Easter renovators! Come one, come all

[HelgatheHairy]

After the brilliant success of our Christmas Countdown Princessing thread I'm starting a new thread to take us to Easter. From 1st Jan it's 108 days so there will be a countdown to this days.

This idea stems from the original princessing threads but has evolved to accommodate all aspects of beautifying, beauty, clothes, diet, exercise etc.

What we like to do is a list of what your planning on doing and working through it.

Links to follow.

Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggghhhhh!!!

Dd2 is the worst poorly person ever! & number one is refusing again to do homework (although she won't be going tomorrow until I find out what the blister under her arm is!)

I neeeeeeed but can't because of my antibiotics

Anyway, Style walking wounded sounds about right! I hope they're feeling better soon, nothing worse than hurt or poorly kids

I can't remember any other posts, sorry.

Sunday pamper day today & boy do I need it! Am going to deep condition my hair, defuzz properly inc. my top lip, face mask since all I have left are a couple of scars (hope they fade!), file and paint my nails & maybe nail art a couple of them.

House has been thoroughly cleaned top to bottom this week we've spent so much time at home, just need to hoover cobwebs off hall ceiling later on when I do living room. Kitchen is the last room to do - am debating removing everything & starting again, it's doing my nut in!

Almost forgot Control my hair's just past my shoulders...I'll hold off on diy cutting it for now, don't fancy having a disaster with that. thanks for the tip

2nd attempt - first post vanished into thin air!!
75 DAYS TO GO hope you don't mind me putting in countdown this morning Helga and Control as honours normally fall to you, but I seem to be first one to post today.

Well, so far so good, got up - showered, smartly dressed, hair done, healthy brekkie and then took DS1 to hospital have dressing taken off and injury checked. Fortunately all seems to be ok, so I should sleep better tonight! Have also tidied eyebrows since getting home and tweezered those annoying chin hairs that spring up every so often but are only noticed when they get to about a foot long!! How do they grow so quickly????

Probably wont get an awful lot done if he is at home, but that's the way of it, hope Lucys DCs are better today, blister sounds a little worrying - is it a measles type one or just where clothing has rubbed?

Have got haircut booked for tomorrow morning, so assuming no other disasters occur in the meantime, am looking forward to looking a little tidier as in this shorter style, it soon grows out. Will do my colour Weds or Thurs depending on how things go as am still running behind due to lots of planned/unplanned hospital visits last week.

Thanks style

I'm starting again today. Received an invite to a friends christening in a months time and have to arrange DDs so want to look a bit better.

Unfortunately I didn't get my eyebrows done last Saturday. The weather was terrible and I couldn't make myself leave the house. It kind of worked out though - I received a text that certain facials were reduced so I'm going to book a facial and get my eyebrows done then. Maybe Saturday but DH has a cold now so will wait and see if he's up to being left with DD.

I did the 5:2 diet with great success just before I got pregnant and have decided to start that again. I'm just dropping to 1000 calories a day for now though as I'm still breastfeeding. I'm on plan today anyway. I've just had a very nice M&S fuller longer soup for lunch.

I bought Detox morning tea but have only had it once. I really want that first cup of normal tea - especially if DD has had a difficult night. She has 2 teeth now and has been cranky with them.

In house princessing I've cleared out kitchen cupboards and if feels so much better organised.

More to follow but need to go feed DD

Good evening

Well, I feel human at last! My scar-looking bits have started to fade away so I wore a full face of make up today after thoroughly washing all my brushes last night (even though my powder brush is the only one I've actually used). Nails are filed and painted in a neutral colour. Going to do my toes tomorrow while we're home I think. Top lip is decidedly less fuzzy too

Unfortunately, both dd's have impetigo. The blister no-one was sure about the other week has been diagnosed as impetigo today so dd1 has some vile antibiotics to take. Dd2 has gone bright red (like the face red!!) with it but Dr has kept her on the antibiotics she has for now. Both are to stay home until it has well and truly buggered off so we'll be finding plenty to do here.

Dilidali, thanks for your list on my other thread, sewing sounds good...I have lots of scraps of fabric about. Not sure how to get over the river for a walk but dp will know & there's only ever the odd dog walker over there (if we're lucky we might see some canoeists -not sure that's a word- as well).

Dd2's innotab has a video function on it I think so will get them to do a 'show' for recording too

Going to start on the kitchen tomorrow I think, empty all the cupboards and try to clear the sides so it looks a bit tidier.

Helga I don't blame you for not wanting to go out in the rain to get your brows done. A facial & brows done at the same time sounds like an enjoyable way to while away an hour or so

style it must be a relief that your ds is ok! I dread mine damaging themselves & needing a hospital trip...they're both very clumsy so it's bound to happen at some point

74 DAYS TO GO
Well, so far so good - DS1 back at school and no-one has phoned yet, so all must be well.

Have been for haircut this morning and feel much better for it, will have a think about colour as not sure whether to try to stay similar colour to natural colour (but need to hide grey that is showing through) or to go a little darker.

this afternoon, am going to pick up parcels as have ordered some new clothes for the new me!! Was weighing up what to do as with wanting to lose weight I didn't want to waste money on clothes I am hoping will be too big in the not too distant future, but equally want to look and feel good in the short term if I am making more of an effort with my appearance and the obvious answer was to order some items in the sales - so I did! Have ordered some dresses, tops and trousers.

Did well last night with my relaxing bath and beauty treatments at bedtime and slept well as (a) was tired after not sleeping well for last few nights with worrying about DCs and (b) DS1 got clean bill of health after having dressing taken off, all healing well and he seems ok, so I wasn't dozing with one ear open, listening to make sure all was well.

Lucy poor DDs, but at least you know what problem is with blister now, though small consolation when both ill.

Helga sounds like fate took a hand with not wanting to go out and now you have benefit of facial as well as eyebrows done. Have you bought one of the 5:2 recipe books to follow? Am going to have a look at one of them when next in supermarket, but don't know if I would manage to last without eating properly for a day, find I need to eat regularly or I get low blood sugar and feel faint!

Hoping to see some of the other posters come back soon and rejoin. That's all for today!

Afternoon all, just a quicky, am on my way to town for a few bits of food shopping to last until next weekend Think there might be some interesting combinations by the end of the week

Style if you have a Poundland (green one) near you, they might have some 5:2 books in...ours has a fair few atm

I'm back to just basics today, girls are being grumpy and grotty between them and the bickering has escalated to a whole new level

I need to get a new handbag when we get back on track money wise, this one's a tad battered and bruised, going to have a quick look around while I'm out for an hours peace

DH is sick again. A bad cold this time. Think I need to get him a multivitamin.

I got the 5:2 book from the library but before that I was just following it with help from the threads over on the weight loss board (^^ up there)

Just had a QUICK run around debenhams as I need something to wear for DDs christening. Have provisionally booked it for 2nd March. Saw one nice dress but when I went to try it on I discovered it was a play suit!! I do not have the shape for play suits.

I'd prefer a top/skirt rather than a dress as I'll still be breastfeeding. Or I saw nice trousers in Oasis but didn't try them on.

The search goes on.

I've fallen by the wayside since my dog died last week. I've really got to try and get into action with the exercise as no longer have dog walks every day.

Helga, sorry to hear about your DH. I'm afraid mine would get very little sympathy for colds and the like , you're nice!

What dress did you have in mind? Not long till march though! Have you booked your hairdresser/nails etc?
I tell you what, for years I didn't quite get the 'have your hair done before an event'. I had this vision of birds nest matted with hairspray. But since I started princessing with you, I had 2 haircuts specific for events and it makes you feel a million dollars, doesn't it? Love it!

Lucy, what handbag did you have in mind? I have had the same summer handbag for the past 10 years. My mother has a fit every time she sees me: you still got THIS? I like it, it is a hobo style one, haven't found anything I would trade it for. I clean and polish once a year or so and it's fine.... I need to see a picture of me wearing it to horrify me, I think!

Polly, I am sorry about your dog. Did you expect that?

Fingers crossed for the lovely Control!

style, vvviola, callingallengels?

I am about to get into the bath, have a lovely rest of the evening :)

Oh, sorry, style, how are your new purchases?

We were not really expecting her to die (we were expecting problem to be managed with anti inflamatories or steroids), but ended up having to take her to the vets in the middle of the night. Dread to think what the bill will be for that! First time in years we have been without a dog.

Managed a walk tonight, but not sure how easy it will be to keep up the momentum. It was so much easier to go for a walk when you had a big pair of eyes asking to go out every evening.

So sorry to hear about your dog Polly. They become so much a part of the family, don't they?

I've been absent due to a nasty head cold that kept threatening to turn into something more (DH's has turned into bronchitis, poor thing). But I'm back on the wagon again from today. I got my graduation date (5th May) so I've a lot to get done by then. I'd really like some nice photos I can put on the wall.

Helga - have you tried the Debenhams personal shopper service? It is/was free and I went there to get a dress for DD's christening. I didn't end up getting it there in the end, but she got me into skinny jeans for the first time ever and I got a couple of outfits based on her ideas ( and went back on my own using her tips too). There was surprisingly no pressure to buy, and she even talked me out of a few things.

DH is worse and I seem to have caught a version of it. He slept on the couch last night. I got up this morning to change
DD and checked on him. As I was standing there with DD in my arms I honestly thought I was going to throw up or pass out. Put DD back in the cot straight away and changed her in there. Went to the bathroom and everything started to go black. Just threw myself on the bed.

Have called PIL and they'll be our later.

oh Helga that sounds awful! Your Pil sound fab though. Hope you're both feeling well again soon

Polly so sorry about your dog I was gutted when my cat died unexpectedly when I was a teenager.

Dilidali I have no idea what sort of handbag really, I just tend to browse until I find something that takes my eye. So long as I can fit drinks/snacks in for the kids along with my purse I'll be happy.

vvv what will you wear for your graduation?

style linkys to clothes please

Not a brilliant start to the day here; kettle is dead & no-one is free to watch the girls so I'm boiling pans of water for the day & hoping dp's mum can find me a spare from somewhere....and the fridge is making a very odd, loud buzzing noise every now and again.

I'm just off up to get dressed and sort my mop out. I think I might get the nail box out later on (when we've made a rice crispy house kit I got for Christmas) and have a play with my nail art bits. Both girls will happily sit and play 'salon' with me

Control you doing ok?

73 DAYS TO GO
Lovely to see so many familiar names on the thread again!!

Polly really sorry for your loss, know exactly what you are going through, sending you big unmumsnet-like hug x
Helga Shopping for outfit sounds like it is coming along - even if you find things that don't suit it kind of narrows it down when you go on your next trip as you wont need to look at similar styles. VVVs personal shopper suggestion may be worth looking into as they can do the hard work of finding suitable items from your requirements and know the stock they carry, so all you have to do is try on the different items until you find something that works for you.
Lucy will have a look in Poundland - thanks for suggestion. Hope your girls are feeling better today and antibiotics have started to kick in and work their magic.

Well, so far so good - have had my two portions of oily fish this week, been drinking water, have gone out looking smart and co-ordinated, am almost feeling like my old pre-children self again!! Hair cut back into style yesterday and looks neat and tidy again, just need to decide about colour and will aim to do that Thursday or Friday as haven't had chance today, been running around playing catch up on things I wasn't able to do last week.

Keep forgetting to take vitamins though, just too much going on in the evening and same at breakfast, so am going to have to work out a way to prompt myself to remember as vits really need to be eaten with main meal of the day according to instructions on packet.

Really pleased with my new purchases, dresses seem to suit me more now, so the ones I bought are going to get plenty of wear. Tops all ok too and have tried some different styles to the ones I would normally buy so am gradually getting out of my comfort zone! Trousers are just a basic black that goes with everything and are a comfortable fit and can easily be dressed up or down to suit occasion. T'was all so easy once, I was tall, slim and young enough to get away with pretty much anything, whereas now, am finding that I have to be a lot more careful with lengths of skirt or making sure that something fits well around boobs and waist so I don't look like a sack of spuds.

Dieting not really gone as well as I would have liked, but given situation with DCs various bumps and bruises over the last week, am not going to get too upset about it. Sorry if I have missed anyone off my namecheck, but lovely to see so many posts since I last posted - seems like life has got in the way for a few of us, so I guess the only thing to do is pick ourselves up and carry on. Stuff happens!

take care, will check thread later if I get chance and see what everyone's been up to!!

Well DH has been to the doc and has proper flu, not just man flu. I'm still feeling rough but a bit better than him. He's got a cert for the rest of the week.

polly so sorry about your dog. I cried for days when my last one died.

The thing about the debenhams personal stylist is I used to work with her when I worked in Next and she's hopeless and would joke about recommending things that wouldn't suit people.

I used to know exactly what suited me but my shape has changed. I've gone from a pear to more hourglass with a bit of a stomach. I just need a bit of time to have a look around. I'm not even sure how dressy I want to go as it's just immediate family only and then lunch in a hotel.

oh dear Helga . Proper flu is the pits! I had it when number 2 was 11mo & pretty much slept for a week with the odd random visit downstairs to eat or use the bathroom. I hope he picks up soon and you don't end up with full blown flu as well

style the antibiotics seem to be working finally. The blister under dd1's arm isn't quite as big but still looks very sore. Hopefully another day or two& it'll dry out completely without scarring. Dd2 isn't red any more either which is good, Ive been using the cetraben cream on her because it looks and feels like sunburn, that seems to have calmed down the tickles she was getting.

Ought to get back to it really...am sat 'helping' tidy up (I'm directing really but they don't know that )

72 DAYS TO GO
Happy Thursday everyone - how is everyone this morning?

Helga Poor you and poor DH, real flu is awful - I know after having suffered a bout of it I definitely knew the difference between it and the milder somewhere-between-a-cold-and-real-flu. Will take a couple of weeks to feel really well after, so you will need to take it easy and get plenty of rest. Good that you have PIL near to be able to come and help with DD as well as keeping an eye on you both.

Appreciate comments re the stylist you know at Debenhams from earlier contact, but is there someone else who you could try at a different store? Might even be worth starting a thread on S&B as some of the ladies on MN are also stylists/bloggers - just a thought, if you haven't a particular style in mind. Tricky though to know what to go for as weather at that time of year can be so changeable, so it may be a glorious springlike day or equally as easily be squally or hailstones!! Might have to have a back-up outfit or wear layers for warmth or dryness!

Lucy glad to hear that some improvement with your little ones, good idea to put the cream on to keep the skin supple and should hopefully help it get better.

Vvv hope you are feeling better too - just seems to be ideal weather for germs doesn't it?

Dili how is your 333 project going? are you finding that the items you have are working well or are there gaps that need to be fine-tuned? Would imagine in the initial stages it is a bit of trial and error as to what works well - not helped by the weird and wonderful weather conditions we are currently experiencing where you can get 4 seasons in a day!

Well, so far so good here. Everything going along nicely (touch wood), but am still playing catch up after our disastrous week last week, so have kept on top of basics and am aiming to start diet/exercise in earnest next week rather than trying to overload and set myself up for failure by trying to restart everything all in one go when I am feeling tired. Will aim to get appointment at beauty salon to have eyelashes dyed and other such things when I feel a little more confident of actually being able to keep the appointment without having to deal with some unexpected crisis!

will check in again later and see what updates there are, bye for now!

Lucysmam at this rate if I don't lose some weight I'll be wearing a black plastic bag to graduation we have to wear cap & gown etc, but seems we can wear anything we like underneath (last time around it had to be black & white underneath so I just wore a work suit), so I'll go shopping closer to the time. Probably get a nice dress.

Style - it's the height of summer here, we really shouldn't be getting colds :( and the heat actually makes it feel more miserable.

Eek Helga! I can see why you don't want to use the personal shopper! I was lucky that mine was pretty good - although my Mum was very unimpressed with her fascination with belts ;)

I've got a couple of days holiday and was fully expecting to come down with the office flu type bug that has been doing the rounds, but thankfully all is ok.

I don't know where the last week has gone and I can hardly believe its a week since we lost our girl. The vets bill is paid and we should get her ashes back next week. Just need to sort out her things and either throw out, give away or put away.

It's looking like it will be next week before I get back on track full time. I'm managing to stick to certain things, but others have dropped by the wayside or are rather adhoc.

Plan for the next few days; start planking again, walking, dry body brushing and body moisturising, along with more attention to hands. AND I will do something with my nails.

71 DAYS TO GO
Countdown seems to be going quicker somehow, but effectively 2-and-a-bit months to go. Been out this morning to collect the make-up I ordered through click-and-collect, so am now proud owner of some Urban Decay stuff. Just need to keep the kids away from it as last time they 'played' with my make-up, it was ruined and of course, they have an unerring instinct to go for the good stuff first. Was really upset about it, so DH, bless him, went out and bought me some more to replace it. Was quite shocked really as he braved the make-up counters alone which would be well out of his comfort zone!

Fed up with weather - every time I have ventured out today, the squally showers have started, used to it on school runs as it seems to be an unwritten law that it shall rain, sleet or snow between the hours of 8.15am and 9.15am and again between 3pm and 4pm. Sun shining at the moment but am due out in 5 mins so whats the betting it rains again??

Poly nice to hear from you - be kind to yourself, it takes time to get over such a loss.

vvv hope you are feeling better today - are you in Aus or similar if weather so warm?

Will have to dash as will be late and have nowhere to park if I don't go now. Check in later to catch up. Byeeee

70 days to go

Sorry for the extended leave of absence, I'll try and catch up with all the goings on in the next couple of days.

style thank you for keeping up with the counting. It really is flying by far quicker this time, isn't it!

I'll be rejoining once AF has left the building, I've got 11lb to lose to get back to where I was before I started all the hormone jabs. Will be 5:2ing and Shredding again, as my lovely work dresses are all feeling a bit tight around the hips now.

Good evening everyone

Hope you've all had a nice (if you ignore the horrible weather) day today.

I'm keeping up routines here, need to replenish some supplies though. Unfortunately most products (shampoo/conditioner/shower gel) have been stripped right back to basics brands for the mo & I'm not replacing my run-out bottle of Aussie for my hair until next month when we're back on track.

I'm on the hunt for a cheap as chips mascara to replace the one I'm using atm...have had a waterproof one from Primark for a pound before that'd do for the moment.

I felt Thursday feeling like a sack of spuds for some unknown reason. Yesterday was better, I spent ages putting on my face, getting dressed etc & went to the Dr's twice for dd1 feeling rather smart.

Unfortunately dd1 doesn't have impetigo....four Drs between them are unsure what she has . She has new ab's & cream to try & I'm keeping a photo diary so we can see if there's a noticeable difference. She's to stay off school until further notice because no-one is sure whether she is contaigous or not . Back again in a week to see a skin specialist to get her opinion.

Chilled pamper day planned tomorrow...hair/nails/bath/defuzz/face mask/pumice and any extras I can think of.

Right, off to enjoy a glass of with some of my book. Will check back tomorrow