Summer Solstice Sensation

maman

:wave: I don't know why I'm waving with a smiley face because I'm feeling :mad: Tax return is done but I doubt I've seen the back of it!! Without going into the boring detail, the form has changed from last year and wasn't fit for purpose IMO. I called the helpline and when I eventually got through and hung on for 25 mins the young man didn't have clue what I was talking about, nor did his supervisor. I ended up doing my own thing and explaining what I'd done in the 'anything to add' box. I wonder if they read them?? For my own satisfaction I'll call into the tax office when they're not so busy (after 31st) and ask them to explain their new form and why it doesn't work!

To add to that I listened to my team lose on the radio. I've a good bottle of Sauvignon Blanc chilling (which is what I need to do:rotfl:)

Decided to do something absolutely mindless to calm me down so have done all my ironing. I don't do ironing that often, just when we really need something or basket is full. Today latter was true but no longer!!

I made a huge pot of lentil and vegetable soup yesterday to give me something healthy for lunch if it's cold. That's all in the freezer.

Must get back on track: reading, decluttering, walking and deep cleaning all been on hold for a good few days. Must push myself tomorrow.

Just realised that this has been a rambling diatribe all about me:o. I do apologise. Hope everyone else is having a good weekend. Well done LL on doing a Nigella! Carmen, well done on your weightloss. I've not told anyone but my DH that I'm doing SW. He needs to be on board so that he makes me the right things for breakfast:rotfl:One particular friend has asked me how I've managed to lose weight. I've just said 'healthy eating' and given her a few details of what I've cut back on. I think I'll probably tell her next time we have the chance of a proper chat. Oh and my nephew commented at a Christmas party, darling young man:)If anyone else has noticed they haven't said - maybe they don't want to imply that I looked fat before!

Enjoy your Saturday evening all, whatever you're up to.

lessonlearned

Hi everyone

Maman - Don't worry about the little rant - we all need to let off steam. I hate, hate, hate all forms of bureaucracy - I know we need them sometimes- but they drive me nuts:mad:, especially Taxman, Vat, DSS and sorry to say it, but sometimes the NHS. So rant away if it makes you feel better.

Luscious Legs?

Regretfully not any more. I used to have nice stems but for the last few years I've resolutely kept them covered up.

However, Carmen's remark about getting her tootsies ready for summer set me thinking. This year I'm going to fight back and see if can do something to improve my awful legs. I've been hit by a triple whammy - cellulite, varicose veins & spider veins.

My varicose veins require medical/professional intervention and am currently looking at my options. My GP informs me that the NHS no longer "do" veins unless they become ulcerated. So have looked at private clinics and salons but am wary - I think I will ask GP for a referral to a specialist first before I make a decision. Has anyone had the latest laser treatment, if so what do you think?

In the meantime I am going to try the do-it-yourself route. There are a range of commercial topical creams etc but in true MSE spirit I've made one of my own.

I'm not expecting miracles - especially with the varicose veins - but topical creams might help fade the spider veins.

The active ingredient in commercial topical treatments is horse chestnut. The science bit is that they contain saponins which are said to improve the elasticity in the walls of the veins and reduce swelling.

Anyway although the creams aren't prohibitively expensive - around £8 ish, conkers are free!!

I started using my concoction yesterday. I'll give it a month or so and let you know if it's working. If so I'll post the recipe. (I need to tweak it a bit, homemade is never cut and dried - it's often trial and error).

Off to cook dinner - tomorrow I'll give recipes and tips for cellulite.

Lark Rise tonight.

maman

I'm feeling much better today. Thanks for listening to rant!

I didn't know that NHS no longer did veins. Fortunately I don't have that problem but my mother did and I know her legs used to get very heavy and tired feeling. Doesn't that count for treatment? I think you're very wise to ask GP for a recommendation.

I've made an effort at catch-up today. Thoroughly cleaned hall, stairs & landing and also cloakroom. So that's two areas done this week so I'm ahead of myself:). Also read quite a bit of Lark Rise earlier. Execrcise can wait until tomorrow when I know I'll be dancing and having a bit of a walk.

Off to cook dinner in a moment, still managing to eat very well a la SW. I'm keeping a food diary alongside my meal plan this week, just to prove to myself that I'm sticking to it, particularly the plenty of vegetables part.

Have a good evening.

lessonlearned

Not the best of days. Not much exercise - just a few stretches and feeling very unfab. Never mind, there's always tomorrow.

As promised a chat about cellulite.

First of all we all know about body brushing, and we all know about coffee grinds before your bath or shower. Very messy but worth a try.

Most salons do a range of electrical treatments which treat cellulite very successfully, but they don't come cheap. A course of treatment will easily set you back upwards of £200.

Apart from the price one of the big disadvantages of many of the treatments, especially any that use rollers to pummel and break up the fat, is that they cannot be used if you have varicose veins. (Which is why I've never been able to try it)

The only real way to get rid of cellulite is to exercise and lots of it. You will notice that professional athletes, runners, dancers etc, even female body builders, are generally cellulite free.

I've been using my exercise bike for about six weeks now, working up to 5kms a day so far and my cellulite is improving. Walking, running, dancing, tennis, skating - anything - you get the gist. My MIL never learned to drive and cycled everywhere - miles every day to and from work. She had great legs well into her seventies.

Topical creams can improve the look and texture a bit, a tan can also help deceive the eye.

To make up your own cellulite body treatment the following oils are very good - cypress, juniper, rosemary, geranium, lavender. The best carrier oil is sesame but any vegetable oil you have to hand really.

60 ml carrier oil
4 drops of any of the three oils above

I've just made up

60 ml grapeseed oil
4 drops juniper, 4 drops cypress, 4 drops lavender

My cypress and juniper oil are from the Boots Botanic range.

Apart from that not much to report today. My hair is a mess - I'm going to ring for an appointment tomorrow.

Night everyone.

maman

My hair's a mess too. It's just at that stage where it needs another trim to tidy it up, fringe too long, goes floppy too easily etc etc I'm trying to hang on because I like to get my hair done when I'm going somewhere to get the most from the blow dry.

I've not got much to report today other than a bit of exercise. Will try harder tomorrow.:o

lessonlearned

Well I am sorry to say my quest has stalled the last couple of days, hardly any exercise, no treatments and my hair is awful. Seem to have spent all my time dealing with Social Services and Carer Agency trying to sort things out. I feel exhausted and have been in tears several times today.

Anyway nipped into a charity shop whilst out doing my ASDA shop, picked up a lovely Per Una top for £2-99, a little summer snippet of a top with matching cardigan. Also booked a hair appointment for next Monday - not quite sure how short to go - whether to try and get all the blonde highlights cut out. Definitely not going to have any more put it in.

Other than that not much to report today.

Hope you are all doing well.

PS There was a 20% discount voucher in the Daily Mail today. You can also use a code if you shop online. Might be worth checking out.

maman

:wave: Hello LL, sorry to hear you've had another trying day but good news about your CS find.

I'm lucky that I've got very little grey in my hair as yet so I'm sticking with my highlights (sort of caramel ones) to brighten up the mouse!

I made a little effort today and cleared out a drawer that was a bit of a glory hole. Loads of old receipts etc in there and I also shredded them all too. Did some more reading and was going to go for a walk when some visitors arrived. I'm glad I didn't go out as very soon after it started raining!

I'm enjoying that over45's clothes thread. I've gone off Next but hearing that their stuff isn't so synthetic I might take a look in there. At the moment I'm enjoying just looking and a bit of trying on. I'm thinking if I can buy some summer bits fairly cheaply around Easter then I won't mind if I make a few mistakes. I tend to wear lots of black and for a change a bit of grey and brown:rotfl:I think it's partly trying to be anonymous because of putting weight on. One of the ladies at SW does those colour consultations but I'm not sure whether I can live with colours. Maybe I'll start with a scarf;)

Sleep well.

lessonlearned

Well feeling better and back on track today.

Have just done 4kms on bike, aiming to do another 2 later - my target is 6 a day from now on. (OK most days!!)

Yoga and weights in a bit, then cook dinner. Not sure what yet - Fridge Fricassee I think ie whatever's lurking. :rotfl: Got some left over cauli cheese, mushrooms, a whoopsie mediterranean roast veg pack, some chorizo .....

Carer's in this morning so had a nice mooch round the charity shops - bought 4 more kitchen cupboard doors (top cupboards) for £8. Will get them painted up when the weather is better.

I would really love a solid beech worktop but really expensive, might have to compromise a bit there. My kitchen will take quite a while because I am trying to source everything as cheaply as possible which means mostly stuff to be renovated and painted.

Looking for nice light fittings - picked up a lovely chandelier for £3 but too big for kitchen - need two small matching ones. Might need to buy two new ones - something cheap that can be painted and customised. Have loads of glass beads I've been collecting from my jewellery making.

Got my dad two lovely tweed jackets from Cancer Research for £4 (buy one, get one free). DS2 will probably have one, dad the other. Nearly bought a beautiful navy blue cashmere overcoat for £6, as new, but decided it was probably too big for either of my boys. Told Dad and he fancies it so will go back tomorrow to see if they still have it.

Didn't see any clothes for me but picked up a little embroidery kit, reduced to £5 - something to do whilst hanging around in hospital waiting rooms.

Today's treatment - paint nails

Carmen

Hi All,
The last couple of days have been good for me, managed to do some de-cluttering, and took more time in the shower having a proper body scrub. Skin feels and looks so much better.
Today started fine and then went downhill from there Grazed throughout the day and now feel very sluggish :mad: so cross with myself Grrrr!
LL, so sorry you felt so low over the situation with SS and CA I hope it will soon be resolved (((LL)))
Thank you for the new tips, I should have kept up my dancing!
Have you decided on your hair style yet?
Maman, dark colours can be slimming but do you like other colours? If so then go for it, I feel much better when I wear brighter colours, only if they suit me.
I'm going to have an early night to catch up on my sleep...yawn.
Goodnight and chin up.
Carmen xx

maman

:wave: Hello Carmen and LL

I've had a better day too, been taking things to the charity shops:rotfl: I decided to clear out my understairs cupboard. It's full of crockery and ornaments that never get used. I spread it all over the hall and was (fairly) ruthless in getting rid of some of it. Some went back in (mostly family heirlooms) and DH took the rest immediately to the charity shop before we could change our minds!

LL, I kept my kitchen going for years by repainting the units but eventually changed it a couple of years ago. Number one on my wish list was a solid wood worktop. DH was very unsure but I love it! It needs oil occasionally but with a bit of common sense (hot and wet things) it's very hard wearing and looks fab.

Carmen, I think it's the slimming effect and also the 'playing safe' of dark colours mainly. I'm disinclined to spend much on colours in case I get tired of them and they become expensive mistakes. I have a nice red Joules cardigan that I wore a lot over Christmas and DH always comments how good I look with a bit of colour. That's why I thought some cheapish coloured tops for the summer might get me started.

I've been knitting in the evenings lately but I have lots of patchwork started (from years ago) that I need to make into something.

Did some reading and eating is totally to plan but exercise is not going well at all. I'll have a small walk tomorrow but really must do better!