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

fedupandskint

Good evening everyone. Well at long last I am feeling better and that horrible flu virus is now really on its way elsewhere as I am recovering well this week.

Fab news for this week is I thought I'd try and build myself back up a little after the illness and have taken the dog on a nice long walk yesterday and today whicher were lovely to get some more fresh air and also to feel more like my usual self again!

Second lot of fab news is went for my usual dental appt - normally have to go every 3mths for a clean and last time 4mths ago I was told my teeth were in great condition and could return in 4mths. Went today and was told this time they were even better and didn't even require a scale, just a little polish - now that makes a nice change and a welcome one and I can go back in 6mths for the first time in a long long time! Just goes to show how downbranding on my toothpaste worked a treat because when I used a very expensive one for all those years it didn't achieve this result. The one I use now I'm really happy with and its often on offer for 1/7th of the price of the previous one. I had a big smile on my face when I left the dentist with a strong feeling of 'at last!'

Sale items arrived today - a top for work clothes £7 instead of £25 and will replace one that is well worn out and also now too big and I have worn it countless times over the last 6 or 7yrs so I reckon £7 is ok to replace it! Also an ivory top for summer next year also £7 instead of £19.50, a top for going out in a lovely blue £9 from £25, that I'm not sure about at the moment and a long skirt the same reduced to £12 from £45 which I'll try on when I feel less hormonally bloated than I do right now.

Discovered the work Xmas do is on the winter solstice date this year - nice! Not sure what I'm going to wear yet - shall I wear the bargain red dress I bought last year - very decent high neckline with shutter pleat detail, black patterned tights, black shoes boots and short black tux jacket with a long silver necklace. That's what I'm thinking now and trying hard not to buy anything new - feel quite undecided at the moment. Would be better to wear the dress I already own and haven't worn - much better in fact.

To everyone feeling under the weather - hope you all feel better soon and don't have what I had because it was awful

mineallmine

Been lurking more than posting. Been house fabbing/decluttering. Today we sat at the dining table for the first time in... months!

That said, perfume was on, make up on.

Made the bed with fresh sheets so looking forward to a good night's sleep.

Keep fabbing x

mineallmine

fedupandskint wrote: »

Just goes to show how downbranding on my toothpaste worked a treat because when I used a very expensive one for all those years it didn't achieve this result. The one I use now I'm really happy with and its often on offer for 1/7th of the price of the previous one.

OOoooh! What toothpaste do you use now then? That sounds fab

floss2

fedupandskint wrote: »

... Just goes to show how downbranding on my toothpaste worked a treat .... often on offer for 1/7th of the price of the previous one...

Spill the beans on your super-toothpaste!

fedupandskint wrote: »

...Discovered the work Xmas do is on the winter solstice date this year - nice! Not sure what I'm going to wear yet - shall I wear the bargain red dress I bought last year - very decent high neckline with shutter pleat detail, black patterned tights, black shoes boots and short black tux jacket with a long silver necklace. That's what I'm thinking now and trying hard not to buy anything new - feel quite undecided at the moment. Would be better to wear the dress I already own and haven't worn - much better in fact.

I think it's in the whole spirit of the thread to wear your seasonal red dress for a Solstice-day Chritmas party

mineallmine wrote: »

Been lurking more than posting. Been house fabbing/decluttering. Today we sat at the dining table for the first time in... months!

We haven't sat at our dining table since the scaffolding went up on the back of the house in June.....am so fed up of it now, I've sworn to put tinsel & lights on that bloomin' scaffolding at Christmas! It looks like it will be staying until Easter now, as the weather isn't dry or warm enough to have the rendering done

I'm trying to work out what to wear for a 40th in early December - I have a purply-toned grey silk velvet dress from Monsoon, with black patent heels (or maybe some patent knee boots...?) or last year's sequinned tunic dress with black opaques and platforms.... any ideas?

Everhopeful09

Well did brownies and a wedding reception tonight, fabbed up curled my hair, proper make up, dress and heels and got a couple compliments too.

Glad your feeling better Fedupandskint.

All the outfits for xmas do's sound fab, my xmas do is just drinks with the boys. Black skinny jeans, nice top and jacket, nothing fancy.

Best get some sleep
Eh xx

fedupandskint

mineallmine wrote: »

OOoooh! What toothpaste do you use now then? That sounds fab

floss2 wrote: »

Spill the beans on your super-toothpaste!

I'm trying to work out what to wear for a 40th in early December - I have a purply-toned grey silk velvet dress from Monsoon, with black patent heels (or maybe some patent knee boots...?) or last year's sequinned tunic dress with black opaques and platforms.... any ideas?

Toothpaste - oral b any version including the mega cheap offer ones for £1 not just the specialist whitening ones

floss - your outfit sounds lovely, either one sounds great. I'm still undecided about my outfit, leaning more towards the red dress I already have to at least wear it once. It only cost £9.90 in the sale last year from Matalan and I wasn't brave enough to wear it last year. Braver this year though colour wise as part of my embracing colour mantra for this year!

lessonlearned

Good morning ladies

Some fab sounding outfits there.:rotfl:

I was only thinking the other day just how far this thread has come and the fantastic progress that we are making.

It's not just our appearances that have been transformed - lives have been changed.

You are an inspirational lot.:T:T

For those who are still struggling - please - don't be despondent. All it takes is perseverence, faith and a bit of courage.

Always bear in mind our two mantras.

Remember the Elephant and Never Give Up.

I may not be as svelte as I would like - that's definitely an area that needs work - but my overall health and appearance are much better, my house looks good, my social life is looking up, even my finances have improved.

Fingers crossed the house sale will go through ok and then ....

Look out world - here I come. :rotfl:

Sparkles - so glad to hear that you are now fully recovered and back to your old sparkly self. Whatever lurgy it was it certainly lingered on. Don't be tempted to overdo it - don't slip back.

Today is an at home day. Waiting for the burglar alarm to be serviced and the electrician to fix a light fitting that has decided to die. No idea what time they are coming so I'm housebound.

I have the pre-contract enquiry to do for the solicitor - that will take some time. And various bits and pieces of admin need some attention.

I will take some time to do a bit of house fabbing - buyer is coming on Saturday to take some measurements. I'd better get the place looking spick and span for then.

Last night I was very good. I didn't spend all evening watching junk TV and on the computer. I actually went to bed at a decent time.
I don't know whether it's a co-incidence but I slept better last night. A full 8 hours straight. Bliss.

It's very foggy here but am hoping it will clear later. I need to plant some of those tulips that my son keeps bringing home. I think I will put some in pots too so that they can go with us if - sorry - when:D we move.

I'm trying to be positive and hopeful but I'm fully aware that the sale could collapse at any time. It's out of my hands now so I just have to put my trust in the Property Fairy.

I am still concerned about the planning issue for the back field. So although the purchasers do seem very keen I'm not counting my chickens just yet - hence I will continue to get the garden organised for next spring - just in case it all goes pear shaped.

Right time to start the day.

Have a Fab Thursday.

podperson

Morning all,

Bitsy -hope you feel better soon too x

Sparkles - glad you seem to have finally kicked the bug, and I think red would be lovely for xmas I really should go to the dentist, haven't been in years as I really hate them but guess that's not a good excuse.

floss - I think purpley-grey silk sounds gorgeous but that's just personal preference and am sure you will look great in either

LL - completely agree with you - one of the things I love most about this thread is seeing how far people have come and the amazing changes they can make - very inspirational :T

Am loving everyone's xmas outfits - they all sound lovely! We don't really have an xmas do at my work - it's a very small office and basically just me, the bosses, the other part timers and the engineers. I think last year they organised a curry at the last min but I had something on by then anyway! I don't really have any 'fancy frocks' as I don't have anywhere to wear them. Ah well, I suppose it saves me from having to make decisions on what to wear out :rotfl:
Feeling a bit better today but still a bit tired. Got a bit done last night though not as much as I wanted. Need to have a chapter finished for OH's dissertation for tomorrow and not even started it yet so guess that will keep me busy tonight. Really wish they would stop asking for random bits here and there - it's actually going to be chapter 2 that I'm going to have to say is chapter 1 because what I want to be chapter 1 I haven't finished the research on yet Wish they would just leave us to it!
Told my mum last night that I was going down for xmas - it was quite funny, she was squealing down the phone so I guess she's happy about it :rotfl:Got my train tickets this week, managed to still get some cheap fares and I had a couple of vouchers I got off here last month so cost me a grand total of £11 return! They're hoping my grandma will be coming for the day - apparently she's very up and down at the moment so fingers crossed that will be a good day for her.

mineallmine

fedupandskint wrote: »

Toothpaste - oral b any version including the mega cheap offer ones for £1 not just the specialist whitening ones

Right, will get that then! Will give it a whirl.:D

floss2 wrote: »

We haven't sat at our dining table since the scaffolding went up on the back of the house in June.....am so fed up of it now, I've sworn to put tinsel & lights on that bloomin' scaffolding at Christmas! It looks like it will be staying until Easter now, as the weather isn't dry or warm enough to have the rendering done

Could the table sit elsewhere, or have you got a smaller one you could squeeze in somewhere. It really makes a lot of difference. How you eat, everything. I'm now looking at it adoringly!:rotfl:

Well putting on make up is feeling more habitual now I don't do it well (as in without a mirror!). But it does make a difference. And double layering, ie using liquid foundation and a mineral make up as powder is providing really good coverage. I forgot perfume as one had run out and I forgot to dig out another one.

Keep fabbing x

lessonlearned

floss2 wrote: »

We haven't sat at our dining table since the scaffolding went up on the back of the house in June.....am so fed up of it now, I've sworn to put tinsel & lights on that bloomin' scaffolding at Christmas! It looks like it will be staying until Easter now, as the weather isn't dry or warm enough to have the rendering done

This made me smile and brought back memories of my "on-site" days. Scaffolding with fairy lights and tinsel, JCB's festooned with christmas decorations and full grown men prancing round with fake reindeer antlers and fairy lights attached to their hard hats.

The grey/purple silk number sounds lovely.;)

And yes - I think we should all wear festive red for the Solstice. I can wear my new red sweater dress.

Have spent the afternoon dealing with the solicitors pre-contract enquires and compiling my "whilstleblower's dossier" for OH's care manager. He wanted me to put my observations and concerns in writing so that he can present it as evidence to the powers that be.

OH and I also had a very "frank and open" discussion with OH's consultant on Tuesday - the one that's in charge of his rehab care.

She was absolutely appalled at what we told her and she will be writing to both social services and the care home.

So now that we have some big guns on our side we can make some progress.

She was extremely frank with my OH. She didn't come out and say 'You're dying" but she did say that the new medicines were "the medicines of desperation" and that, given the further decline in his condition, there would be no turning things round, no going back. She admitted to him that it was a case of "ensuring you get the possible care we can give you in order to keep you comfortable".

I was very concerned that extinguishing all hope like this would distress him but he has accepted the inevitable. When we talked later he told me she was only reinforcing what he already knew.

What a man. The patience of a saint and the courage of a lion, all wrapped up with humour and grace.

I certainly chose a good 'un.

Time to get the dinner on.