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

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New thread.

Thanks for the eye cream recs. Ideally I need something for dark circles as well, although tempted by the Liz Earle one as I love her skincare range.

blue I was watching one born through my fingers last night too.

Good earning on the kitchen Icey and as you say, cheaper and far easier than getting a skip.

The J brands will be great carciofi, shame about the DKNY though. Love the colour of the Mavericks.

I would happily be holding off potty training, but one part of me wants to give it a go, if I had it cracked before DC2 comes I'd be very happy. But mainly because DS seems aware that he needs the potty, loves sitting on it, so I can't ignore it much longer!

Love the second labour was better comments...keep 'em coming.

annie I love the idea of you sneaking off at work to try on the leggings but I have to say the price did make my eyes water a wee bit!

am also intrigued to know how you are making decisions on what to put aside for your girls..I think anything I put aside for mine is likely to seem like those victorian costumes where you look at them and think people were childsized!

carciofi I am getting itchy feet too, to do 'other things' so go for it I say!

am really shocked at the bil stories..somehow bad behaviour from fils and mils seems par for the course,though I have lovely inlaws from DH(with a previous beau his mum openly mourned the fact we were together a la Miss Havisham!)

I have fuschia skinnys(gap kids )so I am still embracing my inner 7 year old.

ooh yes icey very resourceful!

blue I love reading a nice long post!

It is DHs birthday so I am not sure about the MU..need to negotiate!

MIM I am in denial about potty training

Yy- good to hear about second labours being easier. I watched one born every minute last night too. Couldn't believe the size of that first baby- nearly twice the weight of dd!

Also, any more changing bag (or not changing bag) suggestions?

Glad you had a good day yesterday pickled- you sound v unfazed by it all. Wouldn't expect otherwise from you though

ants glad you went for the boots.they are fab.u.lous..I love my shoeboots!(poor man's M and S version)

ollie Ikea is DH's Bete noire for sure

pickled sounds like you've never been away..hope I can slot back into work like that.

icey I never had a proper changing bag but I did use the nightgown things you linked to..the version I got given from greenbaby washed very well and just looking on their site now they have a sale going on.

Thank you thank you lovely amber. Have just bought replacement agnes in the sharkskin (grey). I bought my original ones, which I'm wearing now from HoF, so I'm sure they're the same ones. Really really happy. What a fashion fairy! I'm going to keep them for best!
Then new mavericks? I'm underwhelmed. It's the pockets, and the faded colours.
ollie, I'm definitely coming on the 17th, but I'm a lightweight when it comes to staying out late (remember I've got a few years on most of you). We'll see. I'll work on DH.
Must go, have nephew and mum just arrived.

Looby - fab news - congratulations! DH keeps mentioning 4 as the magic number...he even suggested rather drunkenly on Christmas Eve that we should have another!!! As I'm 43 this year, (yikes), I think not!....

Icey - no 2 was definitely quick...popped (literally!!!) out in 15 mins, and yes I was petrified too, carciofi.

Notyummy...took decs down today, and did a spring clean. To counteract inevitable gloom I'd bought some lovely white Tulips and Lilies from MandS so house feels fresh and calm.

I have succumbed and bought the Jigsaw grey military coat...It is rather lovely. Told DH it was in the sale though! .

Dauphin, my sil had a baby at 43! Never say never (though absolutely 100% no way not in a million years never again for me :)). I like the Maxmara coat, the Jigsaw one sounds good too.

Icey, I used the Green baby nightgowns too. I'm going to buy a new Longchamp Le Pliage as my old one is ripped and use that for the DDs.

I forgot to admire your boots, Ants!

The Mavericks are still expensive in dollars so I definitely need to try on. Or find an alternative. Or just not buy them.

Reine, you are so funny!

I'm keeping my wedding dress (which is an English Eccentrics evening dress and so lovely that several of my friends wanted it for their DDs and were disappointed when I had my own!), bags, scarves, any nice dresses, jewelry. My mother kept all her clothes from the 60s which I wore as a teenager. Unfortunately she was a size 8 so I grew out of it by the time I was 18.

Annie, I third the Topshop leggings, for when I wear leggings. Buy a size smaller than normal.

Age is no barrier at 43 Dauphin, but it needs to be something you want to do ultimately.

Ha ha, reine, my husbands Bete Noire would be Lakeland, with IKea closely following.

DS just had a massive meltdown following his dinner. He is covered from head to toe in pasta sauce. I have no energy to deal with this, and am waiting for DH to get home to tackle the situation. Feeling very guilty though, as I have been at home all day.

Great idea re fresh flowers dauphin. The thought of another dc brings me out in hives.
Who was asking about eye creams? I love eye cream and have used Origins ginzing(?), and any other Origins product as I really love them, and I'm funny about perfume. But now I'm using the Bobbi Brown moisturising eye cream. I had a sample, which I'm still using, it goes a long way. Is lovely and thick, and I have a new fresh pot ready to go in the drawer too.
ollie, I was flicking through Red, saw this blouse and thought of you.

What a shame about that blouse carciofi. Still, money saved for the next purchase!

Amber, what a find with the Agnes, thank you v. much - I have just purchased a pair in sharkskin.

Annie, on me the Agnes just bunch up around my ankles, but I think they look OK. I mostly wear them tucked into my clog boots (I am thinking of buying another pair of theses too ) so you don't even notice most of the time. They are fairly true to size although a little smaller than TS.

Yes to second births being a lot easier and you can usually get home the same day too. I'm so excited about all the babies coming soon, have a feeling they'll all be girls.

Icey, thank you for the compliment, I think . I will admit to being a tiny bit phased by the where's Wally look-a-like in my first lesson today who was most definitely high on something and he cracked open a can of coke in class .

Take away for tea . Half day tomorrow, yipee!

Pickled- yes it was meant as a compliment . All girl babies do you think? Does that tie into your predictions red? Still haven't decided on any names yet.

Don't feel guilty MiM. Hope all is sorted now. I left dh to deal with dd last night as she was having a mega strop about having her teeth brushed. Felt bad as she was shouting for me all the time he was with her but all was forgiven and forgotten by this morning.

Gah! M25 partially closed, so I had to bath DS.

Just had chicken fajitas for tea and DH doing the tidying up and has given me rights to the sofa.

Perfect!

Yes second labour much easier. Calmer and nicer too... at home.

I sometimes think of having another. But then I do love the life we have here in London and all that goes with it. I am not completely against it, I just a bit more time to decide.

You too pickled! Well done amber!
Lol at can of coke pickled. I had carton of apple juice. It drives me crazy all the drinking water that goes on in class, like they're all running a bleeding marathon!
Anyone got a new season Boden code? There is a chiffon trim v neck cardigan (like my hugely successful silver one last year), in a slate type colour, withy name on. I wore my slate bf cardi today over BR navy shirt with grey modern boot cuts. A shorter cardigan would have been better .

icey and MiM second time round for me was a revelation - much much better. Dare I say amazing? I was staggered as I was absolutely dreading it. One of the reasons that we have such a big gap (nearly 7y) between children is that I was so traumatised first time round. I hope I give you hope!

on the subject of red dresses:

this one from Reiss is going back - absolutely awful on me, pleats and waist all in wrong place, and zip very stiff.

this moschino one is an absolute dream on me - any other tallish size 14s out there I highly recommend! Have watched it for ages and now a very good price.

my red Joseph one is in black in the sales but can't justify!

OMG, a Zara order that I forgot about arrived containing not one but two perfect black skirts WIT's Mui Mui alike one and a basic wrap around one. I am keeping 6/7 items and all for £100 - I can't tell you how deighted I am. Sending back an indecently short black mini much against DH's wishes .

Emo, I love that Joseph dress - the black would be fabulous on you. Marsha, would it work on you?

Good luck with hunting down a Boden code Bloss, will keep a look out.

Everything, I like the coat and dresses but not keen on the trousers.

I am 7 years older than my youngest brother and we get on well.

I am annoyed with M&S right now as I ordered a snowsuit for collection in the nearest store, didn't make it within the specified 7 days, after this the order is returned and your credit card is supposed to be refunded. Customer service told me to contact the store again as they are saying I did collect it and haven't given me a refund. I can see this becoming a saga.

Bloss, I have already sent the shirt back and spent the money on the J Brands. There is always something on my shopping horizon!