#InternationalWomensDay

I have already posted on Instagram today with two pictures, one of Queen Elizabeth II, one of Emmeline Pankhurst. Two very inspiring Women to any British girl. But this post is not to celebrate the women who inspired a nation, it is about the women who inspire me as a person. The women who surround me everyday and make me feel like I can do anything.

Obvs first is my Mum, this beautiful, strong, crazy lady who did not give up on her dreams, and after having and raising four children, went back to college and university in her forties. She has always taught us to work hard for what we want, telling us from a young age she is more than happy to pay for us during our education and keep a roof over our heads, but she will never pay for our weddings. She also happens to have the biggest heart I've ever known in a person, she is Mrs Weasley and wants to feed the whole world.

My nan (sorry about the awful pic.. It was around 1988!) She has the most kind soul I've ever encountered. My nan will help anybody if they need it. She is hilarious, and I love hearing her stories from when she was courting my grandad and their life together. She is the best cook, and was even giving us recipe advice whilst she was sitting in hospital last year! Truly the matriarch of our family, she is my heart.

My sisters. More than friends, we are soulmates. The three witches. They are the ones who know my every thought and every detail of my life and still love me anyway. They see my good and bad sides like nobody else does, yet do not ever hold it against me. My mum is always saying how jealous she is of us because she never had sisters, and I understand that, because if I didn't have them I would be lost. They have taught me to stand up for myself, two scorpios are enough to make anyone have a bit more sting.

My two best friends, the rest of the wolfpack. They are both strong, beautiful women. Nobody makes me laugh like Tannis. She is so funny, light hearted, and chilled out that it makes it impossible to be stressed or angry around her. And Kaysha. I love her confidence and her flair for the dramatic. Sometimes its hard when you do not live close to your friends. We've been together for 10 years and she'll always be my best friend no matter where we live. And she's such an amazing mum to her gorgeous boy.

But its not just the women in my life that inspire me, its the men in my life who inspire and support the women around them.

My dad. He is such a wonderful dad to 4 and husband to my mum. He supports my mum in everything she wants to do without complaint. He drives her around the country if shes working away, he cooks and cleans, even if he has just finished a 12 hour shift, and she never has to take her own water glass up to bed with her, he always follows with it.

My poor brother, who grew up with 3 very hormonal girls.. He had to deal with PMS, moodswings, girly products all over the place and general bitchiness. But he took it like a man, and I believe that all of that was just practice for when he has a wife and daughters.. And he will make the most amazing husband and father.

Dan, my love. He has taught me a lot. To not stress so much, what will be will be, and along with my sisters he has taught me to stand up for myself (they may have now created a monster). He is the man I want to share my life with, he supports me and wants me to chase and live my dreams.

so happy international womens day!!! I hope you appreciate all of the beautiful, strong, smart women in your life, and thank the men who support you too.

Peace and Love ✌️

Not a diet..

Yesterday my sisters and I embarked on a healthy eating plan. It's a pretty brutal 6 week plan, that eventually will change the way we see food and help us make better choices (we like dessert. A lot of dessert).

I'm not going to update the blog every day with what I ate and how irritable I am, but I am going to document this. Purely because I want to have some serious motivation (aside from pics of Beyonce  in her knickers) to eat clean, strip some fat, and build some muscle.

I know a lot about exercise, having been a fitness instructor for around 5 years in total. And I know basic nutrition but I have a really tough time sticking to diets. I don't smoke or drink excessively.. Food is my vice, I love it!

So this plan isn't just chicken/fish and broccoli everyday, it's a really varied healthy balanced diet. It's a lifestyle change.. Which is exactly what I need. And it really helps that I have 2 others with me to keep me motivated.

So here were yesterday's meals.

Brekkie- poached egg and spinach on rye bread with green tea.

Lunch- green soup (full of courgettes, cabbage, spinach, parsley, garlic, lemon and feta cheese)

Dinner- chicken skewers with peppers onions tomatoes and courgettes. And a Greek salad.

Now this is the bit I was worried about, these are my measurements.

Boobs- 45"

Under boobs- 37"

Waist- 35"

Hips- 44"

Bum- 43"

My aim is to trim some excess fat from my tummy and my hips, that's where I carry my weight. And if I can tone and strengthen my arms and legs while I'm at it then that would be great. So look out for lots of motivational quotes and healthy recipes 😃. 

So here goes! Wish me luck! 

Peace and love ✌️

 

Inexpensive V-day ideas <3

A lot of people find Valentine's Day a bit too much, it's busy and expensive, and there's a whole lot of pressure.. Not to mention it promotes an idea that we can only be romantic on one day of the year.

But sometimes it is nice to have an occasion to celebrate, especially when everyone has Christmas/winter blues. My partner and I aren't very openly romantic. There are no PDAs, not a lot of hand holding, that's something we do when we're alone, like a secret (apart from now it's not so secret). But that doesn't mean we don't like to let each other know how much the other is appreciated.

So I'm going to suggest a few Vday ideas that don't cost the earth and are subtly romantic- unless you and your partner are the PDA romantic type, and in that case go crazy!

1. In my opinion and experience hand made cards/gifts are the best.

Last year Dan made me these. I am a huuuuuuge Harry Potter geek, so he made me my very own marauders map and a note that Dumbledore gives Harry in the first book, just personalised.

It was the most amazing present and I appreciated it even more because I know how long he must have spent making it. (And clever him, it didn't cost a penny!)

2. You don't have to break the bank.

 

There is nothing wrong with treating your significant other to an inexpensive dinner, a bit of chocolate and a few glasses of wine, as long as you're together and happy. That's the whole point right? 

3. It's hard for couples who still live at home to get private time together. Why not book a standard hotel room for the night? 

Premier Inn boasts that it has rooms from £35 per night. If all you want for Valentine's is a bit of privacy with your love, then it's perfect. 

6. Finally, I say dress up! No matter what you do or where you go (even if you're just cooking each other dinner) it will feel way more romantic and celebratory if you both make an effort.

I hope you all enjoy yourselves! Let me know how your dates go! (And if you're single, have a date with your mates! They are your first love. And love is love after all, and that is what Vday is about!) 

Spread the peace and love this weekend ✌️

 

Out of many, One people.

I have been completely neglecting my writing for the last month! January has been a total whirlwind... After the craziness of NYE and getting back into the swing of things, off I went to Jamaica for 2 weeks. So this first proper post of 2015 will be about that, my absolutely amazing time in the most beautiful place I have ever seen!

I went with my partner so this was not a party all night holiday, it was simply to relax, learn a little bit about Jamaican culture and consume our body weight in cocktails and jerk chicken.... Which is exactly what we did.

Before we departed for Jamaica we were told by so many people to be careful and watch out for locals but they couldn't have been more wrong, Jamaican people are honestly the nicest people I have ever met in my life.. Even the drug dealers were really nice! Everyday we were taught something new, whether by someone in our hotel, a local, or a tour guide. Every native Jamaican is so proud of their country's history and wants to teach as many tourists as they can about their wonderful island.

We did venture out of our hotel (even though we were advised not to) and only got into one little predicament which involved a very old Jamaican man with a very large machete who tried to persuade Dan to marry me (it didn't work, I still have no ring.) We took trips to Dunns River Falls, went snorkeling in a coral reef in Ocho Rios, went on a Jamaican party boat (Jamaicans party hard, day or night, be warned!) 

And we spent a day on the most beautiful beach I have ever encountered...

If you go to Jamaica make sure you visit a Negril beach. Negril has 7 miles of perfect sandy beaches that is rated 3rd best beach in the world. And whilst you're in Negril you have to visit Ricks Cafe in the evening. Its a bar with live music, lots of drinks, a beautiful view of the sunset and hundreds of loons jumping from cliffs into a perfectly clear sea.

All of this was beautiful, but I think my fave part of the trip was seeing and experiencing that Jamaican way of life. One of my new years resolutions was to try and keep calm when things go wrong, and Jamaica has really helped me with that. Jamaicans frequently say "we have no problems, just situations, and situations can be handled." This is what I will bring away with me, things that I do not have the power to change will not worry me. 

Fruit vendor, straight from the trees

 The only Walmart in Jamaica         

There is so much more to tell and share but I don't want to bore people! I'm sure that there will be Jamaica related posts very shortly, plus details on all of my holiday outfits! 

For now, I hoped you enjoyed reading about and seeing my trip. I hope it inspires people to visit this lovely island, and if you have been to Jamaica let me know what your fave parts were!

One Love, One Heart ✌️