It's a race against time for the Avid girls to wear the Wise summer buys..

[blossoming]

Best I could do. Jump in!

MFP would give you 458 kcals for that mrscb!

I know! I'm still a tomboy at heart, so he's lucky! But no nights out; just drinks in the Hawaiian themed bar , or outside the mobile home. Heels way too ott for this type of holiday. So it is converse to travel; gigis to change into after we get hire car; havaianas and espadrilles. We'll have a way-off if he complains. mrscb, I'll be 42. Let that make you feel better!

Weigh-off

I am in denial about 40! Have told the kids I am 35 now.....they can't understand how DH who is 40 could have been in uni at the same time as me. Have explained I was a child genius.....will have to enlighten them before the big day but I am 39 which means enlightenment can't wait too much longer. But mrscb I know what you mean....

se your mother is a wise woman!!!!

Back from sunny Camber Sands. Violet Lake got a debut, was very nice, though as the top was bought in my usual size (not my ridiculous breastfeeding size) I did feel a bit like they were going to break free while chasing DS. Maybe one for lounging. DCs loved it though, DS hared around naked and made me take him into the sea up to my neck, and DD sat happily flinging sand around. A lovely day.

bloss bonnes vacances! Glad the Gigis, and speaking as the owner of Gigis, esps and Havs, they take up the space of one pair of DH's shoes!

pickled your DCs sound well trained!

MrsCB I don't know how you cope with the vole situation, I really don't.

decam How is DD?

She ate a little bit last night and is still asleep so hopefully on the mend, thanks Amber. DD2 was up at 5am, sigh. Sounds like you had a lovely day.

It is just a number, MrsCB! 40 didn't bother me at all but I had something going on at the time, maybe I'll cry when I'm 41. Think of the Tory Burch handbag (I like it, btw).

Bloss have a great holiday!

Amber sounds like a lovely day, I am hoping we get the odd flash of decent weather in the next couple of weeks as I have been stuck inside for all the nice weather recently!

I bought a hobbs pencil skirt while training, it's a really lovely rich green tweed with a fab texture. No idea what I'll wear it with, but I like it lots. Also bought a dark olive shirt dress in the JL sale for £25 which is maybe a bit Natural for me, but was great with flat sandals, many necklaces and a chunky belt yesterday in the heat.

Bloss have a good flight!
Dec sympathy for the early morning, hope your DD will get better soon!
MrsCB I'd say no to the TB bag. Love TB normally but not sure about this - has a high street look somehow, thought it was from Aldo.
Fritzi I'm glad you've liked my book recs. I enjoy well-written nonfiction and love learning about new things that way - right now reading a travelogue describing a journey on the Volga river. During the summer I read a lot of Scandi books - this is by a Danish author.

If someone is into light crime fiction with a 30-40 something working mother lead, check out Liza Marklund's Annika Bengtzon books. They are set in Stockholm, she's an journalist in a yellow paper (very realistic work bits according to my journalist friend), a light read and much less appalling than the Stieg Larssons.

Outnet purchases going back - wrong color, material not good enough. I've gotten so used to wearing my best colors all the time that when I stray outside my palette, everything looks appalling. It is bad when a pair of jeans wash you out Should be very selective with my purchases, have almost spent my Aug budget.

A dilemma for you: via DH, I can get a navy Burberry peacoat (80% wool, 20% cashmere) at -25% (= VAT free) if I buy it now (now meaning Monday the latest). Have checked online, not easy find a similar one anywhere. Should I buy now (that would be my entire Sept clothes budget) or wait till the end of the year sales (may not get the duty free discount then because won't travel with DH and have no end of the year trips scheduled). Have you gotten big discounts on Burberry coats? Have no major real needs for AW - bought good ankle boots yesterday. May or may not find the right tall boots, but in Italy will only need AW clothes Nov the earliest, so can wait. So - to buy now or not to buy?

DD1 went to hairdressers yesterday, got her hair curled and hairsprayed and pinned and preened at the mirror for most of last night. She uses the kitchen ladder as her fashion rack and is styling her sister's hair and outfit right now (very Gok, hot pants with a sleeveless denim dress, back to front, sans shirt).

Hopefully that pencil shirt looks fab. I'm a style conservative but would go all 1950s and wear it with kitten heels and a simple blouse (my white tuxedo blouse goes with everything). Would look nice with my collarless Zara or D&G boucle jackets too.

Decided to keep the two pairs of Stylesnob jeweled ballerinas. Were not expensive and nudes look great with dark bootcuts, the dark gray will be good with AW clothes. They are ladylike enough for Rome - I walk a lot there every day so am always looking for stylish, comfy shoes.

Dona not sure about reductions in Burberry sales. Love those ballet flats. Very pretty.

Hopefully fabulous skirt.

Bloss have a wonderful holiday.

Yesterday was fun, good to be with just dh every so often. So tempted for today but it will be even busier.

Just about recovered from my pond dipping experiences yesterday - don't think DSs swimshorts will ever tho. Mucky with a capital M. And Ive ended up with some shocking tan lines from the top I was wearing yesterday too. Im going to see them all winter aren''t I?

Ive started to look for some black ankle boots like the <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=acne+contrast+pistols&hl=en&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ADFA_enNL418NL418&biw=1440&bih=681&tbm=isch&tbnid=5ZRihg_3ha4MSM:&imgrefurl=www.polyvore.com/acne_pistol_short_boots_black/thing%3Fid%3D37622091&docid=CQ0sG4e19VVW9M&imgurl=www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing%253F.out%253Djpg%2526size%253Dl%2526tid%253D37622091&w=300&h=300&ei=SBImUKDiH4a40QW72YGgCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=177&vpy=136&dur=400&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=102&ty=132&sig=103423297416287176379&page=1&tbnh=143&tbnw=143&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:70" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">contrast Pistols. Really like the wooden heel. Have found these which are good value and the same brand as my neutal ones so know they will last and are comfy etc. Has anyone seen anything similar?
Doing that thing of worrying about buying too early only to find several nicer models appearing in the shop later on

Happy Holidays to those of you going today.

DH and I have date night tonight. Meal out at nice restaurant. Am planning outfit round my new Zara shoes - and my tan lines.....

Thank you for all your kind comments. I agree that hot weather can be harsh on the body. However, I am really self-conscious about my stomach and I realise that I am hitting point where I need to do some work towards having a reasonable body.

So, no more moaning from me. After this weekend I am on a health kick, will start swimming again and shredding.

Ollie, have a great time tonight - I agree marsha that time alone with DH is very valuable. We met for some drinks at a friends house in Wimbledon last night. Nice to just chat, laugh and travel on the train together.

Hopefully congratulations on completing the training. What an exciting time ahead of you.

Amber sounds like a fabulous day at Camber. What was the present by the way?

MrsCB 40, it's just a number. You look fabulous and have such a stylish outlook on life, surely that only gets better with age!

Suburban glad you are feeling better. Hope Red is ok too.

Pretty flats Dona. I thought about your shoe post whilst wandering around the shoe hall in Selfridges yesterday.

Feel like I have missed loads on the thread - big apologies if I have. Hard to keep up when MIL is here.

Shopping news from yesterday though - I bought nothing! However, I can report on the following:

Navy Jalouse are very dark. I couldn't tell the difference between them and the black at first. I prefer the colour of the Office ones

Couldn't find the Cos silk/knit in grey that a few of us have pinned.

The French Connection top in a sandy colour with a cowl neck that is also on a few pins is very nice - would look good with the Whistles animal skinnies.

This top from Reiss would look good with black skinnies and Roxy - it's much nicer in real life.

I fell in love with this coat perfect for dry but cold days when I want to be a bit smarter. It's my number one wish list item now.

Eating pancakes here with DD2, not very healthy but who cares.

Lovely shoes, Dona. I would buy now at 25% off. I'm sure the coats go fast in the sales.

Fab skirt, Hopefully, it will be great for work.

Great coat, MiM, I may add it to my list too! Navy Jalouse are also off the list, money saved, thank you very much! I need to do more exercise too. I found pilates good for my stomach last time. I was considering the 5:2 fast but I think I would not make it through the day. I already more or less do the French Women Don't Get Fat eating plan. I think I will do my own version of Dukan but with vegetables three days a week. And no wine. Sob.

My navy Nicole Farhi t shirt has developed a hole, I can't remember where I bought it so can't return it. Boo.

Ollie, have a great night. Those boots look good. I am going to review the boot situation in October (when I get my winter stuff down from the loft and justify a new pair!).

Ollie, there are also these from CdeC.

Scan back through the thread decam, I remember you mentioning it - was it HoF?

I think it was either HoF or Harvey Nicks but I don't have the receipt. Good idea, did a search but can't find it.

ollie Boots look great but I can understand that you are hesitating about buying them now. Have a great night out with DH!

dona If you really love it, I would buy the Burberry now.

deca Good to hear that DD1 is on the mend. You must be so tired with the little one waking you so early.

Lovely weather today again. We might host another impromptu BBQ tonight.

By the way, Amber, I think your DD needs these! I'm ordering them for DD2.

Thanks, Fritzi, luckily DH is here today. Enjoy the barbie!

Am on the way into town to meet some girlfriends for lunch, had a hell of a morning where everything I tried on looked desperate, with DDs 1&2 standing in jury! Settled on coral MD silk top snd 3/4 sleeved blazer with White jeans and AH White hand bag.

Deca glad that DD is feeling better.

Doña I bought a navy Gerard Darel peacoat last weekend, not in the same league but I love it. The ballerina flats are really cute.

Need to behave at lunch as I am going straight to a dinner party this evening

Made a pilgrimage to Burberry, still undecided. Portia thanks for reminding - Darel often works for me too.

Instead, found my version of the white basic shirt Always is looking for (local brand, unfortunately). Extremely flattering and will dress up jeans and cigarrette trousers. Found it among racks and racks of unflatterng old lady clothes.

Zara is having a great season. Stepped in for a moment and saw a sharply cut linen mix white blazer on sale - cost so little that I got it. Also bought a cream-colored lace scarf (don't normally do lace but this looked lovely agaist navy). Love my dyed bootcuts. Jeweled flats (or pointy toe flats) make them look sharp. Will do another navy batch and perhaps a cobalt batch later in the fall.

Walked through the Tory Burch section in the dept store and MrsCB, something has happened to the line - the hardware of the AW bags looked off, discount store garish. So recommend checking them out irl before committing to buy!

Also found the perfect Chelsea boots. Armani, men's collection, deep burgundy red oxfords Thank God I have big feet . Over 500 euros so totally off budget. But will keep an eye on the sales in Italy fingers crossed I'll see the smallest size 80% off somewhere

Found a book written by a school friend - she has became a locally famous TV psychologist (many men are fans because she has a wonderfully sexy, smoky voice and a tendency to wear revealing clothes). About women and leadership apparently. Will give it a go.

dona

Don't feel bad Always, this is it, might be too ruffled for you (and I'd still buy in a heartbeat the one you linked - it's nicer). They had traditional tuxedo shirt too (but with long sleeves), this just looked better on.