Shape Up For Summer Progress {13.6.14}

Hola Sparkly1s

It's finally Friday! This working week seems to have lasted forever but it's finally over and that means it's time for a Shape up For Summer update.

This week has definitely been the best week.  As I mentioned in my #WIAW (What I Ate Wednesday) my eating habits have changed.  I'm no longer craving sweets and crisps and I've not been bothered about the lack of carbs in my diet.  I haven't eliminated carbs but I've tried to cut down on them.  I'm a vegetarian and I relied heavily on carb for my food intake - bread, pasta, potatoes, you name it I ate it - all the time.  I've started eating more lentils and other pulses.

 

My hooping has been brilliant. I've successfully completed 20 minutes of hooping everyday.  My anticlockwise hooping still leaves a lot to be desired but I'm persevering with it and its gradually getting better.  I've also started trying to walk around whilst hooping.  

Weight - 160lbs   {-5lbs}

Waist - 36inches {same}

Hips - 42.75inches {same}

Bust - 35inches {same}

 

I'm really pleased with those numbers.  There may not be any change in my measurements but I'm definitely finding my way with all this stuff now.  I'm eating right,  and I've found an exercise that I'm really enjoying.

 

 

Hasta Luego Sparkly1s

Gemzicle Sprinkles

xoxo

 

 

Throwback Thursday | Benidorm

Hola Sparkly1s

 

Hope your having a good day so far.  It's Thursday which can only mean one thing #TBT. I'm loving these Throwback Thursday as it makes me sit down, look through old photo albums and reminisce.  Too often we take lots of photos but never really look back and appreciate them.

This weeks #TBT are some embarrassing lovely photos of my teenage years.  These were taken in first year of college, so I would have been 16.

I took Spanish A Level and as part of our course we went to Benidorm, Spain for a week. We had a blast.

 

I'm off to sit in the sun as we're finally getting some nice weather here in the UK.

 

What's the weather like where you are?

Hasta Luego Sparkly1s

Gemzicle Sprinkles

xoxo

What I Ate Wednesday {11.6.14}

Breakfast

Sit down for this revelation Sparkly1s. I had something different for breakfast this morning - stewed fruit. 

I used 2 apples, some blueberries, cinnamon & that blob of yellow is root ginger. 

A little tip for root ginger that I've picked up along the way is to buy a big stem (are they called stems??) of it, peel it, chop it into inch pieces and pop it in the freezer. It lasts forever and it grates much easier than trying to grate it fresh.   

Chop the apples and put all the ingredients in a pan with a cup of water. Boil for around 8-10minutes.  Then whiz it all up. It might not look like much but I promises you it's yum.

Lunch

 

After my exciting, different breakfast I'm afraid I went back to good old faithful for lunch - wholemeal toast with avocado, cherry tomatoes and cheddar cheese.  Served with a small side salad of lettuce, cucumber and bell pepper.  This is the first time I've gone back to 'normal' bread after eating the rye bread with amaranth / quinoa which I introduced last week.  After my initiate apprehensions about that bread, I've got to say I now prefer it.   

Tea

Now I accept that that mess of a photo doesn't look all that nice. It's supposed to be an omelette but it kinda all stuck to the pan.  It tasted good though. It was 1 whole egg, 2 egg whites, an onion, broccoli and bell pepper with chilli flakes.

 

I've definitely turned a corner with food this week.  I'm no longer craving sweets and crisps and all that other stuff I ate before.  Hopefully, I can keep this up. 

 

Have you got any quick and easy healthy vegetarian meal ideas you could share?  I desperately need more ideas on what to cook.

 

Check back on Fitness Friday to see if this healthy eating has helped me in my shape up for summer challenge.

I'd love to hear from you if you're also on a health kick at the moment.  How's it going?

 

Hasta Luego Sparkly1s

Gemzicle Sprinkles

xoxo

Nail Polish Obsession

Hola Sparkly1s

 

*Holds hand up. My names Sara and I have a nail polish addiction.  I dont think thats such an odd thing.  I think alot of girls have alot of nail polishes (you do right?)  I'm a little obsessed with looking at pretty painted nails.    When I started Pinterest the first board I started was a Pretty Nails board.

 

 

The crazy thing about my nail polish obsession is that I'm not someone who paints my nails all the time. I don't know why I buy them.  When I see my collection I feel guilty and decide I must start painting my nails but I just don't.  I don't have the time.  Or should I say, I don't make the time.

 

 

 

 

What is it about nail polish that makes me buy them?  Why do I buy something I know I'm probably not gonna get any use out of?  

 

And with those thoughts, I'm off to paint my nails... (maybe)

 

Hasta Luego Sparkly1s

Gemzicle Sprinkles

xoxo

Awesome Bloggers

Hola my lovely Sparkly1s.  I hope you're having a fun weekend so far.  I've spent pretty much most of mine trying to jazz up my blog.  It's been fun & extremely frustrating at times.  I don't know what HTML stands for, let alone how I need to use it in my blog...  Or should I say, I didn't yesterday morning.

As I was editing my blog this beautiful double rainbow appeared in the field opposite.

I've added a sparkly new header, social media buttons, pages, a nice little photo of me even created a button!  I still wouldn't say I understand HTML but I'm starting to get it.

I've used lots of other blogs to help me out so I thought I'd share a few of the best ones with you in case you're just starting out or maybe you've had your blog a while & fancy sprucing things up a bit.

Code It Pretty
 

Marie is a freelance web developer so if you're feeling lazy she could do your blog design for you.  Her blog, however, is fantastic.  She has various, easy to understand tutorials on all kinds of subjects such as general blogging, SEO and HTML. 

Sew Many Ways

Karen has a lovely little blog with a feature called Blogging Tips.  She guides you step by step (with screenshots) through various aspects of blogging.  She also has loads of cool ideas on how to organise your stuff, has some wonderful sewing tutorials and you just have to go and take a peek at pictures of her sewing room.  I'd love to be set free in there for a few hours to discover all the hidden gems.

Pretend It's In Ink
 

This blog has a Techy Tuesday feature which is fantastic.  She taught me how to not have a title on my gadgets and how to add a pin it button to my pictures. The blog has a very clean, simplistic design that I really like.   

Do you know any other great blogs that can help people like me who are just starting out?  Give them a mention in the comments so we can all take a look at them.

What do you think of the new look?   

Hasta Luego Sparkly1s

Gemzicle Sprinkles

xoxo