AVIDLY addressing the key questions that WISE women ask....like 'full refund or credit note only?' and 'what this would item actually be on a cost-per-wear basis?'

[notyummy]

Hello all!

The weather is beautiful isn't it, my favourite (well for this time of year, I like warmth too). Clear skies and fresh / cool.

Amber, the problem with always looking good is that it sends out the message that we are 'coping well' even when we are well and truely shattered . You need to tell DH that just because you look gorgeous it does not mean that you are not absolutely shattered. I think you are doing a fabulous job and I'm sure your DH does too .

Ants I am so pleased that you have had a lovely few days and that you have 3 weeks of bliss to look forward to. The Me and Em will be great on you . Looking forward to seeing you again at the MU.

Hopefully, I always used to enjoy the chats that DH and I had when we used to travel up to my ILs .

DS2, age 4 is currently drawing a picture of the coffee machine for DH as he remembers the smile that daddy had on his face when I gave it to him - he has just asked me what DH's favourite colour is - kids can be so sweet sometimes can't they? DHs not so much!

I was staggered at how different mine and dh's lives actually are this week.

Me at work, chatting talking no toddler around my legs. Him tired, not sleeping well. He really didn't see it until he did it.

Amber I hope he can give you some time off and take the reigns for a while.

They've left. Phew. Not too bad in the end, DS provides a good distraction and keeps everyone busy.

Hopefully it's a great book isan't it? We had the swede with sage and onion today, it was fab.

Well Amber, sometimes these things need to happen for them to come to a head. DH and I can be like that. Hope you enjoyed your bath. Wise advice from annie too.

Lovely sunny day here too, had the kitchen door open all morning...so good for the soul to have some sunshine.

Lots more tightenings today, very different to Braxton Hicks though, more like I keep thinking my jeans are being pulled in. Come on baby!

bloss I have been thinking the same thought as you today but we live at the other extreme..busy london life..we enjoyed the tate modern and southbank with the girls today,gorgeous.

hopefully we did a road trip(Cali)last Easter and it was brilliant for DH and I to get to chat properly since even DD1(4 at the time) would crash out on the long stretches.

amber aaaargh!!! at your sleep dep.

annie at the men you work with.

yummy I just finished 'nothing to envy' do you have any other recommended reads,was excellent..sorry to make you and icey feel bad but DH pays Nothing for reservations at Canary wharf library so highly recommend to anyone on the thread closeby as extensive stock.

icey in a shell suit????!

Amber, glad you got a little break and hopefully your dh will help more.

My dh looked quite shell shocked after I came back from Ireland and he did no cooking/cleaning/taking them out, all the things I do. He likes to think I sit around drinking coffee but he knows I don't really.

Haven't seen those bags before, Hopefully, but they look good.

Bloss, where you live sounds beautiful.

Annie, hope you enjoyed kicking back. I haven't seen the pistol boots around here much, it is not quite so cool as Shoreditch, I'm afraid! I won't be buying the boots until the autumn anyway.

Pickled, that is very sweet.

Portia, yes I do buy and return a lot but keep too much as well. I did see a nice red bag in Coach, a brand I really like as it reminds me of the US but I backed away.

I bought black J Brand major, really nice on, *Emo spoke the truth! I am going through my jeans tomorrow to get rid of more so I can justify buying the majors in navy. Donna Ida are fab for jeans. I think I tried on 20 pairs, the sales assistant was so helpful and kept suggesting new styles. I also tried on the Maxmara dresses and a few Nicole Farhi tops and they were a bit meh so glad I didn't order online.

Have good evenings all.

Amber glad you got things out in the open, sleep deprivation plays havoc with my moods.

Ants you will have such a lovely time on your 'holiday'. Are you planning on having a little treat each day?

Quick book recommendation for those seeking something light and funny. Try "Are We Nearly There Yet" by Ben Hatch - Kindle version is only a pound at the moment. About a couple who drive round England with their two young children doing research for family travel guide. Im loving reading it, very funny.
here

Was going to have a quiet day at home (DH took DSs to a train museum and to see his sister) but after an hour of Dutch verbs thought sod it, so jumped on the bike and headed to the shops. Those ladies in Cos really annoyed me - so bloody rude when there was a long que. Felt better for giving them my Paddington hard stare ( even if it didnt have quite the effect it has on DH tho )

Tried loads and loads of tops on and only came away with MiM's lovely blue MD blouse (even tho Im not sure what Im going to wear with it), and this simple white T (cotton front, jersey back) from H&M to wear with coloured skinnies here.

No more shopping for me now til I hit London for the MU.

Looking forward to seeing some Oscar dresses with my morning cuppa tomorrow.

Amber glad you got things out in the open, sleep deprivation plays havoc with my moods.

Ants you will have such a lovely time on your 'holiday'. Are you planning on having a little treat each day?

Quick book recommendation for those seeking something light and funny. Try "Are We Nearly There Yet" by Ben Hatch - Kindle version is only a pound at the moment. About a couple who drive round England with their two young children doing research for family travel guide. Im loving reading it, very funny.
here

Was going to have a quiet day at home (DH took DSs to a train museum and to see his sister) but after an hour of Dutch verbs thought sod it, so jumped on the bike and headed to the shops. Those ladies in Cos really annoyed me - so bloody rude when there was a long que. Felt better for giving them my Paddington hard stare ( even if it didnt have quite the effect it has on DH tho )

Tried loads and loads of tops on and only came away with MiM's lovely blue MD blouse (even tho Im not sure what Im going to wear with it), and this simple white T (cotton front, jersey back) from H&M to wear with coloured skinnies here.

No more shopping for me now til I hit London for the MU.

Looking forward to seeing some Oscar dresses with my morning cuppa tomorrow.

Sorry for x posts - the laptop has upgraded itself and all the settings are weird. Taking ages to update screens etc. Grrrr.

reine - am AGHAST at the injustice of me paying 20p a pop when you DH lords it up for free!

I have really enjoyed Homicide, Life on the Streets here. Similar to Nothing to Envy in that it looks like it could be hard going, but isn't and is absolutely engrossing and moving. Also Blood River, Disney War and Race of a Lifetime - How Obama won the White House. Absolutely fascinating - and a must if you enjoyed the West Wing!

In terms of fiction, I have recently read a couple of RJ Ellory crime novels and really enjoyed them - Saints of New York and The Anniversary Man. Very absorbing. Here. I also loved Star of the Sea and have found Camilla Lackberg good for fairly easy reading here.

Hello all. Have only just resurfaced from a mountain of work on my desk. Thanks for new thread notyummy!

I didn't know Mass.Dutti are doing children's clothes. Have got a few things in my basket for DD. I am contemplating these ballerinas for me but think I have enough flats already . I also love those yellow flats. Spring for your feet . Gorgeous tan and yellow bags too: here.

bloss Wouldn't this be the perfect dramatic bling for you? Maybe not classic enough, but I love cocktail rings.

Your mention of yellow shoes Fritzi made me think of these beauties which I saw today. Thought of Marsha when I saw them!

ollie The schoenen peep toes are lush!

Great colour Ollie! Amazing. Shame I can't do peep toe without 80 denier tights. Probably ruin it somewhat

Love the bright shoes Fritzi I have narrowed down my choice of Lanvin to a bright one. Am pleased! Just need to wait til next week until I order.

Really stunning fritzi. I should think about investing in some dramatic jewellery I think.
Yes I know I do live in the most beautiful place in the world (when it's sunny ) scarfi, but then I get this pang when I hear ollie mentioning jumping on the bike and heading to the shops! Glad you had a good time in Donna Ida, and the majors do look good. Like me with my 912s, when you find a fit that works! Although it is the cropped 910s that are my staples this winter as they are skinnier and look very streamlined in boots. I know that once the boot season is over I shall be back in Agnes and 912s though.
Can't believe those women in Cos ollie. How can they get away with that?

I've done one class of reports, and have the afternoon off tomorrow, so free time between 1.30 and 4 to finish the others.
Need to do some lesson planning for the morning...

I'm sure Annie. Women do seem to do juggle stuff more in general.

Although I do washing (I need to know the colours are right), I do Ocado (he gets odd stuff like loads of cheese and too much carb) and cooking (he does weekends sometimes and is getting better but I prefer my own cooking).

BUT he does do all night wakings with ds2 as he is less attached, we have just put him in his own bed so I need to keep away. And all bills. I hate doing bills and gladly do the above so I don't have to remember to pay them.

My comment was more about how dh looked after a week, it really opened my eyes at how I was trying to achieve something that was pretty impossible. I thought I could really push myself and still do good work while ds2 hung around. It's easier for me to do computer-based work (like now) than it is to muster the energy, lightness of touch and strength to do something good for my own work.

Ds2 is two and helps me make coffee! (coffee machine) I'm sure by 7 he'll be a dab hand at it. I suppose it's just tripping with the drink up the stairs, not sure. It's very sweet she wants to do it for you.

I crave seeing the horizon over the ocean sometimes. I forget sometimes just how good it is to be swimming in the sea.

Morning!

Annie I never used to be remotely interested in being near the sea, but would really miss it of we moved away now. Possible relocation areas have been judged largely on their beaches!

Am off to small children-friendly farm today, and it's biggest redeeming feature is usually big pieces of cake at tea time, but am going to have to be good after chocolate brownie and raspberry trifle at lunch yesterday. Boo.

I'm working so boringly hard at the minute - I actually have some money kicking around to buy some more clothes and I haven't got any time to browse!

Annie- I was making scrambled eggs and toast at that age so I am sure some kids are safe to do it. We have a coffee pod machine thingy that DD has been making coffees for me from since she was 4. It's safer than the kettle because there is less volume of hot water escaping. I have only just starting to let her carry from the machine to the sitting room (to serve me, obviously!) I am very much about getting her to do a range of tasks- she also does food prep with a very sharp but small and easily handled knife. Plus makes her bed; sorts the washing; sweeps the kitchen and washes the breakfast dishes at the weekend.

It's really interesting to reflect on the challenges on balancing a household with work. I have to say that DH is pretty bloody good. I think it stems a bit from his innate desire to be good at everything which includes proving the point that men can multi task as well as women. I do s bit more house stuff than him, but he works slightly longer hours and earns considerably more so that kind of makes sense to me. In terms of housework we do 50/50 I would say. I do most of the cooking and food shopping.He does the majority of the household finances in consultation with me. I know if I go away for a few days the house will be tidy/washing and ironing done etc when I get back. We only have one dc to manage though so I don't know how he would be with more! He did have dd and my friends DS all day and overnight so I could take her to a spa (during her cancer treatment) and it all went swimmingly. My friend was slightly worried about her DS would be as he can be a bit volatile, but he really enjoyed myself- although he gave an insight into my DHs approach to discipline: 'X's Daddy said if the room wasn't tidy by the time he came back upstairs there would be NO Star Wars so we were very quick. And he told me exactly what no means.' My friend and I were like this--> .

On train to London in P8 va va voom black and cerise dress with Jigsaw linen jacket, opaques and heeled brogues. Got a really busy week coming up...