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

[notyummy]

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

OWW - can't even think about banana bread - I really miss it! Used to eat it alot in Sydney. Shame about your BIL. Must make things v v difficult for your Dear sister.

Bunjies I'm August 26th as well! 41 this year, had the biggie last year. Sometimes it hits me "I'm 40. 40! Jesus. I thought I'd be grown up by now!"

MOrning

MrsJuan I am another fan of the post wine post. Hope you had a good evening.

Cakey I really like the navy dress - it has a similar zip/drape to the silver Reiss one I got in the sale and had taken in. It is very flattering on (not that I've worn it. Sis borrowed it and I haven't seen it since!) I am not a fan of polyester no matter how much the magazines rave about it but for that price you can't go far wrong. Unsurprisingly I like the zebra red one though I think I'd prefer it if it had a proper hem.

What does Choo think of the pink sandals?

Thanks for bikini link btw. I've seen that in a magazine. My bikini issue is that I only wear strapless tops because I am obsessed with not getting tan lines, but post 2 years bfing I fear I may need to rethink and get some more support. I liked the two I got back in May but having seen a few photos I am not pleased with how they made me look.

Me, me, me. Sorry .

Morning all!

LTEC - both of those dresses are bargains! Go for it - at that price there's nowt wrong with a spot of polyester Am busy scanning the press for further updates about potential holiday ruining strikes - DH says that the union will announce on 13th August. Fingers crossed that we are not both screwed. Read the fine print on the holiday insurance and I think we are covered....

MM - Put the tuna away! Minimum cans of beans or bottles of water. You will need weights fairly quickly to ensure you are properly challenging yourself - think of it as an investment in a mega-toned body

Pretty grey here today , although dry. Working from home so will sneak out for a run later.

DD had lie in this morning - had to shoe horn her out of bed at 7 55, after she was asleep at 7 30pm last night . I think she is having a growth spurt or something as she is quite tired at the moment.

thanks for feedback ladies, may give 'em shot.

yes Choo what are your thoughts on the pink Torys??

notyummy sorry if I seem rude deliberately ignoring your warning re travel plans. Am working on basis of my favourite tactic - Si parla del diavolo e spuntano le corna..
(speak of the devil and he grows horns)

So - la la la la la

Will get some weights . Hope they won't join the other exercise gear in the cupboard. I could start a mini gym.

at pink Torys.

Sorry to be silly but how do I know what weight dumbbells to get? These look okay?

Really quickly as off to the gym and will catch up proper during DS lunchtime nap but monkeysmama if you have a BIG Tesco or Sainsburys near you they usually do starter weight packs for about £10-15 with an assortment of weights in. Might be worth just starting with those.

Hey Ltec saw this Issa and thought of gelato and Italy etc.

Awful styling and image etc but would love to own Issa. And here's the same sort of thing at NaP not looking as cheap

Cheers Libra will look.

LTEC - Quite understand!

MM - Something like this may be better than just buying weights separately. Will give you the chance to start v low and work up a bit as you get fitter. They are all v light so you don't have to be Arnie!

Morning ladies! Yet again its been ages since I posted but I've just had a mammoth catch up reading session as I'm ill in bed feeling a bit sorry for myself as my illness (d and v- sorry if tmi) coincided with a very rare long awaited, hotly anticipated weekend trip with my best friend who lives 250 miles away! We did however manage one lovely chatty 4 hour lunch and a bit of RL shopping, although all I managed (due to feeling decidedly gippy) was a pretty scarf from Mango.
Anyway,
Bunny- you really made me laugh with your 'old rabbit' comment! So pleased that your dts are doing well. I think the dark electric blue may work better with tired skin (hoping you won't be too tired but you know what i mean)
LTEC and notyummy - fingers and toes firmly crossed for your flights. And your job notyummy.
LTEC - You look smaller than size 10 (on your blog) so that could be the reason why your size 10 dress doesn't fit. Ta-da!

Meal planning - yes I'm another planner. I hate supermarket shopping so am pretty strict that once I have done my weekly internet shop thats it (notwithstanding nipping into a few local bakeries, greengrocers for weekend treats). I enjoy cooking and my dh is fantastic at it and we eat a lot of fish, stews with lentils and bacon, salads, risottos and I like a Sunday roast for us all.

My dh has been an absolute star while I have been ill, getting the dds sorted and doing verything round the house really well. All the while bringing me hot drinks and sympathy.

Morning.

Been busy doing house stuff as landlord inspection later today which always makes me very stressed as they're a bit odd and v emotionally attached to the house.

So decided we want to have bought somewhere by feb - come on dip in house prices . So am viewing somewhere at 12 noon and intend to spend the next few months doing lots of viewings.

Dolcee - how goes your house?

Oh god I am hanging my head in shame a bit at last night's post . I am so sorry for dissing your sandals cake and your cardigan bunny (although blue would be better). I had a good night and didn't feel too ropey this morning and have just been to ride my friend's horse so that has blown a few cobwebs away.

Bunny - yes it was my birthday - thank you! - hope your middle of the night revelation didn't disturb your sleep too much.

Tracey - good luck with landlord inspection and enjoy viewing houses - how exciting!

Whelk - hope you're feeling better soon - well done on managing to go shopping even though you were feeling rough - true dedication to the cause

NY - am crossing my fingers for your holiday.

Hi all
Now working my way through the backlog.

Everything on the nanny tax - forgot we share the nanny tax as we do a nanny share so we only pay half of the fee. Also I think we are old customers and pay less, sounds like they raised it. It is definitely worth it for us as DH is too busy and such organizational things are not my best thing (to say the least).

Bloss Jacket way too short. Confirmed by friend yesterday am - cropped in front and back. Was just hoping i was wrong so I could keep it because it is lovely otherwise - I'm 5'9 so it did look a bit silly on. I wonder what the reviews about it say? But as with so many things that I like that you link to you were dead right. Am going to stop buying things now until you've tried them on for me! By the way, I love references to my tinyness as much as the next girl but am not sure I really qualify. Am a size 10. With an enormous breastfeeding rack that makes me occasionally a 12 on top.

Shred: I have had the DVD for 18 months. . I should do it, I really should, but also need some weights. My first excuse was that it arrived while we had builders and I didn't fancy prancing around in front of them. Now it's that I must obviously sleep when the baby and his sister are sleeping. Obviously.

We leave for Canada on Thurs and am unreasonably excited to go to my parents' lovely house and be fed lovely things and see lots of friends, who are flying in from all parts to see us! Can't wait. The diamond earrings should come tomorrow and I can be v glam on airplane :) Sadly DH is not going to join us, he will be in Australia on a case. Can you believe I have to travel with a note from him saying I have his permission to take our kids out of the country? Canadian immigration is mad, because of course I could totally forge said letter. Am tempted to write one in crayon but I don't think they have much in the way of a sense of humour. DD and I were 'detained' on our last trip!

Notyummy when does your DH (who is clearly fabulous) start the advance course at JSCSC? I may be lecturing there again this year. It would be funny to lecture to Mr Notyummy!

Love your Wallis links Cake. I am a big fan of them after buying a couple of dresses which were a big hit as they did them in a petite size.

Definitely something wrong with the styling of that Antik Batik dress. I think you're right the boots make it look messy but it is rather lovely. Unfortunately would be no good for me with my boobs.

bunny I like that cream cardigan, only thing I would say is you can see the hanger clearly thru the cardigan so it might be quite thin and therefore not warm enough for winter. Great news about the scan :)

rufus I size up on bikini bottoms as well!

bloss probably too late but have a fantastic holiday.

mrsjuan little lol about the drunken posting, used to do it a lot when I frequented other forums pre-DS.

bunjies I love the antik batik dress, think it would be very flattering.

OWW think the champagne/taupe dress sounds lovely - have you got a link?

LTEC The rust dress is either going to look fabulous OR cheap, think it's something you have to see IRL. Love the zip dress.

notyummy/ monkeysmama those argos weights look good value BUT I personally think those are too low (says the person who hasn't seen the shred exercises.) This is probably the minimum I would go for. Put it this way I PT a 67yr old who bicep curls 5Kgs (per arm) and she isn't particularly fit. Even better would be seperate weights so you can mix but from what I have heard Shred is a quick programme so you want to just grab the weights rather than have to adjust them per exercise. I'll shut up now!

tracey hope the landlord inspection went well. I love house porn I hope you share some of the ones you go a look at.

roary I went to SA without DH but with DS in January and took a letter (which as you said could be forged) DS birth certificate and our marriage certificate just in case, it's not worth the hassle otherwise. Which jacket is it that is too short? The al saints one?

Had m/w appointment yesterday and am measuring a little small (measuring 25 when I'm 27+) and she said it will be fine because I am so tall, the problem is after last time I just don't trust midwives so am worrying anyway. Ok I know I said no more nappy bags but am quite liking this I think it's understated but classy, as some MNetters would say JA would wear it. (not my motto by the way!)

Would these be ok if I dragged them thru mud a few times??

Tracey - we are still waiting for the nod to view which should be after this week...the people are getting it valued by with a couple of agents, including Hamptons, so that will be realistic then!

Luckily our inspections are via an agent, although they are always quick and complimentary on the upkeep, thankfully..I thought I'd be less caring about a 'rented house', but homes, home, I guess...I can see how it would be a bit nervewracking with the actual owners checking up! Good luck! I am sure you keep it beautifully anyway!

By gad, if you get a house by February I will be v v . Of course, pleased for you too, but nonetheless!

Whereabouts are you viewing? Local?

Oh, thought of you yesterday as drove past Dyrham on A46 to M & S in Warmley...have to confess to popping in to RI and purchasing super skinny jeans in black. They are fab (no obvious RI labelling, of course)...My neice (14) thought them 'dead cool' ....

Bunny - like the cream cardigan, but think it might be a bit thin...I have a white boyfriend cardi from WC (this season), but it's thin, and I tend to wear it as a 'cardigown' now.... for which it works beautifully ...
Try Hush? And def get one of the WC dressing gowns in cotton velvet..Anyway, 100% cotton and washes/lasts well...I have chocolate as does Zembo, I think...perfect for chilly night-time feeds! Awww.....so, exciting!

Whelk - howdy! Hope you are feeling better...sorry you have been feeling grim, but on the upside think how thin you will be! ...Hope that cheers you up.... No, I am not being serious...only semi...oh, alright!

MrsJ - lol....! I usually do this when a bit sozzed! But my typos are so bad it's a bit obvious...well done on the comparative eloquence, all things considered...we wouldn't have known!

libra and MM - Re weights. There are quite a range being used on the Shred thread. I would say the average is 1.5kg, with some using o.5 and some 2kg. I am a bit hardcore and use 3kg, occasionally swapping to 1.5kg when you have to run and do jumping jacks when carrying weights. Use 5kg for the clean overhead press. When I have quoted these weights the vast majority of ladies on there obviously think me mad!! That said, the weights that Libra linked to would give you more options for progressing.

Bloss, Everything and LTEC - what weights are you using?? Am I miles off?

Bunnny - I liked the cream cardigan and as MrsJ said - good for disguising posset

But then I like cream/caramel colours on blondes - I always think its very Carolyn Besset Kennedy.

Dolcee - well the house situation is that I'm basically realising we need an interim house for the next 3 years before we buy forever house and I just can not rent for that long.

Also lots of stuff in news today about dip in prices so thinking this winter could be a good time to buy.

Oh dear re hamptons - such realistic pricing not.

Roary - DH starts there on 31st August. He has the list to see if he knows anyone - bit like starting secondary school!

Think he is kind of looking forward to it, but worrying a bit about the work - because as I mentioned, he doesn't want to just do OK at anything - he wants to be at the top of the course!!

Hi all. Still here 'packing'.
libra, there is no time between exercises to adjust weights on the Shred. I started with the York set from amazon with the 1.5kgs but am now on 2.5kgs. I don't have heavier ones. I told dh that I'm only 2lbs off the weight I was on our first holiday together and he said, well you're much trimmer and toned! Now that I won't see Jillian for 3 weeks I can say I absolutely love the results she's had on me mostly in muscle definition and tummy toning.

Tracey - cannot believe you mentioned Carolyn Besset Kennedy - I just adored her style and look!! I think we are kindred spirits for sure, now!

So, think I will look around for a wool/cashmere cardigan, and won't rule cream out, but it needs to be thick and the "right" cream. You wise, wise ladies - there are shades of cream that make me look ghastly (and believe me, I will be like the walking dead come end November), you are correct, so need to be careful.

Have to run - DD w babysitter and have a LOOOONG list of things to do!

notyummy I can say this as it's not on the offical shred thread but weights have a purpose and are not something pretty for women to hold when we can't hold our handbag so your approach and weights seem much more sensible! Again I haven't seen the shred dvd (I really should just give in and buy it so I can actually form a proper opinion) but your last rep should be a struggle (but form still correct)