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Would a camel cape be entirely wise? Or a pair of houlihans a bit too avid?? Who cares!

1000 replies

notyummy · 23/07/2010 21:38

Please join me ladies. Don't want to be too sad and lonely on a Friday night.......

OP posts:
Romanarama · 02/08/2010 23:21

Cool castle! It reminded me that I made a castle for ds2's 3rd. It was brown and I broke a bar of milky bar into squares for the battlements. But the piece de resistance (can't find the accents on my iPad I'm afraid) was the portcullis, made of a curly wurly! I was proud, but will admit happily that yours is more beautiful. I also made a spaceship recently, and was so happy that when all the 7yo boys saw it they went "wow! It's the republic attack cruiser". And it actually was! Maybe you had to be there, but I was thrilled!

Anyhow, today I bought a lovely black ponteroma dress from jigsaw, but it's not on the site. Itsshort but not too short, slinky but not too tart. Sort of sexy chic for the office. I'm very pleased, and dh will love it.

Btw, for surrey people, take your kids to bocketts farm near leather head if you haven't already. Brilliant brilliant place for kids. Fantastic playgrounds, pony rides, pig races, animals to feed and touch. My boys' idea of heaven.

traceybath · 03/08/2010 07:26

Morning All.

Bunny - Golly - if I was going to have twins and an 18 month old - I would definitely get help. Especially when you have no family around and a DH who works long hours.

Twins is a whole different ballgame although I'm sure you're going to handle it brilliantly

The thing that would have made the most difference to me in hindsight would have been some ad hoc childcare - just a few hours a week really - but seems to be harder to find that rurally.

And would love my cleaners to come more often really - as Romana says - someone to do the drudge really.

Romana/Rufus - sorry for confusion regarding derma-roller. Rufus - thanks found the link now

Romana - work sounds hard but rewarding - hopefully you'll find something more lucrative and a little less full-on soon.

More swimming and dentist today for the boys - am sneaking in an appointment before H turns 6 as its still free.

Flicked through Vogue last night but not one of the better issues.

Choo - my birthday is the 20th august - who else has an august birthday?

bunnymother · 03/08/2010 07:37

Re help - it will be a financial strain for us to get a full time nanny. Although she will replace the part time nannying/babysitting + the cleaner, so not going from £0 to £££. We have a Filipino nanny/babysitter come 2 afternoons a week and she cleans (although we have a cleaner so she doesn't need to do much of that), does washing and tidies etc, and I will be looking for the same, only full time. I don't have any time for the attitude of "I am a fully trained nanny, so I don't cook, clean, tidy etc". I am also a fully trained [insert], but I do all that. Have to finally do a budget for us this afternoon and am not looking forward. I don't want to increase our overall expenses by too much, so will see if there is any "fat" that can be trimmed ("oh DH, you have just had your last all-night booze-athon")...

traceybath · 03/08/2010 07:47

Bunny - perhaps a mothers help or nanny/housekeeper who will be more flexible in what they do? If such things exist at a reasonable cost.

Also regarding cost - it'll be so worth it for your sanity.

Librashavinganotherbiscuit · 03/08/2010 07:53

Morning all, little bit earlier this morning, DS decided 6am was quite enough sleep thank you very much. (I started typing this at 6:45am, it's now 7:51 oh I sometimes wish for the old days of doing things un-interuppted!)

bunny I don't think there is any "normal" even for a 13 month old and a 10pm feed if she then goes thru to 6-7am isn't bad (I am trying to rack my brains about when DS dropped the 10pm feed but it was quite late, I know some books recommend 6 months but it was MONTHS after this). If you do want to try and drop it then I think some books recommend offering water at this time instead, if she is thirsty she will drink it, if it's habit then she should start refusing and deciding its' not worth waking up. It sounds like a mothers help would be useful for you when twins come along.

LTEC glad the party went well and the cake looked stunning! Think having to give out party bags is a complete con and am going to spend next 2 years working out how not to give them out (DS not having party until 4) but not being shunned by local mummy population for said crime. Your See blouse sounds gorgeous.

caciofi missed your photo - arghh - but how can you hate your freckles!! Freckles are LOVELY.

vino knowing what you should do and actually doing it are two completely different things, you sound like you have made up your mind about the first so take your time and do it when you are ready and feeling able.

everything sorry to hear about your fines, we ended up paying £100 in unauthorised o/d fees the other month as I hadn't kept a close enough eye on our joint account. So frustrating as we had the money elsewhere.

Plum if you are a member of a gym it is worth going any PT in the gym should be able to show you tons of things you can still do, maybe not cardio (even tho most places will have an arm machine) but free weights.

marsha are at your ability to wear cream cashmere, if I even looked at that it would have snot smeared down it.

tracey your wedding outfit sounds tres chic!

mrsjuan sorry think flowery hair clips unless on romantic caribbean island = naff, lovely dress.

MM glad your house is almost finished. These ash bronze ones are in the sale, but wedge otherwise I would have snaffled them up! Already said it once but that All saints leather jacket is fantastic and barginous really.

Dolcee Tina dress is gorgeous very audrey hepburn.

whelk great 10K time!

roman people keep raving about Brocketts Farm and it's between me and my parents so must go, but think will wait until after summer hols!

I was in Southwold for the weekend with some friends, unfort DH had to workand couldn't come with us but DS loved the beach. Weather wasn't fabulous as it was cloudy but it was warm and dry which are the two main things, I spent the weekend in size 18 tesco cut off denim shorts (refuse to buy maternity for something I would wear for 2 days!) and a baggy t-shirt, hardly wise or avid but not so heartbreaking when they get covered in sand, sea and chocolate ice-cream (plus the obligatory snot - how does DS have a cold in AUGUST!)

bunnymother · 03/08/2010 07:57

Tracey - thanks for the vote of confidence! DH also thinks that you can get someone to come for 2 hours per day (he thinks I should get that) so I get a break and they do childcare/drudge work. However, IME people want a solid block of time, else not worth it due to travel etc.

bunnymother · 03/08/2010 07:59

OK, last post before I go wake Sleeping Beauty... Zara is starting online shopping from 2 September - yay!!!

Librashavinganotherbiscuit · 03/08/2010 08:03

I have cardigain which is 58% mohair, 37%nylon and 5% wool - and apparently dry clean only! What do you think - handwash cycle on washing machine be ok? This is why I never buy anything from NAP.

carciofi · 03/08/2010 08:14

Aww, thanks Libra. I always wanted a porcelain complexion! I would put that in the machine on handwash.

MM, yes, love the leather jacket. I have Ash trainers too but not wedge.

Bunny, maybe you could get a postnatal doula for the first few months? My friend had one and she made lunches, ran errands, helped with her older daughter and did whatever my friend needed really. I took dd to baby massage taught by this lady and she is so nice. She is now a doula. If dh gets his way and we have another, I am definitely going to get her for a few months.

carciofi · 03/08/2010 08:15

New object of desire. Anyone have a 98% discount code for my-wardrobe.com?

LetThemEatCake · 03/08/2010 08:27

bunny I looked for someone to come in for 2hrs an afternoon when ds was born ... Just for laundry, dinner prep, pick up milk/ bread, tidy up. Like your twins, he was born in winter so a lot of time indoors feeding with toddler making a mess!! Had no joy at the time ( people wanted solid block of time, or only wanted to do childcare) Hopefully you will be luckier!

LetThemEatCake · 03/08/2010 08:36

Meant to say carciofi am so pleased you got the cozy! Hurrah for dh

Also dolce have been meaning to thank you for lovely comments, don't often hear word tiny in relation to me but it's very welcome. Also thank you re £ clothes looking more.

Is it bad that I have an itch to buy something bc I feel I 'deserve' it after the work of the party, stress of interview etc? Spoilt bint.

Right dh home til 10, going for a run. Enjoy the sun ladies!!

Ps libra am also tall and had the same annoying preg comments. Lots of 'tidy/neat bump', 'you're tiny' etc. Worst was at 38 weeks 'oh that's a tiny baby!!!" Paranoia struck..... But he was over 8lb

carciofi · 03/08/2010 08:37

If you find someone local, maybe a couple of hours a day might suit them. I think the person my friend got came 3 hours at a time.

Amazing cake, LTEC!

LetThemEatCake · 03/08/2010 08:43

Sorry one last post, yes Bocketts Farm fantastic!

MarshaBrady · 03/08/2010 08:45

Bunny it would be so helpful for you. There must be someone who would jump at chance (thinks of all the mothers looking for school hour work). Perhaps even on here, (refs etc of course.)

Libra, ah yes this is the first autumn with plump-o baby will see how it goes with the cream!

notyummy · 03/08/2010 08:49

Nice carciofi - but yes, very £££ for a scarf. Can see why the 98% discount would be needed!

Wow lots to catch up on!

Roma - Glad you are enjoying your job more. Although I know it is COMPLETELY different, the crazy deadlines/no time to wee thing reminds me of when worked for ALDI years ago. I became a Retail Operations Director - but to do that you had to train for a few months on the shop floor and as store manager (but still got paid as Retail Ops Director with fully expensed AUdi - so that was ok ) Ridiculous, junior doctor style working hours amd literally not enough time to go the toilet - I lost a stone though! If any of you ever go to Aldi (their food is generally v good and most of the manufacturers are EXACTLY the same as the premium branded goods elsewhere btw; they just give them different packaging at the end of the production line!) have a look at the staff....none of them are overweight.

Swiss holiday sound grteat. We have friends who have moved to Rolle and we are hoping to go and see them just before Christmas.

Re having help. Just an idea Bunny, but we recruited a Mothers Help via the Job Centre. It is free to advertise and they help you out a lot with the rules and regs on recruiting and employing someone. I wrote the job spec for exactly the kind of person I wanted (i.e experience with small children; impeccable references; clean drivers license and own car, and happy to 'muck in' and help around the house.) I pulled the advert after we had 20 applicants, did short telephone 'chats' with them and then interviewed 3. Our lady has been with us for over a year now and is lovely. She runs her own dress making business so is very fleible over hours, and had been working as a dinner lady so fully CRB checked. She is also a fully trained 'First Responder' i.e trained up nearly to ambulance paramedic standards! She is in her 50s with 2 grown up daughters of her own and DD LOVES her and has been over to her house for a special 'Christmas tea' to meet all her family and have a fuss made of her.

Choo - Loving your holiday stuff!

Today I am erring on the casual side at the office, which I don't usually do. Very quiet at the moment and no external meetings today so I thought 'what the hell!'. Tunic top, leggings and wedges.

Saw this maxi the other day and thought it looked good - although realise this is a naffola photo!

Bye.

OP posts:
monkeysmama · 03/08/2010 09:21

Morning

The sun has her hat on here so we started the day with a family dance to "Il Mondo che bello che e'!" (What a wonderful world) . Nothing like a bit of bilingual Louis Armstrong to start the day.

Cakey Miss P's birthday looks great. Lovely family you have.

Vino someone once said to me that once you've made the big personal decision about a relationship "all the rest is admin". It made it a lot easier for me to get my head around in a way.

Roma glad you're enjoying work even though it sounds pretty stressful. Hope something more rewarding comes along soon so you can have the best of every world.

Tracey it's my birthday this month.

Hells Topshop have some cords in for £40 similar to those you linked to though quality doesn't look so good. they were in Grazia I think.

Took delivery of a few Ebay things already today - two pairs of sandals for me and some Pedipeds for dd. Dd's are super lovely and exactly the kind of thing I always imagined my LO wearing; cream, classic. They'll be filthy in a few hours but hey. The kickers we bought her last week have broken already. It makes me really angry.

Looking forward to my asos order arriving in an hour. I have ordered those wedge boots and want to see what they look like with the trousers from the other day before I decide to keep them.

Tidied my wardrobe again yesterday afternoon and found 4 things I'd meant to return ages ago. A dress from River Island, and 3 dresses from Next (why oh why do I torture myself with Next - I hate it and should just get over it) I am going to try and send them back and see if they notice I am a month late.

Got loads of things to put on eBay myself including these which just don't fit my thin feet properly. It takes ages though doesn't it, writing all the things up, uploading photos, then the Post Office queues. Last time I had a black bin bag full of eBay stuff and ended up taking it to the charity shop. Need to try and replenish my PayPal account now though as it's taken a battering recently.

I see my mum a lot and dp's parents but it doesn't feel like help really. The pil expect a constant supply of tea, lunch, dinner etc and the issues between my family and dp mean I am not allowed not supposed to leave dd with my family. Still, I see my mum for fun not childcare. Being so "attached" makes leaving dd hard anyway. Lots of people round here seem to have hired help though. I have been really surprised by how many kids are privately educated too. It's only twenty minutes from where I grew up but worlds apart. Ultimately I think it's whatever works for each family isn't it. Like everything else, it's no one else's business how each family copes.

Did I mention that I was approached about some work a few weeks ago? I was very flattered as I've not worked for 2.5 years now and they'd gone to the effort of seeking me out. I had a long think about it but emailed them last night to decline their very generous offer. We are going to start ttc soonish and I am not keen on going back into that world anyway. I'd have needed to start in the next week or two and with my mum on holiday, sister lame and not having prepared dd for me suddenly being away a few days a week I felt it was too much. An ego boost though.

I seem very able to kind of embarrass myself recently. The mouse and baby screaming all night book club incident, then at sis in law's bbq I had forgotten to pack any nappies so we had to go out and buy some (which pleased her no end), and I fell over very publicly at the end of my road last week. Then yesterday took dd to the park with some neighbours and their LOs and didn't realise dd had trod in dog poo and had it all over her shoes and trousers. Gets worse as I then realise her pull up has got stuck in her bum and she's pooed all down her legs and as I've picked her up we are both covered in poo. As we walked out of the park I was shaking my head at what all my lovely neighbours must think of me.

Hoping to get some time in the sun today as my tan's starting to fade. Will report back on my wedges later. Really hoping dp is organised enough for my birthday to order that leather jacket. I love it.

Have a happy day everyone. Excuse the mammoth post .

notyummy · 03/08/2010 09:28

Nice boots MM!

OP posts:
rufus101 · 03/08/2010 09:30

BM I'm with you on the "I'm a fully trained nanny so I don't do any cleaning etc". I'm expecting you to take my place, so IMO that involves general tidying, cleaning, laundry. Fortunately with the downturn this is easier and people are more flexible. I had someone though and when I'd come home the house would be in s mess. Also had one who when I was toilet training DD(now almost 7) who never cleaned up after an accident!!!! Have a cleaner once a week also so they do the heavy/dirty stuff anyway!
TB I'm an august baby! 26th as I keep reminding DH!
Went to Toy Story yesterday. Another one who fell prey to the weeps! Brilliant though. LOL.

mrsjuan · 03/08/2010 09:32

Morning everyone,
No sun here yet. i am so fed up of living in such a dismal place.
Have dropped DD off at Nursery for a half day even though I'm off work so that she doesn't forget about it and I have a bit of time to sort things out. I am doing a tonne of cooking so that we have some food in the freezer.

I have an August birthday too - mine is the 7th.

Hope you all have a good day

hellsbelles · 03/08/2010 09:35

morning all, at work today so I'm just sneaking on. Meet up - I think I'm pretty much free all Oct/Nov (that is sad to admit isn't it?) - is it day or night?

Marsha - looks like you've found it! Only the black and white in my size (medium) but I shall give it a go. thanks so much.

Tracey - Henry sounds so funny. what a sense of humour. Shame about Houlihans. TBH I suspect mine suit me less than I like to think they do (if that makes sense). Thanks for the outnet tip I shall look out for the jbrands as they look exactly the same as the ones currently being charged at 4x the price! The CK dress is perfection itself. You will look divine.

Dolcee fingers crossed on house plans.

Roman - my goodness - no time for loo breaks? That is insane. I do hope things are easing now. I too agree on Housekeeper. It's my dream! Now if I just stopped spending money on clothes maybe it would be a future possiblity!

Those of you wondering about the motives behind those praising you for coping with 3. As someone that is also in awe and would shower the same sort of praise I can assure it's not a matter of questioning your sanity. It truly is trying to honour the effort and work that goes into what you do with grace (and I guess reflecting on ones own shortcomings at finding it tiring bringing up just 2).

I've realised that I must never say such a thing now to someone. I have said it in the past and am gutted to discover it would have been seen as a negative rather than the compliment it was meant to be. Serves me right for not thinking it through.

everythingiseverything · 03/08/2010 10:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Librashavinganotherbiscuit · 03/08/2010 10:22

Haven't read since morning, quick visit - wise&avid purchase - all sainsburys baby wipes and baby toiletries (including eco stuff) half price, last day today. Deffo my local sainsburys and think nationwide. May have to have DC3 to get thru amount of wipes I have just bought....

DolceeBanana · 03/08/2010 10:57

Quick post - just back from swimming where they loved it again!

Baby crying...sooooo not having her morning nap! She fights it now, so hopefully will have longer nap after lunch cos I've got Grazia to flick through!

Cake - you are so welcome...you do look teeny...would not guess you were a tall lady in your pics...funny that isn't it...maybe petite proportions/frame on you...

Bunny - def get help with twins...but you will be fine! You'll be a lot calmer than with your first because you will know what to do this time around

Thanks Hells on house...a couple who want to sell/downsize and we've had tel conversations about it all, but they are awaiting the valuation, so fingers crossed, a) that it's not massively out of our budget, and b) that it's not hideous...! I'm sure it won't be, but you never know...I tend to get a feeling on whether I'm comfortable or not, so hoping I am....(what waffle!, bear with me!)...typing quickly because baby stropping, so must see to her!

Oooh, Tracey - love the CK dress...gorgeous! Where are you off to for dinner...we shall be at Celtic Manor for my birthday(not my fave place), because we have the wedding the night before near there....

monkeysmama · 03/08/2010 11:07

Have the joy of a trip to Post Office with massive asos box to return . The boots are really shoddy quality with some of the suede already rubbed off one, denim shirt looked cheap, denim jumpsuit was ordered after wine ill advised, jewellery crap quality and the three tops I thought I'd try are all different sizes even though they all say a 12 and so are all going back.

So, I now need a pair of leather wedge boots and some t shirty tops.

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