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

maman

So sorry to hear about the bump LL. Obviously, great news that you're not seriously hurt but infuriating for you to be all shaken up when you've enough aches and pains to contend with. Hope it gets sorted soon and enjoy your rest today. You need it.:)


Thanks for the heads up on getting Groupon vouchers re-credited sugarbaby. I didn't know about that, assumed I just had to write them off to my own inefficiency:o. I'm so pleased you're enjoying your summer break. DH and I accidentally (time suited us best)ended up in one of those Silver Screen showings at our local Picture House. I found being surrounded by loads of wrinklies rather depressing, maybe I should have thought a bit more about being mse.


Being nosey about your outfits: what sort of tights/stockings do you wear with them (if any)? I was wondering whether you stick to black to go with the skirts?


I'm feeling :mad: on your behalf ruby. Part of me says that you should just slap a few receipts down in front of DH but the other side of me says why should you!!! I don't begrudge you buying yourself coffees and snacks to make your life easier although personally I would stick to SW (I would say that wouldn't I;)) as it'll be so much better for your self esteem. It really is possible to do SW cheaply. My lunch most days is either HM veg soup, a jacket potato or most often some leftovers from the previous evening's meal. I'm wondering why he's only just waking up to how much it costs to feed the family. Is it because you were picking up those bills before?


I'm going to try again to get my nails done today. It sounds pathetic but although I'm feeling better, as far as my cough is concerned, I've got absolutely no energy. Just a bit of food shopping the other day wiped me out for the evening.:(

sugarbaby125

Hi Maman I never wear tights or stockings. I go bare legged unless I am wearing my trainers, then I wear black ankle socks.

I went to The National Portrait Gallery with my daughter. It was such an interesting visit. So many different era's in portrait paintings and painting styles to observe. We both really enjoyed ourselves.

We came home, had lunch followed by a relaxing hour at home before we were out again.

We went to The Vans in Waterloo to see a free showing of the film Wild Tales. It was an ensemble of revenge short films and each one was so intense. You simply could not predict what was going to happen in each of the short films. It is a venue for young people, but that did not stop me wanting to see the film, after I had a look at what type of film it was. It was World Cinema, so it was subtitled. As each story unfolds on the screen you get a few shocks and the action is constant yet totally absorbing.

I wore a fuschia pink short sleeved M & S round neck t-shirt with My black M & S pull on skirt with the black on black circles. I wore a pair of my Primark black ankle socks and my black leather Slazenger trainers. I wore perfume but no make up or nail polish. I had my every day black leather bag with me and my patent leather Playboy tote shopping bag. I wore my black weatherproof Wallis coat.

It was a really sunny day here in London with just enough breeze to make it really pleasant. I only needed my coat later in the evening.

lessonlearned

Good morning everyone.

Fab Friday today......I'm still a mass of aches and pains but DS2 is on hand to take me shopping today. I won't have to drive or carry anything so should be ok. I will make a bit of an effort for fab Friday.

I had my hair cut last week. Tbh I'm a bit disappointed but I think it's my fault I should have had it cut a bit shorter on top. It is so baby fine. It looks ok when I have just blow dried it but it soon flops and goes very flat.

I don't normally use a styling/thickening mousse but though I might try one. ANy recommendations.??

I have found a new Physio nearer to home and have booked an assessment and first treatment for Tuesday.

I felt quite "odd" a couple of times yesterday, a bit whoozy and a couple of dizzy spells but I slept well last night and feel a lot better this morning. I think my body must have had quite a jolt.

Actually it wasn't until yesterday that I realised just how lucky I was. THe point of impact was on my side, the front offside wing. Just another foot or so and the other driver would have slammed into my door and I would have been toast.

It happened when I was taking dad to visit his sister. My cousin very kindly came to the rescue to pick us up and take us home. Apparently she saw the wreckage and was very shocked at what a narrow escape I had.

I am one very lucky woman.......:rotfl:

Sugarbaby - I love the national portrait gallery. Is it still free entry. I used to like that because it was free I could just pop in and view a couple of rooms at a time.

When I used to sew a lot I used to love looking at the costumes and I would often sit and sketch them for design ideas. I based my wedding dress design (first husband:rotfl:) on a portrait I had seen there. Can't remember who but it was a Dutch portrait so the dress design I came up with was a sort of European mediaeval style but with a Puritan style lace collar and deep cuffs - the lace being very posh guipure lace.

I also love the V&A. It's collections are vast. Problem is last time I went the entry fee was quite high. When charges are high I think the tendency is you try and view the whole lot in one go and then you get sensory overload. I think that spoils the experience. I would rather just view a couple of sections at a time and be able to savour them properly.

MY husbands friend married a lady who was the head of the wallpaper department at the V&A. She is quite an expert in her field and she took me round once. It was so interesting.

Oh well time to start the day. DS2 is having a lie in this morning so no hurry to get ready. I have got time to have a nice soak in the bath and try and losen up a bit. :rotfl:

Floss

LL I sometimes use either John Frieda Volumising range (shampoo, conditioner, treatment, blow dry spray and mousse) or Paul Mitchell's Thicken-up.

chanie

ll I hope you are feeling better today, but pleased you have DS to look after you.
I work near the Museums and have seen quite a few exhibitions. They did a wedding dress exhibition about a year ago and I really enjoyed it.

sugar your trips with Dd look like such fun and very MSE. We don't tend to take the children into Central London, due to their ages (6 and 4), but I will when they are a bit older. I remember being dragged 'up west' with my Mum and aunt for shopping trips to Oxford Street, before the days of shopping centres like Lakeside, westfield and Bluewater. I still remember the magic of the Christmas lights.

maman it's funny you mention tights - I've been wearing thick black tights to work recently. The reason? I go on holiday in a couple of weeks and so I'm holding out for a wax.

chanie wrote: »

sugar

I'm now eyeing up a denim dress. I've seen one I like, but I have to figure out the logistics of buying it. My Mum bought me a shopping voucher for Westfield Shopping Centre for Xmas. Now, you are probably wondering why I haven't spent it - I decided I wanted to put it towards something a bit more expensive, but I haven't had the time or inspiration to choose wisely. I've recently 'decided' I need a denim dress so I want to use my voucher for the purchase. I hope you are keeping up!! So, I've seen a dress online, which looks promising, so I have to order it and pay for it online. If I like it, I'll have to take it to the Westfield branch, so that I can refund the card payment and 're-purchase it using the shopping voucher. I'm not sure I can be bothered with the faff though!!!

My dress arrived today and its a keeper!!! It's a dark denim t shirt style dress, but a slim fitting one. I paid for express delivery, which was £7. I normally refuse to pay for delivery charges, but I'm going to westfield this weekend, so I thought I'd take the hit, this time.

maman

I'm another fan of the National Portrait Gallery. I do envy you being able to just pop in for the morning sugarbaby. Although I'm not far from London (about an hour by train) the fares are quite expensive so I tend to take advantage of offers on the trains or make a day of it when I'm going to see a show in the evening.


It's still free LL as is the V&A now. It's been like this since 2001. All you pay for is some specialist one-off exhibitions and also some private museums that don't belong to the state.


There's an article in my paper this morning about 25 small museums and galleries nationwide worth visiting. Not surprisingly, the Horniman is one of them!
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/from-steamers-to-stuffed-walruses-britains-25-best-small-museums-cqsqkjbzk


I enjoyed the Wallace Collection recently (off Oxford Street behind John Lewis, not far from Wimpole Street and Harley Street). There was an art historian talking to a group of students about the symbolism in portraits when I was there. I eavesdropped shamelessly.:o The John Soane (eclectic but with great Hogarth drawings) and the Geffrye (series of converted alms houses depicting living rooms through the ages) are others I'd recommend but I don't think either of those are free.


I use mousse to give my hair some body LL. If you'd asked last month I'd have thoroughly recommended Boots own brand
http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Essentials-StylingMousse-200ml_985172/
but the can I took on holiday was useless. Instead of a stiff foam it collapsed. I thought it might have been the heat but it's the same here. I intend to take it back (not that they'll be interested) just for them to know it's a dud one. I'm using John Freida at the moment. The other possibility to give the top of your hair some body is a hot brush. I have one like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BaByliss-34-Pro-Ionic-Airstyler/dp/B00HEOC4K4/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1468579156&sr=8-6&keywords=hot+air+hair+styling+brush
to give some shape to my bob.


I'd love 'wash and go' hair but unfortunately I'm not blessed with that so use everything I can for a bit of help.


Thanks for the info on the tights (or lack of them) sugarbaby. Is that all the year round? Ideally I'd go from opaques (which I love) straight to bare legs but I do keep a few pairs of sheer, naturals for certain occasions and times of the year.


I'm making a bit of effort for fab Friday too. I've had a shower and done my hair and got dressed in something other than leggings! I'm wearing a pair of narrow, navy, silky summer trousers. They're a bit like smart joggers. Then I've got a navy and white Breton style top with elbow length sleeves. I'll wear navy espadrilles when I go out and my Raybans.:cool:


I'm still feeling washed out but I've got to push myself. I've got my Groupon appointment for a facial and massage. There's a branch of Aldi and Waitrose in the little market town I'm going to so I'll try and fit in the food shopping while I'm there.


Back soon.:)

lessonlearned

Ooh Maman......you found very French chic today. Ooh la la . :rotfl: hope you feel better soon.

The V&A has been free since 2001.........??

Shows how long since I've done any tourist stuff in London. . In my defence I did spend the best part of a decade dealing with either sickness and death. I must make an effort and spend some time in London.

Thanks for all the tips about stylers and mousses. I need a new styler - currently using a seperate dryer followed by a hot brush but I do prefer using a styler. I seem to get better results.

Floss

LL I use the BaByliss Big Hair, it's the second one I've had, it has one large brush and one medium sized one that are interchangeable.

sugarbaby125

LL you sound like such a talented dressmaker. You made yourself a very original wedding dress. Yes most Museums and Galleries are free entry, so over the next few weeks while I am on holiday from work, I will visit as many of them as I can fit in.

Chanie there are so many free events and places of interest that are suitable for your children. You should use the Internet to plan a few free days out with your children. I am loving the freedom to visit places of interest and go to free events. I still have a few more weeks to fill with as much fun as possible whilst being as MSE as possible.

Maman, your outfit sounds so stylish. I hope you enjoyed your facial and massage.

I never wear tights or stockings, I go bare legged all year round.

I went on my circular River Cruise on the Thames today.I had bought a Travel Zoo voucher a few weeks ago. I got some lovely photographs even though the weather was very overcast. I enjoyed seeing all of the bridges and other landmarks and the crew member giving us a detailed commentary. I went from Bankside Pier and got off at the Tower Millenium Pier. I will be visiting the Tower of London next week.

chanie

maman I hope you enjoyed your pampering session, let us know, how it went.

ll I'm impressed you made your wedding dress. What an amazing skill you have.

sugar I have quite a few old faithful places to take the children, but I'm always on the look out for new places.
Your Thames cruise sounds similar to a trip that the in-laws took the children on and they had a lovely time.

Here's a challenge for all the fabbers: try something new. Here's a few ideas: visit an attraction or town you haven't been to before, style your hair differently, try a new recipe or read a boom you wouldn't normally pick up.