Frugal Frump to Fabulous Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox

ScarlettMcCain

LOL Maddie, I know what you mean about the footwear - neither my trainers or my walking boots are anywhere near stylish, but hey they're comfy, and that's what matters!

Jealous of your yummy lunch out though. January budget cuts for me = eating my way through the freezer.....

maman

Rubyslippers77 wrote: »

LOL Maddie, I know what you mean about the footwear - neither my trainers or my walking boots are anywhere near stylish, but hey they're comfy, and that's what matters!

Jealous of your yummy lunch out though. January budget cuts for me = eating my way through the freezer.....

I don't do trainers but I have a pair of Sketchers that are like slippers! So they look like 'school shoes', so what. Those and my walking boots have seen me through many a City break when others have been flagging. I always feel that if you look OK from the waist up for when you're sitting at a table in a restaurant then that's fab enough for such occasions. So my smart black jumper is revealed when I've peeled off all the layers!;)

WantToBeSE

My Fabbyness continues...i have booked myself a manicure and haircut (and blowdry) for Wednesday morning!
This will be the first time i have been to the hairdressers for a LONG LONG time!
Nails are growing, and i'll be painting them this evening. Off out for lunch now, as we are celebrating my sons 14th Birthday! It's not until tomorrow but they only do Roast Dinners on a Sunday, and he wants burger and chips instead.

Bitsy_Beans

Defuzzed and scrubbed this morning in shower. Slathered on the coconut oil, been a week since I did, suspect I'd gotten used to a more leisurely get ready when we didn't have the school run!
Did some much needed plucking of eyebrows this morning.
Enjoyed a nice walk in the sun with the dog and the kids. Bit of paddling in some very deep puddles is always good for fabbing the soul

We bought a running machine in the sale, hubby is putting it together so am going to get stuck into using that. I am too self conscious for running round the streets and I always quite liked the running machines when I had a gym membership. Let's hope the old pelvic floor can take the strain :eek::eek:

Have my tattoo booked in to be done on Wednesday. Know they are not everyone's cup of tea but I am excited to finally be getting one done. I've only been mulling the idea for about 4 years :rotfl: no snappy decisions for me :rotfl:

Have a fab Saturday all

lessonlearned

Just a quickie to let you all know we viewed the cottage -pretty as a picture however, lots of issues with shared access, dodgy boundaries etc - potential legal minefield so I'm walking away. Never mind the right one will come along sooner or later.

Glorious day here - hope it lasts for tomorrow - I've got a lot of running about planned.

Fabwise I must admit I feel pretty good after my pilates - will do some homework exercises in a bit before dinner.

Bitsy - Great idea about the running machine. I've been storing a sofa for DS2. We've removed it today so now that I have some space I'm going to buy myself that cross trainer I have been promising myself for the last couple of months.

DS1 has also dropped off an old wing backed armchair which I'm going to use to practice my upholstery skills on. So my lounge is going to look very strange for a while - part sitting room, part workshop and part gym:rotfl:

Who cares - it's only temporary and all in a good cause .

I've given myself a manicure and pedicure - just need to do a bit of nail painting later.

Have a great day.

WantToBeSE

Had a lovely lunch out. Steak was beautiful!

Have painted my nails this evening. They look fab! I have always bitten them so its really something special to see them painted :-)

Rummer

LL Shame the cottage was a disappointment, as you say thought he right property will come along for you. The chair project sounds exciting The cross trainer is my fav bit of fitness equipment, you will need to let us know which one you go for.

Bitsy How exciting getting your own running machine, it will be great to get fit in the comfort of your own home.

WantToBeSE Glad you had a great lunch, sounds as if you are really taking to the fabbing lifestyle

Well my day was slightly crushing. I have been going all out on the fabbing with face packs, skin care regimes, makeup and freshly washed hair every day. Also been making a real effort to dress well, eat healthily and drink loads of water. Today I left the house feeling confident only to have numerous people tell me how pale and unwell I looked Tomorrow I am going to up the blusher levels :rotfl:

charlies-aunt

Slow start on the fabbing but a visit to the hairdressers yesterday (Christmas present from DH) for coloured highlights and a much needed trim was a big boost - especially as I had been dreading having to turn up feeling like a scruff. I have booked in for a return visit in March to keep it up. Its a bonus that the salon let you pop in between appointments for a free fringe trim - so no more desperate hacking with the kitchen scissors required.


In anticipation of the salon visit I attempted to smarten myself up a tad - my usual attire has been big, black/grey & baggy shirt/top coupled with jog-style pants. However when I tried on my smart trousers, they hung off me like clowns trousers....as did all the other decent clothes (size 16-18) in my wardrobe. Even the size 14 trousers,purchased optimistically to "slim-into" years ago, were very loose


What a shock! It forced me to actually look in the hated mirror at myself and register that I have lost inches over the last few months - I have been on a low carb regime for about six months after it was recommended as a mood enhancer by my counsellor but lack of self awareness & self care has stopped me to realising I was actually losing weight too.


I really have mixed feelings about this revelation! I feel loads better on the diet and intend to continue with it but now have the dilemma of having a wardrobe full of clothes that don't fit and a slender budget for replacement purchases.

Teacher2b

LL sorry to hear you were disappointed, hang in there but the more you look the more you will get a feel for what you're after and there's no point taking on something with so many danger signs!

Charlies aunt- sounds like an excellent day of fabbing/ reflection. Congratulations on the weight loss- what a fantastic achievement! And to happen without even realising is a bonus! Sometimes it can be difficult to stop and really look at what is in the mirror rather than what you think is in the mirror. Try to see the new size as something to embrace and you can chose just a few items of clothes you really like!

Rummer- I know the feeling!! Think we could all do with a bit of sun, do you ever fake tan/ use gradual tanning moisturizer?

WanttobeSE mmmmmmmmm steak- my mouth is watering!

Fabbing progress this week- lots of gyming, I'm really loving it still and a new playlist has made it a positively euphoric experience this week! Yesterday was a really good fabbing day- I spent lots of my christmas vouchers. I had semi permanant lashes fitted which I like - they should last a few weeks and just make me look that bit more 'alive' even without makeup so it's great for the gym. I had my make up done at a BObbi Brown counter and invested in a new foundation too which seems to really suit my skin- I just hope not to love it too much because I bought it with a voucher and will never bring myself to replace it! Also had a bra fitting and i'm a completed different size probably as a result of a bit of weight loss so i'm thrilled and found 2 new sale bras in my size so posture is feeling good!

Gym this morning and now tucking into homemade soup about to start working!

Have we all had a sprinkling of frost?

Happy Sunday x

WelshWoofer

Hello all!
Sorry I've been missing in action this week - back in work and its all been happening!
But I've finally found 5 mins to catch up with you all - too much news for me to mention you all but a special congrats to Rummer! Well done you!
And so good to hear so many of you so positive and getting a grip on fabbing and life in general.:beer::beer:

Not a lot of interesting news to report - just work and normal life really. Fling is still bloody lovely and cooked a gorgeous meal for me on Friday night (taking into account I don't eat meat), things are rubbing along very well

Sadly, a friend lost her estranged husband last weekend (she's only 26 and he was 35) - he's been struggling for a while with mental health issues and it seems that unfortunately he succumbed to them - don't know all of the details (too insensitive to ask) but its an awful situation as they have a 2 year old son - she had moved back to her parents a few months ago due to his behaviour and for the safety of her son but is now consumed with guilt. The poor poor girl - its so sad.
Certainly puts things into perspective.

On a lighter note I came across this talk about diets and mindful eating and thought it may be interesting for some?
http://www.ted.com/talks/sandra_aamodt_why_dieting_doesn_t_usually_work.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2014-01-11&utm_campaign=newsletter_weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_content=talk_of_the_week_image
Its a little bit scientific but very sensible.

I've lost 2 lbs this week - I think from just being back in a routine and not having Christmas food in the house - I've cut back on the booze and done some exercise and just eaten when hungry again rather than constant grazing that you do when you're home all day. I also cooked some homemade "ready meals" to stick in the oven last weekend for when I was back at work and it seems to have done the trick.

You may remember that I said I was aiming to do 1 small homebased job a week and one big one a month? Last week I did manage to clear out the wardrobe and have ordered a new blind for the bathroom. I bought a few new towels in Sainsbobs this morning (half price) to go with the new colours - all I need to do now is paint the room :eek:
This week's jobs/goals (on top of normal everyday work, dog walking, household stuff) will be ....

• eating properly - cooking meals and making sure I do eat the fruit I buy
• 2/3 exercise sessions (run today if I can force myself!)
• marking a set of books I've put off for ages
• writing an exam report
• tidying out the kitchen cupboards
• getting light switches fixed
• buying paint and maybe painting!

And just to add insult to injury the boiler is on the blink - it started last night but recovered itself this morning but has now decided to be a b*gger again. I've phoned the engineer and sent him photos of the model etc (thank the Lord for smart phones) which means he can order the part and fit it tomorrow for me after school. More money:(

Right, better get going...I've bored you all enough!