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.

[Karbea]

Right undies drawer done - giving me a new resolution... Wear matching undies everyday!
Onto the next drawer...

[Helgathehairy]

kia just saw your post now sorry. My "baby" is almost 13 months now and just taking her first few steps. Obviously I'm biased but she's adorable

[Karbea]

And had lunch... Last pasta for awhile!

[JemimaMuddledUp]

Bleugh, I am still so tired. I don't think I am going to go swimming tomorrow, 4 days out of 5 is good going and I could do with a bit of a lie in. It is also TOM and I don't like swimming at the start of it. It'll be fine by Monday.

Despite the tiredness I managed a good day - ate healthily, swam before work, walked 3 miles, drank lots of water and not much coffee.

I think I am going to wear jeans to work tomorrow (it is Friday after all), with a pale blue pinstripe shirt.

Definitely need an early night tonight.

[Karbea]

Didn't get round to doing my nails, but I did finish my wardrobes/drawers.
And I had omelette for my dinner.

My list
---

1. floss & mouthwash.
   
2. eat two eggs per day.

[KiaOraOAotearoa]

Just a quick line, I'm off to work shortly:
You guys are fab! You're really sticking to it :) and the results will show!
The weekend is nearly here, enjoy this Friday :)

[Helenagrace]

Mfp and c25k must be working as I've lost 3lb!
I had a governors meeting last night and went to bed far too late!

Today I WILL drink water.

[NK5BM3]

I've been doing the lemon water in the morning every day this week. Not sure if it's making any difference but hey, it's good for me! Will do it for longer as I just bought a large sack of lemons.

Was going to walk for school run today and kids refused to cooperate.

[lucysmam]

Morning ladies

How's everyone doing?

Control, you alright?

Jemima four days is good going! Have a well earned break

[lucysmam]

Karbea I'm off for a couple of new underwear sets today, then will decide what to throw - or what's most knackered!

Also off to our favourite restaurant for dinner may have a with it being Friday

Also planned for the weekend -
*haircuts for me and girls
*wash last few scarves - some I forgot
*name tape last of uniform
*fingers and toes
*dye hair

Biiiiig clean starts next week in preparation for Christmas

Have a lovely day everyone, check in later

[CallingAllEngels]

Morning all!

jemima you definitely deserve a break after 4 days on the trot!

karbea always easier to stick to a resolution when someone else is doing it with you. That's why I love running with my colleague who lives up the road - neither of us wants to let the other down and don't want the other to run without us, in case they get ahead really miss it atm and dreading the day she tells me she's moving in with her BF who lives a far way away.

Good job on the undies. I really need to buy myself some more maternity underwear. Have my big maternity pants on today and they're so comfy, especially at supporting my bump.

Enjoy your meal lucy and have a good day at work kia

Well done on the weight loss helena - DH weighed himself yesterday and he's lost half a kilo in less than a week.

At home today and feeling rotten (chesty cough, cold and sleepless night up with DS who's also feeling rubbish) so feet up, Lady and the Tramp on and will be mostly sitting on the sofa!

Have on underbump bootcut jeans with short sleeve striped T-shirt and NZ jade necklace. No make-up but freshly showered and moisturised and have lovely perfume on.

Have been really good at keeping up cleansing routine and body moisturising after shower or before bed.

Food is fairly balanced (especially as DH is trying to lose weight and be healthier) though cannot resist a cake and biscuit atm - I'll go easy on myself since the baby clearly wants it!

Am doing well at drinking less coffee and more water/herbal tea at work. have been filling a thermos with hot water in the morning for tea - if I want a coffee I have to go downstairs, which I really don't want to do in my current waddling state.

Waves to helga , control , NK and everyone else I've missed (only reading last page atm!).

Need to make sure I eat as well at home as I have at work the last 3 and get the water and herbal tea in.

[Karbea]

Hi All,

Hair coloured and I'm happy with it. I think I should have gone a little darker, but I guess I was best of being careful first time!
Painted my nails and had a banana for breakfast.

helengrace well done on your weightloss. How's the water drinking going?
nk5 I think the lemons help wake your digestive system or something don't they?
lucysmam enjoy your dinner. I've matching lingerie on today, even tho I'll be wearing my uniform over the top in a min.
callingall I know! I'm thinking of asking my other work colleague if she fancies going running or something with me. Although I really could just buddy up with my dogs, we could go to the field and run for half an hour ;)

[Karbea]

Ok, hair dyed and nails painted, kept to my list and took my vits today.

My list
---

1. floss & mouthwash.
   
2. eat two eggs per day.
   
3. wear matching undies.
   
4. take vitamins.

[Hazchem]

well I've been rubbish the last few days. however I have managed to write everything I've eaten down no mean feat as it's been excessive! I've also body moisturized everyday.
I was feeling a bit down about being rubbish but then I thought week one can be like my baseline. From here I can improve rather then havign to be perfect to start with.
Today's out fit is a bit weird!
Blue knee length skirt grey long sleeved top with a paler grey short sleeved wrap over the top. 'm wearing orange sandals because they are the only things I can get on at present! May need to get some new less orange summer shoes.

[CallingAllEngels]

House day here today so stripey t-shirt and black harem pants.

May tidy up and declutter my make-up and toiletries later. Have been looking at what I have and what I need to use up...rather a lot! Have shedloads of shampoo, showergel, body mois and well stocked with my cleanser, toner, moisturiser.

But on the shopping list:
cotton wool pads
mouthwash
toothbrushes for stock
toothpaste for ds

will give myself a pamper tonight.

made delicious carrot soup last night so have the rest of that tonight.

[BritabroadinAsia]

Hi all

Sorry for radio silence, lovely to now read through all the updates and see how everyone is doing with their lists. Hope the pregnant ladies are doing well, and thanks, lucy - brilliant tip about the Fucidin and spots - who knew? I'm keeping my DD's leftover tube in reserve for the next breakout.

Not doing brilliantly with the food, though keeping up exercise. Has anyone used MFP and not offset the exercise to get more calories? I think I'm underestimating conveniently forgetting the food or overstating the activity, as weight isn't really shifting yet.

Ok, the positives:

Been continuing with the lemon water (is this for alkalising/detox benefits, btw?!)
Juiced some fruit and veg 3x so far this week
Hair looking reasonable (mostly thanks to having been to hairdresser this week, but hey, its all good)
nails were better until one broke today
moisturising body more

Dh away on a work trip so am going to spend a wild Saturday night having a wardrobe cull.

I took DCs swimming this afternoon (it's evening now here) and had an 'interesting' experience after showering where our locker's electronic key failed, with all our clothes/bags inside. Staff were super helpful but the master key failed to open the door and there wasn't a female engineer on site to disable the fancy locking system.... I spent a rather anxious 30 minutes clad only in a towel, while two very sweet ladies tried to break into the locker using a pair of scissors and a screwdriver for me, as I wondered just how we were going to get home dressed only in wet swimsuits with no purse, keys, phone or dignity. Anyway, thankfully we were reunited with our bags and I have never been so grateful to put on my (matching - yay!) undies as I was in that moment...

[Helenagrace]

Oh no Britain that sounds like a nightmare!

Doing ok here. Steadily improving on the water front. Definitely reducing the coffee too.

Due another c25k outing tomorrow.

I've been using mfp and mostly not using exercise calories.
Britain how about if you don-t add the exercise calories in the first place? Would that help?

[lucysmam]

Brit, it's bloody good! Only a teeny smear of the stuff - morning and night - under moisturiser. Has dried up some mountains I've sprouted lately I've got four tubes of it unopened in the cupboard (three of us had impetigo at the same time, plus dd1 had an undiagnosed blister/rash thing under her arm so Dr gave me loads).

[lucysmam]

karbea how did the dye come out? Pic on fb?

[lucysmam]

Hazchem how about add one thing each week instead of jump into a full on routine plus cutting back? It takes a month ish for things to become habit iirc.

[lucysmam]

I had my haircut today, will dye tomorrow then fb a pic. Comes out very dark until I'be washed it a few times though. Brows don't actually look too bad for the mo

I'll check back in in the morning

[Hazchem]

lucysmam that's an excellent idea! I'll have a think today about which ones to focus the most on.

Did a body scrub in the shower this morning as the sight of my thighs has been getting me down :( and they look better already so feel a bit body happier.

also did my stretches and blow dried my fringe. I am thinking of getting my hair cut. It's long at the moment and just gets fluffy so wondering about getting shoulder length with lots of layers. hmm.

[Blondieminx]

Hello all,

Can I join? It's been a helluva year and I feel I should spend a little bit of time looking after myself. Feel less than minxy these days tbh!

My to do lists:

Me

1. Hot water and lemon and do physio stretches every morning before showering on weekdays.
   
2. put whole outfits out the night before
   
3. Do one "pamper" thing each evening e.g nails
   
4. Get back on the 5:2 wagon, fell off during school hols plus comfort eating massively atm = two thirds of the 10lb I lost has gone straight back on again
   
5. Try and get to bed earlier and have no screens after 10.30 at least twice a a week.
   

House

1. Do the flylady mission each day
   
2. Go through all of DD's books and toys before the end of the month, ready to sell at the upcoming NCT sale and to make some space for incoming Christmas influx!
   
3. Find suitable table/storage for DD's ever increasing playmobil collection (suggestions VERY welcome )
   

HelenaGrace I too remember you from the "organised" threads. Congrats on your promotion

Control Geek ahhh congratulations

Lucysmam yep fucidin is amazing on spots isn't it!

[KiaOraOAotearoa]

Good morning!
In serious need of 'pampering', as it was the first week back on the wagon and things went a bit (tiny tiny bit ) haywire.
I am about to go for a run in about 20 min-half an hour, so Helena, I'll join you.
So the tally this week is : 3 runs and 2 shreds.
And I bought batteries for the scales. I miss my old dresses. I don't fit in them anymore.

So, the plan for today:
Go for a run as soon as the coffee kicked in.
Shower
Make up (there's going to be a 'mum's parade' later on when we collect our darlings and I look terrible) and casual dress.
I must do my nails.
Choose outfits for next week (must remember to power dress and wear war paint at all times next week, I am taking on a massive project and I am in meetings with people who know not a lot about me apart from the fact I am seriously scary. Got appearances to keep up haha! It's going to be a looooong winter for me, folks )
Will have my hot water lemon when I get back :)
Must remember to get out the rest of the vitamins and see what needs restocked.
Must book hairdressers and waxing for the next 4 months.

Also, who knows why one's feet would start smelling one of a sudden???? I never had smelly feet. Now I do. I have the same pair of flip flops for the past 2-3 years, they go in the washing machine every 1-2 weeks. Work shoes are washed daily (seriously). Fresh socks, two showers a day etc. so, why? Oh, the nails are fine, cut short, house slippers washed weekly. Apart from the fact I am getting old, what else?

[CallingAllEngels]

Welcome blondie - come and join us on the fledglings thread on good housekeeping for more fly lady motivation (though doesn't sound like you need it).

My feet have always been a bit sweaty kia .. I use insoles in all my ballet flat which I change regularly.

Not totally cake free here but calorie count definitely lower than before. Have bsen doing really well at keeping coffee count down.

Really motivating to read what everyone's up to.

pamper tonight (feet and face mask) and going for a walk when dh is up.