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.

Delighted that some of you may come to Dublin for 2 nights, it will be great . Hmm outfits... How many have you got?! Dublin can be as dressy or casual as you wish, pm me about the final choice of hotel and I'll give you an idea of the general ambience, I'll probably stay in the hotel on the Saturday too, as we live outside town.

I'm really enjoying that blog that Mrs CB recommended, I also enjoy 40bums style of writing.

We climb and trek and I'll camp on the side of a mountain somewhere extreme, but not in Ireland, far too miserable and cold.

I like the Atlantic blog a lot. Love that she has a bright Celine bag, (not as keen on the mushroom one), wears a lot of colour and makes everything look better than the sites that show the clothes.

We don't camp and didn't camp as children. I did it a couple of times with friends at 18 and that's it!

Also the Carven shoes look amazing on her. Portia your day in London sounds great!

Bloss she is great, forget wardrobe consultation, they should just give her Liz Jones' job she would be far better at it.

Love the jumper Red did you order the mint jeans?

Camped as a child, but not as an adult apart from at music festivals. Meant to be camping in my friend's parent's field for her 30th on the next bank holiday am skeptical, but think we will give it a go.Hopefully's trips sound idyllic.

Love the sound of your shopping day Portia, am also of Dublin such a great city am sure you will set Temple Bar alight!

hundreds Bloss. Well, at least half a dozen, surely.

We will still camp if it's wet - we have plenty of wet weather gear, and we're combining camping holiday with house hunting and a job interview for DH (restful or what?), so no backing out.

I like 40Bum's writing too, she is very easy to read, which many fashion journos aren't - I only ever actually read about fashion in Vogue (and I only read that once in a blue moon because the mag is so insanely expensive and out of my league in all ways) as I am never all that impressed with the writing in most other magazines. I like looking at pictures though

Since I haven't mentioned it for, ooh, 36 hours or so, I would just like to proclaim my ongoing love for Insanity. It is amazing. I have a heart rate monitor and I burned a shade under 400 calories both times I wore it while exercising. That's like a third of a tub of Ben & Jerry's, people. And running is suddenly easy - can't believe how quickly I've fittened up (incidentally, my Mac keeps trying to autocorrect that to 'fattened up'. Freudian slip?).

I'm rather fond of this colour jbrands

Pickled sorry to hear about the letters, hope you had a lovely afternoon with dd.

Gosh that's good Hopefully.

I am woeful at reading anything in magazines. I only look at the pics. Probably why I like A-P etc

Red, now that breton I approve of.

Thanks for all the commiserations, just another thing you gotta luv about this thread - and the gangsta rap of course.

Bloss, you have had such a great year in teaching, you absolutely deserve some you time.

Portia, I have to say that yours is the lifestyle that I most envy on the thread. Can't remember if you where a SAHM when your girls were little or not, remind me?

Marsha, when is your trip to Berlin? Such a great city, fab shopping opportunites and I know how much you love to see your family. Atlantic blog lady is too perfect...even more than I imagine Bonsoir to be .

Marsha those jeans are really pretty, very you. If these were my colour I would totally get them and regress back to being 17.

I really need to start looking at my clothes and buy some more for holidays - I don't actually have enough to go 6 days without laundry. I'm not even sure I have enough pants that fit to go 6 days without laundry

God I love those shoes that go with the c/e stars, and the star jeans too. The whole outfit

Pickled in the next week!. I have to get up so early (3ish) I may as well stay up . I am feeling quite stressed as the opodo site kept crashing which meant I could only find two ryan air flights very early or too late. Made a bit of a hash of it really!

Any frequent flyers with early bird tips greatly appreciated!

Haven't ordered them just yet - I want to try them as I think I need to size up in a pale colour, but only if I can handle the inevitable waist gaping. I cannot abide Liz Jones - she makes my skin crawl. Actually, who on earth would be a Liz Jones fan? There is nothing likable about her whatsoever. I also find Polly Vernon incredibly annoying. One of my old University compatriots is writing for Grazia with increasing frequency. What with her and my sister working for Heat, a girl could get a complex.

Pickled I wish I could think of a way to stop your spinning.

You lot are so great at enabling. I figured I'd need loads. Hell, there's 2 airport outfits for a start
So where would these shoes fit in?
Can you link to your heart monitor hopefully? It's on my birthday list.
Love love love those jeans for you marsha
Thanks pickled, hope you're not feeling too down.
Great jumper red, sold out in the bigger sizes now though.

Ooh Bloss they are terribly you. Both evenings I would have thought. I ordered the jumper in the 14 - I am so short and looked at the size guide and it should fit perfectly. Fingers crossed.

Am feeling most jealous of cool Scandi-design couple on Grand Designs.

Those J Brans are the same shade as the Baxters I'm keen on Marsha. If it's good enough for EA...

Marsha, DH sometimes sketches peoples shoes when he gets bored travelling (I kid you not), worth a try?

Red, don't worry, it's not the sort of spinning that is going to send me out of control, I'm just a bit 'disorientated', that's all. So, are you reconsidering teaching then? I spent the morning in the boys school in my governor role and it was really enjoyable - the teachers there are all so dedicated.

Those C/Es are on my NAP wish list in the blue, in spite of the fact I never get on with C/Es and always send them back.

Well maxi quest looks like it could be over - Whistles obviously reads this thread, as they have produced what seems to be my ideal maxi. No idea if this link will work but it's the Gemma stripe maxi. Couldn't try on as had the smaller half of my brood whining in the buggy, but it looks ideal!

Must be obsessed with the stripe and the maxi as I also bought this today!

Love them Bloss

Ooh yes they are good Red!

Bloss I love those shoes. I never have a decent reason to wear extravagant heels - I have been using the same pair of patent stiletto peep toes for about 8 years now. They are so statement that they are rather timeless, and I love them. One day I will find a (lower-than-6-inch-heel) alternative, I suppose.

I got this HRM in brown, but it comes in various alarming shades of (wintery) purple/red and in black and silver. It is the most basic one, i think, but it measures my heart rate, tells me if I'm in 'the zone' and tells me how many calories I burned. I'm not interested in it scheduling training plans or anything like that, so I didn't bother with one of the cleverer ones.

Capsule wardrobe for a week camping anyone? Wellies and wetsuits, at this rate.

Amber, I was tempted by that Whistles maxi but what do you do about the racer back/bra issue?

Pickled does he. I'm stressing more about the 3am wake up. I cannot believe I booked a flight so early. Argh

Also something good will happen soon. Something right.

I know what you mean however, I've been driving ds' nursery up the wall with date changes. God they must be so annoyed with me it's not funny. It's also more expensive than I thought it would be. £500+ a month for two days, so so much £.

Amber you'd look great in that maxi

(am really slow at typing tonight, half asleep)

Red one of my best friends from University works for the Telegraph having turned down a job at the Mail on principle. Daren't confess my exploits to him.

I used to like Polly Vernon, before I grew up had DD etc, now I can't stand her, not sure if it is me or her that's changed though.

I wear a belt with my primark minties, but am otherwise v happy with the fit of them.

Also meant to say commiserations to pickled, although I read somewhere they are going to do a Dawson's Creek reunion show

Marsha, bed at nine, 6 hours sleep, no worries.

yep you're right. Will do

suburban, have just goggle Dawson's Creek reunion, what a laugh!

I meant googled

Amber- I love that stripey Gap skirt.

Currently watching Great Ormond Street with a box of tissues. Watching to remind me why I give to them. V hard to watch though. And makes me think of those ladies amongst you who have experienced similar.