A for Avid, B for buying, C for Chatting... W for Wise!

[OllieWollieWoo]

Credit to Everything for the lovely new title!

Are we allowed to say great filming mr cake?!
I've lived in Spain, lovely programme brings back great memories.

apuski hope all is well!

blossoming asos have these which aren't overly costly. BUT - not leather, so sweaty! Don't suppose it matters for a one-off but if you wanted to wear them lots, probably not the best summer option!

I'd love to do Disney but we're saving it for when the DC are older. PIL have already said they want to come, as do my parents, sis and niece! DH now not so keen...

choo I am in no position to judge as I have a monthly night out with three close male friends. DH is much too laid back about such things - sometimes I wish he'd just get a teensy bit jealous (yes, I know it wouldn't be good really!) but he never does!

I enjoyed it too. Did MrCake get to try all the food? My dp was salivating at some of the dishes though interestingly suggested I might want to attempt cooking them, not that he'd try.

I think you can probably tell from my post, I wasn't a Disney fan. Dd enjoyed it though she was only 18mo (we went for a mate's birthday) so a lot of the rides were too big for her. Have mates who go thrice a year though. I love doing dd orientated things but am more of a farm weekend fan .

hello everyone
not been on much although have been lurking and reading posts

Everything - your posts about your relationship woes are very sad , I really hope you sort it out one way or another. I do think small children put a huge strain on a marriage - it's definitely a reason why I won't be having any more dc. In our case it is sad to admit that we get on so much better when not with our dd's , not their fault of course, but whenever we are all together as a family we tend to get into that spiral of competitive tiredness and resentment. But it does seem to be improving as our dc get older and the parenting becomes less, well, relentless.

Good luck with the W&A pregnancies and interviews!

Apuski - hope all is well after your tumble and they let you out of hosp asap.

Well, on the purchases front, I decided to keep the Zara trench with the slightly silly puff sleeves after all as desperately needed a spring coat and at £60 it was the best I'd seen. (I did try the Kew trench but the bottom half was too voluminous on me.)

This top arrived in the lavender grey and the turquoise (actually more teal) - so nearly right, but not quite, think the neckline is a bit high, and the 8 was too big at the chest but I think if I got the 6 the armhole would be too small so back they go.

Have the morning to myself tomorrow and was thinking of going into town, taking back all my crap purchases and having a look at Comptoir, Reiss, Whistles etc (did low-mid range High St last week with limited success).

I really like that white pompom camisole you linked to Tracey

I also think that I am going to take back my GAP white skinnies as they are too low rise and give me a real muffin top .

Can anyone recommend white skinnies with a mid-high rise? Am assuming Baxters are similarly lowrise?
May consider some next ones - anyone got any comments?

A La Redoute brochure arrived today and i don't quite know why but am strangely drawn to these Eurotrash numbers in the pink or yellow.
It's a bit of a departure for me though - but coloured denim must be "in" as I saw (and tried ) some bubblegum pink skinnies in topshop the other day.
I though pink skinnies were un peut de trop for a slightly pearshaped shortarse comme moi but I figure crops/capri's I could do.
But what would one wear with them in order to stay firmly out of boden-mummy territory?
That pompom Reiss top maybe.........

White skinnies, pink capris' - I've come over all Hurley and it's all Traceybath's influence !!!!

Apuski - you poor thing - glad you did the right thing by getting it all checked and hopefully nothing to worry about.

Blossoming - very W&A advice thank you. Have been mentally planning the trip for a few weeks (ie have notebook in my bag and when sitting around in playground/parks have been brainstorming shopping requirements and routes which maximise shopping time etc! ). Have been convinced that I wouldn't be going cos of ash etc and now its all on, its taken me by surprise! List of wants/to do's includes a good nose round Uniqlo and try grey skinnies, look at Mint Velvet in House of Fraser, M&S for just about everything, ditto John Lewis & Selfridges, Top Shop for Baxter/Martha jeans, swoon in Anthropologie/Banana Republic on Regent St, have a potter on Marylebone High Street (old stomping ground!), head over to Kensington High Street to meet up with lovely ex colleagues and generally enjoy 10 hours of me time! Mum & Dad are meeting me at the airport tomorrow evening and - get this - taking me to a Harvester for dinner!!!!! Don't know if I should be or but guess its sweet of them! Salad bar here I come!

Hey Esher I have been Tracied too and got some white Baxters. I have them in a pale-ish denim too and they're great and quite high rise. I have muffin issues and they give quite good coverage.

Still in hospital, waiting to be examined to check I'm not in premature labour. Too many braxton hicks on the trace for comfort apparently. But too many emergencies to be seen to quickly. And iPhone battery nearly dying and can't get mumsnet on my blackberry! Woe is me!!

Apuski - thinking of you. Stay strong - and see if you can sweet talk one of the nurses into tracking down a phone charger - just tell them its for MN purposes and they will understand. Do you have someone with you - hope so?

Hope you're ok Apuski - take good care.

Apuski I hope you are OK. I fell in a supermarket carpark when I was about 7 mths pg with ds2. I was carrying ds1 at the time, and I remember so vividly, I was falling in slow motion and I could see all these people running towards us trying to catch us, it was very strange. We were all fine, just a few bumps and bruises but it was an upsetting experience.

Everything I'm so sad to read your post about your dh. I hope I didn't sound glib earlier, it must be awful for you. Can your dh talk about why he is doing it? I really, really think you should stick with the counselling though just for yourself . Have you thought about starting a thread in Relationships. There are some very wise women on MN. When I was tearing my hair out last year someone gave me the most thought provoking advice, something I think about very often and it really changed my outlook on my life ever mind my marriage.

On a utterly trivial note, I just got an email about my Lanvin shoes, that I stayed up until the middle of the night to buy nearly 2 weeks ago, saying that they'd only just been shipped. I am a patient woman but that is pushing me to my limits!

Bunjies good luck with the interview

LTEC I don't know how you do it, I'm not surprised you need a bit of retail therepy to get you through the day

Oh Apuski!!
Remind me how far along you are?
Are you on your own there (hopefully not).

Do not fret, I went into premature labour at 29 weeks with dd2 (100's of miles away from home in Birmingham, at a wedding no less) and spent a week in hosp in Brum but the contractions did eventually subside and I went on to carry her to 37 weeks so stay calm, rest assured if they thought there was any immediate risk to you or baby they wouldn't leave you waiting so am sure is ok but I know how horrible it is stuck on a trace for hours on end.

Sorry, have just seen you said you were 7 months.

Oh Apuski just saw your last post, fingers crossed for you, I'm sure everyhing will be fine.

apuski hope everything's OK.

I like that Hush blazer a lot blossoming and everything and personally I really like 3/4 sleeves

I also have white baxters and love them, but don't have muffin top issues so can't comment.

J brand is the business, I've now got some wide leg jeans, some cropped cargos and 901 leggings and they are all beautiful.

everything, choo, esher, cake just don't do the whole competitive tiredness thing. Everyone's tired. It's tiring looking after the kids, it's tiring flying around, staying in hotels on your own, and having meetings with boring people, and it's tiring being bored at home with nothing to do and feeling miserable. So pointless comparing.

I think 'tis normal to have more fun without the kids. It's another bit of wisdom from 'the idle parent' that I thought was quite true, that you pretty much always have a better time when you do things in a different combination than both parents plus all the kids. If you take the kids out by yourself then your partner gets a break and that's good (and vice versa). If you just take out one, or some, of the kids then it feels really easy, and you have different conversations and less whinging. It's true for us, though we can have fun together.

It's the food at Disney that worries me more than anything. I'm not that fussy, but I find McD and hot dogs and all that stuff disgusting. I prefer salad really. But it's only friday that we'll be stuck there for all our meals so I'll probably survive - I'll have lots of cereal for breakfast! I'm not expecting the park to be very s&b, but the weather forecast is excellent at least. Have packed high tops, 3 pairs skinnies/leggings, one pair shorts, though I don't usually do the whole shorts/sandals thing until it's at least 26oC, and some jumpers which are categorically not fleeces.

Have been shopping in my wardrobe too and fallen back in love with a putty coloured butter-soft leather Whistles jacket that I got 10 years ago. It actually has matching trousers that zip the whole way up both sides, but I think I might keep them on the hanger these days

Congrats on the halo cake, that was very grown up

Just back from very nice meal and dd having a lovely sleepover with mothers help - she emailed pics to DH of her playing in garden, picking flowers and playing with their lab puppy this evening - she wont want to come home.

bunjies - I don't know how to have CAT/have never CATTED Initials
are M B L on facebook - more than happy to have my brains picked! Am friends with LTEC, Roma and bunnymother (to name a few) so you should find me on the mutual friends thingy if we are not already!

Apuski - hope you are ok.

Roma - big shades essential for eurodisney (see my pics from last month on facebook! Also - take snacks but prepare to have them removed as you are not officially allowed them in the park and we saw security guards taking off some people. The deli on main street does semi reasonable baguettes/fruit which were a big inprovement on the rest of the rubbish. Also the Blue Lagoon restauant (inside Pirates of the Carrib, but with separate entrance) does really nice food, with plenty of fish and salad. May be worth booking though.

I'm back home! No immediate signs of labour, but they are a bit worried about the amount of 'tightenings' and suggested keeping me in but were happy to let me come home as long as I rest and go back if it gets any worse. They gave me some painkillers that are making me woozy so will go to bed. And I will have lots of time now tomorrow to catch up on links!

Thank you to everyone for your good wishes!

Apuski - just logged on quickly to check how you were and very glad to hear you're home.

I had frequent tightenings with dc3 from about 24 weeks and found they did slow down a lot if I just took it easy - hard I know when you have other dc's.

Esher - baxters are good - they're not too low rise at all. I did think you'd like the reiss top - think am going to go and try it on this saturday. Luckily reiss and comptoir are practically next door in Bath. And now I want pink skinnies too. I do laugh at you, me and MM with our borderline eurotrash tastes - its white/its gold/its leopard print - I'll take 2 please .

Roman - have a fab time - the food would worry me too but even mcdonalds do salads nowadays don't they?

Morning all. Glad you're home apuski. ollie, sounds like you'll be busy! Have a great time and lol at harvesters!
roman, good luck with the eurodisney food front. Yeuch I had stodgy pizza when I was there but were only there for one meal.
Sunny again. Is this a record? Have a great day all.

*bunjies - got your cat! Will reply quickly but shooting off to a sminar, so if you you fire me your queries, will do my best to answer tonight.

I love my white baxters but think pink skinnies might be a step too far for me

(I have packed a pink mini skirt for the weekend though!)

Everything and Apuski, hope you are all ok. And LTEC too.

We definitely argued a lot more when DD was a baby and I found having no family help very difficult (though I know a lot of people are in the same boat).

Verity, you made me laugh about the shoes. I hate waiting for eBay purchases.

The birthday girl was a bit overwhelmed at all the toddlers playing with her toys and spent much of her party crying!

MM, you were asking about belts, I think, I have found good belts in Gap, Asos, Harvey Nicks sale and Italy! I think you should go to Italy.

Esher, I spotted those pink jeans too, the only thing that puts me of is that DD has a similar pair.

I have £300 to spend and was thinking of getting www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574491208767&PRODUCT% 3C%3Eprdid=845524446160112&R=663231625819&Pname=Diane+von+Furstenberg&sid=128247A168D4&ASSORTMENT% 3C%3Eastid=1408474395222441&bmUID=1271922356948this black DVF dress (have similar in black wool that is 10 years old and still perfect) or www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574491208767&PRODUCT% 3C%3Eprdid=845524446361211&R=663231179510&Pname=Diane+von+Furstenberg&sid=128247A168D4&ASSORTMENT% 3C%3Eastid=1408474395222441&bmUID=1271922409671 this in red (but maybe too loud? I also have a wrap dress in pink and blue)? I can have it sent to my db in NY so a little cheaper than here.

Blossoming, I really like those J Brands.

Oops ... black dress or red dress or something else altogether?

Looks to be another day of sunshine - am rubbing my hands in glee!

Apuski - hope your bump has settled down this morning. Keep still little one!!

Re white skinnies, I hesitate to suggest this, but... a friend bought white skinnies from Uniqlo and is happy w them (awaits pasting from Tracey due to shoddy quality issues w her Uniqlo experiment). I got my white trousers pretty filthy on the weekend after playing in the sandpit (again!) so am unsure whether I can get them. But they look sooo good!!

H&M cropped trousers are going back and this olde fogey is going to find full length trousers. Love a little H&M peruse...

Am so sorry to read that your DH is being so cold, Everything. So hurtful. V good suggestion to also have counselling alone.

I also agree time alone w your DH is really important. DH and I went out to dinner last night (we do this most weeks) and it was lovely (esp not to cook!!). Really nice to sit facing each other and talk, without one ear cocked for DD. Although my Little Commandant did get her vengeance in the form of waking for an hour at 2am. Am on my 2nd coffee already

Morning all, glad you're home Apuski - try to take it easy.

ope you have a good time in Paris Roman - I'd love to take DD to Disneyland one day but not sure what the best age is - definitely not yet!

I am another one guilty of competitive tiredness - said to DH how much more energy I had in the evening yesterday after 2 days of work rather than 2 days of DD and he said that my job must be easier than his - I can't win (but I suppose the point is that it's not about winning)

I like the idea of white jeans but I can't be trusted to keep anything clean for more than a few minutes so they wouldn't work for me. Has anyone experimented with different coloured leggings now that it's getting sunnier? - I don't feel right in black ones now.

Think I will order the UO combats seeing as everyone is getting wear out of them - is the sizing quite big or are you all just shrinking? Don't know whether to go for M or a S

Cake - I want to do a fish cake for DD's birthday (a fish shaped cake, not a fishcake) but am a bit of a perfectionist and it needs to be something fairly easy that I can do well else I am likely to give up if I can't get it to look perfect (not a good trait I know ) Is there anything that fits the bill in your Australian women's weekly cake bible?

Have a good day everyone.