Frump to Fab 2022 - The Big One

helensbiggestfan

Good morning lovely ladies. 

How are we all, still upholding our new words I hope,  Sashybo "consistency" is a great word, very powerful. If we are consistent in our thoughts, words and deeds, we will, over time, build new habits and see the desired result.  It is consistency that gets us over the finish line.  If you fall by the wayside, well don't torture yourself, just pick yourself up and get back on track.

Wednesday...🤞 for you, hope it all goes through smoothly. With a BTL investor there won't be a dependent sale or chain so hopefully there should be no major hiccups.  

Well I have been busy, the EA came yesterday and it looks like I may launch mine onto the market sooner than anticipated.  It all depends on the Viking😂, how long I have to wait for him to finish off a few bits and pieces.  Also still awaiting the electrician, hopefully within the next couple of weeks.  

So it's all systems go, I am now decluttering with a vengeance. I am resolved to only take the very best or most useful, the rest can go.  I am actually looking forward to having a splurge and buying lots of nice new things. 

I'm watching Rightmove but I wont be viewing anything yet until I launch this one.  If necessary I will rent.  Still not quite sure what I want, I've earmarked properties as diverse smart city apartments, cute village cottages, suburban bungalows and even a barn conversation. (Looks fab but maybe a bit remote). Only one way to find out. 

Getting excited now.  💃  

Fabwise, I'm yoga-ing and walking. I've got a hair appt next week. I really need to give myself a manicure. All this decluttering and cleaning is playing havoc with my nails.  Right time for lunch and then I'm going to attack the kitchen cupboards.  I'm going to be ruthless.  

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Wednesday and LL I hope it all goes smoothly for you both. 

The discussion group at Blackfriars Settlement on Wednesday morning/afternoon. There were 3 members of the group celebrating their birthdays, so I took a present and card for each of them. 

On Thursday my older daughter and her husband came to pick up the alcohol that I was giving my grandson for his son's 1st birthday party for the adults who will be attending. I went downstairs to the courtyard on my housing association estate to have a chat with my daughter and son-in-law, once all of the alcoholic drinks were packed in bags and put in their car. It was so lovely to talk and listen. In the evening I went to Theatre Peckham for The Poetry Foyer Open Mic poetry evening. There were so many new to me poets who were extremely good. I had a great evening. 

On Friday evening, I went to Poetic Unity's Open Mic event at Black Cultural Archives in Brixton. I performed 3 of my poems: Memories Of A Lost Child, I Am A Woman and My Revenge. There were lots of young male and female poets that were amazingly talented so I had another great night. 

One of my nieces is celebrating her 28th birthday today. I sent her a present and cards from myself, my son and my daughter through the post and she took receipt of them today. She let me know just how pleased she was to receive the present and cards and how much she liked them. 

Watty1

Great skin advice. Thank you all especially @helensbiggestfan but also thanks to everyone who commented.   Clearly the problem is super dry skin as the itchy shins were soothed by the heel balm that came in a gift pack.  Invested in some shampoo that might help scalp and also a scalp oil moisturiser treatment pack (ok I don't really know but it sounded possible and had good reviews).  Upping water intake and also adding a supplement as per suggestions.  So much of my hair fell out due to stress that spending money on hair care products to find something that works rather than just sticking with my super cheap products seems an idea right now.

I've been thinking over how I spend money as part of the ultrafrugal January I signed up for and I realised that for now I do want to find products that work for me and if I look fab I will feel so much better I can then address the rubbish things in life.  So budget set for product experimentation, not going mad on the spends but trying a few new products in routine.   The posts here helped me see that ageing means new routines rather than the stuff that worked 20 years ago.

chanie

A quick product recommendation. 

Another designer bag for me 😂 This one is from Sainsburys by Anya Hindmarch.

It’s lovely and strong and for when a slightly posher carrier bag is needed.  Apparently, Waitrose are doing a green version.
 

helensbiggestfan

Great bag, Chanie.  I am currently on the lookout for a casual tote bag, as you say,  so much more chic than a supermarket long life plastic carrier bag. 

Which brings me nicely to something I thought I would toss into the ring.  

Enclothed Cognition. 

So what on Earth is that I hear you ask.  Well it's just a fancy scientific way of saying "When you look good, you feel good". 😁.  If you want to read up you can just Google it and you'll find lots of examples of the scientific analysis and the studies that have been done,  

but in a nutshell.....

We all know, deep down, that how we look can influence the opinion of others, how it affects our interactions with people, that we ARE judged on appearance. If you don't believe me try an experiment. Go shopping looking scruffy and down at heel and then go shopping when you are well groomed and wearing something nice.  Observe how differently people react to you.  

Well it now transpires that there is now scientific evidence to prove that how we present ourselves and show up doesn't just affect how others perceive us, it also affects how we perceive ourselves.  Showing up and looking our best can set the whole tone for our day, it can lift our spirits, make us feel energised, help us to be more positive and even more productive.  It can work wonders for our confidence and self esteem.  

If you are new to this concept or you have heard it all before and remain sceptical, just give it a try.  Start with just one day, see how you feel. Join in with Fab Friday, celebrate the end of the week by making it a day where you make a point of taking a little bit of extra care.  

I also want to introduce you to "Magic Mondays" - a way of thinking about how to greet the new week ahead.  Each Monday introduce one new thing .......it could be anything but make it something that you enjoy and which gives you pleasure.

Maybe try eating something different, a special treat that you don't normally eat.  Or maybe something that gets the old adrenaline moving.  Say a few simple yoga stretches or dancing to one of your favourite songs.  Go on.....you know what they say......dance like no one's watching. 💃😂.  Or maybe try a different way of styling your outfit by adding some different accessories. Or maybe treat yourself to a bunch of flowers.  

It's so easy to get stuck in a rut with the same old boring routines.  Spring is just round the corner, it's time to wake ourselves up with some new habits, even if it's just visiting a different supermarket for a change.  

A lovely sunny day here. I'm off out to buy some paint and decorating materials,  I need to do a few final bits to the house to get it market ready. Rather than go the diy route this time I have decided to delegate the work to the Viking.   This will free me to crack on with the decluttering and the final "fluffing". Made a good start on the kitchen yesterday, I've got 5 carrier bags full to donate to the chazzer.  And there's still more.  😱😂.  

Have a great week y'all.  And keeeeeep fabbing,  

chanie

@helensbiggestfan you’ve been saying look good, feel good’ for years.  Totally ahead of the science.  But, it’s a good reminder to us all.  I think so many of us have so much one mile wear in our wardrobes since the pandemic, but it’s nice to dress up sometimes.

Liz Hurley once said ‘I always wear make up as I’ve never seen the point of looking less than your best.’  This really resonates with me.  Not the make up, but just the simple principle of being your best you.   

Wednesday2000

The BTL guy had a person come over to do the mortgage valuation last week. I'm hoping he is going to get through this moving process quickly as possible.

I am trying to keep the house tidy in case we get anyone else viewing our house. I have done so much decluttering and moved stuff around so I wish I had lived like this all the time, haha. It looks much better and is easy to maintain once you get into the idea of resetting the house each night.

I like my new clothes from New Look and I also got some toiletries from Superdrug. I bought a purple eye pencil to try as a change. We have booked our dog in at the kennel this Saturday and we are going to one of our favourite restaurants by the sea and then meeting a couple I met last year for to see a band in a pub.

I was thinking we have quite a few concerts coming up this year, postponed from 2020! I think I might get the money back for a couple of them but I still have The Killers to see at least. Really looking forward to seeing them live, finally.

I am about to have a bath with magnesium salts and get dressed and maybe do some exercise. Maybe a walking video at home or something.

I can't believe is is almost February 2022! I was looking at the retirment projections for my husband yesterday and it seems unbelievable that 2024 is coming up relatively soon.

I just had a lovely breakfast of wholemeal toast, roasted asparagus in olive oil and a cup of a new herbal tea. Turmeric, orange and star anise.:) It is gorgeous weather here. Sunny and mild. It feels like Spring is just around the corner. Time is flying.

Watty1

Well I didn't know it had a name but it definitely is a thing :   Enclothed Cognition.   
It really does make a difference.   
At the weekend I threw away two lip glosses.  Now this might now sound much but I have very little make up. However I used one at it felt sticky and didn't make me feel great.  I tried another . Same.  I rooted around in my handbag and found one I like. Just as I went out the door I nipped back to the bathroom and threw the two I had not liked in the bin. Raising my standards and decluttering. I felt great in the one I had in my handbag even if my mouth was hidden by a mask!

sashybo

Hi all, after a lazy weekend I did some y0utube walking & Zumba whilst my 4yo was at nursery and the 2yo tried to join in. 😂

DD & I then got out into the garden and managed to sow some sweet peas, lobelia & jalapeños. The pots are sitting on the bathroom windowsill now.

DD was using a mini trowel and digging compost out of half empty pots and transporting it. She enjoyed it although she was a bit muddy. 😊

I treated myself to some L’Occitane shea butter hand cream at the weekend. I had a £10 survey voucher & am@zon were price matching so got the big tube for £16, £6 “real” money as I used my voucher. 👍🏻

chanie

I had some good news yesterday, I received a big fat Tax refund. Last year, HMRC told me I’d underpaid tax and were recovering the amount.  I was annoyed, as I get paid the same amount every month and they have all of my information anyway.  Well now, it turns out I’m due a refund.  I’m going to put the money towards our loft extension.