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.

I'm really impressed with all the walking everyone is doing.

Well I've done the bare minimum today but I have hayfever, and DS was sick. Today is his childcare day and I was meant to finish and essay but really struggled as he's camped out in my bed watching peppa pig while I study at my desk. I've got three days to finish but wish I was closer to being finished.

I'll give it a try!

Am quite annoyed about it. I wear cheapy Primark earrings no problem...spend a bit more on a decent pair & they irritate my ear . I'll stick to cheapy sparkly bits in future.

Hope your ds is feeling better soon. My youngest is obsessed with Ben and Holly...I would like to stamp on the elf and fairy! What's your assignment about? (last time I asked that on here I was baffled & didn't have a clue )

Evening all, I've been rubbish lately, I'm just so tired all the time. And either at work or in pjs (pjs right now!).
I'm going to really concentrate on diet. So going paleo from now on. I think dh is going to do it too, plus a couple of girls at work!
Hopefully once I'm eating better, I'll want to exercise and make more of an effort!

lucy sorry to hear about FIL.

This thread is really helping me. Sticking religiously to my everyday skincare regime, even though I'm not managing any treatments, and being better with eating veg and fruit due to DH's diet.

Getting compliments about outfits at work and perfume

Makes me determined to keep it up

Will obviously have lots of work to do after DC2 is here, but am managing to stay off the cake!

Keep up the good work ladies!

Anyone have any good recommendations for interesting jewellery? I'm not in the UK so looking for online stores or unusual places I can check out in Kent. I used to go to a great shop in Exeter called Ziggy's or something which I have some lovely amber jewellery from and drop earrings in silver. Looking for a chunky red necklace but Amazon is just too overwhelming as there's so much. Guess I should start buying some Dutch style mags for stockists and stores here (or just start googling in dutch properly). I always steered away from wearing dangly earrings with my glasses, but they actually really suit me.

Hey ladies, sorry for lack of post recently. I've had a very hard time of it recently as I lost the baby at 6 weeks.

I'm trying to focus on staying positive for us, keeping basic hygiene and home routines going, and doing little luxuries like nail care etc. Bit by bit I hope to get back into the full op reno thing.

The one thing I've been trying to do this week to keep on top of things is if I move from room to room, look to see if there is anything that I need to take with me that belongs in the room/floor I am moving to.

oh Control I'm so so sorry to see that you lost your baby Take it easy & rejoin us when it suits you

I'm so sorry for your loss Control be kind to yourself over the coming days and weeks.

control so sorry to hear about your baby.

Oh control I'm so sorry.

I had 2 losses, both at the 6 week mark, and, especially after the 2nd which was quite drawn out, needed time to get over it physically and emotionally (in fact that's what made me join the Christmas Countdown thread last year).

Thinking of you and your DH. x

Sorry to hear of your loss control. Do be kind to yourself in the coming weeks.

Thought I might do a full update on my goals:

1. More sleep. - doing well with this one. Last night was the latest night in a fortnight and that was 11:30

1. More water - need to do better on this one still but I have cut down coffee.

1. Need to lose weight - 6lb lost so far and not one morsel of food has passed my lips that hasn't gone on mfp. Pleased with this one.

1. Want to start a walking / running regime and get it embedded as a habit - mostly going well although it's a mix of walking and hobbling jogging. But I'm working up a sweat.

1. Feet are dreadful after summer and my flip flop habit has left me with achy arches. - dry skin is slowly improving but I need a weather change so I can wear more supportive shoes.

1. Find myself a social life - went out last night a nd it was ok. They're never going to be my best friends but it was a night at the pub!

1. Go back to making up all my outfits for the week on hangers with the right accessories and underwear on a Sunday night. - didn't do that this week but I am deciding on an outfit the night before.

1. Nighttime skincare - now doing this regularly and my skin is looking so much better...could also be due to earlier nights though!

Ohh... Sorry to hear about your lost control... It's hard. Be good to yourself.

Control, I am so sorry to hear about your baby! Be gentle with yourself

Oh my goodness, I am so sorry control. Take some time to take care of yourself.

I came on to have a grumble about feeling bleugh, but that has rather put it into context

I think I have a slight bug or something, am feeling sick and headachy. So I'm not going swimming this morning on the way to work, which does at least lessen the amount I need to carry. It is a bit of a novelty having a shower and putting my make up on at home too, instead of in the swimming pool changing rooms!

Am wearing my new dark grey and light grey Breton top from Boden (I am definitely keeping this colour, haven't decided on the others yet), with black wide leg trousers, grey and blue elephant print scarf and black ballet flats.

DS1 is feeling a bit bleugh too, but I think that might be the excitement of starting secondary catching up with him. Cancelled his piano lesson last night as he came home from school with a splitting headache and went to bed soon afterwards. DS2 and DD had a trip yesterday so they are worn out too. Roll on the weekend!

Well, am so pleased that I'm keeping up planning my outfits properly. Love wearing drop earrings now so need some more

Where can I buy lovely earrings from?

Have to go see GP tomorrow because my B12 and iron are low.

My skin looks awesome and feels lovely. Have been using Liz Earle superskin concentrate once a week. Gives me the same lift as a face mask, without having to wait for it to dry and then messily wash it off.

DH has lost 4kg since July!

Surely I deserve a cake tomorrow

Oh Control I am so sorry to hear your news. I really empathise having been through MC also. miscarriage association provides some really helpful leaflets which are viewable online that helped me. Look after yourself and take it one day at a time.

What sort of earrings are you looking for engels? I've found some lovely ones in supermarkets and Pia jewellery. There's a Welsh jewellery designer called Carrie Elspeth who also makes pretty earrings.

I did another walk / run tonight whilst DH was at the surgery having a vasectomy. He's now making a lot of fuss. Apparently it's "like his childbirth experience". Erm yes darling cos 3 sutures, 45 minutes and a day off work is just how I recall it...

Just weighed myself and I've lost four pounds!

Well done Helenagrace!

I haven't weighed myself as I'm trying to focus more on health and fitness than weight per se. I lost a lot of weight a couple of years ago and got a bit obsessive. Don't want to go down that route again.

Back to swimming this morning

Well done HelenaGrace

Am wearing my new denim dress. With wooly tights but the weather is warmer again - think I'll be too hot later!! All my new autumn purchases arrived so I spent last night trying them on

Sorry to offload here again, I don't really want to start a new thread.

Dp's on his way back to Poole after speaking to his dad's consultant this morning. More siezures & a cardiac arrest in the small hours. Consultant doesn't think he'll make it through the night but has told dp he'll do his best to keep his dad stable until he's said his goodbyes.

The girls will be devastated & dd2 had a blip at school at the beginning of the week with dp not being here

Anyway...back to thread topic...
My pumps fell to bits last night & I haven't had chance to re-heel boots yet so am stuck as to what to wear on my feet

Scarves are sorted for a wash but all three lines are full atm so will do those in the morning.

Hair is holding it's colour well so won't be putting dye on this weekend. (Nails are also holding the dye well after last weekend's mishap so will file them down again - possibly tonight).

I need to start shopping around for a dirt cheap mascara/foundation and blusher to use for the mo. Train fares are ridiculous & we're super skint now we've paid for a second journey If anyone can recommend something I'd be greatful (sp).

On the house front - I spring cleaned the girls room this week (apart from hoovering ), wiped down all the woodwork upstairs and cleared out the upstairs toys of broken/unmatched bits/toys missing bits, cleared out wardrobes and packed away the majority of summer stuff (I have left some - the weather's quite nice lately)

Plan to take down our curtains over the weekend, strip and wash sofa/chair covers and take down the hall/landing lightshades to wash - they're glass so I figure soapy water. Might also get in the garage and bag up for charity shop all the board games/jigsaws that have been forgotten about since we moved.

Right, off to busy myself with something while I wait for my shopping delivery.

Sorry again for offloading here

He's gone

I'm wandering aimlessly now

sorry to hear that your family is going through so much.

(I broke glass hall lights through autumn cleaning last year - I was livid )

lucysmam you did mean in your last post that your dp has just headed to Poole ...

Oh lucysmam I am so sorry, that sounds terribly hard on you all. It sounds like you cope best by 'doing' - but please make sure you have some downtime, too. If there is anything I can do - send you a few little bits in the post or anything - please do say.

Thank you to everyone for your lovely words and thoughts. You are all ever so kind. I'm doing more lurking than anything (with the exception of spamming the boards with angst about my braces) but I've been managing to get out of the house each day, and will try and do some proper exercise next week.

I'm working through plans I have for the garden and have shown two massive shrubs no mercy. Scorched earth policy and all that. The idea of chickens is again being toyed with.