We shop therefore we are.. Wise & Avid

[blossoming]

Thanks to ltec for the new title.

It is pretty modest...so it should be fine. I haven't had a chance to wear it properly as there has been NO SUN since it arrived! I'm not at home now but will try it on again when I'm back and let you know my verdict on what we can/can't get away with .

Agreed re NO SUN but forecast here is for 23 degrees later on this week (Thurs/Fri) so maybe we can debut it this week

hells - Leon is this chain of restaurants .... sort of fresh, healthy fast food - it really is delicious and, crucially for me, has loads of wheat free/gluten free/ dairy free options, all of which are clearly marked as such ... it's great, as a vegetarian, since so often the veggie option when you eat out involves either pasta or cous cous (both no-nos for me...) Anyway, also very kid-friendly, decent coffee, nice 'feel' and generally fab. There's one almost next door to Liberty, check it out next time dh gets the urge to shop!

Oh, and of course, the name of the place is sheer loveliness.

there's a recipe book, I think a few of us have it - well, at least verity and I do, not sure who else?

Have not posted for days and days......possibly a week or more. Am totally behind on what's going on with all you gorgeous ladies. And now I am going on holiday for a week. Off to Greek Isles with quite possibly the smallest amount of clothes I have ever taken on a 7 day break . But it feels good and I shall not be skimping on style

Promise me you will remain A&W and will make me welcome once more on my return. Apologies again for my errant ways and I promise to be once again A&W when I have had a lovely beach break

Have a great holiday Tulpe.

God, my legs are STILL killing me after my overly ambitious shredding effort on Sunday. Hobbled into work like John Wayne this morning. Obviously my yoga and crosstraining yesterday didn't straighten the kinks out in the way I hoped it would.

Due to go to the gym today. Will take it gingerly.

Have a good day all. Weather here is rubbish, so have opted for 'safe' wear of blck trouers and green NL top. Lets hope it perks up soon.

If I stay on this thread I'm going to have to start doing some sport. You are all v.intimidating with your shredding/running/x-training.

"Chi se ne frega" just means "Who cares". It's not terribly elegant, but not rude.

I don't actually have the R&B glads, I just want them, but think I should focus the £££ on workwear at the moment.

Has anyone ever been to the region of Arcachon/Biarritz/San Sebastian? If so any recommendations of rentals would be well-received here!

Cold and wet here. Feels very odd to be in a place where 23o is considered summer weather!

Oh gosh Roman, I feel the same about exercise.

I know you are already the right weight but I'm not and I'm seriously contemplating the Dukan Diet here. I have never ever been a faddy diet sort of person but the prospect of 8 lbs or more in a week is very tempting.

Morning all

hells I thought that diet sounded good too. Btw, I can't take credit for the pink scarf and khakis combo; am pretty sure yest first time of doing it so I probably copied you!

Gosh, those spanx are quite pricey aren't they? I only wanted them to wear under a £9 primark dress so it seems a bit disproportionate. I don't own anything else clingy. Btw, did anyone notice in the Times Supp that lisa snowdon has the hip/ thigh indent? Phew.

Nothing to lose, I'd say hells. My dh gains easily, but finds he loses weight or keeps it off if we eat salad for dinner every day. I specialise in gigantic and elaborate salads (I also finish the boys' dinner beforehand so as not to lose weight). That's not hard either really.

I mean 'nothing to lose by trying' rather than 'no kg to lose'

I agree Roman...nothing to lose (other than weight!). I am good at healthy eating and my weight doesn't fluctuate when I eat the way I do. I just need to get it lower (iyswim!).

O.k...I have the book and I shall read it properly. Prepare for stinky breath and bad moods for the next week.

LTEC - they are expensive but they are very good. I have heard that M&S do some cheaper ones that are good...not sure which they are though. In your case (like Tracey) you probably don't need the industrial strength ones (spanx)...if it's just 'line smoothing'you are after then the cheaper ones are probably fine. Hopefully someone will have tested the others and can report back!

Morning all. Feeling a bit rough. Finished our lovely family day with a bottle of wine (between us, what a lightweight) and woke up with my eyes glued together. (Whose daughter just had this?)
I wore a different mascara yesterday and I think that's getting the blame.
This morning I went shopping in my stadium squall and winter scarf with a sunburnt nose. How bizarre!

Cake - as well as my Spanx, I have this here from M and S, that is half the price and very effective. Can be a bit of a wrestle getting it on though!

I like the look of the Dukan diet. May give it a try, although will have to wait until coming bcak from holiday, as DH would (quite understandably) probably throw his toys out of the pram about not being able to enjoy nice family meals in Italy because I am following a diet. He is very much of the opinion that if you are not allergic or actually overweight, then why are you bloody dieting woman?? TBH, that is probably why I mainly use exercise rather than diet as a form of weight control, because it would cause BIG fights if I tried to be restrictive with my diet. We like eating out and trying each others food, and he would think I was ruining his fun! A few years ago, when we were both a few pounds heavier, we both did the Low GI diet for a a while, which was fine as there wasn't much that was totally off limits - it was more about being sensible with what you chose, and exercising portion control. Taught me quite a lot of what I know about the correct size portions (particularly for carbs, which people tend to serve up far too much of.)

Hells - I have also read about the Dukan diet and think it sounds pretty sensible. Is it the same diet that was featured in Red or am I getting confused here?

Roma - DH and I love gigantic salads too! Although I am not really into salads as long as it is cold and miserable outside. Much prefer soup at the moment.

LTEC - Have bookmarked Leon for my next trip to London in September. This is the M&S version of Spanx. But maybe under summer dresses this would be better? Haven't got one but they look similar to the Spanx.

Tulpe - Enjoy your holiday! I still have to put together my capsule wardrobe for our farm holiday next week. Have decided to relax a bit about that as the cows won't care.

I am still in bed with headache and cold but it feels silly to complain about that after reading about all those A&W accidents/A&E emergencies. Hope everybody is better and gets lots of TLC!

Esher I don't have any Hermès (one day!) so not an expert opinion, but I really love the Twilly! I looked it up and saw this this. It is gorgeous, I would be so happy to receive that (and would use it).

Roma sounds like fun. And bravo for not letting it take over your life to the expense of Oxford. (Photographers would approach me when I was young but I'd run away, was studying a lot too. But one nice photo from back then would be nice...) Oh and the beach house is in a very secluded spot over looking a sandy beack - in Oz! So not much use unless we do the dreaded 24 hour flight. If I could just pick it up and plonk in South of France or Italy.

As a downside dh now needs to be at work all week and we've had to cancel long weekend away. pooh (bit like your situation Ltec but only has a week notice). He appreciates it I suppose so that's good.

Hells I saw that diet too, but I feared the overload of meat. Good luck! would love to know what it is like.

Ok going to look through some more now.

Marsha and Esher - Haven't heard of twillies before, so I have learned some new style terminology today! Although I am not into Hermes stuff myself I have a friend who has been hankering after a scarf for ages. Maybe I could give her a twilly for her birthday. Love the way Hermes present their products on the website!

Tulpe, have a good holiday.

Esher, that would be great, thank you. I just set up an email address, [email protected]

I have decided to save for the red Liberty bag so no shopping until then!

DH now on gardening leave for a month - whilst its more than lovely to have him home, I can already see its going to curtail my W&A time! Just sent him off with DS2 to the playground so I can get on the laptop!!!

Blossoming Thanks for the Spanx info - will have a look at the range on Figleaves and see what I need - all of it probably! Saw this website in EasyLiving mag and thought of you here - someone has set themselves a challenge of making one dress every week!
Leon sounds lovely LTEC - nothing like that over here - not even Starbucks!
Choo - like Fritzi I'd never heard of Twilly's but am now clued up! Lovely present idea.
Formerly - glad that your DDwas ok in the end but what a horrible thing to have to go through.
Merc - hello! I love the R&B glads - but what an annoying website - I hate having to wait for pictures to change!
NY - I loved your capsule wardrobe. I'm terrible when it comes to packing - too much of a 'just in case' type - ie end up with with way too much stuff in case of sun/rain/dirt/! Try hard every year and still come back with stuff unworn. Will try and be more wise this year. Once read an article where the writer just took whatever she could buy at Heathrow airport - wish I could be more like that!

Yow know I said I liked Carrie and Bigs apartment in the new SITC film? Here are some pics from the DM via Liz Jones - I still like the coffee table tho wouldnt suit our house:
here

Carciofi I am wearing the white co navy dress - love it Our dc were in a local national school, but we were not happy, I always felt a niggling feeling that I should be doing better for them when I dropped them off in the morning. We moved them to an Educate Together school ( it took 3 years to have them all together in the school), and there is such a difference, it is a fantastic school and even though it is quite a treck across town I don't mind. Whichever schools you put dds name down for, I'd really recommend visiting the school during the day when the children are there, you can pick up a lot from seeing how the staff and children interact. I am qiute knowlegable about south Dublin primaries, but sorry no use on the north side! If you look on the discussion boards on rollercoaster.ie under primary years you might find something useful.

Sorry I've forgotten all the other thing I was going to post about, it was raining so hard last night the noise work me up at 3.45 and I only dozed after that. I don't recommend sky-lights in bedrooms

Verity, thanks, I heard Educate Together schools are fantastic. I could get her in to my old school if we are stuck, but I am sure DH won't want to pay. I think I will be going to Dublin again soon so will check out a few schools. DH is keen on Blackrock/Booterstown as he used to live around there so we may need your expertise.

Ollie, I have the Spanx slips for wearing under dresses and like them.

It is raining here and too cold for dresses.

Verity - sorry to be nosey but is it the blue maxi dress you have on? here Am quite tempted esp as there is a 20% code floating about!

Carciofi I'm only trying the dress on, def too cold to wear it outside! Happy to help if I can, fees here way less than in UK, about 5000Euro per year, private schools are desperate for pupils these days so you might get a good deal !

LTEC I love my Leon book, I would be lost without their wheat-free brownies

OWW it's this plait one I can't do maxis, only 5'3" they just swamp me. This is lovely, gorgeous drapey jersey. The belted waist stops me from looking pregnant

Be careful with the code though, I used a 20% code, it was accepted during checkout, but I was charged full price in the end. I have e-mailed them twice and it hasn't been sorted out yet. Maybe order by phone?

I just saw the jaw-smasher maxi in the window of a local boutique!!

Was on the way back from a fabulous fabric shop - everything, everything, everything you could imagine, from 2 euro per metre. I was buying curtain lining , but ended up with lots of things, including brilliant fake fur with paw prints to make Winston a new bed!