Queue The Camera Roll | August

These snaps also show some of my favourites from the month. Excuse the quality of the photos.

1.) Book of the Month ~ Quiet by Susan Cain 

2.) Homemade Smoothies ~ esp. Strawberry & Banana

3.) Oats with lots of different toppings

4.) Red Lips, Favourite Jacket, Curly Hair

5.) Peanut Butter, Banana on Toast

6.) Enjoying Nights-Out with Friends

7.) And finally Baths to help the colder nights we are having

And that's all my random snaps/favourites for the month of August.

What are your favourites for the month of August?

My "August" Foodie Highlights

Not sure if our lovely Jenn is in labour yet, or even had her bundle of joy by now. I know she mentioned she was hoping for it in her last post, but I thought I'd carry on with the traditions of WIAW. Hopefully both she and baby are doing well : D Fingers crossed!

As the title suggests, yesterday I was a bad food blogger and forgot to take pics of 'some' of what I ate. I was doing so well (unlike in weeks previous), at the start of the day that was, and then dinner time came around. I was preparing the salad and baking the potatoes, that I was having with the prawn cocktail my mom had brought back from shopping. But I guess my hunger took over because I was just scooping up my last mouthful when BAM, I remembered I hadn't pictured it! #BloggerFail.

So I have photos from yesterday, just not my main evening meal! Instead I am going to show you my favourite meals as of late : D

Porridge, Berries and Nutella.

 Cheesy Chicken Pasta-Bake.

Beef 'Sunday' Roast.

That's my foodie highlights for this month! Do you guys have any faves of the month? Anything that stuck out? Let me know in the comments : D I'd love to hear what you guys have been loving!

xo Thanks for Reading xo

September Goals and August Update

I have no idea why, but August feels so far away now. Is it just me, or do you guys feel like that too? It's strange. It doesn't feel like I've only just entered September at all. Anyway I wanted to just write down some goals, so they sound real. For me it helps to write down what I am doing or what I want to do. I am a big fan of writing in general, not just on here or for my course, but I write all the time - even if it is just on the back of a scrap piece of paper or a sticky note. It helps me to get things done, and also remember what I wanted to do. Like I said I am forever making lists of things to get done, and with weight loss and exercise I am not any different.


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I realise that yesterday I should have probably weighed in, and got a reading to go off. But I don't want this month to stress me out any more than what it should. Obviously, I am going back to University for my final and last year as an undergrad student, and with that comes a lot of stress and pressure. It will be my last year of studying, maybe forever/definitely for a long time. I certainly don't have any plans to further my education after these next nine/ten months are up, and so I am starting to get down to the business end of 'after education'. I'm not going to spend any more of this post rambling on about it, but I am basically going to be adjusting and getting back into the swing of things. Meaning that I don't  what to add to that pressure with such fickle, time-consuming things such as 'weight loss'. Instead I want to just have a chilled, relaxed approach and basically ease myself back into life.

This all means I am going to be taking everyday as it comes, and making the best decisions I can based on that. In the past when I have been striving for weight loss, especially at the start of a term (when I have just come back from 'home') I tended to seclude myself and not participate socially. Something I have been desperately working on all year, and in fact having success with!

So, with that being said, I basically don't want to overload myself and so I won't be following any strict eating or exercising plan. Instead I will just be trying to eat healthier, not eating as much junk food and fast food. September will definitely be a month to get back to basics etc.


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First day down, and I didn't do too bad. I got an hour + workout in and I resisted 'bad' snacks. My bad snack in particular at the moment is Doritos. I need to just resist for a while and take a break from them. Overall it was a successful day!

Right, no let's get on to goals:

Starting with...

Food

- Avoid 'bad' snacks (mainly crisps and chocolate snacks).

- Keep takeaways to a max of one per week *(see more as a 'cheat' meal).

- At meal times inc. Veggies and Salad.

- Smaller Portion sizes.

*I hate that work 'cheat', maybe I mean indulgence more than cheat! 

I think four goals is enough to keep me occupied during the month of September. For me I want to get back on track, and so the best way to do that is make some good progress each month. That's the best way for me to incorporate 'good' habits again.

Moving onto...

Exercise

- Move more in general, and keep active.

- Do more activities, maybe swimming?!

As you can tell, I don't want to commit myself to too much, hence the generality of my goals. If I can move more each day that will be great. With my course I spend a lot of time either in class sitting or at home studying because my course requires a lot of reading, which means I am 'still' a lot. So, getting out for walks will hopefully break that up!

I am not going to make a weight-loss goal for this month, maybe I will next month - but I feel as though I have enough to be getting on with for this month. Hopefully, though if I am eating well and moving more my weight will even out again. Hopefully.

August...

August was a weird month for me, and although I feel it went fast, I am not sure if very much happened. It felt like a bit of a blah month to be honest, and instead of making progress I slightly slipped back. Which although I wasn't proud of, I also don't want to dwell on the mistakes I made in the month of August. Instead I want to use those mistakes and learn from them this month.

At some point I will be posting starting photos and ending photos, I am just waiting for my sister to take them with my better camera.

xo Thanks for Reading xo

Review: Muller Bio Yoghurt

I am so sceptical when it comes to probiotics. I mean do they really work? Do they make us think they are really working, when really they are not? Are they just a roost to mess with our heads, so people in head office can have a chuckle? Ok maybe I am going to far, but the other day while shopping I came across a brand I hadn't seen before, and decided to give them a whirl. I figured they're a pound for six, why not? So, I picked up both Vanilla and Raspberry. My mom isn't a fan of vanilla tasting things, so I knew she'd appreciate the fruity flavour. 

First of all the taste test. And I have got to say they passed. It's a strong flavour without becoming sickly, which I liked very much.

Sorry about the missing bottles, I totally thought I had already taken photos. Turns out I hadn't!

Secondly, the consistency test. Now when it comes to texture and consistency with food and drink items, you guys know I am a bit of a freak and am sadly one of those people who sometimes likes food based on texture and consistency. For me it is all part of the package.

Thirdly, and this is a big one! I do think it is actually doing something. Or it could be a combination of all the things I have been trying to do and remembering to do. Including taking a tablet pro-biotic I got a while back and have been using on and off for the past few months. 

Who knows all I can say is that it's tasty and I think it could be kind-of helping. I know what a lame review right, but it's the best I have. If you have digestive issues I would definitely give them a go. Maybe for a month? Everyday, or if you aren't in the mood for a yoghurt, maybe try every other day. That's what I am going to try and do. 

But at the moment I am trying new things again and seeing if I can give my diet a positive makeover. It's really over due and so there may be a few more reviews on the blog from here on out :-D

xo Thanks for Reading xo

Tuesday Eats "WIAW"

Hey guys, my eats yesterday were very in between. To me personally I achieved the best "balance" I have in days. I even got some veggies in, which I haven't really been getting in since I left Uni. So it will be really nice to get back, if only for that reason, and to get back I can't wait. I feel like since I have been back I have made things, but I haven't really created or "batched" cooked like I do weekly at Uni. And to be honest I have missed that! But it's nearly fall/autumn, which is one of my favourite times of the year to cook because it brings with it hot, comfort food. Hmmm, hmmm, I am licking my lips as I type ha ha.

Yesterday morning I decided I couldn't waste the morning inside and decided to get outside nice and "early" (10:40 am), and go for a walk! It was beautiful and definitely something I have been missing from my routine for the past few months. Sure my cardio on the treadmill is higher intensity, but for me you just can't beat a good walk. And it ended up setting up the rest of the day for me pretty nicely.

You know it's nice outside when you've got your sunnies on :D

Tuesday's Eats.

Breakfast.

Lunch = Leftover half of sandwich from yesterday :D

The Cutest, Smallest Apple ever.

Dinner from a bag.

Has anyone else tried these? They are so easy to have for a fast and simple dinner, and they pack a tonne of flavour!

I added broccoli, sprouts and shredded green beans, topped with cheese. Looks weird but tastes good.

*P.S - There was also an unpictured Iced Soya Latte before dinner, and a cereal bar  and small beer after dinner.

Favourite Random Meals of the Last Week.

Oh and look what I found...

Check out this crisp guys!

Ever tried a meal from a bag?

Who's looking forward to fall/autumn cooking?

Thanks to Jenn for hosting this shindig, if you haven't already be sure to go over and check out her post and everyone else's!

xo Thanks for reading xo

FMM #20

I haven't partaken in FMM for a while, but I really like the topic today so I am going to make time to write up this blog post :-D Thanks to our wonderful host, you should definitely go over and check out the questions and maybe even have a go at answering them yourself!

School Days

1.  What was your favourite subject in school?

I had quite a few to be honest (geek alert)! I think my favourite was P.E (sport), followed by German, English , Science and Maths :-D Told you I was a nerd!

2. Did you attend elementary school and high school in the same town?

Errm... I am english and so our school system works a little differently. But yes, other than changing primary school (5-11) when I was 7, my primary school and secondary school (11-16) were actually on the same stretch of road.

3. Are you still friends with anyone that you met during school?

Yep, my best friend I met at "high school", and I also keep in contact with some of my friends from primary, secondary but mainly "college" (16-18).

4. What activities were you involved in as a student?

Hmm.. like I said I liked my sport. So any time a sporting opportunity reared I signed up for it.

5. Did you bring your lunch, or did you get it at school?

I did both, depending on if my mom had any money to give me each day for my dinner in town. But I remember in primary that I went through a stage where I didn't like sandwiches and also wasn't keen on school dinners.

6. Did you enjoy shopping for clothing and school supplies? 

I did and still do. I need to go shopping for new supplies at the end of summer for my last year of university. #excitedmuch.

7. Name a song or a band that reminds you of high school.

Hmm... not sure I had a main favourite. But it is definitely the time I started becoming really into the band "The Arctic Monkeys", and I finally have tickets and am going to their gig on Halloween this year, which both me and my sister are super excited for!

8. Did you like school?

I definitely did, and as I approach the final year of my education for the forseeable future it does sadden me. I have spent the last 15 years learning and it will be hard (though wonderful) to not be learning and studying next year.

9. How long have you been out of school? *See Q) 8.

10. What did you like most about school?  What did you dislike most about school?

Most Liked: Friends, the routine, playing sports. Most disliked: "The Cliques" (I wasn't really part of a group and so floated between many kinds of friends), remembering Homework (I was seriously terrible!).

xo Thanks for reading xo

It's Easy To Forget

It's easy to forget how great our lives are. Our lives become busy and we neglect to see the good that comes of each day. So for a week I am going to commit to writing down the peak and pit of my day. I am hoping it shows how great the peaks are in comparison with the pits. In fact I am sure of it, but lately I have got too caught up in me and how I feel to enjoy the beauty of each day. And so I am using everything I remember from CBT to help myself again.

Anyways, with that said it wasn't a bad weekend. In fact I am going to start the peak and pit right now.

Peak: Going out for a friend's birthday and dancing the night away (after one too many drinks :-D).
Pit: Feeling exhausted and my stomach playing up (these two will probably crop up a lot :-[ )

There we have it the peak and pit of my weekend, and the peak definitely outweighs the pit!

So, without further ado I am going to share some pictures with you from my lazy but fun weekend.

First of all I got to wear my new dress that I showed in a previous blog.

Hmm... was just going through my photos and I haven't got a full length picture. Well, that's a fail! But the verdict on the shoes was I love love love them.

The Cocktails!

Mine was the Strawberry Daiquiri, but it doesn't look too good there!

Hangover Breakfast :D

Delicious and hit the spot.

One of the best hangover breakfasts I have ever had.

Definitely head over to our hosts Katie's Blog to show her some love :D 

Anyone else go out and have a great time over the weekend?

Does anyone have a favourite hangover breakfast?

xo Thanks for reading xo

It's Monday and I am Still Sick

I sadly have no photos to share in this post of my weekend, and that's because I have literally been ill or weekend. It started on Friday and I still have it today, but on top of that my stomach issues are playing up again and there's a stabbing shooting pain to the right of my stomach. But today I am just going to try and go about my day as best as I can. I haven't worked out since Friday, so it would be nice if some of that happened today. Obviously, not being able to breathe out of my nose is not the best when working out, but I am going stir crazy over here not being my usual self. Hopefully, by the end of the week I'll feel my usual self again, but until then I am going to take it easy and help my body heal. That means food wise (for my stomach), exercise wise (for my cold thingy) and just life in general (avoid socialising too much).

I was meant to go out both Saturday and Sunday to hang out with people, and I am so glad now that I didn't go because I would have just felt worse! Even though my weekend hasn't been marvellous, hopefully the rest of my week will be in some way or other :D Please send the marvellous fairies my way. (They are fairies right?)



Anyways, I found these on  Pinterest, and they cheered me up !


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Ha ha I had forgotten about this! "But I am actually sick, not faking it!"


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Well, that's it for me today. Happy Monday guys.

Thanks to Katie for Hosting :-D

Is anybody else ill or sick at the moment?

What do you do exercise wise if you are ill? Do you avoid it all together or just take it easy?

July Round-Up and August Goals

July

In General

As the end of the seventh month wraps up, I couldn't be gladder to wave goodbye to July. It has been a long month and a lot has happened don't get me wrong but I wouldn't want to repeat this month if somebody paid me. No Joke. Looking back on the month through various things such as; the blog, my personal diary, and my calendar that I keep on my bedroom wall. It is clear to see that a lot has happened. I got a car and I am so grateful that my mom was able to help me sort all of that out. She really is a lifesaver and there to help me when I need her. So I am grateful for her. 

Exercise

Exercise started off well this month, but soon turned to crap and pretty quickly. I only worked out half of the days - not good enough (for me). Half way through, I am unsure whether it was because I wasn't taking adequate breaks between workouts or what, but my energy has been at an all time low and my legs have been feeling like lead. I googled it (as I do with everything) and it suggested I wasn't replenishing myself properly, something to do with electrolytes. So I need to come up with ways to keep me going for longer. I don't know it is definitely something I want to work on next month. I started strength training again this month, so maybe that's also what did it?! But one of the biggest differences I have noticed is that when I don't exercise now I feel "jiggly" and "less tightened", and I had been previously enjoying that tight feel that comes from working out consistently. Something I definitely want to get back next month.

Oh another thing I haven't mentioned is my Polar Watch has not been working properly in over a week, really hoping I don't have to shed out money for a new one! I've only had it 18 months. Does anybody know whether this is the average life of a Polar Watch? Let me know.

Diet and Eats

On this front things haven't been that great if I am completely honest with myself, and my weigh-ins reflect this. The bottom line is I have spent the month avoiding my responsibilities, end of. And in every sense of the word too. August is a month I am going to hold myself responsible and get going. It will be my month of productivity. 

Ok back to rambling about July, instead of August.

I think it was possibly coming back from Paris, it through me a little. But bad things have started finding their way back into my diet. Just junk like; Crisps, Takeout, Chocolate, Biscuits etc. And too much of it! So I think I need a month just to banish them almost completely. Maybe saving room for treats but that's all they should be, occasional not everyday.

Work and Uni Work

Didn't get much done of either. It's not that I am too lazy to get a job, but I thought we were going on holiday and every place I was applying for wanted people to cover their regulars who were on holiday and so that wasn't to work out! But I also didn't get that much Uni work done either. I made a start but so much more could have been done.

For those wondering, the stickers are the days I worked out.

August

1. Limit the following; Bread, Pasta, Rice, Cheese, Sweets, Chocolate, Biscuits, Sweets, Crisps.
2. Do something Exercise-Wise (No matter how little) - Atleast Every other day.
3. Get Productive.
4. Get a Job.
5. Work on Dissertation.
6. Re-read Books for Dissertation.
7. Research into Jobs after Uni.
8. Look into Races.
9. Run Outside.
10. Socialise more!
11. Practice Driving more in my Car.

Errmm... I think that is it. But like always things will get added and adjusted.

But overall I am just glad to be starting another month.