Week 4 - so technically, January is done!

So January is coming to an end - one positive is that blood oranges are in season - sweet, juicy and full of vitamin C.

I hopped on the scales this morning, lost another pound, taking me to a loss of 10.5lbs for the month of January. I'm really pretty chuffed with that. Aiming for slow and steady, with only 12lbs to see me back in target.

Eating food off lovely crockery makes things even better - loving the Helsinki range in Sainsbury's at the moment and with my staff discount, even better.

I had to take some time off to use up my holiday quota, so I've been tackling the bathroom finally. It's only been 2 years!! I think because we all use it so much I've been putting it off.....

....but I'm nearly done and Jeff and I are off to look at vinyl flooring tomorrow!

Daff's are still brightening up the greyest and wettest of days but I do believe the evenings are getting a little lighter.

Catkins seem to be out in full this year, I seem to be seeing loads when out and about. Not good for Sophie and her hay fever but lovely to see all the same.

Will post a picture of the bathroom when it's all done - 2nd coat of gloss going on tomorrow, then at least everything can go back whilst we wait for the flooring. Will be glad to finish!

Have a great week x

Yay! Week 3

Wow! the third week of January is done!

Still filling it with flowers to cheer up these miserable grey days.

Treated myself to this little spotty number, yes I do still like my spots. Although given the amount of these that went through the checkout on Thursday, every woman in the locality will be wearing one! 

Slimming World weigh in this morning, boy it comes around quickly. Lost another 1.5lbs, so that's 9.5lbs in 3 weeks, pretty pleased with that and that means only 13lbs to bet me back into target.

Doesn't help that I have the weekly cookie bake still to do. I now make a batch of cookies every week for the packed lunches, as the ones I was buying contained so much sugar. These still obviously do but nowhere near the amount of the shop bought ones.

I was looking back through my blog - hard to believe it's 2 yrs ago now that this room was being built. The underfloor heating had just gone in and the screed about to be laid. Hard to remember it like that now, although at the time it was hard to imagine a finished room!

So, I end this post going back to the beginning - filling the house with flowers to rid the January Blues. Daff's are back in the shops at a £1 a bunch - best £1 spent I'd say.

Have a good week x

Week two - done!!

I always have to just 'get through' January, I'm not a fan of winter and the cold. It's been a particularly cold week as the heating packed up at work. When the olive oil starts turning cloudy, you know it's cold (below 10 degrees). As always I'm on the lookout for signs of spring, ever hopeful and willing on it's arrival, for brighter days and warmer weather.

Faced the scales again at Slimming World this morning, another pound and a half off and I got my half stone award. Pretty chuffed with that and 8 lbs off in 2 weeks.

I love it when I'm back on it and focused. I get to eat the most delicious food and lots of it and still lose weight. This was today's lunch - a sweet cinnamon omelette, with fruit and full fat Greek yogurt with honey - absolutely scrummy. I share all my meals over on my Instagram page @beckypcosandsprouts

Sam and I were just chatting about our holiday this Summer. It's been booked for a while now, as we found an affordable villa, with a private pool, in central Puerto Pollensa. I think he's quite looking forward to it and for a boy who doesn't like the heat, that's something. We've not been abroad as a family for the past two years now and I think having his own pool is quite the appeal. Fingers crossed it works out, as the last time we went away, he spent most of his time in an air conditioned room watching rubbish TV! It's still a while away but it's another way to get through January, having something to look forward to and it gives me chance to start saving up.

Week one - done!

So the first week of the new month, new year even, is done!

I worked Monday through to Thursday, so don't feel I've been around for much of it but I have taken Sunday off work, so am enjoying the long weekend at home together, before school starts back on Monday!

This morning I faced the Slimming World scales and lost a fabulous 6.5lbs! Not sure how, well I do know I have been totally on plan, no cheating at all and I do know that a chunk of that will have been down to Christmas excess, so I'm not imagining or hoping for great things next week. Slow and steady is what I'm aiming for and refocusing my brain into what I should be eating, rather than what I would like to get away with eating. I know, due to my PCOS, that I can't eat a lot of the things I enjoy and still stand any chance of not piling on the pounds. I just need to give myself a firm talking to every now and again and remind myself of what I need to do. I 'KNOW' what I need to do, just actioning it sometimes is tricky but I'm in a good head space at the moment, so giving it a good go! Just 16lbs will see me back comfortably, exactly on target. It feels good to be back in control.

So normal routines resume next week, 5 weeks until February half term. Both Sophie and Sam have mocks at the end of the month and of course the dreaded actual exams this Summer. Jeff will be head down, full on now, until half term break and I'll be propping everyone up at home. I have a few days off booked, as I had holiday to use up from when I started in September. I've earmarked the bathroom to be decorated then - a little time yet before I get the paint brushes out but I do want to get that job ticked off the list. January is usually a month to just 'get through'. I try to fill it with flowers and will Spring on it's way.

Hello 2018

So a pinch and a  punch.... 

New day, new month and a new year ahead!

Wishing you all a very happy 2018

We celebrated with angel delight and sparklers and...

.....a game of monopoly, which I lost, no real surprise there! 

We welcomed the year in together as a family. Last year Sam was at a sleepover and Jeff and I were taxi service to Sophie, so this year with no plans, we saw the new year in together. As with any new year, we reflect on the past year or what might happen in the new year ahead. I like to think of a single word to carry with me into the new year and I have chosen the word......

.....'simplify' for my word of 2018. 

I like to choose a word I feel I can adapt to all areas of my life. Closing down the business in 2017 made me re-evaluate a lot of things in my life and I came to the conclusion to make my life as simple and uncomplicated as possible. Getting rid of the unnecessary drama, negative voices and clutter, be it people or things. I want to spend my time with the people I care about and who care about me, doing the things I enjoy. So I will continue with this throughout 2018 and hopefully I will be happier and more content as a result, this time next year.

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year x