AVIDly purchasing lavender, orange, yellow and pink for spring is a WISE thing.

[FritziGreenEyes]

Sorry for poor thread title but I am hopeless at rhyming at the best of times...
Unbelievable how quickly we filled the last thread!

Had one hour on Friday before the meeting started and used my time very efficiently and bought these. They are not quite as high as the 50/50s but suit me better. Was hugging the shopping bag close to me on the train back home yesterday .

ollie Such a shame that your DH isn't going to go with the job offer over here. Oh, the fun we could have!

hopefully Having you on this thread is great and I enjoy reading your posts a lot. I hope your mother doesn't find any more tidying tasks for you today. You look fab in your wedding pictures.

annie Hope you got all your work done last night and have the chance to get some rest today.

red We have our hob on our kitchen island too. We couldn't decide on backsplash for ages. Haven't had one for ages and it is absolutely fine. I do most food preparation stuff on the island anyway.

Have lovely Sundays everyone!

Annie well spotted, some great looks on the Mango website.
Ants how lovely to have some quality bath time with DH.
Red isnt it lovely to have to buy new lots of new things for a new room? Great re the interview.
Fritzi we have a cream chair in our bedroom that has never been sat on, just used for clothes! It was an Ikea buy and I dont really like the shape anymore. Your ideas for your bedroom sound lovely.
Rufus what amazing reductions, those shoes are a lovely shade of red.
Carciofi the jeans i tried were the cropped jeans in white, but now thinking abot getting them in indigo too. Not very cropped on me, more ankle length.

Whilst on the Mango website, I spied this shoes and liked - but then saw the name fetish shoes anyone?

I love that raoul blouse carciofi. Have been looking at it for the last few weeks. Don't know when I'd wear it though, and fear the red is too orangey.
Wish I had the opportunity to wear the nice stuff I've got, ie roxy and 50/50s! That's January for you: all diet and excercise, and workout clothing!

Just a quickie - hugely busy with work at the moment.

Ants - so lovely that you had a good time! I have had that hotel on my 'watch list.' Can't wait until my own celebrations and break next week. Still don't where though....

Red - Great news about the kitchen and amazing re interview. Do you think it is formal/suit stuff, or slightly more relaxed?

Have just had chorizo frittata - delicious! Well done to all the non-drinkers....it does make a difference I think. I love a drink every so often, but tend to have more than a glass when I do drink . Probably only once a month on average though......although some months distinctly more social than others. December not a 'once a month' average at all! I think it is all the years of serious booze training in the RAF that mean I can stay off the wine the majority of the time, but am still able to consume a fair amount without falling over. The hangovers, however, are not always as incident free.

Well done, red. Lovely, big kitchen! You must be thrilled. Did you decide on the tiles yet?

zembo- probably another 3 years to go realistically. That will be 6 yrs at med school and 16 years post grad training- ridiculous eh? I'm sure your DH has been through the same thing :) The nomadic thing has its advantages but definitely much harder post DC and definitely more disadvanntages. It is also much harder for me to get a Partnership as everyone knows that we may well need to move again. I hope that it all pays off in the end and that he loves it!

I had a peek at your baby names thread- masses of suggestion! Is your DS Jude? Jude is on my short list if this baby is a boy. I tend to like solid, classic names for boys but DH is ridiculous with naming in general. His suggestion for DS (7 yrs ago) was Galen. When I pointed out the incredibly obvious teasing suggestion he told me that it would be character building! Fortunately for the DC, I am just as stubborn as he is :)

annie- I love the Mango looks but think that Kate Moss looks dreadful. I remember thinking the same when I saw her wedding photos. She has a v harsh, unnatural look and she looks as if her, er, lifestyle choices have ruined her good looks.

Nice shoes, rufus!

ants- that hotel does look lovely. Well deserved break especially after feeling poorly recently. Great sofa and tiles too!

Good luck with interivew Red.
Carciofi keep up the pressure, he will cave. I prefer Chapter One, but L'Ecrivain is more central for drinks after. I always feel when I come out of Chapter One, where now? Could always go for their early bird option there. They do it on a Saturday as well.
Looby feel your pain on the length of training, I am the same. Got a permanent job a year ago, but will only be taking it up in the next few months. My DS2's middle name is Jude. Will pm you his first name!

Thank you for the good wishes. Am assuming the interview is semi-formal - it is for a 'casual' post as a one to one tutor, so I won't need to lesson plan/teach and they've already told me it will be a short interview. Any suggestions on the type of thing? I have a lovely forest green belted shirt dress with covered buttons which I tout I might wear with tan boots. Thoughts? I might even take a pic and post a few outfits - it's been so long since I was interviewed.

Bloss the Raoul shirt would look great on you.

Yes Ollie it is lovely indeed. All the things I've had my eye on for threats year are all being purchased. Am gleeful.

Right, back to organising kitchen cupboards and playing with new hob/oven. Sorry to be me, me, me.

DH arrived back 30 mins ago. In that time he has:

• produced not one, not two, but four packets of my favourite biscuits (those Prince biscuits with the chocolate in the middle). And a huge pack of Haribo. And a box of chocolates. Which is wonderfully thoughtful, but he knows I am on a manic diet. Am determinedly being v v grateful though, as he feels rubbish for being away for a week. Tea and biscuits at mine NYE?
• interrupted my Shred by arriving home 30 minutes early (thus compounding anti-diet). I stopped Shredding and was v pleased to see him, obviously. Did some discreet stretching in kitchen, Might attempt double Shred tomorrow (not back to back though. I would actually die).
• woken DS2 by rushing around being pleased to be home and chatting v loudly outside his door. DS2 has taken approx 15 mins to resettle (by DH, naturally. I am suspicious that he just wanted a cuddle )

It is lovely having him home, although I had got rather used to very quiet evenings after getting the DCs to bed! My mother was too busy sewing name labels on to DS1's clothes or sorting dish cloths or some such to talk to me when she was down.

Do R&B Ballet pumps have a decent sole? If I can find a pair with the right shape (not too round) and no little bow on the front, I am determined to buy a pair of ballet pumps this year, but have, as a student, given myself a compression heel fracture by walking miles every day in really thin soled pumps, so am phobic about thin soled shoes.

MrsCB thanks for the KG suggestion - I think I actually like them more than pistol boots! Wonder if I can find a stockist somewhere not too many miles away - am getting rather bored of buying and returning boots.

Have just bought a couple of bits in Brora sale, they finally reduced the jumper I've been eyeing up for ages so I ordered it in two colours.

Good Morning.

Had a bath last night after dinner, and having planned just a 'little lie down', DH woke me at 10pm.

Glad you and DH had a wonderful time Ants, well deserved after the last few weeks for you. I was nodding about the bath comment you made. We have a roll top and often get in the tub for a soak and a chat. It's one of the few times we aren't bickering. Never have fizz though, DH likes a cold beer in the bath, being dead classy n' that!

annie I am a bit of a Kate Moss fan too, she does have a sense of style when it comes to putting stuff together. A few years ago a friend of mine saw her and PD in a pub in Hoxton together. Said she was beautiful, and very petite. Funnily enough, I watched a video of her for the new Mango collection and loved her hair colour, which I am planning on showing my hairdresser.

Red, so exciting that you are almost finished. How lovely to have new, shiny kitchen things too!! Great news about the interview.
I'll wait to hear your feedback about the Jonnie B dress first. Portia, I saw the Boden in Red, looks great with a navy trench too.

Hopefully, R&B ballet flats have a very good sole. Much more shoe like and I can wear mine all day at work etc. DH is the same when it comes to food. He only starts having an opinion in the supermarket once we get anywhere near the booze/snacks.

Zembo/Looby I have a few friends DH'd in similar positions. Just finishing their Reg term, looking out for Consultants post this year. Lots of uncertainty involved as to where they will end up, which is so hard once there are DC's in the picture. From a work perpective it's gutting when we lose a great Reg too, they are the backbone of the medical team on our unit and you get to know them so well.

Fritzi we will have to collaborate on the bedroom ideas soon, DH getting excited about steel joists...me - White Company cushions and candles.

Very pretty top carciofi, would be a good addition to your wardrobe for the trip home. I love the oyster coloured blouse you linked to, I'd send the Pure one back and put the £40 towards the other one.

Got to go, DS wanting me to play 'guitar' again.

Am conflicted about Kate Moss. Think she can look great in some modelling shots, but as not as good when unprepared and papped ( 'who does', I hear you cry....but I think in her case it is because she has aged herself prematurely.) I am sure she isn't losing any sleep over it though! I was also a heretic in that I didn't like her wedding dress and thought it gave her a of a tummy- to the extend that I thought she was pregnant.

MIM glad you had some rest, sounds like you needed it! Thanks for R&B feedback.

I have decided to buy some new weighing scales today. Mine have been a bit dodgy due to broken foot, and today had me at 3 weights, 3lbs apart, in the space of 10 seconds . I am crap at seeing the difference in myself, need my scales!

NY I thought the same, I was convinced she was too.

Glad it wasn't just me MIM!

Hopefully - don't forget to measure yourself too, as you are likely to see a difference there first with the exercise you are doing. I also find clothing helpful - I have a pair of jeans I have had for 21 years that I only keep as a 'weight barometer' . They are too naff to be seen out of the house in now! If they fit comfortably, then I am fine - too tight and it's time to stop eating cake (boo!) They also expose the vanity sizing that's going on, as they are a 12 and fit me fairly snugly....when apparently I am a 10 in jeans everywhere else now (and that's usually too big at Gap...madness.)

Morning all

Channeling some serious 90s here in body-con strappy black dress worn over black ski pants with leopard print Equipment silk shirt worn open over the top with long Mulberry necklace. Have finished off with Acne pistols, biker jacket and long cable knit Michael Kors scarf.

red fab kitchen, v ! Also well done on interview and good luck!

ants sounds like a fabulous trip! DH and I used to share baths in the tiny tub in our first little flat, now I share with DS, sigh.

bloss well done on the diet and exercise, I haven't worn exercise gear for per 3 years, unless you count sports luxe!

Oh and Hopefully, love your blog!

nye Tin of salmon for you...

hopefully this scarf made me think of you. Back later.

Poor you NYE, would invite you over here but am madly packaging orders while DH has the boys and therefore not the best company. Will see you this afternoon though.

Ooh, Blue that scarf is lovely, thanks.

NY I forgot to measure myself when I started dieting, annoyingly, but will measure today. I used to have a pair of diesel jeans that were completely worn out but I kept for years as my fat barometer. Wish I'd kept them now!

Amber thanks! I've been so lame with it so far this year, been so busy. Need to get back into the habit or I completely lose the ability to write.

Ooh, I measured myself (the advantages of being a seamstress is an excess of measuring tapes kicking around at all times). Waist is just over 28", hurrah! Am rubbish measuring hips as I have major saddlebags, so my hips aren't in any way my widest point.

Hopefully - I have the same issue. Thighs (or I believe it is charmingly referred to as 'seat' in the dressmakers trade?) wider than hips.

Sorry to hear aboutthe Marni skirt Annie, although I do think you are doing the right thing by not trying to diet into it.

NYE have posted on your thread..will now compose an A and W post!

Where can I find your blog hopefully? I really enjoy the way you write.
red love the kitchen! Your shirt dress outfit sounds lovely and suitable for the interview if it's not a formal one.
annie thanks for the mango link; really nice outfits. I'm with you and marsha re.kate moss. I like her insouciance and the fact that she has let herself go a bit but still looks sexy and stylish. A v welcome change from the Botox and fillers brigade. Kylie, for example, looks dreadful these days in my opinion - her left eyebrow really upsets me!
annie again, those earrings you linked to are just divine. Love turquoise in the summer. Need the SS discount codes to start now!
marsha I have a cream blazer that I absolutely adore and have worn it countless times and in countless ways the past two summers, but never with shorts and flats - sounds lovely and will try this year, thanks.
carciofi I like the look of your summer list choices - rather few of them though! Not sure I'll be as disciplined...
ants that hotel looks great. Glad you had a lovely time.
looby yes my DS is Jude but my DH is ridiculous too and I had to fight him for it! He reckons that this time it is his turn to choose... [worried face].

Inspired by the 'how much do you spend' thread I think I might keep a tally this year for the first time ever. The figure will probably be shamefully high but I do love shopping and clothes so that I think it's worth it as long as we can comfortably afford it. It would be useful to get an idea of a monthly budget though, if only so I can continue my quest to replace cheap items with higher end purchases.

Oh and wow to your outfit today, amber. I am all in white and pale grey with my big pale pink scarf. Dressed but nearest equivalent to pyjamas and staying cosy in the house all day.