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

maman

sugarbaby125 wrote: »

I am having my oven professionally cleaned this morning from some of the birthday money I received. £45 will never be better spent. :j

:rotfl: you certainly know how to live!!


Seriously though, I'm glad you had a lovely birthday. Your new man sounds very attentive, so pleased you're enjoying all these dates.


I was thinking earlier how much this thread has done for my self esteem and helped me get some great pampering habits firmly ingrained. I've had my shower and done a mini face mask then automatically put all my creams on. Yesterday I bought a tub of Dove body cream and I'm pleased with it so far. I think it was ellsbel who said she favours a tub rather than a tube or bottle. It seemed to help just getting the right amount.


I really need some advice on holiday wardrobe. There seems to be a lot of boho/ethnic style stuff around as shown by Kate in India. I also read that M&S have brought out a retro collection based on their own archive so I may take a look at that as apparently a slip dress features.


I'm just about OK for daytime beach/pool/sightseeing. What I need is things to wear in the evening and maybe another dress for daytime. They need to be cool and simple and ideally in a natural feel fabric as temperatures are high even a night. Loose trousers, skirts or dresses would be fine. Any advice or recommendations welcome.:)

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies.

Well I was up with the larks - went to see the cutest cottage but decided against it. It's fine for now but not really age proof, huge garden, loads of steps, higgedlypiggly stairs, loads of nooks and crannies -a real little "hobbit house". I loved it but I have got to be practical. Shame .........

Well I have been quite naughty shopping wise this week - three new dresses - but all from eBay, so not too bad. And this morning a pair of cream leather loafers - half price from my little shoe shop that's closing down.

(That's 4 pairs in the last couple of weeks - I don't think I need to buy any boots or shoes again for at least 10 years, ha, ha)

I now have loads of nice new wedding/holiday/Barcelona outfits that will be smart enough for all the ceremonies, parties, dinners and family gatherings and yet they are not the kind of ridiculously over the top Mother of the Groom outfits that I would never wear again.

A mixture of Jacques Vert, Wallis and Phase 8, with a few small boutique finds, some ASDA and Sainsbob staples and a few chazza shop bargains. All in all I reckon I've spent around £400. That's for 5 posh dresses, all accessories like fascinators, pashminas, and clutch bags, two pairs of smart linen trousers, a couple of skirts and several pretty tops. I already have a couple of nice outfits from last year which I can recycle so I'm all done now.

When you think that some of the traditional MOG outfits by people like Condici and John Charles come in at around £600 for just the dress and jacket I think I've done rather well.

I have enough to see me through a summer of festivities and will wear most of them over and over again for years to come, whereas I would probably wear a designated MOG combo just once - for a few hours.......to my mind a total waste of money. So although my spending felt like the height of extravagance I think that I have actually been quite thrifty.

Maman - if you need to dress for cool comfort then I would go for styles which don't need hosiery, so calf length or maxi length in natural fibres, cotton, linen, silk, crepe. For evening I also like wide leg "palazzo" style trousers in floaty fabrics teamed up with a pretty silky top. For daytime then cotton or linen loose trousers or Capri style pants are good, or long floaty dresses or skirts.

ASDA have some really nice linen trousers at the moment, I bought a pair in silver grey and one in beige (I know I have banned beige but a pair of beige/camel trousers does make a good wardrobe staple).

I do draw the line at top to toe beige so beloved of ladies of a certain age Though.

I know you are sorted for beach/poolside wear but if anyone is interested I noticed ASDA had some nice stuff in.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies, I went on another date with my new man last night. We met at the pub that we both like to go to for a night of dancing. We had agreed that tonight we would make it clear to all on lookers that we were now a couple. :j

I wore my black velour M & S Autograph velour vest top with my black chiffon coast skirt. I wore my black Van Dal black patent sling backs and wore my red with black piping trench coat, red scarf and read leather gloves. I was carrying my red leather Osprey handbag. I did not wear any make up and only painted my nails with clear polish.

He was very attentive and complimentary all night. We were constantly being stared at, but we knew everyone would be surprised that we had become a couple. I felt very special dancing with him. He always looks at me as if he can not believe his luck and as if there are no other women around. He makes me feel even more confident. :T

Pampering myself and taking better care of my body is increasing my confidence. I do have issues with how my body looks, but I am happy that my body is toning up and changing so it looks better. I am reaping the rewards of all the self pampering. My feet are ready for all of my really strappy shoes, so roll on Summer. :T

chanie

maman what about maxi dresses for your holiday. I'm sure the shops will be getting them in soon

ll your new outfits are such a bargain, I'm sure you'll look amazing in them all.

sugar pleased your relationship is going well.

I've been totally spoilt today. My mum bought me an expensive bag, watch, boots and a bottle of perfume. I was half expecting the bag, but certainly not the rest, so it was a lovely surprise and I'm very lucky.

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies

Well......what a glorious Sunday. I spent a happy few hours with DS1 - first on a plant buying spree and then helping him plant them in hs garden. I was shattered afterwards. DIL was busy preparing for an interview on Wednesday.

Jobs wise - she will be made redundant - hence the interview - and DS1 is ok - although I think he's not averse to moving if he finds another job. DIL has decided to try and go for a job in academia - she has an interview as a lecturer with a local university.. Fingers crossed.
She is very smart and comes from an academic background - both her parents are professors so I think it would be perfect for her.

I also bought plants for DS2s garden and I also want to finish painting the headboard so I've got a busy week planned. Garden and house fabbing. My personal fabbing will be the chiropodist and Botox on Thursday......:rotfl:

I am so pleased with the effects of the PDO threads.......no bruising or swelling and no pain, just a little tenderness but that's easing off now. The result? Not only is my face realigned and symmetrical but my jawline is more clearly defined and the marionette and nasal Lines are less marked. I just look more rested and less haggard.:rotfl:

I know it sounds self indulgent and vain but I cannot tell you how nice it is to finally have a more "normal" face. No birthmark and a symmetrical face - wahoo. Of course I still have the scars from my cancer surgery but they are so faint that even without makeup they are scarcely visible.

Chanie - lovely to hear you being so spoilt. Why not. Enjoy.

Sugar - it all sounds fab. You sound so happy, good for you.

Ladies. This fabbing malarkey really works!!!

Right I'm off for a bit of fabbing and then need to pop to the surgery to get my bloods checked. Fingers crossed my blood sugars continue to show improvement although I was a bit silly yesterday. I bought DS2 a pack of "Rocky road" biscuit bites.

Big mistake:rotfl:

maman

I'm really pleased for you too sugarbaby. The enjoyment you're having is jumping off the screen. Amazing how a few lifestyle changes and a bit of effort can make such a difference.:)


What a kind mum chanie and what lovely gifts. What sort of handbag did you get?


I do like maxi dresses but I've pensioned off most of the ones I had as they were a bit old and frumpy. Another issue is that often the fabrics can be unsuitable for hot weather such as thick t shirt fabric or a nylon version of chiffon which is sweaty and scratchy. Maybe I'm being too fussy.:o


So pleased your treatment is working well LL. I'm reading with interest as I've got a few lines I'd like sorted but ever since Leslie Ash and the 'trout pout' and the disaster that is Anne Robinson it's put me off.


I'm sure she's looked into it but DIL might need to consider what sort of contract the university is offering. I have a close friend who's a university lecturer and she doesn't seem to know from one year to the next the hours she'll be needed. In her case it's linked to ever changing government education initiatives and the problems recruiting students into teaching so it may not apply in other subject areas but I thought I'd mention it.


Dance class is cancelled today as teacher is away. Nothing much to look forward to today but ironing!

lessonlearned

Thanks for the tip about university contracts Maman. I was assuming that these days most of them are temporary - at least to start with but yes she will need to decide what's what.

I know they want a family - sooner rather than later because she is 31 and they don't want to risk leaving it too long so a job with flexibility might suit her well.

I kow that both of them want to start up businesses of their own so once the wedding is over and their job situation is more stable they will be heading in that direction by setting up sideline businesses because they are concerned about long term security.

I always warned my boys that job security is a thing of the past and now they've had their eyes opened. They realise they need second strings to their bows to be safe..

I agree with the fabrics on some maxi dresses not being really suitable for hot weather - kind of defeats the object really doesn't it.:rotfl:but I guess it comes down to cost. Synthetic fabric is cheaper tham natural fibres.

I have had a Wallis maxi dress delivered this morning. Gorgeous colours, lovely design, horrible fabric....disappointing. I expected better from Wallis.

Maybe I need to start sewing again.........:rotfl:.

sugarbaby125

Thanks Maman and LL, I am really enjoying my life at the moment. I am finding that I have more in common with my new man than I would have thought possible. I like him more each time we spend time together. It is nice to have such fun and feel so happy with a man and still be 100% myself and feel so comfortable with him.

chanie

Growing up, my mum also said there was no such thing as a job for life too. In saying that, there are more opportunities than ever for new sidelines. I'm still at the point where I need stability, but as the children get older, who knows. The main thing in work is to keep your skills up - I'm always going on training courses etc.

ll I hope DILs interview goes well.

maman I have some cotton maxi dresses, so they are out there, albeit, hard to find.

sugar pleased life is going well for you.

My bag and watch are M1chael K0rs, so very exciting. My mum has said I should use them and to enjoy using them. The problem I have is that I have a killer commute to Central London, which involves a very long walk, plus squeezing myself onto a train that is so packed, the doors won't shut. Needless to say, I don't like using my nice things very often for work as they will get trashed. My sister drives to work, so her possessions aren't subject to the same levels of battering as mine!!!

I may save my bag until my birthday this autumn. I sometimes put new things away so that I can enjoy then on my birthday (I always try and have a 'treat' day on my birthday, which involves shopping and lunch. I have a new purse, which I've put away, so it will go nicely in my bag!!!

I've had to deal my normal Friday off for a Monday, as I have meetings on Friday I need to be in for. Plus, I've been working at home too.

Grandad's_Offspring

Hello all.
Fallen off the wagon, it's been quite manic here.
But last night I did manage to have an aspirin facemask followed by a banana and honey mask. Complete with cucumbers on my eyes��
It was actually very effective, my complexion looks so so much better!!!!
Must look after myself more!