Frump to Fab 2017 - A Whole New World

clippy_girl

Morning all, not posted in ages!

Congrats on your weight loss sugarbaby!

I had my fringe cut back in again so my hair is feeling quite fab but that's about it!

I've been having real issues with my skin at the moment since the summer as its really dry. Been using e45 cream but it doesn't feel overly moisturised. I'm fine having baths but if I have a shower my skin itches so badly for about an hour after i have to take anti histamines I've just ordered some body shop hemp body butter as I have the hand cream which is really good. It's dry all over but my calfs are the worst and itch almost constantly

I really need to get my weight under control as can't stop eating rubbish and am now nearly a stone heavier than Jan. Have just bought a load of protein shake meal replacements to use until my holiday in Jan and know if I stick to them I will loose weight reasonably well. I'm going back to the gym as well but I'm hurting so much for a few days after I can't do everything I want but clearly in need to get used to exercising again!

lessonlearned

Floss.....your Christmas baking and cooking sounds fab. Oddly enough I thought I might have a go at some Paleo baking today. I really ought to go into town and start looking for new spectacles and sunnies but I am quite tired after my shopping trip yesterday so I’ll leave it for another day.

Well I had a very productive day. A bit “spendy” but they were all bargains, honest.:rotfl:

Bought some fur lined chunky boots to wear over jeans etc. I do have more dressy boots but I wanted smart but still practical for bad weather and wide enough in the leg to wear over jeans. Will probably travel in them and wear them for sightseeing in places like Amsterdam and Lisbon where it is likely to be quite cold. They were half price at an outlet store so very pleased with them.

I have been looking for plain v neck sweaters for ages. Eventually I decided to try some men’s ones in M&C. Perfect fit. (I like them quite loose fitting). My friend had a 25% off card so she slipped them in with her stuff so they were quite a bargain too. Bought two, one purple, one deep turquoise. So that’s me now all kitted out ready for winter. I won’t need anything else now. Maybe a few new undies but that’s it.

I also went to B&M - found a lovely mirror for my bedroom, only £12.99 so dead chuffed with that. And of course a few nice new Christmas decorations.....a lovely glittery silver reindeer......as my friend said when I said I really shouldn’t she said “nonsense every home should have one” :rotfl:

Apart from needing new glasses, I also need to pay for my vaccines and get the car MOT and then also my steroid injection for my knee.....so still a bit more spending next month. I also need a new kitchen tap and to replace some guttering.........

It all comes at once doesn’t it. Hey ho it’s ony money.....:eek::rotfl:

I think after the holiday I will need to get back on to the straight and narrow and avoid unnecessary spending for a while. I want to try and build up the savings again next year.

lessonlearned

Well now......here’s the big news.....

I am going to be a grandmother.:j:j

(Ds1 and his lovely wife).

Baby is due next July - just in time for my birthday. . What a lovely birthday present. I was planning to go to Iceland in July but that can wait. I would rather have a grandchild. Wahoo.

BTW I have already decided in my word for next year. This years word was “vitality” and I Feel I have made good progress there. I feel so much better (and look so much better) than I did last year.

I don’t know if I mentioned this....it does sound terribly conceited but I thought I’d share it.

On my last cruise a lady who was recently widowed paid me what I think is a wonderful compliment. Out of the blue she said “I wish I could be like you, despite everything you’ve been through you have such joire de vie”.

She said she had lost hers and feared it would never come back. Of course I spent some time then talking to her about her grief. I ended up telling her that her zest for life would eventually return but that it would take time.

Ladies In my long journey I have learned this.......

Even the bad stuff does eventually come to an end.

It’s been a good year for me and I am in a much better place than I was this time last year. Dad was dying and my energy levels were spent. Looking back I can see quite clearly I was simply burnt out.

Next years word is “Radiance”. I want to radiate joy, happiness, health. I want to “light up a room” like my husband did. I want to glow with positive energy.......I want to be a sparkly twinkly grandmother.....:rotfl: (like my beloved aunty S).

Yesterday I received a series of texts from my sister.

You all know what happened there so I won’t rehash it. As you know I gave her space and time to think. It was the wisest thing I could have done. She is now “suing for peace” as it were. She lost a friend recently and the funeral is this week. Her friend was just 54. I think the thinking time plus her friends death has made my sister wake up and smell the coffee at last.

She wants to meet me for lunch. I might not be able to make it because I will be having the first of my vaccines next week but I have told her I will meet her if I’m well enough. She seemed relieved and happy at that.

I have forgiven her......but I will never forget and I will never trust her again. That’s the best I can offer her. I am happy enough to maintain cordial diplomatic relations and I will love her for ever but the “special relationship” will never be the same again. I know that might sound a bit grudging but it’s how I feel. It still hurts.

However, I am glad to be finishing the year on such a positive note with my sister, especially as we are having an addition to the family. It may only be only a small step forward but i think it’s a good place to start.

Onwards and upwards.

lessonlearned

Clippygjrl......hope you don’t mind me commenting but I wouldn’t advocate long term use of E45. It does contain sodium laurel sulphate and it will irritate sensitive skin.

It sounds as if your skin is like mine, prone to extreme dryness and easily irritated. You need to tackle this from both inside.....so plenty of water and perhaps a supplement, either primrose oil or fish oils and lots of moisturising.

I would suggest body oil rather than creams. Your skin will just drink it in. It will soak it up like a sponge and won’t leave it feeling greasy. I make my own. I use grape seed oil - cheap as chips and no smell. I add a few drops of essential oil to make it smell nice.

It’s pure, no additives to irritate sensitive skin, and really cheap. At a pinch you could use olive oil but that does have a bit of a smell. Mediterranean women swear by the stuff.

Another trick is perhaps not to bathe too often. Unless you are getting particularly hot and sweaty we don’t actually NEED a bath or shower every single day, at least not in the winter. Obviously we need to keep fresh and clean so still need to wash our “bits” at least once a day:rotfl: but overuse of hot baths and showers will strip the skin of essential oils.

So whilst your skin is so dry maybe just bathe every other day for a while to give it chance to recover. Also you can add oil to the bath water. However be careful you don’t slip in the bath......and it will leave a greasy residue on the bath so makes for more work.

If your feet, knees and elbows are extremely dry and itchy then good old Vaseline works wonders.

maman

Just called by to post congratulations on your news LL.:T How very exciting, delighted for you and the family.

lessonlearned

Thanks Maman.......it will be so wonderful to have a grandchild. Just a pity my darling isn’t here, he would have made a wonderful grandfather.

Meant to add this earlier.

I don’t know what possessed me but last night I watched a programme called “Naked Attraction”. I think channel 4. It was a dating programme where they strip off....I know I know, sounds ghastly doesn’t it but actually it was all rather clinical and didnt come over as being prurient or “Pervy”. It wasn’t in the least bit sleazy or salacious. The commentary featured some quite interesting science and psychology. I thought it would be tasteless and tacky but it wasn’t. At least I didn’t think so.

Well worth watching because it does help put issues of body image into context. As you know one of the things about finding a new love that has bothered me is the idea of having to show my 66 year body to a new man.

After watching that programme I Actually now feel much better about my body and a lot more confident. I don’t know if the whole series is as intelligent and tasteful but I can definitely recommend the programme I saw last night.

sugarbaby125

LL, firstly congratulations on the news that you are going to be a Grandmother next year. I am so happy for you and your family.

Great news, that you and your sister are now in touch in a way that is a positive communication channel. I know it will never be the same after all that went before, but it must feel so good to know that your sister is finally trying to heal the breach between you.

Thank you Clippy girl. Are you perhaps having an allergic reaction to your shower gel or whatever you use in the shower? You may have some form of eczema? There are so many types that you may be unaware of. Maybe you could get an appointment with your GP and see what they suggest. LL has given you lots of useful advice for you to consider.

LaineyT

Many congratulations LL what wonderful news for you and your family :j I can certainly see you being a sparkly, twinkly grandmother x

3forholidays

Congratulations LL on the impending new arrival to the family! :j

Clippy girl I'm also trying to resolve an issue with dry skin on my forehead. I'm trying to put on moisturiser more regularly as I'm guilty of only doing it for a few days and then stopping. I'll need to investigate the grape seed oil that LL mentions.

clippy_girl

Congratulations LL! Lovely news :j:T

Thanks for the tips!

Sugar I don't think it is my products as use the same things in the bath and they are ok. But i hadn't thought of eczema so worth bearing in mind doc visit if it doesn't clear up thanks.

Good idea on the oils LL. I used e45 this morning before posting and by this evening the skin was already cracked and dry looking on my shins so will stop using it. Found some argon oil in the cupboard i bought in Tunisia for my hair but it's way too heavy for it. Just tried it and has soaked in nicely. Will use that up and then look to make some of my own oil I do only bath every two days at the moment unless I've been to the gym (so basically every two days :rotfl:) but I know I do have my bath too hot definitely need to sort it out before I go Poland where I will have to shower. I guess it's ok in the bath as always use a moisturising bubble bath which I guess soothes it when I get.
In.

3gorholidays I put bio oil on a small patch on my nose which works well but I guess any oil would do the trick