Where Are My Knees 10 Week Pledge Week 2

29 October 2012




So, I posted about the 10 week pledge last week and I hadn't done so well... so guess how I did this week - I gained another 3lbs oops! It was not a good week for me, I've got essays due and study snacks were too tempting - added to which it was the time of the month where copious amounts of chocolate seems very necessary.
But, I'm not going to be defeated and I have sworn to myself I will buckle down this week! I can't believe it's only 8 weeks til Christmas aaah!
Sorry I haven't blogged much lately, I have a big list of blog post ideas but I have to focus on my studies at the moment. Fingers crossed I'll have more time after my essay hand-ins.

Where Are My Knees 10 Week Pledge Week 1

19 October 2012



I've been following the Where are my knees guys for ages now and find their weight-loss posts really inspiring. So when I saw they were encouraging readers to join them in a 10 week pledge I thought why not! 10 weeks will take me to Christmas (started it last week) and what better motivation to lose a few more pounds!

I've already lost almost 4 stone over the past 2 years and would ideally like to lose another 18lbs. I think that might be ambitious before Christmas so I've decided on 10lbs in 10 weeks instead. I'd also like to get back into my running routine (3/4 times per week) and get my 5k time back down to around 30 minutes. 

So how did I do in Week 1? Well I gained 1lb doh! We had a really indulgent weekend with family (see my Nutella cheesecake post!) and I actually gained 5lbs (!) so atleast I've lost 4 of those. I'm still confident I can do it though :)

Will you be joining the pledge? What would you like to achieve by Christmas?


Nutella Cheesecake

18 October 2012




Mmmmm anything with the word 'Nutella' in it is bound to be amazing in my eyes but this really is something else! I first saw the recipe on Nigella's new TV program Nigellissima and thought it looked surprisingly simple. I think that anyone could make this, whether they've baked before or not.

I made it for a family occasion at the weekend, along with a few other cakes as it was a buffet for quite a few people. I made sure I got one of the first slices and no more than five minutes later it had all gone! I received so many compliments for it, lots more than my much more skill-required coffee or lemon drizzle cakes! 

I used half full-fat and half low-fat cream cheese just to make it slightly healthier. If divided into 16 servings it's 350 calories but I defy you to have just one slice!

Ingredients


  • 250 gram(s) digestive biscuits
  • 75 gram(s) unsalted butter (soft)
  • 400 gram(s) nutella (at room temperature)
  • 100 gram(s) hazelnuts (toasted and chopped)
  • 500 gram(s) cream cheese (at room temperature)
  • 60 gram(s) icing sugar


Method

  1. Break the digestives into the bowl of a processor, add the butter and a 15ml tablespoon of Nutella, and blitz until it starts to clump. Add 25g of the hazelnuts and continue to pulse until you have a damp, sandy mixture.
  2. Tip into a 23cm round springform and press into the base either using your hands or the back of a spoon. Place in the fridge to chill.
  3. Beat the cream cheese and icing sugar until smooth and then add the remaining Nutella to the cream cheese mixture, and continue beating until combined.
  4. Take the springform out of the fridge and carefully smooth the Nutella mixture over the base. Scatter the remaining 75g of chopped hazelnuts on top to cover and place the tin in the fridge for at least four hours or overnight. Serve straight from the fridge for best results.

Recipe taken from Nigella's website and can be found here. 

So Starstruck - Cheryl Live

10 October 2012

I'm not embarrassed to say I am a massive Cheryl Cole fan. I don't go round shouting about it because I know she's not everyone's cup of tea but especially since she started her solo career I have been following her, buying her albums, reading her biography and ultimately aspiring to be that little bit more like her (what girl doesn't). So when she announced her UK tour I was ecstatic and begged my FiancĂ© to accompany me and luckily he obliged although I think I owe him one! 

To say last night was amazing just doesn't cover it. We had pretty good seats, the back row of one of the blocks on the floor. Directly behind us there was this big structure with security stood around it and Alex said "look at that, it looks like a second stage" I poo-pood him and said it was just the sound desk. Imagine my surprise when she left the stage and walked down an isle and onto this block! I literally leapt over my chair (I couldn't do it again, must've been adrenaline haha) and was stood right at the front of this second stage. I was less than a metre away from her and she kept singing to us and even touched the guys hands either side of me (damn them and their long arms). At one point I was so starstruck that my legs and hands starting shaking so bad - there was a rather camp guy next to me threatening to faint! 

It was so amazing to see her 'in the flesh' - she looked so real I guess! Anyway I'll stop going on about her and leave you with a few photos taken on my iphone. 

My outfit for the evening (excuse the hoover, hula-hoop and washing basket!)
Top: Primark | Shorts: Vintage Levis | Bag: Primark | Jacket: Miss Selfridge 


My makeup.

Alex doesn't look too impressed!


This is a screenshot from a video Alex was taking on his phone which I'm so glad he did as it means I can keep reliving the moment! 



Can you see my fingertips trying to reach her hand? Damn my short arms! 



Happy and tired going to bed in my new pyjama top.

So are you a fan of hers or not? Promise I'll understand either way hehe!


anniversary outfit

8 October 2012

As I said in yesterday's post, it was our 5th Anniversary on Saturday so I thought I'd do a little post to show you what I wore! Sorry about the lighting - photos were taken in a hurry and at night-time, not the best combination. 




Dress: Primark
Tights: Primark
Shoes: Garage Shoes
Watch: River Island
Bangles: Custom Made and Disney Couture



I'm loving my gold jewellery at the moment - my new River Island watch is a (temporary) replacement for the Michael Kors one I'm pining for. The first bangle was an anniversary present from Alex, it says "Have faith in your dreams" which is obviously a quote from Cinderella (hands up if your a Disney fan!). It goes beautifully with the bangle my parents had made for my 21st which is inscribed on the inside. 



You can't beat a posey face pic taken on iphone!

I'm so busy with uni at the moment and applying for Grad schemes eek! I will try and be a good little blogger and post more I promise!


happy anniversary to us

7 October 2012

Yesterday me and my fiancĂ© celebrated our 5 year anniversary! I can't believe how quickly 5 years have gone and how much has happened in that time. We met at High School and I had such a crush on him with his ponytail - he was a bit of a bad boy! It took til my first year at college for us to get together properly, fast forward 5 years and we've been living together for 2 1/2 years, engaged for almost 3 and he is all grown up with a proper graduate job! 



Last year we were so busy around this time that we didn't do anything for our anniversary so this year we pulled out the stops and had a fun-packed day. Breakfast in bed, a romantic walk in the Peaks then a delicious meal out. 


As luck would have it I started coming down with a cold yesterday morning, I was determined to let it ruin the day yesterday but today I feel so yucky! It's a sofa, ice-cream and lepsip sort of day!

Enjoy your Sundays!