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

[Russianred]

New thread.

Dauphin delurking again to ask if I can come and be in your family - sounds idyllic. Lurks off again to enjoy afternoon nap before returning to work tomorrow.

Carciofi - I do agree re Bayswater...I am lusting after the Effie Hobo. Literally....
AnInnocent....We did work very hard to try and make the day perfect...which it mostly was -even my parents were well behaved!!!)....but every other day is not entirely like this (honest!)

You're right Carciofi the kids will get much pleasure from the duck radio..!

Sounds like you did well to survive Christmas Verity, let me know if the toxic book is any good! Love the sound of your new kitchen ideas - we're off-white and wooden worktops here with metro tiles, some of the original 30's fixtures salvaged from here and some fab lighting which I will come back and link to for fear of losing my post (on IPad). Really, really can't wait although there is still lots to do from there - painting, shelving the larder, flooring etc etc. You could go on forever! Yes to SS shopping. Have my eye on the most gorgeous Vanessa Bruno summer dress, but can't reconcile myself to buying it now.

Blue you should really just buy that Roxy. You'll kick yourself if you don't and it goes out of stock.

Lovely range there MiM. There is already a rather long list of things to buy for the kitchen..!

Dauphin an idyllic Christmas indeed. Sounds perfect.

My mum is trying to persuade me to go to SA for my Grandma's 90th in April and I would very much like to. DH is happy for me to go, but it would be going alone as the expense for all four of us is too much to bear. Not sure I can be away from my two for that length of time and at that distance. WWYD?

REd I'd go. How wonderful your granny has got to 90. You will regret not going I think. I am sure your DH will be able to cope with your DCs.

Red - I would go too (but you probably wont be surprised to hear that .) They will be with DH and absolutely fine. You will miss them - but also have a ball. I have left DD with DH for at least 2 weekends a year since I stopped bf at 8 months and love that time for just me. We left her for 5 nights with MIL/Grandpa and her other cousin when she was 3.5, and she was sad to leave when we went to pick her up!! As long as you are happy with the childcare (which I assume you will be as it is DH) then I would go.

Lovely to hear from you Dauphin and sounds like you had a great Christmas. Hows the renovations coming along? I saw the Effie yesterday - 'tis lovely, but big.

Red, I'd go too, you'll have an amazing time as I am sure the DC's will have with DH. Can you link to the VB dress though please?

Major excitement today, in that I have bought a birthing ball which I am sitting on right now rather ungainly. Trying to be so much more organised this time round, I did nothing like this with DS as I think I was in denial about the whole thing.

[Dauphin} - your Christmas sounds amazing!

Sorry for the Jan blues everyone. Kind of their myself. Took all the decs down today and house looks so bare. New dresses have arrived though, so looking forward to have a try on...although it may not cheer me up if the size 10 I ordered in the sale doesn't fit post-Christmas!

Verity - so glad you got the lace skirt. I have had lots of wear out of it.

Red - that MIL present is bonkers. Makes me thank my lucky stars.... (And the Verity story.) Mine can be a bit annoying but is basically a good person.

Example: 'Oooh no, I can't watch Earthflight because I am terrified of birds'. Eh? On the TELLY?! 'Oh, I don't have a TV...theres just SOOOO much rubbish on. Nothing to watch. I prefer DVDs' (From someone who's favourite ever film is that classic with Richard Gere and Jenifer Lopez - 'Shall we Dance' .) Oh. Of course MIL. That film is so much better quality than The Wire; The West Wing; The Crimson Petal and the White; Dispatches; Frozen Planet. My mistake for mindlessly watching the box. (Can you tell I was riled...?)

red you should definitely go! It will mean so much to your granny and your DC will have fun too, I bet. And you can bring them back exciting presents. I went on 2 hen dos this yr, both 2 nights away and both of which I hesitated about but they were brilliant, DS was not bothered in the slightest, and DH and the two 'supergrans' loved being in charge.

Gorgeous DVF dress verity.

What a lovely Christmas dauphin.

I really rate the birthing ball mim; used it all through labour last time. It sounds a bit mumbo jumbo but the hypnobirth exercises are worth a go too, I found. My bag is almost packed and my list made... It's not a very stylish business giving birth is it?!

On a more glam note, am going to order the roxy from JL this evening, just to set my mind at rest you understand! I'm telling myself I will either return it or the TS jacket at once!

Enjoying the MIL stories. Scary that we will probably all be one one day... Mine is probably the nicest woman in the world. She actually thanks me for letting her look after DS for the day and takes my side when I argue with DH. I do treasure her, I promise!

Hello all. Have crumbled and bought these shoe boots from jigsaw. They weren't in the sale but I have been craving them for the last couple of months...www.jigsaw-online.com/fashion/1001456/J14267/

Ooh ants, how lovely!

What a lovely Christmas you had dauphin. Thanks for sharing.
verity, I am annoyed on your behalf. I have felt the same as you on many occasions. Making me the most horrible twisted version of myself. Things are better now. Mostly.
Sorry to hear how you feel carciofi. Very similar to where I was last year. I'm sure you'll figure something out.
I am tired tired tired. Tuesday is my long day at work.
On the positive side I think I've had about 1400 cals today. Jillian Michaels is obsessive about calories. It isn't a route I've gone down before, so it could be the answer. You have all been very kind by the way, but I don't think I'll lose 7lb this week, whatever the diet!
My mid morning snack was frozen summer fruits (which had defrosted by 10am) covered with natural activia yoghurt. Very tasty.
Off to shred. Don't you just love January?

Ladies - have tried on both dresses and am having both!

This purple Warehouse dress is fantastic!! Really heavy material, so hangs well, flattering and office friendly. I would really recommend as an excellent addition to a working wardrobe. A genuine bargain - the Warehouse site only has 8s left, but JL may have others. Emo/ants/Annie etc - would recommend!

This Oasis one also v nice. Much lighter and could be a great day dress with flat boots, as well as work-friendly on certain days. I got the medium and there is plenty of room.

Oh - and just as a little mood boost, the Warehouse 10 fitted me. Off for some more choc orange.... [joke]. May wear to the Nottingham MU, as I will have come straight from some meetings.

Blue I have ordered some hypnobirthing CD's for VBAC's. Although, I read I was supposed to have started listening from 12 weeks - it'll be a bit of a cram. Heard that my friend had a little boy this morning, which was cheering news.

I love those Ants as the heel is not too high, as often is with shoeboots.

My MIL is a funny one - she is ok, but we have nothing in common and like most of DH's family, I think she thinks I am bit of a snob. However, she always sends vouchers for Christmas/birthday which is great really. Given she is so far away, we only see her 2-3 a year.

I love both dresses NY. I miss having a proper working wardrobe; most of mine is packed away. Goodness knows what I will wear to the MU; want to make good first impression but will be only 15 days off due date!!

Your willpower is formidable bloss. I bet those lbs don't show at all and you were still the most stylish teacher in school today! Whereas I am waiting for DH to come home in spotty pyjama bottoms and vest.

Don't worry about cramming mim. I only practised some of the breathing and visualisation stuff in the last month or so last time and it still helped I think. And have done nothing yet this time at all but am just starting to get nervous now...

Love shoeboots ants and have found I always want to wear them rather than shoes on (rare) nights out over the past few years. So a good buy in my opinion despite being non sale.

Thx carciofi. I have heard that Seraphine is good. I only want to order what I really need though, not waste money as this is 110% my last (thinking about asking for a CS just to get sterilised)!! V pretty blouse. I love blouses but feel a bit self conscious about wearing them as people dress in a v practical way here. I think you all know what I mean!

ants- how exciting re "The Pig Hotel". We have been to "Limewood" which is its bigger sister so to speak. We visited some friends of DH who were staying there. It was lovely but not somewhere I felt 100% happy taking the DC to.

Sympathise with those with MIL problems. I have had a lot of problems with my MIL too over the years and DH has had even more! Sadly, my own mother is not someone I can turn to for support either. V jealous of your 'supergrans', blue- how lovely that you are so close. I imagine that good support from g/parents can really transform your quality of life and it will be so much of benefit to the DC and the grandparents too so a good thing all round!

V pretty dresses, NY

I must get back into shredding or at least something but didn't feel well in early pregnancy, then had nasty bout of recurrent gastroenteritis (getting referred for this- long story), then DD2 has had mild vomiting bug today!
I will start next week when we are all well. My stomach looks huge and bloated already. I have only told a couple of people at work but they are sure going to guess when I go in later this week!

looby I hear you, I have been having multiple issues with my own Mother over the last few years that have come to the surface of late. Agree that our family life would be transformed with the support of mine and DH's family.

Lovely dresses NY, especially like the colour of the purple one.

Well done ny, great shopping and lovely dresses. Although I can't tell you what the mention of a chocolate orange did to my willpower!
Just listened to the most feared words in the English language 'chair squats with V raises'. Enough said!
looby, it is lovely to have you posting again. Sorry you've been unwell though. Hope things improve soon. At least you have plenty of knowledge about all things medical!
Thanks blue. I have an image in my mind of the lovely ladies off to work in Paris on the metro when I was there last year. Stylish and slender. Shall be my mantra!
How did the date with planning go mim?

hi all
ny love that purple dress but out of stock in my size - bah!

Donna Ida have a good sale on including Earharts and Inez chinos not many sizes but hope that helps/enables someone...! Am tempted but don't know which colour to go for!

Hi Dauphin what a beautiful Christmas! Lovely family traditions you've created.

looby huge congratulations! 4 will be fantastic - it's my dream family size (and will remain in my dreams). My super fertile SIL has 6 aged 12.7 to 8 months and I do feel a tad envious when I see her surrounded by her beautiful brood. I'd still love another but don't exactly feel broody for a baby, it's the fully grown toddler/older child that I crave

Blue I'm sure you'll love the roxy. And I wouldn't worry about what to wear at our MU, you'll be in full bloom, radiating beauty I felt amazing during both my pregnancies, particularly in the second and third trimesters, and had properly thick hair again which made all the difference.

NY I love your energy so much. Lovely dresses.

MIM no day to day support from my family here either (too far away). I've got used to it and don't miss it actually. I'm at my mum's at the moment, it's nice to spend short periods of time here esp for my DC to spend time with their GPs and cousins. However, I don't have a particularly close relationship with my mum; I had to buy my own bra with my own money several years after everyone else had them, good job I'm not blessed in that department

I've been looking at holidays - really fancied Sicily but why is it so expensive? Can't believe how little villa one gets for ones money! We may even have to reconsider the destination.

Will catch up properly tomorrow, but just wanted to say Red, you should go, go, GO! Sounds like a lovely trip, especially after all the upheaval of the house refurb etc. How lovely of Mr Red that he wants you to go too!

If it helps and purely based on my own experiences (ie my little trips over to the UK), you will be.....

• wracked with guilt whilst packing and even suggest cancelling the trip at the last minute, and over-compensate by leaving a fully stocked, colour coded fridge/freezer, copious lists of what to do etc etc;
• be close to or in tears on the way to the airport;
• feel slightly nauseous whilst checking in, especially when viewing any child under the age of 5 at the check out (big gulps of air required);
• feel slightly odd at Starbucks due to not having any children/buggy hanging off you and having no snacks in handbag etc;
• An hour on the plane after a glass of the strong stuff and a good uninterupted read and the start of a good film, you will think "children, what children?" and then proceed to have a wonderful relaxing trip, and wonder why you have never done it before.
• You return home a better Mum/Wife for having had a break, DH will have missed you and has a new found appreciation for all that you do (well, for a few days anyway) and the kids are just happy with whatever gift you bring them and enjoy recounting tales of the time Daddy burnt the sausages so we went out for chips etc.

Honest x

Aww what a lovely post and timeline Ollie.

Red, how are you feeling about it, swinging wildly from go to not go? I probably would be.

Ants great shoe boots.

Lovely Christmasses past and present Anniemac and Dauphin.

Bloss great work on the shred. I said I might but haven't, although I am back on the food I normally eat. Easier without yummy croissants and fresh orange juice looking at me at breakfast.

Carciofi I have felt twiddly thumbed today too. Ds1 and 2 are playing together, really amusing each other, which is nice. Could be a new thing for me.

NY your London trip and dresses are great.

I wanted something (small) in the sales, but have not found anything so far.

Pickled great top. 28aa was my size too. Not hard to believe really.

MIM hope you feel less faint soon. I had low iron it is tiring.