AVID, WISE and keen to debut our Spring buys

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Inspired, eh?!

Morning bloss . Can I ask your assistance as expert on Welsh educational system? Wikipedia is not of much help... Have PMed you

I've decided cardigans just aren't for me. I cannot put one on without immediately looking frumpy - does anyone else have this problem? I suspect the problem lies with my generous bust.

Cake in the oven, now to make the house look beautiful, before popping to shops to return some trousers. Wearing red 811s in honour of the day with navy and white stripey jumper.

NY sounds like a lovely meal! DH has requested lasagne and chocolate cake. He is a man of simple pleasures, clearly.

fritzi hope you get it all done so you can shop!

MiM I love that dress, will be so great for summer. I could never pull it off as hate my legs and will not let them out in public clad in anything less than 70 denier!

Oh, and bloss, I bloody hate it when DH works from home, but he thinks he's doing me a favour, bless, as he's home for bedtime!

MIM a big fat face for your parents from me too. Hope you get some rest today.

Re moving for work, DH is only ever going to get work on the south coast, due to the nature of his work, but could potentially be up to a couple of hundred miles away. Would be good for me, as I would then be able to work too. But, ooh, it's big thing to think about. We are at that stage where he is keeping an eye open for jobs, and we are aware that if we're going to make a move we'd like to do it before DS starts school in 2013 (assuming we don't home ed, which we are considering too), but equally we really don't want to be rushing into something like that, and there are a couple of opportunities for me to explore about working locally, but they all involve sitting on my hands and waiting to see how things pan out over the next six months or so, which will drive me a little mad with frustration! It's all going over in my head lots, but there's actually a limited amount we can do in the short term to help us decide.

Fritzi I like your incentives list. I think I may order some accessories today if I manage to get all my work done. I really am a bit devoid of them.

Have just had to google Mullet hem. I've been seeing them everywhere but didn't know they had an actual name.

I realise I have become the equivalent of the annoying MIL that phones every day to see if you've had a baby yet when you're overdue and pissed off, but I keep checking back on here to see if there's an update from Blue

Tricky Hopefully, but at least you are at a stage of DC's lives where it would be ok in terms of schools etc. Understand the feeling of frustration though. Before I met DH, had DS etc, I was always the sort of person that had a plan for my life i.e aiming for promotion at x point, moving house by x etc. I find it difficult now that life is much more unpredictable.

Amber I suspect boobs are the issue, although the length of the cardigan is important too. Cropped look frumpy on me, but look great on others. I prefer a boyfriend length cardigan, but I am not very busty at all.

Right - going to take DS out for an hour prior to my GP's appointment in the hope I can wear him out!

Back later.

Hello everyone. Have not caught up on the thred but just wanted to let you all know that Dsis is out of danger. We have had the results back from the many tests they ran. She had swine flu.

Have day off today as half term. Am taking eldest niece and DD to theatre. They are very excited. Currently in DDs room organising their outfits. Have just had to talk DD out of wearing tunic top, leggings and summer dress so dread to think what they settle on! Still they are happy and it give me a chance to wash my hair. He'd night from hell last night. DS is just not sleeping and last night was the worst ever. I know I need t sleep train. This will be the third time. Am. Sick. Of. It. I adore him but not at 2,3,4,5 am!!!

No purchases to report other than canvess gap bag which will be great for beach stuff in the summer- sorry cannot link as does not seem to be on website.

roary am in awe of your calm in dealing with spider. I would have been in pieces!

Big hello to lovely pregnant ladies, MIM, Blue, icey and looby. Am getting really excited. Cannot wait to see first announcements!!!

Happy valentines days to you all. amber especially good luck with your plans...DH have been so swamped with life over the last few days it has been a total non event in this house. Will try and get something when I am out with the girls. Whilst it is commercial crap I see no harm in treating the one we love every now and again.

Welcome to bretton

red you are certainly on a mission with your house. It. Will. Be. Worth. It!!!

ny your mum sounds ace.

bloss fingers crossed for your dad. Am in awe at triathlon. I can not even spell it let alone contemplate it.

reine sorry DCs are I'll. Tis the weather.

Oh, and I'll join in the club to your parents MIM. How convenient....

DH's father is like this. I am very lucky in that his DM and my parents are all engaged and helpful. His Dad, on the other hand, has seen DD twice since she was born(last time in 2007....) The only time we have ever seen him (apart from our wedding day) is when we have travelled to see him. He and his wife are retired and relatively comfortably off, but apparently her arthritis prevents them from travelling from the Lake District to see his son and grand daughter. But doesn't prevent them from going to Barbados, Fueventura, Florida etc etc....... DH basically took the decision that he was sick of making all the running for a father that couldn't remember his grandaughters name (has never once got it right in the six monthly phone calls that he and DH have...) and so has said that they are welcome here anytime they want to come and see us, or we will travel halfway to the Lake District and we can meet in a hotel, but that we are too busy to always travel to them. But it's the arthritis you see....

I think I honestly would have more respect for him if he just said he couldn't be bothered. And it doesn't worry me (or DD, as she doesn't remember they exist) but I feel sad for DH.

Yes, how convenient indeed for your parents MiM - I know it can never be as cut and dried as this, but perhaps you are better off with minimal contact on your part, as you have had for the last week or so, and very low expectations. At least you have a very clear idea of the parent you do not want to be. Hope all goes well at the GPs today. Excellent breton purchase - do report back in case it's so good I need to copy you.

Blue where are you?! >

I so wish I'd bought that Whistles top when it was in stock Bloss - you seem to get so much wear out of it and always sound lovely in the combinations.

Hopefully I know the exact feeling. The time between making the decision to move to the South-West and finding the right job was excruciating. I need structure and plans!

Have a lovely trip to the theatre Ant - hope you don't nod off during the show!

Love your Valentines outfit Amber - I have the same problem with cardigans - longline tend not to work, but shorter, fitted, crew-neck cardigans do - in a 50's busty way.

DH and DS are on their fourth run to the dump. DS is as happy as anything. Plasterers are going wild with the Kanga - DS wandered into his room to see if it was finished and cried when he saw the bare brick wall. Bless. Thanks for all the supportive words - I know we're very fortunate to be able to do it all but boy will I be glad when it's all done (in 3 years...)

Intense cabin fever after morning at desk. As much as I love working from home, I think I need to go out for lunch and get some fresh air.

ants Must be great to have you as a sister .

Sounds like you're in for a fun afternoon ants. Good on you! So glad you're sister's out of danger.
I'm very sorry to hear of so many of you with unsuppotive parents/ils. I cannot understand it. In awe of how you cope.
Thank youred. It is quite high necked though, and I believe you're larger chested than me, so maybe it wouldn't have worked anyway (wasn't meant to be emoticon!) I wear a non padded bra, underwired though, underneath (not so easy to find these days!)
Intrigued at your request fritzi. Will look at inbox right now.
Feel sick after licking the brownie bowl.

I'm doing my annoying MIL thread-check again....

Amber I am best avoiding cardigans, and I think it's mainly down to my bust. I still wear them because I'm lazy and they're warm, but on the whole they aren't a great look on me. Long boyfriend/shawl collar/drape front ones are ok, but anything remotely twinsetty makes me look matronly.

Red and MIM thanks for the understanding - it's such a minor issue to have in the grand scheme of things, but I like to know where we're headed and what we're aiming for etc etc. I need plans, dammit!

Ants glad your sister is over the worse, and hope you enjoy the theatre!

I am wearing (for the 3,000th time) my Inhabit cashmere sweater and J Brand teal skinnies today. I rather love them both, great for a comfy day working/baby entertaining. Although I definitely need some accessories to liven them up a bit. Maybe a bangle or two.

bloss You are a gem, thanks! Will get down to do some more work. DD is in school until five today and the day seems sooo long.

hopefully Scarves are my trusted accessory of choice. Feel more dressed whatever I'm wearing if I add a scarf. DD has started to copy me. The one she likes best is my L&L leopard cashmere one .

amber Snap! Wearing red skinnies too today .

Hello all. Still no baby. Was convinced we'd be off to the hospital by now so feeling a bit deflated today. Still lots of back pain and period like cramping so am sure baby is still back to back, unfortunately. I've been doing some reading about it and it all sounds rather alarming but trying not to worry too much. Have spend much of today draped over ball on hands and knees! Thanks for all the well wishes, it's really kind of you.

roary glad to hear you're in a lovely new house.
red love the anecdote about your DS and DD playing dress up. All the renovations will be worth it in the end, I'm sure.
ants so pleased your sister is ok

hopefully I think a move sounds exciting but know what you mean about limbo. I used to be terrible about waiting to make plans and want everything to be sorted straight away but being with DH has forced me to be more laid back and embrace that feeling of different exciting possibilities lying just ahead. It sounds cheesy but he always reminds me that whatever we do will be right for us and that the main things are sorted: us and the DC, together and happy.

On a more serious note, whatever happened to your muubaa leather jacket? Saw some recommended in the ST style mag and thought of you. It was a very W and A article actually: coloured skinnies, ash jalouse etc, - worth a look.

icey hadn't realised your due date was quite so soon! Hope you're feeling ok. It's so gutting when daytime naps disappear isn't it? Jealous of amber - 3hrs! Impressed by your valentine's extravaganza too. I haven't even received my card yet but am assured that there is one...

Oh, the cardigans. Not a very stylish thing to admit but I live in them because a) I really feel the cold and b) I am very flat chested and they do seem to suit me. I like boyfriend styles, chunkier cropped ones, little coloured cashmere ones... Anything but round necked, basically, which always feels a bit twinset and pearls to me (although actually, i do like pearls!) Still on the hunt for the perfect leopard print one though. That lovely pure one that someone has on here isn't quite me somehow.

Right, need to change position again, so no more typing for now!

fritzi my DS copies me with scarves too, he favours my pricier ones, was riding round on his scooter draped in my LV this morning, I was twitching like mad. He has already put a hole in a McQueen! Agree they are great accessories Hopefully I rarely wear jewellery aside from a watch as my engagement ring is quite big so I feel it's enough.

Cake iced with our initials in a heart

come on blue, I'm rooting for a V day baby! hope you're not too uncomfortable!

popping in to say 'any news yet blue or have you gone off thread to avoid our mother henning

DD1 gone back to school today but still seems a bit washed out

ants glad your sister and baby are ok,what are you seeing at the theatre?

vb thanks for reminding me to get out heart shape tin(has lain unused since bought several years ago

DD2 has risen from her sick bed to lick the brownie bowl..

ollie your recipe was the first to go into my new recipe file,looking forward to using it again soon.

I found all the exercise/diet chat interesting too..I have never restricted what I eat but have always been active/highly strung so I think that stops me from getting very big.I have a friend,who if you google,comes up as Supermodel and I notice she Never finishes her plate and will stash things under her salad etc so not always a high metabolisn thing.I have been conditioned by my parents to always finish my plate which I know is a silly habit.

pickled can't wait to hear your DH hooking up story at MU.

at mim and ny's stories re-grandparents!

at hopefully trying to hide from her children.

Oh I'm the same with cardigans - I wear them for warmth but jumpers with scarves a much better look on me.

I am wearing bright pink gap skinnies today as its 8 degrees - positivey spring like. DH bought me a pretty sparkly bracelet from jigsaw and we're making a nice supper for later with lots of heartshaped and red and pink things.

I'm rather liking this and thought it would look good on you Bloss with skinnies.

Blue - not long now . . .

I'm also a planner but DH is always on at me to 'enjoy the journey more' and not just live for when the next thing happens.

mrsCB that is exactly what my DH says to me - I'm always looking to the next thing, be it a handbag, a holiday or a child! He finds it most annoying and would like me to live more in the moment.

Cheerfully due to the absence of DS and tender age of DD I got to eat all the leftover buttercream. Sadly I will also be shouldering the burden of weight gain alone.

Bus driver just called me 'babe', he is obviously overcome with the spirit of the day!

I wish NaP etc would bring loads of Spring stuff in, I'm feeling a bit underwhelmed by it all.

Also improvement of weather means I can wear Stella M long navy cashmere/wool gloves with just a jumper, I am actually looking forward to this .

I can wear cardigans but cropped-ish and neat. Not chunky and longline.

Ooh forgot to say, scarf if you're reading - happy birthday!

Reine doesn't everyone?

brownie recipe here

Hello, can I join?

I'm too overweight and broke to actually buy any of the clothes on here, I suspect, but I can window shop as a motivational tool while I work on changing both those things

I was drawn in by the Ambush boots. Really, really want those, but will have to wait a month or two.

hopefully I sometimes sneak upstairs while DS is happily playing and usually have all of 5 mins before I hear "mummy, mummy, where are you?"

Happy birthday scarf!

Love that MD jacket and it's virtually identical to my TS one which I have worn constantly for the last two years and LOVE.