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

Lovely, tracey.

Finally got on to teh site about ten mins ago, only to discover that the sale is OVER!

How anyone but TB managed to buy I don't know, it was just crashed for hours, as far as I could tell.

Never mind, would have been yet another foolish purcahse on my part, I'm sure.

It's gorgeous Tracey

Cakey also meant to say I am so impressed with your dh and the nail varnish. Little gestures like that are so romantic

My dh could learn a thing or two from the W & A OHs. Not only Hells and the selfridges trip, but whose dh does all the holiday packing? That makes me seriously !

VB lol at that other mother - I do love it when people make a dig hidden in a compliment.

Tracey well done, that dress is lovely. I hope its perfect on.

Verity {shock] I'm always stunned by the cattiness of some people!

I like that green Next dress. Can I ask what it is that some have against Next? I thought they had a good reputation.

Just explained to DS1 that Granny & Grandpa may not be able to visit on Monday cos of the volcano and he got quite upset - but turns out he was crying at the thought of not getting the M&S Percy Pigs that Granny always brings over . Lots of oohs and ahhs when we looked at the pics of the volcano tho!

Traceybath - thats a lovely, lovely dress. Very pleased for you!

Roman - any news on your NY trip? I find Antwerp great for shopping and def a bit cheaper than Holland - esp for shoes! Everything here is so expensive and the quality and choice is not all that good. Friends DH still stuck in UK so think we will have to rearrange our day out.

I also like the Next dress! I linked to this one a while back which I liked and thought was amazing value.

Verity how moronically boring to even care about other people's housework. And how rude to mention it to s'one who's just kindly looked after your (presumably not v.tidy child).

I had a go at outnet, but it was crashed and anyway have spent the morning taking the car to garage after some delinquent helpfully prised open the door with a screwdriver for me. Another zillion pounds down the drain I suppose. I hate cars.

I'm with you there roman. If the money's not going directly into making me look good ie clothes, hair, make up, gym, then I begrudge it. Apart from food for the family obvs!

traceyb congrats on the sharpest elbows award. Can't wait to open the link later. btw, liked the grey skinnies.

Thinking of you ltec, lovely day here.

Sorry for all with holiday plans. Are you affected ollie? roman?

Busy baking for ILs. Waste of a sunny day.

Yes, also thinking of you ltec. Must say that your fb pics of Leon have also made me a teensy bit broody (avid, not wise!).

Looks likely that our NY flight will be canned. If we can rebook for Sunday then fine and I'll try to come back 1 day later arriving Monday crack of dawn and dcs can miss a day of school, but if it gets later than that I might try to reschedule completely for summer or October 1/2 term. I haven't experienced a long flight and jet lag with all 3 kids before, but I can imagine a 5-day holiday is prob not worth the fatigue factor really.

I think you're being sensible Roman but how annoying. Fingers crossed you get the flight on sunday though.

We're off to friends for a play after lunch which will be lovely.

I've provisionally rebooked for Monday, coming back sunday, as leaving here Sunday was already full . Hope the ash blows north east today and we can go tomorrow after all. I've packed, taken the dog to kennels, booked cabs both ends. I feel like I've been stood up!

You may remember me from some pages back...it?s hard to keep up!

Of late, I?ve been tempted by this Cath Kidston dress: www.cathkidston.co.uk/p-14683-cath-kidston-mini-dot-shift-dress.

Luckily for my credit card, it sold out before I went and did anything silly like order it. What?s the verdict on Cath Kidston? While I think that dress is nice and vaguely Betty Draper-ish, I can?t shake the feeling that overall, Cath Kidston is just another clichéd staple of middle class, thirtysomething mothers, in the vein of Boden and Orlan Kiely. And surely I ought to aspire to be a little bit cooler than that? Am I right? (Btw, no offense meant to owners of Orla Kiely and Boden merchandise ? they are ok in small doses imo).

I swore I wouldn?t buy any more shoes this year but easier said than done. Was in Schuh yesterday and was tempted by:

Clarks Originals Sandals (www2.schuh.co.uk/clarks-originals/womens-tan-clarks-originals-kestral-soar/1745506220/)

Ok, they are on the dangerous border between frumpy and retro-cool but they would be handy for running after DCs; would wear them with short dresses and skirts to counteract the frump. Hmmm, still not sure.

I also like the look of these: www2.schuh.co.uk/womens-black-red-or-dead-dotty/1373067020/

I have an inexplicable obsession with triple strap shoes, not sure whether to go for ?natural? or black. ?Natural? would be more summery but I?m not too keen on lightly coloured shoes.

But hey, in a few days I will probably have moved on to obsessing about some other shoe or item of clothing. (It cannot be entirely normal that I nearly always have at least one fashion item that I?m obsessed with and can?t wait to purchase).

Hi again Frances.

I think the cath dress is pretty and do get the whole Betty vibe but also know what you mean about it all being a little ubiquitous.

Now - I am the wrong person to comment on shoes as am strictly a heels kind of person. For what its worth if I was doing flats - I'd do gladiators.

I already have three pairs of gladiators, Tracey, one purple pair by Acne Jeans I got last year is my everyday staple at the moment!

As I said, I really don't need any more footwear but I still want more.

Well I am loving my hasbeens - how about some of those?

I love the look of hasbeens but they look like they'd be awkward for crouching down to tend to the dcs because the soles are made of solid wood and therefore won't bend. Or am I wrong?

Yes, Frances, it's entirely normal!!!

Hope everyone is having a good day, esp LTEC, Mr Cake and the little cakies....

I really like the Jamie Does series so far..

We have had a good run out this morning and I can feel the tension lifting.....pheeeew!!!
Plus me and my DH are going out for dinner tomorrow, only to a 'nice' what would probably be termed 'gastropub' (but hate the phrase)...so thinking/not sure what to wear!!!

Like the Cath dress but sorry Frances, not keen on the shoes....

(stirring onions for the aubergine tian), Francis, I have quite a lot of boden and some cath kidston but none of them obvs so ie I have the white shorts in both lengths and the boyf cardis in slate and silver. From cathk I have 2 denim skirts. I like the quality and weight of denim.
I'm getting quite miserable about the shoe situation. I tried glads on in m&s and they looked horrific. I want to go for a walk later, is it too hot for flys?
I'm returning the converse. They only work with a wide leg for me and I don't want to wear widelegs anymore.
So what do you wear on a long walk in spring while wearing skinnies?

Hi Blossoming - very impressed at you managing to cook whilst MNing....!Yes, I only buy non obv Boden stuff...it is usually finished well, although some 'trend' stuff is not such a flattering shape here I think....

What about casual canvass ballet flats for wear with skinnies.... I do wear Ash with skinnies...works okay for me...

My problem is ugly big wide feet which is why the glads were minging, or was it bcs they were m&s?

And converse I really overdid bt 1991 and 1995.

I have good legs and thin ankles and big slabs of feet.

Am going to wear leggings with flys, the terrain is too rough for ballet flats. Then a long t, boyf cardi and the navy parka. Accessorized with cute baby in head to toe baby boden. Adorable stuff for babies!

blossoming, I realise this won't help with going for a walk today, but I have these, which look great with skinnies on non-boot days. You will need to size up though. They come up small, according both to me, and the feedback on the website.

Hope everyone is having a nice day; LTEC, hope it's turning into a 'happy memory' day today.

I'm feeling pretty good today, had a good session with the physio this morning so pelvic pain seems reduced, and I just feel lighter in my head somehow. 3 weeks of work to go! Or 12 days! Still 11 weeks before due date, mind.

I also only have non-obvious Boden & Orla Kiely (no Cath Kidston) - I have an Orla K bag I love, but leaft print is only on the inside (was upset when we were burgled and it was stolen, but fotunately the police found it dumped).

Tracey, really glad you had success on the outnet sale, lovely dress, hope it fits!

So I have been trawling through 'new in' on various sites, and have come across a couple of things I like:

this and also this - I know, another cardigan. Views?

bollocks. flight cancelled, have spent hours on hold with american airlines. Kids disappointed. May fly monday.

Frances - I've got small dc's and bend down fine in my hasbeens although I guess the actual sole doesn't bend.

Roman - how intensely annoying!

Went to friends who is equally clothes obsessed and hilariously she had bought the same jigsaw stripey top as me and had also just got some grey skinnies from comptoir which were lovely.

Thanks for that link plum, I'll try them on next time I'm in m&s. I really hope I don't have to size up, I'm already an 8! 41, or whatever.

Really sorry bout your flights roman. Who could have made this up?

It could have repercussions for my day with ILs too as SIL is high flying and needs to be somewhere.
I have cooked ALL day. And I've eaten far too much chocolate tart filling. Getting quite annoyed with prospect that they might not come after all.
The problem with living in a beautiful place, where people come on holiday, is that you feel you should go for walks outside instead of working out in the gym. Problem being that everyone else is also walking outside, so after talking to half the town, it wasn't as much of a workout as I had hoped. But I wasn't too hot in my leggings and flys, and hopefully the dior sunnies raised the standard.