I did it!!

I have completed my first week back i work and I'm still in one piece - miraculous!!  It's been a hard week with work days starting at 5.45 and not winding down till 11 pm ish, and catching the college cold on my second day back didn't help - but I'm really pleased Evan and I are still smiling!!

I've not managed any exercise this week because I've just been so knackered and full of a cold, but walking up and down the ramp in the rotunda a work is keeping me fit enough - I had aching legs at the end of each day - and I'm so busy I'm snacking a lot less. In addition I weighed myself this week and am now down to 168lbs (12 stone) - hurrah!! - that's pretty much my pre-pregnancy weight!!!

With regards food, I cooked up the finger root in a Thai red curry - I'm not sure what it added as Thai red curry already has strong flavour - but it smelt lovely before I added it - perhaps a more sophisticated palate would be able to tell the difference. I also made a lamb Rogan Josh for Sunday lunch - it was delicious but lacked a little heat - I'll add more chillies next time. That's definitely the most spices I've ever cooked with tough and I'm pleased with how it went. I also used fresh ginger root in the recipe which is a new veg for me.

This weeks cake was a lime and coconut cake; coconut and lime sponge with a lime filling and icing topped with dessicated coconut - yum! This was also a success, in fact there's very litte left. It's a real change to the cakes I've made in previous weeks as it's so light and refreshing.

I also had a play with some melted chocolate today and made hubbie a chocolate robot.

I must say  had a lovely night out with some ladies of Tilstock and surrounding areas last night - a lovely curry and lots of wine.  Best night I've had in ages - although I was rather drunk and then kept hubbie awake all night with my snoring so it wasn't so great for him! 


I finally, I have again gone trough the Sunday pamper routine including the pain of epilation - and I must say after a hard weeks work I do appreciate this more (except the epilation). Anyway, over and out for this week - bring on week 2!!! :-)

pamper

Back to work

So I'm back to work tomorrow after 7 months of glorious maternity leave. I am excited but nervous - fingers crossed it'll all go well.

As for the resolutions I'm still on track. managed to excercise 4 nights this week; Yoga Monday, Zumba Tues and Thurs and post pregnancy DVD Sunday. I do feel a lot fitter than I used to be, and I can touch my toes - something I've not been able to do for a long time! Still eating well. although I must drink more water.

As for the baking, today I made a fruit cake for Easter using my Christmas cake recipe - and I have truly outdone myself. This recipe is always divine, however every time I make it there's a burnt bit - no matter how much I wrap it up - or there's a bit that comes off with the greaseproof paper, but this time the cake was PERFECT!! A beautiful golden brown colour all over with an almost flat top perfect for decorating!! It took 6 hours to bake but was worth the wait. It's wrapped up in foil and doused in brandy ready for Easter - I can't wait to try it!!

With regards cooking, I made a lamb and red wine stew with dumplings today. It went down really well with hubby and baby (who couldn't get enough of it - must be the wine), and I think it turned out well all in all. I have to admit it wasn't my favorite, but I think that's to do with recipe rather than execution.

I didn't get round to cooking the Okra we bought last week until last night. I made spicy Okra to freeze and have with curry at a later date. It smells nice so fingers crossed it should taste nice. This week we've bought fingerroot to try in perhaps a Thai red curry.

I'm not sure what cake I'll be making next week but I fancy doing some icing so maybe some cupcakes so I can play with fancy icing - although a rainbow cake is also tempting...

Managed to have my bath and pamper evening this evening and  have fancy nails;

I have to say epilating gets easier every week. I've even straightened my hair tonight in preparation for work tomorrow.

Finally, I've written letters to some of my friends this week and am in the process of making arrangements to see them which is good - some of my closest friends I haven't seen in over a year.

Well, mine and Evan's bags are packed and by the door. I'm washed, Evan's washed and asleep, the house is tidy and I'm ready to go back to work - wish me luck!!! :-)

Week 2

...and I'm still going.

Since last week I've added 2 new resolutions;

1/This will be the year I finally get a tattoo

2/See more of my friends


That brings the total to 9...


1/Eat Healthily - no more binging on chocolate and cake - from now on I need to set a good example for my little one.


2/Lose 20lbs - although I've lost 22lbs since having Evan, I still can't fit into the majority of my clothes!

3/Exercise regularly - again this is about setting a good example and also ensuring I look after my body.

4/bake once a week - I love baking and it's something I never find time to do.

5/Make and enjoy a Sunday family dinner on Sundays spent at home - making sure we have family time

6/Have a bath and pamper myself on Sunday evenings - I spend most of my time running about so it's important I find time to loo after myself mentally and physically

7/Give myself a break - Give myself a pat on the back once in a while.

8/Get a tattoo - I've always wanted a tattoo, this year I'm going to be brave.

9/See more of my friends - I've seen very little of my friends in recent years and I want that to change.


This week I've done well.. I've eaten healthily, gone to Zumba and Yoga and braved the abs workout tonight - that'll hurt tomorrow! I'm not weighing myself till the end of the month, but I should still be slowly losing weight.


I made an awesome 'Tunnel of Fudge' cake yesterday. It's an American recipe from my new book. My husband thinks the name's hilarious - he's so rude. Anyway, here's how it turned out...

YUMMY!!! It's all gooey in the centre and it tastes amazing! Not bad eh?! I'm really enjoying this cake baking malarkey. Next week it's a rich fruit cake which I'll put away and feed till Easter. I might also make cupcakes if hubbie is lucky - I could do with practicing my piping.

I also tackled a roast chicken today with roast potatoes, carrots and parsnips, stuffing and gravy. The meat was the bit I was really worried about but it was really tender - winner! The parsnips and carrots were a little burnt but other than that not bad!!! Not sure what to make next week - I'll have to scour through the recipe books!

I also had a pie fest this week;

Mince pies and steak pies - yummy!!


Made time to pamper myself again this evening - even braved the epilator again. Also, I have new hair!! Went to the hairdressers and got my hair cut and coloured. Look;

It's not really clear on here but the underneath is bright red, and there's bright red through the fringe. I'm really pleased!!

I think I've decided on a tattoo design, but I'm waiting till I've finished breastfeeding before taking the plunge - I'm excited but nervous.

Finally, I've texted some of my oldest friends this week with a view to arrange to meet up with them.

So I'm doing well so far!! Next week I'm back at work so things will be a little tough, but I'll do my best to keep these resolutions up because, above all else, I'm really enjoying them!!

Resolutions!

Blog, blog, blog.


It's 2012 and my life has been no less than transformed over the past 12 months. It's been a rollercoaster like no other but my little one is now 6 months old and it's a new year, and this year I've made real resolutions. Now these resolutions, I hope, are the kind I can, and will, stick to; they're manageable and realistic - fingers crossed! and this blog should help me record the journey.

Without any further ado here are my New Years Resolutions 2012

1/Eat Healthily - no more binging on chocolate and cake - from now on I need to set a good example for my little one.


2/Lose 20lbs - although I've lost 22lbs since having Evan, I still can't fit into the majority of my clothes!

3/Exercise regularly - again this is about setting a good example and also ensuring I look after my body.

4/bake once a week - I love baking and it's something I never find time to do.

5/Make and enjoy a Sunday family dinner on Sundays spent at home - making sure we have family time

6/Have a bath and pamper myself on Sunday evenings - I spend most of my time running about o it's important I find time to loo after myself mentally and physcally

7/Give myself a break - Give myself a pat on the back once in a while.

So this blog, I hope, will help me see what I've achieved and complete resolution number 7. So what have I done so far, well...

Last Saturday (NYE) I made a cherry and Walnut cake - a rich butter cake with cherrys and walnuts thrown in - yummy! and this week I attempted an american recipe for apple and walnut cake. It's delicious but calorific!! Took a long time to bake and burnt slightly on the edges as a result but looked and tasted awesome. I made a glaze from runny icing which worked really well.

so 10/10 for baking so far.

Last Sunday I made my first roast; roast beef, parsnips, potatoes and carrots and yorkshires - I'm so proud. It was lovely although baby fell asleep just as lunch was ready so he missed it - oh well - more for mummy and daddy!! This week I made a fish pie and Evan loved it - he wolfed it down and had some cake (minus walnuts) for pudding - greedy boy! Was so lovely to sit down together for a proper meal.

So I'm doing well on the food front! Ticks for no 4 and 5.

The healthy eating and therefore weight loss is all going according to plan, and I've done loads of excercise this week; Yoga DVD on Mon, cross-trainer on Tues, post pregnancy DVD weds, and Zumba Thurs - so that's no's 1, 2, and 3 ticked off.

Last week I took a bath on Sunday and moisturized and painted my nails and epilated - OMFG - epilating is so painful!! But I gritted my teeth and got through the pain and hurrah I have smooth legs!!! Just got out of the bath today and have repainted my nails - red with white hearts - and braved the epilator again - not too bad this time. So that's no 6 sorted.

That only leaves no 7 - so yey well done me - tick for no 7.

hat an excellent week!!! :-)