Hello petals, hope you are having a wonderful Sunday! I’m writing this with a slight caffeine hangover from that cappuccino, my first coffee bought from my new local Costa. It might be a bit sad, but I am SO chuffed that I have a coffee shop so close by. As someone that works from home, having a decent coffee shop with wifi in walking distance is pretty awesome as it gives me another option when I just need a change of scenery! This week has been quite a big one in the land of Laura, firstly Grains as Mains was published (more on that in a mo) and secondly Finley started nursery. He was fine thankfully, it was more me that was upset!
Eat
It’s been smoothies and porridge for the win this week…
Smoothie with berries, kale, almond milk and tahini topped with cacao nibs and bee pollen
My fave choc cherry smoothie with spinach, frozen cherries, cacao powder, almond milk and a scoop of protein powder
Smoothie with blueberries, kale, almond milk and a pack of Super Vitality protein powder
Chocolate, coconut and almond butter porridge
Berry porridge topped with banana and almond butter
Courgette quiche (my egg and veggie muffin recipe baked in a pan) with avocado and banana leftover from Finley’s breakfast and a lemon, honey and turmeric tea
M&S super wholefood salad
Spinach, lentil and feta salad with dried cranberries
Thai red kabocha squash and red lentil curry with steamed greens
That curry was especially amazing, I want to eat it all over again!
Move
- Monday – squat challenge
- Tuesday – 10 minute yoga flow via You Tube
- Wednesday – squat challenge, 45 minute walk
- Thursday – squat challenge
- Friday – 1.5 hour walk
- Saturday – squat challenge x 2 (because I forgot Friday’s!)
- Sunday – squat challenge
It’s been a quiet week on the workout front as I haven’t been able to fit in getting to the gym. Next week will be a different story though as I hope that I’ll be settling into a new routine with Finley being cared for a couple of days. I’m hoping I can incorporate some kind of movement on most days with the gym on a Monday, Yoga on a Tuesday, a walk on Wednesday, a gym workout or run on a Thursday, a walk on a Friday and then a run on a Sunday. I really need to pick up the running now the weather has improved, I have 4 races to get in shape for this year (arrgh!)
Wear
This week I’ve mostly looked like I’ve been pulled through a hedge backwards, but I did see this lovely change bag in Mothercare which is now on my wish list. When I was pregnant and shopping for stuff I didn’t see much I liked, but now I see loads of baby related things I love! I also bought a caddy for the pushchair which includes a coffee cup holder, yes I’m addicted ;-)
Love
Sooo exciting that Grains as Mains was released on Monday! I think it’s in Amazon’s top 40 healthy eating books which is pretty cool. Also…
Having a coffee with my mama friends // Finley eating up his coyo yoghurt! // photography projects // a great group biz mentoring session // working with new clients // singing along to George Ezra in the car // my best friend being so sweet about the book launch and getting me featured on my old Uni’s website // my parents just being awesome and so supportive
Link
- My favourite recipes from Grains as Mains
- February Round Up, March Goals + Squat Challenge
- Teeth Friendly Drinks Recipes for Kids with BRITA
- Me on Sunderland Uni’s website!
- 17 Modern Myths that are making Mothers Miserable via Revolution from Home – loved this post, it really resonated with me
- 4 Hotel Room Workouts via Cat Food is Good for You – these are awesome
- No bake carrot cake energy bites via Running with Spoons – yum!
- Plank a Day Challenge via The Blonde Mule – Kim’s run down of my Plank a Day Challenge from January, she is amazing!
How was your week? Do you have a coffee shop close to where you live? If you could choose, what local amenities would you love to have near to you?
Oh I’m all about the coffee shops near by! That’s something actually that bugs me about where I’m currently living in London (ironically) I have to get on a bus/cycle to any decent coffee shops with wifi! But once I get to them they’re great.
I so am with you on the dragged through a hedge feeling – that’s been me all week! Something about when busyness takes over… Aim for next week: resemble a human being ;)
Congrats on the book again! Have a lovely Sunday xxx
Yay for walkable coffee shops – I have a an amazing organc one near me and really helps when you work from home. And boy what a week!! Well done lovely :)
Haha I love the pushchair with coffee holder idea! Oh that’s so great about your book – very well deserved! Btw that’s one of my favourite yoga vids – if Youtube had a counter for every time I’ve done it… may be it does!?
I’m loving youtube for stuff at the moment, now excuses not to work out!
Wow what a week but you got through it! :)
Oooh you are lucky having a coffee shop nearby now! I’d be there ALL the time haha!! I live in the suburbs next to the Peak District so I have a few pubs close and a post office close by and that’s about it haha! Not far in the car to anywhere though but I can’t just pop out for a walk to a coffee shop or anything unless it was a longish walk.
Congrats on your book – so amazing!! You should be very proud :)
Blimey that must be a big difference from when you lived in Newcastle, thank goodness for online shopping eh ;-)
I’m so happy for you for the book launch. Your book is the next on my shopping list <3 I decided to surprise myself with a cookbook every month, it is a good motivation for my. I loooove your recipes so it's obvious that I order your book :)
Thanks so much Noemi! What a great idea, I’ll bet you get lots of inspiration from them :-)
Excellent stuff! You have had another fab week. Glad Finley was OK at Nursery- I think it is the same at school- the parents find it much harder than the children as the kids get so distracted they don’t have time to miss their parents, but a lot of parents find it very hard at first- you will get used to it.
I would love a Starbucks close by but I think it is lucky there is not one really- we have a Nerro about a mile or a bit further, so we sometimes walk up there, or head to the next town for Starbucks.
I do wish the Waffle House was within walking distance- the car park is always so full! Or somewhere nice for breakfast like Bill’s.
I would quite like a Nero, I like their chai lattes more than Starbucks I think! A place like Bills would be amazing :-)
You can’t really go wrong with a coffee shop next door, although I would absolutely love a green juice bar or a raw vegan/high carb restaurant. I would probably be bankrupt within a week on that basis though.
You still have lots of time to get back into running! Which races were you thinking of doing? I’m presuming Great North Run and 10K, but I can’t guess the other two.
Yep I think I’d be bankrupt as well, a green juice place would be incredible!
So races, I’m doing Great North 10K, Great North Run, Newcastle Stampede 10K (OMG!) and hopefully a Color Run. My cousin is a metafit / boxercise instructor and her husbands sis is law now manages Healthlands Gym so theres a bunch of us doing the Stampede for a laugh, although I can’t imagine I’ll be laughing that much while I’m doing it! x
SO awesome that Grains as Mains is out – huge congratulations to you! I’ll keep an eye out for it in the shops and send any pics your way :)
It’s bad enough having a Costa a 5 minute walk from work for me so having one near my home wouldn’t be good at all! Not for my bank balance haha. Nice that you can work there if you fancy a change though.
And SO excited about your upcoming races. I have all my fingers and toes crossed for you for successful training!
I know I’m going to have to really keep an eye on my purse or I’ll be skint!
Congrats on the book release Laura! A major achievement. I saw it mentioned in the Waitrose Weekend supplement too. Did you know it was featured there?
Thanks Emma, I didn’t know it had been featured there as well, so exciting!
The chocolate porridge looks yummy! Congratulations on the book release – you must be so proud!
Thanks so much Helen, I’m super chuffed :-)
Congratulations on the book! That coffee looks so good! x
Yay well done on the book! And yay for Finley eating Coyo, haha brill! Ooh which races are you doing this year? Exciting!
Thanks Lou, yep he’s a massive fan of coyo! I’m doing Great North 10K, Great North Run, Newcastle Stampede 10K and hopefully a Color Run too :-)
That’s so awesome about the book. Congrats. yay for Finley getting coyo too :)
Thanks Lauren, yeah Fin is such a coyo fan!
Your book sounds fab definitely putting it on the wish list : ) must be a great feeling seeing your name in print x
Thanks Tamzin, it is a great feeling :-)
Great news for your book! yayy! Good luck with it all!!! :)
Lovely tasty smoothies & breakfasts too!
Thanks Sophie!