Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

lessonlearned

Good morning ladies

Lovely bright sunny day although blimmin freezing. I really need to try and get those tulips in if it warms up - but my back is really sore this morning.

Although I am of course looking forward to having OH come home for Christmas I am concerned about my back. This time it's not healing as quickly as it normally does - that is an age thing - you don't bounce back as quickly. I have some amitryptaline lurking in the medicine box - might give that a try.

Tru - glad you are having no side effects with the coffee. I definitely agree a little coffee works wonders - love my early morning coffee. I think it's true about the energy thing too. Sometimes if you really are at zero level if you push yourself then once you get going energy breeds more energy. Within reason of course, it makes no sense to push yourself beyond your limits.

I know, I know that's exactly what I have been doing. However, once OH does go into full time care I will ensure that I do have plenty of r&r before I hurl myself into any heavy duty work or schemes. Believe it or not I have learned the error of my ways:rotfl: From now on I will definitely be taking better care of my health.

Your book keeping course does sound a bit :eek: What about your local authority - night schools etc although I suppose that this is usually one of the first areas where they make cutbacks. You could ask at your local library - they often have lists of this type of thing.

How's the hip by the way.

2012- yes now is the time to start thinking about what we want to do. We can make this part of the new thread.:)

Callisto - We all have days or evenings like that - when we just seem to eat for England - the daft thing is half the time I end up hoovering up stuff that I don't even like. Never mind today is a new day and a fresh start.

Re choosing perfume - we've never really discussed this on here. For me I try one of those stick things that they provide. That will immediately narrow it down - I can tell instantly if it's too heavy or sickly sweet. Then the thing to remember is that you don't get the real smell for about 30 minutes or so. First you get the "top notes" and you don't get the "base notes" for a while.

So once you've narrowed it down to two possibles - spray a little on each wrist then live with it for a day or at least an hour or so whilst you do the rest of your shopping. You need the warmth of your skin to bring out the real smell. That should help you decide which one you like best.

Depending on how knowledgeable the sales assistant is you could always ask for advice. I've found that as I've got older my tolerance for perfumes has changed - a lot of my old favourites just seem to give me headaches now so I tend to go for the lighter "cleaner" smells - often the unisex ones - they just seem to suit me better.

I like CK1, and I find some of the colognes for men suit me. I often have a squirt of DS2's Jean Paul Gautier (the one in the blue bottle shaped like a woman).

In really hot weather I like good old fashioned Eau de Cologne - 4711 is lovely but Boots do a nice own brand version which is as cheap as chips (smells better though).

I used to love Mitsouku by Guerlaine, Chanel No 5, and Tresor but they just give me headaches now.:(

This is purely personal I know but I find the cheaper "celebrity" type ones utterly revolting - probably because they use so many synthetic ingredients. The more expensive perfumes use natural oils and do smell better for it. I tend to think that with perfumes you do get what you pay for.

A good cheap alternative is to make your own body lotions etc.

You can buy some lovely natural essential oils for around £5 and mix them with a cheap "carrier"oil or E45 and make your own body lotion.

I use Grapeseed oil for my carrier oil. £2 for 500 ml.

To each 10ml of carrier oil, add 6 drops essential oil

My current favourites are sandalwood, bergamot (a light citrus) or orange blossom.

A good tip to use up perfumes that are a bit heavy or overpowering is to dilute them with a non smelling cream or lotion and use as a body lotion. Or simply pour a few drops into the bath.

The other day someone kissed me and told me I smelt gorgeous - it was Bio Oil. :rotfl:

Back in a mo

lessonlearned

Just remembered.

I also make my own perfume/cologne type spray. I buy a cheap plastic spray bottle. (Superdrug) Add about 6 drops of essential oil to each 10ml of water and hey presto a nice light Eau de Toilette.

I only mix a little at a time because this home made version doesn't contain any alcohol and can soon go "off".

Storing Perfumes Did you know perfume should always be kept in the dark, not displayed on your dressing table and never left in direct sunlight. It would go rancid very quickly.

Sophistica - I agree with your comments about raising your game on tooth care. I've recently added the interdental brushing to my regime of brushing, flossing and mouthwash. My teeth are far less sensitive now.

A cheap easy way to help whiten teeth is good old fashioned bicarb of soda. It won't have the dramatic results of a professional whitening job but it does help with routine maintenance. Use about twice a week. Bicarb is the main ingredient in all those expensive tooth whitening toothpastes.

Anyway must dash - going to prepare the slow casserole and then get some more paperwork done.

Have a good day - laters x

vasseur

Willow92 wrote: »

Does anyone know what the best hand cream is? The backs of my hands get really dry and sore in the winter. I'm planning on spending less than £5 on a good cream so if any of you could suggest any?

I use Crabtree & Evelyn La Source (although any of theirs are good). It's about £9 so not cheap but it is my one indulgence (although actually I got my one free with a voucher from a sunday newspaper ) So very MSE...

I also use Crabtree & Evelyn Iris perfume (I'm so brand loyal ). I am so prone to headaches that I have to be really careful. I got a freebie tester of this last year and loved it so much I bought a large bottle off eBay for about £8 :T. The young lad in our office tells me that I always smell amazing :T

Have a great day everyone. I'm off out tonight AND tomorrow night - not been out 2 nights in a row since before my DD was born nearly 8 years ago :eek:. Have been fabbing in preparation, epilated and scrubbed. Will paint nails before I go out tonight. I'm expecting to have to do a lot of repairwork come next week - I'm such a lightweight with alcohol these days....

lessonlearned

Sorry had to dash - the Tivo man came to fit the box - looks complicated - glad I've got DS2 to help me get to grips and trouble shoot.

Just remembered about the hand cream.

Willow Re hand care - I find Vaseline Intensive Care - yellow bottle - is good for me - about £2 for 200 ml.

The big thing is prevention - especially in winter.

Keep rubber gloves by the sink - detergents, cleaning materials, washing up liquid etc contain all manner of chemicals which really dry the skin and can cause all sorts of allergic reactions.

In the cold weather wear nice warm gloves to avoid chilblains and sore itchy hands.

Cuticles can really suffer in cold weather - mine will split if I don't take care. Ouch - very sore. For nails and cuticles a daily massage with a little oil or even vaseline will help.

Anyway - casseroles in - time to get cracking.

podperson

Morning all,

Rosieben - sounds like you're off to a great start already! I think I need something to display my jewellery more, I always tend to forget what I have (not that I have a great deal :rotfl:). Might ask Santa to bring me something

LL - his constant essays do end up frustrating me as he does really struggle with them - at the end of the day surely if people were more into writing they would go on a more 'academic' course. I'm like you, I can research it and knock something up but I know some people just can't and it seems unfair to penalise them for that when really it has little to do with what the course is meant to be about. I feel really sorry for people who are like OH but don't have anyone to help them. Hope the back's feeling a little better. To be honest if you think about how long you have been putting strain on it with the caring work you've had to do then it may take a bit of time to fully recover - hope you're trying to take it easy though missus!

Callisto - I'm quite bad at choosing perfumes as well, there seems so many to choose from if you're trying to do it in a store where there's loads of others being wafted around it's difficult to make it out properly. I actually quite like some of the Next perfume's, they're meant to smell like more expensive ones - though I'm familiar with the orginals in most cases so don't know how accurate they are. Most are in little bottles though for about £6 so a nice way to have a few different ones without spending much.

Tru - have you tried your local college or uni for courses? Can often get help with funding on them if you're on a lower income or any kind of benefits. I would highly recommend OU but not sure if they do an actual accredited book keeping course. Might have to have a look at that program, haven't heard of it and I do quite like having a mess on the creative programs like Photograph, Illustrator etc.

Anyways, have feeling rather tired and drained today, has seemed like a very long week. Was helping OH with his assignment until about 12.30am last night, and then struggle to switch off afterwards so was very late getting to sleep. Bought an energy drink this morning for the first time in ages (used to have them all the time when I was working 3 jobs lol) but really just wanting to go back to bed. Was really looking forward to being able to go home and have a little nap but OH has reminder me that some of his friends are coming round tonight for a few drinks before they go out to some party thing. They better hope I feel better by the time I get home or I am going for the nap anyway and they can keep it down :rotfl:
I am aware that I'm over-doing at the moment but tbh I don't see what I could feasibly reduce right now - my housework's already gone to pot Just glad it's weekend and then have a few days off next week so hopefully can have a bit of rest and catch up on everything!
Hope everyone's having a good day x

MrsWoolfe

Hello Ladies!

Sorry for being AWOL (AGAIN!) the combination of work being crazy busy and not having the laptop replaced yet has made it a bit hard to post and keep up- hopefully within the next couple of weeks I will get a laptop sorted out and start posting regularly again!

Have tried to have a quick read through to get back up to date- bit of a mixed bag it seems!

LL- I know this must be really hard on you, but keep remembering that this is going to mean a better quality of life for your DH and for you too- much better for you both to be as happy and healthy as you can be surely?

Welcome to Rosieben- never too late my dear! we all pick it up when it's right for us- I've been here for a while, but others come and go, if it helps you come on in and join! we're a pretty friendly bunch!

for those I haven't mentioned individually- I am sorry- my fab vibes are on their way to you and i do really hope everyone is doing well- if I tried to mention you all we'd be here til next week!

hope no one minds- will do better once have better access!

well as I said it's been busy, and it's going to stay that way until at least March...trying to stay positive and I know that as we've been really pushing we are ahead of where we were last year so hopefully it won't be too bad...

so far tempers are short in the dept. we are all working hard and everyone is tired- have been trying to not get caught up in it and trying to make people laugh at silly things instead...I'm no PollyAnna but I'm trying!:D

fabwise have just been keeping on top of things really, a couple of steams and face masks etc, slathering on the moisturiser at night etc- have gone back to using Palmer's Cocoa Butter ( it was on offer at Mr T's) and have really noticed the difference- my skin feels so lovely and soft at the moment!

an also experimenting with using nappy cream to deal with ingrown hairs and bumpy arms- some imporvement so far- will update if shows much difference after a few weeks!

food wise have been awful and am really feeling it- no excuse just felt quite tired and unenthusiatic so grabbing whatever is easiest- will do better must get some good casserole/stews etc in the freezer as I know during busy season I really don't have the energy/brain powder to do much when I get home...

hmm will have to pop back have to deal with mass influx of e-mails.....

MrsWoolfe

lizzie157

hi,
Tru I did a basic bookkeeping course with OU - i did manage to pass it but i do think that its possibly easier if there's a tutor to help you in person as i remember sitting in despair at times trying to get the figures to tally.( probably only passed it cos i'm stubborn and was determined to pass). have been on Gimp myself - really good fun messing about with family photos in it.:rotfl:

pp i'd try and rest if i was you this weekend. the housework won't run away.

right back to my de-cluttering. see you all soon.:)

vasseur

I've seen a lot of you mention facemasks - I haven't used one for years!! Which is best for me - normal skin on cheeks, slightly oily T-zone?? How often??

podperson

Lizzie, trust me the last thing I'll run myself ragged for is the housework :rotfl:Have told OH that if he is having people round tonight then he should get tidying and think will point him in the direction of the overflowing washpile at weekend. 12.30am last night on his essay means he owes me big time

MrsWoolfe

me again!

re the face masks,

I use a couple : I have an aloe vera deep cleansing one I use on T zone every other week if I can manage it- just a cheapish one from superdrug but does the trick.

I also try and do the asprin face mask every week- but tbh it's when I can remember to fit it in- i disolve 4 asprin in a little bit of milk of magnesia and pop it on- does work wonders with black heads.

When removing the masks a hot flannel works for me and gets some gentle exfoliation in too.

One new thing I have started since joining this thread (thanks to LL's suggestions) is do a quick steam before using a mask- I pop a little bit of rosemary and tea tree oil in some hot water and steam and it does seem to be making a difference.

I also have a turmeric based mask that is to help with evening out complexions- is aimed at ppl with dark skin tho so not sure it would work for others!

I don't think you need to spend a huge amount - but maybe try a couple of the sachets first see if they work for you before buying a tube? that way you won't have wasted money if you don't like it? I think you can get them for £1 ish?

Hope that helps


On another note Just ordered some elderberry capsules - read some articles recently about how good these are for boosting immune system- there was even a study done showing that it's effective on 8 strains of the flu virus and with all the sniffles going round at the moment I thought it was worth a try. Has anyone else tried this?

I've ordered the ready made capsules, but also found some easy receipes online to make your own elderberry extract- think I might get some dried elderberries next time DH stocks up on his homebrew supplies:D...of course the danger is that I'll just end up making elderberry vodka/wine instead....not quite so good for me methinks!:o

Have just been feeling so tired and worn out this last week- having a burst of energy today though for some reason but otherwise have been flopping onto sofa as soon as I get home- not quite ill iyswim but on the verge- I think the dosing up on good food and vitamins and sleep may have just held things off for now...fingers crossed

anyway no fabbing tonight for am off out for a curry with DH's work friends as one of them is leaving...I'll be good tomorrow promise!

MrsWoolfe