Author: Maria Runs

Hey peeps!

I hope everyone has had a good few days. I am pretty much back to normal now- phew! I went to pump last night, and I did feel much more tired than usual, so had slightly lighter weights for some of the tracks. (On a side note, that chest track song is so annoying! And what about the weird bicep one with no singing? Sounds like computer game music or something!).

After work today I went out on a short, chilly run! It was so windy out there- I was not expecting it. Anyway, I was taking it easy as I realised the last time I had a run was last Wednesday.

This evening we are driving down to Bath (well, staying in Frome and getting the train in) to visit the Christmas markets! Thanks to Lucy for posting just in time, we might even visit the fro-yo shop (I honestly think Andy will have some as he loves it so much, but I saw they also so acai bowls so might go for breakfast).

Have a lovely weekend all

x

Hey everyone!

I hope you are all OK- I was very excited to see a sprinkling of snow this morning- the fields looked so pretty. Luckily the main roads were fine, and by work it was more of a dusting, although I know in other places it was proper thick snow.  Anyway, the last couple of days I was off work with a horrible sickness bug, but I went back today and feel loads better. I decided to give the Sweatshop run a miss, just to give myself an extra day to get better.

I did think that last week I was very tired, and when I looked back I had done a 4 mile run on Saturday, 8 mile run Sunday, 3 mile run Monday, Aerobics Tuesday, Sweatshop on Wednesday (nearly 5 miles) and pump on Thursday, then a rest day on Friday (but a rush to get to the train station and a late night) and lots of walking on Saturday and Sunday. I think I have to remember that I don’t have to exercise all the time- I get it in my head that because I won’t have time to run on Friday, I need to add an extra one in earlier in the week, and then I miss my rest day.

Anyway, first up I was sent some cereals from Mornflake to try.

I thought they were just sending me the Cranberry and Nut Muesli (so festive sounding) but they also sent some Nuts and Honey Oatbran crisp, and some Nuts and Seeds Oatbran granola.

The Cranberry and Nut muesli is lovely- the flakes seem toasted (and in fact it does contain toasted oatbran and toasted wheatflakes) compared to more typical muesli with just rolled oats. I quite liked it as a topping to normal muesli. It does contain dried apricots, which I don’t get on too well with (I think because of the sulphur dioxide preservative), but it was only in small amounts. I loved the little dried apple flakes in there too.

The oatbran granola tastes like an american granola cereal. It is sweet, (but has13.6g sugar per 100g which is less than the muesli). The clusters are small and there are plenty of nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, pecans)- scrummy.

The Oatbran crisp is just divine. I would say this is a real treat, as it is high in sugar, but a delicious treat. It is stuck in huge chunks/ clusters, and also has hazelnuts and almonds in there. Seriously it is delicious- the kind of cereal that you can just eat by the handful. You have been warned!

All these cereals are in their new “Oatbran pouch” range- they all contain oatbran as that can help lower cholesterol. But really they are just tasty!

Right, on to the answers. The lovely Eleanor nominated me to answer some questions, so here they are:

• What’s your best feature?

I would say my patience. I think I am quite a patient person, and I think that is a good feature to have.

• What’s your worst habit?

Slurping my tea- because I like to drink it slowly, and if I wait for the top bit to cool down, then the last bit is too cold, so I tend to slurp at first a bit. But only usually when I am at home, so only subject poor Andy to it!

• If you could spend a week anywhere on Earth, where would it be?

I think I would choose Hawaii. It is a tough one, as there are places I still want to visit, but it was such a relaxing and interesting and beautiful place.

• What superpower would you have, if you could have one?

Fly! I would love to be able to fly! I used to dream I could fly, when I was younger, and I still remember waking up feeling disappointed that I could not actually fly.

• If you had to give up either vegetables or chocolate, which would it be?

My first answer is vegetables. Then I thought about how rubbish I would feel, but I wonder if I could survive with fruit? I have given up chocolate before, for several months, so I know I could do it. Hmm. I think actually chocolate, because I quite like carob, and carob powder. I think I would feel rubbish if I gave up veg for good.

• Book or television?

Book before bed, and TV in the evening.

• Winter or summer?

Spring? Is that allowed? Yes, I have decided it is.

• What would be your dream job?

Baking. Of course you knew that already. Baking in a little cafe somewhere, maybe in the mountains in Canada. But not too near the bears.

• If you won the lottery, what would you do first?

Book a holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Clubbing or out for a meal?

Meal. I hate clubbing. Well, maybe hate is too strong, but I really don’t like it.

• And, most importantly, caramel or chocolate??

Yes, both, I agree!

So, pick a question and give me your answer! And if you want to answer them all on your blog, feel free! I feel this post is long enough!

🙂

A while ago I was sent some Twinings teas to try, as they have launched a new range of teas ready for everyone’s January health kick.

I was sent Winter Spice, Purify and Camomile & Maple sensation, but their range includes white teas, green teas and herbal teas.

The winter spice was the first one I tried.  On the box it says “Spicy, sweet cinnamon and rich tasting licorice snuggle down with fragrant rose-hips  hibiscus and blackberry leaves“, which sounds wonderful, and when I brewed the tea it smelled amazing too. But the taste did not live up to the smell- I was disappointed really. I had it with my breakfast for a few days, and left it brewing for longer each day, but that didn’t seem to make much difference. I think it would be nice in something baked, and also it would make nice iced tea I think, so I will save it for that.

Then I tried the Camomile & Maple Sensation. This lived up to the name much better. The ingredients include camomile, natural cocoa and vanilla flavourings, Madagascan vanilla flavouring and cocoa beans. I really like camomile tea, whenever I have tried it- I think it tastes naturally sweet anyway, and quite soothing before bed-time. The vanilla (and maple flavour) added to the sweetness, but not too much. The fact they come in individually wrapped packets means I can take them to work too, although not as good for the environment.

The Purify tea is billed as being a “delicate, cleansing blend” and includes nettle, dandelion root, milk thistle, spearmint, apple, cucumber and aloe vera. It reminded me of the nettle and mint tea in the Twinings mint multi-pack- even though mint is way down the list of ingredients, the flavour came through. I like mint tea with my breakfast, and so this made a nice change.

They have loads more on their website- I like the sound of the Double mint sensation, and the Lime and Ginger sounds interesting. Although I think the Christmas teas sound the best of all!

 Do you choose different teas/ drinks for different times of the day?

Hey- just a quick one from me.

In my super technical way I have put the names in a pot, and pulled out a winner of the Zalando voucher– Ffion!  Congratulations! You might get the voucher directly emailed to you-if not email me and I will find out.

(And if anyone is wondering why I am doing this in the middle of the day it is because I have some sort of stomach bug, so have been off work yesterday and today- bleurgh).