Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

lessonlearned

Well the skip has arrived (looks a bit small - maybe I should have ordered the next size up but was trying to economise). Never mind, 'm sure we'll manage - just as long as it takes the big stuff I can always do a few trips to the tip if necessary. I've got a Grand C4 Picasso - for all OH's equipment when we go anywhere and that can swallow quite a lot of stuff.

Bedroom cleared ready for painting - so I think I've got a busy day ahead. So I'm sitting here wearing trackie bottoms and an old T shirt, well I'm not going to get all this work done wearing a ball gown and tiara am I.:rotfl: Occasion Appropriate Dressing

Had a lovely evening with DS2 - we got the chiminea going, sat in front of it, feeding it paper, watching the flames whilst having a cup of coffee and a natter.

He's grown into such a nice man. Both boys have inherited their Dad's charm and wit.

I sometimes look at DS2 and have to ask myself is this the same boy (now man) who at 14 was a such a Neanderthal - typical lazy, oafish teenager - with knobs on. He's even started tidying his bedroom now and then.:rotfl:

Anyway Jelly - what a fantastic post. Well done you. I'm sure your first holiday without your husband was a real milestone - I think most celebration days on the calendar are - Christmas is another big hurdle for many newly bereaved.

You've done so well - of course you will have low days - don't feel guilty about this - it's only right and proper - you need to grieve for as long as it takes. My dear Aunty S had been widowed for over 40 years or so and would still shed the occasional tear. It's normal.

Three bottles of perfume - well why not. You'll be fragrant for some time to come.:)

Maman Re the OCM I think if your skin feels a bit dry maybe you need to adjust the proportions of caster oil to whichever other oil you are using - less castor oil maybe?. If you feel that you need moisturiser than by all means slap some on.

I've stopped using OCM at the moment. I don't know if it was connected but I developed some milia (whiteheads). I'm trying to treat them myself but now that I'm older I find that my skin is much more fragile and can bruise very easily. The milia are very near my eyes where the skin is particularly delicate so I think I may have to go and have these done professionally. Since stopping the OCM they seem to be improving slightly.

Molly and Lizzie - just hang in there. Keep up the TLC and you will start to feel better. As Maman says you'll feel so much better about yourself that you will feel better placed to deal with life's vicissitudes (ooh get me on a Monday morning).

I don't mean to drone on about OH's illness - but this thread and Frump to Fab is what has kept me going. Taking care of myself, making an effort, wearing something nice is my suit of armour.

Yesterday I wore my grey/pink combo when I went to visit OH - I got a lot of compliments from the staff. When I told them the truth about how they were charity shop bargains they were gobsmacked.

Anyway - off to peg out the washing and dig out that paint roller - maybe another shot of caffeine before I get going.:D

Have a good day. x

Bitsy_Beans

Lovely post jellybaby, I am glad you managed your holiday. Well done xxx

Lizzie - hugs for you. My mum isn't quite Victor Meldrew but she's not one of life's positive people. However I am reminded that I don't wish to have quite the same attitude as her and believe it or not I think she might be slowly taking more notice of my positive attitude. Does your OH do it deliberately to keep people away or is part of this how he was brought up? All I will say is you must continue to be positive. That's not to say slap a false smile on everything, of course carpy things happen no matter what your attitude but what defines people is how they deal with lifes ups and downs. You never know if your PMA keeps going then perhaps it might rub off a little on your OH.

LL - well done on your compliments

Still plodding here, not doing any exercise, I have succumbed to having some Galaxy but I honestly thought I was feeling so low then why punish myself even more by denying what I really wanted Been to two supermarkets this morning get food shop whilst we're away, I refuse to have to go shopping as soon as we arrive at our destination. So more plod plod plod as I slowly start gathing all the stuff needed for holiday. Some clothes already deposited in the caravan and a few more to go. Boxing up food and then that leaves personal stuff like toys for kids, toiletries etc. Still feeling a little low but am working on letting go of those feelings. A lovely MSE friend lent me her Sedona Method CD's and I've been trying to listen to them over the weekend. It's a work in progress but I am hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Have a lovely day all

Skymist

Hallo Fab sisters...hope your day is going well!

Healing vibes, and much love to all who need it....I'm an old hippie like you LL, LOL!!! I'm so pleased for both you and your wonderful-sounding hubby, that his week(?) of respite is in such a good place!! Fingers-crossed (apart from all the dealings with the SS that you will have and have had to go through, and tolerate), that you'll find a great/right home for him when he eventually needs it .

Jill, you are doing SOOO well, and that was soo brave of you, going on holiday with just your boys!!! I lost my partner coming up to 3 years ago, and still find it very hard to cope at times!!

BEAUTIFUL bead maman....how many do you have altogether?

I hope Mooloo, that you are finding some relief from your sciatica!

Well, I'm finally going to do something to get this old body moving a bit more (apart from walking), and hopefully prevent it from seizing up in the future...although I'm fine at present....by having enrolled for a course of Tai Chi, at local council-run adult classes!!! They start in September, and run for 10 weeks...so I hope I'll avoid any snow that may be on the horizon!!!LOL......for an hour-and-a-half on Saturday mornings!! A bit more gentle than all the gym stuff I used to do!!!

Take care all of you!!!

S

Bitsy_Beans

Skymist - enjoy your Tai Chi. It's a lot harder than it looks Hmmm I must dust off my Tai Chi sword am sure the kids would love to play with it LOL

MrsWoolfe

Hello All!

Welcome to all of the newbies and welcome back JellyBean! Glad you made it through - at least that "first" is done and dusted now- that how I saw it with Dad, the first of everything is really hard, so when we get through one I tell myself that the next time will be easier now- mostly that's true but there are somethings that are always hard- just keep doing what you're doing as you sound like you are doing really really well!

Hugs to those that need one- a bit peaks and troughs on here at the moment, but the bad times don't last so all we can do is keep going and hope we get to another good point soon!

interesting weekend for me went up to see Mum and had my 3yr old niece for the day, which always cheers me up- she's just such a happy bubbly little girl and her enthusiam for everything is infectious you can't help but be swept up with her laughter. She's become very articulate since I last saw her and came out with some funny little one-liners kid-logic always makes me laugh.

Good to see mum too, odd really as she did that thing where she makes remarks that are a bit hurtful- " You used to have such lovely skin" "that's a nice top...it's a shame you're not slimmer though" etc and for once instead of gritting my teeth and fuming inside I pulled her up on it- she honestly seemed to think that comments like that were not "mean" and was quite defensive, but I think that comments like that all my life have done a lot of damage- she think's I'm oversensitive- what I eventually realised it that to her it's only a passing comment-almost thoughtlessly said and that her "real" opinion of me is very different so she can't see how much that hurts- the problem is she doesn't say the positive things so all I hear is the negative- when challenged she responds with "well OF COURSE I'm proud of you/think you're doing well/think you are beautiful etc" but doesn't seem to realise that only ever saying the negative means that I don't always know that is what she thinks/feels....long winded but I think we understand each other a little better now:D

Of course, now I'm getting msgs like "morning my sweety, love you"--this is very unlike usual communication between us- and she's gone onto to FB to look at pictures and called up to tell me "that one of you at X is lovely" "your hair looks great here" etc so she is really trying:D:D

Sorry for the long-winded ness just has given me a lot to think about and indirectly relates to the FAB quest- I think in a way I became a "frump" as an act of rebellion almost- Mum has always looked after herself well, and looked great now at 58 still looks great at most people goggle in shock when they realise she has adult children...so my descent into frumpdom started I think with rebelling her attempts to make me dress nice/wear make-up - I always felt like I was being criticised so would do the opposite just to wind her up- big baggy jumpers...and then the goth phase she really hated that one!:o

so trying to be less argumentative and quick to take offense- e.g. instead of getting irritated when she gave me a "anti-tan fairness" face mask (she has a real thing about me/her getting dark in the sun) I just said thank-you and I used it last night- it's all herbal/natural ingredients- clay, turmeric etc so other than cleansing my skin and perhaps helping to even my skin tone (turmeric is meant to be good for this) i don't expect it will do much else-


sorry lot of waffle from me today:o mulling lots over... back on topic more more on topic at least, did the defuzz, deep conditioned hair and did a face mask last night. tonight will paint nails and chill out mainly:D

hope you are all having a good day!

MrsWoolfe

Bitsy_Beans

Mrs Wolfe I hear you on the mothers comment. My mum does similar. Let's face it we all havenour <ahem> less than best days. I know this as I do own a mirror and yet if I see my mum she feels compelledmto point it out. She thinks if she can't say who can. Missing the point entirely that I don't need her to say in the first place LOL

MrsWoolfe

Lol Bitsy Beans that it exactly the phrase my Mum comes out with when challenged! ah well I will try and remember that she doesn't mean for it to be mean! (rolls eyes)

maman

Strangely enough, I was having a conversation with a friend tonight about people who are blunt/tactless to the point of being rude. It irritates me that some people just don't think of the effect their words might have. Some even pride themselves on speaking their mind/calling a spade a ****ing shovel! I tend to say nothing to them but it does annoy me.

Skymist, I now have 8 beads, four silver and four glass in various neutral colours (black, fawn, white). I'm not usually into costume jewellery but I really enjoy wearing my bracelet. I'm considering getting a neck chain so I could wear them that way instead.

No walking today but I did go dancing tonight so that counts as my exercise. I also filed and creamed my feet after my shower. I didn't need to go out for a few hours so I put my little socks on. I haven't been putting polish on my nails for a week or so but I have been shining them up with the buffer block. It looks quite nice for everyday wear. I need to put polish on my toenails, will do that tomorrow. Made myself up and sprayed perfume to go out this evening.

Got nice comments from friends that I'd not seen for a few weeks, including how colourful I looked. I was only wearing a cheap Primark turquoise cardi which co-ordinated with my multicolour skirt but it felt good. So some people do say the right things.

Quick question about OCM. When I asked about moisturising, I understand that everyone needs to find the right proportion of oils. What I don't understand is how you don't need moisturiser if you've just steamed/wiped your face with a cloth. Surely the oil is removed then? Or am I not doing it properly? Also, should I rub with the facecloth to exfoliate a bit? Sorry if I'm being dense.

'night all.

bratz81

morning all - haven't been posting for a few days but have been reading.

@MrsWolfe - my mother is also a bit like yours, only worse!! She doesn't even have nice things to say unless I'm a total clone of hers. Which considering I look like my dad is gonna be hard!

I'm off to England tomorrow (Derby) and have to get up a 4am to drive down to Dublin for 7am to check onto the ferry. The fiance is into LARP and there's an event on (starts Thursday night til Monday lunchtime) so we have to bring a tent and so on, and the ferry is better. Plus we managed to save £200 leaving from Dublin instead of Belfast.
So as we're camping with limited showers I'm not looking forward to it. I'm bringing a basin I can fill from the stand pipe, and mini cleanser, soap, dry shampoo and so on so I should be able to stay relatively clean. Other years I didn't mind as much but this year I'm trying to be more Fab than Frump so it'll be a challenge!

tru

Morning :hello:

Ooooh I got as far as saying 'morning', hit the return key and posted waaaay too early I'm now editing. I think the keyboard is confused.

I did some yoga yesterday, after a couple of minutes a pain started in my hip. I was in some postion or other and had to try and get up. As I straightened up it got worse and travelled down my leg, I was going 'OW, OW, OWWWWWW' and was a massive twinge (not exactly a twinge but I don't now how to describe it, lol) and it felt like something clunked into place in the side of my leg, near the top. The pain disappeared and I've now got a dull ache. It feels so much better.

I'm having a frugal lunch today - pasta (bought 1 pack, got 2 free) with a sauce made from tomatoes from the garden and herbs from Trago Mills (£2.29 for 100g) I only eat small meals, so I'll make a big pan full and freeze the rest in portions.

Not much too report really, I'm still doing my daily usuals.

We're off work for a week in september, we're scouring the internet for good deals on self-catering in Cornwall. We've found a couple of place we like the look of. Must admit, I'd rather go on my own :rotfl: