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.

[CallingAllEngels]

Morning all. Love hearing what you're all up to.

Slobbing at my parents house this morning after family funeral yesterday. Made the effort to look smart yesterday (earrings, make up, perfume, polished flats, blow dry) and am keeping up face routine. So much easier in the morning without a toddler, but he arrives with dh later!

Drinking lots of mint/cammomile tea and water, but have had 3 meals out since I got here and am the size of a house! Caught sight of myself in mothercare changing rooms on Tuesday and I'm huge. Putting on more weight this pg earlier, so need to lay off cake.

Today will go with striped short sleeve T-shirt with navy straight leg trousers and tan flats, choice between light grey waterfall cardigan or dark blue chunky cardigan depending on how cold it is.

Catch up properly when back home.

Any soup recipe recommendations gratefully received!

[Helenagrace]

Sorry to hear about the funeral Engels.

I have two brilliant soup recipes:

Courgette and cumin

Fry a diced onion and 1-2 cloves garlic in a teeny bit of olive oil until soft. Add two diced courgettes and some diced potato (small baking potato or a couple of new potatoes) and 1-2 teaspoons cumin and fry for one minute. Then add half a pint of milk (skimmed is fine) and half a litre of stock and simmer until the veg is soft. Blend and add more stock if needed and salt and pepper to taste.

Mushroom and tarragon:

As above except eplace the courgettes with about 250g mushrooms and the cumin with a teaspoon of dried tarragon. I don't fry the veg for a minute before adding the stock and milk with this one.

Both freeze really well. They do separate but that sorts itself out when you heat it.

On occasions I've fried the onion and then lobbed the whole lot in a slow cooker for both recipes and cooked for around 4 hours and that's worked well too.

[atticusclaw]

Helenagrace you're the organisation guru aren't you? I know its completely the wrong thread and sorry to hijack but since I know you're here…. I'm spending today trying to set up a back to school system for the DCs in particular a homework area/system. I've got blackboards with the days of the week on for them to write what they need each day, have a basket for each to put hats gloves etc in and have pegs for each to hang their bags. Now I've run out of ideas. Any good tips?

Sorry for hijack everyone else

On the renovation front I remembered to use the lash stuff last night and have taken vitamins this morning. That's it so far, not the best start!

[Helgathehairy]

Hello, hello, hello!

So this is where you all are!

I've had a bit of a whoopsie. I didn't realise this thread was here and I put out a call out to see who was interested in a countdown to christmas thread.

I'd planned to start the CTC on Monday, it's the first of September and 115 days to Christmas.

Not sure what to do now - maybe we could come over here or start a whole new thread?

control what do you think? Also huge congratulations!

my thread

[Helenagrace]

Hi atticus! Sounds like you've made a great start. I keep a dictionary, thesaurus and maths reference books in out homework corner. We've also got a four drawer desk - top tower thingy with pens, pencils etc in plus the "bobs" drawer which has a stapler, hole punch, sharpener, maths set etc in

We also have a lot of basic pound shop PE bags and the children pack all their kits for the week on a Sunday night. Saves last minute "where is my...?" panics! All bags hang on their doors until the night before they're needed when they come downstairs.

School paperwork goes in my foolproof bring forward system - but most people either glaze over or stare at me in puzzlement when I explain that!

[atticusclaw]

fab, Thank You! I didn't even think about dictionary thesaurus etc, I will go and hunt them out. I WILL be organised this year!!

[Helenagrace]

Being organised is such a time - saver. People look at me funny when I say I'm this organised be a use I'm essentially lazy but it's true. All the time I'm not looking for a swimming kit/ hockey stick/ letter about the school trip I can be reading my book!

[JemimaMuddledUp]

I love the skirt emenem! I like a bit of leopard print, but tend to stick to scarves or shoes.

Sorry to hear about the funeral Engels.

Helga I saw your thread and wasn't sure whether to say anything or not!

I like a bit of back to school organisation. My 3 DC are pretty good, we have a family calendar and everyone knows to check their column for instrument lessons/orchestra/Brownies/football practice/drama club/hockey match/swimming lessons etc etc (the list is endless!). Kits get washed straight away and then re-packed ready for next time. DS1 goes to secondary school this time though, so there is a bit of a new routine to learn. And he needs to not forget his bus pass, or he'll be walking to school!

Physiotherapy appointment this morning, so I am feeling a bit fragile. He says that I have to be patient and wait for the nerve in my foot and leg to regenerate - I am now half expecting Peter Capaldi to turn up! Due to the appointment I am far from glam today, wearing yoga pants and a jersey top as you need to be able to move freely as he bends your leg into strange contortions!

Food today:
Breakfast - porridge with blueberries and honey
Mid morning snack - Eat Natural bar (not great, but I was starving and that was the best the hospital shop had)
Lunch - Greek Salad with couscous and chickpeas
Dinner - Roasted Cod with Fennel, Red Onion and Balsamic Tomatoes (recipe here ) with some Puy Lentils.

Plus probably some fruit with greek yoghurt and a homemade Nakd bar.

I am going to the garden centre this afternoon to see if I can pick up some autumn bedding for the pots and hanging baskets at the front of the house. My summer ones went over quite quickly after the hot spell we had. I always think that a front door looks bare without some plants around it.

[ememem84]

Thanks jemina I wasn't sure about it at first but decided to just go for it.

Am keeping up skin routine. And am off to the gym later. Think I've drunk about 3 litres of water today. Also just forgot to wee!! So have been bursting all afternoon. Been such a full on day at work.

Dinner tonight is Leftover Thai green veg curry, with the addition of prawns and served over noodles.

helena those soups sound amazing. I made courgette soup last year when we had an influx from fil's allotment. Delicious.

My go to soup is sweet potato chorizo and chilli.

Or. Some sort of Asian chicken noodle. Yum.

[ControlGeek]

Engels I'm sorry to hear about your funeral, I hope everyone's doing ok.

ememem I love that skirt!

helena those soups sound fab. It's been ages since I made a good soup. Also, I simply have to know more about your bring forward system.

Jemima oooh your poor nerve! That sounds horrible. Loving today's menu at yours though. Are you being well looked after? My hanging baskets mostly died while we were away in Spain so I'll be on the hunt for nice looking flowers soon. I get fed up of pansies, so might go for cyclamen and some nice foliage.

helga oops - sorry! I asked on the fb group in case another thread had started! I'm happy to merge all into one, or move move onto either thread, whichever you prefer?

[Helgathehairy]

control sorry - I didn't see the Facebook message.

Would the best thing be a new thread Monday? I'll kick it off and start the countdown. I can put a link here.

[Helenagrace]

I just ordered The Shred DVD. I'm going to die aren't I?

I thought I could do it if I can do a walk or run for some reason. I'm deluding myself!

I've not been good at drinking water so I'm going to fill a litre bottle and aim to finish it by 1pm and then refill it and aim to finish it by 9pm.

My foolproof bring forward system for dealing with school paper is this:

Buy one of those concertina folders from a stationers or supermarket. Usually they have 13 sections. Label the last twelve with the months of the year. Leave the front one blank.

Any bits of paper that arrive from school get quickly glanced at (just in case you have an "oh we forgot we need this signed and please can we have £2.26 in exact change by tomorrow" sort of school). If it can wait chuck it in the first section.

You need a second smaller folder, noticeboard or similar (I have magnetic day of the week pegs on the fridge). You only need 7 sections or pegs.

Once a week sit down with the folder, your calendar and cheque book, box of change and envelopes (the pre - paid reply envelopes from credit card statements and utility bills are perfect and free).

Pull out everything from the front section. Go through it writing on your calendar and dealing with the reply slips. File letters in the correct month of your file. Once they're sorted pull out the current month and take out any letters relating to the next week and put them on your peg or noticeboard. If you have something with more than one date (like residential trip instalments) put it in the first month you need to make a payment and then move it when you've made that payment.

Train everyone to look at the noticeboard or peg each morning - or do what I do and put it on the breakfast table the night before.

I promise you'll never fail to deal with school paper if you do this.

[ememem84]

Went to the gym last night. 20 mins cross trainer. 1000m rower. Then weights. Worked arms, and my non existent abs.

This morning I'm hurting a bit. But exercise combined with taking care of myself means I'm feeling so much better about being me. Win.

Today is Friday. Dress down at work. And bacon roll day. Must try and resist.

Today's outfit- black skinnies, grey vest under yellow Tshirt. Either converse or nude ballerinas. Grey chunky cardigan (office is FREEZING at present).

[JemimaMuddledUp]

I have been bad . Went to the garden centre last night to pick up some plants for the front garden and succumbed to a jam and cream scone that probably had more calories in it than my entire dinner. I was feeling crap and my leg was hurting after physiotherapy and it just looked so good...

Anyway, today is another day and my last day of annual leave before the DC go back to school next week. I need to have a last minute check that I have everything on the list as I am sure I have forgotten something. I also need to fill in the calender for September with after school activities etc. I then have to do the job I hate - testing DD's spellings. She has some corkers this summer, not sure that an 8 year old actually needs to know how to spell xenophobia, chromosome or endeavour!

I also want to plant up the hanging baskets and pots in the garden and deep clean the kitchen. Which should hopefully burn off the scone calories.

Have a good day everyone!

[Helgathehairy]

Or there's no reason we can't just run the two threads at the same time. Mine is kind of the beginners group, this is more the graduates.

[JemimaMuddledUp]

Personally I don't mind where I post, as long as there is a thread to get my arse into gear on! I'll go with the majority.

[ControlGeek]

I like the sound of a beginners and grads thread helga!

Will post more later, just at the hospital now.

[Blueandwhitelover]

Keeping up with the skincare and nails (although they are looking a bit ropey this morning), Not managed the gym yet as have had two lovely days out with a friend who normally works all school holidays, including a lovely wander to the charity shops. I think I am hibernating a bit before going back to work on Wednesday.

[JemimaMuddledUp]

I am feeling all organised ready for back to school. Deep cleaned the kitchen today, plus sorted out the DC's homework area. Also printed off new instrument practice charts - DS1 plays violin and piano, DS2 plays trumpet and DD plays violin and I seem to find half my life nagging someone to practice something. I managed to get the front garden sorted in between showers too.

None of this is conductive to looking good, but I always find I approach routines better if I'm feeling organised about everything else.

DS2 and I also made banana raisin flapjacks from a recipe on a healthy eating blog I follow, we had loads of brown bananas that needed using in the fruit bowl. They are at least healthier than the scone I ate yesterday!

Hope the hospital appt went OK Control.

[peaz]

Ok, I'm going to join!

1. restart th 5:2 diet. I did it a couple of months ago and lost 9lbs. Stopped because of the holidays so going to get back to it. Mondays and Thursdays (although I'm at a wedding in a couple of weeks on a Thursday so it will be mon and wed that week.)
   
2. continue with current gym routine. Three sessions a week, x trainer, weights and abs. Would like to squeeze a swim in there but not sure I have the time.
   
3. regular eyebrow threading. I've neglected them for a couple of months and it's telling.
   
4. I bought some stuff from bravura months ago and haven't used it, so need to get in the habit of doing it regularly.
   
5. eat more veg, and more fruit on my non fasting days. Fruit =calories, so not going to consume them on fast days. But need to be better on non fast days.
   
6. drink more water. I don't drink anywhere near enough
   
7. take vitamin d tablet
   And now for my household related aims (it can't all be about me!)
   
8. establish a homework routine and stick. To. It. This includes making sure I am working from home with minimal disruption.
   
9. take DSs to the park once a week after school.
   
10. take ds2 to toddler group. The last two points are because I feel I don't do enough with them. I've had a mobility issue which is starting to clear up now, so I want to make up for lost time.
    
    Good luck everyone!x

[Hazchem]

I'm going to dive in a join. I haven't done one before so hope I get it right! I'm due baby number 2 mid december and am massively overweight so am finding my expanding belly quite a challenge emotionally (as well as physically). I'm hoping by doing this when baby comes I'll feel better about myself even if my tummy is still massive. I"m also down under so heading into summer. I'm including a few things in my list I'm pretty good at doing already to give myself an ego boost!
so my list

1. cleanse, rosehip oil and moisturise morning and night - I'm good in the morning
   
2. Vitamin tables and my thyroid tablets
   
3. Body moisturize daily
   
4. Spinning babies daily care umm daily
   
5. write everything in food diary - I know i'm not allowed to lose wait but I don;t need to eat for triplets and this should help me do that.
   
6. fingers or toes weekly so they get a look in at least once a fornight
   
7. daily meditation
   
8. pregnancy exercise DVD twice a week
   
9. Walk 4 days a week and 1 swim with the aim to increase to walk everyday
   
10. Sort out a pregnancy/breastfeeding wardrobe have nice bras and singlets on order just need trousers/skirts
    
    That sounds manageable doesn't it?

[KiaOraOAotearoa]

Hello everyone!
It's a beautiful morning here and the silence is deafening, the clan is out for the count. Given how noisy and busy it has been in my house lately....feels weird.

Anyway, I'm here to give you my list.

1. Devise an exercise routine and stick to it. I have to rewrite the whole thing due to injuries. So I am going to do the shred 3 days a week and run another two.
   
2. Do not eat anything unless I put it in MFP.
   
3. Apart from my morning coffee with sugar and 4 o'clock slice of cake and coffee (without sugar), do not eat anything with sugar in it. My cake has to be home made or nothing.
   
4. Re-start taking vitamin D (haven't been in the sun properly this year at all).
   
5. Reinstate my hot water and lemon routine. It'll be nice for when the frost comes!
   
6. I am a stone and a half overweight. Which is fine, I can carry that. But I have no clothes for autumn. Ones that fit that is. I need a couple of winter dresses and a skirt. Still doing my 33 items wardrobe ( as a side track, all I had this whole summer was one pair of linen trousers, one linen skirt and two-three dresses. I struggled a bit, but it was doable).
   
7. Order some more and wear more often my contact lenses.
   
8. Organise having my legs waxed every month throughout the winter. They are in desperate need of a break from all the shaving this summer.
   
9. I am yet to buy a water bottle to have when I am at home. I hardly drink any if I am not at work.
   

10. Moisturise moisturise moisturise moisturise.
11. Wear a bit more colour. I really went ALL black/navy/grey.
12. Be happy :) hehe

[JemimaMuddledUp]

Right, I only half wrote my list upthread as I said I was going to think about the rest and come back to it by September 1st. So here is my updated list:

1. Eat fewer carbs, base meals and snacks around lean protein and vegetables. Chocolate Hobnobs are not vegetables.

1. Swim for 30 mins every weekday morning before work.

1. Walk for 60 mins every day (usually to and from work and the pool)

1. Keep up with essential maintenance - eyebrows waxed every 6 weeks, haircut every 8 weeks, file and polish nails at home every Sunday night.

1. Drink lots and lots of water - at least 2 litres every day.

1. Cleanse and moisturise properly twice a day (not just face wipes as I'm in a hurry). Face scrub and mask once a week, probably Sunday night.

1. Keep hand cream on desk and apply several times a day. Moisturise body every other night.

1. Choose and lay out clothes the night before, including accessories. Have a rough (weather dependant) plan for the week's outfits at the start of the week.

1. Don't buy clothes just because I fancy them, make sure that I (a) need them and (b) have things that go with them in my wardrobe already.

10. Use Pinterest to create fresh looks with what I have in my wardrobe already.

I am also having a bit of a home organisation shake up, but I am posting about that on the Fledglings thread (Good Housekeeping). I will be organised and stick to both of them!!!

[lucysmam]

I haven't read any posts yet, just checking in.

Today's no make-up & scruffs day for me. Just labelling uniform & making sure we have everything for Tuesday (have run out of labels !).

Feeling a bit rough today...bit much last night. There's half the bottle left too

Plan for tonight is face mask/defuzz/deep condition hair etc.

Last day of the hols tomorrow & forecast is good so I think I'll fill the paddling pool for the girls and see if nana will come up for an hour or two.

My big coat is now clean and has new buttons. Boots are on my to do list (heels & soles). Think I'll wash my scarves this week and 'spring' clean living room and our bedroom, maybe the bathroom as well.