Frump to Fab 2019 - Here We Go Again

humptydumptybits

Sugarbaby sounds like you are like me, like to get as much back as possible. I have my credit card set to pay in full every month as I don't want debt to mount up, the first 3 months with the American Express you get a better cash back but you don't get it for 12 months so as I took mine out in November I will get the money as a starter for next Christmas, I reckon it will be about £150. I also save my nectar points and try to use them mainly for the double up in December, again it is a good way to get good value for Christmas presents. As my "tribe" grows it does get expensive. I am in the middle of the great birthday present season with 2 of my kids, 2 DILs and 2 GC in the space of a month straight after Christmas. How on earth did that happen?

house_elf

Good morning Fabbers,

I have been looking for a challenge for 2019, rather than a New Years Resolution, which are so often negative. I have been lurking on several threads over the past few days, and like the idea of Frump to Fabulous. I really need your help

Feeling very frumpy........negatives...

1. Overweight, but stuck at 15st whatever I do.
2. Stopped wearing make to speed up morning routine.
3. Let my hair go white, then used silver grey products. Not sure I have got this right and can't get an honest opinion from family. :mad:
4. Overwhelmed by clutter.
5. Decided to have an extension built. Now cannot retire until 67 so we can pay it off :rotfl:
6. Feeling elderly and tired. Watching myself in shop windows.....I look like a little old lady :rotfl:

Positives.....

1. Taking back control :rotfl:
2. Changed my style....going for a Bohemian look.

I seem to have run out of positives :rotfl: (I am a glass half empty ).

I hope joining your little community will inspire me to make the most of life :j

I need to be Fabulous!

humptydumptybits

Hi house elf, at least you have some positives so that is good. Taking back control is a biggie in itself so try not to worry that the list isn't longer. I think sometimes we overlook things e.g. the extension is meaning you have to keep on working but you can enjoy the extra space, clutter could be a source of money, I know I am planning on selling some stuff on ebay and have a double benefit of getting rid of clutter and creating some money so a winwin.


I don't bother much with make up but I'm thinking of having my eye lasher/brows dyed as I think that gives a more finished look with minimal effort, not that I'm lazy or anything!

chanie

I get cash back through a membership organisation and have about £350, which I am hoping to put towards a trip to EuroDisney next year.

I just don’t always have the time to be MSE, as me and OH both work full time and have youngish children. I try to be organised and plan ahead, but sometimes, I just have to bite the bullet and pay for convenience.

lessonlearned

House Elf.

Welcome...had to smile at your list ....yes the negatives currently outweigh the positives but stick with us and I promise you will start to feel more positive. Fabulousity will follow.

Re the white hair......I am a silver fox too, or I suppose I should say vixen.:rotfl: I have tried several times to colour it but it just it won't take the colour, it literally only lasts for about 2 weeks.

My family and friends love my hair and they don't like it when I try to colour it....oh yes they are very honest:rotfl: polite but truthful. .

The problem is when our hair changes colour our skin does too and, for that reason, colouring white - really white as opposed to grey hair is often unsuccessful.

I think if you start wearing make up again that will help. Maybe you need to actually change your make and go for warmer colours, a brighter lipstick maybe. Perhaps you could go to a make up counter and ask for advice, maybe even ask them to give you a bit of a make up lesson.

Also maybe look at the colours of the clothes you wear. I found that my colour choices have changed a lot. Some colours I no longer wear because they drain me, black, navy and some colours that used to look dreadful now suit me - pink. I never wore pink ever, now I can.

For me I have found that, without wishing to appear conceited, turquoise looks sensational. It really makes the white hair look quite dazzling.

Re the silver hair products.....I found it is easy to overdo them and my hair colour can look a bit odd if I use them too often - a bit sort of "dingy" and dull. I think you get a colour build up of the purple they use and it makes my hair look dirty grey rather than pure white.

I think you just need to experiment a little. Of course if you really dislike your white hair then obviously get it coloured. Whatever makes you feel good.

Back in a mo......

lessonlearned

Chanie.....I don't always go for the MSE option either, despite being retired and having no real time constraints. So don't beat yourself up for going for convenience sometimes.

Life's too short to wear a hair shirt.,:rotfl:

lessonlearned

Well my family and I have come to a decision re presents.

We have decided to stop buying "stuff". We all have far too much. Even my clutterbug eldest has finally woken up. He and his wife have been watching the Marie Kondo programme on Netflix and he has finally had his lightbulb moment. The youngest is already something of a minimalist anyway.

And like you Humpty I will be having a major declutter this year, selling as much as I can and donating the rest.

From now on the adults will treat each other to an experience, getting together for a family celebration such as a meal and a movie instead. No more gifts. For the children, just a small token gesture to be opened on the day and money in their banks. We are determined that they won't be overindulged and drowning in a sea of plastic tat.

Feeling a bit grim today if I'm Honest, the UTI is responding well but I feel dreadfully queasy. I had intended to work wonders today but instead I shall just take it easy. I have plenty of food in the house so I think I shall just stay put.

Hopefully I should perk up soon.

lessonlearned

Quick heads up. Holland and Barratt have their 1p sale on again......

maman

Hope you manage to chase that black dog away lantanna. It's good to have a plan.:)

lessonlearned wrote: »

Chanie.....I don't always go for the MSE option either, despite being retired and having no real time constraints. So don't beat yourself up for going for convenience sometimes.

Life's too short to wear a hair shirt.,:rotfl:

I'm in the fortunate position of being mse as a challenge rather than a necessity. I've worked extremely hard for what I have and I'm not going to be ripped off;). So I can be very mse when I choose, such as careful meal planning for no waste and mainly shopping in Aldi. But at the same time I'll happily spend on a meal out or a holiday as that's my choice.

lessonlearned wrote: »

Well my family and I have come to a decision re presents.

We have decided to stop buying "stuff".

How sensible to make that decision now rather than when people have started buying later in the year. We took a similar decision some years ago mainly prompted by my DD1 who just hates 'stuff'. DD2 goes along with it but she's a shopaholic so she satisfies herself with buying for her friends and in-laws. We don't buy any Christmas gifts for adults. The DGDs are older now so they have money and/or something they've asked for specially. We do buy for birthdays but that's generally just a small gift, a meal together and money to treat themselves. I think you'll be OK while your grandson is tiny but when he goes to school there'll be pressure. I'm sure you'll stay strong.:cool:


ETA: I often buy 'saw this and thought of you' gifts in the year. That can be from charity shops or anywhere.


Welcome house elf.:) I can empathise with how you're feeling. I felt the same when I first joined the thread, like an invisible bag lady.:( I try not to bang on about it on here (often not too successfully:o) but losing weight was what lifted me most. Slimming World worked for me. I'd second what LL says about grooming in general. Take an audit of yourself top to toe and start taking care of yourself. You're worth it! So, if you've decided on white hair make sure it's super shiny and well cut. Are your eyebrows looking good? Do you have facials? This can be DIY or Groupon or whatever? Do you look after your skin? Facials, body lotions.... I could go on right down to pedicures and painted toenails!:rotfl:


I find waxing is best for my eyebrows amara. I have it done professionally but it lasts up to a couple of months with some plucking to keep them tidy. Lately I've been having tinting too and I'm a convert to that.:)


It's a difficult time of the year for eating and drinking as there's often stuff left from Christmas and being mse we don't like to waste food:money:. I'd copy lantanna and make a meal plan from whatever you have in and buy a minimum but make sure that what you buy is healthy. Soon you should be able to eliminate all the 'bad' stuff. Alternatively you can feed the chocolates and biscuits to the family or give it to a food bank.


It's a lovely, bright if chilly day here. I'll be going out after lunch. Probably won't have time for a walk but at least it's fresh air and daylight. Dancing classes start again next week so exercise will be upped. Still keeping up with the water too and I've decided on my first books so may try the library tomorrow or if not splash out and buy them.:)

humptydumptybits

I always give money for GC, they have plenty of stuff. Some is in savings and some goes to things like a foreign trip with school that parents pay part of and child has to contribute which I think is a good idea. With mine I always said they could have one foreign school trip, if they wanted more they had to pay (they usually had a bit of help but it is amazing how much less attractive a trip to Paris is if you are paying yourself. My view was if it wasn't worth their money it wasn't worth mine)


For Christmas I normally pay for a treat for them all, so trip to an ice show, theatre or sport event they like. When they are babies instead of the outing they get an outfit as I like buying them and I figure it helps mum and dad.