Month: November 2010

Bonfires?

Woohoo! Body Pump was great tonight! I kept with the higher weights, and the last few weeks my legs were realy shaking in the tracks after the squats, but this week I was ok. It is amazing how quickly you adapt to things isn’t it? I am so tired now though.

It was another busy day at work (busy but fun- lots of fireworks themed stuff) but I was excited to get a few parcels in the post. I am looking forward to trying them over the next couple of weeks.

Beet it beetroot shots. Apparently it helps you work harder during exercise, and it also apparently does not taste like beetroot. Which is good, as I love beetroot but I am not sure if I would like to drink it! Anyway, I will let you all know what it is like when I try it.

Also some yummy looking raw chocolate. I am sure it will not take me long to try it! Raw= healthy, right?? 😉

So at work today we were learning about Guy Fawkes, and we finished by talking about why fireworks were used to remember it, and also people putting Guys on bonfires. It made me think, I do not think I have ever seen that. My middle school used to have a bonfire at the fireworks display (without a Guy though), but normally now there are just fireworks displays- anyone still go to a proper bonfire? Or have a proper bonfire? (it does not count if you are burning garden waste!).

Meal out

Evening all 🙂

Last night I had aerobics, which was fun as usual. I also had the last piece of my pumpkin gingerbread 🙁  But on the up side, I have loads of new recipes to try, thanks for all the suggestions already on the teapigs giveaway.

After work today I had planned a run, and even though traffic was awful and I was home later than planned, I made myself go out. I did about a mile of steady running as a warm up, then spent the next mile and a half running intervals (20 counts fast, 20 counts slower as recovery- probably works out as 45 seconds each but I don’t time it), then another mile or so to cool down. Nothing interesting to report, but I was feeling very tired by the time I got back. Work has been busy and I only managed a 10 minute lunch, and I hate eating fast, so I think partly that was why I felt tired.

Anyhoo, once showered and tidied up, the two of us went out for dinner. Ages ago Andy set us up a challenge on Nike+ (loser buys dinner)- to run the most miles before the start of October. At first we were neck and neck, but in the end I took the prize! We went to Prezzo (have not been there for ages) and they do a new thing now- smaller flatbread pizzas with salads (or smaller bowls of pasta with salad) instead of one massive pizza. I had a lovely flatbread pizza with yellow and red cherry tomatoes and mozzerella. I like the current trend of restaurants making “lighter choices” on the menu- like those pizza express ones with the holes in the middle. It is so easy when eating out to eat way too much food, so I like it when they give an portion controlled option.

Actually what was most exciting was that my new boots got a proper outing- they have only been to Waitrose to get pumpkin before today haha!

Night

Teapigs Giveaway!

Hey I am so excited about this giveaway! You guys know that after I was sent some Teapigs tea to try, I have fallen in love with their teas. After drinking all the trial packs, I swiftly ordered some more (including chocolate flake tea to try). My faves are the chai (obviously) the caramel rooibos and the spinced winter red tea.

Teapigs are offering UK residents the chance to win some special wintery teas (chai, spiced winter and chocolate flake)- perfect to warm you up after a run/ walk in the cold winter air. Now, what goes perfectly with a warm cup of tea? Well, that is the question indeed. You all know I am a fan of baking, and baking goes perfectly with tea, so (we have to have some kind of fun competition) I would love to know your favourite recipe to go with a cup of tea in the winter.

The way to enter the competition is simple; use the comment section of this post to either post your recipe directly, or leave a link to where the recipe is (e.g. on your blog). I am looking for winter/ Christmas themed baking, and it has to go nicely with a cup of tea. Entries close at midnight on Sunday 14th November and the winner will be chosen soon after! So have fun getting creative in the kitchen!

If you are unlucky and do not win, do not fear because Teapigs now make Piglets (how cute is that?)- which are little trial 2 packs of tea. Perfect if you fancy trying a new flavour (or perfect as a stocking filler perhaps??). Plus ordering piglets sounds so cute!

Dark evenings

Evening all.

I am not a fan of the clocks going back. Although light mornings are nice, in a few weeks it will be dark again anyway. And now, when I get home, it is dark which means it feels like the day is already ending. I mean, unless you do shift work/ part time work, can anybody get through the winter without getting up in the dark? Even if you don’t need to be at work until 9 or something, it will still be dark when you get up. Unless I suppose you live right by work and roll right out of bed. OK, moan over!

After work I gobbled down a seedstacked flapjack (love those), quicjly changed into my running gear and headed out. It was getting dark by the time I left, so I had to find a new running route as my current after work 5 mile route goes around the lakes, and there is no street lighting or anything like that, and I do not feel safe in the park. So it was back to running laps of a residential busy street. It is ok, but not scenic, and I had to stop loads as there are loads of roads to cross. All in all I managed just under 5 miles in 48 minutes, and at one point I had to stop and sort out my trousers (the zips at my ankles had worked their way loose), plus loads of stopping at roads, so I think I kept up a good pace. It felt quite fast, which is what I wanted. 🙂

Once home it was time for some lovely teapigs chocolate tea with coconut milk- my new fave combo! I am running low on supplies- uh-oh!

So, how do you feel about the clocks going back?

Oh, and stay tuned for some exciting teapigs new tomorrow 😉