Well what a week it has been! It started with our flat going on the market, then getting our boiler fixed, my 3 day intensive CBT training course, our 12 week scan and starting a brand new community project. I’m just glad I’ve been able to take a breath over the weekend. I made those super easy cookies for the new community group I’m working with on a Friday afternoon. They loved them!
Eat
My eating is definitely becoming more normal after pregnancy aversions, here’s some of the highlights…
salad with butternut squash, feta, pumpkin seeds and balsamic
green smoothie with spinach, banana and peanut flour
a post 12 week scan treat from Marks and Spencer – Beef Noodle Stir Fry
chia pudding with coconut
warm raspberries with 2% yoghurt and flaked almonds
chocolate cherry green smoothie made with spinach, frozen cherries, cocoa powder, collagen and soya lecithin
coconut flour pumpkin chocolate chip mug cake with tahini
Delicious vegetable korma made with korma paste, coconut milk, new potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower topped with coconut
Yesterday I decided to get a bit experimental and make some nut butter! I used my mini chopper and it worked brilliantly, I created this macadamia almond butter in less than 2 minutes! I have this mini chopper and blender and would highly recommend it. I think I’ll be making my raw nutella again next!
Once I’d made that I thought I would make some raw chocolate nut butter cups using coconut oil, raw cacao and coconut sugar:
I added some cacao nibs for crunch, these are so good!
As I’ve been on that CBT course most of the week I had the temptation of the collage canteen to content with so there has been a couple of Costa hot chocolates and the most wonderful cheese savoury sandwich. I had such a craving for one and it was delicious!
Move
Workouts this week:
- Monday – Rest
- Tuesday – Yoga – a 20 minute Yogaglo prenatal workout
- Wednesday – Gym (yey!) 10 minutes cross trainer, 10 minutes cross trainer, strength routine
- Thursday – Yoga – just me doing my own thing
- Friday – Yoga and some strength / core work – just doing my own thing again. I do push ups and tricep dips on the arm of the sofa, standing lunges with some yoga stretching as well
- Saturday – Rest
- Sunday – Spin
I was so chuffed to get to the gym early on Wednesday! I had planned to do the same thing on Friday but I was feeling a bit nauseous so did my home routine instead. Right now I’m really happy to just do what I can. My aim is to move a bit, even if that is just a walk for 5 minutes each day.
Wear
scarf: Vero Moda, loose fitting grey tee: Monki, jeggings: Tu at Sainsbury’s, suede booties: Primark
army style jacket: Next, floral top: very, very, very old Topshop, jeggings: Tu at Sainsbury’s, brown boots: New Look
I’ve been living in jeggings this week, with my expanding bump they are so comfortable! I was super chuffed to wear that floral top for Topshop. I’d bought this over 7 years ago! I can remember it being too tight on the arms, and the way it is gathered at the bust made me look pregnant, haha well I guess that doesn’t matter anymore eh! The arms fit as well now :-) I’m so glad I kept it all those years as I love the print.
Love
As well as seeing our baby on the 12 week scan, after I’d posted on Sunday I went into crazy de clutter mode, I had the most ruthless clear out of my wardrobe ever! I filled 7 bags with clothes, shoes, bags and jewellery. Some went to the charity shop and I have a bag full I’d like to try and eBay. My bedroom now feels so much more spacious and I can open the wardrobe without bags falling on me. It has also made getting dressed each morning so much easier. Also…
Visiting the posh hotel where the finale of one of my projects will be taking place, and tasting the alternative afternoon tea we have created! // seeing the flat on Rightmove // really great sessions with health coaching clients // staying sane when I felt like I was going to crack up due to overwhelm at the start of the week // James being so supportive // home made pork crackling // chinese 5 spice gammon // deciding that I need an ice cream maker! // learning a lot of new skills, but also being reassured I’ve been doing a lot of good work in my CBT course
Link
- Introducing eBay Collections
- Easy Spelt Scones with Total Greek Yoghurt recipe
- Why food and exercise is only half the answer – my thoughts on the importance of considering a healthy mindset for health, wellbeing and weight loss
- Natural and organic beauty and lifestyle updates
- 12 weeks pregnant: our scan and 1st trimester style
- These cool Kilner jars with handles
- Thai chia pudding from Feed Me Phoebe
So yes, this has been a pretty intense week and I have to admit I’ve been happy to reach the weekend and feel like I have some headspace! Seeing the baby was just the best thing ever though, I feel like I’ve been walking on air ever since :-) It’s also been great to have such a ruthless clear out, and discover some old favourite clothes that I can actually wear!
How has your week been? What’s the oldest item of clothing you own? Have you tried making nut butter yourself?
That nut butter sounds delicious! I have made chocolate peanut butter before but it is never as smooth- I think I need to blend it longer but I always worry that the motor will burn out!
I love having a de-clutter every now and then- I need to sort out our airing cupboard as it is mainly full of bag for life bags that we have bought,
I have a crazy amount of those bags as well, I think I need to sort them out!
Looking at your vegetable korma brings a flash-back of dragging myself into an Indian resturant after a 2+ hour hike with the fam, flopping down and ordering a veggie korma with naan..and having every bite taste like heaven to my ravenous self! The coconut flavor sounds like a delicious addition :)
Oooh those raw chocolate cups! I die.
Contrasting a military parka with florals – so stylish, love it!
When I feel overwhelmed I find it helps to step away and take some ‘me’ time, and approach things when I’m calmer, as I’m prone to panic attacks quite easily ;)
I tried my hand at nut butter once..in my puny weak baby processor..and killed it hah.
Mmm naan, I think I need to get some of that for next time! I’m all for having some me time, it works just the same way for me :-)
I really need a new food processor – pretty much entirely to make nut butters!
Haha, it’s worth while I think!
You definitely need an ice cream maker. I am obsessed with mine. Trouble is, I always forget to leave enough space in the freezer for it.
Also, we have the same pink water bottle ;)
Which model do you have? I’m definitely going to get one now, been craving ice cream all week despite the cold weather!
I have madey own nut butter before but really I need a better blender to make a bigger batch!!
You see if I made a big batch I’d just want to eat it all!
I’ve never thought of making my own nut butter but after making nutella yesterday I can imagine that if I made nut butter in small portions it would help me in the “I must finish the jar” scenarios I go through ;-)
Mmm, I have to admit I am fancying some home made nutella! Agree on the small portions though, it does help me manage it better :-)
I know what you mean about some floaty tops creating a pseudo-pregnancy stomach! They don’t suit me anyway, but the one time I did try one on I very swiftly took it off again once I realised how my mid-section looked. You look gorgeous in yours though – the juxtaposition between the army jacket and the delicate pattern works so well :)
All of my ‘dressing up’ clothes are old! I have a wardrobe in two sets of sizes…one from 2008 and one from…2004, I think? I sound really nasty now, don’t I? I just don’t wear clothes that aren’t gym outfits often enough to justify updating my wardrobe, plus it’s so hard for me to find any clothes that I feel remotely comfortable in. I hate the feeling of new stuff as well, since it’s as though I feel the outfit is wearing me if that makes any sense at all. I just want to get back to the stage where my entire wardrobe from 2004 is too big again and I fit into my 2008-onwards stuff.
Related to that, I don’t trust myself to make nut butter from scratch because I’d just eat it all in one sitting. Those raw chocolate nut butter cups look bloody amazing!
We have an ice-cream maker that is quite old but never really used – it’s quite a basic one, but if you would like it I can always bring it along when we meet up? I’ll need to dig around for the instructions if so, but I’m sure it’s around somewhere!
xxx
Thanks Jess, I’m so glad I kept that top now! That makes a lot of sense, I think when you are wearing something that isn’t ‘you’ it feels wrong.
I have to say I would not want to make a huge batch of nut butter, I’m a lot better with it than I used to be but a full size jar of home made stuff sitting in the fridge would be too much!
Thanks for the offer of the ice cream maker, I might take you up on that, will let you know. It depends if I can hold off on my ice cream craving much longer ;-)
Those cookies look lovely–could you share the recipe?
Absolutely, they are super easy. Just a mashed banana, 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1/2 cup of oats, 1/4 cup of brown sugar or alternative (although I find them sweet enough without) and some chocolate chips or chopped nuts or both. Mix it up, form into cookies and bake at 180 for 15 minutes! Simple and delicious :-)
So glad you liked the chia pudding!! Looks like we made similar green smoothies this week too :) xo
It looks amazing, looking forward to trying it out!
Those chocolate cups look so good! x
They really were delish :-)
It must the the season for chocolate nut butter cups – I was planning to make a batch this week! Chocolate fatty goodness – good luck with flat hunt!
It must be! I’ve seen a few people making them, yum!
My oldest piece of clothing is a pair of Top Shop jeans that are cut off just above the knee. They’re so comfy and I’ve had them since I was in college! My sister keeps telling me to throw them but I love them and they are my summer staple.
I think your outfits look lovely. It’s that time of year when you can almost get the summer clothes out. Or layer them up :)
They sound great, I love old jeans like that. Those sound so comfortable!
That sounds like such a busy week!
I have clothes back from when I’m in college still… I’m such a hoarder! All my old stuff I save for when I’m in the garden, doing a home workout or at the stables but I really could do with a big clearout to be honest. I did manage a mini one at Christmas but it’s time to get serious this time!
Love your second outfit above. You always look so stylish. :)
Thanks Mary :-) I think it’s great to keep old stuff if you have the space, I just found I was keeping stuff and never wearing it, in a one bed flat I can’t keep stuff that doesn’t get used unfortunately haha!
Very impressed that you made nut butter in a mini chopper, it must be quite powerful to manage that, those cups look amazing!
Your food diary is so varied! I’m inspired to get more creative.