We Wise ladies Avidly are buying gifts that traverse afar...l

[bunnymother]

Oh my God, I choked (try and hum along to We Three Kings...)!! But here is the new thread.

Fish pie sounds great tracey, Waitrose Spiced Chicken Keralan soup here. Just what I fancied!

DD is 9.5. I've also got two boys, 7 and 3.5.

pickled Without any knowledge what 9-year-old girls are wearing, maybe this to go with her grey skirt? Or this with a bit of edge?
This looks nice but might be too monochrome with grey skirt.

Hey ladies

I am ill again with a really sore throat so haven't read posts but just checking in to say hi.

Party was ok - host made a big point of it to dd who replied "Everyone is dressed the same as a pirate or a princess. I am the only pumpkin" Stayed two torturous hours and hated every minute of enjoyed the entertainer who's selling point seemed to be shouting loudly, references to the LOs having had too much to drink and impressions of Stacey from X Factor (for 4yos) I promise I am not just being catty - even dp was .

Only other thing - I need to get my dsis a grey bag for Christmas. Want to spend max £70 and get a leather one, possibly across body. I want one for me too from dp - max £300.

Hope everyone is ok. Has anyone heard from Bunny? Zembo you're still in my thoughts.

Oh, did I say - anyone who has bought the pleathers - sitting down is a bit hard.

Fritzi and Vin - in the words of Rene Zellweger in Jerry Maquire "I will go with you"!

I have the Shred dvd since (embarrassed cough) the summer and its still in the wrapper! I will willingly open wrapper and insert into dvd on 1st December if I know my lovely W&A mates are in pain doing it too! I also need to re-read Dukan and make a meal plan so I can start that too- its too easy to fall off if you don't have all the right foods to hand I always find.

Hells pleased you had a good time at the meet up! Funny re your chats about this thread! Did you get the impression there are a lot of lurkers yet to be outed?

Survived soft play party - boys v well behaved and ran around together which was nice to see. Trip into the city was less successful - heaving as it was the last Sunday shopping day before Sinterklaas. DH wanted to look at shoes in a posh menswear shop and then got talking to the salesman about a new tailor-made suit. The shop had a festive buffet laid out - mostly cheese (how Dutch?!) - which of course the boys thought was just for them. Had trouble making eye contact with DH (engrossed with swatches) so had to hiss "now is not the time to buy a new suit" and bundle boys out of the shop! Did get new shoes for DS2 and DH is going to take a day off around my bday and we can have a more relaxing potter without the kids!

Sure there was loads more to respond too - will now read posts properly!

I'm with you OWW re shredding. What do I need to Durkan for a few weeks too? If I do three weeks will I see a difference?

Oh monkeysmama thought of you and your little pumpkin a lot yesterday. Glad you didn't succumb to the pressure and dress DD in princessy pink and glitter. Pumpkins rock . I just can't believe how narrow-minded people are. How do they expect their DCs to develop individuality and learn what diversity is when they prescribe costumes for a fancy dress party? That entertainer sounds like a nightmare.

I think I need to do a sugar detox. bloss or anybody who is not eating sugar, how did you do it? I'm trying to cut down but that doesn't seem to work. Is it easier not to eat any sugar at all? When do the cravings stop? It's strange because I normally don't crave sugary stuff but now that it is cold outside, and I don't get enough sleep and things are sometimes stressful at work, my daily latte with some chocolate or biscuits have become a terrible habit. Sorry about me, me, me post but as the Christmas season is approaching fast with all the home-made biscuits that are literally forced on you wherever you go here, I'm slightly panicking that I may end up with a balloon-like belly come the New Year.

Ha ha Hells I wasn't being rude about sequins! I just remember them being on everything a few winters ago too. Two or three years ago my twice yearly self flagellation shop in Next resulted in a butterfly sequin "shrug" .

Thanks Fritzi It did make me feel a lot more confident knowing you were all thinking of us.

ollie and mm Will do shredding from Wednesday on but I have to pass on the Dukaning. Tried a few Dukan-inspired meals last week but I just can't eat fish or scallops without vegetables or salad. Felt a bit sick after high dosage of protein. That leaves only eggs and meat which doesn't sound too healthy either .

I've never been on a diet in my life (apart from the old coffee and cigarettes one that worked so well when I wanted to be a 6-8) , and food is such a big part of my life so am not hopeful about the Dukan but I need something drastic.

Fritzi thank you so much for the links, the third one looks perfect. Her skirt is almost a charcoal so I think the pale grey of the sweater will work. I must get on and order it (no Zara near us unfortunately). I am also tempted to get this amazing hat for her. Just a pity you can't see it on.

ha ha pickled no worries - I just thought you were taking the mick out of me for my endless "what to wear" boringness.

MM glad you survived yesterdaym what a stupid hostess. Good on DD, what a star Sorry you are poorly.

Fritzi Bloss is the master of sugar-cutting, I am a mere novice at 3 weeks but I basically went cold turkey, including cutting out anything sweet at all (to properly cut the cravings - so no fruit, raisins, honey etc - all of my 'harmless' snacks that I was ODing on a bit) - which I why I ended up Dukaning cos it seemed like, well, I'm already half way there.

Not sure whether flat tummy etc is down to Dukan or sugar or both, but it deffo works. And I don't miss it that much. On days like today, when I feel a bit rubbish and it's cold, I want comforting hot sweet tea. But I don't miss it in coffee really.

MM I thought protein-heavy food gave you coldsores!? Don't do it. You're already run down. Just do carb curfew and you'll notice a big difference.

MM - If you shred and Dukan for 3 weeks you will def see a difference! (Having said that, in my experience you may struggle to Shred for the first couple of days on the Dukan until your body adjusts, so I wouldn't start the two together at the same time - wait until you have adjusted to one before adding the other on top!) That party sounded hellish - and as for trying to control what kids wear fancy dress wise, I am bewildered!

Hells - Glad you had a good night! I joined you in nurofen land at about 1pm There is a US painkiller available over the counter there, but impossible to get here called Excedrin. A couple of Execedrin Extra Strength will sort out any hangover, I have discovered

LTEC - Glad you too had a fun night and the Halston Heritage dress sounds fab!

Tracey - I have skyplussed Alvin and Co for DD. Have I made a real error....?

We went to a local Christmas fair today and then took DD to the Christingle service, which was really nice. Walked there and back so wore bright blue puffer kacket bought for skiiing, plus black TS skinny flare jeans and these boots that I originally bought when I was in the military and are completely toasty warm and waterproof. They have the advantage this year of looking remarkably like the flat 'workmans' style boots that are all over the high street, so are strangely on trend!!

Just in case I forgot nearer to Xmas, I wanted to share a couple of links for people just in case you hadn't heard of them:

This site is great and allows you get a personalised message from Santa sent to your DC for free. Dds face last year was a picture!

This site is actually built by the US military, but is loads of fun for kids on Xmas Eve to track Santa - particularly good for little boys of 4/5 years as it has all the technological details of which fighters are used to intercept and track Sabtas sleigh!

Evening all,

mm- I am so shocked about the party - what goes through these people's heads?

Glad you had good nights all those who went out. Deary me at the yoga pants and combat trousers. I went to a child's birthday party recently and although I wouldn't have expected haute couture one mum turned up in gardening tracksuit and old fleece. She later took off the fleece to reveal a t shirt that was decidedly inappropriate considering that some of the children at the party would have been able to read.

Hells - did you meet any of the mumsnet 'royalty'? Any good gossip?

bloss - I'm just going to have one more little rave about the flannel - I considered asking if I could have one with a flowery dog rather than a block colour but thought that would be a bit cheeky but you must have read my mind and sent one anyway! Hope you get lots of sales from your stall.

Shredders - I will definitely join you. Wednesday it is. No chance of any dukaning here either - have already had 2 mince pies today .

I like h&m clothes for DD - we don't have one here but might ask my friend to keep her eye out for the owl dress.

This is going to sound wrong but does anyone have a large partner or other male relative? I picked up some CK pj bottoms for DH from tkmaxx a while ago and although the hanger said medium they are actually extra large. I then lost receipt so couldn't exchange them (crappy customer service but don't expect anything else) so if anyone wants them I'll stick them in the post.

My dad is xl and wants pjs for Christmas! Let me know how much and I'll paypal you

Dp is friends with a huge group from school. They've all done different things but stayed friends. I find a lot of their ways as alien as they find me.

Cakey yes, I forgot about the protein thing . What's a carb curfew? Not eating after x o'clock? Just want the love handles gone - nothing drastic!

On the subject of being rundown - how can I be ill again?! I eat very well and healthily. Dd isn't at nursery bringing home lurgies. I don't get enough sleep but I feel all fluey again. Mad.

yes, not eating carbs after a certain time as opposed to not eating them at all. So you could have say porridge for brekkie, jacket potato or sandwich or whatever for lunch - but them just protein & veg for dinner. This is pretty much what I've been doing all year. It works. And if it slows down you can up the ante by making it carbs only at brekkie, or making 2-3 dinners a week veg or protein only.

MrsJ going back to H&M to get dd another one of those dresses so happy to get P an owl one?

it is going to be the Janice for DD's isn't it!

i did meet royality...and jolly lovely they were too

Oh I ordered Bea the owl dress yesterday -so cute

MM - I'm off to the Drs this week as need something to get rid of this sinus thing - it hurts and means I have no sense of smell at all which is very annoying. Party sounds hilarious in a bad way

so go on hells what sorts of questions were you asked?

Hi all, have had a quick skim over the last few pages, but don't have time to go over whole thread. How did Bunny get on? What is the news?

Had a lovely weekend in London, boy was it cold, and returned home to lots of snow today. Minus 5 here today. Brrrr!

Went to dinner here on Friday and it was lovely. A real treat, and to Gauchos on Saturday. Also went to lunch in Sketch on Conduit street on Saturday, and loved it.

I love my new hair Bloss, it's rather short and choppy but falls perfectly. Exactly what i wanted. Had to laugh though as the guy cutting hair next to Frank called Matthew, is from Raheny, and after 18 years in London has not lost his North side Dublin accent! I could have closed my eyes and been at home.

Bought a few bits in Anthropologie, but can't find them online to link to. never feel like buying at this time of year, when it will be discounted in a month.

mm- excellent! Will pm you in a minute. Carb curfew sounds like more sensible way to go. I would think that that plus shredding should sort out love handles. Am hoping to shrink thighs and bum a bit.

cake - thank you for kind offer but Tracey's just reminded me that h&m is online now so will order from there to save you a post office trip.