Frump to Fab 2021

thepurplepixie

I've been out for a walk,very cold but quite refreshing.  Popped into one shop while I was out and my mask was so much better with new elastic so I was pleased with that.  Spoke to son and he sounds much better, we have been communicating by text as his cough was so bad and it was nice to hear him and I felt reassured.  Bins have just been emptied so I'm just going to go and put them away.  I'm expecting a food delivery this afternoon, I've got plenty in but nice to have some fresh bread and fruit.

Hope 2021 is going well for everyone.

maman

Well done on making the effort TC77. It obviously paid off.😉

Glad to hear the earache has gone LL.  You seem to be having a very productive day Wednesday.😊

I've heard of  Decleor products  sukey, I think they often use them in  smart salons.  I'm not good with regular facials. About the only time I have them professionally is with Groupon. I find them wonderfully relaxing but can't say they do much to improve my skin.  Perhaps I should persevere. I have looked at those masks you can buy, a bit like the foot masks. Anyone else got views on facials? 🤔

 I'm now 100% converted to having my eyebrows tinted as well as waxed. This time I had the tint a few shades darker but maybe I needed it because my hair is darker.  I'm another who had a tooth out during lockdown. It's left a gap obviously but not in the front. It helps that we're wearing masks!😷The dentist said they'll discuss options at my next appointment. 

Inspired by MrsPorridge, I went for a walk today. It was cold but really bright and sunny. I found some thermal leggings that I'd bought for football in the drawer and they were really excellent. They have actual fleece on the inside, like teddy bear fur. 😊

Wednesday2000

I've never had a professional facial Maman. I was thinking that earlier strangely enough.

I'm glad your son feels better Pixie.

I have been quite productive today. I read some more of my current book and then started the new Dr Chatterjee book as well. I reorganised my husband's wardrobe and gave him one of my shoe racks. I need to sort out my wardrobe as well as I have bags and boots out in the bedroom and not put away tidily. I need my husband to be here to help me move the chest of drawers as it is really heavy.

I wore my blue dotty dress with my red tights and a red waterfall cardigan. Not that I even went out today. I didn't manage a walk so nobody saw what I was wearing. I'm not sure if I like the red tights, I think they might be a bit too bright. I wanted purple but I couldn't find any online.

I'm about to sit down and watch a horror on Netflix. The remake of The Nightmare of Elm Street. The reviews weren't amazing though so I might not sit through all of it!

chanie

I think there are two types of facial.  The first is more of the beauty therapy type, where they will cleanse and exfoliate your skin using lots of nice creams and massaging techniques.  I guess these probably work on a surface level, so the results are quite short term eg a couple of days.  

The second type is more of a clinical type facial, which probably isn’t as relaxing, but they will treat conditions like aging or acne and they will probably use machines or other specialist equipment.  These will probably last a a bit longer e.g. a couple of weeks.  These will include treatments like micro needling or microdermabrasion.

I didn’t realise there was a difference, but I’m now veering towards more clinical type treatments for longer lasting results.

FrankieM

The Dr Chatterjee book was delivered on New years Eve and I spent the night reading it to the end.
It's got some really helpful information in it and I'm going to make a start with a few ideas a month rather than everything all at once.

January's plan is having an eating window (9am - 7pm), drinking more water and not eating snacks/junk food (proper meals only)

I'm trying to build the habits before adding more as I often go at things like a bull in a china shop and then struggle to maintain them.

misstara

Weighed myself this morning and have put on almost half a stone which is not as bad as I thought.  Meals and snacks have been planned out for the week although ended up having leftover Chinese takeaway for tea at work.  It was very yummy though.

Planned a run this morning but ended up just going for a walk as it was so icy out.  Lovely hot shower when I got home, used a new body scrub and lotion that I got for Christmas.  Put on some make-up for work, just eye make-up as I wear a mask all the time at work, made me feel good and got a compliment from a colleague.  Due to constant mask wearing, I have a lot of blocked pores on my chin and nose, anyone got any tips for getting rid of them?

Wednesday2000

That sounds like a good plan Frankie.

I got up today and started reading more of the Dr Chatterjee book. 

I did take his advice to have dinner for breakfast (helps to control blood sugar) this morning and I had leftover red lentil soup with rice and broccoli. It was delicious and filling but looking at my plate the measurements were way off. He advises splitting your plate into 50% non starch veg, 30% protein and 20% carbs and my carbs were way too high! I didn't realise carrots were considered carbs. I will try and stick to his rule at lunch and dinner today.

I also brought in my dumbbells from the garden storage box and put them in the front porch next to the kitchen. He advises keeping them there and then every time you boil a kettle in the morning try and do at least 5 bicep curls. I just did three sets of 10 while I was waiting for the kettle to boil.

I'm feeling very positive today. It's lovely and bright and sunny too. I might do an at home walking video after I finish the book.

maman

Half a stone isn't too bad at all miss tara. I've got just two chocolates left for this evening and then healthy eating starts with a vengeance tomorrow. I'm really not a snacker normally but I have enjoyed a few chocolates and crisps in the evenings for the past week or so. 

It's difficult to be definitive about fruit and veg Wednesday. I think you have to look at them on a spectrum. Carrots are nutritious so better than potatoes but not as good as leafy greens IYSWIM. It's the same with fruit. There are healthy reasons to eat bananas and grapes but they aren't as low carb/low sugar as perhaps oranges.  

Thanks for the feedback about the facials chanie. I’ll look out for the more remedial ones on Groupon.  Obviously nothing is open at the moment but I have seen the dermabrasion advertised from time to time.

I had a good pamper session this morning, so moving on to the rest of my skin. I always use shower gel and body lotion but my priority for those isn’t the brand as much as I really like a pump action dispenser. It may sound daft but fiddling about squeezing tubes in the shower is a real faff. I’m currently using a fairly inexpensive ( and often on offer) shower gel/bubble bath from Waitrose as I love the rose scent. 

Argan+ Moroccan Rose Calm Bath Soak | Waitrose & Partners

It’s in a repurposed container from M&S. I’ve used all sorts of body lotions depending on what I can find including Johnson’s Baby Lotion. I do sometime layer Clarins Eau Dynamissante eau du toilette and body lotion but only on high days and holidays.

 

I’m using up a Clarins body scrub from a gift set on my knees, heels and elbows. I’m not sure I’d buy a body scrub but it’s been good to try it. For a big part of the year I use fake tan mixed with my body lotion. It gives a bit of colour before my holiday and extends my natural tan afterwards. Then pre Christmas I use it to give my arms some colour before wearing strappy evening dresses. My favourite is Palmer’s Cocoa Butter. It does smell a bit like chocolate biscuits but that soon fades.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Body Lotion 400ml | Superdrug

It's really cold here today so don't think we'll be going out. Keep warm and safe everyone. 😊

sashybo

Hi all,

Reading along as usual, just thought I'd pop my head round the door of the new thread.

Maman, I enjoy getting facials but more for the relaxation than the skin benefits. I did find that when I had them regularly (every 3 months or so) that my skin felt better overall but I don't know if that was coincidence or not. I haven't had one for well over a year now as didn't have time with a toddler and new baby and then Covid appeared. 😢 

I like body scrubs, they just make my skin feel a bit smoother. I prefer a body scrub bar though rather than anything in a tub or tube.

Wednesday have you tried snag tights ? They have loads of different colours and are really comfy as have their own sizing method.

I've been buying some dresses/tunics online in the sales as they are easy for me to throw on over leggings with the kids about and look relatively nice. I have recently got a couple from weird fish and they are really nice, 100% cotton and feel good quality. I recommended it to my MIL too as she likes similar places to me for tops/tunics. I also like nobody's child which I only heard about through maman on this thread. 👍 I can wear the mini dresses with leggings or thick tights and the midi dresses are good with my Dr Marten Chelsea boots and tights in winter and nice with sandals in the summer. 

I really need to go through my clothes as I have so many that I don't wear. I'm definitely leaning towards more dresses and tunics with leggings as they are comfy but can also look a bit smarter. I still have baby weight to shift so need stretchy bottoms atm! 😆

thepurplepixie

I think I'm going off chocolate, which is a lifetime love.  I have 4 bars of Hotel Chocolat left, one box of Hotel Chocolat left and half of a giant box of Hotel Chocolat.  Are you beginning to sense a theme in my Christmas presents?  I've already eaten the Ferrero Rocher, three boxes of chocolates and half the giant box of Hotel Chocolat.  The amazing thing is I can still get into my clothes!  I'm not even getting much exercise as I'm wimping out on the freezing weather. 

I know it seems ungrateful but I am thinking of who I could give some of the chocolate to, I think my Presbyterian mother gave me a disgust of overindulgence and then I've got Catholic guilt on my father's side.   What a combination.

I think I might need some dental treatment (all the chocolate?)  Actually I had a small operation 32 years ago, when I woke up the biting edge of a front tooth was rough as if they damaged it when doing whatever they do.  My dentist filed it down but obviously the enamel must be thinner there and it is getting a bit sensitive.  Not sure what can be done but I think something will have to be done.  Maybe I will need a crown.  I have an appointment, I will have to check it as I can't remember if it is late January or early Feb, I'm not quite as disorganised as I sound as I have a dentist appointment and a hygienist appointment and I'm not sure which is which but I do have appointments in January and February.

My son is continuing to improve and the worst seems to be over which is such a relief.  I haven't seen him for months and I do hope we can meet up before too long.  I don't think I told you about his "reassuring" message to me.  We were communicating in texts as due to cough he couldn't talk much.  One morning last week i sent him a message and several hours later hadn't heard anything so I sent another message saying just let me know you are OK.  His reply?  Don't worry mum, if I die someone will let you know.  Wasn't quite the reassurance I was hoping for.