Resolutions 2014

This year I didn’t publish any resolutions, so looking back on the year I can’t say how well I did or not. For 2014 I’ve got a few things I’d like to achieve, so by posting them here, I hope to make myself a bit more accountable, and have regular check-ins to see how I’m doing.

1. Complete London duathlon with a good time. I have all summer to train for this race, and with just two elements, I should be able to practice the full distance with transitions, to make myself feel fully prepared and confident when I cross the start line in September. I haven’t really given thought to a time yet, but I want to complete it in a time I’m proud of.

2. Continue racing. I love racing, because I love receiving medals. Racing is expensive, if you enter the big ones, but I’m hoping to enter smaller races and get some more medals for my display!

3. Sub 30 mins 5K, and sub 60 mins 10K. In 2013 I managed 5K in 30 mins, and I completed Brighton 10K in 63 minutes. I want to work on my speed a bit more, and try to crush those times.

4. Continue to juice regularly. If you’ve read my blog for a while, you’ll know I’m new to the juicing world. However, I think it does work for me, and so I’ll be kicking off the New Year with another go at 5 in 5. I’d like to keep juicing at least one day a week, and to try new juice recipes, and make some up of my own.

5. Cut back on processed sugar. This is probably going to be the toughest one for me to do, because I’m a ginormous sugar addict. Hopefully with the help of regular juicing and a couple of juice detoxes I can cut back massively on how much processed sugar I have.

6. Complete my quilt. I started my quilt back in April/May last year, and have been working on it on and off since then. With the arrival of my new sewing machine, I hope to make some real progress on this, so that by next winter I’ll be able to use it.

7. Hit that number on the scale. We all have a number, I know what I’d like mine to be. I’m hoping that with regular exercise, and regular juicing, and cutting back on processed sugar, I’ll get closer to that number in 2014. It’s all about #teamhealth.

8. Cook a new recipe at least once a fortnight. I’m setting myself a challenge to make more use of my extensive cook book collection, so I’m planning to cook one recipe from it each fortnight. I’ll do a separate post on this, as I’m planning to make it a regular feature on the blog.

9. Save, save, save. I need to budget better, save harder, and spend less in 2014 so I can get the things I want in life long term. This may mean some budget/thrifty posts, making do and using up cupboard basics, and exploring more free/cheap days out locally.

10. Have regular pamper evenings. I love nothing more on a Sunday evening that getting into clean, ironed bedsheets, and lighting a candle with a book. I’d like to expand on this, pampering myself more by painting my nails, and having regular face packs etc.

So there you have it, hopefully not too ambitious, but some challenges too! Have you set any resolutions or challenges this year? Did you set any last year, how did you do?

Image source: Oh so beautiful paper via Pinterest

New Year’s Eve 2012

For New Year’s Eve my parents and I headed down to Brighton to watch Rocky Horror. It was the best New Year’s Eve! So much fun and we all had a giggle together. I dressed as Colombia, and I was very pleased with my outfit, all bought from the High Street and eBay!

 

Happy New Year!!!

London–30th December 2012

Hey! How’s your 2013 going so far? Mine is off to a pretty good start. Back at work, back to the gym and back to eating healthy food. Long may it continue!!

I wanted to recap a bit of the time between Christmas and New Year and the lovely day I spent in London with my parents, if that’s ok with you guys?

The day before New Years Eve we spent the day in London wondering around and seeing the sights. We started our morning in Borough Market, where we wondered around with bellies rumbling, deciding what to eat.

We must have done at least three laps of the markets before we decided to head to Maria’s Market Cafe for her famous bubble – Thanks to the lovely Emily of Emily Charlotte for the tip! It was yum!

We wondered round the market some more, deciding what to buy and eventually walked away empty handed as we were unsure a lot of it would last until late in the evening in our bags. Next we headed up the Southbank to the Globe and beyond wondering around, which was lovely. It was a clear, crisp day and perfect to be by the Thames. I was pretty jealous of the runners pounding the streets, it really made me want to get out there!

Then we headed over the Millennium Bridge and wondered around a bit more and eventually got the tube to my one of my favourite parts of London…The King’s Road. My Mum and I were in shopping heaven!!! We shopped Duke of York Square, and down the Kings Road looking for lovely things. I even went into Brandy Melville which I’ve seen mentioned on a couple of blogs and got a lovely slouchy t-shirt for a steal at £21!

After getting lost in the shops for a few hours (and my Dad in the pub) we headed back to  Southbank and walked from the London Eye down to Royal Festival Hall, where we booked tickets to see Slava’s Snow Show – a favourite of my Dad’s.

The Southbank was absolutely packed and even saw a Bride and Groom getting off the London Eye. How cool is that?

I didn’t know what to expect when Slava’s Snow Show started, but I’m honestly not sure I would have ever imagined what it actually was. The most bizarre show ever with very little snow, for a so called ‘Snow Show’. It was clowns who mimed and honestly, probably best aimed at children. I’m not quite sure what my Dad likes about it…Although the final scene was pretty spectacular.

 

 

After the show we headed to Wagamama’s for dinner and I had my favourite Ginger Chicken Udon, number 44. It was a lovely end to a lovely day and we walked back down the Thames to get the train home, very tired but very happy!