Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

maddiemay

A new thread for the new year sounds just the ticket.

LL - so pleased that you had a good holiday and that it has helped you move on to the next stage of your life, carrying all those wonderful memories of life with your OH with you:)

I have not posted for ages, I have had a foul cold/cough virus thing for a month and it has really knocked me about, so sleep deprived:eek::eek: I have not been functioning very well some days (not even getting dressed:o). Only OH, me and the dog here for Christmas, but it was all rather an effort, which I got stuck in to as Christmas was always a big thing for his family (not splashing the cash), but the ritual of meals, sweet treats etc, anyhows I seem to be on the mend slowly.

I am loving my weekly session at the CS, thank you all so much for your encouragement:A It is good to meet people and chat with some of them, being an animal charity there are often older folk who love to talk of their present or more often departed pets and it feels nice to be able to give them time to do so, my shop manager is a lovely person who always tries to make time too, it is nice to feel that I have enhanced someone's day as well as helped raise funds for the CS.

Need to find OH and see if he has any plans for the day, nothing too active, but some external stimulation would be good, I love my home, but this weather and the 4 day holiday is a bit confining.

Take care ladies. xx
MM

3forholidays

A new thread for 2016 gets a thumbs up from me. :T

I need to sort out the Christmas presents and find a home for the shower gel that I received.

maman

lessonlearned wrote: »

Would you like a new thread for the new year........shall we post our new goals on the new thread......

Just a quick Yes, please.


Will catch up later.:)

indiepanda

Another thumbs up for a new thread from me.

Got home this morning having been back to Essex to see the family Christmas day and Boxing day and then onto the boyfriend's in Kent on the evening of Boxing day. Mum was a bit hard work as ever but was nice to see the rest of the family, and simply lovely to spend more time with the boyfriend.

I can't get over what a good match we are - it seems so different from any other relationship I've had before, and I think the same is true for him. We just seem to fit together really well - views on so many things are aligned and we enjoy doing so many of the same things. We've both been hurt enough before we don't want to keep anything secret from each other or pretend to be anything we're not, but nothing we've shared has put the other off, and we've talked a lot. Couldn't be more different than with the ex - I think I already know more about the new boyfriend after two weeks than I did about the ex after nearly two years.

Got some lovely necklaces for Christmas from my sister - she makes bead jewellery and does this kumihimo braiding with seed beads. I had given her a couple of glass pendants I'd bought in advance and she made some lovely necklaces which incorporate them. Also made a matching bracelet for one but it needs to be shortened a bit so she's going to post that onto me.

Bought a few tops in the Kettlewell sale - 50% off and then an extra 5% for buying via my colour consultant. Probably won't be buying any other fashion items in the sale as I really don't need anything but will see if I can get a good deal on some new hiking waterproofs. Mine are so old and heavy and technology has moved on so that you can buy much lighter ones now, and given they spend most of their time in my backpack having lighter ones would make a real difference.

My main goal for the new year will be really looking after my health - my alopecia has made a return, quite a small patch, but a sign I've been burning the candle at both ends too much in November, not enough sleep, proper relaxation and exercise and too much of the wrong kind of food and stressing a bit at work. The new boyfriend has type 1 diabetes and admits he could be managing it better, but what he needs to do and what we should do in general for good health are very similar and we've agreed we will support each other in getting healthier.

Off on my hiking trip tomorrow morning so need to get myself organised this afternoon ready for a prompt start in the morning as having lunch with a friend who lives nearby. Will pick out some nice outfits for the evenings when we dress up and get my party gear together. Hoping that the boyfriend has a good time when he comes to join us on new year's eve. He is keen to get more into walking so it's just whether he enjoys meeting the people on the trip. He admits he is a little more shy than I am, but everyone is so friendly that I think he will enjoy it, have taken a few friends on these trips before and they have all had fun.

I'll take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year and look forward to catching up with you all in 2016. x

3forholidays

Great to hear that the new relationship is going well Indiepanda. Your new boyfriend sounds so nice. He's not got a twin that's based north of the border? :rotfl:

indiepanda

3forholidays wrote: »

Great to hear that the new relationship is going well Indiepanda. Your new boyfriend sounds so nice. He's not got a twin that's based north of the border? :rotfl:

Lol, unfortunately not, he's an only child. (though about as far removed from that stereotype as you can get)

sofarbehind

lessonlearned wrote: »

Maybe it's time to start thinking about yourself........Maybe its time to start treating yourself with a bit more tenderness.

Ladies this is where it starts..........

If we don't treat ourselves with love, compassion and respect, how can we expect anyone else to.

Never mind, chin up, that's what this thread is all about.

Learning how to reclaim our dignity and self respect. It's not about being vain or selfish. It's about loving ourselves.

This is lovely. :T I need to print this out and look at it every day. I've managed to keep the basics up this year but I need to do more in 2016. Number one is sort out my health.


Indie it's lovely reading about your new romance, 2016 is going to be your year! You're making me wonder if I haven't given up too soon...

maman

Good to hear about everyone's Christmas break albeit spending it differently. We had quite a social lead up but quiet since Christmas Eve. Both DDs have visited and we've done loads of eating and drinking. Star Wars doesn't appeal so other than watching Downton on Christmas night, very little viewing here. We did keep up the Boxing Day tradition and went to football and were rewarded with a super 4-0 win so very happy about that. Today it was good to venture out for a walk in the air. DH and I had a stroll along the riverbank for a couple of miles so feel better for that. We're out to lunch tomorrow with family and perhaps Wednesday I'll go into the city centre and look at sales.

My niece is getting married in February and talking to my brother it seems SIL and other niece (bride's mum and sister) are wearing long dresses. Obviously not compulsory but it's got me thinking. So while I don't desperately need anything in sales I will look.

I've started thinking about goals for next year. Forgive me if I do some thinking aloud:

I've done a fair bit of MK this year and delighted to report that once something is done it stays done so all drawers that have been sorted still look pristine. I can always cull the wardrobe again but I think that'll always be a work in progress.
I don't think there's a huge amount more to discard/donate but I did just store all the photos in one place. Now they need sorting and presenting in some way. I have a mixture of our own immediate family photos and some I've inherited. As the eldest in the family I feel I need to add some documentation as otherwise nobody in future will be able to identify the photos of e.g. my grandparents. So I need to think how to do/present all that.

I want to do some sort of crafting as I enjoy that. My Orla Kiely cushion did get made before Christmas but I have a few more household things to sew. I enjoy knitting and embroidery but I need projects that I'll use/give me joy. We'll definitely continue with decorating the house as we're very pleased with the two rooms done in last few months.

I need to exercise, just something gentle like walking. I'm quite pleased with my fabbing of me but still looking out for a new perfume that pleases.

I'd like more holidays and days out (who wouldn't!!:D) but I have to do something to occupy my mind too. I don't need to do anything as structured as qualifications but without a structure I tend to fall by the wayside.

All comments are welcome to help me firm up my list and I'll shamelessly copy any ideas that appeal from everyone else.:)

chanie

I also would like a shiny new thread.

mm nice to hear from you again and pleased to hear you are feeling s bit better. The charity shop work sounds really great and its nice to find something you enjoy.

indie pleased to hear things are going well for you. Your boyfriend sounds really supportive.

I've finished knitting my first scarf today, although I need to secure the end stitch. I feel a real sense of achievement.

Off to see Star Wars, so I'll check in later.

indiepanda

sofarbehind wrote: »

Indie it's lovely reading about your new romance, 2016 is going to be your year! You're making me wonder if I haven't given up too soon...

I think I am a bit of an old romantic at heart. Even after plenty of relationships that haven't worked out, I still think it's worth trying to find that someone special. The ex took failure of previous relationships to mean any future ones were also unlikely to work, but I am more optimistic than that. Think you can learn from previous mistakes (both in choice of partner and how you behave in that new relationship) and improve as you go.

Its probably not the most important thing to me - can live without a boyfriend, can't live without health, friends, a place to call home and a decent job. But if I have those in place, I still find I miss the intimacy and companionship that only a relationship can provide.

The previous time I went internet dating it took months to meet someone worthwhile and I wasn't far off giving up. This time it's all happened much quicker but I'd say that's luck really.