MN Vogue Vol. 69

[libertydoddle]

Come and chat about fashion, make up and anything glittery and frivolous. We'll take your bad hair day seriously and you never have to apologise for a new bag

And if you happen to know where I can find comfortable but stylish trainers in kakhi or dark brown you are particularly welcome (Blatant abuse of thread setting up privileges)

Continuing from [[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2570047-MNV-Volume-68 here]]

Morning. Spring seems to be here again so I'm barefooted in and also in a blazer rather than coat. Admittedly I'm only really running errands in my car though.

Juggling everything is really hard. It was hard when I went back to work as dh would expect everything still done at home. But after making him realise that wasn't possible, he does sometimes help out more.
vegas marathon training must be taking up loads of time. Ive only done a half pre dc and that was hard enough fitting the training in. If it's london not too long to go now though.
stokey good luck with the mob, sure it will look fab.

for those struggling with working ft and families - I went back to work pt when ds3 was 6, & dh working abroad most of the time and found it very tough (even with a cleaner) so big up to those of you working ft. I now do temp work and only 2 dc's live at home so things are much easier. still come home to no milk and mouldy bread though

Gorgeous colour shoes Vegas

How are things Shop?

Thanks for your comments re the Hush dress - have decided to keep as although it's fairly shapeless, I can wear a tie belt with it and it will be good for holiday. It does need taking up though.

It is pretty cold here so ootd is H&M grey stretchy pencil skirt, BR sparkly grey open back jumper with pink spot silk Uniqlo shirt under. Black opaques and knee length boots. Oh and statement silver necklace - love today's outfit.

Outfit sounds great Fedup! I never post mine anymore because it's always the same things on rotation. Can't wait for spring to properly arrive and I can stop wearing jumpers.

I worry all the time about the juggling thing, it's one of the 2 main reasons I don't want a baby yet. Currently DH and I work the same hours and earn roughly the same, we have a cleaner, things are ok on the equality front. He does more cooking and (lately) some DIY, I definitely do more on the tidying/cleaning front and more laundry. If/when I have DC I can't don't want to give up work, we will share the parental leave and if necessary would both go part time, I can't bear the thought of him being in a position where he doesn't do childcare or whatever. I'm more qualified than him so if one of our careers takes off to include crazy hours or travel it would probably be mine. I probably sound naive, you of course are all several years down the road and probably laughing at me for being such a control freak!

I honestly wouldn't be able to cope without help, dh works crazy long hours, even at home , if he does something he messes it up, as he has no energy to argue/settle/reason/ do homework ..etc and just wants to get things done,

And blair yes ,you won't believe how a small tiny baby can turn your world upside down, and just changes your perspective of things

karcheer I have the Bart,and they are very comfy, but it took me some time to break into them,

I've started watching the night manager, and does it get better? I'm just not feeling it , scenes and locations are nice,but its just so unrealistic, how does one go from working at front desk to being recruited to become a spy? And that tag line "most dangerous man in the world" is just so childish and comic book-ish , really? its hugh luarie! ,
and yes I know its a tv series, but couldn't they get at least the decor right?Its all Moroccan when its supposed to be in Egypt, How dull and predictable was the hotel decor, and the British embassy looks like it hasn't been cleaned in decades, and the Arab spring was in January why is everyone in linen and kaftan, and don't get me started on that mistress gliding about in sandals and kaftan as if nothing is going on outside, these tiny details just killed it for me and made me more critical and cynical of it all,

DH and I do love The Night Manager but some bits are indeed unrealistic. Like last week when Hugh Laurie and his cronies check out the weapons they want to buy in a container ship.

I doubt a real life armsdealer would do that himself, too risky and he surely has enough henchmen employees to do that for him.

I agree with previous posters, I don't know how working parents do it all.

I have been thinking about going back to work in the not so distant future but I can't see it happening atm as DH is constantly traveling, we don't have family to help out and what happens when the DC are ill or during the many school holidays.

I taught DH today about 'Manrepeller' items when I wore my light blue MiH boyfriend jeans. He looked very doubtful when he saw them so I enlightened him that I those kinds of clothes have a specific name.

Evening all. Lara here is what you need to know about the Night Manager. He is fit, Hugh Lauries home is where I would like to live, don't overthink it. Episode 2 definitely better but take it all with a pinch of salt and you'll enjoy it more.
Dad is stable so better than last week. One of the areas of his brain affected means he has no concept of 'appropriate social behaviour'. Half of the men on the ward just lie in bed with their bits on display my brother arrives on Friday so that will be some extra help as my mum is ill and can't visit the ward this week.

shop sorry you are having such a tough time at the minute. Must be very stressful.

Can I ask what you guys think of the Chloe mini Georgia please?

Oh shop glad to hear he is stable. Hope your mum is better soon too.

We are on ep5 of TNM. I also think some bits are unrealistic, the recruitment yes, but trust you to notice the interior decor Lara it is based on a book though, maybe things are better explained in that? All the actors are great though, the budget must have been huge!

Linus DH hates my boyfriend jeans too he's right damn him, they don't suit me really but I have yet to explain the man repeller thing! It's so true.

Glad to hear he is stable shop.

Blair my DH has been full time parent since DD was 6 months old. I think both parents working part time would be fantastic. The most important thing I think is to make sure DH does as much childcare as possible from day 1. I was lucky because DH was determined to be as involved with DD as I was. Also he was studying and working flexibly for the first 6 months so he was around a lot and as a result was v v confident looking after her from very early on. I think what often happens is that in the early days the Mum can end up as the only one who spends lots of time with the baby and ends up by default being the more engaged parent and then decisions about work etc flow from that.

As a mum whose DH didn't change a nappy more than 3 times in Ds' life I can vouch for getting them involved from day 1.

You are going though so much atm Shop. Hope things improve soon

I must have been too busy oggling TH to notice all that Lara although the moroccan decor of the hotel did annoy me, so lazy.

I really like the mini Georgia Happy but I think someone mentioned that it scratches easily. Which colour are you thinking of? Speaking of bags, I saw this chloe last week, looks lovely irl had not seen it before chloe fedora
I only work school hours 9.20ish to 2.45 ish but after school ferrying about means sometimes not home till 6 3 days a week. I have a cleaner who does some ironing too and dh has got a lot better in the last year.

We started TNM too last night Lara. I found the whole mistress who's just been beaten but wants to jump into bed wth someone else (even if it is Tom H) story very unconvincing. But I guess that is John Le Carre 60s attitude, also the dialogue is too stilted public school. I've hung out with a lot of public school boys in my time and none of them are quite so clipped. But the second episode does improve, and love spotting the bits I knew in Mallorca.

Good to hear DF is stable Shop, graphic men's ward sounds terrifying.

shop glad to hear your dad is stable.

My mil is going home to die tomorrow, which is terrible. I said to my mum that I just don't feel old enough to cope with that, obviously she gave me some tough love. Dh is asleep on the sofa, bless him :(

The Barts come tomorrow, so I'll let you know.

The mini Georgia does look like it'll scratch and not the sort of bag that'll look better with age.

My dh does nothing around the house but he works like a maniac and travels a lot, I do everything, but then I am a housewife, so it's my job :)

Thanks just I was thinking of the caramel/tan.. It is pretty shiny leather and I do tend to think that does scratch quite easily so that's probably right.. Hmm..

[Flowers] Karcheer. I don't think anyone ever feels old enough to deal with death.

Karcheer that's very sad.

Happy I like the bag.

I agree with Shop about TNM and a lot of the stuff I watch just go with it, looks nice. I never understand Bond plots, lost within first 5mins, but generally they're all the same, handsome hero, really bad guy, love interest messes everything up, nice locations , great stunts etc. BTW I'm out of prison 3 series

Oh and I've not worn boots for 4 days......my feet are FREE. if a little chilly am itching to get ankle grazers out.

dry I wore boyfriend jeans and trainers today, I was only hanging out with the builders, but it was quite hot on the roof.

I am so sorry to hear that karcheer, your poor DH.

shop glad to hear your DF is stable.

Lovely bag happy

I have to say that DH is very hands on with the DC when he's home and has been from day one.

When they were newborns he did all the bathtimes as I was just knackered and couldn't face bathing a screaming wriggly baby.

And he gets out of bed when they're ill/having nightmares on the nights he's home to give me a break.

But both of us working part-time was just not an option, especially in his job and as I was earning a lot less than him (and wasn't ever going to make £££) it just made sense for me to be a SAHM.

Sorry to hear that Karcheer

That's so sad karcheer

Hugs karcheer.

Dh Is as hands on as he can with the hours he does be but he doesn't get involved in the minutiae of their lives like I do I.e he doesn't have a clue about school activities/parties etc. This week is his on call week which I hate as we hardly see him and when we do he's not really present with us as he's just waiting for the phone to ring. Next week though he's off with the kids whilst I work for 2 days. I'm finding the juggling is harder as they get older as activities/social lives are getting later for the older two but the little one needs to be in bed still at a reasonable hour.

Oh Karcheer I'm so sorry to hear that. Will be thinking of you.

DH is 5 years older than me and way more into the idea of kids than I currently am. I think it would be ok once past the baby stage, it's just that that terrifies me, as you all say it sets the scene for things to come!

Sorry to hear that Karcheer

I currently work c.30h a week and do everything at home (no cleaner - don't ask - weird middle class guilt about having someone clean up after me). On a good week DH might put the bin out on a Sunday night, but he works about 70hrs a week so he really can't do much more. It is a juggling act but we manage on a wing and a prayer. I'm very lucky in that I work in a team of two with another mum to children the same age as mine with a high-rolling husband, so she gets it and we both work as flexibly as necessary. As long as the work gets done, it doesn't matter what hour of the day it happens. It's more the mental energy it takes to manage a rolling to-do list than the physical effort of seeing it through that's the strain, IMO.

Still, people manage in far more challenging circs than I do, so I'm not grumbling!

I think babies are quite easy - it's all the 'Need to buy a present for X child's party' or 'need to make something Moroccan for the international food festival' or 'need to make a junk model of the Hadron collider for show and tell on Monday' that eats up your time. For me the baby years involved a lot of sitting on the sofa eating biscuits while breastfeeding