Frump to Fab 2024

OpalGirl

I don't think you will ever be a "boring old lady" ...........
You have far too much joie de vivre

Makingabobor2

That's sweet of your GKs. My youngest one told me I'm his best friend...lol

chanie

Helen gosh, i can’t believe your DGS are 6 and 4, i remember when your DIL was expecting.

i do most of my shopping online now, even if i end up going into store to make the actual purchase.  Many stores now have a ‘find the item instore’ function on their websites and i use this quite a lot.  On my shopping trip, i bought a bag i’d been eyeing up for a few weeks and a top, i just happened to see unexpectedly.  The top was supposed to be snug, but it didn’t suit my body shape, so i sized up a few sizes for a slouchy look and it works well. 

Wednesday2000

I feel like I haven't posted in ages. It sounds like quite a few of you are introducing healthy routines. I haven't been doing too well with diet and exercise, but at least I am sleeping so much better since my husband retired. It is blissful after having disturbed sleep for so many years. I am certain that a lack of restful sleep has contributed to the health issues I have had over the years.

It was me who has a rebounder (mini trampoline) that was mentioned a few pages ago and I used it for the first time in ages yesterday! I just moved it into the room with the TV this morning as I want to start doing it for 10 minutes a day from now on. It is a life saver when the weather is bad and I can't get my steps in outdoors.

I am trying to stick to a budget now my husband has retired. I did have a number in mind, but I have hit it today a week before his next pension payment so I might have to revise that number.

I am trying to cut back on unnecessary spends so I am doing my nail varnish myself instead of paying for pedicures and I will start getting my hair cut every two and a half months instead of one and a half as my hair doesn't grow that quickly anyway!

We were going to go abroad, but my cat has been ill with seizures so we booked a week in Penzance instead so at least we are in the UK if something happened. She did have a seizure the other day, but that is the first one in 6 weeks. The vet said as long as she doesn't have 4 in one month then it is considered not that concerning. I had another cat that this happened to and it is quite scary. I haven't been to Cornwall in about 40 years, but I hope we might get lucky with the weather next month.

I am meeting friends for lunch today at a cafe near the beach. It is still lovely weather here, but we have had the heating on in the evening for a couple of times lately. My dog is being picked up in about an hour to go to the kennel so I have to get showered and dressed. I have to pop to Aldi and drop off my library books and I might look in a few charity shops today as Leigh-on-sea has lots of nice shops. I will probably get a lot of steps in today.

2Scratters

@Wednesday2000 re the haircutting, as I have short hair I use a local barbers shop. I'm not sure why we women have to pay out all that money to feel and look good. I colour my hair myself and can get 3 do's out of one box 

I ridded myself of some mole/skin tags recently that have been a nuisance. Happy about that too. Been busy using up the many beauty product samples and creams collected over a period of time. Some got binned others utilised as intended double win. I won't need to buy a bar of soap for 3 years - I kid you not. 

I am a lippy and perfume gal on a daily basis. That is something that I don't save "for best". Having said that I have far too much of a Malone product of various things... I am now starting to use them up as I am no longer employed by choice I took early retirement which has been a blessing in disguise and am loving life. 


Enjoy the fab weather ladies 

2 Scratters xx

helensbiggestfan

Good morning lovely ladies. Nice to see you all in fine fettle and of course returners are always especially welcome,  💕.  And well done to all those who are managing to keep up with the fabbing whilst sticking to a budget.  I guess the more we can do for ourselves, manicures, hair colours etc the better because that frees up money for other things.  

Wednesday.  sorry to hear about your cat, hope she's ok.   

Ok can I brag and show off for a minute.🤪.  

This morning I received a nice compliment from a fellow shopper in Aldis.  She said I "looked lovely".  I don't know why because I had just nipped out without making any special effort.  I wasn't exactly dressed in my finest, just smart(ish) casual, not a scrap of make up, no jewellery. Lol.  Still it made my day. 😁.   I'm still vain enough to like being complimented.  Ha ha. 

Stocked up on "healthy stuff" and treated myself to some gorgeous cream roses.  

Managed to get down to some serious gardening the last couple of days, pruning shrubs, weeding etc.  got killer backache now.  Good job the lawnmower man is coming today. I don't think I could manage lawn mowing today.  Really need to start exercising every day now to strengthen my back.  

Right time for brunch and then get cracking.  Have a great day y'all.  

2Scratters

@helensbiggestfan well done you and accepting the compliment. How lovely was that.
I know it wasn't me as I've not been shopping recently. I absolutely love fragrances and am very happy to tell people that too. How nice to hear how it made someone's day 

Done some sorting of products donated/gifted to me that I have been able to decant also done the same with DH's skin care and given instructions they need using up and we need to tidy up 

Fabbing is good for the soul

2 Scratters xx

helensbiggestfan

Fabbing is definitely good for the soul. !!!  

Well hello Lovely Ladies.  It's been a while.  How are we all.  

It's another miserable day here, dark, grey, wet and rather chilly.  Thankfully no floods here.  So I'm just having a quiet "at home" day, resting from yesterdays chiro treatment and keeping warm.   I've just completed an intensive four week chiro programme, rather rough and very time consuming because of the recovery times needed but it was necessary and I do feel better for it.  Anyway now I can go back to a more relaxed maintenance program.

I have also decided to tweak my diet again to see if I can build on the improvements I have got from resuming my chiro treatments.  So I am trying out an Anti Inflammatory Diet.  It turns out that although I have done well cutting down on caffeine, sugars and grains I was still eating too many of the foods which can increase inflammation and which might be contributing to my joint and muscle pain and not eating enough of the types of foods which can reduce inflammation.  Also adding some supplementary vitamins to hopefully speed up the healing process. I don't know how successful i will be but I figure It's worth a try, especially if it means I can avoid a knee replacement and/or shoulder surgery.  

Anyway, we shall see.......

Fabwise....Splashed out and bought myself some warm "lounging at home" joggies.   Not exactly the height of elegance but nice and cosy.  😁.  

Other than that not much news......... All is good.  

artistlifestyle

hello again, just had a quick catch up of all your news. You’re all amazing. 

I’m just back from a week away staying with various cousins, so fun and I really loved the company. 

You’re all doing well with your goals and aspirations, and writing them here is a kind of accountability.

Re Fabbing - In July I started going to small and flexible group fitness workouts and find them brilliant. We do all sorts of different activities- circuits, strength etc and even boxing which I find I really like! Who knew? 😂😂😂 I do feel better, and I’m definitely getting stronger. The long running chest infection from the spring made me realise things needed to change.  I also have a rebounder, and they’re great. I will try to use it on the days I’m not at a class. Although it all gets a bit much sometimes with my ever changing shifts, and sometimes my shifts change with very short notice. 

Money saving - I’ve found being on Octopus Tracker since May has saved me £50 so far. Yes it’s a bit of a gamble as it might go up and it takes 2 weeks to leave the tariff. When I got back on Monday after driving in the TORRENTIAL rain I did put the heating on for an hour to warm the house. Since then I’ve managed without.  If anyone is interested I have a link if anyone wants to join octopus and we both get fifty pounds. You have to be with Octopus before you can switch to the tracker. 

Went round the chazzers today, and bought a book, some fingerless gloves for a friend with Raynaud's syndrome, and 3 items of clothing for a little one for a pound. One is Christmas themed. A bit of fun. One of them (BHF) has priced the clothes so high I walked straight out again. Also stocked up on tissue paper as I only use this now for presents, and then we reuse it too.
I’m also busy as ‘Mrs Christmas’ as I make almost everyone’s gifts. Many of them are token items, often instead of a card. I find it gives me immense pleasure all year round planning and making and this keeps my evenings occupied especially when knitting or crocheting and I can watch TV at the same time. 

Today’s wins were turning a rather old bag of peas from the freezer into a delicious soup, some of which will be frozen, and packing and sending off two items of clothing sold on Vinted. They’ve been on there a while and then ping, they sold. 

Keep up the good work. 

thepurplepixie

Hi, hope everyone is well.  I need to have a read and catch up as I haven't been on for ages.  I have had a hectic summer, lots of visitors topped up with me having yet another bad chest infection.  I think it was in July I said I wanted to lose some weight, well I've lost 6lbs which is a bit pathetic but I blame it on all the visitors and having to cook for them so the plan is I need to step that up a bit.  I certainly want to lose 1 stone so 8 more lbs to go, 2 stone would be nice but that might be pushing it.  My problem is I have a thin face and a bit of a scraggy neck so if I lose too much it can be very ageing, so the age old choice, my bum or my face?  I suppose even at this rate I could lose the stone by Christmas which would be good.  Maybe slow and sure wins the race is the way to go.

I've been struggling a bit with life.  Not sure what is going on but I saw my doctor last week and she suggested I might benefit from some counselling for anxiety. This is a whole new thing for me so not sure what to do.  I haven't told DH what she said as I feel I need to take time to think about it.  I've had a terrible  year, I hit 70 exactly a year ago, well it will be exact in a few hours when it is my birthday and I think it has been the worst year ever as far as my health goes.  I slipped on the stairs and injured my back and hip so months of pain and still not completely better, then the repeated chest infections.  I suppose I've generally been lucky with my health so this is all a bit strange for me to get used to.  I've done lots of crying about absolutely nothing and I can't find anything I'm interested in.  Nothing on TV, can't even enjoy reading which is normally my favourite thing.  Of course the news is depressing and I normally watch the morning, lunchtime and evening news but I just can't face it.

So I've decided that tomorrow starts a whole new year and it is going to be different, my clothes aren't going to be tight, I am going to get my hair done, I have booked for my flu and covid jabs so here we go.  Unfortunately one job I have this week is attending a funeral for a  young woman I used to work with, that is going to be a challenge and at least my tears won't look out of place.

Hope everyone is having a better 2024 than I am.