Daddy gets special treatment?

For those who read my wardrobe edit post the other day I have to start my blog with a picture of the Donna Ida packaging. Not only were the jeans fabulous but the packaging made me feel extra special!

Perhaps the reason I am getting so excited over packaging is my generally more stony mood as a result of a blip in the babe‘s sleeping. For all those lovely mothers whose toddlers are yet to sleep through the night I apologise for what is to follow. I have the utmost respect and admiration for those who operate well after years of broken sleep – you are amazing.

The babe has slept through from being about 9 weeks old. She was still being breast fed so I understand that this is somewhat unusual or as I suspect, lucky. The girl just loves her bed and is great at settling herself thanks to her not-insignificant thumb sucking habit. (V cute). There have been a couple of exceptions to this. A round trip to Canada knocked her body clock out at 8 months but thats a fair exception – I didn’t sleep right for weeks.

Anyway the last few nights I have been up between 11pm and 4am at varying intervals to attend to a screeching child. It could be teeth, so she’s had Calpol, it could be that she’s just starting to walk and she loves to stand up in her cot, it could be that she’s suddenly become afraid of the dark. After the 3rd time of putting her back in her cot to hear her screech for her life I fear that she is just learning how to push her Mum‘s buttons. She’s very good at it.

Last night I needed to host a business dinner staying away from home and as the babe isn’t used to my hubby’s attention during the night I was concerned that should she wake up screaming he might have a challenge on his hands to settle her. I called in this morning from my hotel room only to be told she had slept 7.30pm to 7.10am without so much of a peep! (He even felt the need to check if she was breathing at one point so deep was her sleep).

I am now off to pick her up from the childminder with a spring in my step given I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning. However, I am told she has not been potty for almost 48 hours so I suspect she is waiting for me to deal with this too. The joys of motherhood!

Wardrobe Work Out – Jeans

I just had a look at some of my blog stats – what a depressing exercise! Whilst I may not have a huge readership as yet at least i’m giving it a go. It might however be time to read some books/articles/general advice on blogging and how to attact readership. I have to be honest and say that I don’t totally understand categories and tags so may not be using them to their full potential….

Its a fashion blog today. I was inspired by one of my favourite Style Bloggers – Beth Goodrham to conduct a wardrobe clear out and sort. Beth Goodrham Style Guile Pre-motherhood I did this 2/3 times a year when the seasons were changing and kept everything organised in work and home wardrobes. Very organised. Since the babe arrived things have been a little less clear, not least because my need for a casual home wardrobe has overtaken my previous need for smart work clothes and heels.

I have elected to make my two wardrobes distinct to “home” and “work” with the both being organised into grabbable (i know thats not a word) outfits. I know all this sounds a bit neat freak but I had a reputation for always being beautifully put together before I had the babe and am reluctant to lose this lovely accolade based on time constraints!

As I have mentioned before I love Hush loungewear for my mummy wardrobe and they have assisted me in starting to sell their clothes in lovely outfit bundles! Inspiration indeed! Hush Bundles

What has become clear in the sorting element of the excercise is that my jeans are in a terrible state and as a majority of my time is spent in them it seems advisable to have great jeans! I think as I came out of maternity jeans back into regular I opted for comfort and fashion over long term wearability with fashion credentials. Donna Ida has put me back on the map! For those who haven’t come across Donna Ida they are a specialist denim online retailer with stylists and great searching capability by body shape. http://www.donnaida.com/ I’m dedicating todays post to the jeans on the shortlist. I have ordered or sent my husband who works in London to purchase them all and will report back on whats good and whats not. I’ll blog later in the week on how I get on sorting the wardrobe into outfits – with pics of course!

All my jeans are skinny I’m afraid but all very wearable and hopefully long lasting. Some of the photos aren’t great so I’ve included links too.

First up the Donna Ida offering. James JeansThey are by James Jeans and at half price in the sale a slightly more manageable £100. Whilst not the traditional blue I thought the colour very wearable for dress up or down.

Next up a surprise entry from Abercrombie & Fitch. I have never attempted to buy jeans here before partly because you can’t see anything in the dimly lit shop and partly because I’m probably a bit older than their target demographic! However, the hubby buys his jeans there so he offered to pick me some up when he was in London. I went for their Super Skinnies in the regular wash as seen below. We’ll have to see what they are like on before making further comment.

Next a sample of one if my favourite casual brands Maison Scotch. I have a lot of their tops and a couple of pairs of Chino‘s but have never tried the jeans. I had to order them as my local stockist Fenwick didn’t have the size I needed. From seeing them in the flesh in store however they seems to be a good quality skinny with a nice bit of detail. The proof is in the fit.

Last, and certainly least in terms of price, are a new pair of Topshop Leigh Jeans. I lived in these last summer and think they are a great way of adding a bit of colour into your wardrobe for £38. I have to say that they are not built to last but they are almost like a legging so it’s not surprising. It’ll be interesting to see whether the pale colour on will be as flattering as the darker colours.

I’ll let you know how I get on once they have all arrived from their respective retailers!