I am finally ready to enter my skincare era. For so long I have neglected skincare and I am starting to feel it now as I am fighting constant breakouts and dark circles, it is time to make the change now though at long last to really start to improve the condition of my skin overall and just feel more confident due to how my skin turns out after a bit of TLC. It is certainly time now to build a skincare routine for me to stick to and here are some of the items I want to pick up to add into that routine to hopefully see a difference in my skin condition...

I mentioned in yesterday's how I am saving up for my rewards when I hit my 65 kg goal (this number might change to 70 kg depending on how I feel when I get to that number) as this is when I will be going on my big goal shop to treat myself to those items I have been wanting for a long time. Since starting my journey I have been compiling a list of items I would have previously only dreamed of owning and this has spurred me on to make the changes and save to hit that target. My list seems to have settled down a bit now and I have a great idea of what I want to purchase when that goal shop comes around and here are the items that have made the list...

Fashion

There are quite a few fashion items on this list which makes sense as the wardrobe is going to need a full rebuild as my size is going to have massively changed from what it is now. This is going to allow me to buy the items I have only previously dreamt of owning and the fashion items on my list are...

Ralph Lauren Jumper

I have wanted a nice Ralph Lauren jumper for a long time now however, they have never fit right and for the cost I want to make sure it fits perfectly. The plan is that when I hit my goal I go to a local Ralph Lauren whether that is an outlet or normal store and try these jumpers on once again. If they finally fit perfectly and feel comfortably I am planning on adding a few of these jumpers in different colours.

Ralph Lauren Shirts

I know the style I am going for as I am slowly transitioning into it currently however, I am not spending a fortune on this until I hit that goal as this is when my size should stop changing. The style I am opting for is much smarter especially for work and when I go on that goal shop I will hopefully be picking up a few smart Ralph Lauren shirts in different colours for work. 

Hawes & Curtis Shirts

For a bit of a cheaper option I am planning on purchasing some Hawes & Curtis shirts as these look just as good as the Ralph Lauren ones I am wanting plus with certain styles you can add cuff-links which is just a little bit different and adds a little extra to the outfits I have in mind with these shirts. They will definitely add a smarter look to my outfits going forward.

Holland Cooper Stamford 3 in 1

This Holland Cooper 3 in 1 jacket has been on my wish list for so long however, I just couldn't bring myself to pay £350 for this as my size was changing. The plan once I hit my goal though is to pick one of these up as it is perfect for dog walks and days out. The coat is perfect for the cold Yorkshire weather where as the gilet and fleece will be perfect for the cooler days and lounging around. I feel like I would definitely end up getting my money worth with this jacket.

Barbour Jacket

I already have the money earmarked for a Barbour jacket as every time I see them in a store I go over and get tempted to buy one but again I can't justify the cost if I am not going to fit in it properly in a few months time. The Barbour jacket is a timeless classic that I have always wanted so the plan is to finally add one to my wardrobe, I just need to work out which style I want. This could easily be one of the first purchases I make.

Smart Jacket

The past two jackets are a bit more country style & relaxed however, for work and days where I am going out and wanting to make an effort I really need a smart jacket or two. The plan is to get a trench/driving style of coat and a thicker pea coat style of jacket alongside a few blazers to make sure I am covered for all occasions. I am not going overboard buying items like this now but when I hit that goal weight I will be making sure I am all covered.

Levis Jeans

There have been so many times I have tried Levis on however, they have never fit right and I have always said to myself that as soon as I hit my goal I will be buying myself a pair to show the hard work I have put in to achieving my goal. The plan is to go in store and find the best fitting pairs in styles that are going to work for me and I can't wait to see which I end up with. 

Smart Trousers

To go with all the smart tops above I am going to need to get some smart trousers to go with them. Once that goal is hit I will be beginning the hunt for the perfect trousers to go with the shirts and jumpers I am purchasing. There will be no wide legs, just tailored, well fitting trousers that are made to last. It will definitely be time to ditch the baggy outdated trousers and get that put together style at long last.

Quality Gym Fits

The plan is to get some good quality gym fits when I hit my goal as my current will be far too big by then. I am hoping I can get some nice items that all work well together, that are comfortable and will last me for a while. I love my Gymshark items so some will come from there however, I am also going to take a look at Lululemon to see how their items fit me as I have heard good things about them. I find if I have a good gym fit I feel more confident and smash sessions so the gym fits will be staying after the goal and will hopefully look better than ever. 

Footwear

On the goal shop I don't want to focus on clothing although that is definitely where most of my money will go as the wardrobe will be needing a complete overhaul. The new clothing will need great footwear to go with it so the footwear will be getting an upgrade too. Here are the footwear pieces I am hoping to pick up once those goals are hit...

Prada Loafers

These Prada Loafers have been on my wish list for a long time and I feel like they would be perfect for those smarter days and getting dressed up. These are definitely expensive for what they are but I am constantly drawn into them so the purchase definitely needs to be made. I am considering these to be a reward for all the hard work I have put in to reach the goal. 

Loro Piana Loafers

Another high end purchase however, it is another purchase I have been wanting to make for a long time now. The issue previously has been that they wouldn't have gone with the clothing items I wore but with the sort of style I am going to be aiming for these will definitely an essential for late spring and summer time. They are definitely going to be an investment but they will definitely be worth it.

Veja Trainers

I feel like my Nike Dunk & Jordan trainer days are over as when I go shopping now I am finding myself heading over to smart looking trainers which makes a change. If I am dressing smarter though the trainers are going to make or break the outfit if I am wanting to dress it down just a little. I love the look of these Veja trainers so they will definitely be a goal shop purchase to work well with the other items I plan on purchasing. 

Comme Des Garcons Converse

These shoes have been on my wish list for so long now and I have decided that once I hit that goal I will be finally biting the bullet and getting a few pairs of the hi-top version of these. I am thinking that the black and white versions will be being purchased however, I am also loving the grey ones, I don't feel like I need all 3 colourways but as it stands that could very well be the case. I guess I have got time to decide which ones I definitely want though. 

Accessories

There are quite a few accessories I am hoping to purchase on my goal shop too as it doesn't make sense buying some of these now with my size due to change, other items are just expensive so I want to use them as a bit of an incentive to hit that goal. So here are those accessories I am wanting to pick up...

Ralph Lauren Belt

This reversible Ralph Lauren belt has been on my wish list for so long however, I don't want to buy a specific size and then need to replace it not long after. This is certainly going to be one of my first purchases once I hit the goal as this is going to go so well with jeans & those smart trousers I am hoping to pick up. The logo on this is just big enough to add a little extra to an outfit without being too in your face.

Prada Sunglasses

I have two great pairs of sunglasses at the moment however, I want to grow that sunglasses collection with some different pairs. As a treat for hitting my goal I am going to be splashing the cash a little and picking up a pair of Prada sunglasses. This Prada pair is the pair I seem to be getting dragged towards no matter how many other pairs I look at so I think these are going to be a definite purchase as soon as I can.

Smarter Glasses

I am in desperate need of new glasses however, I really don't want to be buying the perfect pair until I have settled on my weight a bit. This might seem silly however, I know my face shape will change due to the weight loss so I will stick to cheaper pairs now and then I can treat myself to the perfect pair that suits my face shape when that weight has gone. 

So those are the items I am planning on buying when I finally get to go on my big goal shop, I will be doing much smaller rewards for the little targets I hit on the way to my overall goal. These will be mainly items that help me push towards that big goal and those are...

Football Boots

I am always in need of football boots (although people will tell you I have too many pairs) so when I hit my first goal I am going to get myself a new pair for the season ahead. I already know which ones I am wanting so I just need to hurry up and hit that goal to be able to purchase them.

This might seem like a silly reward however, I feel like a slow cooker is going to come in very handy over the colder months as we can have food cooking away whilst I am at the football and we can ensure we are eating fresh home cooked meals which are much better than ordering takeaways.

Gym Outfits

These will be purchased on a budget and I am going to make my current gym wear last as long as possible however, the items are going to need replacing as my size changes so the plan is to replace them on the cheap but only buy what I really need so I am not wasting loads of money. 

Gym Footwear 

As I plan to spend more time in the gym and working out in general a few rewards are going to be gym footwear related. One will be a pair of running shoes when the time comes to replace my current and the other will finally be a pair of Metcons as I will be doing more weight work going forward, these have been on my wish list for a long time now so they will certainly be purchased as a reward for the hard work on my journey.

As I say these goal shop treats and rewards are just a few ideas of what I would love to pick up and there is time for these to change as time goes on but we will see how that goes. As I get closer to that big goal I might do and updated version of this post to see what still makes the cut and what I have decided I don't want anymore. 

What items would you pick up if you was on this journey?

See you soon, 

Lucy 

I can't quite believe that we are already in August, we are finally edging closer to my favourite months... the autumn months and let's just say the countdown is well and truly on for those now. That being said though I am really looking forward to August as there is plenty coming up to keep me busy and get me ready for those colder months. August is going to be a bit of a chaotic month however, I am determined to make it a productive one too rather than being lazy and I guess the goals I have set myself for the month reflect how I want the month to go. So here are the goals I have set myself for the month ahead...

Fashion

Sort through the rest of my clothes

I am very slowly but surely working my way through my clothing to make my wardrobe more streamlined and only full of clothing that goes towards the style I am hoping for. The plan in August is to finally get through all my clothing and put some bits on Vinted that I no longer need. This is a job that I keep on delaying but now it is time to get through it and make space for clothing I am actually going to wear. 

Plan what clothing I need for autumn

Once my clothing has been cleared out it is time to sit down and go through what I need for the change of seasons. I have so many outfit ideas in mind for the new season and I also have a list of clothing pieces I would love to purchase but I want to make sure they are items I need rather than just want. I can see a few purchases being made by the end of August but the main thing for me to do is sit and plan out a list of items to buy going forward.

Sort through my autumn footwear 

As well as sorting through my clothing I really need to sort through my footwear for the upcoming season. I have a box full of autumn and winter footwear in the loft so the plan is to go through this and get rid of any pairs I will no longer wear or that are looking worse for wear. Once I have sorted through these I can identify any gaps to fill and can see just how much space I need when it comes to doing my footwear switch over at the start of September. 

Sort through my jewellery

It really is the month for sorting through things for a fresh start when the seasons change and one thing I really want to do is sort through the jewellery I own as I am wanting to make some changes to my jewellery box over the next few months. A lot of my jewellery at the moment just wont fit that style I am aiming for and is quite childish so it is time to have a clear out and get some better quality, timeless looking pieces. 

Plan and organise my outfits weekly

I am determined that August is the month where I get my act together and start building habits to carry into the rest of the year and beyond. My aim for this month is to start the habit of putting aside an hour on a Saturday or Sunday to piece together outfits for the upcoming week whether it is for work, days out, working out or football. This just means I will know where everything is and can have outfits that look good together rather than throwing on any old clothes in a rush in a morning. This organisation will help me see what works well together outfit wise but most importantly will take the guess work out of mornings going forward. 

Fitness

Play as much football as possible 

Football is almost back and August is the final month of preseason so the plan is to make the most of that and really knuckle down and improve my fitness etc. The plan is to hit every training session possible, one will be missed due to a holiday but I am also planning on adding in a few solo sessions where I can just do a little extra to build the fitness and get used to the ball at my feet again. I am also planning on playing in as many games as possible in the month too just to make sure I am getting that valuable game time under my belt.

Hit the gym 3 times a week 

I am slowly developing the habit of actually using my gym membership and I am going to be making the most of it. The plan is to hit the gym 3 times a week (apart from the week I am away) and really make some progress on my weight loss journey at long last. 3 sessions a week should be the perfect amount of time in the gym alongside my football so let's see if I can hit this goal and really see the progress in August.

Get as close to the 100 kg mark as possible

I am slowly making progress on my weight loss journey but I really want to take things up a notch in August and push for a big loss so I finish the month on as close to 100 kg as possible. This is a big ask as I ended July on 106 kg however, if I knuckle down, hit the fitness goals in this post and sort my diet out I should be able to push for the 102 mark if not the 101, just as long as I get well under the 105 mark this time around I will be happy to be honest but let's just see how much I can push to make the positive changes.

Run 1 km in under 10 minutes

In July I set myself a little challenge of seeing how fast I could run 1 km as my fitness level baseline and to be honest I have shocked myself as I started the month running 1 km in 12 minutes 45 seconds and on my last attempt of July I ran the distance in 10 minutes 47 seconds, almost a full 2 minutes taken off my time which shows that what I am doing is working for me at last. In August I am really going to push myself to see if I can get under the 10 minute mare as I am not too far off and a solid month should help me see more progress on this. 

Hit my step goal daily

There were a few times in July where I fell short of my step goal however, in August the goal is to have the perfect month where my daily steps are at a minimum of 8,000 each day. This is going to massively help my weight loss if I really knuckle down and increase my daily expenditure so let's see how this one plays out shall we. 

Life

Read 2 books

Those books still haven't been read however, that is definitely going to be changing in August. I am determined that rather than scrolling through social media on an evening I am going to pick up a book and read a few chapters before I go to bed. I am about half way through my current book and then I just need to decide which one I move onto once that is complete. I am really hoping that in the August goals wrap up I can report that this goal is complete. 

Enjoy a week away

I have a week away booked with my parents and nephew and I am determined to make the most of the week and switch off to enjoy the time with them. We are going to Torquay and have a few days booked at a theme park which will be nice. Where we staying has a pool too and with the weather due to warm up again I am sure we will be spending plenty of time in there and of course there will be plenty of walking to be done. I am just looking forward to the week off work.

Enjoy my camping trip

Another chance to switch off is when we head out camping for a few nights which is bound to be eventful as we are taking the dog on his first camping trip. This trip will be in the middle of nowhere and we are aiming to climb one of the Yorkshire 3 peaks whilst away which would definitely be a great experience. 

Get birthday party ready

As I said earlier I am trying my best to become organised in August and as part of this I want to get everything ready for my birthday party in September. This will just be a get together with family but I want to make sure I have everything I need so I am not rushing away. My plan is to get the tableware, drinks and other little bits ready so I just have to worry about the food on the actual party day. 

Home

Finish decorating the dining room

I had the great idea of getting the dining room done before my party so in August I need to ensure that all the decorating for the dining room is complete, this means plastering, painting, skirting and flooring is all done and all the furniture for this space is in place and ready to add accessories to. This is definitely going to be a big ask but I am sure we will be able to get this done.

Add all the decor to the dining room

As soon as all the furniture is in place in the dining room the plan is to get all our prints on the wall, shelves up, coffee station built and new glasses in the correct space so this room can be fully completed. Again this room needs to be done by my party so it is going to be all systems go but I can't wait to be able to enjoy this new room at long last.

Sort the trees

The trees are well and truly overgrown so before the party we need to make sure these are cut back so our guests don't have the hassle of getting in and out of the house like we currently do. Once these are done we should get plenty of light back into our house and honestly we shouldn't have to cut them again this year if we do it right. This is one of the jobs we both hate and hopefully in 2026 we can look at getting these ripped out but for now an August job is to get these sorted at long last.

Finish the back garden

We have been delaying the back garden works for so long but I am determined that in August we are going to get this done ready for that birthday party so we can have the patio doors open. The plan is to finish converting the planters into benches, give the decking a really good clean and sort out the weeds that have taken over. I am also hoping we can try build a new fence and gate so the area is more secure and if we do get chance once the plastering has been done I would love to be able to get all the decking and fence painted too but I guess only time will tell with this one.

Finish the hallway

The hallway is in need of a few paint touch ups from where we have put things up on the wall, the beading needs adding to the floor, the radiator needs piping up and we are good to go with this for the big jobs. All that needs doing then is a few little decor bits adding like a stand for a basket, cushion for the ottoman, a nice diffuser and a mat for behind the door and we are finally done with this area of the house. I really can't wait for this to be over and done with. 

So there you have it those are my goals for August let's see how the month plays out, hopefully by the time it comes to writing the wrap up post I can mark a lot of these as complete at long last and I can really see that I have made some great progress for the month. 

See you soon,

Lucy

It is no secret now that I am really pushing towards my weight loss goals and I have a lot of pretty expensive rewards I want to treat myself to when I hit that main goal (post coming up about that very soon) so I have finally realised there is no point in wasting money now on clothes that aren't going to last too long when I can be saving that money for the rewards when the time comes plus I am sick of wasting money for the sake of not coming home empty handed when shopping. 

To be honest though I am really dialing in on my weight loss journey now and my biggest priority at the moment is getting rid of this weight for good which means if all goes to plan I won't be at the size I am now for much longer and I will be dropping sizes a bit more frequently until my loss phase is over and done with. 

As I said before I have realised now I am just spending for the sake of it as I feel like if I am out I need to buy something however, I am slowly getting out of that mindset now as I am starting to realise that saving would hold a much bigger benefit for me all round. Saving would mean I could get much better quality pieces when it comes to that big goal shop and if I really knuckled down with the savings for the goal shop I believe I could realistically save just over £2,500 meaning I could have a very good shop when the time comes. It is not only clothing that I am saving for though I am also saving towards other little bits that will help me on the journey too like cooking devices.  

My wardrobe is currently overflowing with items I never wear or that don't fit right so I really don't need any other items added for the sake of it when I can just wear those items first. By not adding to the wardrobe & cutting back on the pointless shopping trips I could save so much money so from now on that is the plan The shopping trips are going to be massively cut back and I am planning on reducing those new additions until they are really needed. 

The additions are going to be stopped however, there will be some exceptions for the rules. When trousers get to the point where they look too baggy or silly even with a belt I will be allowing myself to purchase a new pair however, it will be one in one out to stop the wardrobe being full of items that don't fit. This is going to be similar with tops too when they start to look silly for being too big I will be replacing on a one in one out basis. I will also be allowing myself to buy new football shirts through this as I can't miss out on the latest ones to add into my collection as the new season begins. These exceptions will be done on a one in one out basis and will be replaced on a budget meaning there will be no more big expense purchases until I have hit those goals.

Now that the weight loss journey is the main focus in my life it is time to knuckle down and ensure that I am using my time wisely so shopping trips will be replaced by workouts and the wardrobe is going to remain as it is until those items desperately need replacing. This will give me a chance to work towards that style I am wanting too as when items need replacing I can add the new style items and begin building that perfect wardrobe. Let's see how this goes...

See you soon, 

Lucy.

It is looking like we might actually be getting a good summer here in the UK with the weather finally improving and mini heatwaves hitting. This latest heatwave has got me thinking about all the things I actually want to get done this summer, I don't want to waste the time especially now Liam is at home more due to his new job. Previous summers have been spent sat at home or playing football but this time around I want to get out and about doing a variety of things just to make the most of the weather before it inevitably changes earlier than it should. So here is what I am hoping to do this summer...

Visit Malham

I have wanted to go to Malham for the longest time possible and I think a trip here on a cooler day would be absolutely perfect. This is something we can do just the 3 of us and either spend a few hours there or the full day depending on how far we actually wish to walk. Malham is somewhere I haven't been since I was little so it would make a nice change and it isn't like it is a million miles away.

Climb on of the Yorkshire 3 peaks

The Yorkshire 3 peaks aren't actually too far away from us and it is on my goals list to walk them (individually) this year. Granted we should have done a few of these in the spring however, time wasn't on our side and I am hoping we an get up and off early one day in the summer on a cool day to climb one of the 3 peaks with the dog. Before we do this though I need to work out which one is going to be the best for me with my current fitness levels and which the dog is going to be able to handle the best.

Go camping

This summer I am going to be making time to have a long weekend camping which should certainly be an experience with the dog in tow. We have been saying we were going camping for ages but kept delaying it however, in the next few weeks we will be going out getting a tent and the other equipment we need and getting a pitch booked for a few nights. This is definitely something I am really looking forward to as it should be a brilliant experience full of plenty of entertainment thanks to the dog.

Complete the back garden work

Granted this won't be fully completed as we aren't going to pain the decking until the dining room has been plastered however, we can get the majority of the back garden finished before the weather changes if we knuckle down and crack on with it. The main things to do in this area are finish converting one planter into a bench, build a new fence & gate and reorganize the decorations whilst giving the grass and decking area a tidy up. This should be a good few days work to get it up to scratch but then we can enjoy it for the rest of the summer. There will be little additions creeping into here over time and I can't wait to see it all start to come together at long last as it has been a long time coming.

Late night drinks in the garden

Once the garden is done I really want us to make the most of it by having late night drinks in there whether it is just us two and the dog or family come around to join us. If it drops cold we can light the fire pit but either way we can just enjoy relaxing in the nice space we have created rather than being sat inside the warm house all summer.

Have a BBQ

We will need to actually go out and buy a BBQ for this one but I want to enjoy a few BBQ's this summer a few with just me and Liam and then invite the family around for some. You can't beat a good BBQ when the weather is nice and it is just a chance to eat some good food and enjoy each others company whilst enjoying the outdoors. Let's hope we do manage to have a fair few of these.

Have a picnic

It has been a long time since I have packed a picnic basket and headed out however, I am hoping that changes this summer. My plan is to combine this with that Malham trip or maybe head somewhere local with the nephew in tow during the summer holidays as I think it would be something nice for us to do together but we shall see how this one plays out.

Have a theme park trip

My nephew is getting braver and is happy to go on more rides at theme parks now so I am hoping that I can get to a theme park with him this summer & enjoy the rides with him. I am having a week away with him in August and all being well we will be having a day or two in a theme park so this is something I should definitely get to tick off the wanting to do this summer list. 

If I manage to get plenty of these things done it should set me up for a very, very good summer indeed so let's see how it plays out.

See you soon, 

Lucy

We have finally completed the hallway which unfortunately drained our bank accounts however, we are in the stage now of rebuilding the funds and planning our dining room makeover. This room has always been one of my least favourites with wallpaper coming off the walls and a fully bare wall where we had patio doors installed last year. We are hoping to knuckle down and get this room completed by my birthday party on the 6th of September which has meant we have sat down and worked out just what we want in this room going forward so we know how much we need to budget for the makeover. The plastering and decorating is going to come in at just over £1,000 so we are hoping to keep costs down in other areas, we are lucky to have received a dining table from my parents which has reduced what we need money wise by quite a bit but there is still a fair bit too pick up so here is what we are looking at getting...

IKEA Skruvby Sideboard £129

We are going to be having a bar area along one wall in the dining room and this unit is going to be ideal for the space. The plan is to use the exposed side for fancier bottles & cans whilst the draw will be used for little accessories such as straws & bottle openers. As for the actual cupboard side we will be filling this with bottles we don't want on display and glassware that will be used with the alcohol within the bar area. This will just keep everything together in one space and will hopefully look really nice once it all comes together. 

Basket 

I am going to be looking for a cheap basket that we can pop into a corner of the dining room and fill it with some blankets. The plan is to put this by the patio doors so that we can grab one with ease if we are sitting outside and it drops a bit colder. This is going to be a cheap basket as it doesn't need to be over the top but it is going to be super handy to keep things tidy.

Bar Set 

To really set the bar area top up I am wanting a nice little bar & cocktail set for on the top of the sideboard just to make life easier if I am making special drinks. I have found some really nice ones in Dunelm so I think a trip is going to be needed once work gets underway.

Tray

I love the look of trays on top of bar areas and this wooden one (maybe in a lighter colour) would look great on top of the side board with that Ralph Lauren decanter sat on top of it. I am hoping I can find one around £10 that looks as good as the one above so the hunt is well and truly on.