Operation Renovation - The Christmas Countdown (part 2)

[HelgatheHairy]

Our new home

lucy forgot to ask what sort of hats?

beanie or beret?

like trilbys but fear they bit dramatic ad attention grabbing here.

I do wear lots of scarfs already.

Beanies are nice, I'm coveting a grey one from asos ATM.

I have a lot of different types of hat 3...mainly berets and a couple of really thick & lined beanie ish ones that are better for the rainy days.

What sort of time do you get to yourself? I'd try and do maybe one little thing a day rather than fitting everything into a marathon pamper session.

Playground....I wear skinnies and boots every day...then a smart jumper atm & my red coat. It's smart enough compared to some of the other mums. My coat has a belted waist which I prefer to straight up & down.

wrt hair colour, I think red would take ok over brown but it does tend to fade fast so the upkeep would probably be £££.

We have a fb group if you're interested?

karbea sandwich bag pedi it is just hope neither of the girls get up, getting upstairs could be fun

3 almost forgot, have your eyebrows threaded if you can. It is a bit painful but not too bad. There are usually stands in shopping centres, costs me a fiver every four weeks & is well worth it imo

49 days to go

I'm not being blamed if you break your neck going up stairs in sandwich bags!

I scrubbed in the shower? One squirt shower gel, one squirt scrub, makes it much easier to apply and is quicker! And veet'd moustache :) vits taken, healthy brekkie! All good! I've even put lunchtime vits in my handbag for later :angel:

I really want a beanie hat!!!!! Dunno if I'd wear it though, and really can't afford to waste money :(

3asabird- waxing if you don't like pain! Its much quicker. I find threading far too painful, so I have my eyebrows waxed and then the stragglers threaded. There is a booth inside my local asda, run by Asian ladies, they are very efficient and quick. I don't go as often as I should so costs £10, as classed as total reshape, but if I went every 4-6 weeks would be £6.

I'm lacking exercise motivation too. I try to run at least three times a week and the gym twice, but usually manage a couple of swims and one run. not ideal. I've crept back up to a 14. Need to get back on track and stop eating so many carbs, but colder weather means I get carb cravings, mash potato, macaroni cheese, big casseroles/stews with dumplings and fresh crusty bread. all very wholesome but no good for calorie intake. I usually drive the school run as well as I go straight on to work, so organisation so that I have those extra 10 minutes to walk in the morning would be good.

skincare- ive been using st ives daily microdermabrasion scrub from asda, I think superdrug sell it as well and its brightened my skin up. I use a gel cleanser in the shower to remove make up and then the scrub, then use nivea soft as my moisturiser, moisturise my whole body with it as well as my face after my shower. Often seems like a chore but I definitely notice when ive missed a few days so worth the ten minutes.

I want to use facial oil. I have brought two but am scared to use them, the science behind it makes sense, I have dry skin with an oily t-zone, but I have this fear that it will make my skin congested and give me loads of spots.

I struggle with clothing, I haven't changed my style really. even at a size 24/26 I was wearing the same knee length type dresses, whether that be skater, tea or wrap with short twinset type cardigans or chunky ones for more casual look, with knee high boots or biker boots and leggings with denim skirt and ballet flats. I'd like a change of style but have no idea where to start and not enough spare cash for total revamp. I think accessories could be the way to go and have brought plain dresses so thati can accessorise with scarves and necklaces but worry about looking like a cliché! I draw the line at wearing branded goods such as superdry Hollister etc, i'm 37 I don't want to wear the same as my teenage children and their friends. although I appreciate that not everything is heavily branded from those stores, I am mainly referring to the jackets with the branding and the hoodies/t-shirts.

Thanks guys looks like need to go hat shopping.

definatly need new coat one decent waterproof one and been looking for vintage wool wit no luck.

Lusted after some joules quilted coats and the padded belmont for last 3years but seems like such lot money spend on me.

I mostly wear my skinny black jeans have 2pairs,black harem pants as find them comfier than leggings and one pair indigo blue skinnies.

If on school run normally combined wit top and cardigan.

I have 2pairs boots and red hunters.
I hve some beige converse style shoes from next .

could do wth soe going out shoes and some new ballet pumps.

I actually have lots of clothes in my wardrobe as brought lots local bargains have lovely beige cords that dont fit and they an 8 from next yet my size 8 jeans fit just.

I know I need to focus more on me its hard hubby works a lot.

having hair done today

having teeth cleaned next week.

been doing my research going to risk a colour stripper from boots to take out the dark brown and try get back to dark blonde mousy colour even chestnut and then next oneth hopefully when have bit more spare cash get some caramel and honey fine highlights.

Fake tan to go with.

not sure any point of manicure if no nails?

not letting anyone near my feet they need some serious work.

so hopefully

a facial this week at home
hair cut today
nice soak, bath.
carefully edited outfits instead of meal planning try plan outfit night before.
write a shopping list things i want.

try wear more makeup.

try and keep to stict low carb diet and exercise probably quickest way get results.

any ideas ow to get flatter tummy in 49days?

should i do the shred?

really is time as hubby works loads.

kids are 4, 2,5 and 7.

new years resolution i jan was make more time for me and failed.

dont let them what about homemade soups even the covent garden ones are quite low cal.

when i did 5/2diet earlier in year did hm soup broth on fast days.

yes would be fab join fb group
love the word princessing

so glad found this thread a bit of moral support.

its so much harder with kids lack of time and money I look back at old uni pics and feel so down.

Doesn't sound like there's anything wrong with what you're wearing 3! I'd pass on the ballet flats for now though...'tis a tad cool for them I think

How about something like...

Sun-face mask (I put mine on then wash Sunday dinner pots). Defuzz.
Mon-manicure hands (you may have no nails but can still make what you have look neat and tidy)
Tue - pumice feet in bath/shower, file or cut toenails, moisturise once you sit down or on way to bed
Wed - check eyebrows for strays (assuming you have them threaded/waxed). Defuzz.
Thur - intensive hair mask while in bath/shower. Blow dry/straighten properly at least the once.
Fri - some sort of house princessing.

Sat - open the and chill

Makeup wise, try the bb cream. I have a Superdrug one atm but have read good things on here about the Boots Botanics one. I use that, a little bit of powder, eyeshadow, mascara and eyeliner. Takes about five mins. remembering lippy is a touch hit and miss here!

Maybe some accessories would help your wardrobe if you don't have a lot to spend on clothes. I'm very slowly picking up bits from Primark to try and update myself a bit. Scarves are good, and a nice pair of earrings if you have pierced ears.

The shred is meant to be good ....I only managed three days because I'm a bit shit at exercise tbh but could feel it when I did.

& don't forget vitamins! Mine go by the kettle so I remember them.

Really need to join.... urgh.

hello, am doing better than yesterday if only because I didn't eat eccles cakes (4 of them ) for breakfast!

Have bought a couple of tops (from boden, mn cliche) and some wool trousers as need to be smarter for a couple of occasions coming up. Always feel bad buying clothes, but then get down as have nothing to wear!

Great list lucys. I have started wearing small sparkly studs - quick way to make a difference (even dh noticed), but DD has lost them, so need to replace.

should be working so will catch up later...

3 I have a merrell raincoat. So dull but it works! And a charity shop wool one - it's slightly too big, but better than the merrell for when I need to look vaguely together!

Hi, mind if I join in too. I'm going back to work after being a SAHM for a while. Don't have much time to myself with the Los and dh works long hours, home late every night. And we try and spend weekend as family time as dh is home so late during the week.
So for the last couple of years I have lived in tracksuits legs and hoodies. Haven't worn makeup except on rare occasions, drank my own body weight in coffee every day and really just neglected myself.
Anyway I found the thread about how to be groomed and have been busy reading it.
So today, in an effort to get myself ready for going to work and meeting other moms at the crèche, I want to start looking after myself.
So I have cleansed my face and moisturised for the first time in ages, must buy toner!
Have increased my water intake to clear the skin and I must buy vitamins, any recommendations?
I would like to try and wear a bit of make up so will try that and of course I need a whole new wardrobe.
Anyway sorry for the long post but would like to joing you all.
Will start with cleansing toning and moisturising morning and evening and I am getting my teeth cleaned next wk. nails are my next target and then I must buy clothes I can go to work in. Office is casual, anything goes attire, but the girls were dressed lovely when I was in. Hence the kick up the ass. Will stop now I promise. Talk soon

3 the quickest way to a flatter tummy is to cut the carbs. If that's too much, just cutting bread will make a huge difference. I need to do this!

welcome part, I take a multi vit and vit B12 for energy. Not really noticed a difference tbh.

Baby has slept all afternoon and DD has enjoyed playing at pampering so have done mini pedi and mani, washed hair and added hair oil, used elemis face peel, lip cream, put nicer clothes on. Feel like a new woman .

well day 1/49 days to new better me.

I have been hairdressers have layered bob just past my chin.
I neither love or hate the cut or the style its better than before.
I deep conditioned and straightened this morning spend ages combing it and still knotty hopefully be easier now with shorter length, thinning and layers put in blends my mistake of cutting out knots.

Salon was cheap but quite far and out way from my house.
staff seemed nice enough they had special offer on.
was £10 for wash , cut and blowdry.

I defuzzed this morning in shower.

wore some smart jeans, knee high boots nice hobs topm comfy cardie and makeup with anmal print bag and scarf looked quite decent.

Lucy I love idea of schedule .back in te day loved bying accesories mainly handbags and shoes. need to get to primark but city centre hate going there with kids. what vitamins do you take? do you feel and think you look better for taking them?

Tommorow is start if new diet.

Beauty wise could do facial tommorow.

Keep scraping my teeth and apart from pain and phoia of seeing dentist next week hoping he makes my teeth seem shiny white and clean.

Lonely-nothing wrong with trusty boden.
been looking at merryl coat £190 on cotswold more pricy than joules one but looks nice.
Sounds like you had good day.

I will try stick high protein low card but exercises as want 6pack is it crunches or sit ups?

Someone I know did squat challenge might try that.

part-good luck gong back work and revamp.

Got quite a bit in superdrug last week cheer me up

cheap makeup
half price gliss shine spray
half price deodrant I like
cheap hair colours.

b&m and savers can be good to if they near you.

evening all

hiya part.

3 sounds like a good start for day 1! I've been taking sainsburys basics multivits and cod liver oil - figured if I don't notice a difference I can work my way up price wise. Wrt the vits erm....I think the improvement in my skin generally is a combination of everything rather than just the vits. The cod liver oil seems to be taking the edge off my wrists/hands but might try something else, see if it has more effect.

I've just been eyeing up a cheaper version of curlformers on amazon, 3.99 for a set of 18 curlers. Might give them a go since it's very unlikely I'll get my hair done again before xmas with things so up in the air.

Dp is school running in the morning so have done everything tonight barring straightening my hair, will do that in the morning. Just waiting for him to get home & off to bed! I did break the no mid-week rule though, pinched one of dp's beer while I filled some stuff in in my diary for next year.

Nails are still unpainted, think I'll focus on them over the weekend, got lots of new nail bits to try out

48 days to go

Morning gang!

All went well apart from I ate cake and had 2 coffees and a tea (result slept terribly). And had pasta for dinner. And didn't do teeth whitener as my teeth felt funny. And didn't do sandwich bag peddie!

New day, new start!

I'm going to bootcamp this morning first bit of exercise in ages! DH is out tonight so hopefully will be good today ;)

I love the idea of the daily schedule. Would be defo easier to remember especially if you were doing same stuff on the same day too.

my schedule is manicure today - anyone else? am so cack handed I end up filing my nails away and the paint's a bit splodgy, but practice makes perfect, right?

When I paint my own nails I always use a light colour as it doesn't look as bad when I paint badly.

Lonely you might have too much polish on your brush if they're splodgy. I was taught to dip brush, wipe excess off one side of it and then use that side of it to paint iyswim, so the polish is coming down the outside facing side of the brush (hope that makes sense ). Also was taught to try and paint in three slightly overlapping stripes - so one in the middle, re-dip brush if you need to then a stripe slightly overlapping the middle one on each side.

hth a bit & hasn't made your head go with my shitty explanation!

Morning guys.

I was running late this morning but made sure had makeup o.

chose black harem pants, large over sized grey jumper I love, red hunters but my crappy coat lets outfit down dont feel very polished . not in love with my hair might tong it before school run.

I speed walked school intended do hours exercise at home but then rang my aunt and was on phone for an hour!.
Preheated heating to run a bath and might try making a homemade mask for bath.

I need to get to charity sops and get coat and hats.

hoping dont rain on pm school run,

have tonnes housework to do not sure if thats calorie burning but not feeling very motivated.

Day 1 of new low carb diet as that be quickest way get flt a tum its really the tummy area that gets me down the most.

48days sounds scary amount of tie no where near done on xms shopping yet.

3, I went for a blood test not long ago and the lady who was taking the blood asked if I did any exercise....my answer was along the lines of "not unless you count running round after the kids & housework"....according to her, it does indeed count as exercise these days

(am bitting and bobbing about today so probably lots of random bitty posts btw )

Afternoon all,
Have cleansed and moisturised this morning, really must get out to the shops and buy toner and all the other things on my list.
Have booked appointment to have teeth cleaned and am getting eyebrows waxed and tinted on Sat morning.
Filed my nails last night and will polish tonight, thanks for the tip lucysmam, perfect timing. Couldn't polish last night as I was up and down the stairs like a yoyo to ds as he had a cough and couldn't sleep. Tired today.
Really starting to feel like a grown up!