Fit, Fresh, Frolicking and Fabulous 2017

Having read online other weight loss journey blogs as inspiration; I have decided to post on this blog as a motivator. I am getting well into the whole body positivity #bopo concept, and although I don’t feel confident enough to share this with the world just yet, it’s a good place to start. 

Let me just start by saying from the off I am not on a strict diet/ exercise plan. I am using ‘myfitnessplan’ to monitor my calorie intake, and going to the gym/classes and using my fitbit to reach daily steps goals. I will eat what I want to eat, drink alcohol with my friends and enjoy a pizza/ chocolate from time to time, but generally am trying to will be eating healthy/balanced alternatives during the week (especially in the office). As much as I plan ahead with bringing lunch into work most days (gotta look after the pennies!) there will be days where I fancy a chicken and stuffing sandwich from tesco next door. And that’s okay! #yolo :)

I am a proper foodie. I spend all time thinking about food, planning food, eating food. Perhaps this blog will be a good outlet for all my food energy haha.

I am currently 90 kilos (give or take) 5”4, size 16, and 24 years old. Lets see where 2017 takes me!

Gym life

Kalkan

This year we visited Turkey again with our extended famalam the Hoskings and had a jolly old time. Mum, Dad, Heather Nigel and Tom and George had already been there a week to scope the joint, suss out the best beaches and restaurants and to just get familiar with the place (and to enjoy the lovely 35 degree sunshine ofc!) Generally, I don’t like to visit the same holiday location more than once, as I would prefer to use the opportunity to see more of the world! However this little gem, is a town I would love to revisit. Our villa was stunning, the locals were the friendliest bunch I have ever met, and the town was so quaint and pretty, yet had a bit of spark to it and some nightlife. We operated the standard set up of balancing meals out in restaurants, with boozy barbeques in the villa (+games articulate and the like).

Hayley and I enjoying the nightlife

 

Tom enjoying his pina colada....

 

When buying the meat for our BBQ, the local butcher gave us extra chicken and threw in some seasoning on the house! One of the locals fixed Heather's shoe when she was looking to purchase new ones. On every occasion they went above and beyond to keep the tourists happy!  Our daily routine involved getting up and eating eggs for breakfast, having a stroll down into the town for a cocktail , a Turkish shave, petting one of the friendly stray dogs, playing relay water hockey in the pool (which I was surprisingly good at!) and then enjoying G&T on the roof top terrace of the villa.

The view from the roof of our villa

 

Unfortunately Jon had to leave early to do some modelling work back in London (as you do) so we bought a uncanny flag from a nice blind man to ensure that he was represented at all times. Oh and we bought fezzes, because we are hilarious.

Tom and George

 

Hayley and Chris

 



Selfie fun

 

Dinner in Kalkan

My highlight from this trip was seeing a pretty hefty sea turtle from the roof of a boat that we’d hired for the day to see the old roman ruins of Turkey along the coast. Oh that’s another amazing thing; the roman architecture is amazing! And its not made a song and dance about at all. Literally you drive past a coliseum style structure just to get to the beach!



Dat sea doh.

I can’t think of a better way to spend a relaxing break with some of my favourite people!

Glastonbury 2015

After a frantic stomach churning race for tickets back in October, myself Natalie and Rach got the long awaited privilege to attend the legacy that is Glastonbury festival. I’d read the entire do’s and don’ts, done the line-up planning and homework, yet after 5 days of tent life I genuinely only feel like I’ve experienced about 10 percent of what is Glastonbury. I had a wicked time, watched some sick bands and consumed copious festival food. A month later I will try to do this blog post justice!

We set off bleary eyed and stomachs full from Hayley’s homemade spag bol at a cheery 5:30 am, having loaded my tardis Micra with a ridiculous amount of stuff. Then came many of the pitfalls of being a Glastonbury noob. We got lost, so lost, on the way to finding the carpark, which then left us queuing with everybody else trying to get in at opening time at 8:00. THEN some steward bitch pointed us in the direction of gate A (because the queue was shorter than gate D) which was like half an hours walk North of where we wanted to camp. I had been told that the first hour of Glastonbury is hell, lugging all your shit into the unknown, when you’re just desperate to sit down and have that first beer. That is in a nutshell correct lol. At one point I gaffa taped my hand to stop it rubbing on the handle of my granny shopper trolley (used to transport booze, borrowed from Nanny). This actually proved to be a surprisingly successful method until our other sack barrow broke so we committed to camping in that spot. On which we were horrified to realise we’d only travelled about 1 cm on the map! HOW BIG IS THIS PLACE????

 

Rach snuggled up cosy in Jezza 2.0

Once the arrival of doom was over, and we were nicely settled in our camp (specifically less than 100 meters away from some sawdust loos – a dream!), we got our Glastonbury onnnnnn. There’s so many things to do that aren’t the music, so on the first few days – Wednesday to Friday, we took the opportunity to explore. The letters on the hill are great, silent disco, and fireworks from Kat and Pav’s set up. One of my favourite areas was the Greanpeace area, which had a large boat slide, which you had to dress up as a fish to go down, and had live music sets playing. We also trekked it to unfair ground and ShangriLa which were pretty awesome.  Our camp was a short walk from an area called silver hayes, which had loads of cool structures and sets.

Arcadia - a giant spider with fire and a DJ (as you do)

 

 

Glasto has a splendid ‘bring your own booze’ policy. So we pretty much packed our ‘spirit rucksack’ with a bag of wine for the day and some spirits for later. You don’t want to have to go back to your tent if you can avoid it! I hit the drink a bit too hard on the first night, after chilling out with Kat and friends in West Holts , bar crawling the circus area and losing them at the silent disco. I ended up losing the tent watching the sunrise on Glastonbury Hill. And…… then proceeding to not be able to function the next day.

 

We saw a secret set from Bastille, but my other favourite acts include (and in this order); Lionel, Pharell, Hozier, Kanye, Charli XCX, Chemical Bros and Mark Ronson.

THE. FOOD. Our days literally revolved about what we were going to eat that day and when. My highlights were a chorizo and halloumi burrito (devine) and a gorgeous creamy mushroom pasta. There is everything and anything you could ever think of. It’s perfectly acceptable to have paella for breakfast y’know.

Oh and the weather was sick.  I am so keen for next year. Bring on Glasto 2016! 
 
 


Enjoying George Ezra from the top of the hill



Horrific journey home

 

Rach loving life with Lionel

Pushing Yourself

Pushing Yourself

On graduating university, you find yourself presented with a number of huge life decisions to make; what jobs shall I apply for, shall I save up and go travelling? Shall I save up and move out of my family home? Shall I pursue my career, What is my purpose in life?!?! etc etc commence quarter life crisis.

I realised that throughout the my whole life I was presented with a number of choices - pick from these secondary schools, choose from these GCSE's, A Levels Universities. This moment was the first in which I did not have a option laid out in front of me, and actually had to do some thinking of my own.

When I left in the summer I returned to my seasonal waitress job at Hever castle. On hindsight, that job was a great summer job, the people were amazing and I am still in contact with a lot of them.  However at the time I could not help thinking that I did not want to be a waitress for the rest of my life. I was worried that I would get comfortable there and stuck in a rut. During one lunch break I scribbled some notes on a spare paper napkin of a blog post I wanted to write, and I actually havent got round to it until now.

The big wide world is scary. I quit my job at Hever with many concerns and worries. I did not have another job lined up but I felt like I would benefit from 'the fear'. This is in reference to the popular series F.R.I.E.N.D.S  - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_cLMqfwNL4. This is the idea that whilst you are in one job there is nothing pushing you to go after another.

I'm of the opinion that believing in yourself and pushing yourself to do things you have never done before is an unavoidable junction in life. You have to make things happen, and take the leap. Someone I look up to Louise of SprinkleofGlitter once told me if you do what you've always done, you will get where you've always gotten. I also believe that willingness and enthusiasm will shine through. You have to be brave. And things WILL work out in the end. lol.

On that note, I have actually got a new job now. I'm not sure if it's what I want to do for the rest of my life, but its a step in the right direction. And if I don't like it after x amount of time, I'll go travelling :).

I am also training for a 5k run. I know that doesn't seem like very far, but im also very unfit anand I pay over £80 a month for a gym which I should probably use more lol. So I will keep you updated with my progress.

I feel like this blog post has been very rambly and bitty, and in my mind it was always going to be something triumphant. One of my new years resolutions (ive litterally just decided lol) is to write more blog posts, as I just read some of my old ones and its nice to read back some of my old thoughts. I feel like if I'd written this post when I intended to, looking back at it now would be interesting, to see how far I have come.

Anyway, every blog post needs at least one picture so heres a lovely one of Natalie and I in Devon this summer :) Completely irrelevant but its a nice picture haha.

I've got a brand new combine harvester...

SOMERSET

This weekend my course friend Sean and I took a little road trip to Taunton to visit our friend Emily, recreating the town mouse and country mouse story. After predicting a horrible traffic ridden journey we were pleasantly surprised by the lack of cars and had an enjoyable road trip (got to see stone henge at sunset!). On arrival we got a tour of Em's beautiful house, and appreciated the night sky in the countryside - not something Sean and I are used to! 

On the Saturday we ventured out into Taunton town and got a cheeky Greggs for lunch, and purchased all the BBQ food. Then travelled on to a tiny village called Denton where Em generously funded way too much sugar for one days intake haha (coke float, milkshake, fudge, icecream, flake). We went to the coast, and saw Wales! (the country not the animal ;)) 

After many unforeseen complications (BBQ broken, outdoor lights broken, parents coming back earlier than anticipated) later that evening a group of us including Em's friends from home dined alfresco under the stars and sat round an open fire pit. I had a lovely weekend, saw shooting stars, met loads of new people (and animals) and can't wait to go back!

Emily's home-made jams

110 years young

Graduation Ball 2013

On the 10th of June was the pinnacle of university events, otherwise known as the 'Grad Ball'. There was a lot of high expectation, especially due to the extortionate ticket price of 49.99, but all in all I'd say it was money well spent :) The venue, Oceana Southampton, was a perfect size for the number of guests; it felt busy with a buzzing atmosphere, but was not so busy and claustrophobic that dancing, purchasing drinks and moving around was unpleasant. The entertainment was amazing, a fun-fare with bumper cars and various live acts including Pendulum and Amelia Lily. However the main highlight of my night was spending quality time with the people I have met at university, especially my house-mates of 3 years. What a great opportunity to get dressed up all smart and glamorous, 'suited and booted', and spend one last evening together :)

Ideal Home Show!

I came back from university on Thursday after spending an extra week with my chummies in our student house for loltimes (and dissertation work). Yesterday (Friday), my lovely parents and I took a little day trip to LANDAN for the Ideal Home Show at Earls Court. Its a big showcase of all things homey, soooo wallpaper, kitchen work tops, swimming pools etc. They also had "woman" section, which was mainly make up and fashion and a "food" section which had lots of free tasters which I thoroughly enjoyed ;) I took some pictures of the things that I liked, but there was way more than this:

 Yeh thats right. I got to meet George Clarke. Who is he I hear you ask? well I didn't know at first either haha but hes that guy off the TV who paints everything white before he revamps it, kinda like DIY SOS. Hes such a nice guy and he's got these really cool renovation projects going called "renovation man" and "amazing spaces".  He's got a really positive attitude about making affordable and realistic changes and yeh, I just really liked him.

 I thought these were cute and my friend Sophie would like them ;) she's all about the moustaches lol

 Some of the things in this place were truly bizarre. Like who would want to sit and get their teeth whitened in front of 1000s of people for 20 minutes. For £70?! I guess it was reduced from 120.

This is a cool futuristic library seat, featured in the Virgin Media Sustainable Home section. Doesn't look too comfy to me but ya know, looks funky.

As I said earlier there were many things that I thought were amazing but haven't featured (mainly due to lack of photo taking). One of my favourite features was a mock up "Only Fools and Horses" set which is very retro and old fashioned, with clashing wallpaper prints and carpet patterns. They had revamped it to show you what it would look like now, nicely furnished.

The food was kind of expensive, so I would say if your planning on going you could take your own food. But I wont say that because oh my god the burger I had from the food section was devinneeeeeeeee. Oh and you get loads of freebies so you could just get filled up on free vodka shots, gravy stock pots, salami and balsamic vinegar :)