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

maman

Good news that the thread vein's getting sorted (at last!!) Claire. Enjoy your evening.

Delighted to hear about DH's job Bitsy. I'm sure it will be worth the relocation for all sorts of reasons (financial being one of course). I'll be pleased to hear house fabbing tips too. i'm not planning on relocating anywhere but tips are always useful.

Mooloo, I definitely think you did the right thing treating yourself to the pamper.

Pod do let us know about your story when you're allowed. Great you've got more interest in the photography.

ww, hope you're feeling better today.

sparkles, I know the weather's been unkind but it is always good to get away. It stops you wasting time just pottering. Hope you managed a bit of fresh air today.

I am making some progress towards my goals. Had a walk yesterday and sorted out a bag of clothes for CS. It was surprisingly easy. When I went on (hot sunshine) holiday I wrote a list of what I planned to take like I always do. This year, when I came back I made some notes next to it about what I'd worn, what didn't work and anything I could have used if I'd taken it. So all the things that didn't work (too old, too girly) went in the CS bag.

Today DH started decorating our 'study' so I felt compelled to be busy too. I cleaned kitchen thoroughly including the windows and washed out and sorted cutlery drawer. Also cleaned a few brass bits (mostly family heirlooms) that I have.

On the 'brain fabbing': my newspaper started a series at the weekend called 'How to be Smart' so I thought I'd read that. It's similar to the 'How to bluff your way in....' books. First one was philosophers. I'll persevere, but if that's anything to go by I'd probably learn more from reading the back of the cornflake packet.:rotfl:

I went out to lunch yesterday with two girlfriends who are similar age to me and I've been refelecting on our (apparent) different attitudes to how we present ourselves. My friends wear very little make up (one of them none), they do 'wash and go' hair which I envy but while one looks OK as she has strong hair, the other looks like rats tails. Both are overweight (both have knee problems so not a good idea), clothes of one I'd have been surprised to see my mother wearing (heavy flat shoes, woolly jumper and unflattering trousers, very ike M&S Classic). The other thing was that I noticed neither of them have really looked after their skin. Now this may sound horrible. They're bright, interesting women with full lives so they probably don't think about appearance:their choice. My point is that I feel so much better, more confident and happier since I've sorted all those things out. To me it's 100% worth it.

WelshWoofer

Just written a big post about everyone's news and progress and its flipping well disappeared:mad::mad:

Just will say congrats Bitsy on the job news, good for you Maman for feeling good about yourself and nice one Pod on the new wedding work!

Not a bad day today - very busy as usual but all good.
The bargain trousers from the Next sale arrived today and, hurrah, they are a size 10 and a teeny bit too big:j I will keep them as an 8 is just a pipedream and they are a nice shape and colour (kind of like a flannel grey but not too thick a material) and go well with the grey and pink tweedy jacket from the sale. Will give them their first public airing tomorrow.

Its still pouring here - am totally fed up with it now. Every dog walk means a complete change of clothes and the poor poocher hates it. Will it ever end?

Got another dog walk to do then will have a nice warming bath and settle down with a bit of telly and a set of year 9 books to mark. Rock and roll!

Savvy_sewing

Evening all, well I had my usual hair do done today, so I am definitely feeling much more glamourous granny then frump now!. I saw my councillor afterwards, and he said that I was looking great!. While I was standing at the gates from the school another lady, who I dont really know, just tend to smile at at the school said that I had good legs! My head will be swelling soon with all the lovely compliments. So i suppose its worth the effort of it all.
The councillor said that we are coming to the end of our sessions. His contract with the council has run out and he has a different one in Nottingham. I felt a little apprehensive at this but when I look at it. I am really doing so well these days, although I still have bad days, I am not in the deepest darkest africa that I used to be in.
I will get used to the fact that I have only a couple of sessions left before it finally is finished.
He said that I had to continue with looking after myself, and he even told me of some posh nail polish that would work!
He has really helped me with my transformation, not just with the physical appearance, but with the attitude I have to all the problems that I was dealing with. He puts some ideas to me that I hadnt thought about. He gives me observations on my habits, etc and the cycle of life that I tend to end up in.
But I will not let go of the fabbing. He said its an ongoing thing no matter how old you are. Taking care of yourself is important. Or how can you take care of everyone else that demands on you.

I still forget the skin care routines, and I still hardly ever wear make up, but I will get there. The hair is now becoming routine, the sunbooth, and the massages. If I can afford to have a few other things done every now and then, then I will. Although my budget would not stand the cost of everything regularly! Oh well.
Perhaps i should find myself a lovely man with deep pockets!!! (No way, I would actually hate that!).
Right I have to put DGD to bed.

lessonlearned

It finally stopped raining this afternoon and a pale watery sun appeared for an hour or so - better than nothing - hopefully that's the rain done for now.

I've not done a great deal today, popped to Sainsbugs - they have 25% of their clothing if anyone is interested. Had a lovely time with OH today - communication is difficult and tiring but he is still good company.

WW - your new outfit sounds great.

Mooloo - it's interesting that your Counsellor is so supportive of your Fabbing efforts. I do so agree that taking care of yourself - "Fabbing" as we call it here - is so much more than a vanity project. It's far more important than that. A friend of mine is a surgeon and he always says he knows when his female patients are on the mend when they reach for the lippy.:D

Maman- your comments about your friends is interesting - sometimes I think we women get so wrapped up in looking after others that we somehow just "lose" ourselves.

Some women lose confidence in their ability to glam up because they fear making mistakes and looking silly. Some women who don't bother are in actual fact very comfortable in their skin and perfectly happy as they are.

Some women who profess "to be above that kind of thing" - my MIL's exact words - are in fact incredibly vain and conceited. They think they look so wonderful they don't need to make any effort.

I hate to speak ill of the dead but my MIL was exactly like this. She had nothing but contempt for women who wore make up etc - she prided herself on her brain and thought that women who made a bit of an effort were empty headed bimbos. It was just a silly affectation really. Actually she wasn't a terribly nice person.....

Re the philsophy - one of my favourite subjects - can recommend the "History of Western Philosophy" by Bertrand Russell. It's a great overview, beautifully written and it's structured into bite sized chunks so you can just dip in and out when you feel like it.

Very tired today so had a bit of a rest this afternoon. I have stocked up on lots of healthy foods so no excuse now to get my act together and get back on track now.

Operation lose weight and get fitter starts in earnest tomorrow. It's time for me now.

[Deleted User]

Morning All

Just caught up on the new thread and its great to read about everyones new goals.

My main goal is to lose about one and a half stone by end of December. I will have a wee think about other goals later. In the meantime I am off to the gym! Have a good day all.

Bitsy_Beans

Morning ladies

Am reading but not getting much chance to post busy decorating DS's birthday cake for the weekend, housework, wandering around aimlessly wondering where I need to start first for decorating and house clutter :eek:

Anyway I am still doing the bear minimum, I wore one of my new tops yesterday and someone asked me if I'd lost weight, it know I haven't but was nice to be told.

H wants to do a 5:2 fast so I am going to try and do it with him today.

Interesting reading Maman and LLs comments about fabbing. I think the difference between people like say LLs MIL and us is the reason why we are doing it. If you're dressing a certain way for other people, piling on the slap to look like a wannabe WAG to fit in then I feel it's the wrong reason. To fab up to make yourself feel good, to appreciate what you have got I am all for :T

Claire well done on getting the treatment, hope it works x I ought to dig out my PMcK too

LL any tips are more than welcome

Hugs and high fives all round xxxx

lessonlearned

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

LL any tips are more than welcome

Hi Sweetie - first don't panic.:rotfl::rotfl:

Given the vagaries of the weather I would suggest taking a good look at the outside of your house at the first opportunity - tackle all the outside jobs first before the winter weather really takes a hold.

Think kerb appeal. A general spruce up as required, wash down and touch up paintwork if necessary, wash down window frames , weed and jet wash paths, clear out any rubbish, prune and clear up old bedding plants. Then plant a bit of "winter colour" pansies, primulas etc are cheap, potted chrysanths.

Before you start decorating - go through each room and make a list of any outstanding DIY jobs. Areas to look for - any cracks, damp patches, do all doors and windows hang nicely and open and close ok, does the doorbell work, - all the little niggles that we live with for so long that we no longer notice but that a viewer would pick up on.

It's not that these things are bad in themselves it's just they are what I call "red flags". They encourage your viewers to start nitpicking and ring alarm bells - often quite needlessly.

Remember a few litres of paint can work wonders. Don't forget little things like freshening up tile grout, bleaching and polishing the sink so it gleams. Thorough deep cleaning and yes a judicious bit of decluttering.

Don't go too overboard with the decluttering though- some people go too far and remove all signs of warmth and cosiness. You want it to look inviting and homely.

Once my house is on rightmove I'll post you the link. I'm not saying my house is perfect and obviously we all have our own personal taste but it might give you some ideas.

I think the trick is to make your house look warm and inviting. Make the most of light. I have tried out some special paint by Dulux called "Light and Space". Apparently it is supposed to contain light reflecting particles. I used it in the green bedroom (the one dressed as a study) and I think it does make a room look a bit lighter. Well placed mirrors, shiny surfaces help to bounce light around.

The one thing that most UK homes are really short of is space. Compared with European and American homes UK houses are quite small and often lack good storage. Anything you can do to make rooms appear spacious is a real bonus.

If that's all a bit vague and you have specific concerns that just ask away....

If your house is nicely presented and well cared for and the EA is half decent you should be ok.

Finally I know this can be difficult and none of us likes to lose money but try to be competitive with your pricing. I'm still a bit uncertain about my EA's valuation, I think he's a bit optimistic but I will trust his judgement on this one - hopefully he is on the balll.

When you get the chance make sure all your paperwork is on hand and up to date, ie boiler service documents, guarantees etc. You will need all this for your solicitor so you may as well make a start and have them all ready in time. Delays can be risky, holding up the legal proceedings.

Sun shining here today. A trip to the tip is planned.

podperson

Morning all,

maman - I so need to have a clothes sort-out, just need to find some time to do it Great that you're feeling good about yourself, I think it can become habit just to 'not bother' to the stage where you don't even realise you're doing it anymore. The story should be released as an ebook in December, will let you know when I have an official release date The one I'm currently editing is for a submission for an anthology that's due out next March, but of course would depend if they like it when it's in!

WW - hope it's a bit drier for you today. A friend of mine has some cheap waterproofs that she just pulls over her own clothes for walking the dog. Not been too bad here tbh, some quite heavy showers over the last few days but not been nonstop and have been managing to dodge them for the most part (of course I've completely jinxed myself now by saying that!).

Bitsy - hope DS has a good birthday, try to break things down for the house so it doesn't get too overwhelming, eg room by room, or say all the minor diy jobs you can do yourselves, anything you might need to someone in to do, eg plastering, where it needs retouching etc. Am sure I remember that you're like me and love lists :rotfl:

After saying I was knackered yesterday I still ended up being late, I seem to come round in the evening and then can't sleep again Got most of my editing done, need to finish off tonight and cut it down a bit. Was supposed to be going to film group tonight but have so much to do it's probably not going to happen. May have another wedding job, which is fab, this one is for 2014 though! :eek: Said they are almost sure they will go with me but they've got to pay the venue deposit this week so won't be able to afford mine as well for another month. Not much fabbing done I'm afraid.

Bitsy_Beans

Thanks for the advice LL. I shan't be chucking stuff and leave the house looking minimalist.....with two kids that's never going to happen :eek: the decluttering is stuff in kitchen cupboards, junk piled on the microwave and the loft of doom :eek: ok the loft isn't on show but I am not lugging more crap to a new home when it doesn't get used. There are lots of niggly things I need to do, paintwork, new garage door is a necessity etc. I worry about H doing it as he is happy to slap paint on walls and leave it at that and there are parts where plaster needs to be done etc. bathroom needs regrouting in parts, new flooring etc.

I definitely feel a long list coming on :eek::eek: I guess I feel a bit overwhelmed as the longer it takes to get it up to scratch the longer me and H and the kids are living separately. But if its going to be done well its going to take time and its no longer a sellers market any more.

lizzie157

Bitsy - congratulations on OH's job. I hope it all works out for you.

Well it's dry here at last! Like you WW, I have been constantly changing clothes since the rain began, even with waterproofs on it was getting through somehow! The kitchen chairs are hung with various coats at varying stages of dampness. I had to put the heating on as I was getting overwhelmed with it all. The house is an absolute tip.:o I am going to get on with it after this post.

Went to my first yoga session the other night ( even though I really felt like staying in it was so miserable out). I did enjoy it though it didn't really feel like I'd exercised and am not really sure if it's worth the expense. I've paid for 6 though so will see how it goes.

Had to go to the jobcentre again. A complete waste of time but the upshot is because H is on ESA I won't be called in again unless he is taken off it, though she coudn't tell what would happen when Universal credits come in so will just have to see. She clearly hadn't noted half of my details because she kept asking things I'd already told her. At least now I can concentrate on sorting myself out without them breathing down my neck for the time being.

Am keeping up with the me fabbing. Have been dermarollering for 2 weeks now so will see how that goes, not noticed any difference yet.

Have also started my xmas shopping.:) Saw some bits, just cheap bodywashes, handcreams etc and bought some to make a little beauty hamper for some female relatives. Am going to make some homemade body srubs to go in too. Am going to wrap it in cellophane and tie it wth a big ribbon.

Right can't put it off any longer. Best get my cleaning head on.:rotfl:

Oh and can someone please remind me how to change the signature I can't remember how to do it :O