Get set for summer aka Operation Renovation

[Helgathehairy]

Hello, welcome, take a seat and get comfy!

A few years ago I started a countdown to Christmas thread. This year it inspired a few follow on threads so now we're on our "Get set for Summer"

The basis of these threads is adopting 20 habits which make a difference but don't take too much time or effort. The habits come from previous threads but can be adapted to your own needs.

Relevant links:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1559450-Anyone-interested-in-a-100-day-Princessing-challenge
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1834373-A-new-princessing-defrumping-groomed-challenge
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1771443-Fuck-I-look-like-a-middle-aged-frump
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1406737-How-to-be-groomed

Please forgive spelling errors I'm on my iphone with a baby asleep on me'

Thanks for the tip about starting one thing at a time. I think that would be most realistic right now. I stopped caffeine a couple weeks ago (hooray) and upped my water last week. Will have a think what to focus on this week.

Haircut booked.

So glad it's stopped raining!

I think I have a good(ish) grasp of the basics. Although water is something that fluctuates, some days great, some terrible.

Had a lovely day yesterday. Went to a tourist town about an hour away (Dingle) and went for a wander and went to the aquarium because DD loves penguins. Also saw possibly the classiest busker ever, he was playing a harp! There's a great ice cream shop there and I tried Gin ice cream - very nice it was too!

Just about to shower now and then off to in-laws for Sunday dinner.

I must get off my backside and get in the shower too.

I've noticed that my water intake has dropped a bit over the last week, so I must up that.

We had a curry last night which completely screwed up my fitness pal. I didn't go over the top, but what I had, put me hundreds of calories over what I should be having. Also feeling quite thirsty today, probably loads of salt in the curry!

Been out for a walk for an hour on my own in the sunshine, so feel better for than.

Hiding inside getting marking done while I have the house to myself. Will celebrate (if I get it all done!) with a pamper this evening.

Had a lovely weekend, hope yours was too.
About to get the clothes ready for tomorrow.
I had a very very nice and thorough pedicure last week but the skin on my feet is so dry, I had to keep reapplying cream throughout the day today.
So the plan for next week is:
Body brush and moisturise after every shower.
Apply cream on feet twice a day.
Continue with the hot flanel cleanse, serum and moisturising cream for face, a bit of make up.
Shred mon-fri, swimX2
5:2 monday and wednesday.
2 bottles of water a day.
Organise a get together for the weekend with some friends.
Limit the i phone time, lately I've been constantly on it!

Hope you all have a great week.

I've been pretty good with cleansing, toning and moisturising. My little success!

Didn't get my pamper this evening. Was marking till 9.30 so will do it Wed night when DH is out for his music lesson. Have just had a nice shower, put repair oil in my hair and moisturised. Trying to use up the last of my body moisturiser - it's in the worst designed bottle! It's quite thick so either needs to be in a tub or a proper squeezy bottle. Instead it's in a wide bottle with a narrow neck so you have to bash it against your hand to get it out...really annoying!

Sorry for my absence lately, I was using mobile last week because the app was down ( ) but no excuse for this week.

I've been keeping up though!

I didn't get my haircut, I think I got forgotten about as a friend was meant to be doing it so will see if she'll do it on Friday when she has a day off work. We didn't go out last night either as it was cancelled so my pretty new dress is still waiting to be worn

On the upside, it's a five week month for us so we've had a rent-free week & each taken some cash for clothes, I'm off to see what there is to be had tomorrow morning with dd1 while 2 is at nursery. Am hoping for some pumps, jeans, a couple of floaty tops and maybe a summer dress or two (am off to Primarni). Also need hair serum/heat spray/face mask and nail files while we're out.

I'm off to catch up on what I've missed...I may be a while

Haven't posted in a few days but I've been keeping up.

I've been a scruff today as we've been at home doing gardening etc, but in general I've been making more of an effort. Eg I took the DC out yesterday to a park/lunch out and motivated myself to wear a nice jacket, scarf and earrings; normally I'd have thrown on an old coat or cardi. I have a few nice jackets but they're all 1 or 2 sizes too small, though a couple look ok worn open.

I've been keeping my nails nice but my skin has gone to pot as it's totm. The last couple of months it seems to have got really bad for a week or so before my period. I wonder if my hormones are going a little bit haywire

I think I've lost 3lb after my first two weeks on the 5:2. I've just worked out my personal calories based on height/age etc and it's lower than I thought. Now I know why the weight was creeping on

I need to figure out how/when to fit in some exercise. I've made a start by signing up to a 30 day abs challenge on FB. I figure it can't be that hard to fit in a few sit ups. Hopefully I'll see a bit of a difference at the end of the month.

Right, off to sort outfit for tomorrow!

We all know you've been busy doing your Christmas shopping lucysmam I haven't been doing the same oh no

Calling...guilty as charged! Tbf though, I'm nearly done so I can concentrate on the kids

Back from my trip to town with dd1, got all sorts with my £50! I got a summery short playsuit, dress, floaty top, sandals, jeans, socks and a whole load of jewellery...pics on fb to follow later on. Also got a few eyeshadows/liners on 3 for a quid in one of the cheap shops. New rimmel lipgloss in Poundworld and cuticle nippers. Face mask and instant tan in Poundland.

Plus other bits and bobs not beauty related (hoover bags & hanging basket liners - they're to pull apart for a homework model of dd1's though - oh the excitement! )

Hope you're all having a good day...I'm stuck at the park waiting for nana to get home )

Sounds great lucysmam !

I've started stocking up and buying bits for birthdays and Christmas too. I usually get a lot of stuff sent to my parents' house and pick up in November or we spend Christmas in the UK. But this year we will not be in the UK for Christmas or NY since dc2 will be arriving so will have to be organised as our last trip to the UK will be October!

Looking forward to getting dressed up for prom on Friday!

Wow lucysmam you got a lot for your £50! Very impressed with the Christmas shopping already. We have a big cluster of family birthdays in March - May (summer conceptions seem to be a family trait) so I feel I need a little breather, then I can get serious about Christmas.

About to head off for an early night. I need to remember to leave enough time for all the skincare, outfit selection etc.... It's a good way of winding down though.

Spangle we only have the two mid year birthdays ( my dad and dp) , everyone else is clustered from Oct-Jan so I try and get everyone sorted early in the year so then I can concentrate on the girls (one three days after Xmas and the other end of Jan birthdays).

I didn't get in til 4pm this afternoon so didn't get round to snapping my shopping but will do it while I have a brew in the morning before starting on the shithole house. God only knows how it ends up so wrecked after just the one week off school

pics on fb of yesterday's clothes shopping - forgot about my sparkly eyeliners though so will snap those later. Will also have to get dd to snap me later as I'm wearing my new floaty top.

Best crack on with something - been very lazy so far today

DH has taken DDs to his parents so I've taken advantage. I've bathed, have my nails done a great summer colour (I'll put a pic on fb), have a face mask on and am drinking tea and eating Jaffa cakes in my dressing gown!

Well done Lucy and Helga. I've started body brushing, although I'm still not quite sure what it's supposed to do, nor whether I am doing it right. I went for a free makeover at the Laura Mercier counter in John Lewis last week. I may have finally got the hang of eyeliner and he showed me how to do a really quick Kate Moss dark smudgy eye. I have yet to practice this, so I may end up looking like a panda when I attempt it! There's a thread about skinny chinos, which I am watching with interest...

very quiet in here!

There was a thread in chat the other night & someone suggested neutral eyeshadow with a coloured liner on the top/bottom lid (ie. blue on top, silver on bottom). I'm not quite brave enough to try the colour on the bottom one yet but have to say doing it that way works well with the spangly blue and green liners I bought the other day (pale pink, slightly sparkly shadow on eyelid).

I noticed yesterday that my boots are in desperate need of some attention from a cobbler so am praying for the good weather to hold up while I split the £15 it'll cost over a few weeks

Forgot to snap my new top, promise I will get round to it! Off to make some rhubarb & custard muffins and crumble topping. Have a good day all

Rhubarb and custard muffins....???? YUM!!!!!

oh yes....I'll post the recipe if you want? I only tried them out yesterday from a recipe I found online. Not many left

Yes please!!!

yum!

I've subbed the veg oil with 100g ish of butter. & added one egg to the egg/milk/rhubarb/vanilla mix to start. Can always add a second or splash more milk if the mixture looks a bit dry when combined.

Enjoy

Don't forget the baking powder like I just have if you make them...this batch are a bit, um, flat

(also, you might find you need more flour because the mix is really runny, mine was)

Thank you!