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

Bitsy_Beans

heebie-jeebies wrote: »

Bitsy, I've been thinking about you ever since I read this over the weekend and you are right, all of us are different with different lifestyles and expectations. I am married but don't have children, I work long hours and often travel with work so often find it difficult to find time for myself or exercise etc.
However, LL started this to tell us all that we're as important as those we're running around after so what would you like to do? Is there anyway you can incorporate exercise you want to do with something with the kids? Do you have friends with children who feel the same way? If so, maybe you could help each other out - as an example, you could babysit while she goes to a zumba class on a Wednesday and she returns the favour while you go to karate on a Thursday?
I know your OH works long hours and is out early, does cooking help you relax? Maybe you could have a weekly special meal with your OH after the kids are in bed, a new recipe or an old favourite but just time for you and him to chat, catch up and relax. And how do weekends work? As your OH is up early in the week, you could get out for an hour on a Saturday morning with the kids so he gets a lie-in on the agreement that he has some time with them on a Saturday afternoon/evening etc so you can have an undisturbed soak in the bath or read a book, catch up with a friend etc.
Sorry if these are all things you do anyway but they've been whirring around my head and I wanted to get them out!

Awww bless you, lovely suggestions thanks so much for sharing.

Kids will be back at school next week so I will have to make the effort to fit in 30 mins exercise, Zumba or shred while they are at school. Sounds like a huge excuse but because H is out early dog walking takes place after 9am after school run. That's an hour walking but at my mums much slower pace (we walk out poochies together) :cool: then back home, housework, any washing, food prep, another dog walk, errands, food shop......all before school pickup at 3.30. I thought I'd have loads of lovely time when kids went full time and I just seem busier :eek:

Evenings not so good unfortunately, quiet meal with H without kids is impossible since eldest has ASD and it's his most stressful time of day. Add to which he doesn't go off to sleep until 10pm......:cool:

H is quite good at watching kids weekends if I need a nap etc but I seem to have lost the ability to sleep during the day :eek:
Sounds like I have an answer for everything doesn't it not intended that way just trying to give a picture of my homelife :rotfl:

I wasnt really having a whinge it was more a mulling over not comparing with other people and putting myself under pressure to match what they do. Competitive? Moi? :o:rotfl:

Mind you given the number of chocolate eclair sweeties I scoffed today I do need a kick up bum to do more :eek:

Wahini Betty oooooh I really want to learn to surf :T I still have my bodyboard from when I was 18 (it's classed as vintage :eek:) and it needs a new leash. I still have my wetsuit which I can't currently fit into plan was for me to slim down and take the board out this summer dying for a VW camper van too (had one when I was a kid) but can't justify the expense

Loving all the positives Hairy Dieters book not arrived yet, hope it comes tomorrow

mineallmine

Bitsy you reminded me to look up some of the Hairy Bikers recipes

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/search?programmes[]=p00vq8c6

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/programmes/b01m8273

esmy

Mine all mine - is this the curry??
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/chicken_korma_16352

Sounds lovely!

mineallmine

Yes that's the one esmy It looked really good on TV. I spoke to someone the other day who said their family spends £60 on a takeaway. Even buying all these spices (which you'll use again and again) this is healther and cheaper

Carmen

Good evening ladies,
The ladies that run have my fullest admiration. :beer:

I have never wanted or enjoyed having to run, even for a bus! My boobs have been a hindrance since I was 13/14yrs old. It's no fun running whilst trying to hold my breasts still
I need to do a sport that I would enjoy which does not feel like exercising

LL, good luck with your move, try not to over do it.

All you ladies decluttering have inspired me to have a go, red cross here I come. :rotfl:

Good night, sleep well...ZZZZzzzzzzz

Carmen xx

podperson

Hi all,

Happyscrimper - welcome! Sounds like you already have some good habits in place so am sure it can only improve - I'm very jealous of the part time work as well, would love to be able to drop my hours.

LL - good luck with the house move, hope it all goes ok, try not to overdo it - get those boys of yours to work :rotfl:

ww - glad pooch is looking better, love the idea of a graduated bob for a dog :rotfl:so with the weight loss and new 'do' he's fabbing up as well!

Carmen - yay on the weight loss, that's fantastic :jI still haven't got round to buying new scales, I think I'm subconsciously putting it off as I don't want to know I'm not a sports fan either, I used to love dancing though (not been for years and keep thinking I must get back into it), wouldn't really feel like 'exercising' but would always be knackered afterwards and was much trimmed in those days so it must have done some good :rotfl: Or what about swimming, martial arts, rock climbing - maybe try and think away from the traditional 'sporty' things.

Wahini - I need to do a big batch cook this week I think, get the freezer stocked up again (really wish I had a bigger one mind). The surfing sounds great fun - and definately something to aim for!

Everyone is sounding wonderfully busy and positive! Was my first day back at work today, wasn't that bad I guess - just me and one of the bosses in and he ended up letting me finish a bit early (think perhaps he wasn't feeling well :rotfl:) so did a 20min walk to the supermarket near there and got some fresh stuff in. Think will do a big online shop tomorrow but they always seem to send awful fruit and veg so thought I might as well pick up my own. Think the getting it home counted as some exercise though! Have been working on my edits again tonight - getting there Debating whether to ask some people to read it before I send it off or just bite the bullet - I think most people I usually ask are a bit swamped themselves at the moment though and don't want to be waiting too long before getting it off. Will see, hopefully can get the last checks finished tomorrow and then onto photo editing from the last wedding at weekend - it never ends Going to go and do my nails now I think - still not got round to them!
Night all x

Rummer

Hello

Sounds as if you are all making great strides with your fabbing

More of the same for me here. I had a shopping day (4 hours walking:eek:) with DD and I got my home organisation folder (OS board idea) and we ate loads of tasty and unhealthy things Then a good friend came round tonight and we ate even more sweeties and laughed and it has left me feeling very uplifted.

I have decided that I am going to give some of the sweeties that we have left away as there is a huge amount and I am struggling to resist.

To those looking for fitness DVDs there were a number in Poundland today including two by the Biggest Loser team. I have no idea what they are like however for £1 you can't go far wrong. Personally I like the 30 day shred and my all time favourite is Charlie Brooks before and after.

lessonlearned

Just a quickie and then I must get to bed. I'm all done in.

I watched the Hairy Bikers again tonight and I agree they've done really well, in fact most of the group have done well too.

The curry and the sweet and sour looked "gorjuss". I do agree that these recipes look like they take quite a bit of time, especially at the prep stage, especially the lasagne one.

I think they would all freeze well though, so those of you with families could maybe double up and eat one, freeze one. The singletons could just divide it into portions.

Hey presto healthy "slimming" meals - perfect for those rushed or CBA days and I'm sure they will be much nicer than any ready meal you can buy. Healthier and probably cheaper too.

I already do this with quite a few casserole type meals, bolognese sauce etc

Watching them prepare all the spices reminded me I was hoping for a pestle and mortar for Christmas but didn't get one - will just have to treat myself.

One of the major drawbacks to the new house is that it has a single under oven - not good for my back. I'm thinking of buying a ramoska - can use my Christmas present money.

One of the positives is that the new fridge freezer means no bending down scrabbling about trying to find stuff lurking at the back of the fridge.

Well ladies I am seriously impressed with all your challenges, fabbing, exercising and money saving.

As young Mr Grace (about 90 years old) from "Are You Being Served" was wont to say

"You're All Doing Very Well"

Right I'm off to bed, had a Bailey's to try and help me sleep.

Purely medicinal you understand.;)

Bitsy_Beans

Carmen wrote: »

Good evening ladies,
The ladies that run have my fullest admiration. :beer:

I have never wanted or enjoyed having to run, even for a bus! My boobs have been a hindrance since I was 13/14yrs old. It's no fun running whilst trying to hold my breasts still
I need to do a sport that I would enjoy which does not feel like exercising

LL, good luck with your move, try not to over do it.

All you ladies decluttering have inspired me to have a go, red cross here I come. :rotfl:

Good night, sleep well...ZZZZzzzzzzz

Carmen xx

My game of choice is netball played it at primary school until I was 30 when I was pregnant. Sadly now I don't have the time to devote to not only playing the game but the practice sessions too. Sadly even now tap classes have been put on hold.

I second Pods suggestion of dancing, great fun and can still be a work out too

pamsdish

Hi All
I did the "Hairy Bikers" leek lasagne when it was first aired, its very nice, froze 3/4 portions and it freezes well. Is there many more recipes in the book as they are available via "BBC" web site, but I would get the book if more recipes in it.

Going to give Wii a miss today as back sore.!!

I have always had heavy thighs 29" circumference, last summer !! I bought a pair of "Sketchers" off E,Bay to try them ,I could see a difference in days, I then also bought a similar type thing in a mule for indoor wear, my thighs are 25" now, that is probably still large to some, but a miracle to me, now when I wear trousers I don`t worry about being tight on the thigh.