Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

lessonlearned

Ooooh some lovely chatty posts this morning.:D

A bit pushed for time just now, so will do proper replies later. Just popped in to say "Good morning" to all the early birds.

Had a little breakfast al fresco - listening to the peace and quiet - lovely, 1st lot of washing on the line, 2nd in the machine, third lined up. Making the most of the weather, bed linens sofa throws etc. I know this is naff but I love to see a line full of nice clean washing - just one of life's little pleasures:D

Planning a day in the garden, just pottering about and also want to do some sanding down of those picture frames. Still haven't had time but today is the day.;)

Have a lovely weekend everyone, just off for a quick shower - yes I know that's back to front, showering first and then getting all dirty gardening and painting but my hair is desperate for a bit of shampoo.

Aiming for a long soak bath and a pamper later on.;)

Laters ...........

MrsWoolfe

Good Morning Ladies!

well seems a lot of you are up and about early!

I too have never been to a spa- last year as a thank you for all of our hard work over the busy season our MD paid for a trip for our team to go to NIrvana spa ( we are all women and he did ask first what we would like) but as luck would have it I was really poorly that week and ended up having to miss out:mad: oh well never mind- did hear that it was a bit of a let down though as the team director and manager had had a major row so it put a real atmosphere on the whole thing....

Tru I have to say I admire you holding out, i had to employ a similar strategy in our house recently, so far so good message seems to have gotten through!

Carmen - I would be excited too, kind of yukky but I had a very persistent very agressive wart on my middle finger for 2 years - unfortunately had it during our wedding too so was very self conscious when they wanted to take pictures of my hands ( I had full Henna for the Hindu service) took months of treating with apple cider vinegar for it to go and was convinced it would be there forever....I was SO happy when it finally gave up:D

Mooloo- great find with the clothes!

LL your morning sounds lovely, I am going to spend some time in the garden today too, but need to get into town and pick up a few bits, will pop in to £land to pick up a couple of garden bits and saw that wilkos have some lovely led solar fairy lights and I've been wanting to string some up in the garden forever....

am hoping I can also find something cute to wear for tonight I know I have some nice bits, but I'm feeling a little daring today:D may make a break from my usual maxi dresses and actually show some leg!:eek: may even try heels:eek::eek: having a big do for my best bud's 30th he's rented out the local art centre, got together a big group of friends who are in various bands and got them to play- we've a DJ for between sets and what looks like a pretty great line up our very own "indoor festival" am all excited!

right must get off the net and into the garden, the sunshine is gorgeous today:D

Hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

MrsWoolfe

maman

:wave:

At last the sun has come out here! I was feeling very envious of LL seeing it since breakfast time.

Thanks for good wishes, I can't wait to have my new bead for my bracelet. I just need to be extra good with my eating for the rest of the week.

The towel is just like a giant linen tea towel. It's not super absorbent just much less bulky/heavy than a normal beach towel and perfectly adequate on holiday where you don't need to wrap up in a towel to keep from shivering.

Had (another:o) lovely day out yesterday. OH and I went to Salisbury, had lunch out and went to the Constable exhibition. Then I had a bit of a browse around the shops. I didn't buy anything (other than a mirror for spare room) but it's such a lovely feeling knowing that the 12s will fit me!



I bought this the other day and amazingly it works! I have highlighted mouse hair and the roots were looking dark. I've only used it on roots but instructions say it can be used for creating highlights. It was 3 for £10 in Asda so I bought one along with 2 of my usual conditioner.

Bitsy, that film sounds:eek: but if it kept you away from the Galaxy then I suppose it might have been worth it!

Hope everyone's having a good weekend, it certainly helps when the sun shines.

lessonlearned

Hi Everyone

Been a really busy day - actually rather a disaster - still didnt get the picture frames done:(

Felt rather tearful for some reason, struggled with OH's transfers - hurt my elbow again, back-ache etc. No carer's during the day - only the early morning one - definitely need to rethink again about help during the day for when DS's aren't around - it's just getting too difficult to manage all the transfers on my own.

Also not many breaks - so no 'spare' time, plus OH had an accident getting to the loo, so all the cleaning up. I know he can't help it but it is all so time consuming and tiring. Felt a bit like a prisoner today.

To cap it all, I took out what I thought was bolognese sauce from the freezer only to realise too late of course that it was industrial strength curry for DS2. So had to get emergency fish and chips from the chip shop - delicious but not good for weight loss:o

Ah well - tomorrow is another day.

Mrs W - your night out sounds wonderful - hope you have a great time.

Carmen - I too have noticed a difference with my feet since losing some weight, my ankles don't get as swollen:D

Your reminiscences (sp??) about Biba make up made me smile. How we plastered it on back in the day, blocking out the natural colour of our lips so that we could make wear almost white lipstick. I started my make-up wearing career with Miners - spent many a happy Saturday afternoon hanging around the make up counters at Woolworths.

Anyway - in case anyone is interested - a few tips about make up.

lessonlearned

My mum once hosted a make up party and asked me to be the model. The girl used so many products (yes I too ended up looking like a drag queen) it took my poor skin the best part of a fortnight to calm down again.

I agree that with so many make up demonstrations they use far too much and too many products.

Less is definitely more.

This is a very simple 5 minute make up.

Start with clean skin, - don't go mad with the cleansing routine. If you've cleaned your skin at night, then you don't usually need to do the whole double cleanse, tone etc in the morning as well. I tend to just use plain water in the mornings.

Then moisturise. Allow the moisturiser at least 5 minutes to sink in, don't try and apply make up immediately - it will either slide off or just end up a congealed mess.

Primer if you use it. I don't normally bother. I have been experimenting with wrinkle fillers. I find them ok (ish) but the effect seems temporary a couple of hours at most. I might look at primers again in the winter.

I don't wish to sound cocky but at the moment my skin is perfectly ok without foundation, occasionally a little blusher or bronzer if I look tired or a bit pale. I tend to only really need foundation in the winter.

Foundation and/or tinted moisturiser

Either is just as good. You can make your own of course, just combine your usual moisturiser with some foundation. That way you can adjust the depth of colour according to your needs.

You can apply with fingers or sponge whichever you find easier.

Professionals always use sponges, especially on a client's face, more hygienic (as long as the sponges are clean and haven't been used on someone else). BTW synthetic sponges are best. Superdrug & Wilkinsons do cheap cosmetic sponges, but I have been known to cut up a large sponge when I've ran out.

Here's the magic. Only apply the products down the centre panel of your face, centre forehead, nose and chin. Feather it outwards towards your hairline, don't forget your neck, blend, blend and blend.

Do not apply foundation directly over obvious wrinkles, especially crow's feet (sorry laughter lines:rotfl:) It's a fallacy that loads of slap covers a multitude of sins, if anything it only highlights them - especially wrinkles. By applying product only to the centre of your face and blending it outwards you will avoid that trap.

Concealers

Under eye brighteners, or spot cover ups etc. If needed then I find it's best to apply these on top of foundation. If you put them on first then the act of applying foundation will remove said concealer.

Powders

Optional - personally I don't use them as such, at least not very often. I find they feel cakey or cloggy. Powder will definitely settle into any wrinkles and make them look much worse. If you use powder take care to avoid any wrinkled areas especially said laughter lines.

Apply powder with a brush, tap the brush first to remove excess powder, brush it on and then brush most of it off. Avoid eyebrows.

Instead of powders I use a little bit of powdered blusher or bronzer. First on the cheeks as normal, then a very light dusting on my forehead, nose and chin.

I have been experimenting with mineral make up, avoiding the need for foundation and powders, it seems ok but needs a bit more practice.

So much for the face ................

lessonlearned

Eyes or Lips - Not both

What does she mean. You make up both surely. Yes of course you do, but you only accentuate/exaggerate one, not both.

So if you want dark, smokey dramatic eyes, then the lips should be subtle. If you want scarlet, heavily glossed lips then gently with the eyeliner, kohl, and avoid fake lashes. Unless you are going for the drag queen/transvestite look.

Lips - a lip brush is best, but fingers are good too for gently smudging for a nice soft look.

Be careful with lip liner, frankly it's a bit 80's now. If you use it please please make sure it's a perfect match for your lippy. I hate that hard line in one colour and then the lips filled in with a completely different colour.

Personally I think lip gloss is best reserved for evenings but that's just my opinion.:D

A mature skin benefits from a nice warm colour - so don't go too pale or you'll look washed out.

Be careful with "blue" undertones to pink and red lipsticks, e.g. the lilacs, burgundies etc they don't suit everyone.

Eyes Well we all know the expression "the eyes are the window of the soul". You can have fun with eye make up, just get lots of practice and try lots of different looks.

Use brushes if you can to apply eyeshadows, small ones to apply the colour and then a nice soft large complexion brush for blending. Take some time to blend it all in nicely - that's what makes a good finish. It's well worth practising this till you get it right. Sounds like a faff but well worth the effort.

Mature skin with crepey eyelids (sorry) look better with matt eye shadow rather than the pearly ones. Also it might be worth using softer shades of mascara, eye pencils etc. I've now ditched black mascara and switched to brownish black, ditto the eye pencils. I now used brown or grey - much softer - black looks too harsh for me now.

Don't forget the eyebrows - they definitely frame your face. Keep nicely shaped and fill in any gaps with either pencil or powder. Use subtle short strokes, not one long line of pencil.:eek:.

A quick spray of perfume and you're done.

Hope that helps ...............

G'night all x

maman

Thanks for make-up info LL, very much appreciated. I haven't used foundation for years because I'm terrified of the 'drag queen' look. I'm fine in the summer when I've got a bit of natural colour but in the winter I look so pale and drab. This is where I've been loving my bronzing powder. This week, I'm definitely going to start practising my eye make up. Normally I just use black-brown mascara and a grey eyebrow pencil but I'm determined to master eye shadow even if it's just for evenings.

Sorry to hear about your difficult day, such a shame when it started so brightly. I assume the carers don't come at the weekends which makes it difficult for you?

I'm sure we can all empathise with your freezer error. Only this week my SIL told me they'd had a beef stew (hardly seasonal) because she took diced beef out when she intended to take out mince for bolognese. I used to do this regularly, particularly mixing up chilli and bolognese but now I make a label with masking tape. For raw meat I cut the label off the packaging and wrap that in the bag/cling film.

Agree about the shoes. I don't think I've gone down a size yet but shoes are definitely looser and more comfortable. Conversely I definitely went up a size as I gained weight.

Sleep well all:A

Bitsy_Beans

lessonlearned wrote: »

Also not many breaks - so no 'spare' time, plus OH had an accident getting to the loo, so all the cleaning up. I know he can't help it but it is all so time consuming and tiring. Felt a bit like a prisoner today.

Sounds like a rough day LL. Have a hug.
Thanks for the makeup tips. I have to say mineral makeup has revolutionised me. Some of my skin issues are hormonal BUT it's helped amazingly with the parts that are not. My skin is clearer than it's ever been and best part is my skin feels like it can breathe :T I'd never go back to a liquid foundation again.

Borrowed a book from the library called The Sugar Addicts Diet. Now I don't actually believe in diets BUT I do concede that I may have a slight problem with sugar. I do crave it and I probably do eat too much of it so I am hoping to read this book and pick up some tips for kicking my sugar habit. I am not someone who drinks 2l of full fat coke every day or anything but I am likely to crave something sweet after a meal. I do love my white bread although I mostly do HM so at least I know there is only 1 tbsp of sugar in the whole loaf Having read a little bit of the book already about how much stuff sugar is put in....stuff like some varieties of cottage cheese for example......well I think I shall resort to just only eating what I make soley from scratch.

lizzie157

Hi all :wave:

I've never been to a spa either.
Sorry abou your difficult day LL, hope you have a better day today and thanks for the make up tips.
I'v never worn a lot too be honest but could do with practising how to apply it properly.

No excercise for a few days been to busy trying to de- clutter so now have one v. tidy bedroom which my son has been warned better stay that way or pocket monies will be reduced lol.
not sleeping too well -seem to be hot all the time even in day after a bath two mins and I'm sweating again not sure if its weather or hot flushes.

Went out for a meal with family but ended up feeling extremely fat and fed up . Really need to do something about the weight.

Skin does feel better though - maybe its the peels.
Need to do nails -broke one de-cluttering, am also going to have a girly play with my make up.

tru

Hi all :hello:

My hands are like wrinkled up old prunes Two days of shifting slabs and sand have ruined them. I wore gloves and I've been moisturising but it hasn't made any difference. I've just filed my nails so I'll soak my hands in a minute and cover them in shea butter.

I ordered some sandals with wedge heels, I thought they were about three inches high - they're five inches. FIVE :eek: I don't usually wear heels, I'm too scared to leave the house in them :rotfl: I've been practicing tottering around the house. They seem to have thrown my hips into a different position, the tendon in my right hip doesn't feel as tight.

I'm struggling with pilates, I'm so wary of it affecting my hip. It's all in my mind - pilates strengthens everything if done in the right positions, I've had it drilled into me during dance lessons (since the age of five) so I KNOW I'm not going to do any damage.

I need to buy some dye for my clothes. I'm dying them the same colour that they already are, they've just faded a bit. Khaki green for a shirt and a skirt, and black for some t-shirts, a skirt and a pair of jeans.

I use a solid foundation and always apply it with a brush - I had a good look around at lots of fancy sets and found the perfect make-up brushes in Trago Mills