Frump to Fab 2021

Wednesday2000

It's freezing outside! I just went for a short walk. The grey gloves I found in my drawer are actually really warm unlike some gloves I've had. I think I got them from George.

I was watching a YT blogger and she was saying if you wear loose clothing on one half of your body you should wear a fitted item on the other half. I realised I need another shorter fitted jacket as I have been wearing my denim one with my maxi dresses and skirts and it's not really weather appropriate. I got rid of a couple of other jackets just before we went into tier 4 so that is the only shorter one I have apart from my coats.

She has also said that if you can afford it it is worth getting a designer bag or coat as an investment piece Chanie.

We are watching more of the show The Boys today. It's good but quite violent and adult in theme. We finished the first series yesterday.

MrsPorridge

We took our decorations down today.  I have had enough of them - I want to get back to "normal" now and am anxious for the New Year.  Eating up leftovers still.
Every afternoon about 3pm DH and I have a cup of tea and piece of cake.  We always use our best china cups and saucers for this plus a lovely teapot.  We bring it into the sitting room and sit and drink tea - it really does taste nice in the china cups and makes us both feel good - you really can't beat a good cuppa.

helensbiggestfan

Snow day here.  ☃️☃️  Very pretty. 

Welcome TC77. You've come to the right place for tips, motivation and a bit of fun. 

Definitely use your nice things.....make it a rule from now on.  What are you saving them for.🤷‍♀️  You only live once, so wear the nice clothes, use the best crockery. Do it for you.  We are sooooo worth it. 😂😂.  

Another vote for drinking tea from nice porcelain.   It does taste different (Nicer)  but then I don't do builders tea.😂.  I am also an outrageous coffee snob but actually I find Aldi's Italian blend as good as any from posh delis.  At only £1.09 it's a nice little luxury treat.  

Chanie....have you got a specific handbag or designer in mind.  I have quite a few, mainly vintage.  I'm on the lookout for a nice mulberry.  I have been lusting after one for ages......a good bag will last a lifetime.  One of my favourites is a 60s crocodile classic.  Nearly as old as me.....for new bags I tend to keep an eye out in TJ Maxx.  You never know what you might find there.  

And you know me and coats.......I have just ordered yet another one from EBay.  Vintage.  Hartnell of London no less,  bright red, pure wool. £6.50 what's not to like. 😂.  I am also watching a full length cream wool Windsmoor.  A good make, not particularly high fashion but good for classics.  One way or another I have bought 3 coats and three jackets in the last couple of weeks. Some I will keep, some I will resell if I can bear to part with them.   Lol.  I might have to er hem "test drive" them first though.  Ha ha. 

I know I sound extravagant but the most expensive of my recent coat purchases was £16.50.  A nice little French number, trimmed with fur. Oooh la la.  

One of my new books has just arrived so that settles it.  A nice cosy afternoon on the sofa.  I did think I might start some decluttering but it's a bit cold up in the attic room. It can wait.  

Have a great day, y'all.  

leftatthetrafficlights

I'd like to join too if I may? I've put on a lot of weight this year and look shocking! 🙈 It's mainly due to using alcohol to deal with stress, not spending any time looking after myself, eating poorly and doing no excercise!! Not a surprise that I'm in the state I'm in but determined to put it right in 2021 😉

helensbiggestfan

Today's top tip.

To all newbies. And as a reminder for the rest of us......

life is short......

"Take the trip, buy the shoes, eat the cake" 

If covid has taught us anything it is that life is unpredictable and we need to grab every opportunity that comes our way.  

Choose life, choose happiness, choose fun.  

maman

Welcome TC77 and leftatthetrafficlights.😊 This is a friendly, supportive and very comfortable thread. Pleased you've decided to join. 😊

I agree with LL, that here's no point in keeping things for best just for the sake of it. But I also think it's important to dress right for the occasion and, at the moment, there aren't many occasions!! One of the things I did , not long before lockdown, was to buy in some 'one mile' clothes. That's leisure clothes that  make me feel good at home but are smart enough to slip to the local shop or post office.  They don't have to be expensive. In my case it's mainly leggings and a smart top or jumper but it makes me feel better than wearing second or third best stuff that I've had for years. Most of us buy in the charity shops or on Ebay too so can be quite mse. 😉 

If you really want to lose weight then I wouldn't spend too much on 'big' clothes. I needed to lose weight when I joined the thread  and like you, turnleftatthetrafficlights, the easy habit of opening wine was one thing I had to get on top of. I found this cutting down thread very useful. Do take a look. A new thread is about to start, it's like a star chart for grown ups.😁
Giving up/ Cutting Down Alcohol Thread Part 16 - Page 691 — MoneySavingExpert Forum

I was thinking today that it's probably about a year since I had my highlights done. I've probably had my hair cut about 3/4 times  since so they've mostly grown out. I've used products for blonde hair and some occasional highlighter spray and it's looking really good, shiny and in excellent condition. So that's one fobbing routine I'm delighted with. 

I'm going to hang on to my decorations until Saturday Mrs Porridge. They didn't go up until 19th so not too fed up yet. I'll leave the door wreath until January 6th but everything else will go away at the weekend. 

Healthy eating will resume here properly, after the weekend,  on Monday 4th. Most of my meals have gone back to normal but I am having some treats in the evenings but not to excess. 

It's been an odd day here, everything from sleety snow to glorious sunshine. I did go food shopping and I should be OK now until the end of next week. I started a new book yesterday LL but plan to do some batch cooking this afternoon so might ration myself today. 😉

helensbiggestfan

I've just taken down one of my Christmas trees, the real one I brought in from the garden.  The other two are fake and can stay up for a little while yet. I looked at the real one this morning and thought it looked a bit sorry for itself.  Despite watering it regularly I thought it looked a bit dehydrated so I've put it back outside.  I don't want to lose it.  Hoping that next year it will be big enough to decorate with outside lights and make it a feature.  

That's the problem with putting up decorations early, the real greenery is in danger of dying off and I'm afraid I do get fed up with stuff everywhere. It's just a dust trap really.  I rarely last until Twelfth Night.  So I've just blitzed the lounge and am now settled. Last of the cold turkey today, so a no cook day - just cold meats, cheese and salads. 

I have got pretty bad backache today and am walking rather stiffly so didn't risk going out in the snow and slipping on the ice or mush.  Need to get myself back to the chiropractor soon. In the meantime will try and book a massage next week......

Hello leftatthetrafficlights.  Welcome to our Merry gang.  Give it 6 months and you will be transformed.  😉

ancientmum

Hello, please can I join in again, lurking and picking up tips, occasionally posting.
  I have warm cotton pyjama trousers which I wear round the house with daytime tops and jumpers. Then I only need to change into decent trousers to go out. I rarely wear a skirt in winter.
  I have allocated £360 from my annual budget for clothes, hairdressing and cosmetics.  I have a cut and blow dry every 3 months, with a fringe trim in between.  I buy clothes from sales or charity shops  but should be able to manage on what I already have this year.  I will need some new walking sandals as my old ones gave up the ghost in September after years of sterling service.
This is the first year I've set a budget.  Do other posters do this  or just buy things as they need them?

helensbiggestfan

Hi Ancientmum.  

Welcome back.  

How much to budget........how long is a piece of string.  It all depends if you split health and beauty or whether you lump them together.  

 I don't class massages as beauty treatments, for me they are a health essential.  Without them I seize up.  Same with podiatrists, opticians or the dentist.  In my world, they come first, before beauty treatments and unfortunately the older I get the more high maintenance I seem to become.  Alas, The bills for supplementary health care needs seem to get higher each year.  I guess it goes with the territory.  

When it comes to clothes and beauty spending I don't have a pre set budget as such. I am not that organised.  😂.  However, I can say that I don't spend anywhere near £360 on clothes or cosmetics.   I do have a lot of clothes but I can honestly say I don't spend much at all.  My family always tease me about my vast wardrobe but then I keep my favourites for decades.  And nowadays charity shops or ebay are always my first port of call.  I just don't like most of the clothing on the high street. I think most of it is "expensive tat".  Lacking imagination, horrible fabrics, poor workmanship.  Having said that just occasionally  I find Primark surpass themselves and come up with some amazing lines, so I always pop in when I'm passing.  Yes it's fast fashion and I have issues with that but I don't think they are any worse than most high street shops or supermarkets.  It's all a bit of a con because many of the supposed high end brands use the same factories and same workers anyway.  The fashion industry, perhaps more than any other, can be a minefield for anyone who wants to shop ethically, buy good quality and who is mindful of their budgets.  

I think for a lot of people the biggest beauty expense is probably haircuts, especially if you get it coloured but I do think that a good haircut is probably the best beauty investment you can make.  The right haircut can work wonders and good hairdressers are worth their weight in gold.  Luckily I no longer get mine coloured so my hairdressing costs are quite low. 

  Everything else I do myself.  Manicures, pedicures, facials etc are just as effective when you do them yourselves, you just don't get the same "pampering". But it's easy enough to create an enjoyable home salon or spa experience.  Home treatments can save you a lot of money.  

Make up and skin care can cost as much or as little as you want to spend.  Some of the budget ranges are just as good as many of the premium brands.  Superdrug, Aldi, Lidl all do fantastic "lookalikes" to some of the most expensive premium brands, using exactly the same ingredients. Aldi constantly wins beauty industry awards for their skin care ranges.  For example they have a skin care range called "Caviar" which retails at around £7 which actually outperformed Creme de la Mer which costs £££.  

I think you just need to keep an open mind and experiment until you find products that work for you.  And don't forget home grown products....you can find ingredients for many treatments such as face masks or moisturisers in your kitchen, in effect making them "free". 👍

TC77

Loving this thread, and impressed by the Hartnell coat. I have never set a budget but is a good idea. I don't buy that much but have lots with labels on or never worn (except comfort clothes in last few months). I'll pass on clothes to CS which they can sell but keep the bobbly ones for wondering round the house as have more wear in them before being recycled but no use to anyone else!