Frugal Frump to Fabulous Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox

Bitsy_Beans

lizzie157 wrote: »

Hi all,
Welcome to all the newbies :hello:
Hope everyone had a good xmas :beer:.
Had a lovely one here a bit different as we didn't have lunch with DS2 as usual but we did see him for present opening. We had a big joint family xmas with the newlyweds and DIL family. It was really lovely.

We haven't much money as many of you already know but I decided this year I was going to invite family here and make merry even if it is on a budget sp we've had qute a few get togethers and it's been great.

Unfortunately fabwise I've managed to catch a cold and my skin is looking awful . I've had some sort of allergic reaction to something but am baffled as to what. My face is really dry/red/itchy and also my arms and legs in places. I' ve been putting Vit E oil mied with sweet almond oil on them to try and help the dryness but am struggling wth the itchiness. Any ideas?? I don't really want anything chemically as I'm not sure that the outbreak isn't due to something like this and the cream I bought is making it worse. Like you LL I'm going to try and go a bit more natural. I've been edging this way for a few yrs now but finances don't always allow.

I have an assignment due in early jan for my OU course but atm I can't focus as my skin is driving me mad!

I've been thinking of a word and the best one for me is optimism. Over the yrs I've become a pessimist due to circumstances and as some of you know have suffered bouts of depression. I'm much better but still have periods of down in the dumps. So I'm going to try to look on the good side of things more than I sometimes do and hopefully the place i'm in now will get even better this yr than it did last.

Anyway enough waffling :rotfl:.

If I don't manage to post again before I will be reading so I wish everyone a Very Happy New Year. ( I'll post again soon as I get chance)

Hugs to all

Lizzie try using oats, put some in the end of a pair of tights and running it into a bath. When I was googling natural cleansers I cam across this girls page, she's got pictures of how red and sore her face is and it looks fantastic now.

http://www.bubzbeauty.com/bubbi-likes/126-oatmeal-cleanser.html


Ps. Glad you had a good Christmas and that your OH didn't spoil it for you xx

Jacci good luck with the quitting smoking :T

A general hello to everyone

NoahsPennilessMummy

If using oatmeal it's more beneficial to use colloidal oatmeal directly in the water..... But it can make water slippy so be careful!

maman

:santa2: Hello All, and it's not really too late for the Santa is it?;)

Good to see you posting lizzie. I think optimism is an excellent word for you, it's been creeping through in your posts for months now.:T


I've been into the city centre briefly today. As our family don't do adult gifts any more I didn't feel guilty treating myself. I bought two gift sets because I wanted the main thing so the other bits are a bonus. Definitely good value for money:

• Clarins set with a full size of my favourite Eau Dynamisante plus a small shower gel and body lotion that'll be great for short holidays. That was £20
• Benefit set with full size Porefessional plus a small eye cream and a small primer that is a highlighter. Price was same as Porefessional on its own. I like their eye cream and I want to try the other
• some knickers from M&S, not massive reduction but very pretty. I've definitely got some that should be in the bin.:o

I'm still thinking abut my word.;)

P.S. Where did you get the duvet t2b?

Rummer

I could do with some advice about the healthy eating. OH refuses to have no treats in the house and I find it [STRIKE]impossible [/STRIKE]very difficult to not pick at things through the day. I have tried having oodles of healthy snacking things in the house including nuts, dried fruit, veg and dips but I still eat crisps/junk to an unhealthy degree. How do I break the habit while surrounded by temptation?

maman

Rummer wrote: »

I could do with some advice about the healthy eating. OH refuses to have no treats in the house and I find it [STRIKE]impossible [/STRIKE]very difficult to not pick at things through the day. I have tried having oodles of healthy snacking things in the house including nuts, dried fruit, veg and dips but I still eat crisps/junk to an unhealthy degree. How do I break the habit while surrounded by temptation?

I'm a convert to Slimming World. I lost 3.5 stone with that and I've kept it off for coming up 2.5 years. Basically the plan is a lot of common sense about lean meat, loads of veg and fruit and having potatoes/pasta/rice etc. plain rather than full of cream or oil. Things like cakes and bread and sweets and cheese and wine etc. should only be occasional treats. If you think it might work for you, three's a sample 7 day meal plan on-line.

If your DH really insists on having rubbish in the house then try buying him things you don't like. that's what I do, so crisps where I don't like the flavour or cakes/biscuits I could take or leave. Ironically some of your healthy snacks have rather a lot of oil or sugar in them so probably not the best.

Another option I've read about on here is myfitnesspal which helps to keep calories in a sensible range and makes allowances for exercise too.

Good luck.:)

OrangeFairy

well today I have spent some time on myself. A lovely long shower using my extra nice shampoo, then I moisturised myself with body lotion which I never normally have time to do. Feel a little nicer as my hair feels lovely after my haircut yesterday.

I hope everyone is having a lovely day xx

podperson

Hi all,

Lizzie - good to see you and a fab word choice Glad you managed to have a good xmas but annoying about the reaction. Maybe try camomile lotion or aloe vera for the itchiness.

Rummer - sounds like a great plan with the local produce. I'm going to start trying to do a lot more cooking from scratch so will see how I get on Is there anywhere you could 'regift' the bags of sweets, eg take them into work and leave in the staff room, pass along to friends, drop into the kids school for the teachers etc? If OH has to have them could he have a special place he keeps them, eg I'm really short so if OH has treats that I'm trying to avoid I make him put them on the top shelf of the cupboard then I can't reach :rotfl:

Maman - looks like you got some great bargains I have some xmas money that I really ought to get spent before it drifts into the 'bills fund' :rotfl:Think may treat myself to some new perfume, just one of the cheaper ones and could do with some new jeans.

So, bit of a lazy day today, just been chilling round the house. Back to work tomorrow so back to normality then. Been using up some of the unhealthy bits in the house. Think there's one box of choccies left now and OH can have them Going to do a meal plan for the week I think and get some healthier shopping in tomorrow. Not got a decent exercise plan in place yet, the weather's a bit miserable at the moment for any walking etc so will see what exercise dvds I have in - I get bored easily though so may need a few to alternate

lessonlearned

Hello Again

Lovely to see the thread has been re-energised and great to see so many new faces. I'm looking forward to our journey into spring.

Did you notice it seems a lot lighter this evening, just got back from seeing OH and it's nearly 5 and it's only just got fully dark. I do like it when the days start to get a bit longer.

Some great words - Lizzie Optimism is a great one for you. This last year you have definitely ditched the old "pessimistic you". You seem so much happier and more positive.

OK - My word is "Fun".

I know it sounds a bit trivial but the "fun factor" has been really missing from my life since OH became ill. And now of course there are my parents too.

However, it really is time for me to start living again, get out and about.

This girl really does "Want to Have Fun";)

Teacher2b

LL- great word, good for you! You really deserve it given the love and dedication you are continually showing your family.

Maman- duvet was from Ikea! I'd been eyeing up one in John Lewis but the cheapest they do was around the £80 mark so I was thrilled to find one for the fraction of the price. Just need to decided whether to treat myself to the matching pillows now!

I feel like i've been on here all day but I swear I haven't OH ended up working day shift rather than night so I just been 'pottering' all day before picking him up later- lovely!

I feel I may be more of a regular fixture on here as the OH is going away for 3 months on Friday. I will miss him as he has been a huge support throughout everything this year but i'm trying to embrace it- can watch all the rubbish soaps and eat healthy girl food again!

Pod- we're the same! I'm short so having to physically climb up to get the biscuits/ after eights definitely makes you think twice! He also hides things around the house so I don't end up munching them home alone when he's on a night shift. Needs must!

Hewie29

Hi all


I've been thinking about my goals for 2014 and while I have a few, my main one will be to lose weight, over the last year I have put on over a stone and I was already overweight to start with so really need to concentrate on this.


I also need to start exercising again, but am finding it a bit scary. I had a brain op in April and am so worried about doing damage to myself by over exercising. I have been given the all clear from the docs but it still scares me. I am looking into using toning tables at the local gym to start me off, I have an appointment next Monday.


Hope everyone one had a lovely Christmas xx