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.

No more blog posts then... I'll still update it but just won't link here.

The best nail strengthener I've found is nail magic.

Morning all - haven't checked in for a while, been a bit busy, but I have joined MFP and have started eating 1200 calories and walking 60 minutes daily this week.

Also got a new water softener, so my dandruff has cleared up and I'm not too embarrassed to see the hairdresser now, so will make an appointment.

Loving all the tips, especially from karbea - sufficiently inspired, today I shall:

• make an eye appointment
• sort my lingerie drawer
• wear perfume
• use loads of handcream!

Have fabulous days everyone.

hi,
The Mavala stuff is called Mavala Scientifique... green runny liquid which works wonders in strengthening the nails.
Am dressed in my morning gear of running kit, blue running jacket, hair in 80's pineapple (can you feel the glamour just oozing off me?) but once I've done a post-school drop off run then I'll aim to improve the groomed look a bit. Got an appt for a bikini wax (she'll need a Black and Decker to sort it out, I'm sure) but at least its another job off the list.
Have a good day you beauties. x

Thanks Trampy - made up an emergency make-up bag last night! I've got tons of eye cream samples for some reason, so I should look wide awake if nothing else.
Have booked pedicure and eyebrow/lip waxing for Saturday. Lip desperate - I look as if I've joined in Movember.....

everyone's doing so well!

youcancallmebetty, does a water softener make that much difference? we are on the welsh border so the water here is quite soft.

Ambassador, THATS the stuff, it was driving me nuts. good luck for today, rather you than me

thinkof, no prob. I also have a zillion samples. I also have 3 separate eye lotions, but only really use clinique.

karbea, I will bookmark your blog and link to it from mine, if thats ok?

slobby day today. a day of cleaning and sorting. DH has the virus Ive had, and of course, soooo much worse than I did so I might deposit him on the sofa with the laptop and go upstairs with my tablet and do my blog post. I'm shattered today though, we overslept. again. but the mountain on my forehead has all but gone.

todays outfit: topshop bootcut jeans (indigo) teal chunky jumper with a green vest underneath and my beloved blue gola hi-tops. they are so retro and comfy, I love them.

make up, no7 bb cream, ccuk lip and cheek tint, revlon ivory eyeshadow and dove shimmer lip balm. nails have a treatment on.

It does for me Trampy - I suffered from dandruff - really thick scales, nice! and unbearably itchy scalp for years, tried all the shampoos on the market, nothing really helped. Then we moved to this house which had a water softener, and it pretty much disappeared overnight. Now I can tell when the salt's running out because the flakes and itch comes back. I live in a very hard water area, so not sure if it's an allergic reaction to the high levels of calcium and magnesium or what.

Thanks Trampy for the link to the chunky jewellery. It definitely would have snazzed up my jumpsuit. One of my next jobs is to do a clearout of the random storage cupboard in my bedroom which has a few bits of wooden jewellery in there somewhere so I'll have a rummage through and see if I can recycle any of it with my outfits. I also have a stash of free samples of eye cream, foundation etc from magazines so I'll pop those in an emergency bag as some people have suggested.

Sounds like a few of you are doing household-y jobs today so good luck with that.

I'm at work today but feeling a little bit fabulous because it's my birthday And DH has obviously been listening to all the little hints I dropped because he bought me exactly the present I was after!

On the style front, I'm wearing a silky black playsuit from Aubin & Wills which has a sort of starburst pattern on it (not in a razzledazzle way, just a small repetitive pattern), super-thick black tights and black shoe boots. Basic makeup done (BB cream, little powder, beige sheen eyeshadow, lipgloss) and today I also remembered perfume! Plus I did my usual cranberry body scrub in the shower and used a body butter afterwards.

Youcan, it does sound like some sort of allergic reaction.

Alaska, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Your outfit sounds fabulous, what did you get?

hey hey

wanted to jump in, am fsay i am reading if not always posting am flat out with interview prep and going camping at the weekend so ltd style opportunities there! Doing basics of hair make up and nice clothes and will pay closer attention from next week when I am not under quite so much pressure.

Have chucked all manky shoes this week....big bonus because I can now see what I own...hurray.

slightly odd question but any tips on toenail growth? I regulalry lose mine running, which means I don't paint them for fear of drawing additional attention...attractive.

Welcome sweetie and well done with the shoe clearout. No tips on toenail growth I'm afraid. Perhaps someone else will be more useful!

Trampy I got an iPad mini, which I've been banging on about long before they were released. Can't wait to get it all set up, then I can MN all day long

sweetie, well done! Thats on my to do list. no advice on the toenails I'm afraid, but ouch!

Alaska, thats ace! I am v jealous. I got a blackberry playbook for xmas, which I love.

Sweetie - the same happens to me, the only thing I can say is to keep them short and cut fairly straight.

Trampy - yes of course you can.

Today i'm wearing animal print shirt (leopards heads) from Zara, Black skinny jeans from Miss selfridge and Lilac slippers, the white company. Necklace from Mango and a ring from forever 21.
I've left off the make up today - which is bad, but my skin looks rank :S

I ran for 30mins this morning and i've been drinking protein drinks today rather than eating - i'm sure this is bad for me, but I will eat a proper dinner.

karbea have you updated your blog with OOTD?

Yes did one just for you ;)

and i've done a lttle taskette blog too.

munching almonds :angel:

Ooh liking the outfit karbea, especially the slippers! White Company is the nuts for cosy slippers

Hi can I join too? . I moved from living in suburbia and the city just over 3 years ago to a very rural location where the only people I see are at tescos or on the school run (but none of the other mums speak to me) spend most of my time looking at fields and sheep. As a result my appearance has gone out of the windows and I have piled on the weight. I have been surgically attached to my uggs, baggy jeans and chequered shirts . As of Jan I have thrown out a lot of my shapeless clothes, and bought some nice new shoes in the sale to get me out of those so comfy but hideous uggs and have joined a running group (first meet tonight) Really need to get my hair sorted too it looks awful. I find it hard to get the motivation some days when I can go days before speaking to anybody apart from dh who is away 12 hours a day working (he is less than impressed).

Hi everyone, well at work again so I have been wearing all black, we can wear what we want within reason it has to be smart, black but practical as my job is physical as well as customer facing. I think I am going to have to invest a little money into it.
Great blog karbea loving the slippers.
Welcome julz09 hope you find this thread as motivating as me, its great.
Today I curled the ends of my hair, it has stayed bouncy all day and have had loads of lovely comments from my work colleagues. Its really spurred me on, I'm going to have a bubble bath tonigh (complete with a glass of wine and a book) going to follow by redoing all nails and applying a body oil all over.
Off work tomorrow so going to drag dh out for a run I think.

Happy birthday alaska77 hope you've had a great day.

Happy birthday, Alaska. :)

Boring clothes here today as still casual, but my jumper was admired twice! :)

'Proper' clothes required tomorrow though. Which of these combinations do you think I should go for? :-

a) leopard print pencil skirt, black silk t-shirt, black blazer, seamed stockings, black cone heeled DM Mary Janes

b) black very fitted (and quite short) military-esque jumper dress with beige trimming, beige blazer, black opaques, tan heeled ankle boots or tan wedge 70s style shoes

c) Westwood tweed skirt, black cowl neck top, cropped military blazer, lace tights, black platforms

d) something else which I haven't considered yet?

Happy birthday, Alaska I love the sound of your outfit!

Remus your options sound amazing! Are you secondary? I definitely think you should go for a... just because I would love to have the nerve/figure to wear a leopard print pencil skirt

Kept up with the daily eyebrow/chin thing. My moustache is not goign as planned. I have eaten less than I did yesterday and I am still loving the water filter.

The new boots I boguht have a fleecey inner layer, which was a wonderful bonus this morning in the freeeeeeeeeeeezing weather - and one I hadn't even noticed! I was also in all black today - boots, tights, dress - but I did not wear an all consuming cardigan because I forgot it I am learning! I also wore a thin lime green scarf with largish white spots, as well as my ring and a lovely locket that I never normally wear. Hair and make up as normal. But one of my little girls told me I looked really pretty today and she loved my dress, so that made me feel good all day!

I suspect I'm a similar size/shape to you tbh, having seen your denim dress pic. I'm a 12-14 on top and 10-12 on the bottom, just about hourglass shape.

Yes to secondary. I try to be smart and wear heels sometimes, but I usually end up taking them off and trolling around class in my stockinged feet!

I like the sound of option A Remus although the military style jumper dress sounds lovely.

Option A it is! What's wrong with Option C?

You bloody well are not a similar size to me my hips are still huge, my waist is just comparatively smaller!

I liked Option C too - I think I got distracted by the lace tights though.

Could lose the lace tights - but they are quite subtle ones, honest! And I'm still a bit of a goth at heart:)

Your sartorial challenge this week is to go and try on a leopard print pencil skirt. You may be pleasantly surprised! Just wear it with your most flattering (and v plain) shaped top.

I wouldn't even know where to find one