Stepping into 2012 in style, remaining WISE and AVID all the while

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New thread.

fritzi was thinking of you and hoping your break has been lots of fun (and relaxation..!)

pickles raspberry scarf is plain pashmina type (without the tassels) from tie rack a few years back! Love the thought of mini alaskas - did they come out well? You are such a lovely mummy

marsha looking lovely as ever as are your little ones.

cousin wise choices - stick around!

back to work tomorrow and I have to say I am quite looking forward to it, whatever the markets bring. Will get organised re outfit later!

Had a short trip down the Kings Rd today, got a classic white shirt for £10 from GAP and swapped some Clarins christmas goodies from DH and in laws for ones which suited me/I like the smell of. I have to say the sales already feel a bit "dreg" like though I guess that is to be expected. Also I am going against the grain to say generally I am not keen on Whistles. Apart from a few choice pieces (inc Bloss's slinky top which I have never managed to get my hands on and the Roxy jacket) most of it just seems so unflattering. Jaeger the same - in fact worse - lots of voluminous dresses and blouses/tops - but some fab coats in the sale. Anyway, I enjoyed a few hours out of the house

Lovely top pickled will look great on you. And wow first bra!!! That's a real watershed moment.

NY sounds like you made the very most of your time away.

Like that top pickled- ahh at dd. That was the size of the first bra I got from tammy girl. I was 12!

I also braved John Lewis today. Nothing much left in the sales really. Nearly got a jigsaw jumper dress I've liked for a while but the writing on the price tag was so messy I couldn't tell if it said £59 or £69 so asked them to check and it turned out it was £89 so I put it back in a huff!

I have bitten the bullet and started buying things for the baby- cute little soft jacket with a donkey on it, some white sleepsuits (I love babies in white), 1 of those baby bundler things and a couple of soft outfits possibly for coming home in. Just need a few vests now and that will be enough to be going on with I think.

Welcome cousin- fantastic list- you're obviously a very wise lurker!

Here's my brief list:

Best buys:

Warehouse grey leopard scarf- worn constantly
Earharts-much admired and very comfy
Black peep toe bloch ballet flats- very adaptable
Maternity Leigh jeans-boring but have been useful

Still hanging in wardrobe with tags:

J crew checked shirt from nap sale- makes me look like I'm on my way to a barn dance
Paul smith dress (think I may have even bought this last year!)-an expensive but very unwise purchase as it needs altering and have had no occasion to wear it.

-clothing resolutions:

Lose baby weight ASAP and invest in good jeans
Experiment with different styles of tops

Non clothing resolutions:

Be more organised with paperwork (have this one every year)
Make more time for dh
Try to be more relaxed with dc2 and enjoy their babyhood rather than panicking about every little thing!

emo you are so right. After the first day or too I hate the sales with all the old crap hanging around...waiting waiting waiting for the new stuff to come in.

Have shredded, 4 down, 26 to go!!!

28AA? I went straight in at 34B. At 10

Am sulking because DH not only back to work tomorrow, but off on a residential training course for 2 nights. Back to earth with a bang, he has been off for almost a month! Has been amazing spending time with him though. We left the DCs with my parents and popped to the pub for dinner and a few games of pool earlier, which was lovely. I wore this top, this skirt, opaques, Jalouse and my Mulberry fox necklace.

NY so glad you had a lovely time, and that your DD got to see Russell and Flavia!

NY- London sounds fabulous. My oldest two saw 'The Railway Children' with their grandparents a few months ago and enjoyed it too.

Hotel link for you here as I know you like your weekends away! They also have a here which looks a little more relaxed.

Nice top pickled. Your DD is really growing up- a little lady already! My DD1 is 9 so won't be far behind- v frightening! I bought a pair of H&M mat jeans and a denim skirt as I was growing out of everything and was totally fed up with leggings! I also bought a couple of these dresses here (black and green not the slightly dodgy pattern) in the Boden sale which are nice and can be dressed up or down.
Maternity stuff is so dull compared to normal clothes though isn't it?!

Red- I did only watch about 10 mins of the SH so perhaps not enough to make a fair judgement but I found myself either giggling or thinking it was a bit odd and missing the essence of the stories/ character. I will try it again if you really rate it!

Forgot to say hi to cousin

Ooh thanks for the link Looby- I have heard of it and it looks lovely. I have been to Hotel Terravina in that area and it was gorgeous. Have also heard good things about The Pig in the New Forest.

Welcome cousin.

Exciting news about the bra Pickled. I had the same size bought for me in Tammy Girl as well when I was 12! Am of Amber- the only time I have reached those lofty measurements I was either pregnant or breastfeeding. Currently a 32A....

Icecream- meant to say re your comment about feeling blobby. You are pregnant and beautiful! I am certainly not a skinny minny, and after my calorie intake today (huge...) I don't think you have anything to worry about .

yummy your 'take it to the max' London trip made me jealous and I live here!

icey I got my first bra from Tammy girl too..rite of passage.

red one of the things I enjoyed watching most over the festive period was the programme about Sarah Palin(you betcha!)..made me want to visit Alaska(obviously not to meet her though!)

fritzi you've been missed

ants well done on shredding through the hangovers.

well done to everyone who had sales shopping success..I like bargain outlet and e bay shopping but can't negotiate the end of season ones.

NY I am taking DH to The Pig in the New Forest for his 40th in a couple of weeks time. Will let you know how we get on!

Also hello Fritzi!!! Hope SA is wonderful!

Hello. Still in a post Christmas fug and this terrible weather is not helping! Took all the decorations down yesterday - lounge looks bare now. DH's last day at home today so we're off out to a children's book museum which is meant to be nice for kids.

NY your London trip sounded lovely and agree with Red about the making of childhood memories.

Wendy's zipped trousers are down to 22 pounds in Gap btw, limited sizes tho.

My Shred 2012 campaign starts today.....

ollie we can be shred buddies. Have done 4 days and it did feel a bit easier last night!

Morning all.
Well I am in work, thanking the lord for the a) bloss top, and b) my prescience in getting the modern boot cuts in two sizes.
I am also in shredding/ripping mode,, and had a bowl of porridge for breakfast.
Forget what I said about the Christmas cake. No sugar starts today. And no toast. Drastic measures required.

NY, yes, you do so much with your DD and she will have such happy memories.

Ollie, are you feeling better?

Nice clothes, Cousin.

Amber, I have the Jan feeling too and I'm not working. It was great having DH around and he is back at work just as the baby is sleeping better and in good form again.

Couldn't get into Sherlock though I liked the last series, I think I was too tired. Will have to give it another go. I enjoyed Great Expectations.

Looby, check out Seraphine for maternity clothes, they are pretty good as maternity clothes go!

I have already vacuumed and washed the kitchen floor, now making dinner. Thankfully DH and I agreed that stopping the cleaner was a step too far. He also thinks we should keep getting the babysitter one afternoon every two weeks or so. I didn't argue. :)

I ordered this in pink. Really want a DKNY silk blouse I saw but I am not going to get much use out of it.

Thinking of doing a project management course if DH will pay, I am bored bored bored!

Pickled, that green top is lovely.

Fritzi, hope you are having a great holiday.

Good morning.

Wet and wild weather here today. DH's last day before going back to work and DS in nursery, so having a very lazy day.

carciofi DH has done Prince 2 and speaks very highly of it.

Mim, thanks, that's the one I was thinking of doing. I have managed projects in the past but want the certification for my CV! How are you feeling? When are you due to return to work? Do you feel up to it?

Yes, it is supposed to be very good and is universally seen as 'the' PM course to have.

I'm ok, still feeling faint if I walk for a longer distance. I am supposed to be back on the 9th but at the moment I'd faint just getting to the station! MW appointment again on Thursday to see if my anemia is better.

Another needing to re-start shredding here. I always tend to eat a lot more when at other people's houses, so have put on a fair few pounds in the last month.

Reine I didn't see/hear of that one. Will see if I can find it on catch-up somewhere.

Fingers crossed for Thursday MiM. When were you planning on starting Mat. leave?

Carciofi you are so good at hunting down excellent bargains! That's a lovely blouse indeed. I always get there too late with these things.

Bloss you'll be back to normal within a week, am sure!

DH back at work today. DD is bereft and keeps wandering around saying 'Dada? Nooooooo'. They really developed their bond over the Christmas break. Her walking and general sticking up for herself has sent DS all over the place - lots of reassurance and cuddles needed at night. He's really enjoying the games he got over Christmas - particularly Orchard which Fritzi recommended. Would definitely second the recommendation for any 3 year olds. Is lovely.

I meant to fill you all in on my present from MiL - it was a radio duck that floats in the bath from a website called 'Bloke Stuff'. I don't enjoy baths and even if I did, we have a non-functioning bath. Really odd.

And yes to the January feeling - I spent the majority of yesterday whining about the unfairness of a January birthday to anyone who would listen. Am trying to feel uplifted by house progression - the kitchen fitting has been moved forward to the week after next, which will completely change our lives.

I too am feeling January-ish. Missing DH and moping about. Need to get productive! And where are my Zara and Anna sales purchases?! I want them!

Sorry about that little strop. Going to pack hospital bag / make lists / iron now.

Oh and straight to 34B at 10yrs old???! I'm with you NY A cup all the way except for pregnancy, which doesn't count and just cruelly shows me (and DH) what's missing the rest of the time.

Am still tempted to order the cream roxy now it's £145 and only left in my size...

Today is definitely a weak-willed day.

Sorry for all those that are feeling the January blues.

red how exciting, the end is nigh for you. I'd be making lists of some new kitchen bits and pieces that I am sure you'll need. I love this range. What an odd gift from MIL.

Bloss, agree you'll be back to normal soon. Hope your weather isan't too awful today.

blue, am dreading the packing of the bag. Makes it all seem to real.

DH and I are off to the planning office to start the ball rolling for our loft this afternoon. Not a very glamourous detistination!

Sorry for everyone with the January blues, I usually feel that way, but this year found Christmas very stressful and am glad it's nearly over I was happy to wave dh off to work this morning! After our weekend with MIL I have never felt so close to divorce. I ended up buying a book about toxic inlaws, rather than a splurge on NAP, I'm just biding my time with that. Had a quick run around Brown Thomas yesterday and lots of new season stuff has arrived. I find this time of year very hard sartorially speaking, lovely summer clothes in the shops but it will be months before we have the weather to wear them

Red that's great about your kitchen, you'll be back to normal really soon. I am starting to think about kitchens as we have (nearly) reached agreement with the insurance company, although work hasn't started on the house yet. Anyone want to share some kitchen porn with me? I am thinking of white units, no handles, white corian worktop. Our last kitchen was 'ivory' but it went a bit yellow with age!

NY what a fantastic trip you had, I always feel you really live life to it's fullest. Very inspiring

Carciofi that sounds like a good move. Now's a good time to study, hopefully when you come back to Ireland things will be looking up again.

Blue I'm waiting for my sales purchases too, very frustrating isn't it? Bought some stuff from J Crew (can't even remember exactly what I bought!) and this dvf dress

Also nabbed Fritzi and NYs lace Zara skirt. V pleased about that as I missed it the first time round and was reduced to looking for it on ebay, but there must have been one in the back of the stock room which was dragged out for the sale. Got a pretty silk blouse from Maje too, but have now banned myself from sales! Although I am tempted by the sound of navy coated skinnies, were they from Whistles?

Very excited about all the W&A babies, something lovely to look forward to

I rashly arranged to meet a friend and her dd in the park. It's bitterly cold and windy. Snowboots and fur coat required, quick run around then home for hot chocolate. Now I just have to persuade ds2 to get dressed!

Red, your DC can play with the duck in the paddling pool come summer!

Verity, well done on surviving the outlaws. You have just reminded me to print off the school applications. Lovely dress, I like a bit of DvF.

DH said he will pay for the course, which is great, but thinks I should wait until Sept when DD1 will be in school for a longer day.

Blue, I think you should get the Roxy.

I was over in a friend's house earlier, checking out her bayswater. They are such classic bags but it's off my birthday list, I tried it on and it kept slipping off my shoulder and she said it is a pain to open. For £695 you really need to love it. Phew, that's a relief.

So, Happy New Year! It's Dolce with new name...Just bagged this in sales...in black. Also, a wonderful cherry red Longchamp bag.

Hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas...we had a lovely time. DH and I spent Christmas Eve cooking a deux and preparing the feast, which was a lovely thing to do together, (we slowly but surely got sloshed whilst we did it, of course) whilst the DCs played games and watched the many Christmas DVDs they seem to have amassed. Then baths and hot choc in front of the fire whilst Daddy read: 'The Night Before Christmas'; then the all important offerings to FC and the reindeer were carefully and solemnly assembled before being placed before the fireplace. We were still wrapping presents at midnight, but it was all worth it!

We then opened our stockings with the 3 children in our bed (a fairy light draped bedstead, I have to say!)- such a wonderful time...We were all thoroughly spoiled - I had a Kindle and leather cover, some Classic hardbacks; REN stuff; cashmere blanket; cashmere scarf and socks; a hare cushion; pj's, Molton Brown goodies.... oh, all sorts of beautiful things. Followed by breakfast (Pork pie and eggs) with champagne for us and hot choc with marshmallows for dcs- a bit of a family tradition; and then got dressed up for Church; me in Brora velvet dress and tweed coat; then more champagne and canapes with my parents at our house.

Followed by late lunch (Turkey, bead sauce and stuffing), and Chritmas Pud, and Nigella's roulade. Yum....

We then opened tree presents, and I have to say the children(5,4 and 2) were very good at waiting for theirs from mummy and daddy and the rest of the family...but then FC had been rather canny and left interesting and amusing things in each of their stockings I love Christmas....can you tell????