I saw this rainbow outside the office, it was a double one but had kind of merged together by the time I took this pic. I do love a good rainbow! This week has been a good un, although I was feeling a bit poorly at the start of the week, I’m 100% better now and I’ve had plenty of time to get things done so I’m feeling very organised and on top of things which is nice for a change!
On Wednesday I went for a working lunch with my colleagues to Oldfields in Durham. I had bought this dress from Primark a couple of weeks ago so decided to wear it:
Along with Primark boots the whole outfit was less than £40! We had such a delicious meal, and after over doing it at the weekend in the Chinese buffet, I felt like I enjoyed myself, but was more sensible. I do love Oldfields as it’s all proper good food, much of which is locally sourced. I started with a small bowl of cauliflower, cheddar and blue cheese soup. I left the bun that had been served with it, as I knew the main would be filling:
I went for the BBQ pulled pork slider with coleslaw and a side salad. This was delicious! I also had a couple of glasses of red wine. I wasn’t sure if I was going to have a dessert, but when I saw this on the menu I couldn’t resist:
This was bloody amazing – a toffee apple eton mess complete with salted caramel sauce on top. Heaven! I could have eaten 3 of these it was so tasty, yet another reason why buffet style places and me don’t mix! I would definitely like to recreate this dessert, but maybe a little healthier. I’m thinking gingerbread biscuits instead of meringue and Greek yoghurt instead of cream, mmm!
During the week I’ve been making use of the slow cooker again for some Italian chicken which I served with roasted sprouts:
Unfortunately this night time photograph doesn’t do it justice. This was perfect if you don’t have time to chop and brown off meat in the morning as I did all the prep the night before, popped everything in a big plastic bag and then just emptied it into the cooker in the morning. I sliced up some mini portabella mushrooms, red peppers and a courgette. Then I added 500g of chicken breasts, two cartons of chopped tomatoes and some Italian seasoning. About an hour before we ate it I added a couple of crushed cloves of garlic and shredded the chicken up. I served James his with rice one night and pasta another, such a great weeknight dinner!
I’ve also been loving my favourite ‘no brainer’ salad – just some salady greens, red onion and any other veggies knocking about, in this case red pepper, topped with tuna, olives, jalapeños from a jar and some balsamic vinegar. Tastes good every time and I always have those ingredients in.
Workouts this week:
- Saturday: Rest
- Sunday: Spinning
- Monday: Gym – 10 minutes on the cross trainer, step machine and bike (total 30 mins), plank hold
- Tuesday: Rest
- Wednesday: Body weight circuit (one of the workouts from my 30 in 30 post) followed by 15 minute intermediate strength yoga flow from the Yoga Studio app
- Thursday: 15 mins of cardio on the cross trainer, step machine and bike (total 45 mins)
- Friday: Gym – Gym – 10 minutes on the cross trainer, step machine and bike (total 30 mins), plank hold, random strength exercises with the dumbbells
The gym was getting a refit on Wednesday so I just did a quick workout at home in the morning and went on Thursday instead. There was still work going on so couldn’t get to where the weights were, but as they are all new cardio machines it took some time to adjust to using them! The cross trainer especially moves in a very different way to the old ones, and I have a seriously sore back side after using it!
Not being at the gym first thing on Wednesday meant I could have something instead of the usual rushed smoothie. I had a chopped apple with honey greek yoghurt and peanut flour:
On Tuesday I felt like a more indulgent breakfast so had peanut butter porridge with added dark chocolate chips:
So good, I love the way the chocolate melts! Yesterday all I wanted was a big bowl of roast squash, so that is what I had:
Topped with more peanut flour, it’s certainly been a peanut flour heavy week!
On the Love List this week…
Heading into one of my favourite times of the year! I love the few days leading up to Hallowe’en and then on towards Bonfire night. Next week I’m at a community event which should be a lot of fun too, I’m really looking forward to it! Also…
How to make your coffee habit healthy – loved these ideas, especially turning your morning cup into a daily gratitude ritual // great chats with Uniquely Healthy clients // watching the new season of Supernatural // sorting out my huge box of nuts, seeds and dried fruit and planning some recipes with them // this great post about how being an introvert is awesome // the red wine at Oldfields, their house red is fabulous
In case you missed it:
- 30 under 30 – 30 workout ideas all under 30 minutes!
- Autumn / Winter fashion with TK Maxx
- Pear, Ginger and Dark Chocolate Chip Cake recipe (grain free)
Ooooh that would definitely have to be the Millionaires shortbread I had on Sunday, it was beautiful, I’ve got quite a busy weekend planned as we are getting organised for our honeymoon and doing the last minute shopping. :-)
Oh you must be so excited! Hope you have an amazing time :-)
That’s such a nice outfit – one of my favourites you’ve ever posted :)
I haven’t caught any rainbows this week…just the rain part! I do love seeing double rainbows though – for some reason they seem incredibly special.
Your peanut flour-heavy week is probably the equivalent of how much I get through in a day ;) I really should be sponsored by it or something (ha! So much wishful thinking going on).
Would you consider yourself an introvert? I only ask because you always seem so balanced in terms of confidence. I wouldn’t call you an obnoxious extrovert, but I’d never have guessed you would identify with being an introvert either. Shows how much I know about people’s characters!
xxx
I would consider myself an introvert, but that’s only after reading a couple of articles about what makes a person introverted / extroverted. The info I read was basically saying it comes down to what you feel more comfortable with and what energises you. I think I’m outgoing and friendly, but spending time with lots of people is draining for me, time alone is energising. I naturally feel happier connecting with people in a less face to face way such as phone and email than face to face, hence why I think blogging suits me! The things I’ve been doing with the health coaching is a real push for me as it’s not naturally where I feel most comfortable, but I think it’s making me more balanced if that makes sense!
Glad you are feeling better, I’m coming down with Nick’s cold so trying to fight it off! I want that bowl of breakfast squash- I still haven’t found any kabocha, lots of other squash but not kabocha :( I’m going to go to the yoga show at Olympia tomorrow as I won tickets so looking forward to that. Have a great weekend!
Oh no, hope you manage to keep the cold at bay! Hope you enjoyed the yoga show, I’ve seen a few people posting about it and wish I could have gone! It sounds way better than the Vitality show!
Your meal at that restaurant looks amazing!! You can’t go wrong with BBQ pulled pork :)) Yum! And your dress is so pretty, I can’t believe that’s Primark!!
Most delicious dessert I’ve had this week….well there have been a few cakes come into work from various people which is always a nice way to brighten up a boring day in the office. A caramel cupcake (with actual caramel in the icing) was the best for definite.
Thanks Anna, it was a gorgeous meal! Caramel is one of my favourite things, I bet that cupcake sounds fab!
Gorgeous rainbow picture Laura, they never fail to brighten my mood. I love the Primani outfit, it looks perfect for autumn and you can’t complain for £40! I’ve had a peanut butter heavy week here :)
I know, it really gave me a nice lift :-) Peanut butter heavy weeks are rarely a bad thing!
That dress is so pretty :)
I am going to attempt some spider web caramel shortbread things after seeing them on the pink whisk- it is half term now which is just so needed- it has been so busy at work!
I saw your spiderweb baked goodies on FB, they look amazing! Hope you have a great half term planned x
Awh I love rainbows, I saw one for ages on my train to London this week, was so lovely :)
Your meal out sounds delicious!! And so Autumn flavoured, love it! And that kabocha bowl <3 <3 I keep hitting up Waitrose for it but I've found another blogger who's competition ahaha :P
Haha, the only kabocha I’ve seen in Waitrose are tiny! I don’t know what’s happened to all the big ones :-(
beautiful rainbow! beautiful dress!
I just made a raw cinnamon chocolate cake to share with my girlfriends this evening and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into it :) But speaking of things I would like to sink my teeth in: that peanut butter porridge and that kabocha bowl: yum!
That sounds like an amazing raw cake! I would really like to try a raw cashew cheese cake as I have loads of cashews at the moment. Can you recommend a recipe?
why yes: http://vesenmork.blogspot.be/2013/10/raw-lemon-cheesecake-recipe.html :)