Anyone want to talk?

[twoboysmom]

I've been off the board for three weeks and I come back and find what I really would like to do is post and have a "discussion." Doesn't have to be deep and meaningful, but there is such a broad base of moms that it would be great to connect in a general conversation. So, if you have the time and want to respond, please do. I'd welcome the company.
First, I'm an African American mom of two boys 7 and four years married to a white British man. I've here for a little over a year. I wanted you just to know who you're dealing with if you wonder why I seem so very unbritish.
Possible topics?
Has anyone refurbished a house? Wild Primose or Ivory for the lounge? Can you ever have too much storage? To Ikea or not to Ikea, but where?
Christmas: what the hell are kids my sons' ages really into that isn't made of tiny bits of plastic or needs some xbox thingy? Maybe I'm getting too old for this...
Taking a holiday? Somewhere warm please...any suggestions for Easter break. We like self-catering...someone said camping is great, but I, city girl that I am, have my doubts.

I think you could start a thread in every topic section on the board with those ideas, not just the Multicutlural Families section...unless you only want to spend your Easter Break with Mutli Cultural families

Hi 2boysmom

I've not seen you around before, but then I'm not a user of the multicultural families section really. Just wanted to say that you can create a conversation topic for any of those more general queries in any of the other sections of MN too, not just MCF. You may well get a better response there too (better in the sense of more replies). Unless you are specifically looking for the opinions of those within MCF on those subjects.

Have I really confused you ?! I think I've confused myself

x posts with suzy

Hi 2boysmom

Ivory for the lounge

No you can never have too much storage (says I who moved from a house in Belfast to an apartment in Singapore!!)

Ikea is great for storage stuff but you don't want the entire house Ikea-d, that would be too predictable.

I have a 5 year old DS too and completely emphatise on the tiny bits of plastic (hence the need for more storage!). I have held off the Xbox, playstation etc but no doubt will be pestered to death to produce one for Xmas (maybe next Xmas )

Taking a holiday - well it is very warm in Singapore (all year round) and it is a city, bit of a long flight though.

Thanks for the advice. May just slip over to the main boards to a little discussion, but appreciate Rojak's response.

I think you're right about the Ivory. I'm now looking at kitchens as the one currently in the house is desperate. Lobster orange walls, dark colbalt marblized laminate worktops, country kitchen wood cabinets. Oh yeah, dull black tumbled ceramic tile flooring. I like the clean look of MFI's Space. They are glossy, urban, and modern. I like the idea of those smooth sleek surfaces for wiping down spills. I also like that kind of drawers look...

We downsized from a terrace house in DC to a semi with three small closetless bedrooms. Tell me did they at least have built in storage in your apartment? We've just created two built in closet in the main bedroom and and boys room. I was drooling over Ikea on-line catalog in the storage department.

Can anyone talk me out of having a mirrored console in the hallway for keys and mails? Can anyone talk me out of mirrored furniture? I'm into anything that will make the place look bigger and furniture look invisible. No, I don't think Starke's Ghost chair will ever make an appearance in our home. They look so uncomfortable and I'm not spending over a hundred pounds for what is essentially clear plastic lounge chairs.

Anyone watching the State Within? I really like the gay MI-6 agent...James Bond eat your heart out.

Yes, I can talk you out of it:
millions upon millions of small boys' fingerprints to wipe off the mirrored furniture

ugh! you win.

Voice of Wisdom, me

Did I give up too easy? Am I rug-like? Well, when it comes to extra work...like housework, I like just the visual image you presented was enough to keep me in check. I'll go look for something with texture and rich tones...

yes, the image would put me off too, but not so much as the sound of my own strident voice yelling "get your blinking hands away from my mirrored hall consule you pair of rascals!!!!!" several times a day. I have two little boys too.

Texture = pebbledash. A much over-looked fascia finish in interior design these days

You are so right!!!That's why I stopped ironing the boys school uniform. When they dropped them on the floor or balled them up, I was stressing and yelling, "I spent an hour last night ironing all that!" Now, they just tuck in the shirts and pull on their jumpers and no stress for me.

Shoot me. I've called KitchenItalia and they are coming over to consult (for two hours) about a new kitchen. They could have the kitchen in before we moved...now what kind of scam is this? However, I did see them at the Home Expos in London in Septemember. Well, haven't bought anything yet, have I. Husband will be around to keep me from signing away our firstborn.

Hi

I have built in wardrobes in the apartment here but they're T I N Y. DH's clothes and suits pretty much take up all the available wardrobe space, I've had to improvise (and still haven't found space for all my sheets yet, no hotpress in Singapore apartments) - I too spent my first 2 weeks here drooling over the storage solutions in the Ikea catalogue.

BTW Ikea kitchens are very good value and you can design your own (including all storage solutions) and if you want to make it less Ikea, get different worktops (granite?) and handles.

I was in ironing hell today, 3 sets of sheets, duvet covers and assorted clothing. Next week I'm getting a cleaning company in, they've told me they will strip beds, launder and press sheets, duvet covers and return them the following week ( as well as clean) bliss

What about a dark wood console with a large mirror above it on the wall (you get a mirror and it's out of reach of grubby fingerpints).

cheers

Rojak, you have a point. I would probably use a console that is light coloured...since England seems deprived of light starting at 3:30pm in the winter and put a mirror above it or a large glass picture frame with encouraging print.

You are horrifying me! Pressed sheets. I love the feel, but hate the labour involved (read previous posting : )...now if I could afford to have them pressed and put on the bed....

I've bought a kitchen. Beautiful quality cabinets in the high gloss fashion in a sort of creamy beige (believe me, its more buttercream than beige) and it will be fitted for less than 6000 pounds because the retail kitchen was sick and I got the trade sales manager! I got trade prices...what could I do, but snap it up!

Can't believe I'm moving next week. That may cut into my ability to keep up with postings, but I hope you'll let me know how the pressed sheets came out.