Beating the January Blues by Following our Wise & Avid (Roxy) Rules

[OllieinOrange]

Best I could come up with......

Think the combo of c-section criticism and slim/organised mother of 7 would have depressed me too! Glad I elected to watch my recording of the Celebrity Bake Off instead

Morning everyone.

RG, lovely to see you again. Well done on the kg, you'll soon get there. I have sky plussed that programme along with one born every minute.

Can't keep up with the thread from yesterday!

red, GBBO book is ok, not my best baking book but there are some lovely recipes for when you want to make a bit more of an effort. I like the boden dress in the navy and white, not sure what size to order though.

Fritzi last time I cut sugar out that same thing happened to me. Was advised to up the water intake and see it through I'm afraid.

Had a lovely day yesterday, a friend came over and we drove to a garden centre. Not very glamourous but DS loved running around and looking at various things and we had tea and cake before going home.

Wearing a white and navy striped breton with indigo skinny jeans, Warehouse leopard print scarf (W&A staple) and Jalouse.

Saw the midwife yesterday, my iron was up slightly and the baby has turned head down. Sounds like I'll be going for a VBAC.....

DS is making me laugh. He got a toy guitar from his birthday and when DH is plays with him, he does these really exaggerated rock star moves, which DS is not doing his own version of. Although I suspect he's going to want me on the bloody keyboard again in a minute....

They're at a really cute age, aren't they MiM? DS keeps copying the dance to 'Agadoo' which he saw on 'Show Me, Show Me' the other day. Very funny! Is it a little red keyboard from ELC by any chance? If so I feel your pain... My dad also built him a gorgeous oak toy box, which he uses as a vault to do a forward roll onto the sofa, regardless of who is sitting there!

Still styling it up in my dressing gown, will report back with outfit shortly - may debut spotty trousers!

Good news on the iron/baby position front MIM!

Looking forward to the spotty trousers report Amber. I was reading Grazia last night (DH away so could read Grazia AND watch One Born Any Minute without any complaints of either being ignored, or feeling traumatised Disclaimer: DH was an absolute rock throughout a difficult forceps delivery, despite admitting afterwards that he was terrified, however experiencing it in real life has left him quite adamant that he will not watch any of my 'birth nightmare' - his phrase - programmes.)

Grazia had quite an interesting section on flattering clothes, including some nice dresses. I may reread later....

Whistles jeans have been duly posted back, Dotty P jeans are despatched and Zara tops will be delivered to store shortly. Happy days!

I have decided that I really want to get back into ebay, but am being folied in my plans by Paypal. It is so long since I used it! I have used DHs account for the few times I have needed it, but don't want to be reliant on him for clothes shopping . I have an account and it is linked to my email, but the bank details are in my old name and trying to get it changed (which involves uploading scanned ID documents) leads to it crashing and saying it is over the data limit every time. Grr. This will probably lead to me losing a pair of TS coated jeans I have been bidding on. Disaster!! I think I may need to close my account and start again.

Morning

really grumpy welcome boots. Those Oasis boots look v good - Hopefully you should try and track some down?
Bloss another great dress!
rufus I lol at your gym story, v funny.
NY I know I ask you this everytime, but what website do you use to book the MU hotel?
Fritzi sorry to hear you are missing DH and DD but thats a sign of a lovely holiday I think. Have you got some nice things coming up in your diary to enjoy?

So, in true OiO style I am procrastinating about the HL dress. I absolutely love it and want to order it but have 2 sticking points

• the hem.

How easy is it to alter jersey dresses? Im 100% certain it would need taking up and would worry that the stitching would be bumpy if not done well etc

• import tax.

Shopbop works out cheapest by quite a way (Matches want 25 pounds for p&p) but Im not sure how the whole import tax thing works. Is it just bad luck if it gets picked up and you have to pay tax on it? Has this ever happened to any of you and if so, how much was it? Should I just forget the price difference and order via NAP to avoid the risk of paying tax?

By the way if I get it and keep it, be prepared to see it at the next 4 MUs at least!

Had Book Club last night - we had read Committed by the author of Eat, Pray Love. An ok read - bit self absorbed (book analyses the institiution of marriage when faced with having to get married so her partner could stay in the states) but some lovely personal stories of marriages and relationships from all over the world. And I actually learnt a useful tip. She talks about how an argument can reach a stage when you "Go Universal" and start using words like always and never (eg you always let me down, I can never count on you). Such language prevents any chance of a fair discussion so she and her partner have a code word (lets be careful) to prompt each other into choosing words carefully to not make the situation any worse. (I do wonder if DH using a code word when I was in the middle of a rant would make me loose it even more tho!)
She quotes her friend who says that you can measure the happiness of a marriage by the number of scars that each partner carries on their tongues, earned from years of biting back angry words.

Hmm, thats a bit deep and meaningful for a Thursday morning but thought I would share. Just call me Oprah!

ollie, you can choose to prepay your taxes at checkout with shopbop. That's the way I've done it. No surprises then.

Ollie I ordered jeans from Revolve once (US) and didn't get hit with customs at all. I am sure with a bit of goggling you find out what it would cost with the tax and then decide whether to go with NAP instead.

Can you contact a local tailor and ask them re the alterations?

Morning all! Hope everyone is well. I am awaiting the arrival of my step-Dad (number 2) who is coming to visit us for the night. I don't know him particularly well and haven't spent time with him without my Mum around, so am a little concerned about how I'm to entertain him, but will manage, am sure. My book club too last night, which was also good. Only the second time and everyone is still getting to know each other but it was a great evening. I wouldn't recommend the book particularly (The Sense of an Ending) and can't really understand how it won the Booker, but hey.

Rufus your gym story had me laughing a lot. Brilliant.

Bloss the DVF is stunning. Fingers crossed it arrives on time.

Ollie, please order the dress! Imagine it would be fine to take up, provided you go to a decent seamstress/tailor. I thought you could pay the tax at checkout on Shopbop, thus avoiding any delivery problems. I'm sure I did this when getting my Earharts.

MiM yes navy/white the preferred for me. Was toying with the dusky blue for a change from navy. but know I won't wear it as much as if it were navy. Excellent news on the baby positioning front, provided you're happy with the VBAC. I tried the CDs too and always ended up falling asleep! Have you been for the counselling bit for your VBAC? At mine they had all of the notes from DS' birth and talked through them with me, which I found really, really helpful. I'd always assumed that things had gone one way and I'd been at fault, when actually, it was nothing to do with me.

Lovely to see you RG.

NY I find paypal a really annoying thing to use; the website is so un-user-friendly.

Ollie - have PMed you...and Bloss, Apuski, NYE and Hopefully.

Can't remember what import duty is exactly, but assuming it comes royal mail, if they stop it they charge about £9 handling fee plus something like 16% import duty. If it is sent priority mail it comes with parcel force and they charge approx a £30 handling fee plus percentage duty. It is totally hit and miss whether you get charged.

Oh, and altering jersey is a complete PITA. Depending on the finish it will prob require a coverstitch machine (which lots of tailors have but not all are brilliant at using). I would chat to a tailor before ordering.

Am pleased with outfit today - mustard TS zip skinnies, gold coloured vest, chestnut brown boyfriend cardi, mustard scarf and aged leather jacket.

Right, well I was a bit worried last night that I hadn't adhered to the Roxy rule with the spotty trousers and was even considering returning them, but I have put them on this morning and I love them! Yes, they are loose on the waist, but manage to make up for that by somehow flattening my stomach and elongating my legs. Excellent work, trousers!

Am wearing with Acne pistols (which are so comfy and will have to fall apart before I give them up), slouchy grey marl wool v neck (bought for about a tenner from Gap and again, such a great buy) and my Michael Kors chunky black and grey cable knit scarf. Will team with black biker and black Banana Republic shopper when I meet DH for lunch.

MiM forgot to say, great news about baby's positioning, I'm sure you have mixed feelings, but as I've said before I was worried and my second labour was so much easier (and remarkably painless compared to first!)

ollie I really, really love that dress - if you don't buy it, I will! I think it would be alterable, do you trust your tailor?

NY I love waiting for deliveries, all I'm waiting for is the NAP returns man.

Right - have found 3 boutiques in 3 cities all within a 30 min drive of here which stock HL dresses. Am off on a reckie tommorrow! Will try and source it over here first to try and on and compare prices etc - makes more sense. Wise no? Will shut up about it til then!

Feeling a bit better after drinking almost a liter of green tea this morning.

hopefully I gather from your lovely outfit that you are an autumn too? . Would be great to see you in March!

ollie Ohhh, you are on a mission now . Very wise to try on in RL before ordering. I like your dedication to tracking down that dress. Please keep us posted!

annie Love your outfit too! Your post has reminded me to pay more compliments as it can really make your day.

amber I'm in awe that you can pull off spotted trousers. Your outfit sounds fabulous! Glad you didn't follow the "wear with a blouse" advice, tsk...

MiM Sending you calming vibes... I had a hypnobirthing CD too, always fell asleep after 10 minutes and slept for hours during the day . Think it still helped me to gather all my strength for the birth.

red I have always loved reading Julian Barnes but saw some reviews that said that they couldn't understand why his latest book won the Booker so I have always put it back on the shelf in the bookstore. I read How to be a Woman on holiday: A lot of food for thought... Currently reading The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and The Marriage Plot.

Marni on the Outnet!

Fritzi whatever gave you that impression?

I was actually done a few years back using Colour Me Beautiful as a spring, but always knew that some of the wishy washy colours didn't do anything for me. I went to the same HoC consultant that NYE used and she announced I am a 'blue autumn', so basically the spring end of autumn. I still look grim in a few of the sludgier shades in the autumn palette, but more of it suits me than the Spring palette, iykwim. I have quite weird skin tone (Celtic/Indian mix, not that you'd ever spot the Indian), so was never going to fall cleanly into one season.

I loved my hypnobirthing CD. My biggest tip would be to get your DH to listen to it and tell him which (if any) bits you'd like him to remind you of/repeat while your in labour. My poor DH was a bit overwhelmed and didn't really remember it, but when he did it really helped. Didn't stop the horrendous delivery of doom though , but let's not go into that.

Amber your outfit sounds fab (and way better than one involving a blouse). I have such Pistol boot envy. Am going to see if my Oasis store can track down the boots RG linked yesterday - just can't face ordering and returning yet another pair just yet.

Lovely outfits today. Am wearing Paul&Joe checked shirt, Malene Birger fluffy blush jumper, indigo jbrands and suede grey ankle boots. A new combination which I'm always happy about .

So nice to be to usual routine, coffee and croissants worth ds2 while the place gets cleaned.

My Reiss order arrived. Can't quite make up my mind about the shirt dress It is an absolutely perfect colour on me, but would definitely need some alteration - I am too hourglass to wear it without bringing in the waist a bit, and it is a shade too long, although that problem might disappear if it was belted. Saying that, it looks a bit odd belted (with DH's tie, as I can't find any actual belts ), as the button placket stops just below the belt. I could easily make something similar, but it is such lovely fabric that I might consider the alterations. Will need to find a proper wide belt and decide. The silk front tee is really lovely. Not sure if it is a weeny bit tent like with my big boobs, but I know they'll go down a couple of cup sizes in the next few weeks, so don't want to be put off by that. The bracelet I also ordered (not on site any more) is sweet but way too delicate for me. It's leather, which I love, but I think I need something wider and more cuff like, despite having reasonably slim wrists.

Outfits all sound great today. I'm still lolling in tracksuit bottoms (but at least nice, well-fitting dark grey marl ones; bought when mags kept saying to wear them out with heels...obviously never did that in the end!) but going out to meet a friend for coffee and cake later so am going to try and put together nice new combination - seriously running out of maternity inspiration now!

amber so pleased you got the spotty trousers too! Love how you're wearing them. A blouse wouldn't be good at all. I'm thinking seriously plain white /grey / black tops, although have got an amazing raw edged dull black sequin vest that could work with them and black patent heels (clearly spending too much time planning post bump outfits that I will have no occasion to wear).

Laughed at your gym story rufus. You are hardcore! As are all you dieters and non sugar eaters. I don't think I have ever ever managed a day without chocolate or cake.

bloss great decision on the dvf dress. It is gorgeous. ollie your dedication to the HL is fantastic. Would echo concerns about altering jersey though; my DM is an ace seamstress and always warns against it. Enjoyed your review of 'Committed' as liked 'Eat.. when I read it. Would love to belong to a book club but loath to set one up as worried I'd be too English teacher and no one would enjoy it!

mim great news on the baby's position and iron. Same for me too. Have been sitting on my birthing ball too...when I can stop DS from playing with it that is!

Still jealous of your colours knowledge, hopefully (and your boobs!) I've just bought that same reiss silk front top, but in the bright pink, simply because it's a colour I love. No idea whether it suits me or not! Is it NYE who is training as a consultant?

Hope everyone is enjoying their days; lovely and sunny here!

Red I LOVED The sense of an ending. I gave it 10/10 at our book club and actually think its the only worthy recent winner of the Booker.
Was very disappointed by The Marraige Plot Fritzi, and I love Middlesex and The Virgin Suicides. Haven't finished Haruki Murakami's latest either. Another favourite author of mine. The Wind up Bird Chronicles anyone?
Hope you track down the dress OIO. Once you get that bee in your bonnet you are a woman to be reckoned with......!

Forgot to say hello reallygrumpy. The pink KG scarf is a million times nicer than it looks on the site and so cosy. I'm wearing mine now!

Hello Reallygrumpy!

Pickled bright.

Am about to start Sebastian Faukes 'A Week in December' that I have heard v good things about. Also have (in vast, teetering pile next to bed) 'Nothing to Envy - Real Lives in North Korea' that is also raved about, and 'Chasing the Devil' by Tim Butcher (africa travelogue). I read his first book 'Blood River' and found it fascinating. Plus 'At Home' by Bill Bryson; 'Dark Matter' (a ghost story, apparently, by Michelle Paver); 'I will make you fit fast' by Matt Roberts and a couple of sci fi novels (Containment and Zone One.) A fairly diverse bunch!

Blue - I used to be an English teacher, many moons ago!

Good work Ollie, do report back on what its like tomorrow.

Hopefully, that shirt dress could be tricky. Do you plan to wear with bare legs in the summer or is it for going over skinnies? My gut feeling is that it's going to be a 'hard work' item.

red watched 'Coppers' and loved it...(and started shouting at the screen when your name came up ).

Bloss stunning DVF dress, a 10000% better than the Acne one. Fingers crossed it gets to you on time.

Thanks for all the encouragement about the VBAC. red, been for a counselling session which was useful and have a VBAC preparation class next week which I am hoping will answer a few more questions. I am pretty sure I will go for it in the end, just having those last minute doubts I suppose.

I was fortunate to receive http://www.blissworld.co.uk/bath-body/shop-bliss-products/vanillabergamot/bliss-seasons-sweet-ings-gift-set/this for Xmas and finally started using it today. My goodness it is devine smelling. Really recommend. Oh and I have decided to go with Bloss's origins eye cream, will order next week.

I let DH cut my toenails last night. Big mistake.