Frump to Fab 2026.

Wednesday2000

They don't sound very nice! I hope the new running club goes well.

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Ladies

I've blitzed the lounge and kitchen and now just about to blitz myself. Currently sat with a deep cleansing face mask and then an "everything" shower. Later a nice healthy dinner.

Watty I got angry on your behalf when you described how those awful women treated you. I know it's hard but try not to let people like that get to you. Tbh it says more about them than it does about you. Just concentrate on you and your lovely supportive partner.

I experienced something similar when I divorced my first husband. It's not nice but in all honesty it shows you who your real friends are, same when my husband got sick. Sometimes some people are just unpleasant, mean and utterly obnoxious. I firmly believe in karma and balance. The universe has a habit of seeing that justice eventually prevails.

My first husbands family were not nice people, my MIL was particularly unpleasant to me. When my husband remarried she found out. Her new DIL treated her the way she had treated me, with the same contempt and disrespect she had shown me. She finally admitted just how much she regretted the way she had treated me, saying I was a true gem and that her son had been a fool to allow me to "slip through his fingers". You gotta laugh.

Watty. Just be you, continue on your fabbing journey, let your new partner continue to care for you and cherish you the way you deserve to be loved. As your confidence grows you will make new friends, friends who will value you and treat you with respect.

Ladies ….as my dear Aunty S used to say…..if you lie down on the floor like a doormat, don't be surprised if people walk all over you.

This is at the crux of fabbing…….it's not just superficial vanity. It's learning to value ourselves, setting boundaries and commanding respect. If people see you neglecting yourself, dressing any old how, not taking care of your appearance, not looking after your health, then they subconsciously they will not value you.

Never allow anyone to take away your dignity. Dress well, smell nice, stand tall and proud.

And if they disrespect you, or try to treat you badly. Well let them. Just let them, let them reveal themselves. ignore the barbs, ignore the comments, just walk away with your head held high and your dignity intact. The right people will notice,

chanie

@Watty1 well done with the running club. it’s not easy going out of your comfort zone after a bad experience, but it will get easier each time and you’ll also be fit and healthy. Are you going to invest in new gym wear?

@Wednesday2000 have you been on your holiday yet?

@helensbiggestfan your Aunty S is right about being a door mat! A friend of mine told me tonight i have to have better boundaries at work. She’s great at pushing back, me not so much.

i’ve started to have a clear out of my wardrobe. and got rid of a few bits that i don’t enjoy wearing any more. As i have a good idea of what suits me, i don’t have many regret purchases, but there were a couple of items that i am happy to let go of.

whilst going through my wardrobe, i realised i had a few new items that i haven worn yet, including 2 pairs of trousers and a top. in my defence, it’s been too hot to wear them.

I have identified two gaps in my wardrobe; a summer jacket - although the weather is warm, it can be chilly in the mornings and in the shade.

work shoes - i have quite a few nice pairs, but need something a bit more sturdy as i do quite a bit of walking on my commute.

Wednesday2000

Yes, Chanie. I have been to Brighton twice this month and then I just got back from Ibiza on Sunday. I am extremely tired from all this "relaxing", lol. I didn't like Ibiza as much as I expected as it was quite annoying with all the people being so happy and partying. It reminded me of Tenerife and I didn't like it there either.

I feel back to normal today as I went to my usual meetup group and I have a few meals out planned for this week. I was out for a meal today, I'm out tomorrow night and then going out in Chelmsford and to London later in the week. October is quiet for me and I am quite relieved by that!😁

Watty1

Aww thanks @chanie and @helensbiggestfan Especially the comment about the heart of fabbing being not only to look great but to value ourselves.

I might invest in new running wear but I can squeeze into what I have so lets see if I stick with this first. I have to keep reminding myself in May I could not walk more than 50 yards, whereas apparently last night we walked and ran mixed 2.something or other km. I am very slow and struggling and as a former runner it is frustrating but I got back in the car and my partner immediately said how proud he was I was giving it a go.

helensbiggestfan

Good morning lovely ladies.

Wednesday - sorry to hear you didn't particularly enjoy Ibiza. I have never been myself but I understand it has the reputation of being a party island, although I think there is a quieter side. It's a bit of a dilemna isnt it, we all like to travel but there is a downside to tourism with the most popular destinations becoming overly busy. Last time I went to Barcelona it was rammed in places. And that was in May, not peak season. Here in Derbyshire we have a famous beauty spot but it is being destroyed through overcrowding with serious soil erosion and destruction of the habitat. Most locals completely avoid it now at weekends.

Watty…..well done on your walking and running progress. Just goes to show doesn't it how the compound effect really does work.

Re decluttering. I am have masses of stuff to get rid of and now that i no longer longer have a car charity shop drop offs and tip runs are rather difficult and I don't want to ask family or friends. I have found a couple of companies who work with charities and who offer a free collection service. I have found one who works with a charity who helps victims of domestic violence. I've booked a pickup for 1st week in October so that gives me a couple of weeks to clear out my wardrobes.

I am going to be ruthless. 😂🤣.

New sofa arrives today. Exciting. I have been making do with an old ikea occasional chair, ok for short periods but not really very comfortable. My back has not been happy so I am looking forward to relaxing in a bit more comfort and style.

I think our environment is a very important factor in Fabbing, so I am determined to upgrade mine, getting rid of clutter, creating an easy to maintain, cosy and stylish home. And all on a very tight budget. Lol

Watty1

that is a fabulous charity to donate your clothes too - also unwanted products like shampoos. Sadly because of the ex I met women on courses who had literally left with just a carrier bag or the clothes they were wearing at the time. I support a local charity to me now that offers clothing drop ins where women (and children) can go and collect clothes with no judgement.

It is very humbling.

On a brighter note, your local council might do large waste collections. Mine charges £25 and will take £5 items but they can be really big items a pal who is renovating used the service to get rid of a sofa and armchair and a couple of smaller items she no longer wanted.

helensbiggestfan

Thanks Watty. I've never been a victim of DV but I know very often they have to leave in the clothes they are wearing and are left with nothing. So yes it does seem a worthwhile charity.

I got our local council to take my sofas. They charged me £45 but they take 6 large items for that price so I though that was fair.

chanie

@Wednesday2000 you have been very busy recently.

@Watty1 if you need new gym wear and want to treat yourself, Sweaty Betty has a sale on at the moment. Still expensive, even in thr sale, but at least the price is more palatable.

@helensbiggestfan. i hope you are enjoying your new sofa.

chanie

Hi Fabbers,

i had an MSE day, which i’m pretty pleased about.

i woke up in my new bedding, which i picked up in the sales for half price, as our current bedding sets are looking worse for wear.

Then off to Boots to buy a few bits and using the recycling offer to get £5 in points.

Then a trip to the cinema, using free tickets.

Cleared out some more clothes that no longer make me feel fab - our with the old and in with the new.

Finally, just fixed my computer printer after a few months of it being broken. It had some paper which had got stuck and then ripped so it was impossible to remove. i was on the verge of buying another one as the children use it for homework, but i didn’t want to have to. After unnecessarily unscrewing various parts, i found a ‘hidden’ panel and managed to fix it.

EDIT…. forgot to add….

Whilst i’m not wishing the warm weather away, i have a couple of new autumn/winter items i’m so looking forward to wearing but haven’t had the chance to yet, as it’s a bit too warm. i’ve just checked the weather app and it looks like next week will be warm / mild, so they will remain unworn dor a while yet.