Frump to Fab - Summer Solstice Sizzler

bratz81

afternoon all!

LL - glad you had a great weekend and yay to Sophistica.

I went to be a 'model' this morning and had a facial, manicure and make-up application. The facial was lovely although I got told off by the teacher when I said I didn't use any expensive products or toner - apparently I should be cos I have sensitive skin. I did tell her that things like that make my skin worse but she poo-poohed that idea. Still, was nice to be pampered.

It's kind of sad I think how professionals like hairdressers, beautician's etc push a lot of information that is incorrect, or not suitable for certain people off as fact. Not all of them of course! I don't mean to offend anyone by this.
But I mean hairdressers, telling me to make my hair grow to cut it every 6 weeks - cutting off the growth doesn't make it longer! Heat styling doesn't make it healthier either! And this lady this morning wanting me to use toner that dries and irritates my skin while telling me grapeseed oil is bad for it - my skin has never been better since using it!

maman

:wave: I know what you're saying bratz, if all the products out there suited everyone we wouldn't need the huge range that is the cosmetics industry. But then maybe we don't anyway!! Glad to hear you're being pampered. How was the make up?

Glad you had a good time in London LL. Funnily enough, I guessed you were meeting up with sophistica. I googled the seminar and it sounded just her sort of thing. It was kind of her to host the weekend for you.

Lizzie, I think going for a trip to the capital would be excellent and it's always good to have something to look forward to. You won't be totally left to your own devices as you'll have the boys to travel with and eat with later in the evening after the footie's over. It's so easy to get around. Personally I like to walk or take the bus as you get to see more but tube's great for longer distances. There's loads to see and do depending on your personal tastes and your daughter's. If you want any ideas, just ask!

I've done a bit of fabbing the past couple of days. I'm definitely planning my outfits these days. Although today I'm wearing CS cords (MaxMara) and a purple wool jumper (French Connection) my purpose is definitely warmth rather than chic!! It's really cold here and I'm off out to footie later. All the thermals will be worn!!

I've been keeping up with the OCM and yesterday I got some of those nose strips. Tried one today and it didn't shift a lot but then what's there is only like tiny grains of sand so it all helps. I'm going to persevere!! My nails had got very long so I cut them short yesterday and gave myself a bit of a manicure. I think it does them good to be cut back every now and then (I worked out last time was 5 months ago).

You sounded very glam for the CAMRA meeting LW. I don't blame you giving up the voluntary role. Sometimes the most assertive thing we can do is say no. Weren't we talking about doormats when we were on the D's?

lessonlearned

lizzie157 wrote: »

LL glad you had a great weekend. I know its been mentioned before but maybe some time later in the year it would be nice for a sizzler meet up somewhere. This would be massive action for me.

I'm toying with the idea of going to London myself - the boys will be going to watch football in a couple of months and my daughter has been asking for a while if she can go. I thought perhaps whilst they were watching footie me and her could go a look round but I've never been to London since I was small and am not used to cities and the thought is very scary (there's that F word again-fear), I want to go but am scared of a) being somewhere I don't know and the vision I have of the place being full of scary people. Don't know if I can pluck up the courage.:o

A sizzler meet up - it's all part of my new master plan - watch this space.......

Re London - don't be put off - it's not full of monsters and scary people - just watch your bag and purse on the tube.

I even had a very nice man helping me lug my case up the steps in a tube station. I had lots of smiles from people on the tube, I chatted to people on trains and in coffee shops etc.

You know what - people are people - wherever they are. North, south, east or west makes no difference. Underneath everyone is the same. We all have the hopes and dreams, needs and desires - we all have problems, we all have our crosses to bear.

You'll have guessed that I'm a what is often referred to as a "people person".

I have no secret formulae or magic tricks - the simple truth is I just like people. I like to talk to people, I like to know what makes them tick. I love to people watch.

If you genuinely like the rest of the human race - then they will like you back - it really is that simple. Everyone just wants to be liked.

Back to London - when I first visit a new city I often do the city bus tour - those open topped buses - they go past all the famous sights and buildings etc. London also has the Thames Cruises - on a hot day they are really fab. I think you could manage both in a day.

For shops and cafes and fun I recommend Covent Garden. Oxford Street gets crowded and horrible - the shops are just the usual chain stores that you can get anywhere. For night life - restaurants etc then Leicester Square and China Town.

My big tip don't try and do too much in one day.

lessonlearned

[QUOTE=

Ah, Failure - an F word we need to eliminate, perhaps.

Sorry LW but I totally disagree.

We need to fail.

Have you ever watched a baby learning to stand up and walk.

How many times does that baby keep falling and how many times does that baby keep trying. As many times as it takes to succeed.

Failure is important - it is vital.

We learn very little from our successes - we learn everything from our failures.

There is no shame in failure. Failure doesn't diminish us.

Giving up, and giving in to failure is what destroys us.

Getting up, brushing ourselves down, and starting again, and again and again, and again - as many times as it takes is what makes us great.

Failure is like fear, it's just another dragon that has to be slayed.

LameWolf

LL forgive me, but what you describe I would call Setbacks (file under S);)

To me, Failure is sitting among the broken shards of your life, and knowing that whatever you do, however hard you try, it can never be fixed, that all you can ever realistically do is crawl around in the wreckage.:(

Just my point of view; I shall now retire to Lurkdom, as I feel a loss of nerve for posting approaching.

fedupandskint

F = Fabulous, Fantastic and Feeling

That's the F's for me now

Trying to feel this way - Feel, Fab and Fantastic

Keep my mood upright and bright not low and down

Not much fabbing today apart from usual skincare routine. went over again on the kcal allowance, however did get 2 compliments about looking tiny and slimmer today which I don't feel any different to before and was a nice surprise.

Was going to go for a run tonight but felt so tired today at work after all the studying for the last 6 weeks decided to not go as it's cold and I'm tired. Might get out again tomorrow

Anyway its another early night tonight to try and recoup some energy from last week to me and wake up feeling fantastic tomorrow

WelshWoofer

LameWolf wrote: »

Just my point of view; I shall now retire to Lurkdom, as I feel a loss of nerve for posting approaching.

Don't do that! We'd miss you too much!
Stay with us you lovely purple lady!


Not much to report other than yet another night of no sleep - I actually gave up at 2.30am and took a Nytol and got about 3 hours sleep in the end:mad:
Food is almost back to normal - and I had my first proper "motion" since the virus today - hurrah! Sorry - probably TMI!

Going to wear another "only for best" top tomorrow - a lovely jewel coloured purpley number. May make me look more awake than I feel!

Glad you had a good time LL - sounds like a very fulfilling trip.
And allie - don't feel bad about bumping into someone at the gym - you're being proactive and doing something about your weight - you didn't see them in the cake shop!

Bitsy_Beans

LameWolf wrote: »

LL forgive me, but what you describe I would call Setbacks (file under S);)

To me, Failure is sitting among the broken shards of your life, and knowing that whatever you do, however hard you try, it can never be fixed, that all you can ever realistically do is crawl around in the wreckage.:(

Just my point of view; I shall now retire to Lurkdom, as I feel a loss of nerve for posting approaching.

Nooo don't retire to lurkdom, stay

lessonlearned

LW

I do hope you don't think that I am making light of failure. I am not. And I wasn't talking about setbacks but real agonising heart rending gut wrenching failure.

The baby walking analogy is my explanation of how we human beings are genetically programmed to keep striving for success. It's in our DNA and it is the reason for our extra-ordinary evolutionary success as a species.

To give up the fight is to go against that genetic programming. It is contrary to what it means to be human, it goes against the very core of our existence and contravenes all the laws of nature.

I believe that the people who never experience failure and who sail from one success to another never grow - not mentally, emotionally or spiritually. They never have to learn from bitter experience and so they never really learn very much, either about life or about themselves.

When we fail we are not diminished, we are never lesser beings because we have failed. Failure doesn't make us worthless - far from it - it often makes us better people. It makes us more sympathetic to others, it teaches us humility. Without failure we become guilty of hubris - arrogant pride.

When you talk about "sitting among the broken shards of your life" - a beautifully expressed phrase if I may say so - it becomes very obvious that you are clearly in distress and some considerable mental and/or emotional pain.

I would love to be able to offer you words of comfort and solace but they wouldn't help you. They wouldn't take away your pain.

Obviously I do not know you very well and I'm not in possession of the full details of your situation. And let's face it a public forum is hardly the place for you to open your heart. However, it would seem to me that you do need some guidance to help you through what is clearly a very difficult time in your life.

Perhaps there is no solution for you. Perhaps this is one of those areas where all you can ever do is resign yourself to your reality and accept that there are some things in life that simply cannot be changed or un-done.

I do agree that there are some things that are so broken they can never be fixed - however we still have to face life with courage, grace, honour and dignity.

Even if you simply cannot see how things will ever improve I still think that some professional advice or counselling might be of use to you. It might just help you come to terms with your situation and may help you steer a course through what are plainly choppy waters.

As for retiring to Lurkdom - if being on the thread helps you - then please stay. Neither myself nor anyone else is ever going to pass judgement.

Carmen

Hi Ladies,
Just a quick hi before I go to bed.

LL, great to have you back and glad you had a good time with Sophistica in London.

Willow, good luck at your interview tomorrow.

Goodnight
Carmen xxx