La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) - on a tiny budget.

Jellybaby

Another Magic Monday closer to early retirement for me 🤣 and DS is going to remove the manky old washing line for me and put up a new one - oh the excitement!  (no sarcasm intended, I really am 😁).

Nargleblast

Magic Monday - lovely session at choir this morning. Clothes from Marks and Sparks arrived - 2 pairs of jeans and a pink floral top, all to brighten myself up for Spring.

Only 8 days/4 long shifts to retirement. Not that I'm counting.....

Dfw38

Magic Monday- sounds like some wonderful Magic Mondays happening today!
Mine; 
1. Sun was shining, felt warm in the sun.
2. Lots of gardening done.
3. Dc are enjoying half term.
4. Chinese takeaway for mine and dhs tea. An early valentines treat. 
5. Tackled a few 🐸 today, looks like it is going to be a productive week. Amazing how much time the school run and prep for school takes!

artistlifestyle

Thanks Helen, I try to check in here most days. Hope your Monday was magical. I worked a shift, I’m both employed and self employed, tomorrow is my only day off this week, so on Nana duties dropping off car seat with other half of the family, half an hour away. 

Had booked a free hearing test for Weds, now picked up an extra shift so must cancel test. It’s not urgent, just benchmarking where my ears are at, had tinnitus in one ear for ages. It’s manageable but changed that’s all. 

Have a great week everyone, they certainly fly by just now. 

helensbiggestfan

Happy Valentines Day. 

Just that, hope you all have a wonderful day.  And remember, even if you are travelling through life as a solo, you can still celebrate romance.  

As Oscar Wilde said "To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance". 

So, if like me, you are a solo and fancy free, then. Indulge yourself a little.  Romance yourself, wear something flattering, do something nice, eat your favourite foods, buy yourself some flowers........,  

and dont forget.......

Transformation Tuesday. 

What small thing will you do today to take you a step closer to fulfilling your dreams and transforming your life.  

Mine will be having a hair cut.....but not just any old hair cut😂.  

I have made a decision to go back to my favoured hair stylist. I havent seen him in over year, partly because of laziness and partly because of penny pinching,  His salon is in the city and for the last year I opted for a cheaper and more local hairdressers.  Not any more.  Yes he costs more and I have to make more of an effort to attend his Salon but he is soooo worth it .........as am I.  😂🤣 no more settling for second best.

My act of self love for Valentines Day and a small step into transforming myself into a more elegant woman. 

Nargleblast and Jellybaby......enjoy your countdown to retirement,  I have no doubt you will love your new found freedom and autonomy.  I love being retired, I love being free as a bird, being able to set my own agenda and timetables. It is liberating.

After the hairdresser I'm having lunch with a friend,  I have known her for over 55 years!!!!  After all this time we still always have lots to talk about .....lol.  

Have a great day y'all.  ❤️

Dfw38

Hope you have a great time today @helensbiggestfan! I love visiting the hairdresser (haven't been for a v.v.v  long time)

Happy Valentines day to all. Me and dh don't really celebrate but had a takeaway last night which was a treat. Gave the 3xdc a tiny cuddly each and some chocolate caramel hearts for our movie this afternoon. Off out to our town to visit the free museums and park. Got to finish a frog in the garden when we get back and then settle down for a movie together. Tonight I am going to look into free online courses (futur€learn) to transform my future prospects. As a sahm I am aware of the risk of losing skills while I am out of the workplace. So need to decide what I want to do when I 'grow up' and work out how I am going to get there. As funds are squeezed I am going to have to concentrate on free or cheap ways to boost my skills. 

Coxy11

Enjoy your haircut and meet up with your friend @helensbiggestfan x

Funnily enough I've just booked a haircut for Saturday. DH is away Friday to Sunday so I've dinner planned with a friend for Friday night, and haircut and visit to the cinema on Saturday. Will be meeting my oldest friend for lunch on Sunday. Never a dull moment!

Transformation Tuesday will be spent looking at courses - I said this last week and didn't get around to it - so hold me to that please!

SIRENS

Hello All
just found this thread, I confess I completely missed the last one, but am finding it inspirational. I lost my husband just under 18 months ago, very unexpectedly, leaving me with 2 fantastic teenagers, everyday I am so grateful to have them. It has been very hard, but I am trying this year to be better, to look for moments of joy and hope.

My lovely daughter bought my son and I some chocolates for Valentine's Day, which was such a surprise and we have just returned from the dentist where she fixed my chipped tooth, so that's my transformation today, as it was easily done and not too painful.  I am off this week so will enjoy the time with my kids and the sunny skies ahead. 

newgirly

Hi Sirens, I’m so sorry for your loss, I hope you have a good week spending time with your kids 🙂

The haircut sounds like its well worth it Helensbiggestfan,😊 I must admit I’ve gone from blond to dark since lockdown when I got made redundant, I don’t miss the long appointments or cost but I do miss having my hair done regularly.

Im not sure what I have done towards transformation Tuesday, I wonder if cleaning my new little (old 😆) car counts? It’s had its first good scrub inside and out and is hopefully transforming my finances by saving money running something much smaller, even if it has been forced upon us by the mayor charging £12.50 a day to take the car out from August! 

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning My Lovely Friends 

Hello Sirens and Welcome to the thread.  Sorry to hear about your loss.  You're right it is hard.  I don't think we ever truly get over such loss but we do learn to live with it, and work round it.  We do learn to find joy and contentment, but it does take time,  

As Hemingway said "The world is still a mighty fine place". 

When we are in the midst of grief the world can seem a scary place and the future can look bleak.  Fear is our constant companion, especially in the early days, but gradually the panic subsides and that awful nagging fear loses some of it's hold on us.  We learn to relax a little, to have hope and to open up a little.  Life starts to look a little rosier.  

I am gradually rediscovering and reconnecting with my old happy go lucky self.  I see this year as my next "great leap forward", finally taking back control of my health and well being so that I can say goodbye to "The Widow"and embrace life as a solo.  I will always love my husband and will carry him in my heart forever but I'm now finally ready to start living my best life.  

Which brings me nicely to ......

Wellness Wednesday. 

Todays wellness task is to register with a GP practice.  I also need to reschedule my dentist appts.  I am finding that having both chiro and dental work done simultaneously is just too much so need to have a rethink.  

On a positive note, I have been walking more and have now been given the go ahead to start some home exercises,  so as well as my chiro homework I am now going to start some simple Pilate stretches and some basic tai chi.  

Slow but sure, the tortoise and the hare. 😂  I'll get there. Just need to put the work in.  

Ps. There are loads of exercise videos on you tube, something for everyone. Money saving and of course you can do them at your convenience in the comfort of your own home. 

Have a Wonderful Wellness Wednesday and remember self care is not selfish.  ❤️

Pps. Pleased with my haircut.  It has taken years off me. 😀