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

maman

Glad you enjoyed the birthday meal LL. I had a good night out with my friend too. It was a nice evening so we sat in the garden so I needed my cardi after all. When I was ready to leave DH commented on how good I looked in my pencil skirt. Although I do the fabbing for myself, it's always nice to receive a compliment (for which I duly thanked him;)).


My mother got fed up of cooking in later life too. She would still turn her hand to a roast if the family was visiting (her beef gravy was to die for and I've never managed to match it:drool:) but day to day on her own she ate nice easy things mainly from M&S food hall.


I've not been further than Aldi and a few local shops today but I did make an effort for Fab Friday. I wore my new (to me) Zara top which is a sort of teddy bear colour with black leggings, black ballet pumps and a short black cardi. The top's really well cut and clings in all the right places.


I'm on the lookout for some long sleeved tops. I love the scarlet Reiss one that I got in TK Maxx. I've got three (grey, fawn and black) tops that I bought years ago in M&S. They're a really fine cotton and good for wearing under things or on their own but they're a bit past it now so I only wear them pottering around the house. It's not urgent but I'll keep an eye out.


Hope everyone has a good weekend planned whatever you're up to.:)

Matody

Good morning, I hope you all don't mind if I jump on board here.

I really could do with this, I'm a lot less of a frump than I was but not full on fab (yet ) - I have being trying, as I let myself go and basically stopped trying or even caring.

I've just lost weight and hit maintenance a few weeks back, feeling fab in that department but as I've being a comfy clothes wearer and wash and go kind of girl for so long, I'm not sure what suits me, so here's to finding out xx

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies.

It's a glorious day here. I had intended to go into the city and do some shopping but have decided it's far too nice. Apparently it's gojng to hit 24 so too hot for shopping....Ill go on Monday when it's scheduled to be cooler.

So today I'm just going to enjoy my garden.......it's looking very pretty. Sat out last evening with a book until 9 and it was Lovely.

One of the things I wanted to do was go to Holland and Barrat, the penny sale is on so a good time to stock up on vitamins for the winter.
I have not taken glucosamine for a while so I think I need to get started on that. .

Hello Matody.. Welcome to the gang. Well done on the weight loss, I bet you feel much better.

One of the things about losing weight is that it often means we need to revisit our wardrobe. And often we are not sure of what suits us. Maman will be along to advise but basically I think it's a good idea to shop at charity shops whilst you are losing or when you have just lost weight. That way you can try different looks and experiment a bit without breaking the bank.

A lot of us on here are charity shop fans. I like to pick up bits from the chazzers. As well as clothes I always look at accessories. I have a collection of scarves and pashminas picked up for pennies. I also buy costume jewellery. I haven been lucky and picked up a couple of really nice real leather handbags that were brand new.

I don't actually need any clothes either Maman at the moment, except like you I will need to start thinking about knitwear and long sleeved tops for Autumn and winter. I picked up a nice deep grey fine gauge M&S sweater with a cowl neckline recently, £3 from a Chazzer, brand new with tags on, but I've not worn it yet.

I also fancy some dark grey jeans this winter. I bought a nice pair of pair of Gok Wan pale grey wool trousers for £10 in the sale. Bargain.

I tried to watch the opening ceremony for the Olympics last night but it was late and I kept falling asleep. I daresay there will be something showing the highlights.

Right time to start the day. Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Keeeep fabbing.

shandyclover

Hello Fabulous ladies!

I've been away ages caught up in the final closing of our branch of BHS. We had our final trading day last Wednesday, then 2 days of packing up, clearing and cleaning, working 8-8pm. I am tired and ache all over. My healthy eating went out the window, along with most of the BHS staff I suspect as everyone brought in cakes, doughnuts and snacky foods to keep us all going. The management also paid for us to have brekky delivered from Greggs. There have been tears and emotions (some of the staff were actually present on the stores opening day 23 years earlier) but everyone worked together in an amazing way and we managed to do our handover to administrators in record time. We now having the leaving party to look forward to - I hope I still fit into my party frock!

I need to get back on the fabbing wagon now, as I will be job hunting and want to apply for a more senior role. Still have to decide if I want to pick up with the OU degree level 3 in October, and if I will go for a full time or part time job, lots of decisions, investment in hubby's business has fallen through, so finances are a bit of an issue.

In the meantime its my birthday tomorrow, and we all plan to go to Cornwall for a few days camping and surfing with my brother and his family next week, I am trying to make a conscious effort not to worry about money, jobs or education and trust that the right decisions will come to me as I take some time out.

jacci45

Hi all, hope you are all enjoying the lovely weather today!

I have a bit of a problem.....I have been seeing the same hairdresser for about 10 years now. She is on holiday so saw another one today in the same salon, this is the second time she has cut my hair and she cuts so much better than the hairdresser I go to. Even Hubby commented today.

They work very close to each other so if I go to the new lady my current lady will see...really don't know what to do.

Any ideas Ladies? Thanking you in advance! xx

Matody

@ Lessonlearned

I normally shop in charity shops love them, so glad to hear that there's people who do here

Thank you and yes I feel a lot better, I was this weight 4-5 years ago so luckily I had clothes that fit when I was losing, but I've lost more body fat (I weight train) so I look and I am smaller than I was at this weight, so all my clothes are becoming too big.

I went out today and did my hair and make up, just shopping for daughters uniform, but felt better about myself... one thing I do need to buy myself is a pair of nice flats, I tend to live in trainers.. not a fab look

hex2

Maman, I buy my long sleeve plain tops in Gap. Nice thin ones as they are good for layering. My default daily wear is a long vest top, thin Gap top in a contrasting colour, and then a jumper if I need one. And a cardigan because I am always cold but all the layers can look very bulky so they need to be thin. I like Gap because they sell tall tops so I can get the length I like, and I wait for the sale/code stacks and then buy lots. Hope this helps.

Floss

Jacci maybe try to find out when your long-term lady has her day off, and go to the other stylist then?

maman

Thanks for posting shandy. I've been thinking of you as all the stuff unfolds about Sir Philip Greed. You do sound very positive about plans for the future. Holidays are often a good time for taking stock. Have a good time and call back soon.:)


When do you leave for Belgium LL?

Floss wrote: »

Jacci maybe try to find out when your long-term lady has her day off, and go to the other stylist then?

I thought that too or confide in the new hairdresser and ask her advice. The only other option I can see is just to brazen it out.:(


I had the reverse problem in that my long term hairdresser left recently. He had been commuting to Spain for a while and it wasn't working so now he's moved to live with his Cuban BF. Not sure of the legalities but there seemed to be some reason why the BF could live in Spain but not come to UK. Anyhow I tried one of the other stylists who's done my DD's hair for years and she's fantastic. If he did come back I suppose I'd be in your position jacci but I'd take the day off option but I can be flexible with when I go.


Unfortunately our Gap closed down recently hex but layering is exactly what I want.


Welcome matody:wave:. Losing weight was definitely the number one thing I did to start feeling fab. So well done on your weightloss. I used CSs when I was going through the sizes and then regifted them when they were too big. The other thing I did was to experiment with colours as if I was paying full price I'd be afraid to make an expensive mistake. Now I'm hooked on the CSs and browse often.


I think before you start putting a wardrobe together you need to think about what sort of places you go to. If you work, do you have a uniform or do you need a work wardrobe? Do you go out to glitzy places or are you more likely to just need 'smart casual' for shopping? Do you live in trousers/jeans or do you like skirts and dresses? Do you travel? Then I'd look around in magazines or good old people watching in the street and see which women's styles you admire. Then you can start to put a plan together around what you already have that fits. Now is a good time to start thinking what you have for the autumn.:)


We're out for a pub lunch today. The sun has just come out and the forecast is good. I'm wearing my navy trousers (sort of slim cut, silky joggers but nothing like a shell suit:D) with my new Jack Wills white tee shirt. I'll take a little navy cardi with me just in case and wear navy espadrilles as they're comfy for walking and we don't want to take the car. Off to put on some light make up. Hope everyone's having a good day.:)

a_silver_lining

Hey all! Thought I would join you all. I have been working hard to loose some weight and get fit once again! at my fittest back 8 years ago I was around 9.4lbs roughly and very toned. I weighed myself on the 28th of May this year after I realised my clothes really were not fitting any more and I was 10.13, a pound away from 11 stone and the heaviest I have ever knowingly weighed! A lot of this weight gain was due to inactivity following ill health.

I have since bought a fitness tracker and made a point of walking, walking and walking and also tried out yoga and some local fitness classes thanks to group on. I've altered my diet too and am pretty healthy. I'm now 10.6lb, so 8lbs lost! thrilled but also not quite there, but to be honest I have taken it slow and made it about lifestyle change. I chickened out going for a night out last night as none of my dresses fit.... so I need to work on my confidence a bit too.

Going to aim to keep up my current level of activity, wear perfume and do my eyeshadow and after a month or so hopefully check in with some progress on goals.

My ultimate goals:
I think I would like to loose a stone over all, so 6lb to go. But I
m more concerned by fitness.

Keep building fitness into my life. I have a week fitness and yoga holiday booked for october and want to be fit to make the most of it!! Two months ago I wouldn't have been able to take part in much of the program. I am going to aim to practice one yoga pose every other day to improve my posture. I would like to improve my flexibility overall. I would like to be able to run 3 miles comfortably. I would also like to be able to commute the 5 miles to work and 5 miles back again by foot or bike by the end of september. I can now comfortably do about 6 miles a day walking without really aching so almost there!

As for appearance I have majorly decluttered through konmarie. I would like to refine my style a bit more. I need to keep practising my eyeshadow. Fix some clothing I love and resize once I have slimmed.. I also need to pay a fried to alter some of my silver jewellery. Annd I want to sell some old jewellery.

I think that's it from me.

This has inspired me to go for a little run in the sunshine today as I haven't done much. Will keep in touch with you fab girls! Tomorrow I'm walking to a different office and should cover about 9 miles and I have yoga at 8pm.