'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*

Thankyou for this thread!

No time to read properly this morning but I think this is a great idea. Posting now to placemark to return later.

I like the sound of this - it feels more well rounded than just dieting. I need to decide on my list. I think 7/8 seems achievable, I don't want to put too many on there and do none.

My list

Continue:

• alcohol free (almost a year)
• minimal UPF and sugar, whole and homemade foods as much as possible, sensible carb portions, 30 plants a week, no eating after dinner/12 hour non eating window, no caffeine after midday. (I've lost a stone the last 3 months with this approach - 1 more to go).

-reading every evening before bed.

Start:
-YWA 30 days of Yoga in January (I never finish in January though!)
-get outside (for a walk) every day

• up daily water

-weekly foot and face pamper -daily meditation -daily mini strength workout/core play programme -journaling

To do:
-clear out my wardrobe. Currently overflowing.
-have a pile of clothes which need mending
-clear out my bathroom stash/ make-up- throw or use.
-buy a new bike
-spruce up my walking boots (need polishing)
-book a haircut

For anyone thinking about a holistic reboot, I can really recommend the four pillar plan by Dr Rangan Chatterjee - Food, movement, sleep and relaxation.

Morning all! I love a princessing thread - placemarking just now while I walk the dog, but I'll come back and update later.

Thank you for the thread @Chaiselongueallday I'm turning 45 in mid-January and was telling a friend that I've decided it's going to be my year of fabulousness. Am still finalising my princessing list but will come back and share.

Hi all, feeling v positive at the moment. Having a make up/toiletries cull later. I've tried a 'latte eye' this morning, just about to head out in the sunshine for a walk and browse around shops. Using Ameliorate twice a day at moment in anticipation of holiday end of Jan. Also going away for the night next weekend at Spa hotel in New Forest want skin to be mega smooth and moisturised for the indoor activities 😉

Restarted 16:8 ...for me those 12 hours mean not having to think about food/snacking etc and are a godsend.

What's a latte eye?

I need to join you.
@Distantrainbow what is your ginger, lemon & cinnamon tea recipe? I do hot water with lemon sometimes and feel that this could give it an extra zing

Can I join please 😁

I’ve just ended a horrendous relationship where I put myself second constantly while my needs were never met. I feel like I’ve lost myself.

My list;

Loose some weight. Ideally three stone but I’ll be happy with two and a half. I’ve started a food shop for the new year and I’m trying to make healthier choices while not leaping into something I know I won’t sustain.

Stop biting my nails!!! I’ve done it my entire life. I can stop for a while and have gone through periods of extensions and gel nails but as soon as one comes off I’m back to biting.

Skincare. I have all the products. I really don’t have any excuses. My skin looks vastly better when I stick to a routine and goes downhill quickly when I don’t. I need to do better.

More water, less coffee.

Conceal my dark circles. I’ve always had them but the last year they have become horrific. I love make up but I’ve never found a concealer that works for me. I’ve ordered some products to try and I’m really hoping they make a difference.

Eye test and new glasses. My daughter broke my good glasses and I can’t say my back ups spark joy 😂 I’ve got a feeling my prescription has changed anyway so I need to sort that.

Following

@MarshmallowWorld

https://graziamagazine.com/articles/latte-makeup-trend/#:~:text=Latte%20makeup%20predominantly%20focuses%20on,the%20look%20take%20full%20effect.

I'm not into conturing but quite like the eyeshadow look

Here for this!

Would love to lose 2 stone, sustainably and by eating lots of fresh whole food.

Swap coffee and builders tea for herbal - am good at this in the office as the teabags and coffee are rubbish, but less good at home. Double whammy to reduce caffeine and increase what I'll count toward 2L of water a day.

Grow hair - stop using the straighteners every day, mask at least once, ideally twice, a week.

Continue with skin and body care routine, with extra focus on hands and feet.

Ooh thank you!

Following

my 2024 glow up goals:

• Weight loss- lose and maintain my target weight
• Dry January and continue reduced alcohol thereafter
• Exercise 3x a week
• Work on core strength and toning
• Hair care- scalp massage and conditioning treatments. Regular trims
• Nail care- will treat myself to occasional pedicure and at home nail care weekly
• Reading- 2 books a month at least
• Clothing- invest in good quality timeless pieces that flatter my body shape
• Moisturiser and spf body! (Already okay at remembering face!)
• vitamins!

I love these threads. No doubt I’ll think of more things I’ve forgotten for my list

I’m back with my list!

Exercise
Weekly Pilates class
Couch to 5k (I have done week one about 12 times!!!!)

Food
Stop random snacking and eat more fruit/veg
Lose 3kg by end of January.
Meal plan week ahead(and write it down as otherwise forget)

Self care
Moisturise body every day
body brushing twice a week
Eyebrows 2 months
Haircut/colour 2-3months (been stretching it out to 4-6 months and feel rubbish by the end)
Foot treatment every week
Toe nails painted once a fortnight in winter
Fingernails filed and painted occasionally.

Clothes
use styleapp properly and work out what I actually wear and makes me feel good.
Rest goes on Vinted!

Read one book a week and cut screen time.

Drink more water.

Have better work boundaries to make time for fixing my brain (via reading, journaling and exercising). If that doesn’t work, get therapy.

I am too!
Feels like a good time to make more of an effort, although I am on a small budget so no expensive products for me unfortunately.

gonna do the downdog app yoga challenge for Jan and get one of those cloth things and maybe a body brush to start with :)

@wideawakeinthemiddleofthenightagain The lemon, ginger and cinnamon tea recipe I used was 100 grams of fresh ginger roughly chopped, about 500ml water to the juice of 2/3 lemons and a cinnamon stick, heat up in a pan and allow to simmer for 20 minutes, then allow to cool and sieve to remove the ginger/cinnamon bits.

It can be stored in the fridge - previously I have made up larger batches so I had a supply for about five days. After squeezing the lemons I also left the actual lemons in the pan whilst simmering. If you don't have fresh cinnamon you can stir in some sprinkled ground cinnamon prior to drinking.

A small glass first thing in the morning is beneficial but is quite a potent taste, and takes a bit of getting acquired to. Only do for 5/6 days and then have a week's break as it is not recommended to do continuously.

So glad to see this thread! I’ve made good progress the last few years thanks mostly to this board, but have some things I’d still like to tackle, or that I have become lax about. As per my username, I turn 40 in 2024 and I feel a lot of this is now or never!!

My list starting 3 Jan:

Start day with green tea or warm water and lemon
Daily vitamin D, omega 3, collagen, b12 and magnesium
Replace 2/3 of ‘carb’ intake with more protein, fruit and veg
Sugary treats twice a week only (cake, biscuits etc)
Two servings of oily fish a week
2l water/herbal or green tea etc a day
Pilates/yoga twice a week
Weights or swimming once a week
Leave in hair treatment once a week
Exfoliating face twice weekly
Tretinoin x3 weekly
Body brush in shower twice weekly
Use lash serum twice weekly
Use Lumea twice a week
Bikini trim once a week
Monthly appointment for mani/pedi/brows/lashes
List any clothes I don’t really love AND fit really well on vinted
Only buy clothes from Vinted and choose good brands in natural fibres

…and not really S&B, but go back to consultant re hormonal issues and make it a priority to sort out (possible peri symptoms?)

Hoping to get more inspiration from everyone else’s lists! We can do this 💪

Oh and I would also like to lose a stone! But hoping that will be a result of more consistent diet & exercise than a goal on its own

I am so up for this challenge!! I’ve been thinking that I really need to take self care a bit more seriously!!

I will come back with a list (going to limit myself to ten thing maximum on it or I’ll get overwhelmed) which now will include body brushing and salux inspired by comments above!

I'll join in if that's ok - placemarking so I can have a good read of what this means and what steps I may commit to.

I’ve just done run one of week one and about to take off my chipped nail polish. It’s a start!