Frugal Frump to Fab/Winter Solstice

podperson

Morning all,

LL - hope you're feeling better today - try not to over do it hun x Also forgot to say what great news that your OH should be able to get funding, must be a huge relief. Thanks for the notice on the financial challenge - have quite surprised myself :rotfl:about £300 of it is a refund from credit card charges so not like I can get that every month but a lot from matched betting which I have finally been brave enough to try!

Lizzie - sending *hugs* to your family. It is hard to know what to say but am sure they just appreciate you being there to support them.

Maman - glad DD got moved in ok

Lolly - hope you had a lovely holiday

Well didn't get very far with the motivation yesterday Slept very badly on Sunday night so was really tired - did walk to Asda from work (about 20mins) got a few bits, got home made my tea and then thought I would just have a little lie down. Woke up to find it was nearly midnight :eek: and then struggled to get back to sleep again *sighs* I suppose at least if I'm asleep I can't be munching but I did mean to try and get some sketching done last night. Am tired again today but am determined no lie downs this time! :rotfl:

skipsmum

hi all, glad to see youre all still hanging in here.
My effort has gone to pot lately. Ive felt poorly so ive eaten junk and lazed around, which has made me feel fat and unmotivated.
Ive got 2 weeks til the start of uni so I need to really get on top of it all now.

Lizzie, when a freind of mines OH died suddenly a couple of years ago I sent a card offering to do shopping, mind kids, have the dog etc. She said afterwards one of the things that was really stressing her out was the dog because she just didnt have time for her, and nobody else wanted to do it, so she came and stayed with us for a couple of weeks. It was a bit of a background job, and I was glad I could help in some way. (((hugs)))

Skymist

Hi Ladies..... I hope you're all having a fairly good day, well, as well as the weather, life in general, and the onset of Autumn allows!!!

lessonlearned wrote: »

I really should listen to the physio - I am a mass of aches and pains this morning - so stiff and sore. I think I've definitely overdone things the last few days, plus of course only the basics in carers (Bank Holiday) so having to do many of the transfers alone.

It's all really taking it's toll on my poor old body. Anyway had a good long soak in the bath, gone back to wearing my copper bracelet, am going to dig out my magnetic necklace, using the ibuprofen gel (industrial strength) Will mix up some lavender oil body massage oil and try and give myself a mini massage.

What a pity I can't take anti-inflammatories - I even had to give up the turmeric in milk trial - it just upset my tummy.

Anyway enough of my moaning.

LL, have you tried fish oils?

http://md-rheumarthritis.com/fish-oil-supplements-in-the-treatment-of-arthritis/

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060404085719.htm

or ginger?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=anti-inflammatory+properties+of+ginger&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Enk&tbo=1&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&output=search&source=lnt&tbs=qdr:m&sa=X&ei=RPFcTuGfOZP64QS_ttg-&ved=0CAoQpwUoBA

I do hope you find something that eases you're aches and pains a bit, as you have SOOO much on your plate!!

Maman....congratulations to your grandaughter...so wonderful to have such a lovely young fine brain in your family!!!

Oh lizzie......more visitations from the grim reaper...many commiserations to you and yours!

When I lost my Mum, and then my partner, the thing I really needed was just some-one to talk to, who I felt I wasn't boring to death with my constant..at the time...outpourings of grief! This can be so hard, as all of ones' friends and family will have already heard and listened to you!! But I still needed to "let it out" a few months down the line, and was amazed that the bereavement counsellor, attached to my GPs surgery, completely fulfilled the roll, and was of incredible help to me. This is generally not available for the first few months, after a loved one has died......I think it was about 3 months later that I was offered counselling......but it was SOOO worth it!!!

Hallo to all new comers...still LOADS of time for Xmas FABNESS!!!

S

lessonlearned

Skymist wrote: »

...still LOADS of time for Xmas FABNESS!!!

Thanks for that skymist - just what I needed. A little positivity boost.

Day 63 - 9 weeks already

Not having the best of days - won't bore everyone to death with the details.

The two highlights - my big oven packed up yesterday :eek: and the physio confirmed that as long as I'm heavily involved with OH"s care there's not much he can do. Basically my body has to rest and repair itself. Well - that much I knew.

Anyway - back up to the full compliment of carers now so will just try and take a more "supervisory" role and see if I can help myself a little.

I'd forgotten about fish oils - used to take Cod Liver Oil years ago and it did help. Will definitely look into ginger - I'd heard about that before but not got round to trying it. It's worth a go.

Rather autumnal here this last couple of days.

Noticed that three of my cauliflower plants have been nibbled to nothing. Looked out of the window and caught one of the llamas red handed (red hoofed??). Anyway went out to remonstrate with him - went right up to him and clapped my hands as loudly as I could. He raised his head, looked straight at me and then just carried on munching. The blighter.:rotfl:

Got a mountain of paperwork to tackle, so will just give it a quick sort out ready to get down to it tomorrow, tidy up, exercise and then dinner. And there's another day gone.

Bumped into one of my new WW friends in Sainsbury's today - will definitely start again on Thursday - I really need to go to help me stay on track. They are a nice bunch, very friendly and supportive.

I will lose another stone for Christmas;) - Honest.

skipsmum

lessonlearned wrote: »

Rather autumnal here this last couple of days.

Noticed that three of my cauliflower plants have been nibbled to nothing. Looked out of the window and caught one of the llamas red handed (red hoofed??). Anyway went out to remonstrate with him - went right up to him and clapped my hands as loudly as I could. He raised his head, looked straight at me and then just carried on munching. The blighter.:rotfl:

Llamas? Really? That is so much more exiting than the snails and guinea pigs that eat mine

lolly101

Hey Everyone,

Well I splashed out a little today, treated myself to some No 7 goodies, and got a free 'Goody bag' too . I bought the Cocooning body butter (never tried this one, but it sounds lovely!), make-up primer, and the MicroDermabrasion body exfoliator (Love this stuff!).

I also bought a hair dye - didn't manage it before my holiday as I had the Nice 'n' Easy foam stuff, but was put off using it after reading many, MANY terrible reviews. Apparently it makes your hair go really dark - which is the opposite of what I want to achieve! It was also a permanent colour, which I don't like using if I can help it, so bought my usual 24 wash colour today and will use at some point this week.

LL - Your WW group sounds great, they are just the kind of people you need around you when trying to lose weight. I've been on a diet for 8 months now, and I doubt it would have lasted more than a month had I not joined one of the MSE slimming threads for support.

Lizzie - You are much braver than I am, I don't think I'd dare try threading! Or epilating for that matter! I'm a bit of a wimp really, lol.
Ooh and I found a silky face thingy! :T I found a set in the pound shop (Poundland), which had both leg and face pads. They are in a pink box, and called Oh So Smooth, or something similar. I won't end up using the leg ones though as they are the flat sheets that stick to a holder and I don't find them to be as effective as the actual mits. Very pleased to find the face one though as I've been wanting one for ages!

PP - The holiday was a bit of a disaster actually, lol. They completely messed up the booking - and were really rude when I spoke to them about it! We booked a 2 bedroom apartment with living room and kitchen... they gave us a single room! :eek: I wouldn't have gone had I have known, and they are in breach of the of the contract by not informing me prior to arrival so I'm going for a refund, or at least part refund - which will help soften the blow .
Congratulations on trying matched betting!!! :T I would love to do it as I think I understand the idea of it, I just can't get my head around betting odds, or how to work them out in 'money terms'. May have to look into it when I have a bit more free time as it is a great little money earner!


Ooh, and I have a new 'Fab rule' - I'm going to start wearing mascara every day. I already wear foundation everyday and usually blusher or bronzer, so it's not too much more effort. Will eventually work my way back up to wearing full make-up everyday as I know that I feel better in myself when I have my war paint on, lol.

lizzie157

DS2's fiance isn't up to seeing anyone at the moment so all I can do is let her know that I'm here should she need me and that she's in our thoughts. Will just play it by ear don't want to intrude if she needs to be left alone - some people do I know.
Skymist- She's having counselling so hopefully that will help.

LL- hope you feel better soon, think ,my Mum takes rosehip oil for her joints etc. She became quite frail after an op a few years ago and her walking slowed. She now seems much better still not as mobile as before but certainly much more able to get out and about which she loves to do.

Lolly glad you found the mitt. I've tried the foam hair colour and wouldn't recommend it all. It didn't cover the grey well and seemed to wash out.


Its been quite cool here too over last couple of days -was really quite cold last night.

Off for a walk with a friend later and maybe a pub lunch. Last few days of school hols so must try and make the most of it. Although after all the school uniform buying and other expenses incurred when kids are off my bank balance is looking forward to a rest. I'm always sad to see them go back though, I get used to them being around.

Bought some more dye for my hair yesterday, roots are showing abit but will try and manage alittle bit longer before I do it, maybe next week.

Off for a wash and brush up now.

bratz81

morning all! I'm back

Holidays were good but am so so glad to be home and able to get back to a proper routine again - showers and electricity and so on. The camping was good, mostly dry apart from heavy rain on Friday, and I had brought a mirror and basin for water so I could still wash my face properly and moisturise etc, and the dry shampoo helped the hair.

But we forgot the pump to blow up the blow-up mattress so after 4 days of sleeping basically on the ground my back is killing me and my backside and hips are black and blue! I bruise really easily but it looks like an elephant kicked me! So a bath tonight to help out, and get back to yoga tomorrow I think and help things along.

Got my hair trimmed before I went (first time since last Xmas) and it's looking and feeling better. I am growing it and was afraid to go incase too much was taken off, or it was butchered again like the last time but it went well and I'm chuffed. Even made another appointment for 12 weeks time (will go every quarter). Just need to colour the hair to get rid of the blue and then I'll be sorted for a bit.

podperson

Morning all,

Skipsmum - I've been a bit the same lately, very lazy and unmotivated. I've been forcing myself to do things the last few days and I think it does help a little as (for me at least!) the first thing is the hardest to do and then once you've done it you feel a bit more motivated to carry out and do something else etc.

LL - disappointing about the physio, are you on the full help they can give you at the moment? If not maybe worth asking if they could do a medical letter saying that moving your OH as much as you do is affecting your health. Also whereabouts are you with llamas in the back garden? :rotfl:My uncle had the little ones for years, seemed very cute if a little temperamental - he lives in California though!

Lolly - what a shame about the holiday, hope you manage to get some money back! I'm actually quite enjoying the matched betting - didn't do any last week because I had guests but before that had made about £200 in just over 2 weeks and that was using the smaller free bets as I'm building up my confidence a bit before trying the bigger amounts and not spending large amounts of time on it. I had been putting off trying it for ages as was really nervous but am really getting into it now. OH was saying he's getting worried I'm turning into a gambling addict but I told him I don't give a hoot which team wins I'm just addicted to getting the money back from it :rotfl:Anyway let me know if you want any help with it.

Lizzie - hope you have a nice day out. I'm sure you'll miss the kids back at school but just try and appreciate the peace and quiet

Bratz - glad you had a nice holiday but eep on the mattress - don't think I'd have lasted 4 days sleeping on the ground! I'm the same with the bruising easily, I get random ones all the time and have no idea where they come from! The door is the bedroom needs fixing at the moment as it's stuck and I keep whamming myself on the handle as I except it to swing back and it doesn't So I have a new bruise every few days from 'walking into a door' OH keeps saying to me I need to tell people something different or they'll be coming to get him :rotfl:

Anyway, was quite good last night - was very tempted by the frozen chips but forced myself to make a veggie curry, which was much nicer. Did some sketching, though must admit not that happy with them - practice, practice tho! Was thinking about things I could draw that people might pay for - so far I have kids/family/pet portraits for definate and then possibly touristy/landmark things from the city. I also had a bit of a vague idea that maybe a sketch of someone's wedding photo might make a nice anniversary gift? Any opinions or suggestions welcome

skipsmum

podperson wrote: »

Morning all,

Skipsmum - I've been a bit the same lately, very lazy and unmotivated. I've been forcing myself to do things the last few days and I think it does help a little as (for me at least!) the first thing is the hardest to do and then once you've done it you feel a bit more motivated to carry out and do something else etc.

Yes, you are right! Ive been "just making myself dress and put my shoes on so I am ready to walk the dog when I fel up to it" and then I often feel like just walking up the road, then the park etc. The more you do, the more you can do!
DSs baby is due today and I am on standby. They are only 18 and will be living here so my house is full of stuff. Little DS starts secondary tomorrow and is stressing. DH has just brought some patio doors over he got off a job and apparently is going to knock the window out and fit them after work. EEk, just what we dont need!
Right, I am going to put on my makeup and go food shopping. Everyone is in at different times at the moment so I am just going to buy a load of stuff they can do themselves and some tempting salads for me...Ive joined the 7lb club!

btw, podperson, pet sketches definitely sell. Ive done a few for family and then had commissions from their freinds for pencil & charcoal drawings. Ive even had to do fish!