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

[AmberNectarine]

new thread!

Sounds fab Bloss, despite the rocky start. Cava at the breakfast - heaven!

Hope you have a wonderful time.

Bloss so glad that cava has redeemed the tiresome start to the holidays!

I have also got a lot sterner about only ordering from places with good returns.

Breton we are all about the late potty training here - waited till DS was about 3.2 and it took 4 days with literally only perhaps two accidents at all since the first week (8 months ago). Enjoy your shopping!

Pickled you are absolutely right - we are champing at the bit to finally move forwards, will be great to start doing something concrete!

MIM - warehouse have some very nice looking denim jackets in at the moment but they are teeny tiny.

Can I just take a moment to exalted the wonder that is St Jillian of Michaels? I only started doing the DVDs (combo of Shred, 6w6p and Ripped) just over 2 weeks ago and already the difference in my body is phenomenal. I've only lost 3lbs but have toned up massively! She is amazing.

Combatting the dismal weather with pink again. This time pink 811s, white American Vintage l/s tee, navy cardi, navy supergas and a navy/white/grey ombre effect jersey scarf I found in tk maxx. Feels fresh.

bloss glad to hear holiday has taken an upturn and VL is doing the job. Think I will reward myself with one when suitably 'ripped' Did you ever get the lovely Boden purple swimsuit btw? I quite fancy that also.

verity aw, shucks, I find humour is one of the best ways to stay sane in the face of adversity!

Agree TS blazer is big, my 10 very roomy. Really fancy the white, but it's probably mental with grubby rugrats, non?

Feeling upbeat at prospect of not being in sole charge of the sprogs for a few days! Have a good one all!

I entirely agree about returns. It is unbelievable that shops still use distance as an excuse.

Sandro yes you, it's Paris and when shopbop etc ship round the it's not hard to give a refund. I'm not going in there either anymore.

Am having an espresso in train station. Quite nice every once in a while.

World... Lost part of my returns rage-light.

Am back in Stella green. Cold this morning.

Right Amber I don't do DVDs but you have convinced me.

I agree with Amber. St Jillian really is fab. I am a completely different shape to a year ago and feel about 1,000 times stronger, healthier and more attractive (mind you, a year ago I was 1 week post CS ). An I am running again, thanks to improving my fitness with DVDs. I've been too worried about being unfit to run for about 7 years.

Thanks breton and MrsCB you will make my head swell, camera angles, lighting and copious amounts of erase paste play a massive part. Haven't seen LA's peplum top, but will attempt to track down now. I always like her stuff and forget she has gone to the Telegraph.

Agree with everyone's return angst, especially after DP ended up giving a pair of brand new Diesal Jeans to my dad because of their unfeasibly small returns period. Dad was happy though

I'm having lunch at BonMarché. On my own. Nephew was almost having a wobble as there was apparently nothing he could eat so DH has taken him someplace else for fries or pizza or whatever Hope this is not going to turn into the trip from hell...

I remember when my niece was 10, she wouldn't eat anything unless it came enclosed in polystyrene. Enjoy the peace fritzi!

Am supposed to be going to the shops but am lacking motivation

Fritzi if you want some company I will cheerfully post you one of my children.

Fritzi - I just got back from food shopping for Easter weekend in La Grande Epicerie!

Do you want to meet for a coffee tomorrow?

Bloss have a lovely time in Spain - whereabouts are you?

Fritzi - hmm, difficult...hope dh has managed to coax dn to find something he can eat!

Bonsoir - we haven't been to Ile de Re yet...this place is not that far from there though, tucked around by Royan where the waters are shallower I understand for our DCs who just like a paddle...Ars en Re sounds lovely...

I am so fed up with this weather. I have cheerfully donned Spring attire and have had to cover up. Currently wearing new Joules leaf green spot blouse, navy 'thermal' tee underneath, navy Jigsaw chinos from last year, but still chilly so have Pure navy cropped cashmere cardi over the top! Am seriously considering wristwarmers.....

Am just about to pop Hot Cross Buns in the oven...mmm...

bonsoir That would be lovely but I'm afraid I'll be on the tourist trail again tomorrow as we are already leaving on Sat. I accidentally passed by a Caravane store as our hotel is literally round the corner! When our bedroom is ready, I'll definitely come over for the day to buy some bedlinen. Will PM you if you want to accompany on my splurge.

Mood much improved all around after some food. It is unbelievable how much a ten year-old can eat . Our DN is also our godson and usually good company. He is just at a strange pre-teen age where he knows he is not a child anymore but hasn't found a way to be a more mature cooler teenage version of himself.

Have ordered Dorothy Perkins maxis on recommendation of MrsCB,plus navy spot bikini as off to Canaries in a week's time.
Also agree re baby bootcuts.v v flattering.

Yes, I'm going to get MrsCB's navy maxi. GP stripey one arrived and is a keeper. Now need to find the Gant one pickled linked to.

Just hoping they not too clingy,Amber and also that the length will be ok on me at only 5ft 3 as petite range didn't have the ones that I liked.

I too have had day from hell hopefully! Poor DS very poorly with a nasty cold and hacking cough. I still feel rotten too and just praying that DD doesn't succumb. Thursday afternoon and Friday are usually my time off from DS so gave had to cancel my nice plans and deal with snot and weeping instead. Grumpy!

Sorry to moan. Probably back later!

Quick wave from Noosa! Amazing time but I gave underpacked As I suspected there are plenty of dressing up opps here, so maxis, skinnies and Zara wooden heels have had plenty of airings! weather gorgeous and lots of ru s through the national park to burn off vast breakfasts...

Will catch up properly soon and stop being so me, me, me.

Ps- DD is being the most amazing travelling companion- barely a word of complaint throughout long flights and is loving all the new food and experiences. Airbus 380 ents systems are the business- she loved it!! (And I have caught up on 4 great films so far. New version of True Grit is amazing and I Fi ally got to see Bridesmaids. Brad Pitt also yummy in Moneyball.

Bye!

Back and more cheerful now. DS hasn't woken up once since bedtime so his cough must be greatly improved and DD, bless her, slept from 9pm to 4.45am which feels like quite an achievement! (I still feel rubbish but can handle this if children well and sleeping!).

Ooh, Noosa! Was there many yrs ago and loved it. Glad to hear you're having such an amazing time ny. Your DD sounds fab.

Am bit worried about the boot cut talk ladies... Loved them in the 90s but haven't worn them for years! This may well be because I a) don't have the right shoes and b) am 5ft 1! Still, where mrscb leads I may well end up following...

Smug about the white TS blazer! I bought it two years ago and still love it and have worn it loads, from weddings with dresses to the pub with jeans. Works with everything (but I never wear it around the children amber!). Yes to sizing down; mine is a 6 petite.

Glad to hear about late potty training hopefully! DS is 2.7 and I'm going to leave it for another few months yet.

How old is your DD pickled? I can't wait to dust off my Dawson's Creek DVDs! Still remember the delight when Joey and Pacey got together (hope this isn't a plot spoiler for anyone!)

Loving hearing about people's Easter plans and trips. Ours is quiet but should be lovely. I adoring DH at the minute; he's being v supportive and sympathetic and like mim I just feel so proud of the family we have built together. (Happy anniversary mim by the way!). I really take joy in seeing what a fantastic daddy he is, particularly as my own father is so awful.

Right, should go back to bed now. Happy Easter everyone.

Hmm, think was a bit exclamation mark-tastic there... blame the hour.

One last thing: have been reading about the Samantha Brick furore - v interesting.

Good morning.

Amber, I have a TS white blazer that I bought last year...although I needed this thread to tell me I didn't look like I had just come off the set of Miami Vice! I love it though, is a great with jeans and a grey marl t-shirt.

Glad things improved after food fritzi . Hope you have a good final day in Paris.

NY sounds like you are having an amazing time, and how lovely to hear that your DD is such a good travelling companion.

Sounds like DS is on the mend Blue, hope you start to feel better soon too.

Have lovely Good Fridays All!

NY but glad you're all having a lovely time.

Blue I am a big believer in late potty training. FLE both potty trained later than most of our group of friends and I don't think it's coincidence that we had an easier time of it than most of them (except the ones with v advanced DDs who wanted out of nappies of their own accord by about 20 months!). Glad your night was ok, hope DS is on the mend today.

We are off to y parents (again) today, but this time so we can leave both DSs with them for 24 hours while we go to a wedding. We have never simultaneously left them for longer than about 6 hours before . It will be great to have a break though. Am wearing Me and Em dress to wedding - it is hopelessly casual, but I don't have anything else so it will have to do. Have nice peep toe neutral shoes that I had forgotten about and will find some semi-acceptable accessories at my mum's (there are upsides to having an antique dealer for a parent ).

Went for another run this morning. I am properly having to stop myself running every day - love it! I know my knees aren't up to more than 3-4 times a week until I'm much, much fitter though. Am ploughing through week 2 of couch to 5k, but doing half of each run again so I am exercising for 30, rather than 20 mins (excluding warm up/cool down). Sorry, I appear to have become a running bore in the space of four days

And happy Good Friday to anyone religious!