Alternative uses

Well, I didn’t make any cupcakes today, but I did find an alternative use for my cupcake stand;

It doubles as a clementine stand- excellent 🙂

The weather here today was dreary- grey skies, drizzle (on Andy’s computer this is called “sprinkles” which sounds so much better), but at least a lot of the ice was melting.

I made some soup with a massive crown prince squash- I even managed to cut it in half before I cooked it! No pictures though. It made a delicious soup. After our shopping was delivered we braved the damp drizzle for a walk outside- this was made better by some teapigs tea once I returned to the warm and dry! Although there are more pavements clear so my run tomorrow might get a different route, how exciting!

This afternoon I have been chilling at home- watched Home Alone on the TV. I got around to doing another review of a cookery book- this time I did Bake by Rachel Allen, so feel free to nose. I also did a little online shopping- I ordered a summery dress from animal, and some clif bars from wiggle.

Andy and I have also decided to go away for New Years- we don’t tend to do much normally, maybe have a few friends over or watch a film, so we have booked a few nights near Bath (I have never been)- so at least we get a little holiday this time of year!

I have also been looking at loads of marathon training plans- I think my brain has got overload! I have decided that 3 runs a week will be my aim, and the Run Less Run Faster book advocates this- so long as one run is speedwork, one is tempo and one is a longer slow run which suits me fine. The next phase is to properly sort out the distances (especially of the long runs). Some plans seem to work up gradually, finishing in a 20 mile run, and other plans seem to go up quick (eg 12 miles one week, then 14, 16, 18) and then have loads of 20 mile runs (eg 20 miles one week, then 18, then 20, then 14, then 20)- so I was wondering how many 20+ miles you marathon running peeps did before your marathon? It will help me decide you see 🙂

Weather watch

Evening lovelies:)

I saw on the weather that we might possibly have more snow here tonight, so I decided to make the most of the pavements and have another run today (ah running, I have missed you so much). After some yummy porridge (I went old school with raisins and cinnamon) I headed out with the latest marathon talk podcast (and wearing my new long sleeved warm top and ear warmer headband thingy). I did think that Tonys rendition of the 12 days of christmas was so funny- I was laughing as I ran along! Thankfully the pavements were clear of people! I did 6 miles, in just under an hour, before heading home fora nice warm shower. The wind was cold out there today!

I have been watching a bit of the news and see the America is having crazy snowstorms, and it has been freezing in Florida- I am quite glad that we did not get stuck in a snow storm out there.

We needed a few grocery items (seriously, since being home we have been so unorganised- normally we order it all online and plan our meals, but I think we were not planning on being here, we have not really thought about it so we keep running out of things). Anyway, the Sainsburys is right by an M&S so we popped in (along with a million other people)- gosh it was so busy in there. Ten minutes was enough to remind me why I prefer online shopping!

One of my friends was at Next at 5 this morning, and another has spent 7 hours shopping. Craziness I say! Anyone else been hitting the sales?  I ordered myself a waist bottle holder thingy from wiggle as I get sore shoulders from holding a bottle in my hand, but that is the extent of my sale shopping so far!

Festive recap and (gasp) a run!

Hello all

(Some of my gifts lucky me- some super warm slippers, a cute lunch pot and flask, and some clinique perfume)

I hope you all had a fab day yesterday, and are having a relaxing boxing day (although, not sure if it is boxing day as it is a Sunday?).

Anyway, here is a quick recap of yesterday first of all.

We got up nice and late, had breakfast (pumpkin porridge for me) and then opened some presents. Andy was feeling bad as my present was a surprise trip to Discovery Cove, and we were supposed to be there on Monday, but he had to tell me at the airport, and we have postponed it until the summer. So I had nothing to open from him, and I don’t think he believed me when I said I didn’t mind. The gift from him is amazing and I have months of looking forward to it 🙂

(Some of my running gifts- tops, loads of gels and bars to try, Born to Run and RUN LESS RUN FASTER )

We had a walk (it was so cold out there I think my eyeballs froze), I had some clementines, and then we headed to his parents house for the afternoon and evening. We had a lovely dinner -I provided a pumpkin and goats cheese canneloni for my meal, as Andy’s mum has enough cooking to do. I piled up the carrots too (but I declined the sprouts- I am not a fan!). I also had some yummy christmas pudding with a little bit of ice cream. Later in the afternoon we opened our presents together, played some games, watched Strictly, played more games, and had a cheese and picalilli sandwich and some cake. The best game was a rather competative game of Articulate . It was a great day- I love the fact that no-one is in a hurry, we spend ages playing silly games and it is totally relaxing. Eating wise, I had not enough fruit and veg, and too much cake, but in the grand scheme of things it is one day.

(Some baking related pressies including a cupcake stand, some teapigs tea and The Great British Book of Baking – I have seen so many fab looking recipes in there!)

Andy was also given a Marmite cook book and the weirdest thing of all- Marmite chocolate. He loves marmite and spreads it really thickly, and his Mum got it as she had given his other brothers other chocolate that they liked- I think it was a “I saw this and thought of you in an instant!” kind of gift. Now, I do like marmite, but I don’t love it. And I feel very suspicious of it. Anyone tried it?

Now, onto today. Andy was off to watch a football match (which I have just heard has been called off after he made the journey there) and I went on a run! Hooray! I have not run since the wednesday before last, and it was such a great run! I had to be so careful getting to the clear pavement, as every day the pavement by my house gets even more slippery. But once I was there, it was fab! There was a mile stretch, so I went out and back 3 times (for 6 miles) and I amazed myself by being totally steady- every time I turned another 10 minutes had gone. My legs were like a metronome!  I passed the same family 6 times as they were walking on the same stretch of pavement! Once home I had what I like to call the cold weather glow!

(My cheeks looked pinker in real life than they do in the pic!)

Once shower and clif bar later and I felt a little warmer, and a slightly more normal colour!

(How do other bloggers take such good pics of themselves? I just can’t do it!! At least my head was actually in this pic- a few of them ended up being of the wall!)

And now it is time for some baking- my poor oven must be wondering what is going on haha!

So, did you all have a lovely christmas? What is your fave christmas family game?  And did you manage some exercise over the last few days?

Let the festivities begin!

Hello-

First things first- I went to body pump last night and it was the new release (I have no idea if we are before or after- we had Lady Gaga for the squats if that helps)- boy it was hard work! We were told to go down in weights for the biceps, and by the end of the shoulders track my arms were shaking so much. They carried on shaking even through the cool-down! I always find it hard after a week away (last week I missd it due to rearranging my hair cut), and a new one also makes it harder.  But I am so sore today! And it is not on next week, so I will be even worse come January! Oh well.

After that I treated myself to a slice of my home-made Christmas cake (from Rachel Allens Bake );

I love christmas cake 🙂

Today I went on a walk this morning and I am so excited- I found some pavements that have been cleared!! There is a stretch of a mile, and the first bit of the pavement is only clear in a really thin part, but a lot of it was totally clear. Although getting from my house to the clear pavement is getting worse as the snow is compacted, thaws slightly then freezes smooth overnight. So that is my boxing day morning run sorted 🙂 I think the week off running will have done me good- given my legs a bit of a break before marathon training starts in earnest in the new year.

I am getting in the festive spirit now by watching The Snowman . My absolute favourite christmas film ever. I can feel my blood pressure lowering as the music starts. Love it!

I am also wrapping the last of Andy’s presents (by this I mean the ones he has bought for other people, as I like to wrap. The ones from me to him were wrapped ages ago!), and going to watch the Muppets Christmas Carol later.

I want to thank everyone for their wishes, and wish everyone a merry christmas, happy holidays and so on 🙂

Enjoy the celebrating, enjoy spending time with famillies and friends, and enjoy relaxing 🙂

Snow-lar bear

Guess what I did today!

Yes, the snow was calling to me! I went into my garden and it was so pretty, with only bird foot prints in the snow. So I decided to have a bit of fun 🙂 He is looking up at my window so I can see him from my house! It was so cold out there, luckily my breakfast was keeping me warm;

One packet of plain porridge, 40g pumpkin (left over from pasta), 5g cranberries and some mixed spice. It was delish- the perfect amount of pumpkin 😉

I rang the gym this morning and according to them, body pump class was on (they often shut down over christmas but I didn’t take a leaflet as I wasn’t supposed to be here). SO I will be off to that later on, it is the new one so I am hoping I like the music. I was feeling very productive again today, and cleared out my kitchen cupboards. Do you know I have 12 cans of pumpkin? Yes, 12. I kept adding one each week to the online shopping. Hmm. I also found some chickpea flour and I have no idea what I planned to do with it. Any ideas?

For fresh air, (as well as snowlar bear) I walked up to the post office and boy I was freezing when I got home!

I also packaged up some home-made christmas fudge.

Here is the recipe if you fancy a go (adapted from Rachel Allens Home Cooking recipe);

The trick is to get it all ready, so- line a brownie pan with baking paper. Get your electric whisk out of the cupboard, attack the whisks and check it works! Assemble add-in ingredients (for me, 50g cranberries, 50g pistachios and 50g chopped white chocolate for those christmas colours). Also get a side plate to put the hot stuff on.

In a big pan, put 100g butter, 450g soft light brown sugar (or caster sugar) and 1 tin condensed milk. Put the sugar thermometer in there so it heats up slowly. Stir until it all melts, then keep the heat low and keep it bubbling (for about 7 minutes) until it reaches the soft ball stage on the sugar thermometer. (Or fiddle about with a saucer from the freezer or some water or something.).

Once it reaches that temp, remove the thermometer and spoon, (place on side plate) and beat with the mixer. It will take a while, 5- 10 minutes, until it is not runny, but thicker and harder to mix. The beaters should leave a thick trail in the mix.

Then, quickly pour half into the tin, sprinkle on the add-ins, and then cover with the rest of the mixture. It will start to harden quickly, but I find that pushing it down firmly with a non stick spatula works well. It will not set for a while, but the quicker you work, the smoother the final fudge will look. Leave to cool for a bit (lick excess fudge from beaters before washing up) and then place in the fridge. I find that you need to take it out of the fridge for a bit before you slice it. Then cut it into pieces, put into bags or tubs or whatever. It keeps fine at room temp or in the fridge. Enjoy 🙂

I keep reading that Emma keeps getting bargains from Sweatshop with codes from Womens Running mag. Well, I subscribe to the mag but never noticed the codes- luckily I looked as there is a code for 10% off, plus free postage, which expires tomorrow. I looked and they have my fave running trainers for £60 (the other day they were £80) and so I have ordered some yay 🙂

Although I am not sure if it is torturing myself by ordering shoes when I can’t go running? Hurry up and melt snow!