2015, what's your plan?

As we reaching the end of another year, I've been thinking a lot recently about what I hope to achieve in 2015, both personally and for my blog. 

Firstly, the easy stuff - the blog

Engage more with other bloggers

I'm terrible for following a blog, reading, never commenting or interacting with the blogger. I work better with Twitter but I'm determined to get back into commenting, sharing etc.

Set up a paid URL

I've looked into this recently and it's not all that expensive, £10 for 3 years or such for a basic one. It's definitely something I want to do, now just to think of a name. Maybe just Edinburgh Girl? I've check and it's available, although I'm not too sure what kind of 'hits' I may get... 

Set weekly goals

How many times a week to blog? 

Weekly set posts? 'Wednesday Wants!', 'Silent Sunday' 

Work on my photography

We were kindly given a brilliant (and pricey) Canon from Jamie's dad which I would love to get out and use more. I've also go my own Nikon and older digital camera to use. And what's the point in have these if you aren't making the most of them? Also I must buy a photo cube, they aren't exactly expensive. 

I'd also like to find a good location to do 'WIW' or general clothes pics. I live in Edinburgh where there are hundreds of beautiful locations so it shouldn't be too hard. 

Personally it's the same old stuff cropping up with a few new ones. 

Read more

I actually love nothing more than getting into a good book, at last count I had 6 on the go. But that last count was about 8 month ago and since then I've read one full book and that was on holiday. I admit I spend way to much time in the evenings checking my phone, tweeting etc. So I'm going to set aside at least one evening a week where I just sit with my book and co

Driving lessons

We have a nice wee Ford Fiesta sitting outside and when Jamie's away with work it would be nice to have the freedom to just jump in the car and go somewhere. I don't mind public transport or walking but it would be a good perk. Plus I'm sure Jamie wouldn't mind the idea of being picked up from the pub! 

Become a 'qualified' Project Manager

I've been in my job for a few years now Project Manager, Account Manager, call it what you will but I kind of fell into this role and have zero qualifications for it. A few weeks ago I bought an online course for PRINCE2 Foundation (PRojects IN Controlled Environments v2). At the end of my studying I have a two hour exam, passing this won't make me qualified but it does give me what I need to progress to the Practitioner course, after which I would be qualified and have the transposable skills to do contacted work etc, always good practice for the future. 

General fitness & well-being 

In recent months my fitness has been lacking and I'm feeling it in a lot of ways, slight weight gain, lethargic, complete cba attitude and all-in-all it's not good for me, and it's not good for those around me. So, in a bit to be generally more happy, energetic etc it's time to get back to the gym full time, it's time to make programmes fun again not just hours on the treadmill. It's time to get back to weekly PT on a Friday or Saturday, check out Jamie's classes here (not my BF Jamie) and it's time to put back into practice what I used to love, running. And potentially take part in the Skye half marathon. I need to make more time for me. And try not to drop anymore 20kg barbells on my face! 

So that's my 2015 goals & plans, what are yours? Either for your self or for your blog.

Silent Sunday #2

New Year, Same Me?

So we're almost a full week into 2014, I'm not sure about you but the turn of the year didn't inspire big change, there aren't any resolutions as such, I have set myself a few goals, most of which I believe are highly achievable, one, erm, maybe is a bit iffy, but we shall see. 

2013 for me was fab. Jamie and I moved in together, we had a holiday in Turkey, a mini break in Amsterdam and London, and as cheesy as it is I fell more in love with his cheeky face that I thought I could. I made some new friends and got to know some old ones better, and at the end of the year I got a bit more responsibility at work which could prove very worthwhile in the coming months. My friends are all very happy in their lifes, there was a new baby, a new relationship, more relationships growing stronger and I know 2014 is going to be full of happiness for them all.

2014 for me shall involve a two week trip to South Africa with Jamie and his folks, us buying a kitten (maybe two if Jamie can be swayed), and lastly buying a house. We were going to be doing this sooner rather than later but due to a couple of things we're going to put it off until November time, unless the right thing comes up sooner of course. 

My goals for 2014: 
Run a half marathon - I'm 50/50 at signing up for the RockNRoll Edinburgh half marathon again, last year I had to pull out due to a chest infection which unfortunately I get regularly. So whether it's a half on my own on a Sunday afternoon or part of a race, that is my running target for the first half of 2014. 

Weigh it up - Ahem, weight training, 2014 goal - squat my body weight, or 60kg, which ever is heaviest (hopefully the 60kg), even if it's just for one rep. At the moment I can do 35kg with very little upper body strength, not to mention squatting does give you a better backside. 

Driving - this is the biggy for me, I am not very co-ordinated and I don't have a great deal of spatial awareness, two of the things needed for driving. But I think it's something I should try, properly, once more. I've had a few lessons with my uncle who's an instructor, but I think that was part of the problem in my head, 'He's my uncle, what if I crash and kill him'. So, maybe a new instructor, a few lessons and see how we go. I do feel bad that Jamie does all the driving, although he does enjoy it. 

Shoot! - In the gun sense. Jamie's dad, as well as being a world renowned vet, also shoots, and culls. I won't go into detail in case I upset someone over the population control of wild animals, but he has agreed to take me shooting - but on a target, and not a moving one. I have shot before in cadets, using a  .22 rifle and a SA80, I enjoyed it, I'm actually not too bad at it and I'm looking forward to giving it a go again. 

Work - My job isn't something I ever thought of doing, in fact, I didn't even know what we do existed until I rocked up 7 years ago for an interview as their receptionist. Slowly I've worked my way into the Project Management side of things and at the end of last year there was some restructuring within the business which left me with a few new clients and more responsibility. My 2014 goal within the work place is to take on extra training, email work etc, and get as much out of it this year as I can.

I've read some good 2014 resolutions and goals, and everyone seems to be going away from the 'norm' of diets and focusing more on goals and achieving more for themselves - I like it. What are your 2014 goals?

Back on the wagon.

My long term readers may recall that about 1.5 years ago I took up running, well jogging I guess. I completed my first charity 10K last October, and I was signed up to the Rock'n'Roll Edinburgh 1/2 marathon for last April, however, I have bronchitis that likes to flare up at the most inconvenient of times and as such I had to pull out - gutted wasn't the word. Next years race has been moved to May as the weather was horrid last year and I am considering singing up again, the small issue being I haven't ran much at all since February, the odd 5k in the gym here & there, and only just started heading back outdoors - just in time for winter *sigh*. 

Anyway, in order to get back onto the straight & narrow (and shift the extra 7lbs I've gained thanks to beer and pizza); the diet has looked like this for the past few weeks.

It's been an easy switch, I'm making sure I'm eating enough daily and not being tempted by crisps (my huge vice), but if I've learnt anything over the past year, it's sometimes you have to listen to your body - if you're craving crisps, your body may be calling for salt, if you're too sore to train? Rest. It's all fair and well when people say you MUST push yourself, yes you must to get the results you want but also, personally, if I'm too sore from a workout, I'll rest for the evening and start the next day - why burn yourself out? You're more likely to quit that way. 

And my last 'tip' for the day - DO NOT EXPECT RESULTS OVER NIGHT! 

I will be the first to admitt I've given up in the past as I've not seen results quick enough, they say it takes SIX weeks to see a change in yourself, if after that time your jeans aren't any looser, or the scales aren't going down it could be a good idea to assess your plan. Are you working out enough? Have you changed your eating habits? Without being harsh, sitting for an hour on an exercise bike may be better than sitting on your sofa, but if you're going to go home and snack on crisps/biscuits, grab a cheeky takeaway on your way home as 'you've worked hard for it' the chances of you seeing any decent results are very slim (no pun intended). 

Without sounding clichéd - 'Fail to plan, plan to fail'

Chapter 1: The Boy Who Lived!

Ok, ok. Please forgive the title - we've been on a massive Harry Potter kick of late but what better way to start again than from the beginning! 

I originally started this blog back in 2011....then stopped, then started, then stopped again. Like a lot of people, my 'blogging bug' comes & goes, however last Tuesday during a morning 5k (yes, I'm still attempting this running malarkey) I decided to return to the world of blogging, restart, reinvent, maybe actually put a bit of effort into it.  

I've never been the most fashion-forward, my make-up is pretty plain & simple, and so doing a fashion/beauty blog would be beyond pointless for me. I do however love baking & cooking, DIY, my friends, my boyfriend and I do not too bad at this whole healthy eating & fitness stuff when I put my mind to it, and if the little bits I've picked up over the last year or so can  inspire, guide or help someone else out, that's just a huge bonus. 

So please stay tuned, there may be something of interest coming your way soon.

 

30 Day Shred

"When I wake up in my makeup, it’s too early for that dress. Wilted and faded somewhere in Hollywood, I’m glad I came here with your pound of flesh"

I’m one of those people who like to make lists, charts, all those things where you can tick something off to say you’ve done it, it’s a small sense of achievement. I find if I write something down I’m more inclined to do it.

Today is day 4 of my ‘master fitness plan’ (image below – my skills are wasted 

#couldhavebeenabluepeterpresenter), a 5.85k run in dreary Edinburgh this morning, managed in 33m 39s – 9.14mim/mi, I think this is the fastest I’ve run, it wasn’t a difficult run, maybe the rain helped! On Monday I started over with Jillian Michaels – ’30 Day Shred’ – I LOVE Jillian, I’ve watched the odd episode of The Biggest Loser and yes, I know she can be a bit mean, but she pushes you, and that’s what you want. And ‘Ripped in 30′ has now been purchased.

Back to The Shred though. I’ve never made it to 30 days with The Shred, 21 I think was my maximum, then I caught a cold and felt rubbish, but I did see results, and I did see them quickly. unfortunately my motivation to re-add The Shred back into my fitness routine has come only 2.5 weeks before I go on holiday so I will only get 15 days out of it until I’m back. I’m going to try and still do bits when I’m away, but we’ll see, sun, sea & all-inclusive may just be too good.

I’ve considered the whole ‘before & after’ photos, I’m not sure if I’m brave enough, maybe. I think there may be some kicking about on my old blog, I’ll see if I can hunt those out to see the different from then until now. I suppose when you’re seeing yourself everyday it’s hard to see changes. Around a stone down and really I don’t feel much different, I know my clothes are looser and the scales say I’m down, the only really noticeable difference is my boobs are getting smaller, which makes me sad (hello, surgery!).

Hate Sleeping Alone

"I say I’d rather be with you but you are not around, so I’mma call somebody up and see if they be down, cause I hate sleeping alone, I hate sleeping alone"

It’s currently 10.39pm on a Wednesday evening in Edinburgh, I’m sitting alone in bed listening to Drake – the first positive thing to come from recent events, being able to again like a multitude of things I had forgotten I liked, music, sports, films, TV shows. I know you shouldn’t ever loose yourself when you become ‘a couple’ and it’s not so much that I did, I just forgot who I was. I’ve been told that I ‘changed’ in recent times, and not for the better, when really, I just got bored of not being me, of being the me I had become to please him, instead of being the real me.

To clarify what I mean let me explain. 13th February I received a text from my (now ex) boyfriend ‘I’ve sent you an email’, I knew it wasn’t going to be good, things hadn’t been great for a while, and if I’m not 100% honest about it, they should have ended about 2 years earlier, but when someone tells you that you’re the only thing getting them through University it makes you, well me at least, feel very responsible. The email, in a shortened version was, ‘I think we should split up’, after 6.5 years it came down to an email, possibly reasonable if distance was an issue but it wasn’t, anyways, I dealt with it, it wasn’t unexpected.

For the past few months I’ve spent time again with friends & family, rediscovered my love for football, injected colour into my wardrobe, lost around a stone so far, started to enjoy running and generally feeling happier. I won’t lie, there are have been a few moments of panic, ‘what if I never find anyone?’ then I have to remind myself that I’m only 27, I’ve been single for 3 months and I should be taking the time to spend it on myself and that’s is exactly what I intend to do.  I have the next 2.5 months set out fitness wise, #bikinibodybyxmas :), I have an unexpected holiday to Turkey in two weeks time, I’m enjoying getting fitter, loosing weight is just a great bonus, and overall being happy again. I have plans with my mate Dave for a few ‘extreme’ exercises, a bungee for one and a huge list that I’m working on. I’m going to get my backside in gear and take my (driving-instructor) Uncle up on his offer of (basically free) lessons, as much as I don’t need a car, the option would be amazing, a new flatmate will be sourced after holidays, as much as I don’t mind living alone, company would be nice. Boys, sorry, men shall be taking a back seat in terms of relationships, I’m all up for hanging out etc but right now I can’t commit to something full time. And as of yesterday I’m 70/30 on signing up for next years Edinburgh Marathon, I have no idea if it’s something I can achieve, but it would be great. I have my first 10K in October, marathon is only about 4 times that! (eek!)