We're Avid & Wise, We're discussing our Buys, we're not so keen on Flys, We prefer Peep-toe Sky-Highs!!

[LetThemEatCake]

sorry couldn't help myself

Fab mac, thanks Tracey...See, I like the epaulettes!!! But yes indeed, Burberry-esque prices!!!

We are v much an August family too- my DH's is 30th !!! DS's is July, and baby was due Sept but didn't srrive til Oct (9 days overdue), so she threw the pattern out a bit!

You are such a domestic goddess! Happy munching...off to retrieve 3 yr old DS from 'quiet reading' in his bedroom..!! The girls are asleep (hopefully!!!)May make some fairy cakes - am feeling like some; either that or traybakes - easy peasy stuff in this house!!

Have lovely RMB (romantic mini-break) Notyummy. Very that you can wear a dress like the OB one. I have far too much in the boob area and would look terrible.

I'm a Virgo too, birthday August 26th. Big 40 this year (gulp!).

Bit at the moment as invited someone round for coffee & cake at 4pm but they haven't turned up yet. Never met them in RL before only via French forum so I don't know whether to ring them or not. Made the banana and cinnamon bread from the Harry Eastwood book too. Oh well, more for us.

Hello all,

notyummy you've probably already gone but hope you enjoy your break

tracey I saw that FC mac in Grazia too. Looks nice but I am holding out for the real thing...

We are spread out beautfully across the year with DS in April (2 on Sunday - can't believe it, my baby!), me in June, DD in Sept and DH in Nov.

bunjies, tracey and anyone else who has the HArry Eastwood book - what would you recommend? DD and I will be baking lots on Saturday as we're having lots of family over for DS's birthday on Sunday and we're doing afternoon tea. I've got a fab recipe for chocolate cookies that always goes down well and DD enjoys making them but I've got the HE book and not sure what to try.

The light chocolate cake is lovely and has received many compliments.

Just made Sophie Dahl flapjack - disaster. However also made crab linguini for dinner and that was delicious although I also added capers and cornichons - very yummy.

OWW your gardening made me laugh - the indiscriminate pruning sounds just like mine

Tracey has Sophie Dahl got a recipe book out?

Has anyone perused the Oushkasummer handbag collection yet?

I quite like the Seaton in coco and the scarlet, again in coco - don't look too summery to me though!

Fleecy - I've just got the book and have only made the banana bread and the american vanilla cupcakes so far (which have both been nice) but the coconut cake and coconut, blueberry & lime slices look easy and yummy and will be next on my list.

What went wrong with the flapjacks Tracey? I watched her make them on the show last night and they seemed to have a lot of sugary stuff. Were they too sweet or just not very tasty?

Grumpy - great news on the home front. Lots of redec opportunities??

Invitee didn't show up and didn't call either so now very . I'm hoping it was only a date mix-up and not because I scared her off with my promise to bake .

allbuggied...the pockets on the vera moda are a bit weird but I really love the shape (and I have hourglass (ish) shape and I think it works.

and...I bet your missing guest is just this second going OMG I forgot to go to buggies....urghhhhh. I'm sure it's nothing sinister just bad memory (and nothing to do with baking!)

Tracey - DH mentioned that AA Gill said that none of her recipes would actually work. Not sure if this is a fair statement! Baking though has to be perfect measurements so if anything were to show a weakness in her recipes that would be the place.

err -missing guest bit meant for bunjies!!

oh what is my brain like today?! Tracey I realise that makes it sound like AA Gill told DH that directly He didn't - DH read it in an article!!!

Right off to watch more 24.

Tracey just looked up the Miss Dahl book, sounds lush, so will borrow from the library. I've banned myself from buying anymore cookery books without testing the recipes first.
bunjies hope you're enjoying eating your baking your friend doesn't know what she's missing. LTEC is the frockaholic and I'm most definitely a bakeaholic so wouldn't have missed that for anything!

Hi all, had a friend over from Dublin so haven't been checking in. We went to the Cranberries after party and there were so many kids running around, it was like a Gymboree session!

MM, sorry you have had a rough time, hope things are looking up for you now.

Hells, your last two posts made me laugh. Enjoy Selfridges, hope they find you a great leather jacket.

Really like the Burberrey trench, I saw an Italian woman wearing a cropped Burberry trench the other day and she looked very sleek and sophisticated. I would probably spill coffee down it.

Esher, really like the bag.

LTEC, hope you are having a great holiday!

I have not been buying much recently apart from this Splendid cardigan.

I have devised the following wishlist: skinny grey and white jeans, a couple of day dresses, a navy blazer and this scarf (maybe a bit loud?). I now just need to come up with the money. ;)

The flapjack were too honey'y and just crumbled so your DH was quite right Hells. Think I'm just a little in love with her pretendy life

Carciofi - sounds like you've been having fun. Have you seen any grey skinnies as I'm hankering after some too . . .

Zembo - I like Sophie Dahl's writing and I think its one of those inspirational cookery books rather than one to actually follow recipes from. But I too am a nightmare for cookery books especially ones like Nigel Slater which I read as a bedtime book.

God - I haven't bought anything in ages - still no bloody bank cards!!

Hells - have fun in Selfridges!

Ahem mint velvet have grey skinnies, as well as nude and a neutral shade.

I'm quite liking the look of the grey lacy scarf they have - saw the aqua one irl the other day and it was pretty but a bit to greeny for me.

OurLady I ordered the grey lacy scarf but it didn't look right on me so returned it. Looks much better on the model. Colour was more off white than grey and the funny thing was it was a bit smelly

just popping in quickly to say

Mint velvet - has anyone bought anything from here? I must say I keep looking at their stuff and finding myself rather taken with lots of things.

this camisole that I have linked to before

this dress

this tshirt which, sod it, I think I am going to get

this trench is a possible

Tracey - am going to see if I can check out that FC trench irl. I think it may be too long for me as wanted something a bit more casual-ish and as am short I think mid-thigh might be better.

Dolcee - thanks for reporting back on the kew trench - I agree an epaulette would be nice. Am going to try and get instore to try irl.

Been finding school hols a bit hard work tbh but think I am going to have an afternoon off tomorrow as my mum is going to have the girls and am going to spend afternoon shopping with my sister.

Hells - hope you have a lovely time at Selfro's

Tracey - the white jeans thread has really made me want a pair of white skinnies so am going to see if they got any in my local topshop tomorrow.

Have been staying up far too late (on the basis that it is school hols and doesn't matter) and then feeling tired and irritable all day with the dd's so am off for nice bath and bed tonight in the hope of a better day tomorrow.

it does look very tempting!

Tracey - I love her pretendy life too. Actually I think she is rather lovely in RL too. I don't think I've come across a nasty article/comment about her which is unusual isn't it?

Carciofi - that sounds like a very good wish list!

I promise to report back on Selfridges. Afterwards we are attempting to go back to the restaurant I had to dash back from (you probably won't remember but we were just tucking into our starters when my mum called to say that DD had been sick everywhere). That was the 2nd time I went to place. 1st time was just after I found out I was pregnant with DD - so I couldn't eat a thing that was decent (it was all pate, sushi and everything banned). I'm going for third time lucky!

Night ladies!

Well, I draw the line at a smelly scarf, Zembo, no matter how cute it looks.
I've also been mystified by this Mint Velvet, especially since I discovered a sizeable concession in my local dept store.
It seems it was 'born out of the ashes of Principles', and the aim is 'relaxed glamour' < boaks >.

But I do love that grey dress.

Tracey, I like these from J Brand, these from Vince and these from [[http://www.karenmillen.com/Grey-cigarette-jean//karen-millen/fcp-product/903000053616 Karen Millen], however I have not tried any of them on so reluctant to order from the US. Donna Ida have 20% off next week through Grazia so I think I will go there and have a look around.

Have not bought anything from Mint Velvet but looks good.

Hells, enjoy the restaurant.

Mint Velvet stuff is v good but the sizes are a bit hit and miss. I have three tops from there - one a ten, one a twelve, one a fourteen. Weird!

Thanks hells. Think I might try it.

Can't decide what to do with the Hasbeens - the peep toes are growing on me, but am wondering whether would be better to return them and have a proper look around the shoe shops when I'm in London in 3 weeks. Or would Asos have sold out by then? [chronic indicision emoticon]

Apologies for typo

Ourlady - thanks for link to mintvelvet ones - I did look at those but something holds me back. And now you've mentioned principles - I'm even less keen

By the way - forgot to say - I liked that kew dress you linked to earlier -very pretty.

Carciofi - I like the vince ones but like you reluctant to order when I haven't seen them in RL.

Hells - have a fab day and night!

Esher - yest holiday been a little trying here. DS1 had the most enormous tantrum at bedtime last night but then I went up half an hour later and him and ds2 were snuggled up on the floor together asleep which was sweet.

The sun is out so think we'll go for a walk today.

I love the grey Mint Velvet dress. Shame the sizes are so hit and miss tho - would have no idea what size to get if I ordered one vis the net! It remined me a little bit of the All Saints Layla one - but more wearable (in terms of use)??? Am in London in a couple of a weeks for the day tho so may try and hunt it down (que OWW stomping down Oxford St looking slightly wild eyed, leaving a trail of innocent tourists in her wake!)

Have a lovely trip to Selfridges Helles. Looking forward to hearing how you get on!

Morning! I should be on my way out to work but am running a bit late after a bad night. Just wanted to say that House of Fraser now sell Mink Velvet if you want to see and try on the stuff in real life.

Mint Velvet obv .