Calling all you got it together stylish well groomed Mums.

[seb1]

How do you guys, find the time and motivation etc, I think need help. For example how do you ever find time to let your nails dry, shop without kids, hide the grey, know what products are not shite. I think what I am looking for is "flylady" for style and beauty. So is it time, money, organisation, the will to live I am missing, and have been. it takes me a while to get my arse in gear, for the last 42 years. Ideally you are all going to tell me 5 mins morning and night and an sorted. .

Recently just rediscovered eyebrow pencil - I have quite dark eyebrows so didn't think it would do anything, but if you use one a bit lighter than the hair colour and just even them out, it makes a YOOOGE difference IMHO [hgrin]

I love this thread - and i am ashamed of myself and lack of grooming - will try to paint my nails tonight and get my eyebrows waxed tommorrow (shopping centre 2 mins walk away!. I need to sort out my nails and stop doing my make up on train and sort out my wardrobe... and get my colours done...and lose weight ..and get a brazilian blow dry....sort out my skincare regime sigh

Slainte - I think its my biggest repeat purchase after cat food

No one has mentioned diamonds yet! As many as you can beg, borrow or steal! My rings cheer me up when my handlebar moustache, legs that need a combine harvester and jumble sale wardrobe arrangement get me down! [hgrin]

Agree with lots of the beauty tips above. I'm all for anything for an easy life which normally means cheating.

So hair is washed twice a week (three times max). It looks presentable thanks to a combination of a scary amount of dry shampoo, up dos and washing just my fringe when the going really gets tough. Don't judge me!

Nails, tweezering etc all done in front of the tv, (when I should probably be ironing or cleaning out my cupboards).

Also think you have to be super honest about the state of your wardrobe. If it's mostly sad old stuff that makes you feel tatty and/or frumpy you need to start again. I know it's not cheap but it's genuinely worth the investment. I've got a few friends that post-baby have pooled all birthday and christmas presents from EVERYONE for that first year to enable them to have a decent budget for a personal shopping session somewhere. John Lewis is a safe bet and they'll build you a basic capsule wardrobe based on your lifestyle. You can then top it up as you go along. Much easier than trying to reinvent yourself with a random assortment of odds and sods collected over the last ten years.

I really really really need to start doing some kind of grooming. I have been recovering from some trauma/life events the past 2 years but I do feel much happier now. I have got into the total rut of not doing anything remotely for myself at all. I feel as if I have been sort of hiding / trying to look as frumpy as possible. This needs to change. I used to go to salons for everything and buy expensive clothes and make up but now I have hardly 2 pennies to rub together and I am rubbish at diy stuff like nails, hair, and cannot master those false eyelash things.

At the moment I live in my old maternity trousers (youngest is 2.5 years!!!) and t-shirts (sometimes with no bra!), baggy fleeces far too big (like a size 16 fleece when i'm size 8-10 , covered in cat hair, muddy boots, greasy skin and hair and hairy everywhere. No make up at all. I don't even recognise myself! Need to learn how to look ok on a budget. Seriously my clothes budget is only a few hundred a YEAR! and my skincare/toiletries/make up budget is £5 a week (!). It is dire. have just got some Christmas money sent from my dad so using that to work out a 'routine' and from now on I will put away a £15 or so week to maintain this.

Here is my plan -

Clothes (I have already bought or have in my wardrobe hiding) -

couple of 'easy' fitted day dresses from H&M in nice colours - one short minidress, one just above knee.
opaque tights
high heeled comfy wedge boots from fly london (present from sister!)
1 pair high heels from M&S
pair of nice fitting jeans from tkmaxx
some t-shirts and a shirt (already had)
1 pair of comfy summer espadrille sandals from new look
cut off jeans to make shorts
2 cheap t-shirt bras from asda and pack of pants for everyday use (right size though!)
1 nice set of lacy underwear from M&S
socks (obviously!) including big wooly winter ones
waist clinching thing from WhatKatieDid
nice nightwear x 2 and dressing gown
cardigan (fitted) and sweater
knee length semi-weatherproof-but-still-nice coat
hat scarf and gloves
Some jewellery I have accumulated over the years (but I WILL wear some of it every day!!!) and replace when I can.
Cheap Handbag (I liked the fabric ones better than the really cheap fake leather type ones)

Make-up / Skincare / basic

I will take make-up off with simple make-up remover first
I will use Simple soap for face and body (anything else irritates me somewhere!)
then witch hazel for toner and my acne prescription cream
Then Body Shop moisturiser twice a day and some anti-wrinkle eye cream
Palmers spf 15 body lotion
Paint toenails dark polish
exfoliate all over once a week with loofah type thing
shave all appropriate areas at least twice a week using hair conditioner (tip i heard)
I heard that you need to change around your shampoo/conditioner or your hair gets 'used' to it so I will but keep them cheap(ish)
Nioxin volumiser blow dry spray is good but expensive so may try something else
I will experiment with hair-dos like the sock bun, plaits etc.Wash hair every second day and blow dry at night then put in some kind of up-thing to create volume and waves in morning . any ideas?
I've always hated straighteners and can't be arsed with hair colour (will probably when i get grays) but I will trim hair myself (to save money) but get fringe done by hairdresser every month.
Mac Studio Fix Foundation and Concealer (not cheap but the only one I've found which actually works, is easy to apply not like a mask, and I don't use much so one lasts nearly a year! or did before i stopped wearing make up)
translucent powder to set
multitasking lip /cheek stain instead of lipstick and blusher
vaseline tin for lip gloss
just got an eyeshadow palette as a present with natural colours and watched make-up tutorials on youtube as a guide.
mascara and eyeliner (have never noticed a difference between cheap and expensive tbh so just got the cheapest but will use those curlers I haven't touched in years)
Used to get eyebrows waxed but can't afford it now so will pluck them as and when even though I hate doing it. they look like a yeti right now (although they still have shape somewhat!)
Can't really afford perfume but will ask for / blag some as gifts on Christmases / Birthdays and will spray every day!!!
If I have some extra money at some point I will maybe get those fake-lashes done as I got them once and they were great and opted for natural-looking ones and they lasted 2 weeks for £20. But £40 a month too much for every month.

Wow that was a mammoth post! Can anyone suggest anything I have missed? xxxx