AVID, WISE and keen to debut our Spring buys

[Russianred]

Inspired, eh?!

Thanks Verity - we have the spacer and the baby mask. Had all sorts of different practices carried out by various nurses - one said to wait for 3 breaths between puffs, one said to wait 10 breaths (excruciating to watch), one 10 counts; there wasn't much consistency. DS helped me a little earlier and she was quite calm when he did it, so might have a go with her facing outwards and him helping to press. Good idea re. singing, will give that a go. Lovely to hear that your DS hasn't been hindered in any way by his asthma. I had childhood asthma (which I can barely remember) which was really well controlled. DH's 'real' dad died from anaphylactic shock following an industrial accident when DS was tiny and was asthmatic - so DH is baulking at any suggestion of asthma and pretending it's not really happening.

Oh, Red, so glad DD is on the mend...hope you both are having some good catch up sleep.

Scarfi- lovely bag!

Ollie - nice dress!

and, Verity - I do like the TS blazer....

Have had a morning pootling around our nearest little town with DD. She's such good company.

Red so pleased you are all home. We had a mask too when DS2 needed an inhaler. Still traumatic for him and me but more accurate in terms of how much of the drug gets into their system. Maybe get DD to put stickers over hers?
Sanuk thats a brilliant incentive to adopt.

notyummy Ive picked up quite a few Kindle books for a couple of pounds and often the ones I want are cheaper than the paperbacks. Not as cheap as a library book tho but think of all that shopping space in your suitcase!
Fritzi Paris at Easter sounds tres lovely.
Scarfaddict I love the embossed bow print on that AH bag.

Feeling all jittery after dress purchase.
Accessorising with a Cape Cod watch had also crossed my mind Mrs CB Am waiting to get to jewellers to try a couple on and then hopefully buy at airport on way to MU.

red glad things have taken a turn for the better - thinking of you all.

olly I LOVE LOVE LOVE that dress.

short post from me - off to black tie do tonight (wearing rasberry whistles drape-y dress from last year and some silver glitter shoes from Kurt Geiger)

raining here - annoying as have blow dry later and it will no doubt frizz up in the weather even with a brolly!

I suffered with athsma as a teen and it became worse in my mid 20's but have no athsma symptoms any longer (I followed the Buteyko breathing programme for a while which helped), and haven't had any further symptoms for years, so you can recover, and many children do 'grow out of it'. Hope she is feeling a lot brighter.

Sorry non S & B but am (still) trying to sort holidays (first, Easter); does anyone rate Menorca? We want to get away for a week in a luxe hotel that's child friendly and as we have 3 DCs we'd like an aparthotel I think, so we have some space/privacy but have all the amenities available. Any ideas? We don't want AI....has to be really nice. Any other ideas gratefully received. As its Easter I don't want it to be a place that is really out of season.

Ooh love the bugaboo Verity....I do like a bit of liberty print.

S and B : I am thinking a new nude snazzy bag; J Crew-a-likey print cropped trews; new blazer; new silk square in pale coral, taupes and black/white; £££white shirt; navy loafers; patterned 50's style skirt to wear with white sharp shirt and ballets; and statement collar necklace to wear over white tees etc.....oh and new bikinis; sandals a la stella mc cartney in bright colour and cropped chinos....I could go on......

Setting the bar high for MU ollie [ wink]

Have fun emo, hope dreaded frizz keeps away.

So pleased you're home red.

Emo enjoy your evening out! I have just bought a pattern for a gorgeous black tie dress. Now I just need a ball to go to

Verity sorry, I did promise you fabric shopping links ages ago didn't I?

My favourites are:

• Raystitch for basics like wool and organic cotton shirting
• MacCulloch and Wallis for everything. They are in central London too, so easy to visit if you're in the area
• Dots N Stripes awful name and clunky website, but great selection of quality jersey and cord and other everyday kids fabrics, with v quick delivery
• Abakhan - I've never ordered from here, but it is cheap and often gets mentioned on blogs for quick service
• Fabricland, possibly the most comically awful website known to mankind, but amazing fabric selection, and you might find there's a shop near you, which would be less migraine-inducing than searching the website
• Ditto is in Brighton and has a small range of really nice fabrics
• Penine Outdoor does random outdoor fabrics, so if you ever need goretex or neoprene, it's your place
• Fabrics Galore again don't sell online, but has a good range in store if you're ever passing Clapham
• Cloth House is where I'm making a pilgrimage to on Saturday. No online shopping (I don't think), but I have heard that the staff are v helpful over the phone and prepared to post. Really good quality fabric
• Liberty of course, for gorgeous Liberty prints.
• The Eternal Maker is v local to me and has a good range of quilting cottons, which have fun prints for girls' dresses etc.

Ummm, that's probably enough to be going on with. [fabric addiction emoticon]

I love this Maison Scotch top but dont think I can be trusted with 100% silk - and also made a face at the dingle dangle thing hanging down the back Maison Scotch top

Ooh a Liberty print bugaboo you say Verity. Well found

Lovely dress Ollie! Will look so good.

Also am having the same hunt for bag and summer shoes.

I want softness, lightness and colour of Phillip Lim chartreuse oversized clutch, but I think I might need a strap (or do I?)...

And Lanvin something but flat too flat and wedge too wedged I need an Ollie dress moment.

I have a MFP question. Am getting confused over quantities. Having paella for dinner and have selected an entry for one cup or one container, 6 cups each.
How much is a cup? Is it literally a cup? If so, Im in big trouble!

Quantities are a nightmare ollie. And there is discrepancy I find. Try finding a reliable guide for 'banana' anywhere! Your best bet is to go for best fit I think, or use Good Food recipes which are calorie counted.
I'd say paella would be 500-600 kcals a portion?

DVF for GapKids in March!!!

A cup is an American cup, I assume? I've done lots of calorie counting in my time, so have a rough idea of most things, so tend to go for the one that seems most realistic when there's a lot of choice, and adjust portion size as appropriate.

Wonders if I can squeeze into the green girl's wrap dress . . .

Great collection! I'll definitely be buying that for DD

Red - so pleased you are home, but sorry you have to go through all this.

My Dotty P dresses and ASOS tops have arrived. I LOVE the Janice a like www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33053&storeId=12552&productId=4583744&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=228107&parent_categoryId=226988&pageSize=20 and snakeskin www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33053&storeId=12552&productId=4539843&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=228107&parent_categoryId=226988&pageSize=20. Tee shirt dress was less of a success and will be going back.

ASOS tops - this one was all wrong. Lots of extra material at the top of the thighs....not good.

This is nice though and I will be keeping. Quite big - I had to get a 12 as no 10s and seems like a lot of material! A keeper though:

Panther print.

oh my goodness just got home. Haven't eaten since eating eggs at 5am.

I tell you I am so looking forward to our MU. Going to really enjoy it.

Red glad you are home too, your poor little dd.

Red - hope DD is ok and that you manage to get some rest tonight too.

If you fancy a coffee next week at cabots/cribbs - friday is good for me . . .

Oh this is so me

Love the sneak peek of the dvf stuff. Will it be available here do we think?

Great haul ny.

NY love your haul, especially the stripy DP.

I am wishing I had a job as I have received the very nice Pure Collection silk shirt. In ivory. Not at all toddler compatible, but really nice fit and size. Should I keep it for my (very occasional) child free outings, and to use as a shape guide for making future shirts, or should I be Wise and send it back? Feasibly I may be working and seeing actual people in the next year or so, but basically it won't see much action in the short term. I haven't even removed it from the bag yet for fear of mucky fingers. I should send it back, shouldn't I? Shame the dark khaki was such a foul colour in RL.

I think I am coming down with DS1 and DH's lurgy. Yay.