Frugal frump to Fab - Astonishing Autum Exquinox to Wondrous Winter Solstice

podperson

Hi all,

LL - the house looks fab really well presented and as mineallmine says am awed by the complete lack of clutter (one day... one day, I WILL get round to decluttering - I need to have a bestseller then I can hire someone to do it for me :rotfl:) Am sure you will get some interest in it soon, I guess the run up to the xmas isn't the best time for it but fingers crossed!

Well, confession - I'm doing rubbish this week! I was GOING to wear a dress today but I overslept so ended up just pulling on the first thing I could find (jeans, purple jumper, black and white spotty scarf and vintage necklace - so I suppose apart from the jeans isn't awful). Feeling a bit frazzled, I'm very worried about my entry to the publishers but has to be in today so will have to do a last read and just send it- and hope I'm just paranoid as it's not as bad as I think! Me and OH have been asked to a leaving party for one of the choir tonight - OH wants to go but I'm really not feeling very up for it. I've said I'm fine if he wants to go on his own, just know I'm going to get the guilt trip to go when I get home. I just want to go home, maybe have a nap, and then get some work done. I've also been really bad with energy levels this week - I'm just knackered when I get home. Not sure if I may be short on something, might see if I can pick up some vitamins this weekend - I have some vitc and zinc ones, though have got a bit lax with taking them lately. Is it usually iron you need if you're tired a lot though? Busy weekend again as well, have the choir thing tomorrow afternoon, am meeting a friend for coffee Sunday afternoon, need to try and get round to see his gran at some point (they sent her home yesterday so want to check she's managing ok) and then have loads of both my and OH's work that we need to get sorted.
Sorry, bit of a moany post today Hope everyone else is ok and having a good day x (nearly weekend!)

Bitsy_Beans

lessonlearned wrote: »

Confession time - I don't even own a dress.:o

WW & Sparkles - hope you both feel better soon. I think we need the forecasted Arctic Blast to kill off some of the bugs. Sparkles - you have been unwell for a while now, what does your doctor say.

Maman - I was really intrigued about your remark about ASDA shopping. It really set me thinking about my attitude to clothes.

I agree - how did we get to a stage where buying clothes became such a chore, something we do whilst loading up the trolley with groceries. I think you are right - it does say something about our self esteem.

Clothes shopping should be more enjoyable than that. Why did I just "give up" like that, when and how did it happen.

There was a time when I would carefully seek out little boutiques and independent dress shops, or I would make my own clothes. I loved being individual and disliked the idea of wearing something that I might see someone else wearing. I wouldn't even shop in M&S or the high street, let alone a supermarket.

I know this seems to be a bit of a pet peeve of mine but I hate the high street now. Yesterday when I went mooching I went into our bright shiny city centre shopping mall and it was horrible. All the shops are practically clones of each other, there is no choice.

Just so depressing so my purse stayed firmly shut.:(

Went to physio today - it was pure torture. Let's hope it was worth it.

Have a great Fab Friday.

I have NEVER liked shopping
Basically found it depressing never finding stuff that fits or looked nice, poor manufacture meaning stuff would fit as long as your didn't move etc. for example all the stuff for sale in supermarket......all round necks :mad: great if you don't have any boobage and are skinny but totally rubbish for those of us a little more well endowed :mad: it's depressing seeing racks and racks of clothes that you know won't look good because they don't fit or flatter your body shape

LL lovely house! Sadly mine probably won't look that tidy :rotfl:

Not loads of fabbing today, not even wearing a dress feeling tired and stressed quite frankly, H not coping well with being away so worrying about that, considering possibility of renting a shoe box down there so we can be together while house is on market. Anyway we shall have to see.

Pod and mineallmine have a hug xxx

Sparkles hope you have rapid recovery over weekend xxx

Have a Good Friday everyone

mineallmine

Thanks for the hugs xxx

I'm fabbing my scarfs at the moment. Washing them/freshening them up as they smell a bit musty. All prep as part of prep for winter thread on the Old Style area of the forum.

lessonlearned

Thanks for your lovely comments about my house. Trust me the house isn't always as neat and tidy like that. You should see the loft and the garage.:rotfl:

I can actually be very untidy, especially when I'm tired and in CBA mode. I am also the world's messiest cook.

However, any clutter can be tidied away within minutes because I have lots of secret hiding places for it all.

I think the key is good storage. Sadly most UK houses are very lacking so you have to be a bit canny and devise your own systems. I now try to make furniture do double duty.

For instance if you look at the lounge picture you may notice that the coffee table has a drawer. That hides all the remotes, notepads, pens, drink coasters etc.

The big dark brown basket near the window takes DVD's, magazines, newspapers extra throws all that kind of thing.
The dark pine unit next to the fireplace holds more DVDs, cds in the top drawers and there's still space on the shelves for odd baskets containing bits and bobs.

You can't see it but in the dining room there are built-in floor to ceiling units, with cupboards underneath and bookshelves above. They swallow up loads of stuff.

Same with the two main bedrooms, full length built in wardrobes, with floor to ceiling hanging space and shelving.

If you google "Small Space Living" you will see loads of sites and blogs to give you storage ideas.

One thing I did do when the children were small to keep on top of all the mess was I introduced a system of what I called "Rotating Toy Boxes". I didn't let the kids have all their toys out all the time. I would bag some up and let them have just a couple of big toy boxes at a time - a huge basket in the lounge and a couple in their bedrooms. Every couple of months or so I would swap the toys round, bringing some out of storage and putting some away for a while. This way they had "new" toys to play with every so often.

As they got older we encouraged them to donate their old unwanted toys to our car boot sales. They got the money for anything they sold. They quickly learned to love "helping" me to do car boots.

Their best toys are in the loft. All those transformers, star wars stuff etc are now collectors items so they are keeping those as investments. DS1 has earmarked all the lego for his own children.:rotfl:,

Bitsy I do feel for you and your OH being parted. This happened to us when our children were small. OH had to move away for a job whilst I had to stay behind and sell up.

Luckily we got a quick sale but we decided to rent at the other end to speed things up even more. We just took a six month lease on a cheap semi (it was the pits:rotfl:) whilst we looked round for something else.

Even though the rented house was awful - absolutely freezing - it meant we could all be together more quickly and of course it minimised the risk of losing our sale.

I do think it's harder for the men in cases like this, living in hotels for weeks on end isn't as glamorous as it sounds. My OH used to get quite homesick.

Well - I did manage to buy a few clothes today - from ASDA:rotfl:
They'll do. I even bought a little knitted dress. I'll probably wear it over jeans or leggings though because it's a bit short.

I also bought a load of tops and sweaters for OH. He needs loads of clothes, because of accidents and food spillages. I counted yesterday that he now has 12 pairs of trousers.

At least now I'm back doing his washing they can't lose his clothes, damage them, shrink them etc. It has cost me a small fortune to replenish his wardrobe.

Maman - although I don't have proper dresses as such I do have a few skirts. I've never been a dress person, although when I was Corporate Woman and Executive Wife I did have loads of evening dresses for all the functions we had to attend. I've given them all away now.

Anyway time for a cuppa and put my feet up.

The house is a tip but that can wait until tomorrow now.

It's getting very cold here, a horrible cold wind.

WelshWoofer

LL - your house reminds me of mine - very similar taste and lack of nic nacs and clean surfaces. I'm another neat freak! I actually get quite anxious if my house isn't tidy and everything put away - my ex OH used to drive me around the bend:mad: (well rid!)

At last its Friday and half term - hurrah :j:j
I'm shattered - was up at 5.30am marking assessments that needed to be sent to the exam board today (and they weren't even mine). All got sent in plenty of time so the pressure is off for a while now. I'm working Monday and Tuesday mornings doing revision classes but I get paid extra so its bearable. Looking forward to a weekend of doing not very much at all. Lots of rest and relaxation (although I'm usually bored by lunchtime when I plan that kind of day:o).

Will have to pop back to the dreaded Trafford Centre at some point to take a top back that I don't like and maybe get a different one - could be a jumper at this rate ! Its freezing here :eek:!

Looking forward to a big glass of Baileys, some nice tea and a quiet night. Sod the diet tonight......... (still 2lbs away from 9 and a half stone ).

PS Forgot to say I wore a dress today with a nice salmon pink blazer for work - the only thing about me that was bright!

lessonlearned

Broke up the post to make it more manageable.

Gawd but I'm a chatterbox today.

I hope you poorly ones start to feel better soon. My back is a little easier but I am being very careful with it.

Pod - don't be hard on yourself. You have been working flat out for months now. Of course you feel tired and a bit fed up. Do take good care of yourself.

Don't forget the clocks go back this weekend, so less daylight. Time for us to start taking good care of ourselves and our families too of course. Yes the canine members as well.:D

Time for good home cooking, plenty of rest, throws on the sofa, a glass of wine in the evening, extra vitamins and if you can manage it, a walk in whatever bit of sunshine comes our way.

Winter draws on ladies:rotfl:

PS I did buy some thermal vests today, going to try and keep my back warm see if it helps.

WelshWoofer

Pod - LL is right, you've had a bonkers few months, give yourself a rest!

Just wrestled with my conscience and talked myself out of a takeaway and have a quorn chicken and leek pie in the oven and will have cabbage and peas with potato croquettes - easy but better than a curry. Even made myself check my bank balance to make myself see sense! Quite flush this month but want to get a bit more in savings.
Just done a stocktake of what's in the cupboard and freezer and don't really need to do a big shop this week - just a few bits to get, hopefully around a tenner including dog food. Every penny counts!
Need to make a bit of a fabbing plan for my week off to repair the damage the last few weeks have done - too much work, not enough exercise and rushed food. Will start with my hair cut and colour tomorrow.

The heating is on and I'm going to snuggle up and have a bath and watch the telly. All cosy!

bratz81

evening all - I am so glad it's Friday!! Am absolutely shattered this week. I never get a proper sleep the week I'm on nights with the husbandino still getting up at 6:30 and being so noisy! Plus replying on me to roll over and wake him up as he sleeps through his alarm clock!

Anyway...lie in tomorrow then seeing a friend before he goes to South Africa for 3 months and then I'm being treated to a meal out so a great excuse to dress up. My new stockings I ordered arrived today so I can wear them

Had a PT session today before and feeling tired but good. I never thought I'd be the sort of person who enjoys the gym, and yes sometimes I do have to drag myself there, but I always feel great afterwards and I'm loving the effects!

Bitsy_Beans

LL chatter away good idea on your DS keeping his Lego, it has a very good second hand value

I knew H was a home bird but didn't realise it would kick in quite so much. Then again his aunt and uncle go out dancing twice a week, they don't currently have wifi so we can't Skype and he's doing an awful lot of travelling so it shouldn't surprise me he's feeling cut off. I am going to surprise him next week by going down with the kids for a couple of days (it's half term) so will meet him for lunch and spend the eve together.
I'd rather not have the hassle of having to rent (no idea if we can afford it yet) but his sanity is more important.

He's on his way home and he wants a takeaway so I will go along. Not in the mood for cooking

WW early night for you then x

WelshWoofer

Morning all!
A good sleep and everything seems better! Had a good 7 hours (thats loads for me) and woke up when it got light rather than when the awful alarm says I have to.:eek:
Managed to have a bath and do a defuzz and my toenails and fingernails last night. The fabbing comeback has started! Its haircut day and I'll wear something new to make me feel a bit more presentable.

Need to get some fresh air and exercise too - not sure what yet but I'll start off by walking the dog for an hour and go from there.


Bitsy - hope your OH is ok? I used to be away a lot with work staying in hotels all over the world for weeks on end - its not glam or fun, its a lonely life. One of the reasons I gave it all up and took a pay cut of 50% to be a teacher:) Hope you manage to spend some time together and you can cheer him up.

Right, the day is starting so better get cracking!