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?

[BlackSwan]

Sleep & catinboots - Excellent, so glad you can join us.

Sleep - eyelash serums make your lashes grow longer. They are applied as either a clear eyeliner along the lashline or as a clear mascara. They actually do work, though they are pricey and some have side-effects so if you do buy one get one which is tried and tested.

Here's one which gets good reviews:
www.boots.com/en/RapidLash-Enhancing-Serum_1051248/

I have tried Talika lipocils and Enormous Lash and both work. Takes a few weeks to see results. I like using them because my lashes aren't naturally long and this makes my lashes look pretty good when I apply mascara.

[catinboots]

Ok you have inspired me. This morning I have:

Had a long soak in a Dettol bath
Applied face pack
Shaved legs, pits and ladygarden
Veeted arms
Exfoliated all over
Washed, conditioned, morrocan oiled and dryed hair
Moisturised all of body with a gradual tanner thingy

Going to look online now for some new teeth whitening stuff

[Cristiane]

Dettol bath? What's that?

Have extra impetus now for starting my grooming - am going to wear this in ten days time so gotta lick myself into shape sharpish. Am considering radical no carbs thing...

[catinboots]

Dettol bath is the most amazing thing in the world.

Several years ago I went out with a South African Sheep Farmer and he taught me this trick. Once a week have a hot steamy bath and put a splosh of Dettol in it.

You come out SO SO clean!! The cleanest you'll ever be! It also clears up any litle cuts, grazes, spots, minor skin irritations etc.

DS1 (11) has one once a week too. And we both have really really sensitive skin .

Try it. It is life changing

[Cristiane]

Do you smell of dettol after?

[Evizza]

Cristiane I LOVE that dress !!

I love the smell of Dettol, but doesn't it dry your skin a bit ??

[catinboots]

No! I put bubble bath in too. You could rinse yourself off in the shower but we don't. I even wash my hair in the Dettol bath.

Evizza - I have quite dry skin and DS1 has a bit of eczema and I think it helps! It's very diluted - probably about 5 capfuls to a whole bath.

Try try try purleeese!

Every single one of my friends have been slowly converted

[eddiemccready]

Hee hee, my kind of project ! I'm in! Also not to start playing the sad violin, but spent most of last year feeling rotten after traumatic premy birth. Then diagnosed with graves disease, lost lots of hair on treatment, eyes bulging and red and generally lost my verve! But I'm feeling loads better and determined to sparkle again I will be
-wearing my contacts more often
-whitening teeth
-getting babylis big h for mothers day
-I bought a lovely outfit during the week which has made me excited about clothes again. I'd bought nothing for months totally out of character
-sit ups for tummy toning

[BlackSwan]

Eddie - you've really had a rough time, I'm sure the effort will pay off and help you feel back on track. Great that you're buying nice clothes for yourself again - you deserve it!

I keep reading about babyliss big hair, I clearly need to check it out!

[BlackSwan]

Everyone had their healthy breakfast and lemon juice this morning?

DH is puzzled at the overabundance of lemons in the fridge nowadays. "Are you feeling sick? What's with all the lemons?"

[naturelover]

christiane, when you say bad skin, do you mean spotty?

What worked for me might not work for you at all, so feel free to ignore, but I have pretty spot-free skin since I a) gave up dairy (DS is allergic and I'm breastfeeding) and b) started using Dermalogica products. They don't come cheap but if you find out from a therapist what you need, you can buy online more cheaply.

I know lots of other MNetters rave about Dermalogica too. It was life-changing to use their stuff and I doubt I'll ever stop. I am religious about cleansing and moisturising twice a day and regular exfoliating though.

[catinboots]

Yep - I had my water and lemon and one crumpet with a smidge of organic peanut butter.

Have also just slathered face with Elizabeth Arden 8hr cream.

[whoneedssleepanyway]

Well, lemons are on my shopping list.

Had healthy breakfast, slathered on body lotion after the shower, hand cream and cuticle oil, have ordered the shred DVD and some morrocan hair oil...so not a bad start.

[Cristiane]

Yes, nature lover, i get spots. I have tried lots of things but it's been a while since i used dermalogica. I used to adore their actie moist moisturiser and some cool daily microfoliant. Then i moved to africa where you can't get it, and I forgot about it. Might give it noter try, Thais for the tip. What do you use from the range?

Had yogurt and fruit for breakfast and been out for massive cycle so feeling good for that! Also did my body oil thing. About to have veg filled lunch

[Cristiane]

Also, nature lover, i have never given up dairy... Goodness, maybe I should try it. I can't imagine life without milky coffees though.... I could try just this week though....

[Lavitabellissima]

So my monday has started really badly as the twins had me up most of the night so I've started the day with 2 really calorific chocolate biscuits.
However, my weight has gone down by 2lbs last week, so drinking water before I eat, increasing my fruit & veg and having a healthy breakfast have worked!

Ok, I'm going to put the girls under the baby gym and do the Shred for the 1st time now, wish me luck

[sweetheart]

Ok so I totally forgot about the lemon and hot water but I did use an all over body moisture oil spray type thing after my shower this morning. I think I'm going to have to get up half an hour early to fit in all this moisturising and exfoliating!

[catinboots]

I forgot the lemon water thing too but had a fruit tea when I got to work instead!

Lavita - there is another thread here on S & B for tracking weight and measurements whilst doing the shred (if you fancy joining in)

[BlackSwan]

Lavitabellissima - GOOD LUCK!!

Having my 'new' lunch - poached salmon (leftover from DS's dinner) with salad...pea tops and mixed bean sprouts, drizzle of olive oil and squirt of lemon juice. Again with the lemons. DS demanded he try my lunch, but it all came tumbling out of his mouth in disappointment. Yum yum.

[Lavitabellissima]

Thanks Black swan, it was pretty good, the girls watchingthought it was really funny!
I made a hot smoked salmon salad with new potatoes & green beans with a yoghurt dressing, v tasty last night!

Thanks Catinboots, I've joined the other thread too
Every 2lb I lose I'm going to do a non food treat. 1st on the list is buying some new make up as I'm only managing a slick of mascaras atm!

[abgirl]

Had my hot water and lemon this morning, and branflakes for breakfast. Had salad lunch and back tracking on ww today - had fallen off the wagon during half term... Did Davina power of 3 workout dvd this morning too, so feeling pretty virtuous.

Yesterday went and had my eyebrows threaded for the first time. Stung a bit and still look a bit red and puffy this morning, but eyebrows amazingly tidy and shaped - for a bargainous £4.50! Have resolved to go once per month.

Now planning to print the list off and work out what is daily/weekly/monthly to try and fit everything into my normal life...

[BlackSwan]

Abgirl - great effort so far! Changing little things in your daily life makes a big difference over time.

[sweetheart]

Was it on here someone said about putting vaseline on your eyelashes and eyebrows? I have done it a couple of times this weekend but wondered why?!?!!? Can anyone tell me the benefits of doing it? Dh looked at me like I was a total wierdo