Operation Renovation - aka The Christmas Countdown

[HelgatheHairy]

It's 115 days to Christmas Eve!

You can use this thread exactly like you were using the previous thread to keep track of what you're doing, have lists, ask advice etc. As its about renovation rather than strictly beauty, nothing is off limits so beauty, clothes, exercise, healthy eating.

So here we go!

Weighed myself this morning, I have lost another 1lb. Which means I have now lost 75lbs altogether. I actually hit my target (10st exactly, which is a BMI of 22.5) a the beginning of the summer, but have lost another 5lbs since. I'm assuming it will just settle at some point.

Have been for a run and eaten my healthy breakfast.

vvviola I really like the hot cloth cleanser, but I have quite dry skin. I find it quite light and it comes off really easily with the damp muslin. Is it the Superdrug one you are using? I don't use toner personally, I never use it with wash off cleanser. I do use different day and night cream though, my day cream has an spf and my night cream is thicker.

I need to re-do my fingernails at some point today. They have lasted for a week though, which is unheard of for a home manicure!

Viola I don't use a toner as I use a wash off cleanser but yes I think with a cream cleanser you need a toner. Fr night I use advance night repair serum but then rose hip oil in place of a night cream, it is cheap but a miracle product!

I know what you mean Letmeatthewine I tend to get fed up if I can't tick everything off my list! I was doing really well with the exercise but have had my brother in law staying- didn't really fancy wearing Lycra and sweating it out in the livingroom while we had guests!

vvviola I find I have to rinse twice with hot cloth cleansers otherwise I feel like there's residue remaining on my skin. I like to use toner afterwards, mostly because I have oily skin and it helps with oil control.

Toner isn't for wiping off residue cleanser, so you need it regardless of whether you use a cream or wash off cleanser.

I have just done the hardest session with my PT, I'm aching already, he has told me to take tomorrow off rather than train haha!

I'm going to concentrate on diet this coming week, I feel like I've got some good routines with exercise, beauty and clothes (can be improved but feeling quite happy with my progress so far), but my diet is bad and I'm still putting on weight :(

So as long as everyone doesn't mind I'm going to put my diet diary on here, and I'd love it if people can comment and suggest improvements???

Good morning everyone

Morning routine done here....hair is in a 'messy' bun because I cba to straighten & we're staying in today anyway. Sunday is make up free day, I figure so long as I look neat and tidy my face could do with a rest after six days of it.

What healthy breakfasts is everyone eating? Other than cereal type stuff?

My plan for tonight is face mask, defuzz and then paint nails. Must remember to get mini epilator thingy out for top lip too.

Have already got clothes out for tomorrow (I was upstairs sorting washing, figured I may as well). Gone for a white chunky knit from last year, black skinnies and my new boots (did I mention they are lurvely ). Not sure how to accessorise yet...going to have a rummage soon. Maybe just small (fake) pearl earrings.

I used to be really good with accessories - explains why I have sooooo many - am a bit shit lately tbh. Am doing better with this thread though.

Off to start homework shouting. Hopefully it'll be done before bed time since I have been breaking it up into chunks over the weekend.

Ok Karbea, now I'm really showing how clueless I am please don't kick me off the thread if it's not for getting rid of cleanser residue, what's it for?

Am off to bed now, stopping to do my new routine.

Busy day tomorrow: gym, dentist (where I fully expect a severe telling off), new meal plans, and hopefully some study too....

Here goes
Yesterday not too bad
Showered scrubbed moisturised
Hair washed dried and straightened
minimal make up
2 hour cycle (at 5yo ds pace) leading to hat hair for the rest of the day
Healthy bfast and lunch
Not so good takeaway curry and wine
Today showered scrubbed, hair dried and straightened, toast and coffee, minimal make up
At swimming lessons
It's a lovely day here so hopefully outside this afternoon
An OK start but could do better

karbea I did a basic beauty course and the tutor told us it was to remove make up/cleanser residue I am now confuzzled....what else is it for?

What colour nail polish are you all using? I can't decide what to wear this week

In the olden days when I was a teenager people said toner was to close your pores! Whatever that means
No nail polish allowed at work and I wear a uniform so morning during the week are easy - shower hair bit of slap. sorting ds is more of a challenge
Need to try to fit some exercise in between work and the school pickup this week that's going to be the biggest one for me

A few Tah Dah's this morning:

1. Exfoliated and defuzzed
2. Cellulite cream applied, rest of body moisturised.
3. Foot file used and foot cream applied.
4. Makeup done.
5. Manicure consisting of cuticle remover, file, ridges removed, polish then top coat.

My diet is terrible Karbea like your idea of posting what you're eating- might shame me into being healthier.

Doing roast beef for dinner- yum! But not allowed any carb laden extras which will be hard!

Ladies have a read of this which is all about toners!

Now I'm even more confused Karbea!

I think one day this week I'll write outy exact routine (including the actual products & get all you experts to tell me what major beauty faux pas I'm committing )

I have yet to find a toner that doesn't dry my skin out (and I have tried lots over the years). Which is the main reason why I don't bother. There isn't even a toner AFAIK in the range that I use.

I need to remember this week to ring the hairdresser's to make an appointment for a trim. I'm really trying to remember to get it done every 6 weeks now I have short hair. The stylist who cuts it doesn't work every Saturday so I need to make sure I get an appointment with her when she is in.

Then at the end of the month I am going to treat myself to an afternoon of facial, eyebrow wax and file & paint hands and feet on he salon's special offer.

Terrible nights sleep with DD last night. She was awake from 2.30am pretty constantly. She settled for a little bit and DH took her so I got to shower. Was so tired I didn't do anything extra, so just a basic shower.

I'm ashamed to admit what I did later but feel I have to confess in the spirit of the thread, please feel free to shout at me.

We took DD to my parents, she started crying as we left our house so left in a bit of a fluster. We got to my parents only for me to realise I was wearing my slippers. That's not the bad part. On the way home DH said he fancied dinner from Subway. I told him what I wanted but he said he wouldn't remember so I had to go order. Wearing my slippers! Now it's a small subway and we were parked right outside the door but still it's a new low.

So a new addition to my list is 'wear shoes when leaving the house'

Hahaha! You are excused though! I did that once, in the middle of winter. People were watching me strangely, I marched purposefully through the city center, got to work and I normally sort of kick the door in, it's a massive heavy one, so I help along with my foot. First, I felt the wetness and then the pain, I was wearing my fluffy purple boot slippers. 'Twas a hoot.

Bodyscrub (Soap&Glory Sugar Scrub)
Liz Earle Shampoo & Condition (lazy clipback to dry)
Superdrug Clean and Cloth cleanser
Teeth
Moisturiser
Clothes (and my favourite dark grey bra& briefs)
No make-up

But............ since attempting to be back on the straight'n'narrow (back to work, DC school) stopping chocolate, drinking more water, starting swimming, drinking that Actimal .................................

I weighed and measured myself on Friday ..then today I'd put on 4lb.
4 bloody lbs .
AF is well overdue (perimenopausal so tends to be a bit wayward) but, this does not inspire.

I have just slathered on the mud mask....wait for it to dry and I'll jump in the shower to exfoliate, wash and Aussie my hair, pumice my feet, exfoliate my face, defuzz fuzzy bits.

Helga you would fit in perfectly round here going out in slippers....my neighbours often go out in pj's and slippers

Put some hair thickener that I am trialling for the manufacturer in and combed through
Did normal shower, shampoo, conditioner etc first

Should do nails

Dilidali that's brilliant!
lucysmam DH said that as I wasn't wearing a dressing gown no one would look at my feet!

Enjoying these slipper confessions

Right I'm on it as of tomorrow with the diet (5:2), water, vitamins and daily Callanetics. Pampering side of things may have to take a backseat as we are having our room replastered and new ceiling and skirting put in, then new carpet so as of tonight we'll be decamping to the attic room - there's furniture everywhere, piles of clothes everywhere, the drawers of my dressing table are arranged precariously on top of god knows what ... So it's going to be a bit like camping for the next two weeks or so. Am dreading it but at the same time can't wait for it to be done as we moved in two months ago and our bedroom was just in an awful state.

Anyway I will concentrate on inner beauty and hopefully see a difference (and shed a few lb) in two weeks' time.

Just about to go and do my nails. I am sticking with Burgundy Kiss on my toes and Latte on my fingernails as it doesn't show the chips

Showered, shaved, aussied hair etc.

Blow dried and straightened. Toe nail polish re-done. Am umming and aahing about what to put on fingers still so have clear varnished them for the moment.

1.5L of water drunk through the day. Not as good as other days but not too shabby either compared to how little I used to drink.

Have had a funny old day with dp today so am enjoying a glass of before bed early.

The whitening toothpaste seems to be working - last time I visited the dentist he said I needed the backs of my front bottom teeth cleaning....I could feel the build up on them too but couldn't afford the extra to have them cleaned...but they feel loads nicer now (I can just afford the check ups unless I need something urgently doing iyswim). It's only an Aquafresh one too!

Off to get my eyebrows done in town tomorrow unless dp needs my bus ticket (would be helpful if he wasn't talking in one word sentences ). If not I will pluck them for myself tomorrow afternoon and go next week instead.

I forgot to add.....I found three chin hairs!!!!!!!!! I daren't pluck them out in case they come back worse than they are now

lucy I pluck mine.

Talking of weird hairs, can anyone recommend a nose hair trimmer?

They don't mutate into several hairs sprouting from one spot then?