Frump to Fab - Onwards and Upwards

tru

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Morning :hello:[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Hope you enjoyed your night out maman[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LL Good grief woman, don't you ever stop? Or even just slow down? Wish I had your energy [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Extravagance!! Well not really, but it felt like it When you buy new knickers, don't just throw the old ones away. Take great delight in wearing them one more time (well they've been washed and are in the drawer, would be a waste not to) then when you go for your shower at the end of the day, throw them in the bin when you take them off [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I've plucked my eyebrows, they look OK (well, they're even) but I was too scared to do more, even though I want them a tiny bit thinner. I'm too mean to pay a pro so I'll have another go later. Carefully [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I now feel the need to wash my make-up brushes.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]My limp's back :mad: I do the exercises religiously, then do more of my own – lots of stretches or a short yoga routine – and am also generally moving around more. I have to do the 'official' exercises twice a day. I'm going to up it to four and see if it improves over the next couple of days.[/FONT]

lessonlearned

tru wrote: »

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LL Good grief woman, don't you ever stop? Or even just slow down? Wish I had your energy [/FONT]

:rotfl::rotfl: I actually feel that I've slowed down to a snails pace. I use to be much quicker and have far more energy than I have now. My get up and go has well and truly got up and gone:o

Sorry to hear that you are still having problems with limping etc. Hope it's not too painful. It really is a bu**er when your body won't do what you want it to do.

I am really determined to make some time to get fit and healthy again. I'm only 63 so I really need to get my act together and tackle my recalcitrant body and bend it to my will.

I will fight back, get healthy and improve my mobility.

I went to physio on Monday and had a good pummelling and I am fully psyched up to restart pilates on Friday. I managed a short walk and a few stretches yesterday, so work is in progress.

My hand is a little better but it's got a long way to go yet. I've just had to write a letter - couldn't grasp the pen so I ended up having to type it. At least I managed to circumnavigate my way round the problem.

Is that what they mean by "Blue Sky Thinking" or is that "Thinking Outside the Box"……My OH and I used to kill ourselves laughing at those kind of daft business speak phrases and every so often we used to try and incorporate them into normal speech just for fun.

I'm worried about my sister. She ended up in hospital again on Sunday - not sure what's happening but she is an asthma suffer and three times this year she has had to attend A&E with some form of anaphylactic shock.

We've no idea what triggers these incidences but each one seems to be worse than the last. My worry is one of these days either the epi pen won't be enough or she won't get to hospital in time.

She has an incredible work load, what with her job, her home and family and running around after mum and dad. Her stress levels are through the roof…….

Yes you do need to wash make up brushes and equipment regularly and of course weed out old make up because it can go off. Mascara is the worst and ideally should be replaced every 3 months to avoid the risk of eye infections.

Rose - good idea about the cheap vests, a great way of living with a colour for a while to see how you feel and as you say you can wear the "mistakes" as underwear.

I did have a colour test thing done years ago. I won it in a raffle which was great because it can be quite costly to have one done. The problem is since then my hair has changed colour from auburn to white and of course my skin tones have also changed. I can no longer wear many of my old favourite colours and so it has been a case of trial and error.

I think I have gone from Deep Auburn where I was told to think "Autumn Leaves" for my colours to more of a Winter palette. I can now get away with both more vibrant colours such as deep turquoise, olive green, deep mustard etc and also some of the softer silver blue/greys. I still can't wear black or navy - they make me look like a corpse. Beige makes me disappear. Fortunately I can still wear red.

I think its down to trial and error and of course maybe adjusting your make up. If you get compliments then you know you are on the right track.

pirateyqueen

LL, hope your sister is ok, and Tru, hope your limp gets better.

I had a dentist appointment this morning and had an orthodontic assessment (I think I may have mentioned that I would like to get braces again. I had them when I was younger but my teeth have reverted back to how they were before) and the dentist said that I should be eligible to get them done on the NHS! That's a turn up for the books! I was expecting to pay a fortune! I now have to wait for my referral to find out more, but I am pretty pleased. I just hope I don't have to have surgery (I have gaps between my teeth but I think the reason I am eligible for treatment on the NHS is because I have a large overbite).

Also, me and my little sis (16, not so little now!) are having a girly weekend this weekend as I am looking after her while our parents go away. We're going out for a meal and going to do some shopping on Saturday and I am braving another eyebrow threading. I've been growing them out since the last disaster (about 6 weeks ago) and ideally I'd give them longer to really thicken up, but I'm going to a wedding next week so I need to make the effort.

maman

I had a great night last night. I could have eaten 100% healthily but (as predicted) although I went for a stir-fry I also had lots of chips, samosas and spring rolls. Back on the healthy plan today until I go to my brother for the w/end then I'll just eat what I'm given. Next week looks promising so should prepare me for holiday.

tru, it's really quite cheap to get your eyebrows done professionally.I rarely pay more than £6-8 for waxing and they do a great job. Once I've got the basic shape then it's easy to keep it (for up to 2 months) with top up plucking. I think it's well worth it.

rose, the idea of the coloured tops is great, especially as you could wear them off as layers if you're not happy. I think I've said before that I bought coloured things from the CS to experiment. I've also got two cheap cardis from Primark (bright pink and turquoise) that look really good. The other colour boost I try is pretty scarves.


That's not a bad price for a long, cashmere cardigan betty, more so if you get 10% discount. Hopefully it'll 'go to checkout' very soon.


Sorry to hear about your sister LL. It does sound stress related but there's not a great deal more you can do to help other than watch out for her. It seems that you (and others) are in a bit of a Catch 22 with the ailments/exercise. I'm still keeping up the gentle squats and stretches and I really think it's helping. Had loads of stamina at my dancing class on Monday which is unusual after summer break.


The blue sky/outside the box remark made me smile. Put me in mind of Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats which was very much in vogue in my world a few years ago. Each hat a different colour depending on what type of thinking you brought to a problem.


Good news about the NHS treatment pq. Have a lovely time with your little sis. (Maybe you could arrange something with your sis LL?).


I'll be joining in fab Friday. I've just put a few bits together ready to go away. Basic uniform of smart jeans, top, scarf for daytime and then a pencil skirt, heels and pretty cardi in case we go out for a meal on Saturday evening.


Have a good weekend all if I don't get back on before then.:A

alec_eiffel

Good news about the dental treatment pq.

lessonlearned

Great news about the dental work PQ. That will save you a small fortune.

Well I must tell you about my charity shop bargain...... An 8 ft x 5 ft pure wool Turkish Rug as new - £15, lovely colours. Also, Two pairs of trousers £2.50 each.

Maman - sister and I are looking to go to Champney's Spa for a little mini getaway. Just one night but as it's only an hours drive for me it should make a nice little break.

We were thinking of a weekend in London but tbh I don't really feel up to it at the moment. I think something quiet and restful with just a bit of luxury is what's required. A little bit of pampering.;)

Just having a quiet 5 minutes then a little potter in the garden repotting my chrysanths.

Rummer

So busy here at the moment trying to get the house back on track after spending so much time tending the many sick. Mercifully my immediate family are back on their feet (and out from under mine) although there are others still needing care and attention.

Today has been spent cleaning and some of the house is now sparkling including the bathroom so I can lock myself away tonight and have a mini pamper session

I think I have come up with a plan for getting more organised and guarding my precious time. It is going to take a bit of effort to get up and running but it should work well.

Rose_Wood

Evening All

Thanks for the suggestions about trying different colours. Sweetcheeks - googling might be a good way forward for ideas. I'm not sure I'm ready for a personal shopper Rummer - maybe when I have lost all the weight I want to. Like you Maman I use charity shops to try colours and styles I might never have done otherwise. Quite often I'll take an armful of clothes into a changing room in a charity shop and try everything on. I usually discard most of it but occasionally find something that looks really good. Most of my clothes come from charity shops but I tend to look for expensive makes that I couldn't bring myself to pay for at full price. I know pretty scarves really lift an outfit but I have never been able to wear them - they never feel right on me although my sister seems to have a real knack with them. I can't adjust my make up though Lesson Learned as I don't actually ever wear it - am I still allowed on the thread

I've had another busy day. I had a 7 mile walk this morning and managed to squeeze in a bit of ironing before work this afternoon. DGD came for tea and I am now babysitting having had a good play and put her to bed (with lots of stories). It has been glorious sunshine and really warm here so I put on summer dress for work - a white Per Una sleeveless dress with big pink flowers and broderie anglaise type background with a bright pink short sleeved cardigan. It's so nice to still wear summery clothes in the second half of September.

Rose

System

Hello ladies, sorry I'm rubbish at remembering details so I'll just have to send good wishes and hugs to you all.

I've had a small pamper this evening - been to yoga, then a nice bubbly bath and now I'm painting my toenails. OH hates this but he's not here so I'm rebelling :rotfl:

I'm having a crisis of confidence about my 'look' though
My hair's all over the place, it's wild and curly, I usually have it dyed and let it do it's own thing because I'm basically lazy.
My clothes revolve around jeans, T shirts and trainers (practical at work). I have one pair of mad flowery trousers and my orange Converse, but the rest of my non-work clothes are boring.
Ideally I'd like to be well-groomed but I don't think I have the raw materials in face, body or hair - but I'm too old now to get away with the 'clean but scruffy' look I've had all my life.
I'd love to throw all my clothes away and start again but of course that's out of the question.
I quite like that way Catherine of 'Not dressed as lamb' fame looks, but she has time and a bulging wardrobe and is an artist - I'm an ordinary, middle-aged, harassed full-time work and mum of 3 cats and adult kids :eek:

Help! how do I achieve a well-groomed but colourful, tidy, easy to care for and practical look, when I'm naturally untidy and windswept?
Any ideas?

Thanks
Rx

Rummer

Rosy I think a good haircut is worth paying for as it can make life much easier and a good haircut can hugely impact the way you look. A good friend once said that you wear your hair every day so it is worth investing in! We I change my style I grill the hairdresser as to how to dry it etc

Eyebrows are also another way to look well groomed, when they are neat and tidy it can open up your eyes and lift your whole face. Makeup is optional of course however a bit of blush, mascara and lip balm always perk my face up.

Clothes are trickier for me to advise on as I wear pretty much the same thing all the time in different patterns :rotfl: What I often do is keep an eye out for people with the same shape as me who look fabulous and make a wee note of the kind of thing they are wearing and then look out for similar cuts. I do know which colours suit me as well and that helps.

Similar to yourself I am busy with work and family and it is hard to fit everything in however I have my hair and makeup routine down to 5/10 mins in the morning and it is really worth it. Before I go to bed I cleanse, tone and moisturise so my skin is fresh and ready. All other fabbing is fitted in as and when I have time or when it is desperately needed :rotfl: