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

[OllieinOrange]

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

You sound so much brighter today carciofi. I'm so glad you found a babysitter and it sounds like you nailed your 'me time' outfit!
I'm off to look at the dvf sale. Back later.

Thanks for the welcome Carciofi . Glad you have been able to find a way to have a break. Being a SAHM is absolutely relentless. I categorically couldn't do it if DH wasn't home at 5:30 every evening (and he more or less takes care of bath/bed time single handed unless one of the DSs is being a pain). Hats off to you, and make the most of your little bit of downtime.

Amber I am v excited about the style day! I have grand ideas that it will revolutionise my shopping (probably by making it even harder than it currently is ). I suspect I'll come out as a combo of Natural and something else. Possibly dramatic? NYE and I are both leaning towards Natural-Dramatic. There's certainly nothing remotely ruffly/frilly/lacy/gathered/girly about the clothes I like, so would think that Romantic/Ingenue are extremely unlikely (although I am fairly hourglass in figure), but I'm trying not to rule anything out before I even start!

While we're talking about BFing (well, we were five hours ago...), how bloody long does it take to stop being full of milk after you stop!? DS2 was down to one feed a day (so surely not having that much milk), I stopped feeding him about 8 days ago, and my boobs are still more akin to cannonballs than body parts. I need them to deflate. It's really uncomfortable picking up the baby or cuddling anyone!

Blue the Whistles coated jeans were skinny enough on me too, but returning as not as good on me as the CdeC coated grey ones. Almost all jeans I buy are too long on me. I've just accepted it and get everything altered. Has your roxy arrived yet?

So glad you are back on form today Carciofi. And you need that babysitter at least once per week. Anytime I am at home with my DC for a week, I am just a bag of nerves. I took midterm off once. Never again. Said to DH, I will never do a week of them full time on my own again. Can manage if they are at school. Just about. I can't even seem to get dinner cooked on time. Oh, and BTW, you cannot move SS. You are a Howthie through and through. You'd probably spontaenously combust or something if you go south of the river! And you'd be amazed how much use your dad would be. All you need most of the time, is someone to pick them up from the school when you are stuck, or literally watch them for a few hours. He's probably not very confident now, when they are at the baby stage, but that will change. I love CdeC. I almost feel like going to Belfast, just to have a look. Even though it is just a small concession in HofF. Sad. Aren't I?
Don't forget to link to the DVF sale Bloss. Do you think that dress I linked to would look good on you? As we have similar colouring, would appreciate your opinion.

Hopefully I think it took me c. 10 days for it to stop with DS. I would love to do a style day, but should probably start with colours. It is top of my list for when I can leave DD for any length of time!

Good to see you back Carciofi and great that you've found a more reliable babysitter. I have to say that the 3 hours of just DD each weekday combined with the use of the car have made the world of difference to me. I feel like I've got a bit of breathing space. DD is becoming a little daredevil though, so my breathing space may be limited..!

Have finally ordered a pair of 811s from Harvey Nichols - best price I could find still in my size (not £50 Amber, but nevermind. I think I need sales shopping lessons from you) here if anyone is keen. Lets hope they're the answer.

Can I ask for some help? Following Ollie's advice, we've arranged to go up to London for the weekend in February for one of my dearest friend's birthday parties, which are always spectacular (NYE it is the connection we share). The theme is minor characters from films. I was planning on going as Mrs Schumacher from Dirty Dancing, but apparently someone else is. So, it needs to be in that kind of vein and not something that would take lots of costume buying. Any thoughts?

Glad you found some red, hope they work for you! Rusty from footloose? Someone from Grease - Cha Cha or Patty Simcox? That prostitute friend of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman? Moaning Myrtle?

Why do none of my friends ever have fancy dress parties? I would love it!

nanny off sick with bug. major hassles with DH and I trying to coordinate important meetings and looking after children. DD2 now being sick too. washing machine on overdrive. cannot keep up with new thread already over 100 messages! aaaaaagh. I will return when I surface properly!

Anyone on Marks and Spencer site,I can recommend the slim bootcut jeans,£19.50.Really flattering and comfortable.

Ooooohh NYE that is very enabling! Will enquire, thanks!

Red Lets think of an outfit you want to wear and work backwards?! Great suggestions Amber. Could Roxy be made to look Grease like?

Hehe, Rufus, I actually started life as a southsider! We moved to Howth when I was a toddler as my mother was from there and missed it. My dad took DD1 to the Summit pub last time we were back, that is his version of childcare. She loved it apparently. Mil was horrified.

Red, that's not too bad a price. The blue J Brands I ordered from Shopbop just last week have gone on sale. Don't you hate that!

Emo, that sounds very stressful.

Hopefully, I am so jealous that your dh is home every evening to do bath/bed! My dh has only ever been home once to do bathtime in almost 4 years!

Thanks ladies - great suggestions. The invitation stipulates that the more obscure the better and that the character cannot be crucial to the plot in anyway. So something like Otto Von Titsling from Beaches. But not, because I want to look quite nice and not dress up as a man. Weird and silly doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Yes, DH going to and he wants to be Wolfman from Top Gun. This is what I'm working with. No need for us to be in coupled up fancy dress.

Watching Devil Wears Prada, could you go as Emily (the other assistant)?

The super-preppy girl from Grease?

Booing woman from Princess Bride (if you're sure you don't mind what you look like?!)

Evening, btw!

Patty Simcox definitely a contender - would be quite easy to do I think. I'm trying to think of amusing 80's characters - they really could just be a ridiculous cameo. With this lot, the more obscure the better, but in the context of cheesy films, not a literary highbrow way. DH thinking about Blue in Old School as well.

Wow, I have just had a complete blank on every single film I've ever seen!

Carciofi the payoff for having him home every evening is that we are comically poor. Church mice look down their noses at us. I've finally started making a bit of money with my business, and it's the first time I've been able to buy half decent clothes (i.e. not H&M) in four years