AVID and WISE: This is the place where you can harp on about your new buys.

[FritziGreenEyes]

Sorry about thread title. Hope everyone is back from holidays soon and will find us here.

amber Which JBrands did you get?

bonsoir I tried on those two tops in Cos before Easter and was tempted too. Bought a simple navy dress in Cos and shoes, which are not on the website . Will return this top. Cos is great at the moment I think.

Oh fritzi I really feel for you. My DH and I are terrible at this, we are so similar and neither of us wants to back down so they can run for hours. Often a bit of distance is the only thing that works. Hope you're back on good terms pronto.

decameron glad party went well, and that is such a sweet little idea from your DDs school.

ny I've had my eye on that blue dress, though I now think I'd suffer horribly by comparison!

An exciting day at MILs today. Is it wrong that I feel like dressing provocatively just to offend her?

God yes MiM glass of wine, look for the positives! Seriously though, glad you are feeling better and you ought to be proud of yourself for being a great mum and making a tough decision.

Amber, quite understand that you feel like dressing provocatively, what are you going to wear?

Decameron I'm glad to hear the party went well, my DD1 would be in heaven at a Hello Kitty themed party. The NF top is lovely, what did you wear it with? (v. nosey!)

Fritz sorry you had a row with your DH. I hope it blows over. DH and I had a big argument earlier this week because I was feeling fed up about how little time I have to myself, I worked out the in the last 6 weeks I have had 2 child-free hours during the day. The upshot is that this morning I'm off out for brunch with one of my best friends and DH is looking after the girls, so he's invited his mother round and the house is a bomb site... I have time to tidy the house or wash my hair so have opted for washing my hair.

MIM you're doing so brilliantly, enjoy having your hair done.

Fritzi- hope all is well with DH soon. We have all been there!

Amber- you should def buy the blue dress and of course you would not suffer in comparison!! I am currently embarking upon a series of gylolic peels in attempt to achieve a youthful glow somewhere approaching yours .

It's all S and B in the Notyummy house this morning... Currently sporting Umbro shorts (yes, the blue shiny ones that male footballers wear), with sports bra, t shirt, big slippers and a fleece. In my defence I am digesting my breakfast before Jillianing with DH. Even he has commented on just how 'cutting edge' I look. I had to buy these shorts when I joined the RAF in 1997, as the guidance said that female officers were 'at all times to avoid provocative form fitting PT wear that may attract the wrong sort of attention from the men under their command.'

Well, not super slinky...weight always goes from the same areas, and the 'target' areas just get reduced to satisfactory, IFYKWIM.... but happy enough.

I'm 5'4 Bloss.

Hopefully - wouldn't get too excited about Cribbs. Cabot Circus is better.

Re - running. Don't go at any set time Marsha, but trying to do at leat 3 sessions per week and long walks most days. Feel better for it.

Off shopping, with DCs in tow.

Happy Birthday to missDecam...

Just about to do a Pure order. Some lovely things....

Meant to say Dauphine - great work on the running. Sounds like you must be teeny tiny and toned, as that is light!! [mother hen emoticon] Just watch your bones.

Sorry about the extra 'e' Dauphin!

I am all ready to go - so excited about my day off

Am heading straight to selfridges and round that area and then meeting friends for drinks and late train home.

Dauphin - I think I'm going to order the pure featherweight jumper and the metallic stripe tank both in silver grey. What are you after?

Mim I can only echo what the others said regarding Bfing, my three DDs were all bottle fed, and we have three healthy girls.

Hope that you have a lovely day Mrs CB

That sounds like a great party Decam -we always have a drink for the adults at our parties!

Trinity Ball was on last night, and Dd1 looked fab in a very pretty dress that we bought in TK Max, if I do say so myself! She's a bit the worse for wear today though!

DD2 is home from France for a month, next time she goes back is the last time, her french really is good now.

NY You sound very glam

Well done to all the junior MNers who got into their schools.

I am at work and wearing a purple P8 dress with a DKNY cosy, hopefully the day will fly.

Ollie Is this the kind of thing that you're after? If so , it looks very glamorous to me.

I have bag news!

Popped out with DSs to get them new shoes and ended up with a lovely, lovely leather bag from Cos. A real impulse buy. Neutral/nude in colour so great for the summer and a cross between the style/shape of the large Zara shopper (which I never brought as just too large and stiff) and the Mint Velvet one I linked to yesterday - same sort of colour. It has such soft leather and short and a longer cross body handle. Matches my ankle boots too. Two sales assistants said they had ooohed over it when it came in - and then one admired my scarf so that was me sold!

Didnt actually check the price til I got to the till and it was a bit on the exxy side (a for High Street bag imo) but it was love at first sight so what the hell!

Fritzi I saw your new sandals, hadn't realised they were navy blue. I adore them. Also liked a few of their fine knits including a grey jumper with a curved hem. Cos has now won me over again! Can't wait til their summer sale.

Please make me feel better and say that your childen turn into little monsters in shoe shops? Mine insist of testing any shoe they try on by running round and round and round the shop as fast as they can "to test for speed Mummy""and climbing over any chair or piece of furniture (including displays ) they can.
Shop assistant was not amused.

I had a hot flush!

Oooh yes Portia, thats what I meant about a baggy top. Love that colour too.

ollie my DS got into the stock room last time I took him to Clarks... I was so shamed he now wears Geox (that and he kept wearing through the toes of his Clarks. Seriously what 2yo does that?) Yay for your bag!

NSG I have gone head to toe designer as this is what antagonises MIL most after she accused me of being a gold digger when DH and I first got together

Dauphin you must be tiny, same height as me - though not of the stress obvs. Hope your dad is ok.

Good news about the bag Ollie. Love a good unexpected find.

Amber I'd love to have a mil that even recognises fashion exists let alone is riled by it. Have fun!

Is a shred as good as a run for the figure I wonder... And am I meant to do L1 for 30 days or just move up when ready?

Fritzi hope things have patched up with your dh and you are ok.

Portia well done to your dd!

Marsha I think Jillian believes you should do 10 days at each level, but I only spent about a week on L1 before moving up. I think Shred better for figure as it's all round toning, but running probably burns more cals per min I suspect. Not that you need to worry about toning or slimming

Ollie well done! I love an unexpected find. Can't help on misbehaving children - mine are too busy clinging to my arms/legs to play up

Oh and Looby meant to say thanks for jewellery links - have bookmarked for perusal in front of tv this evening.

Amber sounds like a good outfit call. You gold digger, you

Am having v enjoyable child free day - done lots of work, just having a walk then back home for some sewing and more work (and Shred, but I'm avoiding thinking about that).

Thanks Hopefully you're a star! I shall do that. I feel nervous for hours before a run, weird. Probably why I'm clinging onto the shred as a way out. I do need toning and slimming ( but thank you!).

This is the first weekend without work and am being very lazy. Outsourced dc to dh. And since I'm not doing anything useful I should go for a run tonight .
Enjoy your lovely day!

Ollie- we had shoe shop embarrassment of a different kind this morning. Went to get dd's feet measured but they hadn't grown (since jan) so she was deprived of the 'red shiny shoes' she'd been hoping for. Cue sobbing. Felt awful.

Thanks for advice on sharing issue. Will try the putting special things away next time. (plus deep breaths)

Dauphin- really sorry to hear about your dad. Do you live close to him?

Hope things are ok with your dh now fritzi.

MiM- so glad you're feeling better about things. Yes it is a ridiculously emotive issue but I'm sure that even the most ardent bf supporters wouldn't judge you at all. And bollocks to them if they did- you're a fantastic mother.

Had an fairly surreal lunch. We went to a little vegetarian cafe that had been recommended to find that they were having a murder mystery event (in honour of the queen's birthday ). There was an outline of a body on the stairs and bloody foot and hand prints everywhere (beetroot juice apparently). Trying to explain it to dd was interesting to say the least!

Marsha you should try my approach of getting up at 5:40am and running. No time to get nervous then! Of course, you have to get up at 5:40am...

Icey that murder mystery thing sounds a bit bizarre, I'm sure you did an excellent job of explaining it. How does your DH think Ofsted went? Well done on managing the long days on your own. You too MiM.

Marsha, what is it about running that makes you nervous?
What kind of white skirt are you looking for? Short/long? Slim fitting/floaty?

I have been thinking about future MUs and the country house idea that Ollie put forward (can't remember if you were drunk at the time or not Ollie) could really work. We could have a group exercise class led by NY in the mornings and then go for a run in the early evening (NY must not lead this) before having a gorgeous evening meal with Annie as head chef. Some of us could drive, those of you with tiny babies could just come for the day if it makes it easier and we might even manage a clothes swap (too much?).

Off back to peruse Owners Direct for a family holiday house in Cornwall .

Have lovely Saturdays one and all (sorry you have to work Fritzi and Portia).

Hi - thanks everyone for the kind thoughts...he is being a bloody star, very stoical and positive, but only way to get through it. They aren't far away Icey, so will see him regularly. Anyway, to keep our minds off it we are all planning a weekend away in a lovely house by the sea. Will do everyone the world of good. Including my Bro and Dsis, and Nephew & Neice...

Thanks Notyummy. I am small framed so sounds ultra light but in reality just slim, normal size. The running has helped tone things up more so alls good. I am eating healthily - porridge withy blueberries for breakfast, oat cakes and large protein rich salads for lunch; carbs and protein for dinner, plenty of fruit veg every day, so hopefully no need to worry!

Had a lovely morning with dh and little ones, nice lunch in little cafe in Bath in the end. Now, relaxing with my lovely brood, the Saturday Telegraph (love), and a cup of Earl Grey. Tis Heaven, and I am grateful for small pleasures.

Hope you are having a lush shopping trip Mrscb...have you tried the Ash Thelma's yet?

Have ordered the crinkle skirt and sleeveless linen dress and metallic stripe vest. Can imagine getting lots of wear (not in this bloody weather though!).

Ooh, anyone watching The Bridge tonight? New series starting...seems very good....BBC4 at 9pm....I do like Skandi crime series

Dauphin, your father is very lucky to have such a lovely caring family around him but I'm guessing he knows that . A weekend by the sea sounds like a lovely idea.

Glad you can see him often dauphin. Family holiday sounds like a lovely idea. Good on him for dealing with it so well.

Love that idea for a meet up pickled. Perhaps ollie could bring some cakes (maybe not cake pops though).

Dh ofsted went well (grade is confidential for now). He got an outstanding for his lesson and survived few grillings on his areas of responsibility. Big focus on 'quality assurance' apparently. Meant to say to fleecy- it's v difficult to get an outstanding on new framework of inspections so don't worry unduly about dc's school.

Still feeling bad about the lack of shiny red shoes. Should I have got some even though she didn't need new ones?

Good that DH's OFSTED went well Icey - I know via friends how stressful it can all be.

Dauphin - DH is also a slim build so for him to feel 'toned' he is at the light end of the spectrum for a guy of his height (think not that far from my weight, which is a bit depressing .) Your diet sounds fab. So glad you are having a nice day.

Pickled - your idea sounds idyllic. Surely we need a black tie (or equivalent...) dinner in the evening where we can wear our best outfits?

Slightly more seriously, there are some good deals to be have for rather gorgeous houses/apartments that would be ideal for ladies like us . I research on a regular basis as the 'booker' for for my twice yearly friends group weekends away. We have done Edinburgh, Turnberry, London (twice), Leeds (twice), Newcastle and Manchester. Budapest now awaits....

Congrats to your DH Icey, you must be very proud of him. Packet of shiny sweeties for DD instead?