Frump to Fab - Onwards and Upwards

lizzie157

Rummer wrote: »

Oh Lizzie, how dreadful! We had an old cat who took to spraying and it was horrid and embarrassing as often he would spray when people came to visit. Nothing much to recommend other than maybe some catnip and a bed area for her to have as her own. Do you not have a way to keep her out of the bedrooms?.

She is staying in bedroom as we have dogs which aren't cat friendly (which is why we hoped it wouldn't come to DD1 having to stay here) there really is no other room we could keep closed off.

[QUOT.

Lizzie when I had the cat pee problem it got me down too. The house always had a smell to it. It felt awful when friends dropped in unannounced as I felt I had to launch into an explanation every time. If the cat is stressed by the noise and bustle of the house, would it be possible to keep her one room only so she feels a bit more secure?
We are keeping her in the bedroom but it seems to be when she knows DD1 is out she pees. She's an indoor cat, nervous and attached to DD1. I've not had much experience of cats and i always thought they were independent souls. I feel she needs to go out but DD1 doesn't want her to.

I am not feeling very fab just now as I have put on weight with the inactivity due to my back problem. I am also eating more because I am at home and not so busy [/QUOTE]

It's definitely hard when you are at a loose end not to resort to mindless eating. Myself I've been comfort eating which so far hasn't resulted in weight gain but it will if i don't get on top of it.
As I can't do anything about the peeing have decided to get some incontinence covers for the bed. Have got onto MP about council's reluctance to help. DD1 no matter how often you tell her has no concept of how this is affecting us all, she says one thing but does another.

Having an easy day today and going to try and pick myself back up. Tomorrow's another day.

System

Hi all
Have had an epiphany (with a bit of help from OH) so am going to try wearing mostly basics in my neutrals (charcoal, black and denim really) and white, and cheer things up with bright accessories. Gosh Rosy, no-one's done that before have they! (I'm a bit slow on the uptake)
Anyway this is my attempt to look a bit more grown-up and put-together, and less like the students I work with who are lovely of course but can get away with so much more than me. The orange Converse are NOT going to the CS though, I love them too much, I shall wear them when I'm feeling rebellious :rotfl:
So I've had another weed of the wardrobe and bought myself this lovely scarf
http://www.johnlewis.com/collection-weekend-by-john-lewis-digital-layered-floral-scarf-orange/p1191228
which I wore the other day like a pashmina it was fab

Hugs to all especially lizzie, I hope things get better soon, I feel your pain with the cat pee I've been there in a small way and hated feeling that the house smelled

maman

Just called in for a quick catch up. Just back from holiday and now I just have the washing/ironing mountain to face.:( But we had a great time, saw interesting things and met lovely people so I'm not complaining.


Sending everyone a wave and a hug to those that need them as I can't keep up with replies to everyone.:A


Talk of petticoats really took me back.


I had loads of these back in the day
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/170834059138?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108



I wore them for years after they were in fashion as I used to do demonstration dances (Scottish) and we wore sticky out white dresses with tartan sashes.


I have kept my old anti-static petticoats and I love them. Not only do they stop unlined clothes from sticking to tights but they also give a warm layer for winter. I've got lots in various lengths. All mine are years old but I'm sure they still do them in M&S and probably BHS too.


Sorry to hear about the cat pee problems lizzie. Hopefully your DD will get her own place again very soon. Which OU course are you doing this year?


I really love Turkish food but It's good to be back and more in control of what I eat. So I've a good old fashioned roast cooking for later. Meat smells great already. :drool:


Back Soon.:)

VJsmum

rosyq wrote: »

Hi all
Have had an epiphany (with a bit of help from OH) so am going to try wearing mostly basics in my neutrals (charcoal, black and denim really) and white, and cheer things up with bright accessories. Gosh Rosy, no-one's done that before have they! (I'm a bit slow on the uptake)
Anyway this is my attempt to look a bit more grown-up and put-together, and less like the students I work with who are lovely of course but can get away with so much more than me. The orange Converse are NOT going to the CS though, I love them too much, I shall wear them when I'm feeling rebellious :rotfl:
So I've had another weed of the wardrobe and bought myself this lovely scarf
http://www.johnlewis.com/collection-weekend-by-john-lewis-digital-layered-floral-scarf-orange/p1191228
which I wore the other day like a pashmina it was fab

Hugs to all especially lizzie, I hope things get better soon, I feel your pain with the cat pee I've been there in a small way and hated feeling that the house smelled

it's the French way

i often read

http://dresslikeaparisian.com/

and

http://etvoila.info/

DO NOT get rid of the orange converse - or if you do, send them my way

System

VJsmum wrote: »

it's the French way

i often read

http://dresslikeaparisian.com/

and

http://etvoila.info/

DO NOT get rid of the orange converse - or if you do, send them my way

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Ok you have second dibs after DD
Off to look at those links now, thanks

tru

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

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I need to catch up with the thread properly, I've only been skimming through it this last week. Hope you're all OK.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I've managed to work my leg a bit, it's loosened up again. I think I'm back to the same state as I was just before I went away. It's a bit annoying that I made no progress for a week, but I'm trying to convince myself that it's OK, my leg needed a holiday too [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I've walked a lot this week, muscles that I'd forgotten about are aching, lol. I aim to keep it up as much as possible, though it's pretty flat here so I won't get the same workout as walking up and down sloping streets or on dry sand. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I've sorted out my frazzled hair and had a super-scrubby shower followed by lots of body lotion. I need to concentrate on me properly for a while. From today, I'm going throw myself into extra exercises, spend more time in the shower rather than my usual 'get clean, get out' method and NOT resort to a pony tail each time my hair won't behave. I like pony tails, but only when they're properly done, not when I've scraped the hair back in temper and wailed 'why is my hair soooooo crap?'. lol[/FONT]

maddiemay

Hoping for a slightly more "Fab" day today, I spent yesterday in PJ's and robe after waking with a tummy upset and nausea which didn't completely go away all day:( Still feel pretty ropey, but there is stuff to be done, I can't stand the thought of OH being on my heels all day hurrying me along (he is never ill!), so will try to get the important stuff done and then flake out later if needed, hopefully a hot shower will get me going, off to choose some "extra nice" smellies:D Tomorrow I get my much needed B12 jab and also a haircut, so first should start to give me some energy soon and second lift my spirits.

I think that the long dry summer lulled OH and I into a false sense of security and we booked a week's holiday in our caravan in Pembrokeshire, off to look at the long distance weather forecast, hope it is not due to be like today, otherwise much warm and waterproof clothing will be needed (none of which has seen the light of day for months).

lessonlearned

Good morning all.

Well it looks like the summer has now finally ended. So glad we had that new boiler fitted, just in the nick of time....

Today I shall get down to finishing the last bits of paperwork, my husband's tax return - should be fun:eek: still when it's done, it's done.

I conducted a little experiment. After almost two weeks on the Paleo eating I had a couple of days eating a more relaxed diet, including bread, white rice, grains. :eek::eek: I spent the next couple of days feeling absolutely awful. I think I have proven to myself beyond all doubt that a Paleo type diet is the way forward for me. It can be a bit restrictive, especially when eating out but as long as I keep the wheat and grains for occasional treats only I should be ok.

Thanks for the links, VJ's mum. Some great ideas and tips on there.

Tbh I seem to have been dressing in a similar way. I think I just did it subconsciously having found "my style".

Although I have only been to Paris just the once , and then only to Euro Disney with a brief pit stop in Paris on the way back, I think being half Belgian and visiting Belguim on a regular basis I just picked up on the European take on dressing without thinking about it

I,ve always gone for block colour rather than patterns because I think they suit me better. I also think that by dressing in neutral block colours you can actually save money. A plain outfit can be jazzed up by colourful accessories so you can ring the changes quite easily.

I know this might sound a bit contentious but I also think that the European tradition of not exposing acres of flesh (probably because so many of them are Catholic countries) has also rubbed off on me.

I genuinely think that "less is more" is definitely far sexier and far more attractive than "letting it all hang out". You know the sort of thing - Cleavage or legs - not both at the same time. Also if your arms are less than perfect - cover 'em up.:rotfl:

I really really love Italian styling best. Molto sexy........:rotfl:

Just look at Italian film stars - they do sexy dressing better than anyone. They just look so alluring, and without ever looking tarty. It's a very difficult balancing act to get right but Italians just seem to make it look natural, whereas I sometimes think that rhe Parisienne styles can look a bit contrived and as if they are trying too hard.

Just my opinion of course:::rotfl:

Of course if I were to follow my Belgian heritage faithfully then as a widow I should now be wearing head to toe black. Nah, not for me, although my grandmother and Belgian aunts would have done.

Thank goodness those days are past.

lessonlearned

sweaty_betty wrote: »

Hello all - I don't have much to report.

I'm knackered at the moment, GP blood tests all came back clear, so it's obviously all in my head:o. So I'm going to make a point of having early nights - the trouble is that I come to bed and then can't sleep (which is why I'm on the computer at this time when I've been in bed 2.5 hours already...) and getting up in the morning is very hardd. And annoying as I like pilates.

Sorry you are still feeling under the weather. Even though your blood tests are clear you are obviously under par. Hopefully, with a bit ofTLC things will improve.

As you know my adrenal glands are struggling so I am trying hard to help them recover. My neck glands are really swollen and sore today.

I am also suffering from Candida overgrowth, although oddly enough I am mercifully free from thrush infections. However the candida does not help with my adrenal problems. This is why I am working on my healthy eating, cutting out all sugars, wheat, grains and starches.

It's a long job but the TLC is starting to pay off.

Betty - I think we just have to be patient and stick with it.

I think for most of us the journey to unhealthy frump was a gradual one so we are not going to become fit and fab overnight.

maman

Absolutely tipping it down here too. I can believe I was in summer clothes and 31 degree temperatures this time last week.


I've done most of the holiday washing and the light things will just get folded and put away. I'm not wasting my time ironing if I'm not wearing them until next year!

lessonlearned wrote: »

Of course if I were to follow my Belgian heritage faithfully then as a widow I should now be wearing head to toe black. Nah, not for me, although my grandmother and Belgian aunts would have done.

Thank goodness those days are past.

This put me in mind of the variations we saw in Islamic dress last week. Turkey is fairly relaxed in general with mainly older women just wearing a headscarf. But in Istanbul it was very different with many wearing all but the full burkha. Face veils were very common. Talking to Turks, it seems most of these are visitors/tourists just like we see the visitors in London. Without making light of it, I was fascinated in a restaurant to watch a young Muslim woman heaping sugar into her hot chocolate and then lifting her veil to drink it and eat a massive slice of cake. She certainly wouldn't have got away with that for long in skinny jeans!


I had a fair bit of exercise last week with all the walking involved on our tour. I was very conscious how toned my calf muscles were by the end of the week. I'm going to continue with my simple squats and try to do a bit more walking to keep it up. It won't be happening today though but I will be dancing this evening so that'll help.


Thanks for the links VJ'smum. I like the French way of dressing too, simple but co-ordinated. I think it would fit well with Project 333 too as stylish French women seem to go in for a few, well chosen pieces that go together well.


When are you off to Pembrokeshire Maddie?