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.

MiM so pleased for you re driving - and your purchases. I love those shoes and linked a while back. Think I will buy as seemed v walkable when I tried them on before going away. Is the blazer the same as the TS Ponte Boyfriend one in terms of shape - or is it more fitted? I need to replace my lost grey jersey one but need something more fitted than a bf one.

My Tescos list is beyond sad and includes a big box of icing sugar (as you can only buy it here in small tubes so annoying when you need 3 of them for buttercream icing), Cherios as holiday treat for DSs and Dairy Milk. Lots and lots of Diary Milk! wont admit to also buying El Paso fahita mixes

Bloss DS1 has soccer camp from 10 to 3 everyday the week after next - Im hoping it wil give me some breathing space so I cán 'love bomb' DS2 who is chief instigator of all the high jinxs here at the mo.

DD1 refused to go to summer camp though she seemed to enjoy it at Christmas. I was worried she would be bored at home but she seems happy enough so far.

Red, get well soon.

Fritzi, hope you survived the playdate.

I only keep my eBay account open for when I get fed up with bags or shoes, or for offloading my Phil and Teds next year. It's not worth the hassle.

Lovely leather leggings, Blue. I saw someone yesterday on the Kings Rd wearing leather leggings, long swishy hair, a neutral cashmere top and Chanel ballet shoes, she looked fab.

Those Boden trousers are like the J Brand Majors, they look good.

Bloss, they often act up too but at the moment I can bribe DD1 with the iPad.

Well done, MiM and great shopping!

I can't open your links for some reason, Amber. You can't go wrong in Russell and Bromley!

I just have to run in and say what on earth is with all the 'is this frumpy?' threads? Have all women lost their nerve? And how is it possible to categorise, for example, white linen trousers? There are about a million different styles!

MIM well done on driving

Red hope you feel better soon, poor you.

Brain totally exhausted after today. Completely brim full of new information.

Great shopping Amber and MiM and thanks!

I tried ebay once, too much hassle.

GoS we need pics!

Oh yes well done on the driving MiM!

Ollie - those ahem mixes are very popular here too

Have pinned them all decam. Wish R&B would hurry up and sort their website, don't want to wait til autumn!

Think I found my winter boots in R&B, very like the Balenciaga brogue boots but £300 less! Keeping options open for now though... Also saw amazing blue sparkly jumper in Maje, which I will be pinning to Must Haves...

The Maje blue is gorgeous.

I'd really like the skirt in Vogue (and the Maje sweater, wonder if it's the same one?) but can't find it anywhere atm.

Oh, those Fajita mixes are a staple here too - nothing wrong in using short cuts. I use the ready made salsa too when I can't bothered.

Topshop blazer is more fitted Ollie, but I did size down to a 10 too as it comes up pretty big.

Good purchases Amber, your work wardrobe is really coming together.

Just been up in the loft, my goodness it's really coming along. DH is fretting about the space, and was suggesting we get just one small corner wardrobe.

I gave him THE look.

He said no more about it.

blue I like those leggings!

get well soon red

fritzi I hope you made it through..!

I like this Warehouse sequin t-shirt and this massimo dutti bow back sweater. hmmm!

Great buys Amber.
at MIM! THE look! So funny.
Poor you Red, hope those ABs kick in soon.
Hope the bag lives up to your expectations Marsha.
Glad to hear that you're enjoying your time off with DH Decam. Hope the upmarket restaurant goes well. Mine are only now getting to the stage where DH and I don't break out in a cold sweat in a restaurant.
Hope you survived the play date Fritzi. I belong to NY's thinking on the play date. "you are here to entertains my child so I don't have to" I am a bad person. Aren't I?

Lol MiM and the super effective look.

Thanks Rufus!

Dona how exciting! I say DvF silk top yes and.. Will look at your wardrobe board. Enjoy new highlights, really need to do mind too.

Morning.

Hope you have a lovely time today and enjoy the restaurant Decam.

I agree with you Rufus. Even at the age of two and a half I have already realised that one of the best form of entertainment is other children.

Pretty sequin top Emo. Warehouse do very well for 'going out tops' at a reasonable price I find.

Taking DS to a rugby session today, am hoping it'll burn off some of his excess energy. Its grey here so wearing my Black JBrand majors, grey and white striped top and a grey layering vest. Oh, and my new H&M bargain pumps. I would really recommend them for comfortable run around shoes.

Oh my giddy aunt! The weather has gone from bad to worse! It is bucketing torrential rain, and really windy! Today I'll be wearing black wedge shoes, black Agnes, black blazer with leopard lining and in homage to the summer a cobalt blue top. It is so dark here, and I really don't want to start wearing boots yet, but it does feel like the 1st day of winter as opposed to August!

I did a massive Boden order last night, I'll post links later, but it does feel like I won't be able to do any shopping without an ark!

Same here Portia, it's as dark as a November day here.

Have fired off yet another email to Matches. Can you believe they still have not responded to my email, from 7 days ago?

Had a large glass of after everyone had left yesterday!

My iPhone died this morning, just like that. Didn't drop it or anything. Cost me 150 Euro to replace it. It annoys me no end to spend money on things like that.

Finally having our headboard for our bed fitted this afternoon. Searching for bedside tables now.

suburban and red How are you today?

portia How shocking about the weather! Sending some sunshine your way. I am getting out the paddling pool for DD later.

Portia sorry about the weather - a few years ago when I came home for hols there was no summer - just five or six weeks of steady rain. Sometimes after a summer like this there is a really nice autumn.

Fritzi sorry about your phone. iPhone is my favorite gadget and the phone dying sounds awful.

Went shopping to exchange a few bits from COS that were not "me" after all. Got instead the cobalt blue sleeveless jersey dress, stylish and comfy and childproof - what's not to like? Many COS items are too severe and plain and boxy on me but love this and the Evil Stepmother top that I wore today with sky blue skinnies, navy Vagabond wedges and smoky blue Lily and felt amazingly together (also felt people looked at me in a good way - my street is still full of tourists so I'm doing cameos of a native dweller every time I run an errand). Tailoring always does that to me - I love structured clothes. Oh, and when I stepped out of COS I saw Bruce Springsteen! He was apparently standing in front of a hotel he was staying in, talking to a band member (he was playing to 40000 people here last night). He and his friend looked very ordinary, like two regular tourists, and I thought I was mistaken - until someone went to him asking for an autograph.

Saw a pair of burgundy red oxford wedges that looked stunning and comfy. Will think about them - burgundy skinnies also looked refreshing and appealing. I might be overcoming my longtime aversion of burgundy! I have a lovely big burgundy leather bag I once bought in Hong Kong - will wear it a lot this fall.

We have an art loaning library here and I went there and saw a small painting I've seen in a gallery a few years ago. Will take DH there later to see whether he likes it - private collection shaping up sooner than I thought

Sorry if my messages sound like a stealth boast - my life is extremely dull 99% of the time (obviously I'm omitting washing the floor, cooking, yelling to children, procrastinating on answering e-mails). I'm not a housewifey person and find life at home often unbearably boring, and I'm trying to hold on to the few moments and thoughts that make living worthwhile and to magnify them.

MiM Matches charged me return shipment twice for the two items sent together in one parcel - boo. It took me more than 48 hrs to get a return code, not impressed. Have you tweeted yet?

Ollie totally understand the Tesco's thing. Will take about 8 kg of rolled oats to Italy. And always buy the strangest things at home - plastic combs, painkillers (particularly children's syrups - they are addicted to Panadol), tea (Italians have never understood tea), muffin cases, freezer bags, Wella shampoo and hairspray. DH is even worse - he takes coffee (for making drip coffee) to Italy

Hi allGet well soon suburban and red

so behind on posts.

Wearing my new navy pencil skirt with Uniqueen blue tweed blazer. LOVE the skirt! it had better last a good 5 years though

A Wang has arrived.

It's really nice, but not sure it's nice enough to deal with the stress of the suede. And the Wang logo is a bit too long/ gold for me. Plus it annoys me that the back is just leather, I prefer the suede. And I think Fritzi is right about how easily it will mark, which will be a bit stressful.

It's nice in the hand and a nice colour. So not sure, will ponder.

Dona your posts are great as they are

GoS will hunt down this new skirt on pin, great that you love it.

Oh Fritzi completely agree about irritating things like that that cost money. Our washing machine finally arrives tomorrow after two weeks.

MiM and Portia ah with the weather, perhaps it's on its way here.

Emo I love the MD sweater, beautiful colour especially with grey.

Hope you are feeling better poor red.

dona you don't sound like you're boasting, I think you just have a lovely way of looking at things and writing that makes your life sound rich and colourful. I understand absolutely about focusing on the moments that make all the drudgery bits worthwhile. My life often feels to be endlessly focused around cleaning up (potty training, weaning, nappies etc etc) but if I look at it from the outside there is actually a lot that is wonderful. And silly things like my gold glitter pedi really lift me!

Great morning at fantastic children's fete at local park. DS loved the fire engine, fairground rides, games and activities. Felt good in navy skinnies, tan aggies, grey marl tee shirt and navy and white stripe jersey blazer. Big bright scarlet LV roses scarf (and bright red bugaboo!) for a bit of colour.

Not impressed by the Matches stories btw.

Dona your posts are great - dont stress. Love your self-awareness. I totally get what you say re magnifying the interesting bits.

Great blouse for a winter here too dark for me really. Only a small left.

I love your posts Dona, I could do with a bit of glamour in my life! I spend to spend every waking minute stressing about my return to work!

Amber poor you - I so remember that near the end of both my MLs. The last month is ruined really.

I'm really looking forward to actually working, it's just the baby I'm worried about, she is still so dependent on me. I know it will be the best thing for her but I still feel awful.