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.

OK, so I went to the gym before work this morning (halo) but forgot to take any make-up so have looked pink and shiny most of the day! Have booked a pedicure for the weekend and have just sorted out my bikini line - TMI?! Not sure why, since the chances of me actually wearing a bikini are below zero. Well below.

Loving reading what everyone's wearing, tho I'm not in the UK so will have to save the ideas for our winter!

Think, no such thing as tmi. I should tidy mine. Intact, that's my next job. Well done for going to the gym, can you do a small "emergency" bag for your gymbag? With samples of make up, etc. I save all mine for nights away, etc. I have an emergency make up bag in my suitcase.

I just cleaned out my handbag of receipts and pens and rubbish.
I booked a bikini wax whilst I was at the beauticians too.

Well done everyone. I love the idea of being 'whitwooey'!!
For anyone worried about exercising outside in daylight and feeling exposed, I recommend a running jacket. I got one from Sweaty Betty in the sale. It covers my bum because its also for cycling, and has a tie belt, so helps me have a waist and not show my substantial rear to the general public. With black trackky bottoms and this jacket, I look more 'dressed down in mac' and less 'unfit bird in clearly never-used sportswear'.
Happy grooming everyone and keep enjoying those compliments. X

Ha ha, ambassador your post made me laugh out loud! Love the sound of the jacket, though.

karbea loving the OOTD blog - keep it going!

Anyone got ideas of what I should wear to my first gymnastics class next week? Apart from a cycling helmet, perhaps

Clearly a leotard is very very very much out of the equation

So I'm still undecided on the jumpsuit I'm wearing today. I've felt smart and a little bit trendy but I've had a couple of looks walking the corridors at work so perhaps I'm not pulling it off! Never mind.

I think it sounds fab. Are you wearing any jewelry?

Day off from wearing uniform yesterday, chose a charcoal silky blouse thats a little pinched in at the waist, black leggings, grey slouchy boots from clarks and I teamed it with a cream lace scarf, leather jacket and new accessorize animal print earrings. Keeping up with routine karbea posts, new trainers are getting used with the excercise (I have started the running although not managing much). I have a little locker at work where I have left hand cream, rosy tint Vaseline, a hairbrush and body spray, so I can keeo making an effort at work.
Sounds like a lot of people are enjoying this thread.

Wornout, that sounds really lovely. And the emergency supplies are a good move. Those boots sound lush.

I am really enjoying it. Will be starting a blog too, I think.

I agree that the boots sound lush. I wanted some Clarks boots and waited for them to go in the sale and no sooner did they get reduced, they flew off the shelves and I missed out

Trampy no jewellery apart from wedding/engagement rings and normal day to day earrings. I'd love to wear more jewellery, actually, but I'm just not very good with accessories. I tried yesterday with a scarf and got on OK, but I either never get round to putting the accessories on, or I feel overdressed. Plus at work I have to wear a god-awful security pass round my neck all day so any necklaces get 'lost'

Maybe next time try with a long pendant or wooden beads and a bangle? Just to dress it up a bit. I have a very specific image in mind. Will see what I can find.

this type of pendant I love chunky jewelry with jumpsuits and androgynous clothing.

I used to hate accessories but I love them now, it's funny necklaces/bracelets etc tend to get more compliments than anything else I ever wear.

Here's for today's "More Effort Task"...

Today is Tuesday - Weekly let's get organised.

This week we our focus is our face.

Our new resolution for January is to have a lovely lingerie drawer.

*Morning Routine

Check for and remove any random hairs
One portion of fruit for breakfast
30min exercise

*Evening Routine

Moisturise lips, eye lashes and cuticles/hands.

The "face" task is new today, the monthly resolution is the same from yesterday :)

I'm annoyed, our architect has sent over drawing and they haven't included my changes arghhh!

Been lurking - but have tidied out all my bathroom drawers, washbags etc. did a bit of waxing ( legs) home pedicure and manicure.

I'm very impressed with everyone on this thread, I am still forgetting to put make up on but I do remember the perfume:)

Oh, and my hair needs attention, but it will have to wait a bit. I am too tired to fiddle about with straightners!

Evening all! I've been a bit lax just recently- think it's a mix of getting back into routine and DS2's complete inability to sleep that's knocking me back.

Karbea the organisation post is spot on for me, I am awfully bad at keeping up to date with making appointments for myself. Although I did have an eye test today and bought some new glasses to change my look as I am a contact lens wearer normally.

Todays outfit was black floaty top, with fitted mini skirt, tights and boots. The only colour was the dove grey scarf.

I woke up this morning to a half-'tache so had to pluck that. My hair growth has gone into overdrive since DS2 was born, I've never been quite so hairy!

I need to take my nail varnish off and dig out the nail strengthener, my nails are so flaky atm.

Everyone seems to be so stylish, it's great!

Ooh I like the idea of a little emergency drawer at work. Will pinch that and will add healthy snacks to it, too.

Had a bad night last night (another teacher unable to sleep in the first week back) and a bloody awful day today, which ended up in me having to re-do four hours' worth of work because of somebody else's silly decision. I feel as if I've gone backwards and am thus completely unprepared for the work I need to do next. Agh.

Casual dress again today, so a denim mini, navy opaques, navy and white Breton, tan boots and dusty blue slouchy cardigan. I'm going to do a face mask tonight and tidy up my nails, then try to get an early (and hopefully restful) night.

Loving your blog karbea although it doesn't look to me like you need to make more of an effort - you looked pretty together to me.

I have spent the last day and a half lounging on the sofa in my pyjamas. I do have an excuse though - I had to come home from work early yesterday after throwing up and having a terrible headache. Feeling better today so will be back at work tomorrow. Did have a bath to help relax so shaved my legs - horrified at how hairy they were!

Have been putting my nail oil and hand cream on every night before bed. Just need to get into the routine with foot cream too.

Have been doing some internet browsing for work clothes too - just to get some ideas for when I have some money.

Hi y'all,

What a great thread with some fab tips

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Happy New Year all

*Remus8 I feel your pain - I spent such a long time over the holidays coming up with lovely lessons all set to go for the next couple of weeks, give or take, but we've just been told we have to add something extra in to our week, for an hour a day and it's thrown me because it's nothing I've been trained in, plus I'm an NQT and I am starting to feel a bit inadequate!

My awake-sleep consists of me running over and over in my head how I am failing 28 children

I have never tried Veet-for-the-face... I have always just erlied on Jolen as that's what my mother used, but if I'm being honest, it just doesn't do it for me. My skin is too sallow and my hair too dark for me to be able to bleach it really, and even for the few days where the roots don't show I'm sure that the bleach has lightened an area around my top lip! Does the Veet-for-the-face work?

TB - teaching is getting more bonkers by the day. I used to love my job so much and now I seem to be permanently fuming, except when I'm actually in the classroom (thank goodness I still enjoy that). Here's to better days for both of us tomorrow, and better sleeps tonight!

I have just pilfered as much as I possibly could from the internet on teaching phonics and am contemplating spending nearly £50.00 on some schmaltzy reading scheme even though I have seen the 'lessons' and could probably knock my own ones up but I'm lazy

I am about to commence the night time routine, thusly:

Dog out for a wee - clean sink in kitchen.
Dog in, treat before bed, grab cat food.
Say good night to dog and shut the kitchen door. Feed cat.
Tidy cushions on the sofa.
Lock front door.
Brush teeth/have a wee.
PUT CLOTHES BACK ON HANGERS/IN WASH BASKET
Find something to watch on iPlayer as I moisturise my legs, arms and face then do my physiotherapy exercises.
Pretend to sleep.

I have also been given a water filter this evening and have tried it out - the difference is amazing. It shall be my new bedfellow

I shall see you all on the morrow

See you all in the morning, sleep well.

I am trying to persuade dh that I need new handcreams from l'occtaine, not asda. Wish me luck. Tomorrow is a house clean day. Eek.

Hi, have just finished planning and preparing resources for work so apart from the basics I have failed on my keep the house tidy resolution lol but did get comments on my outfit today mainly I think it wasn't all black which is my usual work wear wardrobe.

Did make an effort with hair and make-up again but after doing swimming with my class today I have noted that I need to purchase waterproof mascara!!

Any tips to improve my nails please, I am trying not to bite them but they are week and when I try to grow them they flake/split which doesn't help the temptation to bite them :-(

Oooh mavala do something,can't remember the name but will find it for you. I use avons 24ct gold nail strengthened. It's really very good.