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

lessonlearned

Good for you.......you are doing really well and it's great to hear you are having such a good time

I wish I could sing, well I can a bit, can manage to sing in a choir but not good enough to go solo.

Are you still unemployed. Could you do something with your singing, even if it was just casual gigs.....what kind of songs do you like singing. Do you have a good repertoire, can you do the classics.

There are plenty of people in nursing homes etc just begging to be entertained. If it would muck up your JSA - you could volunteer your services for free (just accept travel expenses).

If you can face karaoke then a little Saturday afternoon gig shouldn't take you out of your comfort zone. You will find you audiences very appreciative. It would make a change from Bingo and Play Your Cards Right:eek:

Some of the the singers who visited my husband's nursing home were dire but the residents appreciated their efforts. It broke the monotony if nothing else. You would only need a backing tape and a microphone, unless of course you can belt them out without one.

You just need to tailor the songs to suit the age group.

My late uncle and his second wife could put on "a turn". Sometimes they got paid sometimes they just did it for free, it depended on how posh the nursing home was. They also did pubs and clubs in the evening.

Ok they were no Tina Turner or Tom Jones but they could "carry a tune" as my uncle used to say and they were very popular in their area. They always had plenty of work and made a decent living. More to the point they loved it.

And of course....you never know where it might lead you.

maddiemay

J_emptypurse wrote: »

Thank you all for taking the time to help me.

I had already decided that shaving was a no no. Looking at all your comments perhaps I will try waxing first but it is not something I have ever done. It had not occured to me to just do the annoying sides. I have seen people with a totally bare top lip and that looks odd as well, so if I could just do the sides maybe that will solve it. I will let you know how I get on but it could takes weeks for me to pluck up courage.

I believe my best option over classics is to take ll advice and see what I wear most now and spend more on those items and then try to free my mind to a few cheaper/brighter/more fashionable/younger items. I admit to being a very poor shopper. It is not something I enjoy but it is really time I stopped dressing older than I think I am because I am too lazy to put any effort in. I have nearly always worked somewhere that provides a uniform and that has suited my very lazy nature but also made me afraid to try new things.

I find that reading all your inspiring comments get me thinking about clothes more/looking after myself more. For the first time in ages I have painted my nails in clear polish and every time they gleam in the light it makes me smile.

Do any one your friends/colleagues use beauty salons? if so it might be worth asking who they recommend, for a long time I have found myself living in quite "posh" areas, but have without fail found the therapists to be helpful and pleasant and not the least bit patronising, there would be no repeat visits from me if they were:eek: Another thought, if you consider threading (I have my brows done occasionally) is that often Department stores or shopping malls have these little franchise areas, a bit public perhaps, but does not bother me, or for waxing a beauty college, the students have to be of a certain standard before they treat the public and are generally well supervised.

I think that you are on the right track with LL's suggestion re your clothes, it is also well worth people watching at every given opportunity, noting what looks great or :eek::eek: on individuals, and also seeing what styles suit other women of your height, weight and shape. It is a total myth that you have to be slim to look good, several of the best dressed women I have known have been of large build and look amazing, they have worked out what styles and fabrics suit them, how to accessorize and as per LL's bible they are very aware of their posture.

My bestie and I called off our get together today based on the weather forecast, I would normally have been all glammed up and on the road by now, but will get going and do the regular weekly market run and perhaps see if OH is up for a coffee or a light lunch in town with me:D

Have a fab Friday everyone, warm, practical, but as fab as possible for me today I think.

Mary-

Hi everyone.

Love reading all the posts on here and all the good tips about what to wear.

I have always loved clothes but the last few years I hate shopping so end up buying things I don't really want or need and because I have not been happy with my shape I have tended to buy anything that looks okay rather than things that make you look good. So that is something I am going to stop doing.

I had a big clear out last weekend and hopefully will make a start on my wardrobe this weekend.

I have been on the 5:2 eating plan for the last 2 weeks and I have lost 3lbs so that's a good start. My DH is doing it too so it makes it easier when planning our meals.
Not done much in the way of exercise but will need to try harder and move myself.

I always dress smartly for work but since joining on here I have started to wear a BB cream and some cream blusher with lipgloss everyday and what a difference it makes to how you feel.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

lessonlearned

Good Morning Lovely Ladies

Nice sunny day here. Bliddy cold though......

Just a quick reminder - it's Fab Friday - glad rags on. Best "well shod" foot forward.

Had a lovely long lie in till 10.30. So decadent, havent slept that late in years......bad as a teenager. :rotfl:

Nothing special planned, going to try a bit of experimental cooking, paleo style pancakes and baking......I need to expand my repertoire a bit. I love my paleo style bacon and egg breakfasts but they get a bit boring after a while.

I need to shake things up a bit....

Have a great day.

greenbee

Forget fab... Warm would be good

I'm going out for a run later, so am wearing my running stuff, with cashmere socks, sheepskin boots, merino leggings, a hoodie and a scarf. And trying not to get frostbite while i'm working inside!

chanie

Hello fabbers,

I've had quite a productive day, so far. I waxed my legs this morning and then I went for a run. It's the first run I've done in ages and I didn't over do it, so I actually enjoyed it.

lessonlearned

The run will warm you up........:rotfl:

Good news. Lost 1 lb. Im dead chuffed because TBH I haven't been terribly strict, so hopefully there's room for improvement.

I've just worked out its 20 weeks to the wedding, so even 1lb a week would make a big difference.......

Ideally I would like to lose 2 stones so I will need to up my game.

I am making a commitment to you to report my weight each Friday.

You have my permission to give me a gentle kick up the derrière if I fall by the wayside.

maman

Well done on the weightloss mary and LL.

lessonlearned wrote: »

You have my permission to give me a gentle kick up the derrière if I fall by the wayside.

Will do!!

maddiemay wrote: »

it is also well worth people watching at every given opportunity, noting what looks great or :eek::eek: on individuals, and also seeing what styles suit other women of your height, weight and shape.

That's a great idea maddie. As well as giving ideas, people watching can sometimes boost confidence as well. I feel good when I know I'm turned out better than many I see:o.


I am doing fab Friday but dressed for warmth so when I went out I wore jeans tucked into boots and my 'Dr Who' scarf (mainly bright pinks and black) with my black quilted jacket. I'm ashamed to say my hair is far from fab as I really should have washed it today but was in too much of a rush first thing. It looks like rats' tails.:(


I bought myself a jumper in the CS today. I went in to look at cards (Cancer Research do good charity greetings cards BTW) and notice a green (olivish) Hobbs jumper. It's a skinny rib style and would look smart for a casual lunch. Also bought some leggings in New Look which I've taken to wearing around the house as so comfy.


I need to buy more jeans. I wear them so much and realised today that I've only got one really smart pair. Plenty of 'old' pairs but need some for going out in smart casual.

maddiemay

maman wrote: »

Well done on the weightloss mary and LL

Will do!!

That's a great idea maddie. As well as giving ideas, people watching can sometimes boost confidence as well. I feel good when I know I'm turned out better than many I see:o.


I am doing fab Friday but dressed for warmth so when I went out I wore jeans tucked into boots and my 'Dr Who' scarf (mainly bright pinks and black) with my black quilted jacket. I'm ashamed to say my hair is far from fab as I really should have washed it today but was in too much of a rush first thing. It looks like rats' tails.:(


I bought myself a jumper in the CS today. I went in to look at cards (Cancer Research do good charity greetings cards BTW) and notice a green (olivish) Hobbs jumper. It's a skinny rib style and would look smart for a casual lunch. Also bought some leggings in New Look which I've taken to wearing around the house as so comfy.


I need to buy more jeans. I wear them so much and realised today that I've only got one really smart pair. Plenty of 'old' pairs but need some for going out in smart casual.

I was dressed for warmth on Fab Friday too, leggings, socks and black ankle boots under a "riding skirt" style black maxi skirt I have owned for years, black cashmere roll neck sweater over, cami top, brown furry beefeater style hat and my best and warmest full length brown duvet coat, with a kiwi coloured pashmina to inject some colour near my face. I was as snug as a bug and pleased with how I looked, wore enough make up to make me look alive:rotfl:

OH came with me and we had a tasty light lunch together which was lovely. Managed to walk home as well as walking dog just now, but forgot to wear my pedometer this morning, on what would have been my "best day" since I bought it:( No snow here,but a little reported further north in the county.

Rose_Wood

Evening All,

Well done on the warm but Fab outfits. It was icy cold here too. When I went to Pilates this morning I had a long sleeved thermal top over my leggings and t-shirt and under my jumper ((long, fluffy burgundy V neck). To go out I wore over the top a short black duffel coat, black velvet scarf with pink silk lining, black boots, black hat with small brim and cream gloves.

After Pilates and coffee, DH and I had a cooked lunch (HM lamb burgers with salad) and then did a load more decluttering. We sorted out a few items for putting on ebay and DH took the photos. I then had a short walk up to the chemist and charity shop with a few more bits.

Tonight I need to motivate myself to get on with sorting out a couple of boxes of paperwork. I've lit the woodstove so am planning on bringing the boxes into the sitting room and sorting through whilst I listen to University Challenge, which I recorded earlier this week. DH is out later so I shall be on my own. I am trying not to eat again tonight so need to be well away from the kitchen. I know by experience that when DH isn't around I feel I need to treat myself to make up for it, which isn't actually necessary at all.

Having persuaded DH to try low carbing once the mince pies are all gone I resorted to sneakiness this morning. I transferred some of the remaining ones into a much smaller cake tin and then fed half a dozen to the hens so he just has a few left but hopefully won't notice how many are gone. I did tell him I'd fed a couple to the hens, but omitted to mention that a couple actually meant 6.

Right, I shall go and retrieve my boxes of paperwork and start sorting.

Rose