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 ✌️

Happy New Year!

This is a bit different from my normal posts. It's a little diary entry.. But just one that everyone can read!

Last year wasn't a fantastic year, it wasn't a completely horrible year but it wasn't fantastic. I got ill quite a lot, my Nan got ill and spent quite a lot of time in hospital, but on the other hand I got a new job that I now love, I launched my blog, and my boyfriend and I booked our first holiday together.

Looking back I do have a few top moments.

Our 10 year college reunion, love these girls!

Our trip to bournemouth for my boys birthday. 

Going to see Eminem for my birthday!! An experience of a lifetime! 

My surprise pirate party

Our first trip away together

The Weasley's take over Warner Bros 

My sisters' birthday weekend

Launching my blog! 😁

Seeing in the new year with my love and my sisters. 

So now is the time for resolutions... I am not going to make ridiculous ones like 'never eat carbs again' because I would be setting myself up to fail, and because I friggin love potatoes. I want to make resolutions that will help me grow as a person.

1. Move in with my boyfriend and start our life together.

2. Write a whole lot more, I cannot expect to be called a writer if I only do it sporadically.

3. Go on adventures, I am not a hobbit, and if I were I would be Bilbo.. In short, go out and explore!

4. BE HAPPY! I have a tendency to be a bit negative sometimes (I blame the moon). This year I will try my hardest to not let small issues get me down. I have the most amazing family and friends around me, I have no real reason to be negative about my life.

I am not usually someone who shares this information with the world, but if I make it public I am more likely to stick to these resolutions. And maybe I will inspire someone else to make a resolution for the better, or maybe it will simply help another stay positive.

Peace and Love throughout 2015, and I sincerely hope all of your dreams and wishes come true! ✌️