Because I'm bl**dy well worth it!

rtandon27

Hypno dahling - much as I love you, the idea of a fish finger sandwich is just too much to bear! - I'd even choose the elusive sprout tin first, given the opportunity. - OH on the other hand sides with you, says it's an English thing & that I don't know what I'm missing!!!

XOXOX

redsquirrel80

Ooh I love fish finger sandwiches Put some tomato ketchup on, that's one of your five a day isn't it, almost.....?

gallygirl

redsquirrel80 wrote: »

Ooh I love fish finger sandwiches Put some tomato ketchup on, that's one of your five a day isn't it, almost.....?

Have 2 sandwiches and it's 2 of your 5 a day

hypno06

RT, I think our relationship can cope with the international differences. Just :rotfl:

I am experimenting this week with getting the next bus into the city in the mornings - this gives me another 20 mins or so at home, during which I made sandwiches for lunch today and did the dishwasher and stuff. I don't know yet whether it works out as being unacceptably "not quite so early" for work, but it would allow me time for a second coffee at home, thereby saving the cost of Nero or Costa on the way in, and also hopefully will give me more likelihood of making a packed lunch, again saving money more often than not. I'm hoping, therefore, that it all works, as a less stressful, less expensive start to the day has to be good all round!

Had a very quiet, quite relaxed weekend - saw a few friends but in a low key way which suited me nicely. Got my presents wrapped and cards done. I've just got one or two bits and pieces to find and the food to collect, and I am actually feeling quite organised this year and not stressing about Christmas and all that it brings.

My photos are up and I love them. I am very pleased that I bought them, and it has definitely encouraged me to tweak things a little more at home in order to get it as I want it this year. There won't be much in the way of compromise - I have lived with that for long enough!

I am loving the nails I had done at the weekend. This is something that I would like to add to my "me" list, but I'm not sure yet whether I can justify it enough to eat into my ever decreasing budgets. I shall see how I feel when the time comes to have them re-done. They are gel nails so not false looking, and also are incredibly hard wearing so should last me 3 or 4 weeks before I need to have them re done. Something to think about and to do my homework as to how much it costs at various places.

My next chapter of pondering will be the "me" things, therefore.....I need to keep this in check as it could easily run away with me, financewise, but on the other hand, it is an integral part of me feeling comfortable and more confident in myself than I have done in previous years, so is actually more important than I would ever have given credit to in the past.

Watch this space :rotfl:

millionaire_in_training

Fish finger sandwiches :eek: YUK

chevalier

You have given me something to ponder hypno. I hardly ever spend any money on me, be it clothes, make up, hair. And I look every one of my 40something years. I hate it, but feel so guilty taking any money for me. I hadn't realised until you talked about it just how much my frumpiness is getting me down......

I think I will have to address this soon...
chev

hypno06

It is a difficult one, chev, because when I was on the DF journey, I didn't make the effort for many reasons - I was unhappy, I didn't spend any money on me, I didn't really think anything "different" of myself other than the person I had become etc.

It was OH leaving me that pushed me to address all those issues, and it also came with the time that gave me a bit more disposable income too.

There are photos on fb taken literally the day before OH announced he was leaving. I look 10 years older, and many people that I have met in the two years since have commented to say that they wouldn't actually have recognised me from those photos.

Obviously, I have invested money in this too - money which in years gone by I wouldn't have had, and money that I may not have spare in the future, on the basis that no one knows what is ahead of us. BUT, more importantly, I know that if I needed to, I could maintain my current stance without spending as much if I had to......it is the "ME" that is important now, because of the way that it makes me feel.

So, for example, things like.....

I have renewed my wardrobe contents completely. This was necessary as I changed weight and shape, but also as I ditched the old me. It cost a fair bit of money to do, but because I bought mainly classics, and because my weight is now stable, and I have my "look" sorted, the cost going forward will be far less than that of the past 18 months or so because I really do have everything I need.

I have my hair cut and coloured and it costs between £40 and £100 every 5 weeks. This is a lot of money for someone who used to go years without doing anything other than cutting her fringe herself and buying BOGOF hair dye in Boots. If I need to, I can just have it cut, but go back to colouring it myself, for example. I don't want to - I like the experience and the results from the salon, but I can compromise to a certain extent without being back in the dark days of frumpiness!

I love the new me. I am so accepting of myself, my body, my shape, and this is something that has NEVER happened before in all my adult life for various reasons. The confidence that this brings is huge when combined with ditching the head-crap stuff that I had also been carrying around.

For me, the investment has been so worth it, and will continue being worth it going forwards if I can manage it. It has to be kept in perspective, and only forms part of our new life. But it DEFINITELY forms a part that I enjoy, that cannot be denied.

lucielle

Very eloquent post, H. As always you rock!!!
L

hypno06

Thanks, Lucielle - I was about to type "not sure that I rock, though" then I thought better of it and instead will respond with "HELL YEAH"!!!!!

I think that 2010 was all about starting again. OH left in the January and I moved house in the December, so the period in between was full of all the crappiness and stress that accompanies a break up and the very big, very important decisions that go along with it.

2011 has been all about me - discovering, layer by layer, who I am and what I want. And as importantly, what I don't want. Like I have said before, the results have been emotional and often surprising, but it has been a very exciting process to have gone through. I have invested in myself this year. Lots..., but like I say, the ongoing investment is not likely to be as great in terms of large sums.....but there will be ongoing costs one way or another to maintain the things that I want to maintain in a (fairly) responsible way!

2012 I feel is all about putting the new me into my home. The pictures, the talk about finally painting, about moving bits of furniture out etc. DD and I were in a gallery yesterday evening, and discussed another picture we both liked. She commented that our house was an art gallery in itself. I agree with that - it is a showcase for US, for the people we are, and I like that idea and want to run with developing it for the year. I want my home to be an extension of me. For people to know that if they are comfortable with me, then they are comfortable in my space, if that makes sense. It is quite an exciting thought, and so that is where my focus will lie for the next 12 months. Maintaining ME and reflecting that elsewhere.

Exciting times

purpleruby

Morning Lady as always an lovely post from your good self and one that makes me think about my journey these last few years which hasn't been so different from yours.

My problem is I haven't discovered me yet. I discovered fun and a social life which to an extent I feel I may hide behind..........need to think that one out lol.

I think having a young DD I have thrown myself into being super single mum and totally forgotten about me...........

Why do you do this.........you write stuff.........it makes me think........ hee hee.