Frugal Frump to Fab-u-lous Dharrrrrrrling Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox

Teacher2b

Rummer wrote: »

I have managed it in the past by adding fruit (1) to my porridge/cereal and having a glass of fruit juice (1) with breakfast. Snack time I have a piece of fruit (1) lunch has a salad either as part of it on on the side (1 or 2) and often I will have soup (2 or 3). Dinner has at least (2) portions of veg with it or in it and that is it. Often I have more fruit than veg but I am hoping to make it a bit more balanced.

Instead of fruit you could snack on cherry toms/carrot/pepper etc Soups are a great way to get a load of veg into your diet.

Ahh yeah I do love Soup Do you make your own? I like the idea of having soup and a salad for lunch- healthy and filling! I might secretly try to get my boyf healthier without realising Cunning!

I might invest in an allergy test rather than blanket avoiding all fruit as I have done since feeling iffy with apples/cherries/pears/ peaches/nectarines/ plums. Ridiculous or what :rotfl:

Rummer

I always take a packed lunch to work and I try to make it as tasty and varied as possible things like:

• Houmous and veggy sticks
• Couscous and roasted veg
• Cold pasta with tuna and sweetcorn/veggies/ salad dressing and chicken
• Soup
• Various Salads
• Sandwiches/wraps/bagels/pittas
• Leftovers to reheat
• Crackers/oatcakes and low fat cheese

Always with a choice of fresh fruit/yoghurt/veggie sticks

Rummer

Teacher2b wrote: »

Ahh yeah I do love Soup Do you make your own? I like the idea of having soup and a salad for lunch- healthy and filling! I might secretly try to get my boyf healthier without realising Cunning!

I might invest in an allergy test rather than blanket avoiding all fruit as I have done since feeling iffy with apples/cherries/pears/ peaches/nectarines/ plums. Ridiculous or what :rotfl:

Sometimes I make my own but I am also partial to the Covent Garden ones which I split over two days. I got one of their cookbooks to try and vary the recipes I make. There are also loads of delicious salad ideas to keep things interesting

mineallmine

Here's the packed lunch (challenge) thread Teacher2b https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4362995 You're right about having all the bits too. To make it enjoyable, something to look forward to.

I like things like falafel - don't think they are particularly healthy but ready made ones are nice dipped in a sauce. I like chilli sauce. Talk about a mix of cuisines! I like cucumber sticks too. That's 1 of the 5 a day too. May have to do some dry runs at home to see how long this takes me to assemble.

I forgot about hummus too Rummer That's a very healthy list of ideas, thank you

:j

Carmen

lessonlearned wrote: »

Yes, exciting or what:rotfl:.

I put my house on the market just to "dip my toe", thinking it would take a year or so to sell. It sold in 3 weeks, much to my surprise and delight.

So rather than risk losing the sale we decided to vacate and rent for a while.

After 24.5 years here it's quite an adventure. We legally complete on 9th January but will physically move out on the 4th. Then it will be time for a rest.

We have a six month lease with a monthly roll-over. My final monies will not be in place until July when my endowments kick in, so it's all come together beautifully. I can start house-hunting in the summer, although I am sort of keeping an eye on Rightmove :rotfl:

New year, new house, new adventures.

WOW! So many change's since April.
I'm so pleased you plans are coming to fruition :j:j
It will be great to follow your progress Roll on 2013.

Carmen

CurlyTop

Hi everyone. Am still here, its been good to see how everyone's fabbing and Christmas has gone.

Can't say mine was the best, had a major bust up with my nephew on Christmas morning; my brother text him to say that he should have gotten me a little pressie for xmas because of all the help I've given him the last few months (namely, paying mobile bill, giving him money for other things because he was out of work and not eligible for any benefit, then helping him get a full time temporary job where I work and paying for his travel to and from work for 2 weeks, etc).

When I was eventually alerted to what was going on, nephew went off on one down the phone at me, saying he never wants to speak to me again and hung up. We've not spoken since. I have no children, my nieces and nephews mean the world to me and so the events of xmas day have been playing out on that internal loop through my head ever since. Apologies for the long ramble but I've not told my brother about the phone call because that would only stir up more rows and I'm not in the mood. I already don't talk to my nephew's mum (even longer story best left laid to rest) and am not in the mood for any more fall outs. Families don't ya just love em.

That aside, it was the first time in nearly 17 years that my DH and I have spent the whole of xmas together and that has more than compensated for things. Its been nice just to chillax. Hope next year falls the same way, I really enjoyed it once I got over the guilt of just having some 'me' time for once and not feeling the urge to grab a duster, etc. :rotfl:

Fabbing of me continues - much improved skin due to body moisturiser. Perfume - always every day. Bought an ab roller from our Barnardos Sport Shop on Saturday and it was 50% off, so got it for £3.99 (yay bargain). I like to do ab crunches but since having m.e. once I get down on the floor, its hard to get back up so the frame will give me some support. Done 100 each day up to now. Will increase at the end of the week. Start small, aim high.

LL - glad the house move is coming on well. 2013 is definitely your year.
Hewie - thoughts are with you for your mum. Hated that guilty feeling when mine went to a hospice but looking back, they were able to give her the 24 hr care, I couldn't give any more.

Group hug for everyone to say thanks for the inspiration in the short time I've joined. Long may it continue. Here's to 2013.

carolbee

Hi there, long time lurker here.

I plan to look after my nails better and defuzz and moisturise regularly, on another challenge I have committed to walk daily and start the fitness DVD, we have a big holiday coming up and want to be a bit fabber by then. Once I have established these as a routine will add more goals. Don't do the perfume bit as trying to eke out until I get to airport and get more duty free, very MSE!

Love this thread, the support is wonderful.

fedupandskint

Morning all,

Packed lunches - I always take mine, its rare for me to forget. I usually take soup or a sandwhich or a salad, beans on toast with a carton of juice, lots of fruit and a yoghurt and sometimes a HM cake or flapjack depending upon what I've been making

Well what shall I do today? Think I'll start off with a long dog walk then see if I have everything in to make my chocolate fudge pud for tonight and if not have a quick walk up to the shop and back.

Will deffo do some exercise as I was bouncing off the walls last night with energy as I had a day off - can't cope with that again tonight!

Have just renewed my commitment to the GC again for the year ahead and gone for an annual budget this time so I'll spend a bit of time totalling up my spends so far and see what's left for Jan. Works out at £120 per month to stay on track.

Not too much else planned so mightfab myself up this evening with a double cleanse, exfoliate and face mask, hair pretreatment and mask - oh, life in the fast line!

heebie-jeebies

Morning Ladies,

Hewie - I'm glad you are happy with your Mum's care in the hospice and that they are looking out for your Dad too. I'm sure your Mum is getting the best care possible, take time to look after yourself too.

WW - you inspired me yesterday to get out for a walk. Originally decided to walk for half an hour to blow away the cobwebs and ended up walking for almost 2 hours which was nice. It was windy here yesterday but not really cold. It's dry again today so will wander off out again this morning.

Lizzie Good luck with all of the changes you are trying to make. You have come a long way in the last 18 months and we are all here for you.

On the fabbing front, I've kept up with wearing perfume and clothes I like. I've bought some new clothes in the sales as well but I'm waiting for them to be delivered. My 30th is now less than a week away so need to get moisturising and I'm willing my nails to grow so they can be painted next weekend. I'm hoping to get in at the hairdressers today but realise that may be optimistic.

I'm terrible at taking my own lunch to work. I usually end up buying a salad which is very samey and I could make myself more cheaply so this may have to be added to my goals.

Today, I'm planning to walk to the supermarket as I have to get food for tomorrow and will try the hairdressers while I'm there. When I'm back, I'm going to attempt a cake - raspberry and chocolate zebra cake - as a test run.

WelshWoofer

mineallmine wrote: »

Feeling a smidge over whelmed with everything I'm trying to do but you've got to start somewhere. If I hit some or all of the targets then that's a step forward.

:A

Just a quick comment on this for everyone especially the newbies - don't put too much pressure on yourselves. Most of us don't achieve every single one of our goals to perfection. Its all about trying and making a little change - better than doing nothing at all. Life often gets in the way and the last thing you need is extra worry and guilt for not doing everything perfectly. For example, I plan to exercise 4 times a week but if I only manage 3 that's 3 more than I did before so its all an improvement