Thursday 27 February 2014

Project 365: Week 8

A bit more of an interesting week. Though maybe that's due to the amount of food I consumed...

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February 19th
Can finally fit into my grandma's vintage dress that she made! I'll have to do an outfit post on this. 

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February 20th
Just another night in the kitchen. This was tasty!

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February 21st
Had a treat in the form of a creme egg brownie one of the girls from work baked. Totally worth it.

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February 22nd
The bf and I won Slimming World Couple of the Year for Wembley woo!

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February 23rd
Visited Patisserie Valerie in Peterborough. Yum! 

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February 24th
A more Slimming World friendly desert. Eton mess is delicious.

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February 25th
Matched the nail varnish to the pjs like a boss.

How was your week? Link me up if you're also doing a 365 project.

Wednesday 26 February 2014

Couple of the Year

Every year, Slimming World have a couple of the year competition. Every group put forward a couple and they all battle it out for the title! 

Well for our Wembley group, the bf and I won! There are only two couples in my group, but it still makes me proud. We have absolutely no chance of winning the nationals (there are couples who have literally lost a person in weight EACH!) but it's given me the drive to keep going on my journey. Next stop, two stone!

As well as a nifty certificate & sash (totally felt like a beauty queen) each, the bf and I were given some homeware goodies as a prize!


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We won a chopping board, a chalkboard, a treat jar and two fancy ice cream dishes. Pretty things make me happy. 

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We've already used our dishes for Eton Mess (Only 3 syns)

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I may have worn my sash for a few hours after group on Saturday. Don't judge me, you totally would have too!



Thursday 20 February 2014

365 project: Week 7

This week has gone so slowly! I guess that happens when you have loads to look forward to! This week I...

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February 12th
Tried out my new Models Own Nail varnish - smells like strawberries!

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February 13th
Caught the train to Hogwarts after meeting my dad for dinner.

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February 14th
Got creative at work for Valentines day

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February 15th
Had some yummy wine with the bf

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February 16th
Went for a 12 mile walk along the Thames. So sunny!

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February 17th
Made a butterbean, veggie pasta

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February 18th
Got to check out the catwalks for work.

How was your week?


Wednesday 19 February 2014

Fashion Week!

As part of my job, I have to trawl through style.com and check out the shows when fashion week rolls around. Poor me, ha ha. Here's a few pretties that caught my eye:

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I literally swooned when I saw these dresses!

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If I were a film star, this is what I'd wear on the red carpet. Hands down. 

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Naeem Khan

I seriously need some more events to go to. There aren't enough black tie events in my life to warrant a dress this nice. 

What's caught your eye from the catwalk?



Monday 17 February 2014

Fields of Blue: Top picks

I've been feeling rather broody lately. For a home of my own. I was recently contacted by Fields of Blue, a homeware company who sell shabby chic vintage style home accessories and I had a lovely time browsing their site. Take a look at my wish list. 

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I wouldn't think myself much of a pastel kind of person, but I found myself gravitating towards everything pastel on this site. I just love the retro feel of it. My friend has a set of these scales in pink and I've always wanted a set of my own. Especially since I started Slimming World and am weighing things more. Plus my mum would be proud of me for picking out this matching clock. See, I can match sometimes! This clock looks like it should be in an American diner with a jukebox.

I don't really bake that often but I think I would have to make it more of a regular occurrence if I owned a cake stand as pretty as this one. Anyone want to come over for a tea party? And my home wouldn't be complete without something a bit quirky so these globe lights fit the bill. I've seen a lot of different fairy lights but never this style before!

What homeware item is on your wish list?

Saturday 15 February 2014

365 project: Week 6

This week has been a little bit tough in terms of finding interesting (or anything) to photograph. Lots of work pics this week!

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February 5th
Making earring packs

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February 6th
More earring packs

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February 7th
Bit of office humour with the girls at work

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February 8th
Planning our first walk

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February 9th
Admiring the Valentine's decorations in Selfridges

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February 10th
So many samples to sort through and check

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February 11th
Looking at jewellery (seriously eating, breathing, sleeping jewellery this week).

So that was my "exciting" week. How was yours? Link me up if you're also doing a 365 project!

Wednesday 12 February 2014

And I would walk 500 miles....

Or maybe just 60. 

I've always wanted to do some kind of a walking challenge for charity but I've never thought I was fit enough. Having lost over a stone and a half so far with slimming world, I feel like that's changing. Check out how I looked in September 2013 compared with a couple of weeks ago:

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In June last year at around our heaviest, the bf and I walked from our house in Chorlton into Manchester city centre (plus round the shops a bit) and back again. I think we even stopped for lunch so we had a good long rest half way through. Overall we walked about 8 miles. I honestly wanted to die (not literally, more like a drama queen kind of way). My legs hurt so much after that and the next day I stayed on the sofa as my whole body was sore. 

Fast forward 7 months (4 months after joining Slimming World) to last weekend. While flicking through their latest magazine I came across a double page spread for the British Heart Foundation and the events they were doing this year. Most of them were marathons and running/cycling events which are not my cup of tea. I despise long distance running and always have, even when I was fit. 

But there was one event that caught my eye. The London to Brighton trek. This would require walking 100km which is a massive challenge, but how amazing would it be to accomplish it? 

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I decided there and then; I'm doing it. I'm not the same lazy girl who can't be bothered to walk to the corner shop (for more chocolate). I feel so much better already for losing some weight and I really want to test how much I can do. Plus, I'm dragging the bf along for the ride. He's also more of a walker than a runner and was definitely up for it. So challenge accepted. It's not until the end of June so we've got plenty of time to train. 

The real test began on Sunday. Can we actually do this. We decided on a leisurely 8.5 mile stroll into central London from our flat in Wembley. I have to admit that it was ridiculously easy - what a difference losing weight makes! This same distance last June just about killed me. So I was overjoyed that we made it to Oxford Street in pretty good time. We only stopped because it was raining so I want to walk further this weekend. Btw cheers to the posh woman and her son on Oxford Street who sneered and called us scruffy. I do apologise, I usually wear my high heels and a shovel full of makeup when I walk long distances. Do forgive me! I was wearing a tracksuit, trainers, a woolly hat and gloves - I know, what a fashonista! Ha ha. 

As well as that walk at the weekend, I walked to and from work yesterday which is 2 miles away and what I used to call "just out of walking distance". I will definitely be doing that a couple of times a week (weather permitting!). I know 8.5 miles is nothing in comparison to 60 miles but it's definitely a start isn't it? I can't wait for this weekend to see how much further we can go. 

Have you ever done a challenge like this for charity? Any tips to share?

Thursday 6 February 2014

365 Project: Week 5

It's finally February. Bring on spring!

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January 29th
I photographed jewellery

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January 30th 
Still loving my tartan pjs

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January 31st
Had dinner with my parents

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February 1st
Went to Slimming World tasting

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February 2nd 
Saw the Chinese New Year decorations in London's Chinatown.

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February 3rd
Admired my new dresses

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February 4th
My vision started going blurry after looking at Pantones for days.

How was your week?

Tuesday 4 February 2014

Top picks #3

Another week, another list

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I have one thing about to say about the price tag on these Modcloth pjs. Daaaaaamn. I guess I'll just have to admire them from afar. And speaking of admiring from afar, how cute is this teapot jumper? I can't resist a quirky print!

I've been waiting for this camera bag to appear on the Accessorize website since I saw a promo for it on instagram about a month ago. I seriously need this bag in my life. I think it will have to be mine next pay day. It will make a quirky finishing touch to my dress for my cousins wedding. That and these gold peep toe shoes. 

After spotting this Tesco stripe dress, I just had to have it. It's on it's way to me now actually, I can't wait! These shorts will definitely be on my shopping list once I reach my target weight. I really miss wearing shorts and could never find anything that fit properly so I really look forward to finding my dream shorts. 

What's your dream item of clothing?