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

Everhopeful09

Hello all,

Ww-good idea about list & well done on reaching your goal weight.

Well back to work tomorrow after a busy week off, even today I walked dog on hills, had amazing views across the bristol channel to welsh coastline. Then washed my car before driving home.

Now I'm going to relax, do ironing and generally get ready for week ahead.

Eh xx

evilsquid1603

Wow, well done WW!!!

Bitsy_Beans

Inspired by WW and her list I think I ought to write one.

First a confession. I keep getting up each day and saying today I am going to eat mindfully blah blah blah. And I don't. I don't even come close it's time I stop making excuses and shut up and DO SOMETHING. ANYTHING. It's madness expecting things to change when I am not actually taking any action
So top of my list is doing the 5:2 diet. I've sat looking up recipes so I have an idea what to eat (although I want to look into a few more). I am going to need you guys kicking me up the bum on this. Realistically I am apple shaped, all my excess weight is round the middle and therefore also round my organs. I am totally setting myself up for health problems in the future. The weightloss will obviously be a massive bonus but I do need to address my likelihood of developing other conditions if I carry on. The 5:2 should help address that.

So here's my list

1. Fast two days a week, stick to low cal recipes and don't rely on poor food choices to get me through fast days
2. Take make up off at night
3. Spend less time online.
4. Move more. Zumba, yoga, walking, shred. Anything.
5. Finish tidying up garden

With the house redecoration end in sight I will have more time to devote to number 4 and 5 so no excuses.

I so badly want to be a graduate like Maman, Sparkles and WW and I bet none of these lovely ladies got to where they are by doing nothing. No more excuses, I either put up or shut up.

Sorry for the ramble

Cherryprint

Hellooooo!

Back for a quick update. Well done to everyone, you are all doing so well!

This weekend I've overcome a...fear..and I finally got my sewing machine out! (I have never used one before in my life). With the help of youtube videos and the instruction manual, I learned to sew!! (My OH was an amazing help too - evidently he did sewing at school!! ) So I've saved a few favourite items that were headed for the bin because they had become so ratty. I also finally managed to change the neckline of a dress I bought from Tesco for £7. I also made a little case for my phone out of felt. :rotfl: Anyway, sounds silly but I find it really exciting! Now I'm wondering what else I can do! Maybe I could even make Christmas presents.

Nano has passed me by this year and I think for so long writing has seemed like a chore to me and made me feel guilty for not wanting to do it, when it used to come so easily to me. I'm going to take a break from writing for a bit and focus on other creative bits and bobs for now and hope I get unstuck! It may be that it would do me good to go to a creative writing class at some point to help me find it addictive again, and I will look into it in the New Year.

Inspired by WW, here's my list of five things I want to achieve in the next five weeks:
1.) Do better at moving more - running!
2.) Enjoy my food and eat slowly
3.) Move into the next stone bracket
4.) Continue to dress better and look after my clothes and shoes
5.) Tidy, ebay, declutter

Okay better go, I've got tired eyes!
Take care x

lessonlearned

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

Inspired by WW and her list I think I ought to write one.

First a confession. I keep getting up each day and saying today I
I so badly want to be a graduate like Maman, Sparkles and WW and I bet none of these lovely ladies got to where they are by doing nothing. No more excuses, I either put up or shut up.

Sorry for the ramble

No need to apologise.

Bitsy you've a lot on your plate, doing up the house, caring for your family, supporting your DH who is working from home. Don't be too hard on yourself.

TBH my healthy eating and exercise has also flown out of the window. I feel fat and horrible.

Let's you and me (and anyone else who cares to join us) start again. Tomorrow, pronto.

5 weeks till the Solstice - we could maybe manage 7lbs weight loss.

Let's do it.

On a more positive note I have started turning the TV off more often.

Well yesterday was a very positive day. Purchasers came, measured up and I let them have a good nose round, poking their heads into cupboards and all the nooks and crannies. I demonstrated the boiler etc and showed them all the guarantees and certificates. They stayed here for nearly two hours and it's plain they have fallen in love with my house.

I took the opportunity to talk about the proposed development of the back field and they just took it in their stride. They agreed with me yes we are losing the field, but at least it's private housing, not a motorway, factory, pub or supermarket.

The little girl - aged six - chose her bedroom - DS1's old room currently yellow so her daddy has been told he has to paint it pink - apparently she "needs" a pink bedroom.:rotfl::rotfl:

So - fingers crossed - we're on. I'd better start looking for a rental. We are aiming for a legal completion 14th January - the purchasers want to exchange by around 12th December. I asked them if we could postpone the move till after Christmas so we could bring OH home for Christmas.

Today we took OH to see Skyfall - very enjoyable. My darling is a huge Bond fan so a new Bond film is always a big occasion in our family.

Very cold here tonight. Jack Frost will be paying a visit. Got a manic week ahead.....

bratz81

morning all.
Haven't been on for a few days, it was the husbandino's birthday and I was rushing around trying to plan surprises for him, then we were out.
It was actually his birthday on Sunday, but it was also his grandfather's 90th so we celebrated on Saturday then went to the family lunch for the 90th.

maman

I'm very flattered Bitsy that you should want to emulate me:o. Thank you for the kind words.:)

I didn't manage it alone though. I used Slimming World to help me lose weight and maintain my target and this lovely thread for all the fabness tips and support. For me, if I'm honest, it was losing the weight that really got me on the right track.

I think your energies have all been in house fabness lately so now it's time for you. I'm a huge advocate of meal planning and batchcooking HM Ready Meals. That way I don't really have rubbish in the house and can turn to healthy food however pushed for time/tired/CBA I feel.

Sounds like you had a good time at the cinema LL. It's good that your buyers are accommodating with the date as it would be a huge push to get it done by Christmas. Has DS shared his news yet?

Your birthday weekend sounds good too bratz. Lovely that DH's grandfather had a family occasion for his 90th.

I used serum (free sample) under my moisturiser yesterday and today for the first time in ages. It made my skin feel so much more alive. I'll be treating myself to some of the Aldi stuff later in the week.

I'm ashamed to say I forgot my niece's birthday (today) so have to go out and get a card and post it PDQ.:o

Back soon.

mineallmine

lessonlearned wrote: »

I've been thinking a lot about downsizing and living a "simple" life. No I'm not about to go all Tom & Barbara ("The Good Life" a 70's sitcom about a couple who give up their jobs for a self-sufficient lifestyle). I'm sorry I like my creature comforts too much.

I was reading about Steve Jobs (founder of Apple) and his take on minimalism and "stuff". It prompted me to start reading a few Simple Living blogs. I'm inclined to agree with quite a lot of what I've been reading. I do think that "stuff" can make you feel trapped and bogged down. Decluttering does help clear the mind.

I have learned that decluttering has to be gradual and ongoing - at least for me. A bit like painting the Forth Bridge I suppose. Too much in one go would leave me shell shocked.

Anyway - even if the my house sale collapses it's still "Mission Declutter." I cannot believe how many toiletries, especially "failed" moisturisers I have. Still working my way through them, using them up on my legs.

Amen to that LL. Feel free to join us on the declutter thread. I now realise that my cupboards etc are almost ready to move they're getting so organised. I'm finding things hard going though. The house still overall looks a mess so I've got a way to go.
In using up toiletries I now use up body scrubs by placing them next to sinks (loo, kitchen) to use instead of hand wash. Unloved face creams I use on my neck. Unloved shampoos used to wash make up brushes.

I put make up on again without thinking about it. It really has become a routine. Also I'm racing through perfume now!
:A

floss2

lessonlearned wrote: »

....Let's you and me (and anyone else who cares to join us) start again. Tomorrow, pronto.

5 weeks till the Solstice - we could maybe manage 7lbs weight loss.

Let's do it......

creeps in & pokes head around door....

Please can I join in? I weighed myself this morning - I have put on 4lb since my flu jab on 4th November All through eating carp when DH is away & him being so busy with work stuff that we don't get out for our long walks at weekends

I am however about to spend £10 on a 14 day pass for my local DeVere gym, where I will do lots of rowing, walking / jogging and swimming to get my moneys worth :rotfl: (and now I've told you lot I have to do it!) and I will also stop drinking during the week and go back to halves of real ale at weekends rather than the pints that I have been drinking

I am sort-of fabbing every day - serum & moisturiser, perfume (I need to finish a couple before Father Christmas comes ), smart stuff for work with coordinating or contrasting scarves and spending time playing with my Babyliss hairstyler thing to give my hair Waity Katey waves

Floss :wave:

fedupandskint

Firstly, 5 Week mini goals time between now and winter solstice

1. Weekly manicure hands and nails file, remove ridges, buff, shine and treat with strengthener
2. 3 x per week hair mask and 1 per fortnight pre treatment
3. Weekly face mask and exfoliate gently
4. Exfoliate chest area at least 2x per week
5. Build exercise back up to 5x per week from December to end December
6. Continue to wear the clothes I have in a fab way and make up and perfume as I do now along with jewellery
7. Maintain weight

Right now they're all sorted onto other things.

Went back to work for a few hours, hard going and draining and could only manage 2hrs and could feel it after an hour of so. This week is going to be hard work and will be sorting out the rest of the week tomorrow to make sure I don't overdo it at all. - no way will I let that happen after the last 5 weeks of that bug. Colleagues were very welcoming and supportive, managers back tomorrow, hope they are too.

Quiet afternoon at home now on this very grey day here to recover and then will find a gap in the weather to take mr dog out for a nice long walk to help me feel better for some fresh air and build myself back up again