My new years resolution this year is to make more effort with my appearance. Who wants to join me?

[TrampyPants]

I've never really worn make up, styled my hair or bothered with how I look. That was fine when I was young and fresh. Now I'm 34 (nearly 35) and I want to look good. I have just tried to curl my hair (and failed) and sorted out my make up, throwing out stuff that doesn't suit me.

happiness I love pinterest, its great for ideas. If your feeling so low start with the small things wrapping a scarf with a great pattern on it, take some time out to try on loads of jeans, see them as an investment buy and get the right shape gor you. I have straight leg and skinny although I think I suit the straight leg slightly better.
Good luck

Glad to have you back with us, Trampy, and hope you're feeling much better soon.

Really loving your tips, Karbea. I only have breakfast when I'm not at work and that's always a bagel or toast. Considering I then usually have a sandwich for lunch and often crumpets or soup and bread for dinner, it's a lot of bread! I'm going to make a huge effort to have fruit from now on. I used to be so good at making sure I got my 5-a-day but it's completely fallen by the wayside recently. Along with exercising, drinking enough water etc etc etc!

I did go and get my eyebrows done today, at a ?Shavata? counter in my local House of Fraser. They're not hugely different, but do look neater and more groomed so I'm happy! DP thinks I'm mad. Tomorrow's 'to-do' for me is to give myself a manicure and paint my nails with a lovely grey/beige colour that I got for Christmas. Then I'd better dig out my work clothes as it's back to the office on Monday after a lovely 3 week Christmas break. Sigh.

happynappies, could you wear your ankle boots with skirts/dresses? With thick tights, I think ankle boots can look really cute and a bit funky with dresses. Could you also book yourself a personal shopping session at your nearest big department store? Not to buy stuff necessarily, but to get someone's professional opinion on styles and colours that suit you... and then you can go home and search eBay for it all. (Plus, some of the larger department stores offer you champagne with your personal shopping so if you have the chance to leave the DC with someone for an hour or so, you can really make the most of it!)

Why do my posts always end up so long and waffly? Sorry!

hapynappies I am hopeless with clothes too. I just don't even know where to start! When I was younger and thinner, it was all about it being as low/as short/ as tight as possible but I can't pull it off anymore. Now I don't have a clue and the prospect scares me.

Morning all, I have taken karbeas advice and have had strawberries with yoghurt fpr breakfast. Another work day so lovely uniform again however I had a sort out of my pjs etc and have now took to wearinf my soft touch ones they are a bit like luxurious lounge wear. I have done exercises for the last 2 nights.
I'm having most trouble remembering to drink enough water.
Looking forward to wearing normal clothes tomorrow.

Morning
I had quite a good night last night, I moisturised my face, neck, arms and legs with some almond and milk body lotion (that is lush by the way - a Christmas present from one of my pupils!) then did my physiotherapy exercises whilst reading a book, as well as some abdominal crunches!

I will struggle with the breakfast thing though...

aunt just grab a banana or apple on your way out of the door :)

I shared a lovely pink grapefruit and some blueberries with DH this morning.

twill just think how good you'll feel on the days you do manage to have some... Baby steps!
Why do you think you'll find it tricky?

I used to find that if I ate breakfast, I would be more likely to eat during the day.

Mind you though, I know that I have a terrible relationship with food, so if I could break my bad habits and have something healthy for breakfast, it would be a start wouldn't it? My current eating habits obviously aren't working very well

Ok.
I will go with a banana in the morning! Then I don't have to get up any earlier...

Twilback, I find the same. It's like once I start eating I can't stop!!! I can go till lunchtime without eating but if I have breakfast, a couple of hours later I'm hungry again. I hate porridge, eggs and most cereals so breakfast tends to be fruit and yoghurt or toast (when I have it). I know it's healthier to have breakfast but what to have?

That's exactly it dazzling! I started a new job in September, and I was literally too busy to eat, Monday to Friday, until I got home. Then I would have a 'proper' dinner.

Thing is though, I dropped a stone in seven weeks doing that, and then eating normally at the weekend. I never felt hungry, either. I think there is a diet around that is similar - the intermittent diet or something? It involves fasting for two days a week or something...

I would quite happily continue like that I think, but then it gets to a half term and my bad eating habits resurface. And, also, I would like to have DC in the futuure and I would like to be able to set a healthy eating example to them - I wouldn't want my teenage DC, for example, fasting during the day, IYSWIM?

So I'm going to give it a good old crack.

Could you not just stick with fruit and yoghurt? Or do you not like that really, either?

Hi all.

I've just sorted out all of my clothes and got a pile of stuff ready for the charity shop. Every time I do the wardrobe sort I realise that I have far too many skirts and not enough tops. I think it's because I like my legs and hate my norks, so I don't like buying tops as I'm so self conscious about my top half. So I'm now on the hunt for plain, go with anything, tops in good quality fabrics. I currently seem to rotate three plain black ones from Hobbs that go with just about everything I ever wear.

Bobby brown counter is good for the natural look, and generally they don't push you to buy. You could get the book also.

I was coordinated today - in a shift dress instead of jeans/ t shirt and I put perfume on which I love and often forget. The dress I wore was one dh got me and he said he would buy me more:)

Am doing the low carb boot camp and as well as the shred starting tomorrow so I am expecting a whole new me by the end of the month.

I am not keen on breakfast either, but before dc and working I used to have green tea whilst I did my Pilates then some brazil nuts. This is a distant memory now what with peppa pig, snack boxes and a dh to get off to work:)

I do like the fruit and yoghurt. It's just sometimes I fancy a change. I guess I could do Parma ham and melon or avocado. I think I'm just not a breakfast person

Hello, I had a bit of a fail today, I'm afraid I reverted to my hoodie and jeans. It was cold and I don't have a decent warm jumper that actually looks nice. I was planning to knit one but then remembered that I'm pg, so by the time it's finished it won't fit.

I have been eating fruit though! Except I had it with cream to trick myself into thinking it was pudding. Still fruit's fruit, right?

Ok ladies, glad to hear you are giving the fruit a try, hope you are remembering to use the Vaseline (or equivalents) and your lingerie drawers are all still neat :)

To start the new week your task for tomorrow is 20mins exercise. This could be a walk at lunchtime or a gym class, whatever you like.
I'm going to try for 10 mins jog, 10 mins run.

Good luck ;)

Hello ladies, can I join you? I'm really enjoying this thread and feeling inspired by your steps to make yourselves feel more gorgeous. I've got 2 DCs and after number 2 was born, I spent the first two years of her life in a sleep-deprived fog. All grooming and self-care went by the wayside, and I looked and felt shocking. A year ago I started doing a few little things, so I thought I'd share the things which work for me:

First thing every morning I chuck a fizzy multivitamin with iron into my bedside glass of water, and drink it before I get out of bed. That way I've had a pint of water and some nutrients which help to make up for the fact that I'm not great at remembering to have breakfast during the morning flurry of work / school /nursery. This has helped a lot with my frequent migraines.

I'm a nailbiter at heart and although I've grown them, I still pick the skin around them and this looks grim. In a bid to stop this, I've been putting loads of vaseline on last thing at night, so I agree with the suggestion up the thread that this helps. Thanks to another post on Mumsnet, i've discovered Mavala Scientifique, a nail strengthening liquid which works like a miracle. Now my nails are less shameful than before.

Coloursport 30 day mascara (eyelash and eyebrow dye) is also a brilliant invention. Makes a huge difference to how awake I look, especially on those days when the morning chaos means I barely have time to wash my face.

Keeping my bottle of perfume on the shelf by the front door, with a nude lipstick, means I can leave the house feeling slightly more put together.

So those are my top tips. Looking forward to reading yours.

Hello chickadees. Had another rough day but antibiotics and painkillers are kicking in so tomorrow I will be fabulous. I know I'm ill because I have a spot the size of the wrekin on my forehead.

I did, however, have a bath, shave all of my legs (not just my calves) used my soap and glory body scrub and covered myself in matching lotion. In fact, I am using "collections" rather than just random stuff, where possible.

Tomorrow I will do my hair. I am debating whether to buy a dress on Amazon that I have my eye on. It fits in with me. I'm not particularly glam and elegant. I am, however, quirky.

Ambassador, welcome. It sounds like you have a great routine. Themultivit thing in particular sound brill

Right! Good morning everyone

Already had a good morning (for me) I'm up and dressed, nails painted, face moisturised, hair conditioned, make up on. Ie got a bottle of water ready to go to work and I'm hoping that I might get a second to do my physiotherapy exercises before the hoards descend

hola all

after such a strong start I had a bit of a grotty relapse last night and ended up sleeping in my clothes and not taking my make up off grrrrrrrrr. Managed to make an effort this morning but still feel horrible inside (toxic boss and just sometimes it takes more than clothes and make up) BUT I have an interview on Friday so if nothing else at least I have a focus for grooming! Have also eaten really badly but again, if this year is going to be the different one I need to dust myself off and start again. Onwards...

Well, I DID have my haircut and actually wore some makeup to work yesterday. Not sure I will bother today as I'm being lazy running late.

Still feel grotty from flu as well, think I will get into the spirit a bit more once I'm back to firing on all cylinders

Hi All, checking in after a weekend absence. Good to read all the updates.

I had an OK weekend and tried to pull myself together a little bit. I thought I was doing OK until I went to visit a friend with a newborn and she looked amazing! All skinny jeans and floaty tops and luscious hair and a bit of make up and even jewellery. Hurumph!

Anyway, I've been religiously body moisturising every day and have been putting Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream on my lips and cuticles before going to sleep. I'm also getting through more hand cream than I ever have in my life, but my hands are thanking me for it. I've also used a cranberry body scrub in the shower which has been sitting there looking at me for a while. I don't know why I haven't bothered before, it's not like it takes more than 30 seconds to whizz it all over in the shower! Lazy me.

Also today I have bothered with my work outfit and am feeling very pleased with myself. I have a light brown tunic/dress type thingy, chocolate brown tights, brown boots and a leopard print scarf. I even have eyeshadow on. And actually, I feel a lot more ready to face the day than I have in recent weeks. I'm already starting to think about tomorrow's outfit.

Hair is clean and brushed, though not really styled. Oh well, that's something to work on another time.

Thanks everyone for the continued inspiration and updates, I really enjoy reading them

Alaska77 what you're wearing today sounds lovely.

Im letting the team down today - horrible drizzly weather here so leggings, long cardy and a vest top, purple boots. I dropped the kids off to school, stanked home and cracked on with the housework. I shouldve also done the shred dvd but I cant be bothered right now, I feel so tired! Hair is clean and tied back, and I have a bit of makeup on (powder, blusher, little mascara).

Im really missing my little ones today, so Im having an easy day.

twll, oooh get you thats ace, well done!

putyourhatonsweetie, thats horrible. fingers crossed for your interview. some people are just twats horrible.

qo, I'm in exactly the same boat. flu/illness has put me on the backfoot. luckily I had quite a strong start, but I feel utterly rotten. even if my skin is buffed and my hairy is conditioned.

Alaska, that sounds lovely and awww to newborn cwtches. I need some 8hr cream. its on my birthday list. along with a zillion few other bits. I admire your ability to wear a scarf, I look really odd in them. apart from wintery wooly ones, that is. or maybe its just me feeling self-conscious.

today I have had a lie in, ds goes back to school tomorrow, so am about to get dressed. black leggings, pull on boots, camel and black stripey jumperdress with a bow at the collar. my new clarins make up and perfume.

raaar, begone slovenly tramps.

Guy, that sounds great. its not about always looking polished, etc. Id look daft in hobbs dresses and high heeled boots all the time. its about finding a way to enhance what you have and do, and just put a bit more time and effort instead of thinking you arent worth it.

as an aside, I love loose cardigans.