AVIDly hitting the sales. Let our buys be WISE!

[blossoming]

New thread here!

Good luck bloss.

I am a size 8 so that is a SIGN that I was destined to order the Jalouse boots in stone [evil grin].

I never really got into Faulkner. I am also putting off indefinitely reading either the Road or the Room as both of them, in different ways, sound morbid. Neither do they sound morbid in an arthouse film, artistically challenging, highly skilled sort of way, but in a rather trashy and deliberately dwelling on a shocking subject to get a big readership sort of way. I may however be wrong, as I say I haven't read them.

I cannot call myself highbrow however as the last books I read were Allison Pearman's book about (being a) Welsh David Cassidy fan in the 70s, terry Pratchett's Nation and a Stephanie Meyer (the Host) which was not as awful as I had expected it to be. The first two were very good in their respective ways and I would recommend for light relief.

PS do you think the Jalouse are ok with skirts as well as trouser? In particular, I am wondering whether I can get away with them for work by pretending they are a rather funky alternative to courts?

Also, good luck bloss for the interview!

Go Bloss go!

I tell you what really shocked and affected me, but not in the deliberate way of which you speak herecomes; Run Rabbit, Run. I couldn't bathe the kids for a long time.

Roary's recc Portia - let us know what you think of it.

And on that note, have great days all!

Good morning all.

Thinking of you Bloss - I'm sure you'll be great.

herecomes yes, I think the Jalouse would be perfect with skirts as well as trousers, which is why I love them so much. You got a great price on coggels for them.

Just had a big row with DH on his way out this morning. I hate, hate leaving on a bad note. He is out again overnight tonight, going to see Kings of Leon and then staying in a hotel with a friend, and then tells me he is staying away with work next week too, meaning I'll need to take leave from work for DS. I just happened to comment about how tired I am, and that I would like to be using some of my leave for myself. Oh well, I know I am being unreasonable but it wouldn't have killed him to just acknowledge that I am working long hours, held everything together with the flu whilst he played golf and he is out again tonight.

Anyhow, sorry for the whinge.

nan have been thinking about you and how I said I have been there - I meant in terms of recent arguements with DH. Have been thinking about this all night!

anyway...think I need to check out these Jalouse boots, I am always late to a trend ;)

Morning all.

Knock 'em dead bloss

And wan sorry you've had a crap start to the day. I know exactly how you feel. Can you send an e-mail/text to DH to clear the air?

The Road has to be one of the most depressing books I have ever read. It actually started to make me laugh a bit as it was as if he was deliberately thinking up the most extreme things on purpose. The only good thing about the book is that it is short! I would rather poke my eyes out than ever watch the film.
I like the Jalouse boots but I'm not sure that they would go with many of my clothes except jeans. I'm not sure about them with skirts.

Good luck Bloss!

Herecomes - I thought 'The Road' was beautifully written actually and can see why it was so acclaimed. I know that some people can see the ultimate 'triumph of the spirit' aspect of it (in how much he loves his son) but I just found it incredibly bleak. From what I know of 'Room', it sounds slightly more like it is cashing in on recent events (Josef Fritzl et al) so like you I have avoided it because of that. I am currently reading two books (I like to have 2 contrasting ones on the go.) A bit of light entertainment in the form of Phillipa Gregory - 'The Red Queen', and also some slightly harder going with the king of well-written sci-fi, Iain Banks and 'The Player of Games.' I order via my library and always get a thrill when they text me to tell me that 'my' book has arrived. When you get EXACTLY the book you want for only 20p, the smug penny pinching feeling last for AGES . I am thinking of trying to get hold of 'Then' next, by Julie Myerson, that has been getting excellent reviews all over the press, although it also loooks quite bleak.

WAN - I know exactly what you mean and we do the same too. DH away pretty much all the time and occasionally everything gets a bit much and I do have a go at him. He is great when he is home, but he has never tried to do his job and run the home/take care of DD BY HIMSELF, so I don't think he fully appreciates how tricky it is. He also doesn't have a commute apart from weekends. I do find it hard, because in the job I do nearly everyone else at my level is the 'main breadwinner' and has a partner who does more of the sick childcare/sports days/grocery shopping than them. Sometimes trying to keep up is exhausting.

Non S and B moan officially over .

DH came home with a new laptop so I can look at all your lovely links.

Roary, lovely photo, you are a gorgeous family.

Fritzi, nice buys! I hated Eat Pray Love. I'm enjoying the book recommendations.

Red, lol at down with Mulberry and Bays!

I love WIT's wedding dress.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound smug about the weight loss, I am sure the 5lb will be stuck around my midsection for a long time to come and I still can't get my rings on!

WAN, sorry you had a bad start to the day. I think you deserve a day off to yourself.

Verity, those Vanessa Bruno bags are gorgeous. I was looking at them when we were on holidays last year but DD started shouting for ice cream and we had to leave. :(

If there are any Current/Elliot fans, ASOS have good reductions. I ordered these jeans.

DD1 up, must go. She thinks her baby sister is called Banana!

Carciofi - thanks I have also ordered the Current/Elliot jeans.

Lots of luck today Bloss. Will be thinking of you.
Roary that dress really suits you, would be lovely in red. Great family pic too. Am determined to get at least one pic of us all on the holiday this year! We hardly have any of us all together.
WAN sorry about your bad start to the morning. I would feel exactly the same as you so dont beat yourself up. Nothing worse when DH's just assume these things.
Nan meant to say yesterday that we've all been where were you (At the MOAMU, I literally had a couple of drinks and the next morning looked and felt like I had been on a 24 hour bender (still cringe when I think about it!) - sometimes it just hits you differently esp if you have been busy/tired etc.)
Fritzi it was a terrible film wasn't it! Can recommend Something Borrowed for a bit of light relief and Bridesmaids looks fun too.
blindassissin thank you so much for the useful J Brand info - didnt realise the Olympia ones where made from softer material until you mentioned it so think I'll go for the Agnes - in either navy or grey. Must.make.decision.

Re Books - have ordered Every Last One and about to start When God Was A Rabbit. Have got The Hand That First Held Mine and The Midwife's Confession to take on holiday (book stack now totals 8 - I need a Kindle). We read The Road a while back for Book Club - hated it. I know I am a bit Pollyanna like when it comes to happy endings but The Road was just so bleak.

DS1's school circus performance this evening. Think I am more excited than him. He asked me not to clap too loudly - what can he mean....?

The Road was so depressing. I need to get a few new books, Grazia have a Waterstones offer.

MrsJuan, JulesB have your Natasha bag but it is £216.99.

Dexter, glad you got the Current/Elliots too!

Bloss, have fun today! Just let your lovely personality shine through. I think they have been kind to you with Y8 set 2, they obviously want you to succeed. You'll be great I'm sure .

WAN, Nan and Emo, FWIW my DH finds it really hard to say 'sorry' - it usually only comes out after we've made up . Annoying as that is, I have learned not to dig my heels in and we normally resolve issues fairly quickly. Maybe your DHs need you to facilitate their apologies. Worth a shot? I don't see doing so as a weakness on my part, I tend to think that it means I am more enlightened .

Ollie, you would look fab in the sharkskin Agnes, which is why I was subtly dangling 'mine' in front of you. They seem to be reduced in lots of places now so hopefully you'll get a pair.

Carcofi, I hope DS1's 'wallpaper' comment didn't put you off the AH tote. Glad to hear that Rosanna is behaving herself and that DD1 is coping well with what is a huge adjustment to her.

Have great days y'all.

Hi all
Portia and ABO will add you. THanks for lovely comments - it is actually a professional photo, we were very lucky to get it as DH had to get some done for work and the photographer threw in the family ones for free!

Clevery I am not sure I understand the clear thing yet, will do more procrastination research.

Carciofi glad it is going well - you sound like you have taken to the change so smoothly.

bloss knock 'em dead.

On books: I really like COrmac McCarthy, and really enjoyed the trilogy (can't remember what they're called). But The Road was unrelentingly bleak although as yummy says gorgeously written. It's interesting because Every Last One is also not for the emotionally fragile and I certainly have thought about it a LOT but did not feel the same way about it. Great art can be disturbing but sometimes I don't need to be disturbed.

Carciofi and ollie get kindles! I love mine although I used to be like NY and delight in my library based frugality but the instant gratification thing has taken over a bit. I try to restrict myself to books under £5. Carci they are the best breastfeeding devices ever, wish I'd had mine when DS was tiny, as you can hold with one hand.

Further book recs: I also really liked the new Allison Pearson but my all-time most recommended book is The Map of Love, by Ahdef Soueif. It was given a special mention as a Booker nominee for being the most 'readable' book on the shortlist. here

Can anyone recommend me a good strong AHA scrub for legs (or similar)? I used to have an obscure AUstralian one I picked up at a random pharmacy but it is gone and I can't find anything similar to deal with my terrible ingrowns (and tendskin etc don't seem to cut it).

Meant to say WAN that DH and I have the majority of our tiffs in the morning - I'm not a good morning person, I like to be quiet and just get on with what needs to be down and he likes to talk effusively and is full of the joys. I often find that he leaves and I can't quite believe we've fallen out and am a little dazed by it all. I also struggle to understand why DH can't get why I might be annoyed about something without having explained it to him. It does sound like your DH needs it spelled out loud and clear why you are so exhausted and would benefit from some time to you (not that he should need you to, but there you go).

I meant to say the same thing as red for the same reasons (DH is a morning person and I am not). But also WAN I think you have a legitimate thing to be grumpy about....and it took me a long time to realize that DH rarely apologizes by saying 'I'm sorry'. It's usually a peculiar substitute, like doing something really nice around the house or that kind of thing -acts of contrition rather than words.

Roary, meant to say how lovely that dress looks on you, how cute your kids are and how dishy your DH is .

carciofi thanks so much for jeans link,good price so have ordered a pair.snap!Banana interesting name for your 2nd born

really sorry about the bag mrsj hope you find something lovely in the sales.

that dress will look fab on you roary ..I do like a bit of j crew.

need to take off again..sorry about slapdash posting but in the middle of making a blind for the wendy house

Reine we will have to do a meet-up in Westfield in our C/E jeans!

Pickled, no, you didn't put me off, just decided yesterday that the Anna bag and conker Bays ( Red) are nicer colours and a better buy. The pink bag still hasn't arrived.

Just ordered this cashmere tank, I have it in navy, think I need to step away from the laptop for a while.

Roary, it may all fall apart when DH goes back to work next week! I am a library girl but will have a look at the kindle. We bought one for my brother for his trip to Australia, he said it was brilliant.

Gorgeous bag Verity. Love it. Everything I have bought in sales is appropriate for autumn and winter. Good luck today Bloss! You will who in the style stakes anyway!

Cannot recommend a Kindle enough - was reading a 'manual' book last night and was so aware of how heavy it is, was balancing it on my bump only to have it angrily kicked away - definitely could not do one-handed while BF!

All this talk of the Anna is now making me wonder if I made the right choice buying the Annina, but then I did want a smaller bag and it is very lovely!

That made me amber. DD used to hoof books off my stomach as well (when she was known as The Mango due to slightly patronising midwife always comparing her size to an item of fruit 'Baby is now a large grapefruit size...Baby is now more the size of a large mango so you may start to notice heartburn...'etc )

Quickly popping in to say thank you all for your support. I really dug deep and embraced new media so my lesson was unrecognisable from the one I did before. Children had that hopeful look about them. They responded to everything including the wikipedia entries on Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. Had very positive feedback from governor (who I have taught in evening class) and the head.
Portia's capris were comfortable. They give a little, which is good! R&B flats also comfy.
Nice and sunny here now. Back after putting dd to bed.

Will sldo need to do serious swotting for 'real' interview tomorrow!