Avid and Wise, up to our eyes in new summer buys!

[blossoming]

Where is everybody???

fritzi, write a list of all you need to do.
Prioritize within list.
Write a time estimate for each point.
Challenge yourself to do it quicker.
Finish it Thursday.
Drink loads of wine as reward and buy something lovely just for you.

Fritzi- room at a time. Some tv time for DD or make it a game with you? Don't leave a room or go up the stairs without taking something with you to put away. Can DH help out one night at least and do a room?

I am watching old re-runs of ER at the moment with George Clooney in. Tv Gold. I had forgotten just how good it is. Really compulsive and emotional viewing.

Fritzi - get in some emergency cleaners through an agency and direct them.

I am all about the staff

Dolcee - bummer about the house but there will be a better one I'm sure.

Fritzi Don't forget to start the list with something that you've already completed!

Thanks guys, feeling much better already! Will do the living room before I go to bed tonight and have decided to focus on downstairs living areas only as guests are only for the day and not staying overnight. Finishing by Thursday is a good plan too. That leaves Friday for shopping and Sat for cake/present wrapping/putting up bunting.

Evening.

Also clinks glasses with marsha and fritzi.

Left the house at 05.50 this morning, arrived home at 19.00 tonight. Am exhausted, but hot bath and vodka and lime in hand, so I am feeling better.

fritzi - I do have a slightly odd technique with regard to household management, that helps get me in the 'zone' of being organised. I set myself a task of sorting out 10 things at a time in each room. I can't leave the room until I have done those ten things. Don't pick big jobs, like re-arranging your whole wardrobe. But jobs like, sorting through a pile of post or putting a pile of washing away. I find that doing this gets the house in a more tidy, reasonable state and then the cleaning itself is much quicker and easier. I also apply this rule with emptying the dishwasher in the morning, so I have to put away 10 items from it until I allow myself to put the kettle on!

Works for me, but reading that back, I do sound strange.

VB I love that dress too. I posted ages ago about seeing a girl wearing it who was young, toned and tanned and looked stunning in it. Very frustrating that it's old stock. this is similar, and doesn't look as fitted in RL though.

OWW Ouch, for DS. Cream containing a small amount of cortisol is ok in children, it's a naturally occurring chemical found in our bodies. Hope he is better soon.

I have worn these shoes with my Houlihans for smarter wear, and also ballet flats for day wear. Shark skin fans, <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.denimology.com/2010/06/cindy-crawford-j-brand-houlihan-cargos-sharkskin-jt1-thumb-440x714-43024.jpg&imgrefurl=www.denimology.com/2010/06/cindy_crawford_in_j_brand_houlihan_cargos.php&usg=__2yD6QwSB3LULDH2m1_deN71Q_ok=&h=714&w=439&sz=68&hl=en&start=0&sig2=jLgFDLWDk8xQ3VgCukZUWA&zoom=1&tbnid=5BiX4oWiX-yotM:&tbnh=160&tbnw=102&ei=TNHSTcbDJsiChQelpYiJCg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsharkskin%2Bhoulihan%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1261%26bih%3D628%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=131&vpy=44&dur=448&hovh=286&hovw=176&tx=107&ty=165&page=1&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cindy Crawford is looking fab in them.

Dolcee Sorry to hear about the house. It's just so stressful and uncertain. Really do hope that your property fairy is looking out for you!

Bloss Mango have lots of emerald and azure in at the moment. Saw this top the otehr and thought of you.

Fritzi - if I need a quick tidy up but really have no time, I get a huge bag and run round putting all the stuff that needs to be put away into it (usually post thats been left on the table, toys that are in the wrong room/place,) - then I stash the bag somewhere and deal with it when visitors have gone home! Usually works (unless I forget about it and then find it lurking 2 weeks later!)

Also - buy lots of flowers and place around the house - always makes a room feel nicer imo! And don't forget, its only Tuesday - you have loads of time. Break all the jobs down (on a to do list of course) and getting ticking!

Nice top wideawake! No Mango near me though. Will have to be put on the list for when I'm in a better shopping location!

ollie The bin bag approach sounds very tempting but I think I would never get around to emptying it afterwards .

wan Your tidying technique is certainly different but I'll give it a go tomorrow. Think I need a few more smarter tops to wear with houlis à la Cindy.

Quickly running in before I head to bed to say hi - thanks for thinking of DH, OWW, no results yet so will need to wait a little longer. But the longer the wait, the less likely it is that there is a problem (well that's my rationale, anyway).

The sessun dress arrived, and I love the shape, colour and fabric - but the skirt bit is a bit see-through, so not quite sure. The fabric is quite clingy so not sure what might work underneath it.

And the £35 UO suede messenger bag is lovely, but one is enough I think.

Right, need sleep. I'm off to a mum and baby yoga class tomorrow morning for the first time - everyone else will no doubt be there with newborns, but if I don't take A then I can't go!

apuski Could a silk slip work underneath your new dress?

everyspring Hope you'll feel better tomorrow!

Hello everyone. I'll join Marsha and Fritzl in that galss of wine, if you don't mind

The last few days have been hell. DD2 has been a real handful. She has only just goen to sleep at 11.15 and I'm sure she'll wake up a couple of times in the night. She sleeps very little during the day too, and only if I'm holding her. Please let this be a phase and not a personality transplant

everyspring Are you ok? I remember you were feeling a little down a while ago. Hope it's just tiredness or stress ("just"? what do I mean "just"?) which will pass soon.

dolcee sorry about the house. Just convince yourself that it was for the best...your real dream house is waiting for you out there

OWW hope your ds is ok?

verity and rufus how did the Queen's visit go? Did she bring the city to a standstill?

katy I noticed that red Grecian dress too. It is a real beauty. How silly of WIT to feature something that will never come to the UK

Good morning. Up with the lark this morning, courtesy of DS at 05.00.

every sorry to hear that you are feeling low at the moment. Is there anything we can help with? I am a myers briggs addict too, and firmly believe in understanding 'why' people act and react in the way they do. I found the last one I did a few years ago, I'm an ESFP.

Nan sorry that you are getting broken sleep. I am sure that it it will be just one of those things. I am bracing myself, DS's nursery has had some chickenpox cases - I suspect many a sleepless night to be had if he gets it.

OWW how's DS today?

Bloss We have a mango concession here in House of Fraser. Would be happy to pick up a top and post for you if you want to risk the sizing.

Apuski Enjoy your yoga class today, and hoping you hear about DH's biopsy soon and get good news.

My parents are coming over today, as next week they are off for a month on holiday and so want to see DS. It will be nice to see them, but sometimes seeing my Mum often raises anxieties in me. She doesn't get my life and often judges me and my parenting. She can't seem to understand that choices I make for DS are often based on external factors, and that, like any parent, you try make the best you can with the situation you have got.

I am probably not making much sense, but for example she'll question why he is getting a ham sandwich and fruit for lunch rather than a hot meal. I do such smile and nod, but the child in me want's to scream.."because a) I am bloody knackered and can't find the time to always cook for him and just giving him a sandwich requires making the bread, sourcing special margarine etc....GAH!!!!"

Yesterday her only reply to the fact that I had worked a 14 hour day with no lunch break was, "Well at least you'll lose weight at last".

Rant over - my apologies.

Very overcast here today, so I think I'll be wearing Houlihans and ballet flats today and I am going to investigate Bloss's latest books in Waterstone's.

Everyspring, hope you are ok.

Wan, those 5am starts makes for such a long day. If I could get my DD (who is 3!) to eat ham, I'd be happy! Parents can be so criticial, sometimes I am glad we don't have family here. Apart from when I am about to pop, that is. ;)

Apuski, I would try a slip as Fritzi suggests. Enjoy yoga, I did it with DD, hopefully I can find a class around here for the autumn.

No S&B news from me, think I'll just save a bit of money for afterwards at this stage. I am in lust with four bags, better try to whittle that down!

I am reduced to Birkenstocks or Fit Flops for the next few weeks. DH told me that I have feet like a hobbit. Great.

Critical not criticial. Gah!

WAN at your mother's comment. There's critical and there's just plain spiteful

Fritzl just saw you post about de-cluttering. My system is to do it one room at a time, in bursts of 15 minutes. So I'll start with the living room with a binbag next to me , say. I'll start at one surface and then move clockwise round the room doing each surface (tidy, de-clutter, wipe). I can't jump from one surface to the other...I have to finish one thoroughly before I move to the next. This stops me from doing a half-arsed job. Then hoover the floors. I very rarely mop my floors, even though it's wood. I don't know why, I just hate mopping

Apuski - Really hope that you get some good news back about DHs test soon.

Every - Sounds like you are feeling a bit overwhelmed potentially? (I could be mis-interpreting.)It is really not surprising given all the upheaval going on personally and professionally. I really hope you feel better soon.

Apparently nearly all military and ex-military officers are ESTJ (like me!) They haven't worked out if that is because you are more likely to join the military if you are of that psychological 'type', or whether that is because the organisation 'shapes' you into responding that way. Perhaps Apuski will know the answer .

Nan - fingers crossed that DD behaves for you ASAP. I was reading a sleep thread the other day like this . I honestly don't know how people cope (although I realise that is annoying statement - people cope because they have to.) We have been really fortunate with DD and apart from when she is ill she has been a great sleeper since she was tiny. Having said that, she did go through a phase of waking up at 5am when she was about a year old, and DH and I took it in turns to sit in her room cuddling her in the dark and trying to bore her back to sleep! I am sure it is a phase with your DD, as most of these things are. Now my DD is 4, I have adopted an utterly scary demeanour if she dares to venture out of her room between 11pm and 7am for anything other than severe illness or a wee. I am sure it is easier with one though!! I just can't face broken nights on top of DH away and the long commute.... [wimp emoticon]

WAN - Sorry to hear about the stress with your mum.The examples you used certainly would put my back up instantly, so i am not surprised you get wound up.

Carciofi - I am sure you do not have hobbits feet. They cannot be that hairy .

Morning all. I am faffing about trying to work out what to wear shopping. Have decided on smart blazer again with a mac over it, to be removed in shops.

My widest measurement seems to be 1.5 inches less than last week! I have had two episodes of bloating which I think occured after cheese so I need to switch to sheep/goats cheese to see what happens. My middle can increase by 2 inches during such incidents.

I am sure you have lovely feet carciofi. I have bunions, like all the women in my family. But if that's the worst thing I inherit.

Thanks for the offer wan.

Hope things are brighter today everyspring.

Well done Bloss on the inch loss, and very interesting about cheese. I find that dairy tends to bloat me. Luckily, we have lots of dairy substitutes in the house for DS. I really recommend Oatly cream - nice and thick and not too dissimilar to the real thing.

I have realised that I need to be a little and often eater. Yesterday having not ate for ages, I was so bloated - I looked like I was 6 months pregnant. .

Feet are not hairy but quite chubbby now!

Apuski, I am sure you are right, you would have heard very quickly if the results were not good.

Well done, Bloss, on the weight loss. When is your DH's surgery? How is he?

Wow! 1.5 inches. Most impressive.

I am suffering from hormonal hunger at the moment. Was the same yesterday. Keep eyeing up food CONSTANTLY. Ended up caving in yesterday and had a chocolate bar and marmite on toast as a 'snack' between lunch and dinner......

Thanks for asking carciofi. No consultant appointment yet even!! He just worked from home for two days and I've been a good wife ..cooking his favourite lunches etc, so he's in good form!

notyummy, I hate to admit it but 6w6p level 2 gives me backache. What am I doing wrong?

Have just parked in Ch so ready for the shops!

Thanks all. We are now trying to buy another one. How difficult can it be for goodness sake? Rhetorical question. Anyway, blah, blah, blah.....houses schmouses; am going to order the Crew blazer as love it.

I am definitely a little and often grazer...as feel horribly bloated if I don't.

Carciofi - so exciting for you. How are you feeling? Oh, apart from swollen feet etc....gosh my usually slim, narrow feet were like, 'little dough balls' ,to quote my dear Brother, at the end of my third pregnancy...quite a sight!

Notyummy...I always get hormonal hunger pangs...just go with it for now. I do and then back to normal - it's good for the metabolism anyhow.