High Maintenance on a low budget, Anyone going to join me?

[starbear]

I'm fed up of being out of shape, scruffy Mummy. From this week I'm going to watch less Telly get more exercise in and start looking groomed. Any scruffy bugger want to join me. I plan to be a Diva by summer.
I'm sitting here in a Fleece, green 'Tu' Sainsbury's old t-shirt, men's Gap jeans and brown flat trainer type thing, eyebrows need doing and hair needs cutting. Time to change. Anyone want to join a support group?

Impressed at all the hair care going on. I think mine must have heard me threatening to cut it all off as it has mysteriously started to look good again

Well I've got a hair cut booked for Sat morning (going for swanky lunch so want to look my best ) but I'm going against the grain and after having it dyed in December I decided to NOT have it dyed any more . (I reserve the right to change my mind in the future however).

Lots of walking today, a couple of doses of handcream, and 15 mins arm exercises with weights

cailinalainn, Welcome and just jump right in. I agree with dresses with patterns to hide any muckyness of children and take the eye away from the tummy.

I must admit only in a dress if I'm going out with DH or meeting friends otherwise Gap men's jeans and a TU t-shirt STILL! But I'm trying to lose a little weight before spending anymore money.
Did dress smartly for work as I didn't have to wear a uniform today as it was a training day, problem solving skills. Might apply this to myself. I have found a solution and that is getting support from you lovely ladies and not concentrating on just weight & diet basically.
Ok, so last night I did my nails and feet. The cuticles still need to be push back again gently when I find time this week.
Did sit-up this morning before work. Took kit to work & went to the gym after work as we finished early. No shower in gym as DH is now poorly. Going to have dinner then shower then cream etc...
What plans do you all have for the weekend?

Not a lot...clean up on Saturday, the house is a slum , hopefully going swimming on Sunday morning.

Haven't got round to painting my toenails yet I'm not sure I'm up to the job tbh, in the shower this morning I noticed that I had somehow forgotten to cut one nail last time I trimmed them all.

hi again

any ideas on what i can do with highlights that are growing out badly and quite frankly not having the money to redo it?? my hair is starting to embarrass me....

need to do my feet this weekend
will also get out the weights for my bingo wings
went on 3 joggles this week, mon tues and wed!

Morning all

V imp with all the hair activity going on, going to see if I can get an appt for tomorrow. My hair's v short so needs trimming very regularly or else it looks shite.
Sorry numberfour never had a colour on my hair so can't advise.
Jumbs, your shoes sound fab, where are they from? I love colourful flat shoes. I've got a pair of square toed red patent ones & I can't wait for it to be warm enough to wear them again (been living in boots since October)
I've still not painted nails, toes or fingers but have slathered myself in body lotion every day this week. I've started leaving it in the bathroom so I do it before I come out, seems to work for me.
Still not done any proper exercise although I do walk everywhere I go 'cause I don't drive so I suppose that counts... LOL! at Starbear "Did sit up this morning before work" what, just the one?
Trapped on settee with DS now as he's finally fallen asleep so TV & laptop for me, what a shame!

Morning ladies Back later with a proper post, haven't read through. But can anyone help me with this?

tummy question

This is such a fantastic thread! - I have now got about half way through so still more tips to pick up hopefully.

My List:

Already doing:

• Hot water with lemon in the morning.
• Lots of water through the day.
• Dry brushing skin before/moisturising after shower.
• Spray toner and moisturise face.
• Hair (coloured and restyle appt booked)
• Toenails painted.

To start:

• Colour Me Beautiful type thing (maybe a book to start with followed by hint dropping for birthday present)
• Arrange regular bikini wax.
• Handcream by sink and basin.
• Try to take DD and DS out in double buggy more often for free cardio workout (and to hold tummy in whilst doing so for free abs workout).

Numberfour
I went through the same hair dilemma a couple of years ago whilst pregnant with DD. Had regularly had foil colours done for many years but could no longer afford it. SO, I bravely started colouring my own hair and still do so now. It's not ideal, but I actually don't do a bad job now I've got the hang of it. I console myself with the thought that one day I'll be able to go back to foils and will truly appreciate the indulgence .
Alibaba
Don't have any advice - but just wanted to say I have the same problem and will read that thread with interest. I'm a 12/14 at the moment, 5 months post-baby no 2 and still breast feeding. I don't really have a problem with my overall weight as am quite tall - but am v concerned I will end up with one of those apron style tums that hang down in a flappy fasion. I mean - how is it ever going to go back??

Sorry this has turned into a rather long rambling but have to say I feel much better for making a list. It's great to have people to "talk" to about it.

Ooh - one last thing. Had eyes tested last week so this weekend my task is to try and get some glasses. (For reading only, but never worn before so a bit of a event for me!!)

Nezzi - shoes were from M&S, £15, bargain. Although all plastic so feet will probably stink in them.

Totally failed to dye hair will try again next week!

Painting hall today so not a very glam day for me!

Have a good weekend all!

Hi Alibaba, Jumbs and Starbear thanks for the advice re: dresses,it's an excuse to go shopping this weekend

OK, so I didn't get a chance to do Davina but I have been on 2 hour long walks since I last posted and have painted both fingers and toes so at least I've made a start.

Happy Friday everyone!

I was looking alright till DS decided to puke on my face at lunchtime Only a little bit, bless him - that'll teach me to play rough-and-tumble games so soon after milk.

Luckily I missed the puke - DD did it all over her cot in the night but then went back to sleep so all I had to do was clear up this morning.

Out for lunch today for DH's birthday. SO have just been for a haircut and had it straightened so it looks very smart for once. AND I booked the next appointment - something I NEVER do . And I've got a new skirt to wear too

Oi! Nezzi That's all I can do! No really I must check before posting Alibaba I'm working on my tummy now with sit-ups most mornings. I suffer from pregers tummy and middle age spread so it might take me a while. I do feel the difference.
nails done and Circuits this morning done Going on the sofa now {smile]

Well I had one compliment on my new skirt and one on my hair yesterday

Swim this morning - 24 lengths non stop. And plenty of body lotion afterwards. DH goes away later this morning, for a week. So plan is healthy eating, plenty of exercise and pampering, and time spent sorting out clothes, cleaning shoes, and getting organised. (Oh and I might fit in a few hours of curling up on the sofa in front of the box too )

Wow! Jammy you get up so early. Must take a leaf from your book. Unless you have a swimming pool well then I'm a little

Okay Must get my act together this morning.
Going to a lovely friends for lunch.
So on list
NO MORE MN
pluck a few eyebrow hairs
Shower
Dress (joggers & T-shirt )
Figure out what to wear that's in the cupboard now!
Go to dry cleaners and see 1) if they are open 2) collect smart trousers
Go back to Plan A if dry cleaners are closed
make a cake Ha! ha!
make up and go leaving at 12.30pm
So, later!

No private pool here. But only half mile from our local one.

Wow Jammy 24 lengths before 8am, in fact 24 lengths at any time of day. It'd be the end of me!
If you're anything like me, you'll get loads more done without having your DH around. And the remote control all to yourself, fab!
So far this weekend, I've plucked eyebrows, had a haircut & done some ironing in the hope that it will make getting dressed a bit easier in the mornings.
May do a face mask later, my skin's looking a bit worse for the winter!

OK, I've noticed a few things mentioned on here that I never do (and never think about doing):

eyebrows
cuticles
ironing

How bothered should I be? Do they really make a difference? Not sure I'd even know what to do with my cuticles, or why? (I file and buff my nails and use hand cream btw)

(Oh, I do know about ironing, but rarely do it!)

Also, we all seem to be heading in the right direction re high maintenance, but what about the low budget part of the title? I'd be keen to know what your recommended best buys are, particularly moisturiser, particularly towarda the "budget" end.

I can't recommend a good cheap moisturiser but my fave eye make-up remover is Boots Essentials in a blue plastic bottle. I think it's great & it's the only product that I use that I buy without question. Great for sensitive eyes and really does remove my make-up, not tried it on waterproof though. It costs about £1.60

I have plucked my eyebrows from 14 years old until Ds popped into the world! Then stopped until recently.
Cuticles. I'm really working on the hard rough skin around my nails for two reasons
1)I work outdoors and hands get very rough
2) Instead of biting my nails I bite the hard skin and hangnails. So working on cuticles might help!
Ironing hate, hate it but, clothes must be ironed for work. DH does his bit as his contribution to housework.
After paying for a gym membership everything else must be low budget.
£12 jeans from M&S as recommend by MN
Nails always done at home
Facial at home
No more massages (waste of money last time)
Waiting until Easter to cut my hair as I'm fed up of short hair. Should save money as well.
No more hair threading too expensive
I think I'm not spending rather than low budget really.
Saving money for good clothes instead of cheap clothes. Will treat myself to nice clothes when I lose a bit of weight and tone up. Will good recommendations though. But that's just me!

I went away and thought about it I'm not too good at this grooming lark. Will stick to it though as since I posted this thread I have gone to the gym more often, put make-up on more often and tried that little bit more.

Well I just cleared out my wardrobe. A bin bag full of stuff to throw and another for charity, and I still have stuff left to wear! Now I need to think hard about what (if anything) I need to fill in the gaps.

Ooooh, I just ordered some jammies, underwear, jeans and a necklace from M&S!!

Today's plans.
Shower, cream, protein breakfast. Go to dry- cleaners get jeans altered, drop off and pick up cleaning. take DS to gymnastics have to pop into work for stuff and get stuff some where else with Ds!
maybe do a run tonight
get off this machine NOW!

Busy day starbeat

I've only just got as far as getting dressed. DD had D&V at weekend, and she's over that but got a high temp today while I've picked up the D&V Hard to look stylish & well groomed when you keep running for the loo!