Summer Solstice Sensation

lessonlearned

Have just cleaned most of the inside windows - just the lounge and dining room left for tomorrow. Also flung open some windows to give the place a good airing. I have a real thing about houses smelling stale.

However, I hate the smell of artificial air fresheners and cheap smelly candles, they just give me a thumping headache so I make my own home fragrances using essesntial oils and water.

Basicially you use any oil you like the smell of, add to water in a spray bottle. You need roughly 1 drop of oil to each 15ml spoon of water in any plastic spray bottle. Make it stronger or weaker depending on your preference. It's better to make smallish quantities so it stays nice and fresh. I usually do about 100 ml each time.

I also use oil burners, the sort with a shallow dish top, fill with water, add a couple of drops of oil and light your tea-light. You could just fill a small dish, pop a couple of drops of oil and stand near a radiator.

Candles using natural oils tend to be very expensive, one of these days I will get around to having a go at making some.

I also make my own body lotions or oils using essential oils. Just use any neutral smell free lotion or cream, E45 or aqueous cream will do and add some drops. For oils I just use grapeseed oil - its cheap and has no real smell. Olive and sunflower oils smell a bit too strong to use as a base for body oils.

Again it's better to use small amounts, so I keep old glass face-cream jars for creams and old brown bottles (cough medicine bottles are just the right size) for lotions and oils. Wash well and sterilise first.

Gorgeous home and body fragrances for a fraction of the price of commercial ones, using natural oils rather than cheap and nasty synthetic perfumes.

Not quite decided about my hair yet, Carmen, but I am very tempted to go for quite a short crop a la Jamie Lee Curtis. I believe hairdressers are calling it "The Pixie". That way I should get rid of most of the blonde highlights and I can then take it from there.

In my mind's eye I am seeing short and chic, with perhaps a Funky tweak to it.:rotfl:

Problem is it's so baby fine will I be able to achieve it - or will it just lie flat against my head. What kind of gel or wax do you use.

Any styling tips or advice would be much appreciated.

5kms on bike so far. Must get cracking.
Eyebrow tidy later - just a tweak here and there, they are in pretty good shape now.

Got a pile of ironing waiting for me.:o

maman

Lovely idea about the room spray. I must try that. It seems so long since we could really let in loads of fresh air to freshen the house through.

I've had a busy day today, not been at home much but WI this morning showed I'd lost another 2lbs. I'm delighted and have only 1.5lbs to go to 2st.

lessonlearned

Hi Everyone

Maman :T That is fantastic, well done you. You must be feeling very pleased. I bet you really notice the difference now.

If you don't mind me asking - how long has it taken you and how much further do you want to go. You've done yourself proud, girl.

I've looked into SW classes and there are several to choose from so I'm thinking I will join up next week. I'm really struggling at the moment and I think it will help me. I need to do something because weight wise I'm getting nowhere.

I've had a difficult week (another Social Services meeting today - everything takes so long with constant assessments etc - another one on Monday).

I've had tummy problems for days and it's only the stress. Sometimes I need to graze and sometimes I just can't face food. Was supposed to go out with Scope girls tonight but just couldn't manage it - sitting through a dinner was beyond me.:(

Anyway, that's enough moaning.

Apart from SS meeting had a quiet day, went to Costco for a few bits and just generally pottered about, had a couple of naps on the sofa - feel really tired at the moment.

Exercise? Don't ask, just managed 2.75 kms on the bike, will try a few physio stretches before bed. My treatment today was just a nice long soak in the bath and slathered myself in body lotion.

Sorry this is such a depressing post.

My beloved DS1 is coming home for the weekend and my beloved DS2 has the weekend off - so I will have my boys here to cheer me.

Carmen

Good evening ladies,
LL, I believe muscle is heavier than fat, lost inches with your toning exercise's are working, you have had the compliments :A Unless I start excercising other than walking I am going to end up a bit flabby! I know SW are good but I tended to I give up going when I had lost a few stone The target maintenance (sp) used to be free, is that still so?
Thank you for all the smelly tips LL I tend to use Body shop oils (when on offer) in my burners, but I am going to try your options, do they keep better in brown bottles? Will not need them soon, 'Spring is in the air' lalalalalalala, windows and doors open.
I hope the SS assessments will soon be complete (for now) and you and O/H can get back to some kind of normality
LL, I hope tummy settles down, is it IBS? Tell me if I am being nosey
I like the Pixie look, I noticed the blonde 'loose woman' had her hair like that and she looked great, much younger.
I am looking like Einstien when I wake up :eek::rotfl:I may have to have a trim until my hair dresser is well again!

When it is shorter I use a moulding wax or high shine wax, but when it is this length I have to use mousse, much lighter.

WOW Maman, well done on your weight loss, is that in 48 days?
You will soon be able to put your dark clothes away for next winter Well, you know red suits you and you will soon find other favourites too.
My favourites are cerisey/fushcia, light blues and greens, but I cannot wear sage it looks awful on me! The skin changes as we age so what may have suited once may not now. I find that with lipstick now, bright reds have gone (think Baby Jane!) I use much lighter shades these days.
What do you intend to do with your quilting LL?

I have had a better couple of days, will weigh on Sunday.
My trousers feel looser, just need to work on the top half a bit more.
Hoola hoop crossed my mind the other day but with my back problems probably end up in traction :rotfl:
OK need to get some sleep.
Have a lovely weekend with your sons LL
Chin up
Carmen xx

maman

:wave: Carmen, LL and lurkers

Thanks for the compliments. I've lost the 26.5lbs:D in about 4 months (started last week in September) which is about 1.5lbs per week. I'd like to go for just over another stone which I reckon should be done by Easter (which is late this year;)). I look OK now because I'm quite tall but I want to get back to the size 12 I was 10 years ago. You're right Carmen that there is something about it being free when you get to target but I don't know the details. Hope to be finding out soon!

I don't know what I want to do with all the 'hexagon flowers' I've got done in the patchwork. I suppose a quilt is the obvious answer but I'm open to suggestions.

LL, while there's nothing magic about SW it's motivated me to take healthy eating seriously, I've enjoyed the challenge and the lovely thing about it is you're never hungry. Once you've got the books (first session) you could manage on your own but I've enjoyed the classes because of meeting nice people there who are very different from people I meet in other areas of my life.

Not had a bad day today. I've done some reading and cleared up the cupboard where I keep the vegetables (that aren't in the fridge). That and done my food shopping.

Sorry to hear you're so stressed LL, particularly as you missed your evening out. I do hope you get better news soon. Keep posting!

lessonlearned

Hi Carmen, Hi Maman

Glad you've checked in!!

Sorry if I was a bit moany before. This thread is supposed to be about having fun, however, life has been a bit lacking in that department over the last week or so. There's a lot going on with OH and sometimes it's hard to get my head round it all - "talking" and posting seems to seems help though.

SS suggesting respite care to give me an occasional break but also as a way of trying out various nursing homes for the time when we need that level of care. I know it's the sensible way of going about things instead of waiting for the crisis and then having to find the right home in a blind panic, however, it's not an easy issue to face, which is why it's been such a difficult few days.

Yes, Carmen it is IBS - most of the time it's pretty much ok (as long as I don't eat too much wheat). However, when I'm stressed then it can flare up. It will pass and then I'll be ok.

Stress not only upsets my tummy it also plays havoc with my skin, so tomorrow (today) I will look at a bit of pampering.

Managed a few physio exercises so didn't do too badly today after all.

Thanks for the hair tips Carmen. I used wax before when it was shorter so I'll definitely go for that again.

Yes you are right about oils keeping better in brown bottles. I should have said, also all essential oils should be stored in a dark place too. I keep all mine in a cardboard hatbox.

Did you know that ideally perfume should also be kept in the dark, and not displayed on dressing tables and exposed to the light.

I agree that there is often a nice social side to slimming clubs too, and it would be nice to have a "girly" thing to do, so yes I'm definitely going to give it a go.

Anyway, off to bed. Sleep well, everyone.

lessonlearned

A nice quiet day.

Nothing special to report, caught up with some cleaning and tidying, washed down a bit of couple of doors - a bit of sunshine shows up winter's grime. Want to get the house ship-shape ready for spring/summer and be able to enjoy the good weather when it comes.

Exercise - just 3kms bike and yoga.
Treatment - Face Lift Facemask and oil serums - don't look quite so haggard and tired.

Early night tonight.

Sleep well everyone. XX

maman

Well done on your early night LL. I rarely manage those, I'm a bit of a night owl.

I didn't manage much today other than sticking to my eating plan and a bit of a walk. After all it is the weekend:D

Tomorrow is likely to be worse, maybe a walk and out to lunch which is unlikely to be completely SW friendly. Eating out is one of the problems with SW. The best bets are jackets and beans or omelettes or steak with jackets and salad. The trouble is, my head is so tuned into what's good for me and what isn't that it sort of takes the edge off eating out.

I keep posting about the SW healthy eating plan as one of my achievements each day. I do apologise if it seems a bit pathetic but it does help to motivate me if I give myself a metaphorical pat on the back. I read (but rarely post) on the SW thead and it amazes me how many people on there will sabotage their plans with chocolates and biscuits and take-aways etc etc I can't wait to be at my target and then relax a bit. I'd love a proper indian or chinese meal, mainly so I could indulge in the bhajis and spring rolls.:o But, as they say at SW, nothing tastes as good as feeling thin!

lessonlearned

Have had a lovely restful weekend with my boys at home - all going well and then tonight - bang - I've had a major stress attack.

They feel exactly like a heart attack (it's ok I've had them before and have been thoroughly checked out - more than once - ECG's the lot). There is no heart disease whatsoever. I think it's just my body's way of saying "That's it, no more"

The symptoms are exactly like a heart attack but there is no scarring or damage to the heart muscle. It happens about an hour after eating. It's extreme indigestion induced by stress.

We always say don't we "Oh it's only stress". Of course, the reality is stress can cause a great deal of pain and not a few health problems, IBS, major headaches and all sorts of weird and wonderful aches and pains. I've had the headache from hell all day, I should have realised what was likely to happen and taken my meds.

I think the reason behind it all is all this faffing around with OH's healthcare issues. Yet, another meeting tomorrow with SS, Carers and OT's. This will make four in a week. I know everyone means well and wants the best for us, but my how things drag on.

Anyway no exercise today - I intended to do some tonight - I think better not - just a rest on the sofa and then early to bed.

God, I've just realised what a moany, whiney post this is. Sorry.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend and keeping up the good work.

I'll be back on track soon. Hairdresser tomorrow and definitely join SW on Tuesday. It is vital that I shed some excess weight to make sure that these stress attacks don't escalate into full blown heart attacks.
TBH they are very scary at the time.

Carmen

Hello Ladies,
Gosh LL those stress attacks sound scary:eek: You must take care.
Respite care could be a lifeline for you and your O/H. I know guilt can play a big part in these decisions but you would both benefit from them in a big way, it is just making that first move, it can strengthen you physically (sp) and mentally. How does your O/H feel about it? Yes these matters can seem to drag on, but four visits in one week sounds good to me, not sure that would happen in my area
Who said this SSS thread was going to be a walk in the park our moans and groans are all part of our well being and as I have said before 'better out than in' :grouphug: Hmmm <<<< that is a group hug LOL!

Maman, I agree eating out can be difficult when you have to watch the calories I just make allowances for these occasions and watched the the amount I ate.Vegetable biriani and Spicy noodles (not together) are my weakness :drool: I agree that some people wonder why they cannot lose weight when they continue to eat too much of the wrong foods. I have two friends that have this mantra forgetting they have just munched their way through a packet of choc biscuits! I am over weight because I eat (used to) too much of the wrong foods and did very little exercise, plain and simple! Like most of us that want to lose weight/get fit we know what to do, just need to get motivated for that kick start (I'm waffling again)

My weight stayed the same this week, I am a little surprised because I have been very good since my blip on wednesday, I'm sure it is just a plateau waiting to be climbed.
I went for a stroll in the afternoon sunshine, indulged in a couple of glasses of Gluwien (sp) at the local bar, did not touch the nibbles.
I only had a short nap last night so I am going to bed and hope I sleep until tuesday :rotfl:

Can't wait to see what hair style you go for LL, enjoy.

Take care and goodnight.
Carmen xx


PS. Where are all the other ladies? Come and have a chat.