Happy Birthday Wise & Avid Girls!

[blossoming]

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9am at LHR for me Fritzi! I'm heading straight for Starbucks!

Tracey - I wont be getting to London until mid-afternoon at the earliest so I can actually see Dh for a few hours - a rarity these days!!

Plum - Spill on the wedding dress shopping. I love it!! I did two big expeditions, one with bridesmaids and one with my mum and MIL. Was great fun. Almost worth getting hitched again (but hopefully not!) Perhaps some WAGtastic renewal of vows on the 10th anniversary though....? I have been married twice (child bride the first time round, natch ) and the few pics that remain of the first one are slightly embarrassing....all big hair and big dress . In fact I nearly made it three times by being engaged to someone else as well (just call me Zsa Zsa!)

DD having her playdate with best male friend at the moment. She insisted on getting dresses up in new dress and sparkily shoes...should I be worried??

Oh yes - general thoughts on venue. Will do a PM with anything more specific.

Agree with thoughts on anything that is going to be incredibly loud, with DJ. Atmosphere is one thing, however part of the reason we are meeting up is to chat in real life, not lip read [old gimmer emoticon].

I suppose the other general thought is that we are unlikely to find somewhere that is the ideal venue for every single person (i.e the one they would chose for their very own glamorous night out.) If we are looking for somewhere that we can all afford to buy a few drinks in and is geographically within reach, then some of the 'nice to haves' may end up slipping off the end of the selection criteria.

delurking to thank you all for your sartorial musings that meant I tried on and bought the W&A favourite, navy Janice, today at a bargainous £35 in the sale - I love it

DD currently running around the house like a mini Courtney Love in smudged pink lipgloss and an askew tiara, shouting 'I told you that you would love it when I kissed you' to a terrified 4 year old boy. I blame the parents...

Hi vino what a welcome! Well I do have The Shred DVD but it's currently at PILs in the DVD slot of a telly we have loaned them so I can't do it at the mo! Never got past day 10 yet but maybe one day.... and I have a leopard print scarf...well on the way to earning my W&A stripes (breton natch!)

I had a bit of a spree today and got some new Martha's a gap denim mini and a few Miso tops as well as good old Janice as my wardrobe was looking rather sparse following a massive throw out of everything that was old/ill fitting/not "feel good" a fortnight back...new purchases all very plain though, navys/creams/greys...need some more inspiration for prints/colours for Spring I think...

Hi Vin hope all is good with you

Ny parcel sent hope ok if not don't feel bad to get rid

I have suddenly decided i am going to try to spend 30 days buying nothing new, starting tomorrow of course as already got a new sexy dress today (grey ruched lace cleavage flashing & figure hugging to the knee) to wear out with DH when he gets back at end of month for a few days (his folks will also be around to babysit so am hopeful of night out)

Its River Island but was second hand (7.99 at Herne Hill opshop - incidentally my new local favourite LTEC very good pickings!) Also got a cat costume for DD1 (she is delighted and wearing it now), and a Tyhritt floral corduroy shirt and Baby K gold tiered lace skirt (brand new) for DD2 to grow into, 4.99 each.

I am going to ebay some stuff and give away lots and just try to wear what I already have - as I have LOADS!!!

Wish me luck. Think I will try to stay on the thread as it still gives me inspiration please all remind me if I sound like I am about to spend money - I have to stick to it!

At the end of the 30 days I am going to Dubai for a few days with the girls to see DH so I can buy something there for summer.

oh yes and wearing the shorts with sparkly ballet flats and tights. I likey very much!

Think they would be good with bare legs too as fabric is soft.

good luck Mac! I'm going to have a rule of something must go out (given away as a gift/charity/sold) before something new can come in...

Welcome Faux - great start.

VIn - love the grey L&L...normally their scarves are totallly the wrong colour for a winter (such as the pink one) - but that grey one is lovely. Sorry about job frustrations.

Welcome faux well done out the clearout - I need to follow your lead!

Aaargh, it's like Chinese Whispers on here. I haven't been offered a job! I've been urged to apply!
Dh is really keen. As am I.
It is 32 miles away. On B roads!
I would leave at 7.30am and return at 5. I would still have breakfast and dinner with the dcs.

Part time is not an option. But then you get all the school holidays with the dcs.
One of the local mums who I like very much: her boys are in ds's class, go to Sunday school with him, play rugby with him, go swimming the same day, told me coincidentally earlier in the week that she is in the final stages of qualifying to be a child minder.
Do I have a chance though? The two teachers I met yesterday are young and childless (at the moment). The person leaving is retired. Maybe they want another newly qualified teacher (cheap), or maybe they want someone with experience (me, 8 years, already had my kids) as the experienced teacher is leaving.
I am being urged by DH to phone the headmaster for an informal chat as requested in the advert for the post I saw in the paper in MIL's house (local paper, not the Times!) Feeling stimulated and enthused at the prospect.
CV might take some work though. Hobbies: umm, shopping, MNing, umm.. Shredding. Does that count?
Enough about that. I am hoping hells that there was no video footage of last night. My shoe boots were so comfortable you would not believe.
Well I made £150 on ebay this week, to cover the Pure jacket. A few things didn't sell abo. If it's Boden, you're guaranteed! Good luck anyway!
traceybath, I'm arriving at 10, then to hairdressers and Selfro's for 12 for make up.

vino, I can give you acid yellow, like in this photo. Looks great with navy. Shame it's sold out.

cake I'm going to play sale roulette on the tank, but thanks I'm holding out for the blue lace top and if that gets reduced, I'll order both. Will be happy to order tank then for you too if you don't get it before. How many did your local store have in?

looby I remember us both liking the Dune boots and saying back then that we were waiting for them to go into the sales. Can't believe everything I like is still full price!

Have listed half a dozen things on e-bay. Fingers crossed (I find it very exciting - bloss are your auctions ending tonight?)

Agree about scarves vin - definitely need some lightweight ones in the wardrobe

Back from pizza express with DH and the 3 dc's - is eating out supposed to be fun?

Thank goodness for loads of other families and delightful waitress who had 5 children. To be fair boys delightful but oh bea, oh bea oh bea . . .

Will drink more wine and return

I can believe it ABO. When I worked in fashion our bestsellers (the really flattering stuff that would fly out of the shop) never went on sale because it didn't need to!

However other stuff that wouldn't sell at full price because too risque, too bright, too "whatever" would most probably sell at 50% off.

I expect with shoes etc its a similar story or they go on really pathetic sale like 20%.

Wow Bloss that sounds like a big deal in terms of change of life. One of my best pals is a secondary teacher just out of Bristol (she recently moved from London). She is havng a nightmare finding the right job as she says the market in the more rural areas is really really tight - people just don't move from a good job. I would say go for it and see what happens if you get to the next stage etc - you don't have to commit yet.

i should add that the stuff I liked best did go on sale because my taste wasn't always widely shared

tracey at Bea.. do you have a diva in the making on your hands?

I can sort of manage a meal out with little I at this stage but she is showing all the signs of being a very restaurant unfriendly little madam - unlike her big sister who has always been exemplary in public dining spaces - its my turn I think to be the frazzled one!

bloss re CV - do you have anyone who can help? I could ask my pal if you like about what it should look like these days (she has got down to final 2 out of hundreds of applicants) although she is secondary with recent experience so maybe not too helpful for you.

Thanks macmama. I'm okay with my cv I think. DH will help! But yes, people don't leave good jobs, so I will go for it, and see what happens.
Sympathies with traceybath and her meal out. I love pizza express but dd is a bit of a monster in her high chair when we've been recently.

ABO- typical re boots! Actually, I have to admit that I have enough boots now (bought Gap biker and a long, smart chocolate pair from Hobbs and already had black ones) so don't really need!

For bloss or anyone else- autograph dress although you may tell me that camel doesn't work for Winters!

This is nice too although not draped a la janice

Back later!