AVID, WISE and keen to debut our Spring buys

[Russianred]

Inspired, eh?!

Bobbi brown lip gloss I meant!

Thanks for all the last night! In reality I was fast asleep by 9, I had such a headache when the girls went home I had to go to bed. I think the accumulated stress got to me. I feel so sad for the baby, but what can I do? It's what dh calls an SEP - someone else problem. I do tend to brood on these things which is pointless. Into town for a bit of retail distraction later! Anyway enough of me, but thanks for all the support

Every so sorry to hear your not feeling good. I think this time of year is very tough, we have all had enough of winter, of grey skies and being indoors. On top of that you have to do too much. Is your XH doing is fair share? If not make him. If he has to be away, then he needs to pay for an extra session for your nanny or another minder so you can have some time to yourself. Time alone is vital to my mental health. I love having a houseful of noisy dc and their friends but only because I know I have allocated time alone. I'm an only and am used to a bit of space!

Other rules I have when I'm finding things difficult:
Good food, lots of fruit and veg, less meat and a bit of chocolate!
A good multiviatmin and an extra B complex.
Avoid the news, it's too depressing, sad movies, books etc. I only watch/read/listen to something if it's life-enhancing.
Treats - paint your nails, do your hair, buy a new lipgloss, have a new magazine lined up for when ds is in bed.
In short be good to yourself

Most of all remember this feeling will pass. If you are still feeling low in a week or two definately go to your GP.

Emo good idea about the running, when things are a bit fraught with dh, I concentrate on making myself feel better. I love the idea of running, I have even picked out the gear, but it's just not me! After 10 sessions of the Shred, which really kickstarted the year for me, I have moved onto a Pilates dvd, which I love I really look forward to doing it and I can see that my thighs are shrinking ever so slightly which is a great motivater.

That's quite an amount of money for a blind

Last post from me, promise!

MrsCB love that jacket, picked it out in Zara the other day. I applaud your decision to get rid of the aga I can't stand the things, mainly because MIL has one! She has no other oven so it's either casseroles or dried out roasts. Yuck

Does everyone else use their phone to make shopping lists? I wander round shops taking pictures of things I like. This week almost everything I snapped was linked to by Ollie . I think it's funny that you went out shopping in the Netherlands, and me in Dublin and we came home with the same list! Thought of you yesterday when I bought LivingEtc as it comes with a John Lewis furniture catalogue. Have you filled in the GBB application yet?

Fritzi I love that chair, it looks like an easy shape to re-upholster, you could really have fun with a project like that.

Speaking of projects, Reine what fun! I will be doing the rounds of decorating shops, what is the colour palate of your doll's house?!

Pickled I could hear the relief in your post. Good on you for making the right decision for you rather than soildering on with everyone suffering. Congratulations to your dd, she sounds like a lovely girl.

I was thinking about Fleecys high-tops all week and I then occurred to me that ds1 wears skinnies and hightops most days so probably not good for us to be matching. I remember last year walking into his classroom and I was wearing my spring uniform of ballet flats, skinnies, pretty blouse and boyfriend cardigan, hair in ponytail. So were most of the 12 year old girls in the class

Ants your poor sister, hope things are better today.

Blue hang in there

Amber hope you are having a lie in

Bloss keep visualising yourself beside a pool in your swimsuit, sun shining, blue sky, children splashing happily with dh

MiM total pain about your neighbour. It's a nightmare to get planning permission where we live as it's a conservation area. Total joke, they are workmens cottages from the 1800s, nothing remarkable or even interesting about them at all, makes me . Just keep thinking about how lovely your house will be at the end.

Red that's a perfect childcare arrangement you have made. Now, what about your working wardrobe?

Kisses to anyone I have missed out, dd looking for pancakes. My cousin sent a huge tin of maple syrup from Canada this week, yum, yum.

Have lovely weekends

Scarf hope you are at the airport now stroking your very own Alexa. Have a lovely weekend x

Hello.

My goodness, it is absolutely freezing here today. Had to get out to get DS's hair cut, we are so lucky to have somewhere here where they just do kids cuts, with big fish tanks and toys etc.

I am going to get to a Gap tomorrow to get the fuchsia skinnies tomorrow and make good of the 30% voucher. They have styled them with a navy on white breton, which looks really good and I have a lovely Whistles one from last year that is exactly the same. Popped into Next, the neon trimmed bag is still not in there yet that is featured in Red magazine.

Hope you are ok Emo, and the run helps clear your mind a bit. I too find that busy work can equal strained relations at home too, like it goes hand in hand.

How are you this morning Everything? Also thoughts to Ants and her sister.

Blue, hang on in there, not long now.

Thanks for the link to those swimsuits Bloss, I think I am going to look out for good swimwear in next years winter sales.

Oh pickled, I'm sorry it didn't work out for you but sounds like you and your family are happy with the decision which can only be a good thing.

Lovely sunny day here today (still piles of snow everywhere) and dh seems to have finally realised that we are actually having a baby soon and has kicked into preparation mode so things I have been nagging about trying to get done for the last few weeks look set to be sorted

Grazia had a nice looking fiorelli neon bag- looked much more expensive than it was (about £70 I think). I'll try to find it

neon-ignore me! Am losing the plot I liked the look of it in the magazine anyway.

Oh dear, and now I've linked to nothing!

here it is- still wondering why I remembered it as neon

Right- first link should say 'not neon'.
I'm really not making much sense today- sorry!

It has got neon accents Icey . Glad DH is in a helpful mood today.

Hello all,
Quick catch up:

verity- I think it has all been said already but I am going to my indignation on your behalf! If she knew that she might be given a contract at v short notice, surely she should have introduced the baby to a bottle at an early age. Husband sounds v unpleasant so I can understand your wish to help but it isn't your responsibility to make up for him really. You are a lovely friend anyway. :)

amber- hope you are more rested now.

ants- how is your sister? Hope she is receiving good care and recovering.

Great swim suit bloss. I am looking for a maturity one if anyone has seen/ tried a nice one. I need something supportive in the bust dept (not due to size sadly)!

MIM- what a pain about your neighbour. You sound v pragmatic and also more cheerful than last time I was on here- hope that's the case!

NYE- so sorry that you are feeling persistently down. You have had a huge amount to cope with over the past year and are probably having a delayed reaction. I would suggest a chat with the GP. I have a GP friend in your neck of the woods and could ask her for a recommendation if you are not happy with your surgery.

red- congratulations on the job! Sounds like a good way to ease yourself back into work and increase your confidence. Thanks for Aspace recommendation. I have heard of it before but hadn't thought to look. Will probably get something from them now. :)

On the S&B front, not too much action here although I did buy a lovely pair of Brora fingerless gloves. Other than that, wearing two vests under long sleeved tops, tights under jeans, etc!
I am, however, trying to sort out the DC and my holiday wardrobe for S/pore which is a bit more exciting. Thinking of getting a pair of bright red skinnies for DD1 and perhaps coaxing her into a dress too! DD2 has some sweet hand me downs (although is trying age 5 stuff at not quite 3 yrs old)! Boys are so much easier, I find.

Big disappointment here, dressed for biking everyone in the car, drove the 20 miles only to find it closed. No ice with us. Are we the only ones? So went to MiL's, didn't feel like Chester because of my Sweaty Betty's. So ended up in a bike shop. Buying a bike!! DH paid. I have to pay him back in installments. Then to S'sburys to stock up on Brouilly. Heading home now to watch rugby.

Er, that would be maternity swimming costume, no whatever I wrote before!

Linking once more to the [http://www.kurtgeiger.com/women/shoes/boots/farly-12.html KG boots]] as no one commented before. Of course, that could mean that no one likes them!
Thanks for feedback on the blouse, fritzi and hopefully- 100% poly not so good.

Had a great lay in til 6.45am

Have woken up with sore throat and chest, with lovely cough as an added bonus. Also had row with DH because I haven't done much h

Fecking iPhone..

Because I haven't done much housework. Um, hello - on Tuesday DS was sent home from nursery with suspected chicken pox (it wasn't) and on Thursday (only other nursery day) I was out all day giving DH space to recover! Rest of the week I have been looking after toddler, baby and ailing husband. AIBU not to have done much housework?! Needless to say he got short shrift and has since apologised, but how about engaging brain before mouth, DH? Not amused.

Ah well, am going to return CdeC stuff today and look for suitably nice replacements. Hopefully will find something lovely!

Shame about your cycling bloss but great you have a bike of your own now!

Get well soon Hopefully

verity not surprised you had a headache, don't answer the phone tomorrow!

blue take it easy, hope you're not too uncomfortable!

Amber that is so thoughtless of your DH. It's good that he's apologised, but there is nothing more infuriating than people speaking before they've engaged brain. My DH has a slight tendency to do similar, and just doesn't understand why I still feel cross with him after he's apologised.

Bloss hurrah for your very own bike! Hope that the repayments aren't coming out of the Balenciaga fund

Speaking of Balenciaga funds, I am in the midst of redoing our budgets and have worked out how to divide up any extra money I earn to allow for clothes spending while also saving a house deposit. Because, you know, looking nice is just as important as owning our own house

Looby I love those KG boots. They're a bit pixie-like for me to get away with, but they're the kind of boot I would totally buy if they suited me. In fact, they're the kind of boot that I would usually buy and then wonder why they didn't suit me, before doing my style day.

I am hiding out in my workroom smiling to myself at DH's frustration with DS1 today - he's having a bit of a manic phase, and DH has been all but patting me on the head saying "there there" all week when I whinge about it. He is now discovering that it's not as much fun as it sounds! Am sure it's down to DS1 feeling a bit stressed about DS2 getting so much attention with being ill though, so should resolve pretty quickly once DS2 finally recovers (he is still so poorly, bless him). I, on the other hand, am feeling much better for a quick stride around town, thankfully. I wrapped up in maxi skirt with thick tights and boots, two t-shirts, cashmere cardigan, two scarves, wrist warmers, beret and leather jacket (I really need an overcoat). Slight channelling of 90s grunge look, but I was warm.

Oh dear Amber, that is not what you want to hear from DH. Sorry to hear you are feeling grotty, there seems to be so many bugs about at the moment.

Great news about the bike Bloss. Inspired by your comments about less stomach aches etc, I had live yogurt with honey, raspberries and hazelnuts this morning. Was delicious. That's what I love about this thread, makes you want to do better things for yourself.

Yep, it's a pain in the proverbial re the neighbour looby. Annoying though as it means we will have to make cut backs elsewhere, which will be on the nice stuff like paint, bathroom fittings. What can you do though?

Yes, I am feeling brighter too. Funnily enough it co-insides with having minmal contact with my mother - we have only texted each other since she asked us to collect DS early...odd, but true.

Hello again, hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday. Beautiful and bright here but soo cold. Temperatures set to rise this week though, thank goodness. It's my DM's birthday today and it would have been lovely if I could have produced her granddaughter for her... A few hrs left yet, I suppose! I've been having quite a few cramps over the last 24hrs so perhaps things are moving.

hopefully my DS is also going through a real manic phase, I find it very wearing and have to remind myself that he's only a 2.5yr old little boy and that running, climbing, throwing (and destroying!) are probably quite normal things to enjoy doing. Your honeymoon weekend sounds wonderful by the way.

scarf hope you're ok. What size and colour Alexa did you get? I do love mine so. Wish I'd spied mrscb's AH bag on MW before her though!

Still haven't bought a thing for myself in February (although have spent £150 at boden for DS's SS wardrobe. Agree with you looby it's easy and lovely dressing little boys. I like him looking very preppy!). Feel that I must take advantage of the GAP discount though. Need to get my hands on the J Crew catalogue after seeing WIT's latest post.

A funny thing: saw my half sister for a coffee yesterday. We didn't meet until last year, both in our 30s (I didn't even know of her existence until then). We seem to have exactly the same style and have both bought the TS spotty trousers and the hot pink J brands for spring completely unbeknownst to each other.

I feel like I haven't really responded to everyone's news and the lovely links, sorry. Am really enjoying the thread as a welcome distraction, so thank you.

Apologies for messing up the link again!
KG boots
Pixie boots takes me back Hopefully. My mother never let me have any (boo hoo) nor anything else trendy. Actually, I'm quite grateful as a lot of the fashions in the 80s did look really dreadful!

MIM- you will have to be v savvy with budgeting, I suppose. I'm sure you will be fully capable of designing lovely rooms on a budget!

blue- DS always looks cute in things! With boys you can just pop a pair of cargo shorts/ jeans/ cords on with a polo shirt/ shirt or whatever and they look good.
I find the older girls clothes too trendy or in rather pale/ dodgy prints/ typical girly colours (lilac, pale pink, mint green, etc) that just don't suit my girls! Boden has a few good things but better for younger than older girls, I think. Also, DD1 is v slender in build and doesn't suit baggy tops/ dresses as they look tent like! Zara have some good things but a bit on the trendy side for me and quality is mixed, I find. I got the girls (and DS) some great red tartan boy's PJs from John Lewis before Xmas. They all love them!

scarf- so soy forgot to say hello before. Hope you are okay. The mc has absolutely nothing to do with your shock/ panic at finding out (can really understand those feelings myself). It is 100% not your fault whatever your feelings were initially. Be kind to yourself :)

Hi all. Hope you are all keeping warm. Really chilly but sunny down here at my parents in Hampshire.

Bit of shopping today only resulting in new Adidas blue running top- bit practical and boring I'm afriad.

Hope you feel better soon Hopefully.

Indignant on your behalf Amber.

Wow a bike! How exciting Bloss. I have one that doesn't get nearly enough use . Coincidentally my mum and dad have bought dd a bike from one if their neighbours for £20! Only used a couple of times, next size up and with gears- very grown up! She loves it.

Agree with you re girls clothes Looby- I don't want twee or trendy and it's hard to find anything in between. Not keen on 'characters' or slogans.

Celebrating my mums 74th birthday tomorrow and I hope I look as good at her age! She had her hair done in a kind of ash blonde colour yesterday and it suits her. She is still fairly trim (keep fit class/pilates DVD etc and lots of walking) is off to India next week and is currently roaring with laughter with dd watching Kung Fu Panda. Something to aim for I guess!

She sounds amazing notyummy. What a positive role model. I have been considering my fitness future (and the sweaty betty catalogue of course), and think I may take up a triathlon challenge. A few years away yet though, but I think it could be something DH and I could have as a realistic goal. I can swim lengths (had lessons in my twenties), I like running, but don't do it, and have taken to cycling. Oh, and they have 2 a year here. Worth thinking about I think.

mim, I'm glad to do my bit for the thread! Have bought lamb for tomorrow because I thought, it is the only animal which is not intensively farmed and you know exactly what it's eaten (sorry, blame Jillian!) I'm also thinking of going back to buying block butter in my attempt to eat everything in it's most natural state possible. Am using this as an excuse to indulge in my uncles's gorgeous honey which even now, just the smell of it, is the smell of my happy childhood visiting my grandparents in the valleys. I don't think it has such a bad effect on blood sugar as other sugars. But could be deluded.

Hope things warm up next week. I intend to go to Chester with the dcs wearing roxy and 50/50s. Poor neglected outfits.

So, anybody been shopping today? Any links?

looby, I like the boots, just as hopefully said: I realise they work brilliantly for some people, just not for me. Think they would be great on you though.

Oh Bloss, a bike - how exciting! Can't wait to get back on mine when the weather improves.

NY what a lovely image, your mum and DD. Thanks for sharing . You seem to have survived your busy week relatively intact. Your fab trip is almost upon you isn't it? I can't believe how quickly that has come around. You too Looby, how exciting to be planning holiday wardrobes.

Arghh, DH and I have a cold and might swap the red wine for Lemsip tonight. Still watching Borgen though. Love it!

mim, forgot to say, the balenciaga has a separate savings account!
It is my first bike since primary school!
Get well soon fritzi