Hello again everyone
I started this post thinking it was just going to be an update on my health and a few other bits and bobs, and then the hats seemed to take over!
But before you see the hats an explanation as to why there’s been a bit of a gap between this post and the last one, that’s because I am still in post-Covid territory. We take it in turns to feel poorly as, quite unusually, Mr F is also taking some time to recover from these winter viruses that we’ve had. Both of us cannot do too much without feeling incredibly tired, I’m improving but gosh recovery sure is taking its time.
Never mind, I’ve paid for my June cruise (to Norway of course) which I think will be good timing as we should be much better by then. And yesterday in a fit of, gosh, let’s do something daft to look forward to, I booked a 2024 cruise – yay! Consequently I am stony broke as I’m the one that holds the purse strings for holidays. So no more buying clothes online or High Street shops, it’ll be strictly from charity shops from now onwards!
Before I get on to clothes I have to tell you I’ve discovered a new foundation, which has amazing coverage. It’s a South Korean brand, Erborian, and after a recommendation from Gail of Is this Mutton, instead of trying the BB cream which she’d done, I thought actually I could do with colour correcting as my face is dotted with tiny veins, blotches and other ageing marks and lines. It seemed logical to get the Erborian CC cream, which says it is a High Radiance Face Cream plus its got a sun protector of 25. I tried it and was incredibly impressed. As you know I don’t do endorsements or get given things so this is truly what I think.
Here’s the before.
And the after.
And note I’m 77 this year and hey the ‘before’ is what this nearly 77 yr-old looks like without makeup!!! I believe we should be real and that’s the reality.
Anyway, clothes. I bought nothing during my two illnesses apart from the orange coat, which you’ve seen. That, by the way, was new (from Warehouse) but from a sale. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve started getting back into the swing of things (as in, going out of the house for starters!) and I bought two summer dresses, which you’ll see when the weather warms up, but this dress below I bought in January just before I got the ‘flu.
Its brand is Mango and finding it in a charity shop I pounced as it cost all of £14. Now I know I said that from now on I wanted to wear nothing but colourful clothes, but this is such a classic shape and wow, it’s got pockets! I think the best thing is to dress it up with accessories and different hats. Confession here – the hats seem to be multiplying again! I am also naughtily looking for a bright pink coat, which I think would jazz this grey colour up beautifully, meanwhile the pink beret will brighten up the day.
The thing is because it’s been so darn cold (it is beginning to warm up) I’ve only been wearing my yellow beanie. As I got the pink beret out from my pile of hat boxes I looked at all my other hats and here’s a selection of old and new because, as ever, I’ve been sneaking in various hats over the winter! These are all selfies so again you’re seeing my face up close – be warned!
I bought this hat on the same day as I bought the dress – it’s rather neat don’t you think! But I do want to be more colourful so this is a hat I bought new in Toulouse years ago now.
And what about this hat – rather lovely don’t you think. Cost all of £3 from a charity shop.
But this one is a beauty!
Can you see the feather?
I do love this hat but I haven’t worn it out yet – should I? It’s a bit over the top.
Btw, I think my eye makeup is all over the place – seeing my eye makeup close up in a selfie is quite a shock. Mind you I can’t see much when I put the eye makeup on as I’ve got awful eye sight so it’s not surprising. I’ll have to do a YouTube session to show you how I manage my makeup now I don’t wear contacts.
That’s all for now, but do tell me your news and I hope you’re all well and the weather is being kind wherever you are 🙂
With love, Penny, the Frugalfashionshopper
Love the dress & all the hats. I am not really a hat wearer, except sun hats. Here in Florida, sun protection is big, but I do live vicariously through your HAT posts.
Yes, you live in a far hotter place than me! I too wear sun hats but find that there isn’t the variety that hats for colder days give you. Oh to have that warmer weather – but it is better here this week. Thanks Jean 🙂
Love the first and last hats — and so do you because your smile lights up your eyes with those two. The others, not so much. I think because they clash with your fabulous glasses and if it’s a choice between the two, definitely keep the glasses!!
Oh yes the glasses are brilliant aren’t they! Thanks Katji
Hi Penny ,So pleased you are getting better, these illnesses do drag on and on ,don’t they? Re the difficulty in making up your eyes, I am very short sighted and actally have very little sight at all in my left eye. I found that a small magnifying mirror is the answer .They sell them in Boots , (a bit expensive and probably cheaper elsewhere ) but invaluable . You need magnifying 10 ,it’s a bit scary to see your face so clearly but it really helps with makeup. They have “suckers “ on the back so I stick mine onto a hand mirror for easier use. I love make up and at 83 put it on every single day , it gives me a huge boost . Love all the hats, good hunting in the charity shops. Best wishes from Judy in Brighton
Well it is one step forward and one step back sometimes. Like yesterday I felt fine and the pix all look good as a result but today I am exhausted – and I don’t know why that happens. It is a long process this recovery. Never mind, I will recover eventually.
RE: the makeup – actually I do have that x10 little mirror with the suction cups at the back. I’ve had it for so long that it won’t stick to the mirror I have on my makeup table. So I hold it in one hand but it just isn’t the same as when I had contacts and there are moments I have to put that little mirror down. I think it’s the closeness of the selfie that made the eye makeup look weird! Yes, makeup is such a boost to one’s morale – glad to hear you wear it every day! Thanks Judy 🙂
Love the hats & please do wear the last one out, it has a real touch of class. Can I ask did you buy the Erborian cream on the high street as I don’t fancy trying to choose a shade online.
Thanks re: the hat – I’ll have to wear it now!!!
RE: the Erborian cream – I actually bought it online. But I think it’s stocked in Boots which will be good for you but the thing is they only have 3 shades. I chose Clare which is the lightest one, and I’d say that it is brilliant for coverage but at the moment I am very pale and pasty and when it’s on I think it is just the teeniest bit too coloured for the state of my face. My neck is definitely slightly paler which you can hide with a scarf. But really I need that colour! So I don’t mind. Btw, I am so new to the CC thing was rather flummoxed when I saw that the cream is white! I thought – what!!! But no it turns into this amazing coverage – very impressed.
OMG, how funny because I just ordered that color-correcting cream on the suggestion from another friend. It’s on its way now, so I can’t wait to use it.
I am always such a fan of hats, and thus you’ll love my latest IG post. One is even a beret.
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I think this Erborian CC cream is amazing – Think it’s been good to get out of my comfort zone and find a totally new brand.
Will look at IG for your hats.
Thanks Jodie 🙂
xxx
I am so glad you’re feeling better, Penny. I do believe all of the bugs out there grew to be superbugs during the pandemic. Or, maybe, our immune systems have shrunk a bit. I think that grey dress is a blank canvas awaiting your magic touch, Penny! And, I would never have believed you are 77 years old. Your skin is beautiful, but your spirit is even more so. I rarely wear foundation but love my eyeshadow! Oh, your hats are so much fun. I love to wear hats, but I rarely wear that kind in the winter because my ears get cold!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
I think it’s my immune system. I was so very careful throughout this beastly pandemic and even last winter hardly mixed with anyone or went anywhere. Our move to Lewes shook us out of our agoraphobic behaviour and we have lived much more normal lives. But there was a lot of Covid around in our part of the world so it was inevitable that we got it. It’s a slow recovery as feeling rather tired today – don’t know why.
Thank you so much about my skin. I once had conversation with an American woman on an American cruise line. She lived in Florida and we talked about our different climates and how possibly the English complexion is good because it rains so much!!!! So true!!
I love my hats but just like you I can’t wear the broad brimmed ones in the winter because it is too cold. It’s just beginning to warm up here – yay!
Thanks Marsha 🙂
I’m glad you feel better again. This has been a hell of a winter and I will be one happy girl when it finally warms up a bit and we can spend more time outside. I love your new dress and pockets in it are fabulous. And just wear the hat! Have a happy Easter weekend!
Feeling rather tired today – no reason – it’s two steps forward and one step back and recovery is slow. But hopefully where you are is warming up? It is here. We have good weather at the moment.
Wishing you both a Happy Easter too. Thanks Nancy 🙂
xxx
I love all your hats, and no- the new one is not too much. Very chic I would say! I’ve got a pink beret too, which I must unearth. I’d forgotten about it. I use it to perk up a grey hairy Oska coat that I bought last year. It works well! However I always find that this in between time of year is so short, I don’t manage to fit in as many of this type of lighter coat as I want. Thinking about it would a colourful belt give a bit of uplift to the grey dress, which is lovely on you but on me would look like a sack. I’m sorry to hear about your post viral woes. We’re going through the same thing, due to Covid, caught on a cruise in September and a really nasty virus in March. We’re both washed out. I would say that cruising for us next time, will follow a different pattern. We will avoid crowded buffets, where cross infection can be rife due to shared implements for serving, and we will eat some of our meals in our cabin, which we were forced anyway, to do after contracting Covid and being restricted to our cabin for 7 days. Some people said we should not have informed the medical staff but that seemed silly to us, and since it was our first tussle with Covid we were simply afraid of the effect. They looked after us well, until many of the passengers and crew were similarly infected ( I think by those who had not restricted their movements). I’m sorry- I’m not saying this to upset you but do take precautions. It’s not the same as before. If I can be of any help let me know. And more than anything have a safe and lovely holiday. Trish S
Hi Trish
Glad you like the hats and do get out that pink beret of yours! Re: cruises, yes I am very wary of Covid on cruise ships (and Norovirus) and I know two people who went on the same cruise line, which is Saga, and both said that people were getting Covid on their respective cruises – they didn’t fortunately. One thing about Saga is that in the buffet you don’t touch anything, staff serve you and you don’t touch any handles or servers. I was shocked when I went on another cruise line and had to touch handles that everyone else had touched – and that’s before Covid! We will have breakfast in our cabin for starters and go to the main dining room and some of the speciality restaurants. Also Saga doesn’t have a huge number of people on board – under 1000 – so fingers crossed! Also everyone gets picked up from their door so less contact with others before the cruise consequently I do think it is the safest bet for a cruise. But I get what you’re saying. Thanks Trish 🙂
So good to read this post and see you in your hats, Penny. You wear them with such style! And, I love the gray dress! It will look lovely with your yellow accessories!
Regarding the Korean makeup, yes, I believe Asian companies are terrific for makeup and skincare. Here in the California sunshine, I try to wear minimal makeup and apply it with a light hand. However, years of sun tanning have taken their toll. I do use tretinoin for my aging face and a dark, sun spot lightener. Lots of moisturizer and sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen at all times!
Catching a flight in the morning to visit a new grandson in Washington state. Spending a week to provide grandma help! Just finished celebrating my 74th birthday and had some marvelous days with friends and family. Life is good and slowly adjusting to be myself without my husband of forty-four years. A total of forty-nine if you count those early years of dating. I work at keeping focused on the gratitude…with a capital G. 🤗. Said a little prayer for you and Mr. FFS for improved health.
Do take care, Penny! Charlene H
In the exhibition on South Korean culture at the V&A one of the sections was around their makeup and cosmetics industry. The cream is very light and isn’t actually a foundation – rather stunned at how it covers the imperfections! And yes, sunscreen – so important even here in the UK.
Lovely to hear about your trip to see your new grandson and here’s wishing you a belated Happy Birthday! And also it’s so good to hear about your slow adjustment to your husband’s passing – I wish you well with that.
Thank you for the good wishes for our health and I’m touched you saying a little prayer – much appreciated. It’s been a nasty few months and recovery is slow but we are getting there – thanks again Charlene 🙂
Here is hoping you get back to feeling completely well soon Penny. Good for you for booking those trips. I almost booked a Viking cruise to the South of France in the Fall but got cold feet. First I did not really have anyone to go with me and I still don’t have confidence that air travel is back to normal. There have been too many horror stories and I was especially nervous about doing it alone. maybe next year. I do wish I had the confidence to wear hats like you do, I only wear them to keep my ears warm in the winter or for sun protection in the summer, often a baseball hat which I suppose is an American thing. I have been thinking myself about finding a new foundation.
For the past couple of years I have worn It Cosmetics cc cream. I do like that it has an SPF of 50 but lately I am not happy with the color. I think it is too orangey. I really do need some kind of foundation to cover all the discolorations and kind of blur the sagginess and wrinkles. I know a lot of my contemporaries go barefaced these days but I am not ready to go there yet, even at 81. I have however, kind of lightened up on makeup, especially the eye makeup. I might go to a makeup counter when I run out of my current foundation and see if they can give me advise about my whole routine. In the past this has been helpful but often they use too much product in an effort to sell more, It has been years since I have done this so probably time for an update.
In a little while I am looking forward to having a holiday brunch with my son, daughter in law and grandson at a nice local restaurant. I will miss my granddaughter as she will be away at college. and tomorrow will do a breakfast for here at my place for daughter and her husband. Schedules do not allow for the whole family to be together for the holiday , so making do with the separate gatherings. And on Monday my daughter and I are finally going to see the Monet’s Garden exhibit in Manhattan, my Christmas gift that we had to postpone from February. I forgot to congratulate you on the new grandchild, and do have lovely Easter. Love, Darby
I’m most impressed by the coverage of a CC cream but I know what you mean about the colour as this one only has 3 choices of colour, and the palest one is ever so slightly more tanned than it should be for my winter pallor – I hide my neck with a scarf and look healthier than I really am! We are slowly recovering – but the emphasis is on slow!
RE: the cruise, I think the Norwegian one will be very good thing to do and it is short so we can judge how it is for the next year’s slightly longer one. Mind you all these cruises come with a slight sense of anxiety as not only do we have noro to contend with there’s Covid to worry about. But the cruise line is very high end and has fewer passengers than most lines therefore I’m hopeful all will be well. Is there one nearer to you that you can take? Or was it Europe that you wanted to get to ? It is along way. That’s what puts me off coming to the States again – it’s that flight, as I’m not a seasoned flyer
Oh that Monet’s Garden exhibit sounds divine enjoy along with all your family visits and get-togthers. we’re having a very quiet Easter as my daughter and her family are away and my son and daughter-in-law, it’s tricky, as we do go every week for a couple of hours but the 2-yr-old is always slightly ill and/or snotty and we are trying to avoid catching anything from him because of our recent viruses. They do get a lot of help thankfully from her mother. Lydia Rose is only 3 weeks old – so young but lovely.
Thanks Derby and you have a lovely rest of the weekend and Easter Monday 🙂
Penny, I’m sorry that you and your husband are having such a time with recovery. I LOVE all of your hats! I’m slowly working on a hat collection myself. And yes, you absolutely should wear the last one out and about. Your gray mango dress will be nice backdrop for bright scarves and hats. And it has pockets! 😀 I’m with you on “reality.” I do not doctor my face or slim down my body with digital fixes. 99% of us do not look like Hollywood starlets, and I think we need to put the idea that we should all strive for that to bed.
Michelle
https://funkyfashionstyle.com
Yes, it is a very slow recovery but not Long Covid – we’re both just very post-viral. Ah another lover of hats – aren’t they great! Thing is through the winter I don’t wear my wide-brimmed ones as I want to cover my head completely. Last week we had good weather with sun but still a chilly wind and this week, nothing but rain! So won’t be wearing the featured hats as yet!
So glad you also agree that we should be real. Thanks Michelle 🙂
Nice to hear from you Penny and sorry that it is taking you a while to get over your illnesses. Love the hats of course! It’s so warm here at the moment that I’ll have to get my sunhats out soon but no change over to summer clothes just yet. I bought some pyjamas and a dress in Woolovers sale recently and was very impressed with the quality of their ‘eco viscose’ jersey ; very silky and quite heavy. I’ve ordered some more sale items from them to refresh my 95% second-hand (sorry, pre-loved!) clothes. E-bay is getting more expensive I’ve noticed and I rarely find anything in charity shops these days. I’m feeling well at present so I’m trying to be more optimistic about the future. I’ve just recorded my audio biography with a lovely lady called Caroline from http://www.audiobiographers.co.uk. I’m not at all sure I will want to listen to it myself, it’s for my family and future generations, if they are interested. When you think about how much change we have seen in our lives it makes sense to record it in some way, like your father did. I have written about my parents for the addresses at their funerals so concentrated on my grandparents and they featured strongly in my childhood. The make-up you mention sounds interesting but I’m wary of trying something new and wasting money. I think foundation is the hardest thing to get right. I bought a CC foundation once before which was very disappointing and a Boots brand one turned out to be the wrong colour. I have been using Vichy Dermablend for a few years and I like it although I have to mix 2 colours in Spring, moving onto the slightly darker one in Summer and back to the lighter in autumn. I’ve been recommended to a ‘natural’ brand called Tropic which I may try for a cleanser. I’m also looking at an ‘eco’ gel nail system called Green Flash and another innovative brand called Sistaco which uses mineral powder sealed between a clear base and topcoat – intriguing! You need a LED lamp for both of these of course. I can do a very good job on my nails but ordinary polish chips so easily and £30 + for a salon job is a lot and not very convenient. My nails grow quickly as well. On another topic entirely, we’ve just watched Magpie Murders which was really good. I think it was on Britbox before so if you have that you may have seen it. Good cast including Lesley Manville.
Honestly, putting everything into perspective I know we’ll get over this – we’re just very post-viral at the moment. Wasn’t it lovely weather last week but think it’s going to rain a lot this week. That audio biography sounds amazing and so useful if one doesn’t want to go down the route of writing, writing, writing, which could be quite tiring for you. But great to hear you feel well. Your family will definitely appreciate it.
You can get a 15ml size to test the colour of the CC Erborian creme – I was very impressed with the way it evens out the imperfections and age spots on my face, but I admit it is just a tad too dark for my winter pasty face and there isn’t a lighter shade. However, I disguise my paler neck with a scarf and look healthier than I really am.
We will definitely watch Magpie Murders – just finished Blue Lights, which was wonderful. Will also look at Hugh Laurie’s Christie which started last night – got good reviews in The Guardian. Thanks Lynda
Hello, Penny,
Love the hat with the feather. Absolutely love it! It looks so good on you so please be brave and wear it out (as in wear it outside!) And a dress with pockets is never to be passed up! Literally, deep joy!
Now, doing your eyes. I got my daughter-in-law a pair of special specs whereby raising one lens at a time you can put your eye shadow and stuff on quite easily because you can see what you’re doing with the other eye. So simple and so handy. My D.in Law loves them. I got them online, from a proper optician and they weren’t expensive. A pair of these might help.
I’m sorry you’re both struggling with recovery timed and hope you get back into your stride soon. I suppose the secret is not to rush things but when you feel okay(ish) it’s so easy to overdo things, then the tiredness returns and you have to start all over again. Hopefully, those times will shorten and suddenly you’ll both realise you’re fine again. Speed that day.
And booking holidays will surely help!
Zepherine x
Yes, I’ve heard about those specs – will look them up as they would really help. It’s not hat weather this week but thanks so much – with all this feedback I shall have to wear that hat out and about now!!!
It’s not Long Covid we’re just very post-viral and are constantly going forward two steps and back one. Mr F is currently ‘under the weather’. But gosh when I think back we are better than we were – it’s just been a very nasty few months!!
Thanks Zepherine 🙂
X
Sorry to hear you are still battling the after effects of those pesky viruses. I really can understand the overwhelming tiredness (chemo for me). Hopefully Spring will bring some warmer weather to help soon.
I do like your dress , it will be a good base to add brighter accessories too. No need to say I love each and every one of your hats. Its getting cool here now soon time to don my Winter hats. The CC cream certainly evens out your complexion.
Glad you have your cruises to look forward to. We have finally reorganised our postponed trip and now starting mid September ending up in Paris in November with a few days in London prior. Take care, Jill
Yes, it’s not Long Covid we’re just very post-viral and go back a step if we do too much. And putting it into perspective we will recover. Sorry to hear about the tiredness you’re going through but wonderful to hear about your revised plans as, if you have time to meet us. we will be able to see the Chanel exhibition at the V&A. The V&A also has a permanent jewellery exhibition which we could also see, but only if it’s not too tiring for either you or me! There’s a great shop in the foyer which you will love!
Cruises booked and the June one will be just the right timing as we should be better by then.
You take care too Jill 🙂
X