Frump to Fab 2017 - A Whole New World

chanie

Happy Easter Weekend to everyone!!!!

I know we aren't quite there yet, but I thought I'd get in there early.


LL enjoy your well deserved pampering.


Maman well done on the fabbing.


I'm looking forward to a nice relaxing bank holiday weekend. Our plans are to visit family and also have a nice family day out an English Heritage Site - we have membership and will be taking a picnic, so it will be a nice frugal day out.


I've been having a rough time at work over the last few months and things are now coming to an end, which means I can disclose. I had a change of line manager and we really weren't getting on. We started off as friends, but it because horrible for both us of. Manager has now resigned. Our colleagues said to me, I bet you are happy and I said actually I wasn't. Despite everything, I don't mean them any ill will and I'm saddened that our working relationship deteriorated. I have learned from this though.

maman

I had an inkling things weren't quite right at work chanie. You seemed to be having days off and working from home a lot more than usual. I'm glad that it's resolved but I understand why it's not making you happy. Sadly I've seen a lot of people not coping with/understanding a management role who think the way to operate is to bully those down the chain. It's a very outmoded style IMO but it's still happening particularly in elite sport it would seem and as long as it appears to be successful then someone will defend it.


I've had a good long pampering session this morning including defuzzing and loads of creaming. I need to pack later for my weekend away. It's not a holiday but an event I'm attending although there will be socialising and some free time on Sunday. Fortunately I get on really well with my colleagues so we'll have a good time outside the work element.


We went out to supper and the theatre last night. It was a fascinating play with James Bolam and Anne Reid about fracking and the PR machine that protesters are up against. I wore my long slinky pleated green skirt with a woolly matching jumper. There seems to be a lot of that mix of evening/everyday fashion about now.


I still haven't culled my wardrobe. After Easter I plan to put away really wintry clothes and only keep those I really love wearing.


As anticipated, a 15% off voucher arrived from White Stuff but I think I'm happy with the CS denim skirt for the time being.


If I don't get to post, have a good weekend all whatever you're up to.:)

savingfortomorrow

After three days of feeling dreadfully off form but not in a specific way ill just really rotten, I finally feel better, I was able to feel inspired to wear make up and do my hair in a style. It is great to have some energy back.

lessonlearned

Happy Good Friday.

Bit grey and chilly here. Just checked out the weather forecast for the weekend. Not that great, typical Easter bank holiday weather I'm afraid. Hey ho. I'm sure we can find ways of enjoying ourselves, despite the weather.:rotfl:

Chanie.....sorry to hear you have been struggling at work, hope things get a bit better now. But......as you say if you have learned from the experience then that helps. I think this is sometimes the best we can do. If we can learn from the bad stuff then it does help us grow and develop.

As they say "experience is the best teacher".;)

SFT. Good to hear you are starting to feel better and that your energy levels are improving. As you know I've been feeling below par too but I am glad to say I too am starting to feel better. I'm sleeping much better and that is really helping.

I enjoyed my pamper session yesterday. Will definitely try and make it a more regular treat. Afterwards I popped into "Primarni" and bought a few bits. I am well stocked up on summer weight trousers, tops, lightweight knitwear etc.

I have gone for a palette of silver greys, and a range of blues from ice blue, sort of duck egg blues, indigos and grey/greens. They can all be layered and everything can be mixed and matched. Finally, a proper capsule wardrobe.......;)

I just need a couple of pairs of cropped trousers or capri pants and then that's my spring/summer collection complete. Job done.

Not sure about today, I really "ought" to go swimming but don't really fancy it.......:rotfl:

Anyway.....heres wishing you all a Happy Easter. Hope you all have a lovely time.

Floss

Not very Fab Friday for me as I am at my allotment but I do have matching pink wellies and nails! Am at the tail end of a nasty cold so thought some fresh air might help it on its way

LL love the sound of your capsule closet, bet you will be the belle of the Baltic!

hex2

Floss - like the sound of the wellies and nails. We are putting up a new shed this weekend so I suspect there will be nothing left of my nails by Monday

Maman - and the highlights sound good. I'm still nerving myself to get mine done to reduce the impact of my grey roots, before we go away. On which subject...

Does anyone have a link to a preparing for your holidays list? What should you be doing X weeks before your holiday? I've had a google but most of the ones I can find are either very heavily linked to specific products or are diet/weight loss driven. What I want is an x weeks to go, optimum time to have my highlights done/have my nails done/have a facial/ have a scrub/start applying slow build up tan/etc.

My jeans arrived and the size 8 looked tiny, no way was i going to fit in. Only I do thanks to high elastine content! If anyone else has fairly stocky (I know, but I can't think of a better description) legs then M&S stretch and support straight legs at £35 are rather good, if inconsistent in the sizing.

savingfortomorrow

Hex 2… My countdown is typically. Weeks before buy a ticket and decide to go, run around like made trying to get work done and dusted. I end up packing the night before with a massive panic. Have a look on pintrest as they often have diagrams for planning and what not.

I have been eating better for the last few weeks and it does make a massive difference to my skin. I find it is expensive to eat better and eat all the recommended amount of fruit and veg. It makes it very expensive to follow guidelines and live well. Sometimes it is needed to just spend the money on better nutrition and ignore a lot of costs. I know that if I don’t eat well I will spend the money on medical bills

I have been using my make up daily and making the best out of my self. I seem to never have a great hair do but at least im making some sort of an effort. I have worn a few new dresses as I don’t like saving for best as really fashions change as it breaks my heart to never wear something and it goes out of fashion.

lessons learned i love the colours in the capsule wardrobe you describe, it sounds ideal for the summer and holidays. I was thinking about a capsule wardrobe but I can adhere to a colour range or mix and match sections. But anytime I have been away from my wardrobe for a few months and living out of a case for a contract role away from home, it drives me mad as I get sick of seeing the same items. I end up buying random new stuff in order to deal with wardrobe fatigue, I have done it four times and each time I miss the variety of clothes and make up. How do people really do it? I have a lot of my clothes for years but I tend to buy classics that suit me and my personality. I tend to buy a lot of classics, designers from cs and ebay that wash better than primark and other fast fashion.

ScarlettMcCain

Happy Easter to everyone, hope you have all had a great day :easter_ba

ScarlettMcCain

Thank you to everyone for your kind and thoughtful replies to my last post; I didn't think it would be this long till I got to post again but by the time the babies are finally in bed and all the cleaning and tidying done, I'm usually shattered!! We had had such a nice Easter till this afternoon when OH sulked off to bed claiming a dodgy tummy AND a bad back (overkill there on the excuses, really he just wanted to play on his iPad game!) - I really can't be bothered reasoning with him in that mood, so have left him to it.....


LL, it was a very interesting question you posed about do I love him? The answer would be (most of the time) yes, but it's just swamped in caring for babies and then trying to have some patience left for him..... it was fine when it was just the two of us but young children use up all my reserves of patience and then some! We don't get much time for ourselves and then I get tired, cross and resentful because he seems to view childcare as optional


Thank you for the tips maman, I'm currently looking at which groups we could go to this term; soft play is tricky with both of them on my own (a shame as they love it) and I really think nursery would benefit them, but can't justify the cost - even one day a week would be around £500 per month!! I haven't heard of any babysitting circles near us and whilst MIL and FIL would have the boys for us, they do find them very tiring, which I think OH doesn't realise/ appreciate. His parents are almost 70 and not in the greatest physical health, and the boys are very energetic!


Thank you for the hug indie and it is very inspiring to read about your ongoing transformation Ceroc (in fact most dancing groups) is such an immersive and addictive experience, plus it's a great way to socialise without relying on drinking! I used to feel on top of the world when I got back from a night out dancing :j


For your holiday countdown idea hex2, have you tried Googling wedding ones instead? I found this one without too much trying, looks like the sort of thing you were after (although it may be too long a timescale!): https://www.theknot.com/content/bridal-beauty-countdown-to-gorgeous


Love the sound of your wellies and nails Floss!!


I completely agree with everyone's comments about M&S - I used to get a few basics in there and the occasional nice piece, but never see anything in there now that I'd buy. I even have a £25 voucher that I'm struggling to use! I'd rather buy now from Sainsbobs (bought some bits for the boys in the 25% off sale) or Primarni, at least it feels more like value for money. In fact lots of my holiday shopping has been done at Primarni, at 90p for flip flops it doesn't really matter if they break/ get left at the hotel.....


We go on holiday in a week's time and I'm desperate to get my hair cut and coloured before then - I can do the colour myself, but my hair is so long and heavy now that I can't wear it down, I haven't had it cut for seven months. So fed up with it!! I've got a few ideas for new styles/ lengths to enter my 40s with a different look, hopefully will be able to get it cut next weekend. I also want to have a wardrobe cull - anything I'm not going to wear again goes to charity - anything I might but can't fit into goes into the loft - then at least I can see at a glance things I can actually wear.


Phew, bedtime for me soon! Happy Easter again everyone!

[Deleted User]

Hi everyone. New person joining thread. Haven't read it all yet but picking up theme of going for fewer classic items in wardrobe. Have recently come across website justlastseason.co.uk which sells classic brands such as Eastex, Jacques vert at knock down prices. Probably not same as current stock in shops but Lovely quality. Frequent Sales eg. dresses at moment only £49. Looking at double that for similar in dept stores. I recently picked up jacket at same price. More geared toward smart occasions? Bought mine for my son's wedding in 4 weeks. Last minute panic fabbing here!