I Love A Challenge

Nothing is better than starting a week with a challenge, because everyone loves a challenge!  I found this 30 Day Abs Challenge online and thought that I would follow it.  So after thirty days apparently I will have amazing abs.  Either that or I will just be really good at sit ups and planks which is good enough for me.  I will start this tomorrow.  Let's see if this really makes a difference, I will post before and after pictures at the end of it.  Who's with me?

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Thursday Tunes

I spend so much time listening to music and have such a vast taste in music, I am going to share my five favourite sounds, whether that's albums, tunes, gigs etc.  Today I am going to share ...

Five Favourite Albums of the Week

Enter Shikari - The Mindsweep

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Just as well that I love this album.  I am going to see Enter Shikari in a few weeks.  One word: Epic.  So many different sounds created into one album.  It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it is certainly mine!!
Favourites: Anaesthetist, The Last Garrison, Torn Apart & Slipshod.


Royal Blood - Royal Blood

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I feel like it is hard to find good, new music nowadays, and this is good.  I would love to see these live.
Favourites: Out of the Black, You Can Be So Cruel, Ten Tonne Skeleton & Better Strangers.


Metallica - Master of Puppets

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I hadn't listened to this band in such a long time, then I heard that Metallica were on the Reading Festival line up and I thought 'oh yeah! Metallica!', and I got listening to them again.  I have seen them before, and they were quite awesome.  I can't wait to see them again.
Favourite song: Master of Puppets.


Ellie Goulding - Halcyon Days

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I just love this girls voice.  Who doesn't?!  I could sometimes fall asleep listening to her, and I don't mean that in a bad way, her voice is so dreamy.  But there are catchy tunes in there too.  She is also awesome live (definitely didn't fall asleep seeing her)!!
Favourite songs: My Blood, Only You, Figure 8, Goodness Gracious & Under Control.


Jamie T - Carry On The Grudge

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I was super excited when one day I was listening to the radio and Zombie came on.  I had never heard it before but straight away I knew it was a new song by Jamie T.  Yay he's back with his super catchy songs!!
Favourite Songs: Zombie, Trouble, Rabbit Hole & Love Is Only A Heartbeat Away.


What are your favourite albums?

Review of New Years Aims. One Stone Down.

On 14th January I set some goals for the year. Some of them were based around exercise and healthy eating, and that is what I am going to review today.

The whole point of trying to get into better shape is because I want to love the way I look.  I don't hate the way my body looks at the moment, I think it's OK.  But I want to think it looks more than OK, I want to love it. I would also love to increase my fitness levels.

For the last month I have been very careful with my diet and have been going to the gym a few times a week (or at least trying to) and...

I have lost a stone!! ONE WHOLE STONE!!

Cue celebratory dance.

I don't feel like I have been trying particularly hard either. By cleaning up my diet and ensuring I go to the gym I have managed to lose weight.  I feel like these are all lifestyle changes, and it has motivated me to go on.  I know I will have to try and bit harder now if I want to see further progress, but I want that awesome looking summer body!!

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What changes have I made so far?

Breakfast
The first thing I did was look at what I eat in the morning,  In the past I had some sort of breakfast cereal, with a mug of tea, and usually a mug of coffee too.  Sometimes I swapped it around for Nutella or peanut butter on toast.  Maybe I would have some orange juice too.
I have started to look at food packaging more and breakfast cereal tends to contain lots of sugar. Even the cereal that you think will be more healthy for you, really isn't.  Breakfast cereal doesn't tend to keep my hungry stomach satisfied for long either, and by 10 or 11 AM my stomach is grumbling away.

I have swapped the cereal for smoothies.  They are much yummier and fill me up until lunch time.  My smoothies tend to consist of a banana, some sort of berry (strawberry, raspberry, blueberry etc), spinach, some sort of milk  (dairy milk, almond, coconut etc), and nuts or seeds.
Occasionally I will have peanut butter on toast, and make my own fruit juice.  Or now and then I will have an oatmeal breakfast.  I have given up the coffee saving this for weekends, but haven't been able to give up the tea.

Lunch
I have always eaten fairly healthily at lunch time, however packing your own lunch for work is time consuming and sometimes I can't be bothered, meaning a trip to the shop during my lunch break.  I would pick up a salad, but then a packet or crisps or chocolate bar as well.

So now I always make the time to make my own lunch.  I usually make a salad with plenty of spinach and other veg such as carrot, pepper, cucumber, celery.  Then I add cous cous, chicken or tuna.
On days when I am fed up of salad, some warm soup does the trick.

If I am still hungry then I usually have some sort of fruit in my bag whether it's a banana, orange, blueberries or apple.

Dinner
I'm not always hungry at dinner time as I try to make lunch my main meal of the day, so I would often reach for a bowl of cereals or toast but I am trying to get out of that habit.  My dinner will often consist of a smoothie, small portion of soup or some veggies. However if I am making a proper dinner it will usually involve vegetables with some sort of meat or meat substitute.  I am constantly trying out different recipes and will be sharing them with you here!

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Exercise
In the past I would go to the gym once a week, twice if my body was lucky.  But I have been determined to go more.  So now in a usual week I will do exercise four times a week, this usually include a circuit class and a pole fitness class, as well as other fitness classes depending on what my shift pattern is like at work.

Alcohol
One of my aims was to stop drinking as much alcohol, and I have done just that! I don't drink every week and when I do drink I am careful what I drink.  I haven't given up on trips to the pub or nights out but I certainly have stopped drinking as much.  This will have contributed to the weight loss too.


Further Aims
Now I have my diet pretty much sorted I would like to clean up my gym attitude.  Whenever I go into the gym I tend to use the tread mill and the exercise bike, perhaps one or two weight machines if I am feeling brave and that is about it.  I feel like I would look silly trying to use anything else, as other people would be lifting much heavier weights than me, or I may do it wrong and look like an amateur.  But everyone has to start from somewhere and I am sure no one would be paying me any attention anyway.  So my next step is to get over this silly fear.  I need to branch out in the gym and make the most of it!!


Have you stuck with your New Year Resolutions?

Recycling The Christmas Dress

It's been a while.  January became a boring but busy month for me with working loads, going to the gym a lot (sticking to my New Years aims) and doing lots of things but somehow don't have any interesting stories to disclose.  Since this blog is supposed to be about my exciting adventures, I took some time out, which I know is not the best thing for such a new blogger but there we go.

I went to a wedding yesterday.  When I found out about this wedding my first thoughts were:  A wedding, in February, what am I going to wear?!?  Thus I got searching for a nice dress to wear that I wasn't going to completely freeze in.

Being unsuccessful in the dress shopping I started to panic a little and the day before the wedding (yes, I am normally this disorganised) I happened upon the dress I wore to my work Christmas party.  Perfect! I will probably never wear this dress again so it gives me a chance to get some wear out of it and no one will know it is my recycled Christmas party dress!  Apart from anyone who may read this.

I teamed this Warehouse dress with blue shoes from New Look and a bag to match from Dorothy Perkins which was reduced to £7 in the sale.

Of course as it's February and was absolutely freezing I dug a grey coat out of my wardrobe which I purchased from Topshop many years ago.  This went perfectly with the whole outfit.

I am not used to wearing heels and the thought of wearing heels all day filled me with dread (almost).  So I bought am emergency pair of flat shoes from New Look, for later on in the night, in case my feet became too painful.

There we have it.  A winter wedding outfit.

Whilst I was shopping I had a browse in House of Fraser and fell in love with a pair of shoes which were reduced to £39.  I bought them as a possible wedding shoe until I found the blue shoes in New Look.  I am not sure whether I will keep these House of Fraser shoes.  They are so pretty and nice, but I'm not sure when I will wear them and they look like an absolute killer on the feet!!

What do you think?

Non New Years Resolutions

Happy New Year! I know, I know.  How late am I?!  But recently I have been super busy.  I haven't even had 5 minutes to myself.  So you can't blame me really, right?!

Anyway, let's get onto my New Years Resolutions Aims.  I never make New Years Resolutions.  I just think what is the point?!  I am never going to stick to them, I will forget all about them when it gets to February, and come next December I will remember my resolutions and feel like a lazy, unachievable slob.

I'm not going to lie.  I did think of some possible resolutions.  Lose weight, travel to a country I have always wanted to go to, take up a new hobby.  Blah, blah, blah...
But realistically, who knows if I will be able to do these.

So instead, I have thought about what I achieved in 2014 and I would like to set myself some aims to build upon what I have accomplished over the last year.

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1. Cut the crap, eat healthy.
   I do already eat quite healthy.  But often when I work late shifts I find myself reaching for a chocolate bar or a packet of crisps to get me through the evening at work.  I have quite a busy lifestyle too so I can be pretty lazy when it comes to cooking, choosing to make beans on toast with lots of cheese or cook some frozen chips instead of taking the time to make a proper meal.  I want to eat healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner, making proper meals and consuming what is good for me!  I will document it here each week.
   
2. Train like a beast.
   I was doing really well with going to the gym then December hit.  I had an illness for more than four weeks!!! Then I just got lazy because I hadn't been in so long.  But since then I have gotten back into the workout mood and feel very motivated! I want to look good for summer and I will achieve this!!  I have been going to the gym a lot recently and have been really going for it, I hate it and my muscles hurt, but in the back of my mind it feels good!! Work hard, train harder
   



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3. Learn a language.
   No this isn't one of those 'I want a new hobby so I will learn a language then never do it'.  In 2014 I started learning Spanish as I made a bunch of new Spanish friends, then when I went to Spain I was able to talk some Spanish.  I was able to order food, and understand directions but could no way hold a proper conversation.  I would like to improve my Spanish because I am sure I will be back there some time.
   
4. Take Opportunities.
   What I mean by this is, make things happen and experience adventures.  Sometimes I think I just let life sail by and months go by and all I have done is go to work and have drunken nights out.  In 2014 I started doing more with my time, I went to Spain, I went to a festival in another country and various other trips which have all made my year memorable.  I have already planned a few events and small holidays for 2015, so let the good times begin!!
   
5. Drink Less.
   This will be by far the most challenging of all of my aims.  I would love to stop drinking alcohol altogether but we need to be realistic here, that's not going to happen.  I'm talking about nights out.  It doesn't take much to get me drunk but I try to keep up with everyone else which doesn't end well and leaves me with a rotten hangover the next morning.  Not to mention the harm it is doing to my body, and drinking less keeps in theme with eating healthy and training hard.

Here's to 2015 being awesome!! (It still feels weird writing 2015.)

Do you have any resolutions this year?

On Christmas Day, Every Hour Is Happy Hour

 I was very much looking forward to Christmas this year.  I couldn't wait to go home and spend time with my family.  I had a little plan to take a picture every hour, seeing as I tend to take a lot of pictures on Christmas Day, I thought it would be something nice to look back on.  But Christmas Day did not go as planned.

On Christmas Eve I was working until 11PM so by the time I had everything packed and in the car it was midnight.  So excited to be going home I turned the key, and the car wouldn't start.  After turning the key a few more times then some shouting and swearing, I admitted defeat and phoned my parents to say I couldn't make it home.  I was so annoyed!! I hadn't been home in about a month.  What a time for this to happen!! Finally it was decided that my Dad could pick me up on Christmas Day.  So after some more shouting and swearing at my car I unpacked and went in to bed.

The next day, Christmas Day, was strange.  On Christmas Day I have always woken up in my bed at my parents house, then we would all drink tea and open presents. However this Christmas I woke up on my own in my flat, then watched the Gruffalo whilst waiting for my Dad to arrive.  It was a strange feeling.

My Dad finally arrived and he got my car working, so I drove home in my giraffe onesie and made it home about 11AM. Then Christmas Day sort of resumed as normal from then on.

Snapchats of the day.

Finally home in my giraffe onesie by the Christmas tree.

Christmas tree selfie.

I got some cute, cosy slippers.

Christmas dinner and lots of wine.

Time for some games!

Cups of teas and chocolate.

Finally TV and wine to finish off a lovely day.

Hope you all had a nice Christmas!

Traditional Christmas vs This Christmas

I love Christmas Eve.  It's just as good as, or almost as good as, Christmas Day.  The whole build up to Christmas is just so exciting!  My family seem to fall into the same traditions every year and I love everything the way it always is.

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Christmas Eve Morning

Have a little lie in.  Go shopping for those extra bits and bobs I need including the odd present (oops, always last minute) and food shopping.
Once the stressful part of battling the last minute crowds is out of the way it's time for baking!  Christmas cake, cupcakes and sausage rolls are the usuals, although I always like to make something a bit different each year.  I recall one year I made snowmen out of icing.

Christmas Eve Afternoon

Christmas Eve is nothing without a Christmas film and it's certainly nothing without watching The Snowman whilst singing along, usually to the dismay of the family.  Then I watch whichever Christmas film is on TV at the time.  Oops it's getting late now, better start wrapping the presents.  I am probably the worst present wrapper ever, and my presents always look like they have been wrapped by a two year old, but it's the thought that counts right?  Then it's time to do a bit of tidying.  Vacuum clean and make sure the house looks neat.  You don't want Santa to see a messy house.

Christmas Eve Evening

As long as I can remember my family have gone to midnight mass.  There might have been a time that I hated this in my teenage years, then there might have been a time that I skipped midnight mass for trips to the pub with friends, but Christmas Eve just doesn't seem right without going to midnight mass.  First we have a drink at home, or maybe go to a party and have a couple of drinks, then head on down to mass.  It's so nice with all the singing, and everyone seems so happy, it's a tradition I love.  On the way home, I look out of the car window and the sky always seems so clear, you can see all the stars.  When I was little I used to do the same thing, but look for Santa instead of at the stars.
Then it's time for bed.  Better get to sleep quick in case Santa comes, and we don't want to be awake when Santa comes.

This year is going to be very different I'm afraid.  This year I am working.  I don't start work until 3 PM so I will still carry out the same traditions to some extent with shopping, wrapping presents, baking and watching Christmas films.  But then I will head off to work and will not finish until 11 PM.  So no midnight mass or trips to the pub for me.  I won't get to my parents house until about 1 AM so straight to bed for me!  At least I will still get to go home for Christmas.  I could have been unlucky and been given a Christmas Day shift.

So that is my usual Christmas Eve traditions.  Do you have any traditions?

Oh and by the way, it's Christmas Eve Eve today.  That is almost as exciting as Christmas Day too!