Mummy - frustrated with computer - Argh!
Harry runs off upstairs - Daddy, daddy, come quick! Something's wrong with Mummy!!
Monday, 14 January 2013
#MealPlanMonday
Monday 14th January - Sweet'n'Smoky Bacon and Tomato Pasta with Garlic Bread.
Tuesday 15th January - Homemade Chicken and Vegetable Pizza with Dough Balls.
Wednesday 16th January - Sticky Chinese Pork and Noodles
Thursday 17th January - Sausages and Mash
Friday 18th January - Meatballs and Pasta
Saturday 19th January - Lemon and Coriander Turkey and Cous Cous
Sunday 20th January - Roast
Sunday, 13 January 2013
Saturday, 12 January 2013
Reasons to be Cheerful #r2bc
1. I have two healthy boys! Oh, I can't even express what a relief this week has been!! Ever since the weekend of the 1st December when Harry was hit by the sickness bug - shortly followed by Daddy, then myself - the boys have had one bug after another. To be honest, I'd almost forgotten how lovely and delightful Harry is when he's *normal*, he has been off coloour for so long, and it has made him difficult, grouchy and whiny (yes, even more than your average 2 year old!) They both contracted bronchiolitis and Harry was hit with horrendous temperatures, and little old Archie was struggling to breathe - it was horrible. I can tell you what is worse than your baby being poorly - TWO of your babies being poorly - I barely knew where to turn. Such a relief to be back to routine with two healthy tots, long may it last!
2. I have a healthy home! We were hit by all sorts in December. First, a broken pushchair. Not the end of the world, I hear you say. Nope, not until you are stuck in the middle of London, miles from home with a poorly toddler, a heavy (and I don't say that lightly, ha ha) baby and all your stuff for the weekend - and the wheel falls off your bloody pushchair. Then, the washing machine decided that washing wasn't its thing any more. Whilst it had all of Harry's sick-soaked bedlinen (thanks bronchiolitis for making Harry cough so much he was sick regularly this month). Finally we returned home after Christmas to a rather chilly house - our boiler was condemned the next day resulting in an unscheduled holiday with Gran and Grandad Peugeot (thank you thank you thank you!) However, my reason to be cheerful is that right now pretty much every appliance in the house appears to be working, and we have heating. Reason to be cheerful indeed!!
3. It's January! Season of new starts, getting fit and feeling good about yourself! I ran my first run for a while this morning - I was slower than last time, but I made it round the full 5k so I am proud of myself for that. Also a cold snap is on the way - nothing I like more than cold, crisp weather, so I am looking forward to it (now the boiler is fixed anyway!) And, unlike some people I could mention (Mama Owl), I'm acutally hoping for some snow.
Happy New Year!!
Get fit, Feel epic! #getfitfeelepic
This is my entry for the ‘Get Fit Feel Epic’ competition hosted by Kate on Thin Ice”. It's a nice reason to blog about my fitness goals at this time of year.
2012 was a good year for my fitness, all in all. I was pregnant up until 31st of May of course, but having a 2 year old certainly made for an active pregnancy, so I was ready to start getting fit using the NHS Couch to 5k podcasts when Archie was a couple of months old. Like many others, I was inspired by the Olympics, and in particular Jessica Ennis - the Heptathlon is surely the most inspiring sport there is! That's why my running journey started on the 4th of August - also known as Super Saturday. Although I found it hard and suffered a few setbacks, I am extremely proud to say I can now 'run' (well, jog, and occasionally walk for a minute or so) 5 kilometres. The last time I felt so proud was when I made it through labour for the second time, ha ha!
2013 is the year I commit to as many Park Runs as I can, I don't want to say every week, as we all know that life does have a habit of getting in the way, but maybe 3 runs out of every 4 week period would be good. It's the year I hope to improve my 5k time - maybe down to 30 minutes, and it's the year when I hope to run 5k for charity. I also hope that in the spring/summer time when running in the evenings is a little easier to manage and when Archie is a bit bigger I will be able to step up my running distance. One day I will run 10k, and maybe even a marathon.
I've never been an athlete, and I've never enjoyed running before, but the Couch to 5k programme has really helped me, and I am now hoping to be a fit enough mummy to be running around playing in the park with my boys for many years to come. No longer will I be puffed out on a park bench in the corner watching - I'm going to be right in there. And I am proud of that.
2012 was a good year for my fitness, all in all. I was pregnant up until 31st of May of course, but having a 2 year old certainly made for an active pregnancy, so I was ready to start getting fit using the NHS Couch to 5k podcasts when Archie was a couple of months old. Like many others, I was inspired by the Olympics, and in particular Jessica Ennis - the Heptathlon is surely the most inspiring sport there is! That's why my running journey started on the 4th of August - also known as Super Saturday. Although I found it hard and suffered a few setbacks, I am extremely proud to say I can now 'run' (well, jog, and occasionally walk for a minute or so) 5 kilometres. The last time I felt so proud was when I made it through labour for the second time, ha ha!
2013 is the year I commit to as many Park Runs as I can, I don't want to say every week, as we all know that life does have a habit of getting in the way, but maybe 3 runs out of every 4 week period would be good. It's the year I hope to improve my 5k time - maybe down to 30 minutes, and it's the year when I hope to run 5k for charity. I also hope that in the spring/summer time when running in the evenings is a little easier to manage and when Archie is a bit bigger I will be able to step up my running distance. One day I will run 10k, and maybe even a marathon.
I've never been an athlete, and I've never enjoyed running before, but the Couch to 5k programme has really helped me, and I am now hoping to be a fit enough mummy to be running around playing in the park with my boys for many years to come. No longer will I be puffed out on a park bench in the corner watching - I'm going to be right in there. And I am proud of that.
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Book Review - The Night Circus
My sister Hannah recently recommended that I read the book 'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern as she really enjoyed it, and I finally got around to doing so just before Christmas.
The novel follows the story of two characters, Celia and Marco, whose destinies are set to entwine thanks to a duel between two magicians who use them as pawns as they aim to prove that their method of teaching magic is superior. However, Celia and Marco's story is, in some ways, incidental to what I think is the real power of the novel. The descriptions of the circus itself are, simply, captivating. Peppered throughout the novel are short chapters written in the second person, as if it is genuinely 'you' who stand observing the circus, and these chapters in particular are extremely effective at transporting the reader to the magical world of the Night Circus itself.
The story is set in a vaguely Victorian era, in some ways similar to Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (although The Night Cricus is nowhere near as epic), which I found enjoyable to read about and many of the characters - including twins, Poppet and Widget, born the day the circus itself comes into being - are intriguing and likeable. Morgenstern appears to have taken care to create 'real', complex characters even when they are on the periphery of the narrative.
I would definitely recommend this novel as a light but gripping read, it certainly transports its readers to another time and place. And, to be honest, what else do you read novels for?
Monday, 7 January 2013
#mealplanmonday
Happy New Year everyone! I trust you all had a good holiday... Ours was a little, mixed but I will save that for another time! Suffice to say, we had a lovely time but it is also nice to be back home, back in our routine and with two healthy little boys - touch wood!
Although it's not that cold, I am still finding myself wanting tasty winter comfort food at the moment, so I think this week's meal plan reflects that...
Monday - 'Pasty' beef casserole - beef, swede and onion with cheesy dumplings
Tuesday - Turkey and mushroom hot pot
Wednesday - Bacon pasta and garlic bread
Thursday - Chicken and Leek pie
Friday - Sausages and Mash
Saturday - Club sandwiches
Sunday - Roast chicken
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