Operation Renovation - The Christmas Countdown (part 2)

[HelgatheHairy]

Our new home

What was your question Jemima?

Reading through it jemima I don't think he answered any clothing or style related questions, it was a bit rubbish tbh.

Not much to report myself but am carving out a little time to browse the shops tomorrow for me. Not enough time to make it to town without taking DD2 so will just be my local small retail park but I am hoping to find something nice for my top half to last whilst I drop the weight.

Reading through it jemima I don't think he answered any clothing or style related questions, it was a bit rubbish tbh.

Not much to report myself but am carving out a little time to browse the shops tomorrow for me. Not enough time to make it to town without taking DD2 so will just be my local small retail park but I am hoping to find something nice for my top half to last whilst I drop the weight.

So I've survived another week, but definitely struggling to fit in any more than work, children and bed. I can fit in one thing each day, but cannot moisturise and floss and exercise every day. What is the secret? Are you all getting up very early?
Jemima, hope you don't mind me asking, but how have you lost so much weight? That is an amazing weight loss.
Planning on treadmill and nail painting tomorrow.

INeed, I am of your undies shopping spree!! I love new undies, they give you a lift in more than one way iyswim!

Helga what are chubby sticks (and, more importantly, do they need to go on my Christmas list?)

The sleepsuits you linked earlier are fab, my fella looked at me all when ours were tiny & I eyed up things like that.

Letsdothis I do a big pamper session on Sunday nights, set me up for the week ahead. Then have just incorporated the other stuff like floss & mouthwash, hot water & lemon, vits into usual routine ...I've been getting up 15 mins earlier so that I am at least partly done when I get the kids up.

Weds is mini pamper...pumice feet, check nails, nose strip.

Every other night I just do basics

If I was mega rich I would have new underwear every day. You know like these rap stars who supposedly wear a white t-shirt once and then throw it away? I would do that but with underwear!

Thanks lucysmam-I think I will start doing that. I could also try on a Friday night-my DP is fast asleep on the sofa
One last quick question-does the lemon and water drink work with lemon concentrate? It seems so much easier and faster than squeezing an actual lemon!

I cba to scroll back any more & random post, the laptop switched itself off & won't turn back on so am back on app.

I've not long been sat down....tonight seemed to take me a very long time getting sat & chilled. On the plus side, I have and popcorn! Dd2 is still a bit up and down so I have put the heating on for a second night in a row rather than wrap them up in extra blankets just hope the gas lasts!

Have been busy repairing again today, couple of buttons and a zip on a handbag. There's still a few of the girls' bits to do and another handbag to sort the zip on. Seem to be forever mending lately but suppose taking care of our stuff is better than chucking them or them being ignored.

I think I'm going to have a look on youtube for some effects you can create with nail polish, there's a really pretty marbley effect link on a thread I started earlier. Might see if I can achieve something different on sunday.

Need to replace toenail polish this week too on Sunday, as well as usual Sunday night pamper session

I don't squeeze the bloody lemon!! That'd be toooooooooo much hard work ...slice a bit off....pour on hot water....we have a downstairs bathroom so I nip to the loo....come back...grab straw....drink!

(I do facemask while I pot wash Sunday tea pots btw & Aussie hair mask hair while I defuzz in shower...kills two birds with one stone )

And I really need to stop doing "....."s!

Control I very nearly forgot! Meant to comment on fb earlier but got sidetracked.

I like the second scarf very much, first pic is a bit blurry or my eyes are without my specs , The first dress is fabulous but I think you need some kick ass heels with it (nothing wrong with what you have on, just what I'd wear), work dresses....I wonder what they'd be like with a pair of boots. Maybe something knee length, black, flatish but not totally flat like Uggs, not shiny.

I'd say a good days shopping! Plus your second ebay buy was fab

Tomorrow I am going to have a big clear out and get rid of anything that doesn't fit or flatter. And then make sure everything is clean and set aside a pile for the dry cleaners and shoe menders.
Then I am going to go through my make up (I have far too much) and get rid of anything old and/or dried up.
Then I am going back to the basics of what this thread is about and sorting out my daily routine e.g. body brushing, drinking water etc.
The girls I go to boot camp with are organising a Christmas night out for us. I am old enough to be most of their mothers and obviously they all work out too. What more incentive do I need to sort myself out!

Helga I have a parka almost exactly like that but mine is top shop. It is so warm, with a pram it's brilliant as no need for an umbrella. Get it!

We do secret Santa for family here, each present is £50 but it means you only need buy one (enormous family so a big saving). We can give directions to want we want. I'm going to ask for something beauty related this year, what would you all ask for? I'm tempted to say john Lewis vouchers to buy a couple of bras but maybe that is too boring.

Lucysmam-ha ha made me laugh! Which is a good start as I was heading to a bad mood that I am already up with DD. hope your DD2 is feeling better. It really has become cold all of a sudden. I went to bed in pjs, big wooly socks and a cardigan- very princessy

74 days to go

Lucysmam - Clinique chubby sticks (think that's what they're called). They're a cross between a balm and a gloss and a lipstick. They've been around years but I never tried them but saw the gift pack and thought I might as well try them. I'm a disaster at Christmas - everything in miniature cute sizes makes me want it all!
www.boots.ie/en/Clinique-Whole-Lotta-Candy-Set_1365934/

The sleepsuits are lovely. DH does look a bit at me but I ignore him. Wondering if this is too much!

Bigkidsdidit - it looks so cosy but last year I got a brilliant waxed parka from oasis for dog walking, padded and everything. But first I caught a bit of the sleeve in barbed wire, then dog jumped on me, caught his claw on the small rip and it tore the length of my arm! I'd made the mistake of telling DH the real price and he wasn't very happy! So decided anything more expensive than New Look/Penny's isn't worth it for dog related clothes.

I got a brilliant bargain on a winter jacket. I was away on holiday with my parents and there is a shop which has loads of end of line stuff from M&S and the like.
I got a padded Trespass parka with a fur lined hood for £40. Looked on their website and it was selling for £90.

ooooh, I'm liking the look of those Helga....will pop on my list.

'tis rainy and horrible here today so am going to give my hair a day off the straighteners since we're staying in & I'll be putting a hat on to nip up to Asda anyway. It's actually behaving reasonably well this morning to say I didn't straighten maybe all the straightening I have done has something to do with it

Full face of make up going on soon, just straighten the kitchen up a bit....it ever so slightly resembles a bomb site atm

I realised yesterday wandering with dd2 that my jeans only manage one wear now before looking saggy on bum and knees so will try and save eight quid just for the one pair for now. Shopping has ground to a halt for the next couple of weeks....buying an Innotab 3s and Kindle Fire next week & really want to get the bulky Xmas stuff ordered very soon.....I tend to stress about it once we hit November even though I'm well on top of things

Ineed Wow, that was some shopping trip of yours! How lovely to have a whole new start on the underwear front though. I bet you'll feel good throwing the old stuff out. Good luck with your clear out!

Helga that parka looks lovely and toasty. Chubby sticks have now been added to my list

JemimaM ohh I see, sorry! What method did you use to lose weight? Could it still be affecting your eating choices? I completely missed the Gok chat No fair not answering questions though. Did you get yours in quite early?

petals how's the shopping spree going?

Lets even one thing you wouldn't have otherwise done is good! I struggle with the time it takes to have a shower and sort my hair out now - it's at least 1.5 hours, compared to my previous 20 minutes from start to finish. I try to do the full works once a week, then just what I can fit in for the rest of the week. Also, I use lemon concentrate rather than fresh lemon, and it seems fine, but I just love lucysmam's answer!

Very of your and popcorn lucysmam Yes, first pic was probably blurry, I can't help but move the phone when I move my thumb to take the picture. I really am rubbish. There's hopefully a slightly better pic on there now (unless I've accidentally posted it on my main feed, which I have been known to do before!) And yyy to the kick-ass high heels, I just really cba to empty my wardrobe to get them out for photos so had to make do with my work shoes. It was that, or slippers I need to invest in some boots, I think. I have a couple of pairs but they're not great. My calves have only just slimmed down enough to be able to get into some of the boots on the market now - they are mainly for skinny minnies, and even now I'm size 10 I can only get into about 1/3 of them.

bigkids what a fab idea - secret santa for the family! I'm lucky, there is only my DP to buy for (just cards for everyone else) but I can imagine what a huge saving (in time and energy, not just money) that must be when you have a larger family.

Working again today and tomorrow, I won't get a day off now til next weekend. Boy am I looking forward to that!

You're all doing so well!

DS2 isnt sleeping well at all so I'm struggling with keeping awake. Does anyone have a good concealer/highlighter that will help hide under eye bags? Mine are terrible they're down below my cheek bones and no matter what I do I look awful.

Well done on the parka INeed - that really is a bargain.

lucysmam - re: nail polish effects. This is maybe a bit out there for everyday but perfect for parties/halloween etc. Paint your nails with clear varnish, then before it dries stick it in a little pot of glitter (normal children's craft stuff), The glitter dries to the nail and it's a lot more glittery/textured than using normal glitter polish. I'm not sure whether you put another coat of clear polish over the glitter or not as it's my friend who always does her nails like this, not me.

DP is working all day today so I think I'm going to use it to pull out my little box of scarfs/gloves/bobble hats and sort through and it washing the nice stuff ready to wear again now the weather is getting colder. that and general exciting laundry and housework

I've also been fairly good at remembering to take my multivitamins in the morning.

Control, depending on how much you want to spend on boots, Evans have some lush ones in their window I spied in town yesterday that say they're a wider fitting. Or you could always trawl ebay again

Cat, YSL Touche Eclait is veeeeeeery nice. Was about £24 years ago though when I last bought one & I haven't had a look for a cheaper alternative yet. Cammomile tea bags (or do what I do - make a cup of camomile tea, pour some into a bowl, cool and then dunk two cotton wool pads & squeeze excess out and pop on eyes for twenty mins) are nice and refreshing & seem to help a bit with bags . Drinking more water seems to help too. I look loads better since I've been drinking 2L a day rather than just gallons of