Thursday 27 September 2012

12 Week Challenge


Today I rejoined weight watchers.

It was just over a year ago that I stopped tracking my points and trying to lose weight and finally I decided to start again.
I only did weigh watchers for 6 months (if that) and lost nearly 2 stone but I got lazy and figured I could maintain the weight on my own (I have zero willpower when it comes to food and am terrible at exercise so I was very wrong).
Needless to say, the weight slowly crept back and, according to the horrifying chart that has kept my details from last time, I've nearly put all the weight I lost, back on. (Nice one.)

I haven't always struggled with my weight, I'm very tall and that's usually quite handy if you gain a couple of pounds because no one notices. I used to be a lot skinnier (and obviously, being a young girl, thought I was fat) but age and medical issues (that's a whole other story) caused me to gain considerable weight in a very short period of time. I finally decided to get off my sizable behind and do something about it last year and was so impressed with the results.
Old clothes fit me, I felt healthier and, unlike every other diet I've tried, (slimfast I'm looking at you) I wasn't hungry and actually quite enjoyed myself!
Tracking your points with weight watchers is super easy, you can get an app for your phone which helps calculate the points of pretty much everything and because I'm too shy to go to meetings, I can do it all online. It's a healthy, non crash-diet way of losing weight and they give you heaps of advice at every stage of the process.

So, having got up (for the second time) off my derriere, I'm setting myself a challenge.

There are 13 weeks (ish) left of 2012 and I am giving myself 12 of them to lose a stone.
I currently have no plans for New Years Eve, but I am going to find a delicious dress in a smaller size and aim to get into it in time for the countdown.

Being honest with myself, I'm probably not going to go to the gym very often, so this will mainly be down to dieting/general healthier eating, but I didn't go to the gym once last time and lost so much, I have faith!

I've always carried quite a lot of junk in my trunk, to put it nicely, but I don't mind that - it's my belly, arms and chins (plural) that I want to sort out now! Ideally, I'd have tiny legs and the same size bum as I do now, but that's never going to happen (and I don't think I'd balance very well) so a few inches lost from my thunder thighs would be a success.

I have to weigh in every Thursday for weight watchers so am going to attempt to track my weekly progress on here as well - knowing people will see it will push me even more to lose the weight!

I won't be divulging my exact weight because I am a little embarrassed, but I'll post about how much weight I've (hopefully) lost and maybe some progress photos too.
I've taken some 'before' photos but for fear of making people throw up, I'm not going to post them all.
Here is an unflattering, but honest picture of me now. I'm ill and tried to take a picture in something form fitting (so would usually make more of an effort...) but in 12 weeks, I'll take a picture in the exact same outfit and hopefully there will be a difference! I know I'm no Rik Waller but still...

Week 0:

If anyone has any weight loss tips (to do with, or separate from, weight watchers) let me know, and if anyone fancies joining in with a 12 week challenge of their own, it'd be fun to support each other!

Xo

Tuesday 18 September 2012

Lovely Bones

I recently bought an amazing bracelet and wanted to share it with you all!

My lovely friend Alice has a brand new little jewellery collection called blackroot and I couldn't resist buying this gorgeous skeleton bracelet:


It's the most adorable brass skelebones on a brown wax cord and is the perfect addition to my (ever growing) collection of skelton/skull/bones jewellery. I've worn it every day since I arrived home from work and found a little package waiting for me and can't think of anything that I could wear that it wouldn't go with! Also, it cost £3. THREE POUNDS. The word bargain doesn't even cover it.

Alice (being lovely and silly) also sent me two more bracelets (which I have taken a rubbish picture of, that doesn't do them any justice whatsoever) - one with a little silver St Mary pendant on a black wax cord, and the other, on black elastic with a six-pointed star - both super cute and so easy to wear.


I do love statement jewellery, like my new skeleton friend, but it doesn't have to be huge and sparkley to get my vote - I love the simplicity of these pieces - they can be worn alone or (if you're me) added to the mix of over accessorising an outfit!


So, follow the link here (hover over 'here') to visit blackroot's online store and buy everything (but leave some for me!)

Here are some more of my favourites -




Delicious huh??


On a side note, it was my induction at university yesterday (no, Barclays haven't sorted my career development loan out yet, but I'm just carrying on in the hope they hurry!) so I'll be posting about that soon.
Very exciting but very intense, a Masters is going to be no easy feat that's for sure!

I have a lot of reading to do in preparation for next week, so better get back to it.

Byeee!
xo

Friday 14 September 2012

Hard as Nails

For someone trained in make-up, I rarely talk about cosmetics on here. But I've recently got a new nail varnish that is totally worth raving about, so here I go...

Maybelline Forever Strong Pro in 'Extreme Blackcurrant' (number 5) - photo below.

I bought this bottle because I saw it in the bargain bin section at Boots (always on the hunt for cheap things!) and needed a new dark varnish since all of mine (and there are many) have gone AWOL.

The reason I feel this is worthy of a post is that I am really rubbish at painting my right hand (and often my left hand to be honest) and this is, by far, the easiest nail varnish I have ever applied. The brush, and thickness of the nail varnish itself mean that even someone as cack-handed as me can apply it flawlessly in a couple of strokes.
Plus, it's immediately the colour that it shows in the bottle - it only needed two applications before it was perfect and it's so shiny I didn't even need a top coat (good job really since mine spilt everywhere when we moved house) - delicious!

It says that it lasts up to 7 days on the bottle, but I'm a serial nail picker so no nail varnish lasts that long with me. I'm going to try my best this time to see if this will live up to its claim...

I'm yet to try other shades from this range and still have no clue why it was in the bargain bin, but I'm on the look out and will post any updates!

That's all for now, byeee!



Sunday 9 September 2012

Flower Power - Outfit of the Day

I've been home down south this weekend, it's been 4 months since I was last here which is ridiculous, so I've made a promise to myself never to leave it this long again!

It's always a fleeting visit but I get to see my cats Millie and Cookie which is always a blessing! Millie was my 7th birthday present, so she's 17 years old - she's still my little bambino though!
As an eternal cat woman, I spend as much time with them as possible when I come home.

It's been a lovely weekend, it's rare that all four of us (Mama, Papa, little bro Harvey and me) are together at the same time any more so we've been making the most of it.

Today I was channeling some flower power, thanks to the sunshine (and my mum's wardrobe) so thought it was a good reason to do an outfit of the day.

The goofy picture is me telling my patient brother to get the necklace on in the picture...

I'm wearing:
Dress & necklace - Mum's wardrobe.
Ring - market in Spain
No shoes because I'm being a hippy...
New lipstick! - Coral Tonic by Maybelline

Xo

Tuesday 4 September 2012

The Dark Side

Sorry for being quiet again on the blog front. Lots of preparations and technicalities going in to starting my Masters course - things (ie funds) still aren't certain yet and induction is in less than two weeks so it's pretty stressful!
Without a scholarship, fees for an MA are very pricey (unless £5000 is pocket money to you - if so, can I borrow some cash?) and you need a bank loan to cover them. This has turned out to be a long and difficult process that's still going on, so I'll keep you updated! Fingers crossed it all goes to plan, and sharpish!


In lighter (well, darker) news, I dyed my hair back to black! No more red, much less maintenance, and despite looking like a member of the Addams family, I'm enjoying my return to the dark side.

I'll be back with more OOTD posts (I haven't forgotten!) and other things very soon, but for now, here is a pose-tastic picture of my new hair and same old pale face.

Bye!