Happy Birthday Wise & Avid Girls!

[blossoming]

New Thread

Carrot Cake bars, or Orange Bars as they're known here, are a big fave. They taste amazing. 'Bar in the car' is DS' catchphrase.

Just finishing off Harry Eastwood's Heartache Chocolate Cake. DS and I have completely trashed the kitchen.

Sorry not been around much - have dd2 clinging to me limpet-like with a raging temp and need to go out in a bit to collect dd1 from play date.

Sorry to hear both Hells and Everything's news

Hello to the newly de-lurked

Tobermory Tracey have you got your gilet yet? Still waiting for delivery of mine - had words with My Wardrobe today and apparently should be here today with DHL but normally he has come by now so think it my not come today

Hells & Everything Sorry you are both having tough times at the moment.

Happy Birthday to you all. I have to say that even though I have lurked for a year, you have all been an absolute inspiration and not just in a Style & Beauty sense.

Red the HH in an emerald green you say....oh....sounds right up my street. Now where did you see that??

Red it was on a rail of clothes tried on for a photo-shoot so I wouldn't know where you could actually buy it. This was in July as well. This is it, have had a quick search online and can't see it for sale in the UK.

It would suit you vey much.

Oo-er - just seen the mention on another thread of Jamie (Oliver) at Home parties and had a look online. They only do them in the UK but are looking to start doing them in The Netherlands from summer 2011 and looking for consultants - so impulsively filled in the enquiry form re becoming one!!!
No idea if I want to follow it through (esp as no experience of direct selling and they may want Dutch speakers!) but it can't hurt finding out what it involves. Would like to at least host a party - gotta be better than Tupperware!
I am now sitting here dreaming about a kitchen full of Jamie products!

Good for you ollie. Nothing ventured....!!
I had a good chat with the headmaster of the school where the job is at lunchtime. He was positive, friendly and is sending me an application pack.
I have also ordered several teaching help books and teachin cv help from amazon!

esher Hope DD2 will be better soon and you'll get some rest too.

bloss and ollie Exciting news about job opportunities. Ollie I had heard about that JO Tupperware style business too. Clever idea, I think! He must have such good business advisors.

HELLS andEverthing sorry to hear your bad news, 'hope that tomorrow will be a better day.

Verity How is your Aunt? I hope she is getting better.

Marsha Thanks again for hard work on MOAM.

OWW I too have lots of JO kitchenalia, they really are good products.

That's really interesting everything because I loved the orange on her but I thought number three was too heavy and overpowered her.

Exciting times bloss - how do you feel about it?

That's great, Blossoming. Think of the shopping you could do!

Hells, sorry about your grandmother.

NY, Tracey and Tracey's DS, hope you are feeling better.

*fleecy, I like to take an idea and embrace it wholeheartedly! I am really excited at the prospect. Something is stirring within me that I haven't felt for a long time. I've been at home for 6 years and although I'm a natural in the kitchen and I love long walks, I'm not a natural with children. My dh is so much better at playing with them than me. I don't feel stimulated at home at all. I think it's time for me. If I don't get this job I'm going to keep looking as I'm confident it's the right decision.

Yes carciofi, the clothes, the bags..
Are you outfitted for your meet up tomorrow?

Not really ... I'm living in my skinny jeans while I still can!

That's fab! I know I felt lighter for going back to work - sounds like it will be the same for you. Think of all the spending money

Red (Think I will need to be known as Liquorice to avoid confusion ) thanks for that. Think a little international Ebay trawl is required! Your photos are fab! You are a natural beauty!

I have a wedding to attend in April and need to earn my W&A stripes, so have decided to kill two birds with one stone and am now on Shred Day 6. Am I deluding myself or can the results be seen this quickly? I am sure my waist looks more defined? [shocked]

Happy Birthday all. Goodness was it only a year ago?

Sorry about all the illness and bad news on what is officially the most miserable day of the year.

to Hells and Everything sorry about your news.

Hope the job works out for you Bloss
Thanks NY for all your work on MOAMU.

Fleecy sorry about the tax. I feel your pain as had a similar shock last year.

Marsha well done on your windfall. Think I've missed the backstory on the o/s invoice remind me what is it you do?

Which reminds me what is the members' club - I'm always on the lookout for new venues

Am still without LV scarf which has yet to arrive in Selfros.

Have just sold some bits on ebay for £££ so that will pay for the HH I ordered yesterday and another treat. Tell me what is good about the LoveStory jeans?

Am watching Baking Made Easy. How does Lorraine stay so slim, whilst baking such delicious stuff?

Blossoming, I feel exactly the same, I know I am lucky to have so much time with DD but I miss my job (and not just for the salary). DH doesn't get it at all. I was planning to go back to work this year but I guess I will have to shelve that plan for a while.

Red and Red ... just had a look at your photos, you are both gorgeous.

Have been to a body pump class (gym has classes/ creche for DC). Feeling virtuous but still need to order those weights for the shred so perhaps not all that virtuous really!

red- I have added you to my friends list. Please let me know if you can't see the pics.

roary- lovely photo. It is hard to see (small size pic) but I think you have paler skin and darker hair than me.
I had another look at everything's links and think I may be a deep autumn too.
everything-same as roary- I am a bit darker skinned and lighter haired.
I was looking at the WIT pictures and I think my colouring is pretty similar to her- a little less olive toned and much less pretty/ regular featured though :)

bloss- it sounds as if this job could be just the right thing for you at this stage! I kind of feel that I should be challenging myself a bit more on the work front too. I feel like I just manage to keep up at the moment and could do better if that makes sense. I had a hard time 2 1/2 years work wise which knocked my confidence so probably understandable. It can be hard because of DH's job I am usually unable to attend evening meetings, etc, and tend to feel to exhausted come evening to want to start reading medical literature!

Liquorice , you're not kidding yourself. I also saw results very quickly, but wait for the jump to level 2 (if you're not there already), it is haaaaard. Good luck with the green HH hunt and thank you for your compliment.

Thank you too Carciofi. There is a reason for posting an array of pics of myself - was hoping for some fringe input. What works?

Happy Birthday to W&A!

Can't believe a year has gone by.

Hope those with sick DC's and family make a quick recovery.

Also hope that ny is feeling better.

everything - your positive approach is always shining through. Thinking of you.

hells - so sorry for you and your family.

Bloss, it's lovely to read the enthusiasm and excitement in your posts about the job.

I've spent the last year trying to come up with ways to work from home on a part-time basis, but haven't found anything viable yet. Tutoring the obvious option, but the prime tutoring window is 4-6, when I'm really needed round here. Have made some lovely personalised quilts for babies, but it is a labour of love and not much reward for the work put in. It would be nice to have a bit of extra cash but moreover, I miss the stimulation and engaging my brain. I plan to go back, probably part-time, when DD is 2 or thereabouts.

Meanwhile, if anyone has the perfect work-from-home solution, evenings only (yeah, right), do let me know.

Thanks Looby, echo all other's sentiments, all of you are gorgeous!

The 2 Reds are beautiful, this thread has a very high quotient of gorgeous posters!

Bloss what great news about the job, you sound so excited about it. Fingers crossed for you

Hells so sorry to hera about your grandmother, I hope you are OK.

Everything I couldn't believe your post today, you have so much on your plate at the moment, I hope it all works out for you.

Tracey how is ds? There are some many fluey illnesses around at the moment. My 3 had the dreaded Swine flu last winter, and while the first few days were miserable they were back to normal within a week. Hopefully it'll be a mild dose.

Kildare love the sound of your London trip! Thanks for asking about my aunt. On the positve side she is back in Ireland, but she has had quite a bad diagnosis which was really a shock. She is stable at the moment and is a fighter, so trying to stay positive.

Carciofi I can't believe you are still in your skinny jeans! Did any more parcels turn up? Enjoy your mini-meet-up

Fritzi sorry your morning off didn't go as planned, but hope you had a relaxing day anyway.

Choo dying to hear your update on the LV.

Marsha great to hear your invoice has been settled. I am full of admiration that you will be saving it, I assummed you would be heading straight to Liberty