Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

MrsWoolfe

Good Morning Ladies!

Sophisitca- well done on keeping things simple for xmas! we have toned things down slightly in the last few years too- still buy pressies for immediate family but that's it and to be honest this year I've just done it all online much easier, I enjoy buying for my close family and picking things that I know they will enjoy but we don't go mad, this year I spent a monring with DH picking things out and that was that!

Tru- how are your hands? that sounds really painful!! have you tried using oats at all? DH suffers from cracked skin on his hands and it gets really sore- when it's bad I soak his hands in warm water with some oats- seems to soothe them and leaves them nice and soft- I have a box full of little possets I made up one rainy sunday oats tied up in muslin, I do pop them in a hot bath as well as my skin needs all the help it can get in the winter!

Maman- welcome back! I quite like that chocolate from Aldi too, don't buy it much anymore though as I forget I have it and it goes to waste ( or DH is sneaky and munches away on it!)

Bitsy- Dancing definitely counts! I was talking to a uni friend recently and we were mentioning how badly we ate at uni but we were still pretty slim ( from pictures at the time I thought I was HUGE...but was actually a trim size 10ish) we are pretty sure it's down to the fact that we were out dancing at least 5 nights a week:D and we walked everywhere

VNMS- hugs to you can't be easy trying to deal with your Dad at the moment, but you'll need to be firm, it doesn't realistically sound like going home is a good idea and I imagine would be really stressful for you at least where they are you know they are being looked after.

LL- I know the others have said it but please please look after yourself! I hope you are not suffering too much, but go and see your GP- two episodes so close together is really not good I know you want to be able to do things for you DH but you are no good to him if you are in pain - come on you are brilliant at telling us to look after ourselves- you turn now! sending some get well vibes your way!

Phew- think I've just about caught up! If I missed anyone I'm sorry and am sending positive vibes out for you all!

had a bad couple of nights- painful sebaceous (sp?) cyst on lower stomach keeping me awake- everytime I move it hurts:( am treating with heat and tea tree oil, not much else you can do really is going down but slowly!

have a really long day today as have to go into London for client event- wont be getting home til 11/12ish :mad: really don't like doing these esp as wont get any time in lieu still have to be in early next day argh...on the other hand is a useful test of the make up bits I've bought recently to try and make my make up stay looking good longer.

Have an eyeshadow primer from ELF and bought some oil blocking powder that had some good reviews- have been using them with good results in the last few weeks but today will be a real test- it all went on at 7am...lets see how well it lasts eh?

decided to dress up a bit seeing as it's a posh do in a members only club ( I'm intrigued by this am imagining plush velvet sofas and posh fittings...will probably be boring japanese style modern place!)

bit weired getting dressed up early in morning tho...just hope I don't look wilted by the evening! am wearing teal shift dress with black cardi, hair up in sixties style large bun, little teal studs, knee high black boots ( no heels will be on feet til at least 8) and took time to do proper make up eyeshadow, blusher...

have to say I do feel better when I make the effort, it's just those extra 20mins in bed are soooo hard to say no to!

right must get on hope everyone is having a good day!

MrsWoolfe

lessonlearned

Well the back is well and truly seized.

I can move but only with great care. I can shuffle - lopsided and apelike - not a good look:rotfl: around the kitchen and this time I can at least remain upright even going up and down the stairs so hopefully a few days staying indoors and keeping warm should do the trick.

I'm scheduled for physio tomorrow so provided I can drive by then that should help. I'm afraid I won't be able to visit OH for a few days and I may have to extend his stay in respite for a few extra days too. He'll be very disappointed but I'm sure he'll understand.

So today it will be resting again, with perhaps writing a few Christmas cards. I've got an appt with SS but thankfully they are coming here - at least they will be able to see with their own eyes my backache is geniune.:rotfl:

Most of the time I too firmly believe I'm still in my 20's - it's only at times like this when my body rebels or perhaps when I look in the mirror that I realise actually no you're 60 not 20.

Actually I think this is a very good thing. I think that keeping your brain young and maintaining a youthful outlook on life is the key to successful and healthy ageing.

When I worked in Sheltered Housing I was very much struck in the difference in ways in which people age. Even allowing for physical frailties and illness which cannot be avoided, there were still huge differences. Some 60 year olds were in a far worse state than some of the 90 year olds.

Yes some of it is genetic I think - but I also think a lot of it is lifestyle choices but more than anything I think it down to our mental attitudes. The cheerful optimistic ones who had a positive outlook and a good healthy sense of humour seem to fare better than the grumpy pessimists.

Of course we can help ourselves with healthy eating choices and a reasonable amount of exercise - being overweight and unhealthy does put us at risk from all sorts of preventable disease, strokes, heart disease, joint stress, type II diabetes etc. We all know this now.

Keeping mentally active and youthful in our thought patterns also helps too.

So ladies keep feeling 20 in your hearts and heads - it's good for you.:)

I like the Mister Roth chocolate, very reasonably priced too.

Re chocolate and coffee. I do like good chocolate and coffee - they are my one weakness :rotfl::rotfl: (ok one of the many). I don;t want to come over all preachy but these are two items I prefer to buy as "Fair Trade".

I consider chocolate and coffee to be luxury items (in the grand scheme of things) so I'm happy to pay a few pence more so that the farmers and workers in those industries get a better deal. It's not much I know but if it helps a little...

Off to have a soak in the bath - see if I can loosen up a little.

Bye for now x

Bitsy_Beans

Well early night didn't go quite as planned. By the time I toddled up to bed it was 10.30pm. then DD woke, came in our bed, fell asleep so I shifted her back to her own bed, then I was overtired and couldn't switch off <rollseyes>
Anyway still managed a respectable 7 hours but eyes feel sore. Also would appear to be fighting a cold. :mad: just bloomin' typical as I am out with the girls for our little Christmas gathering on Friday. Have broken out the eccinachea (sp?) so fingers crossed I get bit more sleep tonight.

Floss/maman I didn't have any more than the strip of chocolate yesterday so that is definately progress. I shop at Aldi so will investigate Mister Roth more closely although if they don't do a milk choc separately then it's a no go, I've tried and tried but I just don't like dark chocolate

mrswoolfe - Have you got some tumeric? Make it into a paste with some boiled water, apply and it and cover and it should assist it to drain. Tumeric is very good for things like boils etc. Hope it's better soon, very painful xx

tru - I like Cadbury's when in Wispa form but solid Dairy Milk just doesn't do it for me

Hope you are all OK and keep on fabbing

Bitsy_Beans

LL don't sit for too long, it's murder for your back. If you need to alleviate your back can you try squatting? It's a strong position to be in, especially if your legs aren't used to it but it can take pressure off standing without the damage of sitting.

Re the keeping young my grandparents are in their early 90's and although they are now showing signs of slowing down I have to say they always kept very active, driving to places, always keeping busy rather than sitting about. Definately made a difference to their mental health.

podperson

Morning all,

Tru - hope the hand is feeling better. It sounds like you're like me, once I do something to myself I end up 6 others scrapes to match it - no idea why!

LL - think the new plans sound great! I know what you mean about Xmas cards, I just cut my list down every year - half the people don't make any effort, or often even send me a card back so I just think why bother? Hope the back is feeling a bit better today - will echo what the others have said about taking it easy.

Bitsy - I seem to have same problem at the moment, I really want to lose weight, look better etc but am being very lazy when it comes to actually doing the things I need to do to make it happen I do plans and lists but am either running round like a madthing and just end up flopping on the sofa when I get in, or I seem to have no motivation.

Maman - glad you enjoyed the break, and I think you're allowed a food break on holiday

VNMS - hope you and your parents are ok, sounds like a stressful situation all round *hugs*

Mrs W - hope you enjoy your client event, sounds like a long day but at least you look fab for it

Been busy as usual, have been trying to get on with the book - am at just over 7k words now. I was thinking that a novel was about 50k but apparently most publishers ask for closer to 80-100k - that is a lot of words :eek: Anyway, will see how it goes. Done very little fabbing though haven't been eating too badly. Started on the Xmas shopping - agree with others who have mentioned not going too overboard this year. Cashed out all my survey sites, cashback etc into Amazon vouchers so haven't actually spent any 'real' money yet Still a bit left to do though - I have cut my list right down to just immediate family in the last few years but it still seems to mount up, plus need to get my train tickets to go down and see my parents between xmas and new year - it looks like the prices have gone up again and no advances left which is a little annoying!
Had a bit of snow the last few days but nothing major yet (touch wood!), am off to choir straight from work again tonight so we can work on the Christmas songs for our first Christmas busking session on Sunday - hopefully will put me in a bit of a Christmassy mood
Hope everyone has a good day x

sophistica

Hi All, Haven't posted for a couple of days because I have been exhausted. I have been painting my father's dining room...definitely a mistake, I learned a long time ago that one should never do anything oneself. i have got to the age when supervising is easier! I had my gardener helping.Lovely guy but I think quite slow, while he was fiddling around with a tiny paintbrush doing the ceiling, I had done all the walls with a roller. Anyway I have posted the decorating of the living room on https://www.mybuilder.com...fantastic site for getting trades, people send you messages with a quote for the work.

LL - I did my back in too, lifting a wheelchair into the boot of the car and pushing my dad around hospitals and nursing homes. I don't do it anymore! I discovered that the hospitals all have porters who will bring a wheelchair to the car and do the pushing. I also discovered that now my dad can work with a stick when he is out. maybe , rethink things, so you do no lifting or pushing.

Bitsy - I know that feeling of exhaustion induced insomnia - perhaps consider an very early night with something nice to read.

Mrs Woolfe Hope you have a good evening.

Maman - I must say I have discovered supermarket chocolate. Lidl do a really nice one - milk with hazelnuts and one strip of it is 84 cals.

Not much fabbing going on here, I think it is because I haven't sorted out my winter wardrobe. I get obsessed with things to the exclusion of everything and right now I am going "hell for leather" on my father's property renovation. BUT really the business accounts are calling. And maybe the social life and fabbing should be calling!

Caterina

Hello,

Just discovered this thread and am loving it, although of course I shall still be a frump on Christmas Day as I have joined you fab gals a bit too late!

I am doing a bit for myself already, been exercising and doing a low(ish) carb diet based on vegetable protein, fish and tons of veg, drinking more water, flossing regularly, using an electric toothbrush to try and brighten up my teeth.

However, I am sure I have a lot to learn from this wonderful thread, to which I have now subscribed.

rosieben

I've not posted for a few days, I've been busy reading through the entire Summer Solstice thread! wow, loads of good ideas and advice, thanks to everyone, I've been busy copying and pasting

Just checked my 'fabbing' stash, found a sanctuary face mask (freebie) and lots of other useful stuff. I need to invest in a decent hand cream (not necessarily an expensive one though) so will give that some thought. Meantime I have aveeno and e45, both bought for help with eczema but my practice nurse put me on to sudacrem last year and I second whoever posted about it (sorry can't remember who) it is amazing stuff.

I've been getting back into exercise, short sessions on the xtrainer for the last couple of day and 2 miles on the bike today, will increase it again to about 6 miles which is where I was at a while ago. I really felt different when I was exercising regularly. It was helping posture too which I need, I'm very overweight so tend to stoop and and do the old-lady-shuffle

podperson, I bought one of these from ebay (but different seller I think) and its brilliant. I should say that I don't have 256 pairs of earrings ... well not yet

off to catch up on some of this thread

eta - I've reported Cary Grant as spam, 3 posts all mentioning whatever it is he's trying to sell

fedupandskint

I thought that post sounded like spam too.

Fab wise for me - a run tonight and an hours walking today

Eating wise not too good and gone way over the kcal allowance for today but hey ho, tomorrow's another day after all. Have felt pretty bloated the last few days so think I'd better lay off the bread for a bit once this loaf has gone

Skincare wise - aiming for a an exfoliate and facemask in a little bit and slathering on a face balm and then the nail oil treatment

Bitsy_Beans

I reported post as spam too.