Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

Ellsbel

ooh, thanks maman, I'd not heard of that - I've made a note of it and will look out for it; I've got to pop into town next week so I might be able to try some then
Hope you enjoy your Birthday chanie
lesson, I bet that 2lb will soon come off now you've got your kitchen back - you've got the perfect motivation with that lovely cruise coming up:)

chanie

Thanks for the birthday wishes
ll sorry to hear about the weight gain. Keep on with it and the weight will fall off in no time.

maman thanks for the idea about combining shopping with heritage.

I remember there being a discussion up thread about someone saying that their partner is a tour guide and it's nice to see their home town through a tourists eyes. As a Londoner born and bred, I have barely scrapped the surface of what London has to offer. I work in central London (although not the west end) and I when I go to the occasional meeting in places like Covent Garden or near Houses of Parliament, I always think 'I should spend more time here'.

I also love shopping. I've been quite fortunate this year in that I've been able to spend a little bit more money on shopping than I have in the last few years. Whilst I could always find something to buy, I want to develop interests beyond having a wander around the shops.

maman

chanie wrote: »

maman thanks for the idea about combining shopping with heritage.

I remember there being a discussion up thread about someone saying that their partner is a tour guide and it's nice to see their home town through a tourists eyes. As a Londoner born and bred, I have barely scrapped the surface of what London has to offer.

It's my DH that's the tour guide:). Since he took his qualifications we seem to look at everywhere we go with a 'professional' eye. There are some good walking tours of London that you can download. You may remember me posting about the one we did on our anniversary along the canal from Little Venice. One Sunday (when it's incredibly quiet) we did one around the City. I couldn't believe how many Wren churches there are. Soon I'd like to go back to the Wallace Collection as it's been refurbished since I was there last and that's so convenient being just behind Oxford Street. And I plan to go back to the Soane Museum when refurb is complete there. There are so many choices, I'm sure you'll have a great day.


Done all the basic fabbing this morning. Not going anywhere but it makes me feel better.


Yesterday I trawled around various places looking for lampshades and have now got a load to look at in daylight to see which I'll keep. Curtains are dry so ironing them and putting them back up is another house fabbing project for today.


One place I went to is The Range, a shop I'd never been to before. Like most discount type stores you have to trawl through a load to tat but they had a good selection of lampshades, some great craft bits and a better selection of mirrors that I've seen anywhere. And when I went to the part of the city that has Wilkos I noticed the Cancer CS had a £1 sale. I bought a gorgeous Boden oyster satin slik mix shirt and a White Stuff linen mix purple top that'll look good under black. Result!


Planning a yummy Jamie Oliver pork roast:drool: so a good day pottering. Have a lovely Sunday all.

lessonlearned

Wow - fantastic bargains MAman.

I sometimes wished I lived further south - so I could visit London more regularly. I think I need to make it a definite plan to visit two or three times a year. I have a rail card so that would cut the cost down.

Just need to try and find hotel bargains.

I shall make that one of my new year resolutions......:D

Off to a BBQ today, so should be able to stick to meats and salads and not do too much damage. Ive list over 1lb of that 2lb weight gain so am feeling positive.

Tomorrow we are off to ikea, we Looked online and think we found a nice sofa/corner unit that is modular and comes in a kind of kit form so that should solve the problems with getting it through the doorway - memo to self - ensure next house has patio doors........ :rotfl:

Anyway we wil take a look tomorrow.

Curtains on the line drying nicely.

Have a great day, nice to see some sunshine - finally.......

VJsmum

Evening all - quiet here

Today I wore my new jumper from white stuff - bought with vouchers MiL gave me for Xmas and my birthday. I also wore a scarf I bought with the remaining voucher money plus a bit.

I wore my Paisley style purple trousers (vaguely interestingly, there were four people in my train carriage this evening, and three of us had purple trousers), white vest top under jumper and multi coloured scarf. I think it achieved the vaguely French chicy type of look I am after. I felt good anyway.

I think I am going to attempt project 333 and see how I get on - September October and November (with the exception of when I go to the Far East with work).

chanie

Morning All,

VJsMum your outfit sounds really nice.
LL - you can come and stay with me in London (my reasons are purely selfish - I would love you to give me some tips on fabbing my home!!!)

We had a lovely day yesterday, visiting an English Heritage site. I get corporate membership through work and we took a picnic, so it didn't cost us anything.

lessonlearned

Chanie - that's is so nice and kind of you. Maybe next year I just might take you up on your oh so kind offer.

Maybe a few local fabbers could meet up somewhere for lunch......a meet up would be fun.

Had a lovely time at the BBQ and ate carefully. I managed to dodge all the puddings but my sister gave me a huge piece of birthday cake, so I split it with a friend, giving her the larger portion......so not too much damage and I was t deprived of some delicious home made chocolate cake.

I'm a bit in the wars because I got stung by a wasp and I have also discovered a patch of psoriasis near one of my hips. Anyway ive googled it, and apparently it can be stress and immune related so ive looked at self help measures and we will see how we go. Luckily it's not visible so I am fortunate.

I have a come a long way health wise but I know my endocrine system isn't fully functional yet because I still get swollen neck glands.

I was told it can take months if not years to repair the adrenal system so I'm not too concerned. I certainly feel heaps better these days and as Long as I continue to eat well and lose weight then all is good.

I definitely feel that I'm on the right track at last.

One thing though is that my skin is incredibly dry and at times dreadfully itchy. And of course extreme dry skin can be one of the contributory factors to psoriasis.

My face is fine because obviously I'm doing enough for my face but not my body, so I definitely to step up a bit on the moisturising. I think I need to use oils rather than creams and I think I will try and use oils in the bath, although they might make it a bit slippery so I will have to buy a non slip mat.

I will also go back to taking evening primrose oil. I might look at switching my washing detergent too. We are an excema prone family so do have to be careful what products we use. My hands are very dry and itchy at the moment, so I think I need to switch to those special cotton lined marigolds. My friend switched to thise and saw a big improvement in her hands.

Oh the joys of getting older, skin like a dried up crocodile and fear of slipping in the bath. I know there will come a time when I will struggle too much getting in and out of the bath and that I will have to have a proper walk in shower but oh I do love a soak in the bath......

The big problem with buying specialist products, kinder detergents, special rubber gloves, SLS free toiletries etc is that they do cost more thsn mainstream products. so I guess I'll just have to see which ones I can make to save a bit of money.

Anyhoo......off to IKEA today and maybe a cheeky Nandos.

greenbee

LL - you don't have to spend a huge amount more to be kinder to your skin! I switched to oil cleansing a few years ago which means I buy about one bottle of oil a year (I'm currently using 'Wonder Oil') and that does for my face and the occasional intensive moisturise all over. I also use waitrose coconut & vanilla baby bottom butter and baby massage oil The lack of choice also means fewer temptations when shopping!

I have been known to use ordinary olive oil, OOD flaxseed oil or whatever is to hand if I run out.

I don't have a problem with oil making the bath slippery - put the oil in after the bath is run, and get out while the bath is full. It gets slippery when the water is out and oil is left on the surface of the bath. You can use ordinary almond oil or similar and a few drops of an essential oil for scent (or put the essential oil in an oil burner). Using oil to moisturise after a bath works well - and you'll probably find your skin absorbs it well so it isn't too messy, but where old PJs if you are worried.

There are lots of options for SLS free toothpaste now (i'm currently using Kingfisher Fennel), including salt-based toothpastes.

As far as cleaning products go, again I find I only use small amounts so they work out very cost effective. I bulk-buy ecover in 5l containers and decant. I also use soapnuts, bicarb and white vinegar (the latter I bulk buy online). It means having fewer cleaning products and by limiting the shopping opportunities I find it saves me money. Fair trade gloves seem to be OK too. Have a look in your local healthfood shop/oxfam etc to see what the options are.

Ellsbel

Just saying a quick hello
Feeling very tired today for some reason and I've a busy week ahead so trying to keep it healthy food wise and keep hydrated to get a bit more energised!
Had a free perfume sample in with something I bought the other day (can't remember what it was now!!) - a Givenchy one, that I tried out this morning and really like. Have made a note of it for my Christmas list:D
Enjoy the "cheeky Nandos" LL
Have a good day, everyone x

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies

Had a great time at IKEA - order a sofa corner unit and bought "lots of gorgeous little things, dahlings" - very naughty but s o d it.

Sofas are called Kivit or some such in a tweedy grey - will try and post a link later. Some rugs for the kitchen for winter, some nice plant pots and a couple of new house plants, some new light fittings. The old ones will go into another room - they are quite new and I still like them. A wine rack, a couple of magnetic strips for the kitchen - I want to try and get stuff off the worktops for a more streamlined uncluttered look.

MK has a lot to answer for.......;)

Enjoyed our cheeky Nandos.

When we got back I was shattered and slept for an hour on the sofa.

Still tired today so will just potter.

Need to sort out car insurance, book it's service. Also need two new tyres. Ouch!!

It's going to be an expensive month this month, so ive joined the £10 a day challenge.

Need to start selling some of my er hem "treasures".....:rotfl:

Have a great day.

BTW - thanks for the tips Greenbee. I will make my own body oils etc, I have a nice stash of essential oils

I am still using up mums stash of cleaning materials so once they are gone I will look at skin friendly alternatives although I do use white vinegar, bicarb and lemons sometimes. I found a jar of coconut oil lurking in the cupboard too. I bought it for cooking but really don't like the taste so I will try that on my legs, they are really dry and itchy. Creams are just not enough.

The big one I think re skin sensitivity is washing detergent. I have never tried soap nuts but I will give them a whirl.