RIGHT new resolution starting now - I WILL BE more vain - join me??

[omydarlin]

Anyone want to join me in my New Years Resolution (starting now) to be more vain/groomed/less lazy about feeling and looking great?

I will log on to style and beauty at least twice a week for stylish/beauty/groomy tricks
I will not buy cheap "that'll do " rubbishy clothes any more (well ok but cheap but I have to love them)
I will look after my skin/hair/nails
I will respect my body by giving it lots of water fresh air and healthy food (am doing a weight loss trail thing for work so this should be easier.
I will stop going to work with greasy hair and flaky nail polish or clothes with holes in

It strikes me that I don't care enough about maintaining my appearance - but conversely I do care when I suddenly catch myself in a shop window looking rough as a dog or when husband compliments me out of the blue because I have bothered to blow dry my hair!

Anyone want to join me for a bit of support or any advice how to become vain will be helpful - strikes me being more vain would be a good thing for me!

omydarlin, I'd say 30 minutes, but I'd be watching a film.

Today was horrendous. 20-odd degrees very early, and, more to the point, astounding humidity, so it took AGES to dry, and doesn't look very good. Boo hiss.

I've absolutely trudged around in the 32 degrees, putting up the Christmas deckers while DD swanned off down to the beach. The house looks nice now, though, and if I take my contacts out, my toenails pass muster. God what a moaner I sound, but we got behind with Christmas this year, and in a new house, as unlike our UK house as it's possible to be, it's taken longer to put up the decorations in a pleasing way.

Enough of all that. Colouring my hair tonight, and I'll be as they say, good to go.

Echt did you already say where you are? Is it your first christmas abroad? Must be so weird.

Will give the bun thing a try - need to pop into town so will see if I can find one of those doughnut things. Hair is more or less elbow length

I definitely need a shopping list - think I need a couple of outfits in mind and then to buy for those. My real stumbling block is always footwear - can't really afford decent brown boots and really need some. What other (flat) footwear can I wear? Have brogues had it? Not sure I can take them seriously tbh.

In Melbourne, and 5th Christmas, but in significant, ways it's hard to get used to. No October half term to trigger the Christmas shop, in fact the racing season gets in the way, and Christmas stuff doesn't kick in until late November - good in many ways. It's far lower key than in the UK.

No longer evenings and cold nights to prime you. I know, look at the calendar why don't you, but it's amazing how attuned I am to the northern hemisphere.

I do love the Christmas food here, lobster, massive prawns and oysters.

Ladies can I join you? My youngest is 9 months and I'm a size smaller than pre-pg (still 16-18 though). Have been trying v.hard to make more effort to look after myself and not look like a frazzled mummy all the time!

My hair I am v.happy with, I have a brilliant hairdresser and go every 8 weeks. I have a long, slightly layered bob which is easy to blow dry.
My hair is also inclined to grease and frizz, I use aveda mint and rosemary shampoo, and then joico conditioner and that makes it smooth, glossy and shiny. All bought online which makes it cost less than buying John frieda or something from boots.

Mission is to get the rest of me as sorted as my hair!

Thank you all for saying nice things!

Am going shopping now for a Christmas Day dress (was just going to wear jeans but you've shamed me into making an effort

Hair and nails have been bashed into shape.

There will be Shredding and Dukan dieting... but not till Jan 1

Mmm....Christmas lobster!

I'm on my own with all 3DDs for the first time this morning, it is fine so far!

My ASOS order has been dispatched, hurray! And DP's Boss popped in last night to meet the baby and to pass DP his Christmas bonus which is much bigger than we thought it would be. We divide it between all five of us, so I have a wedge to spend in the sales!

I am thinking of buying the following, which I hope will look good as well as being practical enough...I'm a Home Edder and BFC. I don't want to spend too much as there is about a stone and a half of baby weight to get off in the new year!

Ordered so far...

Tea dress (which could do day or night)
Blazer (which I am a little worried about as it isn't tailored)
Flared jeans

Need...

1 pair of trousers
1 skirt
1 more dress (probably another tea dress because I love them!)
Tops...number to be decided!

Attractive nursing bras, probably Hot Milk.

Shoes to go with the trousers, I have amazing (real Texan!) cowboy boots which are good with dresses.

I have a talented friend making me an attractive baby changing bag to my (very finicky!) specifications!

I used the fushi argan oil last night, left it on overnight and washed it off this morning. I've just put a drop on my ends and left it to dry while I make a gingerbread house and biscuits.

Christmas day I shall be wearing jeans and a lovely navy blouse with little robins on.

I had a major clothes sort out a couple of months ago. I can get in some pre-preg clothes but not all, so I bought 2 pairs of dark flared jeans, grey cashmere cardi, beige cashmere cardi, navy blouse, bronze blouse, loads of long vests, dark grey cardi, brown pumps, brown suede wedge boots, and 4 new bras.

Whoops... that looks a lot when written down... and I know that i've missed things off

Can I join please? I am 37 weeks with dc4 (and ds3 is 14 months) so major changes might have to wait until the new year but will stay here to get some tips for when I feel ready to start!

Hello happy, so we may see a Christmas baby on this thread?!

baubles cowboy boots and (more) tea dresses are very much on my wishlist. I like your style .
ali where do you get aveda from? I love it, but am a bit skint.
hopefuly I'm not keen on brogues. Would look for boots in the sale instead.

I'm another one in jeans for Christmas. Skinny ones with a gold top (don't think gold is my colour, but it's festive, innit). Need to do nails and eyebrows, and then I can get started on the Christmas spirits. We have ten of my family and ILs coming for the big day, yikes. DD is 10mo, so her first Christmas - so far she likes all things sparkly and twinkly.

Have a beautiful xmas, all.

Nature - also plan Dukan for Jan. Will probably start 5/1 as this is when I go back to work and we are in Oxford 2/1 - 4/1 at Malmaison for DH's birthday - We will be dining in their restaurant both nights so a no no to dieting then!

Well, I am all packed and ready to go away tomorrow. Feeling good for now and hoping 2012 will prove to be the fresh start I need. Just need to go and paint my toes and fingers...

Happy holidays to all x x

Well today I managed a shower and to style about a quarter of my hair before the little 'un woke up - this is going to be more difficult than I thought.

Hi Riding - yikes not a Christmas baby, New Year please, I havent even bought nappies yet!

An keeping eyes peeled for boots in the sale. Thinking maybe some v short biker boots. Might have a browse t some stage.

Lots of sales - white company has started, got email today. I usually really like the quality of their clothes but they are usually grey/black, neither of which are ideal for me. Holding out for Brora sale in a couple of weeks - usually starts early/mid jan.

Happyhippy, glad I'm not the only one! I have 6 nappies in my hospital that are left over from dd and everytime I go to the supermarket I look at the newborn nappies and think, I'll get some next week!

Can I join?

I'm currently 32 weeks so won't be dukan/gym for another 8-10 weeks but even sat on the sofa like an elephant I can still do my make-up (3 days this week whilst lurking on this thread.)

I've bought a big professional make-up box which is helping as it means I can do it whilst my son is engrossed in pingu or the like.

I have beautiful clothes - which I forget I have and end up wearing 'rags'. ;) I never blow-dry my hair, ok, I say never, I mean more than 5 times a year.

I just feel so much more confident when I look good so I really must make the effort.

I'm after duo boots in the sale.

Husband found a photo of me last night taken 3.5 years ago and 3.5 stone ago. :( on the plus side I've only put on a couple of pounds this pregnancy.

Welcome alpine and wow on only gaining a few pounds this pg. I put on about 3 stone with my second because I was more or less immobilised with SPD. It was shit, but luckily most of it came off reasonably quickly after I gave birth.

In fact, I've just weighed myself and I'm within half a stone of my pre-preg weight! Hurrah!

Off to London today for family festivities, still not sure what to wear tomorrow, but will at least ensure I have a face of make up and nice hair to go with whatever I wear.

Oh, and what is Dukan? Thought I knew about diets!

Woo! ASOS order arrived! I now have a lovely tea dress to wear to Chapel tonight!

Yes yes yes, please can I join too?

Feeling SHITE and eating terribly, having lost 4 stone last year post-having twins and piling on the weight. Of course although I maintained for a while, I'm now a stone heavier and it's got to stop. Bought myself loads of size 12/14 clothes, having lost the weight, and now none of them fit so I'm back in the hideous situation of only having my grim fat clothes to wear, which are all too big anyway

Back to read this properly later - as a real indicator of how much things need to change, I'm only now about to hop in the shower. Guests arriving in 2 hours, place a tip, haven't cleared up from breakfast... generally not feeling like an advert for Christmas at the moment. Haven't had my bloody hair cut since July - these things must change!!

Happy Christmas to all you resolution makers! (resolvers?!) hope you're all having a lovely day and looking suitably stylish.

Welcome Lottie. Twins, wow! Well done on losing so much.

Morning hope everyone had a lovely Christmas yesterday. We're going to visit dhs family today, I sock bunned my hair last night am probably just going to wear jeans and t-shirt today, but dress it up with jewlery, hair and make up (stupid maternity wardrobe).

Hi lottie and alpine. Alpine are you desperate to have your baby too?

addicted too right! I've been bigger from about 27 weeks than I was at 36 (prem) with my son. I'm actually using bio-oil this time although can still fit in to some pre-pregnancy clothes. Part of me wants my body back and the aches and pains to stop, but then there's the horror of the first 3 weeks to contend with! ;)

hopefully Dukan is the 'new' atkins/south beach, same ol', same ol' low-carb.

Well I'm off to see a friend this morning and possibly hit the sales, I have a 50 euro voucher towards a new stylish handbag. Need to shower and put on make-up! I'm going to wear an Isabella Oliver dress because my maternity jeans keep falling down. That's right, forced in to good clothes rather than stride through town naked! Oh the humanity! ;)

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas. I ordered some stuff online today - Braun silk-epil; for silky smooth bits, 30 day shred DVD for after baby toning and some black boots.

Need to wait until after baby comes to buy nice clothes, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a slouchy leather bag.

With you all on the bigger bumps...I was gigantic with the newborn, she was 2lb heavier than the other 2, I have managed to escape the crepey belly this time though.

All of the ASOS stuff is going back, what is going on with all of the sodding polyester!

Have ordered 2 dresses, jeans and a couple of tunics from Fat Face sale. Also ordered the Clinique tinted moisturiser and Clinique mascara and lipstick fell into the cart...oops!

Can I join please?

I bumped into someone I hadn't seen in a while and I felt so low! While they looked smart and groomed, I looked frazzled and frumpy.
I am now trying to look like how I'd want to if I bumped into someone again.
I've started to wear a bit of make up every day, dress a bit better and blow dry my hair.

I need to lose weight too so I'm upping my fruit, veg and water, exercising 5 times a week and cutting out sugar.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas?

Dh got me a beautiful red dvf bag for Christmas. I'd spent ages looking for a bag big enough to use as a nappy bag for now, but fine to use as a
daytime bag when ds2 is older.

I hate normal nappy bags and had been using an old Prada messenger bag from my mis-spent youth.

I put all my crap things in it today and took it on it's first outing.
I felt very nice carrying it.

Oh... and i've ordered a book off amazon to help with getting my stomach back to normal.
I had a classic cs when ds2 was born, so my lovely scar is 8 inches long, starting at my (new) belly button and going straight downwards.

Which means my stomach muscles are in a bit of a state :(
But this book will hopefully help.