Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

pollyskettle

LL - my thoughts are with you at the moment. Having been there with a family member recently, I can understand how very hard it all is xx

L1 Day 3 of the 30 Day Shred done and dusted and I feel GOOD! I also had a lovely shower afterwards and scrubbed my locks and conditioned them properly, so my hair will be looking lovely when I get round to drying it/it dries naturally (probably the latter to be honest ). That reminds me though, that I don't smell 'Lovely' yet, so I shall nip upstairs in a mo and put some of that on. Someone mentioned the BS Neroli and Jasmine - I have that one too and I love it!

Just had an email from Amazon to say my book has been dispatched - I am so looking forward to reading it! Still haven't read the organisational stuff. I must make time for that later.

Pol xx

elantan

LL thoughts are with you today ... i have worked in a respite place and i know that there are places that arnt great but i can honestly tell you ( and believe me i wouldnt say it unless i believed it) the place where i work is amazing .... our sevice users love it ... they see it as a holiday away from all and with a bunch of friends ( we try and match up personalities as much as possible.... and if people get on well we try to work it that they meet up again on their next visit)... fingers crossed your husband get's a place like it ( it's a charoty organisation if that helps any) i would agree with the dr and say start looking now you want the best for your husband and for yourself and that may take time to find ... my thoughts are with you both at this time ... try though and see if you can have a wee treat for yourself even if it is something simple ...

well i am not long up as i am recovering from night shift ... so just going to do shred then take th ings over to my friends and into the local town to get my mobile sorted again ... will report back later with all my progress ... lovely to hear how everyone is doing

lessonlearned

Hi Everyone

Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts. Thanks for your special advice Elantan. It is very reassuring - may I ask which charity?

Well it has to be said that today has to be one of the saddest days of my life. I knew it would be hard - but this is almost unbearable. I feel as if a dagger has been plunged into my heart.....

I only hope to God he is ok and they will look after him properly. He looked so frail and and vulnerable. I know I desperately need a rest, particularly as his main PA is on holiday next week and I would have no-one to help me and give me breaks. I do know in my head it's the right thing to do - it just feelswrong, like a betrayal.

I am sorry to sound such a wimp but I can't even pick up the phone to talk to anyone yet ..............maybe later. My dear old mum keeps phoning me to see if I'm ok - I know it sounds awful but I can't talk to her yet, later.

My DS2 will be home from work soon and I know he will fuss round me like a mother hen so I will be alright. Bless him.

I will go and see Oh tomorrow morning - take him a flask of real coffee and his favourite pan au chocolate.

I'm sure I will feel better after a decent night's sleep, I haven't slept much the last couple of nights and I look pretty rough. A good nights' s sleep (a couple of glasses of wine should help:o) and some pampering in the morning, doll myself up so I look nice for him.

A couple of years ago he had a big "episode" - nearly died - and spent 4 months in hospital. I used to make a huge effort to look nice when I visited him - I'm sure it made me cope better. I got friendly with a few of the other wives and girlfriends and they used to do the same thing too.

Isn't it funny how we women use make-up, clothes etc as a form of armour against our woes. It does work though. Behind the painted smile and all that ........

I've made OH promise me faithfully to let me know if he is miserable, if he is or if he is not being cared for properly I will bring him straight home. I know this might sound a bit sneaky but I will be doing a couple of unscheduled visits and spot checks to make sure all is well.

I am usually a very calm, relaxed and laid back kind of person but, like all women, when it comes to my family I can be like a ferocious tiger protecting her cubs if I have to.

Anyway - I'm enjoying reading all about your progress and glad to see you are all doing so well.

I know I've mentioned that I thought we could have some fun this week with our version of Fashion Week. I knew I would need some serious cheering up today so I think this is a good time to start .............

Savvybunny2009

A few days late, but may I join in too?

I could do with a spruce up, geting into a regular beauty routine, findng products that work for me etc...

How does it work, do you share tips, have challenges, or is it more of a share what you have done inda thing?

Hope to join you all on your way to looking gorgeous

LittleBoots

Hi Everyone

I'd like to come out of Lurkdom please?
I discovered the original thread at the beginning of this year. At the time I'd just came out of a relationship and felt like it was the end of the world. I'm in a much much better place now, pretty much over it I think and feel a bit silly about how it affected me at the time.
I never said 'hello' in the original thread as I felt like an imposter (not that the people here gave that impression, I have had that weird feeling that I'd read someones secret diary I shouldnt have).

This thread really applies to me, I have to take better care of myself. I have been working on this this year and slowly geretting there. Am successfully losing weight, getting fit and treating myself. I am trying to create a small budget for beauty therapies...I need to try keep up with my 'grooming' all the time rather than just for special occasions. It really does make you feel better. I have a few things booked on Groupon (nails/facial/hair) that I must get sorted.

I commented on someones diary recently that I take better care of my houseplants than I do myself so I know it's time to see to that!

I'm currently doing the 30 day Shred, have just done day 4 of level 3. Its great but hard, I would recommend it to anyone.

I'll be back soon, am off to nightshift now and sooo tired, sorry if this post doesnt make much sense!

LB

lessonlearned

Hi Back again

Before we get down to business, I thought we could take a quick look at what I call Wardrobe Maintenance - how to take care of clothes and make the best of what we've got. I think good clothes care is all part of the grooming process we discussed.

I am no expert and would love to learn more, so please chip in with any tips.

Metal coat hangers are the work of Satan. You know what to do.
The back of a chair is not a suitable substitute for a coat hanger.
Always change out of your good clothes, joggies and sweatshirts are perfect for lolling in front of the TV. Your best work outfit isn't.

(I know I'm a nag) - but deep down you know this stuff

Always wear an apron when frying bacon
Never put dirty clothes back in the wardrobe or drawers. Moths love food stains and are drawn to perspiration.
Always keep your wardrobe doors closed on summer evenings to keep the moths out
Camphor is the best moth repellant but it stinks, lavender bags, those cedar hanging things, cedar balls all work well
Put bars of soap in drawers to make your clothes smell nice - mega MSE this one - also helps repel moths and hardens the soap so it lasts longer
Put empty perfume bottles in your undies drawer - there will be enough of the scent left to make your undies smell gorgeous
Never hang damp coats or outer garments straight into your wardrobe - make sure they are properly dry first - they will make everything smell musty and if left long enough can cause mould
Hang garments outside the wardrobe for an hour or two to let them air before putting them away - helps get rid of "street" or restaurant smells

Dry Cleaning is a relatively new phenomenon - too much/too often can be a bad thing - it knocks the stuffing out of a garment. Instead spot clean any marks and then give it a good brushing and airing.
Regular brushing is good for most outer garments such as suits and topcoats, removes surface dust and debris before it can eat it's way into fabric fibres

Washing - when I volunteer at Scope I am always so annoyed when I see perfectly good clothes that have been ruined by poor laundry techniques.

Learn and follow the garment instructions
Wash whites by themselves
Don't lump all colours and fabrics together in one huge wash
(I know this might seem extravagant on water/leccy/detergent but it needn't be if you plan things properly).
Just for the record I probably have about 40 pairs of white knickers, nothing posh, just cheap and cheerful everyday ones - I can save them up and do a big whites wash
Don't just fling everything in the machine - check for stains first and treat them accordingly
(OH's illness makes mountains of washing - much of it very heavily stained. I get through at least 1 bottle of Vanish stain spray a week - not cheap but better than having to throw clothes away).
I know you can machine wash just about everything but nice new knitwear and your really delicate things deserve special care - wash them by hand
knitwear etc can snag on the drum - hand wash then pop them in a pillow case before spinning - I found this out the hard way when I ruined a beautiful hand knit sweater

back in a mo ...................

lessonlearned

Ironing I know, I know most of you probably hate it, but be honest most garments look better when they are beautifully ironed.
If you are really really anti then just do your special things.

Shoes - in regular use should be polished at least once a week. A quick wipe with one of those instant shine things is fine for every day, but leather shoes need to be fed with polish, it keeps the leather soft and supple.

Smelly shoes can be refreshed with bicarb (pop some bicarb in some old socks, add a few drops of lavender oil or a few sprigs from the garden) pop a sock in each shoe overnight

Ideally if you can afford it, the same shoes should not be worn day after day, they benefit from being "rested"

Handbags Try not to leave them on the floor, the leather can get scuffed and damaged

Stuff them with tissue paper when not in use for any length of time

Remember that little old rhyme? "A stitch in time saves nine" It is true. Check your clothes regularly for minor tears, missing buttons, loose hems and deal with them whilst the repair is easy.

I know it perhaps all sounds like a lot of hard work, but if you keep on top of things, then just like the grooming it soon becomes second nature.

Treat your clothes with a bit of TLC then you'll reap the rewards in spades. Your clothes will always look good, they'll last longer and, when opportunity knocks and you want to knock 'em dead, you can put together a killer look at a moment's notice.:)

Bye for now x

elantan

wow LL i honestly dont know if i will ever be able to do all of that ... i dont "do " ironing for a start lol ... i hadnt ironed for over two years and one day i thought i would give it a whirl ... it took me ages to find the ironing board ... i eventually had to give in and ask hubby where it was ... he told me after laughing at me ... then i proceeded to look for the iron .. i couldnt find it eventually had to ask him where it was as well ... i am going to try and implement some of the things though ...

if you dont mind i dont want to share publically the company i work for ... i am more than willing to do so privately if you wish ... when i did a few shifts at our respite unit we had families dropping in often we welcomed them with open arms ... it is good for both you and your husband ( and the staff to be kept on their toes) but please try not to do it alot .. you need this time for you as well ... you need the break ... by all means deff go and visit take him his favourite treat stay a while ... but then take time for you ... you can always phone later on to say night night ... we sometimes found when parents dropped in unannounced we were out with the s.u's to various places pictures sports things etc so the families didnt get to meet up with their kids ... at the end though the families were happy that their loved ones were having fun

ok today i did shred day two ... agony does not describe it .. i did worse than yesterday this was due to me being so stiff and sore from yesterday ... hopefully tomorrow i will be better ... i then had a shower put makeup on and did my hair ... i wore heels people ... oh my lord why do we put ourselves through that agony ? i went into the local town and bought myself a lovely flowy light coloured top ... very not me but very lovely and ofcourse i bought a matching bag lol ... i have decided to be strict with myself when i buy something new i need to get rid of something done ... so on my return home i got rid of an old bag and an old top

tonight i am going to do my nails again i havnt decided exactly what colour and i think i will have a foot massage will take my makeup off and have a mini facial again ... parts of this challenge i am loving but other parts ( like wearing high heels ) i just dont know if i will ever fully accept and do for good ... but it is all about mixing and matching and doing whats right for us ... oh and i bought bananas so i might do that facial tonight yay

pollyskettle

I finally got round to doing my nails! I'm currently sporting Essie's Soiree Mauve. I feel a bit feminine! Hair's in a pony tail after being down for part of the day - it needs a good cut and then I can show it off!

LL - I can only second elantan. Take some time for you as both you and your OH will benefit from that

elantan - I did day 3 today, definitely easier than day 2 Day 4 is supposed to be the make or break as the pain should subside then! Keep going - I feel so good after 3 days, it is so worth it.

Carmen

Hi Ladies, newbies and lurkers,

Just a quickie to say I am still alive and kicking:)

I will try to catch up with all the posts tomorrow and start to post again.

I hope all is well with you all?

Carmen xxxx

LL, thanks for keeping this thread going X