Anyone fancy a bit of an overhaul before Christmas thread?

[Helgathehairy]

Please don’t throw me in the stocks for mentioning Christmas!!

During Covid everything has gone to pot a bit - I’ve put on weight, none of my clothes fit right, hair (and eyebrows) desperately need doing and I’m still a bit hesitant to go somewhere to do something so non-essential. Kids have been home constantly and Self-care & housework has become sporadic (at best!). I have elderly family members who are high risk that I’m helping and I’m wondering about exposure and contact and sometimes my mental health takes a bit of a battering due to demands from them. DH is working and we cut back spending well at the start (mostly due to me not going to the shops)but I’ve stated doing a bit more impulse shopping as shops opened and DHs job is connected to the travel industry and isn’t secure so I really need to stop. Next week my kids are back in school and I really want to get things more organised. I like a deadline to keep me on track.

Here’s my thinking - on Sunday it’s 100 days to 1st December. I really want to arrive at the start of December feeling more organised and less sluggish, calmer and just feeling more ME.

Previously Princessing threads have run on the Style & Beauty board but as this is more of a comprehensive overhaul I thought chat might be a better fit??

This is a previous PrIncessing thread for an idea, there have been lots more, including a pandemic one, but this one was started by me. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2458842-Countdown-to-Christmas-princessing

So anyone interested?

(I’m on my phone, which isn’t great for long threads so apologies if it’s a bit disjointed, I just wanted to just get it down.)

Jumping on a bit late, but I was planning an overhaul from 1st September so perhaps I’m actually early! I need to get back into doing some regular exercise (had completed C25K but haven’t been running for a month, so I’m planning on repeating the last four weeks of the programme) and generally moving more.

Diet wise I used to do 5:2 and used my two days working in the office as my fast days as it’s much easier for me to avoid temptation sitting at my desk at work and going for a long walk at lunchtime. When I’m at home surrounded by food and the lure of catching up with some TV at lunchtime it all goes to pot. I think 16:8 will work better for me while I’m still at home and I can introduce a proper fast day once I’m back in the office

House: ugh. So much stuff, clutter, clothes (I have three children and there’s always the thought that everything must be kept and handed down, so it all builds up). Fortunately now charity shops are open again I’ve got an outlet for some of it.

Day 94: just back from a week’s holiday so today is as much laundry as the weather allows and general unpacking. I have a manicure and a very long overdue eyebrow tidy booked for later and I’ll take a couple of bags of old clothes to the recycling bin on the way

Well my plans for day 94 and 93 are out the window. Just been to B and Q for more paint. Forgot that I needed more to be honest and there's none. The shelves are quite bare for Dulux. Closest B and Q that has the paint I want is 40 miles away. Going to look at different options for getting some but it's not going to be finished this weekend that's for sure.

The house is a tip from doing general DIY jobs this week so I can at least put that right but I'm so gutted to not finish the room this weekend.

New plan for day 94:
Lesson prep for all my tutoring sessions this week
Clean the fridge

Ah that’s a shame all but it’s good you’ve adapted your plans.

Sydney I’m doing a 16:8 type pattern now (I definitely need to get more organised about evening meals though as late dinners mean I end up doing more like 14:10, it is still a vast improvement on my previous lifestyle though especially the evening snack habit!)

I’ve not managed to do anything for myself today so far as we are getting ready for DS’ birthday tomorrow, although I made an effort to be vaguely presentable before visitors arrived and I noticed how much better my top looks since the last time I wore it (would’ve been at least a stone heavier then) so that’s made me feel good!

Ooh day 94 already! Its a dry day here for a change so have been able to do some more work in the garden today. Getting there slowly but surely.
I managed to get a nice long walk yesterday and have been quite active today in the fresh air so I'm not going to feel bad about the pizza I'm planning to have for tea

I've been lurking!

I'm on a general "sort things out" push - clothes, personal routines, diet etc. So I'm loving reading these!

I've decluttered two jumpers and three tops to the charity shop this morning (I'm doing it steadily rather than one big clear out - WFH is great for trialling clothes to see whether I should keep them or not).

I fitted a bike rack to my car which I was dreading and my bike tyres are pumped and ready for a ride with friends tomorrow. Still terrified about driving with the bike on the back but not worrying about that until tomorrow!

I've also collected acnecide from boots as I realised last week - mid twenties!! - that I have acne. It's very mild but I'm still flabbergasted that neither I nor anybody else seems to have twigged it wasn't normal. Or at least if others did they didn't mention it . So I'm now trying to get up the courage to use that...nervous about bleaching fabrics and dry skin. Gulp!

Aah flipper I hope it works! My mum had adult acne and it made her miserable at the time but it didn’t last long and you’d never have guessed once it went away.

Pleased to be able to list day 94 properly - made a start on unit 3 of my course. Not just because it’s needed in the long run but as a bit of headspace for myself to do something productive and positive and use my brain a bit. I also logged on to find out that all my work from units 1 and 2 have been signed off so that’s given my mood a real boost, much needed as I have had a low couple of days. :)

Thanks sing - I'm glad hers cleared up. I've never really been too self-conscious about it (like I say, it's mild and it's just stuck around since teens when it was 'normal') so part of me thinks it might be better to just continue ignoring it rather than risk side effects. But I'll be brave - clear skin would be lovely and I suspect it would be harder to ignore now I've recognised it for what it is!

I am reading this great thread.
I am also reading all the day numbers in the Big Brother reality show voice.
"Day 95, housemates are tidying the sitting room."

@willowmelangell

I am reading this great thread. I am also reading all the day numbers in the Big Brother reality show voice. "Day 95, housemates are tidying the sitting room."

😂 love that. Totally going to hear all the numbers in that accent from now on.

Having a down day. I've done loads but the house is still so messy and cluttered and I feel totally overwhelmed. I haven't started the healthy eating and I know that a lot of my exhaustion is due to being overweight. I'm also anxious as hell about school starting again, and I'm sleeping really badly.
Onwards.

Ha def heading the updates in big brother voice now!!

Day 94 - went to pool with kids in afternoon for a chill and did a very quick 300m.

Batch cooked two dinners (into 8 portions and 4 respectively) when I got home and kids in bed.

A very indulgent weekend here but pleased that weight has maintained so that's a bonus.

Need to make a plan for this week to continue decluttering house. I seem to start little pockets of activity in several rooms, finish none of them and then just live in the mess for weeks! Must actually finish jobs once I start.

I find just getting started is a big help, so even if you can just tackle one drawer and then work your way through the rest day by day that is good progress.

Thanks so much for this thread, I'm really enjoying it!

@Friendsoftheearth They're now in the shed. Hope that'll do the trick...

Nine cans of paint disposed of so I can now get into our shed to clean it ! Steps down as had elderly parents to stay but I have bough new skincare for my 'fabulous' app new habits

squirrel How far is the shed?? If it is a two mile walk, it will be fine otherwise it wouldn't stop me...but then I have an awful weakness, you almost certainly have much more discipline!

We are all at the one week point already today!

Yesterday was a hit, fridge spring cleaned, pantry now sparkling, children's spellings done and I did stick to my iced diet lemonade. Woke up at 5am feeling bloody great! It has been 36 years since I had a Saturday without alcohol (excluding pregnancies and hospitalisations!) Amazing experience! The only thing I need to improve now is exercise, which is sporadic due to children always being at home and a lack of time.

I think getting shot of the evening drinks for me was worth the focus, now next week I can move onto daily exercise even every other day would be good.

Today: packing for holiday, laundry organised and finished, decluttered shoes to the shoe bank, iced lemonade for drinks tonight - a vegetable heavy roast is on the cards. Happy Sunday all - I wish they had a lemonade icon - this will do

Helga keep calm and carry on, anything that is done is a win Haven’t updated for a couple of day but language done both days, exercise session done, book read one day and only one chapter left so saving that for tonight (watched a film last night instead) Eating better - we have run out of biscuits 🙄🤣

Day 94- ate well cant believe how much better l feel in just one week. Had a busy day- done 18000 steps most of them were added in as walked the long way round the shop just to add extra steps.

Day 93- just completed week 1 of c25k and l have prepared for the week ahead. I am sticking to all my points the only thing l have been the shop for is more fruit.

I’m in work later setting Christmas up so I’m gonna be covered in glitter by 8pm.

@SingToTheSky thats a good tip about taking vitamin d in the lead up to autumn/winter. I need to find somewhere to keep them so that I dont forget them, maybe my bedside table, because I always seem to forget otherwise.

Day 92 (I think) and Im plodding on with sorting out the house. Did the teenagers room yesterday and today I am going to do some gentle yoga and sort the youngest's room. Its totm and Im quite sore so Im going to be kind to myself and only do what I feel I can, instead of wrecking my back by insisting on doing it all alone like normal. I will also up my water and have a herbal tea or two to help with the constipation

Think I have the day number wrong!

Love the big brother voice over idea

Had a good day yesterday massive ironing done loads of eBay deliveries arrived I bid on a few items in smaller sizes to spur me on and won them all! Got a facial and pedicure beauty salons are really struggling atm wiped afterwards and had early night! Sparkling water and bed at 9pm rock n roll lol happy Sunday everyone 😘

Excellent day yesterday. 12000 steps round a national trust place. Treated myself to a shortbread biscuit and not a huge slab of cake. Early night and 9 hrs sleep! ( usually get 5)
Scales say 14 7. A month ago they said 14 13.

Day 93: back to running with week six run 1 of C25K. Not quite as bad as I thought but I have definitely lost fitness. Hopefully I can get back into it a bit more when the children are back at school/nursery and I can run at lunchtime.

Another load of holiday laundry done and hanging out to dry, plus I’ve packed the school bags ready with pencil cases and spare knickers for Wednesday. I also took ten minutes and cleared/cleaned the kitchen windowsill, which was full of plants and candles and junk and quite grimy and sticky. Threw some bits away, washed and wiped everything down, trimmed the plants and it all looks really nice.

Plan for the rest of the day; put away the laundry as and when it dries, iron the few things that need it and put some name tapes on school uniform while I’ve got the iron on (it’s a rare thing )

@sillycow6 for my vitamins l bought a weekly pill box and have put my vitamins in that and placed it by the breakfast stuff. One of my aims was to sort my vitamins out and either take them or throw them away, l buy loads and then just put them in the cupboard till they are out of day usually. I have taken them for a full week and my box is ready for the week ahead.

DAY 93

Didn't log in yesterday but didn't do too badly (apart from too much scotch last night!).

Today we went for a lovely walk so I've easily hit my steps and then went for burgers & chips! It was the first time we've eaten out since March so it was lovely. The place we went has booth seating and had added screens at the top of the seats so it all felt quite safe.

Tomorrow I'm going to have a fast day and I've decided on an exercise plan. Also going to vacuum, mop and do a load of laundry (in my very organised days I load the washing machine the night before so in the morning I just have to turn it on)

Day 93
Since day 98 we’ve finished off decluttering DS’ bedroom and his desk is now clear ready for secondary school. We’ve also been shopping for his final bits.

I made the cake for the McMillan Coffee Morning at DD’s school and put it in the freezer. Not sure if it will go ahead this year due to Covid but it’s ready for me to produce on the morning if needs be, and if it doesn’t I’m sure we’ll eat it over Oct half term.

DP’s been off the last two weeks so haven’t really been sticking to healthy eating but luckily I haven’t put any weight on. Next week I am back to healthy eating and hoping to start swimming again the week after next when DD goes back to school - if I can book a slot, they go really quickly.

Tonight I’m going to give my feet a foot spa and paint my toe nails.

Day 93 in the big brother house. Love this!

So last night I finally cleaned the fridge!!! ✅✅✅✅
Today we've been on two walks.
Started to put the bedroom back to some kind of normality so need to finish that.

Baking later so there's lots of healthy snacks for the week.

Congrats to everyone with the scales going the right way. Weighing myself on Friday so I hope I can be part of the weight loss club and not gain!

Love the idea of pre baking a Macmillan cake so it's ready deelish what a great idea!