A rough summary of my year in Saphire World.
I’m surprised I’ve actually got a few recommendations.
After finding my Zenmas blog from last year I remember how horrible it was and unfortunately it hasn’t gone back to normal yet.
I do despair and worry about it quite a lot.
January
Noticing the amount of people moaning about dry January I came up with the idea of ‘Not so dry January’.
This will be developed more in this years January Slimming Calendar as the nerd discovered it was only a psyop anyway.
It means you don’t have to live off vegan food and green gloop, you can just do January like all the other months.
Discovered I lost weight drinking in moderation, eating crisps and ready meals, but that supplements and health powders do work you just don’t have to make them into gloopy smoothies if you don’t like them.
I worked out a formula where if you drink in moderation throughout christmas you don’t need to detox.
Not sure if you need to detox anyway if you aren’t an alcoholic?
As I’m doing the slimming calendar worked this out just in time to try it out.
Also discovered tinned food and by the end of the year I am a tinned food convert.
calories-in-food-and-drink-options
Tinned green beans are a fast tasty and filling snack after exercise, they give you the nutrition you need without the problems people moan about associated with raw vegetables.
Started throwing online parties every weekend, like the ones people did in the 70’s. They are actually fun and it means you can drink alcohol, eat snacks and ready meals and still loose weight.
February
February was when Weekend TV became more organised.
Really enjoyed this Classic film.
Hadn’t watched it before, will watch it every year now.
Will air again at the end of February at the 80’s party.
Got round to trying this after getting the idea from supersizers do the 80’s. It tastes gorgeous. Really nice in summer you add ice to wine to cool you down when it is warm.
Great for slimming as it goes further so you drink more, but less calories.
Perrier is so good for you.
We used Mcguigan Chardonay, but you may remember it from the 80’s and have an authentic 80’s label.
You can use any white wine and any sparkling water.
You can add lemon and mint also if you want.
Remembered how we lived on a hill when we were little and we were always skinny from hill walking.
Remembered how I lost weight before once without a gym using the technique.
This memory helped me turn it around in 2024.
March
Hill walking led to this idea.
Think it was March in March when I finally started to get somewhere with my fitness, also the introduction of fashion calendar and combining the two.
The fashion Calendar idea came from a News Reader ~ really helpful idea.
Also discovered Chicken and Chips from the 60’s weekend ~ another new favourite, we are actually having this for Christmas dinner as we couldn’t get potatoes or vegetables. Looking forward to it bizarely, (I don’t like turkey, used to have it but glad when it was finished). If you are doing The Slimming Calendar you might know what I mean about your day off dinner being something you like.
Victorian Weekend
Really found myself here, I think where I grew up was still a bit Victorian.
Was great to feel at home again.
Footage of Queen Victoria
I was amazed there was any footage.
I really like Queen Victoria and you could tell she loved her people and they loved her ~ delightful. Such a different era to now.
Love the lace and roses and lavendars.
uk.pinterest.com/saphireblack/april-a-victorian-party/fashion-looks
New Favourite, never seen this film, one of the Classics.
Will air again in April
Victorian roast dinners finished with port and stilton
uk.pinterest.com/pin/214132157275424786
Port and Stilton is another new favourite
Perfume Junky
This launched in April, it started off chaotic, but then became more focussed.
If I was to be a junky of a substance, perfume is the one for me.
Love proper advertising with my perfume consumption also as that is what I am really.
‘Aesthetics’.
That was what I did at university, so hopefully it will come back soon.
Perfumes I have recieved and love very much from Perfume Junky
This perfume even inspired how I altered my dress for New Years Eve.
This gift contains a minuture perfume bottle that I am going to collect because it is cute, don’t think it will be worth anything as it isn’t in it’s own box with packaging.
Perfume needs to be sealed to be worth anything, from what I gleaned from studying it so far.
The fashion calendar launched in March and I started on a really steep learning curve. Glad I stuck it out now.
uk.pinterest.com/saphireblack/fashion-calendar/march
Notable fashion pieces I have received in 2024 from the fashion calendar.
As things haven’t gone back to normal yet, not received as many as I purchased but made a start.
Dresses
This is my favourite dress as it fitted perfectly.
This was really hard to put on.
I ended up having to rethread it as I got it wrong first time.
I’m not sure if it suits me but I really like this.
As I’ve lost weight it just looked baggy.
I used to always go for that look before lol!!!
Had to alter the ones below as they didn’t fit me.
I ordered the right size, the waist fitted but everything else was too big and the length was too long.
Altered it by hand as I haven’t any equipment.
Was a bit worried but happy with the result, I’d wear this to go for a night out.
I’ve always altered my own clothes except for pre covid New Look and H and M in fact most dress shops fitted me then as they were regulated sizes.
Wearing it for new years eve.
Made this into a strapless dress as I don’t suit one shoulder dresses.
Wanted to try one.
This was miles too big, I ordered the right size.
If I had a sewing machine I’d just run it up along the seams.
Would wear this to go out if I tried a smaller size that fitted better and had a sewing machine, know a few old school tricks for dresses that are too big. Would need a lot more work before you could wear it to go out.
Had a photo in it for christmas, it kept falling down though.
You could ruche elastic in the top so it stayed up or make it into a bube tube top. I wanted it as a dress though.
If I had a sewing machine I might add strappy straps, if it still wouldn’t stay up.
Quite enjoyed doing this.
May
This was 50’s week and when I decided to change the narrative for the next months party.
Found it really hard as there was still fashion left over from WW2 in the 50’s, which sort of charicatured people, made me cry.
People were hungry and miserable, in fact a bit like now.
Doing a 50’s weekend to take peoples minds off post covid misery wasn’t going to work.
In the end I did Italian pizza, spaghetti carbonara and discovered Chicken and Chips ~ this saved the 50’s for me also I discovered one of our new favourite day off in The Slimming Calendar dinners ~ Chicken and Chips. We love this it is really delicious. We have it when we aren’t slimming also as you can have a party every weekend if you drink in moderation.
You serve the chicken with just ten slimming chips if you are dieting, everyone else can have as many chips as they want.
We do this version which is actually low calorie.
I have chicken breast and ten chips.
I’ve lost a lot of weight eating like this, so it is proof for you if you want to try it but worried if it works or not.
Was worried myself to be honest, had to just do it then chart my findings.
It is all in The slimming calendar if you want to try a fun more laid back approach to slimming.
You won’t get muscly abs or clean eating or lift heavy medicine balls off the floor or pull rope and so forth, but you will drop a few dress sizes.
I went to a gym like that and didn’t like it.
I managed to do it all as I was good at p.e. at school, but I didn’t enjoy it and went up to nine stone as the ethos of the place was large busted women and lecherous men. I ended up attracting loads of men who weren’t my type and started to seek an alternative that suited my lifestyle more.
Then a new age shop recommended Rosemary Conley, I actually lost loads of weight using her at home aerobic system and it led to discovering collage video and amazon video. As I haven’t got a dvd player anymore I have found the same videos on you tube.
This year I discovered Jane Fonda who invented this at home exercise video library system and broken through the high impact block myth.
Somehow I have collated all this into the slimming calendar and proved it works by loosing a lot of weight.
It has taken me years to work this out in a world shattered by the fat acceptance movement and covid.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_acceptance_movement
I can confidently tell you the slimming calendar works as I’ve used it to loose weight myself.
It is all charted out for you in The Slimming calendar if you have weight loss goals, but are put off by gruelling gyms and poseurs with muscly abs or 12 year old ballet dancers offering workouts for 12 year olds to older women to do ~ yeah right!!!
If you want to try it out it is all free as I’m just an average woman and not a corporation or buisness. I’m just bored to be honest as I don’t work anymore.
Also I’m doing it as it helps me too, tests have shown women have more success in weight loss if they are with other slimmers in a community.
(I don’t make any money from any of this).
There is advertising though to make it legal for me to do the blog, any money from the advertising goes to the companies selling the products.
I think the thing I offer is for you to loose any excess weight from whatever reason you put it on in private and confidence.
Once you get past the awkward stage who knows you may be a new woman and want to take it further.
(I went through this (the akward stage), was just not myself or me, feel more confident now I have lost weight gained from being ill).
This is me and how I roll, but I think I might help women like me by being here.
Hopefully the actual fitness industry will start up again soon and I will just follow that, but will leave all my findings on pinterest as I think they are really useful. Also they might come in even if the fitness industry does come back.
I plan to do defy gravity every year as a challenge and it makes it feel sunnier in Britain to do a workout made in Hawaii when we are going into winter.
I’m amazed I’ve lost weight as I can’t get on the floor where I live, so I have learnt the use of someone being almost a fitness type of guinee pig. You have to journey into the fitness unknown, come out the other side and note your discoveries.
All the experts I have found are telling the truth but there seems to be a group of negative people spreading doubt.
Lesley Sansone says to ignore them, if you still don’t believe the experts I have posted my before and after photos on Instagram to prove that it does work and I’m obviously just an average woman not an expert.
Just as I was about to abandon the 50’s I found some Hitchcock was filmed in the 50’s.
So it is Hitchcock weekend every May now ~ we really enjoyed the 50’s in the end.
Fashion Breakthrough in the Fashion Calendar
Remembered this idea and bravely modelled it as my arms got smoother from doing Zsa Zsa Gabor weights and using Fenjal and Weleda Cellulite Cream. It was actually an idea from Victorian Weekend. I found an inexpensive George Cami pre covid top,that looked like designer compared to the really cheap covid rubbish fashion.
June
Has been Alternative Glastonbury for a few years now.
Discovered You could go to Monte Carlo in Carry on Camping
Prefer this idea because I don’t like camping.
This was from a previous year when I remembered the slimming trick of having one day off a month from slimming where you eat whatever you want.
This year I have proved it works so will keep doing it. Will be in slimming calendar in 2025 if you want to give it a try.
Just slim all month, have weekend parties where you are allowed to drink in moderation then have one day off a month when you can eat whatever you want.
Finally getting some new sportswear
Finally got some new sportswear that fitted, still need a sports bra for women who haven’t got round busts with light padding and adjustable straps.
Some women don’t need round cups ~ so not sure why manufacturers are still producing all bras and sports bras with round cups?
Some women need 1/2 cups.
Again this doesn’t make sense to anyone who has ever worked in sales.
Did manage to get leggings that fitted though, Thank God!!!
Got them from TU, really grateful, they are in pinterest but it isn’t working at the moment.
uk.pinterest.com/saphireblack/saphires-star-fashion/leggings/
Then the trainers and dance shoes from asda.
Much better than the ones I had.
I put together a home gym with minimal equipment and exercises if you can’t get on the floor.
Put together Janes July using old videos and taking into account the hype about it being dangerous.
July
This saw the introduction of Jane’s July
The hype is actually really wrong and we should exercise.
This has changed it around for me, so glad I found it. If you are doing it too guess you must be getting really good results too.
If you are reading this for first time it will air in July again ~ can’t recommend you try this enough!!!
Jane is the Founder of exercise aerobics at home ~ you will love it!!!
July was when I broke some narrative that is hanging over everything like the dry January psyop.
I was supposed to do WW2 but it was really disturbing. I’m supposed to be cheering people up not making them feel worse.
I opted for a British Summertime party.
There wasn’t anything particularly new, but old favourites.
You can also have fish and chips and seaside food if you do the one day off a month slimming plan, great if holidays come back as you can enjoy yourself without worrying.
August
The August Holiday Abroad Party
Did this instead of the 30’s as there was no material except one tv series.
Have to laugh I tried for the pink cavewoman dress a few times, didn’t get it and now find out I don’t suit it anyway.
Got back into hot dogs ~ having them over christmas.
Really enjoyed this will air again next August.
The Wonder Woman Challenge
Really enjoyed this and it will be there for you next August.
Gets you out of your comfort zone in a really fun way.
Art Weekend
Discovered Michael Michaund Jewellery and love it, takes ages to choose which one you want as it is all so gorgeous.
Tv fashion/Tales of the unexpected/who’s got the lady/Michael Michaud jewellery
As this episode was on weekend TV choices this Sunday, I remembered this film fashion blog. Noticed I hadn’t blogged about Michael Maund Jewellery so decided to finish this blog with the jewellery shop. Quite a lot of fashion in this tales of the unexpected episode. Really good ideas for coping until fashion comes back. … Continue readingTv fashion/Tales of the unexpected/who’s got the lady/Michael Michaud jewellery
September
The Island Holiday Party
Discovered Hawaiin Pizza and Don Ho.
Loved this concert.
Enjoyed this but didn’t manage all of it, hopefully I’m fitter this year.
Will do this again, join in if you are just starting out also ~ it really works you just need to avoid negative narrative.
This month we go up to 4 days a week with one day of yoga ~ you should be seeing results from that too.
We try Japanese food also.
The one that stuck with me is seaweed.
I have seaweed as a low calorie snack when I’m drinking.
I also take green tea capsules
These two products claim to make your hair better condition. I take quite a lot of hair supplements now and my hair is in better condition.
Can’t recommend these enough.
Hope to get into more Japanese products next September. Really enjoyed trying something different.
Discovered loads of Joan Crawford Films
This film really shocked me, felt like I was at the cinema when it finished and had to go and tell the nerd about it ~ brilliant film.
A womans face
Searched for this film for years but didn’t find it as I thought it was Betty Davis film.
Brilliant Film, really pleased I found it again.
In fact I liked all the Joan Crawford films and they are a treasured gem film find for film fans.
Will air every September.
October
Halloween
Really enjoyed Countess Dracula October
It reminds me of advertising pre covid ~ rich in aesthetics
We drink this liqueur quite a lot now, mainly when watching dark folk.
I just have one with loads of ice.
Really enjoyed this menu
Made a complete turnaround with my exercise with defy gravity.
Defy Gravity gave me the boost I needed.
Was really hard and a level I wouldn’t normally do, but learnt so much and have had results since, I only stuck it out because Tamilee is so encouraging.
I can also do the harder levels in the other aerobics videos confidently as Tamilee tells us we actually need cardio and it is good for us.
A lot of people are disagreeing with this fact at the minute but if they are getting results and don’t like cardio I wouldn’t argue with them.
I find I really enjoy it and it got me through my weightloss plateau.
Going to do this every year now.
It is a challenge, but just in October, also I might find it easier next year.
Fenjal
Complete convert to this product as it helped smooth out the cellulite on my arms.
Supplements
Collagen
The power of aesthetics in advertising.
I wasn’t sure about this product. Countess Dracula actually sold it to me, even though I made the advert?
For the first time it made perfect sense.
I have it daily now, it can even contribute to weight loss.
This product smoothed out my cellulite and gave me the confidence to wear mini skirts again.
Tights
Tights that fit came back as well, Thank God.
https://uk.pinterest.com/saphireblack/saphires-star-fashion/hosiery/
November
This was The Fancy dress Party.
It should of been the 20’s, but there was no material for that.
So I changed the narrative again
You can then do WW2 or 20’s or anything.
There wasn’t any new tv just old favourites.
Did find a free version of West World though which we enjoyed as we hadn’t watched it for ages.
Also treated myself to Carry on Cowboy my favourite Carry on Film, available to purchase on You Tube,
Nutritional November in the Slimming Calendar was a steep learning curve but answered a lot of questions about supplements and health powders.
https://uk.pinterest.com/saphireblack/slimming-calendar/november/
Actually received this dress.
I have altered it for the New Years Eve and love it.
Kept it with the feel for what it is, although it has changed a lot to fit my body type which is different.
It kind of has this effect but for a woman my height with a smaller bust.
December
Dulcemia
Carol White and John Mills
Never seen this film, wonder if it is a lost classic.
Really surprised me ~ really good film had the same effect on me as straight jacket, you just needed to go and have a drink after with the friends you had gone to the cinema with and discuss it.
Think there were more in this weekend possibly, but the links broke, which is a bit annoying for a seeker of new films from the past.
Maybe they will turn up somewhere next year.
Slimming Calender end of year review
It works!!!
It was bound to as it uses videos from the Jane Fonda Aerobics at home video library idea.
Spent all year learning and piecing it together ~ understand it now.
If you want to loose weight, can’t get on the floor, can’t join a gym are following routines that don’t make sense ~ check out the slimming calendar as it works.
Not sure I’m allowed to say what weight I am.
I’m back where I want to be now, even December worked, lost 3lbs.
Need to loose another 4 – 8lbs and tone up more, but this is just vanity pounds, wasn’t sure it would happen but it did.
Hope it has all worked for you too.
If you have just found this ~ join in ~ it works.
It has taken me a few years but I have had to piece it together ~ shouldn’t take you as long depending on how much you are wanting to slim down.
I’m not an expert but I survived a really hard gym so my survival tactics and tricks might help you if all you want is to get back into a size 10 or 8 dress size and you are not bothered about building muscle and so forth.
Christmas presents
Soap and glory
Wrote about this product in a blog once, you have to wait for it. It is really good value and the vanity bag is brilliant.
This is one of my favourite brands in Boots.
I love graphics, advertising and well thought through products.
Soap & Glory Soak In The Sparkle 9 Piece Full-Size Gift Set
It’s your moment to sparkle like the star you are with our Soap & Glory stellar collection of skin-adoring delights!
Overflowing with bath and body beauties and face faves, this set is an all-you-can-treat feast for the festive season and beyond.
Got an Advent Calendar on Christmas Day
Wondering whether to keep it for next year?
Found out you open them before 12th night if you get them after or on the 25th
Love the grocery basket very much.
boots.com/benefit-the-gorgeous-grocer-beauty-advent-calendar
Had to say I immediately noticed a similarity between Benefit and soap and Glory.
These two presents made my christmas
Really happy
Feel like there is hope again and the world might go back to normal again soon.
Lancome Gift Set
Found out the nerd actually got this set for me for free with advantage card points ~ I love Boots!!!!
YSL
Finally got this perfume
Quite like her 70’s look to copy.
Revolution Makeup
https://uk.pinterest.com/saphireblack/saphires-new-products-to-try/revolution/
Relief ~ colour!!!
If you have black hair and fair skin you really need colour to shuzz up the paleness and contrast.
It is matte powder as well Thank God.
Will use this for the 70’s party at the end of January and review.
Will experiment with different ideas first.
If you are struggling to get your makeup colours might be worth having a browse at Boots.
Got a bit over excited opening presents so not sure what I will do next?
Also even though I’m not cooking this year like Delia Smith, still got lots of preparation to do for dinner, defrosting cake, choosing the drinks, putting in fridge, cooking the chicken and so forth.
Started collecting liqueur early and now have a full drinks cabinet which will take us through the next 11 months of parties and might last till next christmas.
It actually turned out to be a really good christmas.
I ended up doing moderate drinking christmas and am actually enjoying it, having a good rest ready for the new year.
We did Christmas day like Sunday and are doing New Years Eve like a Friday.
We don’t need to detox in January so will continue doing parties for people who don’t want to detox or are doing Sindys sliding detox scale.
Might have more to drink next year but I’m a sort of guinee pig for the slimming calendar so tried it out at the last minute so I can build it into the slimming calendar for next year.
To be honest I have enjoyed just resting.
Feel a bit hypocritical as I designed the 8 liqueurs of christmas but are only doing two now.
Only worked the not so dry January formula out on Boxing day though, also it might not of worked, but have trialled it out for next year.
The thing I would suggest is either do the January detox as normal, but perouse Sindys idea for next year, wipe the christmas slate clean and just start afresh in January or actually try the sliding scale detox.
What I strongly recommend is drinking in moderation, unless you are a teenager then just have fun and enjoy your youth!!!
Hope there is something of interest for you.
Will keep doing this till the world goes back to normal, not sure what I will do then.
Happy New Year
Have a great evening.
Saphire
SAPHIRE LIFESTYLE BLOG 