WIT or Wisdom? Who cares... the festive season is nearly upon us and one thing is certain: Avidity is the new black.

[LetThemEatCake]

Trick or treat! [hsmile]

Pickled - it was those in the plum colour. The suede just looked very tatty and as though they were £20 in primark really. Shame as nice colour and looked nice shape on.

LTEC - good buys and so restrained on the shoe-front.

NY - oh dear - hip pain sounds grim. One of my hips dislocates very easily and I have to be careful with it as it gets very ouchy.

notyummy, you really are having a run of it. Positive vibes from here.

ltec, I think the cravings subsided by the second week. When they got really bad, I'd have a few raisins with almonds. The raisins satisfied the sweet tooth, and the almonds satisfied anything else.
The main benefit for me is the disapperance of love handles. Also the fact that I can eat anything else I want, including another curry for lunch today. Also in France in summer, I ate bread at every meal, wine every night and at lunch sometimes, cheese, steaks, frites, and didn't put an ounce on. I don't know why sugar is such a culprit, but it sure is. When you start looking you see it is everywhere, no wonder people are fat. Stuff like mayonnaise, horseradish, obviously ketchup and baked beans, crisps, yoghurts, sauces, basically any shop bought baked goods and packaged foods. All cereals apart from my favourite shredded wheat and sugar free alpen. Obviously it helps that I cook my own food and don't use any shop bought stuff. If there's sugar in a savoury recipe, I just leave it out. I also avoid fruit juice. I

Hello everyone!

Thank you for your help re the pencil skirt yesterday. I have ordered the phase 8 one in two sizes to try at home.

I have just been to M&S to pick up these lovely shoes boots
I can highly recommend- so comfy and soft with a gorgeous little heel!

bunny- I think I noticed a post of your a way back re: SPD. Huge sympathies if you are suffering as it is v painful :(
I was fine i my first 2 pregnancies but had quite a lot of discomfort at certain points in the third one (had to take paracetamol to sleep, etc).
I didn't end up doing much as mine settles towards the end of the pregnancy.
Would advise you to see/ speak to your GP asap and ask for a referral to an obstetric physio (if they have a specialist one). They should be able to give you exercises and possibly give you a sort of large support belt or let you know where to purchase one. It might also be worth trying acupuncture depending on how bad your symptoms are- can imaging they could be v nasty with twins!

mm- have a lovely time on your night out! We hardly ever go out either- no family here either plus expense, work taking over, etc.

MM - fantastic news that your mum can look after your DD while you go out tonight. You must be delighted!

Looby - a bit to admit this, but have been to physio, but too lazy to do the exercises (I only like exercises where I can "see" the benefit ie weight loss / toning up). Just wondering if it will be OK if I don't really do anything about it . How slothful do I sound?! V kind of you to be so sympathetic, though

Hells - oooh, I like the sound of your renovations! Property is something I get v enthused about and the idea of renovations esp

Bloss - I really your lovely wardrobes / bedroom furniture. And you don't really have that many striped tops, do you, when you think about how much you like them?!

Am v impressed w you and Cake re your dietary restraint!

Carciofi - yes, I take your point re your DD and her idea of caring for a baby

notyummy - what a bummer about your hip, I hope it feels better soon! Would a hot bath tonight help? How fantastic do your mini break locations look?! Imagine you will have a wonderful time.

BTW, doesn't Natalia Vodianova look fantastic? I love her outfit - so wonderfully glam.

The search for the perfect shoe boot goes on. I may have to succumb and pay a visit to M&S.

I agree with all, that Phase 8 has some great stuff. My problem is that I find it all a bit eveningy and like many on this thread I don't do babysitters, so most evenings are spent MNing at home. However, babysitters is another thing I may succumb to .

hells can you extend into your garden? Friends of our have just done this and they have had the whole back wall fitted with concertina glass doors - worth losing a bit of garden for, apparently.

Bless you bunny! There's no need to encourage me though!
Imagine being incredibly beautiful in an amazing dress, and all they can talk about are your hairy legs!

I know, really petty and mean, don't you think Bloss?! I mean, she looks sensational! Glamorous in an old-school way, but then v modern jewellery and make up, and she is such a beautiful woman. And still DM says "oh, but she has hairy legs". [annoyed emoticon]. Oh dear - hormonal rant!

While we are on the subject of evening dresses, how great do these Lanvin for H&M dresses look? That's going to be a fun shopping trip for those looking for party dresses for Christmas and NYE!

Bunny - I was going to link to that Lanvin stuff! Looking good isn't it? Maybe you should invest in something for the future....!?

I was looking at the Lanvin for H&M clothes in Grazia, some really nice things.

Hope you get better soon, NY. The weekend away sounds good.

It is hard to trust someone else with your child, I wish we had a nice grandma nearby but our babysitter is fantastic. My parents used to go away for 3 weeks every year without my brothers and I, which I remember hating and could not do to DD.

3 weeks is a long time isn't it Carciofi?

We left dd for 4 nights at Easter with MIL and that felt plenty long enough. That said she LOVED it and is already talking about staying at Nana's again with her cousin - her slightly older cousin was there too and the 2 of them had a ball. Putting on 'shows'; Easter egg hunts; safari park; soft play and baking. Whilst DH and I lounged at the Hotel du Vin.......

They used to leave us with our grandmother (who went out quite a bit herself!) and an au pair so we were well looked after. That sounds lovely, NY. I would definitely go away for a couple of days if we had someone to take her. But not 3 weeks!

Just nipping in to say bunny I had spd both times. 1st time round it was so bad that I was in tears trying to climb the stairs. Really awful. Apparently physio can help about 90% of cases but sometimes it's hormonal in which case there's not much you can do apart from not aggravating it.

2nd time round I wore a support belt (glam!) from early on, was very careful not to cross my legs when sitting down, slept with one of those long pillows so as not to twist around etc and it didn't get quite so bad.

Both times it disappeared immediately after the birth, although I do still get a tiny twinge every now and then if I overdo things. Not enough to worry about it, just mildly annoying once every few months. HTH!

Oh, just seen the Natalaia Vodianova shot on the computer and they were really hairy legs weren't they? Not stubble at all!!

ltec, just a thought, if you're desperate. Dd absolutely loves Goodies Organic Raspberry and Apple Soft Oaty Bars. No sugar.

What a day no? My dad had to go fetch dc1 from school as my car is still in the garage having a service. It's just vile here. How lovely to be planning weekends away notyummy. I may get my summer holiday photos out later for a cheer me up!

Bloss - they were hairy, but did they need to make the whole article about that? And she is a mother to 3 children, perhaps she just ran out of time? Err, perhaps am protesting so much due to own dire grooming situation

Yangy - you and I are in total agreement about childcare: its hard to trust others, but it can be really great for everyone, and I agree about building up a relationship w the one babysitter.

NY - ooh, yes, thinking of the future re clothes "investments" - good idea! Am a little unsure how I will end up size wise, else would be hitting buy buy buy! Perhaps I will be lucky like Roma and be leaner than pre-DCs (just how optimistic can I get, I ask you?!)?

Fleecy - thanks so much for your SPD experience, that really helps to hear it may not be around post birth. I think I had an ultra-mild situation w DD1, but this is more on the "moderate" side of things. Although you poor thing, crying when you climb stairs - oh dear!! That's terrible!

Well...had trip to RL shops today and bought narrow leopard print belt(JL-v nice); some sand cord skinnies, couple of M&S cashmere sweaters in raspberry and grey, and stocked up on tights and socks ans welly socks....tried more biker boots but nothing looks right...only close one so far is Oasis 'Jake' ....but not convinced....

Yes, tracey, dh has viewed a house in a beautiful village in Cornwall, with amazing sea views (it's where we usually holiday) but too £££££ at the moment so watching....and we have 3 other potentials at the mo up here, although one will knock the Cornwall house completely on the head if we are successful....

2 are reno projects so v exciting....one is so frigging expensive we will have to learn to love it and do up gradually

oh my word so much to catch up on - will do so tonight in peace as have decided not to go to cocktail party (tube strikes - I just can't face the sh*tfight for a taxi at the best of times, let alone when public transport is in turmoil)

disappointed as always nice to have a chance to dress up

anyway, have tried on M&S dress (thanks for thinking of me dexter!!) and am wondering whether the side detailing adds unnecessary bulk t my already wide hips. But at same time am aware that I have tendency to overly freak about said width so am open to idea that dress actually gives va va Mad Men style silhouette? PIcs up for short time, so opinions very welcome kind ladies

ps - new red shoes also in pic

Did anyone buy anything on last nights Vogue Fashion Night In event?

Forgot to say a big thank you for all the lovely suggestions for places to eat around Oxford St - turns out my older sister wants to meet up and her idea of grabbing a bite to eat is to go somewhere v posh and v pricey (high disposable income, no kids, works in the food industry!) so no idea of where we end up. (Part of me was looking forward to going to a Leon/John Lewis or even just having a goats cheese and chicken salad in Pizza Express (not available here - its weird the things you miss!!!)

Cake - I think the dress looks great, and doesn't add volume/bulk at all - its obvious that its a frill and that you are lean. Although my Gosh I had to squint to see that photo, could barely see the detail on the dress, so no hope of seeing the shoes properly. Am clearly going blind. Although I still stand by what I said about the dress. And aren't your DCs adorable?!

Wow Cakey - I have leg envy! Anything that makes legs look that good is a keeper imo! Like the shoes from what I can see.