AVID, WISE and keen to debut our Spring buys

[Russianred]

Inspired, eh?!

blue Wouldn't it be lovely to cuddle your newborn on V-Day?

icey How long for you until your due date?

bloss I was thinking about wearing one of my "old" dresses and not rush out and panic buy a MU-dress just for the one occasion. Maybe I'll wear the one from my birthday or just a plain black one.

ollie DD is doing Valentine cards with her class tomorrow too. The teacher arranged a sort of "Secret Santa"-system where each child got one name and made a card for one of their classmates.

I passed my mystery reader assignment with flying colours today. Maybe I took it all a bit too serious by practicing reading the text and thinking about questions to ask as an introduction but they all listened quietly and seemed pleased with the story (about a tooth fairy in training).

amber x-post. I'm impressed with your V-day celebrations. Have you seen this?

Also careless here. Have my mother staying again, so we celebrated on the weekend. Hope DH hasn't bought me a card though! Will feel bad.

Was so hoping that the VWA dress I've sent back would be a MU dress, but no dice. I'm hoping that one I'm making might cut the mustard, but am only buying fabric for it about two weeks before MU, so not sure it will be finished. There may be a last minute panic buying session, since I don't actually have any old dresses I can fall back on

Blue hope baby appears imminently, and am v of your food boredom. I have never knowingly been bored of eating. At least I can hopefully look forward to some weight loss in the next week or two since AF has finally appeared - was getting really rather anxious at it being 1.5 days late - am absolutely clockwork normally!

Glad I'm not alone on the jeans situation. Was easy when I was working as I wore dresses a lot, but haven't quite managed to replace them with suitably casual dresses for SAHM lifestyle. Maybe I'll manage one or two in the summer.

Speaking of working, DH and I were discussing this evening the possibility of moving a fair distance away to allow him to get a better paid job and me to work again. Scary thought, not sure if we're ready for that much of a life change! Tempting to actually have some spare money though, and would be great to be able to start doing what I want to do. But the boys are still so little. Ho hum, no great rush I suppose, but I'm absolutely useless at sitting still doing nothing - I need plans and direction to feel comfortable, and at the minute we're in a 'wait and see' phase of our life. How do I settle into it?

Hello All.

Blue that sounds like things are happening. Hope its not too long now.

We are such misers, we don't bother with V day at all....we don't even send each other Christmas cards...

Gosh I am tired. DH had to bring DS home early from nursery, he has a temp and another cold. He'll have to stay at home tomorrow too. I am going back to to Dr tomorrow as my chest is still so painful, and I could sleep for a week.

Interesting to hear about all the diet and exercise talk. I have been really bad at keeping to my healthy eating plan, and have broken into the snacks that are packed in my hospital bag. Oh the shame.

We don't do anything for V day either - I talked DH out of it many years ago.

Having said that he's usually in New York for a school trip when it falls so brings me back something (often in a little blue box ) but he hasn't gone this year so will be nothing exciting tomorrow (unless blue has her baby!)

Afternoon naps Amber! Are you having a giraffe?! They went out of fashion in this house a few months ago . Am hoping I may get a bit of sleeping in whilst DD goes to play group in the mornings though.

Due date is 25th so nearly in single figures for counting down now. Am fairly certain it will be late though.

Exciting hopefully. I don't like 'wait and see' times either though.

icey That's a shame, I was a lazy cow and kept DS in nursery 2.5 days a week before DD arrived so I could rest. Actually didn't and spend most of the time shopping and manically putting stuff in the loft! I am so lucky, DS still has a 3 hour nap most days and sleeps 11 hours at night.

fritzi thanks for that link, love the sound of the alarm one, but DH has some very important meetings tomorrow, so daren't interrupt them. Maybe I could do it during his commute. Actually did the playlist one on DH's first day back at work after our honeymoon.

Re. MU I might even break the mould and wear trousers. Not really a dress girl, though there is a Marant I have my beady eye on...

Shop the wardrobe for MU, I'm in.

warmwoolenmittens, if you're lurking, I've been racking my brains all day for a song for you. When I find a suitably cool one, I shall pass it on!

Ollie I think food at the venue in the end. I might do a little call tomorrow and see how our cave is looking.

Ah yes sleeps in pg are so good. It is a shame Icey! I wish you all much rest in the last few weeks.

I have such fond memories of being pg with ds2 as like Amber I kept ds1 in nursery part time and then swam 3 times a week, meet dh for lunch in Shoreditch once a week and slept many afternoons. It was really nice.

I miss that time. And in fact after deciding not to be employed I am still freelancing, but running the project from home and will put some funds towards having free time for the above. Meeting dh for lunch and exercise.

MU not sure, probably Stella M dress. Needs to be worn again.

Thanks for the welcome and didn't mean to freak anyone out about lurkers.....am not judgey at all and at the moment feel like a relationship disaster as things not too great with DP (definitely no V day celebrations here although he is useless at general type celebrations but awesome at birthdays )

So am trying to distract myself with things that make me happy such as cooking lots of new recipes, having a proper 3 times a week gym regime and taking pleasure in planning outfits and shopping purchases as well as spending lots of time with my wonderful DS (age 2) and maybe making a few new friends along the way.

Anyway enough about random me - also wanted to wish blue good luck with the imminent arrival.

Good to have you on board breton. Sorry to hear your relationship isn't as you would like. What's on your shopping list for S/S?

Agree with Fritzi about not panic buying MU dress - did that last time and didnt feel quite right and not worn since.

Marsha permission to fawn over Stella at the MU?

Breton - cooking, gym, planning outfits? You are going to fit right in here! Sorry about things with DP. There is always good advice to been found on here.

I slept a lot when pregnant with DS2. I was so tired towards the end. Remember sitting on his floor whilst he played and I fell asleep sitting up whilst listening to Winne the Pooh songs....

Evening all, am bloody knackered after preparing the playroom for phase 849 of renovating this sodding house which begins tomorrow. De-cladding of 30's fireplace and walls which were in full panelled glory. DS' room is being re-plastered so he is in with DD for a few nights - went up to check on them and she was standing in her cot wearing a hat and scarf whilst he dressed up in the rest of the clothes he had found in her 3-4 drawer (yes, I already have clothes spanning up to 5 for her). Laughing their heads off; they're turning into something of a fearsome twosome.

Yes to wardrobe shopping for the MU - I cannot justify the purchase of one more dress!

Hello to Bretonbee, lovely to 'see' you. Sorry to hearings aren't how you would like with DP at the moment - I've found this thread so supportive and wonderful in times of need. Love your purchases.

Hurrah for bottle acceptance Amber! Nice to hear about your evening at the PT - such a funny coincidence.

Hopefully I have the exact same problem with jeans. Yes, yes to J Brands being a good solution. Not so much with the Jamies for me (I was once informed that I 'certainly have the thighs of a Jewish woman' - I think she thought it was ok as she did too).

MiM hope you and DS can enjoy a lot of sofa/blanket time tomorrow.

How exciting for you Blue - hope it's the sign of things happening.

Celebrating V day here with a bottle of champagne in the evening and that's it really. No cards here - i find it all a bit cringe-worthy (not in a judging those who participate way, but just because if the dynamic of iur relationship). I was going to attempt heart-shaped pancakes (buckwheat sound great Fritzi) in the morning for us all, just for fun.

Heart shaped pancakes and cake here too Red, I've got to get some use out of those cake tins. Good luck tomorrow, it will be worth it.

Fingers crossed blue you will have a gorgeous baby in your arms very soon

mim and icey hope you fit in lots of snoozes, I remember counting down the hours until 6 pm when dh would come home and I would go straight to bed!

amber good for you and dh, nothing like a bit of schmaltz romance

V chilly still, but I really noticed the stretch in the evening today which is great, the more daylight the better. Looking forward to Wed, taking dc to the Muppets, via HoF and Harvey Nicks. Clever, clever shopping centre designer who put them right beside the cinema

hello ladies
We have moved house, we did go early in the end, totally worth the extra money, and lovely house is great. Have had a terrible couple of weeks though yelling at everyone from the gas people (turned off our gas which broke hot water heater) to Australian removalists (forgot to send my visa to customs nearly resulting in them not releasing my stuff in time to move in). I also killed a redback (venomous) spider in DD's room, right next to her bed. Fortunately I devised a Spider Killer out of a coathanger rather than smooshing with my fingers on the basis that it MIGHT be venomous (all the while telling myself not to be silly, of course it wasn't a redback).

Anyway, will get back in to the W&A swing of things soon I am sure but just wanted to say hi...and so sorry I will miss the meetup, I am actually going to be in the UK the following week for work!

OMG roary that would have been me straight back on the plane, I get very twitchy about spiders! Brave lady. Glad the house is lovely and you are settling in.

Well Valentines saddo here has been up cooking since 6.30am when DH's car came. This had better be appreciated!

Slightly in awe of Amber's schmaltz romance

Roary hurrah that you're in the house, and very well done on the spider killing. I would have just had to move out of the country.

I would like to put some money towards some free time, but DS2 is such a clingy little so and so I'm not quite sure who I'd leave him with! And DS1 isn't much better... Thankfully my mother normally takes him for the odd hour or two when she visits, so I get a break once a month or so. DH is great in the evening, but hard to hide from your children in your own house!

Morning and happy Valentines to everyone.

Meant to say a hello to Breton, hope you stay. Sorry to hear that you have some relationship problems at the moment. Lots of good advice from some very wise people here though.

I am awe of your spider control roary. Sounds like the house is perfect for you all.

Ants how is your Sister? Also been thinking of you Everything too.

Verity, like your plan of cinema and Harvey Nicks.

Your work is really cracking on Red, which is great. It will be worth all the mess and upheaval in the end.

Thats quite a discussion Hopefully, how far is DH talking about? You would need to weigh up the pro's and con's, and being away from family etc.

I am feeling wrecked - only had about 2 hours sleep last night due to DS being awake with a temp and a cold. He is now transfixed with a Peppa Pig DVD, whilst I try and wake myself up. I was also kept awake with lots of period like pain last night, (TMI - sorry). Really hoping that's a sign that things are only a couple of weeks away.

Happy Valentines Day to all of you, mwah!

OFF, sorry

I have made a list of work projects I have to do in the next two weeks and it involves a lot more than I thought... Have split it down into smaller projects and if I get everything done for today instead of MNetting or browsing websites for interior decorating I will reward myself with some online shopping:

Breton dress 1 and
Breton dress 2.
Asos Aggies à la Wendy

Talking about spring: It is snowing again. No, no, no, no....!!!!! roary Please send us some sunshine (but keep the spiders )

Morning all. Happy Valentines to you, whether you celebrate or not!

MIM - sorry to hear that you have had such a rubbish night. Really hope you manage to get a snooze at some point today.

Red - sounds like lots going on. It is such a cliche but I suppose you just have to keep thinking about the finished product and how great it will look (this is coming from me that has never lived through a bigger refurbishment than a kitchen replacement....) The whole Jewish women's thighs thing made me giggle. If it any consolation, DHs eyes would probably glaze over with lust if I mentioned that phrase to him, as he backpacked through Israel and eulogizes about the hordes of fit young women in clingy military uniforms - who ALL had incredible bodies apparently

Roary - great to hear from you and well done on the spider killing! (Although I don't need to hear that sort of thing a month before I go!!) It sounds like it has been a very busy time, so I assume no time for shopping. Let us know if you discover any good brands over there though!

Verity - Feedback on both HNs and the Muppets please . I may take DD (to the Muppets that is....nearest HNs is a VERY long way away.) DH is a Muppet hater (I know - how can he?!) and will only sit through The Muppet Christmas Carol on sufferance. It is my favourite Christmas film (up there with It's a Wonderful Life.) DH and I went to see The Woman in Black on Saturday. Very creepy and quite well done I thought. Only a 12A, but frankly most children would have been pretty petrified.

Amber - all sounds Valentine-tastic! We do cards and a little pressie usually. I am cooking DH red pepper and goats cheese risotto, which is more than I usually manage on a Tuesday night after a 12/13 hours day .

I have just been looking at a few websites and am not feeling the love for much at the moment. I may actually need to stick to my word and buy a few tops for layering rather than anything more fun.... And just what is this 'mullet hem' business? Who is that going to work for? Frankly, makes peplums look sensible IMHO.

Right, off to do some work.

Ollie I shall try and make it worthy of a swoon!

Roary oh the spiders. My parents' house gets the worst kind of big ones. Shudder. They are truly awful.

Fritzi I feel the same, just need to do some work, bill and find something online as a reward. Should time nicely with improvement in weather

Morning all. Had a bad night's sleep too, coughing. Reminded me of when I used to smoke. Horrible.
So DH working from home, the worst kind of day. All of us at home trying not to disturb him!
Was supposed to take my bike for a spin but now my mum has to go with my dad to to doctor's, so can't take the dcs. Dad had a funny turn at the weekend. He's not getting any younger - it's what I mean about having the strong body/mind thing now I'm facing aging parents etc.
But today I am wearing my favourite whistles burgundy/navy stripy top with a layering vest, with indigo jeans and a slate boyfriend cardigan. Could do with a new cardigan as the boden 'storm' one was disappointing. Lovely charcoal at the white co yesterday, but not the kind of cardigan I was after.
Am trying to get the energy together to go to town, do the shopping, make a bolognese, and make some brownies. Special request from DS.

Great to see you roary, how brave are you?? I would be on the first plane home I'm afraid!

Where is rufus?

Oh the restorative properties of make up! Thank the lord!

Hope your Dad is ok Bloss. Funnily enough the mystery 'illness' that meant my parents wouldn't keep DS at their house last week has vanished...just in time for their holidays tomorrow.

Well, I could hold out for much longer, so I have ordered the Boden Breton dress as inspired by Fritzi's links earlier. Worth a punt.