Operation Renovation - The Christmas Countdown (part 2)

[HelgatheHairy]

Our new home

32 days to go

Trip to town today. Wanted to send off for my passport in my married name and get the photos certified for DDs passport.

Also picked out my Christmas present watch.
m.kennethcole.com/mt/www.kennethcole.com/product/index.jsp?productId=19795216
And got the newest boots half price offer which is a Sanctury Spa box

Hello all!

Just been catching up with the thread. I've been AWOL for a while as life has been rather hectic over the past few weeks. But the upshot is I have a new New Year target to be working towards - I start a new job on January 6th!

This is going to need some serious S&B work as it is a huge change. I have spent the past 9 years working in a nursery school, wearing jeans and hardly any make up. I am going to be doing finance at a business consultancy office. It is a whole new world...

I have also been organised and booked a hair appointment for December 21st, so that it looks tidy for Christmas and then will still do when I start the new job. I need to book my nails and eyebrows too, possibly for the same day.

At least I know what to ask everyone for for Christmas - vouchers to buy clothes!

Congratulations Jemima, I am so pleased for you!

Are you going to do the 33 challenge? (33 items of clothing in total that match). I have started mine for the winter wardrobe, might not finish it, but it is definitely doable for my spring wardrobe. (I need a winter coat and to replace a few pieces, but I am willing to wait till the sales kick in).

My eyebrows have been threaded beautifully, i have a hair appointment soon and got my outfits sorted for December parties. I still struggle with dry skin, been moisturising like mad.
Have a lovely rest of the weekend ladies!

31 days to go

Thanks Dilidali

I hadn't actually thought about the 33 challenge, but this is probably the ideal chance to do it. I am staring from a working wardrobe of literally nothing as I haven't needed smart work clothes for 9 years and I have got rid of all the suits etc that I used to wear to work before that as I've lost lots of weight since then and they wouldn't fit me anymore. I bought a pair of wide legged grey trousers (Next) and a red printed jersey wrap top (M&Co) for interview, so that was a start. I went shopping last weekend and bought:
Grey slim leg tailored trousers (M&S)
Navy slim leg tailored trousers (M&S)
Navy printed jersey tunic (Mantaray)
Red printed jersey tunic (Mantaray)
Grey cardigan (Mantaray)
Navy cardigan (Mantaray)
Navy knitted tunic (Mantaray)
Grey knitted tunic (Manaray)
Navy flower print dress (Fat Face)
Navy bird print dress (Fat Face)

I'm thinking that as they are all red, grey or navy they will all mix and match to make different outfits. I have several pairs of shoes that will work with them: black knee high boots, black shoe boots, black courts and dark red courts. Shoes have to be fairly practical as I will be getting to work by public transport and have about half a mile walk at each end, including up a very steep hill! I have a black tote bag that is big enough to fit my lunch in but smart enough for work. I have various scarves that will go but have ordered a grey spotty one from Boden as I didn't have any with grey in.

The last office that I worked in was very smart, suits and court shoes all the way. This one seems more relaxed, there are a lot more jersey dresses and jumpers with skirts and boots. I'm finding it harder to think what to wear in a more relaxed office TBH, at least you knew where you were with suits and a blouse!

I desperately need this thread!

I was on at the beginning (though have nc since then, but was still ane Engels).

Unfortunately the last 2 months I've been pretty bad at making an effort. DS (2) hasn't been sleeping so neither have we. Had mc last month which is dragging out and on top of that pressure at work has taken its toll. Have been eating crap.

So, have massive bags under my eyes, terrible skin and hair and a rather unfortunate stomach (which I will half blame on mc and the rest on comfort eating!).

Not totally unfit (did a 15k race last weekend) but haven't been exercising regularly and caught a peek of a very dodgy looking double chin when skyping DM and DF earlier.

By the looks of it there's no way we'll be ttc till January at the earliest so I'm really not going to have any excuse come Christmas for looking like a slob (plus have big event at work the week before and would like to look my best). Oh, and will be turning 33 in Jan as well.

I need your help to get motivated and get into shape ladies!

Reckon I should start with a nice hot shower, body blitz and face mask tonight and then pop the shred on tomorrow morning (but I can have one mroe night of eating crap, can't I?)

Sounds about right, but beware

So I decide to do a sudocream mask last night, as you do... Wake up, quick splash with water on the face, etc. i patted my face gently, because it is so dry, have a look in the mirror: gawd, girl, you look DREADFUL!!!! I got a new piece of garment in teracotta, beautiful thing , I put it on before make up.. I looked positively SICK. Oh, I never had that with teracotta, normally I can wear it fine, but I don't feel sick, why am I so washed out???? Is it this colour???!!!

Yep! I was WHITE, but that's because of the blimin sudocream, of course, forgot all about it, didn't use my microfibre because I am so dry.. Laugh and learn!

Good evening all

Jemima good news about the job! Wardrobe sounds good to me (I know nothing about working in an office though ).

Dilidali I had a giggle at your cautionary tale...at least your dp didn't tell you you looked like a male footy player when you had a mud mask on .

Helga I really like the watch your Dh is buying for you! Veery nice.

Control you still alive? Are you feeling any better yet and did the knackered wotsit get fixed?

Calling I will join you in an evening of eating crap, I have a bag of microwave popcorn and bottle of Rekorderlig winter cider on the go atm

Full Sunday routine done except pumicing my feet....I lost my pumice stone in the shower....turns out dd2 was floating it about as a boat but didn't realise until I was ready to get out so I will do them tomorrow.

I cooked a roast in my new oven today....the yorkshires were HUGE but I slightly mis-timed the roast spuds so they weren't as crispy as usual. Taking a bit of getting used to this fan oven malarkey!

I have a trapped nerve sort of at the bottom of my bum/top of my thigh so haven't done much else today as that's quite painful...not looking forward to school run tomorrow. Am nipping for a cuppa with dp's mum first thing and then coming back to start getting decs out for Sunday though...nothing will stop me doing that!!

Aren't you lot all being so good!!!

lucysmam hope your nerve feels better soon, I have that lots and it's horrible. Good luck with the school run.

dili I really had to chuckle at your cautionary tale

Jemima massive well done on the job front! I love the sound of your wardrobe, all very co-ordinated! Buying it all at once probably helps yes?

my boiler's knackered wotsit's been replaced and I now have a lovely, cosy, toasty warm house. Had a bit of a busy weekend though, I ended up turning it off because I was a bit too warm! All my ebay sales have now been picked up/sent off, and I waved good bye to my fish and my fish tank this evening after spending 6 hours stripping it down and cleaning it Have princessed the living room a little and it's already looking heaps better.

As for me, today I have... had a shower and removed my nail varnish . In fairness, I have also defuzzed and blow dried my hair but will need to leave the straightening til tomorrow.

Went back to work last Friday, got all dolled up in a red dress with tiny spots, and a black jacket. Straightened my hair, nice makeup, pearl studs. Good job really - had a photographer along to my choir rehearsal at lunchtime and I was in the front row!

Will I be tempting fate tomorrow if I wear a light cream linen suit? AF is currently 4 days overdue thanks to hormone jab on Thursday.

lucysmam I hope your trapped nerve isn't too painful. I have one too, which has made the whole of my leg from the knee down numb for the past 6 weeks. I'm waiting for an MRI scan, but they take forever to get an appointment.

Glad you are feeling better and back at work Control. Is your choir through your workplace or just something that you can fit in at lunchtime?

I am looking forward to being warm today. I have been complaining about feeling the cold recently as I don't have a properly warm coat that fits me. I had the Berghaus down puffa coat from a MN product test which was great for standing around watching the DC play football or horse riding, but it is a (generous) size 18 and I am now a size 10. Anyway, yesterday DH went off to town and came home with a replacement coat in a similar style as a surprise for me. It may not be super stylish but I don't care as long as I am toasty warm!

Oooh jemima that looks toasty warm! Just the ticket for these cold mornings, too. Good old DH :)

lucysmam sorry lovely, I missed your question about my dresses first time round. I take it you mean the red and blue ones I linked to here? The seller was hairworlds. I've not yet had a chance to wear them out yet - need to get AF out of the way and do some more shredding first I think!

Not much done so far today - been awake since 4am, and was just nodding off when my alarm went at 7. The heating is playing up a bit, coming on at weird times of the night and not kicking in when it should. Oh well, at least it's coming on!

Hair is brushed but cba to straighten it this morning. Earrings are in, makeup is done. No nailvarnish today, give my fingers a break. Wearing a new (ebay) dress - black with horizontal white stripes that start off narrow at the top and get wider towards the bottom. New grey jacket to go with it (again ebay) and black shoes. Going to wear my winter coat today, so got my cream ruched scarf to match, and need to dig out some gloves because it looks co-o-old out there!

I really can't concentrate this morning! Jemima it's my workplace's choir, so is easy enough to fit in at lunchtime. We're giving our first performances this Christmas to staff and local offices!

Morning ladies.

Slobbed out last night (and didn't dare venture upstairs as told dh it was h7s turn to deal with ds and could hear the little munchkin running rings round papa).

But this morning so far shower, moisturised, dressed in jeans with new cream jumper I bought from new look a few weeks ago and a gery/purple floral print scarf (I thinknit was jemima last b time who I spired me to think about scarves).

No make-up yet, but will pop a bit on and a spritz of perfume when we've finished breakfast (at home with ds today).

I have bought some lovely clothes the last few months. A gorgeous pair of brown two tone leather biker boots from Clarks, a couple of lovely retro owl tunic dresses with cowl neck and pockets (have been wearing them with thick tights and boots and have never got so many compliments at work), pair if black heels to go with smart Mango trousers and heart print blouee (also new look) and a burgundy knee length skirt from Esprit.

Have also just paid for a good photo from my 15k race last weekend and made it my profile pic on fb. It's reminding me that even though I'm not a size 6/8 (like my Dsis' s) I am still mm pretty awesome (and neither of mg Dsis' s would be able to finish 5k let alone 15!).

I have a way to go (need to stop comfort eating!) But want to b e in better shape for Christmas/NY/birthday, and for starting to ttc again!

How thoughtful of your dh jemima.

Control I am in the doghouse for leaving the heating on last night. I heard dh get up and turn it off at 4am! Red dress with pearl studs sounds lovely.

My list for the renovation is....
Stop eating crap
Drink enough water
Exercise - 3-4 times a week. Combo of running and shred
Moisturise afrer shower
Deep conditioner once a week
Plan outfits
Make up and perfume everyday
Face mask, pedicure once a week
Up my veg intake

I'm not a nails person - always itching to get it off after 5 mins...plus managed to slice corner of my nail on little finger off in the kitchen at the weekend

30 days to go

Had a bath last night - it was so lovely I fell asleep in it! Been body brushing before my shower every now and again. I need to get a new buffer thing for my micro pedi as it's not working as well but my feet are so much better.

Hi to everyone

A workplace choir sounds like great fun Control. Well it would be if I wasn't tone deaf!

It probably was me who forced inspired you to buy scarves Engels, I do like them. Today I have been wearing a bright pink and black flower print one which co-ordinates with my work uniform. I won't need it soon though - hurrah! I have been dropping heavy hints for a navy star print Becksondergaard one for Christmas to go with my new office clothes. That and some Marc Jacobs Honey perfume.

Done very little today as I had to work a full day instead of he half day that I normally do on a Monday as a colleague's child was ill. Am shattered now and looking at the pile of housework that I was meant to be doing this afternoon. Bleugh.

Okay, I managed to make an effort today. Lipstick, perfume and eye make-up before I went out.

Now just need to go and plan what I'm wearing tomorrow to work and make it awesome

Evening all

Well, not much grooming of me today (I did pumice my feet though) & dress reasonably smartish for what I thought was going to be a day sorting some more of the house....I ended up out and about all morning!

I did still strip and wash the big chair and do some minor repairs to it though.

Meant to be meeting my best mate in town for tomorrow but he hasn't text back or answered the phone all day so think that's going to be a let down tbh. Have one of my new(ish) jumpers, new skinnies and my boots out to wear as well as accessories still resisting the Christmas earrings.

Control ty for the sellers name...will now go back and check what it was to write it down

jemima ! is all I can say...my dp nearly bought me a coat on Saturday but bought a jumper instead (I don't mind really, it's snuggly and warm with pockets )...
he has been told I wouldn't mind a coat though if he goes random shopping again. Have you kept everything you've "outgrown"? (nosey, sorry )

Helga bath sounds bliss!! I think I might have to squeeeeeze in a relaxing bath at some point soon.

I'm meant to be looking for a Christmas present for dp's mum atm....I asked what she wanted & she said go to Poundland. am half tempted to go to Poundland and fill a stocking, not sure what with though No clue what to get my sister either!

that would have been an EPIC post if it wasn't split in three!!