We shop therefore we are.. Wise & Avid

[blossoming]

Thanks to ltec for the new title.

I know what you mean formerly! It was fun - worth the hangover!

Am now pale with big black circles under the eyes, and a couple of spots developing. They ALWAYS come out to play when I have been drinking. Quite the picture of loveliness....

gosh it's been busy. I love all the lists - can someone explain IPL? I reckon I need it (whatever it is!).

Sorry to read all the stories about overworked DH's. DH and I used to be that way...but things have changed since we started our own business. It's so much easier.

LTEC - it saddened me greatly to read your horrible experiences at school...but I hope revenge is sweet (in a good way of course ). And a second 'THANK YOU' is due. I wore the Emily & Fin and got lots of comments. Not as 'wow' as the other dress - because this one is pretty. More...'oh you look lovely and summery' sort of thing. And I felt that way.

Esher - I ended up wearing a white vest top with it. But I have a rather horrid decollete so I felt it best . I do like your recent shopping haul!

R&B's vs Toast. I agree on the metallic colour being nicer on the Toast ones. But I tried on the Toast ones and they were uncomfortable on me. I have wide feet and also they didn't have a half size up which I needed. I have the dark brown R&B's and they are adjustable so fine for my huge wide feet. They are a bit annoying...the centre bit goes off to the side...but as they are comfortable I don't care

MM - three cheers for sunglasses bliss.

Marsha - My Mental Image of you is pic one!

Roary - poor you on the bump.

OWW - for some reason I can't get your link to work.

at Zembo's beau

And my list of style saviours:

1. THIS THREAD
2. Chanel vitalumiere foundation and ysl false lash mascara.
3. Occasional blow dry - makes me feel like a film star!
4. DH and his lovely encouragement.
5. Learning to accept my horrific knees (they turn in). Now that I can wear shorter skirts a whole new fashion world has opened up.
6. Threading.

Forgot about my list!

Ren morrocan rose range
Maxi dresses
Special occasion blow dries
Very.co.uk- excellent account management and they will pick the returns up from my shed while I at work. Great range of clothes.

Hells LOL at you thinking you need IPL although you don't know what it is! Its a method of hair removal(Intense Pulsed Light). Most effective where there's a big contrast between hair and skin colour. I've got medium brown skin and black hair so worked a treat

Hello everyone! I was indeed enjoying my birthday yesterday. I share the day with my Dad (Happy Birthday Dad!) who turned 72. Spent the day at my sister's enjoying the sunshine and eating hot dogs and birthday cake.

Off out for dinner with DH tomorrow to a local restaurant set in an old library built in the 1830s with Doric columns outside. It's a lovely building with a large double height area where we're eating. Not fancy but yummy. Am going to wear my new VW dress - it arrived today and the small fits perfectly which is most exciting

Hmm, things that have changed my life...

A good hairdresser
Contact lenses
The confidence and acceptance that comes with age
Realising that money doesn't buy style. Some things are worth forking out for but, in general, you can find great stuff on the cheap!

That's it for S&B related stuff. Wider life stuff would be my family and my faith.

Hells - I use Vitalumiere as well. I don't like spending so much on foundation as I only use it as a light concealer really but you need so little and it glides on so well.

DD has 'bits' as someone else said. Not entirely satisfied calling them 'bits' but it'll do for now! She wants a willy anyway

hope everyone had a lovely day.

hells am beyond pleased that both dresses have been a success

Zembo ooh, get you, pulling in the park Love your work!

things to have benefitted my S&B life

1. Threading
2. Carol Vorderman (thanks to her I am a non-meat-eating, wheat-free zone and feel 100x better for it
3. t'internet - the fashion world at your fingertips, whether NaP for styling ideas. ASOS for fast, easy, inexpensive fixes or blogs for inspiration.
4. The Oil Cleansing Method - 1 year on and skin has never been better, plus I save a bundle
5. denim minis- have been wearing since my teens, hope I am still wearing when I am 60!!
6. Big sunnies - hide a multitude of sins

Thanks all for your sympathy. Dh surprisingly nice about it, I probably would have been much ruder.

White cimpany order came. 7/8 trousers are rubbish, bloss. Most frumpy pair I've had on in ages.

oww Maxi seems great. Lovely ruching and neckline and the length good for me- ankle bone. Am 5'9 though so it might need to be taken up for shorter ladies. Will run it past dh as he has strong views on clothes resembling maternity gear and will let me know if it makes me look preg.

ny v impressed you have a life exciting enough to get hungover. With you on ren, love their stuff.

Highly amused by girl part names. There is no equivalent to willy is there?

Those who've had ipl, did it last? Am looking at the philips lumea to see if any good.

Dh verdict: looks like a witch dress apparently (??). But not maternity. Can discount this as he likes it despite witchiness. Think would look great with denim jacket or cardi. Having tackled steep stairs in it can see why they are dangerous!!

Ooh roary - maxi sounds v promising! I keep trying various ones one but just can't get used to all the extra material swishing around iykwim. Not sure if I should be looking at the more fitted ones like the DP stripey one? DH also v quick to comment on clothes that make me look preggers so look forward to hearing from your DH! Maxi dresses have yet to really take off over here so am lacking seeing inspiration on others! I'm 5'6 so it probably would need taking up.

Blossoming - hope your face has de-frozen without too much pain. What shorts did you find in FF? Its the one item I have yet to find for our hols - mostly because I can't stand the thought of trying any on!

DH and I have a day out together without the kids! Will def involve a nice lunch but not sure where yet. Maybe the beach as its such lovely weather and we never get to just sit and relax on one! Night all.

X posts! LOL re witch comment! Is it a very dark navy then???. Glad its a keeper!

Goodness I can't keep up with this!

My fave things.

1)Love REN too.
But my favourite product is Elemis Frangipani Moisture melt

2. The Internet - not just for fashion/shopping - but travel

3. Hairdresser

4. Time to myself (rare!)

5. Having the confidence to be yourself - and comfortable in your own skin!

All you ladies who have had knocks - that is horrible.

Very hot today - so hot I had to strip out of my suit and buy a £20 dress in Marble Arch M&S - tried it on and got it scanned at check out - with me in it!

ollie, I'm in bed. Will link first thing.

I might need to look into IPL then, not come across it before.

Glad DH was rational about the car, roary. OWW, have a great day out! we're buying a Mazda 6 estate - going for lots of space. DH used to work in the engineering side of car design (now does planes), and has an encyclopedic knowledge of cars, engines etc, so has strong views. I think I agreed to buy a new car just to get him to stop bloody researching it! I know much more than I should about all things cars through 12 years of slow osmosis.

Re having confidence in your own skin - this has definitely come to me with age. Seeing someone who was really attractive or pretty who was very different to me - e.g. blonde or curvy or petite or different clothes style - used to make me feel insecure, until I realised that it is perfectly possible for both them and me to be attractive just in different ways. That helped me stop comparing myself to others, and to be honest, I really don't much now.

Zembo your DC are gorgeous!

Apuski Absolutely re other people. I do think we should be grateful for what we have sometimes!

Mazda 6 is a good car/well engineered.

Morning ladies! Another beautiful, bright day here.

Thank you Fleecy

Re: IPL, I had it done about 7 years ago and the results have been maintained. It doesn't promise complete removal of the hair but a significant reduction (enough so that fussy me is happy with it and no need for waxing etc). It does require a lot of commitment in terms of time as need about 6 cycles of treatment in each area to get the hair at different stages of the growth cycle. Also the method I had involved cooling the skin with ice packs prior to application of the light pulses - that bit was very uncomfortable/painful. Don't think I'd be able to do it now post kids due to lack of childcare.

Must look into REN products and the oil cleansing method.

Also thinking of buying this for our study wall. Love the policies, esp kill the TV

Morning all.

ollie these are the shorts. Incredible but true. Highly flattering with a gap between thigh and denim. I bought these pale ones, but they had a faded denim in the shop too.
Sorry, wrong way round these are the ones I've got. Maybe I should get the others too?
I also bought this to go with.
I've never shopped here before, but for beachwear/campsite wear, it's looking good for me.

So I missed MIL's visit yesterday, but never mind, my dc1 had videoed her throughout the day, and I had to watch it after breakfast. Great start to the day!!

Morning everyone - it's still all sunny and hot here. OWW have you been to Cadzand? I think we'll go there tomorrow as apparently it's OK to take the dog (not allowed anywhere in Belgium May to Sept, as far as I can work out, even on a lead).

I have a terrible hangover, following rather boozy bookclub last night, followed by a party that I didn't even get to until 11.30pm. How cool am I going to parties at 11.30pm on schoolnights?

Loads of boring errands to run instead of enjoying the sunshine. Then I need to work out how to cope with mil for 3 whole weeks from next Tuesday . Basically undiluted too, as kids at school all day. In fact, opinions please: I'm considering keeping the little one off school a bit, partly to give me and mil a topic of joint interest to keep the day going, and partly because he's forgotten so much Italian that the more intensive practice he gets, the better. He's only 4. WWYD? The problem is that ds2, who doesn't like school, will be livid with jealous rage.

I meant dogs not allowed on Belgian beaches, rather than anywhere in Belgium. That would be a bit harsh

Roman Thank you for your advice on Brussels. We didn't manage shopping! Our friends are living out there for a few years so plenty more opportunities to come!

We went to Leuven which I liked. And also the African Museam at Tervuren - lovely grounds. Had lunch in Brugge too - beautiful.

MIL for 3 weeks - I can see your point re taking DS out of school for the shared interest.

Take her to your Book Club - then she may have a 3 day hangover

Morning ladies

I forgot to mention before but have a big night out tonight. Am off to Zuma with a group of (very glam) friends. I have no idea what to wear. I would usually have my hair blow dried first but have no time without dd to get it done so will have to do it myself. I have a good tan and want to wear something simple but nice.

I have a short snakeskin silk shift dress with long sleeves and a slash neck. It love it and thought I could wear it with nude pointed shoeboots I have had for years. Or a black sleeveless halter neck silk dress (from H&M ) which is very simple but makes me look very brown. Or (dp's choice) a purple and yellow vibrant print silk dress from Aftershock with gems around the halter neck but have no idea what shoes and am not sure I actually like it. I imagine all the others will be in designer gear but all my expensive going out gear is from pre dd and doesn't fit properly anymore.

Where has Tracey gone? I need some advice on wearing the Next jacket we both own.

Is anyone in touch with Everything in rl / on FB? Hope she is ok.

Roma when I have Italian friends and family staying I keep them in the kitchen for as much of their stay as possible. When they leave my freezer is full.

Re names for "bits". We call them "minnie" and "willy" though I sometimes refer to them by their proper names so she knows what they are. Euro Disney was a bit confusing (Pooh and Minnie in one place!) She is only 2 but we spend a fair part of every day discussing willies, bums, poo, minnies. How my life has changed.

Sadly I think money has changed my life most in an S&B sense. I remember going to a club when I was 17 and only having one pair of shoes (Pallediums) so I wore them with a dress and everyone (my "friends") laughed at me. I got turned away from the club because they had a no trainer policy and everyone else went inside and I had to go home. I remember my mum asking why I was home so early. It was all a bit . My obsession with shoes and clothes and never looking "wrong" started then. As I have got older I am more relaxed but I get very uptight if I don't feel I look right.

Enjoy the sun everyone.

Ah - quick LO S&B question. What summer shoes do your LOs wear? The only ones I can find for dd (size 5.5) are these but not sure if they're a bit unpleasant. She likes these.

She has crocs, Havanianas, converse and have ordered some canvas sandals from Jojo but she is refusing to wear any of them atm so is going out in socks and/or wellies.

mm I like the sound of the snakeskin!

tracey is on hols in Majorca; everything is back from Crete and says she is relaxed and intends to keep it that way by staying ofline a bit longer (acc to FB)

sorry roma i can't help, the mere thought of MiL for 3 weeks has turned me into gibbering wreck

today wearing UO combats with khaki tank tucked in and Hasbeens (mine are a kind of olive colour) Will take navy star print scarf for discreet bfing.

last minute Aussie shopping mission - mum went to get my Bloch shoes today and paid just under £60 for them . And I am considering this as an easy trans-seasonal piece ... what do you think?

Cakey I love love that dress. Bet it'll look fab with your colouring. Thanks for snakeskin thumbs up - it's very short but hey, I have long tanned legs . I'm going to go for it!