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

Carmen

Good evening ladies
Maddiemay, I'm pleased to hear the IBS treatment is making you feel better. Stomach injections have got to be the worst thing, especially as you have to adminster them yourself :eek: Keep well.

Ellsbel, small step is a good plan. You are never too old if the goal is achievable. A news item yesterday showed a lady who passed a ballet 'test' at the age of 71!

Today was a busy but good day, I even picked a half kilo of blackberries on my dog walk. Summer fruits and home made soup I enjoy from frozen.

Well goodnight ladies.

Carmen x

indiepanda

Good morning all.

Well, I am feeling a bit odd at the moment - definitely not fab and not that frugal either.

On the positive front I am having lots of fun times with friends and had a lovely night out this week with another woman who works for the same company as me and I think I've definitely met another kindred spirit there, which is great.

Whilst not being very frugal I have bought myself a pair of fitflops which my friend swears by and my podiatrist suggested would be a good sandal option, and they are very comfortable. Not in the sale unfortunately but they seem quite sturdy so am hoping they will last well. I was a bit naughty and then ordered a second pair on line, but I did get a discount for it being a first order. I also bought in the sale a small Orla Kiely backpack with a really cute cat print. I've been thinking of getting one for ages as when I do my historic walks in London, which involve rather more standing still than walking, I often get a bit of back pain which I think is partly caused by weight of handbag on one shoulder, so am hoping this will help. I have one tomorrow afternoon so will see.

However, on the less fab front, I am just feeling a bit "blah". Not getting enough sleep - partly due to insomnia - which I am sure is just due to long term pressure at work. Not eating that well as too hungry and too tired to plan properly and not getting quite enough exercise either. Some days work is so full on I even forget to drink enough during the day and end up feeling dehydrated.

I am hoping this is just because I really need a holiday and the fact I have one long weekend away and three weeks overseas over the next three weeks will put me right.

Have to admit, reading the above I really sound like a bit of a spoiled princess. I have so much to be thankful for and although my job is demanding, I also know I am well paid for it, appreciated by the management and that quite a bit of the pressure I feel is in my mind. It's not as if I have the responsibility of a family relying on me, or the conflict of difficult relationships (being single has it's plus points as well as minus) so really I should be feeling great.

Of course, therein lies the problem. My inner dialogue is overflowing with "should"s at the moment. I am so hard on myself at times that I think it's quite counterproductive - ramp up the pressure to the point it overwhelmes me and I achieve less in life overall than I would if I was just a bit kinder to myself. I feel like I've got in such a muddle I don't know where to start. Focus on getting more sleep and hope my energy levels recover, focus on getting more exercise so I am so tired I can't help but sleep, focus on getting more hydrated as I suspect I am even thinking I am hungry when I am just thirsty, focus on diet as the wrong food makes me feel sluggish....

What usually happens is I tell myself I need to do everything and then as soon as I slip off the wagon I get so cross with myself I end up just giving up on it all.

Oh well, I got up late after sleeping in and my stomach is rumbling so I guess that tells me what I need to focus on right now is a good breakfast! I feel like I am being rather childish so having one of my favourite childhood breakfasts of soft boiled eggs with some bread soldiers to dip will probably be quite apt.

maman

I had boiled eggs for breakfast too indie so you're not the only one indulging your inner child!:rotfl:
Hopefully the holidays coming up will let you get that sleep you need and give you some time to think through your priorities. I think it's a mistake to try and achieve everything at once. I read the other day about an old Boots promotion called 'Change One Thing'
http://www.littlebook.co.uk/case-studies/boots
which summed it up. If you get one thing sorted until it becomes a habit whether it's exercise or healthy eating or whatever then that's the time to take on the next challenge.


I don't know if it's appropriate in your workplace but I find having a sports bottle of water on the desk when I'm working helps a lot. I find I reach for it almost unconsciously and can get through a bottle in no time without realising. A sports bottle lets me drink without any fear of spilling so it's unconscious and doesn't interrupt my train of thought or stop me concentrate on what I'm reading.


I love the sound of your Orla Kiely rucsac. I love her designs. When we decorated our dining room I made an OK cushion cover for the comfy chair in the bay window and then picked out three of the colours on the leaves (pale blue, orange and green) to recover the chair seat. John Lewis have got a lovely range of her towels too and I've bought a set of bedding ready for when we eventually redecorate our bedroom. My DD1 has a couple of lovely OK handbags but I've yet to treat myself to anything but household stuff.


Talking of John Lewis, I read that Hush is to open a few concessions in JL stores. Unfortunately not my local one but Oxford Street is one of them.


Good to hear from you Maddie and pleased that your treatments are going well. Reading your post it just proves that fabbing is good for us! With all those painful injections you deserve to spend a bit on your new clothes and make up.


Weather here has changed massively. The sun has gone, torrential rain earlier but now massive winds have blown the clouds away so trees are swaying ominously.:(


I had far too much wine last night so drinking copious amounts of water today to counteract effects .


Hope everyone's having a good weekend:).

lessonlearned

Indie.......you dont come over as a spoild princess at all. We all feel like this at times. In fact could have written your post myself. I have been decidedly "blah" all week. No exercise, poor food choices, lack of sleep etc.

LIke you I have no real cause for feeling sorry for myself. I'm putting it down to tiredness from the trip - I have felt almost jet lagged - and the fact that I have just commemorated the 2nd anniversary of my husband's death. I have struggled with my emotions this week, been very weepy and rather despondent.

I have not been my usual positive upbeat self, everything has seemed a huge effort. My boys and DIL have been wonderful though, very supportive and understanding.

I'm sure it will pass.

Today I went to see a property, hated it. :rotfl: Then DS2 escorted me to Sainsburys where we did a mega shop - hopefully enough to keep us going for about a month, apart from fruit and veg and milk top ups.

Next week I want to focus on healthy eating, sorting out some paperwork, catching up with laundry and house fabbing.i have fallen behind with everything. I'm sure I'll feel better once I get straight again.

Twinnie......I went blackberrying yesterday too. Spooky.

Maddie - good to hear from you. Glad your IBS is starting to respond to treatment. Daily injections can't be pleasant. I feel for you. I take a very expensive pro biotic now too. It has helped me a great deal, worth every penny.

I did do a stock up with vitamins, supplements and probiotics in the Holland and Barret 1p sale. Spent quite a bit but made some good savings too.

It's very autumnal here this evening. DS2 and I are going to tuck into a Chinese wihich is heating up as we speak and I'm going to curl up and watch a film.

I'm done for now.:rotfl:

Ellsbel

Can certainly identify with much of what you say indie, especially as far as giving up on everything when I can't be perfect! Hopefully your holidays will recharge your batteries:)
Funnily enough, maman, I was reading an article about getting fit and shaping up this week that also emphasised changing one thing at a time.
Glad your feeling a bit better maddie, and able to get into fabbing again.
LL hope a cosy evening in front of the TV helps you relax a bit. Sorry the viewing was no good for you.
"Hi" to anyone I've missed.
Met up with some family members that I don't see as much as I'd like this morning for a long, leisurely brunch, and we had a lovely time.
I wore jeans and a lightweight jumper as it's been a little chilly here today.
My hair could do with a visit to the salon but my hairdresser is on holiday so I made it as presentable as I could, and it looked ok, but definitely needs a trim!
Chilling in my nicest PJs now and watching the Olympics.

Hope you're ok ruby.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

On Thursday evening I went to see 'That's Entertainment' at the New Wimbledon Theatre and I had such an enjoyable evening. I was singing along and dancing in my seat. I have always loved all the old film musicals and the cast sang so many songs from early Musicals. :j

I wore a red sleeveless v neck top and a black pull on skirt with my red Van Dal patent leather sling back shoes with solid gold jewellery and I was carrying my every day black leather bag and my patent black Playboy tote.

I had a free ticket for the show and a great seat in the 5th row from the stage, with a totally clear view of the dancers/singers in the show. :T

Jonathan Ansell was also the special guest for the show, but I found it a bit annoying that he sung songs that had nothing to do with the rest of the show. He is a very talented high tenor, but he seemed so out of place in this show. On a positive note, it did feel as if we got the show plus a mini concert from Jonathan Anstell.

On Friday I caught up with washing/drying and other housework, so that I could have Saturday free and clear to enjoy.

I went to Margate for the day today with my daughter, my son and my grandson. I wore my red sweetheart neckline short sleeved t-shirt with a black pull on skirt and my black CK ankle socks and my black leather Slazenger trainers. I also wore my red waterfall cardigan which turned out to be a prudent move as it was very windy in Margate even when the sun was shining. I was wearing solid silver jewellery and I was carrying my red patent leather Osprey handbag and my Playboy black patent leather tote bag.

For lunch I had a Large cod in batter with chips in a beach side cafe and loved every morsel of it and felt no guilt eating it. It was the perfect lunch for a day trip to the seaside.

I indulged my inner child by doing Roller Disco for an hour with my children and grandson. I had the most exhilarating fun time, but the aches and pains in my muscles are already beginning! It was definitely worth it though. :rotfl:

I may not feel so sanguine about the pain by tomorrow though

chanie

sugar I love fish and chips by the sea.

ellsbel are you planning a different style when you go to the hairdressers?

ll it's a shame that the property you viewed wasn't suitable.

maman thanks for the Hush tip. I've heard good things about Hush, but I don't like online only shops, so it will be nice to see their clothes in real life.

indie I hope you get your fabbing mojo back soon.

I had a fab Friday, albeit an inappropriately dressed one. I wore a black maxi dress with the red sandals I bought in Greece. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't brilliant, so whilst I wasn't cold it was raining.

Today, me and OH took the children to the cinema and then we went to dinner (the children are staying with family). I wore my denim dress (I wanted to wear something that could accommodate an all you can eat buffet). Inspired by sugar we found a groupon deal, so we saved £10 on the foid. The only downside was that we either had to go at 5pm or 8:30pm. We chose the earlier time so that we could watch a film at home afterwards. We had nice meal and I put my pjs on as soon as we got in.

shandyclover

I'm back from a few days camping, body boarding and walking down in lovely Cornwall! We managed to time it perfectly so we had 4 days of blue skies, it was fantastic. After all that outdoor living I am golden all over and it is amazing how much it changes my complexion, I barely need makeup to look healthy now. Even my OH remarked on it - I told him we are obviously supposed to move to Cornwall - LOL! As usual I took too many clothes and in the end just ended up in my wetsuit everyday or t shirt and short leggings. It was a toss up as to whether we would actually go. I have just been made redundant, OH business has not taken off and he is job hunting, so things a bit wobbly in the household, but we decided not to cancel - just be super frugal. In the end it was a great time, and very needed to re-charge, put worries aside and enjoy nature and each others company, and come back home with renewed inspiration to move forward from this point.

While we were there something happened that certainly put everything in perspective. Early one evening we were packing up to leave the beach when a lady approach my husband asking if he had seen her sons. It transpired they had been in the sea one minute, then the next they were gone. The lifeguards had gone home so my brother and OH went back into the sea on surfboards to look for the boys while someone else ran to call the coastguard. Several other experienced surfers on the beach joined in the search. In the meantime my SIL and I stayed with the lady on the beach who by this time was hysterical. It was truly the parents worst nightmare and as I held her screaming and crying I felt the tears run down my own face as I tried to reassure her. The sun was setting on the ocean so the reflection made it very difficult to see anyone at all. In the end OH found the boys had drifted far out on bodyboards past the wave break point, hence they could not be seen from the beach. There was a strong current but OH, brother and other surfers managed to bring them in and reunite them with their family. What a relief! We then contacted the coastguard to let them know everything was ok. Everyone was bit shook up the rest of the night, thinking how different the day could have ended and made us all reflect on how the sea should be respected, life cherished and how inconsequential petty worries are that we let drag us down.

Ellsbel

Shandy, what an awful experience! I'm so glad it ended well - thank goodness for your OH and Brother; the lady must have been so grateful to them.
I came very very close to drowning as a youngster, so I've long had a healthy respect for water - the sea in particular; I love the sea and could sit watching it's movement for ages but as well as being beautiful, it's a fierce beast, too. There have been a number of tragedies on beaches this weekend; so sad.
Glad the rest of your holiday did you good; holidays are great for doing our "thinking" on, I think - they reenergise us and help us form new plans.
Sugar, I love reading about your busy life - it's clear that you make the most of every second:)
Chanie, I'm currently deciding on a new style - I've (mostly)always been long haired person, but I -fancy something a bit "grown up":D - I'm thinking of maybe a longish Bob.

Still a bit grey here today, I've prepped a Beef Stroganoff which is slow cooking for later. My Parents popped in for coffee earlier, but it will be a fairly chilled day from here on; footie on TV, a bit of a read, maybe a film later.
A long walk planned for tomorrow at a local beauty spot to make up for today's laziness!
Have a good Sunday all:)

chanie

shandy my heart was racing as I read your story, I'm so relieved it was a happy ending.

ells I'm the opposite, in that I'm thinking of growing my hair, although it needs a trim

Me and OH, had a productive day today. As the children stayed with family last night, we took a trip to the Tip. We got rid of quite a few baby items - a cot and buggy in particular. It's quite poignant, as DD turns 4 soon and is about to start school. Both me and OH are pleased that those exhausting baby years are coming to and end, but equally, it feels weird not having cots and buggies etc, given they've been part of our lives for so long. Although we filled up the car with stuff for the Tip, there is sill so much more to clear out. I want to get it done before the October half term.