Whatever you want, whatever you like, be WISE and AVID, so do your sums, and get it right....!

[DolceeBanana]

New thread...sorry bit lame compared to normal, but thought I'd bite the bullet (as it were)....

bet it Chesneys Tracey

Bloss....wowee! Gorgeous photo and love jacket!

Loobylu- can I be added too purleese? Thanks

Oh yes, Millie. In terms of good hotels in London with families that don't cost a fortune...it depends on exactly how central and what facilities I suppose. The 3 I would highlight are the Novotel Kings Cross, ad the Premier Inn Kings Cross (sounds a bit grim, but it is new, bright and I have stayed there 4/5 times...the staff are some of the friendliest and well trained I have met in any London hotel, and I include the Ritz, Four Seasons and Sofitel in that, geuninely!) The other one is the Novotel Paddington, which is new and does good rates at weekends. It has a lovely pool, which is good for unwinding with the kids when the city gets too much. I paid no more then £120 per room per night, B and B (for 3) for any of them.

Ants, it was me, I also bought the scarf (scarf addict).

I like the Good Wife. Julianna Margulies is ageing well, lucky woman!

NY your weekend sounds great, glad you had fun.

Zembo hope everything is ok and you are able to see someone very quickly.

Carciofi I love the name Clara too and congratulations re girl!!

Ltec yes it is odd to be in waiting, sort of, for so long. Although I doubt ds2 will be self-weaning any time soon. big ol' sausage that he is.. I do need to reduce bf'ding a little bit.

Hells / Tracey this is a bit dull but I am going crossed-eyed trying to sort out new Kerastase shampoo. Is this the volume stuff you bought? Did you bother with the Masque stuff for after washing your hair?

TraceyB I meant to say ages ago I loved these Marant shoes you linked. At first I was like ach! They are too dainty to be like me, I will blunder in to the meet up not dainty nor neat and be a surprise. But I looked again and love the colour, and the style.

Marsha - I always get rinse out conditioners and I alternate between that range and the bain satin stuff. But to be honest it really depends on your hair....mine is greasy (ish) roots, coloured (to get rid of grey) and slightly fine.

Marsha quickly dropping in to say beware dc3 conceived in nearly exactly your circs except ds2 was only 8 months old . I thought I had food poisoning for ages before dh told me I was pg

Vin how do I donate to your charity? (PM me or link to site?)

I also watched the last series of 'The Good Wife' and found it entertaining although acting not exactly top notch and the story lines v far fetched. Still, that's half the fun of TV sometimes!
Is there another series coming out?

vin and red I really admire the fact that you are campaigning and raising money for the charities dear to your heart.

Re discussion about jealousy re friends/ acquaintances expecting DDs. I think it is completely natural to feel a pang of jealousy whether it's about the sex of the baby or just the pregnancy and even more so for some of you because of your sad losses. I feel a little pang when a friend announces a pregnancy because in my heart, I would like a 4th baby but it is unlikely we will have one. Then, I put on my sensible hat and remember just how much work a newborn (and another child in the family) creates!

NY- sounds like you had a lovely w/end :)

She looks amazing Carciofi. DH looks a tiny but like Josh Charles, which I always enjoy. Although he also looks a bit like Matt Allwright. Not as favourable a comparison.

Yes Looby has already started, but wasn't publicised at all. I'm catching up on 4od. Still no resolution to the whole Alicia/Will/Peter thing. Annoying. Agree with you that acting is not great, but I do enjoy.

carciofi well thanks for the tip about the crumpet scarf. I bought it in pink and I love it. Especially with my Bloss Pure jacket!!!!!!

So have been shredding for 21 days now. Jesus! Have just done level 3 for the first time and am puddle on the bed. Anyway had a massive trying on session last night and was thrilled to be back in about 2/3 of my wardrobe!! Including my black trousers. Trouble is it has been at least 3 years since I have been in them as have been pregnant forever. So on look out for lovely tops to go with. I have very large boobs - 34 F and really no waist. Am hoping that shredding will give me some 'in' between my shoulders and my bum....am just about squeezing into a size 12. I think I suit a scoop neck ( because of boobs) so if anyone comes across any lovely tops on their travels I am very interested.

Looby, I know that pang too well. I have two friends who have 2 DCs, like me, who are both planning to have a 3rd, probably fairly soon. I know that will hit me hard. Would love another, but know that, really, it would be too much for us to deal with. Friend who has 3 revealed today she is planning a 4th, though not for a while-she has youth on her side, so can afford to wait. Oh, but I'd love a little Nancy Joan.

Ants what has happend to your arms and legs? Are they Aniston-like?

Sorry for the slightly alarming post earlier ladies -this is not really the place for such thing, although I do feel as though I'm amongst close friends here

I'm feeling much better but need to get myself sorted. Looby thanks for your sweet offer of PM help, but wouldn't be fair to involve you. My DH is living with me and my sx and is none the wiser! I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet as have work tomorrow -will be taking prophylactic analgesics! The pain in incapacitating (and I can usually cope with a lot of pain) so v inconvenient and affecting life a lot. Anyway thanks for all your kindness ladies(once again) - off to bed now!

plum > arms and legs nothing like the lovely Jen's just not my worst point. Whilst having a post work out bath just now had a revelation. My body looks like I am wearing a lifejacket. I have all my extra padding round my middle....sigh. Apparently that is the most unhealthy place to carry extra weight. So am trying to shift it. Tis hard though as do love food.

zembo of course you should share on here. I hope what you are realising is that most of us have had similar losses and understand only too well how emotionally and physically loosing a baby hits you. When I lost my babyI felt almost invisible. Some, not all, but some friends and acquaintances, could barely bring themselves to mention my loss let alone talk to me about it and I was often too shell shocked, shy or simply just struggling to hold it together most of the time to raise it with them which led to some bazaar exchanges along the line of " so what have you been up to" me, " nothing much..." When people did talk to me about my baby I did really appreciate it. So I guess I am saying please do talk about it. Sadly some of us really do understand and you will find comfort in some really strange and unexpected places. So why not on a style thread. Take care. Oh and of course your health is a priority and more important than work tomorrow so if you are still suffering please take yourself off to see a doctor / have scan. Work can wait.

Another one here a bedraggled mess after moving up to Level 2 (of 2) of Six week six pack. I've done 3 weeks now. More cardio than level 1. When I'm done I'm going to alternate it with Shred level 3.

ant, what about the cowl neck sweater on Phase 8 site? Lovely grey one.

So I'm reading my first non chick lit book in years. One Day. Really enjoying it.

..dd's 4th birthday weekend/party..survived(just about!)looking forward to catching up on thread tomorrow.hope good weekends for all.cake pic on profile...apologies..pinktastic as requested bt dd

ant Well done on shredding! Sorry to hear about your MC. So terrible that so many of you here have gone through this...

bloss One day is a good read! I'm reading The Group but I'm not enjoying it as much as I thought I would.

ants - have just started shredding (2 days so far ). Am hoping to get rid of my slightly wobbly thighs and tummy! I wish it would give me back my boobs (those were lost after 1st pregnancy/ breast feeding stint- not that I was ever busty but I was quite content ifswim).

plum that pang to have another child is a hard one. I tend to be one of those people who reacts with their heart first even though I know that we would really struggle to cope in every way. By the time we could afford some help/ decent childcare, etc (once DH becomes a Consultant and we possibly move abroad, etc), I suspect I may feel that I am too old or that the gap between 3 and 4 is too large!
I would prefer it if we both felt that we didn't want another DC but neither of us feel that way!
Still, it is only a pang- hardly a major problem compared to those other people are suffering! :)

That's frustrating that they didn't advertise the series well red. I will see if I can retrieve an episode of two!

zembo- I understand and it can be very hard at times to pin point the cause of pain. However, as I'm sure you know, you should see your GP tomorrow and clearly explain how much pain you have been in and I'm sure they will organise a USS and consider treating you for an infection if you have any signs of one.
Do take care of yourself :)

vin- I really like the skirt you linked to earlier!

Bloss you really are a hardcore shredder. I also really enjoyed One Day. One of those books that I was so disappointed to finish as it meant I couldn't experience how much I enjoyed it again. If that makes sense.

Well done on your shredding too Ants - a huge achievement.

Zembo, I just wanted to second Ants' incredibly articulate and thoughtfully written post. Your health really is the priority, work can wait.

Ant well done re Shred. I'm still on Level One - and expect to be for a few more weeks! Turns out I have no upper body strength - can't do more than 4/5 press ups in a row! Shameful really.

Fritzi -I've got The Group on my Amazon wish list. I'm about to start The Help - for a future Book Club meeting and waiting for the next couple of Alexander McCall Smith's to be published. Hothouse Flower has some good reviews too.

Oh Reine - I always wanted that cake when I was little! I bet your DD was thrilled

Zembo - so sorry you're having such a horrible time of it. It doesn't sound right at all, especially to be so severe. I think it says a lot about you that you can describe being in so much pain as 'inconvenient'. Could you ask your DH to speak to your sister for you?

Also very sorry about your baby ants. Sounds like you're doing good work on the shred. I will keep an eye out for some lovely tops for you.

I have been good on the exercise front this week - dance aerobics, gym, body conditioning, cardio combat, zumba, shred, country walk, more shred!

Mrsjuan - impressive list! How did you find zumba?!

Zembo so sorry you're experiencing such discomfort and worry. Hope you are okay and get some answers soon

NY glad you had such a good weekend

good work on the exercise front everyone

Reine fabulous cake, I made that one for my sister years ago (I am much older than she is and mum is pretty useless at cakes)

I am not going to buy this - but would like to.

Buy it cake and whilst you're at it - get these shoes too.

zembo really sorry you are in pain. Hope you have a restful night, and feel better in the morning.

January total so far

Davina dress £195
Gold Blochs £48

Just read Sunday Times, not feeling any inspiration from ST style this week.

Evening ladies, have just attempted to catch up on thread - it moves so fast!

went to Ladies Charity lunch on Friday (wore black Armani dress) was exhausted yesterday and am only finished catching up on weekend chores now.

Saw The Kings Speech to-day, really great movie that we could enjoy with the DCs.

Zembo I too am thinking of you and do hope that you manage to get some sleep tonight.

On the subject of DDs, I am the mother of 3 DDs, and the only mum amongst my friends to have DDs, they all have had DSs gone for the third only to have another DS, and it has often been said to me how many of them yearn for a DD, funnily enough we never felt that way about having a DS - not sure what my point is! - Do men yearn for sons as much as women yearn for daughters?

All the shredders, well done, you put me to shame.

Any of you wise ladies any tips on how to motivate a 15 year old DD to study for exams?