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

Ellsbel

*LL*I agree with our resident expert, *Maman*:D
Also, I might be completely wrong, but it seemed from your posts that you could take or leave the apartment, so maybe it wasn't really "the one"?

J_emptypurse

Hello everyone
Sorry for the lack of posts recently. I have just about managed to catch up on your inspiring posts.
Its been a bright if very cold day here, spent most of the day at work either putting on the overpowering heater or shivering with it off. Not at work tomorrow - dentist instead. My crown post has snapped and that means it has to come out. The tooth part fell down the sink yesterday after weeks of nursing it along. In order to make it more affordable I have opted to manage without it until gum heals enough for false one, but it is 2nd tooth from the front. I am feeling very unfabulous, teeth are such an important part of how you look. A complete set of false teeth is now seeming an attractive thought!! I will have to learn to smile with my mouth closed.
On the plus side I have slightly changed my hair style - middle parting instead of side parting in my now shorter bob. It is a long time since I changed my hair. That is due to the support I have recieved on here. I admit that I am not sure how many people have noticed, only a few comments but I am glad to have started making changes.
I agree that February can be a trial and that Valentines day, which I suppose, could be a bright spot in the month for some, doesn't seem it for everyone. The shops being full of 'stuff' for weeks doesn't help. In my opinion shops spoil Christmas by starting too early and overdo every single occasion.
Sorry it sounds like I am moaning. Hope you all have a bright sunny day tomorrow and look and feel fab.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies, as it was Valentine's yesterday I made a real effort to fab myself up. I put gold eye shadow and black mascara on and very red lipstick on my lips (a freebie last year with my Glamour magazine). Lots of perfume and lots of the matching perfumed body lotion.I painted my nails with a red glitter nail polish. I wore my red low cut and sleeveless Kaleidoscope top with my Phase Eight velvet and satin panel skirt with soft pleats, with my black patent leather Van Dal slingbacks. As it was really cold I also wore my black dressy Kaleidoscope cardigan, my long black leather jacket, my red scarf, my red leather gloves, my black fur lined hat and carried my red patent leather Osprey hand bag.

I had a really good night at Karaoke. I sang 3 songs and danced my legs off. I also had 2 slow dances with one of my admirers who is a really nice man.

I went to see a friend today and spent hours in her company catching up on her life and really enjoyed her company. I wore my black circles on black skirt, a different red v neck, sleeveless Kaleidoscope top and a very dressy Kaleidoscope black v neck jumper, with my black leather boots. As it was another really cold day, I wore my red leather gloves, my red scarf, my black fur lined hat and my long black leather jacket. My friend was very complimentary about my whole outfit.

I went Karaoke at a different pub this evening, wearing the same outfit as above, minus the hat and had a really good evening. I topped up my perfume and wore clear, shiny lip gloss.

I was annoyed that the 3lb in weight I lost up to Friday, some how reappeared on my body again on Saturday! I did manage to lose 1.5 inches off my waist though this week, which was an even bigger bonus. :T

I am making so much more effort with my appearance since joining this thread. I can hardly wait to lose more weight and more inches all over my body so that I can have more and more clothing choices available to me to wear. I have far too much clothes that do not fit at the moment.

Ellsbel

*jemptypurse* hope you manage to get your tooth sorted quickly - good for you in trying the new hairdo - doesn't matter if others notice; if it gives you a lift in confidence, that's what matters:)
Your outfits sound very glam *sugarbaby* - sounds like you're thoroughly enjoying life too! Lovely to read your posts:)
I need to do some proper house fabbing here and don't know quite where to start! I really need to browse the Kondo and Flylady threads I think, and to get a bit ruthless with the decluttering.
I won't be venturing out today other than my daily walk so I'm probably going to tackle DS2's room - wish me luck!:D

maman

Wow!! sugarbaby, you really seem to have a 'look' sorted out especially as you're managing to adapt it for cold weather. Getting a new job seems to have given you a lift too, sort of work hard and play hard. I think layering perfume and body lotion is a great idea too.


Do hope it doesn't take long to sort out your tooth problem emptypurse but I'm sure you'll find a way of coping in the meantime. I'm sure it's only you that is aware of it. Good idea to change your hairstyle just a little rather than going too drastic.


ellsbel: I started MK by reading her book (borrowed from the library so very mse:money:). It's an easy read and most people I know who've read it are of the opinion that she has good ideas but she's a bit OTT. She recommends dragging everything out of drawers and cupboards and having a mass sort out but that wasn't for me. It's mainly because there's no way I could finish it in one session and then I'd have to put it all back!! She's also really ruthless and only keeps things that really spark joy. That's good, in an ideal world but sometimes you have to keep things that are useful and others that you'll manage with until you can find/afford something more joyful and others that you just can't part with at the first attempt.


I found doing a room at a time but starting on one drawer or cupboard at a time within that room suited best. Then it's about finding homes for all similar (or category of) belongings together. I found that worked a bit at a time too and sometimes you have to rethink if the new home isn't big enough! All my shoes won't fit into my wardrobe so I've separated into sub-categories by summer sandals/pumps (in with holiday clothes) and others in the wardrobe.


Probably the best advice is to get started, you'll refine your technique as you go along. As for cleaning then it'll be much easier to clean and keep clean when the place is tidy and I'd advise the same principle of one room and one area at a time. Good Luck!!


It's a gloriously sunny day here and DH and I are going out for lunch. We've decided to take the train (20 minute journey to nearest small town) so I'll need to dress up warm. At the moment, I'm thinking of a velvet skirt, warm jumper with thick tights and boots with my thick winter coat on top!

maddiemay

LL - so pleased that you are feeling more settles and "lifted" after coming to the decision about the flat, I am sure that something more joyful will come along at the right time. Knowing that you have also been involved in property, I am sure that you will be keeping a close eye on prices, so that you are not left out in the cold.

Sugarbaby - your outfits sound great and your new job really seems to have given you a buzz:D

J emptypurse - I hope that your tooth problems are soon resolved, well done for the change in hair style, a nice little bit of cheer.:D

Ellsbel - my kondoing is done on similar lines to Maman's I also incorporate a little bit of Flylady using 5 minute room rescues, 15 minute bursts and trying to keep returning things to their correct homes, whilst telling myself "don't put it down, put it away", it's amazing how much can be achieved even when I am tired.

Maman - I hope you have a great lunch, ours was brilliant yesterday and then we went on to Attingham Park and walked the furry one through the woods and areas all planted with snowdrops, some tea and cake was also partaken of:rotfl: You have never seen so many children and dogs in your life, all having a wonderful time in the sunshine and fresh air after being cooped up for weeks, a joy to see.

Keep warm and safe everyone, I am hoping that no significant amount of snow reaches us, selfishly:( as I am even worse on my feet when it is snowy or icy.

chanie

I don't Kondo myself, but I do agree with finding homes for things:




Toiletries: I have a box for spare toiletries e.g. body wash, toothpaste. This started as always seem to get sets for birthdays and Christmas which I never use. I put them all in my box so I can use them up.






storage tins: I like finding pretty tins which I use for storage. I have a nice big one for batteries (which I buy in bulk for the childrens toys), candles and dishwasher tablets. I recently got a 'free' tin when I bought some Oxo cubes, which looks nice in my cupboard.

Ellsbel

Well, I looked as DS2's bedroom and decided that it really needed a revamp, so I've been and ordered some new bedroom furniture for him! Not very :money:!!
It'll be here in a few days and I can then declutter a lot of stuff and put what he still needs/uses/wears into the new drawers and cupboards (and throw out the old ones of course!)
*maman* I'm with you - I've read some of the MK book this afternoon and for the same reasons as you, I've no intention of doing everything at once - it'll have to be one room at a time!
*maddie* I have to confess that I signed up for fly lady emails once but found them a little off-putting - I think I do need to dip back in and try some of the techniques though to find a routine; I seem to spend a lot of my time washing and ironing and then it's a mad dash to fit everything else in and/or spend some time doing "nice" things!
*chanie* I love pretty storage tins and boxes, but to be honest I've got too many and I'm starting to feel that the problem for me is that I really don't actually need all the stuff I'm storing; hence me turning to Kondo-ing:D
Toiletries and batteries and stuff is great, but with me there are a lot of things like old books, clothes I won't wear again, paperwork that's no longer needed - all can be got rid of along with the various trunks/ottomans/blanket boxes that I've bought to store them in:D

lessonlearned

Hello lovely ladies

Bought this today for the uk wedding. Will add some colour with a fascinator or maybe a simple straw hat, bag and wrap or pashmina. Not decided yet but either bright pink or turquoise. Silver grey shoes. Have removed the fake flower, I prefer it without.



For the Barcelona ceremony I will wear the silvery blue dress and jacket I bought for OHs funeraL. I bought a nice satin burgundy clutch bag today - £9 so I'm thinking the blue with burgundy accessories. The service will be in a cathedral and quite formal so I thought the dress and jacket combo would be appropriate.

The blue outfit is also Jacques Vert but can't find a picture, but it is basically a plain blue dress and long sleeved jacket in a heavy silk, a very plain simple Jackie O style and quite formal, so suitably modest for a Catholic Church.

I also bought a champagne coloured lace dress in the sale £30, again JV, dressy enough for registry office ceremony, maybe with navy accessories.

So apart from shoes and accessories that's me more or less sorted.

Don't know what you think of my choices but I aimed to buy things that I could wear again, either dressing them up or down as needed.

I really didn't want to buy the typical fussy mother of the groom type outfits and wear them only once. I do try to buy clothes that are multifunctional so although they are all dressy I don't think they scream "wedding".

I also treated myself to a nice fake fur wrap - £25 in the sale and a black and white houndstooth patterned full length cardigan coat - £15.

So a good haul today.

J empty purse - you have my sympathy with your dental issues. Hope all goes well. I really need to be get my teeth sorted but it's going to cost an arm and a leg and I'm holding out as long as I can.

Sugarbaby. I read your post first thing this morning and it bought a huge smile to my face. I just love the sound of your colourful outfits, sounds like you are having lots of fun too. Great stuff.

Time to think about cooking some dinner.

Ellsbel

It's lovely LL - in fact it's so elegant that I think the same colour tones would look just as gorgeous with it as bright splashes of colour
I agree that it didn't need the fake flower too:)
You're going to look tres tres chic