Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

lessonlearned

PQ - have a lovely time At your spa break.

Rummer

LL when we were out the other day for dinner the family at the table next to us were all on some sort of mobile device the whole way through their meal. The adults on phones and the children on i-pads, it was sad to see. We were sitting with our children, talking and laughing and a couple came over to our table to compliment us on our family interactions and the behaviour of our children. I appreciate that mobile devices have their use however there is a time and a place for using them.

Well today I officially became a real grown up I have a real sweet tooth and recently I have given up eating milk chocolate and have trained myself to eat dark chocolate by having 2 squares a night as a treat. Today my OH gave me a Flake and I ate it and ………. really didn't enjoy it. So I officially prefer the dark sea salt chocolate :j Now I just need to train myself to eat olives :rotfl:

Been dressing well all week but the makeup has been abandoned back to beauty next week.

chanie

ellsbel I bet it won't be long before the young lot start falling out when they get bored of each other. You are best off out of it. Hopefully, when you finish your training, you'll meet some nicer people.

pirate enjoy your spa break.

rummer I love flakes, they are my favourite chocolate.

I've been thinking about the 'less doing, more being' video and I've interpreted it as:

Enjoy today - I'm always thinking about and planning for tomorrow. I really need to stop and smell the roses.

Surround my life with things that make me happy - we used to use a glass trifle bowl as a fruit bowl, which I hated. I bought a fruit bowl in the Next sale for £3 and it makes me happy when I look at it. I should have more of these things - doesn't need to be expensive.

Make the most of myself - i remver reading a quote from someone like Liz Hurley who said something about being the best possible 'me'. I want to realise my potential and not waste it.

maman

I'm another voting for dark chocolate and mobile devices knowing their place;).


I, too, have a couple of squares of 70% dark chocolate most evenings. My DH says it's good for our health but I just think it gives us the chocolate hit without the sweetness. I even bought some Cadbury's Bournville and had to throw it in the bin (sorry Martin:money:) because it was far too sweet (about 40% and full of sugar) for my mature tastes and yet what we used to think of as dark chocolate back in the day.


I love my smartphone and my computer but they have their place and that place isn't when I'm in the company of real, live people:) (unless in cases of emergency of course).


Planning to do Fab Friday.


Have a great time PQ.


Have you looked into Marie Kondo chanie? Although a lot of what she says is a bit airy fairy, I'm more and more getting into her idea of surrounding myself with things that make me happy or 'spark joy' in her words. I have our fruit in an Emma Bridgewater bowl, very joyful;).

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies

Fruit bowls - I have a bowl that my husband bought me from ikea years ago. It's glass and a deep blue. It's very modern And typically Scandinavian in design and gets loads of compliments. He gave it me for Christmas. He had spotted me looking at it but I had put it back and didnt buy it because we were hard up at the time - so he went back and bought it for me as a surprise.

It only cost £5.......:rotfl:but actually looks more expensive.

That bowl gives me great joy and I will never part with it....

I recently spotted a vintage glass vase - very 60's in a chazzer - for £3 which is a perfect match so i snaffled that up and put it away until I have a space for it.

Off to the Physio this morning and then a bit of food shopping. I'm on a use up month so it's just the fresh stuff today.

I have a nice trench coat - another CS bargain - £8. I have had it 2 years now. Both my last camel coat and my last trench coat dropped to bits in the end.;) they are just classics that seem to live on and never go out of style.

ive discovered that now my hair is white I can now actually wear pink - a colour that never suited me before. I fancy a pink duffle coat ......

Time to start the day.

Have a good one. Keep fabbing.

pirateyqueen

Thank you for all your well wishes!

I completely agree LL about the mobile phones. My OH is constantly on his phone and I find it so rude! We went to Italy, would sit down at a beautiful restaurant with an amazing view... and he'd pull his phone out. He also lost his kindle and his backpack on that trip, due to him being on his phone up until the moment we had to jump off the train!

maman

I'm all fresh and creamed and ready for Fab Friday. Only smart casual today as nothing more exiting on the agenda than food shopping. It's good to get back into routine as I've been out so much lately. So black jeans, Jack Wills grey top and black ballet flats and later I'll do light make up wear grey cashmere cardi and Boden scarf which is mostly greys and pinks.


The JW top is flattering cut and fabric hangs well and I think worth the few extra pounds compared with SM tees. Looked in the Boden catalogue today and they have some simple plain tops I might go for but need to decide which colours. With 20% off and free delivery&return prices aren't too bad.
http://www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Tops-T-shirts/3_4-Sleeved-Tops/WL941/Womens-Lightweight-Boatneck.html
http://www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Tops-T-shirts/Short-Sleeved-Tops/WL900/Womens-Lightweight-V-neck.html


I also need to start thinking about cardis as some of mine are past their best. I like the short preppy look but am thinking about longer ones too. Any views?


Hope we're all keeping up with healthy eating. After last night's Chinese (DGD's birthday choice) I need to do my meal plan.


Bright and sunny here so enjoying it while it lasts. Also DH has finally agreed (i.e. found a window in his diary!!) to go away for a few days next month so have to think about where.


Have a good Friday all!:)

maddiemay

chanie wrote: »

Following on from my desire to become more frugal, I made some homemade jam over the weekend, using blackberries that I picked with DD. Its the first time I've ever made jam so I'm pleased it turned out as jam. The only problem was that the recipe I used required lots of sugar, so I need to find a lower sugar version. The children really enjoyed eating the blackberries, so I think I'll definitely have to pick some more as they do get through them really quickly.

I have been making jam for nearly 50 years, I love making it, but don't have a sweet tooth, but OH always has a couple of flavours on the go:D He burns massive amounts of calories, so the sugar content is not a problem. I was interested in your comment though, and knowing that a high sugar content is necessary for a good set, I found this which might interest you

I am hoping to find some Damsons for sale locally when I return from holiday in a week, this has a lovely tang to it even at conventional sugar proportions.

lessonlearned

Nice tops Maman - I need to buy some cardis and fine knit sweaters, long sleeve tops etc I would love pure wool or cashmere but can't wear wool next to my skin - gives me excema.

Many years ago I used to wear wool sweaters with a blouse or shirt underneath but stopped when I started getting rather plump:rotfl: perhaps when I'm nice and slim again. Now I wear acrylic knitwear with cotton vest tops underneath for extra warmth but keeping a fairly slim silhouette.

Speaking of warmth - apparently El Nino is up to his dirty tricks again and they are forecasting a harsh winter. I did notice the geese on the move a few weeks ago - wasn't even September when they went so not a good sign.

You have been warned. ........;)

Well I bought another coat today, three quarter length cream mohair, just £10 from cancer research, shoukd keep me cosy. Then popped into Banados and picked up a floaty grey and white dress with matching scarf, £5 - perfect for my holiday - two further scarves £1 each, a pair of Jackie O sunnies for £2. I do have some very posh prescription Raybans but I dont want to risk them on the beach, so thought the new Jackie Os would do the job and it doesn't mAtter if they get damaged or lost.

I love home made jam but now that I don't eat bread I never eat it. Same with chutneys. First year ive not made either.

Healthy eating going well. Home made chilli tonight. I have cauliflower rice with mine instead of normal rice. Have now lost the extra weight that I Regained so now back on track. Aiming for at least 10lbs in 7 weeks. Should be doable.

chanie

maddie thanks for the link. I was brought up thinking sugar is bad, so I'm uncomfortable with the amount you have to use in baking/jam making. I'm going to party tomorrow and have been asked to make some brownies.

ll I keep forgetting to say that I have a colleague who is semi retired and he has always gone on holidays alone. He goes with a company who caters for retired people and has made lots of friends on those trips - they sometimes book the same trips.

maman I like those Boden tops. I recommend uniqlo for basics. They are relatively cheap but the quality is good.

I live 'll's story about the fruit bowl and I do like being surrounded by things that have stories at home.

I had a bit of a guilty spend today. I bought a new wall clock which was reduced from £20 to £10. I wanted to wait until pay day, but there were only 2 left and I knew they'd get sold. I bought a lovely clock in the Next sale when OH and I moved into our house, but within a year, a relatives child broke it. They offered to replace it, but I felt cheeky taking them up on it, so told them not to worry. This happened when I had a much greater disposable income (I was pregnant with ds). Anyway, I ended up replacing it with a functional, but ugly clock, which we've had for 5 years and because it did what I needed it to, it never got replaced.

I do feel a bit guilty as I also spent £10 on shopping - to meet the minimum spend requirement. Must make more efforts to reign it in next month!!!!

For the dieters, I really recommend miso soup. I got some which is 40 calories a bowl. The noodles I bought from the Chinese supermarket were lovely and 240 calories a bowl. I could add some veg, prawns etc to both dishes to have a more substantial meal.