Karl, Marc and Oscar might be three WISE men, but if it's AVID women you're after, this is the place

[PlumSykes]

new thread

cake I lost a lot of hair (not in patches, just generally) when pregnant with DD. Blood tests showed I had severed deficiency in B12 and iron. Took some supplements + acupuncture and it got better.

DT Would the bigger size Edelmans work if you put in an inlay sole like this. Sorry don't know the proper English word for it but I found them quite useful as one of my feet seems to be a bit bigger than the other. Have you worn your Belstaffs a lot so far?

paribus and vino Have planned an imginary Paris trip as I have real cabin fever at the moment and not looking forward to a ski trip with more snow in four weeks time.

abo and ollie How is the decluttering going? I have put together a big box of books which I'm going to take to Oxfam next week. Can't convince DH to part from books, he even has some that are still in their plastic wrappers.

tracey Hope DD is ok!

roary Welcome back! Did you have a good time?

Poss Janice top here

www.johnlewis.com/203778/Style.aspx

Here is my favourite decluttering book.

bonsoir Those Dedar fabrics are to die for! Everything in our house is quite bland but I'm not very good at making decisions when it comes to interior decorating. Got DH an armchair for his study which he loves and would love to make a few more home improvements.

Me too everything - I got quite excited at the thought that the film was on TV tonight!

Have deleted the photo of me in red dress, and put one of me in the one I did wear on NYE.

Good work fritzi. We've moved a fair bit of stuff into the garage (including the cot ) and about half the christmas presents now have homes. I want to sort through the christmas decorations that didn't get used this year and chuck some out before putting them away this year, and I really should be doing that now, but instead am here with a post-shred glass of wine [blushes]

Thanks bloss - I suspect the 6 pack DVD isn't for me. I might try the banish fat one to do at weekends when I have more time than during the week.

abo, banish fat is 50 mins. ny, pm me your address and I'll send the DVD off.

ABO - that is a lovely dress!

I have succumbed and ordered the FC dress I linked to further down the thread:

here. I suspect it may be too 'busy' and gathered around the waist for me....but we shall see. Also got this skirt:

Here. Bit staid, but I like the colours and it could work for work.

fritzi - we've got quite a lot of neutrals - and then some more girly decorative pieces. Basically there is furniture I had pre-DP and DD, when I lived in a boudoir , and there is furniture we have bought together, with DCs in mind.

But I think we can now invest in some more decorative stuff again, given that the DCs are older and also that their bedrooms are fully kitted out, which means that our sitting room and bedroom can be reserved for civilised behaviour! I want to cover a couple of chairs very soon... must get DP to come with me to approve fabric prices design

You look great ABO - and very slim

cake - sorry about your hair - I should think that any one of those things could cause it - a supplement sounds like a good idea.

Tracey - hope you are enjoying the archers! B sounds like a real daredevil. Hope she is ok. P is fairly cautious and not particularly good at the physical side of things yet - it's so funny to watch her try to jump: she crouches right down and springs up but neither foot leaves the floor! I get nervous enough watching her go on the little tykes slide at toddlers so I'm in no hurry for her to start leaping about .

Am a bit sad tonight as my parents' lovely dog has been put down. He was only 8 but had a big stroke yesterday and hadn't got any better this morning . They are so upset as he was such a big part of their lives especially since my sister and I left home.

Lots of decluttering going on here as well, plus I have rearranged the furniture in the spare rooms and moved some things round in the kitchen to make more space. DH took a car load of clothes etc. to the charity shop so plenty of space ready for new clothes .

MrsJ - poor dog

The Archers was rather stressful actually but lovely and then sad. I have listened for many many years and am very attached to it

MrsJ Oh, what a shame. They are such a part of the family.

LTEC Agree the hair loss could be any of those things. Take it easy, up your diet and take a multi-vitamin.

Bonsoir All this talk of fabrics makes me want to flick through the World of Interiors! Maybe 25 Beautiful Homes would me more apt. SIL is currently decorating 17 rooms!

Budget About £250 per month for clothes. I kept a tally last year of everything I bought and that would seem about right.

Well I am bushed. I take my hat off to all you SAHM's - I am embarrassed to admit I find going to work less stressful

Tomorrow we are going to do something that does not involve getting wet/muddy. So no forest adventures/farms/bike rides etc.

mrsj

LTEC - that must be very upsetting but on reading your second post you have highlighted all the possible reasons (hormone changes, rapid weight loss, cutting out food groups for TOO LONG, stress) and all are reversable...

ABO - the colour and shape of that dress are so lovely on you.

Tracey - I don't normally listen to the Archers but we were driving back from East Sussex and we caught this episode. I got rather emotional about the early baby - it bought back memories of DS making his premature (not dangerously premature) appearance and I couldn't stop grinning at him sitting in the back (looking healthy and gorgeous)!

We are gearing up to watch Zen. For many years people have said DH looks like Rufus Sewell (or like Ian McShane ) - primarily because they both have mad hair, though I see Mr Sewell is rather more groomed for this role...so I think he is secretly thrilled that he is now in a tv show that may be popular (prompting more mistaken spottings)!

Gosh its scary just how good I feel after a de-clutter session! Sorted out a huge box of old toys & books ready for the boys to sell on Queens Day (big childrens market held at the end of April), tidied up the rooms on the top floor, and also took all the xmas decorations down and packed away. We are also shifting some furniture around - moving the spare bed so DH and I can now share an office which I am a bit about but its only until one of the boys moves up into one of the bedrooms on the top floor (ie when they are a bit older). I will then have the smaller bedroom currently occupied by DS2 - saw some beautiful hummingbird wallpaper which would look fab on one wall. Am dying to have just one girly room but will probably change my mind a million times by the time it all happens!

LTEC - sorry to read of your hair trouble. Is it you that sometimes sees a homeopath? Would they be of any help re hair and any supplements you may need? Hope the Inwear top is a keeper!
MrsJ - very sad re your parents dog.

ABO - loved your dress on you - the colour really compliments your skin tone.

Fritzi - my DH is the same with books - just won't chuck them. Not helped by his mum always buying random ones from second hand book stores (Historic Homes of England published in 1977 anyone?). His bookcase has actually broken shelves under the weight of the books he never looks at but refuses to part with!
Roary welcome back! Any nice holiday purchases to report?

Got an email back from ASOS saying yes the Warehouse dress is now out of stock but they "believe" I brought one of the last ones so it should be on its way. Hope I like it after all this angst!

I agree you look lovely in that dress abo. I think it's a better shape on you too. What a great figure, and tiny waist!

When are you going to post photos ollie?

Sad news about the dog mrsj.

hf, my house is made up of ideas I stole from 25 beautiful homes, it was my favourite magazine for the duration of the build!

LTEC sorry to hear about your hair woes a while back I did something very stupid and managed to burn a chunk of my hair whilst blowdrying it so it broke off Quite a big chunk and very close to the root. Had to move my parting to cover it over and was extremely upset/self conscious about it for ages. Not to mention extremely that it was all self-inflicted.
I think the others are right though. Most likely to be diet and stress related, both of which can be remedied in time.
Plum sorry to hear about your hair woes too . I have read a few articles about the hair pulling condition and it is apparently quite common and very hard to break so hope you are managing it ok.

Tracey meant to ask you how you were feeling after finally getting your antibiotics. Do you think you have finally got rid of the sinus thing?

Am going to try and take some vit/mineral supps myself this year. I have always been quite anaemic and am supposed to take an iron supp but I never do but have bought 2 big boxes of the one that is soluble in orange juice and am going to try and take it properly for a month and see if it makes a difference to my energy levels/mood.

Everything thanks for clarifying what is going on. Was going to pm you as thought from various things you had mentioned that it might be the case that you and dh had decided to split. Good luck with finalising all the new domestic arrangements and I hope 2011 is a much happier year for you and your ds.

ABO love that NYE dress on you. Is it the VWA one that Tracey also had? (But has maybe coloured in with felt pens now )

Bonsoir I like those fabrics you linked to. I am a bit of a pattern fiend when it comes to curtains and the like. When I was doing the last round of curtaining I was very torn between some very similar geometric designs and more organic floral shapes and the florals won out. This time around I think that I am going to go for a plain fabric for the 2 rooms I have next to do which will be a huge departure as we do not have any non-patterned curtains in this house at all but your link has reminded me to go and have another look through my swatches and maybe have some cushions made up in a geometric design.

Evening everyone!

LTEC- sorry to hear about your hair loss. I think it would be worth visiting your GP to get them to exclude a fungal infection (doesn't sound likely) and possibly have some blood tests. It is possible that you might have iron deficiency anaemia or an under active thyroid which can contribute. Otherwise, alopecia is thought to be an autoimmune condition and the prognosis is normally good but it can take quite some time for the hair to grow back. The GP might try some topical steroids perhaps or refer you to a Dermatologist if you feel strongly that you want to see one but there isn't really any panacea available.
I don't normally suggest alternative therapies to patients (unless I think they can afford it, might be open to them and conventional medicine can't offer them any more) but given that you have had changes to your hormones/ diet/ weight, etc recently and a generally busy life, it might be worth considering a Nutritionist or perhaps an Acupuncturist/ Herbalist depending on how you feel.

Thank you v much to everyone who made suggestions re a grey wool coat. I do love the lining in the D&G one vino but less sure about the cut and totally unsure about the price!

I think I have said this before but am so impressed by the dedication of all you shredders- bloss, NY and fritzi- have I got that right?
I still haven't actually ordered the DVD let alone started shredding but I shall! I think that I need to get a little help with the DC this year to give me a bit of time/ energy for it!

verity and others- so sorry to hear about your water shortage problems- hard to imagine until it happens but poor you :(

I finally went to the shops today (all of us did so v slow going).
We bought shoes for all the DC and a few unexciting things we needed/ presents, etc.
Didn't really have much time to look for coats but ran in and out of Zara (literally) after buying this zara coat in grey.

Also bought this from ted baker (from JL not asos where it was half price)
Would have liked a size 2 as v bodycon but they only had a 1.
Am planning to try them on again at home and decide whether or not to keep.
Opinions anyone? :)

looby I'm just an aspiring Shredder. Still struggling with power yoga classes and Davina

Forgot to say, ABO- your purple, NYE dress looks lovely!

Sorry, also meant to say sorry to hear about your parents' dog Mrs J.

Also what about this shearling for Fritzi?

Also re meet-up I was wondering how people felt about staying here. Within staggering distance of here for dinner. Not too far from here for shopping which I imagine, is very quiet at weekends - although I could be wrong on that.

Ooh I tried a gorgeous grey coat on in Ted Baker today too but decided that the belt made me look too short and fat. I can't see it online but it was a really lovely pale grey, hip length, belted and beautifully soft. About a hundred pounds in the sale iirc.

esher You temptress . And what a reduction! Fortunately black is not a good colour for me and I have decided only to buy things now which are not strictly winter but can be worn into spring too. I'll sleep on it and have bookmarked it just in case though . I'm also struggling with my iron levels and fail to take supplements regularly as I don't feel really "ill" just tired. Will go to medicine cabinet before going to bed and take tomorrow morning.

looby Like the coat but not so keen on the dress, sorry.

ollie Fingers crossed you'll soon get the Warehouse dress and that it will fit!

plum Sorry to hear about your hair problems. Hope you get some support.

Thank you for dog sympathies - I know it seems silly to those that don't have pets but my mum is so sad and it's never nice to hear your parents upset.

Well done on the shredding everything. I have am useless at just getting on with it. I think it's the time it takes to get through the spiel at the start of the DVD that puts me off [lame excuse ]

OWW - like the sound of the hummingbird wallpaper.