the massage, NY. The hotel sounded good.

Get well soon, Red and Suburban.

MiM, ebay gets you 15% off and free delivery at Boden. I have that lace top in navy, it's very nice. Wore it yesterday for a trip to the Kings Rd with DH and the DDs. We bought an armchair, no clothes. I have no money anyway until My-W refund me. They told me it will take up to 7 days although they have received the return. Grr.

The DDs were very well behaved yesterday and DH was full of admiration for them, it's nice for him to see them without being so tired from work. We are going to try a nice restaurant with them today rather than Pizza Express. It could all go wrong.

My hudson jeans arrived, I really like them but could do with a size smaller but they are out of stock now. I'm trying to decide whether to keep them.

Glad you are enjoying the training, Hopefully*.

I could not do a capsule wardrobe at all, I got so bored of my limited maternity wardrobe.

Hope you both feel better soon red and suburban, it's no fun feeling ill when you have young dc to look after

Thanks donna!

London is looking amazing, even in the rain. Hope you Londoners are enjoying the atmosphere

Friends of ours have a gallery and their house has amazing art in every nook and cranny, I love visiting them, very inspirational! They have a lot of really colourful work, in contrast to another set of friends who are turning into serious collectors. The wife wears a very strict capsule wardrobe of black and white (I have never seen her in anything else) and most of their art is monochromatic too. Interesting to see people's personalities reflected in their choice of art.

Raining here and I will have a big gang of dc here so going to make more of Reine's cookies, and hopefully get to ice them this time

Decam this one I would quite like a new one for AW and the cost isn't too high. I hope the suede is lovely. There are a few others on there too.

Your Hudson skinnies may stretch even more so if too big I'd say send back. Some of mine are too big now with the stretch and that bugs me.

Verity a Parisian friend only wears monochrome. I adore her for it (and she gives me the best compliments so I adore her for that too). And generally being lovely of course.

I have finally booked flights to Australia for Christmas. Eeek!

Much deliberation but it's a big birthday for my mother and I really do love the gp / dc relationship. Worth it I think!

Exhausted after running errands and organizing all morning.
Toning my legs wearing Dayanas (with a Darel chambray dress).
The city has moved the major cruise ship port to the end of our street, and it's pretty strange - whenever I step on the street on glamorous errands such as taking out the recycling or nipping to the corner store for some nail polish remover I encounter a steady stream of tourists from all over the world. Our local post office is opposite the cruise terminal, so I feel like I've been abroad this morning. Lovely hot day and the sea is dazzling blue.

Saw some tourists looking great (most of them don't) - primrose yellow skinnies with raffia ballet flats, lovely, and a curvy girl wearing a pale blue denim vest over dark denim shirt and cobalt blue skinnies, such a frsh look.

My parents collect Russian art and often go to St Petersburg to buy it. Sadly our tastes are very different and no, even more sadly no smutty pics of my mummy (although once an artist approached her in a supermarket and asked whether she would model for her). I love modern and contemporary art and have already regretted not buying some things (there are at least three paintings and one sculpture I wish I had had the sense to buy). A former schoolmate has became a relatively well-known photographer - wish I had known that as I would have had great access to her early work I love fashion but it's sad what a poor investment clothes are (almost as poor as cars) - there is a big open art vintage market near us and I spotted some interesting things there - a Burberry coat for 5 euros and a Caroline Herrera dress for more or less the same price. Imagine how expensive they were when new... Didn't buy because they weren't quite right for me.

Marsha a good friend has an A Wang bag. When we went to a restaurant together the waitress recognized it and we got extra good service .

Ok, need to cook now. Pasta with smoked salmon, as low effort as it gets.

Amber love hedgehogs - we saw a dead one last week and were all very

Ooh Marsha so happy for you. We should go to Brazil sometime next year, DC were born there and would like to see their baba. I wouldn't mind it either

Sounds like you had a lovely day out Decam, is dh off all week? Hope he gets to spend some time with the girls while you relax. I hate it when companies take an age to refund when they are so quick to take your money in the first place.

I have my eye on the Boden Bistro crops in red. I like the length. I haven't bought anything from them are ages. I did smile at them trying to change their image by collaborating with Grazia rather than Easy Living!

Waiting for the baby to wake so we can go to Westfield. Love Tuesday shopping day!

Thanks Dona! Brazil would be amazing!

Hope my A Wang does the same

Posting about me without catching up.

Well my favourite Reiss pencil skirt ripped so I just went shopping (RL shopping) and popped into Hobbs. Got this navy pencil skirt dull in the photo but the most perfect flattering fit. And while I was there I fell in love with this green belt

Also popped into Reiss and was sorely tempted by new season stuff. Am in love with blazer completely but at £225 its almost half the new sofa we need so had to resist. Got DH a shirt in the sale instead.

3 new additions last night ? the 4th one didn?t make it

Any takers please do PM me... or even anyone local who wants to take kids to see them in a few weeks when they are bigger.

Yay Marsha I will do Xmas next year I think.

[[http://www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0212-1331-020000&refpage=bags/shoulder-bags this bag}} is gorgeous in RL and lots of pockets for everything plus a shoulder strap - great size

oops

Gos, kittens sound adorable. DD would love them. We had to rehome our cat and she was devastated.

Style trauma alert - going to the Noma popup at Claridges tomorrow night. No idea what to wear. Eek. This is what I get for frittering money away on rubbish!

7 in total now so any kitten lovers/takers do PM me please and come visit in next few weeks