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

millionaire, it was a breton linen cowl neck dress from Jigsaw last year. The problem was it was very see through, so you had to wear a spanx half slip (in summer!), and the shape was strange and very A line. Also the Small fitted perfectly, and at the time, I hadn't lost all my weight, and had never been a Small in my life! It was a good idea though, just poorly executed. I should have listened to a couple of other W&A'ers who had bought it first.
But I do have in mind some linen jersey for this summer as it was so cool. Were you around when I linked this year's anglomania version?

Skinnies turned out to be jeggins, material nice and soft but too low-rise to feel comfortable. Or maybe I shouldn't have tried them on immediately after lunch. Oh well, back they go. Need to replace my one pair of H&M skinnies from last summer as the colour is starting to fade a little at the knees. Not sure if I should invest in premium denim or get an H&M replacement

Always sounds to me that you do a hell of a lot of work actually Tracey

Ooh, I like this navy top. Phase 8 again!

Verity - thinking of you - that must be very harrowing.

Tracey - giving up dairy?! Not fun. But you have a beautiful nose don't you (I seem to recall)...so no added benefits of an operation (as there would be for me!).

Bloss - I love that dress...but suspect the pink isn't a 'winter' one? What do you reckon? It looks a little 'dusky' to me.

Thank you all for fab cake links - really beautiful...what to choose?! I suspect fairy castle cake maybe the winner...but off to have another proper look.

By lucky chance I have found a 'not too formal' black suit on sale in our local children's shop (stock in gap, H&M and M&S were shocking...almost empty shelves...very odd)...it's quite a heavy wool so not too formal (and he'll be able to wear trousers another time without them looking too stuffy). I take your point about age appropriate and he'll probably wear it with a jumper rather than shirt etc.

Yep agree, since when does looking after 3 by yourself not qualify as work!

When my mum went back to work after 21 year absence from paid workforce (she had children under 5 continually for 21 years ) she put ALL her work looking after us and the home for all those years down as experience on her CV and rightly so IMO

NY & LTEC - just wondering which is the easier 'fairy castle' cake? Both pics look beautiful?! Any advice?

Sorry to hear of sinus trouble Tracey and Mill, my Mum had terrible sinus problems for years and years. She had a deviated septum - whether the two were linked I don't know. She had an operation 3 years ago and has had no problems since. We teased her mercilessly due to a 'deviated septum' often being quoted as the motive behind celeb nose-jobs. You could not meet a woman less likely to have a nose-job. FWIW she was also advised to give up dairy and it made a small difference, but not one big enough to warrant it.

Mini meet-up sounds lovely.

DH is around a lot, which suits us both to an extent. I sometimes think our relationship would benefit from more time apart - we can be a bit uncommunicative after 8pm.

Picked up a very pretty white cotton Calvin Klein blouse today in Oxfam for a fiver. Love it when that happens.

OWW your post has prompted me to make the most of DCs napping together and watch Glee. It sometimes makes me cringe a little as think I may have had a touch of the Rachel Bergs at school. I was going to be an actress, you see...

Good luck with the cake hells. My dc2 loved Hungry Caterpillar, could stop her crying at 10 paces. It's funny how it's everywhere now as it wasn't at the time. I'm really looking forward to making a pink cake for dd's second birthday next October so I will follow your progress! But that poodle plum, incredible!
hells, the colour is supposed to be raspberry, which is one of my best colours. I'm regretting not buying the navy janice. I think that dress could have been good for summer too. (Disclaimer, we have a lot of glass in the house and although there is frost on the fields, my house is boiling as the sun comes through the glass. I will stop talking about summer clothes now!)
I should be working on my application form now DD's sleeping buy am being distracted by clothes I could wear if I got the job. How warped!
There are big changes afoot for the schools in this area, and I have 2 meetings to go to later with the governors. I may miss my 6 pack appointment. (Priorities, also warped).

cake that's exactly what I needed re HH, thanks. I couldn't see how the shape would be flattering, but like you am drawn to the fabric. I will need to begin my search for my 40th birthday frock in earnest soon, and meanwhile am keeping my eyes open for something fabulous!

Wow at children under 5 for 21 years mac! I feel like a lightweight!

oww thanks for the hungry caterpillar link - I've just booked a party at local pool for DS3's 3rd birthday, so was looking for a portable cake idea. That looks ideal!

fleecy Amazon have very cheap phone cases - I have the purple of this one and it's fine. Also red, orange, pink, black.

The daughter (18yo) of my housekeeper (36yo) is expecting dc1, due tomorrow . Hope she brings the lo round sometimes

Yes, hope you are ok Verity. Sounds like such a difficult time.

Quite agree with mac - i looked after 4 kids for an afternoon once and was far more knackered than I am after a 12 hour work day! Also, your commitment to supporting the school etc is fab, and something that I wish I could do. That is something that is impacted on by DH being away - it would involve me having a babysitter to support the PTA, or do anything 'voluntary'/hobbyish outside the home. Def a down side in retrospect.

Hells - from the bit I remember doing with DH, that cake is mainly a clever construction job, It is 2 choc sponges underneath that he made(DD very specific on wanting 'a chocolate cake with pink icing'.)Whipped up the pink icing. Then just a matter of buying various cake decorations, and cones/choc fingers/choc rolls for the towers/turrets and gates.

I have just found out I have 2 job interviews next week, so need to get better fast!! To add to the 'fun' DH has just phoned me to say that he has been rung and asked if he wishes to apply for a particular job. It is quite a prestigious one....but not as 'high flying' as one or two other ones that coming up within the next couple of months. He is not sure whether to put his hat into the ring for this one or not - it is not the one he really wants, but will he look dodgy by avoiding it....and then he may not get an offer for the other ones?!! All this means our geographical location is completely up in the air, so I wont know whether to accept either of these jobs next week IF ( a big if!) I am offered one or both of them. Hmmmmm

That should read 'quite agree with Mac on tracey

That sounds exciting notyummy, what will you wear?

Lot of change concerning jobs on this thread at the moment. Always a bit unsettling but exciting too I think. Hope that you'll all reach a decision you can be happy with!

Ooooh thanks for all your nice comments

And now in full domestic mode am going to watch Bea paint whilst I start day one of marmalade making.

They are both fairly senior civil service Blossoming - so I think I will play it safe and do Jigsaw trouser suit for one, and possibly a skirt suit for the other. Will choose a couple of nice tops that make me feel confident to go with them. That approach has worked in the past at interview for me....although to be fair I have never been trying to impress anyone in a creative industry with my 'stand-out' style and flare!!

Where would I look for a good skirt/trouser suit notyummy? Not inspired by the Jigsaw ones atm. I would prefer a dark grey colour.

Marmalade making?

you are my new crush tracey...

Oh, and if I get an interview, I want to wear this blouse.
Have all you leopard fans seen these?

Depends on how much you wish to invest Bloss!

I think Jaeger have got some bargains at the moment tbh:

jacket

skirt

Thanks for those notyummy.
Right, am off! Dd waking.

Oooh, look at this ladies - quite a bargain I think!

Hello all
MInimeetup sounds great.

MY dinner was fun but had to leave really early to get there on the bus and missed all your shoe advice. In the end opted for nude stockings and an old pair of Cole Haan heels. Effect obviously quite good as was wolfwhistled by Russian men in flashy suits on the way there. Hee.

Tracey Neti Pots are the best for your saline wash. THey really do work once you get through the weirdness of pouring water through your own nose and watching drain out the other nostril. I had a horrific sinus infection while pg and it was the only thing I could do.

Bunny and your tummy muscles! It turns out I have a gap all the way down my tummy muscles, two inches at the widest part. Saw gp yesterday and highly rec private physio today as I want to get it sorted while on mat leave. Physio thought that it was correctable but will require daily exercise. I am going to see her again in a couple of months to check on closure. She did say exercise works best the earlier you do it so at 9 months post partum it was time to get going. Mine caused apparently by DS having transverse lie for 6 weeks or so in the middle of the pregnancy.

NY Geographical uncertainty must be killing. But under the circs I would definitely accept the job, if offered, and then back out afterwards. Given your marital situation I think anyone would understand. Are you going to have to take yourself to get a job as a showgirl/blackjack dealer/CSI?

ALso forgot to say I saw MIranda Kerr in RL in Australia a couple of years ago at a show taping, quite odd as you saw her in person and on a monitor at the same time. She is lovely, quite slim and in fact healthy and normal in the figure department. But boy, is she SERIOUSLY photogenic. On stage at the show: pretty girl. On the monitor: mesmerising goddess. She does look gorgeous in that pic.