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!

I can't be doing with those eight legged things helga .....would have to bring dp to plonk them out in the wild

I'm on a bit of a sabbatical at the moment from routines & general organisation - DD1 has chicken pox. She's fine during the day, if a little clingy, but she woke every 90 minutes last night with the itching (and DD2 threw in 3 wake ups too), so I'm barely conscious and still in my pyjamas at lunch time (I manage a shower once DD2 goes for a nap - if she does at all)

88 days to go

Oh dear vvviola I can see why you are taking a break! Has DD2 had chicken pox? Be warned that she will probably catch it, and although it is quite nice to get it over and done with when they are little is hard work! DS1 caught it just after he had started in Reception aged 4, he then passed it on to DS2 who was 2 and DD who was a baby. That is a month I wouldn't like to live through again, but at least it got it all done and dusted.

Have decided to wear red jeans with the denim shirt today, but not quite like the picture I linked to upthread. Slightly less cleavage and camel toe ;-)

oooh vvv I had the same experience of cp as Jemima...dd1 passed it on to baby dd2....was not fun I hope it passes quickly. If she has any down below, try medicated talc, or for the smallest if in nappies. I found it a godsend

Right, onwards & upwards....best go sort brekky

Morning all, gosh I feel so rough this morning and look rough too! I went to bed last night without taking make up off due to feeling ill.
I promised dd we will go into town today to get her some new clothes all her trousers are too small so only her shorts fit and she doesn't do skirts or dresses and it's a bit too cold for shorts! DH moaning about getting her new clothes apparently I just bought her a load, yes I did school uniform and pyjamas!
The link up thread made me chuckle and I love the "kardashian working her red trousers with leopard loubutins" ect ect
Right off to get a shower and make myself fabulous!
Have a nice Saturday everyone.

No Jemima, DD2 hasn't had them, and if she catches them from DD1, she's likely to get them just in time for 3 deadlines for my course. Not ideal.

DD1 has been an absolute trouper. Lots of spoiling from DH is helping. Each night she gets put to bed with a few jellies in a bowl I'm trying to ignore teeth issues as it will only be a few days and a book on CD. Takes her mind off what seems to be the worst part of the day for her.

Shall add medicated talc to DH's shopping list for tomorrow. I'm getting stir crazy already mind you...

My son was very ill when he had chicken pox. He got some relief with my putting calamine lotion in the bath. He became very weak and poorly and it took two weeks for him to get better. He was so poorly at one point that we put him in my daughters pushchair, which he was too big for, wrapped in a blanket and my dad took him for walks along the sea front so he could get some fresh air! He was about five or six at the time and his friends were in school so he wasn't embarrassed at the thought of being seen out in a pushchair!

As he got better, my daughter got it, but only mildly. He was covered head to toe but my daughter only had a few chicken pox spots and was not unwell with it.

Hope your little ones feel better soon.

Calamine lotion baths were a godsend.

vvv you poor thing, I hope she is better soon!

vv hope she's feeling better very soon and you keep your energy up

Fab day today

Had a facial, eyebrow wax and my nails done (metallic green on my toes, pale latte on my fingers).

Had lunch in my favourite deli, which doesn't exactly constitute healthy eating - although there was a salad on the side next to the great big goat's cheese panini. I may have also eaten cake

Then I went for a browse around the shops and came home with this dress which doesn't look very special in the picture but looks fab on with leggings and boots. Very 1960s. I have a feeling I am going to live in it this winter.

Hope you have all had a great Saturday too!

jemima, that is beautiful!!!! I can totally see why you bought it! Very very nice! And very envious of your pampering :)

Vvv, hope the little ones are well. One thing that helped us was luke warm gentle showers. Then wrapped up in a massive towel and under the duvet to dry, so no rubbing!

No pampering for me so far, but I have a plan!

I really like that dress.

The most I can say today is I showered. And had a very yummy banoffi cupcake.

I'm finding it way easier to buy clothes for DD than me! I have a wish list of 3 Next outfits and 1 from Mamas and Papas

Done no princessing today! Had time out. If you don't count a coffee with whipped cream on top.

But I did spend most of the day focusing on socialising. Nothing about me, all about my friends, relatives, other people's children, especially mine, a couple of work colleagues. Made a real effort to BE there, to listen. Really put thought into it. Caught up with lots of them, arranged time together, wrote a couple of cards, made a few phone calls.
I got a meaningful gift that I know I'll treasure for years to come. It is made of wood, has a history. Which reminded me of a family tradition that I let die: walks through the woods. So this autumn/ winter I shall wrap them all up on Sundays mornings and make them walk. I'll put a bread on first thing and make a big pot of soup the night before, so when we get back the bread would be ready and all I have to do is heat the soup up. And I shall invite our friends to join us. :)

Hi everyone, can I join? 85 days starting Tuesday (1st October already!) EEk! I really need the motivation to get my butt in gear on the exercise and healthy eating front. I have faffed around for nigh on a year with every fad diet going, but starting Tuesday I need to get back on the slimming world and cut the dreaded sugar out! Have been reading your inspriational stories and looking forward to a great countdown to Christmas this year. :-)

87 days to go

Glad you like the dress I'm going to wear it to church this morning (and hope that it isn't short enough to upset the vicar). I'll try to get a pic on the FB group later.

Sorry to hear your DC is poorly vviola hope that it passes soon.

Lovely dress Jemima, I am another one that is really not sure about double denim but might just be my age!

I am still just about keeping up with the daily routines and have had a few compliments about looking well which is great.

I went shopping with my older DD yesterday and we had a good look around superdrug and Primarni. I picked up some Vit E hot cloth cleanser, a paint the town vaseline tin and a gorgous nail varnish. It is the Barry M silver foil affect one and I am really looking forward to trying it out. In Primarni I just picked up another long sleeved layering top to wear under my work dresses now that it is getting cooler.

Lucysmam I am another who is using up stuff that I have gathered throughout the year, yesterday was the first time I had bought anything new. I am gobsmacked at how many pairs of earings you own, I currently only have two pairs!

Welcome to the new ladies, still plenty of time but it does seem to be passing by very quickly.

Good morning everyone

hiya letsdothis!

Jemima that dress is fab! You look really good in it.Might have to look for something similar (years since I wore a dress for anything other than going out).

Dilidali yesterday sounds like a very positive and enjoyable day

Count I haven't actually counted my earrings, that's just a guess....I am quite partial to sparkly ones from Primark so most are from there. I haven't cleared out any jewellery in about ten years so have five cases rammed full of the stuff & yet I easily forget it for every day

Control...you ok? you've been very quiet the past few days!!

vvviola how are the dc's today?

Well, I'm just up after a refreshing long lie in, dp has prepped the roast so all I have to do is cook it later on.

Todays plan is to remove finger nail polish & file nails/push cuticles back. Am going to leave toes apart from one of my big ones that I've chipped so will replace that later on. Face mask/hair mask/pumice feet/exfoliate/defuzz etc in shower tonight. Nails to re paint when girls go to bed. One has split down the middle at some point, hopefully not too far down that it has to be filed right down

Right, off to get dressed then re claim the kitchen from dp cheeky bugger thinks he's doing the roast

Everyone is doing so well, I've been sticking to my routines and overpainted my nails last night

I made a deal with DH a few weeks ago that whatever money/going out time he gets to himself I get the same, as I've not been able to do much for so long I've got £90 and 2 days to myself in the bank so far. So when I can I'll be having a little spree of my own.

Looking forward to checking out primark, sounds like the ranges have improved since I last shopped there.

Despite the illness (and a visit from MIL and her sister this morning), I have an ok list of ta-das for today.

This morning:
Hot water & lemon
Healthy breakfast
Moisturising & exfoliating face mask/scrub in shower
Bio oil on stretch marks, moisturiser everywhere else
Tidy up of eye brows
Outfit (just jeans, t-shirt & cardigan) set out night before

I'm settling in for another couple of hours of study now if DC's sleep permits, but at the very least should manage cleanse/moisturise & another quick pass at my eyebrows before bed.

(DD1 although bouncing off walls at not being able to get out, is being truly brilliant, if a little more sensitive than usual. DD2 is as nuts as always but showing no signs yet of infection)

two broken nails!

One split down the middle & I can file the split away....the other is right at the bottom of the free bit of nail so will have to cut it right down Will still repaint them though & see how daft it looks

I had a split thumbnail lucysmam right down into the pink painful when it happened. I filed it right down as far as it would go and then put polish on top for weeks until it grew out enough, to stop it splitting further as it grew.

oooh petals that sounds painful! Thankfully mine hasn't split that far....probably would have if I hadn't taken off the nail polish to see how bad it was though.

Think I'm more annoyed because I actually have been taking care of my hands and nails rather than neglecting them

Well I've micro-pedi'd, dry body brushed, shaved various bits, moisturised legs & feet and face masked face. All this with a baby who has decided she doesn't need sleep, just my boobs, constantly. Ah well, it's an excuse to sit down all day and have DH bring me cups of tea.