Easter challenge - weigh-in 4!

Weigh-in 4... drum roll please... 

9 stone and half a pound!!! 

That is not a typo.... I repeat.. NOT A TYPO! 

NINE STONE! 

and a very important half pound!

How awesome are you lot!? Only 3 weigh-ins left so heads down and give it socks... just think, 2 weeks to your easter eggs and you'll have earned every single bite!

I'm currently putting the winning prizes together! Very exciting... more on those next week... 

Log your losses below... If I missed you just let me know either here or if you can't comment the post will be on the Facebook page >>> HERE <<< ... well done everyone... most successful challenge so far!  

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Spring has sprung...

I've been spring cleaning for the last few weekends... *raises hand* YES I could be on 'HOARDERS' in a few years time if I didn't do this regularly! I'm emotionally attached to EVERYTHING... but life has been bit rough in the last few months and whilst trying to remain chirpy and smiley I realised I needed to just get rid of 'stuff' ... unnecessary things  that I don't need, nor do they serve any purpose in my life anymore and even things that just make me feel rubbish about being me... 

... Most of these were in the 'what were you thinking?!' pile ...

I took it logically... drawer by drawer... not to get overwhelmed by it all or else I'd throw in the Mr. Sheen and forget about it... and the make-up clear out has been AWESOME! Honestly I even had a pile called 'You're not 18 anymore honey... give it up!' 

So with the clear out, all half opened bottles that were 'gone off', don't ask, were dumped, I found myself needing some bright, pretty skincare stuff for spring! Hello Nivea! 

Now I'm a Nivea champion... I LOVE their suncream, and their skincare range is SO good... no fancy smelling, overly priced nonsense... just good products that are available everywhere and they work! It's the most popular skincare range in Ireland, so I'm not alone in championing this stuff... We all love a fancy pants bottle on the shelf but if it doesn't do the job you just want your money back! 

Their latest stuff looks bright and fresh too... 

First up ... the night cream... I'm in that age bracket now that NEEDS the words 'anti-wrinkle' on every product ... So their new Q10 plus anti-wrinkle night cream does the business... it's not thick and greasy.. and you don't wake up feeling like your face is stuck to the pillow... it's neutral scent means you're not awake wondering why the world smells of lavender after midnight whilst you watch the clock... a must have for €12.59 if you're a night cream fan!  

The day creme is brilliant too ... this does have a slight scent but it's not overpowering and it gives you a 'lift' if that makes sense... Here's the science bit... Q10 is a co enzyme that is already in your skin naturally, as you get older, your natural levels decrease, so this replenishes those enzymes keeping the wrinkles AWAY! Thank you very much Nivea! This retails at €11.80

Now... to my fav! 'Q10 Plus Anti-wrinkle serum pearls'... a gimmick?! not on your nelly! This serum is brilliant... little balls of high intensity serum suspended in an intense hydro gel moisturiser! I know! Q10 Plus = the highest dose of Q10 enzyme around, so it's fighting full on against the wrinkle monsters! It's very light, so don't think of it as a heavy 'syrupy' kinda serum... great as a base for make up... and DON'T forget your neck ladies... it's all well and good looking 'fresh' in the old folks home but wearing scarves to hide the turkey neck! I've been using this for two weeks now and my skin is feeling great... best thing... ALL of this range is suitable for sensitive skin... it retails for €14.99 which to be honest is a bargain for what it does... if you only get one thing of the range my advice would be pick this! 

Lastly the eye cream... yup, time to blitz those 'laughter lines!' ahem ... This may look small but it packs a punch... not only does it work on the 'alleged' wrinkles... but it also is great for toning down those the dark circles... a few pats under the eye morning and evening, you will see a difference... and for €11.79 you'll find it lasts AGES... so worth the investment...   

Spring has sprung, as they say and we all want to stay looking like spring chickens... I would highly recommend the serum pearls... just think how fab we'll all look in the old folks home!  

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Honest 2 Goodness - H2G

I love a good market... food... flea... vintage... I'm one of those people who could spend all day having a good nosey around at stuff... and I'm a regular to my local food markets... I believe in supporting local growers... I always try to buy Irish if the option is there... and in my opinion things just taste better... 

Every Saturday in Glasnevin the Honest 2 Goodness market is open from 9:30 till 4pm and everything in there is delicious... you can buy your breakfast lunch and dinner there, plus a pot of flowers to cheer yourself up! Plus there's a fab little cafe just beside it to sit down and enjoy your purchases! 

If you're an olive fan you'll get weak when you walk in the door.. stuffed with garlic and cheeses... the pesto is amazing and you can have a little taste of everything before you buy, so go hungry! 

For unusual things you might not find in your local supermarket ... you'll get it here and if not they'll happily try to get it for you! 

There's cronuts... and doughnuts... and chocolate... and cookies and all the bad stuff so don't go thinking you'll head home with just a head of lettuce and a tub of pesto!

There's cronuts... 

did I mention there were cronuts... 

In every conceivable flavour! I'll stop now...

an entire stand of oats to choose from...

I know I said I'd stop but I mean look!!! Dublin Cookies!!!

It's a real treasure trove for 'foodies' and normal folk like you and me... 

And... if you do the circuit the way I do (like the way I made that sound like exercise!) ... I head straight for the pesto stand then go clockwise... you've saved the best for last with Arun Bakery from Stoneybatter are sitting there on the way out the door! dear god... I bought the chilli bread for Sunday Brunch and the smell in the car home was just awesome! Sourdoughs, granary, good old fashioned batch... Their bread is amazing and you know my thinking... if you're going to eat something ... have the best you can.. it's quality over quantity for me... 

Baskets of bread rolls to tempt you on the way out the door... 

 Chilli bread!!! I mean I tell ya... you couldn't be up to them... 

The guy outside making stone baked pizzas is a bit awesome too but you didn't hear that from me! ahem... If you're in the area on a Saturday, check them out... You'll find them online >>> HERE <<< 

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Back to school!

If there were no schools to take the children 

away from home part of the time, 

the insane asylums would be filled with mothers.  

~ Edgar W. Howe

Back to school… 

With most of the little people all firmly back behind the school gates and the traffic piled up with one child per car… (car pooling mammies.. think car pooling!) I was thinking of my first day at school.. remember yours? Excitement… or tears? Love it or loathe it.. it happened to us all! I LOVED school… I still love doing courses and learning… although I suspect my slight addiction to fancy school stationary MIGHT have something to do with it… ahem…

1st day.... summer uniform!

Once I got to those gates I RAN into the classroom… my poor mother in tears… 'only child syndrome' means she got teary at every event… still does… and my tears came when the summer holidays began and I was back to being just a playground of one again… 

There are so many nice memories though… some bad ones too… the nuns were not kind… pigtails were pulled… and many slaps were dished out… but the learning part I loved… 

The smell of fresh new books… and new uniforms… that first page on your copy book when you nearly didn't want to spoil it… and your handwriting was SO neat… that by the end of term the last few pages had to be deciphered by hieroglyph experts! 

and picking a new pencil case was the BEST THING EVER!

Favourite subject? Surprisingly, I loved maths… still do… and I'm still doing maths everyday with my PPs!

MATHS

Do the maths and you'll get the right answer… Now I suffer from PCOS… so losing weight is always going to be a challenge… but the weeks I religiously stick to the plan… it works… its a formula… and most diets are the same… consume less calories than you spend.. simples… add your Propoints up properly and you will lose weight… it works for so many people that it can't be wrong… same principle with the 'Slimming world' plan… counting calories... 

ENGLISH

Its out there… all you have to do is focus and read it… success stories online… FB pages with others who are looking for support just like you and me… magazines… forums… twitter… your WW books… whatever way you look at it… there's people telling their story, asking questions and looking for support… 

HISTORY

I HATED HISTORY! But … it terms of weight loss…  the past is very important… its where we're coming from and DON'T want to go back to… we've got to learn from the past… if you keep doing what you've always done… you'll get the same results! learn and move on and remember history repeats itself… how many of us have lost loads of weight and thought we knew it all and put it ALL back on again… only to be back at the starting line… 

ART

one of my fav subjects… and considering my career path… not surprising… creativity… I have been know to get a little creative with my tracker… but all jokes aside… WHO exactly am i fooling? my leader only checks my tracker when I HAVE been good and somethings not working… usually its not drinking enough water… The members in my class don't care whats on my tracker… so the only person I'm fooling with my creative maths is ME! duh!

P.E.

We all tried to dodge this one… apart from the really sporty girls who ran faster to avoid hearing our eyes roll at them… moving more will speed up the weight loss… pick an activity… something you really love… you won't stick with the GYM if you'd prefer to be running outside… as a starter… put on your trainers… walk out the front door and keep going for 10 mins… turn around and you HAVE to come home! 

GEOGRAPHY

Map out your journey… plan the goals… first silver 7… 5%… 1 stone… 50lbs certificate… 100lbs certificate… first time you walk a 5k, 10k, jogged them… ran them… first dress size down… those jeans that are a little snug… sometimes the end result can seem like so far away… looking at losing 100lbs can be the very thing that makes you give up… but my leader tells everyone… you only need to lose 7lbs… then we'll talk again… but that's your goal… and mentally you think… well I'm pretty sure i can lose 7… and suddenly it all seems doable… 7 + 7 + 7 and you're away!

1st day.... winter uniform!

But one of the most important things about school is the routine of it… and routine is SO important… when we head off on our jollies… we can have breakfast whenever we like… we eat dessert because… 'sure we're on holidays' … but being back into a routine is SO helpful with weight loss… we're up and full of porridge and out the door… lunch is at lunchtime… dinners are prepared and planned because we don't have time to faff about… lunch boxes are prepared… and soups are made in advance… The little people are back, we should be too!

PS: There is a challenge starting next Friday… paws up who's in… 

Finishing 'big' school! LOL 

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Dolls Lethal (and 'not-so-lethal') Lollys!

So... I recently attended the launch of the Blog Ireland Awards in the Glenisk Pop Up shop in town... and they sent me home with a lil goodie bag full of fab yoghurts ... So I've decided to enter their recipe competition... I've also been dying to make my own version of these for aaagggeeeesssss... without further ado... may I introduce... 

Dolls' Lethal (and 'not-so-lethal!') Yoghurt Popsicles!

There is really three recipes in one... and since berries are well and truly in season now, these are SO easy to make and have fun with... the 'not-so-lethal' popsicles are 2pp each except the one with the added chocolate, but you knew that... The shot glass versions are 1pp each! yay! ... so first up ... 

The Not-So-Lethal Lollys...

I need what now?

3 cups of Glenisk low fat organic natural yoghurt

1/2 cup of raspberries

1/2 cup of blueberries

1/2 cup of blackberries

2 tbsp of honey 

drizzle of balsamic vinegar

1tsp lime juice

handful of oats - I used Dorset Cereals, luscious berries and cherries... lots of dried fruit to add texture and sweetness!

 

Yeah, but how do I...?

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit... Line a tray with baking paper... in a bowl, gently toss berries with the balsamic vinegar and honey. Pour the berries onto the prepared baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes, stirring halfway, or long enough for the berry juices to thicken... this makes the berries VERY sweet...

YES... I'm the person who steals mini honey pots from hotels! 

ready to go into the oven...

The berries will get super sweet once they're roasted so if you want 

your lollys more tart add the lime juice at the next stage...

Blitz in your processor...  

Add your Glenisk Organic Greek Style Natural Yoghurt...  

Add dried fruit and oats for texture - remember these are the 'Not-so-lethal' ones!

Fold together.. this will give it a marbled effect...  

pour into moulds and freeze for approx 4 hours!

aaaaaaannnnnnddddddd......

TA DA!!!

Top: Blueberry popsicles 

Bottom: Blueberry Crunchicles (with the fancy oats!)

For a naughty twist... melt some dark chocolate I used ... 

for the full berry experience ...

soooooooo good!

now... time for the grown-up version... 

The LETHAL Lollys!

I need what now?

3 cups of Glenisk low fat organic natural yoghurt

2 cups of raspberries

2 tbsp of honey

drizzle of balsamic vinegar

1tsp lime juice

Alcohol of your choice - I used Raspberry vodka, peach schnapps and grenadine... Less is more with the alcohol as it won't freeze but a few capfuls to add a fab flavour!

Yeah but how do I...?

Before you start.. put 6 shot glasses in the freezer....

Prepare your raspberries...

Blitz them in your processor...

Fold in the Glenisk Organic Greek Style natural yoghurt...

Add your tipple! *hiccup* a couple of capfuls will do the trick

if you add too much they won't freeze... 

you'll just end up with a yoghurt cocktail!

Take the glasses from the freezer and...

coat the inside with grenadine... 

put them back in straightaway for 10 minutes...

fill the glasses with the marbled mixture... and freeze for approx 4 hours...

Serve these as an 'amuse bouche' (get me!) or as a party favourite!

Allow them to rest at room temperature till they just slide out.. 

don't be tempted to run hot water around the sides... 

they'll just break up... have some patience people!

You can also set this mixture in individual silicone moulds...

Again, give them 5 mins out of the freezer before you turn them out.. 

et voila.. rosemantic dessert for two!

and finally...

Blooseberry Popsicles!

I need what now?

1 pot of Glenisk low fat organic greek style yoghurt - Gooseberry
1 pot of Glenisk low fat organic greek style yoghurt - Blueberry

1 cup of blueberries

1 cup of blackberries

2 tbsp of honey

2 tsps of grenadine or sloe gin - totally down to personal taste
2 tsps of blue sugar
I bought mine in Superquinn in the baking section but you can make coloured sugar really easily!  >>> HERE <<<

Yeah but how do I...?

As before... freeze your shot glasses first...

blend the fruit as before... adding your alcohol..

In a separate bowl combine the Glenisk Gooseberry... 

AND Glenisk Blueberry Low fat organic Greek Style Yoghurt...

I know... I know... it shouldn't work but it does...  

add your honey to sweeten... 

coat the inside top with grenadine or gin and the blue sugar...

Then spoon in your yoghurt mixture, 

and gently layer your berry mixture on top...

Freeze until set, approx 4 hours and serve...

It takes approx 10mins at room temperature to loosen the popsicles from the glasses

Again... don't try to rush it by running them under a warm tap, 

the consistency means they'll just break up.. 

be patient.. they're SOOOOOOO worth the wait!

Enjoy ... 

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