Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

lessonlearned

Good morning ladies

How are we all. It's grey and dull and rain is forecast.

I'm sitting amongst the biggest pile of mess and clutter and really cba to sort it.......

The builders have finsihed and it's now operation clean up, although ds2 has got some bits and pieces to finish so there's kitchen stuff piled everywhere too.:rotfl:

Hey ho I'll just crack on. I did blitz the bathroom yesterday soat least I can retreat to there later for some serious Fabbing.

Rummer - good that your oven is fixed, lots of nice home cooked meals now.....;)

Speaking of home cooking the last couple of weeks I have been really lucky with YS stickered goodies at M&S. So today we have a nice big piece of steak. I think I will braise it slowly in red wine.......a bit of a winter dish but then it's such a grey murky day.

Well I suppose I'd better get dressed......old scruffies again whilst I tackle the midden.:rotfl:

maddiemay

It's pouring with rain, just as forecast, dear dog went as far as back door and put the brakes on, OH getting dressed up in full waterproof gear to take her out, for some reason best known to dogs it is fine to get soaking wet on a walk, but not in the garden:rotfl:

I expect to get pretty wet twice too, having a little trip to garden centre for ideas for filling gaps in the borders and will sneak a coffee and scone while there, OH has been bribed and is coming too:)

This afternoon there is a "horse parade" through the town and ending up in the castle for a service to commemorate all the men and horses lost in WW1, I am intending to strap up all offending ankles and knee, whack some pain killers down and walk to see it, cannot imagine there will be anywhere to park on a day like this, but hey a little rain is good for the complexion they used to say:rotfl:

LL- braised steak sounds delish, YS chicken turned into a curry here.
Indiepanda -well done on the run, you will soon be back to your better times I am sure.

Nails painted a pretty slightly glittery lilac, but the main of the fabbing today will take place after my anticipated second soaking of the day.

Susan1962

Coconut oil hair mask last night. After having it coloured again, it just drank up the moisture. So much that I didn't really need to wash it out this morning - doesn't look greasy at all.
Having started a mini fabbing routine. I've a lot of problems with hangnails, torn cuticles, etc. Don't have the time or inclination for a manicure unless I'm on holiday. But - read a tip on a website which has made a huge difference. After my shower I push the cuticles back and clip/trim as necessary. After a week or two, there is hardly anything to trim. They're looking neat and healthy and it takes about 30 secs max in the morning. Does anybody else have 30 second fabbing suggestions?

lessonlearned

Wow - great idea.....I'm always up for ideas for quick fixes and/or multi tasking.

Here's a few of mine.

Quick Fixes for Nail Health

I used to get hang nails, split sore cuticles, etc - especially in cold weather. I think it's vitamin deficiency related, so perhaps a good multi vitamin might help in the long term. 5 seconds to pop a Vit pill.

An old fashioned remedy was eating a jelly cube a day, I'm guessing it was the gelatin that did the trick, but obviously no good for vegetarians.

I keep nail stuff in the drawer of my coffee table, so I tend my nails, cuticles whilst watching TV., so technically this comes under the heading of multi tasking.

A few seconds massaging some cuticle treatment cream or oil each night will soon make a difference. Vaseline will do.

Nail Buffing - a couple of minutes each night buffing nails, it's not just for cosmetic reasons to make them shine. regular buffing stimulates blood flow to the nail and finger tips, providing nutrients to the nail bed.

With hands and nails prevention is much better than cure. A few seconds forethought can really protect your poor overworked hands.

gloves 1 - rubber gloves for wet work. Washing up.liquid and cleaning materials are very drying (they are designed to cut through grease) so can strip the hands and nails of natural oils. If you apply hand cream before you put on rubber gloves, the heat from the water will help the cream to sink in to the skin - a sort of turbo treatment.

gloves 2 - doing diy and heavy gardening. Try and wear appropriate gloves to protect your hands from thorns, splinters etc

Gloves 3 - cold weather can really dry out hands and make cuticles etc very sore - keep your hands warm in winter.

maman

Revolting weather here too. So, typically British summer:mad:. I've put a jumper on today. OK it's a cotton jumper but I was determined not to be cold. And it's orange in an effort to cheer me up.


I echo some of LL's nail tips. I've taken to keeping manicure bits near my chair in the sitting room. So I tidy up my nails of an evening and slather with handcream and I've got one of those blocks for buffing.


I've caught up with the MK (MarieKondo in case anyone imagines a new town) thread this morning as I'm determined to see this through however slow I am. So far all I've done today is update my freezer inventory and (sorry Martin:money:) I threw out a few unhealthy things that I wouldn't eat and had been knocking about there for far too long.


LL, your steak might be too good but try this Hairy Bikers recipe one day
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/braised_steak_with_gravy_24508


I make it a lot because it only uses one teaspoon of cornflour to make loads of really delicious gravy. So it's low carb. I generally add mushrooms to the sauce and then either have it as a steak and chip meal or more often as an easy roast with loads of veg.


Susan, I read your boho question. I don't know your line of work but workwear is far more relaxed than it used to be. I still have a couple of jackets but often wear a cardigan rather than the sort of suit uniform of a few years ago. I was wondering whether a waistcoat and a scarf with fringed ends over a top and skirt or trousers might look good. Or there are lots of drapey cardigans about that might give the look you're after.


So more tidying up on the agenda for today and read a bit more of the MK book. Definitely not venturing out.

Susan1962

LL Great tips. My mum always swore by a cube of jelly every day and things have improved since I started taking collagen, which I think is similarly sourced? Nail buffing - I used to do that before and don't know why I stopped, but ideal for when there's something on tv that doesn't need too much concentration! The shower trick has made a difference mainly because it softens the cuticles making them easy to push back, but you don't need pre-soak as you would with a manicure. And I'm terrible at remembering hand cream - even though there's a tube in every room almost!

Maman We don't have formal uniforms but no casual wear allowed; everything has to be easy to wash (won't go into details but sometimes need to come home and put everything straight in the wash.) and there is a corporate "look". However I have no inclination to climb the slippery slope of promotion these days so as long as I stick to the letter of the dress code, I'm sure I can get away with fudging the spirit of it! The cardigans sound good - I could wear something brighter than usual. A waistcoat is something I'm scared to wear - unfortunately being a bit busty it means I just look pigeon chested on a good day LOL

maman

Susan1962 wrote: »

The cardigans sound good - I could wear something brighter than usual. A waistcoat is something I'm scared to wear - unfortunately being a bit busty it means I just look pigeon chested on a good day LOL

I'm interested in the different looks conversation. I'm not sure I've found exactly what mine is/aspires to be but at least I know the ones I don't want to copy. That's where the glorious hobby of people watching comes in. I particularly remember being at our local hospital a few years back for the dreaded mammogram so I knew many of the women there would have been much of an age. There was a woman there in a horrid gabardine mac and hand knitted cardigan (think Nora Batty) and I thought OMG! how does someone decide they need to dress like that!! On a less extreme level there was a woman in a leopard print dress on the boat trip on Friday. I think she was a bit of a dancer but whatever made her think that it was suitable for a cold, wet day on a boat is anyone's guess.


One thing I do like and wear all the time (as in I never take them off) is bangles. I have 11 gold bangles that have become a bit of a trade mark. My DD1 is the same as was my mother. I'm not much into costume jewellery but I love my bangles and they help me 'speak with my hands' which I do all the time.


Have read a few bits more of MK today but done no more sorting than the freezers. As it felt like winter, I sat down and watched Vanity Fair on tv. Decadent but who cares!!

DD265

Hi all

Sorry I haven't been around much, we have been rather busy and I've had some long commutes to top it off.

Re work uniform - I wear black trousers with a v-neck t-shirt and a cardigan which I button to just under the bust. I have a couple of fitted shirts which I would wear over a vest top if it's warmer. I team the trousers with my laced up ankle boots although I also have a pair of shoes I could wear (but then I couldn't wear my favourite socks which I can only find in white!).

Fabbing has taken a little bit of a back seat but today I have dyed my hair/brows/eyelashes and painted my finger nails. I have taken the polish off my toenails (from when we went on holiday) but will give them a few days off before painting them. I've put a really pale pink on my fingers but it hasn't really gone on evenly so I'll use it as a base coat (CND Vinylux doesn't use normal basecoats so there can be a risk of staining depending on nail health/colour) in the future.

We had a company do earlier this month and I wore a Wallis maxi dress - felt great and got a lot of complements! I teamed it with some black flat sandals (Hush Puppies again.. there is a theme) and some silver/white gold jewellery. Unfortunately it turns out the ring is only silver plated - which I probably knew when I got it - but it means it discoloured quickly. I liked the chunky style though and have found a replacement which is not at all MSE so I shall have to save up.

VJsmum

maman wrote: »

Oooh, where in Wales? I envy you:D (closest I could get to green face).

Hi we are in mid wales on the coast - where it is currently throwing it down and is dark and gloomy, so don't be green!

Another here who is trying to rethink the style and clothing "thing". I think that i am a deep autumn - so lots of deep greens and browns, purple and I do have a lot of clothes in those colours. which is lucky The style i am thiking suits me and i like is a 2french chic" type. Not saying i am chic, you understand, but i suit shirts rather than t shirts, fitted pants rather than flowing skirts, jacket or long line cardi rather than hoodies (though i do wear hoodies as "loungewear"), ballet pumps and chelsea boots rather than heels. I am quite slim and suit fitted tops (actually fitted t shirts look ok), and i like wearing those with wide legged trousers as an alternative look.

As I teach in university, I don't have prescribed work clothes as such, but i generally wear smart casual - which is what i tend to wear anyway.


Though I am revamping my wardrobe, I think i can get by without buying too much. THere are things i will wear until they fall apart but will not replace, but there is an awful lot i have just got rid of.

I would like to have some kind of "makeup" over, as i don't think i am making the best of my 50+ look at the mo.

Rowan_moon

Just doing a quick catch up on all your fabbing before I go to work.

On the style thing, I did this at the beginning of the year and made a Pinterest board of all the colours/styles I liked then got rid of loads of stuff that didn't suit me. I think I am soft summer, so suit cooler slightly muted colours (soft teal, cornflower blue, lavender and soft greys etc.) I usually go for plain colours and accessorise with unusual jewellery - silver with semi-precious stones like moonstone and amethyst.
If I go for prints I like the sort White Stuff do - things that make me smile. My daughter (24) says White Stuff is Yummy Mummy but I don't care. If I can rock the Yummy Mummy look at my age I will be more than happy :rotfl: