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

Makingabobor2

Transformation Tuesday....not sure what I will be transforming today...lol.   Although I do have a new winter coat being delivered, so maybe that will transform me into a warm & snuggly "go outdoors" person. Went out the other day and decided its getting far too cold & I really needed a new coat. 
Other than that, the only thing being transformed today are my excel ledgers and my budget book....making plans for the new year. So definitely a start of a bit more financial transformation...lol

helensbiggestfan

Transformation Tuesday. 

Good Morning everyone.  A lovely bright day.  Cold but at least we've got blue skies and sunshine. 

MB. Well done on investing in a new coat.  Warm and snugly is the way to go, especially if it means you can get out and about more. And yes, definitely work on those ledgers, get your finances straight for 2024.  😁

Noticed your signature. You are doing really well with your debt busting and paying down your mortgage. You are doing well with your make £5 a day challenge too.  I think I need to challenge myself to make extra income next year.  I still have loads of clutter, I am sure I can raise some extra cash by selling some of it.  

Foo. You're right winter self care is different isn't it. I definitely need better skin care routines now because the combination of cold weather and central heating really dries out my skin.  And yes dark cold mornings aren't very inviting. Well done on treating yourself to a nice dress, obviously worth the wait to get what you really wanted at price you are happy with.  

Well I have got my haircut this afternoon. I have got a large beef casserole simmering in the slow cooker.  Should be enough for several meals so will portion it up and freeze them.  I've been doing more batch cooking recently so that I've always got something healthy and tasty lined up for those cba days.

Wednesday.   Good to hear you are making progress with your house.  Plastering is such a messy job, it will be nice when it's dried and you can decorate.  It's all coming together now isn't it.  The Holland and Barrett beauty calendar sounds like a good buy.  

Where do you fancy for your holiday.,......

I was astonished to realise that I haven't had a proper holiday since 2018, only the odd few days here and there in the U.K. self catering with my son and his family. And although they were nice trips they weren't "real" holidays, iyswim.  😂.   I couldn't really afford fancy holidays and implants, so I made my teeth my priority and forfeited the holidays.  Hopefully next year I can get away and do something nice.   

All good things come to those who wait. 😉

Wednesday2000

I'm not sure where to go. Southend airport only goes to certain destinations so I will probably go somewhere from there rather than travel into London first. I have heard from local people that Southend is very quick to navigate through compared to London airports. 

I had my passport photos done today. Wow  I think they are even less flattering than the last ones I had done! The guy in Snappy Snaps used a ring light too. Lol.

Katiehound

Wednesday2000 said:

I'm not sure where to go. Southend airport only goes to certain destinations so I will probably go somewhere from there rather than travel into London first. I have heard from local people that Southend is very quick to navigate through compared to London airports. 
 

 As far as airports are concerned 'small and perfectly formed' is the way to go......generally nowhere near as much hassle.

Can you fly from Southend to Amsterdam (Schiphol)?
KLM's hub is at Schiphol and you can go pretty much anywhere in the world then.
Yes, just  googled, seems EasyJet flies there, and then the world is your oyster!
have fun planning

helensbiggestfan

Wellness Wednesday. 

Good Morning Lovely Ladies. 

It's a very cold but very nice morning, sunshine and blue skies.  Going to head off out later.  

Today is Wellness Wednesday and now that the worst of the dental treatment is over I'm now going to start the next phase of my wellness plan.......Weight loss and reverse diabetes.  

Now that I can eat more easily it's time for better food choices. I have also made a decision to stop adding sugar to my hot beverages.  😱 😂.  I have tried several times in the past without much success but never one to give up on my goals I'm going to have another crack at it.  Just had my first coffee without, not too bad.  I did add extra cream to compensate and make it more palatable.  Lol. 

I also need to exercise and move more. I am still having a lot of joint and muscle pain but regular exercise would help reduce pain levels so that's my plan, even if it means taking pain killers to enable me to get started.  I have booked a chiro appt and a massage within the next couple of weeks so that  should also help.  Gynae appt tomorrow.  The HRT she prescribed last month made me feel awful, (nausea and stomach cramps) so I stopped using it so I need to see if we can try another type.  There are loads of options out there so I guess it's just trial and error. Also follow up blood tests next week.  Apparently high ferritin levels can also cause joint pain and abdominal pain so I'm hoping that once I start treatment to reduce the iron overload my joint pain and tummy issues will ease.  

So Stage 3 of the wellness plan begins......

.I reckon it will take 5/6 months to lose the weight so I have set myself a goal to reach my target weight by my birthday in July, allowing 7 months. 

So, my journey continues......slow but sure, taking my time so that new good habits become ingrained and improvements to my health and well-being will be sustainable over the long term and not just be flash in the pan short term gains.  But oh my it's a long and winding road.......My initial year is almost up and I've still got a long way to go. 

Bette Davis had it right when she said "aging ain't for cissies" ........😂🤣.  Ya gotta keep fighting.  

As Dylan Thomas advised  "I will not go gently into that good night". ......lol. I am fighting back. 

Wednesday2000

helensbiggestfan said:

 Gynae appt tomorrow.  The HRT she prescribed last month made me feel awful, (nausea and stomach cramps) so I stopped using it so I need to see if we can try another type.  There are loads of options out there so I guess it's just trial and error. Also follow up blood tests next week. 

Which HRT did you try? I just had a GP appointment and she is sending me for blood tests and then after she will try me on HRT. 

Wednesday2000

Katiehound said:

Wednesday2000 said:

I'm not sure where to go. Southend airport only goes to certain destinations so I will probably go somewhere from there rather than travel into London first. I have heard from local people that Southend is very quick to navigate through compared to London airports. 
 

 As far as airports are concerned 'small and perfectly formed' is the way to go......generally nowhere near as much hassle.

Can you fly from Southend to Amsterdam (Schiphol)?
KLM's hub is at Schiphol and you can go pretty much anywhere in the world then.
Yes, just  googled, seems EasyJet flies there, and then the world is your oyster!
have fun planning

Oh really, thanks, I didn't know that.

Katiehound

Wednesday2000 said:

Katiehound said:

Wednesday2000 said:

I'm not sure where to go. Southend airport only goes to certain destinations so I will probably go somewhere from there rather than travel into London first. I have heard from local people that Southend is very quick to navigate through compared to London airports. 
 

 As far as airports are concerned 'small and perfectly formed' is the way to go......generally nowhere near as much hassle.

Can you fly from Southend to Amsterdam (Schiphol)?
KLM's hub is at Schiphol and you can go pretty much anywhere in the world then.
Yes, just  googled, seems EasyJet flies there, and then the world is your oyster!
have fun planning

Oh really, thanks, I didn't know that.

the only reason I know is that you could (nearly) only fly from Humberside to Schiphol-   nowhere in UK! (This may have changed...)  One year I flew KLM to Zimbabwe via Schiphol.
Small airports are far more user friendly

cbsexec

I found giving up the last half teaspoon of sugar when cutting down was the worst.  Had to go cold turkey which was difficult at first but now I can’t stand sugar in tea or coffee 😀.   I admire your determination.  

helensbiggestfan

Hi cbsxec. I also tried reducing sugar gradually, managed to get down to half a teaspoon but then it started creeping up again.  So, like you, I'm going cold turkey.  And yes, it's hard ....lol.  But I think cold turkey may be the answer for me.  I have friends who have given up taking sugar in drinks and they all say the same thing, that they can't stand the taste now,  so 🤞 it works for me too.  

Wednesday.  I was prescribed Everil Conti patches, estrogen and progesterone combined.  Apparently it's the progesterone that can cause abdominal cramps. The problem is high ferritin levels and iron overload can also have the same adverse effects, so it's difficult to be sure which is causing the problem.  I have therefore decided to cancel my gynae appt today and wait until we get to grips with the high ferritin levels first and then take it from there.  

One step at a time.....lol.  My blood tests also reveal I'm slightly Vit D deficient so I have started taking a supplement. 

 I'll get there.....Determination must be my middle name.  My father always complained I was too strong willed. (Only because I wouldn't blindly do his bidding with unquestioning obedience 😂🤣). He did later concede my willpower was a "good thing", especially when I became my husbands carer and he saw first hand the obstacles I had to overcome.  

Anyhoo.....now that I've postponed my gynae appt I have an unexpected free day. It's bright and cold again so will wrap up warm and head out for a stroll later.  

Thrifty Thursday.  Aiming for a no spend day today.  I did nip to Asda yesterday to buy a small Christmas tree and a few bits.  And then later I'll do my usual weekly financial check up to make sure I'm on track.  

Still need to do some Christmas shopping.....🌲