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.

Lucy, ive not read all you have said about DD1, so may have missed something, but have they ruled out dermatitis? My DD has had a nasty flare up recently and it looks shocking. The GP she saw yesterday was really helpful and she came away with three prescriptions. She's keeping her fingers crossed that they help settle things down.

We've had lots of blue sky's and sun here today and other than a sharp shower this morning, its remained dry, although somewhat windy.

I walked my legs off yesterday when we went to Bicester. So I'm now spent up for the rest of the month. It's just as well I still have a stash of products!

Managed to do my nails last night and finished off with polish this morning. Other than the mega walk yesterday, I'm being terribly shoddy with the exercise. I'm determined that I'm going to start cracking it tomorrow morning; planking, gymball and some weights!

I'm still around but am looking a state. I still have a cold which meant I woke at 4.30am last night coughing and didn't stop for an hour. Didn't really go back to sleep properly after that so going to hand DD over to DH at some point today and go back to bed for a bit. I'm feeling really sick and weak still when I wake up. Having a banana and cup of tea helps though.

Still around - have been lurking but not posting. But thought of this thread this mor ing when getting a rare 5 minutespeace in the bathroom. Was about to chuck on old jogging trousers and hoodie as am at home today, then thought "what the hell" and put on a lovely jersey dress with thick tights, long cardi, necklace, perfume and lipstick! DH never sees me looking lovely!

I still have a lot of products to get through before I can think about buying new stuff. Managed to use up some Dove body lotion that I bought ages ago and don't like very much and have a whole basket of hand cream, shower gel, shampoo, cleanser, toner to get through! Things like shampoo/conditioner/shower gel are quite expensive over here so I tend to wait till they have bulk buy offers on anyway, and I always get Liz Earle in bulk to save on postage costs (and try to time with a visit to UK so I can collects from my DM and DF!).

Have had a fair few 'sack of potatoes' days here too lucy . Yesterday bumped into one of DHs friends in shopping centre who asked if I had "something to tell him" while looking pointedly at my stomach. Absolute arsehole! He doesn't know we are ttc or about mc in October, but how is that ever a good question to ask someone?! Then he started telling me all about his very new gf who is now pg. Had popped out on my own for an hour's peace to do soem errands and window shopping (ds being very clingy atm) but his comment put me in a really weepy bad mood.

sorry to hear about your dd lucy . Hope you get some answers soon.

Get well soon Helga

I've been rubbish with exercise too polly . If my running partner can't make it, then I wimp out of going alone. Chucking down here for the 3rd day in a row. I'd love some sunshine and blue skies!

Can't scroll back anymore, butwill do so in a bit.

Ordered a lovely skirt last week (red swing skirt, past knees, with black space theme print), but again underestimated my waist so have sent back to exchange for a 14. Did get a few basic black tops to go with it which fitted nicely.

Promise to be on more - have to sort myself out. No more slobbing!

69 DAYS TO GO

I'm back on the wagon.

Eyebrows done (DIY, couldn't stretch to threading this week) and psoriasis treatment restarted. Starting a Zumba class tomorrow morning and an adult tap dancing class on Thursday. Restarting 5:2 again too ( although trying to decide on my second day is tricky - tap class day seems like a bad idea, but other possible day is a day I usually go to mall/soft play with DD2, so can't resist avoid coffee and a muffin.)

Also have discovered that the Bobbi Brown makeup counter at our mall does free makeup lessons during the week, so I'm going to go along on Tuesday and see if someone can actually teach me how to apply makeup properly or if I'm a total lost cause (unless anyone has horror stories about the makeup - I have heard good things before, but things can change I suppose).

polly sorry to hearabout your dog

Helga I'm thinking about getting the Hairy Bikers book. Have made a few of their recipes from online and they were scrummy. Our biggest battle is not snacking, especially in the evening. We have made the deal that we can buy one nice snack for the weekends (e.g a big bag of crisps) and that's it. Otherwise we have a few things squirreled away like olives or plain crackers, butno more stockpiling goodies and no snacking every night of the week! I have been drinking one bottle of wine over each weekend, but that'll stop in 2 weeks when we're starting up ttc again.

Our road is being dug up at the moment s8 we have to lug everything fr8ma few streets away. It's stopping us from buying too much rubbish as we're only getting the essentials and trying to use up our freezer and cupboard stocks!

style what did you buy? Links!

Sorry lucy last post should have said DDs not DD!

dilidali I've never really got the handbag thing either. I have a Radley over the body as I prefer having free arms/hands but it is always rammed full of stuff. Maybe I should invest in something lovely (saw the liebeskind thread in s&b a few weeks ago...but still can't imagine spending that much on a handbag!).

Nice to see so many people back on thread, but sorry to hear of all the illnesses and hope everyone soon on the mend. January has not been a kind month to us all at all has it?

Hopefully once the weather starts picking up again and the lighter nights start becoming more obvious it will give us all a bit of a 'lift' and we will all feel more motivated and energised. Have come to the conclusion that starting any new years resolution is doomed to failure as on the high of Christmas and New Year, all seems possible (especially after having had some time off work/no school etc, so no pressure from all the normal routines). Once the reality of cold dark nights, wet windy weather and getting back into the work and school routine start off again in the New Year, I am just not up to it. Always do better when I can sense Spring is round the corner!!

Anyways, have rambled on enough - not a lot to report over the weekend as we have been out and about most of the time - shopping (DHs bi-annual clothes shop!!) and for a meal and so am at home this morning MN-ing and wasting time, catching up on housework.

Back tomorrow..........

Calling DHs friend is tactless to say the least - you just don't say that to anyone - period. full stop. end of. He may not know your situation of mc or that you are ttc, but please don't let it get to you, he is obviously just not thinking and if what you are saying is true of his new gf being pg, may be bricking it as this is a very new relationship. He may be hoping for some support from you and your DH if he thought you were in the same situation as him as it is likely that he wasn't planning on becoming a parent with her just yet or at all!

vvviola I did a few tap course before DS was born. Would love to go back and do some more (tap shoes are gathering dust in cupboard!).

DHwas really angry when I told him about his friend's comment. I don't think the friend realises what a horrible thing it is to say to any woman. There's only a tiny chance that the person is actually pg, and even then, if they want to tell you, they'll tell you! At the very least, you're telling someone they look pg (I.e. fat!) and at worst you are upsetting someone with fertility issues. These kind of comments always come from someone who has never ttc or who has had absolutely no probs ttc (DHs friends already ahs 2 DDs with his ex). When I was younger, before ttc I don't think I would have been aware of the fertility issues aspect of a comment like that, but even I knew that it would be upsetting!

Still, fri3nd is a bit of a cock (and always has been!).

Lovely 5k run this afternoon (finally prised myself off the sofa) followed by hit shower/body scrub/body butter. Put my dress and jewellery (sp?) back on - enjoying feeling glam at home!

Oh, and this is the skirt I bought last week (ordered too small so waiting for next size up this week).

topvintage.nl/nl/vintage-retro/50s-space-cadet-high-waisted-thrills-skirt-red-swing

Is it too late to join you?

I've been lurking on the S&B boards for a while and am gradually sorting out my wardrobe to streamline them. I'm quite good at cleansing/moisturising morning and afternoon, but need a kick up the bum for the other stuff!

My list is as follows:

8 glasses of water a day
1 caffeinated drink only per day
Exfoliate (everything...within reason)
Intensive nail care (feet and hands)
The Shred twice a week
5 portions veg, 2 portions fruit daily
Probiotic yoghurt daily
No alcohol during the week & no boozing it up on weekends
Take vitamins every day
At least 2 servings of salmon or other fatty fish per week.
One early night once a week. Suggest 9PM.
Regular hair removal
Give up cheap chocolate - 70% cocoa or nothing!

I also really need to start buying clothes, so:

Buy 1 'outfit' (work or casual) and 1 set underwear each month

I'd basically like to lose 10 pounds and look good

Hello everyone!
Welcome gnomi. It's a good list you've got there :)

Callingallengels: fab skirt! I was watching 'call the midwife' and I thought if you looking at what they were wearing. Oh, from my experience, the Dutch don't exactly mince their words, maybe he was just on a high from his own news.

style, you're right about New year resolutions :)

Vvviola, I'm doing the 5:2 too. Two weeks in, I'm getting there :)

My skin is sooo dry! Must drink more water :)

Well...my relaxing pampering day went well

We aquired a chest freezer for a fiver...fab for my amateur gardening attempts/christmas planning/freezing reduced goodies....went to pick that up with my dad.

Then he came back with bunk beds for the girls....dp has a day off Tuesday, told him we'd build it then...oh no...must do today so we have JUST sat down!

The house is a shit hole & I had the quickest shower ever so will do my Sunday routine tomorrow instead. I did check my brows though, they are in need of threading at some point soon! My right one looks a lot neater than my left

style that skirt is amazing, really really wish I felt comfortable in clothes like that!

gnomi, hello

vvv...I think it was you (although may have been style who said about new years resolutions....very true though. There seem to be so many bugs going round and so much going on that it's easy to loose track of things.

Helga how are you and dh?

And Control... smelly?? Doing ok?

I'm off for a quick mooch before bed, will check back in tomorrow, promise I will have made an attempt at beautifying by then

I apologise, I totally misread who had written what

calling it's your fab skirt & style you said about new years resolutions!

sorry!

Welcome gnomi !

Now I just have to work up the courage to wear it to work (will probably do so without my petticoat first!) dilidali - once it gets there that is.

Chest freezers are great lucy . We have one small upright in our cellar (when I moved in with DH he only had the ice box above the fridge which is rubbish). I reckon we've got room for a chest in the cellar now we've cleared it out. Just make sure you label everything on the way in - my mum has 2 freezers and there's been more than one occasion when she got out what she thought was a cottage pie or curry and it's turned out to be bread and butter pudding or rhubarb!

On the cards for house-princessing today: Dynorod. Deep joy. Fed up to the back teeth of DP saying he'll get round to having a look at the outside drain that takes the sink/dishwasher water. It's totally blocked. Apparently he's been pouring oil and fat down there several times a week for three years. The patio's now covered in filthy, oily scum and I'm not living with it any more. He's going to bloody well buy me starbucks coffees every day until he's paid this one off.

I've not seen Call The Midwife dilidali - one for my list of things I should watch! I try to save things that I like watching but DH won't either for my days off or every other week when DH has his music lesson. Am very much hoping to squeeze in a maternity leave before the end of the year (though maybe CTM wouldn't be such good choice of viewing when you're waiting to give birth!).

Good luck control !

Control that doesn't sound very princessy at all

My plan for the day is to freecycle the kids old beds & a little desk they no longer use & tidy up the shithole. Dd1 is still home so she'll help me with some of it. Oh and deter my furry friend from visiting so I can scoot the dryer to the back door

Proper pamper tonight once the girls are in bed. Quite looking forward to it after yesterday was so hectic.

Have a good day all

Ta-da's for today:

• Zumba/boot camp done (great fun but I'm expecting ouch tomorrow)
• 3 litres of water drunk (mainly due to Zumba!)
• exfoliate, moisturised etc
• night cream & eye cream on.
• eyebrows tidied

Off to bed now
5:2 fast day tomorrow, plus hopefully the makeup lesson/makeover

68 DAYS TO GO

Lord, this is getting scary, countdown seems to be going quickly now and I'm starting to feel a bit panicky and stressy as I am not where I was hoping to be in terms of weight loss and house princessing. Keep telling myself its not my fault - cant help everyone (including me!) being ill and so on, so hoping this is just a passing phase and I will feel more positive later in the day when I have got some more 'stuff' done. On the plus side, have done well with my personal grooming and princessing, so all is not lost!!

Only a week to half term, so will have to really push on as don't get much done when DCs are off school - although am looking forward to the holidays and getting out and about with them.

Woke up to a cold and frosty morning, what's weather like for everyone else? Kids bundled up this morning to go to school. Turning into a nice day now, crisp and fresh, although still cold.

hello to Gnomi - nice to have another poster join in.

How's everyone else doing? Vvv, Control, Calling, Lucy, Helga & Dili? Apologies to anyone I have missed on namecheck, but that was as much as I could see when scrolling page!

bye for now........

I started with planking and my gym ball yesterday, so that was a step in the right direction.

Yesterday I had my long hair cut into a short graduated bob, so its going to be interesting to see how managing that is going to fit into my routine. When it was long, if all else failed I put it up. It's now far too short to it up and I'm now faced with having to wash it on a morning or style it.

Just a quick one - I'm meant to be doing bed time but dp is up there atm so am having a crafty

Polly, could you style in an evening? I tend to dry/straighten mine on an evening then just run my irons over the very top on a morning so it looks neat (ish, it is desperate for a good chop!)

I will have to see how I get on Lucy. With long hair I've always washed it on a night. But short hair, I've always done on a morning. I've not washed it yet, so I will see how easy it is to manage when I wash it myself.