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Easter renovators! Come one, come all

711 replies

HelgatheHairy · 29/12/2013 14:11

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.

OP posts:
Pollywallywinkles · 14/02/2014 17:13

Pleased you are delighted with your hair colour Style.

I'm getting on OK with my hair. I still can't believe how much its grown in a few days. I may need to get it cut a bit shorter next time! I will probably end up growing it after a while.

Happy Valentines all. I got a valentines card from one of my old gyms! Even they know I need more exercise. I don't think there is much chance of walking anywhere much today as the weather is dreadful. I've worked from home today, so have had no exercise at all. Roll on some drier weather.

Have you any news about the interview Gnomi?

StyleOverSubstance · 15/02/2014 11:21

63 DAYS TO GO
Wet and windy here today folks, wet and windy...........

ControlGeek · 15/02/2014 12:27

polly good luck with the decorating, I love a good painting session but I tend to get half way through and then get hit with the feeling that it's never going to end!

lucysmam tell me more about needing lemons for the bit the water comes out from please! Your day does sound very productive, and I'm looking forward to the day you put a pic up of you in a dress Grin I'm sorry the impetigo is playing you all up. Would putting towels on your pillows help or would it go through onto the pillow underneath and reinfect you later? How's dd's rash and blister now? Did you get a diagnosis for it?

dili that dress is gorgeous - though oddly I think the second picture on the page looks better than the one with the model wearing the dress. She looks too thin for it, I think it looks better proportioned in the second picture.

style I love it when a hair colour comes out better than expected! I too have had bra disasters in the same way. I now dye my hair in the nuddy from the waist up Shock I might try having a cup or two of hot water during the day - I do this at work because we only have machine coffee and it's rank, so I'll just get a hot water and a cold water and mix them together to get two drinks that are actually drinkable. So did DH get to taste the chocolates?? :)

Had a really amazing valentine's day yesterday. We ordered the £20 meal deal from Waitrose (starter, main, dessert, wine and chocs) and it actually worked! I didn't burn it or anything, the timings worked nicely, and we had the most amazing evening together.

I ended up trying three different hair styles as my first two were complete failures. I think the problem was that my straighteners reach such a high temperature that after straightening my hair, the curling irons couldn't compete so the curls wouldn't stay in. At some point I'll have to invest in a high temp curling iron but that's going to be way in the frugal future.

Have realised we need to save £6k in 8 months, not £5k as previously planned. I have no idea how we are going to do this.

lucysmam · 15/02/2014 13:16

Control, chop lemon in half....squish onto end of tap where water comes out...ignore unless you need the tap & the limescale should dissolve in the lemon juice. My upstairs ones are doing atm, might need a second go though as they were quite grotty.

Dd's blister thing has dried up but is still huge. Off back to Dr again Tuesday so I'm going to ask them to refer to hospital I think. Thankfully my antibiotics and eye drops are working.

Not sure about towels, I was told to treat it as d&v so daily hot wash for towels/bedding, lots of handwashing & cleaning with disinfectant going on.

Style your post made me Grin , you sound so excited about your new colour! If you have a willing helper it's a bit easier I find to get it all done without flinging dye all over (not that I dyed the bathroom pink in the first house we rented when I had red hair Grin )

Chilled ish day here, we've been playing board games & are just about to make pizza dough for later on. Dd1 still in onesie...2 is wearing possibly the raggiest trakkies she owns & was very enthusiastic putting them on this morning Shock

I've run out of intensive conditioner for my hair so must replenish on Tuesday in town. & must defuzz top lip this weekend. I've been really good at putting hand cream on though, almost gone through a tube of it the past couple of weeks. And I found some 8hour cream that I've been putting on at bedtime even though it doesn't smell fantastic (you'd think it would for the price of it). Nails on hands and feet need some attention so will do them tonight or tomorrow.

Off to supervise dough making...should be interesting!

HelgatheHairy · 15/02/2014 13:34

Hi all

I've completely missed a few days. Had very bad weather on Wednesday, about 20 of out trees came down (including one which ended 6 feet short of out front window) and the power went. Another one came down blocking access to the sheds with cattle in so the farmer was out with his chainsaw fairly fast. Anyway we're all good now (still have a tree in the driveway though). DH is out with the chainsaw, was out to say something to him and I could hear at least 2 more chainsaws going.

DD and I are still not 100%. Poor DD was awake coughing for about an hour last night.

I had a run into town yesterday and I got a dress. I'm just not sure of it though.

m.oasis-stores.com/lace-trim-knitted-skater-dress/casual/oasis/fcp-product/3660041619

It looks quite nice on but I'm not sure what to do with my legs. I bought navy tights but they don't look quite right. And i don't really have shoes - any suggestions? I like the fact it's got sleeves but Then I think they make it look a little frumpy. I'm all confused!

OP posts:
Gnomi · 16/02/2014 09:30

Hi all,
Went slightly AWOL for a few days - interview, sick child, etc. Anyway, I didn't get the job (was only shortlisted external candidate) but I didn't really like the school (I'm an English Teacher), so I think it was probably for the best. And the dress was brilliant, so it was a good purchase.

dili That dress is lovely. So elegant.

Helga The model is wearing it without tights but I'm thinking that would be far too cold! I'd probably wear brown boots with it but I'm not sure about tights colour.

Much sympathy to you Lucy - DS has conjunctivitis and it's awful. Getting eye drops into an 18 month old is a nightmare.

Anyway, DH has taken DS off to the in-laws for the day so I have a whole day free! I must not spend it all cleaning and faffing around on mumsnet working. I must spend some time and attention on my nails and feet instead.

Have a lovely day everyone.

vvviola · 16/02/2014 09:57

I'm so ahead of myself I've got my outfit for Tuesday set out (interview/meeting with temp agency. Just have to decide whether I'll wear the jacket or not depending on how hot and humid it is) Grin

Hopefully I don't do myself an injury at Zumba tomorrow!

Oh, and for those with conjunctivitis sufferers - if you can persuade them to lie on the bed with their head tipped back off the edge of the bed (does that make sense) it can make it easier to get the drops in. A trick taught to me by a friend of the family, when I was staying with them as a kid and had bad conjunctivitis - I fought my Mum about the drops, but this lady came up with this and it was a breeze after that.

Off to bed now. Have a good day everyone!

Pollywallywinkles · 16/02/2014 10:46

Morning all. Lovely and sunny here today, if not a bit on the cold side.

Sorry to hear about the job Gnomi, although you did well to be the only external candidate to be shortlisted. It sounds like it may have been a blessing in disguise.

I've been busy this morning. I've done my roots, body brushed, polished, washed and moisturised my body. Face all clean, oiled and moisturised. Off to dry my hair shortly and will paint my nails a little later.

QVC have a Elemis TSV today and I have resisted as I'm trying to be frugal for the rest of the month.

Just got to try and get motivated with some exercise!

StyleOverSubstance · 16/02/2014 12:05

62 DAYS TO GO

StyleOverSubstance · 16/02/2014 12:20

Nice to see so many new posts on the thread since I last posted, was wondering how you would go on with bad weather Helga as I seem to remember you had problems with internet at start of this new Princessing thread when trees coming down caused problems to internet connection.

DH managed to get all of his choccy hearts minus half of one as DD1 opened pack and helped herself!

Lucy glad my post made you Smile, you haven't had an easy time of it for a while with moving house and illnesses. Still in love with my new colour - although DH not said anything yet - but am taking that as a positive as it means it must look ok.

Well, tis now officially school holidays - so have got plans in place to cover indoor and outdoor activities as who knows what weather next week will bring! Favourite indoor activity requests are baking and a film/duvet day, cinema day to see new Lego Movie, so will see how we go as would like to be able to do some proper outdoor days too, like a zoo visit but obviously it will be weather dependant.

Dieting completely gone to pot - cold miserable weather = comfort eating...... Will definitely have to get back on track with that as my clothes are beginning to feel a little too snug!

Have a good day everyone!

StyleOverSubstance · 17/02/2014 08:41

61 DAYS TO GO

vvviola · 18/02/2014 02:14

I have had a miracle with my hair! I hope

Emergency trip last night to supermarket to pick up tights for today's interview. Impulse bought a "light oil mist". It actually kept the crazy flyaway bits under control for hours today, and even after a windy walk to the bus stop, they just settled down again. It's not perfect but it's a lot better. Grin fingers crossed it doesn't make my psoriasis flare up.

First attempt at doing new make-up myself was also pretty good.

StyleOverSubstance · 18/02/2014 08:41

60 DAYS TO GO

Dilidali · 18/02/2014 09:54

gnomi, good luck with your next interview, don't get disheartened, keep your eyes on the prize!
vvviola, fingers crossed and everything for tour interview today! Yay for ruling your hair!!!
style glad the colour is fab, makes such a difference, doesn't it?

We're on homestacation, as it were, doing jobs round the house and just pottering :). I am meeting friends this evening so I shall lead the clan in my charming manner, delegating them some tasks (yell at them till they do it, basically), while I have a long nice bath and do my hair etc. i might even paint my nails, now, that's pushing the boat.
I have a terrible headache!
We're meeting up for informal dinner, I am going to wear a funky t-shirt and my black skirt, black boots and a cashmere wrap thingy.
Ok, I'll go do my nails :) and take paracetamol.

StyleOverSubstance · 19/02/2014 00:07

59 DAYS TO GO

Dilidali · 19/02/2014 15:07

I painted my nails, they look pretty :). However, the entire neighbourhood must have got wind of it, I ended up painting 6 kids' nails, one boy included. Don't know where they all came from, but my living room is now full of kids eating flapjack and watching a movie. Love it.

StyleOverSubstance · 20/02/2014 10:23

58 DAYS TO GO

StyleOverSubstance · 20/02/2014 10:29

Am hoping that everyone else hasn't deserted but are just distracted by the fact that it is half-term. Am keeping up with the basics and doing other things as and when........ but it all starts to go pear shaped when things like this happen - DD1 decides to feed the fish, cant get the lid off the container, so goes into the kitchen and uses a knife from the cutlery drawer to prise the lid off still holding the container over the drawer. You know what is going to happen next don't you? and it did - a drawer full of fish food.

So in between washing vast quantities of school uniform ready for next term, coats, pe kits etc, keeping them entertained/taking them out for the day, I also get to empty the drawer to clean it and wash all the cutlery. Deep joy.......... Not. one. word. of this was ever mentioned in any parenting book I read, not. one. !!!

lucysmam · 20/02/2014 10:35

Grin style, that's usually my dp's trick & fish food goes under the big tank then he looks like Confused ....how does it come back out from under there then (usually I hand the hoover over Grin ).

It's not half term here until next week. I am dreading it tbh, we haven't got much spare cash for a day or two out and about so will mainly be the three of us mooching about in pj's probably (I nearly wrote oj's Hmm ). any ideas for stuff to do would be good!

I'm keeping up the basics...not much extra though. Feeling a bit meh still. Dr has given dd1 the all clear to go back to school but it looks like she's developing a similar blister under her right arm now Sad .

I need to sort my nails out, they keep breaking Sad & are all wonky again. Think I need to start again from Sunday with a proper pamper session & keep up from there Smile

HelgatheHairy · 20/02/2014 10:43

I have painted my nails for the first time in 7 months! Got a nails inc denim set in tk maxx. It's a "denim" colour, which means a kind of Matt navy. It's actually really nice. It's chipping easily but because the finish is kind of textured it doesn't really show repairs. It came with little gold and silver star shape studs but they're a step too far, I'd be afraid DD would eat them.

OP posts:
StyleOverSubstance · 20/02/2014 11:04

oh no Lucy please let it not be another blister, poor you and poor DD. enough is enough with all the illness. Must admit, my nails are also in dreadful condition and keep breaking, so wonder if it is an effect from being ill through most of January? Will have to have a 'health kick' when they have gone back to school and plan some really healthy and nutritious meals when I have chance to be left alone long enough to plan something!!!

So far as ideas for activities, hmm, we have had wet weather and dry weather options available for each day. Lego movie was a suprising hit with them - although it wasn't quite as I expected it to be, was wondering if we should have gone to see the other film Sherman and something or other instead. Took them on the 'cheap day' when tickets are reduced.

Baking days always go down well, fairy cakes, scones, biscuits - especially the ones you use boiled sweets in to make a 'stained glass' effect in the middle or shapes made from the cookie cutters and then we use various coloured icings to decorate and sprinkles etc.

If you have any big boxes left from house move or from buying appliances, keep them and they can make and decorate a 'house' from it (just check it first to make sure there are no metal staples sticking out). I also keep some stuff like toilet rolls/kitchen rolls/cardboard packaging so that they can make 'things' to go into house or just do some junk modelling. Den building day also goes down well, have kept some old sheets that they can use, so with cushions and blankets, they can make themselves dens or tunnels and they take their books and toys in there and have a lovely time!! We also make our own playdough and bake it in the oven and then they can paint and decorate that. DVD day - where we watch films and eat sweeties/popcorn and have fizzy drinks usually a winner too.

For nice weather, going to local park with bikes (there are some really good bike rides set up there, so you can just choose a route and follow it). A lot of the bigger museums have special exhibitions for half term and lots of child friendly activities, so it can cost very little to go. The zoo is also a big favourite but is a more expensive day out, same with going to the farm. Seaside also a bit of a tricky one at the moment after all the bad weather... but can be a lovely way of blowing the cobwebs away after being stuck indoors and they like being on the beach and drawing in the sand or building things. A lot of sports centres offer mini courses on a variety of sports stuff, so is often a good way of letting them try something new without a lot of expensive equipment and making a commitment when you don't know if they are going to stick with it. Go on a bus/train ride to somewhere new, take a picnic and explore! A lot of the big shopping centres have activities on too if you go into a town.

We usually have at least one lazy day though as I find they need to recharge their batteries and chill and just do something very low key. Good tempers are then restored!

Good luck!! Sorry for epic post!

vvviola · 21/02/2014 07:06

I haven't been posting because I'm turning into a big hot sticky melting blob.

It is beyond hot and humid here and has passed into 'yuk' Sad

StyleOverSubstance · 21/02/2014 09:25

57 DAYS TO GO
time is slipping away................

StyleOverSubstance · 21/02/2014 20:20

bump!

Dilidali · 21/02/2014 21:41

Hehe, it's the last friday before school week starts again, see, people are ironing and the such hehehe!!!
I need to lose 8 kilos in 3 months ladies! i am soooo shredding, mark my words!!!!