Easter

Hello,

I know it wasn't too long ago that I last posted in comparison to my long standing lack of blog posts but it has still been a little while.

Last weekend was Easter. We had a lazy day watching Lord of the Rings on Good Friday followed by a day at work on Saturday. Sunday we visited James' family for a bit and then headed to my parents for afternoon tea. I made a marmalade cake and some scones to take. We had sandwiches, scones, marmalade cake, chocolate and hazelnut slice, strawberry tarts and fruit cake. And of course tea. I thoroughly enjoyed myself! We headed home around 9.

Monday I went for a long walk across the fields in the morning which ended up being 4.3 miles. It was lovely and there were lots of other people out and about walking and cycling. Late afternoon we went to James' parents for a roast dinner followed by pudding. I ate a whole Easter egg when we got home.

I did not go to Slimming World last week as I had a leaving do to go to. Since I last went I have had a big meal out, wine at the do and the Easter fun. So I was expecting a gain even though I tried to be good the rest of the time. I accepted this as life is about having fun and it's all very well trying to lose very quickly and always being strict but then how do you cope with events once you have finished losing? I think you would be more likely to royally fall off the waggon than if you enjoyed yourself at events whilst losing. So anyway I got weighed last night and 2.5lbs off over the two weeks. Excellent. I was so surprised. I am very near to being in the 12 stones so that has motivated me to stick with it.

This weekend we are supposed to be going to Cotswold Wildlife Park with our friends and their little one. At the moment the weather is not looking promising. But we shall see if it perks up tomorrow. Then Sunday I think we are having a lazy one at home and I'm going to try making a massive batch of spag bol in the slow cooker.

Wishing everyone a great weekend :)

April already?!

Hello,

I am not very good at this whole not neglecting my blog thing.

I suppose the thing is I just don't do anything that exciting very often and if I am having chill out time at home then I am not on my laptop very often.

I would like to blog more but I suppose we will have to see how that goes.

This year has been going very quick so far. I am feeling content and have  been plodding along ok.

I joined Slimming World with a friend in February this year. This was something I am doing for myself. I was gradually putting on weight and one day was unable to buy jeans in my normal size. I had a little backache at work which I think was related to sitting down all day but I figured being overweight couldn't help. This made me think and as my friend had been discussing joining Slimming World we decided to give it a go.

I have found myself eating loads more fruit and veg and much less fatty foods. So overall I am eating a much more healthy diet. I am eating until I am full but just eating the lower energy density foods. I have still had chocolate almost every day and have so far lost 15lb. My BMI is now 30.8 so still technically 'obese' but heading in the right direction. Whilst it is nice to look slimmer and for my clothes to feel loose the main reason for me was health. I don't want to be overweight and have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. When I have children in the future I don't want to be a high risk pregnancy because I started off 'obese'. This is a lifestyle change to a much healthier lifestyle. I already feel I have more energy. I do think I will always be the upper end of normal or slightly in the overweight category as I seem to always be on the heavy side and weigh unusually more than others of a similar size/shape. We will see what happens but I look forward to a healthier future.

It's Friday today (I woke up thinking it was Saturday boo). This weekend I plan to see my Mum for a bit tomorrow and then it is James' Dad's bday so we will probably be seeing them in the evening. Sunday we are having a lazy movie day. We may also cut the lawn and finally plant out our new strawberry plants this weekend, this is slightly weather dependant. We may also go to the cinema to see the new Captain America film. It's meant to be really good.

Anyway I shall say tata for now.

A happy slow cooker new year

Hi All,

Again my blog has been neglected. Probably for various reasons but mainly working a lot. My shift pattern has now changed so who knows maybe I will blog a bit more.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year :)

For Christmas one of my presents was a slow cooker. Now I'm sure this could potentially for some people be one of those things you get, use a few times and then it sits in the back of the cupboard forgotten. Not for me (I very much hope). Last Sunday I made a stew whi ch I put on before I went to work.

Today I am making BBQ pulled pork. I got a piece of pork a few weeks ago which was reduced to half price due to the shelf life left. I grabbed the bargain not knowing what I would make and froze it until such a time as I had a use. That is today. I used a recipe from the Good Food website although I omitted a couple of ingredients from the rub (onion powder-couldn't get it and I swapped garlic powder for fresh garlic as that is what I had). Anyway it has been in for about 30 minutes now. I am hoping it will be delicious. I am going to make burritos with it with spicy rice for tea. The spicy rice will just be a take on the jambalaya recipe I usually make. I have also got lettuce, jalopenos and sour cream to go with the burritos. I really hope they are nice.

I have got the ingredients to make a chicken jalfrezi in the slow cooker tomorrow. This recipe doesn't take as long to cook. Searching the internet has really opened my eyes to just how many things you can make in a slow cooker. I have also purchased a slow cooker book online which was just a few pounds so I can have even more ideas.

I am not sure if I will be able to use the slow cooker on a normal work day as I work 9-6 and with travel time will be out the house 10 hours. So I am not sure if that would be too much cooking time by the time you add on not getting straight too it when we get home etc. Hmm I don't know. If I work Sundays I only work 10-4 so that works out quite nicely for putting something in in the morning before I leave. I think I may well mainly be using the slow cooker on days off but that is cool with me.

My plans for today are to clean/tidy the house a bit this morning and then this afternoon I am heading over to my sister's to play a bit of Just Dance. It should be a laugh :) Have a great day everyone.

Monday

Today is Monday. It has been a lovely sunny day. I have been to work and since coming home sorted some stuff out and am now chilling in the garden reading my book. 'The Fault In Our Stars' by John Green.

Bramley rabbit is enjoying mooching in his large run. 

Hello, I am still here.

Hi,

So it seems I had basically given up on blogging. This wasn't a conscious decision as such. Just being busy with working and shifts and life I never quite seemed to have the oomph to post.

I would like to get into blogging again but also would like to post because I want to as and when rather than feel I should. 

Today is a lovely sunny day and I am at work. After work we are going to a BBQ at my bf's sisters house :) I'm looking forward to it.

I'm not sure what other news to share. We are plodding along with life and hope to plan some adventures soon. 

In terms of the veg garden. It's been toned down a bit this year as since moving out of my parents and into a rented house we are growing a few bits in pots. Tomatoes, courgettes, strawberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.

I am hoping my loganberry plant which has got huge and has loads of fruit this year will be able to survive being in a pot until we eventually buy a house and can plant it out. It's not the end of the world if we can't as it wasn't hugely expensive but it would be sad if it did not survive. 

First update in many a month

Hello all.

I haven't blogged in a very long time. I have however continued with a photo a day and as long as I don't forget tomorrow will have completed the year.

I don't think I will do photo a day next year purely because it is hard to find things to capture when working full time in and office.

The last few months have passed in a whirlwind. I am well settled into my new job now.

I have decided my new years resolution next year is to make at least one new recipe out of every one of my cook books. I have over 30 books so this will be a fun challenge. I may well try and blog each recipe too.

This is only a short post but better than no post at all. Happy New Year everyone.

First update in many a month

Hello all.

I haven't blogged in a very long time. I have however continued with a photo a day and as long as I don't forget tomorrow will have completed the year.

I don't think I will do photo a day next year purely because it is hard to find things to capture when working full time in and office.

The last few months have passed in a whirlwind. I am well settled into my new job now.

I have decided my new years resolution next year is to make at least one new recipe out of every one of my cook books. I have over 30 books so this will be a fun challenge. I may well try and blog each recipe too.

This is only a short post but better than no post at all. Happy New Year everyone.