My last sweet mince pie porridge which I had this morning. Gutted, Christmas is officially over now. I do have a few Starbucks Christmas coffees left though!
Is it just me or is this period between Christmas and New Year really weird? I have no idea what day of the week it is, I feel very reflective of life and the universe in general and I’m just starting to emerge from the sugar / alcohol coma I’ve been in since Christmas Eve (or let’s be honest, the middle of December). I do feel like I’ve turned a corner today though, but more on that in a moment.
This weekend has been great, yesterday we went to town to see The Hobbit. We went to the Tyneside Cinema and treated ourselves, in Hobbit style, to elevenses:
I had Earl Grey and a toasted tea cake, gorgeous!
Before we left I took a quick selfie to reassure myself that I haven’t turned into a lump over Christmas:
I wore a vintage floral dress, bottle green tights, tea cup and saucer necklace and fake fur scarf. That scarf was needed as the wind was bitter!
As much as I had told myself I would not get anything in the sales I did stumble upon a couple of bargains:
I’m of the view that a girl just can’t have too many ankle boots. These beauties were just £25 from Fenwick. I love how I feel when I wear heels, and these are pretty comfortable. Another thing I certainly can’t have too many of is vintage style dresses, I picked this polka dot one up for £20 from Warehouse:
I have been enjoying my Christmas chocolate and truffles and last night I enjoyed some of my lime, coconut and sea salt chocolate and a mini pot of Ben and Jerry’s while reading a new book, it was lovely and relaxing. However, as far as chocolate and treats go, I have some salted caramel truffles left which I am keeping for New Year’s Eve, but everything else has been put away to eat a little at a time over the next few months. To balance up the chocolate and treats I have eaten, there have been salads a plenty:
This was made with leftover Christmas turkey, greens, tahini miso dressing and pomegranate seeds. Of course, there has also been a few green smoothies:
I made this one by blending kale, spinach, apple, avocado and parsley. So nourishing, I felt great after drinking this!
In the past at this time of year, I have put everything on hold waiting for the clock to strike midnight on 31st December. I do think there are pros and cons to this, I love the motivation that comes with the New Year, and on 1st January 2014, it will be 5 years since I made the decision to get healthy and lose weight. But for me now, I don’t ever want to put my life on hold. It’s just a few simple things like actually using the new toiletries and make up bag I got for Christmas now instead of waiting until January.
Last night I cleaned out my old make up bag, cleaned my make up brushes, filled up my new make up bag, sorted out a couple of drawers, moved all my cards and coins from my old purse to my new purse and sorted out my new handbag!
Today I’m also making a conscious decision to re focus on eating the foods that make me feel my best. I figure that if something is worth doing on the 1st January it’s worth doing right now. As of today, I feel like I’m coming out of the Christmas haze and I’m really excited about the New Year and rather than seeing it as a fresh start (everyday can be a fresh start if you want it to be) I’m seeing it as a boost to what I’m already doing.
How have you spent the last weekend of 2013? What things can you start now, instead of holding off until 1st January?
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I bought that Warehouse dress in the sales too – love it! Couldn’t not buy it for £20. This time of year is strange – I’ve not taken any time off work but almost everyone I know has, looking forward to life going back to “normal” next week! x
Ah now I know I have good taste! I’m looking forward to some normality as well, although I have to admit I’m not the biggest fan of January!
I know exactly what you mean, it’s like holiday limbo! I returned to what I call ‘my routine’ yesterday – half of me missing the fun of the festive season but half just wanting to peel myself off the sofa and step away from the christmas cake! That said, I am looking forward to one last hurrah on NYE (just not sure my body is…)
Haha yes I heard someone call it chrimbolimbo! We are out for NYE for an Indian meal then home, so not as mad as I’ve had some nights out recently! Hope you have a good one!
Love that dress, cute! This lull period between Christmas and new year is odd. I’m not sure if I should be uber productive or lying in the sofa watching movies. We are having our last Christmas family get together today. I started getting back to normal eats after Boxing Day with treats thrown in, but I will be back on track fully tomorrow. :-)
Haha yes! It seems that some people use this time of year so well to be productive, I guess that’s what I’m trying to do! Hope you enjoyed your family get together.
I’ve pretty much put off any hopes of being productive until the new year, but I’ve definitely gotten back on track with my eats after the holiday season. That’s mostly because my stomach’s been hating on me, though…. so I’ve been trying to ease its wrath with lots of kombucha, ginger tea, and simple foods.
Oh I know what you mean there, hope yours is feeling better. I’ve got some serious bloat to deal with. After New Year I think I need a few days of really simple foods to help!
I agree. I always feel like this period of the year, this week or so, feels like the world is holding it’s breath until the start of the New Year!
I myself am a bit of a cliche- I cannot quite get started again until the 1st of the New Year but really am looking forward to 2014 – I just feel it is going to be a great one!! I have lots of plans for myself and the blog :)
Happy New Year (for Wednesday :P )
That’s a great way of putting it, it really does feel like it’s holding it’s breath! Excited to hear your plans! I love that added motivation that comes with the New Year! Happy New Year to you too!
The week after Christmas is for sure a little strange! I don’t really make big resolutions – I’m more of the weekly and monthly goal-setting type – so there’s nothing I’m holding off on doing! (Except maybe eating a few more treats than normal! Haha)
Good for you! I’m more of a little and often when it comes to the goals, although recently I haven’t been so focused with them. I think this year I might have a word to sum up what I’d like the year to be about :-)
I LOVE those Ankle boots!
Thanks, aren’t they gorgeous!
I definitely agree with the mentality of starting now rather than later. Why wait for the New Year?!
We’re off to see The Hobbit in a little bit – using some of our Christmas Odeon vouchers! I can’t believe how expensive the cinema has gotten!
As always, love your choice of dresses! :)
Hope you enjoyed the movie! I had a few things I disliked about the film but didn’t want to post them incase they were spoilers for anyone! Glad you like my dresses :-)
Im always up for starting the New Year early (or just a ‘fresh’ in general!). I hope your 2014 is as fabulous as your 2013 has been Laura, and I hope to see you in the new year too!
x
Thanks Lucie, same to you lovely! Looking forward to seeing you again in 2014!
I definitely agree that the whole ‘must start over’ mentality that accompanies every new year is just ridiculous. There are people at the gym who are in WAY better shape and far, far more disciplined than me when it comes to food, yet in the period between Xmas and New Year all they talk about is gorging on food, and I really don’t understand it at all. They have so much willpower, and they’re always devestated about how much weight they gain, so…why do it? I hate the idea of having a holiday centred around food (or effectively bingeing…) anyway – it’s just disgusting and really emphasises the whole focus on overconsumption at Xmas. It’s just unnecessary – fair enough in ye olde times when this was the one feast after a year of deprivation, but since when are people deprived these days? Hell, I’m an atheist and even I think it’s terrible how Xmas has nothing to do with its primary origin any more. The people I know will lose all of the excess weight, plus more, by killing themselves all January with various ‘detoxes’ but it’s just so uncalled for when they could eat a few treats on Xmas day and then just get back to how they normally eat (well, that’s very restrained anyway, but not ‘Master Cleanse’ restrained) without all the heartache. I just don’t get the mentality of the nation…makes sense since I’m just weird :P
I hope you enjoyed the Hobbit – I’m just getting around to watching the first one. I wasn’t going to initially, since I was rather underwhelmed by the trailers and the idea of stringing such a short book out for three films, but curiosity and a free Netflix trial got the best of me.
xxx
Haha, I think if more people could take that approach they would save themselves so much trouble. I know what I’ve found more difficult is the eating out – I know I could make better choices at the places I have been though. I at least think if you are going to eat stuff you might as well enjoyed it or what’s the point? It’s the eating until stuffed that’s really daft.
I was thinking of you with some of the weather we’ve had, glad that it’s improved now so you don’t get stuck in treadmill hell!
There were a few things that pissed me off about the new movie, glad I didn’t mention them in the post as they might be spoilers, but overall I did enjoy it, would be interested to see what you would make of it! Love the first Hobbit, watch it on Netflix loads! xx
Laura you wear that outfit beautifully! Look absolutely stunning :D x
Oh thank you so much!
That Warehouse dress is lovely. I know what you mean, I have absolutely no idea what day of the week it is! What did you think of the Hobbit?
I was going to write it in the post but didn’t want to spoil it for anyone, I enjoyed the film overall but that romance with the hot dwarf and the elf from lost got right on my nerves, plus some of the CGI was crap and overall, a bit drawn out. What did you think? x
I love your outfit Laura and I can totally relate to feeling like I’ve got bigger after a few days of over indulgence. What a good idea to take a selfie! You look wonderful!
Although I’ve eaten more than usual I’ve had more time to work out and have been putting my new rebounder (Christmas present) to good use and also ive been doing my new davina 15 DVD (also a present!) in the mornings. In the past I may have waited until jan 1st but the excersise is making me feel really well.
Claire x
Thanks Claire! I have got used to taking selfies as they reassure me I don’t look huge when I might feel like I do! What is the Davina DVD like? I was tempted to try it! xx
Love that floral dress in you- totally your style. I never dress up nicely for the cinema because I figure I will just be sitting in the dark and no-one will see, but I suppose it makes it more of an event. Love elevenses too- we used to have that at the weekend sometimes when I was little :) (Although it would have been just a biscuit and a cup of tea, not as nice as a toasted teacake).
For quite a few years we have had a holiday over Christmas, or between Christmas and New Years, so it helps with that weird limbo feeling. If I am at home I tend to go on runs, walks, pop to the shop to see the sales, and also have some major clear outs at home. I had a mini kitchen clear out before Christmas, and when we get back I am going to sort through my clothes and toiletries too. I often save special toiletries for later, and then they just pile up in the drawers- need to actually use them!
Love both dresses Laura, the first really suits you and I’m sure the second will too! I only managed 34 minutes in The Hobbit like the massive wimp I am, it was too scary haha!
We had a very chilled weekend with lots of family, rest and recovering from the sugar coma!
I would really recommend the davina DVD. I have quite a few of hers and this one is great as if I have a really busy day I can still fit in at least 15 mins excersize. If you have more time you can also join the workouts together. The sections are: cardio, legs, arms and core.
My other favourite of hers is Davina Ultimate Target which has longer sections, but short ones too.
…and while I’m recommending DVDs I’ve really gotten inti Pilates recently as its a nice evening workout. I’ve bought Darcy Bussell, Pilates for life and I really love it!
A little while ago I asked you if you knew if I could post on Wiaw without a website and you recommended a really easy way to start a blog… Sorry but I have lost this info so could you poss let me know again.? My email is srimmer1@sky.com
I only really want to do wiaw s at first so would this be the best route?
I sooooooo enjoy reading your blog and am always inspired by your healthy eats. I must say it reminds me of when I was a child and got really excited to read the next part in a comic I loved when Ive saved up a few days of your posts to read! It’s great to see someone from the uk as I’m more likely to be able to get hold of similar ingredients. I’m from Portsmouth area.
Anyway thanks Laura,
Claire
Hi Claire, thanks for the DVD review! It sounds like it would be good for me, I might think about getting it soon. I still haven’t tried ultimate target either so will have to have a go of that as well! As for starting a blog, the easiest way is to start up with blogger. Just head to blogger.com and register then you start your blog! I think this would be the easiest way to join in with WIAW.
you are so lovely, honestly I can’t explain how wonderful it is to read a comment like that, I’m so glad that you enjoy the blog! Happy New Year Claire – don’t forget to let me know your blog address when you get going! xxx
On board with all of that! Using/wearing/eating all my presents instead of letting them languish under tree:)
Am glad I’m not the only one in Chrimbolimbo! No time off work, and was also on call, so it lacked a bit of party fever for me but actually reminded me I can be sociable without a lot of drink,especially at a time of year there’s a bit of pressure to be dancing on tables, metaphorically speaking.
Just wanted to share our work promises for 2014 – make nourishing snacks to share during the week, make double portion lunches and share with a colleague (and yes that means me teaching some veganism to colleagues…..), continue our bake-off to help satisfy the more competitive members, double up on shopping like BOGOFs, and share recipes. It makes sense to do all this workmates as we spend so much time together.
Anyway, have a lovely end to 2013 and start to 2014!! Xx
LOVE the outfit and the boots Laura! Wish I could wear heels (my balance is a bit too off so heels are on the back burner for safety reasons!) but I have a pair of chunky cut out boots which I love :) Definitely agree that we should just ‘wait’ for the 1st of January to hit before any changes we have been thinking about need to be made – life is a continuum and progress can be achieved throughout all the year. I guess for some the new year gives a little bit of a push or allows us to reflect where we have come from and where we are hoping to go. Happy new year Laura!
Looking forward to 2014! Have been popping in and out of your website for the past couple of years.
Decided it was time act and have signed up for the 12 weeks to feeling fabulous.Going to be 56 this year so no time like the present to overhaul a few things in the diet and exercise routine !
Thanks Lesley! Hope you enjoy the course, I’m so excited about it all!