Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

lessonlearned

Good evening ladies

well tomorrow would have been my wedding anniversary and for the past two days I have fallen off the healthy eating wagon in spectacular style, consuming carbs as if they were going out of fashion.

Oh well tomorrow is another day.

I have booked a hair appt for tomorrow and will have both my boys with me tomorrow night so hopefully I will be too busy to mope. I realised that I have not been to the hairdresser for almost six months, no wonder my hair looks so awful.

Re my "proper" facial, rather than just a quick mask.

1. Double cleanse face. So cleanse once to remove superficial debris. I use just "Simple" cleanser. The trick is to spend a good couple of minutes massaging it into the skin with the finger tips using small circular motions, rather than just a quick smear over the face.;)

The massage bit should take a good two to three mins. I remove the cleanser with special sponges but You could just slice a synthetic bath sponge. You need sponges that are quite rough because they help with exfoliation, so a natural sponge would be too soft.

Repeat, ie cleanse again.

2. Steam face for approx 5 minutes. You don't need a fancy steamer, just a bowl of boiling water and a towel.

3. Whilst you skin is warm and the pores are open you can deal with any little zits, comedones (blackheads) or milia (whiteheads). The heat will have softened the sebum (oil) and they are easier to treat.

DO NOT JUST DIG YOUR NAILS IN AND SQUEEZE!!!!! You may damage and bruise your skin.

There is a proper way to remove blackheads and whiteheads.

Using cotton wool pads to protect the skin, you gently place your fore fingers either side of the offending blemish and gently roll the surrounding skin, sort of wiggling it around the blemish. The plug of sebum should lift away easily.

Milia can be a lot more stubborn because they can form into quite a hard lump.. A little tip is to take a sterilised needle and just very gently p r i c k the milia to break the surface.

4. Rinse your face in clear warm water and then apply the face mask of your choice.

5. Remove face mask and then apply serum. Give yourself a nice face massage, ideally for about 10 minutes, working a small area at a time.

If you are not going anywhere just leave the serum to soak into the skin, then when it has, just apply moisturiser as normal.

Try to pick a time when you can remain make up free for the rest of the day.

From start to finish you are looking at between 30 to 40 minutes.

Enjoy.

missmoneysave

Not much fabbing going off the last few days, just being good and resting and sticking with medication. Feeling amazing today, first time in months I've felt physically well :j the danger now is I'm inclined to rush back into the daily routine before I've completely recovered

Going to keep reminding myself to take it steady but my goals for February are;

Fit some yoga into my day, even just ten mins is enough to reset the balance. Haven't done any this year and did 20mins yesterday- couldn't believe how tense I was!

Walk Ian the dog more and for longer- he's getting fat and so am I! We'll lose those few pounds needed together.

Keep up the daily skincare routine. My skin suffers if I miss it.

Well done to all those managing to fight the 'can't be bothereds' and keep on fabbing!

silvasava

Morning Fabbers!

Thanks for sharing your routine LL - will be doing that.

Missmoney - well done to you for recognising that your little steps are all adding up. Slowly will get you there!

Heated rollers warming up - clothes sorted - black slim trousers & my comfy western shoe boots. fine red sweater and my best black quilted jacket topped off with a nice red & black wrap.
Because I'm tall I tend to only do monochrome - rarely more than 2 colours. My mantra is any clothes I buy have to go with 3 things I already have & my basics are always black, grey & navy.
Full make up today (for me) which is a light BB, a smudge of shadow & mascara and lipstick and PERFUME! Think I'll use one of my 'nicer' ones instead of my 'everyday' one.
I've got a voucher for £30.00 to spend in M&S - will either be spent on DS if he sees something he likes or on me - but he'll come first!!
Have a good 'pivot' day everyone (Wednesday is the middle of the week which is why its known as Pivot Day - haha)

newthrift

Maman – defintly no new clothes until I drop at least one size

Hex2 – I praise you for wearing a skirt in this weather, brrrr!!!

LL – Sending comforting hugs your way. Thank you for the facial tip, I think sometimes I need reminding, this I will aim to do on Friday

Silvasava – Enjoy your day with your son hope you manage to squeeze in 5 to find something nice with your voucher too!!


I'm still sticking with my healthy eating, last night we had gammon steak egg and wedges. The gammon piece was quite large so I had a 1/4 of it and OH had the rest, I did one egg in frylight and the wedges were done in the actifry with a little amount of rapeseed oil and a small amount of homemade coleslaw made with part mayo and part greek yogurt. Then a small piece of flapjack later with a drink.
Did just over a two mile run with my friend and it didn't feel too bad. Tonight is a rest night and I will get some housework done and de-cluttering.
Hair in a ponytail and then I have plaited it and fringe swept back, make-up on and a spritz of perfume. One i'm not as keen on but getting it used up as there isn't much left now.

DD265

Morning all

Yesterday was Mom's birthday so we went to the Trafford Centre and I'd booked a personal shopper in Debenhams (thoroughly recommend her, she is called Lorna). PS also booked us in to have our make up done at Elizabeth Arden. Mom got some new clothes which were really lovely. She treated me to a top which is very flattering, can be dressed up or down and in one of my favourite colours; dark green! I am wearing it now.

At the makeup counter we both had the works - mine was a tinted moisturiser rather than a foundation and I did like the end result. The biggest difference was an eyebrow powder (I usually use a pencil that's about 9 years old) so Mom bought me that, she got herself a cleanser containing an exfoliator. I was really spoilt and it wasn't even my birthday. :rotfl:

I still hadn't bought my work trousers so wandered around for a bit after lunch, got them in Next (the most expensive pair I tried at £35 of course but they are flattering and long enough for my new boots in a regular), and also bought some undies in Victoria's Secret. I'm trying to get away from non-matching, cheap cartoony shorts from the supermarkets which may have been cute when I was younger but now not so much! Unfortunately I picked up one pair in an XL by mistake (I do need a L there) so will have to exchange them at some point.

Whilst in VS I tried on a couple of bras (talked myself out of buying as I couldn't get the one I really wanted!) and I have dropped a back size but not a cup size. I can make do with my current 4 bras for now thankfully as they aren't cheap, but will start budgeting to replace them.

I have showered and fabbed this morning, I am going to try and let my hair air dry if I can because I don't think it's good to always blow dry it!

I am down to 80.6kg - my next target is 80kg. So close and yet - on past experience - so far! I have been this close before and then gone back up. I can't remember the last time I was below 80kg so I am looking forward to it.

Rowan_moon

Hi fab fabbers
Is it ok for me to join in? I am definitely in need if some fabbing ready for spring.
I caught a glimpse if myself yesterday and I looked frumpy and middle aged - ok I am middle aged, but don't need to look frumpy with it We've been a bit snowed in and I had a cold and cough so have spent too much of the year so far in snuggly house clothes and no make up.

My target this week is for a major wardrobe clear out, book a hair appointment and find a yoga class. I'm feeling inspired now.

alec_eiffel

I always wear dresses or skirts, I only own one pair of trousers so I think skirts are far warmer.

I'm keeping it simple today as I'm at the charity shop, just wearing a dress with a cardi, hair is simple, a bit of BB cream and that's nice enough for me.

Hi Rowan Moon! Have a good day everyone.

maman

:hello:Rowan. Sounds like you did the mirror test by accident!


That sounds like a fab day DD265. I'm so pleased the trip went well and the purchases sound great. Hope your trip works out as well too silva.


I, too, tend to wear no more than two colours at a time except for perhaps a bit of toning pattern. So today I'm wearing (for pottering about) jeans, navy long sleeved top and then my fair isle waistcoat which has blue in the pattern but also a few other colours. Same with scarves. I've got a multi check Boden one that can pick up navy and a few other colours from the rest of my clothes.





I'd be interested to know what sort of things the shopper recommended for your mum DD. I've always been a bit sceptical as Debenhams clothes vary so much in style across the various departments. Do they only go for own brand things or from concessions too?


Thanks for the detailed steps on the facial LL. I'm definitely giving that a whirl next time I've an hour spare. Thinking of you today, wise tactic to keep busy.:A


newthrift, just a couple of tips on the weightloss. IMO the two key things are planning and plenty of fruit and veg. I'd qualify that by saying especially veg and mainly the leafy & salady ones. Too much fruit equates to too much sugar for me however natural. So your meal of protein and healthy carbs was fine but instead/as well as coleslaw I'd go for, say, plenty of mushrooms and tomatoes and maybe some peas to add to the protein. SW advise at least a third of your food is fruit and veg but I have as much as possible and I think that's good advice for any healthy eating.


yesterday I had a sort out of my make up. Not much to throw away but it gave me a good reminder of what I need to use up. I'm on a mission! Creamed my feet again this morning so hopefully that tub will be gone very soon.


Decluttered another cupboard. Today was the one with cookery books and other odds and sods. Now looking positively empty so may be able to use it to rehome some other things.


Bright but chilly and windy here. No need to venture out so I'm not!;)

DD265

maman wrote: »

I'd be interested to know what sort of things the shopper recommended for your mum DD. I've always been a bit sceptical as Debenhams clothes vary so much in style across the various departments. Do they only go for own brand things or from concessions too?

Thanks Maman. She ended up with all sorts and the items include sale, full price and various concessions. It was good because she tried on things that we wouldn't normally look at, like a pair of skinny jeans which looked amazing on her (size 16-18, apple shape but nice legs) with a longer top. These are a few of the things she bought:

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_58606+02283022_-1 (this is the one I got too, Mom got black and green I just got green, the shopper was wearing black and recommended it)

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_36194+094102001_-1 (not petite though)

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_54510+301714668_-1

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_038020451208_-1 (I think it was this one, several similar items)

We didn't go and look on the shop floor at all. There were a few things where we weren't sure, but didn't feel pressured into buying any of it.

sweetcheeks33

Hello all...

LL. Hugs:) also thanks for tips on facial. It's something I keep meaning to get round too. As we all do I suppose.

De fuzzing. Daily body moisturising and cleansing/toning/serum/ moisturise being going on. Facial massage with oil the other night but not full facial.
All for going away with oh overnight to edinburgh. I got tickets to a show & overnight in hotel for Xmas. Had a lovely time and really feel like I had a break. Out to dinner & lunch.. Drinks lovely hotel and lots of walking. Thoroughly enjoyed being away. Been of work for 13 days not looking forward to returning.

Hex2- I had a course of microdermabrasion before( most effective is medical grade microdermabrasion which is once every 3/4 weeks- to remove acne scars. This leaves skin beautifully soft and after a course makes such a difference. I have seen a change in my skin however it's not something I've done overly regularly, it has made a difference that I am happy with.

Rose I'm glad your weekend was so enjoyable- just what the doctor ordered

Also I agree- skirts in this weather brrrrr!!