Frump to Fab 2024

2Scratters

Happy New Year Fabulosas,

As I have been reading through the posts I sat and painted my nails. Polish must be used up too. Small wins.
 
Re the comment of visiting somewhere each month reminded me of an old work colleague he and his wife would do just that but would also do their normal shopping too.

Need to remember not to keep clothes/stuff for best as every day is our best day.

2 Scratters xx

Makingabobor2

That's very true about not saving your clothes for best @2Scratters. I always remember my granny having a beautiful dressing gown she had bought....in case she ever went in hospital in her final years.  The day she died it still hung in a plastic bag on the back of the bedroom door, never worn. 

Watty1

Wow that is a very expensive hair topper place!  

A hair topper is on the potential purchase list but not at that price!

Took my hair down as vet here for a horse and an up do with a horse is not practical but the good news was that most likely the horse has a digestive upset that might right itself so probably a bill for around £500 but a lot of peace of mind here.

helensbiggestfan

Hello Lovely Ladies.  

Totally agree with not saving things "for best". Having said that my current "at home clothes" are an absolute disgrace and some of my underwear has seen better days too.  Time for a sort out,  

Had a bit of an at home mini spa session earlier - DIY skin peel, nails, hair.  Nipped to Aldi for some bits and bought myself some lovely dark red roses, no smell of course but for £2.99 i can't complain.  

Feeling very tired and lacking in energy. I'm guessing it might be the reduction in caffeine.  Yesterday I had a bad headache but that's cleared now.  I'm now down to one cup of caffeinated coffee in the morning (used to be 2) and one decaf after my dinner, plus two cups of tea.  Will hold that steady for a few days to acclimatise and then start replacing one tea for herbal or decaf tea.   Getting there, easy stages.  🤞.  

When I quit sugar I went cold Turkey and I felt absolutely dreadful for 3 days.  I doubt I could do it with caffeine. I tried it once many years ago and I just couldn't manage it.   Not too concerned about trying to lose weight at the moment, on step at a time, get the caffeine thing sorted first.  

It's funny how both sugar and caffeine are so addictive. It's the same with highly processed  food, that it is also highly addictive.   Like all addictions we get withdrawal symptoms when we try to quit them but if we can get past the initial discomfort then it's plain sailing and the health gains are undeniable.  

One of my goals this year is to be a bit more adventurous with my cooking. I used to be quite a creative cook but since I've lived alone I've become a tad lazy and tend to stick to the same old dishes.  Time to up my game.  

Add a bit more spice into my life, ha ha.  

Makingabobor2

What a bargain bunch of roses. I often look out for reduced ones in local C00p. Not paying silly prices for flowers. 

sukeyboo

Another awful day weather-wise down here in Dorset ☔️☔️☔️. Went food shopping earlier and got soaked 😱 - didn’t look very fab by the time I got home.

The healthy eating plan is going fairly well so far (it’s not a diet 😀). Trying to eat more oily fish and also introducing some nuts and dried fruit as when I last went to give blood they couldn’t take it due to low iron levels and they suggested these foods would help along with more leafy greens.

I’m a bit like you @helensbiggestfan in that I seem to be cooking the same old meals time and time again - have tried to shake it up a bit this week and must say I have enjoyed the new menu. There are so many websites to get inspiration from nowadays - I did consider one of the meal box suppliers but on reflection they aren’t very MSE 😉.

Watty1

@helensbiggestfan I gave up caffeine completely by reducing by 1/4 every 4 days.  At the end I was making a cup of decaf and a cup of regular and then mixing them and it went really easily and without a headache or any energy slump - just took a while!
Now I just need to give up the decaf tea and switch to herbal for more water  

helensbiggestfan

Watty.   Well done on cutting out caffeine.  Do you feel different, would you say you feel better.  Thanks for the tip.    

What a good idea to make your own blend and gradually ease off caffeine that way.   I think I'll copy that idea if I may,  and make my own blend of half decaf/full caff for my morning coffee as my next stepdown.   I have just had my post dinner decaf and it is really nice.  No caffeine now until my morning tea.    I have also ordered some decaf tea to try.  

I looked up the caffeine values of tea and coffee so I can work out how to plan the reductions over the next couple of weeks.  

I do enjoy coffee, I like the habit and the ritual, love the smell and the taste.  I really like the decaf I've bought, only problem is it does cost more than the one I was buying from Aldi.  Never mind, I'm soooo worth it and I have so few vices. 😂. 

I did wake up with a nasty headache this morning so maybe I'm doing it too quickly.  

One thing I read was that whilst quitting caffeine some people experienced vivid dreams.  This has been the case with me. Some of them are quite unpleasant......🙄.   Hey ho.  

Sukey.  I looked  at those meal box things. They are probably useful for people learning to cook but I agree they aren't very MSE.  

My temporary bridge fell off today (front tooth) so back to the dentist tomorrow to get it put back.  Never mind not long now till I get the final crowns fitted.  It's been a long haul - around 16 months but it will be worth the wait.  No more toothless old hag. 😂😁

FlacosFloozie

I cut down on caffeine massively a few years ago. Like watty I weaned myself off it over a couple of weeks. Now down to 1 caup of regular tea in the morning and decaff the rest of the day. Biggest difference is that I sleep much better. On the occasional day I have an extra midmorning cup I do notice the energy boost much more.

Watty1

I've been caffeine free for so long I can't remember if I felt differently!   One thing I do notice now is that if I am utterly exhausted a cup of real coffee with caffeine (I keep a pot in the cupboard for a friend who stays) really does act like a boost of rocket fuel to get me through the working day!