is there a 2022 princessing thread?

[heelforheelandtoefortoe]

As I need inspiration to look after myself more but I hardly know where to begin other than I need to lose weight!

Hoping to get ideas from others as I'm not really into fashion and beauty and hoping to change this (within budget of course!)

Well, I started on this thread with good intentions but then got consumed by some uni deadlines and dropped off.

It's still only January! We have a whole year let's not pressure ourselves when sometimes life pauses us momentarily.

Today I ate a piece of fruit for the first time in a long time. I have also purchased new undies visited the dentist and taken a vitamin today. That's a big deal for me :D

So today is the first time this year I have dried and straightened my hair, my excuse is 10 day old son lol! But what a difference I feel haha!!!

Need to start up with the moisturiser again as that's been neglected! Can't have my baths just now due to stitches from my tear but I'll get one soon and I'll have a proper pamper sesh!!

I'd love to be able to join a gym but funds just don't allow it at present. I have a couple of exercise DVDs & a workout game on the Switch (it sounds a bit sad but it's actually quite fun, I had a similar one on the Wii many years ago). In any case I'm also still very much getting over covid, I'm still at the stage of coughing regularly throughout the day, so I think proper exercise is still a little way off. At least I can actually walk places now without feeling like I'm going to pass out from exhaustion though.

Am concentrating mainly on nutrition, rest & skincare at the moment until I'm feeling a bit better, I do want to lose weight & am eating with that in mind but also with an eye on getting fully well ASAP. And hopefully beating my migraines. So far I'm cautiously optimistic on that. In theory I'm due one in the next couple of days.

I have been doing so much better about going to bed at a sensible time. Usually DH & I roll into bed around 11:40, maybe midnight, even on a weeknight. Weekends it's usually way later. But I've been in bed ready to sleep by 10:30 every night since I started this... I've actually been waking up a bit through the night & slightly early, usually ahead of my alarm. I don't think my body knows what's going on... I've not had more than a regular 7 hours in nearly 11 years.

I'm definitely finding the diary helpful but it's only been a few days so far.
I've made some delicious minestrone soup for tea tonight, with rice & lentils in. And lots of vegetables.

It's still only January! We have a whole year let's not pressure ourselves when sometimes life pauses us momentarily.

You're absolutely right, thank you.

Yesterday I ate an apple instead of crisps for a snack and did not snack at all in the evening.

My church has decided to hold a big street party on the 5th June for the Queen's jubilee so I think that's going to be a target event for me to be in full princess mode. I'm thinking a 50s style dress, an up do and immaculate make up.

I had my eyebrows thŕeaded for the first time in three years.

I forgot how much it hurt, but the results are worth it.

Now to dye them

I'm planning an eye lash dye session today

I’ve found my tribe !
Thank you for all your support regarding my mum, I visited her in hospital yesterday and she seems to have turned a corner and is slowly starting to recover, will keep fingers crossed. An emotional weight has been lifted.
I watched a podcast on gut health on Tuesday and there are so many benefits to adding more plants to your diet including losing weight. I bought lots of different veggies and fruit this morning and some healthy Tesco microwave meals packed with extra vegetables, my partner had the Harissa chicken for lunch and said it was really nice and only about 320 calories.
When I went to see my mum yesterday I decided to make an effort and instead of scraping my hair back I styled it ( as she was always on at me to do in the past ) wore make-up and smart clothes and a nice coat, the Consultant admitted she almost didn’t recognise me from last time !
I wore suncream instead of moisturiser as I was rushing out of the house this morning, Altruist brand.
The dry body brushing is also going well.
@AnotherMansCause I’ve started going to bed earlier too and am feeling so much better for it, some nights I sleep through but even if I don’t I’m more rested in the morning.
I’m feeling very enthused reading about everybody’s accomplishments and we are only on 15th January !

I meant to add that following the gut health webinar I threw together some soup using up some old veg. 2 sweet potatoes, some old, wilting tenderstem brocolli, 3 old carrots, some yellow lentils, stock made from Knorr chicken stock and a teaspoon of harissa paste. Cooked it all up then blended with stick blender. It was absolutely gorgeous, filling and did for about 6 lunches.

Hi everyone, the thread is keeping me motivated, love hearing all your progress updates, you are all doing so well.

Started teeth whitening today, which means I'm off the coffee now, in for a penny, in for a pound. I also received my MAC lipstick vault today, looking foward to trying sme new shades tomorrow.

I think I am impatient, I have introduced lots of changes and want the results now must be patient. I'm giving things three months to assess progress. I expect it'll be the bigger changes like hair colour and cut, and microblading and things like that which will have a more dramatic impact.

Exhausted today, had an afternoon nap to regroup myself, so the healthy eating has gone well so far Salad for dinner.

Really seriously considering micro blading. I really want to go for it.

I am going to start using retinol tonight. I had some vouchers left from Christmas so got some.

I had a nap today. Eating wasn't great but better. Was really tempted to eat a crisp sandwiche but refrained.

I have decided I need more earrings. I put some on today and it did make me feel more 'done'. I only have one decent pair. I have a few of my nanas. Bit they are quote old fashioned but not in a vintage/cool way

I've had my hair cut and dyed my brows - they almost match my hair now.

Eyelashes tomorrow, as well as vacuuming and mopping the floors before going to work.

Good morning, I had a lovely princessey day yesterday - mud face mask, bath, de fuzz, then blow dried and straightened my hair. I’ve also been to the gym twice last week and have completed c25k week 1. On to week 2 tomorrow. Diet is not great, but this is the 4th weekend in a row of celebrating (Christmas then birthday party, birthday party and birthday party) so I know it is pretty hard to loose weight right now. The house has just been full of too much cake.
Also been focusing much more on settling up my own business which is incredibly overwhelming at times but every step forward is a step closer to my ultimate goal of spending my days on a beach in Dubai in my size 10 bikini (I’m a 16 currently - got a bit of work to do).

Not doing too badly here - diet could be better but I'm on target to have lost 3-4kg this month unless I fuck up, I've been sticking to a better face care regime, I've done two weeks of C25K, I've got a massage booked in and a manicure for this week too.

Goal for February is to get a hair cut. Which involves finding a hairdresser who gets me. It may not happen....

Happy Sunday Princesses

I have so far-had a vitamin filled smoothie, done 20 minutes on the exercise bike. Dry body brushed, soak in the bath, defuzzed! Moisturised and now currently lying on the bed with a sheet mask on. Friends coming for lunch today so will put on a bit of light make up.

Have a good one everyone

Morning all.

I have booked in with the hair dresser this week.

Eating has got a lot better. Got weighed and was delighted to discover I only put 5lb on over Christmas and in the aftermath of mums death. We, generally, lived on take aways for a few weeks so that feels like a win.

Eating healthier every day and still on with skin care and make up. Have video calls all day. Which I feel much better about ehen I have some make up on

Good morning all, hope everyone is getting on well.

All going well except healthy eating, it's not awful but chocolate is creeping in daily, no weight change though. I've given up coffee and my teeth seem a bit brighter already from the whitening treatment, still two syringes to go.

I have tried some a new lipstick from the MAC vault today, a slightly orange red which I would never usually buy, but I love it. I have also ordered a free MAC foundation sample.

Today I need to sort a clothing return and look at ordering some earrings, and retinol.

Had a good day yesterday, made an effort to wear a Sunday best outfit for church and felt very put together.

I've cleared out some old moisturiser and lotions today. And this afternoon did a good lot of house cleaning which makes me feel calmer.

Reduced the junk food intake and haven't had any alcohol over the weekend.

Plan tonight is to get into pjs after washing the dishes, clean make up off and moisturise. If I leave it to just before bed then I get too lazy to cleanse.

Was out last night and applied a full face of make up (first time for ages) using a recent palette buy and my Xmas Dior pump and volume mascara and was really pleased with how it looked. Doing ok on walking/running but still scoffing too much chocolate.

@AlDanvers am glad the eating has got better, sending continued positive thoughts at this hard time.
I made a healthy pork and bean casserole yesterday with loads of veg including kale, it was filling and tasty.
In the gut health webinar the doctor said that you can educate your tastebuds over time, I’m definitely not wanting sweet things any more, have trained myself to like G&B 85% dark choc.
I’ve started using Beauty Pie Superdrops which have got Niacinamide for brightening, too early to say about the result.
The twice a day flossing is going well, I do it before breakfast and last thing at night but find sometimes in the month it really hurts ! I’m well past the menopause so not related to time of the month.
The dry body brushing is going well and I actually think it is helping with inflammation of my OA knees.
Well done everyone, we’ve got this !

Things ticking along quite well here. In terms of my routine-

• retinol-ing twice a week, nothing too strong, just Retinol Reface by Indeed Labs
• nuface: am into my third week and i can see the difference in the jowls and folds, i think i caught them in time at 43
• slendertone: i could see it helping but didn’t feel much until i cranked it up quite a bit. bear in mind i’m using it to rehab my ab muscles (forgive me mumsnet it’s been 10 years since my last c-section) and i’m feeling the benefit this week!

here’s a question though - does anyone have any good recs for under eye gel masks? i am eyeing the Pixi range (probably the brightening ones) as they’re 30 pairs for under £20 on lookfantastic right now.

keep going everyone!

@shewhomustbeEbayed do you have any more info about the gut health webinar? this is definitely an area i need to improve on too.

@snackodactyl it was a Telegraph webinar by Dr Megan Rossi but have just googled her and there is lots of useful stuff on her website and you can sign up for free updates. I have noticed the weight coming off and have more energy too as have introduced more plants into my diet quite easily. I made a version of her healthy rocky road yesterday, I used 85% cocoa choc, muesli, nuts and popcorn.

@shewhomustbeEbayed thanks for sharing! i’ve had a lot of digestion issues stemming from GERD, i take a daily probiotic but could do more in terms of my diet.

I'm so late to this but can I join?

I'm 49 and have just started the evils of menopause - my hair is crap, my skin is crap, my sleep is crap. Do you detect a theme?! I've put on two stone-ish since the start of the first lockdown which is really shit given I managed to lose (and keep off) about 4st in 2016.

I also have rheumatoid arthritis which means exercise is a no-no (my feet and knees are fucked and I'm fatigued most of the time). The meds I take for it make my hair thin and my skin dry and super sensitive. I only started on them last year so hopefully it'll settle a bit soon.

I've really neglected myself for the past couple of years - it didn't seem to matter given I rarely go out or see anyone. Now it's all caught up with me. I'm really hoping that this year I'll be able to do some stuff (gigs, date nights with DH, maybe even a trip or two) and I want to look and feel like my pre-lockdown self to do it. Right now I feel so ugly and disgusting. I have so many lovely clothes I can't fit into and I want to be able to wear them this summer!

I have made a bit of a start - I've just bought my favourite skincare routine again (nothing expensive, just some Revitalift day and night creams and some retinol). It worked so well for me in the past but I haven't bothered for ages because I don't go anywhere.

I've also bought a few little treats to give me a boost - a new watch (a retro Casio digital, v much my style) and some new trainers. I can't wear 'proper' shoes because of my arthritis, so I have to look out for interesting trainers. These are the ones I bought, they come with optional satin ribbon laces too so they go with all sorts of outfits and are a bit smarter than usual trainers but just as comfortable.

Next up, I plan to eat well (lots of oily fish for my arthritis and fresh fruit and veg) and get back to my pre-LD weight.

After that, we'll see! I have a very definite image of where I want to be by my 50th birthday in the summer. With disability to contend with it's extra challenging but I'm determined!

Right I'm back in full swing lol!!

Eyebrows plucked with my amazing new tweezerman tweezers!!

Bath, shaved everywhere and moisturised everywhere too! Bloody stretch marks appearing AFTER I've had baby?!?! Wtf?!

Hair all dried and will straighten it after bubs feed and who knows, I might even put some mascara on ;)