Avidly gazing at spring/summer looks, while Wisely purchasing caghouls......

[notyummy]

Hi all!

Sorry about the rain/hairdo situation Hopefully.

I am eating G and Bs Mint dark choc as I write Verity.

Bloody cold here. And wet.

Ah, MrsCampbellBlack, what communications strategy should Aigle be adopting ?

We seem to live in an Aigle, Barbour free zone. My school would be your difficult market Bonsoir.

I We love Small Potatoes cbeebies really cute and short.

They should get onto the Matches site bonsoir. It is my only fashion inspiration these days.
See gorgeous styling here, and here and here.
I think the stylists there are in a league of their own, or they're selling directly to me! I used to buy all the magazines, but not any more. I much prefer looking at links from here and looking at Matches. Still look at NaP, but never My Wardrobe. ST Style pages too.
Ah decam, your equestrian past. It all makes sense now!

MrsCB, I love the blue bonnet colour but agree that it is hard to wear as it doesn't really go with many other blues. Glad you're happy with them now.

Thank you for sending positive interview vibes my way. I must remember not to talk myself down like I did last week and am hoping that the fact that I actually want this job will make the difference. I do hope the interviewers have at least a little bit of 'charisma' though.

The problem with Aigle is...exactly how do you pronounce it?

Red, glad the tutoring is continuing to go well - I have one student at the moment so just 1.5 hrs per week and it hardly feels like work I enjoy it so much. You could always set up on your own if needs be (now that you've got your mojo back).

Good luck for the interview for today pickled I'm sure you'll ace it.thanks for sharing about your mum,I'm imagining her as a sort of Irish 'Southern belle' now,very gracious!

you've got me singing the small potatoes song now marsha need to check out Tree Fu Tim,sounds intriguing!

Am completely confused by kitchen island chat..our whole kitchen is close to the size of one!

surburban thanks for looking at my blog..do you know if it is possible to link with facebook.I really struggle with the computer stuff,I managed to put the wrong email address on the blog initially and it literally took me hours to put it right! The trade show was heaving but excellent though.I was there to 'get a feel' not sell so of course I have probably spent my first years earnings on 'business neccessities' in a day!

bloss I love your links for Burberry.

hopefully I am a tiny bit scared of your brush with 'insanity',love those swimsuits b.t.w.

I am sure WIT is pregnant after seeing she thinks mirrored sunglasses are a good look,clearly the hormones!

hope you are ok annie wherever you are.xx

Reine so exciting, trade shows and new business.

Big good luck pickled and apuski!

Hopefully did you do insanity?

Love the yellow dress link, the Matches model looks great, good shots. So much better than those weird angular ones they did for a while. My-w needs to change the funny walking ones.

bloss I love the Burberry cotton/linen parka. Similar cut to the cheapo DP one and I'm glad I sent it back as the material was so flimsy. Agree that with coats/jackets it makes sense to invest in the real thing if you can afford it.

As for stylish waterproof jackets, many women around here are wearing Peuterey jackets.

Reine you can link your blog to facebook but I haven't. Am terrible at the "social networking" spelt my twitter username wrong and didn't realise for at least a fortnight . Hopefully is probably better equipped than me to advise about promoting a business, but I am happy to link from my blog/comment/tweet etc .

Good luck today pickled and Apuski

So happy you are enjoying the tutoring Red will be even better when payday come .

My DD does the routines to Tree Foo Tom and Waybaloo sort of like a toddler version of the shred.

Have got a Barbour Kate which has v little branding, but don't wear anywhere near as much as I thought I would. You are all right there is such a gap in the market for stylish, waterproof outerwear around the Barbour price point. I find myself living in a waxed parker from H&M and would be happy to pay more for a new one, but just cannot find anything as nice.

Am off to an outlet centre (sadly not Bicester) this morning. Combination of fowl weather and once again being coated in excema means am not in the mood to buy anything though.

Primarily for Reine - however it may be applicable to others of you with small businesses:

Start Up Britain.

Business in you.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home?domain=www.business.gov.uk&target=www.business.gov.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Business Link.

Mentors for small businesses - you can find one that matches your type of firm.

I am lucky enough to cover small/medium size business engagement and support as a policy area!! There will obviously be loads more at a local level (networking groups/FSB/Chamber etc) but the link above are initiatives with a fair amount of funding behind them and may offer free IT training for businesses amongst other things.

GOOD LUCK to Pickled and Apuski!!

Weather here is chilly and blustery. Wearing purple knee length dress with blck lace tights and shoe boots.

We are thankfully past the Cbeebies stage here, although DD did used to love Waybuloo. She loves films basically, and I record anything I think she might like and she watches 20/30mins at a time after dinner. Coraline was a big hit, and I thought the animation was amaxing - quite dark though, so not for the easily scared! Free Willy was big hit, but interestly Free Willy 3 only lasted 20 minutes before she denounced it as a 'rubbish and not as good as the first one'....perhaps showing that even a 5 year old can pick out the ciurse of the inferior sequel...?

We watch little things on iplayer as we don't have a tv. I can handle it when it's small intervals and a clip for some reason!

Ok cleaner here in a mo, croissant and espresso for ds and me. He has been taken to so many nice places to eat recently (due to weather mostly). Very indulgent! He is a dab hand at it all now.

Interesting business links NY, thanks.

Social networking is a really interesting area, will post about it later when I'm not hiding from my children pretending to shower (my mum will only look after both DSs if I am doing something vital like showering or polishing the skirting ).

Did the Insanity fit test last night (you do it every 2 weeks throughout) and my first numbers weren't far off the first numbers of the crazy example people. The last few tests (there are 8 I think) my energy was seriously flagging, so I was a bit further off the pace. Also, imagine doing press ups and plank jacks at the same time - the second to last test. Not Easy, people. Looking forward to the first workout tonight!

Oh- another idea- Linked In. Easy to sign up and you can get as much or as little out if it as you want. Some sectors better represented than others. I have had at least one job offer out of it so it's alright in my view .

pickled Good luck for your interview today!

I have an A4 page long to do list taped to my desk since yesterday (mostly domestic/admin stuff). Have ticked off most of it already. My favourite item was "ordering Hello Kitty piñata for DD's birthday" . The other stuff is more boring though...

notyummy Have you tried the glycolic acid peel thingy yet? Can you recommend?

Fritzi - did my third one on Tuesday! Skin definitely brighter/fresher and I have had no spots this month at all (generally get a few hormonal ones around my chin prior to period.) It's not miraculous but has had a positive effect so I am pleased, given that it is a very minor investment. I think I will finish the course (6 in total) and try the next strength up....

Hello, can I pop in?

Hope everyone is ok, thank you for your kind words.

Just wanted to wish pickled good luck for today - everything crossed for you.

Lots of lovely links, which have been cheering me up no end. Agree with bloss that the Matches styling is excellent at the moment, very inspiring. Glad to hear the tutoring is going well too Red.

Without turning the thread into a psychiatrists couch for me, I think I have had a bit of a break through as to why I am so upset about BF'ing. After spending some time at my parents at the weekend, it struck me that I a big reason I wanted to BF is because it would be another parenting 'thing' that would set me apart from my Mother. I think in my desperation to not be like her, I am setting myself up for lots of failure. Many, many unresolved issues for me I suspect and probably brought the the surface in the last few years now that I am a parent.

Anyhow, onwards and upwards. We should start our loft conversion at the end of the month all being well. Very excited to be thinking about new wardrobe storage solutions.

Have missed loads on the thread, so a big wave to all.

Please don't think I am losing my marbles though.

Good luck today Pickled!
Glad to see you back MIM. I have found that I have become more tolerant of my mother over the years. It has taken 8 years of being a mother myself, so be patient, and don't be so hard on yourself.
Yes to the focus group Bonsoir! I think Belstaff is another brand which has reinvented itself as cool. Once you have a good product, then the rest is about marketing and just a slight adjustment of the styling.

Can I just add my good luck pickled!

Lovely to see you MIM. Glad to hear you understand the cause of your angst. I have a rather tense relationship with my Mum, harder since my Dad died as he is not there to counterbalance her more extreme behaviour, so I understand how much pressure you have put yourself under. Am so pleased though that you understand where some of your distress and sadness about BF comes from. Remember though as long as your DD is loved and fed she will not judge you at all about BF. I can't imagine many mothers would tolerate the awful sore nipples you were suffering along with an infected c section scar after a scary delivery so take it easy on yourself. Fingers crossed happy sunny days (in both senses of the phrase!) are just round the corner for you.

Midnight - honestly, when it comes to feeding your baby you must do what works best for you and your DC. I was a passionate breast feeder because it was easy for me but, if I am very honest, I was quite lazy about weaning. It was just so much easier to shut DD up with a nipple . The important thing is to have lots of cuddles and to try to be as relaxed as possible around your DC, whatever way you feed (or bathe, or sleep etc etc).

good luck today pickles and apuski

I have day off work, doing admin maybe some shopping later. So far have dyed hair (no dramatic changes!) done loads of laundry and messed about on the internet joining linkedin and stalking potential employers/employees! Will catch up with thread later it's great to see you mim

Good to see you, Mim.

Enjoy your day off, Emo.

NY, I use Alpha-H Liquid Gold a couple of times a week but the stuff you bought is cheaper, will give it a go.

The Isabella Oliver tops I ordered yesterday arrived at 8am, now that is quick.

Bloss, it is why I would feel ridiculous in J Brand jodhpurs!

Shredded with DD2 in her walker beside me. She thought my attempts at push ups were hilarious.

Fritzi, DD1 had a Hello Kitty piñata for her party, it was a big hit :o.

Sorry, I'm not keeping up at all at the moment, lots going on with our house, the builders will be out tomorrow, now I just have to co-ordinate all the deliveries etc, pack up everything, move and unpack

The paint colors which I nearly had a nervous breakdown choosing all look lovely and dd is ecstatic with her laura Ashley wallpaper

Good luck with the interviews Apuski and Pickled and with the business Reine

to MiM

Kisses to everyone