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Post-Pandemic Princessing - Summer 2021

87 replies

BloomRoses · 22/02/2021 19:10

Would anyone like to join me on attempt a "princessing" challenge aimed at when things (hopefully) start to open back up in the summer?

After nearly a year of lockdown consisting of comfort eating, social isolation, a lot of anxiety and a lack of exercise I feel like I want to dedicate the next few months to a lot of self-care so that I can emerge from lockdown feeling a little brighter and more confident than I currently do.

It doesn't have to just be beauty-related but can also be things related to nutrition, mental health, exercise, etc.

Links to previous princessing threads who I credit for the idea Flowers:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1156122-Project-Princess
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1559450-Anyone-interested-in-a-100-day-Princessing-challenge

Disclaimer:
I know using the term 'post-pandemic' is maybe a bit overly optimistic but I can't resist a bit of alliteration and anyway, I'm choosing to be optimistic. Grin

OP posts:
Solongtoshort · 23/02/2021 22:19

I’m in bed......it’s 22.13pm and l planned for 10.30 but realistically 11pm. Today l have taken time to plan every thing l need for tomorrow and that’s what’s going to help me get my routine back. I am going to be up at 7.30am and go for a run at 8am , then my exercises’s and l am going to have a mini pamper, batch cook and l am going to have a valet on my car too.

Good night.

MagdasMadHouse · 25/02/2021 17:51

I've started doing my face routine.
Some gradual tan.
Using gentle whitening toothpaste again (I had switched to non whitening to give my teeth a break).
Got some face packs to do. Need to do a home mani and pedi.
Have started plucking my eyebrows. I will go back to having them waxed or threaded once things open up again, but wanted to feel a bit nicer now too.
I'm back on the diet. Lost about half a stone so far but at least I'm moving in the right direction.
Started doing some yoga, but need to do some more exercise generally as well. Again I will be happy when gyms are open and I can do some classes again, but don't want to start really behind fitness wise (I know I won't be the only one!)
Get a better nights sleep. I am going to stop bringing my phone to bed, and have ordered a new alarm clock.
Can't wait to have my hair done, want it coloured so trying to get it into really good condition so that it can cope with the hairdressers!

I am going to have to teach myself how to use makeup again. I've barely worn it this year, but have also read a lot about what I could be doing differently, watched some tutorials, etc. So feels a bit like re learning all of it to be honest. I'm ready to up my hair and beauty game after a year of trackers and mum-buns Smile

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 25/02/2021 21:19

I recommend beer shampoo by Bleach London, it's been great for my hair. Tigi bedhead rescue no 2 is also awesome but l only use it when my hair needs a boost.

I have lost 2 stone over lockdown by cutting out junk, eating fewer carbs and smaller portions. I have also cut out the alcohol. I have a bit more to go.

I am also loving top to toe body moisturising, feels like a lovely treat.

I have been looking after my nails more. Wearing neutral colours for a more polished look. I will keep the neons for my toes :)

BallsToYouSue · 25/02/2021 21:35

Today I have used a glycolic overnight peel thing from Superdrug. I filed my feet really well this morning and put on Flexitol. More Flexitol this evening. I am already tucked up in bed, with a big glass of water and my book. Fairly good day Smile

Iamagenius · 25/02/2021 21:41

I'm in too. Since October I have finally managed to stop biting my nails after 40 years. Regularly taking time to re paint my nails is my first princessing step. Also desperately want to get my eyebrows sorted and would like to get my eyelashes curled. Weight, well there's a long way to go on that!

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 25/02/2021 23:13

My plans are;

Keep calorie counting to get to the overweight category by summer.

Five minutes on the wobble board every day to strengthen feet and legs/stretch the Achilles/improve core muscles/balance.

Go back to the gym when they reopen and use it 3 times a week.

Walk the last part of the way to work in the morning.

HAIRCUT AND EYEBROWS!!! I'm nearly at the point of having grown out all the last rubbish home dye job. Once I am natural partly white , I can look at doing something more flattering than Dingy Mouse Blond

Get some nails done, as my natural ones are fucked by Psoriasis.

Have a Pedicure. Bog standard footcare keeps them healthy, but I want vaguely attractive rather than not actually horrific.

Other than that,

Use decent stuff religiously to keep my Psoriasis at bay, rather than waiting until it goes crazy and I have to get carrier bagfuls of prescription steroid potions, lotions and ointments, so I smell vaguely petrochemical and utterly flammable most of the time.

I've got some gradual tan for face and body. I can't use much, as I'll go orange, but I've been indoors for a whole bloody year now, so I'm looking more like an anaemic Vampire than a human. Once the scaly patches are under control, regular exfoliation and application.

New bras. The diet means I've got more gap than boob in my current ones.

Try to get better, earlier, more regular sleep.

Eat more things that I like and are healthy, rather than whatever DP prefers to cook because it's quick and easy.

theBeeeeeeeep · 25/02/2021 23:24

I am in. I have ordered this self care habit tracker www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Care-tracker-journal-Journal/dp/B08KWFDYXF/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
and am going to use this thread for ideas of habits to track.

AlrightTreacle · 26/02/2021 01:02

@theBeeeeeeeep

If you are interested in habits, have you read "Atomic Habits" by James Clear? It's a bit cheesy in parts, but I listened to it on audible in the summer, and found it really helpful for making small changes gradually.

As a result I now have a repeat habit tracker app on my phone, atm my daily habits are:

Get at least 7 hours sleep.
Glass of water with a multivitamin and vitamin D first thing in the morning.
Daily SPF.
30 minutes of exercise (walk/run/cycle, mostly walks).
10 minutes of housework (very loosely following the organised mum method).
10 minutes of yoga before bed.
PM skincare routine of cleanse, tone and night cream.

I also have an app called "Tody", which is actually meant to be for organising housework chores, but I use it for keeping track of when I've done beauty stuff, you can set tasks with different frequencies, atm mine are:

AHA peel by The Ordinary every 5 days.
Deep condition hair once a week.
DIY manicure once a week.
DIY pedicure once every two weeks.
DIY dermaplane once every 3 weeks.
Shave and lumea legs, armpits and bikini area every 4 weeks.
Hair cut every 10 weeks (can't wait for my hairdressers to reopen!)

I could do with starting to floss again and drinking more water.

JemimaMuddledUp · 26/02/2021 06:54

Loving reading your lists for inspiration!

I made the mistake of watching the recording of a Teams meeting I was presenting in, and realised how awful I looked. It gave me the kick up the bum I needed I think. It coincided with the beginning of Lent, so I've loosely tied in some habit forming stuff to run over that period.

First thing is to lose a bit of weight. I've been living in yoga pants for the past year of WFH, I don't think my office clothes will fit any more. So am calorie counting using MFP and trying to cut the mindless snacking.

Exercise - I'm doing a weekly Zoom yoga class, I find it more motivating to pay for an actual class than just do YouTube videos. I've got a bit lazy with walking, mostly because I'm so bored of walks that start from my house (I'm in Wales and we can't travel to exercise during lockdown). I need to motivate myself to get out more.

Beauty wise I'm using up all the minis I've had in Birchboxes etc but haven't used before buying anything new. Having said that I have just treated myself to the half price 3 months subscription so will have some more... I've started wearing a little bit of makeup again (so that I don't look awful on Teams recordings!). Skincare routine is pretty basic - rinse off cleanser and day cream with SPF in the morning, remove make up with miscellar water then hot cloth cleanser in the evening, followed by toner, eye cream, serum and night cream. Face mask once a week.

My hair is a disaster - I've had a pixie cut for years which needed 5-6 weekly trims, but lockdown put paid to that. I'm also on the shielding list so was more careful even when hairdressers opened up again. I had one appointment over the summer when cases were low, she tidied it up into a sort of graduated bob so that it would grow out less messily. But it doesn't look great. I've been colouring it at home and doing lots of deep conditioning treatments so it looks quite shiny, but it desperately needs a cut.

duvets · 26/02/2021 07:01

Definitely joining! Have been thinking about this a lot now the end is in sight! Some new years resolutions here that I need to re-start / carry on. A few things I'm not sure if I'm happy doing yet e.g. dental hygiene (are they taking bookings?).

TEETH
Floss once per day
Use whitening toothpaste

FACE
Buy tan drops for face
Face mask once per week
Find a better face lotion for hormonal acne

HAIR
Hair mask once per week
Decide what to do with hair style & colour

BODY
Wardrobe: check spring / summer clothes, figure out what I'm going to wear that isn't leggings!
Body lotion: gradual tan 2-3x per week
Body exfoliate once per week

EXERCISE
HIIT 3 x per week
Start running again 1 x per week
Daily(ish) weigh in
Go on 2 longer walks per week

MENTAL HEALTH
Yoga daily before bed
Read before bed
Stop mindless scrolling!!!
Daily walk even if it's only short

FOOD & DRINK
Drink more water, 1 water bottle per day
No snacking except fruit or nuts, no snacking after dinner
Zero alcohol
Limit to 3 cups of tea per day
50% of plate filled with veggies

TeaAddict235 · 26/02/2021 09:06

I'm in! I keep joining these princessing threads at the beginning of each year, and by spring I forget to update and keep a visual account of what I've been up to.

This is my plan (as with every year):

Use deep conditioners once a week

Shampoo thoroughly (cg method doesn't work for this 4c lass, end.of)

Midweek hair care (moisturise and/or seal with Shea butter or coconut oil/cream)

Keep nails filed even if not polished

Wear the makeup that I have and not keep it for better days ( professionally i would wear eye and lip makeup, but now on mat leave and lockdown it seems too much to wear eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara for nursery pick ups, zoom calls or supermarket stops)

Use up all the face creams that I have rather than buying more Grin (have about 10 waiting and 3 on the go)

Drink more herbal breastfeeding swamp tea

Add linseeds and sesame seeds to everything possible

Use up all the frozen apples in the freezer at every possibility (apple turnovers, apple crumble, apple strudel....) as autumn is coming again and more apples will ripen.

BloomRoses · 26/02/2021 16:23

I apologise for my absence on this thread this week. I've had a busy week of work. How is everyone's first week going?

I've done ok, my job is quite active so I've managed to keep quite active. I am feeling a little stressed though so I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend. My eating has been good for the most part and I've noticed my skin has improved a lot due to that. However, I had the vaccine a few days ago and felt a little tired afterwards so I ended up ordering a takeaway for dinner, oops. But I must say being vaccinated did feel like a day to celebrate. :)

I haven't done any proper 'workouts' this week, my only exercise has been walking so this weekend I would like to try and workout at least one of the days.

This evening I'm thinking of doing some cleaning ready for the weekend and then having a nice pamper evening. I have some blue shampoo to try as my hair is looking a little brassy and I think I will also do a manicure, body brushing and some moisturising foot masks. This beautiful weather is definitely motivating me as it feels like Spring is already here. DaffodilFlowers

OP posts:
TeaAddict235 · 26/02/2021 19:06

Did some workout today and will have a foot bath.

Had some red Dornfelder wine and copious amounts of water to compensate.

JemimaMuddledUp · 26/02/2021 19:52

Had a day off work today and it was so much easier to find time for stuff. And I didn't snack mindlessly as I tend to when I'm working.

Started the day with a 45 minute online yoga class, then had breakfast (fruit and yoghurt) in the garden. Popped to town at lunchtime to pick up a Click and Collect order from Next and picked up some sushi for lunch from Tesco at the same time. Then this afternoon I went for a 4 mile walk through the woods. Baked potato with salad for dinner. Drank 2 litres of water.

I don't know why my routine is so bad when I'm working. I think WFH is just sapping my energy for everything else.

May have also spent quite a lot on new make up on the Boots website...

theBeeeeeeeep · 28/02/2021 11:04

@AlrightTreacle I will look that up- thank you. I am a pen and paper tracker girl though- find it too easy to fall off the wagon and ignore an app tracker.
Loving all the great habits - loads of ideas.
For me-
Home facial laser 5 days a week
SPF 50 every day without fail
Overnight hair mask once a week
12,000 steps a day
No booze Mon-Fri

15 mins tidying daily

honeysuckle21 · 28/02/2021 11:48

Hoping to be closer to princess by the time lockdown is over, actually I'll just be happy to look how I used to pre COVID weight, I've put on two stone which is shocking so I've gone back to mfp to weigh and log everything I eat, that worked well for me in the past.
Keeping hair and skin well moisturised, hair treatments and face masks.
Trying to do my own nails but still doesn't look as good from a salon.
Going to pull through a few highlights through my roots today.
Have been shopping for spring clothes online.

JemimaMuddledUp · 28/02/2021 18:48

Have decided to try exercise before work from tomorrow, so I can't get sidelined into working into lunchtime or late in the day when I want to finish early to do it. Have put clothes and trainers out ready to go for a 5k brisk walk before breakfast.

Tonight I'm going to tidy eyebrows, file and paint nails and apply a face mask. Probably have a soak in the bath too.

TeaAddict235 · 28/02/2021 19:27

I put coconut oil into my hair today. Am looking forward to finishing up my shampoo this week to start another one.

LlamaofDrama · 28/02/2021 19:47

I'm late to the party which more or less sums up my princessing...

I've put on a bit of weight that I'd lost which is annoying, so first plan is to lose half a stone to get back to my acceptable weight and make my jeans comfy in the evening as well as the morning Grin. To do that

Walk more
Start running when weather/ covid exercise restrictions permit
Reduce calorie intake by cutting the snacking, cutting portions and eating more plant based, less dairy and white carbs.

Then work out what to do with my hair when the hairdresser opens. Thinking of growing out my fringe... but not sure.

Wardrobe, working out the clothes I need for both the lifestyle I have and the body I have, and getting them. Not something I quite like, or that almost does the job. If it doesn't quite fit, get it altered.

Generally, I need to demand more from myself. I'm lazy, and I need to put in more effort. Where's the princess staff when she needs them??

Turnedouttoes · 28/02/2021 20:03

Very good week here. It seems a deadline of being able to socialise again was exactly what I needed!

1hr walk every lunchtime this week, now wondering if I could also add an hour before work.

1200 calorie limit every day (which actually isn’t even difficult when you don’t spend the whole afternoon snacking! Who knew?!)

Long walks and bike rides over the weekend

DP and I both did a footner on Friday night so just waiting on that to start peeling Grin

I’ve decided that once I’ve lost my lockdown weight gain I’ll use some of the money I’ve saved to treat myself to some lovely new summer clothes. I’m currently in between and 8 and a 10 so no point buying anything yet

Villanelle17 · 28/02/2021 21:25

I just need to eat less ice cream, less time on social media and more fresh air

Solongtoshort · 01/03/2021 11:23

I have walked for the last 3 days and done a twenty minute exercise dvd each day also, my face creams have been getting a lot of use but the biggest change I have made is l am asleep by 11pm and god l feel the benefits of getting in bed early in just my happiness x

JemimaMuddledUp · 01/03/2021 20:29

I walked 5km before work this morning. My fitbit was delighted!

Reasonably good food day, stuck to calorie allowance.

My skin felt really tight after the face mask I used last night, I don't think I'll use that one again. Have slathered on loads of night cream tonight after cleansing, hopefully that will help.

CommanderBurnham · 01/03/2021 20:36

Well done princesses!!!

So this is my plan:

Face:
Eyebrow threading booked
Full skincare started last week, skin feels amazing.

Body:
Need to start exfoliating and moisturising
Pedicure booked so plan to do a footner 2 weeks before.

Diet
Doing 16:8 most days and 800 kcal on non running days

Exercise:
Half marathon booked and on week 6 of training. I am so unfit but getting addicted now I can see improvement. Also lots of stretching and yoga planned

Need to whiten teeth.

Mind:
Massive declutter of admin to do. It's a weight on my shoulders so I'll be doing that for the next 2 weeks.
Planning to have a few dates booked in for walks and visits as the restriction hopefully lift so I have a few things to look forward to.

TeaAddict235 · 02/03/2021 13:53

Moisturised hair today
Used a facial exfoliating face wash
Wore eye makeup!

Need to sort through wardrobe to sell jeans that are non flattering. Need to get into the habit of painting nails again, but am so lazy in that respect.

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