Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

maman

I'm loving the new dresses ladies. I think the sparkly, black sequin number is really classy because although full of bling it's a classic shape and quite plain in its way. I'm a big fan of Fat Face and sparkles, I know exactly what you mean about being able to wear jumper dresses again. Bratz had a lovely one the other week. That being said there are loads of really good 'smocky' woollen dresses/tunics around this season. Before my weightloss I'd have jumped at them. Great to look fashionable in something that skims the tum/hips.

I've almost decided that for the wedding I'm going to next month it will be the purple F&F Tesco dress and my purple velvet coat. I've been toying with the idea of buying a prom/cocktail dress but I think it might be OTT and I don't want anyone thinking I'm masquerading as a bridesmaid. I've worn the outfit once before but not with the same people. It looks great with black opaques but I'm not sure whether I should wear nude tights for a wedding? Or perhaps 40 denier opaques would be good? Thoughts please! I've got patent heels (or could buy black suede if I found any comfortable enough). If I can find a purple fascinator I'd get that too. I've been asked to read during ceremony (very flattered:)) so have to look my best.

Very interested in all talk of mineral make up. I've tried to find a foundation that will give me winter colour but even when I go to make up counters for demonstration it ends up looking mask-like and really enhances any under-eye wrinkles. Through the summer I rely on a bit of tan, recently I've used a bronzing powder and a bit of highlighter on cheekbones but now I need a bit more. Any mineral make up that I could ask for a demonstration at a counter? (we have most big stores near us) or any that are cheap enough to experiment with?

On deeper subjects I have very limited experience of 'controlling behaviour' but one thing I'm certain of is don't but up with it. He's probably got his own issues of insecurity or whatever but however sympathetic and caring you might feel there's nothing to be gained in both of you suffering. My ex (veeery long time ago) tried this with me (didn't like mixing with my friends/family and tried to run them down and stop me seeing them and in arguments got quite aggressive as he couldn't match me with words). I got out. It was difficult at the time but longer term I've been blissfully happy with my now DH in a relationship of equals.

Oops, I'm rambling and must go to bed!

Sorry to hear about MrBitsy's accident. Hope he's on the mend.

See you tomorrow everyone.

lessonlearned

Maman - Thanks for that - yes- it's one of "our" songs. When I first starting seeing Bobby all the girls I worked with used to sing it. Happy days.:D

Hope you had a lovely holiday.

I too have watched Downton tonight - it's hotting up now. How long before Mary's dark secret comes out - surely not much longer now. They'll be trouble at t'mill then, by 'eck.

I loved the scene where Carson winced every time Sir Richard was so vulgar as to mention (and keep mentioning) the word "money":rotfl:

Ah Callisto - what a shame. Are you sure that is really what you want. I know your confidence is low - can you speak to your sister and explain how you feel. Perhaps a compromise could be made about the style of bridesmaid dress.

How long is it till the wedding, is it that you feel you need to lose some weight - if so have you got some time to have a go.

Re the style of dress - you say that you are a pear shape and you wanted and "A" line and that your sister has chosen a fish tail. I can understand why she thinks a fish tail would be nice because it does give detail and interest at the back. Wedding and bridesmaid dress do benefit from back detail because they are on view a lot.

As for strapless - is it your arms you are worried about. Personally I'm not keen on strapless dresses - not with my er hem generous bosom. You need to be very dainty for them to work - think Audrey Hepburn.

I think a dress similar to Pippa Middleton's dress might suit you - a bit more covered up at the top and all those buttons down the back gave it "back appeal". Also for anyone who is pear shaped if the dress had a shawl type collar it would draw the eye to the neckline and away from the hips/thighs.

One thing I would advise anyone who wants to look slimmer - avoid satin and any "shiny" fabrics, they add inches. Something matt like a soft crepe would hang nicely and drape and flatter the body. It would need to be lined for best effect.

One of the best styles for making you look slimmer and disguising hips and thighs is a dress which is cut on the bias and which "flicks" out at the hem. It is extremely flattering and very slimming and it is what crepe was born for.

If you google 20's and 30's fashion, or movie stars such as Jean Harlow and the dancer Ginger Rogers you should see what I mean.

Anyway - nice quiet day here - both boys home for dinner so a nice family day. A good slathering, a bit of yoga and a bit of a domestic goddess vibe - baking for my menfolk.:rotfl:

Back in a mo

lessonlearned

Pink Poppy - re blackhead removal.

(To be posh or technical - Comedones)

A blackhead is simply a plug of sebum (your own natural oil) which is blocking the pore. It becomes black through oxidisation - the top bit which is exposed to the air turns black.

Applying heat either through steaming or a hot flannel is the easiest way really. The warmth opens the pore and softens the plug of sebum making it easier to remove.

If you really are nervous about applying heat you could try a simple clay mask, but tbh masks work best when the skin has been warmed first to open the pores.

Did you see my recipe for the Asprin Face Mask. It's good for congested skin, enlarged pores etc and can help clear small blackheads.

6 asprins crushed and mixed into a drop of water (about 1/2 tsps) to form a smooth paste
Leave for 10 mins, rinse off

Avoiding eyes, and dry sensitive areas

Use no more than once a week.

If just treating a small area 3 aspirins should be enough

Hope that helps.

tru

Hello pink poppy and deedee11 :hello:

Willow thanks for the info

Bitsy I've only just read about Mr Bitsy. Hope he's doing OK?

Oh rebounders, why didn't I buy one years ago? I absolutely love it I couldn't use it yesterday, my calves and hamstrings were screaming, lol. My tummy muscles are aching a bit too. I climb on but before I start, I check that I'm stood up straight and tummy muscles are pulled in. I didn't realise you had to bounce with flat feet, I have to really concentrate on that otherwise I find myself flinging myself about like kids do on their trampolines

Bitsy_Beans

maman wrote: »

Just had to post this link for LL. Apologies to the 'youngsters' on the thread but maybe your granny sung it to you:rotfl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEcTOOIp8nk&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AVGxdCwVVULXcmpVPeqi7G87cP0E-y4ICH

Back soon.xx

I knew that song. I grew up with my parents playing a wide variety of music, lots of 60's and unfortunately a great deal of prog rock :eek::eek: Thanks dad :rotfl:

Tru - H is OK, has some VERY interesting bruising now on his behind. Still creaking about like an old man but thankfully nothing serious. Glad you are enjoying the rebounder

Well I don't look fab, I don't feel fab I actually feel about 90 years old.
H was knocked off his motorbike on Friday, DD has had a high temperature all weekend so had hardly any sleep and to top it all off I step on the scales and it would appear I am piling on the lbs :mad::mad: I think all the stresses of the weekend have caught up with me. I admit I've been a very slack lately with mindful eating and I've had more chocolate than I ought to but this is ridiculous. I've been been on the Wii Fit twice this week. I am fighting very hard with my little gremlin in my head not to let this take me over and therefore lead the slippery slope to more eating. Kids are off school today so getting some me time will be none existant so tomorrow I will get back into the "zone".

Keep on fabbing.

maman

Glad to hear that MrB is on the mend bitsy.

I know what you mean about feeling you're on slippery slope. We got back late Thursday and Friday and Saturday I went straight back to my Healthy Eating. However, yesterday we were invited out to lunch unexpectedly so I was forced to go to a restaurant and have a rich, buttery sauce with my starter, a huge chunk of granary bread, gravy and Dauphiois potatoes with my main and start drinking wine much earlier in the day than usual on a Sunday.:o

For me, meal planning (and associated food shopping) is the way to go. Today I'm doing the roast we should have had yesterday so lots of vegetables on the agenda. I don't want to curb my social life so I just have to take control and eat super healthy whenever I'm doing the cooking.

pink_poppy

Hello fellow fabbers

Started my new regime today & am feeling all positive & virtuous. Vitamins taken & plenty of water consumed. However, I went out for a brisk walk (18 minutes was all I could manage ) & over an hour later I'm still red-faced Have had a close inspection & it seems to be I have more thread veins than I thought & it's these that are 'glowing' ~ on my cheeks (near my nose) & my chin are the worst places. I knew I was going red when I was walking & it did make me feel really self-conscious ~ think I'll go when it's dark next time

LL, thanks for the aspirin face mask tip, do you think I should do my whole face or just the bit where the comedone (prefer that word to blackhead ) is?? I really don't fancy putting any heat on my face if at all possible & had even thought of buying those nose-strips that pull out comedones & using it on my cheekbone instead!!

Bitsy, hope you're feeling better & managing to fight off the dreaded food gremlin

Thanks maman, you've just reminded me I need to sort my meal plan for the week ~ did a huge shop yesterday (so a bit cart before horse ) but I had a rough idea of meals beforehand so should be ok.

See you all later.

Molly41

Hi,
Thank you for the suggestions re mineral makeup. Can I go and have a try over-the-counter?

Im being tempted today by all the sweeties and chocolate for Trick or Treat. Hope they come knocking on the door soon otherwise there wont be much left:eek::eek::eek: Not helped by the fact that I will have my very own witch hovering soon :eek::eek::eek:

Hugs x

MrsWoolfe

Hello Ladies and lurkers!

HOpe everyone is doing well.

Bit of a manic weekend for me- friday night went out on a work drinks thing saturday rushing around the shops and pulling together costumes and then halloween party in the evening- give the week had been a busy one I was pretty pooped by Sunday lol! did manage to do a steam/face mask (well kind of had to given the zombie make up:eek:) and an interval training session- wasn't planning to but after watching the biggest loser and supersize Vs Superskinny was motivated get off bum and do a bit- and really with the interval training you can do quite a short session and still really see the benefit so worth doing as long as I can force myself to actually get on the bike lol!

got a couple of cheapy thin jumpers from primarni in nice colours - I do tend to wear these alot in the winter and have also been wearing them under my shift summer dresses- layering them up with tights etc. and picked up a really pretty burnt orange dress with those flared chiffon sleeves for £5 bargainous!

re the mineral make up- I've been using Lily Lolo and found it to be really good- you can get sample pots from the site I think they were 99p when I was trying them out if that helps?

Hello to all our new joiners (or de-lurkers!) sorry no time to mention everyone individually today but lovely to see more people joining in-

and :grouphug: to anyone who needs one :T to all of you doing well:D

be back soon!

MrsWoolfe

fedupandskint

Fabbiness today - another compliment about how fab I now look with my boring work clothes on! A very good friend told me so, so I believe it!

Hoping I've lost a bit more weight on weigh day this Friday so wait and see then if I have.
Also as I wore a skirt today I decided to try on the grey dress I'm planning to wear for the Christmas do. It fitted really well with just alittle bit clinging to the tummy. If I get to my target weight I should be ok with it and if not I can stick my under body thing which smooths everything out better. It fits everywhere else so much better than when I found first this thread (whenever that was!) so a very good result there!

Food wise have stuck to the kcal plan today, an hours walking with the dog and am continuing my eating up out of the freezer challenge and stay within the kcal allowance. Now that is the long journey! Need some space in the freezer for Crimbo!