Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

maman

Yes, have a great time Maddie. I'd love to tour Scotland, only ever been to Edinburgh. I used to drool at the scenery when Michael Portillo did those railway journeys. Plus I've done Scottish dancing since I was a child and so many dances are named after various places.


Glad you had a good night out LL. I've got a couple of dress rings inherited from my mother and aunt. When I go to family occasions, I make a point of wearing them so that their owners can 'attend'.:)


My niece is getting married. It's not until next February so plenty of time to plan an outfit;) but I booked a hotel room for us yesterday. It's in the most fantastic setting so I've gone for a seaview room.


I enjoyed myself last night too. I got there before my friend and felt good that although most of the crowd in the pub were younger than me I fitted in well to my surroundings. I know I wouldn't have felt like that a few years back. As it was a chilly evening, I wore my smart black jeans, my fawn angora sweater and my Jack Wills black velvet jacket plus black heels.


Pottering today, but I must do something constructive otherwise I get a bit down in frustration. Maybe more decluttering!:rotfl:

lessonlearned

Being a train fanatic myself I have done the highland run that Michael Portillo did. Michael Palin also did a programme on it, if ever you get the chance, go for it. The scenery is gorgeous.

Unfortunately it's the only "Great Railway Journeys Of the World" that ive managed - ........so far;)

I'm planning to go to Edinburgh soon. I know it sounds maudlin but FIL is declining steadily - well he is 93 in June bless him - and I want to see him one more time.

In fact now that mum has gone and my dad is making a good recovery I intend to go on a few short trips, so I shall be buying my senior rail card......I'm aiming to see a friend in Devon, and a couple of trips down to "The Smoke" this year, so it will be a good investment.

Floss

lessonlearned wrote: »

...When I was sorting out mums clothes I came across a couple of outfits that I hadn't the heart to throw away. One was a little Cape with a fur trim. I wore it last night - so in a way mum got to go to her grandsons party....

I have a wrap that my mum bought for my dad's funeral in 1991... its cream & grey, in a sort-of aztec design with fringed ends - very on-trend this winter / spring and I have worn it loads. My brothers always ysed to whistle the theme from "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" when she wore it as they reckoned it looked like something Clint Eastwood would wear!

marzipan.

Hope everyone is busy fabbing and that's why it's so quiet on here!

My fabbing has consisted of catching up on some sleep over the weekend, some long walks slotted in, too.
Tonight it's feet treat night its a gruesome task but summer is hopefully around the corner and I'm not going to be the one who has neglected feet out in the open!!
I've been feeling very unfab these last couple of weeks, really struggling food wise, need to be more mindful of how I want to feel in lighter clothes in the not too distant future, hopefully!
I've been being good most of the time then something seems to possess me and I need sweet things. I've only noticed this recently and its coincided with feeling shattered most days, no energy. My body is trying to tell me something but I can't yet decipher its code�� x x

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies.

Well it's a truly horrible day today, my back is playing up so I might not even set foot over the threshhold today. DS1 and his girl are coming round this evening so I might just play at being a Domestic Goddess and stay indoors all nice and warm and cosy.

I have some phone calls to make and some paperwork to sort out so plenty to keep me busy.

Hope you all had a nice weekend. I viewed three Priperties but nothing has really jumped out at me yet. I'll know it when I see it.

Marzipan, sugar cravings can be very hard, sugar is so addictive. The trouble is there are a lot of hidden sugars. Have you tried cutting down on starchy carbs, potatoes, white rice, pasta. They don't contain sugars as such but they can make it harder to reduce sugar because they are not very satisfying and of course they do trigger insulin spikes.

Maybe if you increase your protein intake it will help you feel fuller longer, reducing hunger pangs and cravings. Increasing protein and cutting out starchy carbs has really helped me, I really don't miss sweet stuff, puddings etc now. I just have a couple of squares of good chocolate and that's enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.

In fact I have been trying carob instead of chocolate because. I need to reduce my caffeine intake. It doesn't have such a smooth silky texture as really good chocolate but it tastes nice and of course its both gluten and caffeine free.

maman

marzipan. wrote: »

Tonight it's feet treat night its a gruesome task but summer is hopefully around the corner and I'm not going to be the one who has neglected feet out in the open!!

I'm delighted to say I'm keeping up with the foot treatment ever since my chiropody appointment a couple of weeks ago. So filing and creaming with every shower. I need a new foot file. Any recommendations?


I know there was a lot of bad publicity over the 'bikini body' posters on the tube but I do think it's something that needs addressing. IMO when the sun shines in the UK, it brings out so many sights that would be better left covered up and I have no intention of being one of them!!;)


I'm creaming very copiously after every shower and then I'll use a bit of fake tan nearer the time so I don't end up with white legs when they go on show.


I've not quite reverted to winter clothes but still quite covered up as although it's bright here it's very blowy.


Next task is to get out my holiday clothes and decide what I'm keeping for this year and what I might need to shop for. We go away in about 6 weeks. I did get a bikini in Sainsbury's so need to try it on at home before I decide.


Keep fabbing all.:)

lessonlearned

I was watching TV last night and idly scratched an itch on my elbow. No wonder it was itching, the skin felt like sandpaper. Oops........

I definitely need to up the mousturising, body brushing etc.nI am soooooo not beach ready.:rotfl:

Having said that.......I never worry about how I look on the beach, there are far worse sights than me.

I can recall three generations of rather large Spanish ladies. Granny must have been 80 if she was a day. They must have had a cheap job lot because they all wore the same day-Glo Orange skimpy bikinis...........yes even Granny.

After that I figured, well who really cares. Just get that sun on your old bones Señora, the Vitamin D will do you good.

So as I say I don't really care too much about whether or not my body is a perfect size 10 and beach ready. One thing I am adamant about though is covering up when I leave the beach.

I hate to see people walking around half naked in shops, restaurants, and when sight seeing. I know this might sound old fashioned but I do not consider Skimpy shorts and bikini tops to be suitable attire, unless your are under 16 and are as slender as a gazelle.

Even if it's poolside cafe bar, ii do at least wrap a sarong around my nether regions and perhaps a halter neck top over my bikini.

As for men who wander round the place topless, ........pur-lease!!!! Put it away!!! I do not want to be confronted with your sweaty flabby torso when tucking into my paella:eek:

:rotfl:::rotfl:

maman

lessonlearned wrote: »

One thing I am adamant about though is covering up when I leave the beach.

I hate to see people walking around half naked in shops, restaurants, and when sight seeing. I know this might sound old fashioned but I do not consider Skimpy shorts and bikini tops to be suitable attire, unless your are under 16 and are as slender as a gazelle.

Even if it's poolside cafe bar, ii do at least wrap a sarong around my nether regions and perhaps a halter neck top over my bikini.

As for men who wander round the place topless, ........pur-lease!!!! Put it away!!! I do not want to be confronted with your sweaty flabby torso when tucking into my paella:eek:

:rotfl:::rotfl:

In that case, I must be old fashioned too!:D


One of the things I'm trying to resolve is what wear in a resort. Once I have some colour I am prepared to walk around with much shorter skirts than I might at home. I haven't worn shorts for years but thinking I might try these.





My favourite is a short dress that I have and the other is a fawn, chino type skirt but I need at least one more outfit for daytime just walking to and from beach clubs. What really puzzles me is the fabrics some summer clothes are made from. At a poolside bar I'd always cover up. I have sarongs but prefer a short dress/long t shirt. I've yet to find a kaftan that isn't made of something prickly and synthetic and some dresses are really thick, nylon jersey fabric.


I got this




in TK Maxx. It's cream linen (the grey shaded bits are to show texture not colour) so that'll be OK over a bikini to go to the bar but I wouldn't walk through the resort wearing it.


What I'm doing is going into the city centre for an hour or so when I feel like it and browsing. Sometimes I get more success that way than going on a mission to buy something specific.


What's the plan with properties LL? I'm assuming staying with DS is a temporary arrangement and your room would become his very glamorous guest room if/when you move out? Are you still looking at the riverside?

DD265

Hi all

Weighed myself this morning... 79.5kg! I have not been below 80kg in years. Dead chuffed. Bet I'm back over 80kg tomorrow though. :rotfl:

The fabbing is taking a bit of a back seat as we're getting ready to move. I did clear out a lot of old jewelry though and perfume. I ended up keeping four perfumes (intended just one originally) so I will rotate those.

I currently have a mannequin stand to hold my necklaces but ideally I'd like to be putting them in my jewelry box (to save on space/clutter in our flat). I have seen an idea for putting them through straws so am going to give that a go!

This whole packing malarkey is rather overwhelming though. I had a lot of things set to one side to eBay at some point but I think I'm just going to charity shop them all and save myself the stress. My winter jumpers are going for two reasons 1) they were a bit shapeless and 2) they will be too big by the time next winter rolls around

lessonlearned

Those items look really nice, perfect for wandering around a resort.

Yes you really need cotton or linen to be cool. Although I love linen it can look a bit too crumpled and creased at times. I don't like synthetics at the best of times because I get a lot of shocks. In the summer I definitely go for cotton.

Does anyone remember nylon sheets. My mum bought a load, I used to be in agony with them. Bless her she was fine with them but I used to get constant electric shocks, they were bliddy painful too. :eek:

Re what kind of property.......you will wish you hadn't asked........I am an estate agent's nightmare. :rotfl: and I should know because I sold houses for a living........

On the plus side I will look at anything and will always keep an open mind.

On the other hand ......I do have a long wish list.

On balance I prefer something I can knock about and put my own stamp on. Very often even when a property has been beautifully renovated it is rarely how I would have done it. I am one of those insufferable know it alls who always think they can do better.::rotfl

Basically I want something in a "good" part of the city, in a quiet spot tucked away from all the hustle and bustle but close enough to either walk or a cheap taxi ride.

I will still keep my car, so parking is a must. And that's the rub. If you want to live in a city then parking is always an issue. That's why I liked the riverside apartments because they tick all the boxes, even having secure parking.

They are a newish build about 6 years old - a bit bland and boring but as the cliche goes, they are a blank canvas for people to put their marks on.

This weeend I lookd at three houses all withhin the same couple of streets, nice Victorian terraces, but again the parking is an issue, although residents can buy a permit for £25, so at least you are guaranteed a space.

Next week I have viewings in a very upmarket area, about two miles out of the city. I used to live there many years ago. It has become über Fashionable and rather a hot spot..... And of course outrageously expensive.

Properties that are "ripe for modernisation" In that area are rarer than hens teeth because it was being gentrified when I lived there nearly 40 years ago...... However There are two on the market within my price range, one modernised and one that's sort of ok if you like garish 80s style decor :rotfl: it's liveable but very tatty, has some damp And looks rather unloved. think that might be the one with my name on it because it has a nice big kitchen and an extra bedroom.

However........yes there's always an however,.....;) it's right at the top of my budget so I'm waiting for my broker to give me a call with some figures and then I need to do some serious haggling.......

When it comes to doing it up, it will be a case of "sweat equity" rather than "getting the guys in" and lots of ingenious design solutions, cheats and diy hacks.......

I'm nearly 64 - I must be bonkers even considering it. I should be donning the carpet sleepers not work boots...:rotfl:

Whatever I buy in the end at least I won't have to,live on a building site, I can stay with DS2 whilst we do the work and not move in until its toothbrush ready.

Re the glamourous bedroom. To be honest I have not really spent much on my room so I will leave the mirrored wardrobes in situ. I have the smaller of the double bedrooms and the mirrored doors do make it look bigger. The mirrors and the old Victorian fireplace are the rooms big features so it's a shame to remove them.

As my boys used to say when they were little - I'm getting extracited :rotfl::rotfl: