Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

Ok before we leave 2019 and start the New Year. Time for a pep talk and a bit of motivation.

The Full Quote......

"The Past is a Foreign Country, they do things differently there".

This is the first line from a novel called "The Go Between", a coming of age story by L P Hartley. Also made into a film starring Alan Bates and Julie Christie.

Why do I quote this.....(well newbies you will find I do love to chuck in inspirational quotes from time to time). .

But for me it sums up how I think we need to think about the past.

Basically that we shouldn't let it be a millstone round our necks. It doesn't matter why or how we allowed ourselves to become frumps, it's how we move forward and where we go that's important now.

Yes our pasts do, to a certain extent, inform who we are - we are after all the sum of our life experiences but I firmly believe that we don't have to let our pasts continue to define us. We can transcend our pasts, we don't have to remain locked in yesterday forever.

We can learn from our mistakes and move on. We can reinvent ourselves, we can change our stars and make our dreams become reality.

Fanciful???

I don't think so. But....and heres the caveat, change is never easy. It takes work, dedication and commitment.

Becoming the fabulous goddess you want to become isn't for the faint hearted. I know I said take it easy and gently and I meant that but also be aware that there is, alas, no such thing as "effortless chic". If only there was:rotfl:

But then if it was easy, then everyone would be walking around looking like movie stars, sashaying through life, dressed to the nines and living a life of ease and plenty.

This is the real world and as we are all here on a money saving website I think I'm fairly safe in assuming that most of us don't have a money tree in our gardens .......and that simply throwing money at the problem isn't an option.

So for the newbies......

Whilst I can't promise you an easy ride to Fabdom I can promise you that if you stick with us and give us at least 6 months you will see improvements, not just in your appearance, but Fabbing will spill over into your everyday. It will transform your lives in ways that you cannot currently begin to imagine.

How, what, why.....I hear you ask. I don't know is the answer. It's magic. You are just going to have to take a leap of faith.

But remember this, the past is over, it's done. Your future is now about to begin and it is up to you how it turns out. Each and every day it is the actions you take that determine how that future will look.

Another quote.....this time from the Terminator. :rotfl: John Connors message from the future to his mother........"The future is not set, our fate is what we make it".

And yes, I'm aware that you can't plan for every eventuality. Life will throw curved balls but ultimately that's not what counts. It's how you face those curved balls that really matters. Not giving up in the face of adversity and not letting setbacks derail you.

So whilst I know it's tempting to start your journey from Frump to Fab going at it full throttle, my advice is don't. I have seen it so often in these threads. Newcomers get all excited and push themselves too hard to get fast results.

I cannot stress enough Frump to Fab is not a quick fix, it's a new way of living. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. So if you don't want to fall at the first hurdle, give yourselves a break and take it easy. Certainly make a strong commitment to improvement but dont go at it all bull at a gate.

Remember the parable of the tortoise and the hare......"slow but sure wins the race".

Here endeth today's lesson.......

The sun is out and I'm off for a walk.....then going to plant some bulbs for a spring display of colour. I'm a bit late but it won't matter, it will mean a late flowering is all. Ooh I feel a metaphor coming on.......something along the lines of "late bloomers". :rotfl: (definitely me).

Then a nice leisurely bath and get dolled up ready to party and welcome in the new decade.

Have Fun.....and remember, from now on - dress up and show up.

Every. Single. Day.

One last fly by today. I have had a lovely afternoon, a walk in the sunshine, potted up those spring bulbs at long last......hyacinths, tulips and crocus. The garden is sodden, I kept waiting for it to dry out but obviously that's not going to happen now. However, I managed to find enough pots and compost so I've put them in there instead. Sadly some of my new shrubs are looking very sorry for themselves and some are already dead. I have some compost left and a few pots not in use so over the next few days I think I will try a rescue mission.

Then I had a nice long nap and have just polished off the last mince pie with a cup of tea. Like you Maman I'm ready for simpler plainer food although because of my temperamental tummy I didn't go mad with anything too rich or heavy. I still have some nice unopened cheese, pate and Serrano ham left but they have a long date stamp so I can take my time with those.

Now time to have a leisurely bath and get ready for the evenings festivities.

I am celebrating at my DS1s home with my family. He will be cooking up a feast and I am taking a lemon roulade desert which we didn't eat at Christmas. That will then be the last of the Christmas food.

I am taking my Casino Night game (complete with roulette wheel):rotfl:. I bought each of us a bag of chocolate coins for "gambling money". :rotfl: so a nice low cost fun night to start the new decade.

Maman. Love your "Roaring Twenties" theme I saw the 20 in 2020 thread too. Some great ideas on there so although, like you, I won't be going the whole hog, I will be adapting some of the ideas next year.

Speaking of Roaring Twenties one of our local museums will be showing an exhibition of Twenties and Thirties evening wear next month so I have put that on my to do list. I just love that era, I think it showcased probably the most glamourous evening wear ever seen. I recently bought myself a gorgeous lavender/blue grey long sequinned evening gown from TKMaxx. Size 14 wahoo. In the sale of course so couldn't resist it. Not worn it yet......but perfect for my next cruise. :rotfl:

Savingmore.......I am an older sibling too, so I get what you mean about always being the sensible and responsible one. There was 11 years between my sister and I (just the two of us) and I ended up being "the mother". Far too much responsibility on such young shoulders and I got sick of always being "capable Kate".

But I recently put a stop to all that......A couple of years ago I told my sister straight I was done with playing mother and from that day forward I have been "just a sister, no more no less". Best thing I've ever done. And it only took me 55 years to learn to say "No" :rotfl:

Squirrelgirl.....welcome and yes, put yourself first. If you don't no one else will.

Mistara. Well done on the fabbing. You're right - Start as you mean to go on.

With that in mind, after my bath I'm going to paint my toenails Chinese Red. Ok no one else will see them but I will be able to admire them.....