Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

chanie

I popped to town today as DD needs some new clothes and I wanted to get her a few bits before the  summer stock went.  Like maman’s experience, many shops were still shut.  Some shops had queues, like sportswear shops and banks.  

i also braved IKEA.  I knew what I wanted to get and where I could find it in store, so I was in and out quickly.

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Ladies 

Here comes the sun😁.  Well some rain forecast this afternoon (maybe) but then lots of lovely sunshine next week.  

Well I've still not visited any non food shops although I have splurged and  ordered a new rug for my sitting room - a mustard coloured one.  I painted my room in blues and greys Just before Christmas and kept burgundy as my accent colours, I'm now going to go for mustard for a change.  

I will keep the burgundy rug and put that in the dressing room.  I love to ring the changes and often switch things round.  One of the things I've missed is browsing places like Dunhelm and of course trips to ikea but I'm guessing at the moment it's not really possible to browse but rather like Chanies trip to Ikea you more or less have to know what you want.  

Anyway I'm sure I'll get there one day.  I have got plenty to keep my occupied for now, especially as the weather looks so good for next week.

Just looking forward to some lovely sunshine.  

Wednesday2000

My Superdrug turmeric face pack arrived yesterday and I tried it out this morning. I bought some magnesium salts to put in the bath and I used them today as well.

I also ordered some wine from Aldi and I saw they have Lacura day cream which is vegan so I got some of that too.

I feel so much better after my husband dropped some stuff off at the tip this week. It was driving me crazy having it in the house. My husband is going to see if the charity shops are open today while he is back at work and then he can take my donation bags next week. I am getting rid of so many clothes! I need a whole new wardrobe when this is over.

I cannot wait to get my hair cut as well!

helensbiggestfan

Wednesday....I bet you feel tons better for getting rid of stuff.  And a great idea to replenish your wardrobe.  I just can't wait to tackle my clutter mountain. Although it's all neatly packed away in the spare room ready to go to the charity shops I still know it's there and the thought of It is just driving me nuts.....😂. As for the shed and a section of the garden....😱 - that is a job and a half.  There are also piles of garden stones, builders rubble, wood etc stashed behind the shed and down the side of the house. Out of sight but definitely not out of mind.  I can't stand mess and clutter. 

I have decided that When I get back from my holiday (I go two weeks today💃) I'm going to order a skip and just clear the lot.  I'm going to have the mother of all purges.  Then once that's all done I can get the outside of the house painted.  It's currently a drab mucky cream and there are patches of new render where I had new windows put in and dirty faded bits where the old shutters were removed. Plus the previous painters got paint all over the brickwork.  It's such a mess so I'm thinking a nice new smart paint job, window boxes and nice planters by the door.  Some outside lights and I'm looking at glow in the dark gravel to help light up pathways. 😂.  

I love outside lighting to highlight specimen trees and features of interest. And now you don't have to have it all wired in (expensive) so I'm going to try some solar and battery lit alternatives. I noticed my baby Christmas tree has really taken off and needs repotting.  Last year I bought it inside for Christmas but this year its big enough to leave outside and light up.  Oh dear I mustn't start wishing my life away. 

Anyway. You get the idea.......some major Marie KondoIng is called for.  I thought I had done a pretty good job with my last couple of purges but as I look around I can see loads I want to get rid of. And yes definitely a wardrobe revamp.  I was only looking through the other day......some of my clothes are lovely but some is just so so.  I'm going to keep the best and ditch the rest, then gradually replace with high quality clothes I really love.  Life is too short to wear clothes that I don't adore.  

 I am ashamed to say I have clothing with labels still on them.....stuff I bought online and then didn't really like.  So naughty and I do feel guilty at the silly waste of money but deep down I know  I don't like them or the colour doesn't suit me so I'm just going to bite the bullet. I might try and sell the most expensive items but I doubt I'll get much.  The money has already been spent so I may as well forget it.  No point crying over spilt milk. Lol. 

I read somewhere not to think of it as money wasted but rather to regard it as a learning experience. So that's what I'll do.😉. It's taught me not to buy clothes online unless I'm 100% sure or it's an eBay bargain from a reputable manufacturer.  Having said that one of my failures was a Jacques Verte coat. I usually do ok with JV but the coat was so disappointing. Nice enough but I just don't feel right in it and I know I will never wear it.  Not my colour and a weird length.  I though about having it altered but then I still don't like the colour. It's purple and a great colour but unfortunately it makes me look washed out.  

I watched that What to Wear programme, either last night or Thursday, can't remember which - losing track of the days.  I thought most of the choices were pretty dire and they did nothing for the poor guinea pigs.  The only exception was the designer who chose clothes for a man in a wheelchair.  I thought she did a superb job, she listened to him and took his needs and wants on board and took great care to find clothes that would not only looked good on him but were wheelchair user friendly, tailored and smart but still allowing plenty of upper body movement, without that awful uncomfortable bunching up that people in wheelchairs often have to contend with. He is a young athlete, aged 30 and very fit despite being born with disability issues and a lifetime wheel chair user. .  She actually found him a pair of easy pull on soft suede Suede Chelsea boots.  His face just lit up......he said it was the first time in his life he had had proper shoes.  Bless his heart, it was so moving.  You could see it was the first time he actually had nice fashionable clothes that made him feel good.  

It's a tall order trying to find suitable clothing for wheel chair users which I think is why so many people in wheelchairs give up and end up in joggers and sweatshirts. My poor husband used to love getting dressed up but had to spend the last few years of his life in easy pull on clothing, same with my mum, and care homes are full of people in shapeless washed out sports wear.  It's perhaps not something manufacturers think about but finding nice clothing for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility Is so depressing. 

My new rug has just This minute arrived......I only ordered it yesterday.  How's that for service.  It's gorgeous.  I was a bit concerned that the mustard colour might be a bit garish but it's lovely, a soft autumn leaf colour.  Perfick.  Just need to find some nice new cushions now.  

Right brunch break over.....back to it. I have already nipped to the local Mini Tesco's for milk and a couple of bits.  That will probably be my food shop this week, going to run down stocks now before I go away.   Might need some f&v later in the week.  I am aiming to call in at the little mini B@M type shop later.  They have loads of bedding plants and shrubs at the moment so I'll go and see what they have in today.  

Happy Fabbing everyone.  

Wednesday2000

I just ordered a new rug too LL. A shaggy red one for my living room. It's meant to be arriving tomorrow. I want my new house to be all white and dark red.

My Aldi cream just arrived. It's very stylish packaging. I really have to go to an Aldi store when this is over as I keep reading what nice food and other things they sell there. I hope it suits my skin. I am still using the hydrating cream and then Lumene Nordic cream at the moment which is working well but I thought I would see what the Aldi one is like.

Speaking of Christmas, I just gave my MIL my artificial Christmas tree as I have wanted to get a real one for about 10 years now! This year will be the year.

sheilavw

I treated myself to the M and S beauty bag for £15, you had to order £25 of stuff , needed a flesh coloured bra , and I got some new black skinny jeans . Lots of treats to try!

The gardener is here again installing the decking. I cannot believe it will be nearly finished. Got my sage/cream garden harbour to go on it, I've hung tiny Laura Ashley sage bunting on the back board. All my pots are painted dark green. In my tall chimney pots I have lavender plants. I also bought a metal cream shabby chic outdoor table/2 chairs during winter in the sale to sit on the decking. It should all look lovely

maman

We were very unlucky with our NT visit on Thursday. It was the only day we've had heavy rain! Fortunately, it did clear up while we were there and it was good to get out somewhere fairly 'normal'.  As expected, the roses had gone over but I'd expected the grounds, flower beds etc to be in better condition. It hadn't occurred to me that nothing much had been done to the gardens during the lockdown period they were closed so it was all looking a bit unkempt. There were a very few NT people working there trying to catch up with weeding and pruning. I suspect that was because most of their volunteers are in the older age group. Maybe that's one of the reasons that the CSs are still closed round here too?? 


I would definitely recommend a trip to Aldi Wednesday. The beauty products can be a bit hit and miss in terms of availability. Some is regular stock but other things are done as occasional specials never to be seen again. I find most of the products I've tried suit my skin but fortunately they're cheap enough so if a cream isn't good on your face you can always use it up on your feet!

Your garden really does sound great Sheila. You must take pictures when it's finished.  

I've been feeling guilty about browsing in shops LL. I almost feel obliged to hurry when I'm in a shop as others might be waiting to get in. I suppose as more and more places open the feeling will pass. We've been invited to lunch with friends this week. It'll be a barbecue in the garden with just a group of 5 of us that meet regularly for lunch. I think that's allowed under current regulations but I'm really not sure. It's almost as if people have decided to do what's best for them now regardless of government advice because the advice seems to be changed/about to change for reasons of expediency rather than health. 

Yesterday I washed a load of skirts from my everyday wardrobe. They're mainly the ones I wear for dancing in the winter. Just one is going in the CS bag, the others are all keepers. I'll iron those later while listening to the radio. That leaves just some fairly formal jackets to sort through. Since I stopped work last year I've not worn them . Maybe now's the time to get rid?? After that this wardrobe is MK'd. Maybe drawers next??

helensbiggestfan

Sounds like a few of us have got the house/garden fabbing bug😁.  Probably a reaction to spending so much time at home.  I know it's spurred me on to finish my diy and to really get everywhere spruced up.  

Just got back from the cheapo shop. They still had some pelargoniums and some pretty daisies left. I bought some last week paying £2 each which I thought were a bargain. They have now been reduced to £1 so I bought some more.  Plus a fern £5 which will go in a shady spot. So a worthwhile trip.  

Wednesday. Your white and dark red colour scheme sounds fabulous.   I love deep reds, I always have it somewhere in my house, such a warm cosy colour.  My burgandy shaggy rug that currently sits in my lounge will go in the dressing room for now and then eventually it will go in the upstairs bedroom.  It's an attic room with sloping ceilings so I'm going to go for something really bold and dramatic up there, deep reds will feature pretty strongly.  I'm going for all out Downton Abbey country house elegance up there.  My dark mahogany furniture, (which my son donated to me) a chandelier I've never used yet and I've got some lovely dark bronze bedside lights, so Lots of deep reds and coppers, and some William Morris type paper. I have got some gorgeous gold multi coloured silk fabric, around 5 metres. It would make a lovely kimono - can just see myself wafting around up there like Lady Grantham.  😂. I'm aiming to make a start later this year, just need to sort out the extra insulation first. 

Sheila.....your garden sounds so pretty.  It will be a joy to sit in.  

Maman. I think you should be fine with your BBQ. The weather is set to be lovely next week so just enjoy.  I don't know whether it's Technically flouting guidelines but you are a law abiding citizen so I'm sure you will be sensible. TBH I think the guidelines are so complex and fuzzy round the edges now, constantly changing to meet the prevailing winds of opinion. I think the decisions are largely political now rather than based on health and safety.  And let's face it, after the exodus to the beaches and the countryside, the protest marches and now apparently illegal raves,  Lockdown was more or less abandoned weeks ago by a fairly large minority. I doubt that a small BBQ for just 5 people in a private garden is going to make much difference to the overall statistics.  I'm sure you will be fine.

  I do wear masks when I go shopping and will continue to do so.  Luckily I can avoid public transport but after the holiday, all being well, I'm going to expand my horizons a little.  I fancy a mooch round some DIY sheds and garden centres and maybe places like Dunhelm.  Oh the excitement.  🤣. 

Wednesday2000

helensbiggestfan said:

   I fancy a mooch round some DIY sheds and garden centres and maybe places like Dunhelm.  Oh the excitement.  🤣. 

I'm quite excited that Gregg's is open, my husband bought me two vegan sausage rolls to bring home. 

He said that the chazzers are still closed, however, so I will have to hang on to my unwanted clothes and books for a while. Maybe they will reopen Monday...

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,
It is a real joy to be looking after my younger son once again. He is enjoying lots of home cooked meals, so now he is having a much more balanced diet every day.    His cooking skills are limited, so when he is living in his Urbanest accommodation in Waterloo and has to do his own shopping and cooking, he eats what I term 'oven food' which is  mostly processed food. 

My son will be 20 on the 28th June, so once again it will just be the 3 of us celebrating at home. 

I have so many branded toiletries from the Sanctuary and Boots No7 ranges, both full size and travel size. I want to use as much of these products in 2020 as possible, so since lockdown, I spend even more time on pampering myself.    By the end of the year, I should have used up most of the products. I had a lot of travel size products in both of these ranges and also lots of travel size Boots Tea tree & Witch Hazel products which I usually took with me when I was visiting either of my sisters in Birmingham. As it is no longer safe for me to visit my sisters in Birmingham, I am using the travel size products at home. 

I had a chest x-ray yesterday at King's College Hospital. In a week's time I will know if the pneumonia I contracted as a result of Covid-19 has damaged my lungs. Hopefully it has not.