Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

maman

Welcome ancientmum. You're welcome to lurk if you prefer but do contribute if you can. 😊

It's much brighter here as well today sukey so hoping to get out for a walk too.

Last year I gave up on fresh wreaths and bought quite a passable artificial one. What I'll do (as I used to with the fresh ones) is tart it up a bit with a tartan (no pun intended 😉) ribbon  and a bell that I keep specially. I bought an artificial tree last year  for the first time as well. I love fresh ones but got fed up with not being able to find the size/shape that I wanted and then however hard I tried, the needles would drop. Considering I don't put decorations up until 20th December (DD1's birthday) I wasn't getting much luck. 

I'm going to give myself a manicure later . It's amazing how quickly my nails are growing. I like them long but too long and they interfere with typing. 

I am finding lockdown a bit boring. I have things I could do (sorting family photos is one of the many tasks I've been putting off) but can't seem to find motivation. I'm sure the feeling will pass. 😊

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies, 

Welcome Ancient Mum. Good to have you delurking and posting, thank you for your contribution. 

Sukey I am sorry that you have not had any luck in finding a new job yet. It is more difficult to job hunt successfully in the midst of this pandemic, but it is not impossible. Chanie managed it and is settling down in her new post., so there is hope for you and other job hunters. Keep fabbing, do it for yourself. You are definitely worth it. It is not only your facial skin that will benefit. 

Chanie good on you for trying new ideas and gaining new skills. Would you take photographs of your finished Christmas wreath and share them with us, please. 

I deep clean my kitchen, my living room and my bedroom 2 or 3 times a year, so I last did them in July. I leave my son and daughter to deep clean their own bedrooms, as they are more than capable of doing their bedrooms to my own exacting high cleaning standards. 

I have finished deep cleaning my kitchen. I will start on my Living room tomorrow morning. It is a much bigger task than my kitchen, as I have so many more items of furniture, books, files and really useful boxes full of photos and souvenirs from days out to move as I clean and replace in their original positions. 

I would normally not put up decorations and our Christmas tree until the week preceding Christmas, but this year I want to prolong the joy, so I will put them up mid December. 

thepurplepixie

Missed a few days so need to catch up.  I've had a bad few days and feeling it!  DH not doing well, terrible pain that morphine isn't touching.  It seems harder in lockdown, all I want to do is eat so I think I might be huge by Christmas.

sugarbaby125

Hello Purple Pixie,
I am sorry that both you and your husband are suffering with your health. Chronic pain is so hard to get under control. I hope you both begin to feel somewhat better within a few days. 

It really is comforting in the midst of this pandemic to eat the foods we love the most, so do try not to beat yourself up Pixie. You can still make small changes that will have a positive effect in the coming months. You might try to get more daily exercise to offset the extra food that you are consuming. 

I had a blip 2 weeks ago and gave in to my craving for crisps.  I loved every mouthful, but did regret eating the crisps, because it intensified my longing for more crisps. I am resisting buying and eating any more before Christmas Eve, when I will allow myself a small packet of crisps. 

I am eating more carbs, now that the colder weather has arrived. I am never keen on salads when the weather is cold enough to warrant my central heating being on. I prefer warming stews, pasta bolognese, roast dinners and stir fries at the moment. I am cooking more meals with rice or potatoes as well. 

sheilavw

Welcome Ancient Mum.

sorry you havent secured a new job yet Sukey, fingers crossed something will come your way soon.

Sorry you have had a bad few days purple pixie.

Sugarbaby I've proper gone off salads lately. I know what you mean about wanting more substantial foods when the weather is so awful.

Good idea Maman, you can re use artificial wreaths, change them, add to them etc.

My tree will go up Mid December. That way I enjoy it. You see people on facebook who have already put them up and they are down on Boxing day because they are bored of them.

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,
Deep cleaning my kitchen has finally caught up with me, so I am delaying starting the deep clean in my living room until I am more rested and not suffering any aches and pains. 

My younger son is visiting us today, so lots of conversation and laughter in the home.  He is staying for dinner.   

maman

It's great that your son has come round sugarbaby so you can have a nice evening and relax after your exertions. Plenty of time for the living room deep clean when you're well rested. 😉

Not seen Wednesday  posting for a few days. I hope she's feeling OK?🤔

I'm another crisp fan, I much prefer savoury snacks to sweet things. I don't buy them through the year though as they call to me from the kitchen cupboard! I treat myself to the occasional packet with a meal deal when I have a day out. I'll buy some at Christmas and savour them with a turkey sandwich. 😋

I eat plenty of carbs, rice, noodles, potatoes, pasta. I think what matters is that it's only a part of a meal and that you fill up with veg. The Slimming World rule of thumb is a third each of protein, carbs and veg. It's an easy guide but I tend to have smaller meat portions and bigger veg. 

We got out for a walk today. I wasn't very fab as decided not to wash my hair as the air was very damp and I knew it would ruin it. We just walked around the streets locally and along the river, just under the 8000 steps. I like the countryside, especially the seaside, but I'm just as happy in city streets. The area we walked today was mostly Victorian and Edwardian villas, I  enjoy looking out  for the original features like plasterwork and tiled paths and porches. 

This afternoon I finished one book and started another. I enjoy reading but I'm very sporadic unless I'm on holiday when I can get through a book a day on a sun lounger. 😎

ancientmum

Thank you for all the welcoming messages

sukeyboo

Managed to get out early for a walk this morning - the sun was shining when I left and I walked for about an hour - just as I got home the heavens opened so I was lucky 😉. I have the same problem maman as my hair just goes frizzy as soon as the damp gets near it so, at this time of the year, I don’t tend to go for a walk when I have just washed & styled my hair.

This is the view from where I normally go for my walks - from home it is just over a mile and a half round circuit

maman

That's beautiful sukey. Thanks for posting the photo. The rain has come here too. I need to go out later but I'll be taking the car and wearing a hood! 😉

The Wednesday fashion pages are really scraping the barrel at the moment. There's only just so much they can write about leisure wear. 😁

Today they wrote about how much flesh to bare and sleeveless tank tops. Personally I like a scooped neckline and wrap around skirts or ones with discreet  splits but I'm not a fan of those tops with cut outs at the shoulders.  I like sleeveless tops but not at this time of the year, definitely a hot weather or evening wear look.

They also reckon there's a return to Diana fashions.  I suppose it's to coincide with the latest series of The Crown on the television. I did wonder when I saw Kate wearing this blouse for Remembrance day phone calls:
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/kate-middleton-peter-pan-collar-blouse-ghost-buy-b1720892.html
I won't be rushing out to spend £79 on one! 

One thing I did agree with was an article about keeping up with beauty routines during lockdown. I know we're not going anywhere much but I think it's good for morale. I took my time with my shower this morning and did a defuzz along with my usual skincare. 

Hope everyone is coping. There's a survey out today that far more people are feeling lonely this lockdown than last  time plus the uncertainty about Christmas. I'm taking it a day at a time. 😊