Project Princess

[BlackSwan]

I have a theory that every year you should treat one wedding you're attending as though it were your own.

Not that you're the bride, or as important as the bride...that's not the idea. I mean that for many women your wedding day is the one day when you try to pull it all together to look and feel your best, best figure, best skin, best hair. You get the picture. So if you do this once a year...perhaps with less of the stress that goes along with preparing for your own wedding day...then you'll look and feel amazing.

Last year I gave birth to my first child, so getting my figure etc back on track before a wedding I attended some months later was a huge challenge. I think I succeeded pretty well - I felt great at the wedding, not like the frumpy mummy I thought I might turn up as!

So now we have the Royal Wedding to look forward to I think we have the perfect opportunity to set that as a collective project due date. 29 April.

If any of you are inclined to give this a go - I thought it might be fun to do this with other like minded (crazy?) women.

The way it would work is like this - anyone involved can add a preparation ritual to the list. Let's not make this expensive. Don't we all have a bunch of unused exfoliant, teeth whitening paste, cuticle creams, waxes and potions at our disposal in our medicine cabinet?

Get the idea? Anyone interested?

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

When I get my act together I find an hour in the bathroom on a saturday morning (or whenever you have the time) for a facial/hair treatment etc.

Stick your toner (I have coloured hair) and a cleansing face mask (cheap from superdrug).

Spend ten minutes reading/listening to the radio.

Rinse it all off and use an exfoliater on your face.

Put on your hair mask, toning face mask and a leg/chest/body mask if you have one.

Have a sit down with your herbal tea (on a towel, you will be sticky).

Jump in the shower to rinse it all off, do a full body exfoliation/de hair etc.

Slather yourself in body lotion (really pile it on) and stick on a moisterising mask.

Wrap yourself in a warm towel (helps the body lotion sink in). Put your foot lotion/hand lotion on and your cotton gloves and socks on and have a loaf around for another 10 mins or so.

Rinse your mask off, rub the rest of the body lotion in.

You are all sparkly and clean. If you like fake tan you are all ready to stick it on now.

My fav body lotion is in a pump bottle. I put a base of something bland and cheapish and then add all the bits and bobs of face creams and samples and a some of that gradual tan. I always seem to have something to top it up with (just used the last bit of some baby nappy balm from sainsburys!).

If you do this weekly you get the 'base' sorted. You dont have to faff about doing bits and bobs all week. You will really see a difference in a few weeks.
You can add your teeth whitening etc to the routine i.e. whilst your first face mask is on.

Its a bit of time on your own but its not loads of time so you should be able to fit it in.

You can get through at least 4 glasses of water while you are doing it too

[Evizza]

I will cut out any food cooked in the deep fat fryer and also say goodbye to my Pepsi I am a complete addict, but thats what is making me fat

[BlackSwan]

Fabulous - ladies, so glad you're going to join us!

So the Shred is going to be interchangeable with some kind of intensive workout. Whatever suits you. And we're going to abstain from alcohol during the week. I will keep the core list going, but cut or add for your own purposes. I think we need a golden rule that you have to do at least 5 of the core list.

Suggest we each write our list down and stick it on the fridge.

1. 8 glasses of water a day.
   
2. Exfoliating
   
3. Using some kind of teeth whitener
   
4. Using some kind of regenerative face cream
   
5. Intensive nail care (feet and hands)
   
6. Some kind of eyelash growth serum
   
7. The Shred / other intensive exercise.
   
8. At least 2 extra fruit & veg.
   
9. £1 a day into a jar (fined an extra £1 if no cardio).
   

10. Hair oil (moroccan hair oil for eg, or kerastase etc)
11. No alcohol during the week.

This is the hair oil www.moroccanoil.com/en/our-products.html

We start ASAP. I'm starting tomorrow.

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

Dont fancy the Shred but I have a ballet workout I do instead?

[BlackSwan]

MrsDeVere - Loving the private spa ritual you have going there!!

[BlackSwan]

Yes, ballet workouts in favour with BlackSwan!

[Evizza]

I will order some of the Morrocan oil, until it arrives will use my trusted Olive Oil

[naturelover]

I'd like to join!

I recently started body brushing and jogging, and eating more veg and drinking more water. Yet to feel the difference but it's early days.

I've just started a thread about serums. Is that what we mean by "regenerative face cream"?

I'm a bit scared of home tooth whitening? What is safe and effective and not too expensive? I've never done it before.

I recently bought a nail buffer and am trying to use it regularly.

My diet is reasonably good but I'm addicted to chocolate. No idea how to overcome this!

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

I washed my trainers today! They have been in the basket since god knows when. I have gotten sooooo lazy. Lloyds pharmacy are doing a pedometer for a few quid. I might WALK up and get one tommorow.

I dont need to lose weight so its easy for me to get a bit complacent. I do need to be fit though and I hate feeling all weak and watery.

Vitamins daily? I am terrible at remembering to take them.

[Evizza]

Vitamins is a good idea. I am going to take some Berocca vitamins for a week on then a week off until then. I have seen good reviews about them.

[Evizza]

Is THIS the same Moroccan oil stuff ? Just a bit cheaper as I'm not sure how it will be on my hair ??

[LB29]

Can I join. DP has hinted that he is getting fed up with the jogging bottoms and constant excess hair. I now only have 1 pair of leggings that I can fit in as I am refusing to but the next size up clothes!

[BlackSwan]

Welcome Naturelover and LB29! Naturelover - I think any kind of anti-aging potion or lotion will fit the bill. Will check out your serum thread though, I need something to perk up my skin.

Evizza, that's clearly another brand trying to piggyback on the success of the branded Moroccan Oil, not sure what you're getting in that bottle - perhaps the olive oil would be better! Vo5 hot oil is pretty inexpensive, I'm sure it's also great for your hair.

LB29, if you're 29 then I'm sure you have little to worry about. Your metabolism hasn't even slowed down yet!

I think the daily vitamins suggestion is great. And the body brushing. On the list they go.

1. 8 glasses of water a day
   
2. Exfoliating
   
3. Using some kind of teeth whitener
   
4. Using some kind of regenerative face cream
   
5. Intensive nail care (feet and hands)
   
6. Some kind of eyelash growth serum
   
7. The Shred / other intensive exercise
   
8. At least 2 extra fruit & veg
   
9. £1 a day into a jar (fined an extra £1 if no cardio).
   

10. Hair oil (moroccan hair oil for eg, or kerastase etc)
11. No alcohol during the week
12. Daily vitamins
13. Body brushing

I will call time when we reach 20!

[Evizza]

I have just purchased some of the proper Moroccan oil, I feel like I am missing out on something the way everyone raves about it

What about 'face yoga' ? LIKE HERE ?

[chocolateteabag]

Hi - can I join.
I've got the shred DVD - but need to free it from it's plastic wrapper (it's been surprisingly hard to open lol)

I had my lo in November and reeeaaaallly need to get myself back into being something resembling human.
Can I suggest:
Regular leg hair removal - I need to reacquaint myself with my epilator but I know they are not for everyone - no more yeti legs.
Give up chocolate for lent (or just for 40 days if lent isn't your bag) - or could be crisps or bread or whatever is your real weakness.
Start considering fake tan options now - to start mid way through?

I'm off to look at Moroccan oil...

[BlackSwan]

Naturelover - for at home whitening: Swissdent products seem to get good reviews. I already have some whitening stuff from a past life (trays and whitener)... I haven't tried this one before though it looks good. I have used Rembrandt toothpaste and the results were ok, though it's not cheap.

[naturelover]

Thanks BlackSwan

I've just eaten a doughnut, am I going to be evicted? God what a bad start, eh?

In my defence I have PMS, at least I hope that's what it is, and not pregnant. Not planning any more DCs at all.

[EdgarAleNPie]

i will be in, so long as phase one goes ok.

i am going to weddings on march 19, may 21, may 28.

realistically i am still going to be a bit porky for wedding 1# but weddings two and three are doable as a Princess.

[BlackSwan]

ahhh...doughnuts.

Edgaralenpie - I think even a few weeks will make a difference to us all.

I'm adding another one to the list. 2 servings of salmon or other fatty fish per week. The omega threes will give us all a glow.

1. 8 glasses of water a day
   
2. Exfoliating
   
3. Using some kind of teeth whitener
   
4. Using some kind of regenerative face cream
   
5. Intensive nail care (feet and hands)
   
6. Some kind of eyelash growth serum
   
7. The Shred / other intensive exercise
   
8. At least 2 extra fruit & veg
   
9. £1 a day into a jar (fined an extra £1 if no cardio).
   

10. Hair oil (moroccan hair oil for eg, or kerastase etc)
11. No alcohol during the week
12. Daily vitamins
13. Body brushing
14. At least 2 servings of salmon or other fatty fish per week.

[toddlerama]

Can I join, and suggest scheduling in a proper early night once a week? I need this project so badly! I have turned into some kind of wilderbeast without realising!

[LB29]

I am younger than 29 but all the crap food and coke addiction seems to be catching up with me. If I swap the 2 litres of coke I drink a day for water then I'm thinking I will feel allot better.

De-fuzzing is a must for me.

Is eating all the bad food and drinking my wine stash tonight a bad idea?

[Lavitabellissima]

Hi chocolate teabag, I had twins in November so am with you on needing to get back in the swing of things

I'm on my phone so can't cut and paste but it looks like we've got a few more on the list.
15. Regular hair removal
16. Give up one naughty favourite item e.g. chocolate/crisps
17. One early night a week
18. No more fizzy drinks

Can someone please clarify about eyelash growing serum?

[BlackSwan]

Yes toddlerama! Fantastic suggestion. Sleep - the rejuvenating effects of an early night in. Great stuff.

1. 8 glasses of water a day
   
2. Exfoliating
   
3. Using some kind of teeth whitener
   
4. Using some kind of regenerative face cream
   
5. Intensive nail care (feet and hands)
   
6. Some kind of eyelash growth serum
   
7. The Shred / other intensive exercise
   
8. At least 2 extra fruit & veg
   
9. £1 a day into a jar (fined an extra £1 if no cardio).
   

10. Hair oil (moroccan hair oil for eg, or kerastase etc)
11. No alcohol during the week
12. Daily vitamins
13. Body brushing
14. At least 2 servings of salmon or other fatty fish per week.
15. One early night once a week. Suggest 9PM.

LB - You're still in your 20s you lucky girl. This will be a breeze. But the Coke has to go. Binge away tonight, tomorrow you're in boot camp.

[BlackSwan]

x posts lavitabellissima - I will update the list:

1. 8 glasses of water a day
   
2. Exfoliating
   
3. Using some kind of teeth whitener
   
4. Using some kind of regenerative face cream
   
5. Intensive nail care (feet and hands)
   
6. Some kind of eyelash growth serum
   
7. The Shred / other intensive exercise
   
8. At least 2 extra fruit & veg
   
9. £1 a day into a jar (fined an extra £1 if no cardio).
   

10. Hair oil (moroccan hair oil for eg, or kerastase etc)
11. No alcohol during the week
12. Daily vitamins
13. Body brushing
14. At least 2 servings of salmon or other fatty fish per week.
15. One early night once a week. Suggest 9PM.
16. Regular hair removal
17. Give up one naughty favourite item e.g. chocolate/crisps
18. No more fizzy drinks

Eyelash growing serum is my (silly) suggestion, there are various clear mascaras and eyeliners on the market now which claim to be able to grow your lashes. Beware, some of these are definitely not good for you, they can even alter skin colour. I have used Talika lipocils on and off for years with no ill effects, & I think it does work.

We only have 2 suggestions to go. Though if there are any of the early suggestions you think we should review/cut then feel free to speak up.

[exhaustednurse]

Can I join too?

What about daily body moisturising? I am dreadful for just slapping some on once a week, if that.

Also, what about a glass of warm water and lemon first thing in the morning?