Frump to Fab 2018 - Fabulous Dahhhhlings

silvasava

Evening Ladies!
Not posted on here since last year I think but have been an occasional lurker still. I'm in need of some advice please. I've been given some lovely face packs - a box of 5 glycolic and a box of 5 retinol. I'm assuming I need to use the glycolic one before the retinol although not at the same time - maybe 3/4 days between?
Also I've had gel nails done for my holiday - they lasted so well I had them done again about 4 weeks ago. Now, should I leave it off for a couple of months or does it matter how often you have them done?
I bit the bullet a few months ago and had my shoulder length hair cut really short. I'm about 70percent grey so I'd always coloured it a beige blonde but now I'm using Schwartzkopf Steel Grey - it looks fab and I've had lots of compliments! It's a great colour as you don't look like you've had a blue rinse like some of the tints turn out!
TF must comment on how well you are doing. I know how much it takes just to start making an effort but it's so worthwhile for your own self esteem and quite amazing how it alters people's perception of you too.

lessonlearned

Hello lovely ladies

Hello Silvasava - good to see you again. Yes definitely leave time between the facepacks. I would suggest alternating them and doing them bi weekly. And remember that both retinol and glycolic acid need extra care in the sun. They are both photosensitive.

Well just got back from my acupuncture. I have to confess I don't find the treatments particularly pleasant, I will be glad when I'm done. But at least I'm over the half way mark now.....only 7 more to go. And yes, it is worth it, I do feel better.

Don't feel like doing much now, so will take it relatively easy today. Need to make some phone calls chasing up estate agents etc. And then I might do a bit of paperwork filling and tidying, but other than that I think I'll just rest up today, sit out in the sunshine for a while.


I have managed to walk more but as it's a needle day today I won't be doing much walking today. I'll try and do some yoga stretches later and see if I can find my small hand weights, start using them again. I really need to do some proper resistance training but I think I will wait until I've finished the acupuncture.

TF. I too think you are doing really well. You've got off to a great start and it's good to hear you sounding so upbeat and positive.

Ande I agree with Silvasava......when we do make the effort with fabbing, not only do we look and feel better but I too notice a marked difference in how people respond. I think when we go around looking like an unloved bag lady then people ignore us, or treat us with disdain and disrespect.

When we do smarten up people do respond far more positively. I think We get treated with more respect, we get better service in shops and restaurants, and people generally are more courteous and friendly.

Maybe it's because when we look better, we feel better, and it gives us a confidence boost. Maybe the fact that act more confidently gives us an air of authority that people just naturally respond too without thinking.

One thing for sure. Like it or loathe it, we ARE judged by our appearance. And......as the old saying goes "you only get once to make a good first impression". And it is that "first impression" that can make or break an encounter and which will have a lingering effect on those we meet.

My Late husband used to relate the story of how we met, he could recall every detail of my appearance, even down the shoes I was wearing. (No he was not gay.......:rotfl:).

I guess I must have made a very strong first impression. .

The irony is of course, I had "just nipped out", it wasn't a planned evening out, just a casual phone call at around 8pm from a friend who suggested we meet up for a drink.....and there he was.......Destiny!!!! :rotfl:

And of course we all know that all too often if we "just nip out" and don't make an effort then we bump into the world and his wife. So I guess it really pays to try and do the best we can. After all we never knew who we might meet.....we never know who or what might be lying in wait.

I met the love of my life when I least expected it and I have been offered great jobs purely on a chance encounter. Obviously On those occasions that first impression was a good one.

So....... ladies, don't until youve lost the excess weight, and certainly stop saving outfits "for best". Don't we deserve to be our best at all times. We are sooooo worth it,

Obviously we need to dress appropriately - for the occasion so to speak. We are not going to wear our best frock to visit the recycling centre.

(Although I did once see a couple of girls all dolled up - obviously on their way out somewhere - dropping stuff off. They had all the Male attendants flocking round them, helping them unload the car). :rotfl: smart move. Lol.

Even if we are just schlepping round the supermarket we can at least look clean, smart and reasonably stylish. If you really can't be bothered then a nice pair of sunglasses, a splash of scent and a flick of lippy can work wonders.

SUgarbaby......Great song Choices there. On Sunday DS2 and his girl took me out for lunch. He picked me up and chauffeured me. He was playing Ray Charles on the sound system. I just sat back, eyes closed and enjoyed the ride. No driving and listening to great music. Perfick.

silvasava

Thanks for confirming what I thought LL. I did know about the photosensitivity as I use a retinol day cream with factor 50! You are so right about peoples reactions to appearances - right or wrong its what happens!
I do think you should take it easy after your acupuncture and let the channels re-align before you do any exercise of any sort. Maybe the yoga stretches later but leaver the hand weights till tomorrow!

Toni'sfriend

Aw, thank you, both. It really is a help to know that I'll have to confess if I don't keep it up. Keeps me on the straight and narrow even if I'm tired and think I can't be bothered Haven't missed one yet and don't intend to! I have some nice make up but haven't started to wear it yet because I want to get my skin into better condition before I start wearing it every day. Will do if I'm going out for a meal or something, though.
SHOES - I have been saying for years that I don't have any shoes. Erm, yes I do but they are virtually all the same (black, granny - you know what I mean?) and most of them have never been worn. I've kept the nicest comfy pair of those for walking and the rest are going to the charity shop (together with some virtually new handbags that I will never use (black, granny again!). Got some nice sandals for summer and boots for winter so I'm keeping them.
Stayed in today. I have a couple of pairs of loose linen trousers which are comfortable but look OK so I've been wearing them with a nice top when I stay in. Much better than what I usually sloop around in. Not embarrassed when the postman comes to the door and I am still making sure that I wear my perfume very day. Part of the routine.
Thank you so much for the help, support and advice.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

TF you are doing so well. This thread is great at keeping all of us ladies motivated each day to keep fabbing. The thing about Karaoke, is that all types of singers come along and release their inner divas regardless of the level of singing talent. So even tone deaf singers are applauded.

Welcome Silvasava

My ESA was not paid last Thursday when it was due. I called them, I got cut off 4 times. :mad: Thank goodness that the 4th time, I was called back on my mobile and was given the correct advice. I picked up my medical certificate yesterday from my Doctor's surgery only to realise that it had the wrong start date on it. I had to phone the surgery and explain and the receptionist said she would alert the Doctor concerned and get the Doctor to issue another medical certificate. I went and collected the 2nd medical certificate today and tried to upload a photo of it to DWP with their new upload a sick note service online. Annoyingly the photos I took of the medical certificate were rejected. I had to go to my local Job Centre Plus and lucky for me I was dealt with by a very sympathetic male customer service advisor who also did what was needed for the missing payment of ESA to be paid to me today. Stress over. :j

I am going to Karaoke today.

maman

Sounds like a good weekend sugarbaby. You put in a great deal of effort to make sure your family has the best of everything. It obviously gives you great pleasure and I'm sure is much appreciated.:)


:wave:good to see you silvasava. Do call by anytime and join in.:)


You're right TF, the thread does give that little bit of accountability we all need but fortunately it's not judgmental in any way. Plus we all enjoy sharing whatever tips we have. We don't need much make up at this time of the year anyway so hopefully your skin will have improved by the time it's winter and we need a bit of colour.


Good for you ditching the granny stuff.:D I don't know if you've read the Marie Kondo book (The Life saving Magic of Tidying)? Although she can be a bit airy fairy for my liking, one of the things we agree on is that we should just keep the things that really 'bring joy' as she would say. It can be quite mse:money: too as I find I'm not so inclined to just buy stuff that I'm not 100% sure I really love.


Been out for lunch today with former colleagues. The weather has come back warm again:D so I wore my brown, linen dress (again!) with my gold fit flops. It's just so easy putting an outfit together in hot weather.


Back Soon.:)

lessonlearned

SUgarbaby.....glad you got the ESA sorted. What a runaround though.

Being tone deaf.....I'm not tone deaf, I can sing, but only as part of a choir. I would be far too nervous to go solo.

Has anyone seen the film My Best Friends Wedding.

There is a great scene in there when the shy Cameron Diaz character is forced to sing a Dusty Springfield number at a karaoke session. She is hopeless, misses every note. At first everyone is appalled but then they all start cheering her on and joining in. I know it's contrived but it's still a great scene.

I also love the scene in the restaurant where the Rupert Everett character gets them singing an old Dionne Warwick song. Tbh I thought he was brilliant in that film, he dominated every scene he was in.

lessonlearned

Maman.....you are so right, since embracing Marie Kondo I've hardly bought a thing.......very MSE.

I have been invited out for a posh afternoon tea tomorrow. I think I might wear a nice dress.....

moneyistooshorttomention

Still two steps forward/one step back - as Life gets in the way.

But two things learnt to date re "tweaks" I'm trying:

- I've taken to "buffing" my fingernails daily (well....errr...most days...I'll make it yet to everyday) and it's an acupressure thing involving rubbing the nails of the 4 fingers on each hand against the 4 fingernails on the other hand for 10 minutes. Reason - it's designed to help hair growth. To date - well it may be coincidence. However, I've noticed a lot less stray hairs in my comb and hairbrush after using them - so I think hair may be "staying put" on my head where I want it more and this could be the reason I think. So I shall keep that up until my hair is more to my satisfaction.

- The negative one/thing I'm dropping is that I made up a salve of castor oil and coconut oil to rub on my eyelashes and eyebrows at night before sleep. That is supposed to help them. Well - I'm not going to find out if that works or no - because I have discovered that it has caused a few pimples to come up just above my eyebrows. So I've stopped using that then and guess I'll try using up the rest of the salve as lip balm.

silvasava

Well ladies - went to friend's birthday get together this evening and I've been invited to the races on Thursday! Never been before and the weather is forecast to be good so I'll put my outfit togther tomorrow. I've got a really nice dress bought in a CS - black with fuchsia pink flowers graduated down it and I've also got a couple of fascinators to choose from. Better get my glam going!