the Sunday plan III

For the past two weeks i have totally kicked my Sunday plan’s ass!  Setting it out in public (well … in my hallway and on my blog) is such a big motivator i can tell you.  So to sign off this week I’m going to set out next week’s plan (i would just put up a pic of the blackboard but it’s already been obscenely defaced…thanks hubby):

Mon: Street dance class

Tues: Bike (commute to work 7 mile round trip)

Weds: This workout

Thurs: Yoga

Fri: Bike

Sat: This workout (again)

Sun: Pilates/rest

You may have noticed I’ve snuck a little class in there.  I’m still rocking the home workout movement but last week in my area they put on a whole load of free fitness classes as part of a weight wise week and i went to a street dance class.  It was sooo much fun and if laughing at yourself is good exercise then it’s a massive calorie burner – hehe.  I see it more as a cheaper and healthier way to meet up with my sis and my mates than an exercise class.

All i need for my home workouts is:

no expensive gym membership in sight

Plus my trusty bike of course.  Much cheaper than running a car!

If you’re stalling a bit in the motivation department as January comes to an end and this lovely mild winter takes a turn for the worse than join me and post your workout below.  We can check up on our progress next Sunday.  I’ve got a crazy week at work this week so it will be interesting to see if i can keep this momentum up.

Have a good week x

i found treasure!

Yesterday hubby and i went furniture shopping – being thrifty folk we popped into our local charity furniture shop.  You can get some amazing bargains here – a lot of the furniture needs a bit of love and some imagination but totally worth it.  I found a very old sewing machine desk with integrated sewing machine.  I’m guessing it originated from the ’60’s or 70’s (i’m not an expert!).  The machine wasn’t in great order and the desk was also a bit shabby but when i opened the drawers i found treasure!!!  Very exciting.

I asked the very nice gent manning the shop if i could pay just for the contents of the desk and he offered it for £5!  Eeep!  For the record as it was a charity shop i did offer him more but i think he thought i was crazy that i was willing to even pay that much for all this old junk.  Here is only some of what i found:

Treasure!!!!

The find include buttons (lots of buttons), cotton reels, binding, needles, lace, belt buckles, genuine old singer accessories and so much more all packed up in these beautiful old biscuit tins and boxes.  I’m so happy and i’m already thinking of so many projects to make use of these items.  I love the idea that someone lovingly collected and kept these items and i’m ecstatic to give them a loving home.

I’m a lucky girl.

ps we didn’t find any furniture!!

I did it…plus a pic

I completed the project I started this blog with – a slouchy blazer.  It was a very simple sew project as there was no lining.  Bear in mind that this was my first ever item of clothing i’ve ever sewed myself.

Check out the results:

slouchy blazer

It’s not perfect – i still need to get to grips with lining up the grain of the material and making ultra neat seams so all elements lie straight.  I also need to CONCENTRATE – having to unstitch a whole arm because i sewed it on inside out was not the most fun i’ve ever had!

The staff in my local haberdashery helped out too.  I did not realise you weren’t supposed to match the thread to the material – you have to go a shade darker.  Thanks guys!

So on to next project … I’m going to be knitting a cowl neck but so far its not going great.  First time with circular needles – it would be comical if it wasn’t so annoying.

I’m also determined to get properly back into my photography (other than just capturing my many meals and my cats) so i’m going to start posting pics regularly.  I’m not a big “pretty landscape” or “sunset” photographer – not because i don’t like those kind of pics but more because there are a gazillion people out there who do it better than me.  I like the quirky, the grimy and the fun.  Here is a pic i took with a £2 film SLR i found in a charity shop.  Such a lovely camera i can’t understand why anyone would want to give it away:

Take care and see you soon x

the Sunday plan (and a little bit of blog love)

I’ve been reading Monica’s blog http://runeatrepeat.com/ for a while now.  You should definitely check it out if like me you’re trying to live a little healthier.  She’s super down to earth and her blog is full of really useful (and pretty funny) information.  Also, when i read that she got up at 4am to teach a bootcamp class and followed it with a 3 mile run i know i can’t moan about my own little bike ride at 6 in the evening!!  Anyway, inspired by her I’ve started to do a Sunday Plan each week.  Last week’s look like this:

the Sunday plan

I’ve put it on the blackboard by the front door so that i (and everyone else who comes into the house) can see it everyday.  As you can see i did pretty well this week.  You’ll also see that hubby made an amusing adjustment to HIIT (high intensity interval training) that i had to sensor.

I still haven’t had to resort to expensive gym memberships and am keeping it frugal.  You can find hundreds of awesome HIIT (and other) workouts on the web and the rest of the time I bike it to work.  Seems to be working so far.

Anyway, i’m off now to cook a Sunday Roast….well you can’t be perfect all the time!  If it looks good you might be treated to a pic of it later.

I hope you all enjoyed your weekends – see you during the week x

family connections

So I went to my folks this week for dinner.  In the interest of sticking to those NY resolutions we cycled there.  Now I know 7 miles does not equal a roast but its a little way there!  Plus check out my new toy…

Since I got my toy two weeks ago i’ve clocked up 55 miles.  Impressed much?  Anyway I digress…. while I was at my folks i was reminded that my Mum truely is the Don of crafting.  Check out this double bed cover she is crocheting.  This is just the bottom quarter – ably held up by my little sis who, for scale purposes you understand, you may be interested to know is not even 5ft tall.

and check out my Mum’s bead collection.  When she caught me photographing this she was quite quick to point out this was only some of her collection.  If 2012 becomes the year of the international bead shortage my Mum will be able to save the world!!! Hehe!

(Disclaimer – sorry about the blurry pics – hubby changed the settings on my camera)

This all makes me very nervous as I now have a lot to live up to with my little projects.  I’m on my way with the blazer and hope to be able to show you the results very shortly.

Questions – what did you inherit from your folks?

First project and keeping those NY resolutions

Today's brekkie

So…first project of the year cannot be started on an empty stomach so I made these pancakes.  It being January these were protein pancakes with cottage cheese rather than bacon and syrup but they were scrummy.  Since I bought my new toy last week (my Nikon J1) I’ve been obsessed with photographing my meals so I’m afraid there will be more of these to come!

Following with the healthy theme i also hit it up with some HIIT (high intensity interval training).  Not only thrifty in terms of wallet but thrifty in terms of time.  All done in 20mins, no special equipment required and absolute torture.  Bargain.

My first project of 2012 is going to be a navy cropped blazer I’m going to make from scratch.  The pattern says it is for beginners so here goes…

my chosen material

my chosen machine - a mini sewing machine

I’ll keep you updated on the progress of this.

Questions – what crafty projects are you working on?

Anyone else still sticking to their NY resolutions?