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

maddiemay

Feeling distictly un-fab this morning, have a severe case of can't be bovered itis:eek: OH got ready to go out cycling and "meet the gang" for coffee, then it started to rain, so once again the quiet time on my own to potter without being asked what I am doing, what are we having to eat or just having what I want on the radio or music player has gone out of the window:(

Rats, I have somehow lost a whole paragraph:mad: The jist was that I had a solitary upbringing and while I love being with people I really do need a portion of time completely on my own quite regularly, darling dog excepted as she is rather joyful to be around.

Anyway I am not being a complete grump, I have sorted out the ingredients for a (hopefully) tasty chicken and vegetable one pot roast for supper.

Off now to try and switch on positive frame of mind and hole up in bedroom or bathroom tidying stuff until better mood cuts in.

P.S. If anyone has any spare sun, please send it this way, (sort of in the middle, adjoing mid wales):rotfl::rotfl:

maman

ali-t wrote: »

Which ones are you debating between? I love pomegranate noir and am fortunate enough that people buy me items from the range so i havent had to pay for any myself. I also love pear +fresia, lime+basil, and the cassis one. Go for it - they are so worth it!

I've been looking at the Intense colognes as although even more expensive I thought the fragrance would last longer.:undecided I was looking at Oud & Bergamot and Amber & Patchouli so now you've added several more worth a sniff! Thanks.;)

J_emptypurse wrote: »

Evening All

I have also had a good couple of days. On Friday lunchtime, I went out with the 'walking for health' group at work. Sunshine, crisp air and 'proper' walking on fields. Back at work in just over an hour. Made my afternoon go quicker and I am sure I smiled more.
Good idea from my employer - hope to go again.:j

I went in Monsoon - only been in once before - I liked it, a bit pricey but probably some of the clothes will fit the classic label. But it is a start. I need to only buy clothes that make me feel good

I will see if I can get a test of the Jo Malone perfumes, tried at my Boots today but they don't sell it.

A friend of mine organises one of those health walks locally. I must look into it, sounds like a good idea.


I used to shop in Monsoon a lot but haven't been so keen on recent stuff in there. My favourites tend to be Zara, White Stuff and Joules an selectively from Jack Wills. I used to get a fair bit on mail order from Boden but they've got a bit frumpy lately too.


John Lewis is our only local Jo Malone supplier.

maddiemay wrote: »

No doubt you are a lot happier than my OH, he supports the Baggies:(:( LOL

They were pretty dire yesterday but I think they're safe from relegation which is what matters most.


I know what you mean about time to yourself. I feel the same. My DH is out at the moment but due to return soon but I'm feeling miffed that what should have been a morning to myself has been taken up with phone calls and paperwork!:mad:


chanie, what sort of special events did you have in mind? Do you mean black tie or perhaps theatre trips/meals out? A good jacket is useful. I have a silk one and a velvet one which look good with tailored trousers and heels.


House longing clothes today (leggings and long sleeved top) so not specially fab here either;).

lessonlearned

Maddie.

I know what you mean about needing "alone" time - there are 11 years between my sister and I (I'm the eldest) and in one sense both of us are a bit like "only ones". I suppose we both got used to "going solitary". Luckily my husband understood so he didn't take offence when I told him he had to "bu&&ear off" and leave me alone.

Even now I can still get angsty if I don't get some alone time. Luckily DS2 doesn't take offence either and we can often be in the same room together but not speaking much or paying each other any attention.

I think one of the things that new widows find so hard is being alone, often for the first time in their lives. Not only was I like an only one but also my husband often worked away from home so spending time alone holds no fears for me.

having said that I'm a bit fed up, just a bit of winter blues I think.

I hate these dark JAnuary days. This year I seem to be noticing it more than most. My mum developed SAD as she got older. I used to be fine but I'm wondering if it's starting with me. I feel so,shattered and lethargic. I'm sleeping at the wrong times And I just feel generally out of sorts.

I'm hoping that I'll be back to my old jaunty self nin the Spring. Much as I loved the cruise I think next time I have a winter holiday I will go in January rather than November. I always thought that New Year to Easter was a long haul and I was always glad we had February half term to break up the gloom, a bit.

Has anyone tried one of those SAD lights. I was wondering if they are any good.

Back later......

ali-t

Lessonlearned, i dont have an official diagnosis but meet the criteria for sad and have finally bought a sad lamp and definitely notice the difference. They have come on a lot over the years and i use mine every morning for 20 minutes while eating breakfast and checking emails and have really noticed a difference in sleeping, eating and energy patterns. I sleep through the night, dont crave junk food as much, am less of a moody mare and definitely have more energy. Love it!

Rose_Wood

Afternoon All

Like many of you, I too like having some time to myself. DH and I both get a couple of hours to ourselves each day as our bedtimes, wake up times differ by a couple of hours. I get up early and am in bed by 10 most nights, whereas he likes to lie in till 9.30 and not retire till after midnight. So I get up when I wake up, anything from 6 till 8am, and bring him a cup of tea. He then goes back to sleep whilst I potter, surf the net etc. He then spends the time after I've gone to bed doing his pottering. I always wake up briefly(but sometimes only seconds) when he comes to bed, just enough time to snuggle up and go back to sleep. It suits both of us and we both enjoy the time together and on our own.

I've had a kitchen morning doing various bits and pieces today. I've prepped all the vegetables for tonight's meal, made the stuffing for the chicken, made mushroom soup and some low carb lemon curd, so I can stir spoonfuls into my Greek yoghurt. I've also had 2 short walks to the shops and called in at my Mother's on the second one for a quick chat.

We've lit the woodstove already as we have a good store of logs in and won't be taking them to the new house as it doesn't have a woodstove or open fire. We have decided to use the wood we've already paid for as our main source of heat rather than putting on the gas central heating. I am hoping that way we might get a refund on our gas bill when we move.

Today I'm wearing brown velvet Wallis jeans teamed with a coffee coloured cotton jumper that was originally from Monsoon. I think I acquired both from charity shops though. I've got a long sleeved black thermal top under the jumper and now the wood stove is on I may have to change that for a camisole as I'm really warm, though I needed it on my walks to the shops.

DS, DDiL and DGD will be here for the Sunday meal as always. It's a real ritual that we all look forward to. I am trying to stop baking lots of tempting puddings for dessert as I always end up being tempted and eating all the leftovers. This week I have an M and S dessert that my Mother brought round - she had fancied it for herself but could only manage a tiny portion. I shall serve that to everyone else but opt out myself as I am doing quite well with my low carb eating this week. I just need to make sure I don't succumb to my HM stuffing, which I love. I need to research a low carb stuffing that I can add to my repertoire.

DH has been busy listing stuff on ebay today. We have several boxes of stuff to go so are hoping to get some of it sold. I also dropped off several leather bags at our local Vintage shop to see if they could be sold earlier this week and we are trying to find a buyer for our chicken coop, complete with their 7 inhabitants as we are not taking them with us.

Perfume wise, I used to wear Fendi and Rive Gauche most of the time, but I now wear Eternity, which doesn't seem to be as overpowering on me as I used to find it years ago. My original favourite was Mary Quant's Havoc but they stopped making that years ago.

Rose

lessonlearned

Sugarbaby - just wanted to say how lovely that your daughter has joined us Fabbers. I'm so glad she got such positive feedback too. Loving the colours......:D

maddiemay

Exhales huge sigh of relief:) I had almost convinced myself that I had totally turned into a moody cow re the wanting time to myself:rotfl:

Rose - your day sounds great and your choice of clothes. I remember Mum and Dad having a huge wood burning stove, before they became too old to want to bother with the work and went over to a gas fire. Living in the country and with 2 out of 3 of the boys having rural occupations and lots of connections, they rarely paid for wood, get a few of us back home visiting and we would all be red faced and stripping back to T shirts (great memories Dad gone a few years now and Mother now much older).

LL - totally agree with ali-t regarding SAD lights, I bought one for OH about 15 years ago and we use it on the kitchen work top while we (seperately) eat our breakfasts. Later I bought a small, slightly lower powered, but still within recommended limits, and my employers were quite happy for me to use it on my desk. I still have it and must use it again, although it has developed an annoying hum:(

I have decanted some more toiletries into jars from really difficult to squeeze tubes, so should be far less grumbling for me when doing my fabbing. Washed and dried most of my make up brushes, so just the few I kept out to use to do now:D

chanie

maman wrote: »

chanie, what sort of special events did you have in mind? Do you mean black tie or perhaps theatre trips/meals out? A good jacket is useful. I have a silk one and a velvet one which look good with tailored trousers and heels.

I'm thinking of meals out, family gatherings - the types of events where I want to look nice, but still relatively casual. I've seen a dress I'd like to buy, is relatively plain, but I could decrease it up with sparkly tights and accessories.

rose me and OH are the same, I'm an early bird and he is a night owl, although we have youngish children, so not much free time.

J_emptypurse

Hello All

One of the great things about my new hours are time on my own in the house. It is great when my OH and son have left and I am home alone.:j No-one wanting anything or stopping me dancing around the house if I feel like it.
Maman yes loads of 'walking for health' groups about that are good for getting fit, meeting people and getting out into the natural light - good for all those who have some SAD symptons. Snow here for us so that tempted me out for a short walk. I took some seeds I had bought to sprinkle on salads and never got used and put them on top of fence posts, where people have nailed plastic pringle type tops, to provide water and places for food for wild birds. I was delighted when a robin came down to eat before I walked far.
Sunday is not my favourite day really - uniform to iron, people expecting Sunday lunch etc, but lighten by doing some of the puzzles in yesterdays paper.

shandyclover

Still here, and still striving to be fab!

It's been a difficult few weeks to stay on top of anything but I have a renewed conviction to keep fabbing. We finally had my Granny A's funeral. 150 plus friends and family showed up to the little village church and later the village pub. Several times in tributes it was mentioned what an elegant, poised lady she was. Making an effort was very important to her and she always wore coordinating outfits, jewelry and her favorite perfume - Lou Lou. My Granny was a ballerina before she married and they played a piece from 'Swan Lake' during the service, I don't think I will ever be able to hear that music without shedding a tear now. Despite the sadness, it was a lovely day I think she would have loved to see so many of us coming together to celebrate her life.

Anyone wanting to try out Jo Malone perfumes but not sure about the price, have you considered buying the perfume oils? I buy from an online company and can get most big name perfumes fairly inexpensively. I am presently wearing Bath and Bodyworks 'vanilla sugar', just over the winter season because it makes me feel warm and snugly!