Operation Renovation - The Christmas Countdown (part 2)

[HelgatheHairy]

Our new home

72 days to go

Misssss I am definitely not super fit! I walked a good bit of it and I really struggled to even walk up the steep hill we had to go up.

My fitness levels are way better than they were before I started boot camp in July but I've still got a long way to go.

Morning all!

INeed I am in awe of your fitness too, never mind whether you walked some of it!

missss I am actually cringing at the idea of bringing a razor blade anywhere near feet - you must be super brave! I have seen things like that in shops and they just give me the shudders. What if you go too far or do the wrong bit?

lucysmam thanks for your tips on boots, but there is no way I could order from t'interwebs! I have the world's most awkward feet/calves and if I can't try them on, it's not worth the risk of buying them. Our local Evans closed down a couple of years ago so am stuck with ordinary shoe shops. I'll keep on trying them on, I have three weeks left of the Shred so you never know!

Fasting day today, so hot lemoon water to start the day off. I painted my nails metallic kingfisher blue last night, then panicked that I have absolutely nothing to wear to work that matches it! Settled on a purlple tunic dress and black jacket, with earrings that have pink/purple/kingfisher in to try and tie it all together. Pics to follow on fb when I get home.

I am a GHD convert - I officially love my straighteners! My hair has never felt to tamed and sleek. It's my birthday in three days and DP has ordered a set of heated rollers that I asked him for, so I'm going to try a combo of straightening, and putting a gentle curl into the bottom. Does anyone have any tips for using heated curlers on shoulder length hair?

Can I join? Had a baby 6 weeks ago and still only able to fit into track suit bottoms. Chucked out all cake, biscuits and chocolate yesterday as was eating about 4 or 5 slices a day. Found myself buttering chocolate brownies.

Just realised i need to say what I'ce done today.

I did some squats with baby in the sling, didn't eat much during day (porridge, noodles, carrots and toast), showered and put make up on (toddler at nursery today). Hmm that's it. Although I researched a summer holiday to dream about for inspiration. Will do better tomorrow.

Hiya whyno

Just a quick update from me before bed....

Picked up a leather needle so I can properly repair my bag tomorrow evening, was going to do it tonight but dd2 had a huge meltdown & by the time she was calm enough to go to bed I couldn't be arsed

Nails aren't painted either but they are filed and cuticles pushed back, may do them tomorrow depending on how long my bag takes.

Hospital for dd1 in the morning so smart clothes are out for both of us, along with earrings and scarf for me.

Control your nail polish is fab...
link? or where's it from & what's it called?

I need a new pair or two of jeans this week.....discovered a small hole in a rather erm.... place this morning (that's how often I wear them)....just glad I noticed before I left for the school run!!

In other news....after years of bugging the council about the state of the house and getting no help to get it sorted, they are now going to force LL's agent to get the whole lot sorted, starting with proper insulation/plastering/staircase and bathroom as well as properly sorting the electrics etc. Going to be a PITA in the run up to Xmas and mean disrupting my fishes (was hoping to add some more silvertip tetras and neon dwarf rainbows but think I may wait now) but it desperately needs doing. Just a shame she couldn't do anything about the neighbours at the same time!

Right, am off to bed....night night all

quick turned into epic

71 days to go

Hi whyno. I actually loled at buttering brownies

I'm shattered . Helga avert your eyes but ds2 has entered the 4 month sleep regression and is up all the pigging time. DS1 still wakes at 6 at the latest. Argh. Not managing o do much exercise but am sticking to low carb and last week I lost 1.5 inches off my waist

I'm still lurking.

(Chicken pox round 2 arrived this morning. 3 assignments due in the next 10 days. Never mind the beauty products, please send gin)

Well the healthy eating will be going out of the window today. My sister is coming to visit along with my two newphews and step-neice.

I think the plan is Frankie & Benny's for lunch and then my nephew specially asked to go to Krispy Kreme. I know I don't have to have anything but it would be rude not to!
Boot camp tonight so I will just have to work doubly hard to make up for it.

Welcome, whyno - I'm mentally drooling at the thought of buttering brownies well done on your ta-da list, too!

lucysmam I love your 'quick' posts! The nail varnish is Rimmell 60 Seconds, and the shade is Green With Envy. I think I must have got it quite some time ago though, as I can't remember buying much nail varnish before joining this thread. Well done on the LL situation, that sounds like a massive achievement! I hope it doesn't add too much pressure to your Christmas , but your home will be fab when all that work is done.

bigkids 1.5 inches in one week?! that is amazing!

vvv so sorry for the untimely return of the cp. Red Cross parcel of gin and chocolate chip cookies is on its way.

Ended up not fasting yesterday after all - lunch looked too appetising, so we decided today was a better day to do it. Completely forgot this morning, and made coffee with milk. Oops. Going out this evening, so food is going to be a bit of a rush. DP's got a real downer on himself at the moment. He hates the way he looks and feels. He can't see all that he's managed to achieve in the last six weeks or so. It wouldn't be so bad if him feeling like this galvanised him into some kind of action, like starting to do his physio exercises again or something, but he just sits there digging himself into a deeper and deeper sorrowpit. It doesn't help that he's had a couple of f-ups in the last couple of days that have had me in or near to tears (bear in mind I am an emotional bint at the best of times, so not difficult to achieve). Sorry, I didn't intend that to turn into a rant and I hope it doesn't come across as DP-bashing, just feeling a bit drained at the moment.

In other news, the local paper is reporting a rash (pardon the pun) of venomous spider bites in my area!

Am wearing the black dress with white spotty panels from my recent TK Maxx visit, pearly nude nail varnish, black sparkly earrings and hair has been done nicely again. As long as I can spare the time to spend on my hair after my shower, it seems to keep it going for a couple of days, so not too much maintenance in the mornings.

Welcome whyno. I'm in awe of doing lunges with your DD in a sling. My DD is 9 weeks and I'd be afraid of lunging down and not being able to get up again!

La la la la la la I can't hear you bigkidsdidit

vvviola how about a gin advent calender and just starting a bit early here

controlgeek hope all is ok with DH. It seems that the fitness/weight loss industry is so focused on women men can feel a bit lost about what to do. DH had started 5:2 before I had the baby. He was losing weight quite slowly because he was doing a lot of building work at the same time but he felt so much better.

lucysmam that's brilliant news about the building work. The one thing I've learned is there's never a good time. Hopefully there won't be too much disruption.

Hi all, off work with sciatica at the moment so taking it easy, Has meant that I am able to paint my nails in peace. A rather nice shade of red (just a cheapie Claire's Accessories no chip one-however, as soon as I started typing on FB this morning I noticed a few chips).
I am a but meh about polish but I want nice nails. Surely two coats of polish shouldn't chip????
Give me your best tips ladies! I do have some Rimmel 60 second polish that I picked up in Poundland the other day and some OPI crackle from there too)

Good morning all.

A good day here so far...both dd's have now been discharged from their consultants!! so have brought dd1 for a pub lunch to celebrate

Thanks Control, I'll have a look for that nail polish when I go for jeans later in the week. (I have no idea what you mean about my quick posts ).

Helga, I imagine there isn't a good time for building work ....think I'll be getting Amazon stuff for Christmas delivered to dp's mums just to be on the safe side.

Hiya vvv about the pox returning, at least they'll be out of the way and done though

INeed I ?? F&B's!!! It does sound like you deserve a treat with all the boot camp work you've been putting in

BlueandWhite when I did nails at college we were taught to apply base to all ten nails then go straight back to the first nail and apply two coats of polish without letting them dry in between, then top coat straight on top without drying so that each coat sticks to the slightly tacky coat before iyswim? Make sure your nails are clean before applying polish - quick rub over with polish remover. I've been using a quick dry spray from Poundland too - it's quick but still need to be careful with them for a while after.

Rubber gloves for pot washing & don't use nails as tools

hth

Zombified but checking in. . Sleep regression

accident on my usual route and 2 nappies changed before leaving the house meant running late for preschool but I had put make up on before I left and wore my new jumper.

Toddler has decided not to nap today so am really missing my afternoon peace.

Used my new tweezerman tweezers and magnifying mirror with light this morning, they are really good, could see all the little brow hairs

Hi

Have you room for a late entrant please?

I desperately need some motivation ATM to lose weight, tone up & generally sort out my attitude.

I've been trying to low carb, but cheat at the weekends so obviously that's not working. My plan of attack is now to eat sensibly & try to do the shred every day.

I work full time & have 2 DCs. DD is almost 7 & DS is almost 3. I can't blame baby weight anymore & am sick of being overweight.

Time is the biggest thing for me. DH works shifts so isn't around in the evenings, and TBH by the time I've got both kids fed & in bed, plus done a tidy round/ironing/packed lunches etc the last thing I can face is exercise.

I know I have to though or I'm going to end up huge & very unhealthy.

Any tips I should know about? Any rules?

I'll try & read the full thread later as I'm supposed to be working now

Jump on in Havinganoffday, (I couldn't remember where the caps were ).

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1840729-Operation-Renovation-aka-The-Christmas-Countdown

link to first thread above, Iirc, there's a link to the princessing thread in the first couple of posts - that one had the 'rules' in it. Someone on a computer will probably link for you though, my search skills on app are a bit crap

The main idea is to make a bit of time to take care of yourself so, appearance, exercise, diet etc. whatever you want to concentrate on. I'm useless at exercise so am focussing on my appearance...seems being smart does help (see my posts about state of house and then last nights - I've been ignored for years, suddenly after a request for electrics to be sorted the full works is being organised!!)

Right, off for an early shower...knackered after being out all day with incredibly talkative dd1

Thanks Lucysmam

I messed up the capitals so don't worry!

I'll have a look through the old threads. I need to concentrate on exercise & making my skin look fab. Hopefully the rest will follow?

I'm eating lots of rubbish at the moment which is making me look spotty & tired, even with makeup

What DD has done today: feed & cry
What DD hasn't done today: sleep

She has fallen asleep on my lap just now and am afraid to move. Don't think I'll get to shower this evening.

ooh helga dd2 was very clingy, and cried a lot when she was little still bloody does , I sympathise! Will you be able to get a shower and freshen up in the morning (or is that a bit wishful?)

Right ladies, I need your help! The official letter from the lady at the council came today....she is coming back with her team next Tuesday to officially do an in and out, up and down, scour the entire property break down of just how much of a 'hazard' (the actual word on the document ...I knew it was bad but not that bad) it is.

The same notice has been sent to LL's agent so you can guarantee he will turn up too to belittle everything she says and make out we're the cause of it ( again)....(I think he has ishoos with laydees the way he speaks over me on the odd occasion I do deal with him, but will listen to what dp says to him)....wtf do I wear??? I'm already tempted to say no he can't come in because he is such an arse & treats me like dirt in front of the girls (which is not an acceptable way to treat women & I don't want them thinking it is) but then I'm going to be seen as obstructive or whatever the word is. [I really dislike him & don't like the thought of him in my cupboards/bedroom etc].

So....help me at least look like a grown up & not the sulky, stroppy teen I would so very like to turn into next Tuesday!!!!

Havinganoffday I have no clue about exercise ....I give up easily & can't run round here which is the one thing I would stick

On the skin front, my top tip is drink plenty of water & cut out as much caffiene as you can cope with. the difference in my skin through doing that is ! (Also, double cleansing with facewash containing salicylic acid morning and night for my blocked pores and weekly facemask). It's improved loads in the weeks we've been doing this....although I do still get some rather large spots when af is due

Hello all! And a warm welcome to the new ladies :)

Sorry to hear about your troubles, hope things will get better soon.

Came to say I went out and bought 25 new matching hangers. Plus another 6 for skirts/trousers. They're black and velvety and TK Maxx.
So on my next day off I shall be changing all my hangers and make it look all pretty. Hopefully will make me look at my wardrobe with new eyes and maybe, just maybe I'll get rid of stuff that I absolutely love but has lost all shape/is too tight etc.

70 days to go