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'

Rummi I remember you from our previous threads, welcome back!

Progress report from me...

• haven't managed any exercise in 3 days...been a hellish week at work so must do better there! But on the upside 5:2ing is going well.
• have been slapping on the gradual tanner and now have nice golden legs. This has also made me keep them smooth so a definite improvement.
• have chucked some more stuff from my wardrobe that was shabby/didn't fit etc.
• went and got fitted for a new bra today and what a difference. Had been in a 32F and am now 30G. Feels and looks a million times better.
• not doing so well on the early nights but am determined to be in bed tonight by 10.30 (she says optimistically....)

John out of curiosity, where did you get bra-fitted please? I can only get accurate results at home so am very impressed with yours. Well done on the tanner and wardrobe clear out!

Control, I went to Bravissimo. I used the measuring tips on the bra intervention threads so thought I'd be a 30G and they were spot on. It's amazing the difference a relatively small change in size makes.

Progress report. Got my hair cut and coloured properly today. Used a voucher I got a Christmas! ! What a difference!

Nails booked for tomorrow. Also another voucher.
Bought a lovely top in penneys

taking vitamins

continuing with water.

still need the bra. Pretty desp actually as the wiring went but am toi broke so will be to wait!

TakeMeUp am I right from the Penneys mention that you are in Ireland? If so, I've had pretty good success with cheap bras from Dunnes and Tesco as a placeholder until finances improve. Dunnes in particular has decent sizes (I'm a 36DD at my smallest!) and last very well (I have a non-underwire one I got there 6 years ago that I still wear to my dance class).

New hair cuts are great, aren't they :) I'm not adventurous with my hair but I've been getting it trimmed and shaped every few months recently, rather than my previous once a year, and it does wonders for my mood.

On Day 2 of 5:2 here and it's going well. It's my birthday this weekend though, so I'm not expecting any weight loss by the time I get through the weekend . My lovely MIL (who is not always lovely, but means well) sent me a voucher for one of the department stores near us, so I may go and get some more makeup - the Bobbi Brown stuff I bought is fantastic so I may go and get a few more bits.

Oh, forgot to ask.

Those of you with more makeup experience than me (who only just discovered how to put it on properly this year at the grand old age of 34). How do you clean your makeup brushes?

Hi! is it ok if I join you? I really need this thread! Feeling very frumpy. I've just been trying on some summer clothes to find they're almost too tight... and they are my 'fat' clothes
I need to work on sleep, diet, exercise, skincare... everything really! Have to see to DD now but will come back later with a list of new habits.

vvv, I don't have brushes, but I suppose warm soapy water would do the trick?

I am about to join the 'new haircut, feels great' trend, got an appointment in a bit.
Then I am going for a facial.

I bought some hair intensive treatment/masks, did you see those in the supermarkets, a tiny tube thingy.

I have lost a few pounds, not enough though, so I went and bought a linen skirt and a floaty top to go with it, a pair of linen trousers and a funky trapeze tshirt and a jersey dress or two. But that's my whole summer wardrobe. So much for 33 items, I got 6. 8 if you count the vests.
But: we had a bit of sun here so we went to our favourite italian cafe the other week, just watching people. It struck me that if I look at someone and go:oh, that's just wrong' is because the clothes don't fit properly. And then looked at myself and I am guilty of exactly the same thing. So went and remedied that sharpish. Bought clothes that are my actual size. Quite large, but feels great and I am not self conscious I bulge at weird angles.

Manicure and pedicure to be done at home this weekend. :)

I'll be back to check in properly shortly...dd's day off nursery and she's driving me nuts already

vvv I use baby shampoo for my brushes, just swirl them about in a smidge in my hand and rinse well then leave to air dry on kitchen roll. You can buy proper cleaner for them but never looked because I buy the baby shampoo for dd2 anyway so don't see the point spending extra

Pleased to report I've got a cool haircut, had a fantastic facial (pure bliss, I promise to have at least 2-3 a year from now on), had a gorgeous lunch and now I am having coffee in the garden. Tomorrow I am having my eyebrows threaded-bring on the summer!

spangle, welcome, tell us about the list!

Wel I got the hair and nails done. Felt fab. Went around town in the sunshine, no kids great day, feeling the sun, lovely to get out! Bought an icecream in a tup from a kiosk, one of those little things and pottered around town and generally felt great.

Until two men started laughing at me as I was looking in a window at a top, eating my icecream. One says to me " you'dwant to ease up on the ice cream love". I was fucking gobsmacked and said "You would want to watch your mouth" The other laughed and said fat bitch and then went off skitting laughing, leaving me to stand there completely deflated.

Absolutely gutted,. I feel foolish and stupid now to think I could get a new fucking hair cut and things would change.

Errrmmm, no, you start with baby steps, takeme, little by little. Rome wasn't built in a day. Don't worry about those two losers, please,the like of them are two a penny. It was cruel and wrong of them. Just pretend they don't exist.

Tell me about the haircut, what did you have? I am painting my nails tomorrow, what colour did you choose?

Takeme, how horrible. Please don't listen to guys who are obviously complete arseholes. Don't let negative losers like that drag you down. Rise above it and keep up the good work!

takeme ignore the idiots. You are doing well. Please don't let them knock your self esteem.

I've reverted to fitness pal over the last couple of weeks to keep an eye on what I've been eating as a little weight was starting to creep on. Hopefully the scales will make me smile in the morning.

I've managed to do some exercise most days, although I missed yesterday as I went out for dinner after work. Shouldn't have eaten the pud! I've also been doing some arm dips as age is starting to impact.

Can't remember if I said I'd had my hair cut short. I'm still not sure about it but everyone else really likes it.

Nails and hands still need more regular attention, but I think I'm getting there!

What a pair of cocks they were takeme

Men like that try to drag women down with vicious comments, sexist behaviour etc simply because they know they wouldn't stand a chance with the women they pick on - it's a sort of pre-emptive revenge. Don't give the losers another thought.

Glad you got your hair and nails done, you must look great X

FFS this is my fourth attempt to post. iPad is now in the bin!

takeme please ignore those horrible men. What kind of insecurities do they have to think it's okay to pick on a stranger? Please try to remember how lovely it felt to pamper yourself.

OK here's my list:

1. Eight glasses of water a day
2. At least five fruit/veg a day (I make sure the DC have theirs and then forget to have mine)
3. Skincare routine twice a day
4. Put clothes for the next day out the night before
5. Mon - Thurs alcohol free
6. Check mirror and touch up make-up and hair throughout the day (I wear make-up every day but keep forgetting to touch up/brush hair and look a right mess by the end of the day)
7. Nails (feet and hands) weekly or as needed
8. Be in bed in time for AT LEAST 7 hours' sleep (I have to get up for work at 5.30am 3 days a week and am terrible for not getting in bed on time)
9. Floss/mouthwash daily

10. Take a multivitamin daily

There is LOADS more I need to do - lose weight, do some (any) exercise - but I think if I can get the above list nailed it will be a good foundation for the rest. At the moment I feel so knackered and disorganised I don't have the energy to sort myself out time to exercise, plus it's when I'm feeling harassed and exhausted I tend to reach for the biscuits

takeme as hard as it is to ignore eejits like that, that's all they deserve. As has been said, just take it one step at a time, the little things will mount up and before you know it you will be fab and glam in every way.

I've let my clothes go today, but knew I needed to spend a bit of time cleaning the kitchen so that's my excuse. I'll dig out my denim pedal pushers later for going into town. Teeth flossed for the first time since extractions - still too sore to exercise though. Just walking in heels was jarring them.

I'm getting my and DP's passport photos taken today - exciting!

Lots of lovely food deliveries today (just typed devileries - this could be more appropriate, with what I've ordered!) - a lovely meatbox with huge discount courtesy of the MN newsletter, and a Waitrose delivery making the most of their 'two dine for £10' deals, plus anything nice that I saw that was on offer. I don't often do Waitrose deliveries, and as this was my fourth I got £20 off the final total, on top of the other discounts!

DP has been banned from the fridge because I have planned a lovely outdoorsy afternoon of banqueting for when we get back from town.

I've lost nearly 5lb since saying I had a stone to lose, but I think a lot of that was fluid retention. As long as I can get through the day, the 5:2 is definitely the way to go for me.

We'll done on the weight loss Control.

After watching what I've been eating for the last two weeks and following fitness pal, I got on the scales this morning to find I've not dropped an ounce!

I'm still flossing! Healthy eating going OK, had a bit of a blowout on macadamia nuts, but no sugary rubbish. skin care is good, I've got some Ren anti-cellulite cream that actually seems to have made a difference (possible wishful thinking ha ha)

Clothes - a breakthrough today, am wearing my new skinny jeans! I wear a lot of black normally (hide behind it TBH). Today's outfit is blue skinnies, pewter leather converse-style trainers, a finely striped blue and white vest, black merino t shirt over the top and a blue patterned scarf that I hardly ever wear. I actually felt very uncomfortable leaving the house Met a friend for lunch who was very reassuring, feel better now! She also said I was looking in good shape so the yoga must be helping that as well as my stress.

Take me, what a pair of tossers and how horrible. You can't take that sort of thing to heart.

Had my eyebrows and upper lip threaded... She's doing a fantastic job, but my god it's painful!! And that coming from someone who's been plucking caterpillars for the past quarter of a century. I am convinced it's just her (as in the lovely lady who threads them), nothing to do with me. But it was unbearable. I think next time I will try somewhere else. After 7 visits it's not getting any better! She pressed the thread onto my eyeball, ffs!!! A few times.
Still, it looks gorgeous and it's done now.
Prepped the nails for a thorough manicure and pedicure tomorrow.
I am not leaving the garden/house tomorrow, so vest, shorts, no make up :)

Thanks all. After crying for a million years I finally stopped as my face was so puffy and I had a communion today! Everyone complimented me today. I knoe these things arent usually sincere but it felt nice!

I was thinking today that I deserve better than I give myself. Not treating myself right isnt on. I if I thimk im a blib ill act like a blob amd ill be seen as a blob.

so I'm adding one more to the list. Im going to be confident. Or at least fake it till I make it! Going to do this so I feel im worth this list because I have obviously forgotten that if I need to make the list in the first place!

That's the spirit, takeme!

So, what colour did you paint your nails then?