Frump to Fab 2016 - Lets make it AWESOME!!!

Ellsbel

Lovely to hear from you Indie I always enjoy reading about your activities. Hope you had a good day yesterday.
Looking forward to reading about your next project, LL you really should do a blog!
Chanie how rotten that you had to keep your coat on! The weather's been ridiculous really; nice to see a bit of sun at last.
Yesterday was so sunny and nice that OH and I took a long walk to a nice pub we know and sat in the beer garden for a bit. We then walked back and sat in our own garden with a barbecue and a couple more glasses of wine! Was a very nice day and no after effects this morning but I don't really like having that much to drink any more so it'll be strictly water and tea for the rest of the week! Particularly as the weight has been slowly coming off, even with a weekend away and I've found even just a couple glasses of wine can affect the scales for me.
I've got to go into town today and then I've got housework to catch up on but will fit in a good long walk at some point.
If anyone's interested, I bought a foot cream recently that I absolutely love - Boots intensive foot moisturiser (or something like that!) it was really inexpensive but it's made my feet lovely and soft and it smells gorgeous.
Maman, it must be nearly time for your holiday? Bet you can't wait! Very off topic, but I hope you don't come back to a footie team looking for a manager!
Have a good day, all:)

indiepanda

Ellsbel wrote: »

Lovely to hear from you Indie I always enjoy reading about your activities. Hope you had a good day yesterday.

Yesterday was so sunny and nice that OH and I took a long walk to a nice pub we know and sat in the beer garden for a bit. We then walked back and sat in our own garden with a barbecue and a couple more glasses of wine! Was a very nice day and no after effects this morning but I don't really like having that much to drink any more so it'll be strictly water and tea for the rest of the week! Particularly as the weight has been slowly coming off, even with a weekend away and I've found even just a couple glasses of wine can affect the scales for me.

Yesterday was lovely thanks, roast chicken washed down with a couple of alcoholic ginger beers in a local beer garden with a couple of friends.

I know what you mean about the alcohol. I don't drink that much but I am starting to resent the empty calories in it and I definitely don't like it when I get so drunk I end up with a hangover as that usually leads to at least one day of somewhat disordered eating too. Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be easier to just stop drinking altogether, but I am not sure if I could go that far.

Foot cream is something of an essential this time of year isn't it? In between hiking and sandal wearing my feet turn hoof like rather quickly. I love the L'Occitane foot cream but it's not a budget option and I find it too easy when I go in there to get tempted by other products of theirs. However they aren't all as natural as they make out and I am trying to buy things with less SLSs and petro chemicals in.

I've bought some Dr Organic footcream in Holland and Barratt that seems quite good - and very MSE as they often do buy one get one half price or penny sale offers.

Today is my day to try to get organised for the week ahead - the diet has got to get back on track. Am out quite a bit so need to plan in advance and prepare so it doesn't all go horribly wrong again.

Speaking of organised, must go and get my sports kit on - training in the park this morning and got to let the gardener in first - it's like a jungle out there - bindweed is taking over. It's such a pain, I keep getting the gardener to treat it but my neighbours aren't so diligent and it comes back under the fence. I've finally asked them to treat at the same time as me so hopefully I will see some results.

maman

lessonlearned wrote: »

Although I did catch DS2s tummy bug I wasn't as ill as he was ....

Of course not. His was probably related to a strain of man flu!:rotfl: Sorry, couldn't resist that.;)


I think you're probably right about the manager situation ellsbel. It's not formally announced yet but he's being called the *lying Dutchman in these parts. It seems that as soon as money comes on the scene integrity goes out of the window.:(


I'm away a week tomorrow until the end of the month for my holiday. I've got various appointments sorted out including dental check up and chiropody this week.


I read a good tip about using a body scrub or even facial scrub on your feet to help keep them pretty for sandals. Sun cream and body lotion are on my shopping list. I find body lotion works just as well as any after sun.


You are so right about how difficult it is to have a healthy quick snack or even a meal when you're out and about LL. Everything seems to be bulked out with bread or pastry. I went for a pub lunch on Saturday and there wasn't even a salad on the menu and even when they are there's so much oil and mayo that it's no healthier than fish and chips. If I'm hungry when I'm in the city I either have a jacket potato or buy the salad Nicoise from Pret. That has dressing in a little tub so I can control the calories I add.


I know I bang on about it but getting myself back to 'normal' weight for me was the best thing I've done for my self esteem. I'd gradually gained 3 stone+ over about 10 years and kidded myself with careful dressing that it wasn't that bad but I hated it. I feel so much better and I'm literally lighter on my feet. I've kept it off for almost 5 years and after the initial need to be firm with myself I now just follow a healthy eating programme and when I stray and have too many treats (as I plan to do on holiday:D) then I just get straight back to it afterwards. It's the not giving up that's the key.


It's a lovely day here today. DH is busy this morning but hoping to drag him out for a walk later. If he won't then I'll go on my own!:p

lessonlearned

Maman. You are an inspiration - not only losing 3 plus stones but also keeping it off for 5 years. You are living proof that it can be done and I aim to emulate you......

Today I called into the garden centre where DS2 works and because I hadn't pre planned my visit and packed a little something to have with my coffee I had to buy food there. There was not one option on that menu for me, not even anything marked "gluten free". How do celiacs get on.......I can at least eat grains occasionally with just minimal side effects but celiacs simply cannot risk it. I had a scone with no ill effects but it was really dry and I didn't even particularly enjoy it.

THere wasn't even a salad or a bowl of soup. They do serve a nice breakfast which I sometimes indulge in - one of those where they will swap items for you so I can customise those but they finish serving breakfast at 11.30.

You would think most cafes and restaurants could manage a simple salad and maybe a fruit based pudding or ice cream. As you say dressings could be served in a little side bowl.

Ooh I feel a business opportunity coming on.......:rotfl:

Anyway thanks for the tip about Pret - I will file that away for when needed. I have already tried the gravalux salmon at IKEA that you recommended. That was delicious and of course really healthy, and didn't cost much more than that wretched scone.......;)

I had a lovely meal out with my friend last night and was able to avoid grains, although I did succumb to just a few chips, only about half a dozen and managed to leave most of them on my plate.

Still lovely here. Bought some nice plants today but will wait till it's a bit cooler or maybe even tomorrow morning before attempting any gardening.

If it stays warm this evening I think it will be a glass of vino whilst lighting up the chimenea to burn some paperwork. Then lie back on my zero gravity lounger and do a bit of star gazing.

I had to leave our telescope in Spain - one of these days I must treat myself to a new one, maybe when I eventually find my little house. We used to sit on our roof terrace on warm balmy nights star gazing, drinking wine and chatting till all hours.

I also tried out a fabulous swing seat at the garden centre.......one of those cane 60s jobs except it had a really comfortable cushion. Now I really fancy one of those. Perfect for reading and dozing through a hot summers afternoon. :rotfl:

I'll have to save up my pennies.......

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,
I went to Karaoke yesterday and had a good evening. I wore a short sleeved brown t-shirt with a high back envelope neck. I wore it with my Marks and Spencer shimmer brown lightweight skirt, with brown suede sling backs with pointed toes and lacing detail on the front. I had my brown leather osprey handbag and wore solid gold jewellery and my Tissot gold plated watch. I did not bother to paint my nails or wear any make up. I carried a lightweight brown Marks and Spencer jacket with me, but it was such a warm evening, I did not need to wear it. Even though I have gained 4 pounds in weight this week, I still felt fabulous, because I knew I looked good when I looked at my reflection in the mirror. It is sublimely good to wear a fixed waistband skirt that is loose around the waist.

I had a good time at Karaoke, as Wayne was not around to make it awkward. He flew to Jamaica on holiday yesterday. He called me from the Airport, as if we had not parted ways earlier in the week, but I made it clear there was nothing to say. Then he surprised me even more by sending me a text saying 'do not do nothing to hurt me'. I replied 'Wayne we are not together any more'. Amazing how he has a capacity for burying his head in the sand, he is 48 years old, not a lovelorn teenager! He needs to get real. I will never contemplate resuming our relationship. I had such a happy week last week without him, that I know he was not right for me. Once he returns from holiday it will be somewhat awkward when we are both in the same pub, but we both go there regularly. He is not going to like the fact that another man named Clive has not wasted any time making sure I know how much he likes me now that Wayne and I have parted ways. Lovely boost for me though.

I had a week's unpaid holiday last week and spent it resting, sleeping and watching lots of programmes on the TV. I let the healthy eating go completely out the window and just ate whatever took my fancy. I hardly bothered to go across my doorstep, so I got no exercise, as I could not be bothered to do any of my exercise DVD's or any dancing around my Living room.

I returned to work today and my body is aching this evening. I am back to the healthy eating, so I had a huge mixed salad with a chicken breast for my dinner. I am having another one for my dinner tomorrow. I am eating fresh fruit again and will consume as many different vegetables as possible this week. :cool:

maman

Thanks for the update sugarbaby. I'd guess that the weight you gained last week will go quickly now you're back in the zone. Strange text from Wayne but you sound up to it. The shades of brown and gold outfit sound like a change for you.:)


Excuse me while I have another rant: Today we were meant to have a cable package installed (landline, email, broadband, TV). This was arranged a month ago and they gave the required 30 days notice to our existing suppliers to cancel from today. Yesterday afternoon we got a call from Virgin Media (and I hope they're reading this!) to say they can't do the work for 6 to 8 weeks. The reason is that they've discovered that cable doesn't come right up to our house so they'll have to dig up some road to connect to the nearest point and before that they need written permission from neighbours. Unfortunately it's now too late to 'uncancel' with our existing suppliers. So after today we'll have no broadband or our usual email address or landline. :mad:


Needless to say we didn't get the planned walk yesterday as we were busy contacting people to give our mobile numbers and an alternative email address.


I'll keep in touch on my phone as data minutes allow or when I'm somewhere with wifi.


I've a dental appointment later and the surgery is right next to lovely parkland so I will get my walk in the sunshine today!:)

Floss

Maman Twitter or Facebook are your friends x

lessonlearned

Maman. How annoying for you. Hope it all gets sorted soon.

Sugarbaby - sounds like you definitely made the right decision about Wayne. I'm sure you will lose those extra pounds quickly.

I am having a nice lazy day, am just soaking up the sun letting my brunch go,down. Then a nice little walk to the shops via the park and then potter in the garden. I bought some plants yesterday so,will get planting later.

My father is now having a wobble over the Belguim trip, luckily I haven't bought the train tickets yet and the stockpiled euros can sit in the safe until needed.

We will just wait and see. I can put the money set aside to good use so I'm not too concerned. I can always go myself another time or even even do a mini cruise to Amsterdam /Bruges.

As Del Boy would say......The world is my lobster;)

Ellsbel

Just popping on to second what Floss says, maman - naming and shaming on those two platforms does get a response.
They should compensate you for the huge inconvenience they've caused you.

maman

I know you're right about name and shame.
Unfortunately as we're going away next Tuesday there's no time for it to be done beforehand. That was why we set it up for today. But when we get back.....