Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

Bitsy_Beans

Hugs for !!!!!! and lizzie xxx no advice but know how hard loneliness is xxx

LL hugs for you honey. It's a shame H hasn't had a few more weeks at home but at least he can have Christmas a home with you all xxx

Thanks for the skincare regimes, mine consists of taking make up off if I am lucky and moisturising in morning :o time to take it more seriously I think

sparkles well done on the outfit. I have my tap class Christmas party in a few weeks and. Shall either wear the same thing as last year <shock horror> or a dress I had for a wedding a few years ago

Molly OCM is oil cleansing method

pink_poppy

I'm glad you mentioned (& hugged) !!!!!!, Bitsy, I thought her post had been missed.

Seems there are a lot of us going through the mill at the moment, big dodgy hugs to all of you :grouphug: (I can't believe that smilie is called 3some!!) I hope things improve for everyone very soon.

I still read this thread every day but not much fabbing going on. I'm still eating healthily but I still haven't made the appointment to get my hair cut & I still haven't done the aspirin facemask - life & strife keep getting in the way

I'm glad OCM has been explained, I did wonder what it was & had never got round to looking back through the thread. I definitely need to improve my skincare routine as I only moisturise on a morning as well.

vasseur

Sparkles - your outfit sounds great.

I'm not buying anything new for my work do either but I have got 2 dresses that I feel absolutely fantastic in so will wear one of them.

One I wore last year and the other I wore the year before that

fedupandskint

I have just had a trial make up run as the next 2 weeks are going to be quite manic. Decided on a mineral siver shadow and one with a hint of green with a sparkly black eye liner. Tried on 2 dresses and think i'll go for the grey knee length one i wore the other week. I've only worn it twice so another night won't hurt. Painted my nails with the greige which looks ace and well worth £1!.
All ready to now for 2 weeks time and feels pretty good to be at this point. Everything ready go go, no need to dash out and panic buy and best of all, everything fits, better than it had for years. Quite surprisingly motivational in the end!

Anyway thats all from me as i run off to take the layers of slap off before bed!

lessonlearned

Just a quickie to say welcome back to !!!!!! -our posts crossed because I spent so long writing mine (actually my sister rang so that's why it took so long).

Sorry to hear that you are struggling so much - it must be so so difficult when it is your child that is ill. My heartfelt sympathies to you.

Anyway glad you've managed to come out of lurkdom again - stay with us and dip in and out as and when you can.

Ladies thank you for all your good wishes. Pink Poppy you are right - there are a lot of woes out there at the moment and a lot of us do seem to be struggling.

Hugs to all that need them.

Sparkles - love the concept of a "Freedom Outfit" - your Christmas outing one sounds lovely. Like you - I reviewed my finances and really need to pull my horns in this month and indeed, probably for many months to come.

One of the things I shall have to do shortly is meet with SS and the Welfare Rights Officer to see what's what re OH's funding and whatever I may have to live on.:eek:

I'm one of the women who will have slipped through the net pension wise because although I am already 60 I do not qualify for my pension until Nov 2012 - still it could be worse I could be one of the really unfortunate ones who will have to wait until aged 67. Talk about moving the goalposts - hey don't get me started on that one.:rotfl:

I'm really not sure what's going to happen financially - will just have to wait and see.

Have been resting on the sofa - couldn't face cooking so we had fish and chips tonight. Yummy.

Anyway off to make a cup of tea, watch PanAm and then to bed. Really sore throat and swollen glands - hopefully will sleep it off.

Made a bit of a start on Fabbing. A good slathering of vaseline on knees, elbows, feet and hands whilst watching Merlin.

My skincare regime varies depending on the state of my skin and general health. Have been a little neglectful of late but am determined to get back on track.

I haven't worn make up for ages - might try tomorrow. I will try and make an effort for OH's sake if not my own.

I know this sounds strange but sometimes I find in those circumstances that make up only seems to highlight how awful I look and I'm better just to do without. Will see how my skin is tomorrow.

I remember once seeing a picture of Jerry Hall just at the time of her break up with Mick Jagger. The press had obviously been stalking her and had caught her unawares. She looked dreadfully ill and not her usual perfectly groomed and glamourous self. She obviously just couldn't summon up the energy to do it that day.

We're in good company.:) If Jerry can have a slip up there's hope for us all.

G'night ladies, sleep well. x

lizzie157

!!!!!!- i'm sorry to hear about your situation must be awful to be in that situation. don't know whats wrong with people nowadays everyone's so wrapped up in themselves nobody seems to think of anyone else. Unfortunately i can't be like that -wish i could sometimes.

:grouphug: for you !!!!!!, LL and anyone else that needs one.

Can't sleep, had a bad day yesterday. Went to see a relative and there were lots of family there everyone talking about stuff they'd done when they were younger -just makes me realize i've experienced very little in my life. Haven't really got anyone to turn to my mum and dad aren't really the sort you can talk to and don;t want to put any of it on my children. I'm seen as strong don't feel that way just now though. Looks like my dads not good either -he's suffered with mental health problems for years - docs messed his tablets up and they don't seem to be working now. can't stop crying, just so sick of feeling like this. must try and get some sleep.

Bitsy_Beans

lizzie157 wrote: »

Can't sleep, had a bad day yesterday. Went to see a relative and there were lots of family there everyone talking about stuff they'd done when they were younger -just makes me realize i've experienced very little in my life. Haven't really got anyone to turn to my mum and dad aren't really the sort you can talk to and don;t want to put any of it on my children. I'm seen as strong don't feel that way just now though. Looks like my dads not good either -he's suffered with mental health problems for years - docs messed his tablets up and they don't seem to be working now. can't stop crying, just so sick of feeling like this. must try and get some sleep.

Firstly have a hug.
Secondly you shouldnt be comparing yourself to other people. I haven't by comparison experienced a great deal, only been abroad 4 times in my 36 years (one of which was when I was 6 LOL), haven't dated lots of blokes, haven't had numerous jobs, gone to Uni etc. But when I think about it I met my H when I was 18, we were friends first and then go together as a couple. So at 21 I was buying my first home, we earned very little so all the money we had went on living expenses etc. So really whilst my friends were galavanting I was building a home and a relationship. Is that really something for me to be ashamed of? I am not as well travelled or well versed as some but if life is a race then it's only with yourself, not other people. Plus I tend to think what grass looks greener generally isn't all it looks. This is your negative self image talking, that little gremlin inside that likes to keep you in your place, unhappy, no self confidence. With practice you can learn to tell it to !!!!!! (I'll leave it to your imagination what that refers to :rotfl:)

tru

Hi all.

I'm sooooo peed off.

I've been following doc's orders for well over a year - no caffeine, no normal meals (I eat 6-7 mini meals each day) and short sessions of exercise rather than an hour of aerobics (for example). If I feel tired, sit down and have a cuppa.

I have low blood sugar but not low enough to be diabetic or hypoglycaemic (I'm probably mixing the two up, can't remember it all now!) Low cholesterol - good. Low blood pressure - mostly OK but I occasionally go a bit light-headed. It's not low enough to be a problem though, so nothing to worry about.

The exercise was difficult with a frozen shoulder then sciatica, but I did what I could. Lately I've been tired and I can't remember when I last slept right through the night. It takes me about two hours after I get up in the morning to feel fully awake. When I'm at work, I'm useless past 4pm - it can't be normal to not even manage a full work day.

I seem to be going backwards. Following the doctor's orders worked wonders for months, but now it seems to make me worse.

And I can't lose weight. In fact, I think I've put some on but I'm refusing to get on the scales. I'm eating too often, even though the food is things like a small bowl of cereal, a banana, a small roll with ham and salad, etc. I DO like my chocolate, you all know that!! But I've found that eating so often has left me feeling hungry all the time, as soon as I've eaten one 'meal' I'm planning what my next one will be.

So I'm starting again. Three meals a day, with fruit snacks between meals if I'm a bit hungry. My first coffee of the day will have caffeine in it.

My hip is still playing up - everything I do I make sure I'm stood/sat straight, it starts to improve, the other trus see it's improving and ask me for help for something. I say no because lifting/shifting/dragging that will pull on it and make it worse, then they roll their eyes or let out a long sigh. As they don't think about me, I decided not to think about them. Specially mr tru, he's very unthoughtful ATM, but only when it comes to me. He remembers other people's problems and will ring them to see if they're OK and do they need any help, but forgets about the person he lives with and sees every day.

Bitsy_Beans

Tru, do what's best for YOU, and have a hug whilst we're at it xxx

lessonlearned

First of all - big hugs to Tru & Lizzie

I am so sorry to read how much you two ladies are struggling at the moment. You both sound very low, very sad, utterly exasperated with life and if I dare say so, feeling pretty much at rock bottom.

So let's look for the silver linings here.

Firstly - the only way is up. As Carmen would say onwards and upwards.

Secondly - ok RL maybe letting you down, but you are here now. You've managed to drag yourself to your computer and post on here. You are in good company and among friends. Think of us as your virtual sisters, use us to kick off, vent etc.

Bitsy has given you both some very sound advice which I would second. Maybe it is just time to say to the people in your life "Go away - leave me alone" (or something stronger - whatever).

If you cannot do it out loud and say it to them do it in your own head - say it to yourself but mean it. And act on it.

It's time for you two to start putting yourselves first and to h*ll with others. If they won't help and support you, then you will have to go it alone.

I'm not suggesting you physically leave them or whatever - unless of course that's what you want - it's just that you mentally "withdraw" if you like.

And both of you, I'm nagging now - it's time to starting thinking about yourselves.

This will also mean taking some physical action or in your case Tru inaction. Don't do things that will aggravate your hip or damage your health further. Just dig your little heels in and say "No" loud and clear.
Let your family sigh and huff and puff. It's not their hips at risk.

Re your stomach problems - I agree try the 3 meals a day, plus healthy snacks route. Eating too often might be aggravating things - maybe your system needs to "rest" a little between meals. I'm really no expert here.

Do your meds upset your stomach. Is it worth seeing a nutritionist. At any rate don't give up - go back to your GP, get a second/third opinion whatever but keep going until you get some help.

As for the caffeine, a little won't kill you. Do you think your chocolate addiction could be linked to the fact that you've cut out coffee. Chocolate contains caffeine too.

My only advice with caffeine is to avoid it in the evenings so that it doesn't interfere with your sleep. I just have two or three cups of good coffee (no instant can't stand it) a day and a couple of ordinary black tea. At night it's hot milk or a herbal tea like camomile.

Lizzie I second Bitsy - don't compare yourself to others. That way lies madness - don't torture yourself. You are you. They are them - a world of difference.

If you are disappointed and dissatisfied with what you've achieved in your life - well it's never too late. When you are fitter, stronger make a start on doing some of that stuff. But honey, don't overload yourself - baby steps - get better first.

As for not experiencing anything in life - well I beg to disagree. You have children. To be able to have children, look after them and watch them grow and flourish is huge.

I never thought I could have children - gynae problems, miscarriage at 30, finally had first child at 33, nearly miscarried him, dreadful birth experience, was strongly warned not to try again - ignored the medics advice and had another (got away with it thanks to a wonderful GP).

Yes I've achieved a fair bit in my life - but my boys are my proudest achievement. Sounds trite but motherhood is what defines me. I am not for one minute saying you rest on your laurels and live your life through your children - you've still got a lot of life left in you and plainly you want to make the most of it.

You will - just be patient.

Now that most of us have more or less got to grips with the basics of fabbing our appearance I did think that our next Fabbing thread could look at the bigger picture - our lives, hopes, dreams etc. - unless of course it is not deemed appropriate for this forum.

I think though that as long as we keep it within the realms of frugal self improvement and still keep our (perfectly pedicured) feet firmly in the realms of beauty and well being we should be ok.

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