#1800MinuteChallenge | Health & Fitness

Hi Lovelies, I hope you've had a great weekend!
Mine consisted of MORE Game of Thrones, double dating with my sister and her fiancé, spoiling my Mum for Mother's Day and drinking more champagne than I care to remember. Anyway, enough about that!

After posting, Wine or Gym?  last Monday, I popped over to the lovely Erin at Living in Yellow and read about this fun challenge which Erin and 3 fellow bloggers have created.

If that's not the kick up the butt I was needing then I don't know what is?

I had no option but to sign up, hence tomorrow I start the #1800MinuteChallenge. 
Ironically tomorrow is April Fools, however I am most definitely taking this seriously. 

...So seriously that this evening I took my weight, measurements and before photos, I also went to the gym and had an instructor help me set up a new programme and I made a new workout playlist on my iPod. I'm all set. Lets GO!


If you want to join in, simply follow the instructions on Erin's post!


Have a fabulous day!

Keep Smiling :D
XO


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Currently...

Hey lovely people, I hope you are well.

I haven't done one of these in a while...

 

 

WATCHING

 

Had you asked me a month ago if I watched Game of Thrones I would have replied 'Oh, No it's not my thing!'...well you should have knocked me upside the head because even if Game of Thrones isn't your thing, it really IS your thing!

I'm obsessed!

I've been having GoT marathons every weekend.  I admit it, that's why I've been slacking at the gym. 

No spoilers please, I'm just about to start season 3 and hopefully will get it finished before season 4 starts!

Its an emotional rollercoaster in every episode and the advice my friend gave me was spot on

 'DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO ANYONE!' 

So if like me you have not fancied it or have been hiding under a rock for the last 3 years, I'd recommend you check it out!

 

 

READING

 

Nothing at the moment, seems its not only the gym that's been affected by my Game of Thrones addiction I really wish I had read the A Song of Fire and Ice series now!!

 

LISTENING

 

Ellie Goulding's album Halcyon Days, in particular Track 15 Goodness Gracious. Love

 

 

LOVING

 

Can I add Game of thrones in here too? Ok I'll stop talking about it!

I've been giving my hat lots of love recently I got it for Xmas from my sister.
 I'm not really a hat person as I feel they make me look even smaller but I just fell in love with this one and it's now my holy grail for bad hair days.
It is from Topshop but unfortunately I cant find it online so don't think they have it anymore :(

 bad hair day =good hat day

 

NOT LOVING

 

That I have dental appointment tomorrow, not that I am having any work done it's just not a very pleasant experience drooling over yourself in front of someone is it?! 

 

 

FEELING

 

Nervous.

I may have mentioned before that the boyfriend is a Motorsport fanatic, his brother races and BF has been planning to follow in his footsteps for over a year now   ...well next weekend he has his first race! I have to go to support him but I'm not sure if I can watch!

He took me for a spin round the circuit on Sunday, it was an experience to say the least! 

getting secured in for a test of trust

 

THINKING

 

How amazing it is that the no make-up selfie craze has raised over £8million for Cancer Research.

Well Done to everyone who took part raising awareness and funds.

You can still donate £3 by texting BEAT to 70099  -watch your autocorrect though my friend ended up adopting a polar bear. Ha

WEARING

 

My first splash of S/S colour comes in the form of this yellow knit from River Island which I am in love with, find it here 

I used it to brighten up some black leggings and black heels, I should have taken an outfit pic, sorry, heres an awkward selfie instead.

 

 I need selfie taking lessons

 *side note- selfies are difficult for little people

 

WANTING

Chocolate. Enough said

 

That's mine I'd love to know yours?
 

Any fellow Game of Thrones fans out there?

Completely, random and unrelated addition that may make you giggle:

Have you ever gone to a party and your trousers matched the carpet?

Nope must just be me. Ha

a new meaning to camouflage

 

Have a fabulous day lovelies

Keep Smiling :D

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wine or Gym? | Health & Fitness

Wine always, right?

I have been slacking tremendously in the Health & Fitness department.

If I'm being honest I've always been pretty inconsistent at working out, I can vary from high power gym bunny to couch potato on a monthly basis. 
Currently I'm the latter.

Last January my friend Gemma and I embarked on a bikini body mission and for 6 months we done really well had a tough workout regime and even tougher nutrition plan.

However when bikini season ended, I packed the gym routine and eating plan away with the bikinis, resulting in me packing on an extra 18lb. 

I did start running jogging again just recently but I'm probably below beginner level so progress is slow and I haven't been out as much as I really could have.
Excuses have ranged from bad weather to a breaking a nail!

To make matters worse I have a love affair with food...and wine! 

The most frustrating thing about this is I know I CAN do it, I'm just being lazy!

I'm challenging myself to get my fitness back on track, hopefully for longer than bikini season this time.

I may dedicate a blog post to this every week or so to keep me motivated and focused.

Are any of you trying get your body, bikini ready?

What to you do to stay motivated to keep fit? 

Google Images
If only Ryan, if only *sigh*

 

 

Have a fantastic day!
Keep Smiling :)

A Grand Adventure | Grand Canyon National Park

I'm afraid this is a bit of a throwback but I thought I should dedicate a few posts to sharing what I got up to during my absence.

Rewind to August 2013 when I was lucky enough to visit the Grand Canyon, something that has been on my bucket wish list for a very long time.

Before our holiday in Las Vegas, some friends recommended a company called Papillion Grand Canyon Helicopters and specifically the Sunset Grand Celebration with Vegas Strip Tour.

This tour appealed to me firstly because it didn't involve standing at the top looking over the Canyon or the Skywalk which the boys debated doing for over an hour(thankfully they decided not to) and secondly because I knew the temperature at sunset would be a bit more bearable than high noon.
We booked this a few weeks before we left as we were travelling at peak holiday season and didn't want to miss out, also because there were four of us who wanted to be on the same helicopter.

Papillion were fantastic start to finish, I even had to use the live chat service online after I stupidly made a typo on the booking, this was resolved immediately.

Five minutes online and we were all set, the trip was booked for the second last day of our week in Vegas.

We were collected from our hotel at 4.30pm by limo and taken to a small airport terminal 10 minutes from the strip, there we were weighed -there are weight restrictions but also they work out the seating on the helicopter with weight distribution as equal as possible, we then watched a video and waited on being called - did I mention I don't like flying, no, well I'm NOT a good flyer at all, and at that moment in time I decided I was petrified. 
 

If I could have taken a bus and met them there I honestly would have but the bus ride is a whole day trip!

not cool

Soon our names were called out and we were led out by our pilot Mark, the four of us, my sister Donna, her fiancé Graham, my boyfriend Kevin, myself and a lovely couple from Australia made up our group.

 
I had a nervous little chuckle when I realised our helicopter was number 30 and it was red -we were there to celebrate my 30th and I'd won $350 thanks to red 30 at roulette table the night before (I'm not a gambler at all, so for me that was worthy of celebration)

We were shown to our seats guess who was last to be seated and right at the front beside the pilot, yeah that would be ME! My lovely companions found this all too hilarious...

Donna is excited

Me, not so much

I'm not going to lie for the majority of the flight I never moved, I was frozen, then the pilot started asking me questions I didn't want to seem rude by ignoring him and staring at the sick bag (which I thankfully didn't need to reach for)so I attempted to chat back then everyone started chatting together,which took my mind off the terrifying fact that we were not on the ground, the pilot was fantastic, and good fun which helped me feel a bit more relaxed.

Hoover Dam

 

Around 40 minutes holding on for dear life flying, admiring the views of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam we landed in the Grand Canyon West where we had a small picnic and champagne (which was supplied by Papillion).

 

I even found time to fit in one of my mishaps - there had been an earlier discussion about rattle snakes and tarantulas in the desert(we didn't see any, thankfully)so when something touched the back of my leg I naturally yelped, jumped and fell backwards over a little bush, which left me with nice big scratch right up my leg!

CHEERS!

 

Red 30

#selfie

I really could not put in to words how amazing the Canyon itself is and the pictures I took really don't do it justice at all, I was in 'awe' in fact Donna and I took a rest from all the camera snapping to just sit and enjoy the moment.


When we were done exploring we got back in the chopper and headed back to the Las Vegas strip, we watched the sunset and the city lights begin to illuminate as we floated over. 

The sun begins to set on our return flight

 

 

Back at the terminal we bought our tacky tourist souvenir photo and the limo was waiting to return us to our hotel.

Tourist ALERT

If the Grand Canyon is on your wish list I would highly recommend using Papillion Grand Canyon Helicopters to give you the tour, check them out here www.papillion.com

Regardless of being petrified of flying it was a day I'll hopefully remember forever.


Have you been to the Grand Canyon?

  Have a beautiful day! 

Keep Smiling :D

 

 

 

Well this is #awkward

July, July...really JULY!

I'm not sure where to start, firstly I hope you are well

What have I done since July?

In no particular order...

I said goodbye to my 20's

Had my first ever Birthday Party

Said hello to my 30's

Spent a week in Las Vegas with 5 of my favourite people

Sold my car

Partied...a lot

Saw Bruno Mars in concert

Welcomed some of my friends into the 30 club

Helped my sister move out :( 

Attended my cousins wedding

Went out dressed as a famous landmark

Watched all of Breaking Bad

Celebrated Christmas with the family

Partied some more

Gained 18lbs (too much partying)

Tried/trying to lose 18lbs

Said goodbye to 2013 and hello to 2014

Started running (or attempting to-again!!)

Why haven't I blogged since July?

Basically I felt I may have been addicted to Social Media, I was spending the majority of my time looking at a screen.

Addiction Symptoms

 -A few scenarios that led me to self diagnosis ;)

#TAGGED

If you have a birthday party (a very small birthday party) expect your iPhone to have a meltdown with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter notifications.

Who remembers when partying was all about having a good time and not about the photos?

#OLDNEWS

If your cousin twice removed has a new baby expect to know the news before the grandparents do

#ANTI-SOCIAL

If you forget your phone or tablet don't expect anyone to actually chat to you on the train, they haven't forgotten theirs

#MISSEDIT
If your work colleagues are discussing "The best TV show. Ever" expect to not have seen a single episode because your TV time consists of watching your favourite YouTuber.

#NETWORKFAIL

If you have no internet signal expect to feel like your pet cat is missing

#OOOOPS

If you do something a bit silly and decide to give your Facebook friends a laugh at your expense, expect someone to tell your mother about it when they bump into her at church.

#BFFs

If you gain new followers on any social media platform expect to feel like you've won a small fortune

"Put that damn camera down", "See, you can't even sing because you're too busy taping,"  "I'm right in your face, baby. You gotta seize this moment, baby!" 

 - Beyoncé (to one of her fans at a concert in Atlanta)

#OBSESSED

I was just like that guy at the Beyoncé concert.

Whilst in Vegas we took a helicopter trip  to the Grand Canyon, I was snapping away like there was no tomorrow, I'm a tourist after all.

it wasn't until I had a bit of a tumble that I actually put the camera down that I started to take in, where I was, who I was with and how breathtaking the moment was - something a camera will never capture!

I decided to have a break from it all

.....for a little while!

Google images

 Do you feel you spend too much time online? 

Could you cope without any social media?

KEEP SMILING :)