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

artistlifestyle

Hello again.
So much has happened to everyone in the last week. I’ve just quickly read through the posts.

I’m thrilled for the successes, inc the results and the spacing out of the chiropractic sessions and I’m with you all on your challenges, whatever they are, and some have clearly been harsh. 

I used up some holiday entitlement and have had a week of family time, all over the country, mixing up the generations. A really lovely change, now back to a busy work schedule. I’ll pop in here when I can. 

The plastic boxes I’ve bought for my sorting my kitchen wall cupboards are white Wham Studio sizes 4.02 and 4.01. Not expensive, and making such a difference. The 4.02 hold 6 full sized tins eg beans, tomatoes. The 4.01 are great for packets, stock cubes, jams and tinned fish eg sardines and small tuna.
I’m still determined to continue tidy and clear everything as much as I can. 

Really rating the support we can give each other in here. Getting ready for motivational Monday, with an early start.

Dfw38

That is a great idea @floss. I will discuss with siblings and take it from there. Thank you.
That sounds like a lovely use of holiday @artistlifestyle! I love a wham box! 

Coxy11

Morning all,

It's a Thrifty Tuesday for me. WFH and have hm soup for lunch. Will be doing spag bol later and will use half 5% beef mince and half quorn, padding out with lots of veggies too. I have 2 Olio pick ups to make. 2 small wicker baskets that I will use for raffle prizes and 2 vintage Pyrex casserole dishes to Ebay - all for my fundraising efforts. 

I was in the office yesterday and caught up with a friend who I hadn't seen since 2020. Her DS is having treatment for leukeamia so things have been very tough for her. Was good to see her and hopefully provide some support.

I love that idea about the jewellery @Floss

Woke up thinking about the tall kitchen cupboard (behind the door) that is a complete mess. Will get some storage for that - batteries, lightbulbs, candles, tea towels etc. and channel my inner-Stacey S.

Have a good day everyone
Coxy

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Ladies. 

Sorry I have been MIA but I have decided not to spend too much time on my iPad, especially typing to allow my neck to recover and continue to improve my posture.  

Loving all the posts and the ideas, especially re the jewellery. I need to have a big sort out, sell and donate some, keep the best and start wearing it.  Lol. What's the point of it if it just sits in boxes.  

Loving the "bringing out your inner Stacy Solomon".  I must admit I'm pleased with my kitchen reorganisation I did last week.  A place for everything and everything in its place. Really looking forward to having another wardrobe session soon, ditch all the dull boring winter stuff.  

It's time I came out of the chrysalis stage and emerged as a dazzling butterfly. 

Transformation Tuesday.

I don't feel that I have done much transformational work, at least not on the outside although I am still working on my health and well-being (more of that tomorrow). 

Tbh I'm feeling a bit lacking in motivation at the moment.....need you lot to give me a kick up the derrière and get me back on track.  I have lost my mojo. Fed up with the weather, hopefully this cold snap will be short and sweet.   It all feels a bit like Groundhog Day. Same old, same old.  Dull murky days, grey skies, cold winds.  

I have managed to find a window cleaner, he did all the outside yesterday so today  I'm going to tackle the insides.  Not my favourite job, in fact I'm not very good at it, I leave streaks everywhere.  Im seriously thinking of getting a cleaner now and again to tackle jobs like inside windows, ovens etc.  they are rough on my shoulder and neck.  

My mum once suggested i do exactly that, saying I was spending a small fortune on physio etc when a cleaner would be cheaper and better for me in the long run.  I think she may have had a point.....Mums do know best sometimes 😂🤣. 

Have a friend coming over later for coffee and a natter in a bit.  Other than that no real plans.  

Oh I bought myself a couple of DVDs.  "the Ghost and Mrs Muir" which we talked about the other day, and "Two For The Road", a 60s rom com with Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney.  I've been looking for that one for ages, eventually found it on eBay for £2.50. I seem to remember that  Hepburn wore Givenchy (her favourite designer) in the film and looked fabulous.  It will be interesting to see if the film now looks horribly dated. I doubt it because for me Hepburn's wardrobe always looks timeless, up there with Jackie O.  

When I was a teenager I used to make all my own clothes and remember copying the styles from that film, that and the original Thomas Crown Affair.  A couple of metres of fabric from the market, roughly ten shillings (50p), a couple of days work and I would have a fabulous outfit.  Happy Days. 😁

failingminimalist

Afternoon all - sorry I have been MIA again - I am not feeling myself at all...

Hospital appointment went well - consultant has agreed to a hysterectomy, but I need to have an MRI scan first to see exactly what is going on in there - so that is another wait.  I have a myriad of health issues and it feels like I am constantly waiting for the hospital to get back to me about one thing or another! 

Happy Birthday to everyone that has had one! Huge hugs to everyone that needs one.  Hopefully these last cold days are the end of the winter and the sun and daylight come back to us soon and help those of us that need it out of our funk! 

I really appreciate you all - its wonderful to check in and see how you are all doing xx 

wort

Wham boxes not wow boxes😂 sorry Coxy, I suggested the wrong name. Menopause brain I’m afraid.
i have spent the day finishing painting and just finished , I’m very pleased with how it all looks.
 I have got washing dry on the line outside ,bitterly cold but the sun is out and a breeze. Hoovered and mopped, cleaned the shower after I had been in. So a very productive day.

After I showered I put on a face mask , and used my neals yard oils, my hair is looking much better after it’s cut and back to being easier to dry.
A simple tea for me and watching some tv, heating on and under the throw.

My lovely mum used to say not to buy her anything (we did) and definitely not flowers as they put the prices up for Mother’s Day.(we didn’t)

I hope everyone is well and taking care of themselves.

helensbiggestfan

Wellness Wednesday. 

Good Morning Lovely Ladies. 

Well here we are, Wednesday already, the second Wednesday in March. Time is just whizzing by.  

I'm 1/6th of the way through my "get fit and healthy" programme.  I have given myself a year to make some drastic changes to my overall health and fitness.  And boy oh boy, is it a challenge, harder than I thought it would be.  Progress is slower than I had hoped for.  And I have tbh and say sometimes it's hard to stay motivated.  

So what do I do when I feel motivation sliding, on the just cba days when I struggle because all I really want to do is lounge on the sofa in my pjs.  What do you lot do, please share your tips.  

For me I listen to motivational talks and podcasts.  I've been having to do that a lot recently, 😉 At the moment I'm really having to dig deep to find my mojo.  Reporting to you does keep me accountable and is helping me to stay on track but by golly it's tough at times. There are times when I feel like throwing in the towel.   But then I ask myself if I don't do this now where will I be in 1 years time, 5 years time.  Will I even be here in 10 years time.  And if so, what state will I be in.  Will I be mobile, will I be able to retain my independence, will I be a burden.  

Bette Davis once said "ageing ain't for cissies". She was right. I have come to realise that ageing well is hard work and takes effort.  

Rome wasn't built in a day,  it's taken me years of self neglect to get this unfit and unhealthy so I can't expect instant results.  I need to have faith in the power of tiny daily habits and trust in the compound effect.  

The human body is an amazing piece of kit with almost miraculous powers of recovery and rejuvenation but I have to be realistic and patient. I have to remind myself that there are no quick fixes and that miracles don't happen overnight, they take time.  

I can and WILL do this. 

Cold here, snow forecast for tomorrow. Hopefully it will be winter's last hurrah, paving the way for a glorious spring.  

Have a great day y'all.  

artistlifestyle

You’re amazing @helensbiggestfan
keep going, one step at a time, one new good habit at a time.
minor tweaks make a huge difference, listen to Atomic Habits by James Clear, can get for free online. 

When you look back, every so often, you’ll see how far you’ve come. 

It’s harder to build muscle, resistance work will be needed for that, once you’re more comfortable walking further. 

Yes it’s good to have accountability, and thinking of your neck I use an adjustable tilting rest for my iPad so it’s eye level when sitting standing or in bed, from Amazon some years ago. 

I picked up some more wham studio 4.01 and 4.02 boxes and have done a bit of larder sorting tonight. 

Busy few days and grandchild’s new lurgy (2nd one in 2 weeks) making its presence felt!

helensbiggestfan

Thank you Artistlifestyle for the Atomic Habits recommendations,  I have listened to a couple of podcasts this Morning.  Very good.  I was thinking about an iPad tilting rest.  I will look into that. 

Well done on the larder sorting. It's very satisfying isn't it and grouping items into containers certainly helps keeps shelves tidy and organised.  

helensbiggestfan

Thrifty Thursday. 

Well it's a snow day here today.  I actually love them. There's something quite magical about snow - as long as it doesn't interfere with daily routines too much. Sometimes it does force us into having a day off.  Luckily I am well stocked up and have nothing urgent on my to do list. I have postponed tomorrows dental appt and todays trip to the library.  

So, seeing as I shall be housebound for a couple of days, I am going to catch up with some admin etc,  finally get round to looking at my savings accounts etc. And whilst on the subject of thrift, will give myself a facial and manicure.  No point paying for salon treatments when I can do them myself,  

Yesterday I did have a little spend on new slippers and knickers. Nothing to get excited about.  My biggest spend this week is on my energy bills.  Oh well can't be helped.  I am very fortunate in that I can afford to heat and eat.  So many out there can't.  

Have a great day y'all.  Keep warm and safe. ❤️