Wisely and avidly planning our Christmas lists..

[blossoming]

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

Bloss - depending on how much you want to spend but monsoon was very disappointing in the flesh I found.

I ordered this for DD and its lovely and very good service too. I justified the cost that it cost the same as a short sleeve dress and cardigan She will be wearing it with her silver hebe's - thanks Bunny

Now thats a name I love - Hebe and also Cora.

Biscuit...In absence of Cake, I can inform you that the diet is the 'cake-style-of-Dukan'. I'll let her fill you in.

Oh, haven't bought one present yet...but I like to do most of the slog online and then go out and about in December, yes, December, to buy the little stocking fillers/treats etc....

Yes, more infor needed Bonsoir please...

18 people, tracey - ten adults (two old couples, three middle-aged couples) and eight children, between 6 and 16. I'm going to have one large table of ten for the adults and two small tables of four each for the children.

I'm thinking of not having a sit-down starter but rather an apéritif and reasonably copious small eats, then a sit down main course, and then twin birthday cakes. We really don't want to do too much sitting round a table as the older generation don't have much to talk about!

What do you think?

I can order the small eats in, but must make the main course and cakes. Thinking of roast veal with cèpes as main course as very easy and the butcher will prepare the meat...

Oh I love Hebe too...oh, and Cressida, oh, Bunny, no, you can't do that...not another C.

Bloss, JojoMB have some lovely little girl dresses, was looking in there yest.

This lovely in navy, and liked this in cream or navy.

bonsoir, I think that's a great idea. Will the main course be a one pot? I like the idea of ladles of delicious stew for a winter party (had it in a wedding once, one pot per table, everyone helped themselves and goblets of red wine by candlelight). And something chocolate for dessert. Am on a no sugar diet, but that would be my dream!

Thanks for all your lovely party dress for dd links. I will give it serious thought later.
Um, I seem to have forgotten about ds. He has loads of parties too and his trousers look really short on him, since October!

Bonsoir...sounds absolutely delicious...and well planned. I prefer lots of canapes rather than hours and hours of sitting to formal dinner...perfect!

What are you going to wear?

Plum...DD has that fair isle cardi in navy...beautiful dress!

Sounds very good to me too Bonsoir - and I can just tell you're really looking forward to it . Am guessing its not the done thing to get drunk in the kitchen in Paris

Oh and I keep meaning to say Bonsoir - I have copied you and am today wearing a superdry shirt - a red one in brushed cotton. I love it - warm, cosy and fits beautifully.

Blossoming after years of not wanting to wear shirts, DS1 has asked for a party shirt (bless!) - so got him this blue checked on one from Next along with the grey jumper here. Know its not a "party" shirt but thought I would break him in gently! H&M also has sone nice checked ones - got DS1 a lilac and white checked one - which looks just like one DH has - not to be worn at the same time of course!

Another suggestion for boys present - these Zoobs are meant to be very good here

H&M has a nice looking fine knit dress - second dress on this page here - in black, red but looks really good in camel - which looks more taupe to me. Not seen in RL tho.

Those of you buying for boys, I ordered three of these, they came today and are fab. Would quite like one for me too.

plum really pleased for you, relief. Personally I have never seen an HV in my life, not with any of my 3 dc [schock] ( followed by )

From what I can gather this has been a blessing, but it means that my dc have not had any of their checks or anything but hey ho if I was worried, I could contact someone

from cake to biscuit LOL - diet is just the Dukan, but tweaked a bit for me as I don't eat meat or poultry. Didn't have much to lose but thought I would like to ditch a quick half stone. Am going to revise that now by saying a stone. Know it's not the done thing but I do aspire to thin rather than slim. Anywy verity I personally could not do it dairy-free as that would mean a name change to "LetThemEatFishAndNothingElse" but I'm sure if you're getting the variety from meat it would be okay - hells and Dolce wdyt??

re party season. In no particular order this is a list of what's on btwn now and NYE. Suggestions welcome.

3 x 40th birthday parties
2 x 3rd birthday parties
4x 1st birthday parties
MY BIRTHDAY PARTY!!
Ds2's birthday party!!!!
Faux Christmas with rellys from OS who won't be here for Xmas proper
Real Xmas with both sides of family

Xmas eve drinks with friends
Boxing day with friends
Nursery dinner dance/ fundraiser
FiL's 70th b'day party
Mum's night out
A&W meet up
Various Xmas parties inc for dh's work (several, as is freelance and works for several companies) where everyone will be media-scruff and I will be expected to walk line between similarly scruff (otherwise 'who does she think she is??) and uber-glam (otherwise "what's he doing with her when he works with slebs all the time?? Bet he plays away from home!!!")
and then NYE party (our place)

exhausted thanks for looking

Evening!

NY well done on sorting out Christmas, very impressive.

Christmas will be at the beach house, in the sunshine with laughter and great food. Really looking forward to it

Bonsoir your dinner sounds perfect.
Do you have a fabulous dress too?

Well ds finally woke from his coldy slumber and we went out in the lovely crisp sunshine.
And had that funny, happy meeting of the stars or something where random men say hi, and women smile. Was great. ... Felt a bit like when I was younger, but without the endless espressos and existential fake angst

Anyway was feeling rather chipper after lovely afternoon in sun and managed to say to the male mogel you look good, which given the fact he is a mogel is stating the bleeding obvious!

Then inspired by all this talk of Dukan (which I agree has been excellent and painless) I did a whole big buy at the butcher and fishmonger as have been over relying on tuna and eggs.

dolcee, in response to your earlier question, it is still very cold here. I may have to get roary to link the hanro thermals again. I'm wondering if I can fit a pair of longjohns under my skinnies.
I was quite warm enough, in scarf, hat, cashmere lined leather gloves (I love them so much!), and the Cameron, but only if I kept moving. I don't suppose it gets much colder than -2 in the daytime though, so I should be fine. I do fancy the chunky roll neck boden tunic though, just for days like today.

ollie, you really are the Christmas fairy. Thanks for your links.

cake, I'm going to have to name change to exhaustedbloss, just looking at your schedule!

marsha of course you are another Dukanista

as one bfer to another - did you feel queasy at the beginning? I am curious to know whether the diff in the way I feel this attempt is down to no more bfing? wdyt?

Ltec I massively panicked om first day. Felt very dizzy and felt like I was in treacle it was most odd!

Then I looked up website and it said not advised if bfding.
So quickly ate an apple and pear as thought cripes what have I done.

But then protein energy kicked in and I thought will give it another 24 hours, if bad will eat fruit.

But then felt great so kept going.

Take it easy and you sound you are good at listening to physical signs ifyswim

yes that sounds abut how I felt too .. like a really bad jangly coffee rush (from not even nice coffee!!)

but the protein phase this time was relatively painless, did for 5 days instead of the planned 2 as it felt so effortless!!

but have to admit am glad to have veggies back in my life

and think I struggled also in summer at thought of no fruit .. love summer fruits (berries) not so mad about winter ones, I mea like them but not driiiiiibbbbbbbble.

any luck with your bad clients yet?

God Fritzi saved me! And translated a summons into German. Now with London people. I'd say I am a month or two off, but massively closer than before. Should be sale time by the time I get paid

Still no sparkles yet! You'll have to use that great discount to buy stuff for dos.

marvellous news. Fingers x'd.

Evening all, just a quick catch up whilst DH entertains DD pre bath:

Tracey - thank you so much for sending the belt - it is just what I wanted and perfect fit. Will pm you shortly to sort out details.

Cake - sounds like dukan is treating you well - I wasn't sure if you ate fish or dairy so thought you must have been surviving on, well, thin air!

Bonsoir - Party sounds fantastic. Without wanting to sound like a stalker - I remember you once wrote that you had bought your DD a wooden farm. I don't suppose you have a link do you? Or was it a one off French creation?

Marsha - glad DS is feeling better & that you had an enjoyable day - sounds wonderful.

Plum -how awful of your HV- they must realise that we will panic about these things. When I was panicking about DD's slow weight gain, mine looked at her and said "hmm, well it doesn't seem to have affected her development...yet." So pleased that your DS is ok.

Plum - great news that your DS has "passed" his HV test"

Verity - I adore that Paul & Joe coat - it is perfection!

ABO - glad that DS3 is feeling better.

Re woollen throws, is there anything at The White Company that you like?

Dolce - we will be housebound w the babies, so expecting to spend the day at home. Although have ordered the Christmas food (thanks, Ocado!) and the DC's outfits (actually difficult to find 2 different sleep suits for the babies that are equally nice - am NOT dressing them the same!). God knows what I will be able to fit into then...

I'm thinking this for DD - very naughty dressing her in red for my own christmas entertainment though!

Cake you did as I did on the protein phase. I meant to do 2 and then just went on as it was easy (plus I didn't lose anything for the first few days .

Verity - I think you probably could do diary free. Though it would be short on 'treats'. I used to save up my fat free yoghurt for my end of day blow out! The first phase which is the really strict one can be as short as 2 days so worth a go.

Who found these M&S shoes...I just got them. Very WIT! I'm no good with heels but for some reason I'm hoping their chunkiness will combat my usual wobbles!

Verity I did it dairy free as didn't do the low-fat yoghurt.