June 08- the shoes, the food, the glamour!

[pureeandpearls]

Struggling to load pages these days and saw we were over the 900 so took the liberty of starting a new thread.

sybil, your holiday sounds lovely .

poppy, send your treats my way .

Photos on FB now - Halloween and some new portrait shots from today.

Have been busy munching my way through the extra treats we bought last night - had a very busy spell with guisers so DH went and bought more then we didn't get any more!

Revision not going well at all. Gulp.

Poppy, we were getting to the meal time battle stage but actually in the last few days S hasn't had any dinner at all. He's got a cold so I'm Hoping it's just that. He refusedgarlic bread last night so something definitely up!

Lovely Halloween pics Sponge btw

Can anyone help with this twin change bag? Esp thinking of Neenz with her twin mummy and economising head on!

BDQ, all that chocolate must be helping with the revision surely!

Quiet here today. Weather has been appalling. We went to Kelvingrove this afternoon to check out the Dr Who exhibition, which was good.

The other thing I've been meaning to say - B has totally given up his dummy. I was so surprised, as he had become very attached to it, and I have to admit, I was being really soft and letting him have it more than I should have. Anyway, about three weeks ago, he just decided that was it, pushed it away when it was offered at nap time, and hasn't looked back! I only hope potty training will be as painless!

Whinegums! Iestyn still has his dummy, but actually only at night or during a crisis. And at church but he tends to throw it away now. But, strangely, he will only have one make (MAM, for the discerning dummy user) and my Mum bought some different ones (Boots own, similar shape and style) but he won't have it! He also won't have MAM air. Today, he was playing at my Mum's and picked up the rogue dummy which was lying around, absentmindedly put it in his mouth and then realised and spat it out with a big 'bleargh' noise!

Also at Sybil.

We had trick or treaters here, and I'm ok with halloween but not keen on trick and treating; here, it's a stew, a carved pumpkin (or more usually swede ) and find-a-husband type pagan rituals. Rolf I have never come across an Easter bunny and would snub it if I did - for the same Christian reasons.

Ok, I'm having a major crisis here, and I'm days away from a breakdown...(but I'm having lots of counselling now as an urgent case because I haven't got the time to go off sick!) It's all work stuff, kind of the saucepan boiling over. Plus, after crying all day Friday at work, I then saw a job advertised which I kind of have to go for but it could be a disaster if I got it. There's really nothing I can do - or anyone else really.

BDQ sorry your revision isn't going well but like the others, I'm impressed that you have the brainpower to even think about revision.

Whinegums we missed the Doctor Who exhibition when it was here

Essie I'm really sorry you're having a bad time. I don't have legal history notes, I'm afraid! I hope the counselling helps you.

Sending hugs Essie it sounds like you're being put through the wringer a bit.

It used to be turnip (which I think is known as swede in England, but that's a whole other thread) that was traditionally carved in Scotland, but I think over the last couple of years the American style of Halloween has really taken over. I saw a pumpkin grower on tv yesterday and their sales had increased by over 200% in the last few years.

Great news on the dummy front whinegums . S pretty much only has his at nighttime (or during the day if he's going down for a proper nap) too Essie. Funnily enough tonight though he picked a teddy to take to bed. He's never been interested in any teddy, comforter toy or taggie blanket type thing ever!

Oh, back to the X factor!

Oh, no WAY! John and Edward through again!!! And poor Rachel.

White rabbits, White rabbits, White rabbits. Happy 1st of the month to everyone.

Hiya - I'm afraid I'm really not keeping up v well ATM, but still lurking every now and then.

Deb - The moves pretty much all planned, it's the house clearance that is giving us the headaches. And the UK family...

I'm sorry that I can't recall who asked. but initially we are moving to here as it's where a lot of DH's family live. I suspect we'll be somewhere else by mid January, we've got to explore and see where we like.

I know I'm being rude and not really replying to all your news. Sorry.

essie there's a woman in arts and crafts who wants instructions for making bunting. I have named you as buntingmeister, thought you might still have instructions for your luvverly bunting?

hi to everyone else x

LOL, there's the answer to my job problems!

essie sorry you're having such a stressful time at work, it sounds really crap and I am sending lots of hugs your way. I hope the counselling is helping you at least get through things in the short term.

I'm intrigued by the find-a-husband type rituals - although I'm completely happy with the one I have. I can see it could have been handy a few years back though

Sybil - Mallorca sounds lovely.

J is in his new bedroom now supposedly having a nap but he is actually bashing on something. He slept fine last night but for nap times it's all too exciting.

BDQ - hope the revision improved, I don't envy you.

Essie - hope the work situation improves, sounds awful.

We used to do swede calving, pumpkins used to be exotic round our way.

PP - my Grandma lives in the next village to the Marton in Middlesborough.

Sponge - now you've got me thinking about change bags, I need to sort myself out, I've never actually had a proper change bag, just a fairly large handbag and a change mat thing with pockets, it's a mess and everything falls out!
Love your pics!

ktpie I managed with a regular change bag with the two boys - I didn't find it increased my amount of stuff too much. I just packed a newborn bag plus a couple larger nappies for DS1. It actually was worse during toilet training when we needed a whole set of clothes! sponge how much extra stuff are you finding you need to bring?

Abdn - I'm not really managing with what I have now to be honest. I'm sat here looking at my ever increasing fabric stash (thanks Ikea!) and thinking I might have a go at making something big enough to comfortably fit the change mat I already have in. Can put the pockets in to suit me then. Will probably never get round to it as I will add it to my ever growing list of things to do and make!

We've just got back from our first every Rattle, rhyme and roll session at the library, they've just moved it to a day we can make which is thoughtful of them. J really enjoyed it and is now sparko on the sofa, probably because he didn't manage a nap beforehand as being in a new bedroom was way too exciting.

Just got a letter saying I am able to get maternity allowance, brilliant news, BDQ if I ever meet you I owe you a drink, at least!

essie your work situation sounds awful. I really hope it gets better for you, and quickly.

My house looks like a laundry exploded in it. I have the mountains of clothes all over the place and the ironing pile makes me want to cry everytime I look at it. I may never go on holiday again...

Essie, sounds like you're having a really tough time of it right now. Thinking of you.

AH, it's mainly bottles tbh, and formula packets - that's what takes up all the space. Plus change of clothes for both boys, nappies, wipes, nappy sacks, muslins, snack and water for A - then I want to put my wallet, phone, etc in too so I don't have to carry a separate handbag!

Spider and P have just been over to visit which was v nice - lovely to see P and A playing together, which they generally did very well give or take the odd disagreement!

Just a quickie to send hugs for Essie and to report that I now have the dreaded bug - very sick last night and feeling grotty today.

...or the odd incidence of P throwing blocks at A's head (Sorry again Sponge). Thanks for having us over. Really nice to meet the little man who is gorgeous and sooooo tiny. I also thought that you looked really well Sponge, alot better than 3 weeks ago.

Feeling like a new woman here. P slept on the way home and then slept after I brought him inside. I actually managed to get my head down for 40 minutes. Fantastic.

Sybil sorry, it was me about Hertfordshire. I have nothing against the county, just that if we were to move I would be aiming to move further away from the M25 rather than round it a bit. The job was in Borehamwood - what is it like?

Better go, P having some kind of melt down. Teeth perhaps.

only fabric is ever called a stash isn't it ktpie i think if you had some interfacing you could make a wonderful bag that would be ideal. I'm always tempted by the Amy Butler ones although I'd just make my own pattern rather than pay for one.

sponge I didn't think of formula, sorry! That would push my bag beyond it's limits. You can clip a sippy cup on with a carabiner if you're desperate for more room though. We used to do it with coffee mugs in (hippie) Vancouver.

sybil i hate ironing more than anything. I need to iron the quilt I'm working on and I'm putting it off.

Speaking of that, quilt (Ktpie and Essie might be interested - not sure if anyone else sews) and Hallowe'en pictures up on the blog.

And wool Abdn! I have a stash of that too. It's funny you should mention the Amy Butler bags, I was having a browse on Craftster this afternoon to get some ideas and there is an Amy Butler pattern mentioned a lot on there, it's the modern diaper bag from this book here is an example, but apparently it is huge!
Going to have to think about the design before I start anything (if I ever do, will probably think about it for so long I'll never get anything made)
I love the pics on your blog by the way, how are you getting on with the quilt?

Fabulous costumes Abdn, I do a bit of sewing but my costumes look sadly amateurish next to yours!

Kids back at school and tired and stroppy this evening. J has been to tumble tots and is also tired, refusing to eat and attacking ds1 when he tried to do his guitar practice -which given I had just spent 30 minutes threatening persuading him to do it was a bit of a pain. Suddenly the holiday seems far far away.

Those costumes are amazing abdn!

Abdn - great photos on your blog - how's the weather with you? Any flooding?