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!

felt sad today, went to go outdoors for the first time -bargain of the year for dh with new walking boots half price and in ginormous ogre sized feet size too-but all the lovely half price outdoor jackets are for normal sized people. must diet

blueandwhite we've just had the same experience here in the geek household. For weeks DP has been on about getting a new waterproof coat that he had seen (but didn't buy). So today we trekked all the way back over to where he saw it, only to find they have changed their stock and he didn't like the very few coats in his size. Went into M&S (nearly fainted at the prices!) only to find their XXL isn't XXL enough

Thanks Jemima, I might try the Eversleek one. Hair has got frizzier and frizzier over the years and now needs a firm blow dry or straightening to look ok - I don't really like the ironed straight look so would like to be able to let it dry a bit more.

Hello all

Hope you don't mind a latecomer - but have been away on hols and then had difficulty tracking down the thread!

Have also joined the low carb bootcamp today - so am all set for big changes (hopefully). It is needed!

Tartiflette - I have exactly the same problems with hair as you. It's so frizzy now - and I think the straigteners which I always fall back on are making it worse. Will also have a look at your suggestions Jemima. Cheers!

Evening all

Hi pink!

Face mask is on, fingers and toes removed (Control, I mean polish ). Am going to replace with either bright red or a soft pink....just not sure which yet

Will wash off mask in shower and Aussie my hair. Also pumice my feet....they're lovely and soft with regular attention!

Totally forgot I had got those nose strips the other day! Am going to use one on Weds, maybe a sort of diy midweek facial if I cba.

I moisturised my legs! Went to the in-laws and I got to go for a nap so a really good day overall.

I have just painted fingers and toes...bright sparkly pink....and now need the loo desperately Am the same every time I paint them.

Am defuzzed, moisturised, face and hair sorted. Clothes out for the morning along with my sparkly new jewellery (and socks)

Just watching Titanic! while my nails dry properly then going to write a list for tomorrow so I can start sorting the house out properly.

Impressive work Lucysmam!

I've done Callanetics vid and treated myself to a new winter coat which only cost me £33 after 20% off and deploying some John Lewis vouchers I had. It's a nice burgundy colour (one of 'my' Summer colours, but which I hardly ever wear) and is not of the highest quality but I have a fab Aigle coat for normal days and just needed a sort of dressy coat just to use for going out and it fits the bill nicely.

Must make more of a plan for sorting out my skin and hair. I've never found a face mask I was really convinced by... Got an old Chanel one to use up (sure it must have cost £££ but honestly can't tell any difference after using) and a strange smelling pomegranate one which came with a magazine subscription. Neither appeals!

I like the sound of your burgundy coat tart!

I'm using superdrug vitamin e skincare range, actually need to replace my skin oil this week. Seems to be gentle enough. My mask is just a mud mask (not sure where from ) but it seems to help reducing the huge spots I have brewing lately.

Have to say.....pomegranate sounds erm....tasty Have you tried it?

My small ta da list today

Did the shred for the first time ever, only level one and I am feeling it now
Tidied my wardrobe - threw out some old underwear but daren't get rid of too much yet as I'm slimming back through it so will throw out as I slim out of it.
Showered and moisturised
Six different fruit and veg today too yay.

99 days to go

lucysmam thanks for the tip on removing oil, my top had dried so not sure how successful I will be, but going to give it a whirl as that was a lovely warm autumn top.

Did hardly anything yesterday, as I had a temperature and all the accompanying aches and pains. Did manage a basic shower, hair dried and straihtened and oiled though. Nail varnish has been picked off removed - but still haven't removed my toes

Fasting day today, so managed to remember my hot lemon water. Dentist tomorrow for a filling, yay! On the plus side, hair makeup and earrings done today. My little book of earrings organiser arrived at the weekend and is helping loads.

Good morning

Routine all done here and am wearing my new spangly earrings and bracelet. Gone for indigo skinnies and a gold really fine knit with big sleeves. it's a couple of years old but has washed and worn really well for a ten quid primark top!

Just on my way to get a smart new hat. it's showery and absolutely freezing here!

Even my girls were asking for gloves at the bus stop and nothing usually bothers them two

Plan for today is to nip into Sainsburys for some natural yogurt to go with the soft fruits I got as 'elevenses' rather than brekky (7:30is a bit early for food for me) and to restart the shred - might order the dvd 'cos I'll feel guilty having spent money for it to go unused!

(dp has cottoned on to the re-injection of vanity finally....found it a bit that I'm using mn to keep me on track but is enjoying the results. I used to be incredibly vain before having the girls )

Morning everyone!

Had a very lazy weekend on the challenge front- was working both days then had friends come down from Scotland so indulged in curry and wine last night!

Dreading today slightly- I have the dentist this afternoon to get my notoriously bad teeth checked. I used to have lovely teeth but 6 months of hyperemesis coupled with pregnancy hormones left me needing lots of fillings and an extraction. Hope they'll be in better shape than they were a few months ago. I'm also going to ask about getting them whitened.

I am also restarting The Shred today Lucysmam I was about to start level 3 bit haven't done it for about 2 weeks so looks like I will be starting over.

Tonight is going to be pamper night- going to have a bath, facemask, exfoliate and re-do my nail polish.

Well ladies I'm wandering round feeling blotchy and snotty after having crossed words with dp So much for looking more polished

Apparently I'm out of order asking for a bit more help on school mornings he's here instead of him having 45mins extra in bed

Am off for in Mcdonalds before picking up dd2, to sort myself out.

It's obviously the week for dentists as I'm off for a filling on Wednesday too!

Just about to do mini mani/pedi. Hair is looking bedraggled after doing the nursery drop off in the wind and rain.

Sorry you've had an emotional morning Lucysmam - if it's any consolation we have similar rows most weekdays.

ControlGeek I'm fasting today too but my painful tooth put paid to lemon and hot water this morning. Bizarrely, coffee doesn't make it hurt

thanks tart, I think it just made it worse me being tired too (3yo has snotty cold so unsettled at night) and coming home to nothing done.

Funny enough when I got in from my classy and picking dd2 up....
there was LOADS done. all I need to do tonight is dd1 times tables, cook tea and wash up. and then some sort of me time.

I fixed my make up before leaving the house for dd1 just now too, am trying to get back into the habit of it.

Got my new hat earlier (and some hand warmers that are like mittens without the finger tips iyswim?)....and two lip glosses from poundland - CK ones, may as well try them for a quid!

Diet has been better today, elevenses was natural yogurt and the BIGGEST GIANT blackberries you have ever seen! Tea will be home made chicken and leek pie, roast spuds and a mountain of veg from fil's allottment.

Eyebrows still look good after a week Plucked a few stray dark ones yesterday but have left the rest alone.

lucysmam glad your afternoon was an improvement on your morning, I think aometimes these men of ours just need a bit of time to absorb things (whilst continuing to act completely unreasonably of course)

tartiflette good luck for wednesday, I hope it doesn't give you too much grief between now and then. I'm lucky not to have had any pain with minw.

Today has been the day from hell, and to cap it all I am utterly staaaaaaarving! Dp is also fasting today and I swear he's eyeing up the train seat for calories!

Ta das for today - dressed v smart, makeup, hair, earrings all done. Fasted, drank 3l of water, including hot lemon this morning. Given up on perfume, dp prefers the smell of the hair oil oh and I've started using blanx tooth whitener each morning too.

I just wanted to post to let lucysmam know that I currently have a foam monster residing in my washing machine and I'm scared to release it into the wild. I followed the instructions on that website, including the one that said to soak it in liquid dish soap for a few minutes first. Well, maybe I used too much, and maybe I didn't rinse it properly... if I don't post for a few days, please send a cleanup team to rescue me

oh, oops! I've done that myself a fair few times trying to remove stubborn stains...the latest being washable paints from dd2's top (thanks nursery ).

Well, I am not impressed with this nail polish. It's an OPI one like the majority of my polishes but doesn't seem to be as good as the rest (it's bright pink with teeny bits of glitter so wonder if they're the cause ) the ends of my nails seem to be sort of 'rubbing out' for want of a better way to put it even with me wearing gloves to wash up and being careful not to use my nails as tools! Oh, and, one of my big toes....the end has rubbed off on my sock . Will re-paint them on Weds, doubt anyone but me has noticed yet.

Evening routine is all done here, I burned my head with my ghd's like a plank! Today is just not my day!

Clothes are out ready for tomorrow, cream knit, skinnies and my boots. New hat is in bag (may swap bag for something bigger though - need to take change of clothes for dd2 as she's wet herself every day lately).

I think I need to invest in some indigo dye for my skinny jeans and a few more eight quid jumpers. Seems to have got very cold very fast, which is a shame because I have four practically new floatyish autumn tops but I'll freeeeeeze in them on the bus

Need to get face and body moisturiser this week. there was something else I wanted too but have forgotten....just for a change.

Ok, it's been a good day :)
I take my vitamins/primrose oil with a mug of hot water and lemon.
No sugar in coffee/tea. No biscuits.
Exercised before work (I really struggle to see how I will keep this up, I was late this morning)
Showered, moisturised.
Nails done yesterday. Also my eyebrows.
Nice clothes on.
Wrote a nice birthday card, quite pleased with it.

I am tired... it's been a very long day! Can't remember what else. But I'm pleased :)
Oh, I had fish!

I have remembered! Do any of you have any aches and pains and use cod liver oil (capsules)? I'm waiting near on four weeks to see the dr to get a physio referral for my wrists/hands which have something similar to tendonitis but dr says it's not presenting in the 'right' way for tendonitis/rsi .

Have been doing some googling & apparently cod liver oil can be good for aches and pains so wondered if it might be worth a try (anything for a proper sleep & not to get up with stiff claws instead of hands ).

Lucysmam, my mum swears by something called Devil's Claw. It's either for aches & pains or her arthritis, I can't remember which, but it might be worth a google to see if it might help.

I'm semi off the rails at the moment. With all the sickness & crankiness (and now a sore shoulder for me from hefting 12kg of toddler around the place) I just haven't managed to do much - especially the morning routine.

But, I've packed a salad to eat before my lecture today and managed a vaguely coordinated outfit, so that's not too bad... even if I did have to shower with an audience this morning

Horrible afternoon at the dentist, apparently my gums are permanently damaged and I may lose teeth as a result I know it's my fault really as I didn't look after them when I was pg. Even the sick of toothpaste made me vomit (I had hyperemesis) so I really struggled to keep my mouth healthy.

So I now need to add daily flossing and a medicated mouthwash into my routine. It's really embarrassing that I am having these problems- especially as part of my job involves educating patients about oral health.

Lucysmam I can thoroughly recommend arnica gel for muscle/ligament/tendon type issues. Also if you are thinking of going down the fish oil route, Krill oil is highly recommended. More expensive than cod liver oil but has more of the beneficial chemicals in it.

Oh, and lucysmam - I've given up having that argument with DH. It just got me frustrated and him grumpy (and to be fair to him, the reason he's home 2 days a week is to drop DD1 to school so I can get out the door earlier for lectures). To make myself feel better I make faces behind his back when he complains about me being very shouty in the mornings.