I don't dress for the school run, I dress for my (wise & avid) life!!

[LetThemEatCake]

continuing from here and quoting esher!!

Just had a bird fly into my sitting room so sent the boys in to deal with it as am phobic - however they got bored and bird then decided to fly out itself. Thank the lord - couldn't have coped with another bird trashing my sitting room.

Right waitrose order done just need to do surface tidying before in-laws arrive tomorrow.

LTEC - it is indeed Bea's birthday tomorrow - can't believe she's going to be 1 already. Have on its way which I'm sure she's going to love.

We're actually going out for dinner tomorrow with the in-laws - what to wear . . .

There's a barn being built behind my house today - very exciting for ds2 - less exciting for me as its not really 'Witness' - oh I loved Harrison in that film.

Hey folks!! Quick one here, friend here in a minute.

Have taken delivery of these from NaP and they are excellent! Although I am still looking for everyday shoes and these are high enough to be a bit wow.

So ordered some white Blochs from Coggles.

Poor ol Gwynnie, loads of people dis her but I have a soft spot as people drag her name up around me. Due to general tall blondeness of course!

buszer gotto fly

Very cool shoes, Marsha

There are some lovely toys on that website, Tracey. I have just seen a doll's house that I would have loved as a child so have bookmarked it for me, err, I mean for DD, for Christmas!

Hope you have a lovely meal out and happy birthday to Bea.

LTEC, wish I met people like you at the supermarket!

Blossoming, forgot to say, thanks for the sympathy. When is your 40th? I love the dress. My brother is getting married in Feb so I may have to copy you (again!) and get it.

We got soaked on the way back from the gym.

Teenagers, you say ltec. Probably because we missed out on teenage antics because his mum never used to pass on my phone messages. (Have I mentioned that I've had issues with her since 1989?!!)
Sounds like you and your dh enjoy a laugh too. Great to hear.
On a playful note, has anyone else who is shredding noticed an improvement in their 'love' life?

DH at work, baby sleeping, dc1 not 100% and still enjoying the sofa and fireman sam. Am going to quickly look at links. Oh and does anyone know if it's better to buy Bec dress form Matches or Harvey Nichols online? I've used dvf.com before but they've sold out in my size.

Bloss - I think matches personally as their customer service is good where as NY has had poor service from HN.

Carciofi - thats my local toy shop and its fab although can often find stuff cheaper from other online retailers.

Hello all,

tracey I am very jealous of my mum (in a good way!) whenever my friends meet her I always get comments about how stylish and glamourous she is I feel like a heffalump next to her and she appears to do it so effortlessly it literally takes her 30minutes from 0 to done.

Fritzi Sorry missed your nappy bag help the first time round, I like the Monsoon one, slightly more than I would spend on a monsoon bag IYSWIM but deffo going to keep an eye out for it in sale. Did you have anymore luck with White Company customer service?

LTEC Lavin dress is gorgeous colour - what will you wear it with?

rufus love that VWA dress but agree that the other is too drab for a wedding

bloss what is this Bec dress? Link I have missed? Hope your DC is feeling better. I am quite intrigued to find out why you make your DH live in bathrooms ;)

HF your birthday sounds lovely and all the night wakings etc are worth it when they do thinks like that.

OWW hilarious about MIL, I hope your eyes have fully recovered, your brain might take a little longer.

Plum hope your mouth is feeling all better, am very jealous you managed to bag a cardigown in the sale they were all gone when I got there. LOVE the boots but not so keen on the green dress but then I don't like the pussy bow look which I know has been in fashion.

Linwin like both bags but think I prefer second. I like the detail of the piping for that price!

verity that sounds like a HUGE deposit most just ask for 10% of the total cost.Would using a credit card give you a bit more protection?

Love the WC poncho you are all contemplating but my bottom half is my heavy bit and so if I wear a poncho on top I will look like an egg. Need to keeps tops slim lined.

I think Jennifer Aniston looks a little bland yes her clothes are impeccable co-ordinated in cream, caramels etc but I just think she could do with a little more oomph.

I am feeling very good dress sense wise today despite being a heffalump, am wearing fitted dark blue jeans, black ruched camisole with a jigsaw mohair ballet type wrap on top which accentuates my bump in a good way, got loads of compliments at toddler group (but that could be because I usually turn up in hoodie and baggy jeans) I do need a chunky silver braclet however. I am hoping to get this as a birth present (yes I believe in birth presents) which would go nicely. I like this necklace as well would make fab christmas presents.

carciofi, my birthday is in October. But I don't want to miss out on the dress, and if my size is already sold out on dvf.com...
Also I may get another wear or two out of it, because the friend who was just staying here is 40 in August, her dh and mine are best friends from school and have had 40ths this year, so we're trying to arrange a meal out for the 4 of us, and that could be September. And I'm away for the last three weeks of August. Yes, I can justify anything!!

Pouring with rain here and dark like November. Haven't been to the shops yet either. Dc1 has a long list of things to do. We've played kerplunk and snakes and ladders, he wants to play hopscotch (?) and go to the library. May give in and go in the car.

Bloss - love the dress - is it for your 40th and what are you doing for it?

I'm 40 in 2 years and am hoping to leave dc's with grandparents for a couple of nights and hopefully go somewhere lovely.

DH is 40 next year and his big treat is to do a multi-stage bike race

I'd also go with Matches, as their customer services is great.

Tracey, I'll definitely remember them for Christmas.

tracey I think Bea needs this for her birthday - as does any other AW dd!! We have it and it's a scream

Thanks for that traceyb. this is the Bec libra.

By the way, Dh did not sleep in the ensuite, just left the toilet seat up, toothpaste leakage on the tops, hair in the shower... Do I need to go on?

Keep getting distracted, need to check out links!

That looks good LTEC - will order it.

Lovely day here - sat in garden watching dc's play - now thats my idea of motherhood

Dolcee would this be bodycon enough for wedding?

LTEC have ordered that book!

Your outfit sounds lovely, Libra.

Blossoming, you're right, seize the day, buy it now.

sighs oh that's gorgeous bloss, I have always wanted a DVF dress and a VWA dress (and a mulberry bag) not sure why as I rarely wear dresses they just seem such feminene (can't even spell it) pretty things to own.

Thanks libra. I already have 2 dvf wrap dresses, both black, but they're just brilliant basics, and I wear them really all the time to different occasions. I've even wear them to weddings! They are the most hardworking clothes in my wardrobe! But now I've had my colours done I'm being brave, fair to say I would never have considered that dress before!

I think it must be just me on this thread who doesn't covet mulberry?

Glad you explained about the ensuite Bloss I was very confused! Wish I could banish DH but he'd take severe umbrage. Love, love, love the dress. It us perfect in so many ways. The shape the colours. On a cost per wear and more importantly the knowledge of looking fabulous per wear, it is worth every penny.Am intrigued re increase in lovelife Bloss, maybe I'll get back to the shred. Although not tonight. I need to get to sleep early after last night.

Just rushing in as DS so knackered he's having a little nap, as are the girls (phew....) - he was up at 6 this am, saying, 'its my birthday!!!!!'...Loved his Knights Castle, so alls well!

Libra - I love that dress! Fab colour too...I'm gonna order it and try it, thanks!

Bloss. Love your dress too!

Reine - sadly not professional painter...but adore painting...and when we move I am going to set up a garden studio to paint/make things at home...

Well, latest 'hurt' in mother fiasco saga: she was due to come over this pm as I'd told her DS had his leavers party at nursery this am, to which he wanted to go...so she said she'd be over at 2pm. Got back from dropping him off this am to find his present on doorstep in black carrier, with note saying, sorry she'd missed him on his birthday, but they had to go out and were busy, so here was his present!!!!! Is it me? Am I being totally unrealistic in expecting any more?

Well, I rang and left a message saying how disappointed I was...Very, very jealous of those of you with 'normal', non-judgemental mothers...I am sort of at the end of my tether with mine. I find I bite my lip on many occasions, and am really keeping stumm because I don't want to let our close friends down by not attending their weddings...but it's almost untenable...! Thoughts, oh wise ones?

My MIL arrives tomorrow, so have a mountain of jobs to do before then...yes, superficial tidying as thankfully cleaner did good job yesterday...but ironing (yuk), and general 'making nice' as she's quite a good stick....

Ooh Bunny - just wanted you to know I have very good friends who are twin girls...adults and they are identical...and the loveliest, warmest friends ever! Wry senses of humour and so down to earth, but just lush!

It may be that I'm just more confident rufus. my legs, bum, arms and shoulders look better than ever and I have been known to wear my teeny tiny fat face shorts round the house after my shower! Shameless!!

Just had a thought that Dh is being so accommodating of dress because he really doesn't want to take me away for my 40th. Hmmm.

dolcee, so sorry to hear of your problems with your mum. Don't know what to say really. Just that you are justified in your feelings.

Tracey - lovely trike...we bought some of DSs presents from there...! Love the owner, really nice woman!

You have a bit of a birthday fest too! I love this time of year, although I do enjoy the 'thought' of changing into autumn/winter clothes...like new school term, I suppose, when I had new uniform and pencil case!

I am definitely a summer person (as in seasons, not had colours done!) Haven't a clue what I would be colours wise...don't think I'd dare!

What's happened to the weather? Warm, but very overcast...

Tracey - sorry, didn't get the bit about the barn and HF?

Bloss - thanks....There's been so much going on recently...and I'm kind of so fed up with it...I'd rather keep at arms length...selfish, but self preserving at the same time.

She also isn't that great with the children....tuts alot and constantly tells them to sit down, whereas at least MIL actively engages when she is around albeit not very often...Ho hum!

Anyway, the master and proncess have returned and so I must engage ! Catch you later!

That should be princess, no, prancess, the way she prances around at the moment! In her, typical, 'I want a birfday too!!! Where's my birfday?????' manner. Waaaahhhhhh!!!! awwwwww....

Dolcee - do you remember Harrison Ford in the film witness where the amish community did the 'barn-raising'. I loved that film!

Your mother is undoubtedly being a pain and I think for your own emotional sanity you need to just accept that she's not going to be the type of mother/grandmother you'd like. I know I will be a very different type of grandmother than my mother is.

I'd also start looking for a sitter for the weddings as wouldn't like to have to rely on your mum. I also suspect you're a bit like me and would as they say 'cut your nose off to spite your face'. I can imagine me in that situation just telling my mother not to bother babysitting if she didn't really want to and then ending up even more annoyed and not going to the wedding.

I've been thinking a lot about mother/daughter/grandchild relationships since going home. I do get on well with my mum but would love for her to be a little more involved with my dc's.

I know the received wisdom on mn is that the grandparents have done their bit with us but I know that if/when my dc's have children I would want to help them as much as I could really.

Sorry for the waffle.