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

helensbiggestfan

Good Mornjng my lovely friends.  

Welcome to Foo Foo .  You have made a great start.  Congratulations on the weight loss, that's an amazing achievement.  I too am having trouble with skin care, struggling to finding the right moisturiser at the moment.  It's hit and miss isn't it.  

Frugal Thursday. 

Speaking of Frugal Thursday and money matters ......

Failingminimalist.  Well done on making a decision to move back in with your parents.  From what you say It sounds like a very sensible plan and one that will be beneficial not just to you but your family as well. It probably wasn't an easy decision for you but it was the right one.  The economy is not looking good and I can't see it improving any time soon.  I think we are in for a good few years of downturn and there are tough times ahead.  

As many of you know, I worked in the property industry most of my life so I spotted early last year that we were heading for difficult times and made the decision that it was time to make a move. I had spent 3 years renovating my home and although it wasn't quite "perfect" I decided to sell whilst the market was buoyant. 

  I don't regret my decision to sell one bit.  In fact the more I think about it the more grateful I am that I grasped that nettle.  I did have to pay a redemption fee on my mortgage because I still had a year to run on my fixed rate.  However if I had waited I would have been faced with the prospects of higher mortgage payments from this October and, given the current state of the market,  I might have struggled to sell.  As it stands, I sold with ease at a good price.  I have managed  to avert financial disaster and more importantly I was able to warn my family what was coming so they too could take affirmative action.  

I still continue to live frugally and won't be making any major purchases or taking on any financial  commitments such as a new car for a while yet.  It's definitely a case of "batten down the hatches". 

In the meantime I continue my health and fitness journey.......it's a long one and progress is slower than I would like but I will just keep plugging away, trusting in  the power of tiny daily habits.  

Wednesday good luck with the rheumatologist. I think you're right about arthritis and the diet connection.  We are all different and have different trigger foods which can set off flare ups.  I have come to the conclusion that it is all trial and error.  We just have to keep trying and searching.  

I have now been following my programme of avoiding ultra processed  foods for about a month now.  I haven lost any more weight but I do feel better. Joint and muscle pain is much reduced. I am managing to do some pilates each day too, and that seems to be helping.  

All is good.......just got to stay focussed and keep going.  

Wednesday2000

I bought the Superdrug Optimum Retinol night cream the other day and it seems fine so far. I have very sensitive skin too.

I am trying to avoid gluten again. I did try to reintroduce it, but I started feeling headachy again so I'm just going to avoid it. I have a telephone appointment tomorrow with the MSK doctor.

I haven't been doing much, more workmen have been here and my cat was very ill at the weekend, but seems a bit better. It cost us £1,800, but we got £1,400 back, thankfully!

I do have a concert next week that I am looking forward to and we are staying in a hotel overnight in London. We are going to meet my brother the next day as well. I have booked a haircut, a pedicure and reflexology for next week as i think I need some pampering!:)

Katiehound

If you are looking for skincare have your tried Healthspan face cream etc? They always used to have a no quibble money back guarantee because , of course, you can not try out at a beauty counter! At the moment some of the products have a discount.
I really like their Replenish Collagen Boosting serum

on discounts & vouchers board there is 40% off for June, or money off codes for July. Look for Healthspan codes.

Foofoopuppy

Thanks @Katiehound, I will check it out

Foofoopuppy

I have been keeping up with my skin care, moisturising after every shower and my new face creams seem to not flare up my skin which is progress!

Next step is to try dry brushing - something I have read about and then when I saw a brush on sale thought to give it a try. Only complaint is it is quite a long process, and I can only do it before I'm due to have a shower. So we'll see if this remains a permanent part of my self care routine. 

helensbiggestfan

Hello My Lovely Friends. 

How are we all.  Hoping you are all well, happy and enjoying the summer.  I'm loving it, even the rain. 😂.   Low to mid 20sC is perfect for me.  I really don't envy the countries that are currently sweltering in 40C temps.  I think I'd rather have winter.....

Well now I have just celebrated my 72nd birthday.  Tempus Fugit and all that. I can't believe how quickly the time races by. Although I consider myself very fortunate to enjoy good health I have decided to use my birthday to spur me on and up my game in the fitness stakes.  

However, I decided not to join a gym.  Instead I have set up my spare bedroom as my own personal mini gym/exercise space.   It is so much more convenient, and a far more efficient use of time, no commuting for a start, and no excuses for not venturing out in bad weather.  In my past life, we did convert our garage into a gym and the whole family used it every day.  Now it's just me of course but I'm sure I will get plenty of use out of it. 

Luckily I already had quite a lot of equipment and all I needed to buy was a treadmill.  I have been living frugally - hardly spent anything on clothes this year, just a few charity shop bits.  The savings I made by not buying new clothes have paid for the treadmill.  And of course, no expensive gym fees in the future. .  

Pre prep dental work now complete.  Scan week after next and then take it from there.  I'm a tad nervous (understatement, I think abject terror would be a better description of my feelings😂) but ultimately the only way to beat anxiety is by taking action,  so I shall just have to take a leap of faith and get on with it.  

No news on the house front. I do look on Right Move but haven't spotted "The One" yet.  No hurry, I can wait.  

Still enjoying my "sabbatical". The concept of Dolce Far Niente (the sweetness of doing nothing) suits me so well. 😂🤣

❤️

Wednesday2000

Happy Belated Birthday! I thought about you yesterday as I was watching the film Fast X and Helen Mirren was in it! There were a lot of famous people in it, including the actor who plays Reacher. Very silly, but enjoyable to watch. The home gym sounds a good idea.:)

I had a lovely weekend last week as I saw The Weeknd live in Stratford. It was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. I did feel a lot better as I had my hair cut finally and I got a really nice dark pink colour put on my toes beforehand.

I have spent a lot of money as we are seeing The Weeknd again next month and we also managed to get tickets to Taylor Swift (and a hotel) for next summer. It took three days for us to get the tickets as the demand was so high. Not very money saving of me, but I haven't seen her perform before.

Not much on this weekend, I just did some decluttering and tidying and we will probably watch more TV/films tonight. The Lincoln Lawyer is very good! The lead guy is very attractive. On Netflix, I think. We did watch series 4 Jack Ryan on Prime too.

artistlifestyle

Good to catch up with everyone’s news, I’ve been much too busy with work to do anything - some of it is seasonal. 

I also had a health scare which was enough to make me stop and pause, and is now helping me focus more on my life balance.
What works, what doesn’t, what can I change/improve and more….. 
A few tweaks, and decisions made, including making more time for creativity to feed my soul. 

Onwards, with a smile and acceptance of the things I can’t change, and gratitude for the next opportunity which comes my way, which it will. 
Vinted is definitely the way to boost a wardrobe without spending much, I’ve done ok on there, reselling any mistakes, or something which didn’t fit. 

helensbiggestfan

Hello my lovely friends......

How are we all.  Sorry I have been awol.  But....no excuses, just life getting in the way.  Lol.  

Artistlifestyle.  Hope you are feeling ok.  Health issues or scares aren't nice, they can be very unsettling but, I agree, provided they aren't life threatening (or even if they are and you have had a narrow escape) then they can be a wake up call and force us to re-Evaluate the way we live.  The human body is amazing, with almost miraculous powers of self healing. If we listen and take note of what we need to change, then we can improve not only our day to day comfort but also our long term prognosis for a long and healthy life.  So well done on those tweaks and changes.  I'm sure you will feel the benefit.  

Wednesday - sounds Like you having fun.  Yes these things can be expensive (Taylor Swift tickets especially) but why not.  

LIFE IS SHORT!  TAKE THE TRIP!  BUY THE SHOES!  EAT THE CAKE!    

I have been out and about quite a lot, fancy restaurants, cinema trips and the like. A little splurge now and then is good for us.  Especially as I have been extremely thrifty with clothes this year.  I have bought very little, partly because I haven't actually seen anything I really fancy.  And, tbh, I have more than enough clothes to be going on with.  In fact I shall be having another purge soon. 

Went to see "Propaganda Barbie" the other day, (my youngest sons name for her current incarnation). And yes I did wear pink and yes I did have my photo taken "in the box". My DIL took it and posted it on our family group Whats App, with the strap line Silver Fox Barbie, much to the amusement of our extended family.   😂.  I enjoyed the film. I can see why its controversial but I didn't let that spoil my enjoyment.  I like a film that makes me think a bit.  

Can't believe we are almost half way through August.  Where does the time go.  Last week saw the 9th anniversary of my husbands death. It seems like another life now.....well I guess that's exactly what it is.  My DIL asked me how I was and I was able to say in all honesty I am fine. We were together for 34 years and we had a ball.  Not everyone is that lucky.  

Anyway hope you all have a Super Sunday.  🥂

Wednesday2000

I haven't seen Barbie, but I keep overhearing people in shops talking about it! There is so much buzz around it.

I saw my brother this weekend and we went to Leigh seafront to the bars there and went to a vegan BBQ restaurant in the evening.

There is this thing in Southend called Herd in the City and there are painted elephants dotted around the area. I think it is for charity? We saw this one at the seafront.