Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

podperson

Lizzie - I'm exactly the same with the losing weight and then putting it back on again so I'm hoping it stays off this time. I think it's helping a lot that I'm being more relaxed with it this time. In the past I would go on a really strict diet where I wasn't allowed anything fun at all - I would obviously fall off it at some point and then I would feel really guilty, think what's the point and use it as an excuse to binge out on all the things I'd been denying myself! Now I'm just trying to eat reasonably healthily - I've cut down on the snacking but if I really want something I'll have it but will try to make up for it somewhere else, and am trying to stick with the exercise, which was always (and still is!) something I tend to struggle with.

Carmen - glad you had a nice weekend, hope the 'brillo' gloves are nicer then they sound :eek:

Jellybelly - yay on the skirt - I'm the same I totally seem to wuss out of wearing them. That may be my assignment for next week

Maman - IOW sounds lovely Yay on your make-up brushes, I only have some very cheap ones but find it so much easier to apply eyeshadow with them. I could never get it to blend right either but it (hopefully!) tends to look ok now. I have the duo ones so put the lighter one on all over and then blend the darker ones over the lid.

Bratz - I might have to try a pedegg thingy, my feet def need work Have been trying to slap loads of cream on each night and I think it is helping a little but just have some annoying patches of hard skin that won't seem to shift. Maxi dress for tomorrow!

LL - hope you feel better, try to take it easy - well for you at least

Tru - I think if you have a few lazy days then you can just get back to it even better after -sometimes we just need them!

Bitsy - remember watching the Paul McKenna tv show on eating, must have been years ago now, and thinking there were some really interesting points. Don't know if this is the book as well but am sure I remember there was something about how you should take your most addictive food, eg chocolate, and then imagine it as something really disgusting like dog poo or bugs - was rather disturbed at the time lol :eek:

Mrs W - sounds like you look fantastic today - am very impressed I have some purple tights that I bought about 6 months ago and still haven't taken out of the packet

Woo, lots of posts today - it's great everyone still seems to be so motivated. Didn't do much yesterday as went to choir pretty much straight from work and didn't get home until around 10pm. Couldn't be bothered with my whole shred dvd but did try and do the abs exercises so hopefully better then nothing. Am hoping to walk home from work but the weather can't seem to decide what it wants to do (that's Scotland for you!) so think will decide nearer the time.

Bitsy_Beans

podperson wrote: »

Bitsy - remember watching the Paul McKenna tv show on eating, must have been years ago now, and thinking there were some really interesting points. Don't know if this is the book as well but am sure I remember there was something about how you should take your most addictive food, eg chocolate, and then imagine it as something really disgusting like dog poo or bugs - was rather disturbed at the time lol :eek:

Yep it's in the book TBH I am torn between doing visualisation thing and not doing it.......I mean I like chocolate. I am not sure I want to give it up but I need to tackle the cravings. Mind you I have tried imagining it mixed with brussel sprouts and hair <gags repeatedly>

lessonlearned

Hi Everyone

Thanks for all your well wishes - must admit to feeling absolutely ghastly. Had a major "chest pain" session again this afternoon, whilst OH's dad was on the phone. He's 89 and I really can't take his problems on board as well. That sounds awful I know but I can't even give my elderly parents enough time and attention, let alone OH's father. OH's sister does b****r all - families eh.???

At least mine are considerate. DS2 off today and fussing round me like a mother hen, bless him. OH is most concerned about me today.

For those of you who don't know I get heart attack type chest pains from time to time. I have been fully checked out and apparently am perfectly ok - it's just a stress attack. Have taken my meds and am just resting and taking it easy.

I'm never fully sure just how much OH has taken on board and I suppose that I try to shield him from what's to come.

He said that he understood that it was the nursing home business that is causing me such grief and he's just said not to worry - he knows that he will need permanent care at some point and that's he is prepared to accept what comes. He wants me to do whats best for me too.

Sorry don't mean to ramble but I do feel so low today. I think it's been building for a few days. It'll pass.

Maman - well done on buying yourself some make up brushes - they are the best way of getting a really professional look. Just keep practising.

I thoroughly enjoyed the make up bits of my training. For my exam I had the opportunity to work on a Iranian lady. Although it was supposed to be a day time - less is more kind of look I decided to do something a little more dramatic. I used quite a lot of eye make up, using dark greys, purples etc

When the examiner asked me why I hadn't followed the exam brief to the letter and had gone for a more dramatic look, I explained that because my model was such a beautiful and striking looking woman with dark mediterranean good looks, I felt that a traditional day time make up would be far too bland and just wouldn't do my model justice. She would have looked "washed out" and ill.

The examiner agreed and gave me top marks out of the year group.:D She explained to the others that you should always take your client's own particular looks and characteristics into account and not just impose what you think should be the proscribed or accepted norm.

Just goes to show that there's never a one size fits all solution and that we should always strive to be stylish in our own individual way and not be slaves to fashions or conventions.

Anyway I'm off to do a bit of "nice" paperwork. I have a couple of folders, one for food recipes one for ideas, projects etc.

I have a pile of magazines which I shall go through, cutting out what I want to put in my folders. Nothing too strenuous today.;)

lessonlearned

Well I've hardly done a thing all day, not even my magazine sort. Never mind, there's always manana. Did manage to cook a nice dinner though.

Feeling much better now, going to bed in a minute - reasonably early so I don't undo the good work of my rest.

No exercise - didn't dare risk the chest pains again. Just a good slathering, working on my knees and elbows, very dry at the moment. My back is also very itchy and a few zits again, starting using Oxy on my back again. Could really do with some sun on it, sunlight really is one of the best treatments for spotty/greasy backs. Might ask my sister to give me a special clay mask on my back next time she comes. Not the kind of thing you can manage yourself.;)

Anyway had a good read of all your posts, you're all going great guns, despite the odd hiccough here and there.

JB Glad to see you are feeling a bit brighter, good about the skirt.

Today wasn't a good day for me but I'll soon bounce back. Frump to Fab has taught me to not to panic when I go off track. I still have days when things seem a bit bleak but I'm finding I can weather the storms much better now.

Mrs W I love Nina Simone - DS1 bought me her compilation CD, think I'll dig it out for the car. I also keep meaning to treat myself to Hugh Laurie's album, all bluesy.I love some of the music they play in "House" - apparently Hugh has quite a say in what's used. DS2 has downloaded some and is making a CD for me.

For little mother's day gifts the boys don't buy me flowersor cards - I told them not too because I think they are a bit of a rip off. Instead they make up CD's of music they think I will like. I think that is so lovely and such a thoughtful and personal thing to do. DS2 is such a softie he still buys me cards though. He's currently making me some hot milk "to help me sleep". He's such a sweetheart.

G'night all x

bratz81

morning all, and was so nice to get personalised comments, I sometimes wonder if I bore people rambling on here

@lessonlearned I think that's something I may do too much, the filing. Cos they're so bad I want to 'erase' it with the file but maybe I am doing more harm than good.

@bitsy can so relate, when you wear something 'different' to usual and people comment I either wonder did I look completely sh!te before, or is everyone now staring at me! I think if we could push past that then it would be ok but you do feel quite self conscious.

@podperson no maxi dress today but that's due to it being really cloudy and drizzly so am I let off? It is still warm so I'm wearing jeans and a t-shirt but it is a nice new pink t-shirt with a 1950s pinup girl on the front so nicer than usual.

@MrsWolfe I haven't tried coconut oil, I've been using plain old foot lotion, although not as often as I should. Do you use any kind of coconut oil in particular?

I don't know what I've done but my nail polish is seriously chipped already! On my fingers that is, my toes are perfect. So they'll have to be redone/touched up and I'm also planning on doing a load more blue in my hair tonight, I'll try and stick up a picture tomorrow so you can all see how crazy it looks

Watty1

Phew. Have had a busy weekend and then work was so busy this week...but at least thats a good thing! A local issue sparked up and I made a suggestion as to how *we* as in the neighbours and I could approach it and have ended up adding that to my list of things to do. But on the bright side the possibility of neighbours as yet unmet has added a further boost to my challenge of getting up each day and wearing clean clothes, using perfume, anti-pesp and brushing clothes and teeth. I really do think I might be looking presentable hehehe. I painted my nails last night before going out for fish and chips but decided they look rather badly painted so I will whip that colour off today at some point.
Was delighted to read in a recent LL post that there is a long weekend ahead and so - I checked - and yay LL is right . This weekend. Am so happy. Time to catch up with myself as it were.

skipsmum

Hi all, still catching up with the thread so a general purpose "hi" and (((hugs))) to all who need them.

DHs nan is in hospital so been quite busy with that, plus with the kids off its been a bit of a mad week so far. And I missed zumba cos of hospital visit, and still havent found time to do my nails or anything.
Taking the boys swimming with a freind this afternoon so Im going to get her to do my nails while the kids swim!
And Im still using my perfume, which makes me feel better...
and ive discovered that if I put the scales in the hall instead of the bedroom I lose 6lbs - instant weightloss

podperson

Morning all :wave:

Bitsy - it does seem a rather extreme method, don't think I could cope with never liking chocolate again :eek: however saying that now I think about it I think I must have only had it maybe once in the last few weeks. I do think chocolate is very much an addiction because for me it follows the same pattern - if I have some then I want some more again soon but if I haven't had any for a bit then I don't really bother about it - like smoking where when the nicotine goes out of your system then you don't get the physical craving as much but can still slip up on the habitual side (if that makes sense?)

LL - I loved your make-up story I think I do fall into that trap sometimes and think because something's in fashion or meant to be a prescribed look then I should try it when it probably doesn't really suit me that much. Am trying harder now just to try and find a style that works for me and that I feel comfortable with. Glad you're feeling a bit better, your sons sound like complete sweethearts

Bratz - I really like the 'ramblings' on here - is like having a nice gossip and a catch up Will let you off the maxi dress, is a bit miserable here today as well. Think we definately need piccies of the hair - I would love to have a proper blue or purple in mine but it's really dark and just doesn't take colour well. I would have to bleach it a few times which it also seems to hate. Guess I'm stuck with boring colours do have a sort of purpley tint on it at the moment but not very obvious.

Watty - am sure you are looking fab Glad you're getting a catch up at weekend, I always have to work bank holidays at my job which sucks a bit.

Anyways, the weather actually turned out lovely by afternoon yesterday so walked home along the canal. Someone had been talking to me about the couch to 5k programme and I have been trying to have a go at week 1 but it was just too busy yesterday I suppose it's nice that the canal does get used up here as where I used to live it would always be really quiet but I had my headphones on and would jump every time a cyclist zoomed past me from behind (which was about every 2 mins!) So it was a nice walk but didn't quite dare attempt a jog. Did my shred later at home though and managed to resist when OH was getting takeaway

Watty1

This made me burst out laughing. Thank you for the smile :-)

skipsmum wrote: »

Hi all, still catching up with the thread so a general purpose "hi" and (((hugs))) to all who need them.

and ive discovered that if I put the scales in the hall instead of the bedroom I lose 6lbs - instant weightloss

lessonlearned

skipsmum wrote: »

..
and ive discovered that if I put the scales in the hall instead of the bedroom I lose 6lbs - instant weightloss

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Hi Everyone

Beautiful sunny day here today. Pleased to say feel quite a bit better today - must be the sunshine.

Still feel "fragile" and a bit "delicate" so still taking it relatively easy - will give the exercise a miss for just one more day - just a few easy yoga stretches so that I don't completely seize up.:D

WW WI today - stayed the same. I'm actually very pleased with that because given my silly eating habits this week I expected far worse.

Look forward to the hair pictures Watty

DS2 off on a short holiday to see some friends "Down South" for a few days so gave him a haircut. Which reminds me .......

Now that I've got OH's care package sorted out I have been thinking about doing a couple of short courses come September - picked up a few leaflets from the library today. My friend did a basic haircutting one - quite fancy that.

I also quite fancy doing a complimentary therapies course although they are rather more intensive and time consuming - not sure if I could commit to that. So was thinking just a few one or two day short courses to start with.

bratz - re the chipped nail polish - have you tried one of those clear top coat/hardeners. TBH I think that some polishes just do chip easily though.

Anyway off to water the garden - lots of veggies almost ready - courgettes, green beans, tomatoes, broccoli, beetroot, potatoes. I've planted too many courgettes - will freeze some I think. I'll make up a tomato/onion/courgette type mix for veg lasagne - will be a handy standby.

I recently bought a cheap second freezer for the garage - its really coming into it's own now with garden produce etc.

Anyway that's about it for now ................Hope you are all seeing some sunshine. X