The February Fabulizers - Where we turn chores into habits and accept compliments gracefully

[TrampyPants]

New thread for a new month! Everyone is doing so well, we are forming some great habits and, hopefully, feeling better for it.

some good links:

How To Be Groomed thread

Discount Make-up and Toiletries
Cheap Smells
Fragrance Direct
Xtras Online
Look Fantastic

Its also worth joining groups like wowcher and Groupon for discount manicures etc.

Baby steps are the way forward, and if you fall off the wagon and have a pj day (or week) its ok, just jump back on. We want to take more pride in our appearance, make an effort. As one poster said, "we think there's no point making an effort if we are just at home with our DP's and DC's, but they are the most important people in our lives - why not act like it?" I certainly feel better, my self-esteem is higher and I have more confidence.

All welcome.

Happy Fabulizing Dahhlinks

Twinkle I've been on a diet (sort of, it is more of a lifestyle change) for the past 9 months. Have lost 3.5 stone. I find My Fitness Pal really good for tracking calories.

I survived PTA, including sitting in front of everyone. May have inadvertently signed myself up for a whole load of fundraising stuff that I don't really have time for, I must have "mug" written on my forehead.

It is going to be a long day tomorrow, we have an Estyn (Welsh version of Ofsted) inspection in 3 weeks time and we are tackling the paperwork in a meeting tomorrow afternoon. I will be so glad when it is over. I am going to go for a run tomorrow morning though to clear my head before it all starts.

I am also having a scarf dilemma. I saw a lovely owl print scarf in a local shop, and had asked for it for my birthday. But today the shop has posted this robin scarf and this bird print scarf from their new stock and I'm not sure which I like best! What do you think?

Engels How is the scarf wearing going?

Jemima - the bird one def, its lovely

Jemima, I love the robin one, but the bird is more unusual. Well done on getting through pta, you're going to be knackered. Are you nervous about the visit?

Twinkle, thank you.

Guy, I think you should keep, you'll love them over time. I love BIWI, I am following her blog and we are fb friends, she's done so well.

I'm doing my nails now, just tried on my tweed shorts and they are massive. I lose weight very quickly, and haven't worn them for ages, but I'm gutted. I wanted to wear them tomorrow.

Okay, nail colour for tomorrow is bright orange.

I have a funeral to goto on Wednesday, so need to get some tights tomorrow. It's one of my best friends/ex of 7 years dad's. I'm dreading it.

I start the week low carb then it all goes to pot around Thursday!!

Jemima - hope you're day goes ok and that your run helped clear your head a bit this morning. I still havent been out running..... whens the bloody weather going to warm up. I think I been cold for years now slight exaggeration

Trampy - thanks for the permission to keep the jackets Shame about the shorts, is it just the waist that is too big? Because if so (rather than all over) could you put a couple of stitches in the waistband to bring it in a bit? I realise that wont work if they are too big in the leg for your liking. I had to do this with a pair of jeans Id bought. I was between sizes so bought the 10, I wish now Id bought the 8 - Im not an 8 but in between and could easily size down in them.

I need to do my nails orange soon! The orange red I did them before was a bit too red looking.

I hope the funeral goes 'okay' if thats the word, you know what I mean.

twinkle - I found that happened all the time - start off ok, day 3 Im feeling the cravings, day 4 Im DESPERATE for sugar, bread etc and would buckle and be back to square one. If I couldve just held out until days 5/6/7 it would be a lot easier. Id def give Biwi's thread a read - if it wasnt for being a part of that I doubt I wouldve got as far as I have now. Im about 6lbs off target and my weight is sticking a lot but Im hoping to keep at it.

Oh and preparation is key! Meal plan things that are low carb and can be made for the family so you're a)not watching the others eat chips and b) you're not having to buy loads of extra food and bumping up your shopping bill or having to cook two different things. Eg tonight Im doing pork stroganoff, the others can have rice with theirs and I'll prob have cauli rice with mine.

Theres a recipe thread too, and if you stick super strict for a couple of weeks (or longer depending on how much weight you want to lose I think) you can then introduce other foods.

I hope the funeral goes as well as it can Trampy.

Well done for getting out in the car GuyMartinsSideburns. I am absolutely terrified of driving and it limits my life to a certain degree so I sympathise.

Not sure about today's outfit. I don't know if I'm tall enough to carry it off! (5'7")

Charcoal, cream and rust muted leopard print scarf
Brown tee
Light brown python print shirt (sleeveless, dip hem)
Brown hip length lightweight cardigan
Khaki chinos turned up
Tan leather brogues

Thank you all, Im dreading it, tbh. he was a lovely man and his son and I were together a long time through all of our teens. but, he had been ill for a long time.

Twinkle, Im sure I read somewhere that you become addicted to bread, so thats what you are feeling!

guy, they are too roomy around the hips and bum too. Im hoping that I can put a bit of weight on so they fit better. my legs look good in them though. and glad you are keeping the jackets!!

Bleeding, that outfit sounds really, really nice!!

DS woke up ill, but seems much better now, thank god. hes going to my PILs tomorrow and we have Lego discovery centre in manchester on thursday, I need him well!! My Reiss top came today and I love it! It looks so good and will go with so much. Im really pleased!

I am being decidedly unstylish this evening in a grey hoody and jeans. I was wearing a nice black scoop neck top with a swallow print scarf earlier, but now I just want to slob. Am up to my ears in paperwork, my nose is running like a tap and I am generally fed up.

Anyway, I did manage to get up and go for a run this morning, even though it was -3 at 6.30am, so that is one plus point. And I am not letting the paperwork mountain be an excuse to eat junk, although I am allowing myself a minature Green & Black's chocolate bar (a Valentines present) every night as they are only 85 calories.

Right, back to the paperwork. Am hoping to get this bit finished by 9.30, then do a 30 minute yoga DVD before bed to help me sleep and stop me waking up at 2am making lists in my head!

Jemima, Ive just found this and thought of you. sorry that you are ill

Ooh, that would be rather pretty for spring!

Have got tonight's bit of paperwork finished and emailed off and have done my yoga. Am trying to stay focused and calm and not run round shouting "We're all doomed!!!" Thank goodness Estyn only come once every 6 years.

Morning!

Shouldve ran this morning but I looked out the window, saw all the frost on the pavement and cars and decided against it Cant really moan about this last half a stone if Im not putting the work in can I.... I walk about an hour a day but obv thats not enough. Really want the spring here now, I walk so much more then and its easier to get out of bed to run too

Im freezing yet again today, so in levis with the ankles rolled up a bit, long sleeved purple top, grey boyfriend cardy over the top, and currently a pale brown pashmina as a scarf. My nails are a funky orange though so its cheering me up! Really love orange with grey, actually.

Should be going into town on fri with a couple of friends, hoping that orange skirt will still be in topshop....

I'm not sure if I'll run tomorrow if the weather is as cold as this, it was icy this morning and I don't want to slip.

I am freezing too, am wearing straight leg jeans, a navy and white breton and a grey oversized cowl neck jumper.

I have got a meeting tomorrow with real adults (instead of my normal work in the classroom with 3 and 4 year olds who don't care what I wear). I am thinking of wearing black trousers, a black and white striped tunic, a long black cardigan, a butterfly print scarf and black heeled shoe boots. Maybe a long necklace as well. Mainly because it looks quite smart, but also because it make me look really slim I am going out for food with DH afterwards (it is his birthday) so need something that will look OK for that too.

Hello fabulizers,

I am almost snot free though the cold weather is back with a vengeance so my lips are superdry and DH has been groaning on the sofa for the last 3 days.

Still, I am feeling fabulous (despite snot!). My supersoft skinnies from Newlook are so comfortable and fit so well that I?m going to town to buy another pair in dark blue on my next day off. It was definitely noted yesterday that I was wearing something different and I felt fabulous. Was pretty nippy though so decided to go for converse high tops instead of ballet flats/heels.

Today I went for:
New blue A-line skirt, White short sleeved top, Tan belt, ¾ length sleeve short grey cardi, Brown leather lace up heels, Pretty glass pendant, Glam hair (down) and lenses.

Freezing here right now so am thinking of: burgundy skinnies, brown lace up ankle boots, short sleeve navy T, long blue cardi, heart drop pendant.

Fabulizing is funny. I was thinking about what to wear on my drive home tonight and this morning it took me twice as long to get ready, even though I had laid out all my clothes. Probably because I was enjoying getting ready so much!

Tried out my new scarf with my Monday outfit jemima - though that meant showing off for DH in front of the telly Am going to fit it into one of my outfits next week. Good luck with your oftsed.

Biwi trampy ? do tell?
Sorry to hear about funeral

Huge respect to anyone who gets up and runs in the morning. I just can?t face it at the time. I was out last night at 7. Freezing rain for the first 10 minutes ? ouch!

I?m going out for dinner/movie with 2 friends on Friday night (all teachers and 8 kids between us so we?ve managed it on average once every 18months!)

Jemima, that sounds really good! is it a parents eveing thing?

Guy, I dont blame you at all! I love Orange with grey too, they balance each other out really nicely.

Engels, I'm enjoying it too, Ive been practising make up too, its so much fun. and thank you.

I have just dyed my hair a lovely dark red, the funeral went ok, I was so proud of my friend and the church was crammed.

My friend saw a faux fur coat in a charity shop window yesterday, remembered that I was looking for one and got it. cost a fiver. she posted it last night and it arrived this morning, and ooooh its so purty! I think I love it.

I dont know what to wear to manchester tomorrow, torn between new coat, 60's style shift dress, black tights and boots or skinny jeans, my new reiss top and a mixed fabric jacket with wedge boots.

decisions, decisions.

I like the idea of the dress and boots Trampy :)

No, not a parents' evening, it is a sort of keeping in touch day where we get together from all the local nursery schools and exchange ideas, get training etc.

Glad the funeral went OK Trampy, and I love the sound of your hair colour!

Good luck with the scarf wearing Engels. I decided (well, DD decided for me) on the robin print scarf in navy for my birthday. But I might treat myself to the hummingbird one in red too if I get some money as a present.

I didn't run this morning, but went for a swim instead.

I popped out at lunchtime and bought a jersey blazer. Have just tried it on with jeans and a breton top and I am worried it makes me look like my MIL. Will this wear off? It looks nice, but in an I'm off to W.I. sort of way. These are the sort of things I worry about now I am 34 and not 19...

afternoon fabulizers, how are we all today?

Hello Trampy!

I'm still trying to make my jersey blazer not look like something my MIL would wear. I am trying it with converse and my elephant scarf (rather than heeled shoes boots and a narrower scarf) to see if that makes it look more funky and less W.I.

How are you?

Hello! I went shopping today and tried on that orange skirt again, didnt buy it tho. Still undecided. Anyway I saw those topshop blazers so tried the black one and bought that Im returning the 2 oasis ones in the morning. I then bought an aztec print scarf, and a denim shirt. My mil has found me a pair of the next hareem trousers I want and I reckon the shirt would look cool with that with rolled up sleeves and sandals when its warmer.

Its sooooo cold, so I wore the old faithful jumper dress and jeggings!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend

Do you look like my MIL in your blazer Guy?

Decided on outfits for tomorrow. Daytime - jeans, black scoop neck top, grey oversized cardigan with elbow patches, elephant print scarf, converse. Then evening (going to the cinema with friends) - jeans, charcoal and white breton, black jersey blazer, elephant print scarf, converse.

Just gave my 10 year old DS the choice of what colour to paint my nails and he has chosen Teal.

Have seen a pair of animal print ballet flats in Clarks, I like them but can't decide if they are a bit OTT. Might go and have another look at them tomorrow.

Just catching up with everyone's news as I haven't been on for a few days. I've been trying to go the gym as much as possible so have mostly been wearing joggers and a baggy t-shirt!
Got my nails done today and they are a bit mad but I love them. The main colour is a gunmetal grey and on my ring fingersit is covered in gunmetal glitter. Then my middle fingers are a pale grey with little dots in dark brown. Totally mad!
I'm also getting my hair done tomorrow. My hair is very short and I'm getting it coloured. Apparently my hairdresser has decided she's doing it copper with platinum bits around my face. We'll see!

Jemima - well I hope I dont look like your mil.... I think wearing it with a breton top sounds cool and was thinking the same, with blue skinnies and ballet type pump things (by the way, I def think you should get the leopard print ones, I love mine!) when its warmer.

Today Im in black skinnies, denim shirt, dark red knitted cardy and converse. Have never felt slim enough to pull this kind of thing off and Im very conscious that Im showing more arse and thigh than I would usually I dont have any plans for the day but Im still fighting the urge to go and put my joggers on! I might have to anyway if I dont bloody warm up.

Always - those nails sound fab!

Jemima - agree with guy about the leopard print flats, I love them and they go great with skinnies.