affirmation

you can't beat a good girlie weekend to raise your spirits and have time to discuss anything from the credit crunch and the state of the euro (well we were in France) to the state of each others underwear. I was told off for taking a few 'going out tops' even if we were in sub zero temperatures on the slopes. I can't help it, I can wear fleeces in the day but if I wear one all day and night I begin to feel a bit frumpy.



Fleeces are like elasticated waists you really really don't want to do them all the time but god are they comfy and warm! Its all about making some effort and I think this is where you can apply the 80/20 rule. You have to have down days e.g pj's til 10am or no makeup for a least a day a week. I dont know why but my face always feels better if I have a few bare days but I have friends who couldn't do this. I also know that if I did this for work I would get comments like--'do you feel ill?' In my last job I worked near selfridges and on the one occasion I went without makeup and got the 'ill' comment. I had to go to the makeup counter and apply foundation, blusher and mascara to feel alive!



I think you will always have an achilles heel and this is where I have to apply the 100% rule otherwise i will feel crap. For example mine is my nails and to take control of their state (weak and flaky). I have to have a manicure every 10 days to prevent them from looking terrible and have taken to looking at others people's nails and being very envious when I see healthy looking neat short nails. (I dont like them long and rarely have a colour).

For other people their achilles will be their hair or skin and this is another advantage of staying over with girlfriends is the sharing of information re products.

whether this is cheap but effective or expensive and effective (or not) its good to get affirmation from your mates and having the confidence to wear those going out tops if you want to