Ruby Sew Sew's Budget Beauty Box

RubySewSew

Does anybody else struggle to know what dress size to buy? I have the strangest assortment in my wardrobe. Dresses are generally an 18, cardigans a 14, skirts a 16 and I can never get trousers to fit. None of this corresponds to my measurements - my waist is currently 41 inches and my bust even bigger than that! I have just ordered myself some dresses in a size 18 and I'm hoping to goodness they will fit.

Also, having changed from a size 6 foot to size 7 when I was pregnant I am now finding that some size 7's are too small. Is this a weight thing? I don't particularly have fat feet but they are quite wide. I am the heaviest I have ever been....

RubySewSew

I have aimed for my 7 portions of f&v today. I've had 2 with every meal (breakfast - banana & apple, lunch cucumber & avocado & carrot, dinner - peas and salad). I was going to have a 7th (strawberries with lemon curd yoghurt) but I AM TOO FULL UP!!! Please let this equate to lots of lovely weight loss!!

WartimeScrapingofMarmite

:jGreat news on the tax rebate! I had one too, so went off yesterday for a bit of a spend - but thanks to your wardrobe whittling tips, I now know what suits me and what I needed to buy, so am very pleased with my purchases which fit in well with the rest of the capsule! I bought:-

Beige and black Ponte dress, very similar in style to my beloved ponte dress from Next
Beige and black A-Line knee length skirt
Beige and pink stripey cardi
Three scoop neck tops in white, beige and black
Black cardi with crochet bit on the back.

(Oh and some new perfume as mine ran out weeks ago and I've been making do with a very ropey body spray from a pound shop!)

I know it all looks a bit "beige" but at least it all goes together and matches the rest of my depleted wardrobe:D

Also started dieting yesterday - I am doing the GI Diet which I did a few years ago and is supposed to stop you feeling hungry - I am blinkin' starving though, so maybe I am doing something wrong:rotfl:

RubySewSew

Marmite! That is fantastic news! :j We've started a wardrobe revolution! I need to get new leggings for my capsule wardrobe/uniform! But I can't find any anywhere.

I need new perfume to. It is such a massive expense though. Once upon a time I would have had enough Boots loyalty points or could have picked it up in the airport whilst on a weekend city break :rotfl::rotfl:

RubySewSew

My food diary today goes like this:

fruit smoothie (1)
blueberries with lemon curd yoghurt (2)
carrot (3)
bacon sarnie & packet of crisps
apple (4)
roast beef, potatoes, yorkshire puds, carrots, broccoli, green beans (7)
apple & blackberry crumble (8) with cream

So, get me. I hit 8. But I'm not sure that I'm going to lose any weight with everything else I've managed to eat today!

I had planned to tidy up nails - pedicure and manicure before start of school next week but soooo tired! Curled up watching film instead. Being beautiful will have to wait until tomorrow

RubySewSew

I meant to say - I nearly bought boots with heels but chickened out. I used to wear wedges and heels loads but lost the knack when I had the kids. Any advice?

skipsmum

no advice on shoes or heels, but I am off to make a start on my wardrobe! Today I am going to separate the stff I dont wear/cant fit into bags. I may not be able to get rid of them, but at least then I will be able to see what I have left to wear at college next week!

rainbow81

Hey RubySS!

Thanks for the guidance on sorting your wardrobe, mine is now fully colour coded :j and a lot emptier. I faced the fact that short dresses don't do much for my thighs (or should that be the other way round :rotfl:?) even with leggings. Of course I then had to go and buy some new stuff - Mr T has some nice knee length dresses in.

I have no guidance on heels I'm afraid, feet like ducks' so gave up on those before I really got started. However, I did just get some low wedges from the M&S Footglove range (in the sale :money:). I would like to add here that I am 30, not as old as that last sentence made me sound. They are very comfy though, they have stood the test of an all day wear.

Does anyone have any tips on nails? I always think they look nice with colour on them but, of course, I never do mine. They always chip really quickly what with the housework. A bit of clear varnish does help with a more groomed look but are there any brands of varnish that are more durable?
Thanks,
RB

RubySewSew

I've posted about nail varnish before and unfortunately the more expensive the varnish the more likely it is to last! Chanel is good, hard candy, urban decay etc. However, there is a cheaper way to do it. Make sure your nails are neat and tidy first, trimmed, filed and cuticles moisturised and pushed back. Use a base coat first, then 2 coats of varnish. Wait for it to dry!!! I always leave out this step and smudge and scratch it and end up touching it up 20 times. Then, add a top coat. I used an Avon base coat and top coat that my Mum bought years and years ago and it has lasted forever. I try and do my nails the night before so that in the morning I can have a bath and then ease off any of the bits that have gone over the edge. So much easier and neater than trying to mop it up with nail varnish remover.

Alternatively, save up loyalty points to treat yourself a really nice nail varnish. the 2 chanel ones I have I have had for years and they are still in fantastic condition.

I should add that with 3 boys and 10 pets at home and a class full of reception children at work I am the worst one in the world for having nice nails!

The other alternative you could try is to buy a really good tool for buffing - that way you can have beautiful, shiny, well looked after nails. I had a really good one for toes from scholl I think.

RubySewSew

Oh and a little pin up girl tip for nails... If you look at the base of your nail you will see a crescent shape. Don't paint the crescent - leave it empty and paint the rest of the nail - it will make your nails look longer.