Wednesday, 29 April 2015

A Step Into Fitness..

Helloo,

FINALLY my fitness journey has begun. It has been long over due but I kept finding excuses. So I'm going to tell you a little about it and every so often I will update you on the progression.


I will admit that in no way is my diet healthy or normal and I do not suggest it for others. You see I only have one (reasonably healthy) meal a day. Before all you diet experts start moaning and saying this is unhealthy and actually going to make it worse because as soon as I eat more I will instantly gain weight. No. I have tried every diet under the sun, I have tried three small healthy meals a day, I have tried everything. But nothing. This is what works for me. I don't care what others think about it because everybody is different. This also is a way that I don't suffer with daily chronic stomach pains. I have managed to stay the exact same weight since way before Christmas because of this and that is with absolutely no exercise at all.

So imagine what would happen to my weight if I did exercise? I don't particularly like going to the gym as it is with other people, I can't go swimming whilst my body is so yuk and running, well 10 minutes and I would be on the floor. So my best solution was walking. I have wanted to do it for a while and I really want another dog, one who is able to join me for a daily walk in the big park next to my house. However, this won't happen until later on in the year. I don't want to walk on my own, it is lonely and embarrassing. I can find a friend or family member maybe for one or two days a week but no one is around every day and I want to do it every day. I found a solution, I have a reason to walk with an end destination..

Corey's school is very far, 2.5 miles to be exact. I am currently learning to drive so whilst I can not my grandparents do the school runs for me. It really does upset me so much that I don't get to do it. Doesn't help that my driving is taking longer than I expected too. But I will get there eventually. It is easier for them if I don't go along as they live closer to the school and it is out of their way to have to pick me up to go to the school to pick Corey up and drop him back off. You can imagine the annoyance that would be? Although they would happily do it, they already do enough so it is how it is.

On Monday morning, I woke up and decided to just start exercising that day. I have decided that every day in the afternoon I will walk the 2.5 miles to meet my grandparents to pick up Corey. Of course, Corey can't walk that amount back so I will get a lift back. But considering I can't even remember the last time I done exercise the 2.5 miles walk 5 days a week is a big thing and hopefully do me the world of good. Even more so for the fact, the weather is nice and fresh air will be lovely.

I've done it for 2 days now and it is taking me 45 minutes to walk these 2.5 miles which I didn't think too bad as I do usually walk a pretty decent speed compared to most. For some reason I can actually walk fast than some people can run!! I've not been going my usual speed as yet as to be honest I didn't want to push it too much too fast. So hoping to improve on my time over time. I am pretty proud of my efforts (even if it has only been 2 days!). But this time I feel determined to not give up and that is a huge accomplishment for me.

I've decided after a couple of weeks of doing this, if all goes well - fingers crossed. That I will also go to drop Corey off to school in the morning and walk back home. That would make an impressive 5 miles a day, 5 days a week.

Right, I've not got a starting picture of what I look like - as I do honestly hate the way I look. I have taken one for myself and maybe once I have a big difference that is noticeable in picture form then I may not be so embarrassed to do a before and after. Over all I have 5 stone to lose however instead of relying on the scales, I am actually just going to go by what size clothes I fit into. So I want to drop 3 or 4 dress sizes. I want to feel comfortable enough to be proud of my body. It will never be perfect, I am cursed with stretchmarks and operation scars on my stomach which will never go so no bikini's ever for me. But a pretty dress in summer without having to wear leggings or black tights would be good!

I'm very excited to be starting this new fitness journey, I know it may not seem like much to some people. But for me it is huge, 2.5 miles a day is a far way after all.

Love, Gemma xo

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#BloggingToJogging

Monday, 27 April 2015

April 2015 - Monthly Favourites #2

Helloo,

Last month I started a new monthly feature on the blog, where I share a family photo of Corey and I. Plus what we have been loving this month. So check out last month here and keep reading for this months - 

*Mummy Loves*
50 things that make me happy :)
General happy and positive vibes!
Finishing Breaking Bad - it was good
Lots of future blogging ideas
Spring cleaning

*Corey Loves*
Easter - lots of chocolate
School books with actual words to read!!!
New smiley face pyjamas (here)

We actually spent the first part of the month suffering with chicken pox over Easter! A bit of a nightmare and it meant we spent the half term stuck indoors. But lots of cuddles and kisses made it okay :) You can read all about what we got up to here. A big milestone hit this month, Corey luckily got his first choice school to start Reception in September! I wrote a bit about it here. Hope if you were also awaiting for this news that you got the school you wished for :)

So here is the picture I managed to snap of us two this month, we don't get the chance very often but when we do I always love the photo. Corey seems to always bring out his personality rather than giving a smile, so here is my cheeky monkey -


Next month my aim is to really try and get a photo taken on the camera rather than a selfie from my iPhone 5s. Fingers crossed it goes well, as cameras are a bit slower than a phone - I can never really catch him for long enough as he is always on the go. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Another month done with - how fast is 2015 going already?! What was your best bit of this month? :)

Love, Gemma xo

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Sunday, 26 April 2015

Silent Sunday #40


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silent sunday
OneDad3Girls
Thursday, 23 April 2015

50 Things That Make Me Happy :)

Helloo,

So it has been a while since I posted anything, boo! A while ago I came across something that was going round in the blogesphere - 50 Things That Make Me Happy! :) I'm all about positivity and happiness at the moment because life is good, so jumping on the bandwagon and sharing what makes me happy..


Being a mummy :)
  My munchkin Corey 
Kisses and Cuddles
 ❤ Being in love
Corey's cheeky grin :)
Our beautiful home
Summer days
Corey picking Daisy's for me, every time he sees one!
Winter nights
My lovely family
Anything Disney
Fans - for the hot summer days!
Trips to the park
99p ice creams
Day trips out like LegoLand etc
Picnics
My wonderful friends
Having a productive day
Fresh flowers
Presents!
Long walks or drives
Blogging
When I get the chance to make a wish :)
Girly chats
Make Up (lots of it!)
BBQ's
Taking photographs
Instagram
London
Fresh bed sheets
Inspirational quotes that inspire me :)
Britain's Got Talent
Adding to my collections 
Jeans! 
Pretty Stationary
Home interiors - bit of an accessory hoarder!
Lazy days
Bubble baths - LUSH bath bombs 
Get Away's - UK or Abroad
Keepsakes
Pub garden lunch dates
Shopping - in store or online
Music, having a sing and dance around the house!
Massages
Christmas, Valentines, Easter etc
Puppies, well dogs in general
Movies
My tattoos, they all have meanings
Chocolate
The feeling of knowing I made someone else happy :)

Let me know in the comments one thing that makes you super happy..

There you have it, 50 Things That Make Me Happy :) I have to admit it was hard to think of 50, not because I don't have 50 things but my mind went blank. So apparently this is a blogger's tag, I'm not sure whether this is true or not but if you haven't done it, then do it - spread the happiness and positivity :) 

Love, Gemma xo

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Sunday, 19 April 2015

Silent Sunday #39


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silent sunday
OneDad3Girls
Thursday, 16 April 2015

School - Reception Class, Did Corey Get In?!

Helloo,

You may be aware of a massive milestone happening across the country today, many parents anxiously awaited an email to find out what school our children will be getting into for Reception in September. If you read my blog regularly then you will know that Corey actually started back in January, you can read my posts about it and explaining how here. As well as about his first day here, this was him dressed up:


It is a class for the 4+, more than a pre-school but not quite a reception class. It didn't mean he automatically got a place in the school for September though. I had to apply and wait like every one else. Now I chose schools out of catchment, Corey met none of the requirements at all at any of the choices. I was prepared for the worst, thinking I would have to appeal.

The past month leading up to it has been hell waiting, anxiously with my friends all of us getting impatient hoping for the best. We sat texting this morning saying "have you heard yet?" whilst we frantically kept refreshing our emails. Luckily I heard early just after 10 am!! My heart was racing as I read the email..

HE GOT FIRST CHOICE!!

So despite all the odds - Corey thankfully got in and will be able to stay with his friends :) I am so relieved honestly feeling lucky. It is such a great school and Corey is doing so well there and made some great little friends. Now another 5 years!!

I thought I would write a little update and share my exciting news as first school is a big milestone in their life. You should see the little dance I done round the house to celebrate when I found out. I can't wait to tell Corey, his friends and the mums of the class, fingers crossed they got in too :) I hope everyone reading this gets what school they had wanted for their little ones :)

Love, Gemma xo

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Sunday, 12 April 2015

Silent Sunday #38


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silent sunday
OneDad3Girls
Monday, 6 April 2015

Easter 2015 :) - Half Term Shenanigans #2




Helloo,

Hope you are all having a lovely extra long weekend for Easter and got up to lots of exciting bits :) Last half term I decided to do a round up of the time off, a new thing to do this each time so you can read last half term here. I'm writing this post even earlier than the end of the holidays because we won't be doing anything from this point on wards, keep reading to find out why and what we have been up to so far!

On day one, we both had some fake Ninja Turtle tattoos before we headed off for a date with Corey's little girlfriend. We watched 'Home' in the cinema and got ripped off by the popcorn, although it was extremely yummy and the movie was so good - a must see. We grabbed a McDonalds before hand and even managed to get 'Home' toys in their happy meals.


At the beginning of half term, we did some crafts ready for Easter. I brought a couple of eggs for us to cover in tissue paper from Hobby Craft and a little nest for them to go in. Baker Rosssent me a box of craft goodies, like a rabbit that can pop up out of the cup etc.  Then the little paper rabbits were some real cool cut outs I got from the Twinkl Resources*. Here are some of the bits we made:


It is very quiet from me at the moment on the blogging and social media front, that is because not only it being half term holidays and even more importantly it has been Easter. Despite all of this, Corey caught the dreaded chicken pox.

He didn't have any of the early symptoms before the spots. But last Tuesday, the spots started coming and he was still getting more coming through on Friday. They avoided most of his face, lower arms and lower legs - very odd. But absolutely covered everywhere else, even in his hair and ears! It really isn't nice to see him that poorly :( It had taken it out of him, he has been sitting cuddling all day every day, loss of appetite, headache, aches and pain etc. So this meant that both of our weekend plans were cancelled meaning relaxation and lots of cuddles. They have got to the itchy stage which is tricky, he screams the house down (understatement!!) when trying to put cream on them. It isn't easy! But now as we are almost a week in, it can only get better I hope and he will be all okay soon :) Luckily not back to school until next week!

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Easter wouldn't be Easter without a bit of chocolate, so I did do a mini indoor egg hunt which he really enjoyed even if he was exhausted. Then of course he got some eggs and toys off the family. Mum made some really awesome sweet cones for everyone filled with yummy goodies!







Lindeman's* sent some wine for what had originally meant to be a lovely family Easter meal on Good Friday after a trip to the farm. Neither of these happened in the end, but the wine still went down nicely by my family. I received a gorgeous red which would be the perfect company for traditional Easter meal of yummy lamb. A very lovely white came which is always my preferred taste in wine which will go with any sort of meal, or just a night in with the hubby or girls.





Oh yes, the most exciting blog delivery ever, good old classic Mr Kipling* sent over some goodies. All of my family were very excited by this one as Mr Kipling always makes an appearance for our family get together's that we have often. My family is very small consisting of only 7 of us including grandparents, we are extremely close and spend as much time together as possible. Family is very important to Corey and I. Corey sees his uncle and great grandad as his best friends, which is very sweet and they have to play for hours when we go round! 

In the very pretty yellow spring feeling parcel we were sent 3 classic boxes of goodies, luckily family favourites:


French Francies are my favourites - sooo super yummy!! Also with a meaning close to my heart. The reasoning behind this is when I was younger my nan was one of those that loved to feed her grandchild, like you couldn't leave without having eaten something. French Francies were always around the house, my grandad used to have them - would sit there with my brother fighting over the pink ones whilst my grandad told us all sorts of stories. When my grandad passed many years ago, my nan would still buy them just as a memory for us and her. Now I do it as a memory for them both :)

Viennese Whirls, they are just so yummy. The type of yummy that just melt in your mouth and that even thinking about that makes you want more and more. I could just eat a whole packet if I wanted too!

Cherry Bakewells, well my brother who I should point out is older than me - wasn't impressed when I said he wasn't allowed to open these after lunch. Corey had to point out that mummy must take a picture first - life as a blogger hey?! I only got one out of the packet, boo! I'm not sure why but I always have to pick off the cherry as I don't like them. Absolutely love the rest of the bakewell though - am I the only one who picks off the cherry?!


Anything is #betterwithcake and like I've said family get together's is when they come out the most. But also you know as a mum or person in general, we all have them down days whether something has gone wrong, got on our nerves or just super exhausted after a long day. That is when cake is needed for me :) Or you know the day on the diet when feeling a little bit naughty so want a treat, yeah that happens often for me! 

I would love to know what for you is #betterwithcake ?! :) Let me know in comments below..

As everything is #betterwithcake even poor little Corey with his chicken pox and have really been trying to do as much as possible to make Corey feel better and lift his spirits a bit. Take a look at these super cute pjs that my mum picked up in Tesco sale for just £3. If cake doesn't do it for you then these certainly will. I'm jealous they don't come in my size!! 


There you have it our half term shenanigans so far and celebrating Easter with cake and chocolate. All of ours is being rationed out, so much for the diet! Would love to know what you and the children have got up too so far in these holidays? :)

Love, Gemma xo

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This post is an entry for #betterwithcake Linky Challenge, sponsored by Mr Kipling. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/mrkiplingcakes.



Super Busy Mum
Sunday, 5 April 2015

Silent Sunday #37


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silent sunday
OneDad3Girls
 

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