Coffee Drought

It has dawned on me that since the beginning of this year, I have not had as much coffee as I usually do. Perhaps that my friends, this is why I am having more headaches than I usually do! Coffee withdrawal!!

In my attempts to drink more water I have given up my more preferable caffeinated drinks. Each morning I usually have a lovely Nespresso coffee with milk but then, I am not having any more through out the day. Today though, I started my day with two giant mugs of coffee! It was a great morning ;-)

Also I suppose I should add that I have been filling my evenings with tea which I normally don't have but in trying to keep from munching on chocolate all night long (yes, we still have loads of Christmas chocolate) I have been on the tea.

I do have some interesting insider info that a Starbucks has opened nearby and so will obviously have to check out the intel soon!

In addition to my coffee excitement, I also downloaded a new app on my phone called Runkeeper. I had never heard of this app before but that won't be a surprise as I find more and more that I truely am technologically challenged. Since I have never used the app before I took a shorter than usual run around the neighbourhood to see how it all works. I really liked it. I ran down to the canal and back and it was about 3.5 kilometres. I ran it in roughly 23 minutes. Pretty good! I also took some photos on the run so maybe that slowed me down but I was happy for the distraction as it was really cold and rainy this morning.

Local canal

All the fishermen with their umbrellas

In other news, it looks like my husband has finally fixed some of our internet issues! The electrician however has still not been around to check out the flashing light situation. Hopefully he will come over this week but who knows.

Anyone else cutting back on the coffee this year? 

Burnt Kale Chips

Noooooo!!! A major fail tonight.

I don't know what it is but recently, by the time Wednesday rolls around I really do not feel like cooking and worse than that, I don't even know what I want or really care what I have to eat. It is not good. So tonight I planned ahead and made some fish cakes and kale chips.

I know loads of people who dehydrate their kale to make kale chips and it takes ages. I sometimes put the oven on high for awhile and then put them in for about 10min after I have turned the oven off...tonight I thought I'd cook them with the fish cakes and after 10mins in the oven they were brown, the house smelled and they tasted BAD. I was really looking forward to some nice crispy kale...boo!

Anyway, dinner was saved with a lovely salad ;-)

No photos tonight as we are still struggling with the internet and also now the electrics in our house. The electrician is coming over tomorrow and I am hoping it is a simple little thing that needs a quick fix. I really hope the whole house doesn't need rewiring as that would be a massive nightmare but I suppose that's what happens when you have a house over 100 years old.

On a positive note, got my nails done today by a new and very lovely beautician. I have been to him twice now and he is very entertaining in addition to obviously being very good at his job! ;-) Chose a pretty purpley colour and love it. Will try to add a photo of my lovely nails next post. But for now will sign off for the night.

Have a good one!

Fitness Plans

Hello! Sorry I left the blog world for a little while. We have been having some internet connection issues here so even though I was planning on saying hello on Sunday, I couldn't.

Rather than recap my fitness successes from last week I will just update you on my plans for the week ahead:

Sunday: Pilates, well, these got cancelled as my gym was still on its Christmas schedule! So had a 40 minute workout in the gym (sans supportive sports bra and iPod...not great people!)

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: Swimming (hopefully 30 laps or at least 25 in the 33 metre pool)

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday: Spinning in the morning and Running Club in the evening

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Virtual Spin Class and a run on the treadmill

Then with any luck I'll be back in Pilates on Sunday! I can't wait and neither can my abs ;-)

This is pretty similar to the fitness schedule I worked from last week and let me tell you it felt great! Yes, I hurt and was exhausted by the end of the week but I think it is better to feel that way than a very lazy tired if you know what I mean.

A little soggy after Thursday night's run!

I started with a local running club last Thursday. I wasn't really sure upon joining if I would like it. Was I joining to run (back to the couch to 5k plan) or for the social aspect or a bit of both? I decided it is probably more a social thing with the running thrown in for good measure ;-) I was put in the beginners group which was ok since it was my first night (a more advanced group was running a 6k that night) but I felt like I was probably to advanced for the beginners group and not quite ready for the 6k group. I did however meet a nice woman from New Zealand so the running went by quickly with someone nice to get to know. I definitely have to get used to running in the cold and wet but mainly in the dark. I have never really run in the dark before so I am finding it a little strange.

Anyone else have a good fitness plan set up for the week? Advice for running in the dark? 

Double Session

Good morning! I hope everyone's week is going well. I really can't believe how quickly it has gone...today is Thursday!

Today is pretty much a chilled out day. No big plans. We went on a little walk this morning, with the added bonus of 'Daddy' joining us! This afternoon we'll mainly be out at the shops buying birthday gifts for a new baby and a 3 year old birthday party that we'll be at in a couple weeks. I might even buy Francis a new puzzle. I know, I know Christmas has just happened and yes he got a lot of new things but this boy is a puzzle genius! He is currently working on puzzles with small pieces and that have more than 30 pieces meant for 3 year olds. He completes them on his own pretty much immediately so I'd like to get him one from an older age group or maybe with more pieces to keep him challenged. He is really a big boy now ;-)

My boys

Tonight I am off on my first ever run with a mum's running club! I am excited but also dreading it to be honest. I can't wait to get out and run and meet some new people that will be great, BUT I hate running in the cold and wet. I guess I will just have to toughen up. Unbelievably, I have already been to the gym this morning as I thought my spinning class was on but the gym is still on its Christmas schedule so it wasn't. I did a little mini workout though and felt good after even though my alarm went off at the horrendous hour of 6:15am! Starting to feel a bit tired now...

So, what are your plans for the day? Anyone doing a double workout session? 

Online Shopping

Happy Monday everyone! Well, it probably isn't really as most people are back in the office today, but it is good to be optimistic ;-)

We had a very busy day over here. Met up with a lovely friend and her son and two daughters. Went on the most wind swept walk I have been on in awhile and had a great time just catching up! I always think that it is rather a miracle that we managed to: make it on time(ish) and actually complete the walk we set out to do which is around a lake (2.5k), as with 5 children under 3 years old things can be tricky!

After meeting up and a quick nap for the little ones we went out on the second adventure of the day...food shopping. Personally, I love food shopping. I always have. However, taking two toddlers food shopping when you literally need to buy a house full of groceries is a task I would rather not take. I always set out thinking: this will work, we'll all be fine, I have come prepared with snacks...but usually about 5 minutes in I realize that I have lost my mind. There's pinching, hitting, spitting and shouting all coming from two very small angelic looking boys in a trolley. So I end up gently shooshing everyone whilst running wildly through the shop to get as many things on my now half chewed tear stained list as possible. Ah the joys!

So that brings me to a question; what do you think of online food shopping? Is it really worth it? I have only ever bought other things online never food and with mixed consequences. Don't even ask me about my sister's Christmas present that came with swears printed all over it! Don't want to finish my shopping list only to find that the online shop doesn't have half of it in stock or get my order with all the wrong items...Yikes!

Let me know what you think.

To Resolve or Not To Resolve

New Year's Resolutions...tricky little things aren't they? The majority of us set out at midnight on the 1st day of each new year with a thing or two (or in some cases a few dozen) that we resolve to change, make better, stop, start, etc... and a majority of that majority decide somewhere between that 1st day of the year and a few weeks later that well, really maybe we'll work on that/those another time ;-)

I really don't know how I feel about New Year's Resolutions. I think I love to hate them. But due to the fact that I am always on a mission to better myself and my surroundings, I am one that resolves not only at the beginning of each new year, but also on my birthday (in May) and again in September (used to be the beginning of a new school year, so why not eh?!). Normally, I forget what I have resolved to do or not do very soon after I have made the decision to do them or not! In fact, in many cases something outside my realm of power stops me from making good on my promises. How on Earth can I stop swearing when a kitchen drawer has fallen out on to my toes very nearly breaking them all; I ask you? ;-)

This year, I have taken a new perspective on the old resolution issue. This year, I have not resolved to do anything in particular, but to work on a couple things with no time lines really. So I guess I am cheating a little here but I feel I can NOT fail!

I feel great already!

So what will I be working on this year?

1) Drink more water. Most of the day, especially living in England, I drink tea all day long. So now I am going to add more wonderful water each day.

2)Take more time for me. I have spent quite a lot of the last few years completely and utterly doing so much for all the boys (husband and dog included), the house and friends that I have forgotten about me. I will still do as much as I can for others don't get me wrong but I am definitely carving out some 'me time' this year. Started this out already with a great manicure and getting back to blogging!

3) Pilates! I found out last year that I have a condition (that many women get after pregnancy) called Diastasis Recti. My case is particularly bad. I have done some physio and now I have been recommended Pilates. I started going to classes at the end of last year and loved them so I plan on making that a big part of my fitness this year.

4) Get back to my pre-baby weight or as close to it as I can. I am not obese. I am only slightly overweight for my frame, but with Diastasis Recti any additional weight hinders getting your abdominal strength back into fighting form. I have about 20lbs I would like to lose although that is not set in stone. As long as I am feeling healthy and getting my stomach back to where it should be I'll be happy.

Christmas present from my sister!

5) Spend more time on people who I care about and care about me. I am a people pleaser. Sometimes I get taken advantage of because of this. I refuse to continue on in relationships with those who really can't be bothered making the effort. I love my friends and family and want to spend my time nurturing those relationships this year!

So those are my things to work on. Five doesn't seem many but they are quality things and I really can't wait to see how they go.

Do you believe in New Year's Resolutions? What are some of your's if you have made them?

A Fresh New Year!

First of all, Happy New Year! I hope 2014 turns out to be a wonderful year for all of you.

Secondly, I'm back! Nine whole months have gone by since I last wrote a blog post. For those of you who used to follow and are back; thank you for sticking with me through my hiatus. For those of you new to my blog; welcome and I hope you enjoy it!

I want to be honest and say that the reason I took a little break from the blog was three fold:
The first reason being that I simply didn't have much time to commit to the blog. This time I am going to schedule in blogging at least once a week or more and I am much more tech savvy than I was last go around so that should help with posting while travelling etc...
Second, reading some of my posts I realized that things were looking pretty boring and quite frankly I was embarrassed. In hindsight we definitely did some awesome stuff last year but I was too burnt out with other things that I didn't have the energy to blog about them. Heck, we even moved to Norway for a month and that would have made for some great blog stories!
The third and final reason was that I didn't have many readers. I totally appreciated the readers I did have but I didn't have many and I don't know if they were regular or not as not a single comment was made on my posts, despite trying my best to be inclusive. Now, I'm not blaming anyone at all for this but myself. Looking back and knowing better (I used to work in PR and Marketing before becoming a full time mum), I should have spread the word. I know just how to do this and this time I will!

So out with the old and in with the new! I am really looking forward to getting back into blogging as I definitely have some things I'll be working on this year that I will be able to share with you and that means many more interesting posts to come (fingers crossed)!

And with that said, I'll leave you with a photo of our lovely but quite droopy and sad 2013 Christmas tree.

Back soon with a post on New Year's Resolutions.