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So, Spring has Wisely sprung and MU was Avidly done, now we're planning for Summer sun!

999 replies

AmberNectarine · 20/03/2012 07:57

new thread!

OP posts:
Hopefully · 26/03/2012 07:35

DH and I decided we'd like children about 3 months after moving in together (we'd been together 15 months I think), was pg next month! I'd half thought it, then we went on holiday to Paris and went shopping Petit Bateau for his nephew and he was totally sold Grin. We're not huge believer in marriage, but (ahem) wanted a party, so got round to that last summer. My life plan never included having two children and being married before the age of 29!

Bought some v cheap dotty p shorts yesterday for garden wearing in an effort to get some colour on my legs, I look so pasty, despite application of last dregs of St Tropez moisturiser.

OllieinOrange · 26/03/2012 08:08

Morning. For some reason, Im in an unbeliveably good mood this morning. Have a nice week planned: no Dutch lesson, night out with expat Mums from school, fashion show at the local boutique, sister arrives (with F&B paint and other goodies) on Saturday. Think all this sun is such a mood enhancer. Im even happy i have the day at home doing jobs. Just written a very long to do list - with a smile on my face Confused

Has anyone had a nose in Primark recently? Is it worth a trip to my local store, which isnt really that local?

AmberNectarine · 26/03/2012 08:39

The sunshine has me in a better-than-average mood for a Monday too ollie, though don't have a remotely interesting week lined up, unlike you. Can't comment on Primark, every time I attempt to go into our local one the chaos and hoards of people just make me turn around and walk straight out again!

OP posts:
Fleecy · 26/03/2012 09:04

Yay for sunny mornings! Dull week here too though - keeping it low key as all full of cold.

We were the same as Dec - although we bought our first house together after 10mo and moved into it when we'd been together a year, we didn't marry until we'd been together three years and waited a further three before trying for a baby. I do love the spontaneous stories - they sound terribly romantic.

amber you have to go first thing for Primark I find, otherwise you're in jumble sale territory.

anniemac · 26/03/2012 09:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ReineDeSaba · 26/03/2012 11:11

Morning ladies

mim you poor,poor lovey but thank goodness your DH wasn't found wanting.love your DD's name by the way.

amber how exciting re-your meeting with DH..I thought my DH was quick off the mark..he moved countries to join me a few months after I got home and then moved in together for a couple of years(I think Blush ) before a very lowkey wedding.DD1 a year later.

ollie I am a completely different person when the sun shines..cross mummy (almost dissapears!)

thank you very much for the lovely cake feedback,have added you dauphin
and emo so you should be able to view.I am a cake decorating novice looby (no training,just attempting birthday cakes for my girls etc)but I think I really miss working with my hands.have been considering my own small business to fill that gap,very recently,so quite busy with ideas/plans/dreaming but not cakes(as yet)!

ReineDeSaba · 26/03/2012 11:13

looby I don't ever think a pregnant lady looks 'huge' only pregnant(well maybe the american octuplet lady!)I truly love to see a gorgeous bump and enjoyed my own even though 2nd time round I waddled terribly!

suburbanstyle · 26/03/2012 11:58

Congratulations again Mim, Olivia is a beautiful name.

Thank You for the warm welcome Dauphin I wore a breton with pastel jeans over the weekend too!

Ollie I tried to reply to your pm but not sure if it sent. The gist was that the link to my blog from this page generated about 90 hits. Not sure how many regular posters there are here but sure you can work it out. I didn't know they had Primark in the Netherlands, do you also have Hemma? I bought so much there when we lived abroad.

annie I am so sorry I missed your charity shop chat Blush I was a bit overwhelmed trying to read the whole thread over the weekend. I buy and give a lot to charity shops too, my favourite kind of shopping. Also glad you've joined Quidco I had enough cashback last year for a Mulberry clutch Grin

Loving the sound neon from Amber and Emo I am obsessed with Orange and Navy at the moment. It's so romantic to hear about you and your DH Amber, you must have had such an instant connection. My parents got engaged after 6 weeks and are still happily married now!

Can I ask what you wise ladies think about chinos? I lived in them last year and am wearing my old pair again today but they don't feel quite right...

I am gearing myself up to strip some wallpaper, at least the sunshine makes the mundane a lot more bearable.

pickledsiblings · 26/03/2012 12:54

What beautiful weather for the arrival of baby Olivia - hope you are enjoying the sunshine MiM.

Suburban, are you wearing dungarees to do your wallpaper stripping?

Ohh Reine, is your small business idea jewellery making? A friend who was in a similar line of work to you has just started doing this.

Lobby, I bet your DC are beyond excited about your upcoming trip. The timing really couldn't be better, could it? Your first trip abroad as a family of six, sort of, without the hassel of carrying around all the baby things - DS2 loves looking at photos of when he was in my tummy Smile. And the baby will get to experience the spicey food indirectly - yummy food is one of the best bits about travelling for me. < Can you tell I'm getting broody? >

Ollie, hooray for the good mood, long may it last!

I am in shall I/shan't I apply for a part time teaching job hell atm - arrrgh!! Big wave to the rest of you [why don't we have a 'wave' emoticon?].

OllieinOrange · 26/03/2012 12:57

Ha Suburban Hema was one of the reasons I agreed to live here! That and the Dille and Camille shop (they have one in Antwerp too i think) which sells wonderful cooking utensils, tablecloths, wooden kidst toys, plantpots, toiletries, you know it?). For a stationary addict like me Hema is heaven. In fact, I even distributed some of their To Do books at the last W&A meet up, thats how sad I am! Primark is fairly new and have only 2 stores here I think but the Dutch love a bargain and its always heaving, even at 9.30am.
I got yor PM thanks, very interesting about the hit numbers. I reckon there are around 30 W&A regulars (generous estimate) which maybe gives an idea abot numbers of lurkers!

I own one pair of NL chinos from 2010 but recently got a pair of denim ones/boyfriend jeans which I wear loads. Not as flattering as skinnies but very comfortable and look nice (imo) with a jersey blazer and boots. NL seem to have them (chinos) in lots of different colours again at the moment. Was quite tempted by a navy cuffed pair but they have sold out. A Mum at school as some red ones which look good. WIT gives chinos her seal of approval today in fact!

anniemac · 26/03/2012 12:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OllieinOrange · 26/03/2012 13:02

Can I ask a really boring houswife type question? Our washing machine is throwing up grey gunk back into the wash, think its residue from the washing powder/liquid. Is they something I can do to clean the pipes? i seem to remember was MN thread about doing an empty load using vinegar but cant remember what purpose this served???

suburbanstyle · 26/03/2012 13:11

thanks annie, I also wrote a blog post about chinos today only to check WIT and see I had put exactly the same title as her Blush.

blossoming · 26/03/2012 13:19

Double breton? Are you serious Wit??
Chinos look dreadful on me. I am transformed into Mrs Landsend if I go within a mile.
Today I am channelling Anna Wintour with my bob and dark sunglasses. Funny thing, I found some sunglasses that I really like. They are from Ralph, and are largeish without being oversized but with a thin 'leg' (what is that part called?). They are dark brown though and they have gold detailing (shoot me now), but I really like them on me. Got them from the drawer in my dressing table Blush. Have avoided wearing them because I wore my prescription ones for driving. But now I have contacts. Gosh, I am saving myself so much money!
Sorry I can't help you with your washing machine ollie. I meant to say before that you suggested a blue top for me without including a link, which is why I haven't mentioned it!
decam you have a mine of untapped clothes in your attic!

blossoming · 26/03/2012 13:24

I think these are my sunglasses.

FritziGreenEyes · 26/03/2012 13:27

ollie I think you are supposed to do an empty 95degree wash with soda chrysals or something. I can get stuff in the supermarket that claims to clean the washing machine and use it from time to time.

mim Olivia is such a beautiful name. Hope you get lots of time for snuggles and rest

Have just ordered a small teak breakfast table for our patio, yay!

FritziGreenEyes · 26/03/2012 13:29

Those sunglasses look great bloss!

Russianred · 26/03/2012 13:34

Afternoon all. It's lovely reading your getting together with DH timeframes; we moved in after 2 weeks (eek!), engaged 2 years later and I was 12 weeks at our wedding 6 months later (so it wasn't a shotgun one, thank you very much!). I sometimes wish we'd had a little more time just for us before having DC though, but we are both (as previously mentioned) so gung ho, that we wouldn't have waited much longer. Also, DH is older than me and didn't want to be an 'old' Dad, so we compromised.

I am in the midst of hell, halfway through the carpets being fitted - there is so much to do, but I am ignoring it all on the girly grounds that it is too heavy to lift. Haven't even thought about packing for our departure on Sunday as clothes everywhere and have just remembered I am at a hen do on Saturday into Sunday. Am also frantically getting all of the bits for the bathroom, ready for it to be installed in our absence. Something may have to give. Silver lining though; the carpet fitter is HOT.

Good find on the sunglasses front Bloss, I really, really love 'shopping the wardrobe' especially when you chance upon forgotten bits.

MiM hope things are getting a bit better with feeding - your post made me well up a little too. Olivia is a beautiful, beautiful name. Allow yourself to feel all the emotions you need to - it is so understandable and necessary.

Reine that cake is fantastic. You really should consider doing something with it.

I've decided that WIT is pregnant. There is no basis for this really, but I've just decided.

blossoming · 26/03/2012 13:37

Hi fritzi!
Am worried as I have seen many celebs on DM site recently in skinny flares. Please no! (disclaimer: I look better in skinnies)
Am spending for Wales right now, and have just ordered the vince jeans in claret. I'm hopeful as they have zips at the bottom. And a black t shirt. They are charging more for customs these days I'm sure.
Back to the chalk face.

FritziGreenEyes · 26/03/2012 13:38

Who wants to help me choose sun loungers for our terrace?

This in the light-grey colourway

Or

This? Fabric also available in black

OllieinOrange · 26/03/2012 13:38

Oh I love purchases like that Fritzi DH doesnt get how house/garden related purchases can bring me pleasure.

Lovely sunnies Bloss I tried some Ralph ones on last week, made me realise how rubbish the ones I am wearing are! Cant remember where the link was from, only that it was a scoop neck t shirt in the bright blue that suits you, in the style of your Whistles seamed one. Am thinking it was Jigsaw??

MarshaBrady · 26/03/2012 13:38

What a great cake Reine.

Love the name Olivia Mim Really pretty.

What a great day.

Russianred · 26/03/2012 13:46

I prefer the swinging one Fritzi - will be lovely to swing on days such as today and like the fact more than one person can be on it.

Lovely Vince jeans Bloss.

anniemac · 26/03/2012 13:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FritziGreenEyes · 26/03/2012 13:58

Thanks red but second link doesn't work properly. Swing would be lovely but we would bump into our dry stone wall or the large kitchen windows Grin

It's <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.de/imgres?q=liege+caldo&hl=de&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1374&bih=666&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=UXc4qjfUpPD7-M:&imgrefurl=www.daswohnkonzept.com/shop/98/nonJava/Gartenliegen.html&docid=etNjD_-DqHVPKM&imgurl=www.daswohnkonzept.com/cgi-bin/getimg.dll%253FAnbieterID%253D1%2526img%253Dwww.daswohnkonzept.com/mediarootdir/00000001/42-002-thb.jpg&w=150&h=100&ei=rWdwT6v_KcKRswbAwLGZAg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=316&sig=105623578594353049280&page=2&tbnh=80&tbnw=120&start=18&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:18&tx=43&ty=72" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here. Scroll down a bit, it's called Caldo.