Frump to Fab 2023

helensbiggestfan

Happy  New Year. 

Good to see so many posting.  And to see all your plans and ideas.  

Welcome to Mrs Catz. You've made a cracking start. 

Traffic lights....Wow.  You are doing so well.  

Lily your home looks beautiful, as ever.

Wednesday.....I agree about the visual clutter.  I find it overwhelming.  That's definitely something I have been working on and will continue to tweak and perfect this year.  I shall use and showcase the very best, the rest can go.  

In fact I have cleared a cupboard this morning, ready for the charity shop to take tomorrow, along with some unwanted furniture which is currently clogging up the garage.   I want to really simplify my space this year, define and refine.    I thought I had decluttered as far as I could go for now but since moving I have realised I can and want to let go of more stuff. So that will be my focus for January. Editing my wardrobe, ornaments, etc.  just keeping (and using) the best.  No more saving the best for one day when.  

Why do we do this, why do we "save" stuff for one day when.......we are slim, out of debt, have landed the great job/man/whatever.  

  Yesterday I went to Aldi. There was a little girl wearing a sparkly dress.  She seemed so happy, revelling in looking pretty.  Why is it ok for little girls to wear their Disney  Princess outfits every day and yet so many grown ups keep their nice things "for best".  

Of course I'm not suggesting we wear our best when doing dirty jobs, decorating, gardening etc, but why do so many of us look drab, dull and boring as we go about our normal daily routines.  The beautiful clothes hanging in the wardrobe, the lovely scented candles that remain unlit, the best crockery and linens languishing in cupboards.  

Well no more, I'm getting rid of the dross, the mundane, the boring.  And I'm going to start using "the best" every day. Don't we deserve to be the best we can.  Every day.  😂🤣. 

Can't wait to get started, however today family are coming round so I'll have to be patient but the big clear out begins in earnest tomorrow.  

This year it will all be about "elevating my environment ".  Home, personal style, intellectual input (less junk tv lol). I have already closed some of my social media accounts.....(.such time wasters). healthy eating, exercise and more real life socialising, hopefully some travel.  

My mantra this year is "Blossom".  

And my new home is the perfect launching pad. 

sugarbaby125

Welcome Mrs Catz 

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies,

Helen, thanks to being a member of this thread for many years, I wear perfume every day, Elizabeth Arden Red Door. Even on days that I will not even be leaving my home, I may also layer my perfume with the matching products. I also have relaxing baths where I put Westlab Epsom Salts, Dove argan oil, and Cien Herbal bath (Lidl own brand) in my baths. I use Dove soap or for special occasions, I use Red Door shower gel. 

I used to buy most of my Red Door perfume and matching products from eBay, but I noticed in 2022 that the prices had skyrocketed, thanks to having to pay much higher prices for international postage costs and the customs and/or import charges. I had enough Red Door perfume, body powder, body lotion and shower gel to last me throughout 2022. I have one unopened body powder to start me off in 2023. 

It is also thanks to this thread, that sometimes, I will wear some of my really nice clothes to the cinema, the theatre, poetry Open Mics and Karaoke evenings. Sometimes, I may look overdressed, but I will never look or feel like a frump.  Regardless of my size or weight, I feel so much more fabulous when I bother to make the effort and wear matching jewellery and other accessories. 

My mantra this year is Radiance

liberty_lily

Welcome Mrs Catz 😊

Thank you Helen 🙂 

Whilst I don't subscribe to over-minimalising and love our *visual clutter* lol, I definitely agree that sorting the wheat from the chaff is important! I've mentioned before that we offloaded many of our treasures when downsizing (firstly in 2007 and more recently in 2017/8), but we did retain our favourite things where possible.

In fact I think we overdid it a bit on the most recent declutter when we sold some huge furniture items to a specialist decorative arts dealer in Kent as well as selling some smaller pieces via our own online business/antique fairs. Not only do we both regret some of our sales, but also subsequently needed to buy more to fill the gaps 😂

However, whilst *place holders* till the right thing comes along (or is affordable) can be a useful tool in interior design, I do prefer - where feasible - to buy things you love from the outset....these needn't be expensive  - some of my favourite pieces came from carboots for a few pennies 😍

Hopefully now we have the perfect balance, quantity-wise - but I realise many would still believe we have way too much 🙄

These days I certainly subscribe to the idea of using your best stuff - be it clothes, crockery, furniture, candles or linens (in my case towels particularly!) - on a daily basis. I spent too long trying to persuade my mum to wear her gazillions of shoes/clothes that she insisted were too good for everyday use!

Abbafan1972

I am all for wearing a nice perfume, it makes me feel really good. I do love Jimmy Choo fragrances and also Cacharel “Eden” & “LouLou” to name a few. Also, a lot of Next perfumes are really nice. 

I am going back to SW on 12th Jan as taking a couple of weeks off, so I’ve got chance to get back into it. 

Had a gorgeous Lamb dinner today, cooked by DH. 

I love Christmas, but am usually glad when it’s all over. The dawn of the New Year usually gives me a kick up the backside to get stuff done. I usually get overloaded with Christmas music and am glad to push all that out the way and start discovering loads of new music on Spotify. 

Now the evenings will be getting gradually lighter, I can start going out for walks again. 

Wednesday2000

I like a lot of perfume on other women, but I don't wear it myself. I did try to, but I started to dislike the scent. 

I use those Westlab Epsom salts too Sugarbaby.

Hello to the new people.

I just went for a solo walk on Chalkwell beach and it was very busy, even more than it was on Xmas day. There were queues at the beach cafes. I was quite hungry as I left without having breakfast, but I avoided buying anything and came home and made myself a toastie instead. Progress as I would normally have just bought a sandwich and a drink without thinking. I'm going to try to stick to cutting down on takeaways and impulse purchases when I'm out. I was talking to the man in the shop (I had to buy bin bags) and he said it was a tradition for local people to walk on the beach on the first day of the new year. I put the money I would have spent on the sandwich in my Xmas fund box.:)

I have a lot to do this coming week. I need to book the decorator, book a doctor appointment, book my dog in for her annual health check and vaccs and then book her in at the kennel for when he is here painting as it will be easier. We have to call someone about looking at our the roof too.

My brother is supposed to be coming round next weekend as I didn't see him new year and we might meet him and the other couple we were supposed to see that night. A delayed NYE celebration. I'm probably going to book myself a proper manicure too.:)

chanie

place marking the new thread.

MrsCatz

Hello, and thank you for your welcomes. 

The beach here has been busy all day even now, although it is raining, there is not a parking space to be had. 

I too that I will use the things I have saved for best.

sheilavw

Belated Happy New Year everyone. I didnt get out last night, had intended taking my Brother out but he got a sickness bug on Thursday and I got it too, in bed at 8.10pm ! TBH I don't really like New Year that much. Enjoyed reading these posts. I will certainly be wearing perfume every day.

A couple of months ago I was getting ready to go to a leaving meal from work, a friend was retiring. Both my Daughters were here, the one who lives local and the one from down South. I put a new dress on. They both said I looked nice. However, I struggled to find a nice jacket, and a few days later bought myself a black blazer. Anyway for Christmas they bought me a beautiful Ted Baker jacket with a tie belt and the most gorgeous of linings. I shall certainly wear that on every occassion I can

Floss

Happy new thread, ladies.

I'm a daily perfume-wearer, mainly Armani 'Because It's You' or occasionally Dior 'Dolce Vita', but over Christmas I wear Dior 'Dune' as it reminds me of satsumas.

My wardrobe needs attention as my shape has changed along with my working pattern, and while shift dresses suit me, they're a bit much for WFH 3 days a week or my 3/4 mile carpark to office walk. I have things in there that haven't seen daylight for a while so am planning to vac-pack my sparkly or beaded dresses away and give everything else a bit of space to be seen.

I am planning a financial assault on my mortgage this year to pay it off early which will enable an earlier retirement. I've recently changed my working pattern to a compressed 9-day fortnight to give me some extra time at weekends so I can stay healthy for longer. I'm also planning a cruise in spring 2024 for my 60th birthday so want to be ending my 60th year fitter & in better shape than i am right now. 

My word for 2023 will be wellbeing.