I don't dress for the school run, I dress for my (wise & avid) life!!

[LetThemEatCake]

continuing from here and quoting esher!!

Gorgeous Lanvin dress cake!

Have sent WC parcel back and try to forget about it. It helps a lot that my Hush order arrived today and everything is lovely

Short break now while DD is listening to a CD in her room. Then we go to the woods to let off steam.

How exciting about the interview Cake...but must be weird to have an interview for a writing job....decided what you will wear yet?

Oh, Cake, just get the skirt !You know you want it! And if you don't, you'll kick yourself.

MM and Bloss - you guys are so lovely and an inspiration.

MM- That cow saying you needed botox...can't believe that. Sorry, but really bad....and untrue I bet!

Well, had a huge parvel today...containing pirate paraphernalia for DCs party ...

Esher - you'd laugh! Was making notes whilst viewing the Mulberry website yesterday, and writing down the bags and prices....and DH came in and said, 'oh, who's the message from?'....

Uh, oh it's nothing, said i...as maybe looks a bit grabby to present list to him with prices on etc for my forthcoming bday present...., especially since our DCs haven't had theirs yet ? He was oblivious, I did laugh!!!!!

I also did a pirate party for DD in May dolce. Invitation is on my profile if you are interested. . Have fun!

Hi all! Busy week in the roaryhouse as we have taken delivery of our new car - I did all the negotiation and choosing so feeling v proud of myself.

LTEC you are right -OWW is my fashion fairy. Dress arrives today and will report. Also, in answer to your travel wrap question. I am still tempted but holding out. I work with lots of women who wear something not as nice but similar, in a deeply unfashionable way, if you know what I mean - horrible drapey capey tent outfits. Lots of brooches and necklaces often on top! Like this but with more capes. So I would worry I would look like them!
(Remember the Lady Don conversation?)

Bunny Twins!!! How exciting. Same thing happened to doc friend of mine who noticed it on the scan before the sonographer and burst into tears. SHe says the first few months were a blur but it's been brilliant since.

Fritzi - invitation dead impressive! V creative...clever you! It is fun to organise, although mindful of splurging too many £s because its so silly....kids just want to enjoy the moment and experience....

Although have just got them both pirate outfits - dead cheap £5.99 and very cute - including buckle belt and felt pirate hat - sooooo cute!!

Well done roary on the car! I usually source our cars...DH just dreams about them....what did you go for?

ooh Dolce did you see the pirate ship cake I did for Master C last Dec?? you want the instructions?

edible glitter just arrived for Ms P's castle turrets

here's the deal re: all saints skirt. Will buy. If it looks good, I will keep if I get the job next week. If not, will send back.

Job is only one day a week btw and from home at that so will not be needing smart work wardrobe TG!!

roary I do remember the Lady Don convo - as does the founder of the Travelwrap Company - which is why I mentioned the guest blog thing - it's mentioned!!!

MM how was your evening with your rude friend??

Ah, good thinking Cakey - that way the Gods (of Shopping) decide. Have you settled on an outfit for interview?

ltec just read the guest blog! Lovely piece but hilarious intro about mumsnet. I should say there's nothing inherently lady don about the travel wrap! I wish i could find some good photosfor you. I like to shock my colleagues by wearing nicedresses to black tie dinners and miniskirts to work so I fear they might think i had become one of them.

dolcee vw golf estate. Got a great deal so v pleased. Dh saw it for the first time today after it was delivered!

Here's some photgraphic evidence. my boss on the left

at the boss....

OWW, ABO is right. The Granary is still there (or was, last time I looked!) and you'll see it if you wander round the lanes area. I did wonder if your DH and DC would be visiting the castle while you shopped!

Playschool committee meeting last night, parent dinner tonight. Didn't know what to wear - it's only a local pub (albeit a nice one) and they seem fairly jeans-ish parents so I'm playing it safe going with ripped blue skinnies, layered navy and white vests, cream snakeskin ballet flats and a Mulberry mini Mabel in Ocean which is a gorgeous bright blue. Haven't had time to wash my hair so thank goodness for dry shampoo

Speaking of capes, scarves and wraps, I have been wearing a large animal print scarf as a wrap recently as it started to feel right again (I am aware how wanky that sounds). Doesn't look anything like a tent though so hopefully it would pass muster with you ladies!

Thanks bunny,glad I didn't put my foot in it,for once

ltec..brilliant re interview..if you link your blog(sorry I know I'm utterly useless)will get on there to post something nice!

gotta go..just a very quick post as dd1 making growling noises in her room..

Roary - is that a real photo of your boss? You, on the other hand, look fantastic.

Reine - think you sound a bit hard on yourself - you have been nothing but insightful and helpful and lovely but in your last post you criticise yourself twice. Maybe time to pat yourself on the back for how nice you are and for all the things you manage to juggle?

Dolce - pirate party? How fun!!! Bet your DCs will LOVE it! I can't wait until DD (and the twins) can appreciate a party - DD already loves music and dancing around (she is her father's daughter!! Although he hasn't introduced her to the joys of hard house music just yet)

LTEC- How exciting! Good luck. You have a brilliant writing style so I'm sure you will walk it!

Bunnymother- Many congratulations! I'm so excited for you. I am a twin and it is just so fantastic to always have such a close pal to play with and share everything with! For that reason I would love to have had twins myself. And your dd1 will be so close in age to them she will fit in too to make a tight knit group.

My mum was on her own with us and says because we always played together it was easier than having two with a bigger gap. That said, I think I must make having mine look particularly hard as she says that a lot!!

Aargh! Did a mammoth post and lost it. Blardy useless internet connection.
Was away for the last week, so I am struggling to keep up.
Bunny how exciting! And identical! My darling sis has non-identical twins (IVF), then got pregnant (au naturel) when they were 5 months old. (Yikes) We all went over for a week after they were born in rotation to help her out. (Even my brother. So sweet, he always does this when we have a baby, and he doesn't even have any himself. But it's so lovely to have someone to keep you company, eat lazy lunches, and babysit while you nap. I have very fond memories of those times)
NY the cake! Frame that photo. When she is 16, you can show it to her to show how much you love her!
LTEC Dream job indeed. You will be a star. I am sure of it, and we can say, we "knew" her back in the day....
Roary am LOL at the pic of your boss! Thought it was someone in drag. (That sounds really mean I know. I am sure she's a lovely person)
Bloss the flowers sound lovely. People grieve in their own way. What is right for one person is not for someone else. I get very cross when people comment on this sort of thing. Your hair sounds fab. Post a pic. Have a fringe myself and think at the moment that it's either not long enough or needs to be shorter a la Uma. (Have dark , ram rod straight very fine but lots of it hair)
Now for some advice. One of my BFs is getting married in October. We are of a certain age (whispers 40, gasp). I need something knockout, and stylish. She would expect nothing else being of like mind. It's registry office, with swanky do afterwards in upmarket country hotel. Am thinking of this There is a wait list for my size thought. Feel this is too drab. Love the VWA but need something to emphasise my waist. Am slim 8, but pear shaped, with small waist and non-existent norks. Dark hair, sallow skin (so look good in summer but ill in winter!) with blue eyes. (Red is a good colour on me!)
So would appreciate advice and help!

Buona sera

Dd finally in bed so can relax for half hour. Was up at 6 and in park by 7:30 having not gone to bed til 1.

The weather in London has been stifling. Like having a wet towel over my head; no air, no breeze, just clammy heat and thousands of flying ants! And a mild hangover and angry dd. She refused to go to bed again last night having heard friend at door so watched "Barbapapa", "The Snowman" & Peppa for two hours then came and sat with us in garden. Dp stayed in, did BBQ and was all round a darling.

Wore bad outfit today for park, water games in garden and library. Khaki H&M thin cotton trews, with a green, white and black vertical stripey baggy vest with a racer back and very visible bra straps. Topped off with black Havianas and yesterday's make up . Even that was a struggle with weather, muggy head and being shouted at by a two year old in a variety of languages.

Fleecy your outfit sounds very nice.

Cakey when is interview?

Bunny glad you're starting to get your head round twins.

Roary at your boss. I know some people don't care about clothes but her outfit is horrible. Is that you next to her? You're beautiful.

Oooh no!! Not me next to dreaded boss. Random Internet find. She is distinguished enough to easily google. She is also a complete lunatic. Believe me when I say that a dinner in college contains many women of all ages in similar getup. Obviously the travel wrap is a much more soignee garment but it's the lack of shape that freaks me out. Unless I wear it exactly right it might be a slippery slope to the boss!!

The fcuk birdie dress is here and it's lovely on. Am about to return a 12 as it's too big so interested parties watch the jl website! It does need a belt and am very bad at belts. Any thoughts??

Ltec, good luck w interview. Skirt is gorgeous so report on length please should the job/purchase work.

Rufus love that dress. Please get the fur too!!

Tracey thanks so much for linking to the gorgeous WC poncho. I love it, it's the kind of thing that will end up costing nothing on a cost-per-wear basis. I'm sure it'll end up being one of my best A&W (and A/W) buys.

Carciofi thanks for the Figleaves code and Fritzi thanks for the link too - off to peruse the site now

Marking my place! All fine here. So glad you had a good night out.

Yes Tracey the poncho is lovely. Am very tempted by it. I love knitwear.
Roary have a fur very similar but in grey, and was half thinking that it would look good with the black/charcoal one!

roary like the dress - red fab for a wedding in cooler weather and a lovely choice. Think the fit would be very flattering.

Wore the wrong thing for the meal tonight - everyone else dressed up smart! Never mind. Am getting to know people and everyone seems very nice, with some that really are lots of fun so had a good time.

Night all!

hf so glad all well!! how was your birthday? Hope it was very happy and the year ahead a blinder

rufus think the red dress is very wow. Have you tried elsewhere for your size? HH now in stock on my-wardrobe...? (am very tempted by the purple 2-tier dress.... and still have a credit note to use at m-w.... hmmmm)

Got the dc off to bed on time(ish) and went for a drink tonight in Shoreditch Wore a knee-length Leona Edmiston halterneck dress in a bold Hawaiian print (turquoise, fuschia, navy) with Hasbeens and trusty old denim jacket. Passed muster, just.

have delivery (and, more crucially, returns) ennui so am thinking to do a wee jaunt to Spitalfields on Thurs and try the All Saints skirt in RL.

my dc also being very wakeful atm MM. They share a room (the bigger 2, I mean, not Baby L) and are no longer content with the 3 book stories and 1-2 'stories from my head' before they settle down - now they want books in bed, too. I can't bring myself to say no, as a love of books is compulsory as a child of mine, but the prob is that they want the same books, so there is much pitter-pattering of feet as they swap and change before they finally fall asleep, with hardcover spines sticking uncomfortably into their sides. C still has a daytime nap so is reasonably good humoured despite late nights but P is being rather more screechy and trying, come 4pm or so. Sure it will go back to normal as the days gets shorter (not that I am in any hurry for that)

roary am so glad the dress is fab. OMG, your boss!! quelle shocker. Can see why you'd be wary of wraps and the like. I like to think that I wear mine with supermodule insouciance In any case, it is very snuggly.

fleecy glad you had a good night and am sure you looked lovely and they were all in awe of your style and shredded physique.

Interview is next Wed. Have pretty much decided on a Banana Republic sleeved shift that I picked up in Traid last week for £15 - it's an eye-popping shade of green which I think really suits me

Fritzi - I hate having to pay P&P to Europe and then even more to get it sent back if it doesnt fit! It really puts me off buying stuff as have been stung a few times!
Roary - big hooray that the dress is lovely - hope you can pick up a smaller size tho! Love the fact its called a birdie dress - makes me smile!
LTEC - dress sounds lovely and perfect mix of smart but individual iykwim!
Dolce - I did a pirate party last year for DS1. You probably have it all sorted but big hits from ours were hiding chocolate coins in the sandpit as buried treasure, cutting out pirate hats from black card and getting the kids to decorate them - all looked v cute. We were lucky and held ours at a playground which has a great wooden pirate ship so the kids just role played whilst us parents ate the cupcakes!
Rufus - am loving the red dresses. Think I prefer the VW one tho - ask one of the others about their waist enhancing properties?

Childfree day here today - DS2 at creche and MIL coming over to take DS1 to the beach. Will pack/tidy up at home this am and have haircut and highlights this afternoon. May well fall asleep in the chair as feel drained - another 5.45 start this am!

at your boss roary. Although I have some colleagues who have a similar dress sense.

rufus - The red dress you linked to is stunning. Hope you'll find it in your size.

Thanks dolcee! I really enjoyed preparing DD's party but agree you have to be careful not to go OTT. The kids are just happy having their friends around and having some fun. Prosecco for parents at pick up was a great hit

cake - Wow, your interview outfit sounds fantastic! As does your trendy going out outfit from last night. DD also takes ages to settle down at bedtime at the moment. My plan to tire her out yesterday didn't really work but at least we had fun outside and played football in the garden before dinner.

fleecy - Glad you had a great night out despite not being dressed up. Seems to happen to me all the time. Usually the other way round...

hf - Didn't know it was your birthday. So: Happy birthday! Hope you had a lovely day!

mm - Hope you feel better today. Remember that the heat in London can be really stifling. DH and I once went to the cinema on a Saturday afternoon just to spend some time in a cool air-conditioned room.

OWW - I know I should have known better but never mind. Thing is I really want that poncho now! As zembo said I can see myself wearing it all the time come autumn. Maybe I can send DH to their shop next time he is in London. What would you advise re size zembo and tracey? I'm usually a 10 so thought a small should be ok?