Frump to Fab 2018 - Fabulous Dahhhhlings

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies.

Well after a really busy day yesterday, I am going to take it relatively easy and get some serious fabbing done. Also need to do some ironing at some point. Might do that first before it gets really hot.

Just had an "interesting" conversation with the timber and damp people........I do appreciate that they can't really do a full inspection without lifting floorboards etc but surely in this day and age they could use cameras to at least get a better idea how far the woodworm infestation has progressed. Roofers are now using drones, the water board use cameras underground, surgeons have been using cameras for decades, so why cant they inspect sub floors with cameras. Or am I missing something.

I am really struggling now. How can I make an informed decision when I don't have the full facts. I have asked them to come back with some figures. Same with the roof inspection. Then I shall go back to the vendor and try and renegotiate. I am going to go in firmly and ask for a decent reduction. If not then I might have to walk away.

I don't want to be in a position where it looks like it's going to cost just a few thousand to then find out further down the line that we are looking at tens of thousands.

I just wish these surveys weren't so vague. They deliberately keep them that way so as to cover their backs and avoid being sued but that really doesn't help the purchaser make a decision.

Talk about buying a pig in a poke. :rotfl:

So I guess the only way to protect myself and my life savings is to ask for a decent discount ........grrrrr.

Went to see Oceans 8. Loved it, I always enjoy a good heist movie and it's nice to see one with women as the protagonists, especially in a movie where they get to dress up and do the full glamour thing.

Some good looking women too.....Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett are especially inspirational role models as to how we can still look good over 50. Great frocks and of course fabulous jewellery.

And of course Mama Mia 2 comes out this week. Another film with glamourous older women.......we are doing really well for "chick flicks" aimed at older women at the moment. The above mentioned films, Book Club, Hampstead etc. Or as my son so charmingingly puts it "Grey pound old biddy films".

We were sidelined in the cinema for so long......yes the Marvel films are fun and I do enjoy action flicks and boys films too but it's nice to see my age group up on the big screen. It's time they started courting the grey pound.

Yes of course the women have had some work done to hold back the years but why not. Quite a bit of Botox in evidendence but then It's their job to look good.

SDW I would be very interested to hear about your tummy tuck. Very brave of you. I believe it is probably the one area that really doesn't respond to exercise. My understanding is that once these muscles have been stretched too far then it's game over. Same with sagging breasts. Once they head south there's not much you can do. Of course good shapewear helps but in the end surgery is the only real solution.

Maybe a good heist would be the answer to my financial situation......:D and then I could afford a full surgical makeover. :eek::eek:

Are we up for it ladies.......what would our target be. Bank, jewellers, art gallery.......lol.

I am only kidding of course but Maybe .......if I could wear my gorgeous fish tail evening gown........and my fur wrap. Ha ha.

Have a great day.

lessonlearned

Money.....make your own fragrances. Same with body oils etc.

Invest in an aromatherapy book and some natural organic essential oils. Easy peasy and as cheap as chips. And of course no animal testing, no animal derivatives, no nasty chemicals.

If you can cook then you can make your bath and beauty own products. Same principles. At least that way you know what's in them. And you can ensure that they are eco friendly.

Ok a home made perfume or body oil won't have a long shelf life because it won't contain preservatives, although you can improve their longevity a bit. You can Add Vit E to body oils, and alcohol to sprays. However, just make small quantities and Store them in the dark then they won't go rancid.

At any rate even commercial perfumes and beauty products should not stand in sunlight, they should kept in the dark

Also remember home made perfume wont have the same staying power so you will need to reapply it more often.

Happy cooking. Btw did you try my suggestions for brows and lashes....

Floss

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Been googling a bit re perfumes and turns out I can't have many perfumes still and that includes Chanel No. 5 - darn.

There is a vegan smell-alike though - ie a firm called Eden Perfumes makes vegan perfumes and their Eden Number Five is apparently indistinguishable.

The next thing is to be able to find it:cool:. I've looked on their website - and threw my hands up at how disorganised/in need of revamp it is. So awaiting a response from them to see if they even make it anymore/where it's stocked/etc.

Eden Perfumes Number 7
£18...they sell from their website

lessonlearned

Floss ...just tried this link didn't work. But a quick google got me to their website.

Great prices and lots of choice. Probably worth a try.

moneyistooshorttomention

lessonlearned wrote: »

Money.....make your own fragrances. Same with body oils etc.

Invest in an aromatherapy book and some natural organic essential oils. Easy peasy and as cheap as chips. And of course no animal testing, no animal derivatives, no nasty chemicals.

If you can cook then you can make your bath and beauty own products. Same principles. At least that way you know what's in them. And you can ensure that they are eco friendly.

Ok a home made perfume or body oil won't have a long shelf life because it won't contain preservatives, although you can improve their longevity a bit. You can Add Vit E to body oils, and alcohol to sprays. However, just make small quantities and Store them in the dark then they won't go rancid.

At any rate even commercial perfumes and beauty products should not stand in sunlight, they should kept in the dark

Also remember home made perfume wont have the same staying power so you will need to reapply it more often.

Happy cooking. Btw did you try my suggestions for brows and lashes....

I have bought myself some of that mascara primer. I've realised I recently bought sorta eyebrow powder (rather than eyebrow pencil). Think I've got what I need - it's just summoning up the courage to use it (ie wear make-up again). I think the friend who is persistently trying to get me to do so again etc really means it when she recently went "I don't know what you're worried about. You've got a beautiful face/nice hair". At which point she doubtless got a "Pull the other one - it's got bells on. Who're you kidding?:rotfl:" look back from me.

I think she honestly thinks I've got body dysmorphia - I know what that is and I don't think so somehow. I think I took a realistic look in the mirror and have a dead accurate summing-up of my appearance these days:cool:

lessonlearned

Money.......I'm going to give you a lecture......:rotfl:

It comes from affection so don't be offended.

Stop criticising yourself and stop trying so hard.......relax. Fabbing is fun. Or at least it's meant to be.

There comes a point where you have to be realistic. And embrace the years......As far as I know Cher is the only one who has truly been able to "Turn Back Time". :rotfl: and even then it will catch up with her in the end....

As for make up, if you don't like it, and don't feel comfortable wearing it, then don't bother. If you do want to wear it, then do what Maman does, watch online tutorials and practice, practice, practice. And always remember .......less is more.

Go to a good department store and get the girls there to give you some tips. Or book yourself a couple of make up lessons at a salon.

As for body image, whilst you may not have true body dysmorphia you do sound very critical of yourself at times. You do give yourself a hard time......:D. Seriously would you criticise a friend the way you criticise yourself. Of course you wouldn't. Be kind to yourself and don't be so harsh in your assessment of how you look.

Bingo wings.....pah!!!! Who cares....you worry far too much. I bet most people don't even notice them, only you.

And anyway, if you have two arms that work then you have two beautiful arms. Just wear clothes that flatter them. If You have two legs that work, that carry you wherever you want to go........then you have good legs. What's a few minor blemishes.

As my husband used to joke.......If you have two of each then you have more than the average number of limbs. :rotfl:

I have varicose veins, thread veins, weird warts, stretch marks, cellulite, scars, lumps and bumps all over the place and do you know what .......I don't give a fig.:rotfl:

My legs are brilliant. I can walk, hop, skip, jump, dance, ok I can't run very well but I never could, my age is irrelevant. I just don't wear shorts in public.

My body is a testament to a life well lived and to giving birth to two members of the next generation, my stretch marks are my tiger stripes and my various scars are my battle trophies. I survived and thrived.

I am lucky I guess in that quite apart from the birth mark, I was actually something of a Pain Jane. I am not being modest, I am being objective. I was not blessed by the Good Looks Fairy, so aging and losing my looks has never held any terrors for me. Once I had got over the teenage angst of not being the prettiest girl in class then I just got on with Learning how to make the most of what I had.

I was lucky I guess in that my "look" just happened to coincide with the times........tall, long legs, big boobs, I grew my hair and hey presto I was a "dolly bird". Add my good speaking voice and I was seen as a posh "Chelsea Bird". I had boys running after me like flies round a honey pot.

My dad was utterly bemused because to him I was ugly and plain, especially with that birthmark ......but the fact was I had learned to accept my limitations with grace and humour and of course I learned early on how to cheat.....

So yes .I dress to disguise the worst flaws of course I do. I use make up , the birthmark was removed when it became cancerous and I have had a couple of minor non surgical treatments to rebalance my face when it became lop sided post surgery. I still have the cancer op scar. I don't care. I don't have cancer.

Like many fairly plain women who were not conventionally pretty I have aged quite well, becoming "striking" and "handsome" as I've got Older, developing a style that I think suits me and that I feel comfortable with. Other than that I accept I'm no oil painting, never was, never will be. So......I use other feminine wiles.......my feminity, sex appeal, charm, wit, humour. Always remember you don't have to be young and pretty to turn heads and wow men. .

One of my site foreman was Irish and he always called me a "handsome woman". I was a bit bemused at first but I came to realise that is was actually a great compliment, because when applied to women it means more than just being pretty. Handsome women age far better than pretty ones. Prettiness fades very quickly. Handsome women can be seen as attractive, warm and sexy well into their mature years.

Look at Jane Fonda at 80 plus. A very handsome woman, with a sexy dirty laugh that is a great turn on. Look at footage of an aging Mae West who still had men swarming round her. Look at Yoko Ono, Tina Turner.

Yoko was never pretty, let alone beautiful. The youthful Tinas face was always too "big" to be pretty and anyway it was smashed to pieces several times by Ike. Yet look how they have aged. Of course Tina has had extensive surgery to repair the damage caused by being repeatedly beaten up.

Look at how some other famous non pretty women have aged ......Eleanor Bron, Maureen Lipman, Barbara Streisand, Charlotte Rampling......all distinctive and striking now that they are older. Not one of them could ever have been accused of being pretty when they were young. What they did instead was learn how to use what they have got, how to dress, how to find their own personal style.

True fabbing......

A tip........

Look at how Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon and my best mate Helen Mirren dress for the catwalk. What part of their bodies do they reveal and what bits do they cover up.

Their reveal their lovely shoulders, collar bones and d!collet! and hide their upper arms, opting for elbow length sleeves, hiding scraggy elbows but revealing slim wrists enhanced by a nice bracelet.

Do you see what I mean.

My grandmother died when she was 90. The skin on her shoulders was still lovely and smooth, without a blemish.

Watch yourself in the sun. Protect your shoulders and d!collet! and then you will be able to reveal them long after you have covered everything else up.

Just watch the older movie stars.......learn from them.

seven-day-weekend

We almost certainly have a new tenant for our flat (she has to pass all the credit and other checks, but I'm sure she will). We met her this morning, although the EA was supposed to be doing the viewing. We decided to tag along.

Just as well we did! The person who was supposed to be doing the viewing was off sick and she had sent her husband to do it, who has never seen the flat before in his life. He couldn't have told her anything about it.

Anyway she looked round, loved it and went straight back to the EA to say she will have it, and assuming the credit checks are OK, wants to move in on Saturday. She is a Social Worker for a Local Authority, so I am assuming she will pass everything.

Yet again we have a tenant so quickly that we will not have to pay any Council Tax

maman

Just called by to catch up on posts and you've been very chatty this last couple of days!:rotfl:


I have to go out shortly but didn't want to read and run.


money, stop being so hard on yourself. It sounds like you have loads of fabbing either achieved or planned.


Yes I do watch make up videos. As you all know I'm a massive people watcher and if I see people with, for example well groomed eyebrows, I check out how to do it. I also ask the girls on the make up counters to show me how to use products. There's not much else for them to do in Debenhams!:rotfl:


That being said, I wear very light make up and far less in summer than winter. At the moment I'm just doing mascara and lippy in the day with a primer/conditioner on my eyebrows. In the evening I might put some highlighter on my brow bones and possibly make up eyebrows. That's it.:)


There's a programme on tonight, it's a take on the Marigold Hotel thing. Shirley Valentine style: some older women on a Greek Island. It might be worth a watch...more people watching!!:D


Back soon.:)

lessonlearned

Hello everyone.

Been for my acupuncture and I'm now wiped out, so just resting. Supposed to be going out this evening but I think I might cancel, just shattered. Treatments are definitely working though. Just that it's a bit rough on the day.

I watched the Shirley Valentine thing. I though Nancy seemed like a fish out of water already. Didn't release she and Sveyn were divorced. Looks like a lovely place to spend a month.

Got the results back from the timber specialist.......not too nasty. Just awaiting the roof report. Then if that's reasonable I shall instruct my solicitor to fire ahead. Looking forward to moving now.

Time for pastures new. :rotfl: it has a great garden......perfect for a toddler......I have been eyeing up paddling pools. Lol.

Toni'sfriend

Hello Ladies
I've tried before and failed miserably!!!
I am 69 years old and a total frump.
I need to lose approximately three stones for health reasons as much as anything else.
My hair, skin and nails are so dry - flaking peeling, etc, etc, etc.
I don't know what to wear. Don't possess a dress or skirt and wouldn't know where to start looking for something that would suit me.
On the positive side (yes there is one) I have a lovely partner and son. I live quite simply and am happy with that. An occasional lunch out and some really lovely holidays.
So, I have an appointment to have my hair cut and coloured next week which I know will make me feel so much better.
What else can I do?
Should I get my eyebrows waxed or something since I'm not good at doing it myself?
Should I get a professional manicure? I don't want talons just them to look nice.
Is it worth having a facial? I have a load of skin products and make up.
And how do I go about building a proper wardrobe? Don't want lots just to look nice and presentable but would love to start wearing dresses again. Since I'm used to trousers would it be worth starting with a longer dress or skirt?
Not much of a challenge, eh?
Any advice will be most grateful.