Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

Molly41

Im still with you all but lurking rather than posting.
Things are definitely improving as regards my motivation. This has been helped by some very effective pain relief but unfortunately it only lasts about three weeks. However it did mean I had a very relaxing stay at Ragdale Hall which included a facial, massage and a hot stone massage which was absolutely amazing:T:T:T

I have also managed to shed a few pounds - well 6 but regained 2 at Ragdale. However I have now lost one of those and hope to continue. Im trying to make more of an effort as regards my hair and general appearance. I always take good care of my clothes but sometimes cant choose what to wear and end up in joggers. Next week I have a pedicure and eye brow wax and lash tint booked in readiness for my holiday with the family at Centre Parcs on the 8th August.

Nice to read what everyone is up to and sending supportive vibes to you all on this thread x

Savvy_sewing

Molly41 wrote: »

Im still with you all but lurking rather than posting.
Things are definitely improving as regards my motivation. This has been helped by some very effective pain relief but unfortunately it only lasts about three weeks. However it did mean I had a very relaxing stay at Ragdale Hall which included a facial, massage and a hot stone massage which was absolutely amazing:T:T:T

I have also managed to shed a few pounds - well 6 but regained 2 at Ragdale. However I have now lost one of those and hope to continue. Im trying to make more of an effort as regards my hair and general appearance. I always take good care of my clothes but sometimes cant choose what to wear and end up in joggers. Next week I have a pedicure and eye brow wax and lash tint booked in readiness for my holiday with the family at Centre Parcs on the 8th August.

Nice to read what everyone is up to and sending supportive vibes to you all on this thread x

Hi Molly,
I can vouch for the feeling better after Ragdale Hall.
I dont have anything else booked, but I am still trying to keep to wearing my dresses, and stay out of jeans as much as I can.!
Need to start to think about what I will be taking on my Portugal holiday that BF has booked. We only have two cases between the three of us, so that means very minimal stuff to last 10days! eek.

maman

I'm so glad you both enjoyed Ragdale Hall. I've always fancied a day (or more;)) of treatments and relaxation but I've never got around to it.

Don't worry about the holiday wardrobe mooloo, it should be lovely and warm in Portugal so unless you have to dress really posh for evenings you wont need too much. Summer clothes are so much lighter than going away in the winter with loads of jumpers etc. I just take some jeans/top/cardigan or jacket for travelling. Then I have beach/pool clothes, sightseeing/shopping clothes and some stuff for the evenings. I find DH always takes more than I do as he wants smart shirts and long trousers for the evenings on top of all his (bulky) shorts and t-shirts for the day. But he has his own bag so that's his problem!:rotfl:One of my best space saving items is one of these

They're Turkish linen towels. Like a big tea towel! They're brilliant for the beach/pool, dry easily, take up next to no space and you can even wrap them round you like a sarong! You can buy them in this country but they're very cheap in Turkey.

Any reason why you can only have two cases?

I lost 1.5lbs this week which surprised me as I've had a busy week socially. But when I thought it through I was pretty good at resisting temptation in the form of cakes and scones and teacakes and chips and all the things people have been scoffing around me. I'm only 1.5lbs from my target weight and it has been so worth it!!!:D I'm excited already and I haven't reached it yet:o

Bitsy_Beans

Glad you both had a good time at Ragdale and well done on the half a stone loss Molly!
I am not weighing myself so can't give an update but don't think I am shedding anything judging how my body is. Sort of sticking to the mindful eating, MUST work harder at eating much slower So used to scoffing my dinner down I am finding it a hard habit to break

Have a great day everyone, looking fabulous

bratz81

morning all

@lessonlearned I actually did use a top coat. I don't know if it's nail polish or me...the nail polish is meant to be a good brand so am guessing either I painted it badly or just type too hard in work! I'll give it another try soon and see.

So...I have to confess the hair dye was a DISASTER :mad:. No pics yet. The bleaching went fine, no probs there but the blue I put over hardly took so all underneath my hair is a mix of blond, pastel blue and mint green
The dye is something called Color Jamz and is from America. A friend sent it over to me praising it up and down but it really didn't seem to take on my hair. Luckily I'd also ordered another Special Effects dye, which I know is good, and h2b is collecting it from the post office today so I can get this mess corrected!

So hopefully there will be pics later of something better for all those who wanted to see!

Apart from that, I am wearing a dress today :T a long sleeved maxi dress as it's still drizzly.

podperson

Morning all,

Molly - yay on the weight loss :T and your spa day sounds lovely - am quite jealous!

maman - woo, more weight loss! Well done on resisting tempation, I've been a bit crap on that front this week so hoping the scales aren't too mean to me tomorrow

bratz - hope the hair gets sorted, am sure it will look fab and yay on the dress!

Was miserable weather yesterday so instead of having a walk I went to Asda on the way home to get some new work pants as keep having to hitch mine (I'm taking it as a good sign!). Remembered why I get so frustrated with clothes shopping! My current pants that are now are too big were from George in a 16 - nice and easy I thought I'll just get the same brand in a 14, but no that would just be too simple! Instead I have to try on half the pairs in the store and end up with another 16 which has a completely different fit *sighs* I kind of expect it in different stores but half a dozen different fits in the same store is a little annoying. Also tried on a pretty dress which gaped across the chest but fit too tight across the tum. I just don't think stores design clothes for women with curves - and surely we must be in the majority??
Anyway was rather fed up when I got home and not really in the mood for my film club but forced myself out and did enjoy it when I got there Realised as well that I only really drink around certain people - I'm usually skint when I go to this group so just have cokes all night, this week I actually had a bit of money so thought, ooh I'll have a few drinks but then had one and thought, I'm not really bothered about this and went back on the coke. Yet other people I'll go out with seem to have the impression that you can't have a good night if you're not completely plastered. Urgh, maybe I'm growing up, lol :eek:

MrsWoolfe

Hello!

Hope everyone is doing well,

Bratz- well done with the maxi dress! it's actually really muggy here today- though no proper sunshine with the Coconut oil I just use the bog standary stuff- I got mine in T*sco in the world food aisle- doesn't smell of much but you can add a fwe drops of essential oil if you want to- I don't bother as then I don't need to worry about different scents overlapping- a plain moisturiser, plain-ish deo and then my perfume is the scent that I choose rather than a mishmash of different things....though I do have a yummy vanilla body butter that I use before bed....

Maman:jon being so close to your goal!!! how amazing, you've done so well with this they don't have a "gold star" so this will have to do:staradmin

Molly- welcome back! sounds like you are doing well keeping it going- I've always been curious about the hot stone massage, one to add to my to-do list I think!

LL Glad you are starting to feel better, and exciting choosing courses! maybe worth picking something not too demanding to start with- I think you need a little "recovery" time too- you have been juggling so much for such a long time that it might be a good idea to have a period of just concentrating on looking after yourself and getting your "mojo" back just my suggestion but you do seem to have an awful lot on a lot of the time...


SKip's Mum- Lol @ the scales...hmm wonder whether I could acheive similar??

Watty sounds like you have been really busy! but also be nice to get to know your neighbours etc- what colour did you decide on the the polish?

PP I agree sizing drives me nutty at the mo as I'm between one size and the next one down- it means I've been shopping less as it's quite depressing if I'm honest, I am rather on the the curve side and no matter what size I get to I always will have boobs and a bum (at tleast I hope so!) so I've always had a mission to find clothes that fit well- one of the reasons I love my 50's style dresses so much but that's not really good to daytime wear- though it could be interesting to turn up to meetings kitted out in fab vintage wear:D.


MooLoo Like others have said, should actually be easier to pack for a holiday- a few nice dresses and shawls, that you can dress up/down with accessories always good for me i tend to add one pair of cut-off/capri pants and a tunic top or two and then a few bits and pieces depending on what I find...sounds lovely for you to have a break though, my holiday feels a long time ago already!

I've had a busy couple of days- really sort out in the house- well downstairs at least and for those of you who were on the old thread and might remember.....wait for it.....the wardrobes are FINALLY stained:jso they will be going up tomorrow and then I'm just waiting for the delivery of my pretty crystal door knobs- once they are up and have the pretty glass colours on I will take a pic and up load.

been knuckling down with face care this week- tidied eye brows, been doing rosemary and tea tree oil steams every few days followed by either OCM or a mask- and I have to say things are looking better DH commented that my skin is looking really healthy and glowy:D...

I read something yesterday about aloe vera being good if you have oily skin and it suggested using this in the summer in place of moisturiser so got out my trusty tube of aloe vera gel ( 1001 uses I swear!) - whilst not perfect- i.e. I'd still need to use a mattifying powder by late eve have to say it's doing a good job so far so that's one I'll keep using.

I have also been thinking, that in a way because I've been approaching this in baby steps- and that has been good, but in a way i think I don't really have any urgency about getting there at the mo- I've hit a bit of a slump not really exercising much, eating good still but not going much further...

but there is now a solution. I have been invited to a family wedding at the start of September, this side of the family are...how to put it? They tend to comment a lot on appearance, the women on this side are always well turned out/groomed/spend a lot of money on clothes and in the past I've felt intimidated in a way and most certainly a Big Fat Frump, it's not that they are horrid or anything- they are lovely people it's just the way they are and in the past I've just given up....

So it's been more than a year since I last saw any of them, and obviously as I've lost approx 2 stone since Feb I'm going to look different/better but I figured this might be a good way to give myself a kick up the bum- see how much difference I can make in a month on one hand, on the other go there feeling confident so that little thigns don't end up making feel deflated and down when they are not meant that way...

so I have one month, I will take my measurements on Sunday and check them each week will weigh myself only on Sunday and then on 1st Sept as I don't want 1 lb up 1 lb down to mess up my head. Aim is to get back exercising at least 3 x a week, eat as well as I can...then....Work It Baby!

Ready? Steady? GO!!!!


MrsWoolfe

lessonlearned

Some lovely posts today .........

Maman - :T:T:T:T Almost there - what an achievement. Proud of you girl.

Bratz - sorry to hear about the hair, I'm sure you'll get it sorted soon - well done with the maxi dress. I love long floaty dresses and skirts. It's the old hippy in me:D

Molly - :T:T:T:T on your weight loss. I've been thinking about Ragdale too - one of these days.

I had some treatment vouchers for my birthday - think I will use them soon. Feel ready for a bit of a professional pamper.

pp - don't get me started on high street shopping, dress sizes etc - absolute nightmare - hate it with a passion.

Mooloo - well done on the dresses, ooh a holiday in Portugal - how fab. Agree with Maman - it's probably easier to pack for a fortnight in the Med than it is for a weekend in the UK. Just too many variables with British weather.

Mrs W - You are doing really really well, 2 stone lost since Feb, your skin looking good and what's most important of all - your health problems nicely under control and responding to your care and attention. Try not to be intimated by your female relatives - you'll look lovely I'm sure. As you say you've got a month to fine-tune your battle campaign;)

I do understand what you are saying about intimidating female relatives though. The women on my father's side of the family were all impossibly glamourous - tall blonde Anglo Saxons. I was always dark and Mediterranean looking - after my mum. I realise now that I was probably just as striking in my own way but I didn't think so back then. I just wanted to be blond with a peaches and cream colouring the same as them.

Speaking of Mediterranean .................

lessonlearned

A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine

Old Italian saying

Over the past year or so I've hardly drank any alcohol. Decided it was time to put that right (no I dont have a drink problem). When we used to spend a lot of time in Spain I always had wine with my lunch - well at 1Euro for a damn fine wine it was easy.

I have now decided to cut down on coffee, (in future no more than 3 a day) and will substitute my lunch time coffee for a glass of wine. Started today with some artisan bread, tomatoes, brie, olives and a glass of chardonnay. Lovely. Followed by a nice 1 hr Siesta. Bliss.

Speaking of sunshine - today I bought some Dove Summer Glow - a body moisturiser with a self-tanner. I don't need it just now (apart from my legs which haven't tanned much). Thought it might come in handy for the winter. Anyway - if any one is interested - it's currently half price in Sainsbury's, about £2-25.

Anyway off to do a couple of kms on the bike, followed by planting some cauliflower plants, then a quick tidy, then cook dinner, and that's another day gone.

Have a fab weekend x

Savvy_sewing

Thanks, I have just been in receipt of a box of clothes that were destined for my sewing recycling. But there are several skirts that fit me and Molly and I agree that they will be perfect for the holiday.
(By the Way, Portugal is on the Atlantic not the Med, so the water is Colder, and the winds are too!, but at least at this time of the year its still a scorcher!).
I have kept up the appearance I think. Still not got around to exercising though. Scared of damaging the spine even more then it is already.
I will be due another hair cut before I go away in September though. Better get saving.