Operation Renovation: The last of the summer wine, and sorting out Autumn wardrobes

[ControlGeek]

Following on the heels of the previous renovation threads, this one will seal the deal on Summer and take us nicely into Autumn with a flurry of mn scarves and flashes of seasonal nail varnish.

As always, this thread is for all types of renovation - diet, hair, make-up, clothes, or simply finding ways to make more time for you.

The rules are simple, make a list of 10 things (or as many as you are comfortable with) you will do to start to work towards your renovation goal and decide how frequently you need to do these.

[ememem84]

have also gone awol for a bit. Update from me. Have been super stressed with work, and have sort of not been taking care of myself. I have removed a few stressors so am slowly getting myself back. Have started taking my vitamins again, have started drinking more water, less tea (during stressful times, I turn to tea to get me through). And have been sleeping a lot.

hair is awful. nails are awful. skin is awful.

Have 2 weeks until I go on holidays. So this morning, got up early, went to the gym. then came home, had a huge hot shower, proper scrubbed all the dead skin off. and moisturised.

christmas shopping is all done, we are having christmas next week with family here before we head off to NZ to visit DH's family for the holidays and a well earned break.

because I've been so stressed and not wanting to do anything, I have managed to save a fortune. So it's not all bad.

[Want2bSupermum]

Been AWOL as so busy with work, family and life in general. I unpacked the scale and weighed myself to discover I have lost 10lbs in two months while eating copious amounts of food. Selling my car is the best move I have made for my rear end.

My SIL and her OH are both sick with it looking like her OH isn't going to here in a year so we are going back to Denmark for Christmas. I am going to stock up on rainwear while we are there. It works out to be about the same cost as good quality items here in the US are considered niche so warrant a huge mark up in price. Since we are going away I need to order Christmas presents online once the sales start after Thanksgiving.

The focus right now is on getting enough sleep. I am so tired that I can't get out of bed in the morning. With two young children I am supposed to be up at 5.30am, handing off the kids to the nanny at 7.30am so I can go to work. The nanny is exhausted from her commute and her performance has been so poor we are moving the kids back to daycare and the after school program once a spot becomes available (they estimated Feb). I have been late leaving in the morning so end up working late to get my work done.

The programs I have signed the kids up for both feed the children so all I have to do is get everyone dressed and out of the house. This will also mean we have an empty house during the day so I will have the option of working from home once a week too. Right now I am willing to do anything for an extra hour of sleep! Before anyone says I should go to bed earlier..... I get home at 9pm from work and its 10pm when I get to bed. I literally come home to clean, make food for the next day and do laundry!

[CallingAllEngels]

Did I break the thread?!

[CallingAllEngels]

I'm just coming to the end of my half term but have been a bit of a hermit this week with sorting out planning and baby stuff, I'm actually looking forward to having some adult time next week!

Have just given myself a proper pamper upstairs - body mois, leave in conditioner, face mask and some scrummy perfume (even though I'm not going anywhere!). have friends over for coffee tomorrow so will make an effort.

I bought myself a few more clinique lip things (the chubby sticks) on the ferry a few weeks ago and stocked up on the Estee lauder serum I use as so much cheaper.

Also got a Liz Earle delivery this week - ordered 3 of their christmas limited edition cleanser - orange and mint - smells lush!

Got some free travel bits and a complimentary mascara base thing - I did not know I needed that!

Christmas shopping going well here too. All presents for family in UK done, wrapped, labelled and at my mum and dad's (except my dad's. I usually get him films or books so he needs to tell me what he wants!). Ditto all presents for friends DC in UK. I only have to send my Dsis's to NZ and get something for my best friend. DS is mostly done. DH doesn't have much for his stocking - but that's because he's difficult!

[lucysmam]

Hello all

Calling ..clever coat! Have just read the description about the removable panel.

I've fallen off the wagon a bit, ok maybe a lot.

Need to get back on it! 69 days until Christmas!

On the plus side, Christmas shopping going well, house is getting more sorted.

Half term will be used mainly for lists and sewing when I can, then back on it properly when kids go back. Might even post my daily lists to keep me motivated.

Hope everyone else's doing ok

[CallingAllEngels]

Sorry for being AWOL. Am just coming to the end of my half term and have been doing lots of baby prep and planning for maternity cover. 5 more weeks of work to go!

blondie so sorry to hear about your dad

Welcome back karbea

Big waves to Helena , Jemima , Control , lucysmam , supermam , kia and anyone else who’s lurking.

Sent back my maternity coat as a) the 14 was massive and b) reckon even a 12 would look like a tent on me due to style. Instead bought this one in a 12 and very comfy with a hood, and should be able to wear it post-pg.

Am keeping on top of face skincare but not much else. Making an effort on workdays, but have just spent most of half term slobbing in jogging bottoms and tops while I try and make room for the baby!

Am looking forward to some pampering when I start ML – going to book myself a pg massage to celebrate.

Hope everyone’s well. x

[lucysmam]

Blondie, so sorry to hear about your dad. It's good that you've had support from neighbours and friends.

Decorating is going well...did the bathroom Tuesday. Ran out of satin for the skirting/doors though so they'll have to wait. Need some new towels but was debating asking my dad for a set for Christmas maybe instead of the randomness we usually get.

Routines are slipping a bit here I haven't moisturised for a while...vitamins are gone & I forgot to replace...nails are a state...water has not replaced !

At least I go out with my hair done and a full face of make up every day though. & a friend has offered me a few dresses she no longer wears to try and get me out of jeans/boots/jumper uniform.

I'm half way through putting together Princess Anna skirts in paper. Trying to work out the panels so that I can translate it into a fabric skirt to fit dd1 is making my head go

[Blondieminx]

Jemima I managed some Christmas shopping but you sound like you're making great progress with your wardrobe. Off to have a browse at the blog you mentioned - I feel in need of some retail therapy!!

[Blondieminx]

LucysMam it sounds like you're going great guns, decorating as well, do you wanna come over and help with mine?

[Blondieminx]

HelenaGrace I love the Crabtree & Evelyn lip butters they do at Christmas (just had a look in the website, the lovely mint one I like isn't in stock yet) they are really rich and nice.

Karbea & Control sounds like things are very hectic for you both right now - take a little bit of time for yourselves please... X

I have been AWOL for a bit too, my dad died so tbh I have been focussed on sorting stuff out for the funeral, rather than renovating myself. But I want to start eating more healthily again and to get back into the swing of things slowly. We've had really good support as a family from
our friends and neighbours which has helped a lot x

[Karbea]

Aaa lucysmam no not really! totally exhausted! Just finished work and I've still some to do. My toes kill from being on my feet all day, and I've corns :(
Didn't actually achieve any of that yesterday or today, ended up having a terrible headache yesterday :(

[lucysmam]

Hello Karbea and Control

Control you sound like me clearing out before Christmas! Feels good to be organised though. I thought you did your craft room a while ago? How are your braces going? & wedding plans?

Karbea small steps are the way to go! You sound quite deflated lately when you post, you ok?

Jemima your winning the lottery comment made me ...bet our postie thinks the same about me (little does he know most of my parcels are cheap bits and bobs for the girls' reuseable advent calendars)

I've been lazy tonight...forgot to defuzz, looked at my moisturiser but cba, hair is half dry & very very fuzzy, two broken nails being ignored (spent the afternoon deep cleaning & knackered now). Will sort myself out in the morning.

[JemimaMuddledUp]

Forgot to say, nice to see Karbea and Control

[JemimaMuddledUp]

The local courier must think I've won the lottery, I've had so many deliveries this week. Unfortunately most of it is going back. From the Boden sale I ordered a couple of tunics and two shirt dresses, but none of them look right. From White Stuff I ordered lots of knitwear to try, but again everything apart from one short sleeved swing cardi is going back. Ordered some wide leg trousers from East today, hoping that they fit as well as my Matalan ones but are better quality. The only things that have really been a hit are my scarf and necklace from the School Gate Style blog shop, both of which I love.

At least I am being more discerning and sending things back if they don't look great.

Tomorrow's outfit: navy wide leg trousers, navy and cream breton, new pink necklace. With a big coat as we have been hit by storms again.

[Karbea]

I do need to think a bit about what I wear (when im not in a uniform), my hair (when it's not in a french plait) and makeup, currently wearing pretty minimal - but at least everyday! Anyway... here goes. I'll be adding new things in each day...

Ok! Here is my list!

Run & Swim 4 times (2 each) before 15/10

Today

• floss, mouthwash - daily
  
• Whitening Strips (next 5 days)
  
• Bath with Epsom salts.
  

9-Oct

• Always eat a meal within one hour of waking.
  
• Take vitamins
  
• At home facial
  
• At home manicure (Thurs/Sun)
  

10-Oct

• Eat five times per day: three meals and two snacks (Breakfast, Morning snack, Lunch, Afternoon snack, Dinner).
  
• Don't eat - Wheat and Rye: These are linked to bowel dysfunction, depression and low energy
  

11-Oct

• Don’t let more than four hours go by without eating a meal or snack
  
• Don't eat - Dairy
  

12-Oct

• Eat protein with every meal and snack.
  
• Don't eat sugar.
  
• Epilate - every Sunday.
  
• Hair treatment - every Sunday.
  

13-Oct

• Eat fish at least 3 times a week, oily fish no more than three times
  
• Don't eat - Potatoes and sweet potatoes
  

14-Oct

• Don't drink calories
  
• Don't eat vegetable oil.

[ControlGeek]

Here I am lucysmam!

I've been reading daily, but struggling to find the time to post. I'm back at work again now, and have put some great routines in place. Let's see how long they last

Nails need a bit of tlc, and hair could do with a bit more of a regular super-conditioning. Sorting my clothes and shoes out the night before is making my mornings a lot less stressful.

I've completely revamped my wardrobe, shoe drawers, undies drawers and jumpers shelf. I took three old-lady-trolleys worth of stuff down to the charity shops and am chuffed to say that I can now fit everything in where it ought to be Next step is the craft room. I really, honestly, truly will get to grips with it!

Helena I use Nivea intensive care chapstick on my lips, I find it works really well throughout the year.

Good to see you back karbea, looking forward to seeing your list. It can be so hard to find the energy when you're working all hours.

[Karbea]

Hello - Can I rejoin?
I'm sorry i've been awol.

Things are pretty rubbish around here, I'm working more than full time (i usually do 13hrs) and we've no money currently to spend on anything. All beauty, good eating, exercise and general looking after myself have gone out of the window, the only upside is i've hardly been out in public so it doesn't matter how bad i've been looking (I wear a hideous uniform to work).

So today, i've taken the afternoon off (I started work at 6). And i'm going to get a bit organised. I hope you'll all let me rejoin, not entirely sure how interactive i'll be, as i wont have too much time to keep up to date, but I'd definitely like to try as much as I can!

I've started flossing and mouthwashing in the eves, and i've just sorted my daily vitamins out between today and sunday.

Going to write a list and will report back ;)

[lucysmam]

Calling I love the coat you ordered. I had similar in cream when pg with number two & wore it afterwards as well so hopefully you'll be able to do the same.

I hope I haven't missed anyone!

Control, you still with us?

I'm ofd cushion, storage box and shelf bracket shopping shortly to finish off the living room Still haven't found curtains to fit but what we have will do until after Christmas so I can crack on with the hall/stairs (quick lick of cream/magnolia just to tidy up atm and satin on the wood) and then do the girls' room before Christmas to get rid of the yellow (

[lucysmam]

Meant to say as well Helena, I like the little tubs of vaseline for lips...currently have the green one on the go. Or, you can get some nice tinted ones rather than lippy, fairly sure I spied some in wilko

[lucysmam]

Helena, it peed it down here yesterday and Monday. Forgot to dig my wellies out to walk my friend's two dogs so ended up with soggy feet wearing an ancient pair of boots to do it. Not good

[lucysmam]

Good morning ladies

Supermum, we moved days before Christmas last year, v. stressful but worth it! I hope you enjoy your new home.

[Helenagrace]

Moving is so stressful isn't supermum?

At some point we're going to have to move again. I dread it!

Hope you get an appointment soon.

It's raining heavily here which has reminded me that I haven't waterproofed all my winter boots yet! It will have to be the patent brogues with a dress and opaques today.

[Want2bSupermum]

Hi everyone and thank you for the welcome. We closed on our new home on Friday, moved out of the temporary apartment on Saturday as the place was delivered in a filthy state so I hired four people to help me scrub the place (I swear I have seen cleaner stables and pigsty). I booked in with the expensive place and am wait listed for a weekend appointment. DH is travelling every week between now and Thanksgiving so week nights are not an option.

With all the stress of coordinating the last part of our move on my own I have lost some weight. My pants come down without unbuttoning them! I cooked dinner at home for the first time tonight. I was magical to have home cooked food.

[Helenagrace]

I've just caught up too.

Been at a work conference this weekend. Have socialised too much so early nights and healthy eating required ASAP! I took my new skincare regime with me and kept to it (despite crashing into bed a 01:40 this morning!

Tomorrow is a policy writing day so I'm going to wear a breton stripe t shirt, some nice heavy weight jersey wide leg trousers and brogues. Hopefully I'll get to walk on the beach when I have my lunchbreak.

I'm going to change over to winter hand creams (thanks for the reminder KiaOra). I need to stock up on good lip Balm as I'm really prone to cold sores when it's cold and windy. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[JemimaMuddledUp]

Catching up and marking place. It has been a busy week and I am full of cold

Survived the TV crew and got lots of compliments, especially on my shoes (teal suede Clarks Chorus Jazz) which I really should wear more often.

Have raided the Boden sale this afternoon, but loads will probably go back. Also bought some accessories for the first time on the School Gate Style blog shop, will report back when they arrive.

Worked out that I went swimming 17 times in September, which I am quite pleased with

Tomorrow's outfit: navy breton (Boden) under a sleeveless denim dress (Boden), feather print scarf (yet more Boden), teal opaque tights, black knee high flat boots ( Clarks). Probably my green satchel (Accessorise) as a handbag.