'Glow Up'/ "Princessing" 2024 Thread 1

[Chaiselongueallday]

I've had some success with these in the past. Have realised that over the years I've picked little habits from these that I've been able to sustain so I thought ahead of the new year I would start a thread for 2024...anyone else want to join me?
I'm 46 this year and want to focus on being healthy, happy with my style and attuned to my body and skin. I don't want to waste time worrying about not being good enough. I am including a bit of health and fitness on my list as I feel better in my clothes when I'm toned and generally healthy in body and mind. I'll be doing yoga, walking and mad living room dancing. I'll not be bothering with foundation (unless a very special occasion) this year fed up of wearing a mask..so looking after my skin will be important. I won't be spending on fast fashion ...I've done quite well on this in the past, inspired by this board and capsule wardrobe threads.

I'll think about a more detailed list and post it later.

I've copied some useful info from a previous 'Princessing thread' below for anyone that fancies it and needs inspiration.

*The term "Princessing" was invented back in 2011 by a poster called Blackswan. It was the year of the royal wedding and she proposed that every year you should get ready for a wedding you were attending as if it were your own.

I took that idea and ran with it!

The general idea behind that original thread and all the "Princessing" "Grooming" "Operation Revnovation" threads since has been to make small sustainable changes that help make you feel better. To make this measurable, most people finds it helps to make a list - not too long, no more than 20 items really of the changes you want to make. The original thread had one general list but as no two people have the same priorities I think it's better for everyone to have their own individual list. To anyone in need of inspiration the original list was:

1. 8 glasses of water a day

1. Exfoliating
2. Using some kind of teeth whitener
3. Using some kind of regenerative face cream
4. Intensive nail care (feet and hands)
5. Some kind of eyelash growth serum
6. The Shred / other intensive exercise
7. At least 2 extra fruit & veg
8. Healthy breakfast daily.

10. Hair oil (moroccan hair oil for eg, or kerastase etc) 11. No alcohol during the week 12. Daily vitamins 13. Body brushing 14. At least 2 servings of salmon or other fatty fish per week. 15. One early night once a week. Suggest 9PM. 16. Regular hair removal 17. Give up one naughty favourite item e.g. chocolate/crisps 18. No more fizzy drinks 19. DAILY body moisturising. 20. Warm water with lemon first thing in the a.m.

You don't have to post your list but I would recommend you write it down somewhere for yourself.

Original Princessing thread*

@riotlady I like yoga and I strive to do it more than I actually accomplish but there is something in snuggling down for an extra half hour that I think is good for the soul. Here's to more opportunity for it!

Im doing OK.
I'm 10lbs down since just before Christmas.
I'm having my roots done next Tuesday.
Toenails are still looking good from a few weeks ago when I had a gel polish pedicure.
I'm getting more sleep( except for this week when I was on a sleep over at work one night and the following night I didn't sleep because I had an exam the next day)

Just a general musing… does anyone else struggle to look nice when they have nowhere to go that day? It always feels a waste to wear nice clothes if I’m not doing anything nice. I tend to spend my time cleaning or on the school run and I work from home, so I end up not wearing the nice new clothes and just wear the old stuff that has seen better days.

I used to be like that but I got rid of all the stuff that had seen better days except for one pair of joggers for when I'm deep cleaning.
I got some nice lounge wear ( I can't think of a better way if describing it( for home days. So if any one calls round I look decent. It's just things like Hush joggers and Fat Face hoodies.
I don't do full make up but a glow primer and lip gloss. As my brows and eye lids are permanently done I usually look OK.

I have this problem at work - NHS so restricted on what we can wear , footwear etc so end up in black trousers, loafers and jumper/ top . No make up
So I have just invested in a nice BB cream , lip balm with colour and some M&S light jumpers ( as seen on vogue Williams insta )

@saturnspinkhoop yes this is me! I work part time from home and the rest of the week I’m running around after young children. I live in old scruffy leggings and tops no makeup other than maybe some mascara, nothing like before WFH and having children! I’ve recently bought some nice new leggings and wide leg jogger type trousers, sweaters/jumpers and a new coat (they are comfortable/practical and suit my lifestyle right now) but still keep reaching for the same old things rather than the nice new things! I’m going to have a ruthless clear out of my wardrobe hopefully this weekend

Been for my lash lift and tint today and OMG I can't believe the difference! They're almost touching my eyebrows 😂

I've been to the gym and then for a sauna/jacuzzi afterwards too. Nice little pamper Friday afternoon.

Happy Friday everyone

I've booked to get my brows and lashes done but its not till this time in Feb, will be done just in time for a big 'do" I'm going to though.

My skin is quite bad at the moment with bumpy spots on my chin and around my hairline. Not been very good with my water intake to be fair.

I’m late to the party but I’m here and loving this thread. My main goal for this year is to actually style my hair most days (if I’m leaving the house!), and get into a good routing of my Alpha H liquid gold one night, then retinol and Clarins total eye lift the next night. And repeat. Keep it simple and sort my skin out.

I’m still trying to keep this going, Pilates yesterday and run today. Food still not going well but sadly oldest son (just turned 13) is anorexic so lots of high calorie food at mealtimes. (But his welfare is priority so it is what it is) So pleased I was organised in getting hair cut and colour for next weekend as got invited to a black tie event first week of Feb, so hair will at least be presentable!

My weight hasn't shifted this month (but with 2 birthdays not a surprise!) but glad that it hasn't gone up. I am back in my size 12 jeans though for the first time in 2 years (lost 7 kg since October).

I am super proud of myself for keeping up with YWA 30 days of yoga. Missed a few days here and there but caught up so on track to finish in January for the first time. Having a fixed time to do it (around DC bedtime) has helped (impossible to do it in the morning everyday here).

Gel nails done on fingernails and toe nails painted using regular polish here today! Feels like a win as it always feels like far too much effort but then I do it and think ‘that didn’t take me long at all’. It takes way less time than going to the nail bar so I don’t know why I can never be bothered.

Flat all cleaned and candle lit mean it smells lovely here! Did a vitamin C face mask yesterday and my skin looks pretty good today. I also made sure I drank a ton of water and I had a big nap yesterday afternoon (as well as a full night of sleep) so I actually don’t feel so sleep deprived for once. I feel a bit stressed though, so hoping for an early night and that I feel better tomorrow.

Still going here too. I have ended the week having met most of my goals apart from eating fruit and drinking water - in some ways these are completely achievable so not sure why I'm falling down here but I can fix it! Most proud of myself for yoga three times a week this week, and diligent nail-painting. Most disappointed with my care for my feet, which are looking pretty awful - though obviously no one else cares this time of year!

I also weighed myself last week and had lost two pounds but had put it back on at this week's weigh so bit annoyed. Don't know if that's within the margins of error. Will keep going though. I don't care if it's slow - I just want to be going in the right direction!

End of January and I've done well on vitamins, skincare, flossing and walking. Only managed 1 run a week and yoga once a fortnight though so looking to up both of those for February! Have walked over 100 miles this year so far though

Not sure if I’ve kept to all my promises to myself but I feel like Jan was productive.

I’ve not been to the gym as much as I normally do as I have an injury. Also I’ve not pampered myself as much as I intended.

However, I did:

Join Zoe Nutrition and this is going really well.
Went to a Spa
Had a medical
Had a GP well woman appointment
Had my Mirena coil situation reassessed
Didn’t buy any clothes as I don’t need them (repeat to self)
Bought some new makeup
Booked a Hydrofacial, and had a consultation on what facials I’m going to do this year
Booked in to have my armpits lasered

So, I don’t look any better, but I’ve put productive things in place I feel.

I’ve really loved this thread.

So far i’m:

• doing well on exercise classes (managing two a week) but less well on daily exercise - need to improve this in Feb!!
• doing well on sleep hygiene and minimising my caffeine intake- loving my drowsy mask
• doing well on vitamins (B complex and D)
• loving the salux cloth and using it daily
• doing well with eye cream and ok at serum
• being a bit rubbish at remembering to do body brushing and body moisturising- must do better!!

And I’m actually feeling lots better! Priority for Feb is getting better at daily exercise!

Am doing well with taking vitamins. Fell off the wagon, diet wise but trying to reel it back in now.
Pedicure is looking good. I washed my nice coat and got the cat hair off
My roots need doing though.

edited for typo

What vitamins do you take? I don’t take anything as I haven’t a clue what to take.

My first month of princessing has gone really well.

• lost some weight
• taken daily vitamin d
• moisturised my face each morning
• smoothed and buffed my nails weekly
• tinted my eyebrows and lashes
• booked a haircut (Monday)
• bought some bras that fit

I’ve had a stressful month, so haven’t achieved that much. However, I did dye my hair and eyebrows. I also bought some new make up / and used it! I did a foot peel (yet to see any effect from it) and tried using nail polish, which went well. I also bought some clothes. I need to figure out outfits now. I’m now looking at minor cosmetic procedures and teeth whitening.

@2024IWillBeNurturingMe I take vit b complex, vit d, magnesium and iron.

Thx Ladybird

Whats gone well:

1. Kept up exercise 3x per week
2. Walking 10000 steps 5 days/7
3. Has eyebrows waxed and tinted and upper lip threaded.
4. Had hair cut and coloured.
5. Been doing my own mani/pedi once a week.
6. Barely drank any alcohol.
7. Lots of meals cooked from scratch.

What's not gone well:

1. Weight has plateaued. I haven't lost a pound. Haven't put any on, but still, its disappointing.

Very pleased with Jan progress:

• 4-5 1hr gym workouts pw
• Lost 5lbs this month
• First Dry Jan ever
• had a lovely hot stone massage
• kept up with nail and hair appts
• perfume and light make up every day
• cleanse tone serum and moisturised every night.
• deep conditioned hair every week
• bought a lot of new clothes in my new smaller size.
• lots of water every day and vitamins every morning.

My four additional habits were as follows:

1. body brushing once a week
2. drink 2l of water a day
3. take my vitamins
4. 2x pilates or yoga a week

I have done well on 2, 3 and 4. Started off with Nourished vitamins for Jan and have just switched to Lumity based on rave reviews from friends. We shall see.

Body brushing has been more like every 10 days or so, so could do with improving.

I already had a lot of good habits and happily none of those have fallen by the wayside. Am back to pre-Covid weight and measurements but that is as a result of some of the longer term changes I have implemented.

January wasn’t as productive as I’d hoped due to lots of bugs and illnesses (I blame the children!). I did exercise 3/4 times a week and have definitely been drinking more water (but still not getting 2 litres).
Feb I have booked to get my hair coloured and have eyebrow tint and wax booked. Will continue with my exercise and am hoping to lose a few pounds