The Health Files: Tips and tricks for eating well and maintaining a healthy lifestyle

      Making new year's resolutions is a great way to wipe the slate clean and begin to introduce some positive new habits into your life, but traditionally, come February 1st, the resolve you strode into January so full of has dwindled to almost nothing.

Often, our resolutions can prove harder to maintain than we might have imagined, and it only takes one bad day to have you taking a detour to the nearest shop as you head home from work,  in search of that emergency bar of chocolate. A huge part of the problem, in my eyes, is the approach that many of us take to achieving our goals - leaping in head-first with a complete lack of forethought. It might be tempting to think that you can change your entire life overnight, but realistically, it's unsustainable.

One thing I have learned the hard way is that you need to create your own support network if you really want to succeed. I'm not talking friends, but rather, looking at what needs to be done in order to give yourself the best possible chance of success, and putting measures in place before you begin to provide support as you go.

It's never an easy feat, but there's no such thing as can't. I've fallen off the wagon all too many time myself in the past, but I have slowly learned that the best way to achieve your goals is to be your own biggest cheerleader, and let go of the self-sabotage. We are all guilty of it, and it does us no favours at all.

Today, I wanted to share with you some of the handy tip and tricks I have picked up along the way - tips that I have found work for me, and ones that I hope will have us all waving out 2015 with a smile of satisfaction on our faces.

Here goes.

1. Plan and prep your meals for the week

Knowing what you're going to be eating for the days ahead helps you to stay focussed and prevents situations where you might find yourself reaching for a less than healthy option simiply because nothing else is available. Ensure that your fridge is always stocked with a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, and fill your cupboards with staple foods such as quinoa and brown rice. Spend a couple of hours cooking up some one-pot meals on a Sunday, these can be stored in the fridge and dipped into as needed throughout the week. I tend to do this for lunches, so that all I have to do each evening is pop a portion into a plastic container along with some fresh salad, and grab it on my way out the next morning.

2. Be prepared

To give yourself the best possible chance of maintaining your healthy lifestyle, ensure that you are prepared for every eventuality. Pop your gym gear in the washing machine after each session, and make sure that it is dried and packed into your gym bag before you go to sleep. If you exercise after a day at work, then make sure you keep the necessaries in the car so that you can head straight to the gym, as often, coming home and sitting down will mean that you are far less likely to get back up again!

In term of eating, number 1 will have already tarted you off on the right foot, but it's a good idea to make sure that you always have some healthy snacks close at hand so that you're never tempted to reach for that chocolate bar. Empty your desk drawer of anything that might pose a risk to your eating plan, and instead, fill it with nutritious and low sugar alternatives. I keep bags of mixed nuts, sachets of miso oup, gluten-free oatcakes and Nak'd bars in mine.

3. Include complex carbs in your lunch

A sure-fire way to fall off the wagon is to deprive yourself completely of energy-providing carbohydrates. Cut out the white, refined baddies such as white bread, rice and pasta, as these are of little nutritional value and will cause a sudden spike in your blood sugar. All very well if you're after a quick energy hit, but it is soon followed by a crash and will leave you feeling lethargic and sleepy for the afternoon. Instead, replace them with high-protein grains which provide complex carbs and a slower stream of energy. Quinoa and bulgar wheat are both good options, as well as daily staple of mine. Alternatively, try sweet potato - I roast a few in tin foil in the oven each Sunday, and keep them in the fridge until needed.

4. Have a green smoothie every morning

The majority of us lead busy lives, and it can be difficult to find the time to ensure that you're getting your five a day. One of the best solutions, I have found, is to drink a green smoothie for breakfast each day. Every evening, I throw a handful of kale or spinach in the blender, along with a selection of berries, a spoonful of wheatgrass powder, some ginger, and some flaxseed or chia, and whizz them up, ready for the following day. The Blend Active has to be one of my best purchases, as you simply attach the blade to the flask provided, replacing it with a lid once done. It's a quick and easy way to make and store a smoothie until you need it, and saves on the washing up, too.

If I fancy something a bit more filling, I'll add some avocado to my smoothie, or sometimes I'll pop in some banana and a spoonful of almond butter.

5. Swap coffee for green tea

There's no excuse not to like green tea these days, as with the multitude of flavours now available on the market, there is something to suit even the fussiest of tastes. Personally, I gave up coffee some while ago after realising it exacerbated the anxiety I was suffering from at the time, and it continues to serve as a trigger. I don't miss it at all, and I enjoy the gentle uplift I get from a nice, hot cup of green tea. I do love my English breakfast tea though, and I will always have a cup or two to get me going each morning. After that, it's green tea all the way, and with the added benefit of health-boosting antioxidants and - so they say - a slightly accelerated metabolism, there's very little not to like about it. I often go for Matcha green tea, but if that' not to your taste then try my favourite flavoured versions - I like Twinings orange and Lotus flower or mango and lychee.

6. Bake some healthy treats to have on hand for weak moments

Like it or not, there are going to be time when you feel your willpower beginning to falter, and the best way to deal with it is to have something on hand that will satisfy a sweet craving without the high sugar content. Recently, I have started making brownies with sweet potato and avocado, which might sound odd but taste delicious. You wouldn't have a clue there were veggies in them, and the best bit is that they tate wonderfully chocolatey without the calories or sugar. I use raw cacao for the flavour, and add fat free natural yoghurt and honey, swapping plain flour for spelt flour or almond meal. There are lots of recipes out there for sugar free, clean-eating desserts, and the recipe I use i very much an improvisation based on several. If you'd like the recipe, then let me know in the comments.

7. Plan your exercise schedule ahead of time

I wish I could be one of those people who bound out of bed every day for a pre-work gym session, but alas, cold, dark, winter mornings are not for me. To ensure that I still get my exercise in following a tiring day at work, I take steps to plan exactly what I'm going to be doing, so I carry a screenshot of my gym's class timetable on my phone for reference. It's all too easy to arrive without a plan and to end up wasting valuable time as you um and ahh about which machine you want to go on or which body part you are going to target. I tend to choose which classes I'm going to be doing the weekend before, and choose suitable workouts for the days in between - so, for example, if the classes I'm doing don't involve much work on my legs, then I'll do some squats and lunges and try to focus on that area on a day where I'm doing my own thing.

If you don't have a gym membership, then hop onto Youtube via your TV - there are some brilliant channel which offer a range of fitne videos and programmes that you can do in your living room. A personal favourite of mine is Fitness Blender, but Blogilates and Tone It Up are also popular.

8. If you do slip up, then get straight back on the wagon.

So you caved in and ate that bar of chocolate. One little mistake doesn't have to mean throwing in the towel completely, and if you're serious about your goals then you shouldn't let it deter you. That said, nor should you simply use it as an excuse to continue the run of bad eating for a few more days. Tomorrow is another day, so get straight back into your healthy routine in order to minimise the impact. Having a cheat meal once a week is fine, a long a it doesn't signal the beginning of the end -  and a wave goodbye to your resolve.

What are you doing differently this year to help you to keep your resolutions?

xx

Baking: Banana Nutella Cupcakes

Last week, it was my husband's birthday, so naturally I took the opportunity the night before to do a spot of baking while he was at work. I often whip up a banana bread when we've got leftover bananas that need using up, and he's a huge fan, so as I hadn't made one in quite some time, I decided on this for the basis of the cakes. The recipe I use creates a lovely sticky and luxurious consistency that is just right for cupcakes. I then decided that, to make them that bit more special, I'd pop some Nutella in the middle so that he'd have a nice surprise when he bit into the first cake.

I was going to leave it there, but let's be honest - cupcakes just don't look the same without a swirl of icing on top, do they? In this case, I whipped up a chocolate cream cheese icing that frankly was to die for.

Unfortunately, as some of you may have seen on Instagram, my first attempt was a huge fail, thanks to our oven deciding to die half way through baking. However, we got it fixed on Thursday, and these are the results of the second go.

Ingredients:

For the cupcakes:

4 small ripe bananas

1/3 cup unsalted butter or margarine

3/4 cup demarara sugar

1 1/2 cups of self-raising flour

1 egg, beaten

1  jar of Nutella (you only need a few spoonfuls at this stage).

For the cream cheese icing:

8oz cream cheese (I used Philadelphia Light)

8oz icing sugar

1 cup Nutella (from the same jar)

The cupcakes:

1. Heat your butter/margarine in a pan until melted - be careful not to let it boil though.

2. Mash up the bananas using a fork and then add them to the melted butter, stirring until smoothly combined.

3. Stir in the beaten egg and the sugar (adding it gradually is easier).

4. Sift in the flour and then fold in using a metal spoon (don't stir it around and around - you want to put air into the mixture).

5.  Now your cake mix is ready, pop your cases onto a baking tray and fill each one by about a third with the mixture.

6. Add roughly a heaped teaspoon of Nutella to the centre of each.

7. Now add some more of the cake mixture until the cases are about 2/3 full in total. Be careful not to overfill them.

8. Pop them into the oven and bake on a medium temperature for about 20 -25 mins. Personally, I just tend to play it by ear and keep an eye on them until they have risen and look cooked but not at all brown on top.

9. When they are ready, take your cupcakes out of the oven and place them onto a wire rack to cool while you make the icing.

The icing

1. Cream together the cream cheese and Nutella, then add the sugar, and combine until smooth and fluffy. You can use a hand mixer for this, but as I don't currently have one I just did it with a fork. (NB - it's much easier if the ingredients are at room temperature).

2. When your cupcakes have completely cooled, you can fill a piping bag with the mixture and pipe swirls on the top using a star-shaped nozzle. If you don't have one then you can always use a spatula, although it won't look quite as good.

And that's it! These really are so delicious, and in my eyes they taste just as good without the icing ( I do love it, but with the Nutella middle they are quite decadent enough already!). However, for aesthetic purposes, a good swirl on the top of a cupcake is always a winner.

Do let me know if you decide to give these a go, as I'd love to know what your verdict is. Part of me thinks I might be posting this a bit too soon after Easter, what with many of you having consumed close to your own body-weight in chocolate (if Instagram is anything to go by!). Not that I wouldn't have indulged myself under other circumstances, but as I've mentioned before, since making these delicious treats I've been staying away from sugar to see if it will do my skin any good (in case you hadn't heard, it's started playing up out of nowhere).

Hope everyone is having a great week so far.

xx

Sunday Catch-Up

1. Coffee and magazines on Saturday afternoon, after exhausting myself interval training.

2. Yummy lunch on our little trip away.

3. Detox juice the morning after a few drinks for the hubby's birthday - pineapple, spinach, lemon and ginger.

4. A cheeky bit of shopping at Mac.

5. My outfit for the hubby's birthday dinner and drinks,

6. Cocktails.

7. Homemade chocolate Easter truffles from a friend.

8. A failed attempt at baking birthday cupcakes for the other half (the oven broke halfway through!)

Afternoon lovelies, hope everyone is having a very Happy Easter! Judging by my Instagram feed this morning, most of you have been indulging in some serious chocolate eating! In my neck of the woods, things are slightly different, as I've decided to really cut back on sugar and milk to see if it helps my skin. You've probably heard me bemoaning the fact that, out of nowhere, I've recently started to suffer from breakouts, and having always been lucky with my skin in the past, I haven't quite known what to do. I started by going back to basics on my skincare routine, but having cut out most things 'm now starting to think it might have something to do with the fact that I've been eating quiiite a lot of sweet things of late. I do have a healthy diet and always make sure I eat pretty clean, but lately I just haven't been able to keep my paws of the chocolate in the evenings. So I'm taking a step back - Easter or not - and will let you know if there is any joy.

This week has been a pretty good one, although stressful in parts. On Tuesday, the hubby and I were due to go away for his birthday, but typically, that morning we had some car troubles and couldn't leave. Cue us waiting around all day and finally getting to go in the late afternoon. All was not lost though, as we did a quick bit of shopping (I feel slightly bad saying that I picked up a couple of Mac goodies when t was his birthday, but in my defence he did get some nice pressies of his own!). We then popped for dinner in the Outback Steakhouse, where we shared the Spicey Shrimp Dip and Ribs on the Barbie (how people manage a starter and a main EACH in that place is beyond me), and followed up with a couple of cocktails out in the open air while listening to some live samba music.

The next day, I snuck back to Mac again to pick up a new concealer (review coming soon) and we treated ourselves to falafel, humous, baba ganoush, pitta and tabbouleh for lunch, followed by a huge iced hazelnut latte each and half an Eclair (we shared - but see where I was going with the sugar thing!?).

We had a walk along the beach and sat in the sunshine for  bit before driving home, and had a lazy evening in front of the TV.

Since Friday we've been very much doing a bit of chilling, and with the long weekend it's meant that I've had a pretty relaxed week overall, which is just what I needed after some of the stresses earlier in the week (which I won't bore you with).

Today is all about doing some reading and getting my blog organised - for the last few weeks I've been posting a bit sporadically, for one reason or another, and haven't been able to get back into the swing of things with posting every day. So I'm dedicating my evening to prepping some posts and getting back on track, as I genuinely miss getting content up on a daily basis and feel so much prouder of my blog when I do.

If any of you have been trying to head over to my Youtube channel via the button in my sidebar then you ma have found that the link wasn't working, but that's all fixed now, and you can also find me on Bloglovin' and Instagram via the buttons next to it.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!

xx

Sunday Sessions

This weekend has been an exciting one. Although we haven't actually done much, there's been lots of planning and chatting about our upcoming move. It's still a year away, but it's been such a long time coming that we can't help but start looking forward to it already. I'm really looking forward to living so close to my friends again and having people pop round for cups of tea or a Chinese and a chat, as it's something I've really missed. It's funny how you get used to spending time alone though, and only in recent months have I actually come to enjoy it, having realised that it's the perfect opportunity for a bit of me-time, blogging and pampering.

Last night, I decided it was my hair's turn for a bit of TLC. As you might be able to see in the photo above, my ends have been looking a bit dry, but that's nothing unusual for me. I am constantly in search of something to soften them up and give me silky, soft hair, but I think years of colouring and dying it have taken their toll, and it's going to be a case of looking after it and waiting for it to grow out. However, recently I have been experiencing some oiliness in my roots and fringe area, so I decided to try a mask that would both moisturise my locks and treat the oiliness, so I went for this DIY recipe:

50g plain organic yoghurt

1 egg

1tbsp manuka honey

1tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

I basically beat the egg and then mix in the other ingredients, before applying it to damp hair and wrapping it in a towel to keep the warmth in, as I find this generally makes any hair mask more effective. You can leave it on for anything from 30mins to an hour or two, and I went for the latter to maximise the results.

I must say, I wasn't overly thrilled at the prospect of putting raw egg in my hair, and have put off trying this for a while. It didn't smell all that enjoyable, but it did leave my hair feeling softer. However, as is often the case, I don't really feel that it has made a huge amount of difference to the condition of my hair. It seems as though anything I apply to my locks is somehow unable to penetrate the hair shaft - many of you have implored me to try coconut oil, but I can tell you that I have done so on several occasions and it just hasn't worked for me.

Oh well, I will keep trying and endeavour to find something that works for me -I will let you know when I do. Next up, I am going to get myself some Moroccan Oil and see how that goes.

Last night, I baked some banana bread, and it was so delicious that it was all gone by the end of the evening! I wasn't acting alone though -the hubby gobbled up more than his fair share! It's just so perfect with a cup of tea. If you would like to try my recipe then you can find it here.

I'm just off to join in the #bbloggers chat on Twitter now, and then after that it's going to be some nail painting and organising myself for the week. I'm hoping there'll be enough time left for a nice chill out before Monday lands again tomorrow!

Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend.

xx

Baking: Banana Bread

source

At the weekend, I finally got round to doing some baking, so I thought I'd share this simple recipe for Banana Bread with you. It's a great way to use up any left over or over-ripe bananas that you might have hanging around your kitchen, is super fast and easy, and it is literally the perfect partner for a nice cup of tea.

For those of you who are not familiar with banana bread, in spite of the name, it's really more of a cake.

The recipe I used was not one which uses traditional British measures, quite simply because I didn't have any scales or a measuring jug to hand, so I just measured out my ingredients using a tea mug. Usually, you would use a smaller cup, but I wanted to make a slightly bigger cake, and I've always had great success making 'guesstimate' cakes before!

Ingredients:

4 small ripe bananas

1/3 cup of unsalted butter (I used margarine)

3/4 cup of demerara sugar

1 1/2 cups of self raising flour

1 egg, beaten

Method:

1. Pop your butter into a pan to melt, and while you're waiting, peel and mash the bananas using a fork.

2. Pour the melted butter and bananas into a large mixing bowl and combine until smooth.

3. Stir in your beaten egg and your sugar.

4. Make a well in the middle of the mixture, sift in the flour and then fold it in using a metal spoon. Remember, you want to put air into the mixture, so don't stir it around and around - this will have the opposite effect.

5. Grease the baking tray with a little margerine or butter, pour in your mixture and pop it in the oven for 15-20mins at 180.

6. Remove from the oven, cut into slices and settle down on the sofa with a large chunk and a big cup of tea.        Enjoy!

Not the best photos as I took them on my phone in artificial light, but hopefully you can get the idea of how scrummy this was anyway!

This was a bit of a different post from me, so I hope you enjoyed it. Let's face it, we all love cake, so I'm assuming it'll be most people's cup of tea.....oh dear, do excuse the pun!

Have you done any baking recently? What did you make?

xx

Week in Pictures

Custard Apple - Outfit - Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies - New necklace - My dog wearing a hoodie - Nails - Baking Banana Bread - Stirfry for dinner last night - Being an organised blogger

I've had a pretty good this week. Of course, I have mostly been at work, but I have been going running in the park every morning, and am actually really enjoying it. I am finding that it really makes a difference if I just get up and go straight away, as I seem to be much more motivated to do it. Until now, I have always left exercise to the afternoons, and more often than not, after lunch I can't be bothered! I'm definitely going to stick to the new routine, as getting it out of the way first thing means I am free to relax for the rest of the day at the weekends.

I FINALLY got round to doing some baking. After putting it on my 'To Do' list two months in a row and failing to get around to it, I didn't bother planning to do it in August, and typically, this is the time I actually do it! We had a few bananas that needed using up, so I decided to bake some banana bread, and it was delicious - the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea. My hubby had never tried it before, and he loved it, so I am inspired to get back into baking more regularly now - maybe a couple of times per month, as I don't want to go overboard!

On Thursday, we felt like treating ourselves, as I had had a busy day at work and it's one off the only two evenings we get to spend together each week, so we popped to Subway after I finished work for some Subs and some Raspberry Cheesecake cookies - the best flavour ever created, in my opinion. Yum. After that, we just chilled out at home and watched some films. I honestly cannot understand why 'Winter's Bones' was nominated for so many Oscars - it was rubbish!

Today is going to consist of yet more chilling - maybe some sunbathing in the garden, a nice lunch and coffee out and, of course, some blogging.

Hope you've all enjoyed your weekend.

xx

Weekend Wishlist

London Pop-up book, £5, Topshop/ Printed Headband, £10, River Island/ Caudalie Divine Oil, £25 (100ml), Caudalie/ Nars American Dream Palette, $55, Nars/ Tiger Beret, £10, Topshop/ Studded Bralet, £26, Miss Selfridge/ Cake Cases, £1.99 for 54, Hobby Craft/ Tribal Shorts, £32, Miss Selfridge/ Ram Head Studs, £5, Topshop/ Origins Spot Remover Blemish  Treatment Pads, £24, Boots/ Leopard Skater Skirt, £18, River Island/ Chain Peplum Top, £39, Rare at Topshop

Hi lovelies, hope you've all been having a great weekend so far and making the most of the sunshine. Apparently, it's going to last throughout the remainder of August, so hopefully that means finally getting some wear out of all the gorgeous Summer pieces we have been stockpiling since Easter!

I must admit, for once in my life, I felt a little bit uninspired by the 'New in' sections this week. I'm not sure whether it's because all my favourite clothing and accessories stores are a bit 'in limbo' at the moment, with a mixture of Summer's leftovers and new Autumn/Winter bits, but I think that must be it. Understandably, after the lack of sunny weather so far this year, I'm not really ready to start thinking about my Winter wardrobe yet. However, aside from clothes, there are certainly a few other random bits I'd be more than happy to get my mitts on, whatever the weather.

Origins Spot Remover Blemish Pads are not something I would have needed to consider purchasing until recently. Even as a teenager, I had perpetually good skin, and luckily for me, outbreaks have always been rare. However, more recently, my skin has been starting to play up a bit. I think this is probably down to my recent experimentation with skincare, and I now need to let my skin settle down into a routine, but while I am doing that I would very much like to try out these pads. Origins always come up trumps with their skincare, and I have heard good things about these, such as that they are gentle and do not strip the skin as many blemish-fighting products can do. They are, however, a bit on the pricey side at £24.

I've also got my eye on the Caudalie Divine Beauty Oil, which may sound odd given that I was just talking about my forehead being a bit oily, but I have again heard fantastic things about this and am keen to give it a try. It's a multi-use oil, so it can be used on the body and hair, as well as the face.

I'm still feeling a bit patriotic after the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympic Games, so I fell in love with the idea of the pop-up London book from Topshop. Granted, I am not a tourist, but I really like the idea of having a pop-up London landscape at my fingertips. Plus, I love books and like to collect quirky and unique ones from time to time.

I have been promising myself I'd find the time to bake for ages now, and I finally did  last night, when I made some scrummy banana bread. The hubby was more than impressed, and it has inspired me to get back into baking on a more regular basis (not TOO regular though, ashaving cake around all the time can only end in tears!). Next up, I'm planning to make some beautiful cupcakes in a selection of flavours. I'm thinking cookies and cream, caramelised apple and cinnamon, and peaches and cream, but if you've got any other suggestions then I would absolutelylove to hear about them in the comments box below! :) Anyway, the plan is to get a few of these pretty cake cases and a cake stand and to hold a little afternoon tea party, because let's face it, who doesn't love those?

The Nars American Dream Eyeshadow palette also caught my eye this month. Do I need to explain why? I don't think so, but let's just say that it's pretty, and it's Nars. As much as I love my beauty products and makeup, the one thing that I just can't seem to get the hang of is creating pretty looks with eyeshadow, and it really annoys me, so I'm hoping to be inspired to try again. Sadly, this is not yet available in the UK, but click on the link and you can buy it from the U.S. site.

I won't go on about the clothes, as I think they are pretty self explanatory. I just like them. Bralets, peplum tops, animal jewellery and Aztec print have all featured heavily across my Wishlists in recent weeks, and these are just the latest creations I have been admiring.

Are you ready to start stocking up on winter warmers, or are you still stubbornly holding out for more sunshine?

What's on your wishlist this week?

xx

August Agenda

I absolutely cannot believe that today is 1st August! It is freaking me out how quickly this year is going, it's almost time to start thinking about Christmas again already! Too early to start compiling my Christmas Wishlist!? No, never! Just as well really, as I actually do have a bit of a mental one going on in my head already! 

Anyway, being the first of the month, it's time to dust off July's Agenda and see how I did with my little tasks, and also to set some new ones for the coming month.

So, here were the things I had hoped to achieve in the month of July:

1. Learn to do a fish-tail plait/braid.

Mission accomplished. I actually did this one on the same day as I put up the post. Check me out, being all organised and one step ahead. You'd think that boded well for the rest of the month, wouldn't you? Yeah.....

2. Bake Macaroons and Slutty Brownies.

Fail. And this one isn't even a chore! To be honest, I think the fact that my husband's family fed us so much cake when we went to stay with them kind of put me off a bit - I literally felt sick by the time we left to come home! And I've also been ill three times this month. Maybe next time!?

3. Save my pennies.

Well. Isn't that ironic. I did indeed save as many pennies as I possibly could this month.....and then, as many of you will already know, my car essentially died and cost me a LOT more than the pittence I had saved. So actually, it was like I took this task...and achieved the complete opposite. Yay. Oh well, not to worry -  apparently I (and most of the other #bbloggers on Twitter) have won a small fortune on the South African lottery without even playing it, so all our financial problems are soon to be a thing of the past! 

(Just in case anyone missed the sarcasm there....yeah, that's what it was).

4. Get away.

I don't think this one needs much of an explanation. It didn't happen!

5. Blog every day.

Huzzah- I'm going to give myself a gold star for this one, as even though I didn't technically blog every single day, the only exceptions were when I was ill and when I was having internet problems, and in spite of this I still finished the month on thirty five posts! Win!

6. Do something crafty.

Well. I cut up an old t-shirt I never wear and made it into something else I will never wear. Does that count?

In my defence, I have ordered some studs from Ebay, so expect to see everything I own, including my dog, covered in those very soon.

So, I scored a grand total of............................2 out of 6. How embarrassing. But do you know what? I'm not really all that bothered, as I feel that I've achieved a lot this month anyway. Blogging as consistently as I have was the most important challenge to me, and I have also managed to get some exercise most days and do some more work on my secret little venture, so I feel quite satisfied in spite of my score for the month!

August's Agenda will be as follows:

1. Plan looooads of extra activities for my classes in advance.

Some of you will know that I teach English as a foreign language, and lessons start again next week. I always try to plan lots of fun activities to keep my pupils' enthusiasm levels up, but often, they only last me until about half way through the term, and then I am desperately looking for more! So this time, I am going to make sure I have more than enough at the ready so that I don't have to stress about it later on.

2. Finish my secret project.

I'm afraid I can't really tell you much about this one until it's ready, but let's just say it is a new little business venture of mine. Hopefully, I will finally be ready to reveal all in next month's recap!

3. Keep up the daily exercise.

Self explanatory, really.

4. Have a nice day out with the hubby!

Again, this one is penny-permitting, but I'm including it anyway as I wish to start the month with optimism!

Just those four for this month I think, as the first two are going to be taking up a lot of my time!

(By the way, the photos in this post are just a couple of my favourite Instagram pics from the past month.)

What tasks and activities have you got planned for yourselves over the coming month? Do you find setting yourselves goals helpful?

xx

July Agenda

- My beautiful home town -

At the end of last month, I set myself a few little goals and tasks to reach and complete, but I only allowed myself a week to do it. Being the busiest week of the year for me at work, this was probably a little bit foolish, and unsurprisingly, I didn't get very far towards achieving what I had hoped to!
So this time, I'm giving myself the whole month, which means I have absolutely no excuses for falling short, especially as I now have a couple of weeks off work with nothing much planned!

So what do I have planned for myself this month?

1. Learn to do a fishtail plait/braid.
It's just a small goal, but it's something I have been wanting to do for ages now and for some reason I never seem to find the time to figure out how to do it. Well, go me, I'm one step ahead on this one and have already successfully taught myself how!I did it about five minutes ago, but I don't see this as cheating, because I was already intending to include this little challenge on my list. It just so happened that I had a moment of motivation before sitting down to write this post, so I am off to a great start...start as you mean to go on, and all that!

2. Bake Macaroons and Slutty Brownies.
Baking was on last month's agenda, but alas, it wasn't to be. My oven is absolutely rubbish, as I mentioned before, and it takes all day to cook anything! But as I've got some free time, this shouldn't be an issue. I love baking, and it's not something new for me, but I haven't had the time to do it in an absolute age.

        

      - Not really relevant...but on the subject of baking/ food, here's the delicious dessert I had last week! -

3. Save my pennies.
This is an absolute must for this month, as I've got a lot of things coming up that are going to require funding! June was a complete nightmare for spending, and I really don't feel like I've got anything much to show for it, so throughout July, I shall endeavour to keep my disobedient little hands away from Ebay and my Paypal account, which seem to have been the biggest hindrances to my saving of late!

4. Get away.
Ok, so this is a complete and utter contradiction to number three, but given that I have time off work, and that the hubby and I haven't been anywhere nice together in ages, I'm going to make an exception and figure this into the old budget. It won't be anything too fancy, but a day and a night away is going to be just what we need to recharge after all that's been happening over the past few months.

5. Blog every day.
This is a general goal of mine anyway, and not something I see as a chore. I usually do manage to post on most days, but during July, I'm going to make the most of my free time and post more, and hopefully I'll have the chance to get lots of nice photos and put together some things I haven't had the time to do yet. I want to branch out a bit.

6. Do something crafty.
I don't know what yet. But something. I love being creative, and I've been really fidgety and restless recently because I really want to do something! If anyone has got any relatively simple craft ideas then please do let me know in the comments. Again, this was something I wanted to do last month, but didn't have the time!

And that's my lot! I am giving myself until 31st July to complete these,

Do you have any little goals or plans for the month?

xx

Seven Things for Seven Days

Louise over at Sprinkle of Glitter came up with the idea of setting yourselves seven goals to achieve within the next seven days, and I think it's great. In fact, I have recently been doing a similar thing myself, but I hadn't thought to blog about it. I think setting goals can be really valuable and really help you to achieve the things you want to, instead of always putting them on the back-burner, as most of us do tend to do when we are too busy and life gets in the way.

Anyway, Louise has suggested that we bloggers join her in her weekly seven-day challenges (read her post here for full details), whether you would prefer to do them in just the seven days or across the space of a month. The idea is that you set your own challenges, and you'll have the support of other participating bloggers to help keep you plugging away and getting where you want to be!

The banner above was created by Louise for the challenge. If you want to participate, then you need to post this in your related blogpost, as well as commenting on Louise's blog to let her know you are taking part.

(To avoid confusion, this is not a picture of me, it's Louise!)

So, onto my Seven Things:

1. Crafty clothing customisation (check out the alliteration on that). I have been meaning to get on with this for ages, as I have a few items I just don't wear as they are, but they have got great potential as something else. I keep putting this off, as I'm afraid I'll ruin perfectly good pieces of clothing, but at the same time I'm really eager to get on and do it so I'll have some new things to wear! I must admit, I'm not the most skilled with the needle, let alone a sewing machine! But practice makes perfect! As well as actually creating some new pieces, I also aim to photograph the processes and share my 'success' with you via some blogposts.

2. Bake. I've been eating really healthily for the last goodness-knows-how-long, and I have no intention of giving that up, as I feel great for it. But I don't believe healthy eating means that you have to deprive yourself of little treats, and I keep seeing the most delicious-looking recipes scattered about the t'interweb that I am a little bit desperado to try. My oven is absolutely rubbish, which has been another reason why I've been a bit put off, but I'm going to go for it and again, will be posting about whatever treats I whip up!

3. Plan a home date. This was actually something Louise did as one of her previous 'Seven Things for Seven Days' goals, and I thought it was a really lovely idea. My Mr and I have been seriously trying to save some pennies of late, so it's not time to be splashing the cash on expensive dates. But it's so easy to fall into evenings at home with me online and him in front of the TV, and I think it's important to make that little bit of effort from time to time so that we can really enjoy each other's company. After next week, I'm going to have some time off work, so it's the perfect opportunity to plan some fun stuff and treats.

4. Take lots of photos. For a start, I 've got an absolute pile of posts lined up for you lovely lot, and it's only the lack of related photos that's slowing me town, particularly with my reviews and outfit posts (although lack of a tripod definitely doesn't help with the latter either!). My camera seems to be feeling a bit sorry for itself and will only take nice photos outside in natural light, which I sometimes struggle to find time for, but a shoot is definitely in order, and is already scheduled for tomorrow morning.

5. Claim back my PPI. I was one of those people who was unwittingly charged Payment Protection Insurance on two of my previous credit cards, and I keep forgetting to sit down and sort out the necessary paperwork to get it back. I'm not going to lie, I could do with some extra pennies right about now, so it's time to stop procrastinating and get on with it - it'll be worth it in the end!

6. Organise all my paperwork. Some of you may know that I teach English as a foreign language, and I have got an absolute stack of related paperwork to be sorting through, from homework and tests that need to be marked, to extra activities and supporting material. 

7. Be positive! I'm already trying to learn to turn any negative thoughts into positive ones, and not let them put a downer on my various days. I know that this one is not easily done, but it's something I intend to consciously work on a little bit every day, as I genuinely do feel much better when I am able to put a positive spin on things.

I'm giving myself until the end of June to press on and make some magic happen.

Please do leave me a comment below letting me know if you decide to join in with this, as I'd love to read your posts and see what little goals you have all set yourselves!

Also, don't forget to pop along to Louise's page and do the same.

Hope everyone's had a great week. Friday tomorrow!

xx