The Day I Bought So Much I Couldn't Carry It All

Over the last May bank holiday a friend and I decided to take a trip to Birmingham.  We decided to make a weekend of it so traveled up there by train on Saturday morning, went shopping all day where we quite literally shopped until we dropped and struggled to carry it all.  Then we went back to the hotel to get ready and went for dinner and a night out.  On the Sunday we went to Slam Dunk festival which you can read about here.  On Monday we checked out of the hotel, went for breakfast and looked in a few more of the shops before catching the train home.  I dread to think how much we spent.  But it was a much needed shop!

May's Adventures

May was a nice month.  I kicked off the 1st May by waking up bright and early to compete in a 5k race.  It wasn't the best I had ever performed but I think that is understandable considering I had just completed London marathon the previous weekend.  The next day I then went on to do Milton Keynes marathon, which was horrendous.  If I learnt anything that day, it's to not run a marathon a week after the last, no matter what your best friend says.

Slam Dunk Festival 2016

This May bank holiday brought Slam Dunk Festival, my first festival of the year.  Slam Dunk Festival is held from Saturday to Monday.  Saturday's festival was held in Leeds, Sunday in Birmingham and Monday in Hatfield.  I went to the Birmingham venue.  Having previously only been to the Hatfield festival I hoped that Birmingham would be just as good, and it was!

Another Saturday, Another Shopping Trip

Last Saturday I headed off to Milton Keynes, I wanted to get one thing.  When I left Milton Keynes I was carrying a few bags... Ooops.  I got 5 items, I could have done more damage.

The Start of Festival Season

Summer is comingggggg, yes it is!!  With summer comes my favourite time of the year: FESTIVAL SEASON!!  This bank holiday weekend I am heading off to Slam Dunk, a day festival with the likes of Panic! At The Disco, Of Mice and Men, New Found Glory and Mayday Parade playing.  There are many festivals happening all over the country this May bank holiday weekend including BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend - Who's going to that? Jealous!

With festival season comes that all important question.  What do I wear?!  It can be a tricky one, the weather can change with the blink of an eye and you need to be prepared! I have a choice of three outfits for my first festival of the year and I cannot decide which one to wear! If only the festival was 3 days long!!

Mini Saturday Haul

It was a Saturday and I didn't have anything planned, in fact it was my first day off in months where I didn't have any plans.  It was nice at first, I had a lie in, I lazed around, and then I got bored quickly.  So I took off to Bicester Village to have a nose around and I didn't go too wild but bought a few bits.

London Marathon: My first marathon experience

It's done.  I did it.  My marathon training is over.  I finally ran the London Marathon on Sunday 24th April and I am proud to say that I completed it in 5 hours and 10 minutes.

My friend and I got the train down to London on the Saturday.  I had a small bag with some belongings.  We were going into the unknown.  I was putting pressure on myself to perform well.  As we sat on that train I said to my friend: I feel like I'm going into the hunger games.

Netflix and... Zzzonked Out

I am aware that I have abandoned this blog in the last week and I may have to continue to do so until next weekend. I have the London marathon next weekend and with concentrating on the end of my training, working crazy hours (last week I worked 10 days in a row including two 12 hour shifts) and trying to maintain other areas of my life such as pole practice, I almost have no time for sleep!

In the evenings I have been getting into bed far later than I usually would, and as I can't switch my mind off and go straight to sleep I like to put on a TV show, and I'm almost asleep within 10 minutes.  Hence the title of this blog post.  Anyway, I am going to share my current five favourite TV shows with you.

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Mission Complete: First holiday of the year

I am now back from my little trip to Spain. I had a lovely four days away! It was so nice just to chill out, relax and not have to think about work... or do any work.  We spent some time on the beach, we spent some time exploring, and I even went for a 3 mile run on the beach one day which was so nice.

Spain in Spring: Day Four

Today is my last day in Spain, boooooo.  I hope you are having a great Saturday.  Hopefully the weather is being good for my last day.  So today is my final Spain outfits post.

Spain in Spring: Day Three

It's Fridaaaayyyyyy!!!! Plus it's the 1st April!  HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!  Today I bring to you day three of my Spain outfits post.

Spain in Spring: Day Two

Yesterday's post demonstrated which clothes I packed for day one of my trip to Spain.  Today I am back with day two of my Spain outfits posts.

Spain in Spring: Day One

I have had the last week off work and all I wanted to do was relax and chill out.  It's been mental at work recently and I have been working six days a week so I couldn't wait to do whatever I wanted.  However the last thing I did was relax and chill out.  I have been so busy!! It's always the way.

Then I went and booked a last minute trip to Spain so this morning I was awake at 3am and happy to be heading to the airport.  As I am away for the next few days I am going to do a series of pre-planned, outfit posts, showing you the clothes I took to Spain.

I found it extremely difficult to pack as I only took hand held luggage, and I didn't know what the weather could be like.  My phone was telling me it would be sunny one day, rainy the next day, and windy the next.  So I tried to mix and match my outfits the best I could.

March Empties

How is it the end of March already?  I blinked and it's already the 29th March.  What is going on?!  I have been so busy this month I have had no time for myself whatsoever, however I do seem to have had time to use up a few products which is what I am going to show you today.

Marathon Training - The Long Runs

After consuming our body weight in chocolate yesterday, let's think about exercise.  Everyone who knows me must know by now that I am running the London Marathon on the 24th April which is now JUST UNDER FOUR WEEKS!! Help.  You can check out previous updates of my marathon training here.

Today I am going to talk about the long runs.  Those dreaded grueling long runs.  They're not that bad.  Really.

Happy Easter!

HAPPY EASTER

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I hope you are all enjoying chocolate filled breakfasts, I know I will be.  Every diet is allowed to be forgotten today.  It's Easter!

Maria's Festival Guide

It's fast approaching my favourite time of year...

FESTIVAL SEASON!!

Little (mostly Primark) Haul

This morning I bring to you, the first of it's kind, my very own haul video on Youtube.  Ta daaaaaaaa!!

I ummed and ahhed about posting this and in the end I was like, Maria just go for it.  I really enjoyed filming this and hope that it's the first of many more to come.  Maybe in a year I can look back on this video, cringe a little, and realise how much I have improved.  Because let's be honest, there's room for improvements.  Including the quality - it was great before I uploaded it to Youtube.  What happened?  If anyone has any tips on this please do let me know!

I would actually like to improve upon my public speaking (you know, for interviews and making presentations at work and stuff).  I can be quite mumbly and softly spoken at times and I feel like that this will improve with practice.

Do you have a Primark haul video or blog post you would like me to check out?

Thursday Shopping Spree

Thursday was such a sunny day! I woke up early, went to a spin class, and by the time I was showered and ready for the day it was looking gorgeous outside.  Of course it is still only March so I had to wear a coat but I wore sunglasses for the first time this year!

I headed into town in search of a maxi dress for my upcoming trip to Spain.  I had a spending limit and said that I could buy 1 maxi dress, 1 strapless bra and one moisturiser from Lush that I had my eye on.  All things I needed, nothing that I didn't need.  Well, I didn't get a maxi dress and I didn't even go into Lush but I did buy a strapless bra... as well as the whole of Primark.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato is one of my favourite and most eaten foods.  One of my favourite foods ever is sweet potato fries but I have never attempted to make my own.  The word fries alone makes it sound unhealthy.  The other day I was really craving some sweet potato fries so I decided to make my own.