Wisely and avidly planning our Christmas lists..

[blossoming]

Come join me!
Not so inspired but I do so hate being threadless.

Bunny - love the names!

God I love it when my cleaner comes and don't care what she discovers in my draws although must say she wouldn't find anything terribly exciting.

Bunny - beautiful! And the shortened names are so beautiful also.

Bonsoir - I used to worry terribly about that with our cleaner...but then DH reminded me that was actually nothing exciting at all to be found in our nooks and crannies.

God my cleaner knew I was pregnant the 3rd time before my DH I think as was in such a state of shock/hysteria

I wouldn't be a sahm/wahm without a cleaner. Cleaning is not something I want to do. But they do need to be very fast and efficient.

It does make me a bit that they see ds2 more often than my mother. But I try not to dwell on that.

Marsha - my dc's know my cleaner way better than either sets of grandparents. But to be fair they knew/know my favourite cashier in waitrose better than their grandparents

aw thanks

Roma - lovely pics!

Still can't my head around this colours thing btw. Am very confused. I know black next to my face drains me...and white is generally a no no because I stain it in 10 seconds . Generally don't do orange, red and yellow because I was warned of them years ago 'because they are not good for red heads' - apparently. Thats about it really!

Bunny - Beautiful names! I love them. And those dresses you linked to.

Roary - Thanks for asking re work. It has calmed down slightly, but about 20% of the office going by end of January means more for the rest of us. I hope I am helping, and in strange way it has been quite nice to flex my old training/consultancy muscles and deliver some short sessions to people to try and up-skill them for the job market. There are some very senior people without any recognisable qualfications in my office, so I am trying to give at least some in-house professional development to quote on their CV. On a similar mnote Fritzi I hope you are managing in what sounds like a very demanding start to a new job!

I will almost certainly be giving the Dukan another blast in the NY. It worked very well in August. I am happy with where I am now, however I predict a slight gain over the festive season! I think it is the socialising with booze that does it for me. I dont drink much these days, and find it an easy way of avoiding calories - and when I have a hangover I want to eat rubbish! I am not some sort of puritan though - I love a drink! So, with many more social events than usual planned I think I will be a few pounds heavier by January. A quick burst of attack should bring me back down to my 'norm' - I also have found that it has moderated my habits in terms of bread. I rarely eat it now and I don't miss it.

Well day one of dukan nearly over and its been ok. Felt a bit odd this pm but that passed and certainly easier than when I was bf.

Romanarama - I am sure you are right - I am naturally über-tidy and when I outsource never think anybody is good enough, hence it annoys me to (a) have them in my space (b) have them muck with my stuff (c) and then have to fork out for the privilege. Sadly the rest of my family (or at least those members with whom I share no genes) don't have the neat freak personality streak and I don't like tidying up after others one little bit!

I quite understand, however, that certain lifestyles require a lot of domestic outsourcing - I led that lifestyle myself for many years. Just glad I no longer have to!

Bonsoir - your DSS's are teenagers aren't they? Lordy I'd out-source as much as possible to do with cleaning up after teenage boys.

Much as I adore my sons I do live in fear of when they become teenagers who will just eat vast quantities and not speak to me. Although DS1 is so pernickety over his appearance he will probably be the tidiest teenager ever.

Oh keep meaning to say I bought the keratase shampoo for coloured hair as recommended by Hells and others and it is fab - by far the best shampoo I have ever used.

traceytbath - the thing is, when you have teenage DSSs around for a lot of the time, you feel that your personal space is pretty heavily invaded. The very last thing I feel like after a few days of adolescent chaos is someone doing the housework under my feet - I just want my home back

Hence I try to send out/have delivered as much as possible and do massive spring cleans with professional help from time to time. But no regular housekeeper underfoot (which would be standard where I live).

I understand the desire for peace, I leg it when the cleaners get here!

Ok friend here in a mo....

Vin - you are bright, gorgeous and funny - repeat after me

Bonsoire - teenage DSS's must be hard work. I grew up in all female house so having sons has been interesting and wonderful but not sure how I would have coped with step-children. Especially as I was a step-child and well ahem I was not exactly a model step-daughter myself

Actually, I think I have model stepsons and I am very, very lucky! But they remain teenage (French, and very spoilt) boys and I need my girly space back!

Fortunately I have girlfriends who only have sons (of their own) with whom I can empathise about my need for girliness and escape. And DD, of course!

Bunny, I've not "met" you before, but just wanted to let you know they are really lovely names, so pretty and feminine, but strong too.

All this talk of cleaners and housekeepers is making me think I'm going wrong somewhere as I don't outsource anything and agree with Bonsoir, I might feel uncomfortable. Tell me I'm being stupid!

oh god, I was all up to speed, went upstairs to see ds1 and am now

Lots of lovely dresses to be drooled over, as always! Love the knot-front Issalikes, that red one is fab GW. Can't imagine that style would do much for me, sadly. Love love love the bunny MV dresses - beautiful prints. Click to buy why doncha!! You are tiny, even at this stage of the game!

Roma yes you are delightful, but I already knew that

Verity that is lovely about your star bag, it's gorgeous. I have that copy of Vogue, as yet unread. On To Do list.

Hope day 1 of Dukan was bearable tracey and congrats to you RG - Dukaning and shredding, you are a true A&W lady!!

was twins with exhausted today, also in stripey janice, no top but camel coat, tights and boots.

bloss I like leopard and zebra!!

roary that sounds crazy busy. Glad you took steps today to sort something. plum you should too

40deniertights - outsourcing is good, just outsource outside your personal space if you feel funny about it. Send ironing out, have rugs not carpets so you can send them out, have stuff delivered, have a spring clean from time to time...

Hello!

I have caught up so will see how many things I can remember - apologies in advance if I miss you out!

bunny love, love, love both those names. And they go with your DD's name too. Perfect!

cake well done on weight loss. We're out to dinner Friday and it's DH's birthday Monday so I plan to do Dukan for a week from next Tuesday to lose a few pounds before December. Figured that way, it'll compensate for the weight that will no doubt creep on over the month!

roma I missed your pics - any chance you could put them back up for a nosy cow interested party to see?

bloss if you can remember from the meet up, what season would you say I am? From the colouring descriptions I'd have gone for a spring, like Roma, but there's a fair few colours on there that I just can't wear. Autumn closely fits my current wardrobe and the colours that I think suit but it doesn't sound like I am one!

You are right. Am just starting to realise I can't do everything myself.

40denier its entirely up to you . I'm just happy to pay for my house to be cleaned and my cleaner is lovely and very very good - in fact much better than me.

oh oh oh that was it also - Halstonesque one-shoulder dress arrived today and it looks good but I am not keen on the fabric, feels very poly. Soft jersey my a*se. But given that my shoulders are good feature think worth keeping anyway? might do pic in next day or so, you lot will tell me!

oh and - I need thermal vest tops please, as I have aversion to layers/ bulk but also to being cold. And need to expose arms as much as poss

and I would like a l/s Breton style tee/ knit pls.

Suggestions gratefully rec'd.

LTEC that dress is lovely. Shame you say it doesn't feel the best, but you must suffer to be beautiful

verity Is this the Jigsaw bag?. LOL at your DD's Roger Moore eyebrow trick .

carciofi Glad you found a school for DD and hope she'll settle in quickly. Must be exciting for you too! Gorgeous photo of you and DD.

tracey Didn't know there were uniforms for children so small. Can understand that you are nervous.

roary Yes I'm a summer! Wearing pale pink long-sleeved T and slightly darker pink scarf as we speak . 40denier I believed for years that I was an autumn. Have brown hair and green eyes + freckles in summer.

roma You look absolutely gorgeous and your DS so cute! Second what bloss has said. Maybe you're a spring!? Wait until I'm brave enough to post a pic of me and you'll see that your nose is very delicate . And well done for successfully negotiating your work hours!

Now I'm in awe at cake's energy and dedication: Softplay followed by primark with three little ones in tow? Just the thought makes me feel exhausted. Think I forgot to say big congrats on new contract!

exhausted Sorry to hear about your DS's allergies. Are there also other things he is not allowed to eat?

ollie Sorry about boot saga. You really deserved that pair! Join next meet up in December and pick up a pair .

bunny Oh lovely names! Don't understand the connection between Emmeline and a German word for "industrious" but never mind. And Aurelia/Lia I love too!

tracey Well done on completing Dukan day 1! Might join notyummy in the New Year as I don't feel too awful right now although I can totally understand cake. I just love the way my clothes hang when I'm slimmer.